Sunday Snippet: Healing the Wound

Whew. Rough week. The nasty cold bit down hard, and I struggled to get through any and everything. I think I finally kicked the worst of it yesterday. Got a solid eight hours of sleep and only woke up twice coughing. The three days before? Only got two to three hours of sleep at a time before the coughing fits would wake me up and I couldn't get back to sleep. Not fun.

The tire drama is finally at an end. Now it's on to brakes for my car. That's still going to be a November problem.

We got our first cold snap and finally had to turn the furnace on today. I'm usually good until the interior of the house hits the low sixties. Woke to sixty-two degrees and, yeah, kicked the thermostat to heat. Pretty sure we'll be back in the seventies by the middle of the week and I'll turn it off again … hopefully until November.

Work projects were rough this week, mainly because of my cold. The whole fuzzy bunny slippers in my head feeling doesn't match well with trying to read words and edit manuscripts. I did finish up a proofread and started a copy edit. I also reviewed the opening chapters of a manuscript for a potential new client. I have an evaluation I need to work on and should be able to start hitting that one hard this week.

Had a semi-okay viewing week. I didn't make it all the way through my regular slate of shows because of the aforementioned cold, but I got most of the way through.

Started with Marple and I'm warming up to the new actress playing the role. She's not quite as snappy as the previous actress but she embodies Jane just the same.

Watched another episode of Britain's Most Scenic Counties and enjoyed the various stops in Cheshire. If I had to pick between Kent and Cheshire, I'd lean toward Kent, but Cheshire is gaining momentum.

Caught an episode of Return to Paradise and I can honestly say this season is kind of knocking it out of the park. The emotional upheaval of Mac being back in Paradise Cove is so well done. I love her interactions with Philomena are amazing.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot and continue to love his friendship with Ariadne. I think I have two episodes left of this version of the show. Looking forward to those.

Elementary had another great episode. I'm enjoying the way the show is weaving in outside elements to the case and tying them together.

I also did some binge watching of Death in Paradise per usual. Sometimes it's nice to have a comfort show on in the background.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Healing the Wound, a novella that puts a bit of a roadblock into a couple's journey for their happily ever after.

Here's the miniblurb:

Jenna Creed loses the love of her life and blames Thorp Waggoner. She needs to stop living in the past and Thorp wants to be the man she moves forward with, which means Jenna has a very big problem.

And a sneaky peek…

Thorp scrubbed a hand over his face. "Six weeks in this hellhole and we finally get the call to head back." His biggest problem? "Too bad the enemy had a month and a half to boobytrap the terrain between here and the egress point." His gaze scrutinized the map on the table.

Mick entered the armored transport-turned-makeshift base of operations. "I got the updated chart with tentative hot spots." He placed a rolled parchment on the surface.

After unrolling, Thorp glanced up. "What's your assessment?" He trusted Mick's opinion on the placement of improvised explosive devices.

Mick shrugged. "Gonna be a bitch to get out of here … but there's one clear path, if my estimations are good." His finger traced a winding route through the desert scrub between their temporary camp and the mid-sized city, which would be their egress.

Thorp pointed to a section where Handler had a series of black hash marks. "Is this what I think it is?" The placement indicated string of IEDs along a perimeter of the closest village's entrance road.

Mick nodded. "Yeah. Pretty damn bold to basically fuck anyone trying to enter or leave by this route." He frowned and heaved a sigh.

Thorp shook his head. "We can't leave live devices behind. Right now, they have our protection. When we leave, that's done." He tapped a staccato on the page weighing their options.

Mick shifted on his feet. "Don't have time to defuse all of them. But … if my guess is right, we only need to take out one." His boots creaked on the metal floor.

Thorp let out a grunt. "What are the odds? I mean how sure are you that disarming one will cancel out the others?" Big risk to take and not get it right.

Handler lifted shoulder. "'Bout ninety percent." He jabbed a finger at the X farthest from the road. "Not here. Pretty sure if we go about three in, we'll cover the chain."

Thorp met Handler's gaze. "This can't be done during daylight. That means someone will have to stay behind and make their way to the egress on their own." Only two people in the unit had the skill to pull off both disarming and getting to their extraction zone.

Mick gave a nod. "Gimme the order, sir. I can make this happen."

The responsibility didn't sit well with Thorp … but the pullout would leave the villagers in a shitty position. Mick had the ability, and he'd proven to be a valuable asset on this operation. In fact, Thorp respected the hell out of the man Mick had become.

They'd never be best friends because of their shared past. And Mick had the one thing Thorp never would.

Jenna Creed.

The thought didn't stab as hard as Thorp thought it would. But it did prick against his skin. What might have been resided in his head sometimes. Usually late at night when he wondered if he'd chosen the right path.

Mick cleared his throat. "Sir? Clock's ticking." He arched his brows.

Thorp lifted his chin. "You've got the order. We'll hold extraction for twelve hours unless we get word from you." That would give Handler time to defuse and make tracks.

Mick's lips twitched. "If I fail, you'll know. Won't be any way to muffle the explosion." He snapped to attention. "Twelve hours. See you on the ride home." He saluted and headed out of the transport.

Thorp scanned the parchment and uploaded the image to the dashboard of the vehicle. He gave the signal for everyone to get aboard then made his way to the front so he could collapse the enclosures and secure the equipment. Once his team were in their seats, he motioned for the driver to head out.

He also sent a positive thought out to the universe. The unknown always made him uneasy and the last-minute change of plan made his shoulders itch.

This one is taking some unexpected turns and I'm here for them.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Haven't We Met Like This Before

Heh, so far the bumps have not smoothed over in October. But … that could have more to do with the yucky cold I picked up from the husband. It's like I have fuzzy slippers in my head, and I'm not a fan.

Our tire trauma is still ongoing. I now have four tires paid for and the appointment is scheduled for this week. I still have to have my front and rear rotors and pads replaced as soon as possible also. That might end up being a November problem. I do want to get that managed before we start getting snow.

Still having fairly mild weather. I love having an actual fall. I'm hoping we're not having fake fall, and we'll end up with ninety degree days again. But won't be surprised if it happens.

Had a decent work week even with the cold. I'm moving slowly on the evaluation, but the book is pretty interesting. Finished up a copy edit and started a proofread. I'm hoping to finish the proofread later today. I also need to hit my backburner project that I keep putting on hold.

Had a sketchy viewing week. Between the cold and other things going on, I didn't quite make it through my usual line up. I did do a binge watch of Death in Paradise.

Started with Marple and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. Very fun to see the mystery unfold and watch Jane piece everything together. Fun watching experience.

Watched another episode of Britain's Most Scenic Counties. I'm enjoying Cheshire. There are a lot of interesting bits and bobs. While the white cliffs of Dover in Kent definitely draw attention, there seems to be more urban adventures in Cheshire.

Enjoyed an episode of Return to Paradise. I'm very much on the fence with Mac and Glenn's interactions. Watching her calm him down was a lot of fun. Knife-thick tension there. Also really enjoyed getting some insight to Colin's past in this one.

Caught another episode of Poirot and, wow, what an adventure. Thoroughly enjoyed seeing the band get back together. I've missed Hastings, Lemon, and Japp.

Elementary had a terrific episode. Glad to see Sherlock somewhat back to his old self. I loved how much confidence he has in Joan's ability to be a great parent. Also quite liked the interactions between Joan and the pregnant mom. What a great episode.

Started an episode of Young Justice but ran out of steam. I'll finish it up this week. I think I remember this one or at least parts of it.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Haven't We Met Like This Before, a novella that follows the casual relationship that might turn into something more.

Here's the miniblurb:

Reese meets Hallie, his brother's flight school roommate, when he bails her out of hack. Seven years later, they meet under similar circumstances on his father's ship.

And a sneaky peek…

Reese landed his falcon and sped through the post-flight checklist. "Thanks, specialist. I gotta go find my brother." Alec should be on ship by now.

The specialist nodded. "You'll want to head for the comm station. He said something about checking in with the wife." She tucked the panel under her arm and stepped aside.

Reese lifted his chin and tracked Alec down. Sure enough, he had Jenvie on the monitor. Reese said hello and congratulated her upcoming motherhood.

Jenvie rolled her eyes. "I'm so ready. Alec's pulling his weight and half of mine right now." She shifted her position on the bed. "I really can't wait to be a mom … and not have to stay in bed all the time."

Alec laughed. "I'll remind you of this conversation when we're up all night with the kid."

Reese stepped back and let Alec finish the call. He couldn't how settled his brother ended up being. Unlike Reese. He hadn't had time to go long-term with anyone. But he did meet Hallie whenever he could. He wondered if he'd bump into her. Her name and reputation were bandied about. A lot.

He debated the wisdom of getting tangled up with her on a regular basis. He'd maintained a clean record, mainly to keep his old man off his back. But he'd met Hallie as often as their careers allowed. And, frankly, it got harder each time to not ask for more, even if neither of them had been in a place where more could happen.

Alec slapped Reese on the shoulder. "Let's go. We've got a photo op to pose for."

Which thankfully didn't take long. Alec waited for Reese while their dad pulled him aside for a quick conversation.

Victor pitched his voice low. "Reese, I want to put you in for a command. You made captain, and you're ready to lead a crew."

Reese had zero desire to captain a ship or follow in his dad's footsteps. "Thanks, Dad. Appreciate the thought, but let's talk about it later. This is your moment, not mine." He made his farewell and promised to see Victor after the ceremony.

Meeting Alec by the hatch, Reese scanned the corridors for Hallie, hoping to at least see her.

Alec nudged him. "Stop looking for her. She's in hack." He rolled his eyes. "What else is new?" He paused at the juncture of the next causeway. "You should go say hello." Leaning in, he pitched his voice low. "And, bro, it's been seven years. Time to figure shit out or get off the ride. If you want to go for it with Hallie, do it. The old man is retiring, which means you can walk your own path now. Screw the whole following in his footsteps bullshit. It's never been what you wanted to do." He slapped Reese on the back and pointed to the corridor leading to the brig before he headed in the opposite direction.

Reese huffed out a breath. "When the hell did my pain in the ass brother get wise?" Probably the day he married Jenvie.

Reese shrugged and made his way down the causeway. His lips twitched with the memory of meeting her for the first time. It looked like he'd be pulling some strings to get her out of hack again.

Very much enjoy writing this one. Reese and Hallie are a fun couple who aren't an actual couple yet.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hart's Masquerade (a Specter Station novella)

It's spooky month!! Kind of happy to the end of September. It was definitely a rough month. October is starting with a few bumps but here's hoping they'll smooth over soon.

Got my new tires and what a difference. Hit a snag with the husband's tires. We can't do two. It's all-wheel drive so they'll only replace all four. Sigh. We now have to wait until this weekend to get them replaced. Tires are expensive.

Had truly lovely weather. Mild temperatures that feel like fall are such a surprise. I'm not holding my breath that we won't end up with a big spike again, so I'm enjoying while I can.

Had a decent work week. Had another super challenging copy edit but got through it. Almost finished up with the evaluation read through. And I might be able to get back to my lingering project, which needs attention. I'm also hoping to make headway on my side project, which I'd really like to launch soon.

Good viewing week. I made it through my usual group of shows. I also included two binge marathons of Death in Paradise. The show makes me happy.

Began with Marple. Interesting episode that had some wild twists and turns. Very fun to see Tom Baker on screen.

Started the new season of Britain's Most Scenic Counties and enjoyed the introduction to Cheshire. Another area I'd love to visit at some point.

Caught another episode of Return to Paradise and enjoyed the mystery. Also really enjoyed seeing Mackenzie try to figure out the appeal of dating apps. Loved the interaction between her and the team also.

Watched an episode of Poirot and I'm really enjoying Ariadne Oliver. She's such a fun character. The mystery also ended up being twisty, which I also enjoyed.

Elementary had a great episode. I'm enjoying Sherlock's challenge with recovering from the concussion. Not sure how I feel about the serial killer getting away. Kind of hoping he gets caught without taking out anyone else.

Enjoyed another episode of Young Justice. I remembered some of this one and liked the pacing of the plot. Always fun to see Wally learn life lessons.

Caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and loved the callbacks to Next Generation and Voyager. This show knows how to pay homage to its ancestors.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Hart's Masquerade, a Specter Spacestation novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

Wicek Hart deals in precious gemstones throughout the galaxy and he's the premier wholesale supplier for jewelry boutiques. Nettie Strand is an accomplished jewel thief, but only because she's trying to reclaim her family's stolen property. Wicek smells a setup when Nettie applies for the job as spokesperson for the gala event to be held on Specter Station, his new base of operations, during the Lover's Holiday. Nettie knows the business inside and out and Wicek takes a chance by hiring Nettie, if only to keep a very close eye on her actions.

And a sneaky peek…

Wicek liked Nettie Strand and couldn't wait to hear her story.

Nettie rose from the loveseat, her shoulders squared. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Hart." She turned away. "I appreciate it." Taking a step forward, she started for the outer office.

Wicek came to his feet. "Hold on, Ms. Strand." He moved around the ottoman. "Wouldn't you like to know your starting salary?" His lips twitched.

Nettie whipped around. "My what? You're—" She broke off, shaking her head, shock in her eyes.

Wicek grinned. "Yes, I'm hiring you." He waited a beat. "But I have one condition." An important one.

Nettie exhaled slowly and met his gaze. "And that would be…" A note of wary caution entered her voice.

Wicek motioned for her to sit back down. "Tell me why." When she frowned, he clarified "You pulled the heists. You're too intelligent for there not to be a reason, and my guess is it's gotta be a good one."

Nettie's eyes closed and she gave a nod. "I didn't technically steal the nine pieces. I reclaimed them for their rightful owner." Her voice took on a hard edge.

His curiosity went off the chart.

Leaning forward, he withdrew another list. "I did some digging. The items all belonged in a collection owned by the Bettrici family. At least at one time." How did she connect?

Nellie lifted her chin. "That's right. The ownership goes back multiple generations and several centuries."

Wicek cocked his head. "How do you know so much about the collection?"

Nettie huffed out a breath. "That's easy. The listed owner is Sophia Bettrici, and she's my maternal grandmother." She paused a moment, her fingers curling into her palms. "And it's my fault her collection is scattered across the galaxy."

Wicek leaned back and got comfortable. "You might as well tell me all of it then." Yep. She's definitely got a story.

I'm having so much fun with this story and this series. Gotta get cracking so I can get them out into the world.

 

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

ML Skye