Sunday Snippet: Feeling Alive

Well, the end of June is going to be a welcome sight for me. It's been a long month and yet somehow flew by in a blink.

Work projects are finally slowing down a little and I feel like I can breathe again. I have to play catch-up on some things that I had to let slide while trying to get through the bulk of my work. Hopefully, I'll get back to some cleaning projects and get more writing done.

Actually made it through all of my shows and finished up two that I had on the back burner. We had a lot of rain and some severe storms, but the power stayed on, so I got a lot watched.

Watched another episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and it's one I always look forward to. I love getting into Phyrne's history and her time in France explains so much about her.

Enjoyed another episode of Art Detectives. Nice to have a little backstory for the characters. Also enjoyed the mystery of this one. Messy rock-star drama added a nice twist.

Caught another Death in Paradise episode … possibly the one hundredth ep because Camile made an appearance. Excellent throwback to the very first episode also.

Watched another Poirot episode where he's either still on holiday or taking another one. I had seen most of this episode before and it's nice to have all the pieces fall into place.

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. Interesting to see Gregson decide to stay with the eleventh and Iiked him seeking Joan's help with vetting his possible replacement. The overarching mystery also ended up being nice and twisty.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond. I remembered this one and liked the team-up of Terry and Max. Bruce had some good lines in this episode.

I think I finished up the Classic Rugrats rewatch. I might go back and make sure I didn't end up skipping a season or two. I'll probably switch over the new episodes.

Finally finished up the episode of Peak Practice I started a while ago. Did not expect to see Sam propose even though I knew it would happen at some point.

Also finished up the second episode of Reacher. Gotta say, I really love this show. Glad I have several more seasons to view!

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Feeling Alive, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

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…

Wake stood outside the precinct building. "Damn, bro. How the hell do I do this?" He'd spent the however many days since he'd returned stateside dealing with his brother's estate—Avery left Maddox half his life insurance—and needing answers to the point he didn't know which way to turn.

Heaving a sigh, he started up the steps. "The only two things I know are my brother is dead, and I was in a motherfucking hot zone when it happened." The fucking irony smacked him between the eyes.

Avery getting killed by an IED and Wake being in an area where the entire countryside ended up being littered with them? The odds had to be astronomical of that happening, right? The answer might give Wake nightmares.

Wake headed up to Avery's former CO's office. He wanted answers and might as well start at the top.

Ray Garvey ushered Wake into his office and shut the door. "It's good to meet you. I wish it were under better circumstances. Your brother talked about you a lot."

Wake lifted his chin. "Same. Avery loved this team. Spoke highly of all of you." He should probably get right to the reason he'd stopped by. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened. Can you shed any light on things?"

Garvey's open countenance swiftly changed to cagey. "I'd suggest you talk to his partner, Detective Maddox Reed." He folded his arms over his chest.

Wake raked a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Tried to call her. Several times." He even sent a text. "She's not answering." And he really needed to tell her about the insurance.

He didn't want the lawyers to handle the notification.

The CO sighed. "Look, try the Swirling Swine over on Eighth. She's had a rough time of it lately and goes there to blow off steam."

Wake nodded and turned toward the door.

Garvey stopped him. "Don't tell her I sent you. She's got no idea I know she hangs out there. Maybe tell her Avery mentioned the place to you."

Wake arched his brows. "Is it a problem for her to be there?"

The CO shook his head. "No. But she's been like a ghost since Avery's death. The rest of the squad has started calling her Reed the Robot. I followed her a couple of times to keep an eye on her." He shrugged. "I really don't want to lose another detective."

Wake grunted. "Fair point." He gave Garvey a nod and left.

This story is coming together better than I'd hoped. I think I'm getting a good handle of Wake.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fair Play

If anyone is headed into a major heat wave this week like I am, stay hydrated! And try to stay cool, especially if your location is as humid as mine is. Humidity is a nightmare.

Had a busy and productive week. Making good progress on two of my projects and sliding in some random finishing bits on a few others.

Started a huge cleanup job in the kitchen. My poor countertops need to be reorganized and cleared of clutter. I got the largest one scrubbed down and mostly organized. Still need to find a new home for a few items.

Also have some mundane tasks to plow through this week. Not sure I'll make it but I can't put it off any longer. My procrastination skills are top notch!

Had a decent viewing week. I ended up making it through my usual slate of shows, which rather makes me happy.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the episode again. The characters in Phyrne's past are always fun.

Caught another episode of Art Detectives and, I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy this show. Looking forward to the next episode.

Watched the season thirteen holiday special of Death in Paradise and enjoyed meeting Neville's mom. Should be fun to watch the last season of Inspector Parker's tenure.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Kind of fun to see him on holiday and solving a murder. I'll admit the resolution came together a little oddly for me but an interesting episode nonetheless.

Caught another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed Sherlock's revelations about friendship. So fun to watch Marcus chill with Sherlock at the end.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond. Having the Royal Flush gang back proved fun. Also like Terry making a solid choice at the end to stick with Dana.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats. The holiday themed episode is one I remember and I really need to add it to my holiday watch list if I do one this year.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fair Play, a follow up to Imagination.

Here's the miniblurb:

Rand Allerdyce takes Holland Dukes by surprise, bringing their sexy games to her office when she's working late one evening. Rand plans to engage Holland's voyeuristic side and give her the thrill of possibly being caught. Holland loves the idea as much as she loves Rand.

And a snippety peek…

Gah, she's incredible.

If Rand didn't need to hurry, and if his dick didn't feel like it might go off at any second, he would pause to savor the view of Holland with her hands planted on the desk, her back arched and her ass sticking out. He grasped her hip with one hand and cupped a breast through the silky fabric of her camisole with the other. Holland threw her head back, giving him access to her throat.

He leaned forward, nipping lightly along her skin while pumping his hips back and forth. "You're hot and wet, Holls. I'm not gonna last long." His cock glided through her silky essence, and the heightened sense of possibly getting caught edged the tension up a notch.

Holland moaned. "I'm almost there, Rand." She lifted a hand and licked her fingers.

His shaft swelled, anticipating her next move. She dropped her arm between her legs and rubbed her clit. Goose bumps sprouted over her back.

Her breathing went shallow. "Get ready, here … I … go …" A shudder rippled through her and her internal walls tightened around his shaft.

Her fingers brushed over his hard flesh, and he toppled over the edge, emptying his seed deep within her. Dropping his head to her shoulder, he blew out a harsh breath. She never failed to blow his mind.

The vacuum sound stopped, and the rustle of trash being dumped into a bin carried through the closed door.

Rand straightened, gently withdrawing from Holland's core. "Cut it close, didn't we." He tucked his softened dick back inside his pants and tucked his shirt in.

Holland straightened her skirt and put her blouse back on, rapidly doing up the buttons. Rand handed over her heels and she slipped them on. They gave each other a quick once-over and Rand reached out to redo her top two buttons because she'd missed one.

She gave him a sexy smirk. "Fair play evened the score. I'll have to up my game next time." Her finger trailed from his shoulder to his sternum.

He caught her face in his hands. "I'll look forward to that." His thumb stroked over her bottom lip.

He couldn't wait to see what her creative mind came up with.

A little steamy goodness from Holland and Rand.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Exit Stage Left

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, mentors, and father figures out there! And if this is a rough day for anyone, please find peace and joy where you can.

Seriously busy week and I didn't feel the greatest. Heading in for an annual physical soon and hope to nail down why I'm kind of down right now. My guess is my sleep schedule is horrible at the moment.

Somewhat good progress on work projects. Friday and Saturday ended up being challenging days because of not feeling well. I'm a little behind on two and hope to make that up in the next couple of days.

Spent a couple of days doing tedious personal life stuff, but I made it through my standard slate of shows this week. I'm considering a new addition to the lineup but haven't made up my mind yet.

Enjoyed an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The plot's twisty turns are fun and it's nice to see the tentative partnership with Jack and Phryne taking root.

I totally lied when I said I caught the season twelve finale of Death in Paradise. It had one more episode, which I ended up enjoying a lot. I'll be starting thirteen this week.

Caught another episode of Poirot and enjoyed it. This one had some twists but it was fun for Poirot to have a case in his own backyard … or building as the case may be.

Started a new series called the Art Detectives and liked the first episode. The leads have great chemistry and I'm looking forward to the next episode.

Watched an episode of Elementary and enjoyed Sherlock coming to terms with being friends with Alfredo and not just sponsor and sponsee. Joan was really great in this episode also.

Enjoyed another episode of Batman Beyond. It's fun when Terry has to be a big brother and I love how he handles Tim. The big bad was also interesting.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. Both were new-to-me vignettes and I liked them. The one with DeeDee's college class was a lot of fun.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Exit Stage Left, a novella that has a grumpy / sunshine couple come together.

Here's the miniblurb:

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…

Georgie blinked. The audacity of the man. Coming to her home—uninvited—and getting pissed off because she had a friend over. Geez!

Extremely annoyed, she went after Sage, catching up to him halfway down the hall. "Is there a particular reason you always think the worst of me?" She pitched her voice low to avoid bringing any of her neighbors to their doors. "Josh is a friend. F-R-I-E-N-D." Jabbing a finger in Sage's chest, she grimaced. "Hooking up with Josh would be like hooking up with a sibling." Ew.

Sage had the wherewithal to flush when he realized his mistake. "Sorry … it just looked like … never mind. It doesn't matter what it looked like. I didn't have the right to go off on you."

Josh popped his head outside. "Need help?" He flicked a glance toward Sage. "Or maybe some ass-kicking?"

Georgie waved her hand. "As much as I'd enjoy watching you and Sage throw down, I think he's been beat up enough today." Which he kind of deserved.

Josh strolled out with his jacket over his shoulder. "In that case, I'll take my leave." He paused. "But if he hurts you"­—his gaze shifted to Sage—"in any way"—his focus came back to her—"I will hunt him down." He gave Sage another hard look. "And there won't be a body to find." He headed for the exit.

Sage let out a low whistle. "Where did you find him?"

George grinned and started back toward her apartment. "In a bar on campus during my sophomore year in college. He had a very public breakup, and I dragged him back to the dorm before he got in trouble for running his mouth." She pushed her door open. "We've been friends ever since." She jerked her head to invite him inside.

She might as well hear what he wanted before he stuck his size ten in his mouth.

Sage entered. "Do you always inspire such devotion?"

Georgie rolled a shoulder. "Frankly, yes. You should try it sometime."

This couple is fun to write. Sage will eventually learn to stop jumping to conclusions where Georgie is concerned.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: The Ex Files

It's been a long week with a lot going on. My dad turned eighty last Sunday and my oldest turned thirty-two. Yep. They have the same birthday. My brothers always give me a bunch a grief over getting my dad a grandson for his birthday.

We had a nice reception for my dad, and I got to reconnect with a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time. So nice to catch up.

Work projects continue to keep me busy. I'm making good progress but often feel like I'm spinning my wheels because they're big projects that take a lot of back and forth. This isn't a complaint; it's more an observation.

Had a slow viewing week but did manage to get through my main group of shows. The backburner ones didn't make the cut this week.

Started out with Batman Beyond and enjoyed it. I have memories of this one where Terry's secret is exposed and he finally has something of an ally.

Watched another Classic Rugrats and both were new-to-me vignettes. Thoroughly enjoyed the shopping one and the one with the snow was fun also.

Enjoyed another episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. As a comfort show, the amazing cast is always ready to help me slide into a happy place. Even if there's a murder to solve.

Caught the season twelve finale of Death in Paradise. Good to see Neville's team work hard to clear him of the professor's death. Nice to see the dangling plot threads tied up also. Looking forward to starting thirteen this week.

Watched another episode of Poirot and rather enjoyed the mystery. A lot gets packed into the hour-long episodes and sometimes feels a little rushed.

Really enjoyed the episode of Elementary with the dual mysteries and some insight into the captain's daughter and how she operates.

Also watched what I think is the first season finale of Return to Paradise. I'm really enjoying this show.

I think I found the new show I'm going to start this week, but I'm not absolutely set. Stay tuned.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Ex Files, a novella that brings a couple together when they help each other out with their exes.

Here's the miniblurb:

Effie Stone helps Reed Rettos avoid an ugly scene with his ex-girlfriend and halfway falls for him over coffee. When an old flame contacts Effie, she asks Reed to return the favor. Reed hesitates, not sure he wants to get tangled up in more drama, but he's very smitten with Effie and agrees to make it clear she's got a new man in her life … even if only for a night.

And a snippety peek…

Effie made it halfway up the block before she groaned. "Way to go, Effie. Put a hot man on the spot, why don't you?" Then again, why stray from her standard modus operandi. "I see something or someone I like and go for it." John entered her life the exact same way.

And she could handle him, but he'd become more persistent and aggressive the last two times he'd dropped by. She didn't think he'd go off the rails, not completely. He had his team to think about, and bad press could end his career.

But … if she convinced John she'd moved on, maybe he'd finally jump back into the dating waters and forget about her.

She glanced upward to the sky. "Is that too much to ask for?" Sending out a query to the universe couldn't hurt either, right?

She didn't plan to look for anyone new after her breakup with John. Her commission work kept her busy and she might end up teaching a second art class next year. John seemed to want her to bend to his schedule and only his schedule.

She snorted. "Which doesn't work when I have projects to grade or murals to paint." Especially when she got in a groove and worked all night.

When John got a little too cranky about her commitments, she'd ended things. They'd kind of run their course anyway. They didn't have a lot in common—even if she did love hockey—and she wanted more than good sex.

She took the turn toward campus. "Would have been nice if he'd shown any kind of interest in what I do." But he hadn't.

And maybe the smokin' firefighter would end up being the same, taking her for granted. But her gut said he wouldn't. He didn't have a self-absorbed vibe.

And he didn't trash his ex-girlfriend when he had the opportunity. 

She could see herself falling for Reed. "It would very easy." Even being exhausted from lack of sleep didn't diminish his handsomeness.

Reaching the art building, she trotted up the steps, feeling a little better about putting her interest out there. And she didn't ignore the kernel of hope that he would call…

I'm having so much fun writing this one. Effie goes after what she wants but she also second-guesses herself a lot.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Enforced Confinement

Had a super busy week between work projects and personal projects and, whew, I'm exhausted. Also, the weather is being contrary with lots of rain and chilly temperatures. I don't think we got above sixty degrees with the exception of Thursday when we topped out at seventy.

I'm still juggling six work projects but two are in a state of simmering on the back burner, which isn't optimal, but it does help manage the load.

Had a slow viewing week and didn't quite make it through my usual round of shows. Too much going on that needed my full attention.

I did end up catching an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. It's one of my favorites with Phyrne showing off her flying skills.

Also watched an episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. A holiday episode that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm kind of bummed there aren't any new episodes until the next season.

Death in Paradise kind of blew my mind. I knew what would happen and it still caught me a little off guard. I think because Neville acted so out of character. I have a really good idea of who killed the professor, and I hope I prove myself right.

Got another episode of Return to Paradise viewed and I'm really enjoying this show. I'm very on the fence with Glen's engagement to Daisy. I really think things could get very messy.

Finished out the week with another Poirot episode. I kind of pegged who the kidnapper was from the beginning, and I loved the razor-sharp way Poirot called the guy out.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Enforced Confinement, a novella that reunites a couple after a breakup.

Here's the miniblurb:

After a breakup, Baylee and Noah get trapped in a confined space and neither is happy about the situation. But the enforced intimacy gives them a chance to meet their issues head-on in a place they can't take each other for granted.

And a snippety peek…

Baylee closed her eyes, and her head dropped back. I'm so not in the mood for this. She wanted to crawl into a bed and crash … after she grabbed something to eat. Hell, she didn't have the energy to even shove food in her mouth.

Noah wanted to hash shit out at the worst possible times. Right. Is there ever a good time? For her? Nope.

She straightened and opened her eyes.

Noah arched his brows. "Bay? Talk to me." He didn't make it a demand, more a quiet entreaty.

He could've asked for the moon, and she'd have an easier time making that happen than trying to explain something she didn't understand herself. Especially after a long day and knowing she'd messed up on an epic scale.

Frustrated, fed up, and clearly in the wrong, Baylee couldn't deal with anything right now. "You know what? You're right. Clearly, I can't be bothered." Grabbing her keys, bag, and phone, she left before Noah could stop her.

Darting back out into the rain, she stumbled to her car and started the engine. She refused to look anywhere but her rearview mirror. Seeing Noah's disappointment would've done her completely in.

She didn't let the tears fall until she'd backed out of the drive.

By the time she took the exit to her street, she regretted walking away. She loved Noah but why would he want to be with her when she never got things right? He'd be so much better off without her in his life.

And she couldn't see a way to stay true to herself if she caved in and went against one of her core principles. No arguing or answering to anyone or anything. And if she ended up alone for the rest of forever, she'd live with the choice.

Even if the thought hurt her heart.

Writing breakups and the aftermath is a challenge, especially when I want the happily ever after right away.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Elective Campaign

It's a long weekend in the US for the Memorial Day holiday and also graduation weekend for our local high school. Seems like a great time to have lovely weather, right? It's Ohio so the answer would be probably not. It's cloudy with a chance of rain. But at least the temperature is in the high sixties instead of the low fifties, which is more like March instead of May.

I'm making headway on the multiple work projects. Two have shifted off my plate for the next step in the publishing process and the other six are coming along. I should have at least two more finished up this week. YAY!

Had a pretty solid week of viewing. I did make it through my regular slate of shows and got started on my two new ones. Or, one new one and one that always seems to simmer on the back burner.

Enjoyed another episode in my rewatch of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The first couple of episodes do such a great job of setting up the dynamic between the characters and I thoroughly enjoy the actors so much.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and like how awkward things are between Selwyn and his daughter. I also kind of enjoy Katherine being in his face but I also think she kind of oversteps sometimes.

Caught another episode of Poirot and enjoyed it. I often feel like the relationship between Poirot and Japp is shortchanged because we don't really see how that started, but the interactions are fun.

Enjoyed another Brokenwood Mysteries. Kind of weird but awesome the victim is someone we met in an earlier episode. And the mystery took some wild turns, which is always fun.

Watched another episode of Elementary and loved the interactions with Joan and Sherlock. The ice cream touch at the end is perfection.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I don't really remember much of but also one that I quite enjoyed. There's nothing like a storyline where a character is trapped in a computer and wants to escape to the real world. It's a weird trope that I love.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones that were new to me, and I liked both. Weird bit with some out of order information as the Finsters were still calling their dog puppy instead of Pepper.

Watched another episode of Return to Paradise and I'm still enjoying this one. I'm very interested in seeing what happens with Mackenzie and her ex-fiancé. There's a lot of good potential to be very messy with this situation.

I got started on a new episode of Peak Practice but didn't make it all the way through. I'll try to finish it up this week.

Also started a new episode of Reacher, but paused because I need to pay attention and couldn't focus like I wanted to. I'll definitely finish this one up this week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Elective Campaign, a novella about starting over in a new place with a new person.

Here's the miniblurb:

Mac is running for reelection and needs a logistical planner on his roster to win. Yancy has the training and background, but she presents a problem … Mac is very attracted to her. They fight the pull but give in, and once it's discovered, he might lose more than the election.

And a snippety peek…

Yancy went for a run. Her phone started pinging with news notifications and she read them on her watch. Some good. Some bad.

She slowed to a walk. "Ugh. I hate the notoriety." She wanted to do a good job, not fight through social media to make changes.

An older couple walking the trail caught her attention.

The woman gave a brief wave. "Aren't you the new logistical planner?" She shifted off the course and made her way toward Yancy.

Yancy nodded. "Yes." She took a drink from her water bottle. "First time I've been on this path. I started back at the lake, and I love how this is set up."

The duo showed surprise.

The man gave her an impressed look. "The previous planner rarely ventured away from city hall." He waved a hand. "Don't get me wrong, a super nice guy, but he didn't get out and about much."

Yancy wouldn't bad-mouth anyone whose circumstances she didn't know. "I'm new to the area, and I figured the best way to help the city run smoothly is to know the streets." She recapped her bottle.

The older lady gave Yancy a long look. "Did you get the job by sleeping with our esteemed city leader?"

Point-blank with nary a blink.

Yancy had to respect her bluntness. "Considering I haven't slept with Mayor Davison, no." She bit back a grin when the duo slid each other sideways glances.

The lady arched a brow. "Well, why not? That Mac is a handsome guy."

The gentleman nudged his wife with his elbow. "Or as the granddaughter likes to say, he's a total smoke show."

Yancy sputtered out a laugh. "That's what my daughter says also." She thrust her hand forward. "It's been wonderful meeting you."

The older couple introduced themselves as Scott and Stephanie Prospect.

Scott shook firmly and held on for a longer moment. "The city needs people like you and Mac. Best of luck with the election."

Stephanie leaned in and pitched her voice low. "You two shouldn't let Jackman spin the facts. Just saying."

The encounter gave Yancy food for thought. While cooling down from her run, she called Mac on the way back to her car. "Let's make some plans after I get moved in to my office."

Mac sputtered a little. "Okay. Are you sure?"

She smiled. "I am. And I'll fill you in when we meet. End of the workday tomorrow?" Why wait?

He didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. I'm tied up in meetings all day, but I'll stop by when I'm done."

Her lips curved even more. "Sounds great. See you then." She ended the call and made a beeline for her vehicle.

Can't wait to tell Viv I have plans to make plans.

I have so much love for Yancy and Mac and they needed someone else to root for them!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drowning Pull

May is flying by at a rapid pace. This week has been intense with burning the candle at both ends for me. This is a good day to take some downtime, which I'm trying to do today.

Work exploded this week with multiple projects dropping into my inbox. I have four nonfiction manuscripts and three fiction manuscripts in various stages of editing. I don't normally have seven different projects going at the same time but, so far, I'm managing them. It'll make for a nice June once they're all turned in.

Had an amazing week of viewing. I got a full round of shows in and caught a couple of extras. Also started a new show that might be sporadically viewed until it's available for streaming.

I started a rewatch of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries this week. I'm waiting a some new episodes of a few other shows to drop and this is such a comfort series for me.

Caught another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very twisty and turny, which is always fun.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm happy to have some Naomi backstory. I'd love to see a bit more of that for the characters.

Started a from the beginning run of Poirot. I've seen quite a few episodes of this show but haven't watched any of them in order. This is another filler series until new episodes start dropping of my current shows.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed it. I'm always interested when weird cases pop up and the cryogenics angle ended up being interesting.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and have some vague memories of the first time I watched it. I'm wondering if the Ts are in any way a throwback to Mr. Terrific. I might have to dive down that rabbit hole at some point.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I don't remember either of these vignettes and I liked both.

I finished up an episode of Peak Practice and might start another one this week. This is one of my back burner shows and I'm happy I got to finish watching.

Started a new-to-me series and watched Reacher. Gotta say I loved the first episode. I did a bit of dive into write-ups of future seasons, and I think I'll stick with this one.

Also got a minimarathon of Return to Paradise in over the weekend. I'm looking forward to streaming this one when it's available in the US. Really enjoyed the first three episodes and I'm excited to see the rest.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Drowning Pull, a novella that plays on the right guy, wrong time trope.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lane Addison drowns his grief over losing his brother in alcohol, until a blonde distraction sits down beside him. Injured and off the circuit, Quesleigh decides to have a pity party for one until she sees someone deeper in the well than she is. A hot hookup later, Lane thinks he's found the perfect woman in Quesleigh, until she mentions her fiancé.

And a snippety peek…

Quesleigh struggled through a workout.

Her knee came close to being back in shape, but she needed to get ready for competition. "If I can compete." She pushed harder to up her reps.

She and Brad had some issues to iron out. He'd been combative and aggressive the past week, and she'd come close to telling him to fuck off into the sun more than once. Based on Josh's recommendations, she had a schedule and stuck to it.

The jingle of keys in the lock upstairs had her pausing her set of leg exercises. Grabbing a towel, she wiped her face and stood up just as Brad trotted down the steps. His damp hair suggested he'd showered after practice before heading home.

He started pushing before he even greeted her. "Almost ready to jump back onto the circuit?" His gaze raked over her from head to toe.

She shrugged. "Don't feel ready yet." Dropping the towel on the bench, she did some stretches. "I have to face the reality I might not get back to a competitive level." She'd give competing her best shot but wouldn't risk long-term damage.

Brad rolled his eyes. "You're such a baby, crying over a bum knee. Wah, wah." He left the room with a rude snort and went to dump his gear into the washing machine.

She tried not to engage. Brad had a game, and he did poorly if he got stressed out. He'd have to leave for the airport early in the wee hours of the morning.

Brad reentered and pushed harder. "What's Joshy-boy say? Or is he so far up your ass, he'll tell you what you want to hear? Which is to stay off the slopes." A ring of jealousy laced his words.

She didn't like the snide tone. One, because Josh had a boyfriend and two, because his skill as a therapist got her to her current status.

She tilted her head and turned the tables on Brad. "Where have you been spending the nights on the road, Brad?" He hadn't been with the team, according to his usual roommate.

Brad didn't deny or confirm her accusation. Instead, he stormed back up the stairs, calling over his shoulder. "Think whatever you want, Ques. I'm staying at the rink tonight."

She didn't have to think anything. And he wouldn't be staying at the rink. Her gut said he'd been stringing other women along—like Barbie—and he'd crash with one of them.

She had another reality to face. Her days as his significant other might be numbered. Brad would want someone else with clout ready to pose for the camera.

Grabbing some ice, she propped her leg up. "Do I care?" She could deal with Brad's flirty bait-and-switch attempts.

She hadn't been all that approachable lately. More like distracted and pondering a future doing something other than snowboarding. She'd like to believe Brad would support a career change, but doubt settled heavily in her stomach and mixed with the fear of the unknown.

Geez, she needed to stop dwelling on what could happen and focus on right now. She'd know more after her doctor's appointment in a few days. A little keyed up, she decided to go out and have fun over the weekend after she iced down her knee.

I think I found my groove with this story. Quesleigh is a fun character to write and she doesn't like to stay down or have fear so this scene came together better than I'd hoped.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drag Out the List

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, mentors, and mother figures out there! Enjoy the day, and if it's a hard day to celebrate, take care of you.

Another wildly busy work week but a lot of projects moved ahead and some were completed. One contrary work thing took an unexpected turn and I'll be trying to figure that one out later today.

Had a decent week of viewing despite the busy schedule. I made it through a full round of my shows, minus one—Dark Winds—because it's not on the streaming service I have anymore. I think it's on another one, but I've been too busy to track it down.

Started the week off with Brokenwood Mysteries. This one ended up being a lot of fun with a couple of interesting secrets being revealed. Truly hope to see more of Trudy and Ray's mom.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and enjoyed the mystery. Really not sure what Neville's DI friend is doing on the island but have a feeling it's not going to mean anything good.

Loved the Beyond Paradise holiday special for this past Christmas. I'm looking forward to diving into the rest of the season when it's available in the US.

Enjoyed another episode of Elementary. Interesting to get some backstory of Sherlock's time under the influence. Also intriguing that he stayed somewhat in the background. I like that kind of character progress.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and didn't really have any recollection about this one. I did enjoy seeing Terry use his Batman moves while out of the costume.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats and enjoyed both vignettes. I didn't remember either of them so more new-to-me stuff.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Drag Out the List, a novella that explores getting back out there after a bad breakup.

Here's the miniblurb:

Velma and Kade have loads of sexual tension, but Velma keeps him at arm's length. Kade gets the why, but when she pushes him a little too far, he turns the tables on her and she ends up in a compromising position—number seventeen on his list.

And a snippety peek…

When Velma stood up to clear the table, Kade finished his last swallow of beer. "Anything I can do to help?" He arched his brows.

Velma waved him off. "Nah. I've got this. You and Howie can crack open another beer and I'll be right back." She scooped up the plates, stacking them with the ease of someone who had worked in a restaurant.

Kade accepted another bottle from Howie and twisted the cap off. "Someone hurt her, didn't they?" He'd been putting the pieces together all through the meal.

She'd brought Howie in for moral support … a human safety net.

Howie lifted his chin. "More like someones, as in two people." He leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice. "One was her business partner and the third of our childhood trio. The other is an asshole named Matt Carson."

Kade winced. "Ouch. Let me guess. This Matt dude came between them?" A huge dick move.

Howie snorted. "And then some. He actually tried to take over the business because he had development of the location in mind." His voice took on a hard edge. "Thought he'd get his paws on the property through a relationship and set about stringing both Velma and Margie along."

Kade blinked. "As in…" He couldn't have been hooking up with each one, right?

Howie snarled. "Dating and sleeping with both? Yeah. That's exactly what he did." Peeling the label from the bottle, Howie met Kade's gaze. "Once Velma figured out Matt was a two-timing bastard, she cut ties with him fully expecting Margie to do the same." His hand curled into a fist.

Kade grunted. "Let me guess … She didn't." Ouch.

Howie gave a nod. "Nope. She kept right on seeing him and started flaunting the relationship in front of Vel." He tipped the bottle to his lips and drained half of it. "Velma sucked it up and tried to maintain the partnership and friendship. But it got much worse."

Kade grimaced. "I'm not gonna like this, am I?" A fist to the face would be too good for the schmuck.

Howie huffed out a breath. "I sure as hell didn't." He sighed. "Since I work for the fire department, we rotate going to the council meetings whenever ideas for new development are on the schedule. During one of those committee meetings, I found out Matt started the process of having plans drawn up for a new business that would combine his location with Margie and Velma's."

Kade's eyes went wide. "Did Margie know about this?" What a betrayal if she did.

Howie snarled. "Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Matt convinced her if they got married and she signed her half of the boutique over to him, he could buy out Velma and he and Margie could open their new venue."

Kade shook his head. "He didn't actually plan to buy Velma out, did her?" A ball of anger settled in his gut.

Howie pursed his lips. "Nope. The asshole figured he'd force Velma out by getting her to breach the partnership contract she had with Margie. You see, Margie got a bigger share of the profit because Velma lived at the location. Margie had her grandmother's cottage and didn't need the living quarters." Howie rolled his eyes. "Douce canoe Carson had the big idea to cook up a second set of books, showing Velma had been pocketing a larger percentage then leveraging her out with blackmail. And Margie agreed to go along with the plan."

Kade swallowed down the bile in his throat and chased it with half his beer. "Tell me everything blew up in his face." On a nuclear level.

Howie's lips curved. "Some of it did. I stopped by Margie's to see if I could talk her out of trashing a lifelong friendship for an asshole like Carson. Instead, I overheard everything and recorded the plot to blackmail Vel." His smile widened. "Didn't take much convincing to have a couple of my cop buddies pull Matt into the station and lay everything out for him."

Kade grunted. "Hope it went something like get the fuck out of town or no one will ever find his body." He'd deserve it.

Howie barked out a laugh. "Nothing quite that dramatic, but they made it clear he'd be hard-pressed to stay in business once they put the word out about his underhanded dealing." He sobered. "The part that didn't blow up in his face is Margie. She left with Matt and Velma bought Margie out of their contract—after they agreed on a dollar amount." He met Kade's gaze. "And that's the saga of Velma Arndt." He sat back and picked up his beer, taking a long sip.

Kade did the same, turning over all the information in his mind. The one thing that stuck? He didn't blame Velma one bit for calling in reinforcements.

This story is fun because the sages love these characters. Kade and Velma have a spark and watching it ignite is a joy.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Down the Middle

May the Fourth be with anyone who celebrates! And, wow, a shiny new month that's off to a wild start so far. Our weather has been crazy intense with loads of rain. My daughter graduated with a master's in arts administration, and I unfortunately had to miss due to being under the weather. But I'm so proud of her!

Work projects kept me very busy. I'm getting to a finishing point on one that's been difficult to get through and I have a new one getting ready to start. The weather has been wreaking havoc on productivity because the possibility of losing power is a constant concern.

I did have a decent week of viewing and made a full run through my regular slate of shows. I started a movie but didn't have time to finish it.

I caught an episode of Dark Winds and I'm still intrigued by everything that's happening in this show. I love that the FBI agent's cover is blown by episode two and I can't wait to see what happens with the fallout from that.

Also watched another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries. This is truly one of my happy place shows. I'm rather curious about whether Gina is still rooming with Kristin or not and if not, what happened there.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. Very curious where things might go with the Sophie and Neville thing and also where the whole last prepper standing thing will end up going since he's watching Neville.

Loved the season two finale of Beyond Paradise. Humphrey and Martha are so much fun, and the surrounding cast of characters is so good. I'm not always sure about Anne, but she's growing on me.

Caught another episode of Elementary and rather enjoyed Sherlock's attempt at taking care of Joan. And her solution to having her own space is genius.

Watched an episode of Batman Beyond with the beginning of season two. Ended up remembering most of this one. This is such a good follow up to the original series.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I have some vague memories of both vignettes, which is so weird because most of the ninth season is new to me.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Down the Middle, a novella about a couple that comes together while on the trail of a fugitive.

Here's the miniblurb:

Bounty hunter Ursa Goode always gets her man … if Jake Weatherwax doesn't beat her to him. But when a target escapes and comes after her, Ursa has to take Jake up on his offer to work together and split the reward right down the middle. The need for a partner rubs her wrong, but Jake definitely doesn't.

And a snippety peek…

An incessant buzz from her phone woke Ursa from a deep sleep.

Trying not to disturb the arm draped around her waist, she carefully reached for the device and checked her notifications. Looks like one of my sources got the goods. Gently easing out from under Jake's embrace, she got up and headed for the bathroom to read the text.

According to Baldy, one of her better informants, whispers were scattering that Llewellyn Cavil had holed up in an abandoned gas station over in the flats. "Hope you're right, Baldy." She splashed cold water on her face, running the odds that Cavil planted the location to lure her out against his overconfidence that she would take longer to track him. She figured about fifty-fifty even chance.

Exiting the bath, she dressed quickly then started for the door, with a fleeting thought about pulling a bitch move on Jake by leaving.

The sheets rustled. "Going somewhere, Ursa?" He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the mattress.

Her shoulders slumped. "Shit. I'm sorry." Guilt didn't sit well with her. "But, look, I don't even know if this will pan out."

Jake angled his head toward her. "Okay, let me ask you something. Does any of this seem familiar?" His brows arched in question.

Ursa sighed. "Dammit, yeah." She went back to the bed and settled at the edge. "How do you want to play the angle?" Weird, how quickly she'd come to rely on his insight.

Jake got his jeans on—commando—and stood up. "We go together. You drop me about three blocks from the meet and I come in as backup." He yanked his shirt over his head and snagged his boots from the floor.

She nodded, got up, and started for the door, but turned back and collided with Jake. He steadied her and she leaned in, kissing him hard on the month.

Jake's eyes widened. "What was that for?"

Ursa rolled a shoulder. "Because. I'm not used to this working with someone thing. You could've made that something more than you did. Thanks for not." If the roles were reversed, she might not have been as giving.

He dropped a kiss on her nose. "I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm a pretty nice guy." He moved past her and pulled the door open. "Unless I have to be not nice." His meaning clear—he'd have her back—he swept his arm out, motioning for her to go first.

She sent him a wide smile and exited into the hallway.

This was a fun scene to write. I love Ursa's choice to be bluntly honest when she's caught out by Jake.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Dodging Bullets

This is going to be a super busy week. The best part is my daughter is graduating from grad school on Friday. I'm so excited for her. And very proud of her accomplishments!

Our weather did the warm up then plummet back down thing this week. Gorgeous, though. Everything is turning green and blooming. I love those first signs of new growth.

Got a lot finished up with work projects. I think I'm getting closer to having a work-life balance again. I hope so because I have a busy May and June coming up and need to get some things done around my house.

Pretty decent week of viewing. I ended up keeping Dark Winds on the back burner because one of my faves dropped new episodes.

I finished up the run of London Kills. I'm quite happy with where things ended up on the chance there won't be any new episodes. I will say I'm not keen on the other DI so I'm hoping that's not going to be a thing if there is more to this series.

Brokenwood Mysteries is back! Watched the premiere episode and it didn't disappoint. Kind of twisty and turny and a little bit bonkers, which is perfect. Also rather nice to see Mike's house again. It's been missing the last few seasons.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. I'd seen most of this one and liked it. I'm interested in how things with Selwyn's daughter will end up playing out.

Caught another episode of Beyond Paradise. I'm almost finished with the second season and hope the third will be available soon. Really liked the episode. I loved the interactions with Esther and Zoe. And really loved watching Anne deal with the letdown of finding out her new man is married.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond. I have vague memories of this one but don't remember enough to know if Blight will end up making a return. My money is on yes.

Finished out the week with an episode of Classic Rugrats and, again, both were new to me. Actually loved the crawl space one. And, weirdly, I really enjoy Taffy.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Dodging Bullets, a novella that explores the family dynamics around a couple that grew up together.

Here's the miniblurb:

Sable and Gage live on the same street and survive their childhood by having each other's backs. When they grow up, they're still looking out for each other, but instead of ducking verbal barbs and flying objects, they're dodging bullets instead.

And a snippety peek…

Sable didn't give Betty the courtesy of waiting for a greeting—she pushed her way inside Betty's house. "What the actual hell do you think you're doing? Are you trying to get Gage killed?" She rolled to a stop in the living room and whirled to face Gage's mom.

Betty sputtered. "Get the fuck out of my house. You can't just shove your way in here and start yelling at me." She planted her hands on her hips and braced her feet.

Sable arched her brows. "Why not? You yell all the time." She folded her arms over her chest. "And you don't get to dictate terms this time. You're goddamned lucky I'm not hauling you in for interfering with the police." By rights, she could arrest Betty.

Betty's eyes went wide. "Garth told you?" Betrayal laced her tone.

Sable rolled her eyes. "Unlike you, he at least listens to reason. He's holding back and waiting at the diner to see if Megan is with the group of women in the warehouse." At least Sable hoped Garth heeded her warning.

Betty frowned. "As a paramedic, Garth has every right to be on scene. They'll need EMS services."

Sable bit back a string of expletives. "Are you serious right now? You have no idea what kind of shape those women will be in, but you've seen what can happen. If she's been hurt—or worse—how's he going to deal with that? Is that what you really want for Garth?" Anger roared through her. "You suck as a parent. Putting one son's career on the line and possibly exposing the other to a nightmare scenario because of your need to trash Gage's life because he's with me." She pinned Betty with a hard stare. "If anything happens to either of them, I’m going to hold you responsible and make sure everyone knows you’re the one who fucked up and put them in harm’s way." And heaven help whoever gave Betty the heads-up.

Betty got a little bitter. "You're just like your mother. You barge in—uninvited—make wild accusations and then threaten me about my boys. Bianca used to think she was better than everyone else, and you're just the same, kicking the shit out of everything because you can." Venom poured from her.

Sable blinked. "Excuse me. You're more like Bianca than I'll ever be. She ruined everything in her life. But look at what you're doing now. Manipulating your boys to satisfy a whim … all because you find me lacking. If that's not kicking the shit out of everything because you can, I don't know what is." The fucking audacity of the woman. "And you know what the truly awful part is? You wouldn't have a relationship with Gage if not for me. I ask him not to skip dinners with you and Garth, because I know what it's like to lose your whole damn family. A mom is still a mom even if they're not the greatest. And it hurts to not have one. So, I encourage him not to cut ties with you." Maybe she should finally rethink that idea.

Betty snorted. "Sounds like you’ve got my boy wrapped." She grimaced and rolled her eyes. "Just like your mom had your dad wound around her finger."

Sable shook her head. "You're so wrong. It's never about bending Gage to my will. It's about what we feel for each other. I love him, and he loves me. I’m sorry that's something you missed out on and didn't get to experience." She paused a moment. "But I'm done being your emotional punching bag. It's been a fucking journey with you, and this is my exit ramp." She met the other woman's gaze again. "I'll never keep Gage from having a relationship with you, but I'm finished trying to make sure he does. From this point forward, that's all on you." Sable kept her head up and strode to the door.

Once she exited the house, she resisted the urge to run like hell to get away from the toxicity of Betty Waterson.

This story is coming together in bits and pieces, but I'm pleased with how it's shaping up.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin