Skye Ritchey's Blog, page 10

Sunday Snippet: Calamity of Chaos (a Chaos novella)

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

Busy work weekagain, which I'm so thankful for. I'm also working on my new venture and shouldhave news soon. I'm hoping by February.

Decent viewingweek. I didn't quite make a full run-through of all my shows, but I got veryclose.

Started with MyLife Is Murder again. Very interesting episode with some fun backstory. I lovegetting more information about the characters.

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

Finally continuedmy rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with the feature of Razor. We had tobacktrack a little to pick up with this one. I'd forgotten how much I loved Leein this special feature.

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

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

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

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

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. Both vignettes were ones I didn't rememberso nice to have something new to me.

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

Also started an episodeof VIP but didn't get to finish it. I'm not even sure what's going onyet.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Calamity of Chaos,a Chaos novella.

Here's theminiblurb:

Esme and Ashton embark on a trip to America, on the trailof their nemesis's partner. Calamity ensues when they stumble upon a dastardlyplot to keep them from returning home.

And a preview snippet…

Ash pulled Eric aside. "You'reabsolutely certain you won't join us?" He could delay the launch by a day.

Eric shook his head. "You'vebeen asking me that for the past week. I'm not going to change my mind."He crossed the hangar and retrieved a bag from the pile being loaded into theship's hull. "Besides, someone has to hold down the estate." His gazedrifted to the woman standing next to Esme. "And I won't leave Bonnie. Notuntil Mobride is no longer a threat."

Ash didn't blame Eric. BonnieLancaster risked her life to help Eric and saved Ash in the process. Eric foundhimself a stellar woman. The fact that Mobride used to abuse her during hisbrothel visits made her role in his downfall particularly contentious.

Eric stooped down and unlaced thetop of the bag. "I do, however, have a couple of gifts for you. Alreadyshowed Del how they work." Reaching inside, he withdrew a rectangularslab. "This detects Olympus and will give a reading on how refined the oreis." He nodded toward the canvas satchel. "There's one for you, Del,Esme, and Smithers." He bent down again. "I also have something thatmight save time if you need to reach us over here." Holding a largebox-shaped item, he opened the hinged top. "You'll need refined ore and awide-open space, preferably someplace high up, to operate this device. TheOlympus gives it a long range and I have the matching device in the carriagehouse." He tucked the communicator back inside the bag and refastened thelaces.

Ash huffed out a breath. "Younever cease to amaze. What else is in there?" He nodded toward the duffel.

Eric's lips twitched. "Someodds and ends. Del can fill you in." Rising, he jerked his head toward therest of the group. "Let's get you guys boarded. Then I'm going to getBonnie home and settled in." He started toward the others.

Ash fell into step beside Eric."Does that communicator work both ways? Can you contact us ifneeded?" Moving Bonnie to the estate should afford the most protection,but Ash didn't count Mobride completely out.

Eric's lips curved."Probably." His gaze darkened. "But I added some perimeterdefenses to the estate, so I rather doubt we'll need to get ahold of you."

Ash chuckled. "I should'veknown you'd have things well in hand."

I'm having a lot offun with this series. I'm not going full-on steampunk but I hope the vibe isthere.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Broken Down and Maxed Out

Brrrr. It's coldoutside. Thankfully, we only lost power once during the first gusty windstormand didn't lose it all while the wind howled over the last three days. And Ican live with a couple of inches of snow. Not a huge fan of temperatures in theteens but layers help when I have to take the dogs out.

Had a super-busywork week and I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up with projects. I liketo stay steady because it keeps me motivated and focused. When I have too muchfree time I get lost in a haze.

Not a bad week forviewing. I made a full circuit through my regular shows minus the rewatch of BattlestarGalactica. The power blip caused a delay there.

Started the week withMy Life Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. The mystery ended up beingpretty decent.

Caught the second halfof Agatha Raisin and thoroughly enjoyed. The cast really hits on all cylindersand even though I miss James, I love the vibe of these characters.

Started a new two-partSilent Witness. I'm kind of happy to see Jack's familial issues. Hisbrother is a piece of work and I'm interested to see where things go with him.Rather like the new colleague. Looking forward to seeing how she fits in.

Watched another episodeof Death in Paradise. I didn't really remember this one so I enjoyed it.Fun to see the commissioner on the suspect board.

Caught anotherepisode of Elementary and quite liked the way Sherlock ended up being onthe outs with both Joan and the captain. Fun episode.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of The Batman. I'm nearing the end of the first season and allthe players are established for the most part. And the episodes are holding upfairly well.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. I didn't remember either of the vignettes soreally enjoyed watching both.

Finished out thefirst season of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued andinterested in how things are going to play out in the next season, which I'llprobably start this week.

Also managed tofinish the episode of VIP that I started last week. Looking forward to anew one this week if time permits.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Broken Down and Maxed Out,a novella that explores what happens when a couple hits their wall oflimitation at the same time.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Dallas Kirk and Rafe Quinoza, two top agents in theMinistry of Magickal Defense, are broken down and maxed out they turn to eachother to regroup and recharge. But when they reach their saturation point atthe same time, they struggle to keep their connection strong, which isdifficult when they blame themselves for a mission gone wrong.

And a preview snippet…

Rafe waited until Dallas healedcompletely then drifted off for a few hours. He woke up just before dawn and wonderedwhat had happened the previous night.

His hand skimmed her torso, and hismind absorbed the details. "Shit, Marjam had backup." Did I miss akey piece of information?

Dallas could've handled Calla onher own. But the monstrous mercenary gave her a big hurdle to overcome beforeshe could get to Marjam. The guy looked like he ate steroids for each meal …and he had a familiar face.

Rafe grunted when the name came tohim. "Hank Willem. Nasty piece of work." And very expensive.

How the hell could Marjam Callaafford Willem's fee?

A question for another time. AfterRafe got rid of the images scrolling through his brain. Willem worked Dallasover pretty hard. The asshole had his hands around her throat more than onceand used hellfire to keep her busy while Calla tried to escape.

But Dallas prepped in advance andhad the warehouse sealed off. Which meant she couldn't call in for help. She'dfinally used a sage bomb to subdue Willem then went after Marjam. He didn't godown without a fight, flinging whatever he had close at hand in Dallas's path.He'd clocked her with a trailer awning and left a line of abrasions on her jaw.Then he finally got backed into a corner, giving Dallas a chance to get himcuffed and controlled.

She took Calla out to the SUV andreturned for Willem only to find he'd managed to escape the sage containmentfield.

Dallas woke up and met his gaze."You know what happened?" She rolled to her side and propped her headon her hand. "Should've used salt to trap the huge goon Calla had coveringhis ass." She frowned.

Rafe lifted his chin. "Hisname's Hank Willem. A nasty merc that's way above Marjam's ability tocompensate." There had to be another player in the background.

Dallas grunted. "That's what Ithought, too." She narrowed her eyes. "Why didn't we know abouthim?" She waited a moment. "Unless we have a breach in theministry."

Rafe shook his head. "I don'tthink so. I mean anything's possible, but I'd guess Willem was a last-minuteaddition. My information said Calla would be alone." His gut twisted."You think this is on me?"

Dallas rolled her shoulder."No, I don't blame you. I'm pissed because I walked into a trap and setmyself up to fail by warding the warehouse and cutting communication. Not myidea of fun to battle a huge hulking bruiser only to have him escape." Shesat up and ran her fingers through her hair. "Not to mention making me haveto mess with my hair." Sliding to the edge of the bed, she stood andheaded for the bathroom.

Rafe tracked her movement, gettinga look at the uneven and ragged edges of her hairline. "I'll call Adam andlet him know you'll be in later than expected." He reached for his phoneand dialed their direct superior.

I love how thisstory is coming together. Rafe and Dallas are pulled right to the edge and it'sfun to write that angle.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Broken Arrow

Well, January inOhio has been the usual weird warm one day, cool the next, and hey, let's throwsome snow into the mix. It's not a lot of snow, but it's enough to be annoyinguntil we get the first really good blanket of the white stuff.

Solid work week. Ihad a bunch of projects going and added a few to my calendar. I'm kind of excitedto be delving into some new territory. I also got a lot done on my new ventureand updating my website, which is very much needed. I've neglected it for fartoo long.

Had a decent weekof television. Didn't quite make it through every show, but I got most of mycurrent slate watched.

Stared the weekwith My Life Is Murder and kind of liked seeing a bit of Alexa's past evenif her friend ended up being the culprit.

Caught the firstpart of a two-part Agatha Raisin. Enjoyed it for the most part. I'm nota fan of the whole lack of progress with Bill and Toni, but I loved having Royback.

Finished up thesecond part of Silent Witness and I'm disappointed they lost Adam after ahandful of episodes. What a twist though.

Watched another episodeof Death in Paradise, starting the fifth season. I'm very much enjoyingbeing able to watch all the episodes in chronological order.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. I kind of like the lack of boundaries and the need toestablish them. This episode kind of brought that idea home in a big way.

Caught anotherepisode of The Batman. "Grundy's Night" ended up being so muchfun and it's one I didn't quite remember from my original run through.

Watched another ClassicRugrats. I actually didn't remember either of these, so it was fun towatch.

Finally, started anew episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm enjoying this series,but I also feel like a lot is being left off the screen. Probably the biggestfallback when adapting books for viewing. That said, I love that Passionflix isdoing this. So many books to choose from and they've chosen some of the verybest.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Broken Arrow, a novella thatexplores the relationship between a couple dealing with a limiting experience.

Here's the miniblurb:

Cailin Berg is a broken arrow, a mage suffering from acrippling experience who can no longer use their skills, and she wants to finda way back to her practice. Phelps Morlach can't give her any answers, but hewill offer whatever assistance he can provide … especially since he holds someof the responsibility for Cailin's predicament.

And a preview snippet…

Phelps got another book from thepile sitting on his desk. "There has to be an answer here." He'dspent the past month studying possibilities for Cailin's dream and potentialreasons for her appearance through a portal with no memory.

The obvious reason hit hard. "Shecould be a darkling." And wouldn't that suck.

Darklings tended to walk a shadowy pathwhether they wanted to or not. The pull to use the black arts often overcamethe ability to cause no harm with magick. Anything damaging would make steepdeposits in the negative column of karma.

Phelps dug into his research ondarklings and made notes for an hour before putting that tome aside andgrabbing another.

He heaved a sigh and started a newsection on his notepad. "Maybe she's a changeling…" Which couldexplain the big gap in her memory.

Changlings were often blank slateswaiting for direction. Cailin's dreams could be prophetic of things to come ora warning of what to avoid. The not knowing part about her past made reaching aconclusion difficult. But the lack of memory could also be part of the journey.Cailin would be able to choose what road she wanted to travel if she had thechangling gene.

His heart leaned in the directionhe wanted it to go, and he spent the next few hours poring over passages filledwith information about other changlings and how they navigated their course. Alot of the descriptions fit Cailin's set of circumstances. Hope reared itselflike a bright, shiny beacon, and Phelps gave himself permission to revel in thepossibilities for the future.

But he didn't spend too much timein that happy place.

Because there could be oneadditional explanation for Cailin's troubles.

He put the books back on the shelfand retrieved a carton filled to the brim. "She could be carrying a curse,which might also explain a lot." Setting the box on the table, he starteddigging through the books, leaflets, and handwritten journals.

He picked a few different works.Curses, hexes, and bedevilments would be his topic of research for the nextday. Right now, he needed to get some sleep, or he wouldn't be able to workwith a clear head. Placing everything he'd need in a neat arrangement he got upand headed for his bedroom.

After crawling between the sheets,he let his mind drift to the edge of the city and a bar called the Houndstooth.Cailin would probably be finishing her shift and getting ready to head to theShanty soon. Turning to his side, he ached with the knowledge of where she'dlanded. He'd known her whereabouts within the first day after she'd left.

But … he kept his distance. She hadto find her truth. Until he had something to offer in the way of assistance,he'd leave her on her own.

Even if the idea kicked him in thegut.

 

I love how thisstory is coming together. Phelps is a great character to write.

 

That's it for thisweek.

 

Cheers!

 

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Bright, Burning Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

Well, it's kind offitting that my last blog post for 2023 is on the actual last day of the year. I'mtaking that as a good vibe to carry into 2024.

Had a semidecent week.Finished up a couple of things that needed attention and started to get my websiteupdated after a very long dry spell. I'm also very close to launching the newendeavor I've been working on for several months.

Did pretty much afull run-through of my usual slate of shows. I have a whole lineup of holidaystuff I want to watch also. I know it's weird to wait until after the holidayis over but I've been very Scrinch-like the past couple of weeks, mainlybecause of the yucky cold.

Started out with MyLife Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. I will say I still get a little putoff by how prickly Alexa can be. I'm sure that's by design, but it annoys me.

Agatha Raisin kind of crushed me a little. I love Agathaand James and having them kind of end things breaks my heart. But I do love theyended on a soft goodbye instead of a harsh one. Looking forward to the next episode.

Started a newtwo-part Silent Witness and I'm kind of surprised how things played out.Did not expect the new guy to have such a dark secret. I love that he exposedit himself. Can't wait to see how this ends.

Caught an episode ofDeath in Paradise and it's one I'd seen before. Meeting Humph's dadexplains so much. I love how this episode played out. Looking forward tostarting Beyond Paradise to see if there's more of Humph's family.

Watched anotherepisode of Elementary. Loved diving into Joan's previous life a little. I'mvery intrigued by her and having glimpses into her former profession is alwaysfun.

Finally continuedmy rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. This episode had some great momentseven if it ended up being heavier on the cylon lore. Hoping to catch anotherepisode in the near future. Also need to backtrack a little and watch the webisodesand movie.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of The Batman. I actually remembered this one because Alfredended up being a lot of fun. I love it when he steps out of his comfort zoneinto his former life.

Caught an episodeof Classic Rugrats. I have vague memories of this one, especially Angelicatrying to be silent. In all fairness, she got robbed for once.

Watched anotherepisode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I have one more left for thefirst season. So far, I'm enjoying it, but I'm glad I have season two ready to gobecause I have feeling the first is going to end on a cliffhanger.

Finished up my episodeof VIP from last week and started a new one. I forgot I didn't get allthe way through the episode because I remembered how it ended.

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Bright,Burning Yule, a holiday spirit short.

Here's the miniblurb:

Stella Silverbell, a holiday spirit, is tasked withbringing Nyssa Nameth, the ultra female werewolf, together with the BraddoxBennington, the prime hunter of all wolf shifters, during the Yule season.Their joining can end centuries of misconception, but they have to get overtheir preconceived notions first.

And a previewsnippet…

Braddox Bennington paused with atowel to his head after a shower when someone burst through the front door.

"Braddox? Where the hell areyou?" A cousin, Hank Hamel, shouted up the steps.

Braddox answered. "Gimme five.I'll be right down." He dragged some workout clothes on and flung thetowel over his shoulder before descending the stairs to find Hank in the study."What's up?" He draped the towel over the banister and dropped downonto the couch.

Hank paced back and forth in frontof the fire. "Why haven't you organized a hunt? It's been months sincewe've patrolled for the wolves." He stopped and planted his hands on hiships.

Braddox frowned. "Have therebeen new reports? Are the packs running wild?" He should've been informedif there were.

Hank glanced away. "No,they're all quiet and barely poking their heads out to scent the wind."His face reddened.

Braddox bit back frustration."Then what's the rush? Dad's only been gone for two months. And his deathwasn't suspicious." If it had been, Braddox wouldn't hesitate to call fora hunt. "We knew he didn't have long once the diagnosis camethrough." An inoperable brain tumor could not be called into doubt.

Braddox didn't want the mantle ofleadership, but he wouldn't walk away. His bloodthirsty relatives made sure ofthat. If anything, his brothers, cousins, and uncles hastened his father'sdemise.

And Braddox faced his first holidaywithout his dad and wanted a little time to adjust. "If you guys needsomething to do, why don't you catalog and update the book of kills? Dad onlymade it up to the 1950s." Maybe if they noted just how many of the packsthey'd eliminated, they'd lose some of their bloodlust.

Hank snorted. "No way, man.That's the leader's job." He hand-waved the idea and sat in the chair closestto the sofa.

Braddox shook his head. "No,Hank. It's my job to make sure they're entered. There's nothing written abouthow to make that happen." Or who had to make it so.

Hank leaned forward. "Dude,you're gonna have a revolt on your hands if you think this will fly." Hehuffed out a rude snort.

Braddox shrugged. "So be it.Anyone who wants to challenge me for top-spot status can do so." He mightwelcome the challenge. "But let's get through our yule season first. Ididn't get to take any time after Mom died five years ago, and I refuse to pullanyone else away from their families during the holidays." Even if some ofthem probably wanted an excuse to cut out.

Hank leaned back again. "Yeah,okay. But look, you've got to consider a full summit after the new year. If youdon't, you will be challenged for top spot." He got up and headedfor the door.

Braddox followed. "I'll letyou know what I decide. Have a happy yule." He closed the door and headedback to the couch.

Braddox couldn't find fault with Hank'swarning. He didn't doubt he'd face a pile of trouble if he didn't gathereveryone and take a stab at being their leader. But he couldn't continue withbusiness as usual. He would not rule the way his father had. Or at least notthe way he had after his wife died.

And that would piss a lot of hisrelatives off.

Flopping down, his head hit theback of the cushions. "Bah, I don't want this conflict." He wantedsomething different.

A rustling outside the door drewhis attention. Maybe Hank had returned to offer more unwanted advice. Rising,he crossed the room again and pulled the door open, ready to blast his cousin.

Instead, his mouth snapped shutwhen a hovering envelope greeted him.

Braddox snagged it and shut thecold out. Removing the seal, he retrieved a parchment folded in half.

 

You need some time and space togrieve, regroup, ponder, and adjust.

Why not spend the Yule holiday atthe Goodacre Bed and Breakfast?

 

Directions were printed below alongwith an invitation to cross into the nether realm whenever he'd like.

Braddox huffed out a breath."Why the hell not?" Maybe some time away would get his mind on theright track and help him decide what to do about the future.

And actually give me time to mournmy dad.

Braddox headed back upstairs topack.

This one iscomplete and ready to launch into the universe. I'll be uploading theinformation in the next week or so.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Blondie and the Three Wizards

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

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

Made an almost fullrun through of my current slate of television shows. I've been trying to makesure I get plenty of sleep, so I hopefully don't end up with a setback with thecold.

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

Started anothertwo-part Agatha Raisin and rather enjoyed the dynamic between James'ssister and Agatha. Looking forward to the second half.

Finished the secondhalf of a Silent Witness two-parter. I'm kind of excited to see wherethings go with a new person on the team.

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

Watched anotherepisode of Elementary. Thoroughly enjoyed it. This show definitely intriguesme.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of The Batman. I think there might be one more episode of seasonone left.

Caught anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered both of the vignettes andenjoyed watching them again.

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

Finished the weekout with an episode of VIP. I have vague memories of watching thisduring the initial run of the series. Lots of fun.

That's it for thepersonal life update this week. Tonight's post is from Blondie and the ThreeWizards, a twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Here's theminiblurb:

Xandra Blue, a mage adept, has to pick a new mentor fromthree extremely sexy wizards. All three have the skills and could make greatpartners, but the guys don't make it easy for her to choose.

And a preview snippet…

Dare silently observed Xandra exitthe room. I want her. And he wanted to be her mentor. His gut indicatedthey'd be just right for each other.

Heath made a low grunt ofappreciation. "What a babe. You two are going to be left in the dust whenshe chooses me." His lips quirked in a sly twist.

Sam frowned. "You don't knowshe's going to pick you. She has to meet with us and decide who can do the bestjob as her mentor." He stomped back to the table and opened another book.

Heath snorted. "Yeah, well, ifshe's as hot as I think she is, you guys won't know how to handle her." Hemoved to the billiard table and racked the balls again. "What do youthink, Dare? That sweet little thing would look good on my arm, right? Hell,she'd look good anywhere on me." He waggled his eyebrows.

Dare shrugged. "Are there anyfemales you don't think would look good on you?" Heath's ego didn't lackfor anything.

Heath grunted. "Nope. Know afew dudes that would make excellent arm candy, too. I'm an equal opportunitykind of guy." He moved around to the side of the table then closed hiseyes.

Dare waited a moment, timing hisresponse to when Heath would push his vision forward. "You're anopportunist of the top variety, all right." He hid a grin when the ballswent off kilter.

Heath let his middle finger do thetalking in response.

Dare laughed. "Rack up again. I'llgive you a free shot." Trash-talking aside, Dare played fair.

Always.

Sam glanced up from his book."Xandra will never advance if she picks Heath. He'll try to keep her inbed all the time and not focus on her training." He rolled his eyes.

Heath gave Sam a bland look."And if she picks you, she'll spend to much time organizing,alphabetizing, and color coding to learn anything from you."

This time, Sam let his middlefinger speak for him.

Dare didn't join the fray. He decidedto step back and let the drama unfold. He could be magnanimous.

Because he had no doubt Xandrawould find her way to him as her obvious choice in due time.

This is such a fun storyto write. I love having three male characters that are so different from eachother but still terrific friends.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Blending In

I got slammed witha nasty cold and definitely feel it this week. Completely derailed my dailyrelaxation stress reducer posts. I'll hopefully catch back up next week orstart over again for the new year.

Finished up severalwork-related projects and added a few to my calendar. Hoping to start the new yearoff with a full slate to stay busy.

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

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

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

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

Enjoyed another Deathin Paradise, which is one I didn't remember. I'm getting into the Humphreyepisodes I missed on the first watch.

Watched anotherepisode of Elementary and quite liked the dynamic. I'm very interestedin getting into more of what happened with Joan's medical career. Sherlock isdefinitely true to form and I'm getting into this version.

Caught anotherepisode of The Batman. I think I have one or two more episodes of the firstseason then a bit of a shift to the second one.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. For some reason, I think I might have misseda season or at least some episodes. I'll do a run through after I finish up thesixth season.

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

Finished out theweek with an episode of VIP. Some familiar early aughts faces in thisone. Also a fun episode.

That's pretty muchit on the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Blending In, anovella that puts a couple undercover and brings them together despite their bestintentions of staying apart.

Here's theminiblurb:

Wren and Ethan go undercover in the seedy Bottoms.Ethan's by the book style clashes with Wren's off the cuff attitude, but when apowerful mage makes a threat, they'll have to forge an unbreakable bond or godown in flames.

And a preview snippet…

Ethan considered Wren's justification."Okay, what's next?" He might as well roll with tide.

She suggested an info gatheringopportunity. "No engagement. We go in, get some intel, and come out.That's it." She made a few adjustments to her outfit, knotting the T-shirtunder her breasts and letting her hair down.

Ethan followed Wren into Hunter'sGlen, his heart pumping with both anticipation and trepidation. He didn't doon-the-fly work and he feared it would show. He didn't want to let her down.

Once inside, he waited for his eyesto adjust to the dim interior. "I'll follow your lead. I need a fewminutes to get into the role and follow the vibe." And maybe get his shittogether.

Wren jerked her head, acknowledgingthe request. She led him through the throng of people and directly by the trio who'ddrawn their attention. The mood coming from the bar area consisted ofboisterous bravado mixed with an angry undertone.

Ethan adopted a besotted demeanor,trailing behind Wren like he couldn't wait to get his hands on her. Not a hardsell for him. This might not be as difficult as he'd thought.

She led him to a corner table in ashadowy recess close to the bar. Good cover and strategically located. Headmired her quick and spot-on assessment.

Tugging him close, she spokequietly in his ear. "Look oblivious to everyone but me but pay very closeattention to the conversations." She settled onto a chair and gave him asexy smile.

He scooted his around so he couldplay the part she assigned to him. Leaning one arm over her shoulder, hetwisted her toward him so they looked extra cozy. Her eyes went wide but shedidn't resist. And a note of admiration crept into the dark depths. He'd madethe right move.

She tilted her head toward him,doing a good impression of a private conversation, but her attention focused onthe bar. Ethan tracked the conversations at the line of pool tables. Deviatingfrom the plan might end up paying off if the first hour they spent barelytouching their drinks and eavesdropping indicated anything.

He leaned in, speaking in lowtones. "Sounds like the triple threat is here to meet the wall of muscleon table two." He eased back and gave her a bold stare.

Wren tipped her chin. "Soundsright. They're waiting until the weasel-faced guy leaves. They don't trusthim." She scooted closer, almost sitting on his lap.

But it put her in a prime positionwhen the trio of Orion men made their way to the pool tables. Under the guiseof practically making out, Ethan and Wren spent the next sixty minutescarefully catching the bulk of the planned attack on a group of faeintermediaries. Wren's eyes widened when the crucial piece of informationdropped. The big ringleader told the trio to be ready within the week.

Ethan made a move to stand, pushinghis chair back a little, but Wren slid up onto his lap.

She rested her forehead againsthis. "Not yet. Too obvious. Let the game wind down first." She easedback and held his gaze.

He didn't argue and gave a barelyperceptible nod. Moving his hands up, he palmed her thighs, keeping her fromshifting back to her seat. Her lips quirked but she didn't resist.

The final ball sank into the pocketand a round of drinks was raised to the winners. Ethan checked his urge to maketracks. He'd follow Wren's lead again.

When they drew a stare or two fromthe burly bikers and some raunchy commentary, Wren did a sensuous slide off hislap and tugged him upward.

They left to whistles and catcallsand thankfully before anyone tried something stupid.

Once outside, she clasped his palm."We're primed with some good intel. Keep acting the part until we clearthe next block." She shivered a little from the bite in the wind.

Ethan wrapped an arm around her andtucked her into his side. Neither spoke, pretending to be too into each otherto talk. They made their way across the street and headed for the littleapartment over the thrift shop.

This story isgetting a second book because Ethan and Wren have more to say about theirrelationship.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Belle of the Underground (a First Breed Nation novella)

I'm having a weirdmonth so far. I'm doing well with posting daily relaxation, stress reducerthings to avoid becoming the Scrinch (Scrooge and the Gringe combined), yet I'malso feeling kind of down, which is not the norm for me. I'm thinking a happymedium might be the best I'll do this year and I'm okay with that.

Had a week ofbusywork projects, which ended up being kind of fun. I like jumping around andmoving back and forth between jobs. Keeps me on my toes and paying attention.

Had a solid week oftelevision. A lot of what I worked on this week let me have background noiseand I got a lot of shows watched!

I started with the firstsixtieth anniversary special for Doctor Who. Thoroughly enjoyed havingTen and Donna back together. Looking forward to the second special this week.

Trying out a new tome show with Elementary. Watched the first two episodes and I like it sofar. I didn't watch at all when it originally aired and I'm looking forward toseeing more of this show.

Caught two episodesof The Batman and should be semi-close to the end of season one. Lookingforward to more of this one.

Enjoyed two episodesof Classic Rugrats. Liked both and loved the play on vintage TV showsthe ghost stories episode had.

Watched two episodesof VIP and remembered one from the original airing of the show. Lots offun with the ice bullets before they were really a thing.

Caught anotherepisode of My Life Is Murder and ended up liking it a lot. The dragqueen setting was fun and the snark fest between Alexa and the manager deservesa chef's kiss.

Enjoyed another AgathaRaisin episode. It's the first of a two-parter so I'm excited to see whathappens next. Very fun to watch Agatha and James navigate living together.

Finished the secondhalf of a two-part Silent Witness. Actually liked how this one playedout. It's cool to revisit old cases and the one they went back to ended upbeing an important one.

Caught another Deathin Paradise episode. I'm enjoying Florence and Humph working together. AndI'm fond of the JP and Dwayne dynamic.

Also started a newPassionflix series with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. Got the first episodein and I'm intrigued so far. Looking forward to seeing how the two seasons playout.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Belle of the Underground,a novella that launches the First Breed Nation series.

Here's theminiblurb:

Raven Malone doesn't have an easy job, but she's a mix offreak and geek so both groups are willing to work with her. She meets her matchwhen regular guy, Gio Roberts, starts poking around in her cover up of anunexplained murder. Sparks fly, especially when she lets him in on theunderground community she's established. They forge a bond and work side byside, trying to keep everything together. 

And a preview snippet…

Flushing slightly because she'dcompletely understood his meaning, Gio quickened his step until he reached herside. "What did this used to be? Aside from the subway part. I got thatmuch." He stuck close to her as she led him out and across an old,unfinished tunnel then up into another area.

Raven leaned against the wall,propping one foot behind her on the smooth surface. "From what we cantell, the area we're getting ready to head into was once a subsection of an oldhospital. Long abandoned."

"How long have you been downhere?"

She punched in a series of numbersand the door slid open. "We've been gathering down here for as long asanyone can remember. The more modern aspects have all occurred in the last fiveyears." She entered the area and he followed, stunned at the sightgreeting his eyes.

"What the hell?" He'dbeen expecting something dank and dusty. This was far from it.

Raven chuckled. "I know. It'srather amazing."

They stood in the middle of a lab,a pretty well set up one.

"There's a clinic through thebig doors over there." Raven pointed to the east. "And we have acontainment center through the ones along the back wall."

"Containment center?"

"Nothing big, but it's where Ihope to hold the one responsible for the killings."  

Gio shot her a skeptical glance. "Whatexactly do you think you can do down here that can't be done up there?" Hepointed toward the city above them.

"Trust me when I say it'll bebetter if you let us handle it." She wound her way around the equipment tomake her way to a large board hanging in the middle of the room. "The copsupstairs will never be able to bring this person in and make a case."

Gio made his way to her locationand stood across the table from her. "Look, you can't handle this. Thejustice system isn't perfect, but it works." He placed his elbows on thetable and leaned toward her. "The victims' families need justice andclosure. You can't act as judge and jury. Unless someone put you in charge upthere and I missed it."  

Raven snorted. "First, we'retalking about down here. And yes, I am the one in charge. You might say I'm theHBIC … and if you knew the whole story, you'd understand exactly how true thatstatement is. Second, if your system could deal with this, I'd let it. Believeme when I say it's hundreds of times easier."

He considered her words. "Thenwhy don't you let it?" He had a very strong feeling he wouldn't like heranswer.

She crooked her finger at him. "C'mere.I'll show you." With a flourish she tugged a white drape off the boardhanging above the table.

Gio is so much fun to write. He already walks a fine lineand after meeting Raven the line is stretched even tighter.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Behind the Line (a Night Raven Banner novella)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also enjoyed twoepisodes of Death in Paradise. Camille left for Paris and Humph isworking through the new dynamic. I really enjoy this show and I'm so glad I cansee it in chronological order.

Finished OnlyMurders in the Building and I did get the villains right. Excellent thirdseason and I'm excited about season four because who saw that one coming withthe new victim?

Caught anotherepisode of The Batman and enjoyed it. The dynamic between Bruce andAlfred is a lot of fun.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones I remembered andenjoyed the first time around. I love it when the parents truly have no ideawhat's going on.

Enjoyed another episodeof VIP. The over-the-top villains are always entertaining. I truly missthat sometimes.

Also watchedanother episode of Peak Practice. Once again, I'm not interested at allin one of the storylines, but I do love the two new cast members and what'sgoing on with them.

And that's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Behind the Line, an Under theNight Raven Banner novella.

Here's theminiblurb:

Emory Cavendish is trapped behind enemy lines and VerityJones mounts a rescue mission, thinking she won't get much help. Surprisedoesn't express her emotion when every other pilot jockeys for a spot on theteam to save Emory. Their hard-won acceptance fills Verity with confidence andgratitude. She'll need their full support to bring Emory home.

And a preview snippet…

Verity stuck her handout from under the plane. "Can you hand me the wrench?"

Percy Longfellow placeda metal object in her palm.

Verity started to raisethe tool up to tighten a bolt then rolled her eyes. "A wrench, Longfellow,not a vice grip." She slid out a little. "The silver object with thehexagon-shaped opening." Her lips twitched.

Percy shrugged."There's a reason I only fly these things." He found the correct tooland gave it to her.

She rolled back underthe plane and tightened the bolt then moved her fingers along the cable to makesure it held tightly. Satisfied, she started to move over to the next area.

A pilot came runninginto the hangar. "Jones! We made contact." He paused, bending over atthe waist and dragging air into his lungs.

Verity slid out fromunder the plane again. "With the resistance?" That would be excellentnews.

The pilot straightenedand shook his head. "No, with Cavendish."

She dropped the wrench,her mouth hanging open. "You're not joking, are you?" Holy shit!

She scrambled to herfeet and put the wrench away, the ingrained lessons from her dad neverforgotten.

Percy stilled herhands. "Go, Verity. No one would joke about that." He nudged hertoward the door. "I'll take care of putting your tools away."

She went, her headfilled with wonder, fear, and … love. Ducking into the communications shed, sheput the headset on. "Night Raven base to Cavendish, over." The radiocrackled and squawked, and she made an adjustment to the frequency. "Emory,is everything okay?" Dragging in a shuddering breath, she bounced her kneewith impatience.

Emory's voice camethrough the headset. "It's all good here."

Sinking with relief, Veritystarted peppering him with questions. "How? How did you manage to makecontact?" He'd never risk something not secure.

Emory chuckled. "Ithink I'm working with some of your long-lost family members. Their ingenuityreminds me of you." Another burst of static followed his statement.

She smiled, so damnedhappy she could burst. "It's so good to hear your voice."

Emory concurred."Same. I found the beacon and managed to make sure it worked. I'm assumingyou know my location?"

Verity nodded. "Weknow the plane's location. Yours, we're a little iffy on."

Emory responded. "I'mat a farmhouse. It's about three clicks from the plane."

Now it would be so mucheasier to launch their retrieval operation.

Verity looked at themap on the wall. "This is good. We're coming to get you, Emory. Probablywithin two to three days now that we have your exact location." A tap onher shoulder from Worthington had her making a hasty farewell. "Hangtight. I'll see you soon." She handed the headset to the CO. "I'msorry for the breach in protocol, sir."

Worthington's lipscurved. "We can let it slide this time, Jones. Be ready for a briefingfirst thing in the morning."

Verity lifted her chin."Yes, sir." She practically danced out of the comm shed whileWorthington spoke to his CAG. "Not long now, Emory. I'll have you backsoon."

I have so much lovefor this series. I think everything is finally coming together and I'm havingso much fun writing these characters.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Beastly Shadows (a Lantern Jack tale)

I hope everyone whocelebrates US Thanksgiving had a lovely holiday. Mine was low-key, which is howI enjoy the holiday the most. As usual, my husband cooked for ninety-seven peopleinstead of the three that were here, but that means leftovers and readilyavailable meals for a few days!

Kind of a lightweek for work projects in varying stages. I ended up getting a decent amount ofwriting completed. I finished up two manuscript drafts and I'm in thefine-tuning stage for those. I'm excited to start revising! I also did some additionalplanning for the other ventures I'm trying to launch soon. Should be anexciting December!

Had a great week oftelevision viewing. I got an extra show in this go around but still didn't getto pick back up with my Battlestar Galactica rewatch. Hopefully thisweek.

I ended up watchingtwo episodes of Silent Witness. I'm sad that Clarissa is leaving butlook forward to new faces. Can't wait to pick up with the second half of thecurrent two-parter. It ended on a cliffhanger.

Also got two episodesof Death in Paradise in this week. Started season four, which I'm enjoying.Humph is a lot of fun and Dwayne has been very entertaining so far.

Ended up watchingtwo episodes of Only Murders in the Building also. Finished thepenultimate episode last night and, wow, I love this show. And … I'm prettysure I guessed correctly with a slight twist on the murderer. Can't wait towatch the final episode.

Enjoyed two episodesof The Batman. One I remembered and the other one I didn't so reallyenjoyed that one. Not sure how many episodes are left in the first season butlooking forward to more.

Caught two more episodesof Classic Rugrats. I did remember both. An interesting bit was thetheme changed for one episode then went back to the original. Weird what I noticewhen I'm streaming shows.

Watched anotherepisode of VIP. The over-the-top storylines are so much fun. I reallymiss some of the shows from the late nineties and early aughts.

Enjoyed a behind-the-scenesepisode of My Life Is Murder. I'll be starting season two this week,unless there's another bonus episode.

Also watched abehind-the-scenes episode of Agatha Raisin. A lot of fun to see and hearthe actors talk about their characters. There might be one more BTS for seasontwo then I'll be moving on to season three.

Picked back up withPeak Practice. I skipped ahead a little because I honestly don't careabout Andrew and Kate's torrid relationship. Might try to work another episode inthis week.

That's pretty muchit for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from Beastly Shadows,a Lantern Jack tale.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lantern Jack is back. To end a centuries old feud betweenwerewolves and the hunters, Lantern Jack has to right another wrong. He setsout to bring childhood friends Bebe Beasley and Mannix Mortimer together onHalloween night, but to do so he has to put Mannix in the path of a bullet.

And a previewsnippet…

Bebe pulled her glovesoff when her phone chirped.

After reading thecaller ID, she sighed. "What is it, Bastian? I'm busy right now."Okay, dead heading her garden could be done anytime but the less she had todeal with family drama the better.

And two calls in a daycrossed her tolerance threshold.

Bastain got to hispoint. "Be on the lookout for Mannix Mortimer. He might be headed up toyour area." He paused a moment. "And you know what to do if you seehim."

Bebe really, really hatedher cousin sometimes. "Fine, Bastian. I'll be watchful. I always am."She cut the call and ignored the dread balling in her stomach.

Getting up, she enteredthe cabin and dumped her gloves in the bin and washed her hands. "I don'twant to chase Mannix around." She actually liked him.

She could not say thesame about overbearing Bastian.

To be fair, she enjoyedthe Mannix she played with as a child whenever Bastian and his equally annoyingbrother weren't around. Images of climbing trees, swimming in the pond, andrunning through the woods crystallized in her mind. Those were good memories.

As a grown up, sheappreciated the attractive man he'd become. Hard planes, chiseled muscles, aface made to stop traffic, and haunting silver eyes. If not for the stupidfamily vendetta, she could easily fall for him. But … she'd be foolish to doso. She didn't really know the adult Mannix—only his reputation. Which, rumorhad it, featured a lot of women crawling in and out of his bed. Not that sheblamed any of them.

Bebe stepped out ontothe porch and yelped when she found a carved jack-o-lantern sitting beside thedoor. "Where did you come from?" Probably one of the high schoolclubs making the rounds.

They often did surprisedrop-offs, even out in wood country where Bebe lived. Geraniums in the springand mums in the fall. A nice neighborly gesture.

Bebe bent down. "Someonedid a terrible job on your face." She turned the pumpkin around.

When her fingerstouched the rind, a series of images and sounds flashed through her mind. A rifle,a shot ringing in the air, rolling fog and dancing shadows, and a loud, longhowl.

A shiver went down herspine at the weird premonitory glimpse. Something wicked this way comes.

This one isfinished and almost ready to release. I love writing the Lantern Jack tales andcan't wait for everyone to see this one.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Beast in the Belfry

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

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

My husband starteda new job that he can do during his off season from the golf course, which is anamazing opportunity.

I got to watch aplay my daughter did the entire lighting setup for, and I'm so glad I got to goand see what she's accomplished with her theater major. I already get to hear herradio show for her media production major. She has a semester left and I can'twait to see the amazing things she does with her future.

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

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

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

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

Watched anotherepisode of The Batman. This one introduced the Riddler. I'd forgottenhow much teamwork between Yin and Batman was in this one.

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

Caught an episodeof VIP. This one ended up being a lot of fun and had some terrificcharacter moments.

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

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

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Beast in theBelfry, a novella that has a bit of a supernatural twist.

Here's theminiblurb:

A curse leaves artist Vittoria Blahm disfigured andmarred for life. But Cal Gilligan sees the true woman under the scars, and hefalls hard for her when she saves him from plunging to his death. Vittoriacan't quite believe anyone wants her and fears risking her heart to thepossibility.

And a preview snippet…

Cal gazed out on the expanse ofbuildings on campus—an unshakable feeling of home settling over him. He swung aleg over the open window and settled on the sill. A sound caught his attentionand he turned, taking in easels and paints, the couch, bed, and kitchenette. Shit! Does someone live here?

A wild-haired, screeching personflew out of the shadows, their hands raised for attack. Startled, Cal gaspedwhen its—no, her—face came into view.

"Get out! Get out!" Shegrabbed his arm, tugging hard. "Leave. Now!" Fear filled her gaze butalso anger.

Cal tried to duck out of the way,but in his haste he tottered sideways and went crashing through the openwindow. He skidded along the tiled roof, scrabbling to hold on. A firm grip onhis wrist kept him from sliding—thank the universe—and gave him time to pullhimself back up and into the tower. The woman scrambled away, cowering againstthe wall.

Cal stepped forward but didn'tinvade her personal space. "Thank you. You pretty much saved me from ahorrible death." How he spoke calmly when his heart thundered, he'd neverknow.

She flicked her gaze to him butquickly glanced away. "You need to leave. This is my home." Her handsballed into fists.

Cal apologized. "I'm sorry. Ididn't know." Something about her called to him.

The mission work his parents didexposed him to distraught, damaged people. This woman had deep-running scars onthe inside. Probably more painful than the ones marring her face.

He slowly stuck out his hand, palmup. "Cal Gilligan. U of M is my alma mater, but I've been gone for severalyears." When she didn't respond, he continued. "I didn't mean toinvade your space. I just accepted a position in the literature department, andI used to come here all the time, especially during my final year."Silence. "Anyway, please accept my apology again. I'll leave now." Hetucked his hand inside his pocket and crossed the floor, heading for the stepsbut stopped short when he passed the painting. "My God. This isincredible." He shot her a look. "Did you paint this?"

I have so much lovefor this story. Cal is just the right guy to bring Vittoria out of her self-imposedprison. I can't wait to finish this one!

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye