Sunday Snippet: Hot Water

Happy Easter to those who observe and celebrate. We're having some lovely weather in Ohio, which might only last twenty-four hours because—hello!—it's Ohio. LOL I'm still battling the flu… apparently I got the full two-week version. Yay, me.

That said, I did enjoy my week of new shows on television. The Walking Dead followed up the Carol / Maggie excellence with another terrific episode. I'm still not all that excited for Negan to show up, but eh, we'll see what happens when he does.

Gotham took a turn I didn't expect and I'm definitely interested in where things go from here. Nygma is one crafty, creepy dude. The Magicians continues to keep me intrigued. I truly love the dynamic between Penny and Quentin. The Lost Girl finale had me sobbing… again. I'm going to miss that show so much. Bitten twisted the spikes in a little deeper, but I loved the spin with making Rachel the one with powers instead of Rocco. Awesome to see Paige again.

The Flash made a reveal I didn't expect until the end of the season, so kudos for keeping me on my toes. Arrow took a turn I didn't exactly like, but I'm in for the long haul with Oliver and company. Looking forward to a new Legends episode this week.

Agents of SHIELD keeps getting better and better. I'm excited for the Most Wanted spin off. I love those characters.

The finale for Murdoch Mysteries proved excellent. I can't believe they keep coming up with great stuff after almost ten years. Here's to another terrific season whenever it premieres.

And that's the television update for this week.

Tonight's post is from Hot Water, a novella based on the prompt "Shower, visiting quarters or room, tiny towel". How can this one not be fun? LOL

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Demi Strange and Nathan Jordan work together at a summer camp, things get heated. The campers use up the water ration, leaving Demi to borrow Nathan's shower and it lands her in more than hot water.

And a snippety peek…

"As of today, we're instituting a time restriction for showers."

Demi Strange groaned, expecting the news but less than thrilled to hear the actual decision. Too many of the campers for the summer program were using an overabundance of hot water, which made costs rise and the minimal profit earned fall. For a group of tweens and teens, the need to take long, hot showers kind of amazed Demi. When she'd come to Camp Canawatchee during her summer breaks over ten years ago, a quick dousing to wash her hair and shave her legs sufficed. These kids treated bath time like a spa day.

Nathan Jordan, the head counselor and acting director, lifted his hands to muffle the complaints. "Look, it's not that bad. We're going to start with five minutes and if we get things under control, we'll increase the time." He glanced in Demi's direction and flashed a smile.

She ignored the little kick in her pulse rate and voiced a concern. "What about shaving?" Even she would have trouble getting finished in five minutes.

He frowned. "Most of the boys aren't shaving yet, but if they are, they can use the sink."

Demi rolled her eyes. "Well, most of the girls are and it's not fair to make them try to stand on one leg to get the job done. Not to mention, it's a liability if anyone happens to have balance issues." She shot the other female counselor a look. "Mitzi? Do you agree?"

Mitzi gave an emphatic nod. "Absolutely. Not asking for special treatment here, but ten minutes would be better."

Nathan heaved a sigh. "Fine. Girls get ten. But that's it." He moved around the table, handing out a notice to put up in the cabins. "We're installing timers and the hot water gets shut off when the limit is reached."

One of the male counselors, Frank, laughed. "I'll bet it only takes finishing one cold shower for everyone to fall in line."

Nathan lifted a shoulder. "They can have as much time as they want with cold water." His lips curved in a grin. "But I doubt anyone will take us up on that offer."

Demi took her notices and filed them in her organizer. She could already hear the outbursts she'd get from the girls. Nathan adjourned their meeting and wished everyone luck. Staying behind when the others left, Demi jotted a few ideas down to appease the monster attitudes she expected.

Nathan pulled out a chair and settled in next to her. "Sorry for the inconvenience this is going to cause everyone." He whipped out his ready smile.

Demi loved the way his lips curved and the corners crinkled when he grinned. But she fought the thrill of her imagination and calmed her racing heart. Carefully putting her pen into the slot of her organizer, she shut the book and gave him her full attention. Probably not her best move because she couldn't deny a serious attraction for the man. And she didn't want it to be a "thing".

She had more sense than that, right?

Who else thinks Demi's sense is going out the window on this one? LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Healthy Appetite

Well, it's the first day of spring and we're getting snow in Ohio. LOL I'm also down with the flu, so not a fun week.

Another light week in television. The Walking Dead had a terrific Carol / Maggie episode that ended up being one of the best ever.

Gotham's episode took an interesting turn. I'm excited to see what happens with Cobblepot back on the loose. Nygma is sliding into total crazytown and I'm loving it. I have a feeling Hugo is lining up a bunch of pieces and I'm very interesting in where all that goes. My other Monday night shows provided excellent viewing. The Magicians went in a direction I didn't really see coming. Lost Girl amped everything up for the finale and Bitten made me cry. LOL

Agents of SHIELD surprised me and that makes me happy. Looking forward to more and seeing where things go. Murdoch Mysteries had a great episode and the finale looks terrific. Fingers crossed there's not a huge cliffhanger.

My shows should be back this week and I'm ready and waiting.

That's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Healthy Appetite, a novella based around a prompt about showing a character's healthy appetite and having the other character wondering what else they craved.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Thad Nightingale meets Kailey Dent during a weeklong getaway and finds her approach to life refreshing. Not only does she eat with gusto, she has a thirst for adventure that leaves Thad hungry for more.

And a snippety peek…

Kailey Dent tossed her clothes in a suitcase, ready for her weeklong sojourn to the mountain. A pile of stuff had already shipped to the lodge and she'd get to experiment and play for seven straight days. She couldn't wait.

Her brother, Talon, poked his head around the doorjamb. "Kails, you about ready? I've got the SUV warmed up." He had hat hair and looked like a crazed axe-murderer.

Kailey bit back a grin. "Yeah, yeah. Just gotta zip up and grab my overnight bag from the bathroom." She shut the case and put it on the floor.

Talon strode into her room, his snowy boots leaving puddles of slush on the carpet. Kailey opened her mouth to blast him, but he grabbed her suitcase and pulled it along behind when he exited her room. She took five extra minutes to dab at the icy mess then snagged her overnight bag and met Talon by the front door.

Slipping into her ski jacket, she added a scarf and toboggan. "Let's head out." Talon led the way and she followed, her boots crunching on the crystalized path to the SUV.

Talon loaded her cases then slid behind the wheel. "I'll bet you're dying to get up on the mountain." He flashed her a trademark smile.

The guy could sell snow to polar bears with that mug of his.

Kailey cracked a wide grin. "Are you kidding? I've been amping up the hype on my blog all week. I'm not the only one excited for me to get up there." Her blog gained new followers every day.

And she worked hard to get them, keep them interested, and give the truth according to her about each and every product she tried and put through its paces. She reviewed everything from clothes and equipment to local hot spots and quiet getaway locations. With the ski season getting underway, the web traffic increased daily and her commenters appreciated her no bullshit style. She rarely held back when a product didn't meet her standards or when she found something she loved and recommended with five star ratings.

Her job with a local outfitting company paid well and she got to play with new lines on her days off. Talon tinkered around with design when he didn't have competitions and she often field-tested his ideas. If she got hurt, she wouldn't lose a spot on roster.

Been there, done that. Talon had his shot now and she'd back him one hundred percent.

Talon made the turn out of their drive and onto the highway. "You get any flack for changing your mind about the goggles?" He eased along the road, the slick surface demanding slower speeds.

Kailey laughed. "Not really. You know I always explain why and the manufacturer made improvements to the seal. My biggest bitch about those goggles was getting water underneath the shield. Hard to ski or snowboard when your vision is impaired."

Her commenters often asked her to try products again, usually after they'd been on the market for a while. She'd happily put equipment through a second and change her review if warranted. If a manufacturer made improvements, she'd be the first to say so.

Talon shook his head. "I hope you never trash any of my sponsors. I'd be hard-pressed to defend them if you do."

Kailey rolled her eyes. "As if I'd ever let anyone unworthy of your talent be your sponsor."

Talon chuckled. "Right. How could I forget?" His lips curved in a brotherly smirk. "My big sis always has my back."

Kailey scrunched down and propped her head on the back of the seat. "Damn straight. Don't forget it."

I'm having a good time with this one. Not quite sure where it's headed, but it's a fun trip getting there.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Hazardous Curves Ahead

Whew. Had a super-busy week running all over the place with my teenagers. Glad it's over.

Another light television week, which worked out well, considering the whole crazytown express thing. The Walking Dead turned in a fine outing, but I'm still kind of dreading the whole Neegan thing. Here's hoping I'm projecting for nothing.

My Monday lineup continues to impress. I hope Syfy continues to keep that day of the week filled with awesome shows. I can't always count on the network to make the best decisions. LOL

Tuesday's Teen Wolf finale didn't disappoint. I can honestly say I'm quite happy with how everything turned out. Theo received a just fate and, as usual, Scott's side had all the bases covered. I was a little disappointed I didn't get to see how things turned out for Parrish. I have my own personal head canon for his future. Agents of SHIELD returned and not a bad effort.

Legends of Tomorrow is still putting on a good show. I have a few, small quibbles with some aspects of the development, but I'll save those for my fandom blog where spoilers are discussed openly.

Murdoch Mysteries ended up being pretty great. I love how the show, even after being on for almost ten years, still finds new ground to cover. Seriously, can't ask for more than that in a long-running favorite.

And that's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Hazardous Curves Ahead, a novella that started from a discussion about a play on words. The premise here begins with an accident then adds more twists and turns after the wreck.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sometimes love is a slippery slope and when Imma and Sef almost crash into each other on a hazardous curve, they end up going through physical therapy together. After several weeks of flirty banter, Imma thinks a relationship with Sef might be nice… until her boyfriend shows up.

And a snippety peek…

Imma Rusch loved loud music and an open road.

When her Bluetooth indicated she had an incoming call, she growled when the stereo automatically lowered the volume. "This better be good." She pumped the breaks, flying around a curve.

"Does calling to say I miss you count as good?" Her current flame's voice boomed through the speakers.

She laughed. "Ha. Considering I'm currently out driving way too fast because you're not around to keep me entertained, yeah." Taking the next bend in the road, her tires squealed due to her speed. "But we gotta keep this short."

"Just wanted to let you know I'm gone for another two weeks. The old man has me flying over to Berlin to meet with the distributors. Thinks it'll help smooth over the transition."

Imma shrugged. "Yeah, okay. Call me when you get there, alright?" He'd been gone a full week already. She could live with two more.

"Will do. And, Imma, when I get back, maybe we talk about where we're headed." He let the question dangle, a good move on his part.

Imma gave a noncommittal answer. "Let's get you through taking over for your dad, first, yeah?"

He sighed, but agreed and signed off to catch his flight.

Imma hated to disappoint him, but she shied away from the big moment conversations.

Mainly because she feared moving beyond casual dating into full-blown relationship territory. Her parents sucked at the whole happily ever after deal—a long string of stepparents on both sides proved their lack of expertise. Why would she do any better?

She probably wouldn't and didn't want to attempt anything deeper than staying overnight a few times a week. But she had a small reprieve from worrying about a discussion of more for now.

The music cut back in, blaring one of her favorite songs. Her foot jammed down on the accelerator and she let out a wild yell, shaking off the downer mood. A roadside sign showed a series of curves ahead and she took the first turn without letting off the gas, whipping her car around the bend, her head thrown back and a bark of laughter escaping her lungs.

When she straightened, her eyes went wide and she swerved to miss the oncoming vehicle, careening onto the side of the road. She skidded on the shoulder, the rear end fishtailing in the loosely packed gravel, spinning the car sideways. Imma lost control, the steering wheel wrenched from her hands when the car finally crashed to a stop against the side of rocky outcropping.

She blinked several times then promptly passed out.

I'm still working on a good blurb for this one, which is always the hardest part for me. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Harshing the Calm

Okay, not exactly a super strong week of viewing pleasure, but pretty good for the shows that were on.

The Walking Dead is amping up the tension and the group is going to take on Neegan. I hope the hype is worth it. He's apparently a BFD in the comics so I'm reserving judgment. I'd rather he not gobble up screen time from my fave characters.

Gotham returned with a terrific episode. I'm quite curious to see where they're going to end up taking Gordon. But I like that his squeaky clean armor is getting tarnished. The Magicians continues to intrigue me but I'm also wondering where things are going. There seems to be something of an overlying arc yet I can't quite figure out what it is. As always, Lost Girl and Bitten make me happy. I can't stress enough how much I'll miss both when they're gone.

Agent Carter ended with a terrific bang. I'll sadly miss the show if it doesn't return. That said, what a great two season arc.

Legends of Tomorrow surprised me again. I missed the first fifteen minutes but got caught up quickly. Looking forward to this week's episode.

Teen Wolf is coming together for the big battle. Looking forward to seeing how it ends. I also caught up on Murdoch Mysteries and have to say, I love this show so much. And that's it for this week's update.

Tonight's post is from Harshing the Calm, which started as a novella, but might end up being a novel instead. LOL

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gentry and Rayce have a volatile past, one they walk away from to start over. But old habits are hard to break and when their paths cross again, they discover they can repeat their mistakes, or change and grow into something so much better.

And a snippety peek…

Movement from the corner booth caught her attention and she narrowed her eyes, squinting to get a better look at the couple making goo-goo eyes at each other. Well, shit. Rayce Natchios. Just what she needed on an otherwise lovely evening. His female companion angled her head toward the front of the bar and Gentry rolled her eyes. Catie Walsh. Fresh-faced beat cop with stars in her eyes over big, bad Rayce, the top detective in major cases.

Could he have picked anyone younger to move on with?

An ugly jealousy burned in Gentry's gut. She didn't need or want Rayce. She'd moved on with Cal—her handsome and age-appropriate stud of a boyfriend—and Rayce obviously had his hooks into someone else. Or maybe she had hers into him?

Didn't matter. Gentry and Rayce were all wrong for each other.

Rayce said it best. "Vice detectives walked a slippery slope and you thrive on the ambiguity."

He preferred the more cut and dried pace of a major crime. No undercover work and procedures so much easier to follow. Gentry loved undercover assignments. Her exhibitionist side got off on role-playing.

Cal leaned in and whispered. "You've got that hot and hungry look in your eyes. You ready to head out so we can steam up the sheets?" He wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Gentry fought a kick of guilt. She'd had Rayce on the brain when Cal noticed her smoldering gaze. Gentry turned in to his side and tilted her chin, angling for a kiss. Cal obliged and smacked his lips over hers. She downed her beer, her mind spinning between being green with envy over Rayce and Catie and sputtering down the well of commitment, which Cal wanted her to make. Emboldened by the alcohol and hating the green-eyed monster nipping at her heels, she set her mug on the bar, climbed up on a stool, and gave a loud whistle.

All eyes were on her and she relished the attention. "Yo! Listen up. I have an announcement to make." She pointed to Cal, who braced a hand on her thigh, keeping her steady. "This man is my personal property, meaning hands-off or suffer the consequences." She gave Cal a wide smile.

His brows rose and his mouth dropped open, but he didn't speak. Instead, he helped her from the stool by reaching up and lifting her down, letting her slide along his body before planting a tongue-tangling kiss on her. Hoots and hollers sounded all around them. Gentry might live to regret the display, but Cal wanted a declaration of her feelings and a public claiming would be as close as she'd probably ever get to deep and abiding.

She glanced past Cal's shoulder and found Rayce's gaze directed her way. He raised his tumbler in a mocking toast then turned his attention back to Catie. Gentry squashed the small and petty flash of irritation seeping into her bones at being ignored. She and Rayce were through.

Her action tonight proved it.

Gentry might have to learn the definition of trying too hard. LOL Really enjoying this one a lot.

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin