Sunday Snippet: Lonely Heart Mountain

The end of June came a lot quicker than I expected. This month flew by, and I'm not sure I got as much accomplished as I hoped to.

The weather is still fairly mild for June but the heat index for the upcoming week makes me want to weep. It's going to be so, so hot.

Continued to have a busy work week. Several new potential projects are waiting in the wings and I'm excited about them. One is a fiction project with a really intriguing concept. Two others are memoir life-story projects. I've been working on quite a few of those and they're a nice change of pace. I continued working on the developmental edit, pulling a few more files into the master document. Also finished up a copy edit and started a new one.

Had a less than stellar viewing week. I felt a little bit off all week and couldn't focus on viewing new stuff. I did several binge marathons of early seasons of Death in Paradise for background noise. I also got a considerable amount of writing done because the sages were banging on the door in my brain.

I did watch another behind the scenes bonus episode of Foyle's War. This one showed a day in the life of an episode. Some great interviews with the cast and crew.

Also caught another episode of Tales from Irish Castles. This one explored tower houses and it seems like there are a bunch of them dotting the landscape. Really love getting an inside look at some of these castles.

Started an episode of Silent Witness and made it about halfway through. The subject matter is really tough to view and, honestly, hits a little hard. I don't know who is writing the show at the moment but, man, they're dead-on with the stuff that makes people flinch.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Lonely Heart Mountain, a novella that pulls a couple together over family strife.

Here's the miniblurb:

Author Hettie Blackwell returns home to care for her ailing mother, because her two brothers aren't up to the task. But when Hettie bumps into Winslow Whittaker—the hot new sheriff—she's got more trouble, especially when her younger brother lands in county jail on Valentine's Day.

And a snippety peek…

Hettie Blackwell closed the door to her mother's room and settled back on the sofa. "Glad she's sleeping well tonight. Maybe I can finish this chapter." She pulled her laptop open and started reviewing her latest scene.

She couldn't quite get a handle on the hero, but the pieces would fall into place soon. Her love of shaping characters with rough edges into fully fleshed-out people never failed to get there in the end. His quirky traits would reveal themselves soon.

Sinking into the words on the page, she sighed when her phone pinged with an incoming text. Grabbing the device, she unlocked the screen and tapped on the messaging icon. The screen showed a new message from Manny T, aka Manny Treadwell, one of her best friends from high school. The ten-year gap since graduation only strengthened their bond.

She opened the app and read the message. "Heads up, sweetie. Your bro is mellow drunk. I'll make sure he gets home safe." Manny couldn't say no to a sale.

Not when half the county needed beer for the massive concert on the hillside at Tim Collins's farm.

Hettie sighed. "Dammit, Manny. You weren't supposed to serve him." Her younger brother, Hank, needed to be sober—and hopefully not hung over—tomorrow so Hettie could get the grocery shopping done.

She started to text back when a call came in. The screen lit up with Tim's name. Dread unfurled in her stomach. On the heels of Manny's text, Tim couldn't be calling with good news.

She answered. "Hey, Tim. How's the concert going?" Muffled music came through the speaker.

Tim chuckled. "Going great, Hets. But … Hank's ex is here and I have a feeling she's gonna cause trouble. Wanted to let you know because he's toasted right now. Very chill at the moment, but you know Shari."

Hettie sighed. Yeah, she knew Shari … her brother's on again-off again girlfriend. They'd split a few months ago, supposedly for good this time. Hank wanted something and someone less toxic and stressful, which he needed because their mom would not improve. It would take all three siblings, Hettie, Heath, and Hank to help her until they no longer could.

So far, Hettie had the responsibility for the lion's share of care their mom needed. Her brothers meant well, but neither had a large capacity for patience and calm. But they agreed to supplement Hettie's income when she left her full-time job and moved back home to help them. They were holding up their end of the bargain, and she had more time to write her novels.

When she didn't have to bail one or both out from whatever weird situation they got themselves into. Heath had a really bad habit of picking up women who were still in relationships, which got him into more than one tricky spot. And Hank? Never met a beer he wouldn't drink. Thankfully, he tended to keep his consumption to the weekends.

Hettie weighed her options. "Has Shari been drinking?" If so, she'd light a match to watch Hank explode.

Tim snorted. "Based on her volume level, yes."

Hettie sighed again. "Okay. Let me find someone to stay with Mom. I'll drive out and drag Hank home." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Thanks for calling, Tim." Another great friend from high school who'd kept in touch with Hettie.

His voice softened. "No problem, Hets. And no rush. Take care of Mom first. Mainly wanted to head trouble off at the pass if possible."

Hettie's lips quirked. "Appreciate it. Especially with all you have going on this weekend." She ended the call and tried Heath's number but got his voice mail.

She fired off a quick text. "Gotta go get Hank. Try to get home ASAP. Will have someone come sit with Mom." She called their neighbor, Wendi Sitler and she agreed to come over and stay with Hillary until Heath got home from work or Hettie returned with Hank.

Hettie put her laptop away, exchanged her shoes for boots, put a lightweight shirt on over her tank top and headed for the garage. After checking the SUV to make sure she had what she'd need to haul Hank home, she hit the opener for the door just as Wendi pulled up the drive.

Backing out, she paused by Wendi's car and rolled the window down. "Thank you so much for doing this. I'll try to get home as soon as possible."

Wendi waved her hand. "No problem, Hettie. Take your time and be safe."

Hettie gave the other woman a smile. "I will. And if Heath beats me home, he'll take over." With a quick wave, she backed out onto the apron and headed down the drive. "This is definitely not how I wanted to spend Saturday night."

I haven't quite figured out if this will still end up being a Valentine-themed book or not. I kind of love the idea but this might turn into a series with a total of four books.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Just Dance

Whew. It's been a long week. Can't say it's been terrible, more a constant state of busy. I did manage to take care of several personal life things that I've been putting off so that's a bonus. But I've also been scattered all over the place and that makes me bananapants.

Ohio is gearing up for another weather event where we have 84 degrees today for the high and by Monday, the high will be in the low forties. The barometer hates me right now. Also planning for power outages because when the temperature shifts that much in twenty-four to forty-eight hours and thunderstorms are thrown in, things tend to happen. Wind shears, lightning strikes, flash floods that take out trees. Yeah, definitely hope for the best but prep for the worst.

Work projects have been stacked up with more coming in. I'm very happy to be busy! I finished up a proofread of a terrific nonfiction book, got through a copy edit that ended up having some possibly big consistency concerns. Set up the start of a manuscript proofread to start this week and scheduled a read through of a manuscript that I'll be doing a developmental edit on. I have a few odds and ends that I'll be working on wherever I can also.

Did not get a lot of viewing done this week. Didn't have the bandwidth and needed to focus on work projects. Also ended up having a very productive writing week.

I did finish up Foyle's War and I enjoyed rewatching. I'd forgotten how reluctant Foyle was to join the security forces.

Also caught another episode of My Life Is Murder and thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. I love Rueben letting himself get pulled into the capers.

Still need to finish Poirot from last week. I'll probably start over because I didn't get very far into the episode before I had to pause.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Dance, a novella that brings the characters together for a second chance at romance.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Kevin Hale returns home to help his family put their craft brewery on the map, he has to work with Alice Frank—the girl he left behind—to launch an event to benefit local businesses in a slow summer month. Alice is wary of getting involved with Kevin again—his wanderlust is well-known and she's definitely a hometown girl—but his creativity spurs hers and she takes a chance that he'll stick around this time.

And a snippety peek…

Alice Frank clicked out of the email forwarded by the director with a shaky hand. "Kevin Hale. Geez." Eight years ago, she dreamed she'd be married to him with their future mapped out.

Except things didn't work out that way. Kevin ditched college and signed on as an apprentice for a touring company that staged big shows at convention centers. Now … he wanted to meet the event coordinator about an idea he had for a summer festival.

And she happened to be said coordinator. And he wanted to meet next week. Shit.

Leaning back in her chair, she exhaled slowly. "Not sure if I can deal with seeing him again." He'd broken her heart … and left a few scars behind in the process.

She'd had sporadic updates from his brothers, but they thankfully kept the news to a minimum. And, okay, when Alice ran into his mom at the holiday bazaar, Brenna had mentioned she expected Kevin home soon. But she hadn't said a word about him staying.

Alice snorted. "Not that I would've believed her." And not after Kevin all but said he'd never settle for a tiny, little Podunk town when the whole wide world waited out there for him.

And the worst part? When she mentioned maybe going with him, he'd scoffed. In no uncertain terms, he'd brutally trashed any possibility. His exact words? You'd never leave with me. Even if you did, you wouldn't stay. You lack the imagination it takes to do this kind of work. And vision. Your entire world view exists in this town. Nowhere else.

Her mouth twisted. "But he was wrong." Maybe not about traveling the world.

But she had left Canal Ridge. She went to college in the capital city and lived there for four years. Okay, she hadn't gone far. But she loved living in the city and still enjoyed visiting when she got the chance.

She inhaled deeply. "Maybe it's not Europe or wherever else Kevin ended up working, but it opened my eyes." And sparked her imagination.

She wanted to give back to the community that cared for her and gave her a home. She worked hard to find solutions for small businesses and the limited large companies that provided jobs and revenue for their small town. And she ended up being very good at her job.

Exhaling slowly again, she opened her calendar app and tentatively scheduled two meeting times. "Of course I can deal with seeing him." She got over him a long time ago. "I'll listen to this idea of his and find a way to make it happen." But she wouldn't be the one working with him.

She had a deep well of resources she could pull from. And, no doubt, a bunch of people would volunteer to be part welcoming him home. Which meant she didn't have to be.

Did that sound petty? Maybe. But just because she'd managed to get over their brutal breakup didn't mean she had to interact with him any more than necessary for as long as he'd be here.

Because she didn't believe he'd actually stick around. He'd be home long enough to see this summer festival happen then traipse off to parts unknown again. And good riddance when he did.

After compiling a very professional email, she sent it out through cyberspace. "Okay, Kev. Let's see how you handle a blast from the past."

I think this one is going to be a lot of fun. Alice and Kevin have to get over some preconceived notions about each other and it's interesting to watch that unfold.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Future in Play

Whew. Ended up being a long week between work, home, and other projects. The biggest and best one is helping my daughter edit her final paper for her master's degree. I'm so proud of her!

I made a small dent in the great cleanout project. Didn't get a lot accomplished but made a bit of progress, which I'll take.

Finished up two work projects and continued on with two more. I have another two in flux and two new ones coming sometime this week. Excited to stay busy!

Pretty good week for viewing. I got through my full round of shows and finished up one from last week. I'm still working on one of the others.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and it was one of my favorite episodes. I love a good masquerade or costume party.

Caught another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries and enjoyed Gloria and Nick working together. Hope to see more of that in future episodes.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. The run-up to Neville leaving is turning out to be a lot of fun. And always good to see Dwayne back. Looking forward to the next episode.

Finished up the two-part Poirot and loved how the resolution came together. I like it when the infallible Poirot gets off on the wrong track for a bit.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed the mystery. Also enjoyed Joan handling her detractor and Sherlock acting as the support system afterward.

Enjoyed an episode of Batman Beyond. I remembered this one from my original watch. A lot of fun.

Caught an episode of Lower Decks and, again, ended up being equally charmed and annoyed. I think that's my standard for this show.

Finished up the Reacher episode from last week and wow. Gotta say I didn't see the ending coming, which is always a good thing. Hoping I can get a full episode in this week.

Almost finished an episode of Peak Practice. Things are getting very messy in the relationship departments for everyone, and Sam, whew, what a huge pile he's getting ready to step into.

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

Here's the miniblurb:

Nellie Finch is a little bored with her family's annual fall money-maker, the Apple Butter Festival. But when the village council decides to add a competitor to the yearly event, Nellie faces off against Mace Bigelow to see who makes the best mouth-watering spread and find out which challenger will win bragging rights and maybe the other competitor's heart.

And a snippety peek…

Nellie pulled into the drive at her gram's house and cut her engine. "Mane Bigelow." Wow … he'd filled out since graduation.

Grabbing her keys, she got out of the car and retrieved the leftovers from the backseat. She yawned and headed up the sidewalk to the house. The meeting started early, just after six, to accommodate one of the committee members' night-shift schedule. Nellie foresaw a nap in her future.

Nellie entered the house and found her gram sitting at the table, scrolling on her phone with a cup of coffee in front of her. "Hi, Gram. What's happening on your socials?" Mamie had more media accounts than Nellie did.

Mamie glanced up. "Eh, nothing interesting yet. But I've only checked Facebook and TikTok so far." Her eyebrows rose. "You're later than I expected. Did the meeting run long?" She set her phone aside.

Nellie stowed the takeout in the fridge then joined her gram at the table. "No, we were finished up by a little after eight." She propped her elbows on the table. "Ran into Mace Bigelow at the restaurant and gave him a lift out to Hannah's." She'd enjoyed talking to him … and hoped he did call.

Mamie narrowed her gaze. "Isn't he in the navy? Home on leave?" She got up and refilled her mug.

Nellie nodded. "Yeah. He didn't let Hannah know he was coming so he got to surprise her." Her lips quirked. "She was so happy to see him."

Mamie sat back down. "She loves that boy. And with Linc gone, I'm sure she gets kind of lonely out there in boonies."

Nellie laughed. "Gram, I hate to break it to you, but we're not exactly in the thick of it out here either." But they were just off the highway instead of buried out on a township road.

Mamie shrugged. "Nothing wrong with having your closest neighbor be a quarter of a mile down the road." She flashed a smile. "Besides, it makes skinny dipping easier when there's no one else around."

Nellie rolled her eyes. "You keep forgetting the Wilsons bought a drone. Don't know about you, but that rules out skinny dipping for me." Their neighbors loved to send the device out for aerial photography.

Mamie chuckled. "Fair point. I haven't actually skinny-dipped in the pond since I had your dad anyway." She leaned back in the chair. "But it's nice to sit on the little wharf with our feet in the water in August."

Nellie nodded. "True. Especially after trying out new recipes with apple butter." They almost had a perfect icing for cupcakes.

Mamie's lips curved. "You know, when I first started competing at the festival, I thought Lincoln might be some stiff competition." Her mouth thinned to a straight line. "If he'd been confident enough to enter his butter."

Nellie blinked. "Um, why wasn't he?" And why hadn't she heard anything about this?

Mamie shook her head. "The old biddies that started the festival were so scandalized a man could make better preserves than they could, they did everything in their power to gaslight Linc into believing he couldn't possibly be up to snuff." She snorted. "It worked. He ended up pulling his entry and never tried again." Mamie leaned forward. "And you know what? He'd have won. I haven't figured out what his secret ingredient was, but he made damn good butter."

Nellie settled back against her chair. "Wow. I had no idea. I wonder if Mane knows his grandpa could've been king of the festival." Maybe she'd ask if he called.

Mamie tilted her head. "You finally noticed."

Nellie arched her brows. "Noticed what?"

Her gram huffed out a breath. "Mane. That young man always had potential." She inclined her chin. "And you finally realize it."

Nellie rolled a shoulder. "It's not that I didn't realize … more like I had too many commitments and not enough hours in the day to pay attention." Her high school class schedule, extra curriculars, and part-time jobs kept her busy.

Too busy to really date anyone. Instead, her group of friends intermingled and did things like homecoming and the prom as a unit, pairing off but attending together. She wouldn't change anything … but sometimes wondered if she missed out on something.

Mamie finished her coffee. "I'm heading out to check the trees. Wanna come?" She rinsed her mug and set it in the drainer.

Nellie got up. "Sure. Let me change and I'll head out with you." Then she planned to come back and catch a nap.

Unless Mane called…

I'm in the beginning stages of this one and I'm having a lot of fun writing it.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Elective Campaign

It's a long weekend in the US for the Memorial Day holiday and also graduation weekend for our local high school. Seems like a great time to have lovely weather, right? It's Ohio so the answer would be probably not. It's cloudy with a chance of rain. But at least the temperature is in the high sixties instead of the low fifties, which is more like March instead of May.

I'm making headway on the multiple work projects. Two have shifted off my plate for the next step in the publishing process and the other six are coming along. I should have at least two more finished up this week. YAY!

Had a pretty solid week of viewing. I did make it through my regular slate of shows and got started on my two new ones. Or, one new one and one that always seems to simmer on the back burner.

Enjoyed another episode in my rewatch of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The first couple of episodes do such a great job of setting up the dynamic between the characters and I thoroughly enjoy the actors so much.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and like how awkward things are between Selwyn and his daughter. I also kind of enjoy Katherine being in his face but I also think she kind of oversteps sometimes.

Caught another episode of Poirot and enjoyed it. I often feel like the relationship between Poirot and Japp is shortchanged because we don't really see how that started, but the interactions are fun.

Enjoyed another Brokenwood Mysteries. Kind of weird but awesome the victim is someone we met in an earlier episode. And the mystery took some wild turns, which is always fun.

Watched another episode of Elementary and loved the interactions with Joan and Sherlock. The ice cream touch at the end is perfection.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I don't really remember much of but also one that I quite enjoyed. There's nothing like a storyline where a character is trapped in a computer and wants to escape to the real world. It's a weird trope that I love.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones that were new to me, and I liked both. Weird bit with some out of order information as the Finsters were still calling their dog puppy instead of Pepper.

Watched another episode of Return to Paradise and I'm still enjoying this one. I'm very interested in seeing what happens with Mackenzie and her ex-fiancé. There's a lot of good potential to be very messy with this situation.

I got started on a new episode of Peak Practice but didn't make it all the way through. I'll try to finish it up this week.

Also started a new episode of Reacher, but paused because I need to pay attention and couldn't focus like I wanted to. I'll definitely finish this one up this week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Elective Campaign, a novella about starting over in a new place with a new person.

Here's the miniblurb:

Mac is running for reelection and needs a logistical planner on his roster to win. Yancy has the training and background, but she presents a problem … Mac is very attracted to her. They fight the pull but give in, and once it's discovered, he might lose more than the election.

And a snippety peek…

Yancy went for a run. Her phone started pinging with news notifications and she read them on her watch. Some good. Some bad.

She slowed to a walk. "Ugh. I hate the notoriety." She wanted to do a good job, not fight through social media to make changes.

An older couple walking the trail caught her attention.

The woman gave a brief wave. "Aren't you the new logistical planner?" She shifted off the course and made her way toward Yancy.

Yancy nodded. "Yes." She took a drink from her water bottle. "First time I've been on this path. I started back at the lake, and I love how this is set up."

The duo showed surprise.

The man gave her an impressed look. "The previous planner rarely ventured away from city hall." He waved a hand. "Don't get me wrong, a super nice guy, but he didn't get out and about much."

Yancy wouldn't bad-mouth anyone whose circumstances she didn't know. "I'm new to the area, and I figured the best way to help the city run smoothly is to know the streets." She recapped her bottle.

The older lady gave Yancy a long look. "Did you get the job by sleeping with our esteemed city leader?"

Point-blank with nary a blink.

Yancy had to respect her bluntness. "Considering I haven't slept with Mayor Davison, no." She bit back a grin when the duo slid each other sideways glances.

The lady arched a brow. "Well, why not? That Mac is a handsome guy."

The gentleman nudged his wife with his elbow. "Or as the granddaughter likes to say, he's a total smoke show."

Yancy sputtered out a laugh. "That's what my daughter says also." She thrust her hand forward. "It's been wonderful meeting you."

The older couple introduced themselves as Scott and Stephanie Prospect.

Scott shook firmly and held on for a longer moment. "The city needs people like you and Mac. Best of luck with the election."

Stephanie leaned in and pitched her voice low. "You two shouldn't let Jackman spin the facts. Just saying."

The encounter gave Yancy food for thought. While cooling down from her run, she called Mac on the way back to her car. "Let's make some plans after I get moved in to my office."

Mac sputtered a little. "Okay. Are you sure?"

She smiled. "I am. And I'll fill you in when we meet. End of the workday tomorrow?" Why wait?

He didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. I'm tied up in meetings all day, but I'll stop by when I'm done."

Her lips curved even more. "Sounds great. See you then." She ended the call and made a beeline for her vehicle.

Can't wait to tell Viv I have plans to make plans.

I have so much love for Yancy and Mac and they needed someone else to root for them!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Unfettered in Love

September has been such a weird month. Our weather is all over the place—again—and we're baking in high temps. Also have a drought at the moment. I mean the grass crunches when I walk on it right now.

I think we have our car issues solved. Mine is back with a new computer and we did end up with a total loss on the CR-V. Found one to replace that and we're getting everything in order to finalize the purchase. Here's hoping that ends our car drama for a good, long time.

Another super busy work week. Finished up a project and started a new one. I'm in a holding pattern for two more and I may have a new client for some writing coaching. Very excited about my calendar right now!

Did not have a great week of viewing. Too many things distracting me and needing my attention. I might have to start doing playlists instead of television shows. If I do the playlist thing, be forewarned, I have very eclectic taste in music.

I did get an episode of The Batman watched by starting the fourth season. This introduced Superman to the roster, which also means Lex Luthor put in an appearance along with Lois and Jimmy.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats. All three vignettes were new to me, which is fun. I feel like I must have skipped several seasons though because I don't remember watching or rewatching several episodes that really stand out in my memory. Might have to check to see if I did.

Also started an episode of My Life Is Murder. This is a two-parter and looks to end the fourth season. Looking forward to finishing this one up and waiting patiently for a fifth season. Fingers crossed!

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

Here's the miniblurb:

Shayla Ruger is perpetually single by choice. After all, she's dated every guy in her small hometown and hasn't found the right one. But when Innes Dalton blazes back into the area, Shayla may have found her dream man. The only problem? His ex—the woman who left him at the altar—enters the picture and Shayla has to decide if she's willing to dig deep and fight for the future she wants or let her competition take the prize.

And a snippety peek…

Shayla Ruger grabbed her coffee mug and headed down the back steps from her second-floor apartment to the bookstore below. "It's a great day to sell books." She paused by the circuit breaker panel and flipped the switches to turn the interior lights on.

Walking through the packing and storage area, she set her mug on the sales counter and headed for the front door. She flashed a smile when her gaze landed on the newly painted logo on the glass. The heart and crossed bones never failed to make her chuckle. She specialized in romance and cozy mysteries and the contest she ran to choose her logo for the Love and Bones Bookstore ended up giving her the best month of sales she'd had since opening three years ago.

Her curiosity piqued when she spotted a guy standing outside with his back to the store, looking at the courthouse directly across Main Street. He wore a dark hoodie and camo fatigues.

She made an appreciative hum. "And he has an incredibly nice ass." She turned the deadbolt.

His head angled around at the sound, and her eyes narrowed, trying to place the face. Then they widened with surprise. Innes Dalton. Wow. A high school hero with an arrogant attitude, she hadn't seen him since they'd ended up at the same graduation party for a mutual friend … ten years ago. They were in the same grade but had gone to different schools.

She definitely hadn't run in his circles. Music and theater were her havens. And he lettered in three different sports. But they knew each other. With only three high schools in the county, everyone did.

If memory served, he'd been left at the altar by his high school and college sweetheart, Marisol Wright. Then he'd joined the military? She didn't remember for sure, but the camo pants might be a clue.

She blinked when she looked up to find him with his hand on the door and an arched brow. Shit. She needed to get off memory lane and focus on here and now.

Stepping back, she turned the quirky little sign she'd made from closed to open. Then she smiled and lifted her chin, indicating he could come inside. A gust of chilly air preceded him into her main section.

He paused once he crossed the threshold and tilted his head to one side. "Shayla, right? Shayla Ruger. You graduated from River Bend, didn't you?" His gaze did a brief once-over from her head to her toes.

She gave a nod, surprised he remembered her name. "Yep. Same year you did from Caldwell." The city school, whereas hers had been rural farm country.

His lips curved in a sheepish smile. "You're Razor's cousin. Ran into him last night at the gym. Happy to see he's still with Brittney." The mutual friend whose graduation party both attended…

Razor, an odd nickname her cousin Raynor earned in elementary school, started going out with Brittney during junior year. And in a strange six degrees kind of twist, Brittney had family ties to Innes's former fiancé, Marisol, but Shayla wouldn't make things awkward by mentioning the connection.

Instead, she grinned. "Yeah. Married five years now with a kid and another on the way." She headed for the sales counter, trying hard not to read too much into Innes Dalton being in her bookstore. "Brittney's one of my regulars. She stops in a lot." And usually found a spot in one of the reading nooks for some quiet time to read.

Innes followed her and propped his arms on the smooth top of the rustic bar she'd salvaged from a former brewery. "Yeah, she's the one who recommended I drop by. I'm looking for some reading material and she said you stock all the latest cozy mysteries and romance novels." His gaze swept over the shelves lining the main section. "Looks like she sent me to the right place."

Shayla blinked, unable to completely hide her surprise. "You're looking for cozies and romance?" Her head tilted to one side. "There's gotta be a story there…"

Just started this one and I'm excited to see where things go with Shayla and Innes.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Trapping Flies with Honey

Washing machine update. The new washer got here and I'm happy to say the mountain of clothes is now a manageable pile. It's amazing!

Coffeemaker update. The new one arrived and it's a combo single cup or full pot. I love it. Here's hoping my caffeine habit doesn't trash this one in under a year.

Another crazy-busy work week. I finished up the mystery and the romance copy edits and started a cozy mystery. Also continued with novella edits. Had a couple of calls about two or three new projects. I'm excited! I also managed to get some good writing in for myself. A good week!

I didn't get much of anything watched on my viewing schedule. I did a LOT of social media scrolling, especially after Biden stepped aside and endorsed Kamala Harris for the democratic nomination. That's unexpected and exciting. Also spent a lot of time shaking my head over the GOP nomination for vice president. It's going to be an interesting couple of months.

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

Here's the miniblurb:

Acer Prewitt has a sweetheart deal—a busy roadside cafe the community loves and hometown girl, Mazzy Blume, as his current flame and event manager. When a newcomer sets her sights on taking Mazzy's place, Acer gives Mazzy space to handle the situation but also offers a solid piece of advice—instead of ripping the other woman a new one trip her up with kindness.

And a snippety peek…

Mazzy stormed into Acer's office. "Did you tell Jerica she could head-up the St. Patrick's Day event?" Anger rolled off her in waves.

Acer's brows drew together. "After the success we've had with the other holiday-themed parties?" He set his pen aside. "Do I look stupid enough to wreck a good thing? Or dumb enough to piss you off?" His eyes narrowed. "Why would you think I'd do that?" He never went out of his way to pique her temper.

Her shoulders slumped. "I have no idea. She made it sound convincing." Heaving a sighing growl, she started for the door.

Acer got up and caught her before she could leave. "Hold up. What's the plan, Mazz?" He wouldn't have his top employee making a scene.

Mazzy snarled. "To smash her face on the nearest surface." Her eyes flashed. "She buzzes around like fly, dropping shit presents wherever she lands." Another growling sound came from her throat. "And this time, she's trying to snag not only my regular customers, but my holiday specials, too. I'm done. No more free passes."

He understood her frustration and annoyance. After all, he'd hired Jerica Malone. He wisely wouldn't point out that Mazzy begged him to bring in more help for the diner.

His palm slid down her arm to clasp her fingers. "Look, Mazz, it's time to step in. I only stayed out of the way because you asked me to." He tugged her toward the small couch in the corner. "I'm not having any more of this crap … from either of you." He nudged her down and settled beside her.

Mazzy shook her head. "No. You're not getting involved." Her head hit the back of the cushion. "But you're right. This ends today. I need a plan."

Acer's lips quirked. "Here's a plan. Be nice." He waited for her inevitable explosion.

Her head snapped up. "Are you serious?"

He nodded. "I am. My great-gram used to say flies like honey. So … you need to be sweet and kind and knock her down with it." Junie Prewitt rarely failed to get what she wanted in life. "Jerica wants you to engage. When you won't…" He shrugged.

The other girl would get bored and fall in line or she'd get mad and quit. At this point, he almost didn't care which.

Mazzy tilted her head to one side. "Huh. That just might work." She angled sideways and leaned in close to him. "You might be a brilliant genius." Her mouth caught his in a quick, hard kiss.

He laughed. "Good to know you appreciate more than my dick."

Mazzy rolled her eyes. "You know how much I love your ass, too. Right?" She smirked and waggled her eyebrows. "I can show you how much both mean to me when we get home tonight." She got up and started for the door again in a much better frame of mind.

Acer grinned. A disaster avoided and a hot romp in bed all but promised. Not a bad outcome.

This story is so much fun. It's in the early stages and Mazzy is such a treat to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Lonely Heart Mountain

Whew! Busy week, which I love. My youngest kidlet got engaged last weekend and we've been riding that wave of excitement this week.

Finished up one work project and got another new one. It's a mystery and I love those! Also plugging along with an ongoing LitRPG manuscript that's also a sci-fi/fantasy mash-up. I love the series!

Had an okay week of television viewing. I didn't get through as much as I thought I would but I'm cool with that.

I finished up the episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I've got two episodes left and I'm bracing for impact because I know what's coming.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and I'm happy to say I figured out the real culprit. It took some really twisty turns and I'm pretty sure there might have been a dangling plot thread but, honestly, a great episode.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm almost finished with the first season, and it's been terrific seeing the series in chronological order. Can't wait to start the next season.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Epiphanies." I'd forgotten how much this episode set up for the following seasons. And I'm always blown away by how incredibly good James Callis is in the role of Baltar.

I also caught another episode of Fantasy Island. Really enjoyed this one. I'm very, very cautiously optimistic with the Javier and Elena storyline. I'm going to be so disappointed if it ends up being trashed for the sake of angst.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Lonely Heart Mountain, a novella that brings a couple together with a little help from delinquent siblings.

Here's the miniblurb:

Author Hettie Blackwell returns home to care for her ailing mother, because her two brothers aren't up to the task. But when Hettie bumps into Winslow Whittaker—the hot new sheriff—she's got more trouble, especially when her younger brother lands in county jail.

And a snippety peek…

Winslow Whittaker gave a low whistle. "Damn. There's a train wreck ready to happen." His instinct urged him to step in and deescalate the situation.

A weekend music festival with a turnout of about seven thousand people made an interesting melting pot in the middle of nowhere. And it definitely gave Win a fly-on-the-wall view of the residents he'd be mixing with in his new hometown.

He'd already clocked the battle of wills between a willowy blonde female and a hard-bodied guy with dark hair—both in their early twenties—as being close to disturbing the peace. Win worried it might slide into a domestic violence altercation.

The woman—and chief instigator—slammed her hand on the cooler acting as a makeshift table. "Dammit, Hank. I wanna be where the action is, and I need you to keep the lowlifes away so I can dance." She swiveled her hips back and forth in a sexy sway.

The guy—Hank—lifted his chin. "Shari, we broke up three months ago. You're not my problem anymore. Find someone else who needs a pain in the ass." He popped the cap off a bottle of beer.

Based on the pile of bottles scattered by Hank's chair, he wouldn't feel pain anywhere. Which meant he could stay mellow and ignore the ex-girlfriend or his switch could flip, and he could get aggressive if she didn't leave him alone.

Shari lashed out. "Asshole." She swung her leg back and landed a kick to the leg of Hank's fold-up lawn chair.

Of course, it collapsed and sent the guy sprawling. His beer sloshed everywhere, and the bottle went flying and crashed into a chrome fender on a huge Harley. A beefy guy rose up and started moving toward the duo.

Win stepped forward, ready to break his cover as an out-of-town spectator.

Hank shook his head. "Dammit, Shari. I'm trying to have a low-key experience here." He yanked his beer-sodden shirt over his head and flung it over the cooler then got to his feet.

The burly motorcyclist clapped a hand over Hank's shoulder. "Buddy, you just bought yourself a fuck-ton of trouble…"

"Yo, Bands. Give it a rest." The host of the concert, Tim Mullins, approached the group. "Blackwell didn't throw that bottle on purpose. Back off and enjoy the music." He jerked his head toward the group of six other bikers.

Bands muttered under his breath but walked away.

Hank grunted. "Thanks, man. Gonna fix my chair and keep my head down."

Tim sent a quick glance toward Shari. "And you're gonna let him. Walk away and leave him alone."

Shari huffed out a breath then turned and flounced away.

Win motioned for Tim to join him several yards away. "I almost stepped in there. Didn't look good for that, what's his name—Blackwell—kid." He regretted his promise to stay incognito for the duration of the weekend's festivities.

That way, according to Tim, a large swath of the county could get to know Win out of uniform. The idea made sense at the time. Win and Tim went back a few years. They met when Win, a state trooper at the time, rolled up on an accident scene involving Tim's tour van and a very drunk groupie who'd tried to flag them down with her vehicle.

Tim gave him a grim smile. "Glad you didn't. I've got Hank's situation handled." He met Win's gaze. "Sorry I told you about the sheriff's retirement?"

Win shook his head. "No, but I am rethinking your idea of having me here on the downlow." Tim would owe Win a huge favor after this.

Win didn't officially take over as the newly appointed county sheriff until Monday. If the weekend turned into a total shitshow, Win's first day could suck balls.

Tim gave Win the lowdown. "Look, Hank won't be here much longer. I called in reinforcements. One who's familiar with Hank's ex-girlfriend." He rolled his eyes.

Win nodded. "The blonde? Shari something."

Tim's head bobbed. "Yeah, Bennet. She's high maintenance and full drama and doesn't mix well with Hank's low-key approach to life. Or his lack of giving a shit when she creates a scene. She starts something and Hank sits and drinks to avoid getting sucked into her crazy circus." He leaned in a little. "They've been on and off since their freshman year of high school, but this last breakup seems final."

Win huffed out a breath. "Someone ought to let her know."

Tim's lips curved with a wry twist. "If she didn't figure it out tonight, there's a good chance she'll be set straight no later than Monday." His phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen. "Damn. Gotta go. Next set starts in ten and I'm playing."

Win lifted a hand. "Break a leg."

Once Tim got halfway down the hillside, Win moved back about fifty yards and propped his shoulders against a sturdy oak. He might as well keep an eye on Blackwell, who struggled to get his beer-soaked shirt back on.

This story is so much fun. Win's got a challenge in front of him with his new position and it's been a joy to write his introduction.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Get Back to Where He Once Belonged

Had a bit of a rough week and felt under the weather for most of it. I did make progress on two of my work projects so not a total loss.

I didn't quite get all the way through my full streaming schedule, but I got a decent amount of viewing completed.

I started the second season of Ted Lasso and quite enjoyed the first episode. I'm interested to see where things go with the psychologist.

Caught another Agatha Christie Hour and loved the cloak and dagger aspect of the episode. Very twisty and turny and an excellent resolution.

Started season six of Endeavor and enjoyed the first episode. Not sure I like the new DCI but I'll see where things go. I don't like not having all the guys together but a shake up now and then is probably good for the show.

Watched another episode of Silent Witness and had no idea Clarissa had a husband. Good to see how they interacted. Interesting premise and I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Started a new arc of Classic Who. It's a bit spooky and I liked the first episode. Looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

Sci Fi Science had a fun topic of traveling to a parallel universe. I like to see how a theoretical physicist puts ideas together that could one day possibly happen.

Enjoyed another episode of Ms. Marvel. This group of characters is a joy to watch. I love the way Kamala interacts with everyone and the show nails the entire awkwardness of being a teenager pretty well.

The finale of Only Murders in the Building did not disappoint! I'm so excited to start season two because I have to know what happens next for our trio of characters.

Started season four of Blue Heelers. Nice to see Roz again even if the circumstances were sad. I'm a little disappointed I won't have new episodes to watch after this season unless I want to jump to eleven.

I'm in the middle of an Umbrella Academy episode and should have it finished up later today. Things are really spiraling and that's not a bad thing.

That's pretty much it for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from Get Back to Where He Once Belonged, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Barton Gress leaves his small hometown right after graduation to become a music legend and breaks Noss Allrider's heart in the process. He makes good on his dream but discovers life at the top gets lonely without the one he loves. Noss isn't interested in a reunion when Barton returns but he brings her something she can't resist—the chance to know her dad. Whatever Noss decides, Barton is finally back where he belongs and he's not going anywhere.

And a snippety peek…

"'Cause I'm feelin' you deep in my soul … And, baby, leavin' you was never the goal … And I'll never again string you along … 'Cause I'm back, back where I belong … Where I should've been right from the start … Smack in the middle of your heart…"

Noss Allrider turned off the music app. "Why does he have to be everywhere on streaming platforms?" She didn't want to hear Barton Gress's newest hit.

A mash-up of country, folk, soul, and mainstream pop, she couldn't get away from the song. Then again, "Back Where I Belong" burned up the charts and topped the list for most downloaded single for two weeks running—the latest in a string of ballads that propelled Barton's rising star into the stratosphere. He'd become a hometown boy who made good.

Noss rolled her eyes. "A hometown he couldn't get out of fast enough." Almost ten years ago.

Barton hightailed it out of town without so much as a goodbye only two days after graduation in his grandma's old car.

Turning down an alleyway, Noss pulled into the parking space behind the small boutique she owned with her best friend, Neela. They'd worked hard to establish the eclectic inventory and filled the two-story public space with items they loved. Luckily for them, the third floor provided enough room for two apartments and an area where they ran live sales on social media to enhance their services. Five years into the enterprise and the business showed no sign of slowing down.

Cutting the engine, Noss gathered her bag and popped her trunk open so she could get the groceries she'd picked up.

Neela startled Noss by knocking on the window. "Have you heard the news?"

Noss frowned. "Who's running the store if you're out here?" They had some part-time help in the afternoons in the form of local high-schoolers.

Neela waved a hand. "I put the back in five minutes sign up." She winced. "Although this might take more like the rest of the day."

Noss nudged her door open and got out of the car. "Nees, what's going on? What news?"

Neela went to the trunk and pulled the groceries out. "Damn. I actually hoped you'd already heard. It's been on the radio all morning." She nodded for Noss to get the rest of the bags.

Noss retrieved them and closed the trunk with her elbow. "I don't listen to the radio, unless there's bad weather. And I closed my app because—" She broke off, a ball of tension knotting in her stomach. "What's the news?"

Neela paused mid-step and angled her head around. "Barton's coming home. He bought the old pavilion and plans on turning it into a recording studio and concert venue." Her gaze filled with concern.

The knotted tension tangled tighter. "And this is supposedly happening when?" The words to his latest song took on a new twisted meaning.

'Cause I'm back, back where I belong…

Neela walked the few steps back and wrapped a grocery-laden arm around Noss. "He made the purchase while he was on tour. He's planning to be home sometime this week."

Noss inhaled deeply then exhaled slowly. "Right then. The county will be in an uproar for the foreseeable future." She moved forward, twisting the knob on their rear-entry door then took an immediate right to head the back stairs to their living space.

Neela followed right behind. "Who cares about the rest of the county? Are you going to be okay?" She dropped her bags on the bench outside Noss's door. "You've heard his new song, haven't you?"

Noss gave a nod. "It's why I turned off my app." Pushing her door open, she carried the purchases to the kitchen. "Everywhere I go, one of his power-ballads is playing." With lyrics about regret, lost love, and making amends.

As if he'd actually live the words to his songs. Not damn likely.

Neela brought the groceries she'd set down into the apartment. "He does have a way of dropping the hits and making everybody think he's singing about them." She nudged Noss with her shoulder. "He actually could be singing about you, especially with the newest song."

Noss shook her head. "No way. He's been gone ten years and never once reached out, tried to call, or, hell, even wrote a letter. That song is not about me." Wouldn't matter anyway. "I gotta get this stuff put away and we'd better reopen the store." She started putting the perishables in the fridge.

Neela placed her hand on Noss's shoulder. "For what it's worth, I still hate him."

Noss laughed and hugged her friend. "You don't have to. But I love that you're always on my side."

Neela eased back and met Noss's gaze. "You gonna be okay? We can take a half day off, if you wanna go blow off some steam."

Noss shook her head. "I'm good. It's been ten years, Nees. He'll cause a stir and then things will settle down. We'll probably never cross paths. Not like we even know each other anymore."

Neela shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. You might not know each other now, but you knew each other way back when. Do not be surprised if you bump into each other or if Barton shows up hoping for a stroll down memory lane." She headed for the door. "I've got the store covered … come down when you're ready."

Noss lifted her chin. "Thanks, Nees." She returned to putting the groceries away.

Neela had ringside seats and a VIP pass to the rise and fall of Noss's relationship with Barton. Neela helped pick up the pieces and put Noss back together when she found out Barton left—no goodbye, no advanced notice, nothing but a trail of dust in his wake.

Neela huffed out a breath. "It was high school. No one said we'd stay together forever." Not even she expected they would.

But she'd thought they cared enough for each other that he would've at least respected her enough to break things off like a normal person would. She'd confided her history to him. Her dad left without a backward glance and she never heard from him again. To have Barton do the exact same thing…

Yeah, the cruelty of it messed with her head for a while.

Closing the cupboard, she shook off the stab of pain. "No more of that. I'm done letting anyone make me feel like I don't matter." Grabbing her phone, she headed for the door to join Neela downstairs.

Barton Gress could return home and set up his recording studio to make more chart-topping hits. It wouldn't affect her life in any way.

'Cause I'm back, back where I belong … Where I should've been right from the start … Smack in the middle of your heart…"

Because he'd never get anywhere near her heart let alone smack in the middle of it.

I'm excited about writing this one. Nell is cautious and has some issues and her world is going to be turned upside down in the near future.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin