Skye Ritchey's Blog, page 17

Sunday Snippet: Quiver Full of Arrows

Not a bad week. I made excellent headway on the two projects I'm editing and got some writing of my own done. The weather has been so nice and comfortable. Not quite chilly enough to be considered fall but also not the sweltering yuck we often have this time of year.

I'm finally more or less back on my regular viewing schedule. I might be dropping one of my streamers because they're going to paid only and, frankly, I'm not that interested in the content to pay five bucks a month for it. We'll see how it goes.

Caught several episodes of Classic Rugrats. I'm into season four and trawling through the memory banks. I love reminiscing about sitting with the kids and watching this when they were wee little ones.

Watched maybe the last episode of Chicago Med for me. This is the streamer that's going to paid only and I'm not that interested in continuing to watch. I'll see what happens in a few weeks.

Enjoyed two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I have so much love for this series and tend to rewatch on a semi-frequent basis. There's a very good stable of villains and the animation is great.

Caught another episode of Ted Lasso. Gotta say I thoroughly enjoyed Ted losing his shit with Rebecca. I also loved the whole method of breaking the curse. This is a great show.

Watched the season eight finale of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I have a behind the scenes episode to watch then another wait for new episodes. Looking forward to seeing what Mike had to say to the proposal at the end.

Enjoyed the second part of Silent Witness. Looking forward to seeing what season twenty has to offer. I'm loving the dynamic between the characters.

Finished up season twenty-five of Classic Who. Not a bad way to end the season. I also discovered there's at least one more so I'll start it this week.

Caught another episode of Strangest Things. I liked the segments in this episode. A hoax and a spectacular way-before-its-time device caught my attention.

Loved the episode of The Book of Boba Fett. It featured the return of the Mandalorian and I'm a little spoiled for season two of The Mandalorian because of this, but I'm totally okay with that.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. This show. I have a lot of love for it and can't wait to jump in to season two.

Watched the season eight finale of Peak Practice. A lot of moving pieces and setting things up for next season. I'll be starting nine in the near future.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She focused on the business of writing and I ended up getting some good information from this lesson.

Umbrella Academy ended up being great. I'm really loving this show. I very much enjoy finding out little bits and pieces about the characters and the pacing is excellent.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quiver Full of Arrows, a novella that pulls the characters into facing their past transgressions while nudging them into finding a future together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Frey Witter, codename Crossfire, is sent to bring in mercenary for hire, Solaris Polanski, aka Moon Shadow, for a covert mission. He's got one little problem. Solaris answers to no one—and she used to work for the other side.

And a preview snippet…

Frey held out as long as possible after retrieving the diamonds.

Turning on to the long, winding road that would take them to the operation enclave, he slowed down for the twists and turns. "Okay, my curiosity is piqued. What's your history with Coleman?" No doubt it would be nothing good.

Solaris gave him a long look. "Why do you want to know?" Her fingers curled into her palms, the only indication she'd rather talk about anything else.

Frey rolled one shoulder. "If I'm going to the involved in this deal, I gotta know what Norm will throw at me." He shot her a sideways glance. "And he'll fling shit everywhere because you're messing with his plan." The man had control issues with his control issues.

Solaris smiled. "Messing with his shit is my favorite pastime." She straightened in the seat, angling toward Frey. "Okay, Coleman and I go way back. And the first thing you need to know is that I hate him … with a passion." Her lips twisted in disgust.

Frey grunted. "The thousand burning suns kind or something less intense?" Oddly, it mattered because being a buffer meant he could get burned.

Solaris pursed her lips. "Hmm, let's gо with five hundred thousand burning suns for now." She purposefully straightened her fingers and splayed them on her thighs.

Wow, okay. Frey shot her a quick look. "Did he sacrifice you for a mission?"

Solaris narrowed her eyes. "Is that in some dossier about me?" Her hands fisted again.

Frey shook his head. "No. It's SOP for Coleman. He burns through assets at a higher rate than anyone else." A not-so-secret secret among the agency.

Solaris snorted. "There is that." She stared straight ahead. "The second thing you need to know is he'll consider me expendable, so whatever big operation he's got planned, he's not expecting me to make it out alive." Her voice never wavered, her tone matter-of-fact.

Frey didn't the sound of that. But the idea tracked. Coleman didn't earn his hard-assed reputation by not being ruthless.

Frey growled. "We'll see about that." He'd examine why he gave a shit later … somewhere away from the agency.

Solaris raised her eyebrows. "Look, don't go off book on my account. I know the score. I mean, you were supposed to kill me if I didn't agree to come in." She scowled. "Didn't you think to ask why?"

Yeah, he had. And he did make a query. And he'd been handed a thick folder full of her exploits.

But his bullshit meter just blew the limit now that he'd interacted with Moon Shadow—Solaris. Clearly, a lot got left unwritten about her.

Frey slid a quick glance her way. "For the record, I don't always follow orders. I go where they tell me and follow the planned operation, but I make my own calls when shit goes sideways." He put his eyes back on the road. "I read your file—even the redacted material. But, obviously, there's always stuff—good and bad—that doesn't make it in." He slowed and made the turn into the parking lot then cut the engine. "Norm's a dick—but he gets results. That said, my gut says he doesn't want to go up against his target if you're on their side."

Solaris shrugged. "He's not stupid. I'll give him that." She spread her fingers again, flexing them twice.

Frey nodded. "You're right. So, he takes you out, either by getting you to work for him or by killing you." Ruthless and efficient … and beyond fucked up.

Solaris opened her mouth but paused before speaking. "Boiled down to its essence … yes. And since I'm not dead, he'll assume I'm on board with whatever fucked-up plan he has." Her gaze went hard and angry but she didn't curl her hands into fists.

Frey focused on her pause and what she didn't say. Which means there's more to the story. Oddly, he wanted the full scoop. A rarity.

Then again … she'd fascinated him from the first glimpse of her file. He had a major gut check. And he'd formed an initial impression. No one gave her credit … or a chance. Coleman would have exploited her skill set to his own ends. The man didn't stray from his modus operandi. Which put Moon Shadow at a disadvantage—exactly where Norm wanted her.

Frey paused before he popped his door open. "Here's a promise I will keep. As long as you're considered an agency asset, I'll have your back—even if I don't end up as your handler." A real possibility.

Solaris gave him a bland look. "Pretty words and a nice sentiment. And I'm sure you're sincere." Her gaze changed to something harder and more determined. "But I don't trust anyone one hundred percent." She pulled on the door handle and glanced over her shoulder. "And if you're not my handler … I hope you're ready with your quiver full of arrows—because I'm not working under Coleman's direct supervision in any circumstance." She exited the truck and stood at the front, her gaze sweeping the area.

If Coleman pulled the asshole card and refused her stipulation, would Frey be able to notch an arrow? A gut check said no.

He slid out of the vehicle. "Fuck me. This could go balls up in a big way."

I have a ton of love for this story and these characters. Things came together in a terrific way for Frey and Solaris and there could be more from them.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quilt of Fate

Had a fairly busy week between work and the new venture I'm putting together. The play I'm editing is so much fun. It's deep and twisty and bonkers in the best possible way. I hope I have another chance to edit more plays.

Had a pretty good week trying to catch up to my regular viewing schedule. I'm not quite there yet because other things have been pulling my attention away from screen time. Also, my sleep schedule is all messed up at the moment. Not sure why, but probably hormone-related. Fun.

I watched an episode of Peak Practice and should finish up season eight this week. From what I've reviewed, seasons nine through twelve go a little off the normal path and dive deeper into soap opera territory. I'm okay with that.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Roxane Gay. I truly love listening to her speak. The first one focused on engaging with you readers and I ended up getting a lot out of that one. The second lesson noted the importance of having a day job for stability and I also appreciated what she had to say about that topic.

Started The Umbrella Academy and, so far, I love it. I'm two episodes in and I like the dynamic between the characters and I'm excited to see what comes next. Looking forward to diving deep on this one.

Enjoyed the season finale of The Ready Room. Pretty sure Wil takes over for the next one and I'll look forward to his take on Discovery.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and I have a weird feeling I know where things will end up going with Will and Asher. Fairly sure this might end up being my last season. I do love anything with Dr. Charles, Maggie, and Miss Goodwin. I also love Ethan. We'll see what happens by the end of the season.

Caught another Batman: The Animated Series. I loved Poison Ivy's introduction in this series and also seeing more of Harvey Dent before things happen with him.

Enjoyed a little more of Resisting Roots but didn't get to finish the movie yet.

Watched another Ted Lasso. I'm definitely a fan. Keeley cracks me up and I love where things are going with her. Ted kind of broke my heart yet made me so happy when he benched Jamie. I truly hope there's some kind of redeeming arc for him because I literally loath him at the moment.

Caught another Agatha Christie Hour and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the non-mystery aspect of this show because there's still a lot of suspense, which I love.

Started season twenty of Silent Witness and quite enjoyed the opening first part. Looking forward to finishing this one up next week.

Almost finished with season twenty-five of Classic Who. The greatest show in the galaxy will hopefully end on a great note for the season. I'm pretty sure that brings me close to the end of the classic episodes. Not sure if I'll jump to New Who or switch to a different genre for a while.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. I like diving into the mysterious objects they feature and learning new information. The cast of experts is very diverse and I love that.

Caught another episode of The Book of Boba Fett. Loved the pickup from when Fennic went down in The Mandalorian. I seriously love this show.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. There's so much awkwardness that is played to perfection by the three main cast members. I'm excited to see what happens in the next episode.

Watched an episode of Blue Heelers and ended up enjoying it a lot. Wayne actually ended up being a fairly decent guy in this one and that's not always the case.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quilt of Fate, a novella that explores what happens with the Fates step in and point a couple in the right direction to save their people.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nadie Fall and Cable Reilly are transported to an alternate reality by the Moerae. Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos have plans for the fated couple who couldn't save their original universe but can alter the future for their new one.

And a preview snippet…

A trio of women, representing fate personified or the moerae, held a glowing tapestry. The threads pulsed and flickered, weaving together under their guided tutelage. Except for one darkened and stormy area. The women observed the fallout of the ruined planet.

Atropos, the crone, grumbled while she placed her palm over the gray-tinged stain. "Bah! We should let this group end. They're a stain on humanity." Her lips flattened in distaste and she snipped three tangled lines.

Clotho, the maiden, shook her head. "No, no, no. They have so much potential." She spun new spools of glimmering thread while she spoke. "And, yes, they made a mess when they created the wraith, but their lack of foresight in creating the creatures that would be their downfall is a hard lesson learned." She paused her wheel. "They won't make the same mistake twice, right?" Her nimble fingers returned to pulling on the cords.

Lachesis, the motherly matron, twisted two threads together. "If they're provided with the right guidance, the humans will thrive and survive." She picked up another strand and guided it toward a new direction. "They stumble and fall, but get back up and try again. With time, their minds open and they see what needs to be seen."

Atropos rolled her eyes. "And you think these two are the answer?" She pointed to a strong dual threadline.

Clotho nodded with a dreamy expression. "Oh, yes. They're so right for each other." She gave a sappy sigh.

Atropos snorted. "You've got to be kidding. They're a veritable train wreck who can't get their act together to save themselves much less the rest of the population." Disgust oozed from her voice.

Clotho stuck out her tongue. She never liked being scolded by the crone.

Lachesis added her sage wisdom. "It's hard to stay on the tracks when everything is an obstacle. The choice will be theirs. If they want to find what they seek, they will.'' She picked up a needle and merged several threads together.

Atropos shook her head. "If they choose to. My faith isn't strong on that front. Two steps forward and three back." She waved a hand. "It's always the same with them."

Lachesis kept her voice gentle. "But it doesn't have to be. Their threads are strong. And the love is there. If they learn to face conflict together instead of letting it come between them, there's hope." She made a sweeping gesture and pulled the darkened area into stark contrast.

Atropos gave a rude snort. "A tiny minuscule strand of it." She held up a hand and smashed her thumb and forefinger together.

Clotho gave Atropos a hard look. "Sometimes that hope is all they need." She shot to her feet and the tapestry disappeared.

Atropos rose to her full height and moved to stand toe-to-toe with the maiden. "And sometimes it's not enough but you're too moony over those two to see what's in front of you."

Lachesis stepped between the other two, her presence a soothing balm. "It's a good thing we'll soon find out if hope can save them, isn't it?" She turned and headed for her room. "Time will tell as it always does."

With that said, the maiden and the crone gave each other one last narrowed-eyed glance and each retired to their sanctuaries as well.

The moerae had much to prepare for.

I love having fun with making fate step in to alter the course of a couple. Nadie and Cable might not enjoy it as much as I do.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Quiet Hell

Greetings to the month of September. I'm kind of not ready for it yet, mainly because once the calendar changes to the ninth month, it seems like October, November, and December zoom by super fast.

Had a great work week and made some progress on my new venture. I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to launch sometime between October and December. Another reason I'm not quite ready for the new month.

Decent viewing week. I'm not quite caught up on everything, but I'm getting there. I did make a full rotation of my usual shows but I'm off schedule, which confuses my weird brain.

Got two episodes of Only Murders in the Building watched and I'm kind of loving this show. Had a great conversation with my daughter, who also loves it.

Caught an episode of Blue Heelers and kind of thought a couple of the characters were acting unlike themselves. But I did like the mystery.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She did another workshop and talked about finding your voice as a writer. Very good stuff.

Finished up The Babysitters Club and I'm so bummed there aren't any more episodes left. I'll be starting a new show this week but haven't decided which one yet.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. The Chanukah episode is one of my favorites and I always enjoyed watching it with the kiddos. The Mother's Day episode is also up there even if it's a little bit of a downer.

Started Resisting Roots, a Passionflix original. So far, I'm enjoying it. Looking forward to finishing up this movie.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med and struggled to stay interested. I liked two of the storylines and didn't really have much invested in the other two. Season five might be my last one.

Enjoyed another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This one introduced the Joker and my major appreciation for Mark Hamill's portrayal of the iconic bad guy started all over again.

Watched the Christmas episode of Ted Lasso and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ted having Rupert's number made me happy. Also loved Roy in this one. And I'm finding a deep appreciation for Keeley. I really love the dynamic she has with Rebecca. Jamie … I absolutely dislike with an intense passion. Just saying. Coach Beard is awesome. And so is Nate.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I'm kind of bummed I only have one more left of the season. This show makes me happy.

Finished up the second part and final episode of Silent Witness's season nineteen. Looking forward to starting the new one next week.

Watched another episode of Classic Who. I'm a little lost with what's supposed to be going on but I had a few distractions while I was watching this episode. Looking forward to the final two for this season.

Enjoyed another Strangest Things. This one had several fun artifacts. One happened to feature in a middle grade book I edited a few years ago. Very fun to see a breakdown of the item the author wrote about in his book.

Caught another episode of The Book of Boba Fett. I actually love this show a lot. It's right up there with The Mandalorian. I'm hoping there will be another season of this one.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Quiet Hell, a novella where the characters meet under intense circumstances and then figure out the puzzle of what's going on with one of them.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mattox Lang lives in a quiet hell, seeing and sensing paranormal activity. Bruce Wendelson has haunting dreams that linger, but he can never recall the details. Mattox understands Bruce's torment and hopes to ease her own by helping him deal with the nightmares.

And a preview snippet…

Mattox Lang sat very still with her gaze straight ahead, carefully watching the clock. A quiet time in hell, she hated being in the therapist's office. With a passionate intensity only a pre-teen could understand.

The kindly woman leaned forward. "Mattox, dear, I really am trying to help you." Her hands were clasped in her lap.

Mattox had no doubt the therapist wanted to get to the root of her problems. But fear of the unknown trumped the known repercussions if everything went sideways. And it would.

It always does.

She learned that hard lesson at the tender age of five—when the beatings started. Her mom discovered Mattox's gift for seeing into peoples thoughts and quickly decided how to handle the burden. I won't have an abnormal child. You will not be a freak.

Each word punctuated by a blow, Mattox never fought back. The images in her mom's mind gave her a glimpse of what Audra Lang wanted to do. The violence in her mother's heart involved being left to raise a child she wanted nothing to do with. Alcohol dulled Audra's pain and helped her cope but it also dulled her control.

Two weeks ago, Mattox came to school with bruises she couldn't hide and the school nurse shook her head. "You need to talk to someone, Mattox. Let them help you."

At twelve, Mattox had a handle on what could happen. She said nothing, even though the nurse suspected Mattox's injuries were from her mom. Unless Mattox named Audra as the culprit, the nurse could only inform child services. Which she did.

Now Mattox remained in the stupid oversized chair, not speaking a word, counting the minutes tick by on the clock.

The nice lady tried to draw Mattox out. "Please answer a few questions and I can take things from there." She reached for her notepad and pen.

Mattox refused to answer. Her mom would find a way to make Mattox pay if she did. And she'd make sure the bruises weren't visible anymore.

The social worker made one final attempt. "Let's try something else then." She set out a sketch pad along with charcoals and pastels. "You can draw how you're feeling if you'd like." She got up and went to her desk, leaving Mattox in the chair.

Tempted, Mattox almost took the offer. Art had become her refuge. She couldn't begin to explain how or why she could read and envision people's thoughts but drawing what she saw helped her function as somewhat normally.

Mattox bit her tongue, hard, to resist the dangling carrot on the table and kept her gaze on the clock.

Five more minutes of this quiet hell.

This story has a place in my heart. The couple and their journey ended up being a lot more than I thought it would be. I love it when that happens.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quicksilver Flash

Whew. Finally recovered from our vacation and I'm back to work with multiple projects and a possible new venture in the near future. I'm super excited about it but still need to nail down some details and make some decisions on the setup.

As mentioned, I'm doing two weeks of catch-up on the life update and television viewing. While gone, I didn't watch a lot but I did get some screen time in.

I caught two more episodes of Strangest Things. I quite enjoy the approach the show takes in trying to solve the mystery of odd artifacts.

Started The Book of Boba Fett and watched two episodes. So far, I like what I'm seeing. It's a little hoppy with the back and forth of the timeline, but I'm following that without too much trouble.

I also started Only Murders in the Building and loved the first episode. I'm excited to see where the show goes.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She did a writer's workshop and discussed finding common ground. Very interesting stuff with this lesson and I enjoyed.

Sobbed during the Babysitter's Club episode. I think I only have one left and I'm very sad there aren't going to be more. This is such a good show.

Finally had a chance to watch the Frankie Drake Mysteries special, "Music at Midnight" and I'm so glad I got to see it. This is another show I'm sad won't be coming back.

Caught another episode of The Ready Room. This one featured Michelle Paradise and recapped the penultimate episode of season two. Really fun interview.

I finished season three of Driven and loved the finale. I'm so glad Passionflix is starting a new series. They've done a great job so far.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. I'm not sure but this might be my last season of the show. I enjoy it, but I might take a bit of a break.

Enjoyed another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. I love how the first season kind of explored a lot of different villains and they weren't always the big bads we've come to know and love.

Caught another episode of Ted Lasso. I'm three episodes in and I'm enjoying the show. It's a tiny bit campy and I like that aspect.

Watched another episode of The Agatha Christie Hour. Very interesting conflict in this one and fun to see an uber-young John Nettles as one of the stars.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I actually have no idea where this one is going and I kind of like that. I do suspect the old and new cases will converge in a nasty way. Per usual.

Began a new Classic Who arc. For some reason the Psychic Circus is sticking out in my mind but I don't think I've actually seen these episodes. I'll know more next week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quicksilver Flash, a story with a bit of a steampunk flair where the characters have to work together to solve the mystery of quicksilver flash.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Winsome Crown, a scientist's daughter, searches for her lost father in the wilds of the mountains. Lynx Hadrington lives alone and away from society—by choice. When Winsome stumbles onto his little piece of sanctuary, he can't deny her plea for help, but he fears the worst for her dad. Only one person has ever survived a brush with the quicksilver flash—him.

And a preview snippet…

Winsome woke up to the smell of something wonderful.

Stretching, she sat up and blinked, trying to remember what happened. A series of snapshots clicked in her brain. The cryptic letter from her dad. The breadcrumb clues she'd pieced together after he'd stopped sending updates. Then finally finding his guide only to have her hopes dashed again. And then … basically passing out from sheer exhaustion.

Struggling to sit up, she winced when her head pounded. "Dammit. I don't have time for this." Her gaze landed on the glass of water and pain killers. "At least he's thoughtful." Even if he absolutely didn't want her here.

Swiping the tablets, she washed them down and drained the contents. Easing to the edge of the bed—his bed, no doubt—she swung her feet over the edge of the mattress and tested standing up.

The room swam but she stayed upright. Okay, she got her feet under her. Now to try walking.

Taking a step forward, she wobbled a little, but kept going. With the glass in her hand, she made her way to the door and poked her head out into the living area. Finding the room empty, she carefully crossed to the kitchen and rinsed her glass out.

The smell coming from the stove had her stomach growling. Something bubbled in a pot and she leaned in closer to get a whiff of the savory aroma. Wavering on the cusp of being rude and helping herself or remembering her manners, she debated internally whether to reach for one of the bowls on the shelf.

A blast of cold when the door opened had her gaze going to the living area instead.

Lynx stomped his feet outside then entered, carrying a pile of logs. He dropped them into the box beside the door and shrugged out of his coat. After he hung it on the peg, he turned and his eyes widened.

Swiping a hand over his head, he removed his hat. "You're awake." He crossed to the counter. "Hungry?"

She gave a nod. "Yes. Very." Backing up, she gave him room to move in the small area. "Thank you for the painkillers. My head is pounding."

He grunted. "Food and water should help with that." He spooned thick broth with chunks of chicken and carrots into a bowl and handed it to her. "Take a seat. I'll bring some bread and more water."

She settled at the table and resisted the urge to dive in to the food. The steamy tendrils wafting upward gave ample warning she'd burn her tongue if she tried to eat right away. Her mouth watered with anticipation.

Lynx brought the items then went back to get a dish for himself. "How long has it been since you heard from your dad?" He broke the crusty loaf in two and placed one half by her bowl.

Her hand shook when she picked up her spoon. "Three months." She put the utensil down and picked up the bread. "I know something's wrong and I fear the worst." She had to decide how much to share with him.

Lynx frowned. "As you've experienced, the weather is unpredictable out there. He might not have been able to get word out to you." He broke off several pieces from his half of the loaf and sprinkled them over his stew.  

Winsome folded her hands in her lap. "The weather doesn't matter. You see, I can sense something is wrong." She held his gaze for a moment then looked away. "I'm linked telepathically with my dad."

I'm having so much fun with this story. I love making characters who don't want to be involved with each other get involved.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Question Everything

It’s been a long and fun week. Left for vacation on Wednesday morning and we head home on Monday morning. I won’t have much in the way of viewing this week, so I’ll update next week with my regular schedule.

So far, I can honestly say the Grand Canyon is quite incredible. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. It’s been great to see family and I’m kind of glad my husband and I both have family in the state of Arizona now. Gives a reason to return in the future.

I’ll be keeping the post brief and only note that I’ve started a new show and I’m excited to discuss next time. The life update is mainly I’m exhausted in the best way possible and I’m thrilled we got to have some time way. But I also can’t wait to get home and hug the dogs and kids.

Tonight’s post is from Question Everything, a novella that puts my characters in a place where they have to trust each other and it’s not something either does well.

Here’s the mini-blurb:

When Temple Sparrow discovers her family is part of an underground society of beings and creatures who secretly control the city, she eschews their traditions and finds her true vocation, seeking answers. Hunt Gambit doesn't trust anyone, least of all Temple, but playing by the rules isn't an option and he'll use her knowledge to get what he needs and teach her to question everything.

And a preview snippet…

Hunt Gambit tossed the stem he'd been chewing aside and followed the angry woman leaving the Sparrow mansion. "Heh, more like a mausoleum." He'd hate living in a huge, empty tomb like that.

Keeping the lady in his sight, he shuffled through possible names. Couldn't be the matriarch. She traveled with at least two beefy security types at all times. Hunt doubted it would any of the staff. He'd clocked the regular non-live-in help exiting about two hours ago. The Wingates hadn't descended on the estate yet.

Hunt snorted. "Won't take them long to appear. Not when there's blood in the water." The five siblings—okay, four, Marsh Wingate didn't mix with his brethren often—would want to make sure their precious livelihood remained intact.

That left the daughter. Temple Sparrow.

Her body language indicated conflict, which could help or hurt his chances of exposing the evil of the family and laying their secrets bare. He didn't have much intelligence on Temple—Tressa's doing, no doubt. Not from any kind of motherly caring. The woman defined cold and calculating. No, Tressa would've kept information about her daughter under a shield until Tressa found a use for her offspring. Like marrying her off to a worthy ally.

Hunt rolled his eyes. "Probably more like selling her to the highest bidder."

Temple ducked down a side road and entered the park. Hunt frowned. Why would she be headed this way? The park bordered the brewery district on one side, the marketplace on the other, and directly across from the second entrance sat a row of brownstones.

His curiosity piqued, he stuck to the shadows when she left through the gates and darted across the street. Walking to the townhouse on the corner, she bypassed the steps and dug around in front of the basement window. A glint of metal flashed under the streetlight and Temple dashed up the steps and let herself in to the home.

Hunt huffed out a surprised breath. "I'll be damned. The little bird flew the coop." And he had no idea what her flight meant.

Whatever her reason for abandoning the mansion, Hunt would stick close for a while. With her dad's death, she'd be one of the ones to take his place in the underworld dealings. And Hunt needed to make a move while turmoil still churned in the family ranks.

"Because I'm going to end their reign one way or another."

I’m excited for this story. It’s coming together and ideas are flowing in the right direction. Here’s hoping the sages keep up the good work.

 

That’s it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quest for the Kingfish

Had a crazy week with new projects sliding into my inbox and each of them is interesting and a little different for me. I love diving into new areas. I'm also trying to get ready for a vacation and it's a little daunting because I haven't traveled much recently.

Ended up getting a lot of television viewing in this week. I had a good handle on my work stuff and kept the shows going in the background.

I finished up the first season of Moon Knight and ended up enjoying the series overall. I wouldn't mind seeing more at all.

Also finished The Hardy Boys and I'm a little torn over how I feel about where everything ended up. On one side, there are so many possibilities for a third season. On the other, I'm struggling to buy-in to the whole swap at the end and a miraculous wish being granted that one of the characters had. I'll let both sit with me for a while and see how I feel if and when a third season comes around.

Watched an episode of Peak Practice and I kind of feel for Joanna. Also kind of wondering when Andrew will be back and if he'll still be as self-destructive as he always seems to be.

Caught two MasterClass lessons with Roxane Gay. The first one discussed writing about trauma and the second offered feedback for an essay. I thoroughly enjoy the way Roxane presents information.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Babysitters Club. Again, I'm so disappointed there won't be more to the story after this season ends. This is such a great show!

Watched another episode of The Ready Room. Anson Mount had some great moments during his interview. It's always fun when the actors are huge fans of the Trek 'verse.

Caught two more episodes of Driven. I have one left and I'm excited to see how this series ends. I have a lot of love for this one.

Ended up viewing two episodes of Chicago Med. I'm starting to feel the same way about April as I do about Natalie, which is disappointing. I realize both are leaving the series, but the dings to their characterizations don't seem fair.

Watched a two-part Batman: The Animated Series and forgot how much I liked the origin story of Clayface in this one.

Started Ted Lasso after a lot of pestering from my brother. I have the first two episodes watched and, so far, it's quite good. Everyone raves about the show so I'm confident I'll enjoy the whole thing.

Caught another of The Agatha Christie Hour. Really enjoyed this one. It was actually kind of campy and fun with a lot of mistaken identity and misadventure.

Watched a two-part Silent Witness and loved the twisty turns in the show. Ended up being surprised a couple of times by things I didn't expect.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Who. Wrapped up the second arc and should start a new one this week.

Caught another episode of Strangest Things. This one focused on relics that were supposed to help see the future.

Finished up season three of Harrow. Gotta say I ended up being very happy with the conclusion. I truly hope we'll see a season four, even with annoying boss lady.

Enjoyed another episode of Blue Heelers. This one had some interesting reveals with Adam, which is probably long overdue.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats and finished out season three. I'll be starting season four this week.

Also caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This one had a great mystery with some fun twists. I'm kind of hoping Gina is done pining for Mike but I somehow doubt she is.

That pretty much sums up the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quest for the Kingfish, a novella that puts the characters on a bit of a treasure hunt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Stevie Peel is a little bit backward and standoffish, but she loves a good mystery. Griff Lannsiter takes an immediate liking to Stevie and when she finds an ancient scroll tucked into the dusty stacks of the research library, he offers his help on her quest to find the elusive Kingfish.

And a preview snippet…

Griff stopped outside Stevie's room, hesitating then knocking on her door.

A low groan greeted him from the other side.

Slightly concerned, he twisted the knob and poked his head inside. "Hey, you doing okay?" He'd fallen asleep listening for her return.

Her hair peeked out from under the sheet and one foot hung over the edge of the mattress. Everything else remained hidden under the light cover. He entered, keeping one arm hidden behind his back.

Her hand shot out and yanked the sheet down. "Do I smell something heavenly and caffeinated?" A low moan followed the rapid movement.

He grimaced inwardly. No doubt she ached in places she'd forgotten about … and not for a fun reason. Like a late-night frolic in bed.

Moving to the side of her bed, he held the steaming cup of coffee close to her face. "Your nose is discerning." He held out his free hand, offering her assistance.

She clasped his palm and wince when she sat up. "Ugh. Everything hurts." Taking the cup, she breathed in the tantalizing aroma of the freshly brewed wake-up call.

Griff dragged a chair over and plopped down. "I couldn't keep my eyes open after two. What time did you end up getting back?"

Her weary gaze met his. "Sometime after three. I literally fell into bed and wished for death." Taking a small sip of coffee, she closed her eyes. "Then I got over myself and figured a solid eight would set me back to rights." She glanced out the window. "Not quite one hundred percent, but it's what? Ten a.m.?"

He nodded. "There about. I hated to wake you, but I heard a rumor that Ziller is going to the annex around noon to check on your progress. Figured you wouldn't want to give him the satisfaction of not finding you there among the dusty tomes and moldering pages." He also didn't like how the board seemed to want Stevie to fail.

She took another long swallow of the liquid gold. "Right. Okay. Appreciate the heads-up." Moving slowly, she scooted to the edge of the mattress and swung her legs over. "Better grab a shower and get back to it." After standing, she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Thank you."

Griff lifted his chin. "You're welcome. Plan on me bringing a late lunch. I doubt Ziller will stick around once he makes sure you're doing hard labor." He got up and returned the chair to its spot by her desk.

She brightened a little. "Going to push your luck again? If I didn't have somewhere to be, I'd drag you into the shower with me." Setting the cup down, she dragged her shirt over her head.

Griff flashed a smile. "My last name is all the luck I need. But I'll remember what you said about the shower … and remind you later." With a quick wave, he let himself out of her room.

He had some plans to make for their late lunch and maybe a favor or two to call in.

This story is so much fun. Stevie and Griff are a good balance for each other and I love writing them.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quest for Home

The first week of August didn't end up being horrible and hot. We did get some humidity but the temperatures weren't terrible. I didn't have any big work projects and got to focus on a lot of writing. I also had a terrific brainstorm idea that I hope to talk more about in the near future!

Solid week of viewing television in the background while I got to work on writing. I'm a little ahead of my weekly schedule and hope I can work another movie in this week.

I caught two episodes of The Snoopy Show. This is such a great thing to have on in the background when I need some noise and funny stuff.

Watched an episode of the Agatha Christie Hour. The slightly paranormal angle made me happy.

Enjoyed a two-part Silent Witness and ended up liking it a lot. A good twisty plot on this one.

Finished up an arc of Classic Who and started a new one. The cybermen made an appearance in the new arc.

Also got the last episode of Most Terrifying Places in America watched. The final episode focused on the unnatural world and had some good stories.

Caught another episode of Moon Knight. This show is such a nice mix of action and humor with some interesting lore thrown in. I really love it.

Watched the penultimate episode of Harrow. Next should be the big finale and all I have to say is nothing bad better happen to Fern or Cal. At this point, I don't care if James is a good guy or a bad guy, I'm not a fan at all. Fairley makes me so happy and Grace … well, I really hoped they wouldn't do a weird triangle thing, but it looks like that might be in store for next season, if there is one. Bleh.

Enjoyed an episode of Blue Heelers, which kind of picked up where the last one left off. Loved how the characters pieced everything together and got Nick off the hot seat for the most part. We'll see what happens on the next episode.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She talked about consuming and criticizing culture and I took a couple of valuable points away with me. I enjoy listening to her so much.

Watched another episode of the Babysitters Club. I say it often, but I'm so disappointed this show won't have any more episodes. It's fun and witty but always has some great dramatic moments also.

Thoroughly enjoyed two Classic Rugrats episodes. The Passover episode is one of my favorites and I'd forgotten that was in season three.

Caught another episode of Driven from Passionflix. So much happened and cliffhanger end hit hard. Can't wait to watch the next one!

Have to say I'm so disappointed in Natalie's characterization on Chicago Med. I realize we're close to when she'll be leaving but, man, she definitely did Will wrong on this one. I loved Daniel's arc and the understated way he showed his grief over CeeCee's death.

Finished up The Force Awakens and I'm so glad I've watched the movie from beginning to end and not in sporadic pieces. Looking forward to episode VIII.

Watched another Batman: The Animated Series episode. This is probably my all-time favorite animated series and the Dr. Freeze storyline is a particular favorite in the first season.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This one had a lot of twists and I liked them. Gina continues to crack me up on a regular basis.

Started a new docuseries with Strangest Things. This is another show where I've bits and pieces of episodes and I'm excited to watch them in order and all the way through.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quest for Home, a follow-up to Events in Motion.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A world-ending natural disaster is imminent and Drury Amanze—Fate's chosen messenger—has to convince everyone to follow her to a new location. Porter Magda becomes Drury's touchstone while she battles resistance and disinterest from the community. While they race the clock, Porter props Drury up against the toll transporting their entire civilization to safety takes on her during their quest for a new home.

And a preview snippet…

Drury Amanze slid her gaze sideways. "Are you ready?" She held tightly to Porter Magda's hand.

He squeezed her fingers. "Always. Let's go." Focusing his eyes on the glowing circle he gave a nod.

Dru stepped into the unknown, placing her feet directly in the center of the round portal. Porter stood by her side and in the space of a heartbeat her breath whooshed from her lungs and weightlessness surrounded her. Dru didn't know if she actually floated through time and space or if her brain needed to imagine she did. But her one solid thought zeroed in on Porter and the fact he still held fast to her.

Her tether and touchstone. Her one and only constant.

When she inhaled, everything stopped and she stumbled. Porter's strong arms steadied her even though her feet touched grassy earth. She blinked in darkness.

Once her eyes adjusted, she gasped. The stars were bright overhead, something missing from their night sky for decades. Her head spun with possibilities.

Porter wrapped an arm around her. "Do you know where we are?" His fingers cupped her shoulder.

She didn't … but they weren't on their planet anymore. The constellations weren't right. But, oh, they were beautiful.

She angled her head around, taking in the quiet wonder of their surroundings. "I'm not sure where we are, but this is home." She met his gaze. "And it's a long, long way from where we started." The idea overwhelmed her a little.

Porter hugged her close. "Kind of fitting, don't you think? A whole new solar system…" His voice held wonder and amazement.

She didn't respond, too wrapped up in staring at the sky.

Porter moved behind her, encircling her with his arms. "You're an astounding woman, Dru." His lips brushed over her throat.

She turned, facing him. "Maybe not." Her gaze scanned the location around them. "I have no idea how we'll get back."

I'm enjoying the mystical aspect of this story and can't wait to get deep into the journey of these characters.

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quelling Hunger

Well, July kind of blew right by. It's been a busy month with a lot going on and that always makes the days seem to speed along.

Had a decent week finishing up a work project and making some solid headway on a couple of my personal projects. This is on top of having one kid in NYC and another that landed in the ED then got admitted to the hospital for three days and two nights. Thankfully, he's doing okay.

Actually got a lot of viewing completed also. I'm currently watching The Force Awakens. It's kind of a rewatch, but I haven't seen the whole movie from start to finish … ever. I've always come in at weird random places so I've seen the whole thing, but not in chronological order. I'm strange that way.

Also caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This one had a very interesting twisty mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Watched the second half of Silent Witness and kind of loved where it ended up going. I like the way the two-part episodes are playing out right now.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Who. Ace keeps growing on me. I love her as the companion for the Doctor. There's way less screaming, which is a bonus.

Caught another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. This one focused on ghostly encounters and I enjoyed it.

Watched another episode of Moon Knight. Honestly, I kind of love this show. It's a little campy, which keeps the darker aspect of the storyline in check. It works for me and I love it.

Ended up enjoying another episode of The Hardy Boys. There are a lot of twists and turns this season and some have worked better than others. Joe truly annoyed the crap out of me but I think they might pull all that together by the end of the season.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. I ended up enjoying the less soap-operaish storyline this week.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. This week she talked about revisions, editing, and proofreading. I love that phase of writing and I loved what she had to say about her methods. She's also not a big fan of the phrase kill your darlings. I've never liked that one and it's nice to have someone like Roxane say she doesn't either.

Watched another episode of The Babysitter's Club. I'm honestly so disappointed there won't be another season of this show. It's really coming together in this second season.

Caught an episode of The Ready Room. This one featured Shazad Latif and I completely enjoyed the interview. He had some great insight.

Enjoyed the second episode of Driven. Tawny can die in a fire and that would make me really happy. Not sure I like the dude or, well, possibly dudette following Riley. Becks makes me very happy. I love this series so much.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. I'm so surprised Will kind of shut Natalie down. Not that it wasn't deserved, but I was surprised nonetheless. Glad to see Maggie might not lose Ben. I'm seriously not sure what the hell is going on with April. Should be in for some interesting future episodes.

Caught another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This is probably my all-time favorite animated show ever. I'm happy I'm rewatching again.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quelling Hunger, a novella that puts a heavy strain on the relationship between the main characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When a storm destroys the food warehouses in the city, Rita Steed and Fletch Lancaster are tasked with keeping the peace while half-rations are necessary until the rooftop gardens can produce more crops. Heading up the sector patrol, neither is certain they can maintain the status quo when quelling hunger seems to be impossible.

And a preview snippet…

Fletch thrust forward, going deep in one smooth motion. "Another challenge?" His lips nuzzled her ear. "You sure you want to keep throwing them out?" He bit gently on the lobe.

Rita shuddered. "Mmm. If it gets you hot and bothered, absolutely." Her hands cupped his ass, urging him to go deeper.

Fletch used his palm at the small of her back then grinded against her. "Rita, just being with you gets me hot and hard. No need for incentives." He pulled almost all the way then drove forward again, just the way she liked.

Rita moaned. "Good to know some things don't change." Her mouth sought his and she slipped her tongue past his teeth.

Fletch gave himself over to her desire. He kept a steady pace and held her hips securely against his groin. Rita drew the kiss out in the way he loved, her passion consuming each of them.

His thighs flexed and she wrapped her leg around his waist a little tighter. Her fingers dug into his back and her core gripped his dick with increased pressure. Not long now… He worked his free hand between them and found the hard nub of nerves. Brushing over the cluster with rapid-fire strokes, he aimed to set her off.

Rita broke the kiss on a gasp. "Ah, yes! Right there." Her head dropped back, exposing her throat.

Fletch took advantage, grazing his teeth over taut skin. Goose bumps rose on her skin and he soothed the area with the rasp of his tongue. She writhed in his arms, her hips rolling as much as he'd allow.

Her hot breath fanned over his shoulder. "Come with me, Fletch. I'm so close." Her hands moved up to grip his biceps.

He pushed harder, ready to fly off the edge behind her. "Let it go. I'm right there with you."

Rita shuddered, her eyes losing focus. Her inner muscles contracted, squeezing his hard shaft with velvety softness. He thrust upward one last time and came with her name on his lips.

Rita's back arched and her breathing went shallow when the orgasm washed over her. Spent, she went limp, her leg sliding down his. Fletch skimmed a hand along her side and she curled into him. He grabbed the blanket from the end of the futon and drew it over them.

Rita yawned. "Definitely the best thing on the planet." She turned on her side, spooning into him.

Fletch draped an arm over her torso. "I aim to please."

A brief moment of something special and intimate before the next hurdle presents itself.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quell the Boom

Whew. What a day. But I had a great week. I'm getting ready to start a very exciting new project and moving along on another one. I also got to spend three days with one of my friends at a gorgeous Airbnb not far from where I live.

Actually stayed pretty much caught up on my regular viewing schedule—watching ahead a little definitely helped.

Started a new Classic Who arc and kind of enjoyed the storyline. Looking forward to seeing what happens this week.

Watched another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. This one had Devil's Playground as the title and it kind of fit based on the anecdotes.

Caught the second episode of Moon Knight and enjoyed it. I like the series so far and look forward to another episode.

Enjoyed another episode of Harrow. I have two episodes left and I'm pretty interested in seeing how they play out. I loved the mention of the two big bads from the earlier seasons. I'm glad someone finally kind of connected those dots.

Watched another episode of Blue Heelers and things took a turn I didn't expect, which is always fun. Looking forward to the next episode.

Completed another MasterClass with Roxane Gay. She focused on research this time and, again, I got some good ideas from her lesson.

Caught another episode of The Babysitter's Club. I like the new girls and I love how much growth Christy showed. Actually, all the girls showed some growth and it's terrific to see.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. Oddly, they were very Angelica-centric which I didn't remember.

Watched an episode of Chicago Med and enjoyed it, even if it ended up being a little soap-operaish. I did like the way the storylines played out.

Finished up the opening episodes of Batman: the Animated Series. Looking forward to really diving back into this series.

Started season three of Driven, a Passionflix original series. Terrific premiere episode. I'm excited to see where things go from this point.

Also caught another episode of The Snoopy Show. This one had a great mix of the characters and each vignette had great humor.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Quell the Boom, a novella that puts rival characters together to solve a dangerous situation.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Quinna Joltz and Efran Pendragon, experts in diffusing magical bombs, tend to let their rivalry take center stage, but when an unbalanced wizard plants devices that can bring down their entire city, they agree to work together. The adrenaline filled race finally gives them some perspective and a little bit of common ground to share.

And a preview snippet…

Quinna forgot about everything—food, the incantations, the bombs. The kiss blew her mind. Efran did not lack in the creative department when it came to mashing lips together.

How did I not know this?

She might have started the lip-lock but Efran quickly took control. His hands cupped her face and he teased and tempted, his head slanting to take the embrace deeper. Her brain melted when his tongue slipped past her teeth to duel with hers.

This is exactly what I need. I need Efran and really hot sex.

As soon as the thought hit, she tried to squash it. Then gave in and let the idea blossom in her mind. Why the hell shouldn't they take a much-needed break for food and fun?

She eased away and blinked. "Wow. Ensnared in a web of my own making." She met his gaze. "You've got some mad skills, Efran." She hooked a finger in his shirt collar. "I want more." She leaned in and caught his mouth with hers.

Working her hands under his shirt, she inched the fabric up. Warm skin met her fingertips and she craved more. Pushing his shirt up further, she splayed her palm over his chest.

Efran grasped her hand. "Uh, might not be the best time for this." His fingers curled around hers.

Quinna glanced downward. "At least one part of you disagrees with that statement." The long, hard evidence couldn't be denied.

Efran lifted his shoulder. "All well and true, but we've got something way more important to deal with, don't you think?" His thumb made a circular motion over her skin.

He's not nearly as chill as he's pretending, whether he knows it or not.

Quinna opted for full-blown honesty. "If you think I struggled to concentrate before, it'll be worse now." She met his gaze. "My brain is going to focus on one thing right now and that would be getting naked with you and burning through the overload of energy I need to expel." Her brain wanted what it wanted.

Efran huffed out a breath. "Damn. You don't mince words, do you?" He stepped away, clearly needing some space.

Quinna shrugged. "With what we do, I try hard not to. But don't get caught up in the brutal honesty. I'm not losing sight of the importance of being prepared for what we have to do." She paused a moment. "But you nailed my problem earlier. I have to take a break. And I'll point out the fact that I've followed your plan up to this point. Maybe you could be a little flexible now." A horrible thought hit her. "Or do you not find me attractive?" Just because his body had a physical response didn't mean he liked it.

Efran shook his head. "I find you annoying, distracting, and a little insane." He ran a hand through his hair. "But, I also find you so incredibly sexy I struggle to think straight sometimes." His hand dropped and he slumped against the counter.

Quinna blinked. "You could have fooled me." But at least the sparks weren't one-sided.

Efran's lips curved. "Yeah, well, I'm very good at compartmentalizing."

Quinna moved closer to him. "Maybe you should relax the death grip you have on yourself. For an hour or so…" Probably wouldn't be enough time, but she didn't want to push her luck.

Efran closed the distance between them. "Maybe I should." He cupped her face again and brought his mouth to hers.

This is a fun story. Writing characters that have very different methods for solving problems is entertaining!

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Protect the Target

Kind of a weird week in flux. I keep getting a lot of stuff done but more things get added to the plate. Not complaining, the timing is just odd.

Had a solid week of viewing. I'm kind of jammed schedule-wise this upcoming week so I'm hoping to stay on my semi-normal schedule by watching ahead a little.

Got to watch two episodes of The Snoopy Show. This season seems a little less seasonal and I'm okay with that.

Started the new season of The Brokenwood Mysteries. As usual, an excellent premiere episode. Familiar faces with the secondary characters, which I completely love.

Finished up the second half of a two-part Silent Witnessand started a new episode. This season is off to a roaring start with good episodes.

Watched the final episode of a Classic Who arc and should be starting a new multipart one this week. Hoping the daleks are gone for a bit.

Caught another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. This one focused on cursed towns and ended up being more interesting than I anticipated.

I started Moon Knight and thoroughly enjoyed the first episode. My brother highly recommended the series and I'm excited to talk about it with him.

Watched an episode of The Hardy Boys and the danger is amping up. My one complaint for this season would be how the Fenton storyline is playing out. I'm also very iffy on the whole Joe plot points. I'm hoping there's a good explanation for why he's being a little butt.

Enjoyed an episode of Peak Practice. I have a feeling the next episode might have a lingering issue left over from this one.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She talked about her writing tools and I got several good ideas from her.

Got the first episode The Babysitter's Club season two in and enjoyed it. This is a charming show and I'm sorry there's not going to be another season after this one.

Watched an episode of The Ready Room. The interview with Sonequa Martin-Green ended up being so terrific.

Enjoyed an episode of Chicago Med. I'm kind of wondering what's going on with April. I think the writers sell her short and that makes me sad because I love her character.

Finished up Tangled, a Passionflix original. I'll be starting season three of Driven this week and I'm looking forward to it.

I've started a rewatch of Batman: the Animated Series. I'll probably be doing a bunch of DC Comics shows, specifically Titans and Doom Patrol, in the near future. Again, my brother highly recommended so I'm giving them a whirl. But I have to start with my all-time fave, which is Batman: TAS.

Started a new-to-me series with the Agatha Christie Hour. The first episode ended up being enjoyable so I'll continue on. Looking forward to another episode.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

Noya Vix is a walking target with a lot of magical factions coming after her, the most persistent being Lenj Gottman, who wants to exploit her precognitive ability. Booth Wanderlux is her number one protector, but he's got issues with keeping Noya out of harm's way because she refuses to lay low until Lenj is caught.

And a preview snippet…

Booth woke up to a cool hand ghosting over his thigh to land on his hip very close to his groin. His lips curved and he turned, letting the palm make contact with his dick. Noya finally decided to come to bed.

He let out a sigh. "'Bout time you joined me, Noya." Fingers cupped his erection.

A low, sultry voice answered. "Sorry, lover, if I'd known you were waiting, I'd have been here a lot sooner."

His eyes blinked open to find someone definitely not Noya grasping his cock.

He shoved her away and scrambled off the bed. "Who. The fuck. Are you?" He flipped the lamp on.

Red hair, pale, creamy skin, and green eyes filled his vision. A silky gown clung to her curves and she gazed upward with arched brows. She moved with feline grace, sitting up and scooting to the edge of the bed.

She tilted her head to one side. "Name's Shara Hawthorn. I had no idea the room was occupied when I came in." Her mouth curled into an appreciative grin. "When I found you, I thought providence answered my latest wish." Her gaze did a slow once-over before meeting his again.

Booth narrowed his eyes. Her voice would lure men to do her bidding. But something about her … didn't ring true.

He moved forward, placing his knee on the mattress. She didn't move except to lower her head slightly. Leaning in, he caught the aroma of pear, sandalwood, and lavender—Noya's signature scent.

Cupping her chin, he lifted her face to the light. "What are you playing at, Noya?" He brushed his thumb over her cheekbone, encountering a high, smooth surface instead of the angular, prominent jut.

Her shoulder slumped. "Dammit to hell. What gave me away?" She eased away from him and slid off the bed.

He huffed out a breath. "Fragrance. You're wearing your usual." If not for that, he would have been completely fooled. "Nice job on the voice." He gave her a long perusal. "And … everything else." Slowly moving forward, he made a circle around her. "Pretty damn amazing, actually."

She lifted her chin. "Shit, I should've thought to change the scent. But otherwise, good to hear. Because I'm not going to be left behind." Her hands landed on her hips.

Booth gently batted them away and drew her close. "No, didn't think you would be." His mouth grazed her jawline. "And neither did Starkey. He wanted you to be creative and you definitely went above and beyond." His fingers trailed upward, sliding under the straps of her gown to nudge them off her shoulders.

Noya shook her head. "Should've known. No wonder Lorna didn't bat an eye when I told her what I wanted to do." She dropped her arms and let the gown fall to the floor.

Booth licked his lips. "This is gonna be an experience, I can already tell. I mean you're you … but you're not." The difference in skin tone and the hair and eyes proved to be jarring, but also a turn-on.

Noya traced a finger down his chest, stopping at his waistband where his boxers concealed the long, hard length of his dick. "Something tells me it's not going to be a bad one." She nudged the briefs down then grasped his hard-on.

Booth scooped her up and deposited her on the bed. "Let's find out…"

I'm having a lot of fun writing this one. Noya and Booth always find creative ways to work their issues out.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye