A fun way to sample new books and find new writers! Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…
Doing excerpts from Mission to Mahjundar, which has been Released and is now available…Princess Shalira has maneuvered her father the emperor into insisting the hero, Major Mike Varone of the Sectors Special Forces, and his companion, must accompany her on a journey. Mike’s not exactly pleased. Continuing on from last week’s excerpt. (Creative editing and punctuation have occurred.) Shalira is speaking, attempting to answer Mike’s question about why she asked for his escort. (NOTE: He saved her life in a terrorist bombing the day before.)
“You’re searching in the mountains for a lost military ship, aren’t you; to give those 
who died the proper burial, set their spirits free?”
“Well, yes,” Mike said, aware Command had used those terms to explain the request for access to this closed world.
“But the dead have infinite patience, Major. Surely you can spare a few days for the living?” Leaning forward, she set her glass on the table, perilously close to the edge.
He shifted the glass to a safer location as he said, “Your Highness—”
“Would you let the life you saved be lost so soon? There are those who don’t want me to reach my wedding.”
The story:
An attempted assassination left Princess Shalira blind as a child and, now that she’s of marriageable age, her prospects are not good because of her disability. She’s resigned herself to an arranged marriage rather than face life under the thumb of her cold stepmother. But then she meets Mike Varone, a Sectors Special Forces officer sent to Mahjundar by the intergalactic government. After Mike saves Shalira from another assassination attempt, she arranges for him to escort her across the planet to her future husband. She’s already falling hard for the deadly offworlder and knows she should deny herself the temptation he represents, but taking Mike along to protect her is the only way she’ll live long enough to escape her ruthless stepmother.
Mike, for his part, resists his growing attraction to the princess; he has a mission on this planet and rescuing the vulnerable but brave princess isn’t it. No matter how much he wishes it could be.
But what should have been an easy trek through Mahjundar’s peaceful lands swiftly turns into an ambush with danger around every turn. Shalira’s marriage begins to seem less like an arranged union and more like yet another planned assassination. The more they work together to survive, the harder it becomes to stop themselves from falling in love. Caught in a race against time, can they escape the hostile forces hunting them and make it off the planet?
Can there be a future for a simple soldier and an intergalactic princess?
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As always, I love your comments and feedback. Even though this book is now published, the input helps for the future!
I love this line, “But the dead have infinite patience, Major. Surely you can spare a few days for the living?” She is so regal, you’ve done a great job of delivering that. I am touched by his sensitivity by moving the glass silently.
As if I didn’t have too many of yours already.
LOL, Sueann, writing as fast as I can!
So now he has two missions. I wonder how much she wants to reach her wedding.
I think in the end it will be Mike too who doesn’t want her to reach her wedding. LOL Nice 8
The dialogue between these two has been terrific, as has the growing playful tension in this sequence. Nicely done!
She’s clever; he’s deliciously kind and considerate. Veronica, you’ve got it goin’ on with these two. Oh yeah.
I love this line too “But the dead have infinite patience, Major. Surely you can spare a few days for the living?” perfect dialogue!
Something tells me there is another reason Mike is hesitant to go on this mission with the Princess.
She does have a point…and I have a feeling he won’t be able to resist her…her request, I mean, of course…~ahem~ 😉
Nice snippet. I like the symbolism of the glass at the edge of the table which is saved.
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LOVE this line: “But the dead have infinite patience, Major. Surely you can spare a few days for the living?” – Your dialogue is the cream of the crop, Veronica. Awesome excerpt!
Love the dialogue between these two. With each new snippet, I learn more about the characters themselves as well as their relationship with one another. Great snippet!
A lot of undercurrent between them! Great 8!
It seems like a reasonable request. A man who cares about spilling a glass should certainly be concerned about saving a life. Right? Well done!
Enticing snippet. Love it.
Love the growing tension between them. And her voice is perfect (I can hear her so clearly in my head). Nice job!
It looks like I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said. I liked the action with the glass, especially. 🙂
Oh, I do like her!
Reading this book will be my reward for not botching an interview tomorrow—or a consolation prize. I’m with Sue Ann up there: you’re totally reorganizing my TBR list! 😀
Good luck with the interview, Sarah!
Thank you! Either way, I’m readin’ your book. 🙂
The dead can wait… but it doesn’t sound like body retrieval is what he’s actually doing. So he might have a time limit he can’t tell her about. No wonder he’s annoyed!
She’s regal and very aware of him as he is of her. I like the building tension between them. I also like that bit about the glass.
I appreciate the comments! Yes, at this point in the novel Mike is not happy to be delayed and Shalira does want to reach her wedding LOL.
“‘But the dead have infinite patience, Major. Surely you can spare a few days for the living?'”
Great line! Someone’s liable to steal/copy that one!
Well done, Veronica!
She’s brilliant. She knows how to play her cards well. Another great snippet, Veronica!
I love the way she is persuading him to escort her. Great line: “But the dead have infinite patience, Major.” Truly a few more days won’t matter.
I have a hunch reaching her destiny may not be what she expects or what her heart truly wants. I look forward to reading about their journey. 🙂
ha! the dead do have infinite patience, love that sentence. Great snippet!
Congratulations on the release! Wonderful snippet. Great line. Love the dynamic between the two, the way he moves the glass and the way she counteracts his words.
Great dialogue exchange. I’ll bet Mike’s going to be pondering that question.
She is quite convincing and has such an eloquent way of speaking. Really loved the dialogue!
Great comment on the dead. I like it.
Also, I just bought your book, can’t wait to get started.
Thanks, Ruth, I hope you’ll enjoy the book!
Great work! I only wish the dead were as patient in my fiction worlds 😉
LOL, well this is sci fi, not paranormal so…
Great snippet. I loved the back and forth between both of your characters. My favorite line: “But the dead have infinite patience…”
Keep smiling,
Yawatta
I love their dialogue! Her word choice really builds her character. I can hardly wait to read it, Veronica! Write faster -)
Awww, thank you very much! Actually this book was released on August 15th! So now I’m busy working on the next ancient Egyptian tale…
I love the dialogue between them, and the symbolism of putting the glass so close to the edge.