Sunday Snippet: Bad Chemistry

Final day of November and it's cold and windy outside. We're due for some snow in the next day or so. I'm kind of not prepared. It's been a long week.

Had to prep for the colonoscopy on Monday and I can now commiserate with anyone who's gone through the process. It's not fun. Seriously not fun. By the time I got to the surgery center, I was completely spaced out, which maybe didn't hurt. I have a major phobia of being put under and I was in full freak-out mode. Thankfully, everything went well and even though it was a holiday weekend, I got the test results back and all looks okay. Whew!

Had a full slate of work projects also. I'm a little behind because, honestly, while I should have bounced right back from the procedure, I ended up being out of it until Thursday. I have a copy edit I have to finish up today then I'll have a little breathing room.

I literally watched one of my normal slate of shows this week. I'm hoping to get back on track, but even with breathing room, I've got a busy week ahead. We'll see how it goes.

I did get an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in. It was a fun episode that I enjoyed the first time around.

I started an episode of Foyle's War but haven't made it all the way through yet. I'll probably pick up with it this week and finish out the round of my usual shows.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Bad Chemistry, the opening book in the speculative series about an uncivil revolution.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lex Durban and Charlotte McIntyre do their best to survive in new world hierarchy, each with a different kind of target on their back. But when they have to undertake the dangerous task of moving refugees to a new location, Lex wants Char to stay behind so only one is in danger, but Char has other ideas.

And a sneaky peek…

Charlotte McIntyre shoved her fist against her mouth and bit back the scream that wanted to come roaring out. Charlie Miller—immediate superior, mentor, friend—dead, cut down too soon. She couldn't grieve; she didn't have time. She had to stay clear, focused, and think. 

If the board had Charlie killed, she couldn't be far behind. "He made no secret I've been his right hand and know everything about Project Hope." What she wouldn't give to be blissfully ignorant right now.

The true intent of the project had been leaked. By Charlie. He'd gotten the word out, let his contact know Project Hope had the power to wipe out a large portion of the world's population. But global annihilation didn't happen to be on the agenda. Not yet.

"It'll start at home, in our very backyard."

Targeted disbursement would take out the malnourished and indigent. Half a city's population could waste away to nothing and die with no traceable reason. Okay, half might push the numbers, but the demographic range of homeless, low-income families, and drug abusers made up a large portion of residents. The board decided if they could remove the load on the social system, it would ease everyone's burden.

"And by everyone, they mean the upper echelon of global corporations."

Her gaze scanning the lab, she looked for something, anything, she could easily carry as a weapon. Her sight landed on an array of syringes. She dashed over and grabbed a handful. It wouldn't help much, but it could slow down anyone who tried to pursue her.

The sound of running footsteps had her crouching low against the wall. She had to get out of the lab … down more floors than she wanted to think about and out the gates of the complex. The elevators had security cameras so no way would she use them.

The stairwells had the stupid things, too, but one of Char's soon-to-be-former coworkers had found a way to stay hidden from them. Thank God the woman had an insane sex drive and a penchant for taking willing participants to the nearest landing for quickies. And a mad desire to overshare about her exploits.

That unwanted knowledge might just be the thing to save Char's life.

She made it halfway down the eight flights of stairs before she got busted from behind.

"Charlotte McIntyre! Hold up." A burly security officer called out. "I've been instructed to keep you on the premises until further notice." He hustled down the remaining steps to the landing.

Char stood still, keeping her hand in pocket of her lab coat and worked the cap off one of the syringes. She knew this guy. Not terribly bright and he didn't demand she show him her hands.

A mistake. When he went to grab an arm to secure her and Char lashed out … jabbing the sharp needle into his neck. His eyes blinked rapidly and he tilted his head to one side.

She didn't think the solution worked at first, but he finally went down, collapsing in a heap.

Char dashed the rest of the remaining four floors, stumbled out into the parking garage, and sank to the floor. She dragged in a shaky breath and willed her heart to slow down. She had to get moving or lose her life.

Forcing herself upright, she took a wobbly step forward only to shrink back against the wall when a motorcycle came roaring up along the exit.

The helmet visor popped up, and her eyes met the clear blue of the rider's.

He held out a gloved hand. "Charlotte McIntyre? Name's Dom. You need to come with me."

She stood, mouth hanging open, wondering how he knew her name.

He grabbed another helmet off the back. "Lady, if you wanna survive, get on. Now." He tossed the spare and revved the throttle.

Char did the smart thing. She strapped on the protective cover and settled in behind Dom.

He sped out of the parking level and headed for the main gate. "Hang on!"

The words, shouted loudly, gave her warning. Char risked a peek over his shoulder and gripped him tight around the waist. Her eyes slid closed, and she groaned. Dom planned to ram the panel blocking the garage exit.

The bike picked up speed and Char bit back a scream. The splintering sound of smashing through the gate hit just before the screech of tires when Dom rounded the sharp curve that would lead them away from Coburn Pharmaceuticals.

Char had no idea how he kept the bike upright let alone how she managed to avoid flying off. She held tight, leaning to the side when he did and hoped like hell he had some kind of plan.

Because she sure as hell didn't.

This story keeps me on my toes. I have the general plot hammered out but I also have to sprinkle in some seeds for the other two books. These characters are a lot of fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Automatic Failure

Another busy week in the books and I'm gearing up for a chaotic ride for the upcoming one. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for Tuesday and, frankly, I'm not excited. But at least it'll be done and over early in the week.

Ohio is still doing the back and forth weather stuff. At least it's not a wild fluctuation. More like fifties one day, high thirties the next. I'm not complaining because it's time for the cool down and I like chillier weather.

I have a slow start to my work week because of the colonoscopy, but I have a full of projects. A copy edit and a design proofread are underway and I should have another copy edit sliding in by midweek. I also have an author Zoom session either Tuesday or Wednesday. I very much enjoy the variety of projects I'm working on. I'm also looking forward to a possible collaboration on a fun idea with a few colleagues sometime soon.

Had an okay viewing week. I had time to hit the back burner shows but found I needed a break. My focus slipped by the weekend and I ended up keeping them on simmer for now.

Started the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Season three is kind of a wild ride and I waffle between enjoying having Phryne's dad causing problems and wishing we had more episodes without him.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's one I remember from my first run through of the series. The acting is top notch throughout from beginning to end.

Enjoyed another episode of Beyond Paradise. I love Martha and Humphrey with their foster daughter. Kind of bummed Esther decided to break things off with Archie. Hopefully, that's a red herring.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed it. I don't have any memories of watching this one before and I always love how terrible Hastings is at Miss Lemon's filing system.

Elementary ended up being excellent. I like Joan trying to navigate having a half-sister. The case also proved interesting. And definitely a little scary.

Caught the season three opener of Batman Beyond. Always fun to see the Royal Flush gang. I'd forgotten how this one ended and I enjoyed it.

Also watched an episode of Lower Decks. I'm very much enjoying how many easter eggs are in this show. Lots of fun!

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Automatic Failure, a novella that throws a family-dynamic challenge into a couple's journey.

Here's the miniblurb:

Piper Kemp, a flight instructor, moves aside to avoid letting her personal feelings influence a decision about whether to pass one of her students. But when he crashes and almost loses his life, Knox Petruci steps up to defend Piper and opens a can of worms because her student happens to be his brother.

And a sneaky peek…

Well, fuck.

Knox frowned again. "What the hell? Did you tell him to fuck off?" His dad had some serious stones on him.

She snorted. "Why bother? You already beat me to it." She started walking again. "Apparently, that's why he came. Because you cut all of them out of your life." She shot him a sideways glance. "He seemed to think he needed to fix things with us." She waved her hand. "I wished him luck after explaining how we left things." She met his gaze head-on. "The whole if I didn't fight the transfer and shipped out, we were through." Her tone took on an icy quality.

Knox winced then groaned. "Ultimatums aren't my strong suit. That was stupid of me." He dropped his bag and reached out to stop her. "If nothing else, I owe you an apology." And a whole lot more.

She held his gaze. "Okay, you apologized. Now what?" Glancing around, she made sure they didn't have an audience. "Look, we kind of live in each other's pockets here. Are you gonna be able to handle that?" Her brows arched.

He didn't blame her for doubting he could. "Piper, regardless of my old man's interference, or how I got here, I'm glad for this post. I knew within the first week I'd made a mistake by letting you leave without resolving anything. For telling you we were through if you did." He paused, letting two crew members pass before continuing. "Is there somewhere we can go? To talk?" He really didn't want any distractions.

She lifted her chin. "Sure, I'll show you to quarters." She took off again. "Every officer has their own space." Her lips quirked when she glanced over her shoulder. "The one and only perk of being this far out."

He grabbed his bag and followed her until she stopped by one of the doors.

She pointed to the blank ID label. "This will be you. As soon as you check in with the quartermaster." She pushed the activation switch and the door slid open.

He placed his bag at the foot of the bed. "How far away are you?" The quarters were roomy, which surprised him.

Her lips twitched. "Just across the hall. They try to group us by designation. Pilots with pilots, engineers with engineers and so on."

Knox nodded. "Okay, good." He had to test the waters. "So … will you have dinner with me? Give me a chance to make up for being a dick?" He almost wouldn't blame her if she said no.

She flashed a smile. "I'd like that." She nodded toward the corridor. "Get checked in with the quartermaster or they won't serve you in the galley." Crossing the deck, she opened her door. "I'll meet you at 1800." She entered her quarters.

Knox couldn't keep a wide smile off his face. He'd better get moving if he wanted to get started off on the right foot with Piper.

And he definitely wanted to do exactly that.

Knox has a wee bit of groveling to do and he's perfectly okay with that.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: An Answer to Fate

It's been a busy week. We're still kind of off-kilter after the loss of our doggo. Our younger one is adjusting and I'm thankful for that. Our vet office is amazing, and they've been wonderful throughout this whole process.

Ohio weather is being very Ohio right now. Warm up, cool down, something kind of in between. I had to clear snow off my car at the beginning of last week. It didn't stick around, which is okay with me. I don't mind snow, but I'm also not quite ready for it yet.

Work was very busy this past week. Had a terrific Zoom meeting with an author and two other members of a team I often work with. We're getting ready to hand over the project for the next steps. Also had another Zoom session with a different author and they're making headway on their memoir. Finished up a developmental edit and we're getting ready to hand that one off also. Had an older project pop back up and I think we have that one resolved. I also finished up a copy edit and started a new proofread.

Not a bad viewing week either. I made it through all of my usual slate of shows. The next two weeks are going to be a little iffy, but I'll make an effort to stay current.

I started with the season three opener of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The introduction of her dad was fun, and I liked seeing Jack show a little jealousy.

Also caught another episode of Foyle's War and I'd forgotten how much of a role Andrew played in this episode. If I remember correctly, we won't see him again for a while.

Watched another episode of Beyond Paradise. I'm enjoying Archie and Esther's romance a lot. I loved Humphrey being in the uncomfortable position of having to question Martha as a suspect to clear her. And I'm so glad Anne finally spilled the beans about her biopsy.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. I love Hastings and Miss Lemon investigating and then chatting about Poirot. The lengths he went to to protect the countess kind of charmed me.

Elementary had a great episode. Discovering Joan has a half-sister is interesting. I also love how tangled up everything ended up being. Bringing Mycroft into the equation is a snare that will have some repercussions, I think. Especially with the NSA showing up again.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it. I remembered it from my original watch. Getting Ace's backstory is great.

Also got to watch another episode of Lower Decks. The characters are starting to gel for me, and Mariner is way less annoying this season. Very glad I stuck with this one.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from An Answer to Fate, a novella that kicks of a trilogy of stories.

Here's the miniblurb:

Quillan Jaymes and Jeb Paladino finally get their act together and declare themselves a couple. Too bad that's when everything goes wrong.

And a sneaky peek…

Quillan's mind needed to be sharp if she wanted to pull this escape off.

After every meal, she’d excuse herself, find the closest empty head and force herself to throw it all up. She loaded up on fluids to combat the dehydration, but it helped only minimally.

And all the while, she continued to feed Luther’s delusion that she’d finally be willing to accept him in her heart.

The day before her planned departure, Quillan almost stumbled into a meeting between five of the seven cyborgs on base. Staying out of sight, she listened to their heated debate regarding the plans for her destiny.

She overheard vital information, and it completely gutted her. Stunned, she considered leaving that very moment but discounted the impossible idea. On top of that, a deep-seated anger coiled through her belly and the need for revenge became her guiding factor.

Dining later with Luther, she pretended the food still had her malleable as she quietly listened to him expound on the meaning of love.

"So you see … we can be bonded together and help bring a new order to the entire universe."

Without the narcotic effect of the drugs, she had difficulty not spewing her rage … but she’d need every scrap of strength she had for her escape.

With the meal complete, Quillan excused herself. "I'll be right back." She allowed her gaze to hint at something else.

The quick flash of teeth from Luther’s grin made her cringe inwardly, but she gave no hint of what he had coming.

She hit the head and, after expelling the contents of her stomach, Quillan removed the knife she'd secreted away from its hiding place in her boot. She palmed the blade, familiarizing herself with its weight and heft.

It's time.

Giving her head a shake to muss up her hair a little, she fought a wave of dizziness. Undoing the top two buttons of her shirt, she exited the bathroom and cast her gaze over the space she’d grown to hate. She wouldn't miss this fake façade of a residence.

She struck a seductive pose. "Luther…" She called his name softly.

He turned and his face lit up at her provocative pretense.

He didn’t see the knife leave her hand, didn’t realize what had happened until it stuck out of chest … just below the reinforced plating leading down from his shoulder. His pierced heart beat the final few staccatos of life.

Walking calmly over to him, Quillan loomed over his body waiting for his breathing to cease. “My heart will never accept you. Never.” Yanking the knife out, she didn’t take time to clean the blade as she exited the room.

This story is going to be tricky to get right. I'll probably end up waiting until I get at least the second book finished before releasing this one, mainly to make sure I don't have to plant seeds for book three.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: All Tied Up (Top Dog Pilots bonus)

I'm going to start with a doggo update. We thought our older doggo was doing better but, sadly, that wasn't the case. The vet took an aspirated sample of her lymph node, and the results came back as cancerous, probably MAST cell. The prognosis is never great for that diagnosis. But we planned to keep her comfortable and spend as much time as we could with her. Unfortunately, she took a turn for the worse and on November 7, we let her go to the great beyond. Hardest decision to make but she stopped eating and couldn't really afford to lose more weight than she already had. My heart hurts right now, but we're trying to ease the loss for our other doggo and that's been a blessing.

Obviously, even with everything going on with our dog, work continued. I finished up a proofread and have a new one scheduled for the upcoming week. I also have a couple of client calls and I'm excited about those. I'm in the middle of a copy edit for an opening book to a new series and it's going well.

I had an okay viewing week. I made it most of the way through my regular shows, with the exception of Lower Decks. I'll get back to it this week. I hope.

Finished up the second season of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I love the Christmas in July episode so much. There's some subtle groundwork being laid for the final season and I appreciate being able to look back and see it.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War. I really wanted to smash everyone working against Foyle in the face. The arrogance of the military spies grated hard on me this time around.

Beyond Paradise ended up being a lot of fun. I like the romance with Archie and Ester. And I love Humphrey and Martha with their fostering. I'm a little put out with the mom being so cagey. I get the why but it's annoying. I'm kind of hoping she ends up confiding in Zoe.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed it. I loved having him hoodwinked into solving a murder because an author wrote himself into a corner. And having the author kind of save the day was fun.

Elementary ended up being a great episode. I love Sherlock putting forth effort in his relationship and getting it wrong for the right reasons.

Enjoyed another episode of Batman Beyond. Loved Bruce and Max working together to find Terry. I had some vague memories of this one but didn't remember everything that happened.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from All Tied Up, a bonus short feature Max and Maggie from the Top Dog Pilots series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Maggie Harper has the man she wants and a job she loves. But sometimes she has to pull out all the stops to keep life interesting. And that means Max Cutter better be ready for whatever Maggie comes up with next.

And a sneaky peek…

Her mouth is bliss…

Cutter closed his eyes. "Always expect the unexpected from you but this…" He tested the limit of the sleeves again. "Being all tied up is something else." His breath hissed out when she all but inhaled his dick. "Geez, you're gonna kill me."

And he'd die happy.

Maggie slowly backed off his erection and met his gaze. "Get over it, Cutter." She sucked hard on the head. "You'll enjoy what I have planned." Gliding down to the base one more time, she slowly dragged her tongue along the underside of his length on the way back.

Letting go, and leaving his rigid flesh bobbing for more, she got to her feet and turned away from him. Her hands reached around and sensuously eased her tank upward, exposing her back to his gaze. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the garment sailing across their quarters. Angling her head around, her lips kicked up in a sexy smirk. Her fingers teased along the waistband of her shorts, inching the fabric down then pulling it back up. Her hips swayed to music only she could hear in her head. With another suggestive peekaboo, she lowered the bottoms halfway down her hips. Cutter bit back a groan … he loved her playful vibe as much as he wanted to be buried deep inside her.

Maggie finally dropped her shorts and shuttled them across the deck with a quick kick before she turned and faced him in her altogether. She prowled toward him with a hungry look in her eyes. Stopping just short of his knees, she put two fingers under his chin and tilted his head back.

Leaning in, she met his mouth in a quick hot kiss. "Time to deliver on my promise." Her head slanted and she caught his lips again.

Nudging him back against the cushions, she straddled his thighs and sank over his cock. He'd love to clasp her thighs and give her the ride of her life. Instead, he curled his fingers into his palms and flexed his hips as far as they'd go with his arms behind his back.

Maggie broke the kiss and grinned down at him. "I think I like this setup." She planted her hands on his shoulders and rocked her hips.

Cutter grunted. "This is me not complaining." He leaned forward and laved one taut nipple.

Maggie gasped. "Ahhh. I want more of that…" Her fingers dug into his skin.

Cutter smirked. "Whatever makes you happy…"

This is such a fun series, and I love writing Max and Maggie.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: All Jacked Up

Welcome, November! Honestly, October had great points and not-so-great points. Having a sick pet is not fun. Trying to figure out exactly what's going on isn't either. But she appears to be doing better so that's a plus.

We had a spectacular trick-or-treat night. The weather ended up being cooperative. Chilly but not cold, slightly windy but not gusty, and no rain. The past few years we've had flurries, frigid temperatures, rain, and the blowy, serious wind that makes everyone miserable. Having almost perfect weather is a nice change.

Had an okay work week. I finished up a copy edit and started a new proofread. Finalized a developmental edit with only formatting left to do before it moves over to a copy editor. I have a bit of research to do for the other developmental edit I'm working on and I should have that at least started today.

Not a bad week of viewing. I made it all the way through my current slate of shows. I didn't hit the backburner ones but, again, sick doggo equals a lot of time.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and I'm almost finished with the second season. I really did enjoy the downfall of Jack's former father-in-law. I also loved how disgusted Rosie ended up being with her dad. Christmas episode is up next and it's one I love to pieces.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War and finished out the second season. I'd forgotten Andrew crashed his plane and he had a bit of a romance with Sam. Looking forward to starting the third season.

Watched an episode of Beyond Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed Humphrey and Martha interacting with their new foster. Also quite enjoyed the Ester and Archie banter. I really hope Kelby ends up getting a girl because he's the sweetest guy ever.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. A lot of twisty-turns in this one and Poirot getting all bent over Hastings using the bathroom as a darkroom was hilarious.

Elementary ended up being very interesting. I'm kind of wary of Joan trying to get a mole inside Moreland's company. I think it's for protection so Moreland's enemies can't hurt Sherlock and, by extension, Joan. I'm very interested in whether Moreland is setting this up on purpose or if he's just underestimating Joan. Should be fun to find out.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and didn't really remember this one. Ended up liking it a lot. Always good to see Bruce out of the manor.

Lower Decks was so much fun. Beckett is growing on me and Boimler isn't annoying me as much either. And the theme song is still stuck in my head. I think it might be my favorite out of all the Trek shows.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from All Jacked Up, a novella that pulls a couple together after one gets injured.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lita North is injured and ordered to stay off her feet for forty-eight hours which doesn't go over well because Lita doesn't do inactivity. But when Ollie Tulver gets stuck babysitting her after she disobeys the order, she has two choices—continue being a pain in the ass or toe the line. Lita being Lita, she decides to do both.

And a sneaky peek…

Ollie ducked his head inside the VIP quarters half expecting to find Lita misbehaving. "Time for a quick check in." Pleasantly surprised to find her seated in the wheelchair, a splotch of paint on her cheek.

She set her roller aside. "I could use a bit of a break." Her gaze swept the space then met his.

He took the bag of ice over and handed it to her. "You've got twenty minutes to chill with this." Taking a seat on the small sofa, he looked around the room.

She'd made a lot of progress. And it looked like she'd stayed in the chair. Her knee hadn't swelled up anymore.

She tilted her head, almost like she guessed what he'd been thinking. "I'm not overdoing it." Her chin lifted. "But the work is going fast. In fact, I'm gonna suggest if I finish the other two walls, I could maybe do the head too." She arched her brows, asking for permission.

Ollie frowned. "Kind of cramped, isn't it?"

She nodded. "But I could sit on the toilet for the two walls bracketing the door and use the chair for the other two. The shower takes up most of one wall so there's only about twenty four inches that need paint." She pointed to the brush. "That's two spans with the roller."

Ollie got up and went over to judge the space. "Are you going to be able to maneuver from the chair to the toilet then back again without putting pressure on your knee?" He had serious doubts.

She lifted a shoulder. "Honestly? I don't know. But I promise if I have any trouble, I'll stop and wait." She met his gaze. "I swear." She held up two fingers as her oath.

Yeah, maybe she could accomplish painting the small area. But why the volunteering?

He narrowed his eyes. "This is an attempt to get off Netts's shit list, isn't it?" Would probably take more than a little extra bonus spit-shining.

She grinned. "Think it'll work?"

He shrugged. "It might … if you don't do anything else to damage your knee." He'd give her props for thinking the idea through. "What made you think of doing the head?"

Her lips quirked but she glanced away. "Kinda think your better nature is rubbing off on me." She pulled the ice off her knee and set it aside.

Checking the time, he realized the twenty minutes flew by. "My better nature?" He chuckled. "That might be a first." He sobered. "But maybe let's not make it a habit. I kind of like you in rebel mode." He snagged the cold pack and headed for the hatch.

Lita followed behind him. "I just need to lose the attitude, right?" She rolled to a stop. "Having something to do definitely helps."

Ollie turned after undogging the hatch. "As long as you don't overextend yourself, you'll be golden." He stepped through the opening. "See you in two hours."

She gave him a jaunty wave, and he redogged the hatch and keyed in the lock code.

He hated making her a prisoner, but she seemed to be doing okay. Maybe even better than okay. Enough so he wanted to thank her for not making his job harder.

His mouth curved. "And I have the perfect plan to show my gratitude."

If she stayed true to her word…

Enjoying this one. I love Lita and Ollie and making them redefine their relationship.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Advocate for the Defense

Geez. I can't believe we're in the last week of October. This month flew by and I'm kind of sad I didn't have the time or energy to enjoy it more.

Doggo update. She's still not quite over the sinus infection. We had a hard time getting her to eat much, and her antibiotic needs to be taken with food. We're surmising she's not interested because she can't smell right now. She's still drinking plenty of water and also gets excited when anyone comes home, so we think she's doing okay. She still doesn't like having her nose wiped to remove the yuck leaking from it though.

Not a bad work week. I had a couple of focus-intense projects to work through, which became a challenge because I'm not sleeping as well as I should be. But … I'm nearing the end of one long project and starting a new longish project and I'm thrilled they're going so well. I finished up a proofread and started a new copy edit also.

Had an okay viewing week. I didn't make it through my full list of shows, but got most of them in. I just didn't have the attention span to watch stuff this week.

I did get an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in and I'm getting closer to the end of season two.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War and it's one I didn't remember. It features an actor that used to be one of my faves, but he kind of went off the deep end and I can't really enjoy his work anymore. That's a me problem, I know.

Enjoyed the season three premiere of Beyond Paradise. So nice to see Archie again, even if he tried to muck up Humph and Martha's romance. I really enjoy this show.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed the mystery. There ended up being a lot going on in this one and it felt like a couple of shortcuts were taken, but overall a fun episode. Well … except for the murder of course.

Elementary ended up being a lot of fun with the twist on the Baskerville lore. I'm so happy with Sherlock's growth as a character and his quietly impassioned plea for the ME to get some help kind of made the episode for me.

I didn't get to watch Batman Beyond or Lower Decks this week because I ran out of steam. Hopefully, I'll get to catch up soon.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Advocate for the Defense, a novella that brings a couple together when one character has to defend the other before a review board.

Here's the miniblurb:

Jada Link has self-sabotage down to an art form and she gets into trouble on a regular basis. But when she needs an advocate to get out of her latest scrape, she meets the one person who can make her career ... and possibly find his way into her heart—Quince Lazenby.

And a sneaky peek…

Quince completed the last call he needed to make just as Jada entered the conference room. "Hey … are you ready for the hearing?" He checked a box on the notepad list, with the final piece falling into place.

Jada inhaled sharply. "Yeah. I think so." She tucked her cover under her arm. "Gotta admit, I'm nervous." She smoothed the crease of her uniform pants.

Quince's lips twitched. "You really don't need to be. This is basically a formality." He tapped the notepad.

Jada's eyebrows arched. "You're still calling in your markers?" She paused a moment. "And you're really sure your dad isn't going to bust you down a rank for using him?"

Quince shrugged. "Like I said … he's far enough away he won't get wise too soon." Stuffing the notepad into his case, he met Jada's gaze. "Besides … it's for a good cause and he'll agree if I ever do have to explain myself." Which he would do after he got Jada through graduation.

Jada huffed out a breath. "Geez, not sure how I feel about letting you do this for me." She paced back and forth along the edge of the table. "I mean, I appreciate having you on my side." She stopped and shot him a sideways glance. "Why are you doing this? Seriously, what's in it for you?"

A great question. One he didn't have a full answer for, but he did a partial one.

Setting his case on the table, he folded his arms across his chest. "First and foremost, I'm following orders. I was assigned to defend you before the board." He held her gaze. "And … I was informed to make sure I did everything in my power to garner a good outcome … if I thought you had the chops to become a good officer as well as a pilot." He stopped there for the moment.

Anything else he said might cross a line he didn't want to step over yet.

Jada tilted her head. "And you think I'm officer material?" Her brow furrowed as if she questioned the idea.

Quince answered with brutal honestly. "Can't say I'm one hundred percent certain, but you deserve the chance to find out. When we go before the board, I'll lay out the plan that's going to give you the opportunity to prove you have the will and desire to become a ranking member of a flight squadron." And the schedule would keep her too busy to get into more trouble.

He hoped.

Jada worried her lower lip. "I'm almost afraid to ask … what is the plan?" A wary note entered her gaze.

Quince flashed a wide smile. "Have a seat, and I'll explain…"

I enjoy writing characters who push each other's buttons and these two are very good at doing that.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Adventures in Nugget Sitting

It's a drippy, dreary day, which actually doesn't bother me. It's been so dry in Ohio, and the rain might help wash all the allergy-inducing yuck away for a while.

Had a solid work week. I finished up a copy edit and started a new one. I'm wrapping up an extended coaching project and moving into the final stages before sending it out for the next steps. Started a new memoir developmental edit, and I'm excited about working on it with the author. I have a couple of other projects waiting in the wings, but my plate is full for the moment.

Doggo update. I think we're through the hard stuff. Who knew having a congested dog could be so exhausting. It sucks because, unlike when my kiddos didn't feel well, the dog can't verbalize what's making them feel poorly. A lot of trial and error to make sure they're doing okay.

Had an okay viewing week. I got through most of my usual shows with the exception of Lower Decks. I ran out of steam and couldn't get that one in.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the episode. The ending always make me smile with Hugh and Dottie getting engaged and Jack and Phryne drinking wine from grapes … that she crushed with her feet.

Watched another episode of Foyle's War and remembered most of it. I'd actually forgotten the underlying thread of Rex being in love with Andrew and Foyle's supportive reaction to the information. A very good episode.

Finished up season fourteen of Death in Paradise. I'm kind of curious about Patterson's departure. If he's really leaving the show, I'll be disappointed as he's been with it since the beginning. However, a changing of the guard isn't always a bad thing. I have a fun thought about who could possibly replace him and if it pans out, it would be very cool.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I really do like the episodes that don't involve a murder. The bond robbery ended up being a lot of fun. Poor Hastings being seasick and his denial of it was a fun side thread.

Elementary had another solid episode. I'm enjoying Joan's journey of getting back to supportive interpersonal relationships. The scenes with her and Gregson were lovely.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I didn't really remember so I enjoyed watching. I think I'm almost through the second season and I can't really remember if there are more after this one or not.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Adventures in Nugget Sitting, a sexy short that brings a couple together after a somewhat long wait.

Here's the miniblurb:

Isla Sands, an excellent poker player, loses a card draw and has to babysit the drunken newbie pilot. Between the endless questions, throwing up, and clingy behavior of her charge, Isla takes time to wonder why Riggs Marvelton always does the same for her. And why he never attempts to just kill her and put both out of their misery.

And a sneaky peak…

Riggs grabbed a bucket from the custodial supply locker. "I should leave Isla to deal with Brad." And he would.

But he'd also prepare her for all possibilities. He placed the container close to Berenza's bunk. Close to the spot he used for Isla on more than one occasion.

Isla's frustrated voice drifted from the head. "Dammit, Berenza. Aim for the bowl not the rim." An angry growl followed.

Riggs bit back a smile. "Sucks to have the shoe on the other foot." How many times had he done the same for her?

Okay, really not fair to compare them. Isla handled alcohol better than most. He could count on one hand the times he'd had to overprepare. Usually, he only poured her into the bunk then stuck around to make sure she didn't try to get up and make it to the bathroom on her own.

He doubted she had any idea how long he stayed to keep an eye on her.

Brad did not manage his alcohol intake very well. Of course, the kid had barely reached the legal age to consume liquid spirits. He'd eventually get the hang of knowing when to say enough.

Maybe.

Riggs backed away from Brad's bunk and headed for the hatch. "Good luck, Isla. You're going to have a long night." Exiting into the corridor, he resisted the urge to poke his head into the head.

Isla probably didn't want an audience. Bopper definitely didn't need any more witnesses to his shame. Riggs had after-action reports and fitreps he should be working on.

Passing the head, his lips curved when he caught more retching sounds.

Isla's voice carried when she let out a garbled oath. "Dammit, Bopper. For all that's holy in the universe, keep your head down."

Riggs shook his head but kept on walking. He'd check in with Isla later. Just to make sure she had everything under control. He wouldn't be able to help himself.

Because she mattered to him … even if she didn't have a clue how much.

This is such a fun little short. I love Riggs and Isla and can't wait for them to get on the same page.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Zulu Delta Niner

Whew. What a week. We have some actual fall weather, and I love it. Who knows how long it will last. Pretty sure we'll have at least one more heat-up before December and the official start of winter.

Had another busy work week because I'm still playing catch up from being under the weather in late September. I finished a very challenging copy edit of a 95k-word manuscript. Great story with a lot going on.

Update on our doggo. She's doing so much better. She's still a little congested, but she finished her round of antibiotics and the steroid seems to be helping also. Of course, she's drinking a ton of water, which means we're going out for potty breaks about two times her normal rate.

Had a very slow viewing week. The challenging copy edit required a lot of focus. But I did make it most of the way through my regular shows.

Started again with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Enjoyed the episode because it's one I remembered and loved on my original run through.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War and enjoyed watching again. I'd forgotten some of the key moments in this one. Sam sure struggled a bit to find another place to stay after her rooming house got bombed.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. Really glad to see Mervin figure out his mom's murder and also so happy to see Mr. Sterling Fox get his walking papers. Smarmy jerk.

Watched another episode of Poirot. I always enjoy when Miss Lemon gets involved in a case. Watching Hasting completely destroy her filing system—after she told him not to touch anything—made me laugh out loud. In his defense, he'd already halfway trashed it before he spoke to her.

Elementary had another solid episode. It's very interesting to watch Sherlock interact with Moreland. So much trauma to unpack between them.

I didn't get to check in with Batman Beyond or Lower Decks this week. I'm hoping to get a full run this upcoming week.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Zulu Delta Niner, a novella about a couple that meet under tenuous circumstances.

Here's the miniblurb:

In a war-torn galaxy, Nell Watkinson works to save lives on the front lines in the battle arena. When she returns home, she meets Jerrick Haight, a man who's not afraid to fight if his number is called, but he vehemently opposes waging war when it spreads resources so thin their own people suffer. On opposite sides of a moral dilemma, Jerrick's actions put him in danger and Nell uses everything at her disposal to save his life.

And a sneaky peek…

Jerrick clasped Wayne Prewitt's shoulder in a hard grip. "Dammit, we're not supposed to start anything physical." He jerked Wayne back before the man had a chance to throw a punch at a police officer.

Prewitt whirled around. "Keep your damn hands to yourself. You don't tell me what to do at a protest. I'm making a point and taking a stand." He spat the words out on a growl.

Jerrick shook his head. "You're an idiot if you start an altercation in the front yard of the Ministry of War. The security here is more than police. Home Guard is on hand at every corner on the ground and on the roof. If you start throwing down, they'll shoot you. This wouldn't just be a simple arrest." Hammersmith didn't have to warn Jerrick about the dangers of protesting at the MOW building.

But he should've laid out the facts for Wayne.

Prewitt rolled his eyes. "You're full of shit. We're allowed to voice our opinions. Sometimes that means getting physical." He balled up one hand and smacked it into his open palm.

Jerrick stepped back, ready to let Prewitt learn the hard way. "You really need to brush up on our articles of federation." A tap on his shoulder had him turning around.

A uniformed military police officer arched his brows. "Is there a problem here?" He patted his sidearm in a chest carrier.

Jerrick lifted both hands. "No, sir. We're just exercising our right to free speech." Movement along the left side of the building drew Jerrick's gaze.

A woman in a medic uniform, flanked by two officers, headed for the back entrance of the building. Why would a medic be needed at the ministry of war's headquarters? Very interesting.

The MP cleared his throat. "Did you hear what I said?"

Jerrick met the man's gaze. "Sorry, no. I'll assume it's something about staying peaceful and not making trouble?" The standard party line.

The officer frowned. "No, I said clear out. Showtime's over. Almost curfew." His hand gripped the handle of his weapon.

Jerrick narrowed his gaze. "Since when is there a curfew?" He slid his gaze to Prewitt.

Wayne shrugged. "Don't look at me. I didn't know about this."

The MP jerked his head toward the building. "Brass enacted the civilian curtailment item of the protest resolution. You've got ten minutes to vacate the area or suffer the consequences." An oily smile curved the man's lips.

Jerrick didn't like the gleam that entered the officer's eyes. "You'd like to arrest us, wouldn't you?"

Wayne snorted. "Are you kidding? I'd bet he lives to zip-tie protesters."

The officer grunted. "Wanna find out?"

Jerrick shook his head. "Not today, man. Defeats the whole purpose of organizing against the deplorable living conditions we live with every day." He gave Prewitt a warning look.

Wayne huffed out an angry breath. "This is bullshit." He turned and stomped away.

Jerrick started to follow but glanced back toward the MOW building. The woman's head angled around, and she met his gaze for a long moment. The wind gusted and pulled several strands of her hair loose from her sleek ponytail. Jerrick grinned when she started to tuck them behind her ear then decided to leave them framing her face.

Definitely not standard operating procedure. He liked that she didn't seem to care if she met regulations.

But he also wondered why she entered the building with the other two officers.

Pretty pleased with how this one is coming together. Jerrick is walking a fine line, and he'll face bigger challenges soon, especially with Prewitt stirring up trouble.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Zoning in the VZ (a V-World novella)

Hello October and welcome spooky season! I love this month for a lot of reasons. The spooky vibe being close to the top of the list, but it's quickly followed by cooler weather—usually—and that means it's soup weather! I love making soup on a cool day and savoring it with crusty breads, grilled cheese, and other creative toppings.

I'm through the worst of the yuck and back to almost normal. Of course, that means something else went sideways. In my case, our older doggo ended up with an emergency trip to the vet because her congestion got so bad her eye swelled up. She's on a steroid and broad-spectrum antibiotic and already seems to be much better already.

I'm slowly getting caught up on my work projects. I need to review the details of two new ones now that my brain isn't in sludge mode. I'm pretty excited about my last quarter of work projects for 2025.

Had an okay viewing week. I didn't quite make it through the whole slate of shows. Lower Decks and Reacher didn't make this week's window.

I did watch another episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm working my way through season two and I'm enjoying the conflict and tension because it's a real-life quandary. I love Mac for being a voice of reason.

Caught another Foyle's War episode and this is one I'd forgotten. It's so weird how a lot of the themes of this show, which is twenty-some odd years old, are so very prevalent today. Humans are slow learners sometimes.

Death in Paradise ended up being very enjoyable. I'm really not sure about this new police commissioner other than he's way too smarmy and utter unlikable.

Poirot entertained with a way back episode showing how Hastings and Poirot kind of got their start together. Very much enjoyed this one.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed the twisty turns it took. Also loved Joan solving the neighbor issue. Love to see that kind of stuff.

Caught another Batman Beyond and it's one I didn't really remember either. Quite enjoyed the rewatch.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Zoning in the VZ, the final book in the V-World trilogy.

Here's the miniblurb:

With Nemesis no longer wreaking havoc in V-World, Augustus Serrano can't celebrate a job well done until he rescues Santina McGovern who doesn't know her boss is no longer in play. Scared for her life, Santina is zoning—sending out multiple copies of herself to engage the grid—and the longer she stays in the harder her return to reality will be. Augustus has to earn her trust and help her get out before she's shredded in the VZ.

And a sneaky peek…

Santina McGovern inhabited a submersion chamber providing nutrients, oxygen, and water to her physical form while encased in a cocoon of synthetic body armor. The setup might be the only way to zone in the VZ safely.

Or as safe as anyone could be when they didn't want to be found.

Her scenario aka her personal sanctuary—a little cottage nestled in a green glade—brought joy to her heart and calm to her mind.

Bringing a mug of tea to her lips, she snorted. "And somewhere Nemesis would never look for me." After all, she came from the city streets and back alleys where darkness reigned supreme. "It's how I got hooked up with Nemesis in the first place." She took a bracing sip of the fragrant brew.

She'd wanted a way out of the dank, dingy confines of the no-rent slop houses and cheap rooming shacks. Nemesis provided a path to freedom.

"And didn't that work out fucking wonderful for me?"

The price of liberation ended up being a yoke of oppressive surveillance by the genius madman.

But she'd wormed her way out from under him.

By helping his enemies.

Her lips curved. "At least they're out from under his ever-watchful eye." Too bad she couldn't say the same.

But for now? She had a haven and half a plan. Even if the method would probably end her life at some point.

The cottage gave her refuge. A place to recoup, regroup, and reflect. She'd filled every nook and cranny with comfortable things. Items that made her happy and soothed the inner turmoil of her mind. And she had no idea how long she'd manage to keep it active.

An alert sounded, and she settled on the edge of the sofa, closed her eyes, and focused her inner will. Several moments later, a copy of her appeared. Santina had gone a little punk rock with this version and clad her cloned self in ripped leggings, black combat boots, a threadbare red tee over a black bra and a red and white zebra moto jacket. Heavy pewter eyeliner rimmed her eyes and her hair spiked up and out in multiple directions. Piercings lined her ears, eyebrows, one side of her lip, and her nose. Her nails were matte black and a little shredded.

The copy lifted one corner of her lip in snarl, flipped up her middle finger, and left the cottage.

Santina's eyes slid shut, and she swayed before toppling to one side. Each time she made a new version of herself, she got a little bit weaker. She'd had to slow down because the multiples were out there living their best lives and each time something significant happened, Santina experienced the scenario right along with her copy. Sometimes that worked out well … other times not so much.

She slowly sat upright again. "I gotta be careful." If one of her versions died, Santina had to absorb the black energy.

But she had the foresight to write code that protected her. She created a buffer. But each time one of her copies died, the buffer got smaller. If the shielding went below a certain point, she'd be shredded.

And … each time she sent a replica out, she lost a little more of herself. "I can't keep this up forever." She hoped she wouldn't have to.

Honestly … she feared she might not be able to keep it up long enough to outrun Nemesis.

But she'd damn well try.

I'm kind of excited about this trilogy and I hope I can make more progress on book two so more pieces can fall into place in book three.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Zipper Incident

Yeah, rough week. The cold, virus, some other kind of ick from the last post definitely kicked my ass this week. I did manage one of my client calls but had to reschedule the other one. I had no voice and couldn't breathe through all the congestion. Bleh.

The good news is I'm feeling much better. I think everything kind of broke on Friday. I slept a good portion of the day on Saturday. And my head doesn't feel like it weighs ninety pounds anymore.

I got very little accomplished on my work projects last week. I got some reading done but I'll probably review to make sure I didn't miss anything in my notes. I didn't get a lot of editing completed mainly because I feared missing important things. Back to work this week at double-time.

I had an okay viewing week. Very nice to have something on in the background while I tried to focus on the few things I managed to work on.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I loved this episode because it marked the first time Jack owned his feelings for Phryne. I also love that he didn't even consider the possibility of trying to use his feelings to change her or ask her to be something she isn't. That's one of the reasons this show holds such a big place in my heart.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War. I remembered this one and appreciated how it didn't shy away from there being good and bad people and things at the beginning of the war in England.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm warming up to Wilson and I'm enjoying how Naomi is finding her footing with him. I also love Rose and ability to stumble onto exactly what they need for the case. I'm looking forward to Wilson and Naomi digging into his mother's death, which does appear to be more than a tragic accident.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I like it when the mystery isn't a murder, but it's still twisted and tricky. And I love Hastings. Just saying.

Caught another episode of Elementary. It's kind of nice to see Sherlock interested in someone so neurodivergent. Did seem weird that Joan went middle-school student on the idea, but maybe the writers were trying to show their progression? I liked the mystery with this one.

Watched another Batman Beyond. I actually didn't remember this episode so it was nice to dive into a new-to-me story.

Enjoyed another episode of Lower Decks. I might be past the hump on the annoying factor. Great to see Boimler back with the crew and I love the reason for it. I truly do enjoy the callbacks to previous series and episodes. That's so much fun.

Finished up the episode of Reacher I started last week. I'm excited to see what this season brings. I'm also trying to remember that two plus years have passed since the last time Reacher and Neaghly were together.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Zipper Incident, a sexy short that nudges a couple in the right direction.

Here's the miniblurb:

Layne Donaker makes a grave error when she mistakenly uses a super adhesive on Hyde Scarlotti's zippers—all of them, including his flight suit. Hyde is beyond done with her stupid pranks and calls her out in front of the entire crew, which Layne doesn't take kindly.

And a sneaky peek…

Entering the brig cell, Layne flexed her jaw, trying to soothe the stinging burn from the punch. "Clearly, someone doesn't know how to label things correctly." Or maybe you misread the bottle because you were too drunk…

She ruthlessly squashed her internal voice.

She stomped over to the bunk and slumped down, bracing her shoulders on the wall.

Hyde followed her inside and she jerked up to a sitting position. "What the hell? Why can't you take number two?" She didn't need to share space with him right now.

Hyde only arched his brows.

Lance Corporal Janz Mayhew answered her question. "Following orders, Ensign. Apparently, the CO thinks if you're going to act like children, he'll put you in timeout until you can learn to use your words instead of throwing punches." He locked the door and turned toward the watch station, whistling a peppy tune.

Layne sighed. "Perfect." But not surprising … nothing else had gone right since yesterday's promotion celebration.

Hyde nudged her knee. "Scoot and make room."

She frowned. "Why should I?"

He gave her a long stare. "Why shouldn't you? Do you see anyplace else to sit?"

Her gaze flicked toward the toilet. If he wanted to have a seat…

Hyde growled. "Don't even. Move your ass down." He sat on the very edge and started edging closer to her.

Layne huffed out a breath. "Fine. Whatever." She slid down almost to the other edge of the bunk.

Hyde leaned back, his head resting on the wall. Layne shot him a sideways glance. She should probably apologize yet couldn't quite put one together. Guilt licked at her conscience, but she hadn't meant to completely ruin his stuff. Just her luck when one of her pranks went completely off the rails, it landed on Hyde … the last person she really wanted to harm.

Even if he made her angry.

A few minutes later, Hyde angled his head toward her. "Why are you so out of control? What's your problem?" His voice held no censure, only curiosity.

Layne shrugged. "I don't have a problem." Not one she wanted to share at the moment.

Hyde tsked. "Yeah, you do." He sat up and turned to the side. "It's being passed over for promotion, right?"

She could own that one. "A little. Even though I get it. I'm not nearly as by the book as you are." And probably never would be.

Hyde nodded. "True. But why target me?" He held her gaze. "Your time will come." He didn't have any doubt in his tone.

And didn't that turn the lick of guilt into a pretty strong flame? He truly believed she'd move up the ranks just like him. And, yeah, she would. Eventually.

But none of that actually concerned her. Not much anyway. Hyde moving on without her did.

Ugh … she had to be honest, even if she feared saying the words aloud.

She got up and paced the floor. "I don't know. Maybe because I don't want you to forget me." Or leave her behind.

Hyde rolled his eyes. "As if." He snorted.

She stopped and threw a hand out. "See … I knew you wouldn't understand." And she really didn't want to explain.

Because she only this moment realized how much the thought of losing him terrified her.

Pretty happy with how this story is coming together. I love it when feelings finally hit hard for my characters.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye