Sunday Snippet: Jingle, Jangle, Jingle

What a week. Our weather went completely insane and we got a wild mix of rain and wind. We lost power on Friday afternoon and finally had it restored on Saturday after about eighteen hours. Thankfully, it didn't get super cold overnight.

Work projects are moving along. I finished up the memoir and have two new potential jobs. I'm still working on a proofread and have some final touches to put on a copy edit. I'm hoping to get to a developmental edit that I put on the back burner last month because it's a manuscript that will launch an amazing series.

Had a limited viewing week. I managed to get through a couple of my usual shows but didn't get through my whole slate. Too many things pulling my attention and focus.

Started with My Life Is Murder and thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. Always fun to see Will and the sibling relationship he has with Alexa. Per usual, Madison had some great scenes.

Caught most of an episode of Foyle's War. I'd forgotten he kind of got pulled into the spy scene. Really fun to see his interactions with Sam after her marriage. Kind of bummed they recast the guy who played her fiancé in the previous season.

Watched an episode of Return to Paradise and it's one I remembered. I love the quirky interactions Mackenzie has with everyone but I really, really love when she has to deal with her messy emotions. Watching her apologize to Glen almost physically hurt to observe. Very good moment between them.

Started an episode of Poirot but didn't get a chance to finish it before I crashed. I'll finish it up and start the round of shows again.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Jingle, Jangle, Jingle, a holiday themed novella with a twist on a classic story.

Here's the miniblurb:

Work keeps getting in the way of Felicia Hammond and Marshall Greene being able to spend time together. When Marshall pulls off a holiday vacation package, they're excited to get away together. But Felicia is added to the schedule at the hospital and won't be able to go. Unknown to each other, both try to make the best out of the situation so they can have a happy holiday season.

And a snippety peek…

Felicia entered the house to the incredible aroma of Mamie's Diner food. After the day she'd had, she loved Marshall for thinking of this.

She found him setting the plates on the table. "You want to grab a shower before we eat?" He turned to get two glasses of water with lemon slices in them.

She gave a quick nod. "Yeah, I'll be five minutes." Just long enough to rinse the day off and leave the hospital behind.

Turning the water on, she rubbed at the back of her neck. Normally, when her shift descended into chaos, she could roll with the hits and come up smiling. Not so much today.

Stripping out of her scrubs, she stepped under the spray. "Universe, save me from docs who have to throw entire units off schedule." In his defense … he just transferred from a military hospital, but…

Damn. Did he have to gum up the system and throw everything off kilter?

After soaping up and rinsing off, she twisted the knob off and grabbed her towel. A quick dry down and lotion application followed then she slid into comfortable yoga pants and a T-shirt. The hot water helped ease her tense muscles and the yummy food would soothe the rest of her.

She strolled into the kitchen and settled across from Marshall. "This is awesome. It's been a day." Flashing a smile, she picked up her fork. "What made you think of this?" Tucking into the open-faced roast beef, she met his gaze.

His eyes crinkled. "We're going to the mountains for Christmas. I got an incredible deal on a house because the owners are spending the holidays with family." He scooped up a pile of carrots and shoved them into his mouth.

Felicia blinked. "No way. Seriously?" A week in the mountains sounded amazing.

No hospital. No new doctors to school on protocol. No patient alarms going off.

Marshall nodded. "Yeah, sent a deposit and have the directions and instructions for picking up the key." He grinned.

Felicia sighed. "I can't wait. I'll log in to the employee portal after dinner and put in for the time off." She had two weeks of vacation left and could bank one for the following year.

Marshall grasped her fingers. "Be good to get away for a while. Just the two of us." He lifted his glass with his free hand. "Here's to a merry and bright holiday."

She clinked her cup against his. "Ho, ho, ho." With Thanksgiving around the corner, she had something to look forward to in a few weeks. "I love you for this surprise." She waited a beat. "And dinner."

Marshall waggled his eyebrows. "I know the way to your heart." He squeezed her hand.

Felicia gave him a wicked smile. "And I know the best way to thank you…" Her gaze went to their bedroom.

Marshall's lips kicked up on one side. "Then we'd better finish eating so we've got energy to burn."

Felicia laughed and dug back into the succulent roast beef.

This is a fun one to write. Marshall and Felicia are a cool couple.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Auld Lang Syne

The work project abundance continues. I'm plugging along and chiseling away at the four current projects I have on my plate—two copy edits, a proofread, and a developmental edit are the main events. I also have a set of revisions to review and a read through to start. It's chaotic but also … fun? I love that everything I'm working on right now is so different. Not one of the manuscripts is similar to the other ones.

As usual, totally unhinged weather in Ohio. It's cold. It's hot. It's both in one day. Rain, sun, gloomy clouds, and hey, a chance for more snow. I did get lucky and had a mostly clear night for the recent blood moon eclipse, which was amazing to watch. Being a night owl comes in very hand sometimes.

Had a limited viewing schedule this week, mainly because I needed to focus on the words in the manuscripts. I did get a few things watched. I might have to give binge watching something for background noise a go for the next few weeks.

Finished up Beyond Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed the first season finale. They packed so much into this episode. The case, Humph and Archie fight, more shenanigans from the Chief Super, Esther and Hump bonding, Margo being Margo, Kelby being Kelby, and of course, the crew from Death in Paradise at the end. I can't wait to watch the first holiday episode this week!

Caught an episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed it. Interesting interactions between the consulting trio and the police duo and twisty bits thrown in to keep things rolling.

Enjoyed an episode of Batman Beyond. It's one I definitely remembered and liked during my first watch of this series.

Watched an episode of Classic Rugrats and actually remember this one, which is odd because most of the ninth season has been new-to-me stuff.

Started an episode of London Kills, the opener to the fourth season. I had to stop partway through because I need to pay attention and this isn't the week for me to do that.

Also binged a marathon of Peter Gunn on one of the live PlexTV channels. I've been hitting Plex up for a lot of viewing fare lately and I might end up using it over the next several weeks for background noise. Stay tuned.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Auld Lang Syne, a novella featuring the trio from Mistletoe Madness.

Here's the miniblurb:

When a New Year's Eve party turns into a surprise memorial for Delaney Nixon's mom, Scotty London and Westin Ames help Delaney face the auld lang syne with grace and gratitude while it stirs up old memories. The trio then returns home for some much-needed TLC.

And a snippety peek…

Westin glanced up then narrowed his eyes when the bell jangled over the front entrance and Landon walked in. "Things go okay with Laney this morning?" He set the wrench on his workstation and wiped his hands.

Scotty gave a nod. "Yeah, all good." He held up a takeout bag from the Roadside, a diner between his office and Westin's garage. "Thought we could have a conversation about New Year's Eve." Dropping the food on the counter, he unbuttoned his coat and pulled the scarf from around his neck.

Westin cocked his head. "What's going on, Landon?" He pulled a stool out and settled on it.

Scotty grimaced. "A lot. And I might need some backup from you." He got seated and started taking food out of the bag. "Remember the meeting I went to about the ball?"

Westin grunted. "Yeah, what about it?" Landon's previous commitment gave Wes time to be alone with Delaney.

Scotty sighed. "The committee is planning a memorial for Joanie." He unwrapped a smash burger. "And they want it to be a surprise for Del."

Westin nearly choked on the waffle fry he'd stuffed into his mouth. "They what?" He chewed and swallowed then reached for the tea Scotty pushed his way. "You agreed to this?" Why else would Landon be here if he hadn't.

Scotty huffed out a breath. "Not much choice. The women already had the whole thing organized and gave me the task of making sure Del gets there." He took a huge bite of his burger.

Westin mulled the idea over. "Joanie didn't want a big deal. Laney honored her wishes." He picked up his sandwich. "This kinda flies in the face of that, doesn't it?" He met Landon's gaze.

Scotty's head bobbed up and down. "Yeah. But they're convinced making the ball a celebration of Joanie's life is a great idea. Something to bring the whole community together and welcome Del back into the fold so to speak." He shrugged. "I mean, I get where they're coming from, and it is a sweet gesture from Joanie's friends, but…" His voice trailed off.

Wes grunted. "It could be super emotional for Laney." Damn.

Scotty nodded. "Yeah. That's why I'm here. To make sure we're prepared for all possible outcomes." He shoveled some fries into his mouth.

Westin's lips quirked. "All right. Consider this our first strategy session for operation auld lang syne." He sobered. "By the way, the only formal thing I own is my uniform. Where can I get suit on short notice?"

Scotty laughed. "I know just the place. Plan on a long lunch tomorrow."

I love writing this trio. The guys are a lot of fun and exploring their new friendship outside of the relationship they share with Delaney is joyful for me.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Approaching Midnight

What a week! My brain is all spinny at the moment because I have an abundance of work projects in my inbox. I love having a full calendar. That said, I need about five more hours in each day, please and thank you.

Honestly, the overflowing inbox comes at an excellent time for me. I have several things that need attention, one of them being the brakes on my car. Now to buckle under and get the work done.

Weather in Ohio is typical for March. Maybe a little on the extreme side, but March always seems to be whiplashing back and forth between winter and spring. Today is springlike with temps in the fifties. Yesterday we barely broke freezing for our high.

Another very limited week for viewing. I'm not kidding when I say five more hours each day would be helpful. Just saying.

I did finish up the Death in Paradise episode I started last week. So sad to see Florance leave again. But what a way to go out. And pretty sure we'll see her again.

Also started a Beyond Paradise episode, which will finish out the first season. I'm really enjoying this show.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Approaching Midnight, a novella that brings a couple together over the holidays.

Here's the miniblurb:

It's approaching midnight on New Year's Eve and Greta Davis has to decide whether to meet Mick Caplin at the NYE ball or if it's too crazy to even think they have a shot at love. After all, they've only known each other since Halloween.

And a snippety peek…

Greta approached Planks on the Square with a frisson of nervous energy. "I hope he shows." She breathed easier when he stepped out from under the awning-covered patio.

And, damn, the hot factor hadn't lessened at all. In fact, he'd added a zippered fleece jacket in a forest green shade to his T-shirt and jeans. He wore casual really well. And she liked the change of pace from douchebag Justin's penchant for tailored everything in clothes.

Mick gave her a wide smile. "How did the drop-off go?" He pulled the door open, and they ducked inside the pub.

Greta smirked. "My sister realized her mistake less than five seconds after getting Finn and Kenley back." She spied an empty high-top table and nodded toward it.

Mick lifted his chin. "Perfect." He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over the back of a stool.

The server came over and took their orders. A beer for Mick and a glass of wine for Greta.

She got settled on the stool and rested her forearms on the table. "Was the remote where you thought it would be?"

Mick chuckled. "Yep. Right on the side of the chair. Just not on the side it's normally on." He sobered. "Gramps does pretty well. He's not that old, just pushing seventy, but he's a bit neuro-spicy and struggles when his routine is altered."

Greta grimaced. "I'll bet the trick-or-treating didn't help tonight."

Mick shrugged. "Honestly, he's still trying to adjust to moving in with me. My parents moved to Arizona for their jobs, and they plan to retire there. Gramps is dead set on not moving but needs to have a little support." He pointed to himself with both thumbs. "That would be me."

The server brought their drinks and dashed away to another table.

Mick took a quick sip of his beer. "So, how about you? Do you get to have your party of five very often?"

Greta flashed a smile. "In one bunch? Not that often. Usually, I have Kenley and Finn together or Sasha, Oliver, and Gates. I also have a fur nephew. A highland maltie named Sawyer that I keep on occasion for my brother and his partner." Sven and Mark didn't trust leaving the dog with anyone else.

Mick's eyes widened. "Sounds like your family keeps you busy. That's kind of awesome. How many siblings do you have?"

Greta took a sip of her wine. "Three. Two brothers and a sister. We're basically stairstep kids. Brigit is the oldest at thirty-five and I'm the youngest at thirty-two. The guys, Hans and Sven, are in between." She had no idea how her mom handled having four kids so closely together.

Mick blinked. "Ah. I get your comment about who led who astray now. Being that close in age probably meant you guys were all for one and one for all." He picked at the label on his bottle. "I'm jealous. I spent a lot of time trying to get my friends with large families to adopt me as a kid."

Greta laughed. "Yeah, we never had a dull moment growing up." She sobered a little. "And we're still pretty close now. The other three are waiting on me to get settled, and they're not subtle about dropping hints." The one thing she really disliked about her siblings.

Especially since they still asked about Justin all the time.

Mick tilted his head to one side. "I sense a story there…" He took another long pull from his beer.

Greta appreciated the way his throat worked when he swallowed. How much should she reveal?

She might as well be up front. "Not really much of a story, but I recently ended a relationship after almost ten years together." Taking another sip of wine, she added more. "Everyone thought we'd eventually marry but I kept putting off making any kind of plans. I finally realized I stayed with Justin out of habit more than anything else." She met Mick's gaze. "And that's not a great foundation to build a life on, especially when he didn't always treat me like I mattered."

Mick gave a slow nod. "I'll bet that cost you some peace of mind to admit." His fingers swirled the half empty bottle around in front of him and his gaze drifted far away. "If it helps any, I had the same experience…" His focus shifted back to her. "Twice."

With the wine glass halfway to her lips, she paused. "Twice?" She set the goblet down. "I think it's your turn for story time." His admission did help, and her curiosity kicked into high gear.

I'm excited about this one. I love these two and can't wait to finish telling their story.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: St. Patrick's Day Seduction (Organic Nature short)

Had a super emotional day yesterday with my daughter graduating from college with a bachelor's in media production and theater. She starts grad school in the fall for arts administration. I'm so proud of her! And … considering she had a drive-through high school graduation, getting to see her walk for her bachelor's made me very happy.

Had another good week of work and writing. I finished up two manuscript edits and a proofread on the work front and wrote several scenes in three or four of my WIPs. I'm not quite where I want to be on my writing, but I'm getting back to form.

Actually had a solid week of viewing also. Maybe the planets are aligned where I need them to be right now. Who knows?

Watched two episodes of Elementary and, wow, I rather like what they did with the Moriarity thing. Looking forward to seeing how that ends up. I think I have one more episode of the first season.

Started season three of The Batman and watched two episodes. I remembered both and enjoyed each one.

Caught two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I think I'm at the end of season seven where the two vignettes are actually one episode. Kind of liked that format. I think the new theme starts with season eight. I'll find out this week I think.

Started a new season of Suspects. Loved the opening episode. It did not go where I thought it would and I love that.

Watched another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. Broken-hearted for Gloria. I kind of hope there's more to the story about Cooper. I kind of want to find out what his whole deal was with Gloria.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. I don't remember this one at all and actually loved it. Definitely a twisty one.

Caught the first part of Silent Witness. I'm excited to see where this one goes. There's definitely more than meets the eye for this case. I'm not thrilled with the new addition to Jack's life. I love his niece, but the mom is a piece of work and I don't like her at all.

Started a new episode of Peak Practice. I'll try to finish it up this week. Not sure what's up with Sam but I assume the seeds are being planted for his departure and that's why he's being such a prat right now.

Last but not least, I started a documentary called Broken Horses, mainly because it features the author of one of the books I've been working on and his stance that the drugging of horses needs to stop. I can honestly say it's a hard watch and my personal thought there might be a trainer who should never, ever be allowed to participate in the sport ever again. But that's just me.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from St. Patrick's Day Seduction, an organic nature sexy short.

Here's the miniblurb:

Eppie Collins and Vin Derbish survive a visit from Eppie's nefarious ex and she's ready to try something new with Vin—something she's never done before. Eppie takes some time to prepare then sets the stage for the romantic encounter—where else but in the chic shed Vin made for her.

And a snippety peek…

Eppie sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed. "This stuff smells amazing." She released a healthy amount of oil into her palms.

Vin perched on the edge of the mattress, his back on display. "Almost, but not quite, as good as the alfredo earlier." He shifted to the side and worked his shoulder up and down.

Eppie cocked her head. "Let me start right here." Her fingers glided over his skin before she pressed harder with her thumbs.

Vin groaned. "Ahh. That's nice, Ep." He slumped forward, his head dipping low.

She smiled and kept massaging Vin's muscles, enjoying the way they played under her fingertips. "You need to be horizontal. I wanna get my hands on your thighs." She loved the corded sinew he displayed from the physical labor he did.

Vin titled sideways, turning to lay flat on his stomach, swinging his legs up. Eppie added more oil and started in on his calves. Her hands pressed and lightly squeezed the hard flesh. She inhaled, the aroma of spicy citrus tantalizing her senses.

Moving upward, she gripped the hair-roughened skin of Vin's thighs and kneaded deeply.

He let out a long sigh. "You're working magic. Feels amazing."

Eppie grinned again. "I love doing this. There's something powerful about making the person you love experience something that feels wonderful."

Vin angled his head around. "Not to cut this short because I love it, but I also love watching you get off. Let's work the vibe in soon." He waggled his eyebrows and sat up.

Eppie couldn't deny looking forward to some stimulating play, especially with the new items. But first things first. She handed Vin the bottle of massage oil.

Vin took it without comment and squeezed a generous amount into his hand. "On your stomach, Ep. Time for me to work out all your kinks." His lips twitched.

Eppie laughed and rolled over onto her tummy. "More like indulge all my kinks, which is always fun." She exhaled on a long breath when his palms smoothed over her shoulders and down her back.

Vin stroked to her ass then returned to her upper torso. "Indulgence and fun go hand in hand with us." His fingers glided along her ribs.

Eppie closed her eyes and gave herself over to Vin's soothing touch. The warmth of his skin against hers never failed to relax stress away. Several minutes later, the telltale buzz of the vibrator had her lips twisting in a smirk. Relaxation time is over…

She eased over onto her back and gazed up at Vin. "Grab the sleeve while I get a little jumpstart with this." She took the slim device and ran the tip along her leg before settling it against her clit. "I have a feeling neither of us will last long…"

I love writing this couple so much. It's a joy to explore the ins and outs of this relationship.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Sparkle and Boom (Organic Nature short)

Can't believe we're almost through April. And yet … it's been a really long month. May has some great things happening, namely my youngest graduating from college. She starts grad school in the fall, and I'm amazed by her. I can't wait to see what she does with her future.

Had an okay week of viewing. I'm behind on my work projects so I didn't push hard to get stuff watched, but I did make a full rotation of my shows.

I finished the regular series of My Life Is Murder. I have the bonus content left to watch. I actually loved this show. And, to my astonishment, it looks like there will be a fourth season! And it premieres tonight if I can trust the interwebs.

Caught an episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. A little disappointed with the friction and push back from Caron about interference with the case, but it's probably a little more true to life than not.

Finished up Silent Witness and loved how it ended. Things didn't go quite the way I expected. I love it when that happens.

Watched the first episode of Jack's tenure of Death in Paradise. I liked the transition from Humphrey to Jack. We're also getting into episodes I've not seen anything of yet and I'm excited to watch new stuff.

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. This one didn't have the police coming to Sherlock for consultation. He brought a case to them, and I'd like to see more of that. Almost through the first season so maybe I'll get what I want here.

Caught another episode of The Batman and it's one I remembered watching before. I love it when Alfred's past comes calling. He's got some interesting friends.

Watched an episode of Classic Rugrats and, again, this is a new to me one. I don't remember either of the vignettes and that's always fun for me.

Finished out the week with some more Peak Practice. I'm trying to get through the episode I started a few weeks ago. I might get it finished this week.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Sparkle and Boom, an Organic Nature short set in July.

Here's the miniblurb:

Eppie Collins and Vin Derbish head back to the city for another fireworks extravaganza. Maj comes through with comping the VIP suite again, but right before the thrilling show, the couple is interrupted by the last-minute arrival of the registered occupant, much to Maj's dismay.

And a snippety peek…

While Wilkes might not be Eppie's type, she completely got why Maj found him attractive. In the tailored suit, the man defined cultured and refined … with just a bit of roughness under the starched collar. Vin gave a low mmm-hmm under his breath and Eppie turned toward him with an arched brow.

He shrugged, which could mean anything from agreeing Wilkes made a nice fit for Maj to excitement for being able to stay in the lovely suite again.

The elevator slid to a smooth stop and the doors whooshed open. Wilkes led the way to the suite with Maj falling into step beside him. He keyed in the code and gained entry to the charming, old-world penthouse.

 After setting his case inside the foyer area, he turned to face Eppie and Vin. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. I'd like to keep Maj for a few moments." His arms went around Maj's waist.

Vin's lips quirked upward. "Is the second bedroom all right? We'll put our cases in there if it is." He followed Eppie into the plush interior.

Wilkes flashed a smile. "Perfect. We won't be more than a few moments." He didn't take his gaze from Maj during the brief conversation.

Eppie's spine tingled in the best way. Then guilt set in. She grasped Vin's hand and hurried through the suite.

Vin did question why she'd become a speed demon all of a sudden … not until they were in the bedroom with the door closed. "What's up, Ep? You've gone mercurial on me." He stashed the bags on the chair perpendicular to the bed. "Is your matchmaking radar coming online?"

Eppie snorted. "No. Because my instinct says no matchmaking is necessary. I think Wilkes is either proposing to Maj or will before the holiday is over." She'd bet the next quarter's profit on it.

Vin's head jerked back. "For real? Geez, Ep, maybe we should try to find somewhere else to stay? I don't want to intrude if this is supposed to be a special weekend for them." His brows drew together.

Eppie shook her head. "Let's hold off for a few. I could be wrong." Be she doubted it.

Vin reached out and grabbed her hips. "You could be. But it's not likely." He dropped a kiss on her nose. "You've got a habit for calling things straight."

She lifted a shoulder. "That didn't really start until I met you." And finally figured out what being happy should look like.

Vin smiled. "Glad I could help with that." He hugged her close. "Should be head back out or…" His gaze shifted to the bed. "Find something to occupy our time for a while."

Eppie laughed. "I'd like nothing more than a hot and sexy romp with you, but…" She paused when voices carried through from the living area. "I think we should head back out." Lacing her fingers with his, she leaned in. "We can save that thought for later, right?"

Vin gave her a wide grin. "Absolutely."

I love writing Eppie and Vin and their adventures. This series is so much fun!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Pumpkin Patch Honeymoon (an Organic Nature short)

Still bitterly cold in Ohio, but by midweek, we'll see high forties and low fifties and lots of rain. We're going to have a lot of sick people in the near future. The back-and-forth weather is horrible for keeping folks healthy.

Busy work week again, which I'm so thankful for. I'm also working on my new venture and should have news soon. I'm hoping by February.

Decent viewing week. I didn't quite make a full run-through of all my shows, but I got very close.

Started with My Life Is Murder again. Very interesting episode with some fun backstory. I love getting more information about the characters.

Watched a holiday episode of Agatha Raisin. This one kicked off season four and it ended up being a lot of fun. I loved the mix of characters.

Finally continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with the feature of Razor. We had to backtrack a little to pick up with this one. I'd forgotten how much I loved Lee in this special feature.

Caught an episode of Silent Witness, which finished up a two-parter. I feel for Jack, and I loved getting some more details about his family. I feel for what Ryan's been through, but I'm glad Jack is finished covering for his brother.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. This is another episode I didn't get to see, and I quite enjoyed following the clues. Looking forward to another episode

Enjoyed another episode of Elementary. Lots of twists and turns in this one. Also loved Joan trying to find Sherlock a sponsor and him not quite being able to just say he doesn't want her to leave at the end of her contract.

Caught the final episode of The Batman season one. Excellent finale with three of the big bads trying to unmask Batman. Also loved the introduction of Commissioner Gordon. Looking forward to starting season two.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. Both vignettes were ones I didn't remember so nice to have something new to me.

Started season two of The Secret Life of Amy Benson and rather liked the first episode. I'm a little curious how much book detail is being left out, but I don't think it takes away from what we're seeing.

Also started an episode of VIP but didn't get to finish it. I'm not even sure what's going on yet.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Pumpkin Patch Honeymoon, an Organic Nature short.

Here's the miniblurb:

Eppie and Vin's unconventional journey comes full circle when they make a lasting commitment in the pumpkin patch where their story began. They decide a staycation will be the perfect endcap and discover during their idyllic week that passion only grows the more in love they fall.

And a snippety peek…

Eppie finished securing a makeshift awning and stepped back to gauge her newly constructed design. "This should do." At least for now.

The idea to increase privacy and separate the honeymoon sanctuary from the main house struck just as she'd crossed the yard to wait for Vin. Coupling a large tarp in a sunny orange and her hanging basket poles created a fenced-off area that blocked the view from the drive and dampened some of the noise that accompanied vehicles coming and going. Eppie tilted her head and surveyed the combination.

"If you hang those dark red and yellow mums, you'll have a showpiece."

Vin's footsteps crunched on the crushed gravel walkway.

Eppie turned and smiled. "You know, this could end up working for holiday decorations, too." She envisioned changing out the tarp color for the seasons.

Vin wrapped an arm around her. "This looks great. We could dance naked behind here and no one would know." His hip bumped hers.

Eppie laughed and angled her head upward. Vin took his cue and meshed his lips with hers. Their honeymoon had just officially started.

Easing away from him, she nodded toward the shed. "We're on the wrong side for naked dancing." And probably in the wrong time of year.

The wind had a bite to it and picked that moment to gust through the yard, kicking up some fallen leaves.

Vin's lips quirked. "So we are. Looks like Mother Nature isn't going to cooperate either." He clasped her hand and led her around the awning then swept her up into his arms.

Eppie grinned. "Mother Nature can do her worst. You and I are prepared for anything." She waited for Vin to carry her into the shed then motioned around the interior.

Vin set her down and let out a low whistle. "It's spectacular." His gaze narrowed. "Is that a tub?" He took a step forward and ran his fingers along the edge. "Where did this come from?" He glanced back over his shoulder.

Eppie grinned. "Dani found it at a closeout sale. She thought it would be perfect for our honeymoon." Her sister knew Eppie so well.

Vin waggled his eyebrows. "She made the right call. I can't wait to try this out." He pulled his shirttail free of his pants.

Eppie chuckled. "As in now?" She loved him for being in sync with her.

Vin nodded and tugged his waffle knit over his head. "Absolutely." He reached into the shower and pulled the nozzle off the hook, draped it over the edge of the copper tub, then turned the water on.

Eppie shed her shirt and pants. "I've got just the thing to add." She snagged a packet of her bath salts and sprinkled it into the spray of liquid.

Vin inhaled deeply. "Mmmm. Apple, some kind of spice … sage, maybe? And something a little deeper. Smells amazing." He shucked his pants.

Eppie bounced on her toes. "You got it! I wanted something that reminded me of a warm sweater on a fall day." Her fingers trailed in the water. "It's already selling like gangbusters." And if she tweaked the recipe a little by adding cranberry notes, she could make a merry holiday scent.

Vin shut the tap off and returned the nozzle to the shower. "Yeah, I think you pulled it off." He nodded toward the tub. "Let's soak in the atmosphere up close and personal." Grasping the rolled edge, he entered the steaming confines and held out a hand.

Eppie grasped his fingers and joined him. Vin settled down, leaning against the raised end. Eppie slid between his legs, using his chest as backrest.

She sighed and relaxed into him. "I think this might be the best gift my sister has ever given me." Her fingers swirled designs in the water.

Vin's hands ghosted over her shoulders. "Remind me to thank her." His lips brushed over the column of her throat. "We'll leave out how we christened it, though."

Eppie snorted out a laugh. "You don't have to. She already figured it would take less than five minutes for us to decide to start with a nice soak…"

This series is so much fun and I'm very excited to finish up the rest of the stories.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: New Year's Nip (an Organic Nature short)

Ugh. Turning the clock back is a bummer. I've been reading arguments for staying on standard time or making daylight saving time permanent. I think I'm coming down on making DSL permanent, but either way, it would be nice to not have to turn the clocks in any direction.

Had a busy work week and hit my daily goals to stay on target for project dates. I also got a lot of writing in and updated some completed manuscripts for my new venture. I truly hope to launch it before the holidays.

Not a bad week of watching television. I'm debating on how many streamers I'm going to keep because they keep raising their prices. I'm okay with paying more if it's not all going into shareholder pockets. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of deal SAG-AFTRA can make with the studios. That might also help me decide which streaming platforms I'll be keeping.

I ended up starting a new Silent Witness two-parter and struggled a little with this one. Domestic violence is a hard watch and there aren't many clues to who the culprit is. I'm hoping to finish the second half later today.

Caught another Death in Paradise and enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of Humphrey and can't wait to finish his run so I can watch the spin off Beyond Paradise.

Watched another episode of Only Murders in the Building and enjoyed it even if a lot of the scenes were goofy. It's kind of nice to have the comedic skills of the cast on display.

Got another episode of Battlestar Galactica in on my rewatch. This one had some good moments with a lot being left unsaid, which ends up biting a few people later.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman, which finished up the two-part origin story of Clayface and put Yin on the tentative side of the Batman.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered the first part with the submarine imagination scenario but forgot about the one where they discover Chuckie is left-handed. I love going back to these episodes and seeing them again.

Caught another episode of VIP and enjoyed it. It's fun to see the characters out of their element. It's also fun to see Val figure out what's actually going on.

Enjoyed another episode of My Life Is Murder. Nice to have a bit of Alexa backstory about her husband and how his death still affects her.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from New Year's Nip, an installment in the Organic Nature shorts series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Eppie Collins has a terrific guy, one who gave her a wonderful Christmas holiday. She's returning the favor on New Year's Eve, making surprise last-minute plans to watch the midnight fireworks in the city. Vin's not the only one who can pull out all the stops.

And a snippety peek…

Eppie glanced toward Vin for the third time in twenty minutes and laughed. "Stop pouting." She had no doubt he hated not being behind the wheel. "We took the edge off before we left." And so not the reason he all but twitched with restlessness in the passenger seat.

Vin didn't like not being in control.

Vin slid his gaze sideways and put a smile on his face. "I'm not pouting." He snorted. "Not really." He shifted again, adjusting the seat.

Eppie bit back another laugh. "At least you know we're going to the city." She'd more than make it worth his while though. "The whole not knowing anything is hard, isn't it?"

Vin gave her a sheepish look. "I hate that you're right but, yeah, it's a pain." He finally relaxed a little. "I now know how you felt when I took you to Holly Hollow."

Eppie put her hand on his thigh. "Not much longer. We're about ten minutes out." Which would give him a general idea of where they'd be in the city.

She merged onto the outer belt then took the exit for the downtown loop. Traffic heading in moved slowly but they'd beat the mad rush. In less than an hour, the vehicles heading to the stadium and riverfront would be bumper to bumper.

She eased over a lane, getting in line to make her turn. "Trust me, Vin. It'll be worth it."

He picked her hand up and brushed his lips over her knuckle. "I have no doubt. Just anxious, I guess."

Vin's frustration would end soon. Eppie carefully timed their arrival. She wanted to avoid the frustration of fighting to get through the congestion but also preferred to get to their location around dusk. Maj had everything waiting for them in the suite. Dinner, champagne, a decadent dessert. Eppie had packed bath salts—a new scent she wanted to try for couples—an earthy blend of pine, citrus, and a hint of vanilla.

A nice long soak in the garden tub would be amazing.

Eppie turned onto Riverfront Drive, the street running along the main entrance of the Chamberlain. Sliding her gaze sideways, she caught the moment things started clicking for Vin.

I love writing Eppie and Vin and it's so much fun to have Eppie pulling out all the stops to surprise him.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Mistletoe Madness

Welcome to Spooky Season month! I love October even if we're having unseasonably higher temperatures. Fall is such a fickle season in Ohio, but I'm hoping for an actual cooling down before winter snow comes calling.

Super busy work week with little projects, which actually gave me some time to write and organize. I'm hoping to launch a new venture in the next couple of weeks and having that extra time is helping.

Not a bad week for viewing television. The timing of my work projects overlapped a lot this week, so I didn't get to watch as much.

Watched the first of a two-parter Silent Witness. This one is very twisty and I'm afraid Nikki is headed for heartbreak. I love the premise of the case, though.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. The contrast between Richard and Humphrey is fun. Richard was very tight-lipped and refused to be vulnerable. Humphrey is super vulnerable almost from the word go. He's also much more in tune with people in general.

Started season three of Only Murders in the Building. Gotta say, I'm not quite as riveted as I was for the first two seasons, but I love that we get to dive into Oliver's world. We kind of started in Mabel's even if we didn't know that fact at first, and season two brought Charles's past into the picture, literally. It's fun to see Oliver interact with the theater crowd.

Watched another episode of The Batman. Rather enjoyed the take on the puppet master Scarface in this 'verse. And Alfred setting up Bruce's dating profile always makes me chuckle.

Started season six of Classic Rugrats. Introducing Dil with two episodes of how life is different was a good choice. Loved Spike saving the day in his episode.

Caught another episode of VIP. Lots of fun and they nailed the trash TV talk-show vibe of the late nineties / early aughts.

Started another episode of My Life Is Murder and I'm enjoying it. Alexa is a tough nut to crack sometimes and I kind of like that. I do get a little annoyed when she's callous and treats others like they're a waste of her time. Hopefully that smooths out at some point.

And that's pretty much if for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Mistletoe Madness, a holiday novella featuring a trio.

Here's the miniblurb:

After burying her mother right before the holidays, Delaney Nixon comes back home to deal with the estate and decide what to do with her future. Two former beaus offer condolences and help, each hoping the spark might reignite even if they've agreed to leave old feelings alone while getting Delaney through the merry season.

And a snippety peek…

Westin Ames rolled out from under the vintage pickup when the buzzer sounded over his head. "Who's here at this hour?" He'd closed up shop for the day.

Wiping his hands on a grease rag, he went out to the small lobby of his garage and unlocked the door. He did a double take when he opened it. What the hell did Scotty Landon want?

Wes stepped back. "Gotta say, I didn't expect to find you on the doorstep of my garage." They weren't exactly friends, even if Wes used Scotty as his insurance agent.

Then again, Wes had heard the buzz about Joanie Nixon passing, which meant Delaney might be coming home. Scotty probably wanted to tell Westin to fuck off and leave her alone. Wouldn't happen, but he'd hear Scotty out.

Scotty rolled a shoulder. "Got an email from Delaney. She's coming in to settle her mom's estate." He stopped there, saying nothing else.

Westin motioned for Scotty to enter then closed the door. "And what? You're here to give me a news flash or something else?" Like warning Wes off.

He didn't have to be a dick, but he couldn't think of any other reason Landon would be here.

Scotty frowned. "Something else. Thought maybe we could go over and offer Delaney any assistance she might need." He propped a shoulder on the wall.

Wes blinked in surprise. Of course, he should've expected Scotty to go bigger man and act like they wouldn't be rivals. Then again, maybe that's the point. Going together would highlight the glaring differences between the men.

Wes snorted. "Let me guess, you wanna go together to show Delaney she'd be slumming if she hooked up with me again, right?" The chip on his shoulder rarely reared its ugly head, but thoughts of Delaney brought it out of hiding.

Scotty's brows furrowed. "Uh, no, actually. Why would you even go there?"

Westin snorted. "You're fucking with me, right? Mr. College Degree turned the only insurance game in town versus veteran bad-boy biker mechanic?" He shook his head. "What's she gonna see in me?" He often wondered if she wanted the polar opposite of what she had with Landon back then.

Scotty frowned again and pushed away from the wall. "I don't know, Ames. Maybe a guy who served his country then came home and started his own business, giving deep discounts to vets like himself." He shook his head. "She'll see what everyone else sees … someone she can respect." He waited a beat. "If you don't get that, you never really knew her." He folded his arms across his chest. "And you sure as hell don't deserve her."

Westin huffed out a breath. "Dammit. I really wanted to keep not liking you, Scotty." But the guy had never been anything but decent during their interactions.

Scotty's lips twitched. "Sorry I'm not a raging asshole." He sobered. "Look, it's the holiday season. Losing a parent sucks anytime, but it's gotta be worse right now." He shrugged. "I figured we can be there for her. Give her a shoulder if she needs one." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

Wes gave a nod. "Yeah, we can. And we should agree to have a truce or whatever the hell it is when two old boyfriends join forces to help their ex-girlfriend out." Could he sound more like an idiot.

Scotty lifted his chin and thrust his palm forward. "Deal."

Wes cracked a smile and clasped Scotty's palm. "Give me a minute to shut off the lights." He made his way to the garage and flipped the switches.

Scotty opened the door and paused just outside. "What if she's got someone with her? Like a current guy?" He withdrew his keys and popped his door open.

Wes grunted. "If she does, it's too bad for him." He headed for his bike.

Scotty's lips kicked up in grin and he started the car.

Westin shook his head. "Gonna be an interesting night."

I'm loving this story! Scotty and Westin are fun to write, and I can't wait to bring Delaney into the mix.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Midnight Promise

Our temperature warmed up again but didn't get super-hot, so the week ended up being very nice. The leaves are starting to turn and are already falling to the ground. I'm sad the colors aren't nearly as bright as they used to be.

Had a busy work week with lots of potential new projects. I also had some extra time to finish up a fall holiday short story, which makes me so happy! I ended up getting a good chunk of writing done and hope that continues this week.

Ended up with a decent week of viewing television. I got a little distracted with writing so about one full round of my current lineup. Not bad all things considered.

Watched two episodes of My Life Is Murder. So far, I'm enjoying the series. I feel like I might get a little annoyed with Alexa, but it's early days yet and that might change. I do love the supporting characters and how Alexa's backstory is unfolding at a slow drip.

Got almost two episodes of Agatha Raisin watched. I'll be finishing the second one up later today. Another show where I love the supporting characters so much. And Agatha is a lot of fun.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness, which finished out season twenty-two. I thoroughly enjoyed Nikki knowing in her gut she hadn't made a mistake and then following that through to prove it. I was kind of bummed the assistant ended up being the reason for the problems. Also loved the additional case of the drug-trial testing and how that one played out.

Started season three of Death in Paradise. I've watched the episode before, but it's a great example of how to bring in a new character while giving the original a proper send-off. Looking forward to Humphrey's tenure.

Finished up Fantasy Island's second season. I ended up being fairly pleased with the lack of extended angst between Elena and Javier. So nice to see Ruby's daughter and follow that story. The wives' club fantasy ended up being pretty great also. If and when the writer and actor strike is over, I'll look forward to a season three if the show is renewed.

Caught another episode of The Batman and it's one I'd forgotten. I like having some different or lesser-known rogue characters. And the Alfred and Bruce interactions are fun in this series.

Watched a double-header of Battlestar Galactica with "Lay Down Your Burden," the season two finale episodes. So much to love and so much to not love about these two episodes. And I'm still completely amazed with how prescient this series ended up being. It's freaky sometimes.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats, which ended season five and ushered in the first movie and baby Dil. I'd completely forgotten about Charles's parents being in this one. Kind of cool to see them.

Also caught another episode of VIP. It's one I remember from way back in the day and a fun one, where Tasha actually give Val kudos. This is an over-the-top wild show but so much fun to watch.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Midnight Promise, a holiday-themed novella that got a start with brainstorming story ideas session.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lance Norris leaves the military just in time for Halloween and he can't wait to get home where he reconnects with Melba Johnson, his recently divorced high-school sweetheart and the owner of a popular hometown bar. Determined to win Melba back over, Lance embarks on a whirlwind courtship throughout the holiday season and plans to propose at midnight on New Year's Eve. The only stumbling block? She still has close ties with her ex.

And a snippety peek…

Melba Johnson turned from her spot on a ladder when someone rapped on the door of her bar. "Hey, Tani, can you let Jake in?" She nodded toward the entrance.

Melba's employee stopped painting the window and let Jake Hawkins—Melba's ex-husband—in.

Jake darted over. "Need some help?" He took the black, orange, and purple bunting Melba had draped over one arm and widened it out.

Melba smiled. "Thanks. I'm going all the way across with it." With both hands free, she stapled the fabric as far down as she could.

Tani put the finishing touches on the witch's hat taking up most of the window. "How's it look, boss?" She stepped back, waving her arm with a flourish.

Jake nodded. "I'm not the boss, but that looks spectacular." He glanced up to Melba. "Are you using the black light paint again? People loved that last year."

Melba climbed off the ladder and moved it down to the center of the bar. "We are. Tani's adding a black cat on the other window. Should look amazing from the outside." She gave Tani a thumbs-up. "The hat is perfect." She angled around to get back on the ladder, but Jake had the rest of the bunting hung.

He came down. "Figured my arms are longer." He handed her the stapler. "Need help with the lights?" He nodded toward the strands she had sitting on the bar.

She tilted her head. "Didn't you just get off work?" He had a twenty-four-hour shift at the fire department.

Jake shrugged. "Yeah. We had a slow night. So, I don't need to head home and crash." He took one set of lights. "Where are you thinking for the green ones?"

Tani stopped painting the outline of the cat. "You two blow my mind. I've never seen a couple get divorced and become best friends." She shook her head.

Melba laughed. "Helps that we were best friends before we got married." Something they shouldn't have done in the first place.

Jake started winding the green lights around the pillar at one end of the bar. "You've worked for Melba since she took over the bar. You know the history." He met Melba's gaze and flashed a smile.

Melba grinned back. "Our biggest mistake was trying to keep up with the Joneses." As in, getting married because all their friends were tying the knot.

A really bad decision, which they discovered last year. If anyone would've told her she'd get married at twenty-two, separated at twenty-five, and divorced by twenty-six, she'd have called them a liar. But she also wouldn't have met Jake, who truly had been her best friend before their ill-fated nuptials.

Tani laughed. "You also had the most amicable breakup ever." She went back to filling in the outline of the hair-raising cat.

Jake finished winding the lights and came around for another strand. "There's one part of the story she doesn't know, does she?" He picked up the purple lights.

Melba lifted her chin. "No, she doesn't. No one knows except you, and you deserved to know why we couldn't stay married." And why she'd probably never say I do again.

Because … she'd already given her heart away to someone else and they still had it.

I'm so happy with how this scene came together. I'm having fun exploring how an amicable parting of the ways can work well for a character.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin