Sunday Snippet: Forever Young

December 27, 2015

Well, it's my last snippet post of the year and I'm happy to note I didn't miss a week. That's a goal achievement I'm proud of.

Going into 2016, I have quite a few projects on tap for release and I'm very excited about those, too. I may roll a new weekly blog feature or try a newsletter this year. If anyone is interested, please don't hesitate to contact me to be added to the list.

Not much on the television front this week. I watched the finales for The Librarians and Agent X. According to my google fu, Agent X isn't renewed for another season, which is kind of disappointing. Since there are only ten episodes, I may try my hand at recapping the one and only season. We'll see what time allows.

On a side note, I did enjoy the Doctor Who Christmas special. It's my fondest hope I can get into the new season when it premieres, but I don't hold out much hope. The heart of the show is missing for me and unless the Doctor gets a truly marvelous companion, I doubt I'll be interested or able to keep with the all the cleverness Moffat tries to weave.

Oh, well. Looking forward to my favorite shows returning and having more to chat about each week.

Tonight's post is from Forever Young, a novella where my couple meets under crazy circumstances.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gabe McTavish meets the woman of his dreams. Too bad she's his brother's date.

And a snippety peek…

The throbbing beat of the bass line almost blew Gabe back out into the parking lot. Zak would pick the place that played the loudest music in the city. Gabe stepped inside and let his eyes adjust to the neon-lit glow of the interior and scanned the bar for Zak. Spotted him by the dart boards, no sign of his latest and greatest anywhere.

Maybe she got wise and stood Zak up.

Gabe meandered through the crowd and reached Zak's table. His brother waved to the waitress and ordered two cold beers and a shot of whiskey.

Gabe dropped onto the stool opposite his brother, frowning. "Who's the whiskey for?" Whiskey, beer and Zak did not make a good mix.

"That would be for me." The owner of the voice slid onto the remaining seat. She stuck out her hand. "Tara Lowes."

Gabe prayed his shock didn't show. Tara Lowes didn't fit his brother's criteria at all. Dark hair, pulled back in a sleek ponytail, barely a trace of make-up on an extremely pretty face… not that she needed any for her classic features. High cheek bones, a straight nose and pointed chin. She also appeared about two cup sizes too small for Zak's usual pick of the month. Didn't stop Gabe from admiring the way she filled out the fitted t-shirt she wore. He shot his brother a look, but Zak only shrugged.

A new leaf, maybe?

Gabe took Tara's proffered hand and… oh, shit. Zing! Flash! A jolt of electric current shot straight through him. Fuck. Uh, uh. No way. Not the reaction he should have when meeting his sibling's newest love interest.

His gaze narrowed and sure as shit, Tara felt it, too. Her eyes went wide and a breath hitched in her throat. She muttered a quiet expletive. "Ah, damn."

Zak angled in close. "Tara? You okay?"

She blinked, but kept her gaze focused on Gabe. "Um, yeah." Her hand slid free and she shook her head. "Yeah. I'm fine." Her head turned toward Zak. "But I gotta be honest, Zak. We won't be going out after tonight." She looked back toward Gabe.

Zak cracked a resigned smile and leaned back against the wall. "I sorta had a feeling." He slid his gaze to Gabe then back to Tara. "You're way more his type than mine." He waved a waitress over and ordered a round of drinks.

Gabe's mouth dropped open. "You set me up?" He didn't quite like the idea.

Zak lifted his hands. "No way, bro. Tara's hot and I took a shot." He drained the dregs of beer in his mug. "The lady prefers you." Lifting a brow, he asked. "Tell me you don't feel the same?"

Gabe opened his mouth to deny it, but couldn't. He wanted to pursue the spark. Way too long since he'd felt anything instant like that. He wisely shut his yap.

Zak smirked. "I thought so." He tilted his head toward Tara. "Seriously, my brother's not a mute. You've rendered him speechless, is all."

Gabe shot Zak a glare then focused on Tara. "Rule number one. Never listen to Zak." He clapped his brother on the back. "The guy has no clue."

Zak rolled his eyes and paid for the fresh drinks.

Tara chuckled. "I'll try to remember that." She eased up onto the barstool. "So… anything else I should know?"

Honestly, I love this one because it flashes back and forth between past and present.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Holly Hollow, An Organic Nature Short

*meep* Pardon me while I have a small panic attack. It's somehow five days before Xmas and I have nothing wrapped. This doesn't happen, at least not for a long time. All I can say is the sages have been prolific and when they're feeding me words, I pretty much lose all track of time. So… a whirlwind wrapping session is on tap starting first thing tomorrow. Ugh.

I missed the Haven finale. See previous comment about the sages feeding me words. I'll catch it on demand in the near future. I hope. LOL

The Librarians and Agent X had pretty great episodes this week. I'm also in a good mood after watching the magic and mayhem the librarians get involved in. And Agent X makes the conspiracy theorist part of my brain work to figure things out. Two hour finale next week and I'm definitely interested in where the season ends.

That's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Holly Hollow, an Organic Nature Short featuring Eppie and Vin in a Christmas story.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Eppie's business turned its best holiday profit yet and Vin wants to whisk her off for a celebration at Holly Hollow, a secluded B&B. The insane pace from Thanksgiving to December twenty-third has Eppie in a bah humbug mood and Vin wants to put a smile back on her face.

And a snippety peek…

Eppie put the last of the chocolate peppermint rolls in the delivery box and heaved a sigh. She stacked the smaller container in the large bin she'd use for delivery and carried the items to the enclosed porch where she'd been storing the orders to keep them cool. Entering the house, she found Vin cleaning up the kitchen. The man amazed her, especially after she'd been in full on Grinch mode most of the week.

Her shoulders slumped and fatigue seeped in. Since Thanksgiving, Organic Nature kept her going nonstop. She loved the explosion of popularity, but holy Christmas trees, she hadn't planned for almost doubling her orders and sales from last year. She certainly couldn't and shouldn't complain, her wildest dreams were coming true, after all.

The business turned a profit and she could expand into new lines earlier than she expected. Vin's suggestion she hire some help would be under serious consideration. No, it would happen, because she loved what she did for a living and wanted to succeed. Just not at the cost of losing herself in the process. And not if she turned into a raving lunatic.

Her lack of preparation showed in her snappish behavior. Thankfully, Vin had been a trooper, giving her some space when she got too Scrooge-like—which had been a lot. Gads.

She tilted her head to one side, admiring the way his ass filled out his jeans. She hadn't seen enough of his naked butt lately—totally her fault, of course.

Clearing her throat, she wondered aloud. "Why on earth do you put up with me?"

Vin didn't turn from his task. "Because I love you." His head angled around. "Okay with you if I finish up here?" He rinsed off a glass baking dish. "You look wiped." He thrust his hands back into the sink.

Eppie moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'll grab a shower then." She gave him a tight squeeze, grateful to have him around. "Thanks."

He craned his neck but kept his hands in the water. "You're welcome, Ep." He held her gaze a long moment then dropped a kiss on her nose. "I'll meet you in bed with some hot chamomile tea."

Who wouldn't want a guy who washes dishes and delivers tea? LOL Eppie is one lucky girl.

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin

Mistletoe and Holly—Holly Hollow: An Organic Nature Short #MistletoeHop

Sponsored by Romance Beckons

Enter for a chance to win an awesome prize!

Grab your mistletoe and pucker up!

Welcome to the Mistletoe Hop, an excellent sampling of authors sharing short excerpts from their work.

Readers: Please enjoy the steamy snippets and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link. Enter by leaving a comment for a chance to receive a free copy.

Bloggers: Please check out the excellent previews and spread the word.

~*~

My favorite family tradition started about ten years ago. I got the wild hair idea to have a themed holiday tree. I had my oldest kiddo pick the theme and we came up with ideas for how to make ornaments and use things around the house to decorate. To date we've had Under the Sea, Buried Treasure, Nature's Bounty, Candy Land, Snowflakes and Cupcakes, Techno Tree, Imaginext, Noah's Ark, Seahawks Rule—much to the chagrin of my Browns loving husband, and Bells are Ringing.

This year my daughter got to choose and she wanted to do something a little vintage. We've decorated a white tree with old fashioned looking ornaments in jewel tones. She hasn't really named it yet, but I've been calling it our Vintage Jewel tree. It's really quite lovely.

After getting the tree decorated, my favorite 'me' tradition is to turn on some seasonal music, get a glass of wine or cup of tea, and decompress by reading a holiday romance. It's a nice little respite from the crazy schedules, piles of presents, and butt-loads of wrapping paper waiting in the wings.

~*~

Traditions are wonderful things. But what happens when you can't follow an established one? Or you don't have any in the first place? When writing as Skylin O'Thomas, I tend to focus on contemporary romance, with couples who have challenges to face, but find love nonetheless. They also celebrate the season and keep their holiday spirit, or find it by the end of the story.

My holiday release, Holly Hollow, an Organic Nature Short, features Eppie and Vin, an established couple who work through their challenges. Holly Hollow picks up a month after Turkey Trot ends and sees Eppie stressed out and crazy from very satisfying

I had so much fun writing the book and I'm giving a digital copy away for this blog hop. Please leave a comment for your entry and share your favorite part of the holiday season. (Maybe it involves books!)

~*~

Series Tagline: Eppie and Vin are brought together by Organic Nature

Book Tagline: For Presley, waking up between Gunnar and Frazier is one way to be merry and bright.

~*~

Vin Derbish hit send and didn't wait long for an answer. "Dani? Hey, it's Vin." He paced back and forth, a little nervous about going to Eppie's sister behind her back. "Would you mind if I steal Eppie over Christmas?" He didn't want to cut into family time, but Eppie needed a break.

Dani snorted. "You mean the Ebenezer crone that used to be my bubbly sister?"

Vin's eye widened. "You've noticed the wild mood swings, too?" Although, of course, Dani would see the change in Eppie.

Dani sighed. "Oh, definitely. She's trying to do too much on her own."

Vin agreed wholeheartedly. "Right. I suggested she hire some extra help, just for a week or two, and I swear I thought her head was going to spin around and pop off." He grimaced. "First night I've spent alone, wondering if we were okay." Only his ex-girlfriend's Thanksgiving Day stunt gave him the free fall feeling of uncertainty, which Eppie cleared up right away.

Thank the universe.

Dani commiserated. "When I've gone over to wrap presents for the kids, she's been snapping and snarling after closing up for the day, which isn't like her at all." She laughed. "Maybe being a dancing sugar plum fairy during working hours is draining her holiday cheer." Her voice lowered. "But you've nailed it, Vin. She needs some help when it's really busy."

Vin finally sat down at his kitchen table. "Didn't help she sold out of so much—the hand milled soaps, essential oils, and body lotions. I mean she stayed up until after two a.m. making more." His offer to help fell on deaf ears and earned him a nasty look.

Dani agreed. "Yeah, I helped her out with the edible items. The pumpkin butter and cranberry sauce sold like hot cakes."

Vin pinched the bridge of his noses. "It's a good problem to have, but she's stressing out. The pumpkin rolls she made for Thanksgiving delivery got a lot of Christmas Eve repeat business for the chocolate peppermint rolls. And that's where stealing her comes in." Once Eppie filled the last of her orders, he wanted her to have a stress-free holiday.

Dani's voice took on a conspiratorially tone. "What's your plan?"

~*~

Series Blurb: Eppie Collins runs an organic gardening business from a farm she inherited from her grandmother. She's spent four years getting the product mix just right, the financials into the black, and avoiding romantic entanglements. Vinson  Derbish is a local contractor who just got out of a merry-go-round relationship. He promised to give the female population a wide berth, but can't resist Eppie's sassy charm. He's ready to take another plunge, but has to convince Eppie he's the man for her.

Book Blurb: Eppie's business turned its best holiday profit yet and Vin wants to whisk her off for a celebration at Holly Hollow, a secluded B&B. The insane pace from Thanksgiving to December twenty-third has Eppie in a bah humbug mood and Vin wants to put a smile back on her face.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website http://www.skyewrites.com

Get into the holiday spirit and relax! Visit the other participating authors.

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Sunday Snippet: Follow Instructions

Argh!!! The Flash, Arrow, and Agents of SHIELD left off at cliffhangery moments. But what awesome episodes!!! I have lots and lots of thoughts, but won't share here for the sake of saving some space. LOL

Haven has one more week and will end on a double episode. I truly hope it ends well, mainly because I've been with the show since the very beginning.

The Librarians and Agent X are still entertaining me. I really enjoyed last week's Agent X and can't wait to see what happens this week. Gotta say the actor playing the foil in last week's episode is making the rounds. He's been on a lot of shows I've been watching.

Looking forward to Agent Carter coming soon. I love the format and the entire cast of characters. Can't wait.

That's it for the TV roundup this week.

Tonight's post is from Follow Instructions, a sexy short where my heroine helps my hero through a tough spot.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Risa Pym and Ford Thrummond, fellow paramedics, enjoy playing one-upmanship with each other, using sexy banter to bank the fires of their attraction. A slight mishap occurs when Ford exits their squad, and Risa decides it's time he learns the ins and outs of how to use the grips properly… and not so properly.

And a snippety peek...

The wail of the wind sounded worse than the siren used earlier. And the rain continued almost blowing sideways. A crappy day all around.

"God, this weather sucks." Risa Pym glanced out the back window of the ambulance.

Ford Thrummond snorted. "You always say that unless the sun is shining and it's seventy-five degrees." He couldn't resist a grin when she rolled her eyes.

Risa should move to a moderate climate state instead of living in Ohio where the weather often changed every fifteen minutes. Then again, if she left… well, he wouldn't want her to move far away. The rig pulled into the station house and Risa had the back doors open before the overheads finished closing.

Ford shook his head. "What's your hurry?" He'd worked with her long enough to know why she rushed out of the rig.

She turned, a brow arched. "Are you kidding? With that wind and rain? You know we're gonna get another call." Jumping down, she started toward the cleaning equipment. "Sooner rather than later. And you know I can't deal with a messy medic."

Ford chuckled. Her brain didn't function when the back of the ambulance got chaotic with supplies, equipment, and gear out of place. Worse yet, when rain, snow, mud, or dust littered the floors or any other surface. Currently, there were leaves all over the place from the gusty winds.

He moved forward to exit the back when Risa wheeled a bucket and mop over.

She made a noise. "Be careful—"

His hand grasped the rail and he made a motion to step out but his foot flew out from under him, missing the step and landing hard on the concrete floor. He jarred and rolled his ankle then went down to his knee, pain radiating outward from the twisted limb.

Risa hissed out a breath. "Shit. Are you okay?" She dropped down beside him, already assessing the injury.

Her hands pushed lightly and he winced. Not okay. No doubt, he'd sprained the ankle, possibly even fractured the bone.

He glanced up. "I have no idea what the hell happened." Other than making an idiot out of himself.

Risa grimaced. "A wet railing and your foot on a pile of leaves doesn't make a good combo." She met his gaze. "Looks like we're going out again sooner instead of later." Standing, she went to the second ambulance, popped the back door, and grabbed a gear bag. "Let's get you splinted up and over to the ED for an x-ray." Her lips twitched. "I would ask if you wanted the full treatment, but I'm sure we can take the SUV instead."

He sent her a scathing look. "Damned right we will. I am not going to the emergency department in the back of a medic." He'd walk first.

Risa shook her head and started to get the splint around his ankle. "What is it with the male members of the fire service? We haul patients in the back of the medic all the time."

Ford grunted. "Yeah, well, I'm not a patient and I don't need a full crew for a stupid sprained ankle."

Risa finished with the splint and laughed. "You're right about not being patient. Think you can manage to wait two minutes while I fill in the lieutenant?"

Ford gave her a smirk. "I can try. But you get two minutes before I hot wire the vehicle and drive myself."

She snorted. "Yeah, I'd like to see you make it the SUV in two minutes, but whatever." Bending down, she met his gaze. "Seriously, Ford. Chill until I get back, okay?"

He nodded. The concerned look in her eyes had him wondering if he had more than a sprain.

Her lips curved in a half smile. "Sit tight. Be right back."

Like he had anywhere he could go.

I love writing when a couple discovers and acts on their attraction. So much fun!

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Five Minutes

December 6, 2015

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Even if you don't celebrate anything holiday related, I hope the festive nature rubs off and make December terrific.

So… Gotham. Interesting stuff building in this season. I'm truly loving all the potential and the twists and turns. I'm very curious about how they'll deal with Gordon's actions. I love how he's not afraid to get messy, but there has to be some kind of line he won't cross.

The Flash and Arrow crossover event ended up being pretty decent, especially since it bridges the setup of a new show. Could it have been better? Absolutely. But I think it accomplished a ton of stuff and stayed true to the characters.

The Walking Dead finale seemed a little flat, but I'll give the showrunners this one. The rest of the season has been so top notch; I'm willing to wait for a bigger payoff. In all honesty, I'm not super excited about adding the uber-villain into the mix just yet, even if the actor they cast is incredible. I'll reserve judgment until I see the new episodes.

Haven inches ever closer to the end and I'm on the fence about the stunt casting of Shatner. I love the man as an actor, but I hope the payoff is worth using him. I do have a ton of joy over the fact they're addressing Duke and Audrey's somewhat tumultuous relationship. It's my fondest hope the combined effort of Duke, Audrey, and Nathan will be what it takes to rid Haven of Croatoan and keep the town safe. We'll see if I'm on track very soon.

The Librarians and Agent X are still enjoyable. I like the slow reveal of John's background in Agent X and love the dropped hint in the most recent episode. Won't say more to keep the post spoiler free for now.

Last but not least, Agents of SHIELD and Doctor Who. I'm kind of excited to see where AoS ends up. I like seeing a darker Coulson, but I'm not sure I buy him getting all bent over the death of a woman he pretty much just met. Eh… we'll see what happens. And Doctor Who… well, I honestly don't have a lot to say. Or maybe I've got so much to say I can't possibly put it all in one post. Still hugely disappointed and, quite frankly, too stupid to really understand what the big freaking deal is with the hybrid crap. At least the Xmas episode looks pretty fun.

And that's it for television this week. I hope to start Daredevil and Jessica Jones over the holiday hiatus. YAY!

Tonight's post is from Five Minutes, a sexy short where my heroine struggles with her feelings for the hero.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Remy Deeds never welshes on a bet, until she loses to Eli Rogers, who can't understand why she backs out. But a five minute kiss, with tongue, isn't something she wants to risk, because giving up her last pack of coffee is so much easier than possibly losing her heart.

And snippety peek…

Remy Deeds finished packing her foot locker for a thirty day training session in the mountains. She loved the site of the remote camp, but an attack of nerves fluttered in her belly. She considered her first time out as a trainer instead of only a participant a big step up, but she had firsthand knowledge of how wild things could get between the male and female groups in the wilderness. Alone for the entire month, cut off from tech—except a satellite phone for dire emergencies—most of the two teams would be paired off and hooking up by day ten. She understood the desire for fun and relaxation and with everyone being single, nature inevitably would run its course. With four cabins, two for men and two for women, at least half became mixed couple before the end of the session.

She'd been there, done that, and had no regrets. Okay… not many anyway. She'd learned a valuable lesson—her heart always got involved.

But… she wouldn't change her first experience as a trainee. She'd gone for a physically built, down to earth guy and spent twenty-one glorious nights exploring her sexual side. Her days were filled with learning everything she could about leading campers on nature hikes, first response for emergency situations, and more essential skills. But her real education came after the evening meal when she holed up with Keith in his room and discovered everything two bodies could do together.

Then, of course, true wisdom arrived when she struggled to leave the relationship behind once they returned to the main camping facility. Keith had zero interest in pursuing anything else. He enjoyed the nature fling, but didn't plan to be shackled to anyone for at least five years. Remy understood—she didn't want to marry the guy. Yet… at the time, being lonely sucked.

Her co-trainer, Sheila, entered the room. "Wheels out in fifteen minutes." She closed the door and fanned herself. "Holy hot bods galore. Have you seen the gorgeous group of men we'll be spending the next thirty days with?" Flopping down on the bed, Sheila flung an arm over her eyes. "I've already got mine all picked out." She propped her elbows behind her, sitting up. "How about you, Remy?"

Remy shook her head. "Not this time. Too much to do and a lot of responsibilities." Zipping up her bag, she placed it beside the locker.

Sheila snorted. "What a crock of bull."

Remy dropped down beside her friend. "Yeah, okay. But I worked hard to move up to training. I don't want to screw it up my first time out." Not exactly a lie.

But a small fabrication. Remy had a serious thing Eli Rogers. But… one, he would lead the black team, her white team counterpart; two, he had a reputation for getting hot and heavy with someone—occasionally multiple someones—each training session, and he'd been leading teams for three years now; three, mixing a romp with the opposing team leader combined with her already huge fixation on him would lead to one thing.

A bruised heart.

Have to admit this one is more fun than even I thought it would be.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Fantasy Exchange #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I hope everyone is geared up for the holiday season!

For my selection, I'll be featuring another excerpt from Fantasy Exchange, a fun romp where work and play create a little friction.

This week, we see a little more of Vas and Kelsey.

Book Tagline: A fantasy exchange leads to hot action for Kelsey and Vas.

~*~

Kelsey kicked back, downing her shot of bourbon. She couldn't wait to hear who Mal Birdman fantasized about. Wait. Unless she topped the list. She held back a shudder. She might have to punch him in the face if he named her.

Howie nodded toward Mal. "Yeah, Bird Dog, who's your ultimate fantasy?"

Mal lifted a shoulder. "I've got a bunch, but the master of arms is who I dreamed about last night."

Howie's eyes widened. "Dude, she's a lesbian. You don’t stand a chance."

Mal snorted. "Tell that to my dick. She's been popping in and out of my nighttime escapades for weeks now."

Kelsey rolled her eyes. "Too much information, Bird Dog." She nudged Sherri. "Change the subject, Sher. Who's your top fantasy man?"

Sherri grinned and pointed to Howie. "Come on. I live with mine."

Howie gave a smug smile. "Back at you, babe."

Nolan made a gagging sound. "Geez, you two suck."

Maggie chimed in. "You're disgustingly predictable. Always the same answer."

Sherri cackled. "Well, come on, he's perfection." She waited a beat. "And super kinky, so no need to look elsewhere."

Kelsey sputtered. "Dammit. Too much information." She jabbed a finger in Maggie's direction. "Mags, save us."

Maggie chuckled. "Well… there's a certain barista at the coffee shop on Market Road." She leaned in. "I'm not naming a name because there's a chance I might actually hook up with her."

Whistles sounded and a lot of gazes widened around the table.

Vas lifted a brow. "You're into women? Seriously?"

Maggie blushed and shrugged. "I don't know. It's a fantasy, right? I'd like to try and make it happen."

Kelsey nodded. "You go for it, Mags." She downed another shot, looking for the next victim. "Nolan. Ultimate fantasy."

Nolan didn't hesitate. "Mine's from the academy. A red hot instructor by the name of Martina Escaba. I always drooled in her class."

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Vas Batista leads an elite team in and out of hot spots around the world for a private security company. A particularly grueling operation lowers morale and he decides the team needs a pick up. But he's not quite prepared for the ice breaker topic his second in command draws out of the box—name his ultimate fantasy woman. Considering Kelsey fits the bill, Vas can't very well name her.

Kelsey Drum loves working her dream job and can't ask for a better group of people to spend the bulk of her time with. When her CO wants a distraction she's always happy to provide one. But sharing her biggest fantasy? No way. Not when he's her number one pick.

Kelsey and Vas manage to avoid naming each other, but their interest is piqued. Kelsey quite literally catches Vas with his pants down and she comes clean about who she'd choose as her fantasy man. Vas admits she's his top choice and a meeting of minds and bodies follows. They embark on a fantasy exchange, but agree the work has to come first, no matter what. When Vas struggles to keep rule number one, Kelsey calls off the affair until Vas can deal.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Fits and Starts

I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving had a terrific one. I spent mine with some extended family and had a lovely time.

Slower than normal week in television, which was rather nice. Gotham turned in a great episode. I have much love for Alfred and this episode made me love him all the more. Haven continues to impress me. I really will hate to see the show end.

The Walking Dead fall finale is tonight, right? I'll miss having my Sunday night viewing staple, but with the holidays coming up, the time should fly. I'll have to see if The Librarians and Agent X are taking a break, too.

Last but not least, Doctor Who. I'm truly saddened I just can't seem to get into the new season. This year's Christmas special may be my last episode. I'll have to do some Whovian soul searching over the next few weeks.

Tonight's post is from Fits and Starts, a novella where my heroine goes through a traumatic experience and has to learn how to let her lover back in.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After escaping from a madman's clutches, Pru Stark can't quite find her footing again. She pushes her man, Dane Callaway, away and refuses to see the little girl she saved. Dane can give her space, but he won't stay on the sidelines, not when Pru needs him the most, even if she can't quite admit it.

And a snippety peek…

Pru Stark threw her head back when an orgasm caught her off guard. She gasped through the wave of bliss, her fingers curling into Dane's chest.

He rasped out a harsh breath. But the brief burst of pain didn't slow him down, his hips flexing and rising, his thighs going taut.

She leaned down and caught his mouth. "Come with me, Callaway." Her lips nuzzled his throat.

Dane's palms squeezed her legs. "I'm there, Pru. Coming right behind you." He stiffened beneath her, groaning his pleasure.

Pru collapsed atop his chest then shifted sideways, burrowing into his side. Having sex the night before an op always took on heightened qualities—especially when she and Dane weren't going out together. Since he'd moved up to mission director, he couldn't go out in the field as often, running the action behind the scenes. Pru missed working with him, but he made a great leader.

Dane brushed a kiss over her temple. "Thinking about tomorrow?" His arms tightened around her.

She glanced up. "Yeah. Shouldn't be too bad. A week out to gather intel and hopefully bust up the child slavery ring." She hoped they didn't discover a sexual component; the sweat shop angle sucked enough.

Dane absently trailed his fingers down her arm. "I've been thinking… there's something else I want you to keep your eyes open for."

Pru frowned. "Tell me I'm not scoping out pedophiles." Her fingers curled into a fist.

Dane shook his head. "No, even though it's a possibility, I'm leaning toward theft."

Pru sat up, turning to face Dane. "Theft? Like they're using the kids to steal?"

Dane nodded. "I know, it sounds insane, but I ran some sims." He scooted up and leaned against the headboard. "That rash of break-ins that started six months ago… the ones we haven't been able to figure out how they're being pulled off?"

Pru snorted, the light bulb going off. "Because there's no easy in or out." She finished the thought for him. "Yeah. A kid would be able to gain access without too much trouble." The man never failed to blow her mind.

Dane lifted a shoulder. "There's nothing concrete I can take to the board, but my gut is screaming there's a connection."

Pru didn't disagree. "Your gut tends to be right. I'll lay money we solve two big issues in one fell swoop." If everything went according to plan, the week would be productive.

Should be a snap to make it all happen.

Should be a snap, but it's not. As Pru will soon find out.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Fantasy Exchange #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

Whew. After an extremely long hiatus from participating in the Book Hooks, I'm finally back and looking forward to diving into some great excerpts.

For my selection, I'll be featuring Fantasy Exchange, a fun romp where work and play create a little friction.

This week, we get to know Vas and Kelsey.

Book Tagline: A fantasy exchange leads to hot action for Kelsey and Vas.

~*~

Kelsey walked into the Rec, a former motor pool storage facility located on a decommissioned base, which served as their corporate headquarters. A retired team member turned the place into a bar where the covert operations teams could relax, unwind, and speak freely about their missions. Not open to the public, the Rec didn't show up with a listed address or owner anywhere. In five years of operation, not a soul had stumbled onto the place. Kelsey considered the rundown building a little slice of heaven. The facade didn't look like much on the outside, but the inside looked like a dream. Part retro summer camp, part rustic hunting lodge, the combination just worked—at least for Kelsey.

Joe stood behind the bar, wiping down a set of glasses. He jerked his head toward a large, round table and lifted a questioning brow.

Kelsey nodded. "Perfect, Joe." She made her way to his side, ducking behind the bar. "I'm grabbing the ice breaker box." Reaching under the shelf, she fished around until she found the smooth, wooden square.

Joe frowned when she stood up. "Tough one?" He stacked and lined the glasses up on a tray then brought out several bottles of alcohol. "From your earlier call asking for the run of the place, I kind of figured it might have been." Grabbing the goods, he started toward the table. "And now you're using the box. What the hell went down, Kels?" He placed the supplies in the middle then stepped back and glanced in her direction.

Kelsey shrugged. "Let's just say we're down one friend and up one foe and leave it at that for now." She carried the box to the table and looked up when team members started filing through the door. "Thanks for coming through, Joe. We need this."

Joe squeezed her bicep. "Always happy to help out. You know where to find everything." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, hugging her close. "Leave the stuff when you're done. I'll clean up in the morning." With a wave to everyone, he strode to the back door and exited.

Kelsey's lips quirked when she faced the team, who each had a sheepish grin on their face. No doubt, all were feeling a little awkward about the cranky mood earlier and the reason for the rec special, but Kelsey figured they'd all snap back to normal in due course. Her quick head count showed one missing—Vas.

She glanced toward Stiver. His gaze slid to the door and sure enough, the metal slab opened to reveal their leader.

Kelsey relaxed and snapped her fingers. "Okay, let's get this debrief started." She handed the box to Vas. "You open and I'll draw?" The group found seats and settled down.

He snapped the hinge up and flipped the lid. "Sounds good." He waited until she rifled through the slips of paper and drew one, then closed the box.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Vas Batista leads an elite team in and out of hot spots around the world for a private security company. A particularly grueling operation lowers morale and he decides the team needs a pick up. But he's not quite prepared for the ice breaker topic his second in command draws out of the box—name his ultimate fantasy woman. Considering Kelsey fits the bill, Vas can't very well name her.

Kelsey Drum loves working her dream job and can't ask for a better group of people to spend the bulk of her time with. When her CO wants a distraction she's always happy to provide one. But sharing her biggest fantasy? No way. Not when he's her number one pick.

Kelsey and Vas manage to avoid naming each other, but their interest is piqued. Kelsey quite literally catches Vas with his pants down and she comes clean about who she'd choose as her fantasy man. Vas admits she's his top choice and a meeting of minds and bodies follows. They embark on a fantasy exchange, but agree the work has to come first, no matter what. When Vas struggles to keep rule number one, Kelsey calls off the affair until Vas can deal.

~*~

~*~

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Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Feeling Alive

Okay, lots of TV stuff to talk about. Gotham is truly upping the stakes and I love the way they're doing it. Gordon is so focused on the crazy sibling duo he's completely missing the trouble brewing with Cobblepot and Nygma. I can't wait to see what happens next. Sleepy Hollow had a decent fall finale. I've missed a bunch of important stuff and need to get caught up.

The Flash is coming along nicely. I'm excited to see where things go, leading up to the Legends of Tomorrow premiere. The same goes for Arrow. This season, between the two shows, there's been a great combo of moving the standard story arcs along with laying great groundwork for the spinoff getting ready to debut. Way to go shows!

Agents of SHIELD keeps throwing interesting twists and turns into the story and I love it. I'm excited to see where things go.

Haven is winding down and I'll be sad to see the show end. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the adventures of Nathan, Audrey, and Duke. I'm also hoping Syfy fills the void with something good, but I won't hold my breath.

I'm looking forward to The Walking Dead's newest episode. Again, I'm so thrilled with the way this season is unfolding. The balance of total batshit insanity, intense encapsulation, and little seeds being planted is a thing of beauty.

A quick rundown of some other shows. I'm loving the new season of The Librarians. This show makes me happy. I'm also totally in for Agent X. TNT is bringing some great stuff to the screen. Murdoch Mysteries is also coming up with great storylines, which after almost ten years, is so awesome.

Last but not least, I can safely say the most recent episode of Doctor Who hit a home run, even though I'm still not a big fan of Ishieldr / Me. I'm seriously hoping we won't see her as a companion, but I won't hold my breath. *sigh*

And that's it for this week's television roundup.

Tonight's post is from Feeling Alive, a novella where my characters find love through the purging of their grief.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Maddox loses her partner in a bomb explosion and shuts down emotionally. Wakefield arrives to interrogate Maddox about his brother's death, but she refuses to discuss the trauma. She ends up in another explosive situation and Wake finally breaks through Maddox's defenses, but he also opens the floodgates, which may get both killed.

And a snippety peek…

Maddox Reed sat in a corner of the room, well away from everyone else attending the funeral. She heard the whispers. Everyone blamed her for Avery Bigelow's death. And maybe they should. If she'd waited for backup instead of rushing headlong into the warehouse, Avery might not have gone around to the rear of the building. She heard the whine of the IED when she entered through the door and only a quick retreat saved her.

But the blast took out most of the north wall, which happened to be the section Avery crouched behind.

So, yeah, everyone held her responsible and couldn't resist buzzing about it, even at the funeral.

Maddox didn't care. The biggest part of her, her heart, died with Avery. Not in a they were so hot for each lover kind of way. No. Avery acted as Maddox's checks and balances. He kept her from doing stupid things. Listened to her when she tried to sort out her life. Made her human. Without him, she didn't know how to function.

But she'd have to figure it out, because she refused to let anyone else deliver Avery's eulogy. The task should have fallen to his brother, Wakefield, since their parents died over a decade ago. But Wakefield couldn't make it, deployed on some super-secret military mission, and Maddox owed it to Avery to make sure his friends and coworkers knew what a great man he'd been.

Like they didn't already, but Maddox needed to speak the words. If for no other reason than to feel like she'd given him a proper send off.

The funeral director placed a hand on Maddox's shoulder. "It's time, Detective Reed."

Maddox rose and met the man's sympathetic gaze. No doubt he'd heard the rumble of opinion regarding her role in Avery's death. Giving the guy a curt nod, she slowly made her way to the podium next to Avery's casket.

Bracing her hands on either side of the structure, she looked out over the room before clearing her throat. "Avery Bigelow lived life to the fullest and made me a better person…"

I have a feeling this one is going to come together nicely. My characters are a joy to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Exit Stage Left

Well, I can finally breathe again. I'm truly hoping I'm done with the cold / viral ick / seasonal funk now. Yeesh.

Gotham had a great episode. I loved the end with two potential villains putting their heads together. That combo could lead to some truly good viewing.

The Flash is getting interesting. I have a sneaking suspicion about who Zoom is going to turn out to be, but I'll refrain from speculating for now. My biggest hint is in looking at his garb…

Arrow keeps getting better and better. I like seeing Oliver and Felicity having some conflict. And it's always fun to see Mama Smoak.

Not much to say about the other shows, but Agents of SHIELD is staying twisty and I like that. Unless it gets too hard to tell who is on what side. Then I'll be annoyed.

One final television note. Doctor Who. Yeah. So disappointed. I can't shake the feeling Moffat and company are trying to be too clever and they're sacrificing the emotional component to do so. "Sleep No More" came off as a jumbled mess, in my opinion. Maybe I'm too stupid to 'get' the cleverness. I don't know.

Tonight's post is from Exit Stage Left, a novella where my main characters don't want to mix business with pleasure but can't resist.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sage Winesboro, the new production director of his local playhouse theater, doesn't always see eye to eye with his current set designer, Georgie Freed. When she proves her worth, but decides to exit stage left, he realizes he's missing out on what could be a great working and personal relationship.

And a snippety peek…

Sage Winesboro pulled into the back lot of the Triple Crown Theater, resident home of the Footlight Troupe. Excitement thrummed under his skin when he exited his vehicle and walked to the rear entrance. A new start with an established company. A new act in the production of his life—this time without internal conflict and drama. No more getting involved with anyone from the group. The fiasco of the last production at his former venue nearly drove him to the brink of madness.

You only had to give it up to Marianne one more time, you moron. Sage shuddered. By closing night, he discovered Marianne had big plans for a long and happy life together, and she didn't take his decision to end their toxic relationship with any kind of grace. Dumbass, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to sabotage the final act, if you'd only let her have your big dick. Sage stopped walking and shook his head. He hated his internal voice sometimes.

"Shut up." And no way.

Regardless of his size, which might be above average but not huge, the breakup with Marianne happened when it needed to. He couldn't let her believe they'd be moving in together after the final curtain fell on the show. One more day, stupid. Twenty-four measly hours. You could've flown to Paris, as planned, for two weeks and let her get the picture when her skinny ass remained in the US.

Sage paused outside the door. "Yeah, yeah. Too bad that's not how things played out." He opened the reinforced metal, happy to find it unlocked.

The lack of other cars had him a little concerned.

Letting his eyes adjust to the dim interior, he looked around for the building super. Instead of trying to find the guy, he waited by the exit, running through the last night of hell and the final act of horrific mayhem. Marianne's deft hand made sure everything that could go wrong did. You could have at least waited to dump her after the encore. But no, you had to do it at intermission. Okay, not his best move. But his acting skills weren't great. He brought out the best in his thespians. He'd reached the limit of his ability when Marianne cut an understudy to shreds over a missed cue. Totally not her job, and completely unnecessary, especially when everyone rolled on without missing a beat or a mark.

Yeah, he'd been pissed about the flubbed delivery, and yeah, he upheld a high standard for the entire crew. But he'd learned a long time ago that tearing into people rarely garnered good results and watching Marianne screech and rave like a lunatic cemented his certainty—about ending their relationship and how deal with simple mistakes.

What about ginormously huge ones made by you?

Sage ignored his internal voice. He'd had enough of it today.

Time to find the super. "Hello!" His voice echoed in the empty hallway.

Taking a step forward, he almost bumped into the man coming out of the stage area.

The super flipped a switch on the wall. "How do. You must be the new big shot the Triple Crown brought in to run the place." The lights flickered to life, revealing a wide smile on the man's face.

The guy couldn't be more than five-two. And with the number of keys jangling from the keeper on his belt, Sage wondered how he hadn't heard the man coming. He shook his head again.

Thrusting his palm out, Sage nodded. "Uh, yeah. Sage Winesboro." Instead of a handshake, he received a set of keys.

The man lifted a hand. "Nice to meet you. Name's Wilbur and I'm hoping we're not gonna have any problems getting along." He started toward the office.

Sage followed. "Why would you think—" He stopped talking.

No doubt his reputation for being a stickler probably preceded his arrival.

Wilbur shot a glance over his shoulder. "I keep my ear to the boards, Mr. Winesboro. I've hear aplenty." He jabbed his finger toward the lock on the wood panel. "Number three will get you inside your new domain. The list for all the others is on the desk." Wilber sidestepped, giving Sage room to move in.

He slid the key into the mechanism and turned the bolt. "Thank you, Wilbur. I won't keep you from you work, but please stop by when you have time and I'll make sure you have a season pass and reserved seats of your choice." Hoping the gesture would dispel any preconceived notions, he entered the large space he'd be calling home for the summer—maybe longer if all went well.

Wilbur ducked his head inside the room. "Well, thank you, Mr. Winesboro. The missus will sure enjoy hearing the news." He paused. "I have a feeling you're not nearly as hard to deal with as rumor suggests." He folded his arms over his chest.

Sage grinned, happy as hell he'd guessed correctly that Wilbur enjoyed theater productions. "Call me Sage, please. And do me a favor… don't let word get out about my soft touch, okay?"

Wilbur snorted out a laugh then winked. "Your secret's safe, Sage. Welcome to the Triple Crown." He pointed to the wall beside the desk. "My numbers are on the contact sheet. If you need anything, give me a buzz." Backing out of the office, Wilbur strolled down the hall, the keys jingling with each step.

Sage laughed. Not a bad start to his new position. And he figured if everyone thought he'd be a hard ass, he'd spend less time whipping them into shape for the new season.

How's that for a ginormous stroke of luck?

For once, his internal voice remained silent.

I'm having a great time writing this one. The internal voices are almost as much fun as the characters. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin