New Release Alert: UNRAVELLING HIS MARK : Come See Behind The Scenes!

Hello, beautiful people!

It's been a couple months since I've last been here... Life has been crazy, but I was also dealing with a not-so-easy time (more on that in next month's post, though - I'm still clawing my way out of the woods).

But there's a big spot of brightness happening at the moment, and it is the release of this new book!

What's it about? Let's just say my Corpus Agency espionage/romantic suspense series continues through here...

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #24

Hey beautiful people!

It's a bright, sunny Sunday morning here in Mauritius - with nary a cloud in the blue, incredibly blue sky... Okay, I'll stop before you're tempted to throw something at me! :) I'll trade the sweltering 90 degree heat with anyone's cold weather though - there's only so many clothes you can remove in the hot weather, lol.

So, Sunday once again - we blink and the week is gone, innit? I usually wait with bated breath for Six Sentence Sunday to come, when I cannot wait to share another excerpt with you all and then head over to the many amazing blogs taking part, read those snippets into stories that have me hooked. SSS is addictive, both for posting and for reading excerpts.

Today, I'm taking ye all once again to that hotel room in Marseille today, off the coast along Corniche JF Kennedy, on the upscale beaches of the Prado.

Gerard, the hunky cop, gave in to his craving for Amelia, a woman - a killer! - he knows next to nothing about, except that she makes him yearn, like someone he used to love before.
Amelia too knows next to nothing about her past, as she is amnesiac. But there's one certainty in her blank mind, in her beating heart, in every fibre of her body - Gerard will make everything right, like he used to in the past, in this past that she doesn't recall, but in which she knows - just knows - he played an important part.

Last week, they were naked, he had her up against the wall, and she read his body language as if by instinct. He took her, but where is that impulsive act leading now?

Read on to find out.


'...

He needed no further encouragement to meet her rhythm thrust for thrust. She weighed hardly more than a feather, yet her body took him as if she'd been made for him, responding to the fierceness of his taking her with an equally strong drive begging him to give her everything.

She screamed and her nails dug into his shoulder blades. The flash of pain arching through him, right when he heard the echo of her pleasure in her heavy breaths, in the powerful contractions of her body, sent him over the edge. He came with a groan, emptying his seed inside her all while his soul felt it was losing himself in her.

In a way, he had lost himself, because he'd just fucked the enemy. ...'

And, btw, this is the last excerpt of Walking The Edge (Corpus Brides: Book One) that I'll be posting on SSS. I have a new release, Calling Home, coming out on Monday, December 5 - so will be posting snips from that sweet romance as from next week.

Don't forget too - catch the rest of the amazing SSS posse here. There's bound to be great excerpts in there.

Thanks for coming over, for reading, and double thanks if you leave me a comment. :) Your words tide me through the whole week.

Hope you're having a lovely weeekend.

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #23

Hey beautiful people

It's a pleasant but bittersweet Sunday morning for me right now - as I was putting this post together, I learned one of my uncles just passed away after a lengthy struggle against cancer. It's news that hits home even more given that I'm a cancer survivor too, and he and I actually went in together one day at the hospital, back to back, to see our oncologist.

I'm saddened, and the news left me reeling... but life goes on anyhow, and we all gotta do what we gotta do to move along.

So I'd already signed up for Six Sentence Sunday, and I didn't want to leave anyone in the lurch (and also not put up my link up when I signed up, which to me, amounts to giving my word).

Last week, we were in that hotel room in Marseille, this couple in total lust against the velvet-panelled wall. Heat flared up, fast. Will they follow upon this fire that blazed... give in to their desire for one another...? Read on for today's six:


'...

Bracing his hands on her ribcage, he pinned her to the wall. She understood what he wanted, and in the blink of an eye, her legs came up, brushing feverishly against his hips, then straddling his waist. Standing like that, his body aligned with her core, and with a none-too-gentle push, he swiftly entered her.

Even with her face buried in the crook of his collarbone, he heard the moan she tried to stifle. Her soft, velvety lips trailed up his skin to settle on the pulse beating frantically in his neck. Her tongue darted out to caress the throbbing vein, and she rocked her lower body against his. ...'

Thanks for coming over, and double thanks if you leave me a comment. You know these little words you leave me tide me into the week, right? :)

Don't forget to check out the other Six Sunday posters here - I guarantee there are some amazing reads in that list.

Hope you're all having a lovely Sunday.

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Progress Friday--strikethat Saturday!

Hey beautiful people!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I sat down early in the morning to write the last chapter of Before The Morning. Got into the action, I blinked, it was time to pick up my son from my mum's... and I was 5-10 pages short of finishing the book. Which I did in the evening. 8,922 words added yesterday, and that means...

The WIP is finished! I wrote 'The End' on the ms yesterday night at 9.17 p.m. It totals at 108,400-something words, and is the longest book I've ever written. Lol, told you that one turned epic on me.

Now I need to take a break from the book for a few days/a week, so I can go back to it with fresh eyes and work in the suggestions of my crit partners. Then it's another round of beta reads, before this baby is sent off to my editor (who is waiting for it eagerly, it appears *grin*).

I'm over the moon right now. This book has been a labour of love all the way. From devising the characters, to tying the overall arc of the Corpus Brides series over all 3 books in this lineup, to the sheer amount of research it took to get this one as beefed up as possible. This is one story where almost every physical location I mention in the book actually exists - from the houses in Mayfair, Notting Hill, and Hastings; to the city centre of Prague; the Roman necropolis at Alyscamps in the south of France; the tunnel shaft of the Brunel Tunnel, found under the Thames and the first ever tunnel dug under a river - each and every one of these places exists and I did my best to get the location and details right. Not to mention the absolute fest of guns and other weapons my characters use - I got a crash course on semi-automatic pistols and sniper rifles, and can't wait to share that with my readers.

So please forgive my lateness with my progress report. I had set my goal to finish this book by yesterday, come what may, and I did it. I started this ms on July 27, and through 3 weeks-winter-break with the kids and them going back to school, and the start of the summer break - I worked for 3 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days on this one. Not bad for an epic-length story, especially when life and other books' edits flitted in too.

I sit back to enjoy a nice, restful weekend now. What are ye all up to? I admit my brain is a tad fried, but it's a good kind of fried, lol.

Wonder what my CP and the sister of my heart, Angela Guillaume, has been up to this week.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #22

Hey beautiful people

It's raining here (not men, unfortunately... but we need the water after the scorching, dry heat of the past few weeks). So, if it's not raining men here, I'm pretty sure it will be raining hot, hunky, and honourable men in all the Six Sentence Sunday snippets going up today. Don't you agree? :)

And since it's dull, dark, and wet, here in Mauritius today, I'm gonna turn up the heat a little and put my own hot, hunky, honourable hero out there for public consumption (my, aren't we wicked today! *grin*).

So, last week, we were in that Marseille hotel room... and Gerard had Amelia in his arms, and he pushed her naked body against the velvet-panelled wall. Heat is flaring...


"...

Her hand came down from his neck to open the buttons on his shirt, pushing off his shoulder holster in the process; he helped her and shrugged out of the leather, then the cotton garment. His bare skin brushed against hers; her hardened nipples rubbed against his torso - he groaned and tore his mouth from hers to trail hot, fevered kisses along the column of her throat.

Small, plaintive moans escaped her on rushed exhales as she let him explore the recesses along her collarbone; she wanted him as much as he wanted her—he could feel it in the way she abandoned her body to his touch, to his kisses. He undid the button and zipper on his jeans and pushed them off, kicking them to the side.

Her leg came up along his thigh, her soft skin sending sparks of desire along his limbs and throughout his body.

Now—he needed her now. ..."

Catch other hot, hunky men in the rest of the Six Sentence Sunday posse's snippets here. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. :)

As always, I love your comments! Leave me a few words and tide me into the week with a smile. :)
From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #21

Hey beautiful people

It's a calm, quiet, lazy Sunday morning in Mauritius... and though I know I should laze around too, I just cannot stand the idea of peace and quiet right now.

So how do I brew up a little excitement? Six Sentence Sunday, of course! While I wait for the list to go live and the other participants' excerpts to go up, let me add mine.

Last week, we faced the question of "What would happen if they kissed?"

Well, they have kissed, and what happens now? Remember there's a sudden fire that blazed between these two in the hotel room. Gerard has thought of a woman from his past, whom he wants to forget, and the only way for him to do that is to lose himself in the moment, in Amelia.
Amelia, despite her blank memory, is trusting her heart and her dormant instincts that are guiding her, urging her to put her trust into him, because the moment is so reminiscent of the ones she is sure they have had in the past.

But, the problem remains - Gerard doesn't recognize her, and her amnesia is not helping any. Who is she really?

What happens after that kiss, after Amelia is certain that Gerard will make her finally come alive? Read on for today's six:

'...

Gerard groaned - her passion was enough to blow to ashes whatever remaining sense he still possessed.

She's a killer, his rational brain prodded; She isn't going to kill me now, another side retorted - in fact, he'd die if he didn't have her. Not very professional of him, he reckoned, but who gave a damn right now, because she made him think—

Stop that!

He needed to forget, to focus on the here and now, and so he released her cheek and reached down to grip the towel, peeling it off her in a rough jerk. She arched against him, and he moved forward, making her take a step back until her body was pressed to the velvet-paneled wall. ...'

Catch the rest of the Six Sunday folks here. Thanks for dropping by today, and double thanks if you leave me a comment. XOXO

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Progress Friday

Hey peeps

It's been of those weeks of total extremes - where everything that could go right went perfect, and everything that could go wrong went, well, to hell in a handbasket.

All of which leaves me tired, weary, washed out... you name it. Not helped by the fact that summer break kicked in today and I'll have the kiddo on hand for the next 9 weeks. Yes, I am sooo looking forward to that, you bet!

Nevertheless, thank goodness the one thing that went right this week went totally right, and that it was the writing. Clocked down a grand total of 7,714 words on Before The Morning, taking me through the end of one chapter, start to finish on another, and setting up for the remaining leg of the book. I can so see this ending in another 2 chapters/10K words (which does, yes, mean that I'll have gone epic on this, but hey, the story's asking for it and the only time I felt so in tune with my characters was on another story that went epic too).

As for the bad that went ugly... well, tomorrow's another day, right? Gotta buck up and face it head on, though I've got as much energy as a washed out and wiped down dish rag right now. But, onwards and forwards, right? We're each one of us responsible for what we make of your future and how we handle our destiny in the palms of our hands.

That's what my bestie, author Angela Guillaume, would tell me. I hope she's had a better week than I've had, so why don't we check out her blog and find out?

Hope ye all have a lovely weekend, peeps! XOXO

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #20

Hey beautiful people

Back again on the Six Sunday bandwagon this week - the hiatus of last week made me yearn and crave for the snippets I've grown addicted to in the past few months. Trust me - Six Sentence Sunday grows on you, and I'm not the only participant who has been bitten by that bug. :)

So, onwards and upwards. Where had we left off? Right... hotel room in Marseille... Amelia had killed Gerard's assailant, and shock has settled into her...but only as long as it took until Gerard's heated, passion-filled gaze settled on her.
She's made him think of a woman from his past, and he wants nothing more than to forget now... while amnesiac Amelia is trusting her gut and her heart that are certain Gerard had looked at her exactly like this in the past.
What would happen if they got close...? Read on for today's six. :)

'...

Even through her damp towel and his shirt, she could feel the blazing temperature of his body reaching out to her, and she parted her lips when he drew closer. Tension sizzled between them, and she recalled that moment on the streets when he had stood so close to her and had touched her cheek.

As if he too recalled it, he brought his palm up; the warm skin settled firmly along her jawbone, cradling it in his grasp. She closed her eyes under the feeling of security that spread through her - This feels so right, she thought, pressing her cheek into his palm.

When his lips touched hers, the fire that had smoldered inside her blazed into a full-blown inferno - she opened her mouth to his kiss, and his tongue delved inside to coax hers into surrender. She yielded willfully, her arms going around his neck, because his kiss brought her alive, made her yearn for more, for everything, with him. ...'

Catch the rest of the Six Sunday crew and their awesome snippets here.

Hope you're having a lovely Sunday, peeps! Thanks for dropping by and reading my work, and double thanks if you leave a comment - you guys totally make my week with the words you leave here. :)

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #19

Hello beautiful people!

It's a bright, beautiful & sunny Sunday here in Mauritius today. Still a slight chill on the wind though, otherwise this would've been perfect weather to go laze under the shade on a sandy beach while the boys go off to explore the grand bleu of the lagoon here.

So, short of getting the wind to stop blowing, I won't get to go laze on a beach, but let's swap that for lazing on a sofa in the sun-basked living room, laptop on my thighs, a glass of ice-cold green tea with a splash of juice in hand, and awesome Six Sentence Sunday excerpts to read.

This week, I'm still in that hotel room in Marseille, located along the iconic Corniche JF Kennedy road that borders the sea and which overlooks the superb, upscale beaches of the Prado.

Remember - Gerard's gut tightened when he watched Amelia come out of the bathroom clad in only a skimpy towel. She makes him yearn... like he'd yearned for someone before...

Today, we go into Amelia's POV, and here's a little explanation to put you into the picture. She has amnesia, and the man who pretends he is her husband plies her with psychotropic drugs to keep her biddable. During a drug-filled haze, Amelia dreams of her French lover... who turns out to be Gerard, whom she recognizes on a news clip on TV. She come to Marseille to see him, and the first thing she tells him when they meet is "You and I were lovers."

But he doesn't recognize her, yet she is sure he is a part of her past, and not a figment of her imagination.

"...

Amelia saw how coiled tension made him stand rigid and tall - his face was hard, and the fire in his eyes took her breath away.

While she'd been under the cascade of water, she'd tried hard to blank the thoughts from her mind, and she had managed, focusing only on the warmth that flooded over her clammy skin.

The cold had blanketed her as soon as she'd stepped out of the shower, but now, under his intense appraisal, heat started building from deep and low inside her.

He would make things right, with his touch, with his heat, with his love...like he always did, like only he could.

The certainty settled inside her of its own volition, soothing her mind, pacifying the storm raging inside her.

The surroundings blurred around her peripheral vision, taking her to a place and moment when he had looked at her that way, and she had experienced that same irresistible pull toward him. ..."

Thanks for coming over to read my excerpt today, and double thanks if you leave me a comment (and brighten my week's start!).

Catch the rest of the amazing SSS posse here with their awesome tidbits.

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #18

Hey beautiful people

After a blazing hot week, the weather has turned cool and blustery in Mauritius today. Ack. I was looking forward to some sun, but guess I'll have to settle for a different kind of warmth - you guessed it... Six Sentence Sunday snippets!

Whew, time flies, innit? I never realize that more than when I have to jump on here to post my six' excerpt.

So, without further ado, let me take you a little bit more into the world of danger, suspense, and intrigue that is Walking The Edge (Corpus Brides: Book One). I promised something 'softer' for this week - I'll let you people be the judge of how soft we do go from here on. :)

As always, huge thanks to all who drive by to read my six sentences, today and every week, and double thanks if you leave me a comment.

On to this week's six... Remember the fight scenes, first in the alleyway next to the bistro near Boulevard Michelet in Marseille, then the attack on police commissaire Gerard near his house a few blocks away. An "expressionless and focused" Amelia didn't hesitate to step in to save Gerard's life...by killing his assailant with two direct gun shots to the heart.

The police have come and gone, gotten Amelia's statement, and now Gerard has taken her back to her hotel. Sometime during the trip, delayed shock has settled into her, and he sends her to take a hot shower when they get in, while he takes the opportunity to rummage in her handbag for any clue as to who she really is.

Gerard is set on getting answers out of her before the night is over. Will he manage to?

"...

There was good to be attributed to adrenaline, but there was also bad to be ascribed to it, like the way his gut tightened when he saw her with the skimp of terry cloth covering her tiny frame. Freshly washed, her face looked younger, her eyes huge and darkly lashed - so it hadn't been makeup that had given her gaze its intensity. He suddenly wanted her with the desperation of a thirsty man catching sight of an oasis in the desert, as if he craved her, needed her for survival...like he had craved someone else before—

Don't think of her, not now. This woman is Amelia. Not her. ..."

Catch the rest of the amazing SSS posse and their fantastic excerpts here.

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #17

Hello beautiful people

Chilly and dismal today - the sun is trying to peek through the clouds, but I don't think it will win this battle. Never mind though - I know how to bring my type of bright sun to the day. Yes, you guessed it - it's time for Six Sentence Sunday. Snazzy and sassy snippets from published works or WIPs - what more can you ask for a nice relaxing day to end the weekend?

This week, I'm concluding the attack scene from Walking The Edge. Thanks to everyone who comes by, and double thanks if you leave a comment. I love reading your takes on my work, and any suggestions are more than welcome. :)

I'll up the ante next week - because this book is, after all, a romantic suspense, and we have yet to see the romance between Gerard and Amelia so far. But before this, today's snippet.

Remember - Gerard met Amelia at the bistro, and in a fight where he behaved like a total chauvinistic macho pig, believes her to be a lure sent to catch him in a compromising position. He leaves her in the dark alley, but when he gets home, he is assaulted by a thug who is about to kill him... when Amelia steps out of the shadows and swiftly dispatches the assailant to kingdom come. This is last week's excerpt, and this continues from there...
(includes a POV break, but I want to show you a bit of the latent conflict in the book)

"....

Finally, she lowered the gun and stepped up to him. From his previous deduction, he hadn't expected her to be trembling or bumbling her way about, but still, the efficiency with which she sidestepped the body and crouched at Gerard's side sent warning bells off in his head.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked, aware the thought had made it into words.

* * * * *

That's what I'd like to know too. Amelia didn't reply even as the thought crossed her mind. Now wasn't the time to look for answers. ..."


Catch the rest of the super SSS crew and their amazing excerpts here.

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #16

Hello beautiful people!

It's a bright, sunny Sunday here in Mauritius - perfect weather to hit the beach, as my snorkeling-crazy lads are hinting not so conspicuously. :) I love bright days, but I don't really like being out in the sun... so sitting down in my living room bathed by sunlight to catch up on all those amazing Six Sunday Sentence excerpts sounds like my kind of plan for a perfect end of the weekend.

Thanks to everyone who comes by every week to read my snippets from Walking The Edge. Your words mean so much - you have no idea. Reading all your comments is a highlight of my week.

Now, without further ado (I know, summer and sun take me into melodrama world - told you I didn't like the sun coz it messes up my brain!), here's this week's six...

...a continuation of last week's excerpt. Remember, Gerard, the police commissaire in Marseille, faced certain death when the thug who assaulted him pulled out a gun. But then something happens - a woman steps in, brings the thug down and shoots him dead. She ends up saving Gerard's life, and he is forced to reconsider his previous deductions about her...

"... It can't be. She was the same woman who'd met him at the bistro, yet, at the same time, she wasn't - her features were different, harder, and, he realized with dread, completely focused yet expressionless.

Something told him to take another look. She hadn't dropped the gun, and for an insane moment, he wondered if she'd aim it his way and shoot. There had been no hesitation in her two shots, and, as his eyes took in the way she held the Sig—one hand curled around the grip and the other anchoring it—a realization clattered in his brain.

She held it like a professional and merde if she hadn't shot like a professional too. ..."

Catch the rest of the SSS posse and their snippets here - you won't be disappointed. :)

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #15

Hey beautiful people!

It's another bright, sunny Sunday here in Mauritius. Spring is definitely here, finally! Yes, time is running way fast - I have no clue where this past week went, and wham! - it's time for exciting SSS excerpts again.

Without further ado (and me waxing lyrical because I think the sun is getting to  what's left of my brain!), let's head to Marseille and that scene on the darkened doorstep of police commissaire Gerard's house. We're still in the early chapters of Walking The Edge, and things start to take a turn for the worst - or for the better maybe, when it appears nothing is as it seems...

Last week, Gerard was on his knees, brought down by a boot-kick in the stomach and a fist slam to the temple. His assailant was bringing out a gun...

"...

Time stood still while he tried to breathe and remain conscious.

And then something happened so quickly he had trouble grasping it; the guy howled and went down, his free hand clutching his neck as Gerard caught sight of a cherry-red flash.

The thug lifted and aimed his gun - another red flash haloed the first; two shots rang, and the thug slumped.

Gerard moved his gaze to where the flashes had appeared, and he saw his Sig in the hands of the one who'd saved him.

Legs braced, back straight, she held the gun in both hands, the left cupping the right, with wisps of smoke gently drifting from the barrel.

He blinked when he focused on her face. ..."

Catch more SSS snippets here - I guarantee there are some awesome reads, and some awesome people behind them!

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Progress Friday

Hey peeps

I know - this slot has been awol for the past 2 weeks. Reason? Let me stop being a total chicken and tell you the whole truth: I hadn't written a word in the past 2 weeks, and since I had no progress to show when I was supposed to be on deadline, I was ashamed of myself.

There you have it. Yes - I've heard it all (cut yourself some slack, take a breather, writers run into a funk sometimes), but none of that really helps when you're contemplating the fact that you are accountable for what is, inherently, your job. I'm an author and my job is to produce books, full stop.

I could try to explain my position the past 2 weeks. Week 1, my son was home on school break (plus there were 2 public holidays - whole family at home - and one of them was a personal celebration for us). In this case, forget about writing, unless you want to be downing Paracetamol tablets by the handful come tea time because writing and looking after a rambunctious 8-year-old equals the headache of the century.
So there, I had already lost my writing pace and groove, and that's the worst thing that can happen to me. When I lose my groove, it's hard to get back in, because I will be questioning myself and whether or not if what I'm writing is good, and will I ever be able to find the same pace and flow as before I was interrupted? That's my biggest Damocles' sword.

Week 2 saw me having a hospital appointment on Wednesday. And so what happens to me whenever I need to go meet my care team, I start getting worried... What if something has happened and I'm no longer in okay health? What if the doctors will have bad news? I'm a nervous wreck whenever I need to meet my doctors (and in case you didn't know, I'm a two-time breast cancer survivor. My second brush with the disease was less than a year ago). So there went the other week, and by the time the appointment came and went (with a clean bill of health for the past 4 months, thank goodness!), I was wiped and it took me the rest of the week to recover. So a cancer scare is my second Damocles sword.

Pair the two swords together, and you get me totally out of commission.

Until something happened to kick my arse and get me back in gear - my lovely publisher, Jill Noble, posted something on Facebook that had me glowing and basking with pride. It was this amazing , 5-star review by Just Erotic Romance Reviews for Walking The Edge.

This gave me faith, in myself and my ability to weave a story that would have readers (hopefully!) enthralled. I sat down and started writing again...

...and let me say the word count has been none too shabby this current week. About 8.4K added to the draft of Before The Morning, and this takes me across the half-way mark to end this week on the 55% line on the expected total word count! Woot!

Oh, and something else I wanted to share with you - my bestie (and she is like a sister to me!), author Angela Guillaume, kickstarted her writing blog this week. After a rev-up post on Monday, she hosted author Hope Tarr on Wednesday for the first of her Wednesday Interview slots. And today, she posts her own progress report. I'm curious to know what she's been up to writing-wise - join me to check out her Progress Friday post, over at her blog, angelaguillaume.blogspot.com

So that's it from me this week, beautiful people! Looking forward to a quiet weekend where I'll catch up on some (very late) crits for my CPs.

Oh, and if you're on Facebook, join me later today for the Friday/Weekend TideOver photo (hunky, yummy men... need I say more? *grin*)

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #14

Hey beautiful people!

It's Sunday once again, and time for Six Sentence Sunday. I cannot wait for that time to come every week, to meet and greet all the amazing folks who visit and leave me comments. Thanks soooo much for your feedback - you all are the highlight of my week!

It's a calm, quiet, and cloudy Sunday here in Mauritius. The sun is peeking from time to time, and temps are comfortable - just perfect to curl up with some good written excerpts and socialize with all the wonderful SSS authors out there. :)

On to this week's snippet. Remember, last week, the hero of Walking The Edge, Marseille police commissaire Gerard Besson, was attacked in front of his house. A little while earlier, he had left the heroine, Amelia, in a darkened alleyway next to a bistro, thinking her to be a honeytrap sent to lure him away from the investigation he's working on. After the first blow, he wondered whether she could've sent someone after him when she failed to seduce him... Is he right? Read on :)

'...

He had no time to ponder—a heavy booted foot collided smack into his stomach and sent him to his knees, and the gun dropped from his hand. He could barely see the man kick the Sig away - Now's the time to hit him. But he wasn't fast enough; the thug smashed a hard blow to Gerard's temple.

Black dots danced before his eyes.

It would take more than that to knock him out. He looked up and knew he'd be no match against the gun his assailant yanked from inside his jacket. ...'

More SSS snippets here - do take a look, you'll find some amazing finds, I guarantee!

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #13

Hey peeps

It's a gorgeous Sunday here in Mauritius - brilliant & clear blue skies, warm sun, temps up in the seventies. We're officially going into spring, finally!

So, since it's pretty much spring here, I thought I'd start a new sequence from Walking The Edge to keep with the 'fresh' theme. This one is another action-packed scene, and it takes place a few moments after the previously featured interlude between Amelia and Gerard in the dark alleyway beside the bistro.

Gerard left her gasping for breath back there, but unbeknownst to him, Amelia has picked herself up and is closely following him in the shadows of darkened doorways and the streets around Boulevard Michelet where Gerard lives.
On the doorstep of his residence, Gerard hears the soft sound of gravel accidentally crunching under a heavy footstep, and he pauses. The area where he lives, while still relatively safe, wasn't top-notch secured as the beaux quartiers of Marseille either...

'...

Tonight is too quiet - something hung in the air, a sort of expectancy that made the hairs on his nape stand up; Not a good sign, his cop's instincts screamed. He reached for the gun he kept in the shoulder holster on his left side, pulled out his Sig Sauer, and unlatched the safety, keeping the firearm close to him.

As he turned to scan the other side of the road, something—or someone—lunged at him and knocked him into the solid garage door. Reflex kicking in, he took a deep breath to fortify himself against the stinging pain in his body, and honing his senses, he then lashed out on the side from which his opponent had assaulted him. His fist connected with a jaw and he heard a grunt - male. So it wasn't the woman from the bistro - could she have sent someone after him? ...'

More Six Sentence Sunday goodness here! Thanks for dropping by, and double thanks if you leave me a comment. :)

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #12

Hey beautiful people!

It's Sunday once again. Bright and sunny here, but still cold as heck - I need my afghan, a cup of coffee, and some good reading to snuggle down to. But that's not an issue today, innit, since the snippets of Six Sentence Sunday will be up. :)

I'm concluding this action scene in the dark alleyway of Marseille today - next week, we move to another meeting between Gerard and Amelia. But for today...

Remember how last week Amelia was left with the tip of the gun against her temple, trapped between Gerard's big, hard body and the cold brick wall? What happens next? Does Gerard act on his threat? Read on for more (snippet edited for purpose of this post).

'... He remained like that for what felt like forever - his raspy, rapid breaths echoed in her mind, merging with the sound of her own gasps. She was going numb, blackness engulfing her brain, and she needed air.

Then, suddenly, he was off her - she sagged, the flat of her hands sliding down the wall while she forced air into her lungs.

You bastard, she couldn't help but think while she struggled for breath. He'd moved out onto the main street, leaving her here in the darkened alleyway.

Who did he think he was? ...'

Catch the rest of the SSS crew and their snippets here. Thanks for coming over, and double thanks for leaving a comment!

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Progress Friday

Hey peeps

Another week from hell - my son went back to school but left his cold bug home with me. With the runny nose, the sneezing, the awful headache, and the kinks in my body (as if a herd of oxen had happy-rolled over me!), I wasn't really in a state to get much work done.

So, the progress meter moves only by 6.8K - I wanted to strike my 10K goal but once again, no can do... I'm still on target with the book and its deadline, but stuff like what's happened this week and the last are why I prefer to give myself a tight deadline so in the end, I do have some wiggle room when the needs arises.

Before The Morning is about 43% completed (first draft) right now - not too bad after all. I hope to cross the 50% mark next week.

TGIF though, but I'm also looking at a busy weekend where there will be lots of shopping. Taking the boys shopping for clothes tomorrow - and I'm sure by the end of morning, I won't have any hair left! Planning to catch up on my reading, esp a full ms for a fellow CP.

What have you got planned? Hope you have a great weekend anyhow!

Oh, and I have some good news to share with you tomorrow! :)

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Link Thursday: 10 Simple Things Men Want

As you probably know by now, the Corpus Brides series, of which I am writing Book 2, Before The Morning, is about espionage, and the women (and some men!) caught in the meanders and workings of a clandestine agency.

So, espionage means spies - guzzling vodka martinis in glamourous settings, wearing designer clothing, getting the girls, and the men too (since this is a heroine-centric series)--BLEEP!!! Wait a second - that's a cue for a James Bond story. Not for one of mine!
For you see, a spy's work - as Michael Westen from Burn Notice (pictured to the left here!) will tell you - is not about glamour but mostly about using your wits before you even consider using your brawn.
Put in a spy heroine, and what's she expected to do? Understand how her targets work, right? And these targets are... Men! Of course!

Now how do you come into the skin and shoes of a super-efficient spy who also happens to be a master manipulator - as is the case for Rayne Cheltham aka Kali, the heroine of Before The Morning?

Simple - you learn everything you can about how men function. You find out what they like, and you give them exactly that, all while you do your work covertly right under their nose. :)

Take a look at this following article - it has come in handy when I've been penning Rayne as that master manipulator. You don't need to go to the lengths she goes to land your goal in the net, but every woman out there can take a few clues and cues from the following advice. Most of these are really no-brainers (duh!), but some will surprise you!

The article is from Cosmopolitan Australia, and can be accessed here (with the really snazzy pics in the slideshow!).

*****

Ten simple things men want

While it’s tempting to think that men only want two things – steak and sex – they actually have a secret wish list of emotional needs that you may or may not be meeting. Here are the top ten simple things that your man wants from your relationship.

1. Tone down the drama. Ever burst in to tears because your jeans suddenly no longer fit? Or hyperventilated because your fave celeb didn’t win Dancing with the Stars? Men generally put up with our occasional trivial freak-outs, but make sure you keep it in check. What happens in your own home is private, but do not cause a scene in front of his friends or family – ever.

2. Sex. While men love a consistent sex life (who doesn’t?) they love it even more when it’s consistently sexy sex. This means it’s obvious that you’re really getting in to it – and really enjoying it. Guys can pretend not to notice for a few times if you’re not that keen, but if it continues to happen it’ll begin to eat away at him and make him worry. You don’t need to be a porn star, but let him know how much you want him.

3. Romance. What guy would actually scoff at you for bringing him a present? Everyone loves being spoilt once in a while. Upload some new songs on his iPod, cook him a steak, or even send him a dirty message telling him what you’re going to do to him later. Yep, that falls under the category of romance for guys.

4. Be truthful. If your guy has control-freak issues, he either has a sixth sense that he’s being lied to, or alternatively he is simply a control-freak. Either way, always be up front and honest with your man. A little bit of honesty goes a long way, and he’ll feel completely assured knowing that you’re being honest about things.

5. Tickle his taste buds. You don’t need to pop on an apron and whip up a baked dinner every night, but men love food and love it even more when it’s homemade. Surprise him by making his favourite meal after he’s had an incredibly tiring day at work – it’s like the reverse of him taking you shoe shopping.

6. Sense of humour. Ask every guy what he looks for in a girl and this will always pop up. A sense of humour in a relationship translates in to being relaxed, in the moment, and having lots of laughs. If this isn’t happening in your relationship, your man is going to think you’re distracted or uptight.

7. Listen to him. Whether he’s had a tough day at work or has found out his favourite footy player is switching teams, sometimes a beer with the boys just doesn’t cut it and he needs someone else to listen to him. Listen to him, but then drop it immediately. When he’s ready to bring it up again, he will.
8. No game-playing. The original game-playing of acting disinterested and waiting a certain amount of hours before texting back has gone out the window. In the end, this will only have two possible outcomes. He’ll be put off by your lack of interest and go with a stronger choice or he’ll pursue you for so long that he’ll probably end up resenting you. You don’t need to act overly eager, but if you like him – let him know.

9. Silence. The old adage of silence is golden is certainly true when it comes to the male species. If he’s a little quiet, don’t pressure him. Unlike women, if a man is quiet it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong – it just means he has nothing to say!

10. An independent woman. Men find independent women sexy, bottom line. It doesn’t mean you have to make a song and a dance when he offers to pay for coffee, but it’s attractive to have your own interests and do things on your own every now and again. Plus, when you’re feeling not so independent and want some TLC from your man, he’ll be more than willing to oblige.

*****

From Mauritius with love,

Zee

Six Sentence Sunday - Walking The Edge: Snippet #11

Hey beautiful people!

It's a bright, sunny Sunday morning here in Mauritius. Temps still a bit chilly, around 60 degrees - perfect to snuggle down with an afghan, a cup of coffee, and some great reading via Six Sentence Sunday snippets.

I'm still with Amelia and Gerard in that dark, seedy alleyway next to the Bistro du Stade in Marseille, on the outskirts of Boulevard Michelet and the Stade Velodrome.

Last week, Amelia still had a gun pointed at her, but her senses were focused on something else... the fact that Gerard seemed turned on by the danger of the moment.What happens next? Will Gerard take matters into his hands, or will Amelia win this battle?
Gerard goes on to tell her, in a menacing tone, that he won't ask her the question again. But Amelia has no clue what he's talking about, and she tells him that she doesn't know, to which he laughs.

"..."Of course you don't, sweetheart."

With that, he leaned forward, bending his knees and crouching farther down before her, one arm across her shoulders, his forearm crushing her throat. His breath was warm on her face as he lowered his head to be at eye level with her - he was tall, a good foot taller than her. With her thighs still immobilized, and with his arm cutting off her air supply, breathing suddenly became a feat. Her lips parted and she tried her best to inhale, but all she managed to do was catch a whiff of the spicy scent of his skin - her senses swam, and then she froze when she felt the cold tip of the gun against her temple.

"Whoever he is," the commissaire said in a husky whisper against her ear, "tell him a honey trap won't work." ...'

Catch more SSS snippets here. Thanks for coming over, and double thanks if you leave me a comment. :)

From Mauritius with love,

Zee