Sunday Snippet: Power Play

You know, I love agreat fireworks display … but … I don't love almost a full week of randomnonstop barrages from different locations where I can't even see them. Becauseat least I'd be able to enjoy something while my poor doggos are huddledagainst me shaking and freaking out. In all seriousness, I don't begrudgepeople having the funds and knowledge to celebrate with fireworks. But I alsohate the first week of July for anyone who has pets that can't deal with theshow.

It's been a weirdweek with a toilet repair followed by a washing machine leak that needed fixed.I'm still working on the leak because, seriously, it's never a simple thingwhen I'm involved. I'm crossing my fingers for not having anything elsewater-related to deal with this week.

Had another superbusy week of work. I'm slogging through a very, very long proofread and I'm almostat the finish line. Completed a copyedit that ended up having some consistencyconcerns but ended up being such a great story. And it's a holiday book! I loveediting holiday manuscripts.

Didn't get a lot ofviewing in, mainly because the proofread is difficult subject matter and solong I don't want to risk losing my spot by getting distracted. I definitely don'twant to do a lot of repeat work because I lose my place.

I did get to watchan episode of My Life Is Murder. I so enjoy this show. The charactersare such a delight.

I also finished upthe episode of Elementary that I started last week. I have to admit I'mnot quite sure if I'm down with Mycroft possibly being a bad guy. My guess ishe's working with someone we've seen before, and I have two people in mind. Staytuned to see if I'm right.

And that's it forthe life update this week. Tonight's post is from Power Play, a novellathat explores a reversal in rank for two officers who are a wee bit more thanfriends.

Here's theminiblurb:

Hailey March, a dedicated officer, receives a plumassignment she's wanted for a long time. But when she has to give orders to RabMcKee, she must ignore their long friendship, which is impossible because sheneeds him on her side.

And a sneaky peek…

Rab McKee entered the war room tofind Hailey March hunched over several charts.He didn't bother with protocol."I stopped in to see Tyler and Hibbert." She'd want the lowdown ontheir friends first anyway.Hailey lifted one shoulder, nevertaking her gaze off the table.Color Rab stunned.He'd just come from a blisteringset down with Admiral Dora Kidwell, the flagship leader of the fleet. Not only hadhe been demoted, he'd received a lecture on visiting with the prisoners waitingto be executed. Prisoners from his former ship, crewmates he consideredfriends.Her reasoning? As a commander'sson, under no circumstances, should he have contact with the former Kalliope crewmen again. He had anexample to set. Like he'd do … what? Break them outof a sealed brig? After being busted down from captain to lieutenant? No onewho mattered would be following his orders any time soon. A brig break would be more Raver'sstyle anyway. Well … it would have been not long ago. Lately, Captain Hailey 'Raver'March had him wondering where the damn pod had been hidden. She sure as hellacted like an alien being in recent weeks. He looked forward to seeing Haileyafter his meeting with Kidwell. The irate admiral had advised him to reportdirectly to Captain March—his new boss. Rab had found the order very amusing. At first. Not so much now. Standing acrossthe tactical planning table from her, his mouth worked but nothing came out. He'djust told her he'd been to see Tyler and Hibbert, the two crewmen scheduled forexecution and damn good friends of theirs and all she could only shrug? Her response made him rethink thehilarity.He cleared his throat and repeated."Hails? Ty and Hibb. They're hanging in for now." She still didn't look away from thechart she worked on. "That's good." His brain reeled from the response.But the kicker came next. After several long moments, she finally glanced upand met his gaze.She angled her head toward thetactical table. "Now help me plan this op." Her fingers drummed onthe edge of the surface. What? Rab stared at her with somethingclose to incredulity. He couldn't have heard her right. "Youwanna just carry on?" Maybe being promoted had addled her brain… "Asif nothing's happened?"

This is going to bea bit of dance between the characters while they navigate toward each other anddiscover they're more than friends.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye