Sunday Snippet: Auld Lang Syne

Had a much calmer week and got caught up on almost everything—including laundry. I can honestly say that hasn't happened for a long time. Multiple work projects are churning along and I'm also getting some writing and creative endeavors accomplished. I've been sleeping a lot better and I'm pretty sure that's playing a big role in lighting the spark.

Or the planets are aligned in a specific pattern and helping me along. Either is possible.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. I got two MasterClass with Roxane Gay lessons viewed and I really like listening to her. She's got some terrific things to say.

Finished up the first season of the Babysitter's Club and thoroughly enjoyed watching. I'm glad there's another season to dive into.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room. Ethan Peck had some great things to say about playing Spock and I'm excited to see him on the new Trek.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med and hope to finish watching a crossover episode to find out what happens.

Enjoyed another episode of The Snoopy Show. I think I have one more for the first season and then I'll start on the second.

Finished Signora Volpe and loved the first season. I really hope there's more of this show. If not, at least I like where they left things.

Watched the beginning of a Silent Witness two-parter. Loved the setup on this one. Looking forward to finishing up the second half.

Started season twenty-five of Classic Who. The daleks are back and we'll see how things play out in this arc.

Caught another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. Weirdly, I'm not horrified by any of those locations after this week. Living in my own house is scary at the moment.

Watched another episode of The Mandalorian. I loved this one. Smart heroes make me happy and Mando is very smart. I also enjoyed a few laugh out loud moments and that's a bonus.

Harrow had an interesting episode and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet. I hate that Harrow has been betraying Nichols and it's going to bite him on the ass. I really like the growth they've had over the past two seasons and I'm not going to be thrilled if they trash that.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers and finished up a two-parter. I liked the conclusion and the way they resolved the hostage situation.

Also enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats, both had moments I'd forgotten and I loved catching little details.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Auld Lang Syne, a novella featuring the characters from Mistletoe Madness.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When a New Year's Eve party turns into a surprise memorial for Delaney Nixon's mom, Scotty London and Westin Ames help Delaney face the auld lang syne with grace and gratitude while it stirs up old memories. The trio then returns home for some much needed TLC.

And a snippety peek…

Scotty entered kitchen to find Delaney drumming her fingers on the table. "I guess Westin didn't do enough convincing." Damn.

She shook her head. "It's not that. He actually gave me some good advice." She nodded toward the mug on the table. "Splash of creamer, sprinkle of sugar."

Scotty grinned. "You're the best." He pulled out a chair and settled across from her. "What did Westin advise?" They had to go to the ball.

Delaney traced the edge of her cup. "To tell you I'm concerned about you losing business if we go public and let you decide if I'm crazy."

"I did not suggest a mental imbalance." Westin strolled into the room, ready for work. "London, don't make light of her worry." He leaned down and caught Del's lips in a hard kiss. "And you listen to what he has to say then let me know what you've decided. I'll be at the garage all day." He set his mug in the sink and grabbed his coat, lifting his chin in Scotty's direction.

Scotty gave a nod and waited for Westin to exit through the door before focusing on Del again. "Okay, first, you're not crazy. But why do you think I'll lose business if we attend the ball?" He loved that she worried, but didn't get why.

Delaney tilted her head. "The three of us attend the ball as a trio and it's out there. We're going public. How do you think the town is going to react?" Her eyebrows arched.

Scotty sighed. "I get where you're coming from, but regardless of how people act or what they say, is it going to change the way you feel about me or Westin?" That mattered more than anything else.

She shook her head. "Of course not. But if you have clients who pull their accounts or find another agent because they decide to judge you, how is that going to make you feel?"

Scotty waited a moment before answering. "Honestly? If my client relationships suffer because people are judging me—or us—I'm not sure they're worth much as a relationship, are they?" He leaned forward and reached for her hand. "Are you ashamed to be with Westin and me?" He almost regretted asking, because he might not like the answer.

Delaney gasped. "What? No. I finally found what I've been looking for." She squeezed his fingers. "You and Westin are my perfect match. But I don't want anything to wreck this." Her eyes filled with a touch of sadness.

Scotty cupped her face. "No one can wreck what we've found. And, look, if a client pulls their account because they don't understand, it's not a loss for me. I work hard and go the extra mile for my policy holders. They're welcome to find someone else who can do the same." He could withstand losing a few people if necessary.

Delaney snorted. "Fat chance. Look what you did for my mom." She leaned into his palm. "I love you for taking care of her and handling everything the way she wanted."

His gut clenched for a moment. "Then let's go to the ball. We don't have to make a grand announcement, but we won't shy away from being honest either." A lot relied on her saying yes.

Delaney gave him a wide smile. "All right. We officially have plans for New Year's Eve." She rose up and caught his face in her hands. "I love you."

He accepted her kiss even though a sliver of guilt sliced through him. He had an ulterior motive for getting her to the hotel for the ball … and he hoped she wouldn't be upset when she discovered the final item on her mom's checklist.

I have a lot of fun writing a trio. The sages wanted to see what happens with Scotty, Westin, and Delaney after they make their Christmas commitment.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Approaching Midnight

Geez, what a week. Starting late Monday night, a super-cell storm blew through Ohio. Around 11:30 pm, the tornado sirens went off in my little village. We took cover in our bathroom, mainly because our two doggos will not go down the basement steps and the bathroom is the most protected interior room in the house. By 12:15 am, we got the all clear, but the power went out around 12:05 … and didn't come back on until Thursday at 5:30 pm. It's been … a wild week.

Thankfully, we were able to borrow a generator to keep our AC (temps in the mid to high 90s), fridge and freezers going. We had one light in our living room and a charging station to keep our devices charged up. Not that it mattered much. The storm damaged a cell tower and we barely had a signal. I literally had one spot in the house where I could get one. The joys of living in a rural area.

Spent most of my time keeping the generator full, checking on my neighbors, and checking out my dad's house—luckily for him, he'd left early Tuesday morning for a vacation—after rerouting to get to the airport. Downed trees were everywhere. All in all, though, we were very lucky that we didn't have a lot of damage. Unfortunately, my cousin had a tree fall on their house. Weirdly, we had another storm blow through on Thursday that caused three fires from lightning strikes. Mother Nature isn't messing around right now.

So … I had a very minimal viewing week. And I'm playing catch-up on my work projects. I don't mind being a little bit behind, mainly because I'm happy and grateful we still have a house and didn't lose our fully stocked freezers. A huge hat-tip to the linemen and workers who still have their hands full trying to restore power to other locations.

I did get an episode of The Snoopy Show in. I'm almost finished with the first season and I'll be checking out the second one after I'm done.

I caught the cast interviews for Loch Ness and enjoyed getting some insight into the characters and the actors portraying them. I'll be finishing up with behind the scenes sometime next week.

Finished up a Silent Witness two-parter and quite enjoyed the twisty turns the episode took. I'm very much liking the later seasons of this show.

Ended up completing season 24 of Classic Who. Mel is going off on her own adventure and it looks like Ace is going to be the new companion. I'll start season 25 this week.

Caught another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. A focus on historical locations ended up being pretty interesting.

Watched another episode of The Mandalorian. Again, I love the pacing of this show. There are a lot of little moments that stack up to add great impact.

Got another episode of The Hardy Boys in and the plot is getting deeper. There's a lot of cat and mouse stuff going on and I kind of like it. The pacing is a little weird but I'm happy to overlook a few glitches.

Also caught another episode of Peak Practice to round out the week. Not sure if I'll be caught back up by my next post, but I'm only a little behind and can live with that.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Approaching Midnight, a holiday-themed novella that starts around Halloween and reaches it climactic conclusion on New Year's Eve.

Here's the mini-blurb:

It's approaching midnight on New Year's Eve and Greta Davis has to decide whether to meet Mick Caplin at the NYE ball or if it's too crazy to even think they have a shot at love. After all, they've only known each other since Halloween.

And a snippety peek…

Mick closed the door and set the candy aside. "Can't believe I asked her for a date." Actually, he couldn't believe she said yes.

Hot damn. He had a date.

I wonder what her story is?

His type. For sure. He hadn't really dated since his gramps moved in. Mom and Dad were in Arizona and trying to get settled before attempting to talk Gramps into moving out there. Mick seriously doubted they'd succeed.

"Mick? I'm gonna miss my show. Where's the remote?"

With a quick sigh, Mick entered the living room and, sure enough, the changer sat on the arm of the recliner. "It's right beside you, Gramps. On the left side." Hence the confusion.

Marty Caplin sent his grandson an embarrassed side-eye. "Er, sorry about that. Forgot I moved it when I came back from the john." He made the change and settled back again. "Need to get some new specs."

Mick's lips turned up. His gramps didn't need new glasses. He needed attention. Mick asked Gramps to stick to the living room because of the trick-or-treaters. While the old guy got around pretty well, staying spry and mobile, he did move slower than he used to.

Mick propped a shoulder on the archway separating the foyer from the main living space. "Hey, Gramps. I have a date tonight—"

Marty smirked. "With that hot little thing that just left?"

Mick rolled his eyes. "Gramps, she's not a thing. Her name is Greta and we're going for a drink at Planks." He couldn't wait.

Marty arched his brows. "You're leaving me alone?" A small note of worry crept into his tone.

Mick pushed away from the wall. "Only for an hour or so. Mom and Dad will be Face-timing you at 8:30. You might still be on with them by the time I get back." The doorbell rang again and Mick grabbed the bowl of candy.

Marty frowned. "Bah. They'll want to talk about making me move across the country again. I'm not going." He folded his arms over his chest.

Mick shook his head and answered the door. "Greetings, all you ghosts and ghouls…"

He focused on the group out front and his upcoming date. He'd worry about the upcoming battle between his parents and Gramps later.

I'm having a lot of fun with this story. Greta and Mick are falling fast and hard but their family influences are throwing up roadblocks.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Along the Shore (a South of the Border novella)

We had some rain that gave us mild temperatures, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I don't mind hot weather but there's something about being able to be outside with a nice breeze and sunshine that makes me happy.

Solid work week. Had a few small projects that I cleared off my desk and had a new one arrive in my inbox. My plates seem to be spinning nicely at the moment.

Good week of viewing. I did the same thing as last week and only tried for one round of my usual streaming services. I might be adding one more to the list after talking to my sibling. He made some good recommendations.

Watched another episode of The Snoopy Show. This one had a vignette on using the library and happiness being a good book. I feel that sentiment all the way to my toes.

Caught another episode of Signora Volpe. I love this show. I truly hope there will be another series because there's only one episode left.

Viewed the first of a two-part Silent Witness and ended up being very intrigued. Very much looking forward to the second part of this one.

Enjoyed the second part of a Classic Who arc. It's nice to see a familiar face from a previous incarnation. The third part will be the end of this season, I think. I'm not sure if there's another one after this. If not, I'll be starting a new show before I dive into New Who.

Watched another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. I'm fascinated by the legend and lore revealed in the sequences. I'm not sure I'd be cool with trying to stay somewhere that's known for being haunted but I love hearing about the stories.

Caught another episode of The Mandalorian. Gotta say I'm thoroughly enjoying this show. The pacing is excellent and I'm excited to see what happens next.

Viewed another episode of Harrow and I truly dislike the new boss. I'm also not thrilled with Grace's ex being in town. If there's another season and things get really convoluted, I'm done. As much as I love the cases, I don't want the other drama.

Enjoyed another episode of Blue Heelers. I liked seeing how another country handles the wildfires that tend to rage at the worst possible time. Not really into the whole taking the hospital hostage thing, mainly because the two characters are a little too over the top for me. We'll see how the second part goes this week.

Started a new MasterClass with Roxane Gay. I'm very much looking forward to her lessons.

Watched another Babysitter's Club and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. It's nice to see more of the sibling relationships and the way the parents interact.

Viewed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. One was a favorite and the other was one I thoroughly enjoy.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med and discovered something I didn't know about one of the Chicago Fire characters. Good information. Also can't wait for Nat to discover she's being completely gaslit by her new fiancé. Here's hoping the fallout from that doesn't do too much damage.

Started the PassionFlix movie Tangled and I'm having fun watching it. I didn't know if I'd like this one but I'm so glad I'm watching.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Along the Shore, a South of the Border novella featuring one character on the run and the other sent to find her.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vail Ericsson, a freelance security expert and skilled tracker, can find anyone for a price. But when he trails Ellery Quantrell to Mexico, he discovers she's not an escapee but a target and his role changes from pursuer to protector, whether Ellery wants him as a shield or not.

And a snippety peek…

Kiernan Darby hooked the trailer up to the rig in front of it. "Okay. You're good to go." She double-checked the pin, making sure it held true when the truck eased slowly down the lane.

The brake lights flashed, the vehicle stopped and the owner of the thirty-five foot sail boat stuck his head out the window. "Hey, I've got a yacht that's seen better days. Think you could do your primo reno job on it?" He added a mile-wide grin, full of straight white teeth.

Kiernan's lips turned up at the flirtatious attempt. Norman Honeywell had serious good looks, but her heart belonged to someone else.

She shook her head. "Nah. I'm strictly a sailing kind of gal." She glanced toward Lars Rademacher, her business partner and rekindled flame, and winked.

Lars stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Norm got the hint and tossed off a casual wave. "Just thought I'd ask. Take care, now." He chugged down the sandy lane and pulled out onto the highway, disappearing from sight.

Kiernan leaned back into Lars. "Worried I'd be tempted?" At one time, yachts were her specialty. A very long time ago.

Lars hummed against her ear. "About the boat … or him?" His tongue flicked over her lobe, sending shivers along her skin.

Kiernan turned so his hands could slide down to cup her ass. "The boat, moron. He didn't stand a chance." She lifted her chin and gave Lars a quick, hard kiss.

She tried to step back, but Lars hauled her close, snagged her lips with his and plundered her mouth. Kier forgot about everything but the white-hot flame Lars ignited.

~:~

Lars had more concern about Romeo's interest in Kier than his question about the yacht. But it might not hurt to run a check on the guy. After using Kiernan as bait to lure a dangerous enemy out into the open, Lars wouldn't take any more chances than he had to.

They played it a bit safe. Yeah, the top man in EDGE had finally been eliminated, but Lars had spent enough time as a covert operative he'd need a calculator to tally up his enemy list. He could name a dozen off the top of his head.

Kier tore her mouth from his and nudged his forehead. "Less thinking, more kissing." Her teeth caught his lower lip and she nipped playfully, pulling him back to the task at hand.

Lars focused on her. The play of her skin under his fingertips, the way her eyes slid shut when he groaned against her ear and the splay of her hands when they smoothed down his back to cup his ass. He growled, wanting to have her right there on the patio, but they'd done that yesterday, on the chaise between the house and her shop, when she'd … a shudder tore through Lars. Kiernan's mouth created magic, no matter where she put her lips.

He swept his arm under her legs and lifted her, laughing when she kicked her flip flops off, not caring where they landed. Her mouth hit his, and the kiss went from zero to scorching in under a second. He started toward the house and made it halfway when his phone rang. Juggling Kier, he fished it out of his pocket. He didn't give the number out to more than a handful of people so when the number came up as unavailable he had a moment of concern. Setting Kier down, he let the call go to voicemail. He kept an arm around her waist then listened to the message when it showed ready. Very brief, the call had a return number and a code word—Apollo. He glanced toward Kier and frowned, following her into the house when she grabbed his hand and tugged him forward.

It had been longer than five years since the Greek gods had been used as security codes.

Someone from his old life, but out of the field, had just reached out.

Although Ellery and Vail are the main characters, Kiernan and Lars do feature in this story and I love their introduction to the tale.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: All Day Sucker (Bonus Scene from Black Unicorn Comics series)

Welcome June! Seriously, I feel like I'm still floating around back in March. The months are flying by right now.

Had a weird week of struggling to focus and I couldn't tell you why I ended up being so distracted. That drives me insane.

Decent viewing week. I only went through one round of my usual streaming services again and I'm actually kind of okay with that. Sometimes I need a bit of a break and can use the quiet time.

I did get another episode of The Snoopy Show watched and enjoyed it. I like to think the whole Peanuts gang has a special place in the hearts of GenX. At least it does for me.

I finished up Loch Ness and actually quite enjoyed the series. The twists and turns ended up panning out better than I'd hoped. Definitely glad I watched this one.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and loved the twistiness of this two-parter. I also love that there wasn't a shiny bow on the end. Good stuff.

Started a new arc of Classic Who and I'm kind of interested in how this one plays out. Again, I notice how much Mel ends up screaming. It's a thing.

Watched another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. At some point, I'd love to see a series where the ghosts and ghouls are actually friendly and helpful. That said, I love seeing the interviews with people who experienced the creepy creatures. Pure gold.

Enjoyed another episode of The Mandalorian. I love the pacing and the little bits of information that turn up and reveal themselves. Good stuff.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. Gotta say Joe is beginning to annoy me but I'm hoping there's a reason he's being such a prat. Fenton's storyline is getting interesting and I love that the grown-ups get some random fleshing out.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed the storylines. It feels like some groundwork is being laid for future seasons and I'm liking that.

Finished up a MasterClass series with Neil deGrasse Tyson. While it wasn't as in depth as I thought it would be, I did get a lot of his lessons. Not sure what I'll start next, but I'm leaning toward Roxane Gay's series.

Caught another The Babysitter's Club and thoroughly enjoyed. I'm glad they're adding another sitter to the club and I really like how they're featuring the members.

Watched another episode of the Ready Room and liked the interview with James Frain. I like his character and it's nice to get some insight into the complicated relationships he has with his family.

Started season five of Chicago Med and I'm sad to say good-bye to Connor. I do love how they sent him off, especially the farewells he had with Goodwin and his mentor. The Will and Nat storyline is one I'm a little on the fence with. I'm really not down with the interloper making conflict, but I'll reserve judgment. Maggie is breaking my heart.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from All Day Sucker, a bonus scene featuring Brian and Lucy from the Black Unicorn Comics series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Brian and Lucy have competing comic book series, a friendly rivalry, and a terrific, sexy relationship. When Brian is blocked on his next installment, Lucy provides some steamy inspiration to help him get through it.

And a snippety peek…

The all-day sucker comment got him. Lucy certainly redefined steamy inspiration in the office. She did love to give head. And he loved getting it. So much.

A series of images rushed through his brain, popping like bubbles in ale. His hand stilled because the pictures kept flashing forward. His mind wouldn't settle on one.

Lucy removed her mouth from his shaft. "Stop. What's in your head right now?" Her tongue traced a circle around the tip of his dick.

Brian's lips kicked up and he scribbled a brief outline of the scene. Lucy went back to flicking her tongue around his cock then sucking hard while going deep. When his pen ceased movement, she repeated the process.

She eased back. "Stop. Freeze it there and write it down." Her cheeks hollowed out and she sank back over him again.

Within ten minutes, he had a full page of scenes outlined.

He set his pen aside. "Full page, Luce." His fingers threaded through her hair. "Thank you."

She paused and looked up. "You're welcome." A slow smile curved her lips. "Time for your reward." She started sucking in earnest and fondled his balls.

Didn't take him long to hit his peak. His hips flexed and he came hard. Relief and euphoria filled him in equal measure.

Lucy swallowed and leaned back, licking her lips. "Wanna up the ante?" Her eyebrows arched.

Brian's eyes went wide. "What do you have in mind?" He couldn't wait to hear how she'd top that incredible blow job.

I love this couple so much. I'm almost finished with the second story and have the third one plotted out and the fourth one is slowly but surely getting some attention.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin