Sunday Snippet: Make Me

August is starting out with a weird vibe. The temperatures have been very mild and I'm wondering how much we'll pay for that in the fall months or the winter. Thrilled for the kiddos going back to school in a week or so because they might not roast during the first few weeks like they normally do.

I'm still trying to get some things that I've been putting off in the checked boxes. I did manage to fix the leak in my bathtub, which was way overdue. Should help with my water bill. I got the part needed to fix the washing machine and that's a project for this week. I hope.

Work projects are going somewhat smoothly. I did have the book that won't go away come back one more time. The developmental edit I've got on the back burner is heating up again. I'm also working on a coaching project that's part pull the manuscript together and part help the author get it ready for a copy edit. Had a solid week with copy edits and proofreads also.

Had another good week for viewing. Nothing extra but made it through my usual slate of shows. Also did another Death in Paradise binge of older seasons.

Started with another episode of Marple. I kind of like the actress playing Jane. She's kind of snappy and a little punchy (not physically) with her dialog and I love it.

Also watched another episode of Ireland Coast and Country. I'm really enjoying this series. I now want to make vermouth. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise and finished up season fifteen. I ended up kind of liking the niece. Looking forward to the holiday episode if there is one this year. And also kind of excited about the next season. I really love this show.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. The mystery ended up being kind of twisty and I loved seeing Poirot's author friend again. She's a hoot.

Elementary ended up being really good. The whole thing with the woman who leads meetings and Sherlock kind of came from left field, but I'll hold out to see what happens with that. I'll be disappointed if she ends up being Moriarty. The whole take down of the gang is really interesting. Can't wait to see what happens there.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and pieces are falling in place. Nearing the end of the first season and I'm interested in seeing what happens to the team.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and love how the season-arc mystery is coming together. Also enjoyed the Cerritos team pulling off a ruse to get what they needed. And the name drops from other shows always make me happy.

That wraps up the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Make Me, a novella that brings a couple together under fraught circumstance.

Here's the miniblurb:

Adri Leonard and Moses Nichols train and manage recruits for a private security firm. When Adri loses a team in the field, she refuses to train a new group. Moses has to get her back on board because they need a support team ASAP for a mission-critical operation and he's not above using their long-standing personal connection to make it happen.

And snippety peek…

Her lips still tingled from Moses's kiss. But … weirdly … the lip-lock jumpstarted her brain. She didn't know how, but his mouth on hers gave her clarity when nothing else would. She knew the importance of getting support teams in the field. Knew Victor counted on her to get them up and running. He'd get some additional people up to speed to help train, but right now, she had the responsibility. And while no one blamed her for losing a full team, she didn't trust herself to not miss anything.

She glanced up to meet Moses's gaze. "We don't have to do this." She appreciated his willingness to sift through the recruits, but she had a bigger favor to ask.

Moses frowned. "Adri, we do. We can't start with anyone green. This class will put give four teams the support they need, and we—"

She cut in. "No. That's not what I mean. Bring them all back." She inhaled deeply then exhaled slowly. "I'll get them up to speed." She met his gaze again. "But … I need you with me." She paused, not quite sure how to drop the big request in his lap.

Moses relaxed. "Of course, I'm with you. All the way." He started to close the folders.

Adri shook her head. "Not what I mean, Moses. I mean with me … as in sitting in on the classes and training sessions." A huge time suck when he already had a full load of work.

Moses blinked and leaned back in his chair. "Okay. Talk to me. How will I be helping you?" He dragged a notebook out from under the folders and snagged his pen.

Adri's foot bounced on the floor, nervous energy zinging through her. "I need you to be eyes and ears and make sure I stay on track. I can't miss anything important." She pushed away from the table and paced back and forth.

Moses leaned back again. "You do realize you've been—"

She hand-waved him. "Yeah, yeah. I've been training people for dangerous situations for a long time." She paused and met his gaze. "But I seriously don't trust myself right now … which could put more people in the line of fire." She sat back down, her shoulders slumping forward.

Moses cocked his head. "Okay. I'll do this. But you have to know that I trust you." He tapped his notebook. "Vic trusts you. You're the only one who doesn't trust yourself right now." His voice lowered. "But I'll help you. Any way I can." His hand covered hers.

Adri pressed her lips together. "It's a big ask. You're already overloaded with monitoring the other teams that don't have support." She refused to let her eyes well up, even if Moses had seen her cry more than once.

Moses's lips curved. "I'll talk to Vic. Maybe he can send some help from the private venue side. We've got guys with military training over there."

Adri huffed out a breath. "Maybe I should transfer out to that side. Would be so much easier to deal with." Very rarely did anyone get stuck in a potential hot zone.

Moses snorted. "Not really … because the corporate side requires a lot of schmoozing and you hate playing nice with irritating people." He squeezed her fingers.

Adri laughed, feeling much lighter if Moses could make jokes. "Sometimes I think you might know me a little too well." And he knew her even better after that steamy kiss.

Which she had no idea what to do with … except hope there might be more.

I'm kind of excited to see how this one comes together. Adri has some issues to get through, and Moses is just the guy to help her.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Lucky Man

Whew. What a week. Ohio got a lot of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and it was kind of eerie seeing the hazy gray skies for most of the week. Good time to stay inside due to the high danger air quality alerts.

The weather at least stayed just under sweltering. My garage cleanout went much smoother since the temperatures weren't as high as they have been. Going out very late at night and only staying there for under an hour also helped.

Work projects moved along. I finished up a few odds and ends and started a new copy edit. I also touched base on a few back burner projects. I got to review some back cover copy and book blurbs, which is always a fun change of pace.

Had an okay viewing week. Didn't quite make it through all of my usual shows but made a decent stab at them. Between the cleanup and a lengthy run with my own writing, my watching took a back seat.

Started with another bonus episode of Foyle's War behind the scenes. An interview about the details of the final episode with the writer and the show historian. Very much enjoyed it.

Also finished up Tales of Irish Castles. Really liked this series and its deep dive into the seriously large number of castles in Ireland.

Caught an episode of Silent Witness and made it about halfway through. I'm going to take a break, I think. This season is kind of dark, which I enjoy most of the time but, in all honesty, I kind of need something lighter right now.

Watched another episode of Poirot and really enjoyed it. It's always fun when familiar people pop up in these movies. And this one was very twisty, which I enjoy.

Elementary ended up being really good. I really like getting backstory and even though Marcus's is full of strife and pain, it tied into the current happenings really well. Also loved Sherlock being there for Marcus at the end.

That's all for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Lucky Man, a novella that brings a couple together after a death of a loved one.

Here's the miniblurb:

Brent Allison thinks his best friend Peter is a lucky man. He's got a great life and a beautiful woman, Sonja Waters. When Pete and Sonja break up, Brent feels bad for his friend but less guilty for being attracted to Sonja. But when Peter dies in an accident, Brent and Sonja have to navigate their new situation and try not to let Pete's ghost get in the way.

And a snippety peek…

Sonja came home to an empty apartment. "Wow … can't say I'll miss that gaming chair in the middle of the living room." A little sad, she tossed her keys on the counter and picked up the note Pete left. Hey, Sonja, whatever's left can go to a donation center. Her lips curved when she read Brent's scribbled message. Or you can just burn it. He'd added a big smiley face with a hi next to it.

She laughed out loud. "Not a bad idea." She headed for the bedroom.

Maybe she'd get started on rearranging the closet. Or she could move the bed and dressers. Actually, she didn't want to do anything. Except maybe sit with her status as a single woman again. Not what she expected, but oddly not as devastating as she thought it would be.

She'd miss Brent. They had such a good time talking data analytics. Drove Pete bonkers when she and Brent got started on the topic. Her biggest regret of the breakup might be not having Brent's solid presence anymore.

She sat on the edge of the mattress. "Who gets custody of Brent?" Probably Pete, since they'd known each other forever. "Which really isn't fair, because he's part of my life, too." Dammit.

Her phone pinged with an incoming text from … Brent. "Time for a quick call for a data Q?"

She grinned and tapped the phone icon.

Brent answered on the second ring. "Hey, thanks for calling. Where are you?" He sounded like he was walking up steps.

Sonia leaned back on the bed. "I'm at the apartment. Where are you?"

He laughed. "I'm heading to a meeting at Quality Tech. It's on the tenth floor and I didn't feel like waiting for the elevator." He wanted a beat. "Kinda regretting that now."

Sonja chuckled. "What floor are you on? "She pictured him trudging up the steps with his backpack and probably an iced coffee.

Brent heaved a sigh. "Eighth floor. Two more to go."

She snorted. "Eh, you're almost there. Keep going." She figured she'd give him a few minutes to get to his destination before talking again.

Brent blurted, "Pete's an idiot. I told him that right to his face." The echo sound ended and Brent blew out a breath. "Whew. Made it." He paused a moment. "And sorry for bringing Pete up. Wanted you to know I think he's making a huge mistake."

Sonja shrugged even if Brent couldn't see her. "It's okay. I'm okay. And I'm glad you reached out." She didn't want him to feel like he got stuck in the middle.

Even if he sort of did.

Brent huffed out a breath. "Thought it might be awkward. Happy it's not." He went quiet for a moment. "I'd miss talking to you."

Sonja smiled." Same." She really liked Brent.

Is it weird to think that? That I'd miss him. Brent made her laugh and he totally understood her geek-speak as Pete called it. As much as she didn't like how things ended with Pete, she had to be grateful … at least a little. She wouldn't have met Brent without Pete.

Brent cut into her thoughts. "You might not feel that way after I ask this question."

Sonia laughed again. "Ask away." At least she'd salvaged this from the fallout of Pete.

She spent the next fifteen minutes talking weird data sets with Brent.

When they signed off, Brent posed another question. "Mind if I check in occasionally?"

Sonja didn't hesitate. "I'd like that. It's great to have a sounding board sometimes."

Brent made a tentative sound. "You know, I'd love to meet for something aside from geek speak. Would you have coffee with me?"

Sonja got a jolt of excitement. "Like a date?" She actually wouldn't mind.

Brent hedged. "Kind of? I mean, my best friend just treated you like shit so maybe a date is too much. But I'd like to … I don't know … see what happens."

Sonja bit her lip. "You know what? I'm kind of curious too. When are you back in town?" So many things were probably not cool with this idea, but she didn't care.

Brent would be a good field test to see if she could get back out there. And she really liked him as a friend who might become more. Brent named the date of his return and suggested meeting a few days after that.

When the call ended, she got up with a surge of energy. As much as it sucked to get dumped for someone else, she found she didn't mind not having Pete as much as she thought she would. And rearranging the closet seemed like a terrific idea now.

This one is almost finished and came together very quickly, which makes me so happy.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: A Kiss Is Just a Kiss

I'm looking forward to seeing the end of May. It hasn't been a bad month or anything. It's nice to feel like I'm starting with a clean slate.

We've had some rainy weather but it's keeping the temperatures mild, which I love. Really hoping the cooler weather sticks around for another week or two. I have some yard and garden work I want to do.

Work ended up being pretty okay. I still have the wordsmithing author making changes, but I think the project manager is putting a stop to that. Hopefully, we'll be able to get the proofread over the finish line. I'll be finishing up the science book proofread this week. And I have a copy edit that should finish sometime tonight or tomorrow. It's the twisty mystery thriller and it's definitely been a wild ride.

Not a bad week for viewing. I got through my usual list of shows but didn't end up adding any of my reserve ones.

Started out by finishing up the episode of Foyle's War. I have one episode left then some bonus material to watch.

Caught another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries and quite enjoyed it. Very interesting to see Mike move house and how the transition worked into the case.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness. Super happy to see Jack accepted as a professor. Also rather liked the resolution of the case.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. Always fun when he's kind of on his own. The case was very interesting also. I like it when he's solving old ones.

Elementary ended on an interesting note. I'm wondering if the mention of Sherlock's dad is going to come into play for the second half. Also fun to see Kitty again.

Watched an episode of Young Justice and I'm intrigued. The addition of Artemis could prove interesting. I'm leaning toward double agent.

Caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. Fun to see Boimler handle his first away mission. Also really fun to watch the other three try to outsmart their superior officers.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Kiss Is Just a Kiss, a novella that explores a friends-to-lovers vibe.

Here's the miniblurb:

A kiss is just a kiss … except when it’s not. Betsy Roarke shares a brief lip-lock with Wash Mulligan and can't stop thinking about it. He's got her all twisted up and turned sideways, and she aims to make him feel the same.

And a snippety peek…

Wash smirked. Esme likes to go fast, my ass. Betsy had the need for speed … so unlike the girl he left behind.

Old Betsy did everything with careful deliberation and planning. He had no idea what new Betsy did other than help his dad with the business. He kind of missed the perky ponytail that used to swing back and forth when she walked. The blonde waves tumbling around her shoulders suited the ten-year gap. She'd grown into a beautiful woman.

His physical reaction definitely didn't count as one of the differences between old and new Betsy. Calm down, dickhead. She's still too young for you. A decade passing didn't really make a difference.

Focused on the road, she said nothing while she maneuvered along the interstate. The quiet bothered him. She used to fill silence with nonstop chatter about whatever project she had going.

Then again, what did he want her to say?

That the kiss they shared turned her upside down like it did to him? Nope. He wouldn't go there.

But something didn't mesh between the girl he left and the woman beside him. She'd always been open and honest, displaying her feelings for all to see. This Betsy had shadowed layers.

There's something hidden here.

He wouldn't pry. Not his business unless she made it so. They passed the arena on the riverfront, one of the venues his dad provided security for.

He faced her way a little. "How's the old man?" Might as well test the waters.

Betsy lifted a shoulder. "Good. Busy right now getting ready for the annual picnic on the Fourth." She changed lanes.

Annual picnic? "When did he start that?" He'd missed a lot, apparently.

Betsy sent a quick glance his way. "About five years ago. Started as an anniversary celebration, you know, for twenty years, and everyone had so much fun, we've done it every year since."

Coming from anyone else, the gentle reminder he'd missed the last ten years of their lives would've kicked him between the teeth. But Betsy kept her tone matter-of-fact, more like playing catch-up.

Wash nodded. "So, he's not home?" Maybe a good thing.

Betsy lifted her chin. "Wasn't when I left." She frowned. "And he'll be surprised to see you." She sent a sheepish glance in his direction. "I've been checking his emails the last couple of days. Between getting ready for the various fireworks shows and the picnic, he's spread pretty thin."

Translation—he's been too busy to worry about meeting his son.

Wash shrugged off the instinctive anger. He'd come home to salvage what he could with his dad. Didn't mean he'd have an easy road ahead.

Betsy flashed a smile. "He's going to be glad to see you." She shifted lanes again, getting to close to their exit.

Wash quirked a brow. "You're sure about that?" He'd believe it when he witnessed it.

Betsy lost her smile. "Considering I've spent almost every day of the last decade with him? Yeah, I'm sure." She took the off-ramp for the road home.

And, okay, he deserved that small kick in the ass.

Wash bit back a sigh. "Yeah, well, I hope you're right."

I love this story so much. Wash is going to be turned inside out before he finally understands what he needs.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Just Do It Already

Ugh. So many small irritants combined to make the week rather challenging. Car problems, house problems, and too many things hitting at once. I'll get through it all, but I'm stressing out, which isn't fun.

The great news is we didn't lose power even with the wild back and forth temperatures. I have a feeling April won't be much better than March when it comes to stabilizing the weather patterns. If only the world could figure out what's causing all the bizarre weather. Yes, that's sarcasm. The world knows what the problem is.

Got a lot of work completed over the week. I have four main projects on my schedule and I'm plugging away at all of them. Finishing up two but have two more waiting in the wings. I also have a couple of backburner projects that I'll be dipping into again.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. Two of my projects involve some tedious cleanup and it's nice to have something on in the background to keep things interesting. I made it through most of my usual shows.

I started with Foyle's War and enjoyed the episode. Kind of sad to see his female counterpart moved to the sidelines again. Lovely to see Sam help her husband get elected as an MP.

Caught another episode of Return to Paradise. I remembered most of this one and enjoyed seeing some familiar faces from other shows I've watched set in Australia.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Really fun to see a couple of very young costars in this one. Also thoroughly enjoyed the mystery.

Elementary had a great episode. I didn't quite make it all the way through because I got distracted, but I enjoyed it.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I'm about two episodes from the end of the series and I need to decide what I'll be watching next. Maybe a Justice League series.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks and very much enjoyed watching Boimler lose his mind. Very fun!

I also had a chance to use my library membership to watch a Stevie Nicks concert via the Kanopy app. I'm going to work hard to make sure I'm taking advantage of everything my local libraries offer. The concert was so good!

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Do It Already, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

On an annual get together with a group of friends, Minnie Roberts gets her chance to test the waters with Reuben Harper who's had a string of bad luck with the dating pool. Reuben is blind to Minnie's interest, and she catches him off guard when she suggests a strings-free weekend with each other.

And a snippety peek…

Reuben put a halt to his brain trying to spin out of control. "Um, yeah. We can go with that." Helping a friend out.

Did she only see him as that. A friend? Of course. What else could she see him as? Except maybe the cranky asshole he'd been lately.

He cocked his head. "Should there be some ground rules?" And what would that look like?

Minnie's lips kicked upward. "I thought you didn't have to overthink things."

Reuben grunted. "Right. I don't. But I also don't want to trash anything either." Friendships were hard to keep.

And he had a solid group right now.

Minnie gave a nod. "Me either. So, let's head back to the condo and see where things go." She met his gaze. "For now, consider us friends with benefits for the duration of our stay here. After that…" She let her voice trail off.

A bridge they could cross when they got there.

He couldn't argue the logic. "Okay. I'm down with that." He got up and held out a hand. "Let's go."

She flashed a quick smile and grasped his fingers. "Yes, let's go." She slid off the chair and fell into step beside him.

He paused by the door. "Should we tell the others?" And what, exactly, would they say to their group? Hey, we're gonna go sex it up. Catch you later.

Minnie shook her head. "They'll be out there until the sun comes up. You know the tradition."

Right. He did. They usually closed the bar down then walked on the beach until the first rays of dawn broke the horizon.

The stroll to the condo passed quickly and without conversation. But their fingers were still laced together. He liked the feel of her hand intertwined with his.

Once inside the rental, they parted and Minnie set her bag on the coffee table then entered the kitchen area. She fussed with the cups they left behind earlier, and he pulled the fridge door open to have something to do then shut it, because, really? Not exactly a smooth transition from friends to lovers.

We're both nervous. Big step to hook up with a friend. Especially one he wanted to keep after whatever happened … happened.

Reuben raked a hand through his hair. "How do we start this?" Stupid question, but he honestly had no idea how to approach hooking up with her.

Minnie stilled after putting the glasses in the sink, but only for a moment.

She hopped up on the island and tugged him closer. "A kiss might be a good idea." Her lips twisted with a wry smile.

Yeah, locking lips could work. And he'd always wondered what hers would feel like against his. Guess I'm about to find out…

He leaned in, his mouth hovering close to hers. She put her hands on his chest and took a shaky breath. Reuben hesitated… Just do it already! He caught her mouth with his, thinking to start small … but as soon as their lips meshed, flames ignited in his bloodstream and his tongue slid past her teeth. Minnie groaned and hauled him closer, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Holy shit. Fireworks went off in his brain and he scooped her off the counter, carrying her toward the nearest comfortable surface … the couch in the living room. He needed to explore every inch of her…

And he didn't have to ask how to do that.

This is a fun one to write. I love friends who become more even if they don't think they will.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's the miniblurb:

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

And a snippety peek…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Winning Hand

Big cold snap with a little bit of snow this week in weather. I'm getting much better about making sure I have layers on even if it's just a quick trip outside with the doggos. I also haven't had a major cold yet this season and I hope I didn't just jinx that fact.

Semibusy work week with finishing a proofread and working on two copy edits. I'm hoping to have some projects to work on over the holiday break. I'm not great at having a week or two off then trying to gear back up into work mode.

Fairly decent week of viewing. I'm trying to decide what new show to add to my usual slate of viewing fare. I'm leaning toward Beyond Paradise, but I'm not completely sure yet.

Caught another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I hadn't seen much if any of this episode and I enjoyed it. I think I have a handful of episodes left before it'll be time to switch to another show.

Watched another episode of London Kills and tensions are running high. The case ended up being very interesting and Viv and Rob are pushing the line by investigating David. Looking forward to more of this one.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. Part one of a two-part arc and the lead-in to the show's one hundredth episode. Loved seeing Camille at the end and can't wait to watch the next episode. I've seen almost all of it and loved it.

Finished up season two of Elementary. I still think Mycroft is an ass even if I get why he did things the way he did. I'm a little on the fence about where Sherlock and Joan left things. I'll be interested to see where they pick up with season three.

Started the two-part series finale of The Batman. I don't remember if I actually watched this before or not but it was a good episode. I think I might move on to Batman Beyond after this.

Also watched another episode Classic Rugrats. I hadn't seen either of the vignettes and enjoyed both.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Winning Hand, a sexy short that sees a couple go from friends to lovers.

Here's the miniblurb:

A night of poker takes a sexy turn when Hahn Canedy ups the ante and wagers a night of hot sex as his tithe. Tawni Capps can't resist calling the bet—either way she'll have the winning hand.

And a snippety peek…

Tawni tilted her head to one side when Brett and Ellie scooted away from the table. "You're not quitting now, are you?" She'd just lost most of her Skittles to Hahn.

Robin and Dav cut out after about five hands. Both headed to their separate rooms to turn in. Robin had a report to review and Dav … probably had a new love interest. He didn't get into specifics but mentioned talking to someone new.

Ellie yawned. "I'm beat. And I refuse to open another bag of candy so Hahn can win more from me." She stretched and grabbed her cup. "I'm going to refill my water and head to bed." She leaned down and gave Tawni a quick hug.

Brett lifted his chin. "Same. Only not the water part." He slapped Hahn on the back. "Enjoy your bounty, my man." He nodded toward the pile of colorful blobs on the table. "Tawni, I'll wager you won't have any Skittles left by the time you're done." He smirked and blew a kiss in her direction.

Tawni rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I've got a bag stashed if lose it all." She propped her feet up on a newly vacated chair. "'Night, peeps." She shifted her attention to Hahn, a little thrilled to find him studying her with narrowed eyes.

Maybe he'd taken her hint from earlier…

Which she somewhat doubted because they'd kept each other in the friendzone for … well … ever. She had some reservations about crossing the imaginary line separating them, but she also wondered if Hahn might be what she actually wanted but feared getting. She'd never know if she didn't push against their boundaries.

She arched her brows. "Looks like it's you and me. Your deal." Tapping the deck in the middle of the table, she followed by pushing it toward him.

He handily shuffled the cards and dealt two hands.

She picked hers up and quickly discarded a few. "Two, please." When Hahn gave her the requested number, she adjusted the positions and carefully kept her features blank.

Hahn would have a hard time beating this one.

He rearranged his cards then glanced upward. "What's your wager?"

Tawni leaned back in her chair. "I don't know. Depends on if you're taking any cards or not." Maybe she could test the waters with a different kind of wager.

Hahn rolled a shoulder. "I'm good." He set his cards facedown on the table.

Tawni straightened again, swinging her feet off the chair and leaning forward. "You're not taking any cards?" Hmm … he must have a great hand also. "In that case, I guess I'm all-in." She moved the rest of her Skittles to the center of the table.

Hahn's lips kicked up in a smile. "Well, now I'm not sure what to do." His eyes narrowed on her again.

A bolt of something wickedly sexy burst through her. "Need a little help deciding?" She made her tone suggestive and playful.

Hahn blinked and shook his head. "If you're all-in, what do you have left to lose if I raise?"

A great question … one she couldn't wait to solve.

Tawni will definitely get her chance to issue a challenge to Hahn and she'll be very happy with the outcome.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Things Even Out

I can't believe we're at the end of June already. It's crazy how fast time is flying right now. Probably because of the whole respiratory yuck that ate up most of the month. Thankfully, that seems to have finally run its course. Feeling so much better now.

Had a super busy work week. Playing catch-up isn't my favorite thing on the planet. But I did finish a proofread and made solid progress on the other two projects on my plate.

Had a very limited viewing schedule this week, mainly because I really wanted to make as much of a dent as possible in my work. I had my usual background comfort shows playing in the background with Perry Mason and Midsomer Murders. I love the channels dedicated to one show, which is how I get Midsomer whenever I want. And Perry Mason is easy to find on the classic TV channels.

I did catch an episode of Best in Paradise and enjoyed revisiting how JP got reacquainted with Rosie. I'm enjoying the cast member introductions to each episode.

I also watched the first of a two-part Death in Paradise. I'd seen a bit of the episode before and knew what to expect but it's very powerful to watch from the beginning. Looking forward to the second part this week.

I started an episode of Elementary and didn't make it all the way through. I'll finish that one up later tonight.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Things Even Out, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

The return of a family member triggers a long-standing trauma in Heather Jerome, and she turns to her best friend Shad Wilhelm to cope. Shad sticks close and talks her though several rough patches, which isn't easy for him because he's been in love with Heather for a long time and she has no idea how he feels.

And a sneaky peek…

Heather Jerome fished her phone out of her pocket. "Hey, Mom. Gimme a sec." She motioned for Shad Wilhelm to man the counter then popped into the staging area of the coffee shop. "Okay, what's up?" Had to be something semi-important for her mom to call during a busy time.

Jenn Jerome all but squeed into the phone. "You'll never guess who's coming back?" She paused, letting the drama build.

Heather bit back a sigh. "You're right. I probably won't." Grabbing a tray, she started putting brunch sandwiches together.

Jenn huffed out a breath. "Fine. Spoil the fun." She tsked. "Crap. Sorry. Just realized you're probably slammed right now."

Heather rolled her eyes. "No worries. Shad's here today. I've got an extra set of hands." He'd stopped in after his shift at the fire department and stuck around.

Her best friend and silent partner would keep the line moving for the tea and coffee drinkers and early morning scone grabbers.

Jenn chuckled. "Shad will definitely put smiles on some faces this morning. Emmie mentioned the other day she always looks for him on his off-shift days."

Heather grinned. "Yeah, he's not bad for business." Which hopefully meant his investment would pay off in big ways.

Jenn echoed the sentiment. "Between the two of you and your creative ideas, I predict a long and prosperous partnership."

Heather did a quick reminder. "Shad's a silent partner, Mom. Don't forget that." At least for now.

Heather hoped he'd change his mind but wouldn't push him on the subject.

To get back on topic, she prompted Jenn. "Who's coming back?" She finished a tray of sandwiches and stored them in the cooler.

Jenn clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Oh, right." She made a sound of apology. "You're Aunt Nona called. Proctor is moving in to their old house on Brookside Lane. Isn't that awesome?"

Heather kind of split into two beings. One who made the appropriate responses to Jenn's announcement while she explained about the long-term renters moving after almost two decades of living in the home. The other Heather flashed back with vivid clarity to the age of five and being at eleven-year-old Proctor's mercy. Her ears roared and her vision swam.

She took a deep, calming breath. No. Surely twenty years changed a person, right?

"Heather, did you hear me? I'm going to have them over for dinner before Nona heads back to the city. You'll come, won't you? Welcome your cousin back and all."

Heather shook her head. "Uh, not sure, Mom. Depends on when. But let me know and I'll try to be there." Yeah, maybe not.

Jenn finally ended the call and Heather set her phone on the stainless-steel work surface. Proctor Mason moving back. Her hands were clammy and shaky, which annoyed her.

At thirty-two, Proctor had surely grown of the preadolescent monster phase, right?

She berated herself. "Doesn't matter. I'm not five anymore." Still … the idea of him being around permanently kind of wigged her out.

Then again, she'd spent the worst year of her life at his hands. She could have five minutes of existential dread, couldn't she? Sure, she absolutely could.

Shad poked his head over the café doors. "Hey? Everything all right?"

Heather huffed out something between a laugh and a sob.

And for the first time since she'd met Shad—three months after Proctor's family moved away—she had no idea how to answer.

This story is in the very beginning stages. I have a good idea of where things will go but Shad and Heather might have different ideas.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Seize the Day

April is starting off with a bang. We've had seven days of volatile weather. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, and another big drop in temperature with snow flurries. I thought for a while we might end up with a blizzardnado—complete with sharks. If you know you know. It's that time of year where keeping warm-weather clothes beside arctic gear isn't a bad idea.

 

Due to the crazy weather, I didn't get a lot of viewing in this week. I also had a full plate plus dessert of work projects. I'm very happy to have multiple things to occupy my time!

 

I did get another episode of My Life Is Murder in and loved getting to see Madison strut her stuff undercover. I'm going to miss this show when I'm finished watching.

 

Caught Midsomer Murder's final episode for this season. Enjoyed the mystery. I'm a little disappointed that it feels like the characters don't know much about each other. Winter has been with Barnaby for quite some time now and it seems like the interactions they've had in the past are quickly forgotten. Really the only thing that kind of irritates me about British mystery shows.

 

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness. I think I'm going to like the new guys. I really enjoy Jack and Nikki together. The case was very confusing, but I ended up liking how things turned out.

 

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. It's almost the end of Humphrey's run and I'm kind of excited to finish up and start Jack's journey. And also pick up with Humphrey and Martha back in England.

 

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. Kind of fun to see some of Joan's old life collide with her new one. Not super thrilled that her friends thought she needed an intervention, but at least they came around by the end.

 

That's it for the life update this week. I'm hoping to get back on track this week, barring any weird and wild weather.

 

Tonight's post is from Seize the Day, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

 

Here's the miniblurb:

 

When Pixie Ross almost dies after a hit-and-run accident, she wakes up with two prevailing thoughts. Life is short and she's done playing the field. The man of her dreams has been standing at her side for ages—her best friend Kemp MacGuiness. Now she has to convince him she's serious after years of keeping him at arm's length.

 

And a snippety peek…

 

Pixie Ross ran out of the library and trip-walked down the steps. "I gotta stop losing track of time." She wouldn't have a moment to spare to get to her shift at the tearoom unless she cut across campus.

She stepped off the curb and started to cross the road, juggling her backpack and tote bag. The squeal of tires didn't register. Neither did the impact. Not until she landed several feet away on the street. Her head hit the rough surface with significant force.

She blinked and tried to get up. "Damn. I've been hit." Her vision swam, going gray about the edges.

Slumping to her side, she fought to stay conscious. "Gonna be late for work." The roar in her ears drowned everything else out.

She didn't hear a car screech to a halt. Or the running footsteps. Couldn't make out the words when someone grasped her shoulder and stopped her from trying to sit up. Garbled sounds accompanied concerned looks from the person in front of her. She blinked again, which actually hurt. Closing her eyes shouldn't be painful. The person holding her arm had their phone to their ear. Were they calling CampPo—the campus police? The gray got fuzzier and darker and the people surrounding her started swirling in a circle. Pixie tried to focus, to assess where she hurt the most.

But everything ached and burned and stung and throbbed. With a whoosh, pain hit hard, and the underwater echoing sounds suddenly took on a clearness that made her head pound from the commotion going on around her.

"Yes, we need an ambulance. No, she's not unconscious, but she's not responding to the questions you said to ask her."

Pixie wondered who wouldn't respond. Wait. Did they mean she didn't respond. What questions? No one asked her any questions.

Her head tilted to one side and a sharp stabbing zing shot through her. Her vision blurred to black, and everything went blessedly quiet for a moment.

Until the wail of sirens cut through the silence. After that, Pixie couldn't stay alert long enough to understand anything going on around her. She sank deep into the inky darkness of unconsciousness.

 

This one is barely started but I'm excited to see where the story goes. I love writing friends to lovers.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

 

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: The Not Quite Ready Weekend

Entering thankful week with so much to think about and be grateful for. There's a lot going on in life right now and some of it's not great. But … there's also so much that's good and I always try to focus on the good stuff. I spent way too many years as a glass half empty girl. The stress of that did not do me any favors.

I got to edit an amazing holiday story, which I didn't expect and I'm so happy I got the project. It's from one of my favorite authors too!

My husband started a new job that he can do during his off season from the golf course, which is an amazing opportunity.

I got to watch a play my daughter did the entire lighting setup for, and I'm so glad I got to go and see what she's accomplished with her theater major. I already get to hear her radio show for her media production major. She has a semester left and I can't wait to see the amazing things she does with her future.

Had a pretty decent week of television viewing. I managed a full round of my current slate of shows, minus the Battlestar Galactica rewatch. Hoping to pick it back up this week.

Started out with the first half of a two-part Silent Witness. Kind of an interesting case mixed in with the personal aspect for the characters.

Caught another Death in Paradise. This is an episode I got to see part of before and it's nice to have the full context of everything that happened.

Loved the episode of Only Murders in the Building. So awesome to see Theo again. I love his friendship with Mabel. I'm kind of hoping the trio is back together by the next episode, but it's fun to see Mabel interact with other people. Going to miss seeing her in her aunt's apartment though.

Watched another episode of The Batman. This one introduced the Riddler. I'd forgotten how much teamwork between Yin and Batman was in this one.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I kind of remembered both and liked being able to sort of rewatch and still be a little surprised.

Caught an episode of VIP. This one ended up being a lot of fun and had some terrific character moments.

Watched an episode of My Life Is Murder. Nice to see Alexa kind of joining in and participating in a celebration. Here's hoping we get more of that in later episodes.

Also got another episode of Agatha Raisin in. This ended the second series and had so many great moments. I'm excited to see what season three brings.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Not Quite Ready Weekend, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Angie Strickland and Derrick Fields are thrown together when they're called upon to care for their best friends' little one for a three-day weekend. Their biggest challenge is getting a crash course in what it's like to be a parent while dancing around an unacknowledged attraction. By the end of the weekend, Angie and Derrick are exhausted and certain of one thing—they want to be together but they're not quite ready for parenthood.

And a snippety peek…

Angie Strickland answered the phone on the third ring. "Hi, Janie. What's going on?" Hopefully a girls' night … it had been ages since Angie had been out with her friend.

Of course, having a kid made getting out a lot more challenging. But the little sweetie is so damn cute. And her godchild to boot.

Janie heaved a weary sigh. "I have a huge, huge favor to ask." Her voice wobbled a little. "Mark has a business conference that I'm supposed to attend with him, and both sets of grandparents are traveling. Can you stay with Lydia?" A shuddery breath followed.

Angie frowned. "Are you okay? What's going on?" She realized she didn't answer the question. "Of course, I'll stay with Lyds." A fissure of nerves skittered along her spine.

Janie squealed a little. "Oh, thank you. I'm not sure I'm ready for being away from her, but this conference is important, especially if Mark wants a promotion soon."

Angie commiserated even though she had zero experience with maternal instincts. "Well, you can look at this as a trial run? And I can FaceTime you every day, so you won't have to miss Lydia too much." And so Janie could clue Angie in on how to care for a six-month-old.

Janie made a sound between a chuckle and a sob. "That's actually a great idea. Mark is having a tough time with the idea of leaving her, too, but I'm struggling so much right now. Mom said to do it now when Lyd is sleeping through the night but not mobile yet. And it's supposed to get easier after the first time." Her tone said she didn't quite believe that statement.

Angie didn't really have a point of reference, so she changed the subject. "When do you need me?" Luckily, her weekends were wide open since she'd ended her relationship with her douche canoe ex.

Janie hemmed a little. "Wellll, it's this weekend. We're leaving Friday after Mark gets off work and returning late Sunday. So sorry for the short notice."

Angie shook her head. "No, it's all right. You know I don't have any plans. I'll come by in the afternoon, and you can give me a crash course in all things baby." And, hopefully, she would remember everything.

Janie let out a happy sigh. "That's perfect. I can't thank you enough."

Angie laughed. "Yes, you can. If this goes off without a hitch, we can have a girls' night soon." And Angie would make sure everything went smoothly.

Or die trying…

This story is in the very, very beginning stages but the sages are flinging ideas at me in rapid succession. Can't wait to see where it goes.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin