Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

September is starting off with a bang. And crazy busy. Also a full blood moon, which is always fun to see.

Spent all day Saturday in Hocking Hills with a group of cousins on my mom's side of the family. We have so much fun when we get together. We're already planning the third annual gathering for next year.

I finished up two work projects this week and made progress on two more. I have a new one starting this week also. Possibly two. I'm hoping the due dates are a little more staggered.

Had an okay viewing week. I made it almost all the way through my usual slate of shows with the exception of Lower Decks. I started it but need to finish it up. It's the first season finale so there seems to be a lot going on.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and it's one I really enjoyed on my original run through. Always fun to see Dot stand up for not only herself but others.

Finished up season four of Madame Blanc Mysteries. Very happy to see Jean and Dom work through their issues. Loved how Dom proposed and how everyone knew they were meant to be together.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm interested in where things will go with Selwyn. The new officer is going to be fun. I love the vibe he has. DI Wilson might or might not grow on me.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. The entire trip to the coast just to hear good things instead of bad from Japp is such a Poirot thing to do. And the side plot with Lemon was fun.

Elementary had an interesting case along with an interesting side case. I like how Moreland reached out to Joan, and she figured things out with what's going on with him. And I love that she told Sherlock. Also really thrilled Sherlock met the character on the autism spectrum at her level, seemingly with care and patience.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and I didn't remember much of this one. Ended up quite enjoying it.

Started the Lower Decks episode. I do enjoy how many easter eggs are in this show. Mentions of other characters and episodes from all the various series are so much fun.

I didn't get to start season two of Reacher. I'm hoping I have the time this week, but I'm not going to rush in. I like to be able to focus on this show.

Also didn't get to finish up the Peak Practice episode I started, but I'll get back to it soon.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella that brings a couple together over shared grief.

Here's the miniblurb:

Valerie Queen and Jay Pennyworth meet through Chad Adsworth, Jay's best friend. When Chad is killed in a car crash, Valerie reunites with Jay after five years. When the chance meeting leads to a long discussion, they end up spending the night together … but the specter of Chad hovering between them may be more than they can overcome.

And a snippety peek…

Val touched up her makeup. "This is stupid. Why bother?" After all, Jay had seen her at her worst.

Yeah, he had and wouldn't care what she looked like. But she cared. Jay freaking Pennyworth. In her bookstore.

She tilted her head to one side. "That took some thought." She couldn't quite deny being a little impressed he'd made the effort.

So … dinner and … what? What did she think would happen?

Frowning, she left the bathroom and grabbed her purse. "Hell, what do I want to happen?" The way he eyed her … sex could be in the mix.

She shook her head. "But maybe not a good idea." For a lot of reasons.

The main one? She'd be breaking her number one rule—no entanglements—if anything happened between them. She had a strong connection to Jay.

Leaving her apartment, she walked toward O'Shae's. "Just wait and see, Val." No need to get ahead of herself.

Jay waited outside the restaurant under the awning. "Place has had a bit of a face lift." He smiled and glanced at the new sign on the brick exterior of the building.

Val grinned. "The original is inside behind the bar in all its weathered glory." She preceded him inside when he opened and held the door.

While she spoke with the hostess, Jay perused the photos hanging in the entryway. Probably some good memories for him. The restaurant had been a mainstay in for decades.

They were led to a two-person booth in the back corner of the main eating area.

After giving their drink order, Jay arched his brows. "This is cozy. I don't remember this booth being here." He craned his neck, looking at some of the other updates.

Val nodded. "About three years ago, they renovated the kitchen and this space opened up." The cute little booth and two small café tables added extra seating.

While they ate, they caught up on other new additions and improvements. Valerie appreciated the vibe of getting to know each other again over light conversation. Nothing heavy and not a word about Chad … yet. Talking about him would be inevitable … but perspective and hindsight gained over five years put her in a good place to do it.

After the server cleared their dishes, Jay settled back in his seat. "How long have you had the bookstore?"

Valerie's lips quirked. "Almost four years. The space came on the market, and I was looking for something new and different." She'd used the bulk of the life insurance Chad left her to buy the building.

Jay arched his brows. "And you're doing okay? I mean, how could you not be. The location is great."

Valerie nodded. "It is. And, yeah, I have a dedicated clientele, and my online orders almost surpass the store sales." She gained a lot of customers from her social media posts and interactions.

Jay peppered her with more questions, and she got to explain her theme nights for romance, cozy mysteries, and thrillers, a new feature she'd added this past year. A popular one. She even had some Zoom participants.

Jay shook his head. "That's amazing, Val. You've really found your niche." His lips curved in a wry grin. "Here's hoping I can find mine."

A perfect opening. "Gotta admit, you surprised me when you said you'd mustered out. I really thought you'd be career military." She smiled. "Excited for you, though. Did your interview go well?" She hadn't wanted to ask earlier but now seemed like a good time to do so.

Mainly because she enjoyed spending time with him and didn't want the night to end yet.

Jay inclined his chin. "I think it did. I have an interview with a different company in Colorado, but I'm not sold on moving there." He rolled one shoulder. "I guess it'll depend on what they offer if they decide I'm a good fit for them." He met her gaze. "Frankly, I think I'd like to stick around here even if the pay might be better in Colorado. Might be better perks."

Val's brows furrowed. "Such as?" Maybe the hometown connection appealed to him

Jay didn't hesitate. "You're here, for one."

A charged moment passed between them. He'd surprised her again. And not in a bad way. In fact, his response nudged her to do what she'd wanted since he walked into her store.

She nodded toward the exit. "Would you like to come back to my place? If you don't have plans…"

Jay waved for the check. "I'd like that. A lot."

Her heart did a flip. She had no idea where this might be headed, but she really wanted to find out.

Even if they broke all her carefully thought-out rules.

This story is near to my heart. Val and Jay are taking some tentative steps, and I enjoy writing their journey.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Getting Schooled

Geez, August has been a brutal month. The last week in particular. Not sure why, but I struggled hard, couldn't stay focused, and generally feel like I didn't get anything accomplished. Bleh.

Weirdly, the weather has been amazing. We need rain in a big way, but the temperatures were mild, which is a blessing. Actually had to break out a jacket and leggings because it got chilly at night.

Work projects are in a weird state of flux. I have a lot on my plate, and I hopped around multiple projects because of the aforementioned struggle to stay focused. I really hope I can get back on task this week.

I didn't get to watch the season two opener of Reacher, but I did make it through most of my regular shows. The first week of September is a chaos monster so I'm not sure if I'll get to make it through my regular slate of shows. Fingers crossed.

I did start the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the rewatch. Always fun when Phryne and company go on trips.

Caught another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. I liked the mystery and my heart broke for Dom and Jean. But Jean was spot on with telling Dom he might not be ready to be a couple.

Watched the opening to season fourteen Death in Paradise. Still not sure if I'm down with the new guy. He might grow on me, and I do like how Naomi and Darlene hold their own with him.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Very fun to see him solve the mystery while not leaving his apartment. And I do think he quite loves to put Hastings in horribly embarrassing positions.

Caught another episode of Elementary. I really like it when Joan and Sherlock team up to help their extended group. Detective Bell's dilemma being resolved ended up being a lot of fun.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond. I didn't fully remember this one, so I enjoyed getting reacquainted with it.

The episode of Lower Decks I watched is hopefully a turning point. Mariner makes me absolutely bonkers, which I'm pretty sure is the whole point. Here's hoping she can dial it back about ten clicks and I can finally settle in and like the character.

I did almost make it through an episode of Peak Practice that I started a couple of weeks ago. Sam is headed for a very bad place, which makes sense since his run is almost finished. Hoping to get the rest of the episode watched this week.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Getting Schooled, a novella that features an enemies-to-lovers flavor.

Here's the miniblurb:

Tamsin and Ike are resident leaders at neighboring summer camps. Tamsin works with upper crust girls and Ike has underprivileged boys. When a grant program director suggests bridging the gap, neither is very excited by the prospect, but once they meet, both get schooled in by how well the kids get along.

And a snippety peek…

"Let me start by thanking both of you for your terrific presentations." The grant director, Allie Mayhew, met Tamsin's gaze then did the same for Ike. "You both put a lot of work into them and because of that … I'd like to offer a suggestion…" She got up and came around the small table she'd been sitting behind and propped her hip on the edge.

Tamsin held back a grimace. A suggestion lacked decisiveness. But Tamsin would listen with an open mind. She could do no less.

Allie folded her hands in front of her. "Why don't I split the funds between both camps?" Her eyebrows arched and a hopeful look crossed her face.

Tamsin bit her tongue to avoid a negative response. She slid Ike a sideways glance. Other than a balled-up fist, he showed no outward sign of thinking this idea sucked.

Tamsin tilted her head to one side. "How do you see your plan working? Will the funds be evenly distributed?" Half would be better than nothing but probably not enough to keep things afloat.

Ike added a query. "And how will the disbursement be handled? Do we submit requisitions or a budget, or will we be free to use the money at our discretion?" He pulled a legal pad out of his bag and flipped to a clean page.

Allie's head wobbled a little. "Well … both are good questions. And the answer is … I don't know yet." She pushed away from the table and walked back and forth. "I literally only thought of this possible solution." She stopped and faced them. "Let's start with pulling a budget together for each camp and assume the funds will be evenly divided between the two." She brightened. "If you can have something to me by the end of the day, I'll make sure to fast-track it on my end. My guess is we'll make a joint account because we can't actually disburse the amount into two separate accounts."

Tamsin stifled a growl of frustration and looked toward Ike. "Can you stick around?" As much as she didn't want to spend more time with Mr. Overgrown Juvenile Delinquent, she'd bite the bullet and get it over with. "Maybe we can hammer out the details and get Allie the information she needs." Not exactly the way Tamsin wanted to spend the rest of the day, but she'd do anything to help the owners.

Ike shrugged. "I'll need to make a quick call, but I can stay." He got his phone and stood, walking to the back of the room.

Tamsin focused on Allie. "We'll work on a budget and get it to you by day's end. Will email be okay?" She opened her laptop and pulled up a spreadsheet.

Allie gave a nod. "That'll be perfect." She leaned forward. "I wish I could do more. And I know this isn't the greatest solution, but hopefully, it'll keep both camps viable for the season."

Tamsin stopped just short of rolling her eyes. "We can definitely hope." Not much else they could do.

Ike returned. "I'm clear all afternoon." He tucked his phone back inside his pocket.

Allie smiled. "Excellent. I'll leave you two to crunch your numbers. Thank you for the amazing presentations." She gathered her purse and phone. "I'll look for your email later today." With a quick wave, she headed for the exit.

Tamsin waited until the door closed before she lobbied her first shot across his bow. "If I didn't promise to do everything I could to save Seneca, I'd be right behind Allie." She huffed out a breath. "But I did promise, and I plan to keep my word." She nodded toward her laptop. "Let's get busy." Not waiting for a response, she sat back down and clicked into her spreadsheet.

Having fun with this one. Ike and Tamsin have major assumptions about each other that aren't true, and the discovery process is a treat!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Get Back to Where He Once Belonged

Man, I can't believe August is almost over. It's been a chaotic month between work, unexpected challenges, and other factors crowding each other out for attention. Geez. Between the road construction everywhere, my car needing a new alternator, and the dogs needing their check-ups but unable to go because of the car issue … yeah, wild week.

I did have a solid work week. I finished up some projects and started new ones. I got a surprise turnaround that happened a lot sooner than I expected. I'm filling September and some of October, which is great.

Had a pretty good viewing week. I made it through my regular shows and finished up one of my back burners. I get to start the second season this week!

Watched an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the rewatch. Again, this show is such a comfort view for me.

Enjoyed another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. I've got a weird feeling all isn't great between Dom and Jean, and that makes me a little sad. I loved the split mysteries even if Gloria's dad irritates the crap out of me. So much fun watching the team take down the con artists.

Caught the holiday episode for season fourteen of Death in Paradise. Not sure if I like the new guy, especially since he, like the actor who played Neville, has already been featured on the show. We'll see how it goes.

Watched another episode of Poirot and ended up enjoying more than I thought I would. It's fun to see Hastings get a moment to shine.

Elementary had a very fun episode. Thoroughly enjoyed Sherlock going head-to-head with the imposter. Also quite liked Joan and her stepdad's interactions.

Caught another Batman Beyond and it's one I didn't remember much, but I ended up enjoying.

Enjoyed another episode of Lower Decks. One thing I absolutely love about the show is the theme song. I know. Weird. But it's actually perfect for the show.

Finally, I watched the season one finale of Reacher, and it did not disappoint. I'm very satisfied with the season overall. I'm thrilled Picard ended up being part of the counterfeiting ring because there's no other explanation for how Charlie and Roscoe were found. Also loved that Paul ended up not being dead. Basically, the first season rocked. And … great to finally see adult Joe, but I didn't quite get the whole brothers looking so much alike thing as grown-ups. The flashbacks to their childhood, I definitely saw how they could be mixed up. I would really, really like to find out why the brothers hadn't talked much. Who knows, maybe season two will have more on that.

That's pretty much if for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Get Back to Where He Once Belonged, a novella that puts a couple on track to reunite … after one has groveled enough.

Here's the miniblurb:

Barton Gress leaves his small hometown right after graduation to become a music legend and breaks Noss Allrider's heart in the process. He makes good on his dream but discovers life at the top gets lonely without the one he loves. Noss isn't interested in a reunion when Barton returns but he brings her something she can't resist—the chance to know her dad. Whatever Noss decides, Barton is finally back where he belongs and he's not going anywhere.

And a snippety peek…

Barton Gress scrawled his signature on the white denim jacket of the last fan in line for his autograph. "There you go, Misha. Thanks for coming out tonight." He capped the metallic copper marker.

Misha gave him a wide smile. "Thanks for signing." She hugged the jacket to her chest, and her gaze turned speculative. "Are you staying here tonight? Want some company?"

Barton's lips quirked. "Nah, we're heading out in about five minutes. We only stuck around to make sure everyone got their autographs." He took a step up inside the bus. "You be safe getting home now." He glanced toward her group of friends waiting by the line of cars leaving the VIP parking lot.

Misha lifted her hand in a wave. "See you at the next concert." She turned and jogged over to her crowd of gal pals.

Barton didn't have the heart to tell her he wouldn't be touring for a while. He nodded at the driver—shorthand for him to close the door—then made his way back to his section of the charter bus. The horn honked twice, the signal to let the band members know they were underway. T minus twelve hours until he'd be back where he belonged … home.

Barton kicked his boots off then yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it into the laundry bin. His pants followed, and he stepped into the tiny shower he made sure the custom bus got outfitted with. Nothing like the huge shower he had in the condo he'd purchased with his first big payout, but he didn't need the luxury of spa quality right now. At the moment, he wanted nothing more than the pulsing spray of hot water to wash and soothe the exertion of a two-hour show from his body.

And he'd use the quiet time to ponder his return home. "I've got a lot of making up to do and a lot of giving back to accomplish." Starting with his gram.

Since she'd retired a year ago, he'd taken over paying her bills and made sure she had whatever she needed. Yet what she wanted—time with her grandson—he couldn't give her until now. At sixty-eight, she got along pretty well on her own. She had a group of friends she traveled with, and they'd come to see him several times on the road.

His lips quirked. "And caused quite a stir backstage." The gaggle of five ladies browbeat security until they allowed the women to bring in all their goodies. "Browbeat. More like they bribed them with a box of cookies." He cut the water and grabbed a towel.

His backup band would crawl over fiery coals to have more of the home-made pastries his gram and her friends provided. And they'd get their chance … once they all had time to visit their families or take vacations. If everything went well, they'd reunite around Halloween and launch the grand opening of the pavilion venue. Until then … Barton would split his time between his gram and facing his biggest challenge.

Because the one person he owed the most would be the hardest one to approach.

Noss Allrider.

He'd done her wrong all those years ago. Left without saying a word … mainly because he feared not being able to leave if he tried to explain or say goodbye. Noss got under his skin but at eighteen, he didn't believe they'd last. At twenty-eight, he wondered why the hell he hadn't asked her to come with him to see if they could.

Throwing on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, he flopped down on his bed. "Ten years of trying to forget her … epic fail." Not that he hadn't done his best to forget about her.

The first five years of paying his dues consisted of a string of one-night stands with fellow musicians or industry people. The last five involved several relationships, which ended up being false starts because he'd known, deep down, who he wanted. Noss.

Tucking his arms behind his head, he exhaled slowly. "If she'll even talk to me…" He had so much to tell her, show her, and catch up on.

If all else failed, he had an ace up his sleeve. At least he hoped it would trump the way he left her…

And give him the winning hand.

Not a bad title for my next hit song.

I'm enjoying this story so much. I love a good second-chance romance and Barton and Noss have a lot of ground to cover.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Get a Room

Whew. Very long week of scorching temperatures and tinder-dry conditions. We need some rain in a big way. Also, the end of my street is closed, which is kind of inconvenient but not terrible. It's the height of construction season and it shows with multiple road projects going on.

Super busy week with work projects and shifting my schedule around a little. I'm very happy to have a full calendar even when it overwhelms me a little.

School starts this week and I'm excited for my husband, who really enjoys interacting with the students, teachers, and staff. Looking forward to hearing how his first week goes with the kids coming back.

Had a decent viewing week. Made it most of the way through my shows, including one of my back-burner ones. It also looks like a few of my faves are getting ready to return to my streamers.

Started season two of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed all the newcomers. Jack's former wife and his father-in-law along with Dottie's sister. Phryne doing a fan dance also ended up being fun.

Enjoyed the mystery on Madame Blanc Mysteries. Kind of fun having John back but I'm hoping it's not going to be a lot of him. Also wondering if there are some cracks in Jean and Dom's relationship. I'll be a little sad if there are.

Finished up season thirteen of Death in Paradise. I'm oddly sad to say goodbye to Neville. But I'm really thrilled he's leaving with Florence. A fitting end for the character.

Watched another episode of Poirot and quite enjoyed the mystery. Having the ongoing Monopoly game going throughout the episode was fun.

Elementary ended up being very interesting. Having Sherlock working with Moreland ended up being entertaining and I'm very interested and wary of why Moreland is really in New York. That ending hinted that all may not be what it seems, which isn't that surprising. I hope it gives Joan the chance to kick ass on Sherlock's behalf.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and loved how Terry and Max teamed up to handle Curare. This was a great episode.

Lower Decks once again charmed and annoyed me. That's the running theme for this show. That said, I enjoy it enough to definitely keep watching.

Got most of an episode of Reacher viewed. It's the penultimate ep so I'm paying close attention to the details. Because … details matter. Just saying.

Peak Practice is hopefully back on target for this week. I started a new episode but didn't get all the way through.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Get a Room, a novella that gives a couple a second chance at romance.

Here's the miniblurb:

Talon and Haim have a complicated past. When she returns and asks Haim for a favor, they're ready to act on their attraction again … except they keep getting interrupted.

And a snippety peek…

Talon followed Haim into the house, trying to figure out how to explain.

She opted to go with direct honesty. "Ben and I got divorced not long before he started his residency." That full year of internship at their university hospital exposed a lot of issues.

Haim's eyes widened. "That's been a few years ago."

Talon nodded. "Yeah, it has. But it didn't take me long after he started his internship to realize we'd never be truly happy…" And start to question if they ever were.

Haim narrowed his gaze. "Did he cheat on you?" A low growl entered his tone.

Talon stared at her hands for a long moment. "We cheated on each other. Ben with several of his colleagues and me … well … I cheated on him in a completely fucked up way."

Haim stayed silent, and she thanked mentally him for that. Because she needed a moment to figure out how much to say. The truth or a half-assed version?

She pushed onward, deciding to lay everything out. "I married Ben because he's a good guy and I knew he'd be a great doctor, but he sensed I couldn't fully commit with my whole heart." So he didn't either.

Haim blinked in surprise. "What? Why?"

She held his gaze. "Because my heart already belonged to someone else and always would."

Haim's eyes went wide again. "You mean … all this time…" He trailed off and ran a hand through his hair.

Talon lifted her chin. "Yeah. My heart has always belonged to you, even when I was too stupid to realize it wouldn't accept anyone else." Not her greatest moment.

Haim shook his head. "Can we sit a moment?"

An odd question considering they were in his house, but she nodded. "Uh, sure." She followed him to the sofa and settled next to him.

He turned toward her then shocked her by cupping her face with his hands. The warmth of his hands seeped into her skin. When he leaned in close, her breath caught in her throat.

A groan escaped when his lips caught hers. Ahhhh … she'd missed this. Him. Them.

Snapshot memories rolled through her mind. Why hadn't she trusted they could be happy together? Not a fair question. She needed to make her way and chase her dreams and couldn't do that from here. Not at first.

Haim eased away and rested his forehead against hers. "Can you stay? We've got lost time to make up for." His thumb brushed over her cheek.

Talon wished she could and almost caved to the idea.

But … she gently shook her head. "We do have a lot of catching up to do but…" She put some space between them. "If I'm going to pull this retreat off, I have to go. Now." She added regret to her tone. "Or I'll never leave. And I want to keep this group happy." Especially if she wanted to expand her offerings.

Haim stood and held out a hand. "Look, the camp is yours." He walked her to the door. "I'll get it ready." He fished into his pocket and pulled out a business card. "Here's my number so you can call me with details and updates and what you might need from this end."

Tucking the card into her pocket, Talon glanced up at him. "Can I call just to talk?" It would be nice to get to know him more … again … before the retreat.

Haim cracked a smile. "I'd like that."

I'm a huge fan of reunion romance and I'm having fun writing this one.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Game Night

The first full week of August kind of flew by. We had a power outage and mobile phone outage on the same night, which made for a long six hours. Also kind of weird since there wasn't a storm or anything that would be a normal reason for the loss.

Very busy week with work projects and September is looking like another busy month. I'm definitely not complaining. I miss having dedicated writing time, but I also squeeze that in whenever I can.

The school year starts next week, which means the husband will be at his new position in the elementary school. He truly wishes he'd had this job thirty years ago. I can't blame him. He drove almost an hour each way for twenty-plus years. The schools in our district are all less than five miles away and the elementary school is three blocks from our house.

Had my daughter home for several days this week and we had a great time catching up. She even had me cut her hair, which turned out really well. Always love it when she asks me to help with stuff like that.

Had a solid viewing week and made it through my whole slate of shows, including my two back-burner ones. Not sure what the upcoming week will bring but hoping to keep on target.

Started the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and finished up the first season. Can't wait to start season two. Another one of my favorite episodes is coming up.

Caught another Madame Blanc Mysteries and really enjoyed the twisty turns in this one. This season is shaping up to be a lot of fun. I like Charlie and Simone so it's good to see them again.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and it's the penultimate episode before the season thirteen finale. So great to have Florence back, even if only for a brief time. Looking forward to the finale.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. This one was a lot of fun, especially having Poirot sneaking into a house and getting caught. And spending a night in jail to boot!

Caught an episode of Elementary and very much enjoyed Sherlock figuring out Alfredo needed some support. The mystery ended up being pretty interesting also.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I remembered. Always fun to see Bruce and Barbara spar, and I loved Terry trusting Bruce to help him.

Lower Decks again charmed and annoyed me. I've come to kind of accept that's how this show is going to be for me. I did really like the teamwork in this one.

Finished up the episode of Peak Practice from last week and even started the new episode. Have to finish it this week.

Finally, Reacher. Man. This show. I truly get the hype around it. So many revelations. Finlay. Yeah, didn't see that one coming. Explains a lot. Roscoe. Badass. Seriously. I'm on the fence with Charlie's admission about Hubbel. I think there's more to the story there. And Reacher having the light-bulb moment with the last-standing professor was excellent. Here's hoping she stays alive. Can't wait to watch the next episode!

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

Here's the miniblurb:

Newly retired from the military and first-time parents, Albany and Jiles Wright are spending their first night out without their little one. They've got great friends staying with the baby, they're going to their favorite restaurant, and both love hockey. They should be having a great time. But … while they each put on a brave face, Albany and Jiles take turns checking on their kid behind each other's backs then finally realize he's in great hands and they can actually have a good time.

And a snippety peek…

Jiles stood by the car, waving to Bryce. "See ya later, B-man."

Sharon held Bryce on her hip and used her free hand to help him wave to his parents.

Hawk lifted an arm. "Have fun, you two. Don't do anything Sharon and I wouldn't do." His lips kicked up in a smirk.

Albany laughed. "That gives us plenty of leeway." She popped the door on the passenger side and waved to the couple.

Jiles chuckled and got in, starting the engine. "Ready for Tuesday's on the Market?" They'd put four restaurant names in a hat and drew the casual dining establishment as their choice for dinner.

Albany nodded. "So ready. Can't wait to sink my teeth into one of their burgers." She side-eyed him. "You having one? Or maybe you're gonna eat your weight in wings?" Her mouth twisted in a grin.

Jiles shrugged. "Think I'll go for a burger too. And probably steak fries and slaw. Tuesday's has the best slaw." Creamy and just the right amount of sweet to balance out the tartness of the cabbage.

Albany moaned. "Oh, yeah. Excellent choice." She kept her gaze focused on the road in front of them.

Jiles resisted the urge to check the backseat from the rearview mirror, a habit he developed since they'd had Bryce. Seemed weird not to have him in the car seat. He reached over and clasped Albany's hand. That didn't seem weird.

She squeezed his fingers then let go so he could focus on taking the exit to downtown and then find a spot to park. He chose a lot between the restaurant and the arena and grabbed the ticket. After pulling into the space, he cut the engine.

Albany met him at the front of the vehicle and cupped his face. "A preview for later…" She tilted her chin up and meshed her lips with his.

Jiles sank into the kiss and wrapped his arms around Albany. He loved her so much. And Bryce. Having that little guy changed everything for them … in the best way possible.

Albany eased away and gave him a twisted grin. "Kind of makes you wanna skip dinner and hockey and head back home for the main event, yeah?" Her eyebrows waggled.

Jiles laughed. "Maybe a little. But … we've set our mission parameters. Let's stick to them." He laced their fingers together.

Albany made a low hum in her throat. "Mmm. There you go again … getting all ticky box on me." She shuddered and started dragging him toward the sidewalk.

I'm having fun with this one. It's been a long time since I had my kiddos, but I remember the first time leaving my oldest with someone else. So glad I got to use that for a book!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Future in Play

Whew. Ended up being a long week between work, home, and other projects. The biggest and best one is helping my daughter edit her final paper for her master's degree. I'm so proud of her!

I made a small dent in the great cleanout project. Didn't get a lot accomplished but made a bit of progress, which I'll take.

Finished up two work projects and continued on with two more. I have another two in flux and two new ones coming sometime this week. Excited to stay busy!

Pretty good week for viewing. I got through my full round of shows and finished up one from last week. I'm still working on one of the others.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and it was one of my favorite episodes. I love a good masquerade or costume party.

Caught another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries and enjoyed Gloria and Nick working together. Hope to see more of that in future episodes.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. The run-up to Neville leaving is turning out to be a lot of fun. And always good to see Dwayne back. Looking forward to the next episode.

Finished up the two-part Poirot and loved how the resolution came together. I like it when the infallible Poirot gets off on the wrong track for a bit.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed the mystery. Also enjoyed Joan handling her detractor and Sherlock acting as the support system afterward.

Enjoyed an episode of Batman Beyond. I remembered this one from my original watch. A lot of fun.

Caught an episode of Lower Decks and, again, ended up being equally charmed and annoyed. I think that's my standard for this show.

Finished up the Reacher episode from last week and wow. Gotta say I didn't see the ending coming, which is always a good thing. Hoping I can get a full episode in this week.

Almost finished an episode of Peak Practice. Things are getting very messy in the relationship departments for everyone, and Sam, whew, what a huge pile he's getting ready to step into.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Future in Play, a novella that got a start with writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Nellie Finch is a little bored with her family's annual fall money-maker, the Apple Butter Festival. But when the village council decides to add a competitor to the yearly event, Nellie faces off against Mace Bigelow to see who makes the best mouth-watering spread and find out which challenger will win bragging rights and maybe the other competitor's heart.

And a snippety peek…

Nellie pulled into the drive at her gram's house and cut her engine. "Mane Bigelow." Wow … he'd filled out since graduation.

Grabbing her keys, she got out of the car and retrieved the leftovers from the backseat. She yawned and headed up the sidewalk to the house. The meeting started early, just after six, to accommodate one of the committee members' night-shift schedule. Nellie foresaw a nap in her future.

Nellie entered the house and found her gram sitting at the table, scrolling on her phone with a cup of coffee in front of her. "Hi, Gram. What's happening on your socials?" Mamie had more media accounts than Nellie did.

Mamie glanced up. "Eh, nothing interesting yet. But I've only checked Facebook and TikTok so far." Her eyebrows rose. "You're later than I expected. Did the meeting run long?" She set her phone aside.

Nellie stowed the takeout in the fridge then joined her gram at the table. "No, we were finished up by a little after eight." She propped her elbows on the table. "Ran into Mace Bigelow at the restaurant and gave him a lift out to Hannah's." She'd enjoyed talking to him … and hoped he did call.

Mamie narrowed her gaze. "Isn't he in the navy? Home on leave?" She got up and refilled her mug.

Nellie nodded. "Yeah. He didn't let Hannah know he was coming so he got to surprise her." Her lips quirked. "She was so happy to see him."

Mamie sat back down. "She loves that boy. And with Linc gone, I'm sure she gets kind of lonely out there in boonies."

Nellie laughed. "Gram, I hate to break it to you, but we're not exactly in the thick of it out here either." But they were just off the highway instead of buried out on a township road.

Mamie shrugged. "Nothing wrong with having your closest neighbor be a quarter of a mile down the road." She flashed a smile. "Besides, it makes skinny dipping easier when there's no one else around."

Nellie rolled her eyes. "You keep forgetting the Wilsons bought a drone. Don't know about you, but that rules out skinny dipping for me." Their neighbors loved to send the device out for aerial photography.

Mamie chuckled. "Fair point. I haven't actually skinny-dipped in the pond since I had your dad anyway." She leaned back in the chair. "But it's nice to sit on the little wharf with our feet in the water in August."

Nellie nodded. "True. Especially after trying out new recipes with apple butter." They almost had a perfect icing for cupcakes.

Mamie's lips curved. "You know, when I first started competing at the festival, I thought Lincoln might be some stiff competition." Her mouth thinned to a straight line. "If he'd been confident enough to enter his butter."

Nellie blinked. "Um, why wasn't he?" And why hadn't she heard anything about this?

Mamie shook her head. "The old biddies that started the festival were so scandalized a man could make better preserves than they could, they did everything in their power to gaslight Linc into believing he couldn't possibly be up to snuff." She snorted. "It worked. He ended up pulling his entry and never tried again." Mamie leaned forward. "And you know what? He'd have won. I haven't figured out what his secret ingredient was, but he made damn good butter."

Nellie settled back against her chair. "Wow. I had no idea. I wonder if Mane knows his grandpa could've been king of the festival." Maybe she'd ask if he called.

Mamie tilted her head. "You finally noticed."

Nellie arched her brows. "Noticed what?"

Her gram huffed out a breath. "Mane. That young man always had potential." She inclined her chin. "And you finally realize it."

Nellie rolled a shoulder. "It's not that I didn't realize … more like I had too many commitments and not enough hours in the day to pay attention." Her high school class schedule, extra curriculars, and part-time jobs kept her busy.

Too busy to really date anyone. Instead, her group of friends intermingled and did things like homecoming and the prom as a unit, pairing off but attending together. She wouldn't change anything … but sometimes wondered if she missed out on something.

Mamie finished her coffee. "I'm heading out to check the trees. Wanna come?" She rinsed her mug and set it in the drainer.

Nellie got up. "Sure. Let me change and I'll head out with you." Then she planned to come back and catch a nap.

Unless Mane called…

I'm in the beginning stages of this one and I'm having a lot of fun writing it.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fuel for the Fire

Another month end is almost in sight. August is gearing up to be a busy month for me and I'm excited and exhausted at the same time. I love being busy and having projects on my calendar but also have to remember to take time to decompress.

Cleanout project stalled again. I had deadlines to meet and also got a new office chair that needed assembly. Have to admit it's comfy.

Had a solid work week with several projects ongoing and two that needed to be finished. I got those out of the way and started a new one that's a long procedural.

Pretty good week of viewing. Made it through a full round of shows and started both of my back-burner ones.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the backstory of Janie and Phryne. Almost through the first season.

Started the new season of Madame Blanc Mysteries and a holiday episode. Looking forward to more of this show.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Kind of sad to see Marlon go. He ended up growing on me. Thrilled to see JP back for a brief appearance. The mystery also gave Marlon time to shine, which is nice for his final ep.

Watched another episode of Poirot, which is the first of two parts. Looking forward to seeing how this one ends. A super-young Polly Walker is a guest star!

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. I haven't quite decided how I feel about Moreland sticking around for a while, but I did like his interaction with Sherlock. The case also proved to be interesting.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and have vague memories of this one the first time around. Always fun to have Shriek back.

Watched another episode of Lower Decks. This show annoys and charms me in equal measure. I did quite like the interaction between mom and daughter even when I rolled my eyes several times.

Started an episode of Peak Practice. I didn't quite manage to finish it but will get it done this week. I hope!

Also started and got most of the way through another episode of Reacher. I only stopped because I couldn't keep my eyes open. That's what watching a show at four a.m. will do.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fuel for the Fire, a novella that brings an arson victim together with the investigator.

Here's the miniblurb:

A fire bug wants arson investigator Sadie Kyle's attention and burns the home and business Greg DeSoto to get it. When Sadie shows up to investigate, she hits it off with Greg, which only adds fuel to the fire for her pyromaniac. When Greg gets hit a second time, Sadie digs in and calls the burner out.

And a snippety peek…

Greg shook Kyle's hand. "You sure you don't mind giving me a lift?" He'd be able to get his truck up once the fire marshal gave the okay.

Kyle shook his head. "Don't mind at all. I've got a room reserved for you at the Stratford and a townhouse lined up for you to move into in a day or so." He led the way to his roomy sedan.

Greg blinked. "Wow. I'm impressed. You've accomplished a lot in a very short amount of time." Sadie called it. Kyle proved to be the best.

The investigator surprised Greg. Professional but friendly enough to put him at ease during a horrible time. Sliding into the car, he exhaled on a long breath. Maybe he'd been affected more than he thought by the blaze? How weird to be stuck on Sadie Kyle.

Kyle pulled out and carefully navigated around the remaining fire apparatus. "Got any questions?" He started down the block that would take them to the hotel.

Greg asked the first thing that popped into him mind. "What do you know about the fire marshal investigator, Sadie Kyle?" Shit … he should be asking about how to get reimbursed for expenses like clothes and personal items he'd have to replace.

Kyle stopped at a red light and slid his gaze toward Greg. "I think the world of her. A great person with a good head on her shoulders." He focused on the road again and pulled forward. "Her dad and brothers are all firefighters. She left and went to a different city to get established and made her mark there." He kept talking while he pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. "Came back about three years ago to accept a position with fire marshal." Cutting the engine, he angled around to face Greg. "As a matter of fact, you won't be far from her once we get you settled into some temporary digs…" He paused a moment. "At least until the rebuilding can begin on the bar." With a wry grin, he turned forward and popped the door open.

Greg didn't mind one bit if he lived close to Sadie for a while.

Then he blinked. "Wait. So, it's not a total loss then?" Sure looked that way when he stood, watching it burn.

Kyle gave a shrug. "We won't know until the investigation is complete. But if you can't rebuild at the sewing factory, I know several other locations—in the same neighborhood—that could work. People like and care about you, Greg, more than enough to want you to stick around." He reached into the back of the vehicle and withdrew a duffel bag. "They'll all pitch in and help out. You'll see."

Greg huffed out a breath and exited the car. "That's good to know and kind of you to say." He tilted his head when Kyle handed over the bag. "What's this?"

Kyle flashed a quick grin. "Something to sleep in tonight and fresh clothes for later. The hotel has a laundry service, but you'll want to get moving first thing after you get some rest."

Greg didn't know how to respond. "Thanks. That's not really adequate, but I'm kind of numb right now. I appreciate everything. More than I can say." The thoughtful gesture from the insurance agent meant a lot.

Kyle grasped his shoulder. "Let's get you checked in so you can get a little sleep. We're going to be busy this afternoon."

Kyle closed his eyes for a moment. Sleep sounded good if not impossible.

But he'd need a clear head to wrap his brain around everything that had happened in the last three hours.

I'm excited to see where this one goes. I have all the story beats notes and filling in the details is so much fun.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Follow Intructions

Getting a late start to my day because my sleep schedule is out of whack. This has affected my great cleanout project, and I'm still determined to get back on track and at least do small things each day. Stay tuned!

On a different note, I did get about ten pounds of ground beef cooked and in the freezer. Also got three bags of grapes cleaned and in the fridge. So, the cleanout project took a back burner, but I did get other things done.

Work is still busy with new projects coming in and I'm enjoying the variety of things I have right now. I've also been able to do some catchup on my own stuff. I've been striving for better balance between my editing work and my writing.

Had a solid viewing week and made a full round of my regular shows and my two back burner shows. I'll be starting a new one this week, I think. Looking forward to picking up with a new season of something.

Started the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the episode and getting some Dr. Mac backstory.

Think I finished up the first season of Art Detectives. I really enjoyed this show and hope to see another season. They left enough seeds to pick up if they get one.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise and ended up really loving the mystery. Not a standard path and the twists were good.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. It's one I'd seen most of before and I remembered most of the plot. Good episode.

Watched an episode of Elementary. Gotta say I love Joan being totally unafraid of the elder Holmes. Their interactions were very fun. And her getting the goods on him rocked the entire episode.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond. It's one I remembered but forgot about. Does that make sense. Great episode too.

Enjoyed an episode of Lower Decks. This show is kind of wonky but usually adorable. Just enough tongue in cheek to keep things interesting and fresh.

Watched the opening of Peak Practice season eleven. Sam is on a precarious journey, and I think his exit is set up nicely. Not really sure about Will and Kate. I'm not really interested in them becoming the new Andrew and whatever his partner's name is.

Also caught another episode of Reacher. Man. This show. If I ever find the time, I want to do a deep dive and dig into some of the themes and tropes I love.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Follow Instructions, a novella that brings work partners together as something more.

Here's the miniblurb:

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

And a snippety peek…

Risa didn't know if she could answer that question. At least not with the full truth.

She swallowed. "Uh, well … it sucks to be out of commission." She licked the end of her spoon. "And you haven't smiled in days. So, I guess I wanted to make that happen." There … honesty but not oversharing.

Ford might not be ready to hear the real reason she wanted him happy. She missed him being her partner. And the realization made her think about more.

Ford's lips twisted with a grimace. "I'm not used to the inactivity. And I hate the damn crutches." He shoveled more ice cream into his mouth.

She chuckled. "Yeah, it kinda shows. They make you very cranky." She picked around the bowl to find the peanut butter chunks.

Ford sighed. "Yeah, I've been a big grouch." He shrugged. "First week's the hardest, right? It'll get better?" He arched his brows.

Risa shifted in her chair. "Well, yeah?" She didn't sound very convincing, but she didn't want to lie. "Depends on your point of view, I think." The broken elbow situation didn't improve until she no longer had a cast.

Ford's brows furrowed. "You're saying it's gonna suck no matter what." He slurped another spoonful of ice cream.

Risa lifted a shoulder. "No, I'm not. For me, it didn't get better until I had the cast off. But for you? You'll eventually go to a boot then a brace, right? So, how long it sucks is kinda up to you." She sent him a big grin.

Ford grunted. "Yeah, yeah. Positive attitudes are hard to muster when you take five times longer to get anywhere." He grumbled under his breath then met her gaze. "The ice cream helps though."

Risa bit back a laugh. "You said that already." Her heart rate kicked up because she'd succeeded in brightening his day.

Ford finished off the treat. "Hate to ask … but could you rinse the bowl? I'm past due to elevate the foot." He scooted out and grabbed his crutches.

Risa nodded. "Already planned to. I'm a full-service treater." She finished off her helping.

Ford leaned down and brushed his lips over her cheek. "Thank you. Seriously. This kind of made my whole day." Tucking his crutches under his arms, he hobbled out to the rec room.

Risa blinked then shook her head. "How do I get a zing from a sweet kiss on the cheek?" But she definitely got one.

Might be time to see where things could go between them. She had a perfect idea for another note…

I'm having fun with this one. Risa and Ford are great characters and a joy to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin