Sunday Snippet: Muse It Up

Whew. It's been a very long week. A slow leak in one of my tires means I've been filling with a portable device every other day or so. Add in the oven going out on our stove and scrambling to find another one on top of the tire issue. We did get the range replaced and hope to have the tire situation under control this week. Bleh.

Weird weather again. Storms and some back and forth temperatures. I really hope we don't pay for the somewhat mild temperatures by having a super-hot October and November. Would also love to not have flooding from the rain. We've been very lucky so far.

Work projects were gnarly again. Started a new copy edit that, well, went okay as far as the copy edit part is concerned. The story? All over the place. I don't have to be the target audience for the manuscripts I edit, but whew! I struggled with this one because I had a hard time following the plot, which I don't run into very often at the copy-editing stage. I'm also working on a manuscript evaluation and that is going pretty well. I'm very interested in the subject matter, which always helps.

I made a little progress on getting my side project ready to go. Hopefully, I'll be able to do more this week. I'm kind of excited to see if I can make this happen before the end of the year.

Had a terrible viewing week. The copy edit needed a lot of my focus, which isn't a bad thing. I made it almost halfway through my usual shows.

Started with Marple and enjoyed the mystery. Very fun to have two Janes in the story. Also enjoyed getting a glimpse of nostalgia with Miss Marple and her childhood.

Watched another episode of Britain's Most Scenic Counties and learned more new things about Kent. I'd love to visit someday.

Caught the season two premiere of Return to Paradise and quite enjoyed being back in Dolphin Cove. Loved having Jack Mooney make an appearance again and having him kind of give Mackenzie a fatherly type of tough love. She does need to sort things out with her past before heading back to London … if she heads back.

Started an episode of Poirot but didn't get it finished. I'll pick it back up this week. I hope.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Muse It Up, a novella where an author finds his muse after suffering from writer's block.

Here's the miniblurb:

Nate Shaunessey can't get in the groove to write his new supernatural series. When he meets the new bartender, Hunter Gallagher, at his local pub, a muse is born. The only problem? Nate's afraid to tell her she's his latest inspiration.

And a snippet preview…

Nate stretched the kinks from his shoulders. "Whew. Mind's still spinning with ideas." But he needed a break.

After six hours of sleep, he made coffee and had a breakfast wrap of scrambled eggs, sausage, and spinach. That fueled the morning writing session. Now he headed for the kitchen to throw some sandwiches together.

Spreading mayo on some sourdough bread, he huffed out a breath. "Gotta go fast and easy." He'd put another four hours in on his laptop then hit the treadmill or a hiking trail.

Grabbing his water pitcher, he scooped the sandwiches up and went back to his writing nook. He'd already decided he'd be dropping in at the Library again later. Tonight would be coffee only. No doubt he'd have another late night or early morning with his fingers flying over the keyboard.

Leaning back, he finished off one of the sandwiches and let his thoughts drift to Hunter. He looked forward to seeing her again … but dialed back the excitement a little. Mainly because he had no idea if he should mention how she had kickstarted his brain.

He shook his head. "Do I thank her? Or just play things cool?" He definitely didn't want to make things weird.

He hated not being sure how to proceed, because he really found Hunter attractive. But … he got the feeling she'd been through something recently. Maybe she'd share.

He kind of hope so … he wanted to know everything about her. "Whoa. Calm down, Nate. Think about this." Things could go sideways … especially if he clued her in to being his muse.

But he wanted to be honest. Subterfuge worked well in his books but rarely played out with good results for him in real life. His last relationship went south because his girlfriend liked to play head games. She would run hot then cold and try to lead him on a merry chase, which he didn't have the time to figure out or the desire to pursue.

He snorted. "Didn't take her long to pack up and move on when I basically admitted my deadlines were more important than playing what does Melanie want all the time?" Which made him something of a dick, but he could live with that label.

At least he couldn't be accused of cheating or leading Melanie on. He'd made a clean break and wished her nothing but the best when she left. After that, he steered clear of getting involved with anyone new and focused on finishing the series.

Nate won't keep his interest in Hunter a secret for long and he won't hold back how much influence she's having on his new series.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Lose Control

Well, July is off to a banging start. Heat wave, the holiday weekend, and a lot of things converging at once. I've been a little off also. Not sure if it's menopause hormones or just general fatigue, but it's been a long week.

We should get a bit of relief from the extreme temperatures when some rain moves through over the next few days. I'll welcome the lower heat indexes.

Work is staying busy. I had a couple of great calls with potential author clients, and I'm excited to see where those go. I have project that shifted to the back burner that needs attention this week, hopefully tomorrow. I also had a project that might be coming back … again. It's the one that won't die, but thankfully, the revisions are all author requests and nothing concerning the edits. Whew. Moved a few smaller things in and out, which is always fun to break up the week. Almost finished with a manuscript proofread of a thriller that has a lot of twists and turns. I need to finish a written assessment on a read through of the opening book to a five-book series sometime this week also.

Had an okay viewing week. Didn't quite make it all the way through my usual shows but didn't do terrible either. I think the heat makes it hard to focus on more than one thing so the entertainment took a back seat to my work projects.

Started the week with another behind-the-scenes bonus episode of Foyle's War. This one focused on the historical recreations for the final episode and I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews.

Caught another episode of Tales of Irish Castles. We're into the seventeenth century, which apparently saw a lot of upheaval.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness. Again, very interesting how closely related to reality this season has been. I also think I'm liking how there seems to be an overarching thread that's following through all the episodes. That's not really standard or hasn't been for this series.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed the twists and turns. I love it when Poirot questions what he sees with his own eyes to solve the mystery.

Elementary had a great episode. Seeing the fallout from Shinwell's actions is interesting and I kind of hope there's some redemption there. The case itself ended up being really twisty and wildly bizarre as well.

That's all I had time for this week and that's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Lose Control, a novella that gives a couple a chance to deepen their connection.

Here's the miniblurb:

As a bar owner, Colin Ford stays calm and in control even though his work can be hectic and demanding. To relieve Colin's stress, Essie Hines loves nothing more than to make him lose control when they're alone together.

And a snippety peek…

Colin pulled into the back lot after making the nightly deposit and noticed a light on in his apartment.

His lips curved. "Essie." He had a feeling she'd stick around after her shift.

He didn't deserve her, but he counted the blessing of having her in his life. Especially when he could be cranky and grumpy after a long week. And definitely after another call off from Theo. Colin hoped he could get a reliable replacement in before the summer rush really took off.

Jogging up the steps, he let himself into the apartment and locked the door behind him. Tossing his keys on the counter separating the kitchen and the living room, he grinned when he heard the shower running. Yanking his shirt over his head, he headed for the bathroom.

Essie, already naked, turned when he opened the door. "Hey, handsome. Water's perfect." She stuck her hand under the mist of the shower and gave him a sexy smile.

He popped the button of his pants and shucked them down and off. "You know what else is perfect?" Stepping forward, he nodded toward the stall. "This … and you." His mouth met hers and he nudged her into the large space, following right behind.

Essie hummed with pleasure. "Mmm … thought you might need my special brand of T-L-C." Her hands smoothed down his back to cup his ass.

Colin's mouth ghosted along her throat. "I'll never refuse anything you offer." He nipped at her collarbone.

Essie slid her hand along his hip and wrapped her fingers around his hardening shaft. "Then let's get you nice and relaxed from the hot shower then get you really loose from a nice full-body massage." She made a circle motion with her free hand, indicating she wanted him to turn around to face the water.

He followed her instruction and sighed when she fisted his dick a moment longer then reached for the body wash and a fluffy cloth. Starting at his neck and shoulders, she got him good and sudsy. Next, she worked on his thighs and calves, adding some playful squeezed to his butt before she drew the soapy washcloth over his hard length.

He backed under the water, letting it sluice down his skin then hauled her close to plunder her mouth again. She dropped the cloth and wrapped her arms around him. He worked his thigh between her legs and cupped her breasts.

Essie's breath hissed out between her teeth. "You keep that up and I won't be able to focus on the massage…" She turned the water off and eased the door open before grabbing a towel and holding it open for him to step into.

Briskly drying him off, she let him return the favor then laced their fingers together and led him to the bedroom. She'd gone all out with lit candles, gentle music, and a diffuser with a heavenly scent. With every step he took toward the bed, tension eased and the shitty day fell away piece by piece.

She smoothed her hand over the crisp sheets. "Come on. Face down you go."

Once he got settled, she straddled his hips, using strong, firm movements with her hands and fingers. He lost all track of time while she worked her way down his back, over his ass and on to his legs. She even did a deep massage on his feet, which made his toes curl.

Gliding her hand back upward, she traced small circles on his back. "Ready for the front?"

He gave a nod and rolled over, his erection jutting straight and true. Essie settled over him again, the apex of her thighs meeting the base of his cock. She leaned forward and started at his neck and shoulders again.

His hands clasped her thighs but loosely. As much as he wanted to be buried deep inside her, he wouldn't rush her. He'd learned when he gave her free rein, she never failed to blow his mind.

So he savored the slow and methodical way she worked to break him down and get him to relax and release stress.

The payoff would be more than worth it.

Colin is going to appreciate Essie more than he does already by the time their story ends.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Keeping Him Real

Another bonkers week of fighting a cold and lack of sleep while trying to keep a lot of plates spinning. I have another week of tracking some things down that I really don't want to put off any longer and, honestly, I always forget how much time it takes to this stuff sometimes. I'd love an extra four hours in a day so I could stay caught up.

The weather is doing its usual back and forth thing, plus we're at that stage of spring where it's full-on construction season. I have to laugh because some of the detours have detours. It's bonkers.

Really good work week. I've got several projects in flux at the moment and if the timing goes well (spoiler alert: it rarely does), I'll move two off my plate and add two more. I did put a final checkmark on one of my developmental editing projects. I had a lot of fun working on that one.

Had a pretty solid viewing week. I made it through my usual list of shows and kind of added an extra one because one of my streamers is being a pain and wanting an upgrade for immediate access to new seasons. I'm not okay with paying more so I'll play the waiting game.

Finished up the fifth season of My Life Is Murder and I'm very happy with where all the characters are. I love Madison's growth and Will choosing to stay on the straight and narrow makes me smile. This group would be so much fun to hang out with.

Caught another behind the scenes bit with Foyle's War. I'm always interested in how they pull things together and this one had several segments about makeup, wardrobe, and sets. I think I have one more before the next season.

Watched another episode of Poirot and finished up the sixth season. From what I remember, there's a five-year break before the beginning of the next one. Stay tuned to see if I'm right.

Started the new season of Death in Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed the opening salvo. The commissioner is back. Darlene is gone and will be missed. A new sergeant is in the mix. Seb is still Seb. And DI Wilson has a clue that his half-brother is a terrible, no-good, awful person. Catherine and Naomi are the glue that holds everything together.

Elementary had another terrific episode. I really like where all the characters are right now, and I love Sherlock kind of going out on a limb for Shinwell. Looking forward to seeing more on this plot point.

Started a new to me series with Young Justice. I've seen a few of the episodes, but I've never seen how the series kicked off. So far, I'm enjoying the ride.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks and quite enjoyed the adventure. Always lovely to see special guest stars and this week we had George Takei. Such a fun episode.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Keeping Him Real, a novella that pulls a couple together while one tries to help the other with work-life balance.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hugo Mitchell is the glue that holds his family's business together and they rely on him for more than they should. Gayle Dawson is a long-time friend who works with Hugo. She becomes the match that sparks a transformation within Hugo where he finally stops taking up all the slack and starts to enjoy life … as long as she's in it.

And a snippety peek…

Hugo finished putting the inventory away and contemplated Gayle's words. "She doesn't have my situation wrong." When Wayne and Vince dodged helping out, not only did they suck as brothers, they also showed their asses to everyone else.

Especially when both knew the bar would have a busy weekend.

Hugo snorted. "They sure love the ready cash to buy a new go-pro or a new software subscription for their web hijinks." But actually doing the work for said cash?

Not so much.

And Hugo could be a hard ass and make them help. Like Gayle said … they were grown-ass men and should start acting like it.

But … the last time Hugo put a foot down and made them toe the line, his brothers decided to make Hugo the subject of one of their segments. "And I didn't enjoy being in the limelight." Not when they could edit the footage however they wanted to and he came off looking like a complete moron.

It took weeks for the teasing to die down not only from the family but the patrons of the bar too. Thankfully, he had people he could count on. Ramona for one. She'd been with the bar for a long time, coming to work for his parents not long after they opened. She didn't let Wayne and Vince get away with not pitching in. Hence the reason they liked to hang out in the bar after breakfast then flee before she came in.

Wayne and Vince might be able to make a living with their platforms, but they couldn't support themselves completely. Unlike Hugo's other siblings, Aimee and Dante. They always popped in on their days off, and if they didn't do a full shift, they at least eased the burden for a few hours. Hugo appreciated the effort. Maybe helped that they were the oldest and decided quickly they wanted to keep a hand in the family business but also wanted their own careers.

And then … well … Hugo had Gayle. A breath of fresh air he always looked forward to having. He pretty much fell for her the first week she started working.

But he never said anything. "After all, she counts on me for a paycheck." Kinda inappropriate to seek something more, even if she flirted up a storm with him.

Which led to the next reason he didn't pursue anything else. He literally didn't have the time to put into a relationship. And she deserved someone who could go all out for her.

Dragging the kegs closer to the steps, he huffed out a breath. "Who knows? Maybe someday." He could dream, right?

I'm in the very beginning stages of this one, but it's going to be fun to see where the story goes.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Jack in the Box

Whew. Long week filled with so many things going on. And, of course, weird weather. I also didn't sleep well at all … probably due to the upcoming time change. It's like my body and brain knows it's coming and tries to resist accordingly.

Ohio started the week with cold weather then warmed up to seventy degrees yesterday. We also had a lot of rain. Which gave us a lot of foggy mornings. Bleh.

Work projects are less backlogged than they were. I mostly finished up the developmental edit on the memoir, which feels good. A few small things left then it's off for a copy edit and proofread. This is such a great book! Also finished up a copy edit and started a new one. The new one is first person, which I'm not fond of. I also started a new proofreading project on a nonfiction book. I love being busy!

Had a decent viewing week. Made it through my usual slate of shows and did a little binge watching when I needed some background noise.

Started off with another episode of My Life Is Murder. Very fun to see a familiar face in the guest stars. One of the things I love about watching shows from New Zealand and Australia are the amazing actors who pop up frequently.

Ended up watching another Foyle's War episode instead of finishing the previous one. It's one of my favorites and finished out the season. Looking forward to starting a new season this week.

Caught another episode of Return to Paradise and enjoyed watching it. Mackenzie trying to find her footing while avoiding the landmines of being back home is kind of compelling. And the supporting cast is fun.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I like it when it's actually kind of easy to figure out the who then watch how the what and why happen.

Elementary had another great episode. I'm very interested in Joan's relationship with her former patient. My hope is he ends up not falling back into old and bad habits. The case also ended up being interesting with a twist or two I didn't expect.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I only partially remember. It's a two-part episode and I'm looking forward to the resolution.

Star Trek: Lower Decks had a great episode. It's always fun to see rivalries pop up and to learn interesting things about the other characters. The relaxation planet thread of the story ended up being very entertaining.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Jack in the Box, a novella about a couple trying to find their work-life balance.

Here's the miniblurb:

Carter Gill can't say no when someone needs a favor, which isn't a bad thing until he overextends, doesn't seem to have enough hours in the day, and his relationship with April Walters suffers. April understands and supports Carter's need to help people, but she has to convince him to slow down a little if only to avoid cracking under the pressure.

And a snippety peek…

Carter just finished wiping down the bar and drew April into his arms. "Ready to head up to the loft?" His lips grazed her forehead.

She tilted her chin. "Definitely. Been a long day for you." Her tone didn't chastise, which he appreciated.

He leaned in and meshed their lips together. A lick of guilt pinched in his gut. He owed her for skipping out on their trail walk earlier.

His hand cupped her face and his thumb stroked over her skin.

A yelp sounded behind them. "Whoops!" Dinah, one of his second-floor tenants poked her head into the bar. "Bad timing. I'll come back later…" She winced.

Carter sighed but angled his head around. "What's up? Has to be important if you're down here at three a.m." Hopefully, nothing major.

Dinah grimaced. "Not sure you'll think so, but Drew dropped his action figure in the sink, and it slid down into the disposal. He's freaking out because he thinks the disposal will eat his toy." She ran a hand through her hair. "And he won't go to sleep because he's worried about it." Her exhausted tone indicated she'd lost the battle with her five-year-old.

Carter glanced at April. Not the way he'd planned to make things up to her.

She gave a small shrug. "Up to you. I don't blame Drew for being scared. The garbage disposal sounds like a hungry monster." She pushed away from him and gathered the cleaning gear then left the bar without a backward glance.

Carter frowned. Another interruption and another moment lost. How much longer until they had time for them? Or … more like he had time for them.

Dinah made a squeaking sound. "Damn. I'm sorry, Carter. Should've let Drew sleep by the sink like he wanted to instead of bugging you with this right now."

Carter shook his head. "No, it's okay. Part of being the owner is taking care of my tenants. You guys are great, and Drew is such a good kid." He flipped the lights off and met Dinah at the steps. "Let me grab my tools, and I'll be right up."

She gave a nod and headed up the stairs. Carter ducked into the kitchen, hoping to find April but only the light over the sink greeted him. His shoulders slumped, and he entered the office to grab his toolbox then went up to the second floor, gently knocking on Dinah's door. She let him in and he barely crossed the threshold before Drew wrapped his arms around Carter's legs.

The little guy had a tear-streaked face but gave Carter a trembly smile. "My mom says you're gonna get my guy from the sink. Are you?"

Carter ruffled Drew's hair. "Gonna do my best, little man. Wanna come help?" If the kid wouldn't go to bed without knowing the fate of his toy, he might as well watch Carter work. Drew looked toward his mom. "Can I? Please."

Dinah tilted her head toward the kitchen. "Go ahead. But as soon as the toy is out, your butt is going straight to bed."

Drew's head bobbed up and down. "Okay, Mom. I promise." He led the way.

Carter followed and set his toolbox on the floor then pulled a flashlight from one of the side compartments. Holding the flaps open, he sent a stream of light down the drain. An arm reached upward, which meant this might be an easy grab and go situation. He hoped. Dinah sat at the table and pulled Drew onto her lap. Carter opened his kit and grabbed some needle nose pliers.

Those didn't work, but Carter got creative and used some putty, rolling it into a ball and sticking that on the end of the pliers. After two tries, he got the action figure out of the disposal. Rinsing it off, he turned to find both mom and son asleep at the table.

With a gentle nudge, he woke Dinah. "Got the guy. Better get your little man to bed."

She yawned and stood up with Drew in her arms. "Thanks, Carter. I'm so sorry I interrupted you and April."

Carter lifted a shoulder. "No problem. Glad we averted a tragedy here." He handed the figure to Dinah then gathered up his toolkit and headed out.

He made the climb up to the loft and let himself inside. April had left the small lights running along the top of the walls on, and he turned them off on his way to the bedroom. He'd hoped she'd be waiting up for him.

No such luck. He found her curled up on her side dead to the world. Shedding his clothes, he spooned up behind her and pressed a kiss to her temple. Tomorrow, he'd get up and make breakfast with all of her favorites.

The least he could do…

Carter needs to learn he can't be all things to all people. April might end up helping him figure it out.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Zanzibar Blues

We had a bit of a thaw with temperatures just a bit above freezing. It's not going to last long but nice to step outside and not have it hurt to breathe.

Work ended up being very busy this week. And I made some progress on my side project. Hoping to launch by February, but that's not a given. I am crossing my fingers though.

Didn't quite make it all the way through my usual shows. I did add a new one, which I think I'm going to enjoy.

The new show I added is One Lane Bridge and I watched the first episode. There's a bit of a paranormal twist to this that I'm very interested in.

Caught another episode of London Kills. It was nice to get some Billie backstory. Also nice to see movement on the larger case. Looking forward to a new episode this week.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. New sergeant is fun, and the mystery ended up being interesting. Looking forward to more of season eleven.

Watched another episode of Beyond Paradise. I'm enjoying my favorite actor's character in this. Loved the mystery and piecing everything together.

I started an episode of Elementary and I'm enjoying it. I'm not quite sure what's going on with Watson's guy, but I have a sneaking suspicion there's more to him than we're seeing and not in a good way.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Zanzibar Blues, a novella that brings a couple together during a fraught time.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Higg Astley is brought in for a clean-up job, maintaining order over a raucous and rowdy crowd, in a roadside tavern, his first goal is to keep the house singer, Liberty Vans, from partaking in the nightly brawl. No easy feat when Liberty is the surrogate daughter of the man who owns the bar.

And a snippety peek…

Higg listened and ate a piece of mouthwatering apple pie while Marko explained his situation. He already didn't like Henry Caver. Guys with too much power always let it go to their heads.

Marko poked his fork around his piece of pecan. "The thing is, I've got a good place in a sweet spot close to the interstate and tucked back on a copse of land where two major highways intersect." He took a long drink of his coffee. "For the last two years, I've had a great house band with a kick-ass singer that draws people in from several counties." He finally cut off a bite of the pie and forked it into his mouth.

Higg bobbed his head. "And this trouble with Caver isn't good for business." He tilted his head. "I have to ask … would it be easier to find a new location?" He had to see how hard Marko would be willing to fight.

Marko shook his head. "I own the land and the building outright. I'm not leaving." He paused a moment. "And I'm not selling."

Higg grunted. "Okay. Give me the rest of it. What are you looking for."

Marko leaned forward. "I don't trust anyone local, but I have six employees aside from the house band." He paused. "If you have some folks you could bring in—at least until things are settled with Caver—I'd be obliged."

Higg leaned back. "Haven't said I'd take the job." But he liked Marko and didn't like bullying bigwigs that thought they could squash others.

Marko point-blank asked. "Will you?"

Higg folded his arms over his chest. "It'll cost you. Ten percent of your daily take. The men I bring in or that we keep on get paid by the hour at twice the normal rate and"—this could be the kicker—"you pay all medical expenses."

Marko gave a nod. "Deal."

Higg held up a hand. "I'm not done. What I say goes. If you contradict anything, I'm gone and you're on your own. That needs to be clear from day one." As a military man, Rivera would understand the chain of command.

Marko nodded again. "Done." He grinned and scooped another piece of pie into his mouth.

Higg didn't doubt Rivera would make sure everyone got the message.

Higg got a little buzz of adrenaline about starting a new job. "I'll start the day after tomorrow. That'll give me time to settle up my rent and pack, make a few calls, then head north and find a place to stay." His brain went into organization mode.

Marko pushed his plate away and rose. "I know several folks who have places for rent." He slid an index card across the table. "I hoped you'd take the job, so I wrote their contact information down." His lips twitched.

Higg chuckled. "Thanks. Saves time." Higg picked up the card and tucked it into his pocket.

Marko stuck out his hand. "I'll see you the day after tomorrow." He inclined his chin and headed for the exit.

Higg grabbed his phone. His finger hovered over the contact icon. He'd really like to call his former CO, Wade Dalton, but decided to hold off.

Instead, he scrolled to David Chase and swiped. He'd make another half dozen calls after this one. Dave answered on the second ring.

Higg didn't waste time. "I've got a job if you're available."

I'm having a lot of fun with this story. It has some Roadhouse vibes that I'm really leaning into.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Under the Impression

Another crazy week with record low temperatures for August. I'm talking wear a jacket because it dipped into the low forties at night. This week we're supposed to be back up in the mid to high nineties. Weather is wild.

Seriously jammed with work projects right now and I love being busy. I'm at the point where I'd love to have another four hours added to each day, so I don't feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. Also had to figure out a few things for my daughter's grad school, like how to drop a class and add a new one before the semester starts, which is Monday. As mentioned last week, she was in Ontario Canada for a theater festival and didn't have a lot of downtime. The good news is, she's set to go. Yay!

I didn't have a lot of viewing time this week. The verdict on my car is still out and that's been hovering in the back of my mind and distracting me. My work projects also need my full attention.

I did get to watch an episode of Elementary and ended up enjoying it. I skipped the one that I struggled to get through. I'd rather have forward momentum than get stuck and drop the show.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Under the Impression, a novella where the characters come together once they get past some false impressions.

Here's the miniblurb:

Gris Ravenswood, owner of the hot night spot, Impressions, has it bad for his lead bartender, Kari Dans, but she's in a casual relationship with a semi-pro golfer. When Kari imbibes too much at an after party and puts the moves on Gris, he thinks he's finally got a chance … until Kari receives a text and runs off to be with the guy who always leaves her behind.

And a snippety peek…

Kari wiped the bar down on Friday night. "Man, busy week." The steady growth thrilled her.

Gris had turned Impressions into a happening spot. The Thursday night crowd almost matched Friday's. He'd taken her suggestion to add a dart league and it turned out to be a hit with the customers. And brought patrons in on a night that used to be hit or miss.

Her lips curved. "Gris should join one of the teams." The man had skill.

She'd arrived just after he had the boards installed and he'd taken a trial run. He had excellent form … not that she actually knew much about what amounted to good form. What she did know? His biceps were amazing. And his forearms. And, quite frankly, his ass.

She blinked and shook her head. "Geez, Kari, chill." Okay, she found the man very attractive.

But she tried to steer clear of workplace romances. Besides, she had a guy she enjoyed a lot. Even if Gris seemed to find Bernie lacking. The crack about what her boyfriend did on the weekends came from nowhere. Then again, she really didn't know what Bernie did Friday through Sunday. She assumed he played practice rounds to prep for his tournaments during the week. Didn't matter. She didn't mind only seeing him two or sometimes three days a week.

She liked being casually committed and staying monogamous. She enjoyed doing her own thing without having to clear her schedule to accommodate anyone else. Not that she wouldn't if she ever fell hard for the right guy. Maybe that would be Bernie, but they definitely weren't there yet.

She rinsed the cleaning cloth and hung it on the rack to dry. Grabbing her inventory checklist, she scanned through the items and marked what the bartender would need for the opening shift tomorrow. After removing the list, she thought about taking it into Gris's office—the light showing through the crack of the door showed he hadn't left yet.

She shook her head. "Nah. I'll leave it on the bar in case he had one of the bar backs handle the restocking." Too many visual images of her boss were still running through her mind.

Putting her jacket on, she headed for the rear exit and her car. Two more days and she'd Bernie again…

She couldn't wait.

Right?

I like having a heroine who thinks she has it all together but learns the hard way she doesn't.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

 

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Happy Valentine week to those who celebrate. I'll throw in Galentine, friends with benefits, and all things hearts and flowers, too. February is a short but sometimes brutal month. Celebrate whatever you can.

Very busy work week with some great projects. Ran into a few glitchy things in a manuscript and that slowed my flow down. I actually enjoy that sometimes. Makes me stop and think about the story and how to suggest better changes.

Semi-decent viewing week. Made it through my shortened list of shows but had no time for my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica.

Started off with the season three opener of My Life Is Murder. Still enjoying this show so much. I think three is the last season so I'm going to savor it.

Started a new two-part Agatha Raisin. Very much enjoyed the antics of Wilkes and I'm a little bummed that Bill and Toni aren't really connecting. Also kind of wish Roy had more to do.

Watched the season twenty-five opening episode of Silent Witness. Kind of cool to see Sam Ryan again. I think this season is focused around one main case and I'm kind of excited to see where it goes. Also kind of great to see Nikki and Jack maybe get their bookmark on the same page. We'll see how that goes.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Very interesting premise for this one. Enjoyed the unraveling of the case to find out who did it.

Enjoyed another episode of Elementary. I like Joan's resistance to staying with Sherlock but it would be more interesting if she actually said why she didn't want to stick around.

Watched another episode of The Batman. I'd forgotten about this one and kind of loved how Barbara figured out who Batman is then decided she had it all wrong. Fun episode.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. I have vague memories of the two vignettes and rather enjoyed both.

Got another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson in and pretty much loved it. The story is moving along and I'm excited to get more details to her past.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that pulls two people together then reveals a connection to the past.

Here's the miniblurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Drew Langerford sat at the piano, his fingers picking out the tune of a popular song. He fumbled the keys and heaved a sigh.

"You know it doesn't have to be perfect, right?" His mentor took over, playing through the mistake and adding an extra riff to smooth out the chords.

Drew watched carefully. "So, when I screw up, just cover and go on like nothing happened?" Why did that always seem easier said than done?

Monroe transitioned into an ominous death march on the keyboard. "Absolutely. Playing should be fun. And being able to improvise on the fly will keep you in demand as a musician." He stopped playing and leaned in closer to Drew. "And contrary to what your dear old mom thinks, perfection is overrated."

Drew snorted. "You'll never convince her of that." He'd tried and failed. And now he had a damn competition over the weekend. He slumped forward. "I hate competing. It sucks."

Monroe shook his head. "No, competitions are a great training ground. You learn how to play under pressure and how to focus on the music." He shot Drew a sideways glance. "What do you think auditions are? They're informal competitions."

Drew cocked his head to one side. "Huh. Hadn't thought of that." His fingers flexed and he dove into a classical song on the list. "So, the higher I score, the better I'll do when I start auditioning for actual work?" He nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense." He turned the classical piece into a lively riff. "What do you think about a degree in music? Mom wants me to skip college and compete. But I want to explore the whole field of music." He stopped playing and turned toward Monroe.

Monroe took a moment before answering. "You've got enough talent to make a living without a degree. But having the education, understanding the theory behind the notes … gives you options you probably haven't even thought of yet." He slid off the stool and moved to sit in the armchair next to the piano. "What do you want to do? Competing gives you an opportunity to tour the world, but playing for a band does the same thing. It all depends on what your vision of the future holds."

Drew sighed. "That's part of the problem. Mom is determined to turn me into some kind of prodigy, but I really just want to play anything but classical music for the rest of my life." He frowned. "She won't even listen when I start to deviate from the songs on the competition lists."

Monroe made a commiserating sound. "That's rough. Having an audience that appreciates the effort is a big part of being comfortable playing." His lips twisted in a sad smile. "Before I became in demand, my little girl used to sit by my side and listen to everything I played. We could occupy the entire day, happy to share the music."

Drew hid his surprise. He had no idea Monroe had a kid. Questions buzzed on the edge of his tongue, but he didn't pry. Deep sadness filled his mentor's tone, and Drew understood how painful dragging up the past could be.

His mom reminded him almost daily that they only had each other since Drew's dad died in an accident at work.

Drew's curiosity got the better of him. "What were your daughter's favorite songs?"

Monroe huffed out a breath. "Man, she didn't have any. She loved everything. Blues, rock and roll, Irish jigs. It didn't matter what I played. She loved any kind of music."

Drew wondered what having an audience of one that loved everything would be like?

Too bad he'd probably never find out … especially if his mom refused to let him try anything new.

I love writing Drew and his dilemma. He's on the cusp of making a big decision and his mom won't be happy with it at all.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Lose Control

Wow. August snuck up on me. I need someone to slow time down a little so I can catch up. I did have a great week with work projects and I'm hoping that trend continues through the end of the year.

Had an okay week with watching television. I'm going through a weird phase where I'm feeling kind of blah about everything I'm viewing. Not because the shows aren't interesting … more because my attention is very scattered and it's hard to focus right now.

I started and ended the week with episodes of Strangest Things. Seriously, there are some truly weird and bizarre items featured on this show. People are strange sometimes.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. Both featured fun bits with Grandpa Lou (Lew? I honestly can't remember how it's spelled.) They also had an in loving memory of David Doyle, the actor who voiced the character. Nice reminder of his work.

Watched another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. We're an episode away from the end of season two and I'm not sure if I'm interested in whatever the creepy lady has in store for Jean or not. I'm on the fence about whether I hope there's a resolution to wrap this part up or if it should continue through season three, if there is one.

Enjoyed another episode of Cannes Confidential. This show is so much fun even with the dark theme swirling in the background. I really hope there's another season of this.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. Very interesting premise. I'm not completely sure I have this one figured out, but I think I do.

Caught another Death in Paradise, which finished out the first season. Looking forward to starting season two this week.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Black Market." I have so much love for this episode even though it has a lot of flaws. Getting action-hero Lee is kind of worth having some thrown-in plot devices.

Watched another Fantasy Island episode and, again, I'm cautiously optimistic with how they're handling the personal lives of the characters. Also really enjoyed the fantasy of the three women. Such a great episode!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Lose Control, a sexy short where stress relief is on the menu.

Here's the miniblurb:

As a bar owner, Colin Ford stays calm and in control even though his work can be hectic and demanding. To relieve Colin's stress, Essie Hines loves nothing more than to make him lose control when they're alone together.

And a snippety peek…

Essie Hines clocked in and went in search of her boyfriend and boss, Colin Ford. "Wonder what he's got going on today." She'd had a midweek break and returned just in time for work and the Friday night rush.

She found Colin in the basement, restocking the huge walk-in cooler. A job he shouldn't be doing. He had barbacks for that.

Not that Essie would complain. Colin doing grunt work never failed to appeal to her baser instincts. For a tall, lanky bar owner, he made moving cases of alcohol look somehow graceful.

Propping her shoulder on the wall, she tilted her head to one side. "Where's Theo? Shouldn't he be doing the unload?" Her lips curved when Colin gave a startled jerk.

He set the case of bottles on the floor and faced her. "Theo called off. Again." He slowly made his way across the floor and grasped her hips when he got close. "Which means I'm running the stock tonight." His head dipped and his lips caught hers.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and sank into the welcome embrace. The quick trip home accomplished what it needed to, namely closing out her bank accounts since she no longer lived in her small hometown. She also spent some quality time with her mom and brother. The latter would be leaving for a stint in the navy soon.

Colin eased away. "Everything go okay at home?" He arched his brows. "You sure Frankie wants to join the navy? I could use another Hines around here." He nodded toward the pile of crates.

Essie laughed. "My brother wants to see the world and not have to pay to do it." She actually admired her sibling for going after what he wanted.

Colin huffed out a breath. "In that case…" He grasped her shoulders and nudged her toward the delivery. "Why don't you help me out for about twenty minutes?"

She gave a dramatic sigh. "Fine. But only because I get to ogle you while you work." Not a hardship.

Colin snorted. "And because you'll make more tips if you can actually have stock to serve." He hefted a heavy case of whiskey bottles onto a shelf.

Essie barked out a laugh. "Okay, that too." She picked up two cases of bottled beer and stocked them in the cooler.

She worked side by side with Colin for the next fifteen minutes. Half the delivery found its way to the shelves and walk-in refrigerator. She paused, her head tilting to one side again. How many times had Theo called off this month?

Straightening, she asked the question. "Colin, what's up with Theo? Isn't this like the third or fourth time he's missed a shift this month?"

Colin grunted. "Yeah. Fourth. Don't know what's up, but if he doesn't have a good reason, he's done. I can't keep pulling double duty. Not when we're as busy as we've been recently." He shook his head.

Essie wanted to smack Theo. "Got anyone in mind to take his place?" She didn't really have to ask … Colin planned ahead.

He shrugged. "I have a candidate in mind. Haven't made the call yet." He propped two more kegs in the cooler.

Essie gave a nod. "Until you do … you're working late. Not exactly healthy, you know." She'd have to make sure Colin got some rest before opening tomorrow.

But … he also needed to relieve his stress. She could definitely help with that … after closing.

I'm just getting started on this one and I'm having fun with Essie and Colin. They're a good complement to each other.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Jack in the Box

An interesting start to April with howling winds and a kaleidoscope of weather. We got a mix of pretty much everything. Rain, flurries, high wind advisory, and temperatures all over the place.

Solid week of editing. I have three projects that are moving forward at a great pace. I'm looking forward to getting these completed.

Had a decent week of television. I'm not quite back to my full rotation but I've been writing a lot more and that's not a bad thing.

Caught another episode of Wednesday. I love the lore and world building in this show. Didn't know if I'd like having Wednesday at the center of a prophecy but I like where things are going at the moment.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. Always fun to catch a couple that don't always make the rotation of encores.

Enjoyed the finale of Midsomer Murders. I kind of miss when they did six to eight episodes per season, but the four we have this time around are all excellent.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Six Degress of Separation." This episode has so many great one-liners with two coming from Doc Cottle. Seriously, it's hard to top the writing and acting in this show.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice and it ended up being a bit of a doozy. I think I have five episodes left of this series and a lot is supposed to happen. Not sure I'm quite ready for it.

Watched another episode of Classic Who. I'm nearing the end of this season and I'm not sure where things are going with this arc, but I'm excited to find out.

Started the second half of Silent Witness. Nikki just can't catch a break. I'm quite interested in finding out where the twists are leading. Update next week on this.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

Carter Gill can't say no when someone needs a favor, which isn't a bad thing until he overextends, doesn't seem to have enough hours in the day, and his relationship with April Walters suffers. April understands and supports Carter's need to help people, but she has to convince him to slow down a little if only to avoid cracking under the pressure.

And a snippety peek…

April Walters woke up to an empty bed. "Wonder what Carter got into so early." Then again, eleven a.m. didn't really qualify as the crack of dawn.

But for bar owner Carter Gill, anything before then counted as ugly o'clock.

April grabbed a quick shower and padded down to the second floor from the third-story loft she shared with Carter. Walking past the three apartments, she jogged down to the bar level and entered from the rear into the kitchen. Mavis Sample, the day-shift manager unpacked produce boxes.

April waved. "Hey, Mave. Know where Carter is?" They had an appointment at a nearby hiking trail for some downtime.

Mavis rolled her eyes and nodded toward the delivery door. "Check outside. Parker pulled Carter out to help with something in the truck." She went back to sorting salad bags and vegetables for the lunch crowd, which had already started arriving.

April frowned and headed out to the alley along the side of the building. Sure enough, Carter had a dolly with boxes stacked on it. Parker Mills, the delivery driver sat on stacked boxes and had his foot propped up on a crate, his ankle surrounded by a brace.

She paused beside Parker. "Hey, what happened to you?"

Parker grimaced. "Got tangled up with a set of stairs and they won." He pointed to the splint. "Got a severe sprain and have to wear this brace for who knows how long." His gaze went to Carter. "Gilly's gonna help me repack the truck so it's easier to maneuver around in." He sent a thumbs-up in Carter's direction.

April's lips quirked at Parker's nickname for Carter. They'd been friends since grade school and added the 'Y' to their rhyming last names sometime in first grade. April thanked the universe she didn't arrive in their orbit until high school. Walty didn't appeal on any level.

She squeezed Parker's shoulder. "Want some ice or anything?"

Parker shook his head. "Nah. I'm good. Gilly's gonna come along on the route today, do the driving so I can elevate the foot. With two unloading, I'll probably be done earlier than usual and can ice it down when I get home."

April met Carter's gaze. "You're going along?" Meaning they wouldn't be heading to the hiking trail.

Carter's eyes filled with regret. "Yeah. Think it would be better for Millsy. He almost backed into the dumpster because the brace makes driving difficult." He propped his arm on the handle of the dolly. "Shit. We were supposed to hit Feather Run today, weren't we?" He swiped his free hand over his face. "Can we reschedule for next week?"

April shrugged. "You can. I'm heading up there, at least for a while. I need the green space." Especially since he'd forgotten they had plans … again.

Carter pulled his lower lip between his teeth. "You don't mind? I'll make the time next week. I promise." He grabbed another crate and loaded it.

April didn't answer right away. Yes, she minded. But not enough to have a bitch fit over another canceled date.

She rolled a shoulder. "Can't leave a friend hanging." Even if it meant not spending time with the significant other. "I guess I'll see you for the late shift." She turned to head back into the bar.

Carter caught up with her, grasping her shoulder. "Hey, thanks for understanding." He tilted her chin and meshed his lips with hers. "I will make it up to you."

April's lips curved. "Yeah, okay." She glanced toward Parker. "Be careful out there. Don't do any more damage to the foot." With a wave, she went back inside.

Mavis paused chopping vegetables and arched her brows. "Let me guess. Parker roped Carter into helping on the route today." She lifted the knife. "And you two had plans, not that Mr. Help Everyone probably remembered." Her eyebrows arched, daring April to deny the statement.

April waved a hand. "Called it right on both counts. But I'm heading out anyway. Weather's too nice to miss the opportunity." She started for the stairs.

Mavis tsked. "That boy is gonna regret not taking some time for himself…"

April's lips quirked. At forty-three, Mavis had a dozen years on Carter. Then again, she kind of mothered everyone, even the old guys that stopped in for lunch every Monday and Wednesday after their morning golf league.

April grabbed her trail shoes and headed out the back to the private lot. "I'll definitely have more fun than Carter today." She really needed to have a conversation about work-life balance with him…

This one is only in the beginning stages but I have some fun stuff planned for April and Carter.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin