Skye Ritchey's Blog, page 2

Sunday Snippet: Numb

Whew. Ended upbeing a long week between work, home, and other projects. The biggest and bestone is helping my daughter edit her final paper for her master's degree. I'm soproud of her!

I made a small dentin the great cleanout project. Didn't get a lot accomplished but made a bit ofprogress, which I'll take.

Finished up two workprojects and continued on with two more. I have another two in flux and two newones coming sometime this week. Excited to stay busy!

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

Started with MissFisher's Murder Mysteries and it was one of my favorite episodes. I love agood masquerade or costume party.

Caught anotherepisode of Madame Blanc Mysteries and enjoyed Gloria and Nick workingtogether. Hope to see more of that in future episodes.

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

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

Watched another episodeof Elementary and quite enjoyed the mystery. Also enjoyed Joan handlingher detractor and Sherlock acting as the support system afterward.

Enjoyed an episodeof Batman Beyond. I remembered this one from my original watch. A lot offun.

Caught an episodeof Lower Decks and, again, ended up being equally charmed and annoyed. Ithink that's my standard for this show.

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

Almost finished anepisode of Peak Practice. Things are getting very messy in therelationship departments for everyone, and Sam, whew, what a huge pile he'sgetting ready to step into.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Numb, a novellawhere a couple has to face a huge challenge without losing sight of each other.

Here's theminiblurb:

Cyan Fitch and Theron Dibney have a greatrelationship—hot sex, rock solid friendship, and mutual respect. When a mostlylethal virus tears through their community, the couple works side by side tohelp as many as possible, but it takes a toll. They can't quite get comfortablynumb while they face the devastating losses and neither is willing to bend forfear they'll break.

And a preview snippet…

Cyan Fitch stood with a shoulderbraced on the door jamb to her mother's lab. "Hey, Mom. You've been herefor three days. You might want to take a break." Not that she wouldbecause their fae brethren were dropping like stars in the sky.Ciara arched her brows then pointedto a book. "Get that, will you. And no, I'm not taking a break. I've gotto figure this out." She grabbed two tomes and set them beside the oneCyan retrieved.Cyan took a seat on the stool atthe worktable. "No luck yet, I take it?" Her mom had the distractedlook she always got when answers were just out of reach.Ciara shook her head. "Notyet. I have a thread to pull and might be able to trace the origin of this damnvirus."A mostly lethal strain. One thatdidn't act like a normal virus that could be treated with spells orconcoctions. The ratio of the dead to the survivors had widened each of thepast six weeks. Ciara paused after opening allthree books. "I could use your help getting the afflicted to varioushostels in a centralized location so they can maybe be treated and cured."Her lips thinned to a flat line. "Or die with dignity." She shook herhead and turned to find another resource.Cyan couldn't say no … not when hermom rarely asked for help. "I can do that. I'll start with Werther's andwhen that's filled, I'll move on to Shasta House." The two hostels had themost beds, and both owners were amiable and owed Ciara more than a few favors.Ciara nodded. "Plan on findingat least two more." She bookmarked a section and moved to one of the otherbooks. "Work with Theron. You shouldn't try to go it alone on this."The suggestion didn't sting like itonce might have. Cyan learned a while ago that being a solo act didn't alwaysget things done, and she worked well with Theron Dibney.Even when they often got caught upin pushing boundaries and crossing lines between work and personal lives.Cyan lifted her chin. "Allright. What do you plan to do?" If she needed Cyan to gather everyonetogether, Ciara had a reason.Her mom gave Cyan a grim smile."Consult the dark arts because nothing else has worked." Theron entered at that moment."You'll have a fight on your hands. The council will deal harshly with youif they find out." He nodded to Cyan and sat on the stool next to hers.No doubt her mom sent for him.Probably before Cyan even agreed to work with him.Ciara grunted. "They can dowhatever they deem necessary … after I figure out how to stop this." Shepaused for a moment, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. "What I'mgoing to say goes no further." She met and held Theron's gaze then Cyan's.Both silently agreed to herstipulation.Ciara lowered her voice. "I'msolidly convinced the council is at the root of everything. I'm just not surehow yet."Theron jerked his head back."You think they unleashed the virus?" His tone incredulous, he stiffened.Ciara gave a quick head shake."Probably not … but I do think the responsibility will land at theirfeet." She flipped through several pages and frowned.Cyan narrowed her eyes. "Thatmeans revenge, retaliation, or remonstration." Which had seriously nastyundertones.Theron lifted one shoulder."Not like they haven't made enemies … especially in the last decade."His stance relaxed with some relief.Ciara turned and pulled down twomore books. "They've had a chokehold on the population and aren't keen tochange the status quo." She sent a hard look over her shoulder. "And resentmentis strong out there."Cyan slid off the stool. "Sois stagnation. I can't wrap my head around someone or a group of someones havingthe power to unleash something on this level." Then again, change oftencame in the most unexpected ways.Theron got to his feet. "What'sthe plan for us?" He shifted his gaze between Cyan and Ciara.Cyan motioned for him to followher. "I'll brief you on the way…"

So far, this storyis going the way I hoped with a few small surprises. Can't wait to finish it upand see how it ends.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nowhere Good

Another month endis almost in sight. August is gearing up to be a busy month for me and I'm excitedand exhausted at the same time. I love being busy and having projects on mycalendar but also have to remember to take time to decompress.

Cleanout projectstalled again. I had deadlines to meet and also got a new office chair that neededassembly. Have to admit it's comfy.

Had a solid workweek with several projects ongoing and two that needed to be finished. I gotthose out of the way and started a new one that's a long procedural.

Pretty good week ofviewing. Made it through a full round of shows and started both of my back-burnerones.

Started with MissFisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the backstory of Janie and Phryne. Almostthrough the first season.

Started the newseason of Madame Blanc Mysteries and a holiday episode. Looking forwardto more of this show.

Caught anotherepisode of Death in Paradise. Kind of sad to see Marlon go. He ended upgrowing on me. Thrilled to see JP back for a brief appearance. The mystery alsogave Marlon time to shine, which is nice for his final ep.

Watched anotherepisode of Poirot, which is the first of two parts. Looking forward toseeing how this one ends. A super-young Polly Walker is a guest star!

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. I haven't quite decided how I feel about Morelandsticking around for a while, but I did like his interaction with Sherlock. The casealso proved to be interesting.

Caught another episodeof Batman Beyond and have vague memories of this one the first timearound. Always fun to have Shriek back.

Watched anotherepisode of Lower Decks. This show annoys and charms me in equal measure.I did quite like the interaction between mom and daughter even when I rolled myeyes several times.

Started an episode ofPeak Practice. I didn't quite manage to finish it but will get it donethis week. I hope!

Also started andgot most of the way through another episode of Reacher. I only stoppedbecause I couldn't keep my eyes open. That's what watching a show at four a.m.will do.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Nowhere Good, a novella thatexplores how a couple resolves an age-old conflict.

Here's theminiblurb:

After wiping out a rival fae faction's hell spawn, AdrianStock plants a hot kiss on Shaun Henrickton, a fellow enforcer, and their worldtilts sideways. They've got custom and ritual, protocol, and baggage betweenthem and if they cave to their baser feelings, the outcome can't go anywheregood.

And a preview snippet…

Adrian sat through Matilda'sexamination. "You don't have to check the sirens. We got them to the safehouse without incident." They'd be a little crowded for a couple of days.Matilda smoothed a cool salve overAdrian's burns. "Good to know. You and Shaun make a hell of a team." Afterrecapping the jar, she held her palm over the injury and closed her eyes,muttering an incantation over and over.The brief respite gave Adrian timeto unpack her thoughts. Shaun did make a great partner. But would he still? Thesilence coming back to the estate after seeing to the sirens put her out ofsorts. Because of the kiss. She and Shaun usually had a million things to talkabout. But neither spoke a word on the journey back. Because of the kiss.She chastised herself. Such astupid thing to do. Ruling families did not mix with the lower classes. And shedefinitely didn't qualify for ruling status. Her family would be disappointedshe'd initiated something with Shaun. She mumbled under her breath."Not that his family is any better." Even if Shaun didn't think likethem.His family wanted to keep the oldways. Seven families ruled over the rest of the population and made sureeveryone stayed in their own lane. The regular folk like the Stocks pushedback, trying to form a council that would better represent all beings in theglade.Matilda gently squeezed her fingersaround Adrian's. "There. Are you still feeling any pain?"Adrian made a slow fist. "No.None. Thank you." She started to get up.Matilda nudged her back down."Uh-uh. I want you to stay here tonight. Consider it a favor to me. But Iwant to be here if you have any aftereffects." Her steady gaze bored intoAdrian's.Adrian slumped. "You thinkI'll have nightmares." She might … even if it had been years since herlast one after Bent's death.Matilda nodded. "It'spossible. And if you have one, I'd rather it be here where I can help."What she didn't say? If she hadone, being here wouldn't pull her mom and dad into the fray. They stillstruggled with the loss of their only son.Adrian sighed. "Okay. But if Idon't have any, I'm heading to the cottage in the morning." She livedbehind her parent's house in the old gatekeeper's residence.Matilda smiled. "As you wish."She got up and put her supplies away. "For now, I have to make my rounds.Help yourself to anything you need. The spare room is already made up foryou." She bustled around, grabbing her satchel and a jacket then headingout of the suite.Adrian settled back into thecushion of the chair. "Leaving me alone with my thoughts can't go wrong,right?" She snorted.Why worry? She had no chance withShaun. He'd reached the age where he had to find a mate. Someone the sevenhouses approved of.Rolling her eyes, she shook herhead. "Definitely don't want to be around for that." But … the reasonshe kissed him had everything to do with the ticking clock.Because she had to know what itwould be like. Just once. To kiss Shaun and have that memory.But, yeah, dumbest move she'd evermade. Because now she wanted more. So much more.And now her primary goal would beto minimize what happened. Because the kiss meant nothing.Nothing at all…

This one is comingtogether in fits and starts but it's shaping up nicely. Shaun has his work cutout for him to convince Adrian the kiss is not nothing.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

Getting a latestart to my day because my sleep schedule is out of whack. This has affected mygreat cleanout project, and I'm still determined to get back on track and atleast do small things each day. Stay tuned!

On a differentnote, I did get about ten pounds of ground beef cooked and in the freezer. Alsogot three bags of grapes cleaned and in the fridge. So, the cleanout projecttook a back burner, but I did get other things done.

Work is still busywith new projects coming in and I'm enjoying the variety of things I have rightnow. I've also been able to do some catchup on my own stuff. I've been strivingfor better balance between my editing work and my writing.

Had a solid viewingweek and made a full round of my regular shows and my two back burner shows. I'llbe starting a new one this week, I think. Looking forward to picking up with a newseason of something.

Started the weekwith Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the episode and gettingsome Dr. Mac backstory.

Think I finished upthe first season of Art Detectives. I really enjoyed this show and hopeto see another season. They left enough seeds to pick up if they get one.

Caught another episodeof Death in Paradise and ended up really loving the mystery. Not astandard path and the twists were good.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Poirot. It's one I'd seen most of before and I remembered mostof the plot. Good episode.

Watched an episodeof Elementary. Gotta say I love Joan being totally unafraid of the elderHolmes. Their interactions were very fun. And her getting the goods on himrocked the entire episode.

Caught an episodeof Batman Beyond. It's one I remembered but forgot about. Does that makesense. Great episode too.

Enjoyed an episodeof Lower Decks. This show is kind of wonky but usually adorable. Just enoughtongue in cheek to keep things interesting and fresh.

Watched the openingof Peak Practice season eleven. Sam is on a precarious journey, and Ithink his exit is set up nicely. Not really sure about Will and Kate. I'm notreally interested in them becoming the new Andrew and whatever his partner'sname is.

Also caught anotherepisode of Reacher. Man. This show. If I ever find the time, I want todo a deep dive and dig into some of the themes and tropes I love.

And that's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a novellawhere the characters edge closer to something that is special.

Here's theminiblurb:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around thewinter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae andnon-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book,nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weirdrelationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a thing.

And a preview snippet…

While Ryce stood gazing out thewindow in the kitchen, Masha gathered the plates and carried them to the sink. "Whatare you looking at?" She stood beside him.He cocked his head and leanedforward a little, trying to get a better look outside. "Making sure theworld didn't implode." He slid his gaze sideways. "It didn't." Heused a deadpan tone, but his eyes were filled with humor.She laughed. "Okay. I deservedthat." She lifted her chin. "So … what's next in the grand having amoment deal?" Enjoying the evening, she threw the question out there.Ryce's eyebrows arched. "Winein front of the fire?" He nodded toward a full-bodied semisweet redsitting on his counter."Uh…" She hesitated.Because she'd love to chill out andrelax but the weather could turn nasty. Which meant they'd be needed.He paused while reaching for thebottle. "Unless you have plans?" He started to withdraw his hand.She snorted. "As if. I'm moreworried about the weather. If it rains and the temperature drops like it'ssupposed to, we might have an icy mess to deal with." Then again, whendidn't they have some kind of chaos on their hands. "You know what? Ignorethat last comment. There's always something, right?"He grunted. "Too true."He retrieved the wine and grabbed two stemless glasses.She followed him into the livingroom where he had a fire banked already. He added a log and poked at theglowing embers. After they got settled, he poured the heady liquid and handedher a glass. Easing back against the cushions,he angled toward her. "You didn't comment on dessert…" Masha flashed a small smile."I honestly don't have words. It reminded me so much of when my gram usedto make it. One of the good moments I try to hold on to." She met hisgaze. "Thank you for that trip down memory lane." She waited a beatbefore softly adding, "Almost as lovely as the brooch." Sliding itout of her pocket, she fingered the jewelry.Ryce swallowed a sip of his wine."I'm glad you like it. There were two. The moonstone and a quartz."He set his glass on the table.Masha circled the crystal with herthumb. "What made you pick the moonstone?" A perfect option … she hadan affinity for the faceted colors of the gem.Ryce's lips quirked. "Itsymbolizes growth and balance. I don't know anyone as measured as you are. Youseem to be everywhere at once yet you don't make anyone feel rushed."Masha basked a little. "Ithelps that you're always there." She drew her lower lip between her teeth."And I feel like I'm back on wobbly ground again." But the ideadidn't unsettle her the way she expected it to.Ryce chuckled. "It's good tobe appreciated … even when it's for having a strong back or hot sex."Masha sheepishly shrugged. "It'shonestly more than that, which is the part I don't know what to do with."

Masha and Ryce areweighed down by their work and constantly pulled in a lot of differentdirections. Writing this scene ended up being a lot of fun.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing but the Truth

It's verysauna-like outside with muggy weather and lots of humidity. Makes me want apool in a big way. Went down a big rabbit hole researching what's availablethat won't break the bank and discovered some genius ideas. It won't happenthis summer, but I have a new goal for next summer!

Hit a wall on mygreat cleanout project. But I'm determined to get back on it this week. Even ifI only get a little done each day it's something. I'm thinking I might make achart and log increments of time spent. If I see the forward progress it helps.

Ended up having asuper busy work week. Several projects came back at the same time and a new onestarted. It's been a plate-spinning couple of months with so many different thingsstacking up against each other. I love the variety and I think that helps keep mefrom losing my mind.

I did end up havinga great viewing week. I did a full round of shows and got to include the two Itend to keep on the back burner when things are jammed.

Started with MissFisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm almost through the first season and this istotal comfort viewing.

Watched anotherepisode of Art Detectives and I'm really enjoying this show. Shazia is alot of fun and the mystery with Mick's dad is intriguing. Looking forward tomore.

Caught an episodeof Death in Paradise. Love to see Selwyn with his daughter. The mysteryended up being excellent and the resolution had a nice twist.

Enjoyed another episodeof Poirot. I'm kind of fond of the episodes that don't have murders. Thisone was kind of madcap and that's always fun.

Watched the seasonfour premiere of Elementary. Watson being ready to kick the shit out of theHolmes patriarch is awesome. I loved her interaction with one of the stooges.And the first glimpse of Holmes the Great? So incredible. Excellent choice ofactor to play him. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Caught another episodeof Batman Beyond. It's one I remembered, and I enjoyed it. Terry and Maxare a great team.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Lower Decks and definitely plan to stick with this one. Evenwhen I'm annoyed by some of the character bits, it's a fun watch.

Got to get theseason ten finale of Peak Practice viewed. Interesting to have Kate back,especially since Will is kind of ready to move on. The vehicle accident playedout with lots of tension and the two little girls with Tom ended up beingbetter than I thought it would be.

Last but not least,I got to watch another episode of Reacher. This show, man. It's so good.And that ending. Wow. Reacher's big feet keep stepping in steaming piles. Justsaying.

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing butthe Truth, a novella where the characters decide honesty is the bestpolicy.

Here's theminiblurb:

Lexa Chan and Quint Maximoff work the seedy underworld ofsupernatural bounty hunting. Lexa's got a tough as nails reputation and shecompetes with Quint's larger than life persona. The Halfway, a bar catering tosupernatural and mortal beings, is neutral ground where Lexa and Quint form aninteresting relationship.

And a preview snippet…

Lexa rode a wave of bliss. There'ssex and then there's S-E-X in all caps. Being with Quint definitelydeserved the second option.She might have to face another hardtruth soon. Quint would be hard to beat when it came to physical and intimaterelations. Her nerve endings all but hummed with satisfaction and she hadn'thit her peak yet.She crested the rise, though."Unf. So good." She kept one hand on his shoulder and theother planted on his chest.Her breath came out in short, raspybursts. Quint's fingers grasped her thighs, and she welcomed the burn of hisskin against hers. With one palm he skimmed her torso and reached up to cup abreast. When his thumb brushed over her nipple, the sensation went straight toher core and her hips jerked harder and faster.She lifted her head and met hisgaze. "Come with me, Quint." Her inner walls tightened around hishard length, and she toppled over the edge.Quint let out a low moan andfollowed behind her. His thighs went taut, and air hissed out between histeeth. When she collapsed down to her elbows, he wrapped his arms around herand meshed his lips with hers.When the feeling returned to herlimbs, she eased back and rested her forehead against his. "Full truth?That was amazing." Sliding off to one side, she curled up against him,biting back a yawn.Quint eyed the bed. "We coulduse some shut-eye." He slowly got to his feet and held a hand out to her.Lexa didn't hesitate. She claspedhis palm and crossed the room with him. Crawling up onto the mattress, shetugged him down beside her. He stretched out on his side, his gaze slowlytraveling over her nude form. His turn to view her myriads of scars. Helingered on each imperfection almost with reverence. She didn't shy away frombeing viewed. He understood the toll battle took on the physical being.Which meant … he also had a goodidea how many wounds went unseen. The ones that marred the psyche instead ofthe body. Something shifted inside Lexa. A crack opened and she couldn't closeit back up if she tried.And … oddly … for once she didn'twant to.

I like writingquiet moments between characters and ending on one for this scene ended upworking so well.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

 

Sunday Snippet: Not on the Same Page

It's the weekend oftrying to keep my doggos from losing their minds. I love fireworks, don't getme wrong, but I feel for all the pets out there that freak out over them.

I continued with thegreat cleanout stuff this week. Honestly, I did more organizing than cleaningbut being organized helps make cleaning and clearing a little easier.

I'm finally at a manageablelevel of projects. I have a few odds and ends to finish on a couple of them butthey're with the authors or the designer and I'm waiting in the wings to reviewrevisions.

Had another decentviewing week. Having a lighter workload does help. And I'm not as scattered onthe attention span side of things.

Started out with MissFisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm finding new things in the episodes, which isone of the reasons I love to rewatch a series I've seen before.

Watched another episodeof Art Detectives and I'm enjoying this show. I'm very interested in thebackstory of Mack's dad. I'm also hoping for more backstory with his partner.

Caught anotherepisode of Death in Paradise. Good to see the commissioner's daughteragain. The mystery also ended up being intriguing.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Poirot. Very fun to not have a big murder to solve and seehow Poirot uses his skill to ferret out what's going on.

Watched anotherepisode of Elementary and, wow, season three ended on a big downer. I'mstill trying to decide if Sherlock ended up relapsing or if he's just horriblydistraught from Oscar's machinations. Oscar needs to die in a fire. Justsaying.

Caught anotherepisode of Batman Beyond and it's one I remembered. Loved the spin on anurban legend that had a grain of truth in it.

Started a new to meseries with The Lower Decks. Enjoyed the first episode and ended upbeing happy I clocked the relationship between the captain and the know-it-allcrew member. I'll enjoy watching more of this one.

Ended the week on anepisode of Peak Practice. A lot going on in this one. And the tragicleap Will's patient made kind of surprised me. Kerry finding out the truthabout her parentage kind of bummed me out, but I'm also seriously irritated byher parents being such ninnies about the whole thing. Definitely feel bad forSam.

That's pretty much itfor the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Not on the Same Page,a novella that explores how a couple works through differing viewpoints.

Here's the miniblurb:

Irini Domaine loves Nathair Sofen but marries another tofulfill a familial obligation. When she suggests carrying on the relationshipwith Nathair he coldly refuses, which makes Irini vow to slowly but surelyconvince him otherwise and unknown to her, her life may depend on theconnection with Nathair.

And a preview snippet…

Irini waited a full month beforeseeking Nathair out.Standing on the threshold to hiscottage, she inhaled deeply. "Nothing to fear from him. Once I explain,he'll get why I did what did." He had to.Raising her hand, she let out asmall gasp when the door opened before she could knock.Nathair greeted her with a coolgaze. "What do you want, Iri?" His tone bordered on glacial.Determined to make him understand,she brushed past him. "I want you. I always will." She turned to facehim. "And I need you to know that and so much more." They could stillbe together if they wanted to.And she definitely desired himabove all else.Nathair swung the door closed."So much more? As in you married Norj so your father could save face?"He casually strolled through the living room to stand by the fireplace."Let him sell you to the highest bidder so his good name wouldn't betarnished?" His gaze clashed with hers. "Is that the so much more youneed to share?" He folded his arms over his chest.Irini blinked. "How did you … no,there's more to it than the family name and money." She raked her handthrough her hair. "He made a blood vow. If I didn't honor it, he'd bestripped of his magick and cast out." She'd saved him from that … but at ahigh cost.Her father lost his daughter in theprocess. She hadn't seen or spoken to him since her marriage. And she had noplans to do so in the future.Nathair made a garbled chokingsound. "Your dad used you as the tithe? Geez, Iri. It's been over acentury since anyone used another person as the payment for a bloodvow." Disbelief filled his voice.Irini snorted. "Yeah, well, hisdesperation made him reckless, and he took the only avenue open to a foundingfamily with no money in the coffer." She shrugged. "But that doesn'tmean I have to play by his rules. As a matter of fact, I don't intend to."A little nervous, she paced back and forth. "I did what he required, and I'mdone. I haven't seen or spoken to him since the wedding." That had tocount for something.Nathair's brow furrowed. "Andwhat? How does that make any kind of difference. You're still married."She drew her lower lip between herteeth for a moment. "I don't care." She edged closer to him. "Ididn't ask to be bartered against my dad's debts. I shouldn't have to play byhis or anyone else's rules." Her fingers clasped his shirt and twisted inthe fabric.Nathair lips flattened. "Youstarted playing by their rules the moment you accepted the proposal." Hiseyes flared … but not with anger.Want and need resided in hisdepths.She leaned in closer. "Maybe.But I don't have to continue…" And she wouldn't … if Nathair would fall inwith her plan.He cocked his head to one side."You don't? How do you see that working out?"Her mouth hovered over his."Like this…" She embraced him with every pent-up desire she had…And never wanted to let him go.

This story gets alittle twisted and I'm very happy with the way it's coming together.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Gonna Happen

Well, the end ofJune is going to be a welcome sight for me. It's been a long month and yet somehowflew by in a blink.

Work projects arefinally slowing down a little and I feel like I can breathe again. I have toplay catch-up on some things that I had to let slide while trying to getthrough the bulk of my work. Hopefully, I'll get back to some cleaning projectsand get more writing done.

Actually made itthrough all of my shows and finished up two that I had on the back burner. Wehad a lot of rain and some severe storms, but the power stayed on, so I got alot watched.

Watched another episodeof Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and it's one I always look forward to.I love getting into Phyrne's history and her time in France explains so muchabout her.

Enjoyed another episodeof Art Detectives. Nice to have a little backstory for the characters. Alsoenjoyed the mystery of this one. Messy rock-star drama added a nice twist.

Caught another Deathin Paradise episode … possibly the one hundredth ep because Camile made anappearance. Excellent throwback to the very first episode also.

Watched another Poirotepisode where he's either still on holiday or taking another one. I had seenmost of this episode before and it's nice to have all the pieces fall intoplace.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. Interesting to see Gregson decide to stay with theeleventh and Iiked him seeking Joan's help with vetting his possiblereplacement. The overarching mystery also ended up being nice and twisty.

Caught another episodeof Batman Beyond. I remembered this one and liked the team-up of Terryand Max. Bruce had some good lines in this episode.

I think I finishedup the Classic Rugrats rewatch. I might go back and make sure I didn'tend up skipping a season or two. I'll probably switch over the new episodes.

Finally finished upthe episode of Peak Practice I started a while ago. Did not expect tosee Sam propose even though I knew it would happen at some point.

Also finished up thesecond episode of Reacher. Gotta say, I really love this show. Glad I haveseveral more seasons to view!

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Not Gonna Happen, anovella that puts a couple in danger thanks to friends of friends.

Here's theminiblurb:

Gina Ames and Tuck Danvers sign up for a weekend of huntingfor an urban legend. When their other team members start dropping, one by one,they take off for the safety of the city. Too bad the concrete and steel can'tprotect them from what follows them home.

And a preview snippet…

Gina stared at the … hell, shedidn't know what to call it. A symbol? Sigil? Whatever. The thing had beenetched into the wall above the landing of the stairs.Tuck let out a low whistle."Why would Jake and Marley let friends, let alone anyone, carve that intotheir home?" He took his phone out and held it up.Gina snagged his arm. "Whatare you doing?" The creeped-out vibe she had screamed danger.He slid his gaze sideways. "Doyou know what it means?" His brows arched.She shook her head. "Don'tthink I wanna know." Nothing good.The symbol couldn't be anything butbad news.Tuck grunted. "Right. I getthat. But…" He held her gaze. "If we want to get rid of our shadow,we're gonna need help." He pressed the button on his app. "And thatmeans we have to have something to use." He slid the device back into hispocket. "I don't plan on crossing that marking, which limits our optionshere."She gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah,okay. You're right." Just looking at the thing made her skin itch. "Wecan't stay here." Her gaze darted to the door. "Check to see if Mr.Creepy is out there then head to the nearest occult store?" She swallowedagainst the ball of nerves lodged in her throat.Tuck lifted his chin. "And ifhe is out there?"Shit. She hadn't thought of that. Worththe risk or not?Worth it. "We run like hell."They didn't really have a choice.Tuck's lips twisted. "Right.But let's be smart about this." He grabbed his phone again and opened abrowser, typing in the search bar. "Nearest place is three blocks south ofhere."Damn. She loved him for thinking offinding the closest place they might get answers.She started to twist the knob andhad an idea herself. "Hey, let's grab some salt. It's used for protection,right?" But … they'd have to pass under the etching to get to the kitchen.Unless…Tuck voiced the thought before shecould. "Basement. I know they've got rock salt down there." Hestarted down the steps with Gina hot on his heels.They found the partial bag andheaded back upstairs.Pausing at the door, Gina pressed aquick, hard kiss to Tuck's lips. "I love you. Never forget that."Pulling the door open, she peeked outside.Tuck grasped her shoulder."Love you too. Let's go."

This story isslowly revealing itself in interesting ways. It might end up not being aboutwhat I originally planned. I love it when that happens!

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Enough Hope

If anyone is headedinto a major heat wave this week like I am, stay hydrated! And try to stay cool,especially if your location is as humid as mine is. Humidity is a nightmare.

Had a busy andproductive week. Making good progress on two of my projects and sliding in somerandom finishing bits on a few others.

Started a huge cleanupjob in the kitchen. My poor countertops need to be reorganized and cleared of clutter.I got the largest one scrubbed down and mostly organized. Still need to find a newhome for a few items.

Also have somemundane tasks to plow through this week. Not sure I'll make it but I can't putit off any longer. My procrastination skills are top notch!

Had a decentviewing week. I ended up making it through my usual slate of shows, whichrather makes me happy.

Started with MissFisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the episode again. The characters inPhyrne's past are always fun.

Caught anotherepisode of Art Detectives and, I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy this show.Looking forward to the next episode.

Watched the seasonthirteen holiday special of Death in Paradise and enjoyed meetingNeville's mom. Should be fun to watch the last season of Inspector Parker'stenure.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Poirot. Kind of fun to see him on holiday and solving amurder. I'll admit the resolution came together a little oddly for me but aninteresting episode nonetheless.

Caught another episodeof Elementary and quite enjoyed Sherlock's revelations about friendship.So fun to watch Marcus chill with Sherlock at the end.

Watched another episodeof Batman Beyond. Having the Royal Flush gang back proved fun. Also likeTerry making a solid choice at the end to stick with Dana.

Enjoyed an episodeof Classic Rugrats. The holiday themed episode is one I remember and Ireally need to add it to my holiday watch list if I do one this year.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Not Enough Hope,a novella that reunites a couple after almost a decade apart.

Here's theminiblurb:

Early Gibbons walks away from her position in the faecourt—and Salem Powell—to forge her own path in the human realm. When shediscovers a vengeance hound on her trail, she returns to the land of fae tofind out who unleashed the beast, which may be tricky since Salem is the leader,and she can't discount him as the culprit.

And a preview snippet…

Early let her head fall backagainst the cushions of the couch. "Thanks for letting me stay here lastnight, but this place is too nice for me to stay any longer…" She angledher head toward the chair. "Not that you'd let me." At least she'dhad a few hours to plan her next move.Salem narrowed his gaze. "Look… as much as I'm reluctant to get involved with this, I can't ignore yoursituation." He exhaled slowly. "It's my literal job to sort thisout." He lifted the mug to his mouth and took a deep gulp of the coffee.Early shook her head. "It'sreally not. I haven't been a member of the group for nearly a decade. You don'towe me anything." Salem set his cup on the table."Maybe not. But I do owe the people who trust me to lead them." Heleaned forward and laced his fingers together. "Vengeance hounds tend tostay their course until they're either recalled by whoever summoned them orthey achieve the goal they were sent to do." Meeting her gaze, heshrugged. "You'll have to stay in the realm until we figure out the whoand why." He leaned back again. "If you don't want to stay here, andI get why you don't, you'll need to find a place where you can be safe."Early tilted her head to one side."You almost sound like it matters." Did she want him to care whathappened to her?Oddly … she did.Salem frowned. "Considering Ididn't give anyone permission to summon a hound it damn well does matter."His brows arched. "As you pointed out, a hound on the loose is dangerousto humans. And now to the fae." His eyes took on a hard edge. "Italso tells me something is lurking below the surface. And I have to find outwhat."Okay, she couldn't really ask formore, like having her life being in danger topping the list. Especially aftershe'd walked away. She'd be grateful he would let her stay until the hound nolonger posed a threat.She inclined her chin. "Ofcourse. And it goes without saying that I'll be available for whatever youneed." Rising, she gathered her mug and carried it to the kitchen. "I'llclean up and bind the house and yard, so the hound doesn't disturb theproperty." She poured the coffee out and rinsed the cup.Salem followed her. "Anythoughts on where you'd like to go?" He set the half-full mug on thecounter.Early gave a nod. "The catacombs.I think they'll be the safest place in the realm." She could possiblycontain the hound in the depths, and she'd have plenty of supplies for spellsand alchemy.Salem's head jerked backward."You're sure? Not many creature comforts there."Her lips curved. "Not yetanyway." She gave him a sideways glance. "Unless you object to havingme make a few changes…" Using her skill set for interior design could befun.Salem shook his head. "No. Noobjections." He propped a hip against the counter. "Let me know whenyou get settled, and I'll drop by with some of the texts. We can research andcompare notes and hopefully find out who sent the hound after you."She dried her hands. "Okay.Give me until lunchtime. The hound usually lays low during the daylight hoursand comes out at night. I bought myself about twenty-four hours, but it won'ttake it long to find me." She'd bet it already had but wouldn't show itsface until darkness fell again.Salem straightened. "Allright. I'll stop in after lunch." He headed for the front entrance."See you then." Letting himself out, he quietly closed the doorbehind him.Early finished cleaning up andrepacked her bag. After warding the house and adding a binding spell to theyard, she hefted the strap over her shoulder and started down the lane towardthe catacombs.She had a feeling the memorieswould assault her before she even arrived at the huge stone caves.After all, she'd spent many, manyhours in the complex with Salem … back when they loved each other more thananything.But she didn't hold out much hopeSalem would have the same onslaught.

Salem and Earlywant to get through the hard stuff and be reunited, but neither will admit itto the other.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Again

Happy Father's Dayto all the dads, mentors, and father figures out there! And if this is a roughday for anyone, please find peace and joy where you can.

Seriously busy weekand I didn't feel the greatest. Heading in for an annual physical soon and hopeto nail down why I'm kind of down right now. My guess is my sleep schedule is horribleat the moment.

Somewhat goodprogress on work projects. Friday and Saturday ended up being challenging daysbecause of not feeling well. I'm a little behind on two and hope to make thatup in the next couple of days.

Spent a couple ofdays doing tedious personal life stuff, but I made it through my standard slateof shows this week. I'm considering a new addition to the lineup but haven't madeup my mind yet.

Enjoyed an episodeof Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The plot's twisty turns are fun andit's nice to see the tentative partnership with Jack and Phryne taking root.

I totally lied whenI said I caught the season twelve finale of Death in Paradise. It hadone more episode, which I ended up enjoying a lot. I'll be starting thirteenthis week.

Caught anotherepisode of Poirot and enjoyed it. This one had some twists but it wasfun for Poirot to have a case in his own backyard … or building as the case maybe.

Started a new seriescalled the Art Detectives and liked the first episode. The leads havegreat chemistry and I'm looking forward to the next episode.

Watched an episodeof Elementary and enjoyed Sherlock coming to terms with being friends withAlfredo and not just sponsor and sponsee. Joan was really great in this episodealso.

Enjoyed another episodeof Batman Beyond. It's fun when Terry has to be a big brother and I lovehow he handles Tim. The big bad was also interesting.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. Both were new-to-me vignettes and I likedthem. The one with DeeDee's college class was a lot of fun.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Not Again, anovella where the couple has a big hurdle to clear before they get their HEA.

Here's theminiblurb:

Drue Braddock and Xeno Howlett have a rocky relationship,but when Drue goes off on one of her many soul-searching quests, Xeno decideshe's had enough. When Drue returns, she finally knows what she wants—Xeno—butshe may not get her chance because he's got someone new in his life.

And a preview snippet…

Drue squared her shoulders forbattle then swished through the gauzy curtains of Lydia's studio space. "Wegotta talk, Lyds." Drue purposefully used the hated nickname of the otherwoman.Lydia bristled. "No, we reallydon't." She visibly forced herself to relax. "You being back doesn'taffect me in any way." Her fingers fluffed up the basil she'd finishedtransplanting.Drue snorted. "You're not senseless.You have to know I'll be interacting with Xeno. It can't be avoided." Shestopped there because the less she shared about her discovery the better.Lydia's gaze snapped upward."Your trip proved fruitful then?" Her attempt at idle curiosityfailed … the keen interest and envy oozed from her.Drue shrugged. "My tripsalways do." She held Lydia's gaze. "And I need to brief Xeno thenwork with him to counteract a few things." Keeping any additionalrevelations to herself, Drue continued. "That said, I won't be attemptingto take him from you."Lydia scoffed. "The very ideais laughable. You can't possibly worm your way between us." The wobble toher voice gave her away.Lydia worried Xeno still hadfeelings for Drue … which she filed away for use at a later time. Right now, toomuch rode on getting Xeno up to speed with the darkness headed their way.Drue lifted her chin. "Good toknow that won't be an issue. Our work together will be strictly professional onmy end. You have my word on that." She waited a brief moment. "Ican't promise Xeno will do the same, but if you're not worried, I won't beeither." Turning, she headed for the exit without a backward glance.She'd accomplished her goal offiring a warning shot. What Lydia did with the cautionary information remainedto be seen. Putting her on notice wouldn't sit well with her, but she'd have todeal because Drue would be swearing Xeno to secrecy about a rising faction oftroublemakers hellbent on destroying the decades of peace the tribe hadenjoyed.Leaving the building where Lydiakept her studio, Drue headed toward Xeno's, the instinctive mistrust of Lydiaweighing Drue down. She owned jealousy that Lydia now had a place in Xeno'slife played a role but the other woman's envy of Drue's talent with thecrystals came between them more than once. Adding Xeno to the mix would nothelp the situation.Drue sighed. "Guess I'll beready for some major clashes in the near future."Won't that be fun?

Drue is probablyright not to trust Lydia but not because she's jealous.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Noble Kidnapping

It's been a longweek with a lot going on. My dad turned eighty last Sunday and my oldest turnedthirty-two. Yep. They have the same birthday. My brothers always give me abunch a grief over getting my dad a grandson for his birthday.

We had a nicereception for my dad, and I got to reconnect with a lot of people I hadn't seenin a long time. So nice to catch up.

Work projectscontinue to keep me busy. I'm making good progress but often feel like I'mspinning my wheels because they're big projects that take a lot of back andforth. This isn't a complaint; it's more an observation.

Had a slow viewingweek but did manage to get through my main group of shows. The backburner onesdidn't make the cut this week.

Started out with BatmanBeyond and enjoyed it. I have memories of this one where Terry's secret isexposed and he finally has something of an ally.

Watched another ClassicRugrats and both were new-to-me vignettes. Thoroughly enjoyed the shoppingone and the one with the snow was fun also.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. As a comfort show, theamazing cast is always ready to help me slide into a happy place. Even ifthere's a murder to solve.

Caught the season twelvefinale of Death in Paradise. Good to see Neville's team work hard toclear him of the professor's death. Nice to see the dangling plot threads tiedup also. Looking forward to starting thirteen this week.

Watched anotherepisode of Poirot and rather enjoyed the mystery. A lot gets packed intothe hour-long episodes and sometimes feels a little rushed.

Really enjoyed theepisode of Elementary with the dual mysteries and some insight into thecaptain's daughter and how she operates.

Also watched what Ithink is the first season finale of Return to Paradise. I'm reallyenjoying this show.

I think I found thenew show I'm going to start this week, but I'm not absolutely set. Stay tuned.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Noble Kidnapping,a novella that brings childhood friends together under fraught circumstances.

Here's theminiblurb:

Jaina Wraith discovers Seb Morrison is a member of thenobility and she kidnaps him, fully intent on having him executed. When Sebreminds her how many times he's come to her aid, she has to decide whether tohelp him escape or leave him to a tragic fate.

And a preview snippet…

Jaina stood over her father's grave—twodays after her eighteenth birthday. Her mind whirled with too many revelations.The long letter from her father tucked into his patient ledgers explained a lot… and left too much unexplained.She sighed. "At least you leftthe book of knowledge for me." She'd need the instructive lessons to wieldher new powers.Ones she'd been unaware of becausethey passed to her only upon her father's death.Which happened too soon and underhighly suspicious circumstances.She snorted. "Not that I canprove unlawful killing." Even if she knew in her very bones her dad hadbeen murdered by Hanson Pillwick.Because her dad refused to use hisgift to heal the nobility and Hanson Pillwick discovered Blanton Wraith carriedancestral magick and blamed him for the loss of Hanson's son. He'd had her dadkilled, and the act gave Jaina a cause to fight for. And something to ease thedepth of her grief.The nobility would burn—by her handif possible.A throat cleared.Jaina glanced up from her solitaryvigil to discover Seb Morrison standing across from her.He nodded. "I'm sorry for yourloss, Jaina."She noted the changes in him.Taller, broader, but the same intense blue eyes. Always studying anddocumenting everything in their sight. He'd filled out and become even more handsome.She thanked him. "I appreciatethe condolences." Hyperaware of him, she didn't know what else to say.He reached out and squeezed hershoulder. "If you ever need anything, let me know." Stepping back, heclasped her hand. "If I'm not immediately available, my mother will get amessage to me."He caught her off guard with theoffer. A little touched, her pride wouldn't allow her to accept help or let himinto her future plans.She let go of his hand and liftedher chin. "Thank you for the offer, but I'll be fine." She had a lotof work to do.He gave her another of his odd,studious looks, but accepted her response. "My sympathies then. I'll takemy leave now." He walked away with catlike grace.Jaina followed his progress untilhe cleared the gate. A different kind of loss settled over her shoulders. Itwould be easy to lean on Seb. But she couldn't trust her feelings right now. Anythingsoft she might feel got crowded out by the need to avenge her father's death.Two men emerged from the shadows ofthe crypt beside her. Jocko and Biggs were two tough nuts her dad trusted. Byextension, Jaina put her faith in the men. They would be her eyes and earswhile she fought to find justice.Jocko narrowed his gaze on Seb'sretreating figure. "Who's the bloke?"Jaina shrugged. "Someone Iused to know a long time ago." A friend she would miss but only in herdreams.Biggs grunted. "We moved yourstuff, like you asked. You sure you wanna come to the dregs with us—"Jocko cut in. "Yeah, it's notexactly a welcoming place."Jaina didn't care. "I'msure." She turned and slowly walked away from her father's final restingplace.She'd find her way, especially whenshe started taking down the nobles one by one.

This is somethingof a slow burn romance and I'm enjoying putting the pieces together.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye

 

Sunday Snippet: Nature Calls

Had a super busyweek between work projects and personal projects and, whew, I'm exhausted.Also, the weather is being contrary with lots of rain and chilly temperatures.I don't think we got above sixty degrees with the exception of Thursday when wetopped out at seventy.

I'm still jugglingsix work projects but two are in a state of simmering on the back burner, whichisn't optimal, but it does help manage the load.

Had a slow viewingweek and didn't quite make it through my usual round of shows. Too much goingon that needed my full attention.

I did end upcatching an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. It's one of myfavorites with Phyrne showing off her flying skills.

Also watched anepisode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. A holiday episode that I thoroughlyenjoyed. I'm kind of bummed there aren't any new episodes until the nextseason.

Death inParadise kind of blew mymind. I knew what would happen and it still caught me a little off guard. Ithink because Neville acted so out of character. I have a really good idea ofwho killed the professor, and I hope I prove myself right.

Got another episodeof Return to Paradise viewed and I'm really enjoying this show. I'm veryon the fence with Glen's engagement to Daisy. I really think things could get verymessy.

Finished out theweek with another Poirot episode. I kind of pegged who the kidnapper wasfrom the beginning, and I loved the razor-sharp way Poirot called the guy out.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Nature Calls, asexy short that brings a couple together with a little paranormal help.

Here's theminiblurb:

Kacee Biehl follows Russ Romanova through crazyadventures for their webcast series about urban legends. She's got it bad forthe handsome host and on the last day of their shoot, she makes a move,thinking she has Russ right where she wants him. But Russ has other ideas andturns the tables on Kacee—giving her exactly what she needs.

And a preview snippet…

Holy hell. I can'tbelieve this is happening."Damn that's nice,Kace."His dick in her mouth?Not something he really expected would ever happen. He sure as shit wouldn'tcomplain. He'd had the hots for her since she started filming their excursions.She took him deeper,holding his gaze. She should've looked submissive. Instead, she lookedvictorious, like an avenging angel taking her reward.Pulling back, shegrasped his cock with one hand, tilted her head and licked his shaft from baseto tip and back down again. The heat from her breath raised goose bumps on hisarms."Yeah, Kace. Lick allaround then suck me again."He loved telling herwhat he wanted. She took the suggested and amped it up to eleven. Pursing herlips, she used the tip of her tongue to glide down his length then latched onwith her mouth on the way back up only to swivel when she got to the head thencovered his cock and sucked hard.His knees went weak. Thewildly wonderful blow job blew his mind."Don't forget myballs."She eased back, graspinghis testicles in one hand then dipped down to suck one side into her mouth. Hertongue laved all around the orb then she switched sides, hollowing her cheeksand applying pressure with her lips.His head dropped back."Aw, yeah. That's amazing." His fingers threaded through her hair,the silky strands sliding against his skin.Kacee released hisballs and sucked his dick back between her lips. Going deep, she hummed aroundhis girth, and the vibration drew a low groan from him. He needed to be burieddeep inside her … but only after she stated she wanted the same.Meeting her gaze, heheld it. "What do you want, Kace?" His fingers massaged her scalp."And give it to me in plain speak. No flowery euphemisms."She eased her mouth ofhis dick. "I want you to fuck me. Hard. Deep. And nonstop … until we'reboth screaming like the banshees we're looking for." She cupped his ballswith her hand. "Can we do that?"He huffed out a harshbreath. "Fuck, yes. But first … I have one simple requirement…"

This is such a funscenario to write for Kacee and Ross. They're definitely going to have adifferent perspective by the time they're finished.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye