Sunday Snippet: Fits and Starts

It's the weekend of trying to keep my doggos from losing their minds. I love fireworks, don't get me wrong, but I feel for all the pets out there that freak out over them.

I continued with the great cleanout stuff this week. Honestly, I did more organizing than cleaning but being organized helps make cleaning and clearing a little easier.

I'm finally at a manageable level of projects. I have a few odds and ends to finish on a couple of them but they're with the authors or the designer and I'm waiting in the wings to review revisions.

Had another decent viewing week. Having a lighter workload does help. And I'm not as scattered on the attention span side of things.

Started out with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm finding new things in the episodes, which is one of the reasons I love to rewatch a series I've seen before.

Watched another episode of Art Detectives and I'm enjoying this show. I'm very interested in the backstory of Mack's dad. I'm also hoping for more backstory with his partner.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Good to see the commissioner's daughter again. The mystery also ended up being intriguing.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Very fun to not have a big murder to solve and see how Poirot uses his skill to ferret out what's going on.

Watched another episode of Elementary and, wow, season three ended on a big downer. I'm still trying to decide if Sherlock ended up relapsing or if he's just horribly distraught from Oscar's machinations. Oscar needs to die in a fire. Just saying.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I remembered. Loved the spin on an urban legend that had a grain of truth in it.

Started a new to me series with The Lower Decks. Enjoyed the first episode and ended up being happy I clocked the relationship between the captain and the know-it-all crew member. I'll enjoy watching more of this one.

Ended the week on an episode of Peak Practice. A lot going on in this one. And the tragic leap Will's patient made kind of surprised me. Kerry finding out the truth about her parentage kind of bummed me out, but I'm also seriously irritated by her parents being such ninnies about the whole thing. Definitely feel bad for Sam.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fits and Starts, a novella that brings a couple back together after one has been through the wringer.

Here's the miniblurb:

After escaping from a madman's clutches, Pru Stark can't quite find her footing again. She pushes her man, Dane Callaway, away and refuses to see the little girl she saved. Dane can give her space, but he won't stay on the sidelines, not when Pru needs him the most, even if she can't quite admit it.

And a snippety peek…

Pru woke up in the operation's base hospital with Dane by her side. "How long?" Her fingers twitched on the sheet.

Dane held her gaze. "You've been sedated for forty-eight hours. You had some nasty drugs in your system." His hand covered hers.

Pru shook her head. "No. How long was I gone?" She needed to know.

Dane hesitated but answered. "Six months." He squeezed her palm.

Tears leaked from her eyes and her gut roiled. Son of a bitch. She'd lived a total mind fuck for half a damned year. For half a year she'd believed…

She swallowed against a groan. "Minnie?"

Dane arched a brow. "The little girl you had with you? She's just fine. Back home with her mom and grandma."

Pru nodded, ignoring the sharp twist in her heart. "When can I get out of here?" She had to move, escape, be anywhere else but here.

Dane frowned. "Probably soon. You're through the worst of the withdrawal."

She started on the IV, trying to remove the taped tubing. No more needles. At least not for a long damn time.

Dane snagged her hands. "Hey, wait. Let the staff do that." He hit the call button.

A nurse bustled in. Different scrubs. Nothing remotely similar to her previous caregivers. But bile still rose in her throat.

Pru inhaled deeply, fighting back a wave of panic. "Get this needle out of my arm. I gotta get out of here." And go where … she didn't know.

The nurse took a firm grip of her wrist. "Okay, Agent Stark. Calm down." Efficient movement disconnected the tubing.

Dane grasped her free hand, and Pru settled, impatiently waiting for the nurse to finish. The needle removed, a band-aid on the insertion point, and the medical staff member dubbed Pru good to go.

Once the scrub-clad woman exited, Pru got up. "Clothes?" Her skin itched and her head spun.

Dane nodded toward a rucksack by the door.

"Thanks." She got dressed, her movements clumsy.

When she finished, she glanced in Dane's direction. He offered his arm. She shook her head.

His eyes filled with steely determination. "You got pretty banged up. It's let me help or we get a wheelchair.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine." She took his elbow and followed him out the door.

He guided her to the elevators. "We should debrief you first."

When she stepped inside the elevator, the feeling of being trapped hit hard and became too much to bear.

She turned and fisted her hand in Dane's shirt. "Debrief later." Her mouth sought his, urgent and hungry.

The door pinged and Dane eased back when it slid open. "Okay. Debrief later. Quarters it is." They exited the lift and turned toward the living space.

Pru watched Dane's ass flex under his fatigues. She wanted hot, hard, dirty sex. She needed to feel alive and free. They got inside and she tore at his clothes. Rushed, urgent.

Dane tried to slow down. "Hey. It's not a race here." He grasped her biceps.

She refused to go slow. "Need you. Right now." Her mouth traveled along his throat. "Slow can be later … after … sometime. Just not now."

Dane would give her what she needed. Hot, hungry, awesome sex. She'd figure everything else out later.

Pru's avoidance is going to be harder than she imagines to overcome. And Dane can't make it easier for her.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: A Rustic Affair

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. For everyone else, I hope your weekend is rocking with good vibes!

We got some terrific news this week. My youngest, who will graduate from university in May, got accepted into grad school! She's so excited and will have a Master of Arts Administration when she finishes.

Had a fairly busy week with work projects. Discovered one ended up with a corrupted file and had to fix some weird, random code that inserted itself into the file. What a pain!

Decent week of viewing television. I'll admit some was mainly background noise while I worked on editing. But not bad overall.

Ended up getting two episodes of The Batman in this week. Enjoyed both and should be on track to catch another one this week.

Also caught two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Weirdly, I remember two but from different episodes. They always did two per show and I distinctly remember one from each of the episodes I watched. Weird.

Watched another episode of My Life Is Murder and, once again, enjoyed it. Dueling bakers isn't something I would normally think of as a premise for murder.

Enjoyed another episode of Midsomer Murders. I have one left for this season and then it's time to wait for more again. Good thing there are plenty of other mysteries to keep me occupied.

Started the new season of Silent Witness. Another new face or two for this season and I'm okay with that. I have a feeling things are going to get very interesting this season.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. We're getting closer to Humphrey's exit and Jack's entrance. I'll be able to start Beyond Paradise in the near future.

Watched another episode of Elementary. The new vibe between Holmes and Watson is fun. I'm enjoying a slightly softer version of Sherlock.

Started an episode of Peak Practice. I skipped one because I really didn't care one bit about the whole saga of Andrew and Kate. But it's interesting that Will is back. Should be a wild ride.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Rustic Affair, a novella that explores what happens after a couple retires from their dangerous life.

Here's the miniblurb:

Necia Sands and Falcon Seaver, two mercenaries for hire who finally retire from the life, try to settle down. Being opposites draws them together, but it also makes them clash over simple things—like finding the right place to live.

And a snippety peek…

Falcon wouldn't believe it, but Necia loved the bones of the house. Yeah, a full reno would be needed to get it where she wanted it to be. But working with Falcon—especially for their future—made her giddy.

She gazed out the window of a second-floor bedroom. "What about security?" They might be retired but no one ever completely left the job behind.

Not in their line of work.

Falcon lifted his shoulder. "We can take some precautions—if you really feel they're necessary." His lips curved in a half smile.

Necia frowned. "You don't?" They'd be stupid to not consider some type of system.

He sighed. "Maybe, but we're done, Necia. I'm using an alias for the deed transfer. If someone wants to find us, they'll have to look hard." He rocked back on his heels a little.

She didn't want to argue but they had a long list of potential enemies. And some of them might actually go out of their way to track them down. Then again, she and Falcon had a habit of being lucky.

Glancing up at him, she gave a shrug. "We're pretty good at hiding when we need to." She grinned. "We probably don't have to worry … much. We won't have to run down bad guys out here, right?"

Falcon chuckled and grabbed her hand. "Doubtful. Besides, look what we'd probably end up chasing…"

She followed the direction of his gaze. A family of furry critters paraded along the edge of the cliff. Her mouth curved in a smile. An image of her and Falcon spilling out the house, guns drawn filled her mind.

She barked out a laugh. "Yeah, okay. We can revisit the security idea later." She'd chill on the idea for now.

Falcon stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Works for me." His chin rested on her shoulder.

Necia turned to face him. "Getting used to normal might take a while." But the concept gave her several ideas and she tilted her head to one side. "Is it bad luck to christen a house before we own it?" Her hands smoothed down his chest.

Heat flared in his eyes. "Don't know, but I'm willing to tempt fate."

She popped the button on his cargo pants. "Downstairs, looking out at the ocean?" Her fingers worked his zipper down.

Falcon grabbed her hands. "Absolutely." He stepped away. "Race you there." Taking off, he made a beeline for the steps.

Necia huffed out a harsh breath and stripped her shirt off. "To the victor go the spoils."

And she would be victorious.

This is such a fun story! Necia and Falcon won't be quite finished with their dangerous affairs, and I can't wait to dive into that!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: On the Bench

Happy holidays to all who celebrate. We're having a quiet weekend at home to avoid spreading all of our cold germs to anyone else. I'm very okay with that.

Started two new projects this week and slowly getting back to semi-normal while fighting the cold making the rounds through our house. My husband currently has it again.

Made an almost full run through of my current slate of television shows. I've been trying to make sure I get plenty of sleep, so I hopefully don't end up with a setback with the cold.

Watched an episode of My Life Is Murder and remembered I'd seen most of this episode before. Enjoyed watching it again.

Started another two-part Agatha Raisin and rather enjoyed the dynamic between James's sister and Agatha. Looking forward to the second half.

Finished the second half of a Silent Witness two-parter. I'm kind of excited to see where things go with a new person on the team.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. I don't remember watching much of this one before, but I do have recollection of at least one scene. Interesting that one of the guest stars is a regular on Agatha Raisin.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Thoroughly enjoyed it. This show definitely intrigues me.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. I think there might be one more episode of season one left.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered both of the vignettes and enjoyed watching them again.

Watched another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm still intrigued by everything and can't wait to find out more about Amy's past.

Finished the week out with an episode of VIP. I have vague memories of watching this during the initial run of the series. Lots of fun.

That's it for the personal life update this week. Tonight's post is from On the Bench, a novella that brings a couple together with one fighting against their past and one looking for the future.

Here's the miniblurb:

Peyton Bice comes of age around the mixed marital arts sporting events and her past comes calling in the form of her father's former star fighter, now a leading trainer. Rookie Cliff Westfordson offers a shoulder to lean on, but Peyton fears getting tangled up with the newest recruit on her dad's roster.

And a snippety peek…

Cliff Westfordson stooped down by his sister. "Sera? What's going on? Why are you out here behind the gym?" And when did she get here?

A lick of concern rolled down his spine when she didn't answer. She sat on the ground, her knees bent, feet tucked up against her behind, staring straight ahead. He reached out to place a hand on her shoulder and she flinched away with a gasp.

Concern turned to fear. and Cliff dumped his duffel bag off his shoulder. "Sera, what happened. When did you get here?" She hadn't mentioned stopping by to watch his practice today.

Sera swallowed hard, her eyes filling with tears and her breath hitching in her throat. "He said to meet him in the locker room. And … and … not to tell anyone." Her lower lip trembled. "I did just as he asked. We were supposed to … supposed to have our first date." A crystal drop streaked down her face. "But we didn't. Have the date. He wanted to … to…" Her voice trailed off and she went back to staring ahead again.

Fear turned to anger. "Who, Sera? Who were you supposed to go out with?" Had one of his sparring partners hurt his sister?

He discounted the idea as soon as it hit. There were five other guys in the gym today and all of them were either in the ring or at the training equipment. Not one of them left during their two-hour session.

Except … another man had been there today.

Son of a bitch.

Cliff choked down his rage and quietly tried to verify his worst fear. "Are you talking about Roman Capps? Is he the person you were supposed to go out with?" Fuck, the guy had ten years on Cliff.

And twelve on eighteen-year-old Sera.

Sera's startled gaze snapped to Cliff's. "How did you know? Did he tell you?" She shrank down, collapsing in on herself.

Cliff shook his head. "No, nothing like that. He's the only guy I didn't see on the floor today." Unease filled Cliff at her reaction. "Sera, what happened? Did he hurt you?" Cliff would tear Roman apart if he laid a hand on his sister.

Sera drew in a watery breath. "He got so angry, because I didn't want to … I didn't want to—" She broke off, her head dropping to her knees and her shoulders shaking in silent sobs.

He noticed the red handprints around her throat then. A white-hot boil slowly simmered in his veins. No doubt in his mind … Capps caused those marks. But Cliff needed to get Sera anywhere but outside the gym.

Cliff wrapped an arm around her, loosely holding her because he didn't want to scare her. "I'm sorry, Sera, but we can't stay here. Can I get you home? We can talk about what happened when you're ready, okay?" He moved slowly, getting to his feet then offering her his hand.

She raised her head, staring blankly again.

Cliff waited and she finally blinked and gave a nod. Her fingers were icy when she clasped his palm. Her knees were shaky, and she put a hand to the back of her head and frowned. Cliff gently probed the area and found a large bump at the center of her cranium.

He sucked in a harsh breath. "Ouch, that hurts, doesn't it? We'll get some ice on that lump as soon as we get home."

And he'd get the rest of the story out of her as soon as he could…

I'm very pleased with how this story is coming together. Cliff is slowly revealing his character to me, and I love what he's showing so far.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: On an Even Keel

I got slammed with a nasty cold and definitely feel it this week. Completely derailed my daily relaxation stress reducer posts. I'll hopefully catch back up next week or start over again for the new year.

Finished up several work-related projects and added a few to my calendar. Hoping to start the new year off with a full slate to stay busy.

Not a bad week of television, even with the icky cold making me super tired and exhausted.

Watched another episode of My Life Is Murder and enjoyed it. I'm still trying to get used to the New Zealand locale with the second season. Still a fun show.

Caught the second half of Agatha Raisin. Feel very badly for James, who kind of seems like the odd man out of the group. Loved how this one played out.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and not sure on the new pathologist. He's not bad, I guess. Clearly, it's time to shake things up for Jack, which probably means things won't go well when his brother gets out of prison.

Enjoyed another Death in Paradise, which is one I didn't remember. I'm getting into the Humphrey episodes I missed on the first watch.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite liked the dynamic. I'm very interested in getting into more of what happened with Joan's medical career. Sherlock is definitely true to form and I'm getting into this version.

Caught another episode of The Batman. I think I have one or two more episodes of the first season then a bit of a shift to the second one.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. For some reason, I think I might have missed a season or at least some episodes. I'll do a run through after I finish up the sixth season.

Continued with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued by how the season is unfolding and I'm kind of interested in where things are going to go.

Finished out the week with an episode of VIP. Some familiar early aughts faces in this one. Also a fun episode.

That's pretty much it on the life update this week. Tonight's post is from On an Even Keel, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Security expert Goldie Swartz is presumed dead after a building explodes and she leaves behind a tangled past filled with burned bridges and messy relationships with those she loves. Ryne Kingston witnesses Goldie going down and realizes a little too late he'd give everything he has to have her back in his life. When Goldie returns, battered and busted up but very alive, she and Ryne finally acknowledge they need each other to stay on an even keel.

And a snippety peek…

Goldie stayed in the shadows. "Nothing like getting a ringside seat to the show." The Kingston men actually communicating with each other—about her—would be a big draw for anyone selling tickets.

Norm held his son's gaze. "No one thought she survived, son. You're not gonna find answers in that footage." He got up and exited the viewing room but left the lights off.

Ryne restarted the camera footage, a combination of CCTV, drone, and body camera films, to watch the building explode again.

Why is he torturing himself? He'd made the right call. She would've made the same one. Get everyone else out, make sure they were safe, and mourn the dead.

Which should've been her.

Except she survived … through the universe's grace and three kind souls who'd pulled her into their makeshift escape route.

Goldie emerged from her spot in the corner and angled in to sit beside Ryne, trying to see the event through his eyes. He spared her a quick glance then focused back on the screen. She watched the spliced material, strangely dispassionate about the playback. She didn't die … obviously … but could literally feel each internal flinch Ryne had when he viewed the footage over and over again, rewinding, hitting play, then repeating the process until he didn't wince or grimace anymore.

Her hand covered his and Ryne, not even looking at her, draped his arm around her. She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. They didn't speak. They didn't really have to. She got it. She remembered how it felt to think Ryne died two years ago after he'd been ambushed on a mission. She'd stay as long as she had to, until Ryne wanted to finally shut the recording off.

Her heart hurt to hear the note of pain and desperation in his voice when he screamed her name during the explosion. She never heard anything as raw and agonizing, especially when he quietly answered one of the hostages when they asked about her. "She's gone. Goldie didn't make it … she didn't make it out." His voice, gravelly and hoarse, spoke to her on a primal, gut level.

How long had she wanted to know what he really felt for her? With none of the past rearing its head to get in the way. With nothing interfering and no one offering their unsolicited advice.

She had the knowledge now. Right there on the screen. His true emotion in unedited form.

At the end of the current run through, Ryne didn't restart the footage.

Instead, he laced their fingers together. "It's good to have you home." He didn't speak above a whisper, but his words filled the silence.

Goldie's lips turned upward. "It's good to be back." She squeezed Ryne's hand, and the room went dark.

Neither made a move to leave. They would sit in peace and enjoy the quiet. They'd have to talk, at some point, about everything. But not yet. Because, right now, with those simple words, they cleaned the slate and hit the reset button.

And she finally had a course she wanted to follow.

This story is in the very beginning stages, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Old Habits Die Hard

Not sure I'm ready for December. The last few months have really flown by, and I can't seem to keep up. I must be getting old. Or life is coming at me fast and that's why I'm struggling to stay in the moment.

And because I'm failing at staying in the moment, I started a daily post for self-care on Instagram and Blue Sky. Each day I'm going to post something that I do just for me to help me shed stress and enjoy a few minutes of me time.

To that end, I might be including some television shows, so keep an eye out for a few specials that aren't in my normal rotation.

I did get two episodes of My Life Is Murder in this week. I'm a little puzzled by the change in location from Australia to New Zealand, but I'm running with it for now.

I also finished up the bonus episodes from Agatha Raisin season two and caught the premiere of season three. I kind of miss Gemma but Toni is a lot of fun.

Watched two episodes of Silent Witness. Hard to say goodbye to Thomas and it's weird to not see Clarissa at the Lyell anymore. I do like the new vibe Jack and Nikki have. Looking forward to seeing if they add any new cast members.

Also enjoyed two episodes of Death in Paradise. Camille left for Paris and Humph is working through the new dynamic. I really enjoy this show and I'm so glad I can see it in chronological order.

Finished Only Murders in the Building and I did get the villains right. Excellent third season and I'm excited about season four because who saw that one coming with the new victim?

Caught another episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. The dynamic between Bruce and Alfred is a lot of fun.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones I remembered and enjoyed the first time around. I love it when the parents truly have no idea what's going on.

Enjoyed another episode of VIP. The over-the-top villains are always entertaining. I truly miss that sometimes.

Also watched another episode of Peak Practice. Once again, I'm not interested at all in one of the storylines, but I do love the two new cast members and what's going on with them.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Old Habits Die Hard, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Merrick Casey works security for a US Embassy and runs into an old flame, Neo Upton, when he arrives with his diplomat dad. They don't have much time to revisit their troubled past because the tour they're on is ambushed. Caught away from her team, Merrick has to rely on Neo for backup and she quickly discovers old habits die hard.

And a snippety peek…

"All right come with me." Neo shoved the door open and gave a quick glance back.

Merrick handed him a sidearm. "Go." She stayed on his six, scanning the corridor. "Watch out, Neo. You haven't fired one of these for a while." The adrenaline still coursed through her and the feeling of rightness only got stronger.

This … this is what she and Neo were born to do.

Neo snorted. "Doesn't matter, Merr. I let my guard down once. It's not gonna happen again." He paused when more gunfire sounded. Voice low, he reminded her. "And it hasn't been that long."

Easing around the corner of the next causeway, he moved forward, stopping at the next juncture. Merrick turned, making sure their backs were clear. Waiting for a group of attendees to clear the corridor, she took stock for a moment, wondering when the world-painted-wrong feeling would return. Oddly, deep in her gut, she didn't think it would.

Neo ducked out and cleared the next juncture, Merrick hot on his heels. Neo turned and raised his weapon, and Merrick braced for action.

"Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa." A member of another diplomatic security force lowered his gun arm.

Someone on their side. Or at least someone unwilling to shoot at them. She and Neo skirted past the other representative and started forward again. Neo paused at the next intersection when a barrage of shots being fired filled the corridor. He slid his gaze toward her. Now or never. Merrick shrugged and nodded. Go.

He moved forward and she followed, cautiously making their way through the causeway. They finally came up to the steps leading to Upton's quarters. Holy shit. Too many spent shells littered the area. Heart pounding, she dashed up behind Neo.

He turned toward her. "This isn't right. Where are the guards?"

Yeah, not good. The elder Upton should have two marines outside his suite of rooms during a lockdown scenario.

Only one way to find out the situation. Merrick moved past Neo, letting him cover her. She didn't want him to be first one inside … especially if things weren't good. Glancing his way, she silently questioned. He lifted his chin then focused on the empty hallway. She walked forward to try the door handle. Not locked.

Heart in her throat, she raised her weapon, ready for anything. She started to nudge the door, but it swung open to reveal Lanai James, the US ambassador.

What the hell is she doing here?

Quickly lowering her sidearm, Merrick stepped back, a vivid memory of firing her weapon at the ambassador churning in her mind. Not at … toward. Because the goon squad trying to take over the embassy lurked in the shadows.

Neo huffed out a harsh breath. "Madam Ambassador, you all right?"

Her voice a little breathless, she answered. "I'm fine."

A barrage of gunfire rang out behind them. Neo quickly turned, ready to draw fire if necessary, backing slowly toward them.

Merrick shoved the ambassador backward. "Get inside."

She took turns with Neo, keeping an eye out for anyone or anything to come at them. Once everyone cleared the threshold, Neo closed and locked the door then barricaded it. Merrick exhaled hard before dragging more air in. Safe for the moment.

Neo explained the sitrep to Ambassador James.

She snorted. "Uprising, my ass. An active mutiny ensues in this building. It's widespread and organized."

Merrick grunted. "Understatement, Madam Ambassador."

Neo set his weapon on the table. "Madam Ambassador, we're in danger of losing the embassy." He loosened his tie and jerked it off.

Merrick's lips twitched. About time Neo lost the tie. It would only get in the way.

The ambassador sank to the edge of the sofa. "Shit. Nate. He just left with his two marines after someone tried to get in here." She pushed a shaky hand through her hair.

Interesting. More than concern tinged her voice.

I have no idea where this one is going to go. It's a bit over the top but the sages are pushing hard to keep it that way.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: In Support of Defense

March entered the room with some wild weather, which isn't a big surprise. Still having the back and forth chilly then warm and lots of rain and wind. I expect nothing less from my birth month.

Got a lot accomplished on my work projects. I have a new one coming in sometime in the next week or two and I'm looking forward to jumping into another new one this week.

Didn't get a lot of television watched this week, but I got a few episodes in.

Finished up The Mandalorian episode I started and thoroughly enjoyed it. My brother used to be obsessed with the sand people so it's fun to see them in action in this episode.

My Battlestar Galactica rewatch continued with "Act of Contrition." So many great moments in this episode and the acting is stellar. For a show that came out twenty years ago, I have vivid memories of watching this for the first time.

I also caught another episode of Only Murders in the Building. I kind of love where they're taking things at the moment. It'll be hard to top the first season for me, but I'm excited to see how this plays out. I'm really hoping it holds up.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from In Support of Defense, a follow-up to Justice Is Served.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Arnie Cherlin seeks help from his boss, Derby Stack, and asks her to use Overwatch resources to help his best friend's sister, whose gambling debts are causing trouble. Cricket Lexiss doesn't want Arnie's help, thinking she can handle her problem alone. But when her brother is murdered and her life threatened, she turns to Arnie, which puts him in a tricky place because in spite of blaming her for her brother's death, he's falling for her. Yet he needs to keep his distance to remain objective.

And a snippety peek…

Arnie Cherlin stood on the porch of his childhood best friend's home. "Let's see what the professor wants." He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Ben Francis came from privilege and never cared that Arnie didn't. Ben made sure Arnie had a place to stay when his mom went on weekend benders and forgot to come home. Ben also found a way to get Arnie into buckling down and paying attention in school.

The door opened and Ben greeted him with a distracted smile. "Arnie! Thanks for coming." Stepping back, he invited Arnie inside the quaint cottage Ben lived in on the outskirts of the university campus.

Arnie didn't like the vibe coming from his friend, but he followed him into the small living room. "What's going on? You're pinging red alert even if you're trying to be cool about it." He flashed a smile when Ben stopped short and narrowed his gaze.

Ben waved Arnie to a side chair. "How do you do that? I never could get anything past you." He sat on the edge of the sofa.

Arnie shrugged. "You know I got good at reading people when my mom came home from one of her lost weekends." He never knew if he'd have happy Maureen or angry Maureen. "And the air force honed my skills with their cryptology program." Decrypting body language took a distinct skill set.

Ben shook his head. "And you want me to cut to it, right?" Leaning forward, he rested his forearms on his knees. "You probably need to get back to … wherever it is you work."

Arnie cracked another grin. "I don't always have a specific location. And I don't mind getting a little work-life balance on occasion." He propped his ankle on his knee. "But you didn't ask me here to play catch up, so yeah, what's going on?" A knot of worry coiled in his gut.

Ben heaved a sigh. "You work for some kind of government agency, right? Like you have resources you can use to help people?" His eyes filled with banked concern … and fear.

The knot grew tighter. "Are you in trouble, Ben?" Probably a stupid question because the universe didn't make straighter arrows than Ben Francis.

Ben shook his head again. "No. Not at all." He straightened and squared his shoulder. "I'm worried about Cricket. She's getting in deep with gambling and owes a significant amount."

Arnie's eyes widened. "Your half-sister Cricket?" Of course Ben meant his sibling … how many people named their daughters Cricket? "Didn't she become a nurse?" The type that wanted to save the world. "Did you say underground gambling?" What the hell?

Ben got up and paced back and forth. "To answer your questions. Yes. Yes. And yes." He sat back down. "Can you please help her? Or, do you have any suggestions for how I can help her?"

Arnie is definitely thrown but he won't turn Ben down. Arnie will call on his boss, Derby Stack from Justice is Served, to help out.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Zinging Barbs (a South of the Border bonus free read)

What a crazy week of weather. We had rain, rain, rain, which is probably great for the gardens—as long as the plants are hardy. We also had some close to freezing temps in the wee hours of the morning.

Another super-busy work week. Started a few new projects and I'm humming along on some others. I like having a variety of work and I definitely have that right now.

Another slower week for television. I got started again on doing some clearing out and sorting of stuff I've put off way too long. The good news is I've discovered a ton of missing socks, which makes me very happy.

I watched the second episode of Harrow's third season. So far, I really, really dislike the new boss. But … I kind of love the dynamic between Harrow and Fairley. Discovering Grace is married is something I'm on the fence with, but we'll see what happens there.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers. I'm a little disappointed to find out I won't be able to watch the bulk of the series now. It seems to have been removed from the streaming service I've been watching it on. Maybe it'll pop back up again. I still have the season to finish then I'll see what happens.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Neil deGrasse Tyson. This one talked about systems of beliefs.

Finished up Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow and it did not disappoint. I hope there's another season of this show.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I enjoy having this show on in the background when I'm reading emails.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and, wow, I'm starting to wonder a little if this is Conor's last season. Things seem to be ramping up quickly.

Enjoyed another episode of The Snoopy Show. This one had a bunch of spring-like vignettes.

Watched another episode of Loch Ness and there didn't seem to be a lot of forward momentum on the case, but little revelations popped up and into the storyline. I'm excited for the next episode.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness. I'm kind of happy Thomas didn't do something sketchy with the information he had on the ex's new boyfriend. Even though she pretty much deserves anything he hands out. She's a piece of work.

Managed to finish an arc of Classic Who. I'll be starting a new one this week. I'm still on the fence with Mel as a companion. She does a lot of screaming.

Also watched the last episode of The Laundry Guy. I actually hope he does another round of episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed the six available.

Watched the Marvel Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye. Honestly, I really loved the first season and I'm kind of hoping there will be another, even if it's primarily Clint-free. Some great groundwork is out there if they continue this.

Started a new episode of The Hardy Boys. I love the mystery of this season and I can't wait to finish this episode.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Zinging Barbs, a bonus free read set in the South of the Border universe.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Relic finder Vaughn Dyson sticks much closer to home since Faulkner Roush saved her life, but when an artifact all but lands in her lap, she insists on taking it to the university for safe-keeping, which Faulkner can't argue about even if they'll be late for a party in their honor.

And a snippety peek…

Faulkner Roush smashed the accelerator and shot past a large van then jammed on the brakes when another car cut him off. "Dammit!" He slid his gaze to his passenger. "Why the hell are we doing this again?" A spot opened up and he zoomed through.

Vaughn Dyson barely held on to the artifact, wrapped protectively in padding and paper foam. "Because my luck is shit—even though this beauty practically fell from the sky into my lap—and the black market dealers would probably kill to get their hands on it." She angled her head toward him. "You don't want to put our friends in danger, right?"

As if. And definitely hell no. Like he and Vaughn, their friends had to fight to be together. Lars and Kiernan, Vail and Ellery, and Hayden and Lilith finally had peace and calm in their lives. He and Vaughn didn't need to wreck their friend's hard-won happiness.

Of course, their status as a couple might be short-lived … if they couldn't make it to a gathering in their honor.

Taking a sharp left, he squeezed through the alley behind the university. "You know we're gonna be late. Again." They'd been late to the formal ceremony at the university bestowing an award for the return of the jade relic that had brought them back together.

Vaughn rolled her eyes. "Remind me again who made us late for that award?" Her lips curved in a sexy grin.

Faulk grunted. "Technically?" He flicked his gaze sideways. "You did. That dress all but begged me to strip it off…" He veered to the right and drove into the parking garage, pulling up to the freight entrance. "And I didn't hear any complaints or protests." He did, however, hear her vocal moans during their steamy sex on the sofa.

She smirked. "What can I say. You in a tuxedo is a big turn-on." Popping the handle, she ducked out of the vehicle. "Be back in five. I'm only taking this one floor up. It'll be safe in the vault until Tuesday." Pushing the door closed with her ass, she quickly entered the elevator and headed out of sight.

After five minutes passed, Faulk drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "Come on, Vaughn. Don't get sucked into any debates with long-winded professors." He'd give her a little longer then all bets were off.

They had someplace to be.

I have a lot of love for Vaughn and Faulkner. Their story is coming along nicely and we'll get to visit with more characters from the South of the Border series.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Down the Middle

June 21, 2020

I can't believe there's only one more week and a few days of June left. This year seems to be flying by so fast—even with a pandemic and social distancing.

Slow week of television again but a good one for client phone calls. I have a couple if potentially interesting new projects to be excited about.

I did finish up Danger Man with the last few episodes of season two. I'll be starting the color episodes this week along with the new title of Secret Agent. Should be fun.

I also got through the Riverdale episode I started last week and, surprisingly, it got better. I kind of understand where Alice came from but it still annoys me to no end. Veronica's savage takedown of Hiram made my week. I also ended up really enjoying the Cheryl session with the guidance counselor—whoever tagged Gina Torres for that role deserves a raise. I'm very intrigued by the cutaway end scenes. If not for my absolute complete and utter loathing of Hiram, I would be so set to keep watching this show. As it is, I literally hate that character so much, I'll probably only skim through the season.

I caught another episode of Roswell, New Mexico and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like Alex and Michael working as a team without the usual UST between them. Having them become actual friends is a great thing and I'm totally there to watch that happen. Loved having the former Max back as a Mains ancestor. Here's hoping he'll be available for more flashback scenes. I like where Isabel is headed and love what she did for Arturo and Liz. Also loved, loved, loved Kyle's scenes with his mom. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the dean's daughter storyline, but I'm down with whatever happens. I kind of have a tiny hope Kyle ends up hooking up with Cameron at some point … but that's only if Jessie doesn't have her abducted. I totally don't believe he's been shackled by anyone or anything. In fact, I'd lay odds he's the actual private security firm's leader. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it.

Last but not least, I watched another episode of Peak Practice. I've been staying with the chronological order for now and I'm working my way through the second season. Should have it finished up within the month. I hope.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Down the Middle, a novella that's coming along with my bounty hunters finally figuring things out.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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

And a snippety peek…

Ursa entered the illegal club and scanned the entry and exit points. "Two ways in and out." And probably a hidden egress or two in case the cops came calling.

She'd burned half a dozen favors getting intelligence on Llewellyn. Didn't matter. She'd call in whatever marks she had left then beg, borrow, or blackmail if those ran out.

The thumping bass line of the dance music fueled her adrenaline. Her instincts indicated her informants had done her a solid. This place represented a smorgasbord for someone like Cavil. He'd be frothing to get his hands on something young, comely, and eager for a little danger in their life. Male, female, nonbinary, gay, straight … Cavil didn't care what label the package wrapped itself in; he sought someone pliable and willing to walk a wild edge.

She made a vow. "Not tonight, asshole." She wanted to put him down this time.

Making her way through the throng of bodies crowding the makeshift club, she finally elbowed her way to the bar. The location afforded her a view of everything; the dance floor, the rafters, the DJ booth, and the exits. Only the facilities were out of her sight.

She pointed to a bottle of vodka and lifted her chin. The bartender pulled it down and poured her a shot, sliding the glass in front of her. She downed the liquid and relished the burn it made down her throat.

When she flashed a ten, the bartender shook his head. "First one's on the house. And when I get a looker like you, the tab's open." He waggled his eyebrows.

Ursa rolled her eyes, but stayed friendly. "Just the one. I'm waiting for someone." He didn't need to know she didn't want a hookup.

And who knew … if she took care of business, she might end up needing a hard, hot body to celebrate with. The bartender definitely fit the bill. Built but not jacked up, he'd be worth pursuing if she didn't have other plans.

He gave her a slow once-over. "Let me know if you change your mind." His graceful acceptance put him up another notch in her book.

She winked. "Will do." She turned and propped her elbows on the bar behind her and scanned the crowd.

So much movement between the bodies writhing on the floor to the spectators either watching or scoring their own brand of entertainment. Ursa glanced up to the rafters, clocking more than a few groups conducting shady deals. Probably a hefty payday up there if she were inclined to check. She only wanted one cash out tonight.

Cavil. Her gut said he hadn't arrived yet. She'd wait … not so patiently.

Two hours later, the hairs on the back of her neck rose and her waiting game ended. She caught sight of Llewellyn when he slid in from the back door. He hadn't changed all that much. A little heavier and with longer hair, he still had close-set, hooded eyes. Why would that change? His eyes were something she'd never forget. And the fact she'd have to look into them again kicked her rage up into the red zone.

She pushed away from the counter and followed Llewellyn but kept a good distance between them. If his tactics held true, the bastard would pick someone in the first ten minutes of his arrival then stalk his prey until close to closing. For an illegal place like this, dawn would be breaking before the DJ played the last song.

Ursa shook her head. "Gonna be a long night." But she'd watch and wait.

I'm pleased with how this story is finally coming together. After a long brainstorming session, I've got the flow nailed down and the action figured out.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Under the Influence (a South of the Border novella)

Boo! It's the month of Halloween and creeptastic treasures! I love October. That said, it's also the time I need to start thinking and doing my holiday shopping. I do not want a repeat of last year when I waited way too long to get stuff done.

Had a busy week driving all over the place with my daughter. We had a college visit on Monday. I picked her up from the district tournament for golf on Wednesday. And I picked her up from her band competition because she needs to be up and out early in the morning. I forgot how much windshield time driving gives me. LOL

Not a bad week for television. I haven't started any of the new seasons of my faves yet. But… I did finish up Peter Gunn. I have a few ideas of what to replace that slot with but haven't landed on a specific one yet.

I caught two episodes of Blue Heelers. I'm still at the beginning of season two but I love this show. It has a great cast.

I started season nineteen of Midsomer Murders. I can honestly say I took the death of Sykes really hard. Seriously. Which is actually kind of sad but, man, that was one cool dog. The new one, Paddy, is also fun, but I had years' worth of Sykes antics to enjoy. Anyway… I like the new DS guy but I miss Charlie. I'm watching an episode with Jones in it and it kind of makes me nostalgic.

I got to watch two more arcs of Classic Who. The Claws of Axios and Colony in Space. I'll be starting a new one this week.

I also plan to watch the new Passionflix movie that released this week. I'm looking forward to it.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Under the Influence, a South of the Border novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When her father dies, Lilith Jans inherits a piece of hotly sought after property in Mexico. She also unknowingly takes on an unpaid debt, which puts her life in danger. Hayden Knoxville makes her an offer she wants to refuse, but can't—sell to him and he'll deal with the men coming to collect payment.

And a snippety peek…

Kiernan loved how Lars always asked the right question. Never took him long to get up to speed. Working for a covert military unit didn't hurt… made him think fast on his feet.

Kiernan gave him the shortest version of the answer. "According to Maria, the no-good Lester killed Juanita when he crashed their car after leaving another bar he owned in California." She grabbed another cold one and twisted the top off. "Lilith wasn't with them when it happened and Lester never had a controlling interest in Juanita's business so her shares went to Lilith." After taking a nice, long swallow of the icy beverage, she finished up. "Now that Lester's dead, Lilith owns the bar outright."

Lars paused on his next drink, lowering the bottle. "So… what's the problem?"

Kiernan snorted. "Lester didn't own controlling interest in the California club either." She met Lars's gaze. "And he borrowed heavily against his stake." She stopped there, letting Lars fill in the blanks.

His lips twisted. "Which means he died owing money." He straightened, scooping Kiernan into a sitting position.

Kiernan nodded. "Ding. Ding. Ding." As usual, he got it in one.

Lars took another stab. "So… Maria is worried Lester's business partners will come after Lilith to collect." His eyes got dark with anger.

Kiernan dipped her chin, acknowledging his guess. "Yep. And they're not exactly the kind of guys who'll let the court systems in two countries figure everything out." They weren't the type to respect laws anyway.

Lars put his beer down and leaned in close to Kiernan. "Well, then. You'd better plan on getting Maria over for dinner so we can talk about how to keep Lilith safe."

Kiernan grinned. "I love you." She slid her hands up to his biceps.

Lars rolled his eyes. "Of course you do. What's not to love?"

She laughed and pushed him backward in the lounge then landed on top of him to snag his lips in a steamy kiss.

She loved everything about Lars.

I always enjoy going back to Kiernan and Lars from Down in Mexico. Working a few of their friends and colleagues into the mix lets me show the progression of Keir and Lars's relationship, which I love to do.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin