Skye Ritchey's Blog, page 14

Sunday Snippet: That Explains Everything

Had a wild weekwith several work projects coming in hot and taxiing on the runway. Also had somewild weather, which isn't a big shock. We're supposed to be chilly againsometime next week, which I'm not looking forward to.

Very slow week ofviewing. Between the work projects, weather, and an award ceremony for mydaughter's university, I didn't get a lot watched.

I did get anotherepisode of Pennyworth watched and, ugh, it kind of broke my heart. Thefallout is not going to be pretty, I'm sure.

Watched one my veryfavorite episodes of Battlestar Galactica with "Tigh Me Up, Tigh MeDown." Seriously, the acting in this episode is beyond stellar. The dinnerparty from hell has to be one of the funniest scenes in the entire series,which okay, might not be saying much because the subject matter of the seriesisn't always open to humor. But kudos to the writers for working it in wheneverthey could.

I also started anew episode of Wednesday and I'm definitely settling in and enjoying thewild ride. The snark is top notch and Wednesday's quest to find answers thatkeeps generating more questions intrigues me. I love this show.

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from That ExplainsEverything, a novella that puts the characters in a precarious situationwith a master manipulator.

Here's themini-blurb:

Tasha Yale wants Brax Vermillion but can't seem to breakher connection to Staz Yarrow—until she's taken by Lanai Conns. Finally awareof the nefarious machinations, Tasha fights to get back to her clan and Brax …before it's too late.

And a preview snippet…

Tasha woke up afterspending a full week with Staz being home. "He hasn't mentioned when he'llhave to leave this time." Oddly, she looked forward to him going outagain.

Brax probably playeda role there. The desire for Staz to stay grew weaker with each passing day andthe pull to see Brax nosed in hard. Usually, she dreaded letting Staz go, hencethe reason they tended to fight before he headed out for a tracking excursion.

She got up to makecoffee, refusing to think too hard about the reason she wouldn't put up a bigfuss when Staz took off again, which would no doubt be soon.

She entered thekitchen and found Staz pouring two mugs of liquid manna.

Her heart softened alittle. "Thanks, you didn't have to do this." He rarely did anythingdomestic around the cottage—unless he had to leave early.

Only then did he takeover coffee duty.

Staz gave her an oddsmile. "I know, but you do so much for me, and I don't always show you howmuch I appreciate it." He backed up to lean against the counter.

She tilted her headto one side for a moment then gave him a long, considering look. Maybe they'dget through a farewell without arguing, for once. Might be a first for them.

She straightened andtook a bracing gulp of the brew. "It's so sweet of you." She pulledeggs from the fridge and got breakfast started, putting four slices of bread inthe toaster.

Halfway throughcooking, her fingers grew tingly. She put the spatula aside and flexed herhands. When she reached for the utensil again, the room grew fuzzy and her earshad a roaring sound in them.

She turned."Staz?" Her vision swam and she got dizzy. "There'ssomething..." She collapsed, barely able to stay conscious.

Staz crouched down,leaning in close to her. "The only wrong is your boyfriend Brax won't beseeing you today." He dragged her to the door before picking her up andhoisting her over his shoulder. "I can't believe you've been sleeping withhim. Ruined the plan, you stupid bitch." Nudging the heavy oak slab open,he carried her to his car.

Her last thoughtfocused on Brax before the full extent of how duped she'd been hit her hard.

Tasha's situationis going to hit hard when she finally regains consciousness. And Staz will havesome explaining to do.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Shaken Alliances (a Technorati novella)

Happy springholidays for those who celebrate. We're having a nice, quiet weekend with excellentweather for once.

Long work week butI got a lot accomplished. Should have one of my projects finished up this weekand another ready to move on to the next phase. The third is in a holdingpattern for now and we'll pick that one back up in about two weeks.

Had an okay week ofwatching television. I've also been working on the great clean out projectagain and that limited some of my viewing time.

I started out with StrangestThings. This show always entertains me with the wild and weird stuff theyfeature. The psychograph shed some light on at least one X-Filesstoryline for me.

Continued myrewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Flesh and Bone." The reintroductionof the Leoben character is an excellent watch, even if I completely dislikethat particular model of cylon. The acting is terrific in this episode.

Caught anotherepisode of The Mandalorian. Nice to see the big bad from last season isstill a big bad. Always great to see Carl Weathers. Loved Grogu's antics inthis one. Can't wait to watch the next episode.

Watched another episodeof Only Murders in the Building. Loved seeing the fan crew again. Notsure how I feel about bringing Jan back into the story but I'm thoroughlyenjoying the new wrinkle with Oliver and Teddy. I'm looking forward to the nextepisode.

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from ShakenAlliances, the opening book in the Technorati series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Janna Allgood, a corporal in the Alliance, is the best atwhat she does, bringing Technorati deceivers to justice. But when she'sassigned the task of tracking down the notorious leader of the roguetechnomancers, she discovers a new calling, one that puts her life in dangerbecause it may bring down the Alliance she works for.

And a preview snippet…

The chancellor of the Alliance steppedup to the podium. "On this defining day, let it be known that the Guild ofTechnomancers will forthwith be in league with the Alliance, acting asmediators and part of the executive branch." He paused and looked out atthe crowd below then directly toward the hololens filming his speech andsending it out among the coalition of planets. "Welcome to the golden ageof the Alliance!"

The crowd roared and the chancellormelted back into the shadows before entering his chambers. Satisfaction infusedhim and he nodded to Rennick, the junior delegate from the guild. Rennicklifted his chin and gave the chancellor a long, level look before turning to exitfor his journey back to wherever technomancers gathered.

And so it went. A very powerful,but peaceful group signed on the dotted line and sold themselves out. Thetechnomancers let the Alliance dictate how they'd use their talents, let thegalactic force put restrictions on their abilities. The thought behind it waspure. If they could provide assistance and help forge peace where there noneexisted, how could that be bad?

After all, the chief tenet of theguild, learned as soon as the ability manifested, hadn't changed in eons. Bringharm to none.

But the concept of brokering peace alteredover the years to protecting the Alliance and making things run smoothly for thegalactic entity at all costs.

The guild's goodwill became atravesty and had to be stopped. A rift formed and an underground movement startedwith the formation of the Technorati. The Alliance made moves to halt theprogress, tightened up their hold on the guild and forbade them from practicingoutside the influence of their keepers.

Some fell in and towed the line.But a few others walked away and chose their own path. They refused to be heldto someone else's standard. They went out and honed their craft, experimented,tested boundaries, and completely broke free.

The small group of Technorati becamethe hunted. Tracked down at any cost and offered a choice. Come back into thefold or suffer the consequences. Most chose to stay as they were. Some dodgedthe bullet by escaping or going deeper into hiding. Those on the inside thatwanted to be free got assistance from the rogue group. They were smuggled out andprovided for until they got on their feet.

More and more of the technomancers startedto escape and the Alliance formed a new division. One created to put a stop to theexodus.

Being hunted by their own peoplemade breaking the bonds of servitude more difficult...

But not impossible.

I'm excited by the waythis story is coming together. I think I figured out how I want to leave thingsbefore I start book two.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Tantalizing Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

An interestingstart to April with howling winds and a kaleidoscope of weather. We got a mix ofpretty much everything. Rain, flurries, high wind advisory, and temperaturesall over the place.

Solid week ofediting. I have three projects that are moving forward at a great pace. I'mlooking forward to getting these completed.

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

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

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. Always fun to catch a couple that don't alwaysmake the rotation of encores.

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

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

Caught another episodeof Peak Practice and it ended up being a bit of a doozy. I think I havefive episodes left of this series and a lot is supposed to happen. Not sure I'mquite ready for it.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Who. I'm nearing the end of this season and I'm notsure where things are going with this arc, but I'm excited to find out.

Started the secondhalf of Silent Witness. Nikki just can't catch a break. I'm quiteinterested in finding out where the twists are leading. Update next week onthis.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Tantalizing Yule,a holiday spirit short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

During the Yule season, Ginger Radiance, a holidayspirit, has to get Regina Royal, a sexy sprite, under the same roof with FakhirFrenum, a studly spook. The two have a clash of wills, creating a massivesnowstorm that leaves them stranded … plenty of time to let the holiday workits magick on the wary enemies.

And a preview snippet…

Regina Royal flopped down on hersofa. "Argh, no, I can't. I really can't." She crossed her fingers tonegate the little bitty lie she just told.

She literally could not doanother party. She needed a break and maybe some quiet time. And none of hersprite community would understand she didn't crave being the life of the party allthe time.

Regina sighed. "No, no. I'mnot going to Swell's shindig over yours." Swell Harrington, a fellowsprite, threw the best soirees, which irritated Harley Knowles to noend. "Look, Harley, it's been nonstop happenings since All Souls. Even Ineed a night off now and again." And how. "Yes, Harley, I'll makeyour next get together. I promise." She ended the call.

Never let it be said Regina Royaldidn't commit to being the queen of all things fun. But someone—anyone else—deservedto have a moment in the spotlight. Because I'm exhausted.

So exhausted.

And quite frankly a little worriedabout her lack of spirit. Then again, no one ever asked after her. They didn'twonder if she'd had a good day, week, or month. Nope. Everyone called on Reginato liven up their lives. Honestly, considering she spent the bulk of her timebeing surrounded by so many people, she shouldn't feel so lonely.

Her phone rang again, and sherefused to answer. No doubt another sprite wanted her to put in an appearance.

"How did I get to be the go-toperson for party cred?"

Okay, stupid question. Her anticswere legendary. But, geez, couldn't someone else dance on tables and drink cocktailsout of a pair of heels?

"Not like I've got amoratorium on creativity."

Swell came close. But if he didn'thost the fete, he tended to be the snark master instead of a fun guy.

Her head lolled back on the cushion,and she heaved a sigh. Her phone's notification went off again. She muted thevolume.

"Argh, this is crazy!"The air shifted around her directly before her doorbell rang.

Rising, she went to answer anddiscovered what caused the ripple in reality. An envelope hovered outside. Shegrabbed the packet and opened it … almost afraid to find yet another invitationto yet another party.

"Ohh … not a party…" Shescanned the parchment-lined card.

When you need a break from theendless balls…

But you can't escape the next roundof calls.

Pack your bags and slip away…

For a solitary soiree.

To make the holiday shine bright…

Slip through the veil aftermidnight.

The mysterious sender provided thelocation of the Goodacre Bed and Breakfast with instructions to arrive laterthat night.

Thrilled beyond belief, Regina gotjust what she needed. "Oh, hell, yes. This is perfect." She got upand headed for her bedroom. "Won't need much. I have no one toimpress…" And she loved the idea of packing light.

This story is a lotof fun. There might be a name change for one of the characters, but I love thevibe of this group.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Tangled Web

We had a crazy week of weather. Rain, rain, rain, followed by wind, wind, wind. Lost power for a couple of hours and returned some of the neighbor's stuff that ended up in our backyard. Something tells me we're going to pay for a fairly mild winter with a chaotic and wild spring. Can't wait.

Good week on work projects and I finally made headway with clearing out my inbox on my old PC and I'm starting the transfer of files to my new computer. I can't wait to get this project done so I can go back to having one desktop instead of two in my workspace. Up next, tackling my laptop to see if I can get the graphics card to function again. Or, the issue could be related to a Windows update. Either way, I'm hoping I won't have to invest in a new laptop. Fingers crossed.

Not a bad week of television viewing. I didn't get quite as much watched as I did last week, but I got a few shows in.

I finished up the Classic Who episode I started last weekend and I'm kind of interested in how this one plays out. Hoping to get to the next part this week.

Watched the season twenty-one opener of Silent Witness. Nice to see some fallout from Nikki's Mexico trip. Jack is a little off and I'm curious to find out why. Love to see Clarissa out in the field because she's become a favorite character and shouldn't always be relegated to the lab.

Enjoyed another episode of Strangest Things. The items they discuss are always interesting and I love the speculative aspect when they really don't know exactly what they have.

Caught another episode of The Mandalorian. Bo Katan's introduction piqued my interest. I like how a different sect of Mandalorians are out there giving a different perspective.

Watched another episode of Only Murders in the Building. Thoroughly enjoyed discovering the building has secret passageways and tunnels. Loved the introduction of Lucy. I haven't changed my theory quite yet on who the killer might be, but we'll see what happens. Also nice to see Oliver show up for his son. Much needed character growth there.

Got to return to my Battlestar Galactica rewatch this week. While the episode doesn't rank as one of my favorites from season one, it's still a solid watch. Frankly, season one doesn't have a bad episode. It's probably the best first season of television I've watched.

Enjoyed another episode of Pennyworth. A few unexpected twists turned up and I'm here for those. I'm quite enjoying the slow discovery of how Alfred became Batman's butler. There's not a wasted moment on the screen.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Tangled Web, a novella that puts a little noir into the romantic chase between the characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ruby Ire is bad for men—every time she falls for one he ends up dead, so she doesn't get tangled up with them anymore. But a series of near miss accidents makes her think she's become a target and she hires Jordan Riceman to track down her attacker. And she absolutely will not let Jordan get too close, no matter how damned attractive he is.

And a preview snippet…

Jordan Riceman jogged up the steps to a brownstone in an old neighborhood of the city. He twisted the knob and entered then made his way to the study. The old place needed some work, but the classic lines couldn't be missed.

He rapped on the door. "Granddad?" He opened the door and ducked inside the stately room. "Sorry I'm late." He paused when he caught sight of his grandfather and a distant cousin sitting beside the fire.

Frank Riceman stood and greeted Jordan. "Hello, my boy. You remember Doug, don't you?"

Douglas R. Barclay, son of Jordan's grandmother's sister. Jordan remembered Doug even if it had been at least five years since they'd interacted. Doug lived in a small burg about an hour away and tended to stick close to his home.

Jordan lifted his chin in Doug's direction. "Hi, Doug. Hope you've been well." He motioned for his grandfather to retake his seat. "Again, sorry to keep you waiting."

Frank waved a hand. "Not a problem. I asked Doug to come here to save time." He got up again and crossed over to a maple desk. "I have something for both of you." He withdrew an envelope and a set of keys from the top drawer.

Jordan stayed silent, wondering what his grandfather had in mind for this meeting.

Frank came back around the desk and handed Doug the envelope. "This contains the deed to the hunting cabin your grandpa and I used to use anytime your grandma and my Minnie wanted to redecorate." His lips twitched. "The fact they always chose hunting season seemed awful convenient."

Doug accepted the envelope with a frown. "Uh, thanks. Not sure what I'll do with it." He tucked the deed into the pocket of his jacket. "I hate to cut this short, but I have an appointment to make." Raising a hand, he started for the doors.

Frank added a reminder. "The key to the cabin is under the porch. It's all spelled out in the letter your grandpa included. Call if you have any questions."

Doug grunted and left the room.

Jordan's brows arched. "Not exactly thrilled with the gift, was he?" He didn't remember Doug being quite so rude the last time they'd attended a family function.

Frank rolled his eyes. "I blame Nellie. After Ralph died, she and their daughter Ellen had a falling out and that usually kept Doug firmly on his mom's side." He shook his head. "Doug didn't start coming to family gatherings until after his mom passed. And your grandma is convinced it's only to remind Nellie how poorly she treated her daughter." He waved a hand. "Bah. You didn't come here for a family history lesson." Pressing the keys into Jordan's hand, Frank smiled. "The brownstone is yours. Don't forget the secrets of the old place. Should help you with your work."

Jordan operated a private investigation and security company. The old building had three secret entrances and myriad passageways between floors. So, yeah, the privileged information could definitely help with anything covert.

Jordan gave a nod. "It will. I'll use the lower level for my office and live up here. Be nice to have a couple of shortcuts I can use." Not that he'd share any of those with anyone.

Not even his—if he eventually hired one—assistant. He liked to work alone and had a few key clients that usually kept him busy. But he'd have to bring someone else on board if he wanted to stay relevant.

Frank nudged Jordan's shoulder. "I anticipated your plans. I've got a guy coming over tomorrow morning to put your name on the door downstairs. You tell him what you want and he'll make sure you're good to go."

Jordan hugged his granddad. "Thank you. Can I stop by for dinner next week so I can thank Grandma, too?" After all, the brownstone had been their home after they got married.

Frank smiled. "You bet you can. She'll be happy to see you, my boy." Starting for the doors, he turned back. "Make it Wednesday, if you're free. We're leaving for a cross-country train tour on the weekend."

Jordon walked his grandfather to the main entrance. "Wednesday it is. I'll be there unless I have work to do." He grinned when a black sedan pulled up to the curb.

He'd given his granddad a silent communication device over the holidays last year. Looked like Frank put it to good use. Once the car pulled away, Jordan turned and headed back into the brownstone.

Shaking his head, he huffed out a laugh. "Guess I gotta start thinking of this as my brownstone."

I love writing a small bit of mystery into a romance. The noir feel is one of my favorite things.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Take a Walk on the Wild Side

It's been an eventful weekend. On Friday night at my daughter's university campus, an individual fired multiple shots at a baseball game. Thankfully—and it pains me to say this at all because it shouldn't be anyone—only one person, a player for the opposing team, and the alleged target of the shooter, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect is already in custody and has already been charged by the county prosecutor for attempted murder and felonious assault, both charges have firearm specifications. I'm very happy no one else was physically injured and I'm terribly sorry for the opposing team's player and their family. It's a lot to endure.

It's a lot to endure for everyone. The university staff, baseball team, students, the local community, and the opposing college, their staff, team, and students now have a shared experience with, unfortunately, too many others. I'm so happy my daughter wasn't anywhere near the baseball field when this occurred and I'm very happy the other players are okay. Like I said, an eventful weekend.

On top of that, I had a full week of work projects and made good progress on all of them.

I also got some television in. I didn't have a chance to do my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica, but we're on the schedule for next week.

I did finish up The Mandalorian. Ended up enjoying the episode a lot.

Also watched Only Murders in the Building. I have a working theory on who the killer will be and I can't wait to see if I'm right.

Caught another episode of Pennyworth and I like how this show is coming together. Looking forward to finishing out the season.

Started Wednesday, based on recommendations from a bunch of my viewing friends. Loved the first episode and look forward to more.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats and I think I actually watched on I missed during the thousands of times we watched this when the kids were growing up. Kind of happy to have that happen.

Caught another episode of Midsomer Murders. Loved this one and laughed out loud a couple of times. I guess one more episode to finish out the season.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I'm at the midway point for season nine and getting more familiar with the new faces.

Started a new episode of Classic Who and should finish it up later tonight.

That's pretty much it for the life updated this week. Tonight's post is from Take a Walk on the Wild Side, a follow-up to Long Time No See in a series that hasn't been named yet.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After dealing with repercussions from the Vallas clan, Val Janison steps into a leadership role he's not thrilled to have. Jonni Mars works behind the scenes as a liaison between the three ruling families and tries to broker a peaceful resolution. In the middle of everything, the couple makes an attempt to keep their relationship solid … with mixed results.

And a preview snippet…

Jonni Mars strode up the long lane leading to the home the love of her life lived in. "Seriously, Val, I hate coming to this monstrosity of a house." But … if the mountain wouldn't come to her or however that saying went.

She missed him and she would get some alone time with him … even if she had to bribe Anton Benoit, the manservant Val inherited when his grandfather passed into the next realm.

She snorted. "Right. Anton's unimpeachable. And part of the reason I haven't seen Val in almost a week." The righthand man ran Val's schedule with a firm grip.

Instead of heading to the huge double front doors, Jonni ducked around the side of the house and made her way to the service entrance and let herself in.

The huge room with floor to ceiling shelves on one wall and a long counter with a sink and cupboards above and below on the other currently lacked activity of any kind. Jonni thanked whatever ruled the universe she didn't have to interact with any of the staff. Yet…

She went straight for the narrow wall with several panels and pressed the button for Val's office.

He responded right away. "Yes?" The sound of shuffling papers filtered through.

Jonni rolled her eyes. "Val? Can you work me into your schedule today?"

He made a surprised noise. "Jonni? Where the hell are you?"

She glanced around again. "Uh, the butler's pantry? I'm making an assumption here." The food staples on the shelves and the array of trays and linens gave her a clue.

Val tsked. "Why did you come in through the service entrance? You should be entering through the main doors."

Jonni snorted. "No way. Too many people monitor the comings and goings through there. And I'm not here on official business. I'm here to—"

Val cut in. "Make my day? Stay there. I'll be right down." He cut the communication.

Jonni shrugged and did some exploring, poking around in the cabinets. Most were filled with glassware and dishes. One held multiple bottles of alcohol, no doubt used to restock the bars throughout the house. One cupboard had pull-out shelves with so much flatware her eyes bugged out.

Shaking her head, she shut the door. "Who needs that much silverware?" The leader of the Janison family obviously.

Arms came around her and lips nuzzled her throat. "Not everyone can manage with one or two of everything, even it's more efficient."

Jonni's grumpy mood dissipated and she turned in Val's arms. "Efficiency is simple and clean, considering how much time I spend cleaning up other people's messes." She tugged him closer.

Val's lips curved. "But not today, right? Unless it's maybe limited to my bedroom…" His head lowered and he caught her lips in a hot, steamy kiss.

Jonni sank into the embrace. Now, this was worth the trek out here…

This is a fun series and I hope to work more books in. Jonni and Val have a lot of things they can explore.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Storm Down the Drain

Very busy week with work projects and client calls. My youngest was also in the UK over her spring break for a study abroad program. She's back in the States today.

Weather is all over the place, which is typical for March. We had sunny and warm followed by chilly and rainy, followed by brrrrr! and some flurries. I can't wait to see what the next two or three weeks brings to the playing field.

Had an okay week for television. I didn't get back on my regular schedule, but I did get a few things watched.

Started out with some Classic Rugrats. Only watched one episode but enjoyed it. I always like the episodes where Angelica is bested by the babies.

Watched another episode of Midsomer Murders. I'm kind of bummed Barnaby's degree in psychology isn't a thing anymore. I enjoyed that aspect in the first few seasons of John's tenure.

I finished an episode of Endeavor and enjoyed it. Glad to be back into this show. I'm a few seasons behind but I'll get caught up eventually.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. This one started a new arc and I'm excited to see where it goes. There might have been a hint about Ace's mom and I want to see if pans out.

Completed season twenty of Silent Witness. Really liked how the episode played out and I'm interested in how Nikki and Jack deal with the fallout of their trip to Mexico.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. A couple of interesting features in this one, especially the bat bomb that destroyed an entire air force base.

Also started a new episode of The Mandalorian. I'll finish it up later today while I prep for the new season.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Storm Down the Drain, a novella where the characters play a cat and mouse game with their adversary and fall for each other in the process.

Here's the mini-blurb:

On a dark and stormy night, Brooks Algonquin knocks on Velvet Strong's door and asks her to help him find the Burmesian Raven, an antiquity with magical qualities. Velvet takes his case, but quickly learns Brooks has ulterior motives for acquiring the artifact stolen from his family.

And a preview snippet…

Velvet dressed with care for her assignation with Brooks Algonquin. "When I play a role, I go all out." She zipped the back of her dress up.

A shopping excursion scored several new outfits, all slinky and sultry in a range of colors. Her shoe problem—she could never have too many—allowed her to choose from a wide array of options. She settled on a pair of violet peep-toe platform pumps to complement the lilac sequined sheath with fringe along the hemline.

Slipping them on, she admired the rhinestone accents on the shoes. "A little shimmer will keep my legs as a focal point." She also selected a knotted necklace of sparkling crystals. "The glistening gleam begs a man's gaze to linger on my decolletage." A matching pain of earrings finally drew attention to her face and eyes, which she'd done in smoky purples and grays.

She'd gone heavier on the color than normal, mainly to be convincing as something of a coquette. Her cases didn't often require her to flirty and she rather looked forward to bantering with Brooks.

She added a spritz of perfume—a freesia scent with deep caramel undertones. The floral aroma lasted a long time but didn't overpower. The caramel added weight and kept the flowery vibe from being too sweet.

Checking her appearance one last time, she grabbed a silver clutch and draped a white velveteen stole around her shoulders then headed to meet Brooks at Jumpin' Joes, the little bistro with a jazzy sound.

Halfway down to the ground floor, she smiled. "I hope Brooks likes to dance." The tiny floor allowed for several couples to sway along to the live singer's performance.

She'd own wanting to be in his arms—but only because the action would add to their guise of a chance meeting turning into something more.

And the something more element added a layer of danger that appealed to her.

I'm having so much fun writing this story! Velvet is a terrific character with a mind and will that more than matches Brooks's.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Still of the Night

March entered the room with some wild weather, which isn't a big surprise. Still having the back and forth chilly then warm and lots of rain and wind. I expect nothing less from my birth month.

 

Got a lot accomplished on my work projects. I have a new one coming in sometime in the next week or two and I'm looking forward to jumping into another new one this week.

 

Didn't get a lot of television watched this week, but I got a few episodes in.

 

Finished up The Mandalorianepisode I started and thoroughly enjoyed it. My brother used to be obsessed with the sand people so it's fun to see them in action in this episode.

 

My Battlestar Galacticarewatch continued with "Act of Contrition." So many great moments in this episode and the acting is stellar. For a show that came out twenty years ago, I have vivid memories of watching this for the first time.

 

I also caught another episode of Only Murders in the Building. I kind of love where they're taking things at the moment. It'll be hard to top the first season for me, but I'm excited to see how this plays out. I'm really hoping it holds up.

 

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Still of the Night, a novella that brings an uptown guy and a downtown girl together for a money-making venture.

 

Here's the mini-blurb:

 

Salem Rhys has the perfect recipe for brewing dark lager, a potent alcohol that will go over huge at the mage academy … but doesn’t have the know-how or equipment to create the concoction. Jared Meyer, a tech genius, can definitely help her out. Salem falls hard for her business partner but considers him out of her league until Jared proposes more than a money-making venture.

 

And a preview snippet…

 

Salem pulled into the small parking lot a bit wistful about stopping the hot and sexy action yesterday. But she also kind of appreciated Jared's pull back. Jumping into something intimate when this whole idea could go belly up would be a stupid thing to do.

Grabbing her supplies, she popped her door. "Not that stupid can't be fun."

She entered the warehouse only to be met by a man who paced around muttering under his breath.

He caught sight of her and tossed up a hand. "Bah. A piece of ass. I should've known." The look he gave her condemned her on the spot.

Her temper lit, she dropped her bags on the counter. "Excuse me? I'm no one's piece of ass." Although she could have been if Jared hadn't stopped yesterday.

The gentleman gave a rude snort. "You will be soon enough. Jared's got Meyer blood running through his veins."

And yet, Jared didn't act like a raging asshole, unlike crankypants old guy. Angry beyond rational thought, she conjured a fireball, but the old man easily deflected it. He sent her a scathing look.

Salem snarled. "Who the hell are you?" He had about half a second to confirm her worst suspicion.

The man straightened his jacket. "Jarvis Meyer. Jared's grandfather. I came down to see what he was so all fired up about." He rolled his eyes. "I'm disappointed to see he's still thinking with his dick."

Salem almost laughed. "You're sowrong about that." Growing angrier by the moment, she threw down the gauntlet. "And you know what? Get out. You're not welcome here." At this rate, he never would be.

Jarvis looked down his nose. "You can't order me out of a building I paid for."

Salem arched her brows. "Really? Okay then." She built up several fireballs, adding a hex to all four. "Since money is all that matters to you … I'll hit you where it hurts." She launched the flaming orbs, hurtling them to the four corners of the building.

Grabbing her precious book of magick, she spun and started for the door. Mr. Jarvis the asshat could suck donkey balls for all she cared. And Jared could wait in line behind him.

Except … he probably deserved better from her.

Halfway to the exit, she stopped. "You know, if Jared was only thinking with his dick, he could've fucked me and taken my only possession." She held the book up. "Instead, he offered a partnership and put in as much time as I have. If you ask me ... he's the one with brains and foresight." Turning back, she made her way to the door and crashed into Jared on the way out.

He grasped her arms. "What's going on? What happened?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she pulled away from him. "If you want to salvage anything, the release spell word is hierarchy." Head high, she sailed past him and didn't look back.

I love Salem and her take-no-prisoners attitude. Thankfully, Jared does also!

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Stay the Course (Warlock's Curse)

February has been the oddest month. Between weird weather and random catastrophes, it's been a doozy. I'm kind of happy to be welcoming March in this week.

Finished up a work project and made really great progress on one of the others. I'm blessed with authors who turn revisions around in record time. It's very helpful and keeps their work fresh in my mind.

I also made some progress on my new venture. Only a tiny amount, but it makes me happy to chip away at my to-do list. Brings me a wee bit closer to be able to launch.

Didn't get a lot of television watched, but I did finish up Strangest Things. I have so much fun listening to the experts discuss the weird and wonderful artifacts.

I also continued my Battlestar Galactica rewatch. This week's episode was one of my favorites, "Bastille Day." Some truly excellent parallels about picking a side and being true to a set of core beliefs.

I also started season two of The Mandalorian. I hoped to finish up Ms. Marvel before starting another Star Wars show, but I want to be up to date for season three.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Stay the Course, the opening book for the Warlock's Curse series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nadia Iris is at a crossroads and has to choose whether to find her path to fulfillment as an adept or stay stagnant in her current position. She decides to go on a journey quest but has to leave Falk Ridenour behind. Falk isn't happy, but supports her choice, even knowing the hardship she'll face.

And a preview snippet…

Falk stared up at the building. "Are you serious?" Even if only three stories, the height seemed daunting.

Nadia smirked with a nod. "Absolutely." She bounced on her toes and rubbed her hands together.

He glanced toward her. "And you can't use magick to scale the side?" Or keep from crashing to the ground…

Nadia's brows drew together. "Where's the fun in that?" The sideways glance she sent his way dared him to refuse.

He wouldn't—he needed to reach her and help her find her center. Falk went with the moment, mainly because Nadia had finally relaxed and showed him another side. One he liked even more than the angry, frustrated woman he had to help guide.

Placing his hand on the rough stone, he nodded. "Let's do this." And don't let us die.

She started, placing her foot on the windowsill. "Follow me." Grasping the side trim of the window, she pulled herself up then reached out for the lower edge of the porch roof.

After hoisting herself onto the slightly slanted surface, she repeated the process by placing her foot on the sill in the gable in the center of the second floor then scrabbled up onto the peak, using her arms to keep her balance. Reaching up, she gripped the eave of the third floor roof and stuck her foot on the cedar siding and pushed upward. She planted her knee on the spouting running along the roofline and launched forward onto the angled pitch of the top floor.

Falk followed her, putting his feet and hands as close to where she'd put hers as possible. He had the advantage of being a few inches taller than Nadia and cleared the first and second floor without issue. Once he almost made it to the top, he had a premonition of her—alone, bedraggled, and defeated—and he lost focus. His knee slipped off the spouting and he dropped down, scrambling to hold on to the rough shingles.

Nadia grasped his biceps, then his hand, tugging him upward. He toppled forward with a grunt his mind still full of Nadia's miserable countenance. Straightening himself up, he sat back on his butt, breathing deeply. The vision faded, replaced by her concerned face studying him carefully.

She looked him over. "You okay?"

He lifted his chin but said nothing, especially when she tilted her head to one side with a narrowed gaze. Then she dropped down beside him and leaned back on her elbows. The rightness of having at his side settled over him. He'd examine and meditate on the precognitive event later.

Nadia needed this distraction and he needed to figure out the puzzle she represented. And, if he had to be honest, he wanted to spend the time with her. Away from the classroom and training hall where she had nothing to prove. Not that she has to prove anything to me. Too bad the board of elders didn't feel the way Falk did.

Nadia nudged his shoulder. "Look up." She tilted her head back and gazed at the night sky.

Falk did as she suggested. "Wow." Stars sparkled and glittered overhead. "I see why you love the view from up here." He dropped back to his elbows to get more comfortable.

Nadia chuckled. "I come up here a lot, especially after a frustrating training session." She slid her gaze his way. "Being on the rooftop gives me perspective."

He could see why. Having the night sky spread out filled with endless possibilities would be a nice blanket to cover a rough day. Made making the climb up kind of worth it. Getting down … maybe not so much.

He angled toward her a little. "Gotta be honest. Pretty sure I'll be using magick to get down." If she thought less of him so be it.

Nadia let out a laugh. "No need for that." She pointed to the rear gable. "There's an access door to the third floor over there." Her face split with a wide grin.

Falk arched his brows. "Would've been nice to know that earlier." But he had to chuckle.

Only Nadia could convince him to try scaling a manor house just for fun.

He sobered when a brief flash of his earlier vision filled his mind. An odd sense of foreboding dimmed his enjoyment of being with her … but only for a moment. He pushed the precognitive event aside and looked back up at the sky.

I love this series. Nadia and Falk won't have an easy path but moments like climbing a house together give them good memories.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Standing Out

Had a weird week. The weather is still doing the yucky back and forth stuff, which makes me unhappy. My sinuses go insane when the temperature rises and falls and won't make up its mind.

Still super busy with work projects. I think I'm slowing down productivity-wise and that's disappointing, but I also tend to not work on three projects at the same time.

Not a bad week for television but I didn't get a lot watched. I did finish up the Silent Witness episode I started last week. Nikki ends up in trouble on a frequent basis and I like that she's always willing to put herself out there to solve a mystery.

I started a new season of Strangest Things and should have it finished up later this week. I kind of love digging into weird things from history and watching the group of commenters explain what they think things are.

I also caught another episode of Battlestar Galactica. "Water" is a terrific episode that lays the groundwork for a lot of what follows in the rest of the season. Frankly, the first season of Battlestar is as close to perfect as anything I've seen. There's not a wasted episode in the batch of thirteen. There are stronger episodes, obviously, but every installment has important information and terrific character moments. I'm so excited to watch another episode this week!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Standing Out, a follow-up to Blending In.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Wren Bingman and Ethan Scott stop a planned attack on their fae city and take down some key members of the group responsible. But when Ethan is kidnapped the following week, Wren suspects retaliation and vows to bring him back. To do so, she'll have to dig deep into the hierarchy of the ruling council, because she's convinced there's a mole in the organization.

And a preview snippet…

Ethan Scott didn't like being held captive—especially when he'd finally found his perfect match.

Shit. Wren could be in danger.

Not that Wren Bingman couldn't handle herself in dangerous situations. She absolutely could and did on a regular basis. She had an enviable skill set of blending in with the lowest of the low, which served her well in their line of work.

His lips curved. "And it's a big part of why I fell for her."

And damn if he didn't miss her and get pissed off every time he thought about not being with her … or bringing her the promised coffee after he'd left her bed at three a.m.

A full damn week ago.

He'd been sitting and cooling his heels in a cold, dark cell for that same duration.

At least he'd put the time to good use. "I know who my captors are." The Sons of Orion. "I know their weak spots." He'd had plenty of time to learn their habits, strengths, and how to hit them where it would hurt—which he planned to do soon.

He needed a little more time to figure a few things out. Like how the three-man team found him at Wren's. He'd received a call from his superior officer to come in for an important briefing, which meant Wren probably got a call from her commander for the same thing, hence the reason she could be in danger or already be a captive in a different location. The main reason he hadn't made an escape yet … he wanted to find out if Wren got snagged, too.

When he did get away from the Sons of Orion, he had a plan. "As long as Wren isn't caught up in this mess, she's the only one I'll trust." His kidnapping reeked of an inside source.

Which meant his SO could be involved … whether the guy knew it or not.

Ethan got up and paced the six-by-ten space again. "Forty-eight hours then it's so long, dickheads. Just try to find me again…"

I'm having a lot of fun with this follow-up. Ethan is going to give Wren a run for her money with being covert and cagey.

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Spellbound Yule (Holiday Spirit short)

Whew. What a long week. I've got three work projects going and some movement on my possible new venture. And crazy weather that keeps hopping back and forth from super cold to very mild. I'm not a fan.

Had a somewhat decent week of television. I'm not back to my normal schedule because my work projects need solid focus. But … I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things.

I finished up the Midsomer Murders I started last week and really enjoyed the episode. I have a lot of love for Barnaby and Winters.

I caught an episode of Peak Practice. I'm in season nine and what I consider the home stretch since there are three seasons left after this one. Not a bad episode but I do miss some of the recurring characters from earlier seasons.

Continued my Battlestar Galactica rewatch with my friend. Season one starts with what I consider to be one of the absolute best hours of scripted television ever. "33" is in my top ten episodes of Battlestar and probably in my top ten episodes of television. Edge of your seat viewing for the entire episode. Terrific stuff.

Watched an episode of Classic Who and finished out the arc. I have ten episodes left to finish out the full run of classic episodes. I think I'll be starting a Death in Paradise run after I conclude with Classic Who.

Started the first of the final two episodes in season twenty of Silent Witness. I'm looking forward to finishing it up and seeing where things go.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from A Spellbound Yule, a Holiday Spirit short featuring a witch and a warlock that need to settle a dispute.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Holiday spirit, Bertram Goldwreath, has to bring Oakley Oliver, a witch and Calder Conrad, a warlock together over the Yule holiday so they can settle a territorial dispute. Oakley is looking forward to a quiet getaway at a bed and breakfast … until Calder invades her interlude and sparks fly.

And a preview snippet…

Oakley arrived through the veil to spot a man coming in from the other direction. "Damn, so much for alone time." She put a brave smile on display when they reached the porch of the large manor house at the same time.

Quite a handsome specimen. If she had to share her alone time, he'd at least be pretty eye candy. And with snow coming down, there might not be much else to do.

She lifted her chin. "Um, happy almost Yule." She could start off on a good note.

He paused then nodded. "Happy Yule." His booted foot shuffled a swath of powdery white flakes in front of him.

By mutual silent agreement, they stepped up onto the porch to get out of the falling precipitation. The man gave her a slow once-over and she preened … just a little. How long had it been? Maybe alone time could turn into slaking a thirst with a very hot guy. Happy Yule to me.

Then he introduced himself. "Calder Conrad." He dropped his duffel onto the floorboards.

Oakley groaned. "Dammit. So much for that happy daydream." The warlock … here? Argh.

He frowned. "I'm sorry, what daydream?" One eyebrow arched.

She sighed. "Never mind. I'm Oakley Oliver." Might as well get everything on the table.

He blinked, his mouth dropping open a little. "Really? I thought you'd be much older." His brows furrowed.

Oakley hid her surprise. "Sorry to disappoint." Why would he think she'd be an older woman? He couldn't be more than a year or two older than her and he led the warden.

He shook his head. "You're really the new coven leader I've been trying to meet with?"

Oakley jerked her head upward. "I am." And she'd been avoiding seeing him face-to-face—okay, not quite true—she'd been told not to respond to his demands.

Calder huffed out a breath. "First, I'm not disappointed. I mean, you're gorgeous. But I am shocked … as you can probably tell." He paused a moment. "How did you become so disagreeable at such a young age?"

Oakley's mouth fell open. "I'mdisagreeable? Who sends multiple nastygrams on a daily basis?" And at the most inconvenient times?

Calder made a confused sound. "Nastygrams?"

Oakley shrugged. "What else would you call them?" Even if they came like clockwork, which they didn't, the implied tone reeked of mean-spiritedness.

Calder grunted. "Fair point." He rolled a shoulder. "But I'm at the end of my rope. Is there a reason we can't come to an agreement?" He paused and took a breath. "After months of non-negotiation?"

Guilt flooded her and Oakley closed her eyes, almost caving in to the desire to shout in frustration because she hated being in the middle of opposing forces. But she didn't give in. Instead, she shivered.

Meeting his gaze, she grabbed her bag. "Can we get out of the cold?" She didn't wait for an answer.

She pushed the door open, stepped inside, and shopped short. "Wow." An overload of festivity met her eyesight.

A hard thump against her back sent her forward again, her gaze struggling to soak everything in. Decorations covered every available surface. Nothing garish or over the top, but literally understated elegance oozed from floor to ceiling.

Calder let out a low whistle. "Holy crap. Talk about decking the halls."

She laughed. She couldn't help it. But how could she possibly like this guy?

I love writing the holiday spirit shorts and having fun with bringing two characters together.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye