Sunday Snippet: Gone Fishing

Hello October and welcome spooky season! I love this month for a lot of reasons. The spooky vibe being close to the top of the list, but it's quickly followed by cooler weather—usually—and that means it's soup weather! I love making soup on a cool day and savoring it with crusty breads, grilled cheese, and other creative toppings.

I'm through the worst of the yuck and back to almost normal. Of course, that means something else went sideways. In my case, our older doggo ended up with an emergency trip to the vet because her congestion got so bad her eye swelled up. She's on a steroid and broad-spectrum antibiotic and already seems to be much better already.

I'm slowly getting caught up on my work projects. I need to review the details of two new ones now that my brain isn't in sludge mode. I'm pretty excited about my last quarter of work projects for 2025.

Had an okay viewing week. I didn't quite make it through the whole slate of shows. Lower Decks and Reacher didn't make this week's window.

I did watch another episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm working my way through season two and I'm enjoying the conflict and tension because it's a real-life quandary. I love Mac for being a voice of reason.

Caught another Foyle's War episode and this is one I'd forgotten. It's so weird how a lot of the themes of this show, which is twenty-some odd years old, are so very prevalent today. Humans are slow learners sometimes.

Death in Paradise ended up being very enjoyable. I'm really not sure about this new police commissioner other than he's way too smarmy and utter unlikable.

Poirot entertained with a way back episode showing how Hastings and Poirot kind of got their start together. Very much enjoyed this one.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed the twisty turns it took. Also loved Joan solving the neighbor issue. Love to see that kind of stuff.

Caught another Batman Beyond and it's one I didn't really remember either. Quite enjoyed the rewatch.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Gone Fishing, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

A year after college graduation, Quaille Ramsey and Franz Herman get together with a group of their friends for a summer vacation at a state park. Quaille recently broke up with a long-time boyfriend and Franz is ready to make a move, something he never took a chance on during school. Quaille isn't quite ready for something serious but she definitely sees possibilities for the future with Franz.

And a snippety peek…

Franz walked out to the dock and dove into the clear water of the lake. With a lazy crawl, he swam to the floating pier and pulled himself up onto the boarded surface. Swiping a hand over his eyes, he gazed back toward the cabins.

"I can't believe Quaille decided to come this year." About damn time.

Having her here made him happy. She needed to find her groove again, and hopefully he'd get to make his move. Finally.

After too many years of waiting and wondering from afar.

Their friend group had been doing the state park summer vacation thing for all four years of undergrad. Quaille missed the first year due to a job commitment and the last three because her boyfriend didn't see the appeal of bonding with anyone but Quaille.

Franz snorted. "His loss." Franz couldn't ask for a better group of friends.

Especially Caitlyn Mitchell, who came through by talking Quaille into—okay, more like insisting—joining them for a fun-filled extravaganza before heading off for after-grad careers. So far, none of their group of eight had anything set in stone. Franz had two interviews scheduled with local news organizations. Caitlyn had a trial offer with a hospital. Quaille would be headed for a local theater before deciding if she wanted to pursue a master's. Trey and Wayne were going to try their luck in a neighboring state for news radio. Jazz and Miranda had contracts for costuming three plays through the end of the year. Last but not least, Chet decided to go the per diem route with a family practice until he decided what he wanted to get into.

All in all, eight people on the cusp of the next step of life.

Leaning back on his elbows, Franz chuckled. "And we're all equal parts confident and clueless." Not the best combination … but having friends to keep each other honest helped.

Trey and Caitlyn were the ringleaders—or instigators, depending on one's point of view. They organized group events, set up study sessions for finals, and always had two teams for quiz nights on campus. Supposedly, they had some kind of camp games planned for their two-week vacation at the state park.

Franz gently kicked his feet in the water. "Should be interesting if we include water battles." Fishing, swimming, and maybe kayaking … a mix of all three would keep all of them on their toes.

Did Quaille do any of the trio? Franz honestly didn't know. She could end up being a secret weapon. He could build on her fish go comment earlier. Find out if she could hold her own with a rod and reel.

He nodded. "If she's terrible at fishing, I can bolster the team." He grinned. "But if she's good … we'll trounce the competition."

Either way, it would be fun to find out.

I only have two scenes written for this one, but I'm excited to see where things go with Franz and Quaille.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: A Golden Moment

Yeah, rough week. The cold, virus, some other kind of ick from the last post definitely kicked my ass this week. I did manage one of my client calls but had to reschedule the other one. I had no voice and couldn't breathe through all the congestion. Bleh.

The good news is I'm feeling much better. I think everything kind of broke on Friday. I slept a good portion of the day on Saturday. And my head doesn't feel like it weighs ninety pounds anymore.

I got very little accomplished on my work projects last week. I got some reading done but I'll probably review to make sure I didn't miss anything in my notes. I didn't get a lot of editing completed mainly because I feared missing important things. Back to work this week at double-time.

I had an okay viewing week. Very nice to have something on in the background while I tried to focus on the few things I managed to work on.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I loved this episode because it marked the first time Jack owned his feelings for Phryne. I also love that he didn't even consider the possibility of trying to use his feelings to change her or ask her to be something she isn't. That's one of the reasons this show holds such a big place in my heart.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War. I remembered this one and appreciated how it didn't shy away from there being good and bad people and things at the beginning of the war in England.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm warming up to Wilson and I'm enjoying how Naomi is finding her footing with him. I also love Rose and ability to stumble onto exactly what they need for the case. I'm looking forward to Wilson and Naomi digging into his mother's death, which does appear to be more than a tragic accident.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I like it when the mystery isn't a murder, but it's still twisted and tricky. And I love Hastings. Just saying.

Caught another episode of Elementary. It's kind of nice to see Sherlock interested in someone so neurodivergent. Did seem weird that Joan went middle-school student on the idea, but maybe the writers were trying to show their progression? I liked the mystery with this one.

Watched another Batman Beyond. I actually didn't remember this episode so it was nice to dive into a new-to-me story.

Enjoyed another episode of Lower Decks. I might be past the hump on the annoying factor. Great to see Boimler back with the crew and I love the reason for it. I truly do enjoy the callbacks to previous series and episodes. That's so much fun.

Finished up the episode of Reacher I started last week. I'm excited to see what this season brings. I'm also trying to remember that two plus years have passed since the last time Reacher and Neaghly were together.

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

Here's the miniblurb:

A group of friends sets up Pam Yardley and Desmond Hyde with prospective dates, hoping to get the last two remaining single friends into committed relationships. Pam and Desmond aren't enthusiastic but only because each harbors feelings for the other but neither want to ruin their long-standing camaraderie. When their friends start pushing for serious commitment between the two couples, Pam and Desmond finally have a heart-to-heart about the future they really want.

And a snippety peek…

Desmond sat in Bobby Que's, nursing a beer while waiting on his order of the sample platter. "Never could choose one option." The three choices with three sides would give him lunch tomorrow also.

He set his mug down when he spotted Pam Yardley entering the restaurant. She stopped just inside the door and glanced around at the other patrons. Desmond almost got up to invite her to sit with him but paused when she greeted Paul, the IT tech that worked at the fire academy.

He picked his beer back up. "Damn. Should've seen that one coming." Sadly, he hadn't given Monica credit for working so fast.

Okay, not really that fast. Paul had been working at the academy for about three months. Frankly, Desmond kind of had to give Monica props for waiting as long as she had.

Of course, she'd try to play matchmaker … but why did she have to put Pam with the new guy? Pam never dated anyone. Bad breakups could do that to a person.

Which Desmond thought would give him plenty of time to win Pam over. He kind of had a thing for her. But he hesitated to act because of Monica. If he did go out with Pam and it didn't work out, he didn't want to lose friendships or have to leave his job.

Desmond had been around for the whole Chad debacle.

The server placed his entrée on the table. "Can I get you another beer?"

Des shook his head. "No, thanks. But I'd love an ice water with lemon."

Digging into the pulled pork, he chastised himself. "James wouldn't end a lifelong relationship." Not when they'd been best friends since third grade.

And while Desmond loved Monica—the perfect woman for his best friend—Monica could make anyone insane with her decisive—and sometimes divisive—opinions when things didn't work out the way she thought they should.

Case in point … if Des decided to act on his attraction for Pam, Monica would no doubt flip her shit. She'd obviously chosen Paul as the guy for her friend. And maybe he would be a good fit for Pam.

Pausing to take a long swallow of his drink, he huffed out a breath. "Just not as good as I could be." So … why didn't I throw my hat into the ring?

Yeah, hindsight sucked balls. Des didn't express interest because Pam made it clear she had zero plans to get tangled up with anyone anytime soon. He figured he could test the waters sometime in the future … after she'd had time to work through the aftermath of the breakup with Chad.

Right. Of course, Monica had the inside track on that. She would know when Pam wanted to get back on the horse. Too bad, Desmond didn't pay enough attention to the cues. He might have suggested Monica put in a good word for him.

He chuckled. "Who am I kidding? No way would I ever do that." Too many pitfalls he could stumble over there.

Because Monica would go to the mat for the people she loved … including Des. But if she thought he crossed a line—especially if it involved Pam—Monica would make his life a living hell. And Des wouldn't put James in the middle of the worst-case scenario because he'd rightfully choose his wife's side.

Shaking his head, he speared a French fry. "Better luck next time, Des." Or better luck finding someone else to go out with.

I'm not sure how this one is going to end up shaking out, but I'm excited to eventually get Desmond and Pamela together.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Going Downhill

Ugh. I'm fighting something, a cold, a virus, some other kind of ick. Not having fun with it at all. I have two client calls this week and I'm hoping I can manage both.

We got back up in the high eighties this week. Supposed to have some rain on Monday or Tuesday and I'm kind of excited for that. We definitely need it. The drought has been upgraded to moderate.

Not a bad work week. I'm almost finished with one of my work projects and making solid headway on another that should be complete by the end of October. I start a new one sometime early in October and I'm looking forward to working on that one. I'll find out if another new project will be starting on Tuesday.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. Between not feeling the best and trying to finish up work projects, I didn't know if I'd be able to watch much. But I made it through my usual shows and got to watch the back-burner ones also.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and quite enjoyed the rewatch. It's one I remembered from my original run through. Being in the US, it's fun to watch how footy affects those that have a long, long history with the sport.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War. This show is so well written, and I love the cast. So many super young actors who have gone on to amazing roles.

Watched a new Death in Paradise. I'm slowly coming around on Wilson. I think he might make a good addition to the team. The new police officer is also kind of growing on me. I love that he kind of came up with the solution to keeping Selwyn in his job.

Enjoyed another Poirot. Kind of leading everyone on a merry chase but keep them from going to France was very entertaining. Loved how Japp kept thinking he'd be losing his pension.

Caught another episode of Elementary. I very much like the Joan and Sherlock vibe this season. Really not sure what's going on with the stalker detective but I hope Joan watches her back.

Watched another Batman Beyond and didn't really remember this one. I have a vague memory of the conversation between Terry and Barbara but that's kind of all I remembered.

Enjoyed another episode of Lower Decks. The opener for season two ended up being entertaining. I really do appreciate the callbacks to all the other series. Fun bit with Boimler at the end.

Finished up the episode of Peak Practice I started a few weeks ago. Sam is going to be in a lot of trouble and I'm not sure I'm going to like how things go down with him.

Also finally started season two of Reacher. I'm almost finished with the first episode, but I had to pause because of the whole cold / virus / yuck thing going on. Should finish it up this week. I think the very best moment so far is the Terminator easter egg. Kudos to the writer of the episode for that!

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Going Downhill, a novella that explores a former couple reuniting and getting past their previous issues.

Here's the miniblurb:

Zetta and Mace have a messy breakup and dive into relationships with other people. Five years later they bump into each other, and both are worse for being apart.

And a snippety peek…

Four years later…

Zetta walked home after turning in her notice to the magazine. "I'm so tired of taking the same pictures over and over again." Truthfully, the shine wore off the job within two years. "And now it's about not having the stones to go back home, which is where I want to be." Home being the place she ran away from five years ago.

Except she couldn't quite face the idea of returning to her old stomping grounds. Not yet.

But she couldn’t continue as she had been. After the initial honeymoon phase ended—for work and her marriage—she'd gone downhill fast. And couldn't stand the person she'd become.

Jogging up the steps, she let herself into the empty house. She had no idea where Paul went, but since she hadn't come home last night, he could be anywhere. Likely the bar around the corner … his favorite place to drink his sorrows away.

She sighed and sank down onto the sofa. "Paul doesn't deserve my shit." He’d drink himself to death within five years. “If we keep going like we are.” Which they wouldn't.

His key sounded in the lock.

He entered and stopped, both happy and defeated to see her. “Who were you with this time?” Placing his phone on the shelf by the door, he entered the living room.

Zetta shrugged. “Names aren’t important." The never were.

Paul tossed his keys on the console table. “Right. Just the hard body and stiff dick. I keep forgetting that.” He sat down across from her.

Zetta shook her head. “No, you don't.” She never boasted about her extra-curricular activities, but Paul had a solid handle on her preferences.

Because they all looked like Mace.

Paul snorted. “Yeah, I do. Five minutes after you walk in the door, I forget everything except the fact you came home.” His lip curled in disgust, hopefully at her and not at himself.

Zetta leaned forward. "What happens when I don’t, Paul? Or if I didn’t return?" She pushed her point. "What happens if I leave and don't come back?"

Paul immediately got what she tried to say. “Then I deal. I always knew we were on borrowed time, Zee. That you’d wake up sooner or later and realize you picked the wrong guy.” He paused. “The part I didn’t figure for certain was whether you’d have the courtesy to tell me when that time came or not.” He met her gaze. “Now I know.”

Zetta swallowed hard. The defeat in his voice kicked her guilty conscience hard. Deservedly so. She’d done this to a man who should be happy with a wife and kids.

She moved off the chair and settled in beside Paul. “I’m sorry, Paul, You deserve so much more and so much better than me.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

Paul put an arm around her. “I know, but I couldn't walk away. I'd never do that to any woman, not after what my mom went through.”

Zetta lifted her face. “It’s not fair to you, though. And instead of you walking away from me, can we maybe look at this as me setting you free?” Because she needed to let him go; so he could find someone worthy of him.

He pressed a kiss to her temple. “We can do that, Zetta. I won’t fight a divorce, but I’m staying out here.” He shifted and turned to face her. “I’m assuming you’ll be headed back east?”

Zetta didn’t commit, because she hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Honestly? I have no idea where I’ll end up." Maybe she would make it home and maybe she wouldn't. "And, oddly, I’m totally okay with that."

This one is challenging in a way that I really like. The characters are messy and not completely where they need to be as people. I like writing this type of story.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Going All Out

Whew. It's been a week. I won't comment on the political spectrum at the moment but it's mentally draining to say the least. The good news is I got a couple of projects finished up and I'm taking that as a win because of the whole brain drain.

Our weather last week was very fall-like and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We're back to higher temperatures again but that's pretty typical. We definitely need some rain. I'd even take a nasty thunderstorm to get some at this point.

As mentioned, I finished up two projects and have a small break before the next one begins. I'm taking advantage to dive deeper into a couple of my manuscripts. It's fun to revisit what I've already completed.

Had a decent viewing week. Even if a little distracted. I made it through my usual stable of shows for the most part. Did not get to either backburner shows.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. One of my favorite episodes for Jack and Phryne chemistry. I also love how deep of a hole Hugh digs for himself.

Began a rewatch of a favorite comfort show with Foyle's War. It's been years since I've seen any of the episodes and I'm looking forward to diving back into this show.

Caught another Death in Paradise and I have to say I love Darlene so much. Her interactions with Patterson blew me away. The mystery ended up being pretty interesting also. Kind of a heartbreaking moment with Wilson but I think there's more to the story of his mom's death.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Fun to see the FBI show up to work with Japp and very fun to see Hastings think fast on his feet when creating a diversion for Poirot.

Elementary had a very interesting episode. I'm so intrigued by Moreland's journey this season. I haven't quite figured out if he's genuine or not and I kind of feel like he's not completely sure either, which I like. A lot.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I have vague memories of, mainly because it was a fun episode. Nice to see Howard back also.

Finished the first season finale of Lower Decks and after a rough start rather enjoyed the episode. And it left off with enough of a what just happened vibe that I'm interested in season two. My one hope is Mariner won't annoy me so much in season two. We'll see what happens.

Still hoping to get season two of Reacher underway this week. A lot will depend on what the work calendar ends up looking like. I have two client Zoom meetings and have no idea how long either will last.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Going All Out, a novella that explores a couple finally getting together after dancing around their attraction.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lance and Xola work together and have a solid friendship, but there's always a little something more between them. Lance proposes a date, something other than a movie or grabbing a bite to eat at the same time. Xola accepts and the fun—and nervous tension—begins.

And a snippety peek…

Lance knocked on Xola's door and blinked when she opened it. "Wow. You're perfect." He winced, mentally chastising himself for sounding stupid.

Xola raised a brow. "You sure?" She turned and stuck her butt out. "Does my ass look okay in capris?" She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

Her ass would look good in anything.

He tilted his head to one side and went for a cheeky response. "Good enough to eat." He loved bantering with her.

Xola grinned. "Tempting, but you promised me dinner." She grabbed her phone and a slim wallet, tucking both into her pocket.

He gave a nod. "So I did. Hope you like Italian." He really didn't have a backup plan.

Her eyes brightened. "I do." She closed the door behind them and slipped her key in another pocket.

They chatted about work on the way to the restaurant. Neutral topic and a safe zone. Especially when both were trying to pick their way around the whole work-life boundaries.

When he pulled into the parking lot, her mouth dropped open and she got excited.

Her head whipped around. "Pangrazios! How did you get a table?"

He shrugged. "My godfather owns the restaurant." He cut the engine and popped his door open. "I worked here growing up. Dominic always has a table for me." He shuffled around the front of the vehicle and crooked his elbow with Xola stepped out of the car.

She flashed a wide smile. "See … that sounds like a lot of fun. And way more dangerous than being a lifeguard, which is what I did as soon as I passed the test." She leaned in closer to him. "And by dangerous I mean having the opportunity to eat my weight in pasta and pie."

Lance laughed. "It was one of the perks. The trick is loading up on the house salad first." He pulled her chair out and got her seated.

Xola gave a slow nod. "Probably wouldn't have had the willpower to do that. Not when the heavenly scent of garlic, oregano, and everything else wafted all around." She rolled a shoulder. "And being a lifeguard is what got me interested in taking the paramedic course."

Lance arched his brows. "I didn't know that's how you decided to become a medic." His head bobbed up and down. "I like this. An opportunity to discover more about you."

They gave their drink orders and decided to split a basic pie with pepperoni and extra parmesan. Not quite ten minutes later, they had their food. And Lance had to confess he'd called ahead to have them start a pizza.

Xola chuckled. "Okay, points for that one." She helped herself to a thick slice. "What else do you have planned for the night?"

Lance blew across the top of his piece of pie. "Well, I picked a few things I thought you'd be interested in." He took a large bite and quickly chewed and swallowed. "There's an art festival on the riverfront, a pops concert with the city orchestra at Menlow Park, and a blues night at Chadwick's bar. Your choice." He really didn't care what she opted for because he'd enjoy himself no matter what she decided.

Xola took her first bite and closed her eyes. "Oh, man, this is so good." She pondered a moment. "All the options sound fun, but let's do the pops concert. It's a gorgeous night for it."

Lance agreed. "Great pick. Should be a lot of fun."

Xola met his gaze. "Yeah. I'm glad we're doing this…" Her lips curved in a tentative smile.

Lance lifted his chin. "Me too." Any leftover nervous tension drained, and he tucked back into his food.

I love diving into a friends-to-lovers story. Xola and Lance are fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

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