Sunday Snippet: New Year's Nip

I hope everyone who observes Thanksgiving had a terrific one. The fam and I went to my dad's for a very low-key dinner and quality time together. It's been a few years since we've been able to do that, which is weird because he only lives two miles away from me. LOL

I can honestly say this year I'm so thankful that my family and work life is on an even keel and I some majorly great ideas popping for both my writing and a business venture I hope to pursue in the new year. My editing work keeps me busy and I get to read new books all the time. For a book nerd, there's nothing better.

Television took a back seat to some work commitments and the holiday. I caught a bunch of Classic Who episodes. I'm in season two during the Rome arc. Thoroughly enjoy watching the first doctor.

I’m almost finished with season one of Penny Dreadful. There are times when the show seems to plod along a little. I hope that smooths out with the next season.

Legends of Tomorrow had a great Thanksgiving episode. I kind of like Nate being with the time bureau. Of course a huge showdown with his dad is inevitable. Sadly. I also kind of love Ray getting a little tarnished and being so uncertain about some of his decisions. Makes him a lot more interesting.

Wow. Wynonna Earp keeps getting better. They never quite do what I expect them to do and I love it. Messy relationships playing out on screen is highly entertaining.

Got in another episode of The Dresden Files and I remember watching this one. I hope the new incarnation stays with some of the interesting details of how Harry became a wizard. Also got the last episode of Underbelly's first season. Gotta say it started out pretty slow but ended up being pretty decent.

I watched Midsomer Murders while getting caught up on folding laundry. The entire episode… so yeah, I had a crap ton of clean clothes to fold. Also got an episode of Babylon 5 in on the same day.

To round out the week, I caught episode seven of Birds of Prey on CW Seed and then followed up with The Flash's All Doll'd Up. While I like Nora, she can be a little whiny sometimes. Hope that changes soon.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from New Year's Nip, an Organic Nature sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Eppie Collins has a terrific guy, one who gave her a wonderful Christmas holiday. She's returning the favor on New Year's Eve, making surprise last minute plans to watch the midnight fireworks in the city. Vin's not the only one who can pull out all the stops.

And a snippety peek…

Cozy in her bed, Eppie stretched and almost purred like a cat. Her final numbers for the year, after she added the Christmas sales in, far surpassed her expectations. She'd been so pleased she dragged Vin to bed at seven o'clock and didn't let him sleep until after midnight.

A niggle of guilt fluttered in her consciousness. He scheduled his year-end meeting with his employees this morning and had to get up at the ass crack of ugly o'clock to go back to his place and pull all his notes together then stop and pick up the annual bonuses he gave the workers, which usually doubled their standard weekly pay and made up for having the week between Christmas and New Year's off.

And he got a late start because she'd been in the mood for wake-up sex.

Amazing what a couple days away and kick ass profit did for her libido.

She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. Planning something hot and sexy for New Year's would be a great way to repay Vin's generosity and general awesomeness for putting up with her stressed-out insanity. If he could plan and execute an amazing surprise, she should be able to pull off the same.

And she had just the idea to blow his mind.

After grabbing a quick shower, Eppie dressed and went downstairs. She poured a mug of coffee and checked her phone for messages. Finding none, she scrolled through her contacts and found the person she wanted. Swiping her finger over the send button, she waited for a response.

"You've reached the Chamberlain. This is Maj. How can I help you have a fantastic day?" The renovated hotel on the city's waterfront had become a popular destination on the final day of December and Maj took pride in making every visitor feel special.

Eppie's lips curved. She'd roomed with Maj Domer their freshman year of college and they'd remained friends over the years. When spring arrived, Eppie couldn't wait to have Maj over for a weekend of girl talk and catching up in her new haven—the shed Vin built for her.

Eppie jumped right in. "By finding me one last room for the New Year's Eve celebration." She waited a moment. "Please, please, please." The city always put on a gorgeous fireworks display over the water to welcome in the New Year.

Maj gave a happy shriek. "Eppie? Oh, my God, how are you?" She spoke to someone else on her end. "Cover the front desk. I'm taking five." A moment or two passed then Maj spoke again. "Sorry, wanted a distraction-free environment. What's going on? How was your holiday?" Maj never failed to throw a million questions out before Eppie had a chance to answer the first one.

But she'd had lots of practice with Maj's chaotic style. "I'm terrific. Had the best year to date for Organic Nature. And my excellent holiday was spent in a secluded B&B."

Maj lowered her voice. "Is that hot man of yours still rocking your world?"

Eppie laughed. "Absolutely. That's why I'm hoping you can work some magic and find a room for me." She didn't care what kind as long as it had a bed and bathroom.

Maj hesitated a moment. "Welllll, I might happen to have just the thing." Her fingers tapped on a keyboard. "But… I have to swear you to secrecy. Okay?"

Eppie didn't think twice. "Done. My lips are zipped." Excitement thrummed through her veins.

Maj lowered her voice again. "We have a suite reserved all year round for one client. He pays in advance and we keep the suite ready for him at all times." She paused, no doubt on purpose to draw out the suspense. "That said, due to something of a personal relationship with him, I happen to have permission to use the suite when he's not going to be here." She stopped, letting the innuendo sink in. "He'll be out of the country until mid-January so the suite is yours if you want it."

Eppie fist-pumped the air. "Sold. How much?" She didn't care what figure Maj named, she'd happily pay whatever the price. "And we obviously need to do some major catching up on this new personal relationship." She hoped this guy worked out for Maj.

Maj laughed. "Since I owe you several times over, I'm going to comp your stay. Why run the hotel if I can't let one of my closest friends surprise her hot, sexy man?"

Eppie huffed out a breath. "Don't think I'm not aware you changed the subject. And thank you. I am trying to surprise Vin."

Maj clicked her tongue against her teeth. "I knew it. And I did jump topic, but only because I don't want to talk about him while I'm working or do it over the phone." Her tone grew wistful. "We need a girls' weekend. Soon."

Eppie agreed. "Let's make some time in the spring. I'll have a better idea of what's free after Valentine's Day."

Maj didn't argue. "Sounds good. Now here's how we're going to be all covert…"

Eppie listened to Maj provide details. They would bypass regular check-in and go directly to the suite. They could come and go as they pleased, but Maj directed her to use the VIP entrance and gave her the code to enter and exit, which Maj would change after their stay.

The VIP entrance. Eppie shook her head when she ended the call. Maj surpassed Eppie's wildest hope to secure any room, even if only a last minute cancellation. But an entire suite on the top floor?

Oh… she had some plans to make.

I had a major block on this story but it finally started coming together. Hopefully, I have the rest of this series ready to launch by next year.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Muse It Up

Geez… what a week. I can honestly say I've never worked harder on a copy edit than I have for the past twelve days. I've actually never taken twelve days to complete a copy edit before. TLDR… it's a long manuscript and there were a crap ton of glitchy little things that needed review. My brain kind of hurts right now. LOL

To top the long work week off, my daughter had three nights of after-school events.  National honor society inductions on Tuesday, golf awards banquet on Thursday, and the holiday parade on Friday, which we made five gallons of hot chocolate for the choir kids to drink and keep warm while riding the float. Seriously… it's not as easy to make five gallons of a hot drink as one might think. And… my daughter's also in band so she doesn't even ride the float with the choir. She marches and misses all the chocolaty goodness.

Needless to say, I'm now behind on my television viewing. I actually couldn't watch the finale of The Last Ship. I'm not ready to say goodbye to this show yet. I'm going to miss that damn ship and its sailors so much.

I do have a brief rundown of what I did get to see. Caught another episode of Strike Back's fifth season. I'm starting to like this group a lot. I do miss the instant chemistry the previous cast had, especially the leads. That said, the dynamic is different enough with this group that I'm interested in where things go. And they're completely pared down, carrying on with how the previous incarnation ended. The commander is rebuilding and restoring the reputation of Section Twenty. So… they get lots of wiggle room.

Caught the Chicago crossover event with Fire, Med, and PD. Thoroughly enjoyed all three shows. I've lost some love for Chicago PD. The fifth season kind of lost me with all the sneaky snitchy bullshit. I really want to watch Chicago Med from the beginning. Here's hoping that happens in the near future.

I'm almost finished with Luke Cage. Disappointed there won't be a third season but maybe we'll see the character is something else. Who knows.

Got an episode of Murdoch Mysteries in. I like how this show weaves current topical events into the storyline, showing how often history tends to repeat. Not necessarily a great thing, but it's fun to see how they work it all out.

Watched a couple episodes of Classic Who. I'm behind on the new season but should get caught up soon. Started a new episode of Penny Dreadful and should finish the first season by the end of the month.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Muse It Up, a novella that started with writing community prompt of "a writer meets a bartender at his favorite bar". What happens next?

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nate Shaunessey can't get in the groove to write his new supernatural series. When he meets the new bartender, Hunter Gant, at his local pub, a muse is born. The only problem? Nate's afraid to tell her she's his latest inspiration.

And a snippety peek…

Nate buzzed with a million ideas. "Hunter Gant, you're a lifesaver." He entered his cottage on its corner lot and went directly to his writing nook.

The small alcove had a wall lined with floor to ceiling bookcases that held many of his reference books, a wall with double windows, which let in lots of natural light, and a third wall that included his work area, an L-shaped desk with his PC, laptop, and several writing aids—inspiration boards, a phone docking station for playing music, and a huge white board he used to refine story points.

Settling behind his desk, he switched on the lamp—not much natural light streaming through the windows at five a.m. Opening his laptop, he started typing as soon as the empty document appeared on the screen. He filled ten pages by dumping the contents of his brain through his fingertips flying over the keys.

His mouth kicked up in a grin. "Thank you, Hunter." Her family history provided a solid backdrop for his newly forming character—Fiona O'Leary, heir apparent to a supernatural legacy of solving the unsolvable.

He saved the notes then leaned back and closed his eyes. "Fiona is uniquely situated. Her dad's side of the family is involved in law enforcement; her mom's side all own pubs. Fiona has a foothold in each, running a detective agency and working as a bartender in two of the pubs on the side." He nodded, loving the vision sparking to life in his head.

Grabbing a notepad, he jotted character traits, all coming from Hunter. He focused on her green eyes, sketching from memory and filling in with some colored pencils. Tearing the page, he tacked it onto one of his inspiration boards.

He spent the next several hours filling in backstory. How Fiona got her start as a supernatural detective; how her family of cops and bar owners referred clients to her and how she used them as resources. The law enforcement side gave her access to police reports and autopsy findings. The pubs offered up a place for her to tap into the preternatural world by providing a gathering spot for fae creatures and other paranormal beings.

Once the world took shape, he started on the other characters. Fiona would have love interests in both facets of her work.

He made a note in the margin of the page. "At least two in each. She won't find her true match until at least book five." Five… out of a dozen.

Yes! He had at least a dozen, maybe more. Creative fires burning, he continued typing, writing, refining, and outlining until his eyes almost crossed with fatigue. Glancing at the time, he yawned. Ten a.m. Five hours of nonstop work. He'd take it.

Especially after three days of pretty much nothing.

Leaving everything out and open, he got up and stretched the kinks out of his muscles. "Time for a shower and a few hours of sleep."

Then another session of work and maybe a visit with his new-found muse.

I'm having a lot of fun writing Nate and his inspiration. Hunter's story will unfold a little slower and she'll reveal her secrets a little at a time.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Monumental Headache

As someone with family and friends who have served or are serving in the military, I'd like to thank all of our service members for their courage, sacrifices, and efforts. Thank you.

It's been a rough week with two difficult manuscripts and the end of daylight savings. Seriously, I've been all out of sorts and my internal clock hasn't caught up yet. LOL

I didn't get a lot of television in this week—see above for why—but I did stay current on usual shows. The Last Ship killed off another of my faves, which means I'm trying to prepare for a high body count in the finale. A box of tissues and alcohol might be involved. Just saying.

Arrow kicked some butt. I'm kind of liking the flash forward stuff, especially because the flashbacks are a thing of the past for the most part. I'll give kudos to Stephen, Emily, and Katie because I think they're doing some stellar work. The rest of the cast is on point also. Riverdale's Midnight Club episode rocked. The more batshit this show gets the more I seem to enjoy it. And it's definitely over the top.

Legends of Tomorrow keeps delivering great episodes. I'm always excited to see who's going to interact with whom. The constantly changing dynamic of the cast is so much fun.

I did catch an episode of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and, honestly, I love this show. It's going to go down as one of my favorite viewing experiences. I also caught an episode of Classic Who and finished up an episode of Midsomer Murders.

That's it on the television front. Tonight's post is from Monumental Headache, a novella that started with a two-word prompt of "screw you".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Cadee Walsh has a high stress job and needs to blow off steam. She spends the night with Worth Pettigrew, recharging from the incredible sex. Imagine her mortification when she finds out he's her new boss.

And a snippety peek…

Cadee Walsh exited the Canal Boulevard Spinal Care Clinic and locked the door behind her. "What a long, effing day." Shouldering her tote bag, she started for the parking lot.

"Cadee, you worked late tonight."

The voice startled her and she fisted her keys, letting the notched ends stick out between her fingers. She relaxed a little when Matt Debrewers emerged from the shadows of the building. The physical therapist had clocked out well over an hour ago. Cadee stayed behind to enter her patient assessments into the system and close out the files for billing. They'd had close to a hundred visits today for new consultations, adjustments, and therapy.

Cadee gave a nod and started for her car. "Yeah, finishing up the day's business. Doing double duty until Wendy's back from vacation." The office manager left over a week ago for a cruise, leaving Cadee to pull up the slack. "What are you doing back? Did you forget something?" Pausing by the vehicle, she glanced over her shoulder.

Matt gave her a lopsided grin. "Thought I'd hit the gym." He jerked his head toward the building next door, a twenty-four facility they recommended to many of their patients. "Unless… do you want to grab a late dinner or something?" He started forward, his feet shuffling on the pavement.

Cadee held up a hand. "No, Matt. I won't be good company. It's been a long day and I'm beat." She'd worked until almost nine pm every night this week.

She actually wanted to hit her favorite pub and drown her fatigue in a huge burger with a side of fries and slaw and about half a dozen shots. And maybe she'd get lucky and find a hot man to unwind with. Anyone but Matt because work romances usually got awkward and Cadee didn't have patience for the gossip in a tight-knit office environment.

After placing her order, she propped her elbows on the bar and waited for the tequila shot to arrive. Bart, the bartender, settled the glass in front of her and she lifted it wearing a smile. Toasting her favorite employee, she downed the liquid in a single gulp. "Ah… that hits the spot." Turning the glass upside down, she tapped the counter for another one.

Her food arrived and the aroma made her mouth water.

"That looks pretty damn good. I'll have what she's having."

Cadee shot the speaker a sideways glance and straightened on the stool. Well, hello, handsome. A slow once-over revealed a prime specimen of manhood, wearing well-worn jeans, a tight t-shirt that showed off broad shoulders, a defined chest, and gorgeous biceps. Her night looked infinitely better than it did thirty seconds ago.

She patted the chair beside her. "This seat's definitely not taken if you're looking for a place to park yourself." Waving a hand over her plate, she flashed a smile. "You won't find a better burger anywhere in the city."

He slid his sculpted ass onto the seat and he snagged a fry from the basket. "Fries look good, too." Popping it into his mouth, he closed his eyes in bliss.

Cadee grinned. "You and I… are going to get along really well."

And if she had her way, they'd end up back at her place for dessert.

Oh, Cadee, beware what you wish for… it might come true but not in the way you're hoping for. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Mixed Signals

We're entering the next to last month of the year… how did ten months already fly by? I got some scary news earlier in the week. My younger sibling had a major heart attack while at work and ended up having surgery to put stents in. He's actually doing terrific, considering it's one of the worst types of cardiac infarctions. I'm so very grateful I still have him around.

Needless to say, television viewing ended up being limited this week. The Last Ship killed off one my favorite characters and I’m still mourning that loss. Thankfully, The Flash had a pretty terrific episode and I love the introduction of meta-tech. Arrow is doing a great job of keeping me interested. I didn't know how I'd end up liking the whole prison angle, but I'm very satisfied with how it's playing out. Legends of Tomorrow remains excellent. I'm always surprised by how fast the hour flies by when I'm watching.

I caught another episode of The Sarah Conner Chronicles. I'm about halfway through the season and the end is being shaped. I truly forgot how much I loved this show. Also caught another episode of Birds of Prey. Stylistically, I love how this series plays out on the screen. Caught another episode of Lexx and completely forgot about Stan's trial. I actually enjoyed this one.

Doctor Who's episode with spiders ended up being pretty good. I'm never sure how I'll take to episodes with creepy-crawly things. Somewhat disappointed there won't be a Christmas special this year but having a New Year's show could be fun. We'll see.

Got another episode of Pensacola Wings of Gold in. Enjoyed seeing how that one played out. I'm almost finished with the first season and I'm not sure if I'll continue on because it seems like the second series has an almost entirely new cast. I'll watch a few episodes and see what happens.

Caught another Hallmark movie, Hannah's Law. Ended up being pretty decent. I watched mainly for Greyston Holt, a favorite actor of mine.

Rounded out the week with some classic television marathons. The Saint throughout the week and Burke's Law this weekend.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Mixed Signals, a novella that got a start with a what-if scenario involving friendly fire and an old relationship.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Avery and Trigg, both undercover cops, can't keep their relationship going. Their work makes it hard to stay connected. When mixed signals results in Avery shooting Trigg in a friendly fire incident, she wants to set the record straight and maybe test the waters to pick up where they left off.

And a snippety peek…

A knock sounded on the door and Trigg opened his eyes. The TV droned in the background, but the pain meds kept him drifting in and out of wakefulness. The wood slab pushed open and Dinah entered the room. His lips curved in a smile.

But only for a moment. Dinah wore resignation on her face and had reluctance in her step. She pulled her hand from her pocket and dangled the apartment keys from her fingers.

Trigg didn't need verbal confirmation. They were finished. Truth told, he didn't have it in him to fight for her right now.

He winced when he sat up straighter and dug his shoulders into the pillows behind his back. "You're cutting out?" Did he care?

He couldn't honestly say he did.

Dinah put the keys on the patient tray at his bedside. "I have to, Trigg. I can't handle this. You getting shot… just… it's my wake-up call." Her hands went back inside her pockets and her shoulders hunched forward.

Trigg made a stab at salvaging the relationship. "Dinah, I've been a cop for over a decade. This is the first time I've been injured on the job." Didn't mean it wouldn't happen again but a bus could him tomorrow, too.

Dinah shuddered. "You say that like it's no big deal. Once in a decade is still one time too many." She turned for the exit. "I'm sorry, Trigg. I can't do the be-strong thing and hope for the best." Pulling the door open, she lifted a hand. "Good-bye."

Heaving a sigh, he didn't stop her. And he didn't respond. She didn't need a farewell from him. Not when she'd made a decision without even discussing it with him.

Finding the remote, he switched off the television. Getting dumped in the hospital while recovering from a bullet wound had to be a new low. And he'd had some pretty serious downs.

Like getting shot by your ex.

This one is coming together in little pieces at a time. The sages have a good idea of what they want but their delivery is out of order. Go figure.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin