Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
Taking excerpts from Star Cruise: Outbreak for a few weeks of excerpts….Dr. Shane has been at loose ends since leaving the military and her father’s arranged for her to take a temp job on an interstellar cruise liner. Jake has repeated his invitation to Emily to attend a crew party on the beach deck of the Nebula Zephyr, in honor of Red and Meg becoming engaged (They were the lead characters in STAR CRUISE: MAROONED.Edited slightly from published version.) Emily goes to the party with him and a volleyball game starts up.
“I’ll play.” Emily could tell from the surprise on Jake’s face that he hadn’t anticipated her joining in. “As it happens, I was a highly ranked player in college, before med school – we won the Sector quarterfinals my senior year.”
“A ringer,” Red sounded delighted. “Maybe we can finally hand those guys from engineering their asses.”
Emily enjoyed the game, although she had to dig her elbows into Jake’s side a few times and trip him once before he accepted the notion that she would field any balls coming into her territory, no help needed. Her serve was a bit rusty, but she managed to score some points for the team, and her side was victorious. The engineers promptly challenged them to a rematch, and she played those points just as fiercely before begging off from the next game, despite good-natured pleading from her teammates.
“I’m going to get a beer, maybe keep Meg company,” she said, hands on her hips. “Catch my breath – I can see I’m out of shape.”
The story:
She saved countless soldiers in the wars … but does she have the weapons to fight an outbreak?
Dr. Emily Shane, veteran of the Sector Wars, is known as “The Angel of Fantalar” for her bravery under fire as a medic. However, the doctor has her own war wounds–severe PTSD and guilt over those she failed to save.
Persuaded to fill a seemingly frivolous berth as ship’s doctor on the huge and luxurious interstellar cruise liner Nebula Zephyr, she finds the job brings unexpected perks–a luxe beach deck with water imported from Tahumaroa II, and Security Officer Jake Dilon, a fellow veteran who heats her up like a tropical sun.
However, Emily soon learns she and Jake didn’t leave all peril behind in the war. A mysterious ailment aboard the Zephyr begins to claim victim after victim … and they must race against time and space to find the cause and a cure! Trapped on a ship no spaceport will allow to dock, their efforts are complicated by a temperamental princess and a terrorist–one who won’t hesitate to take down any being in the way of his target. If anyone’s left when the disease is through with them…
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This was such a fun book. Have the next one on my “reward for being writing” pile. [eyeing it longingly]
I’m SO glad you enjoyed the book 🙂
Oh, I’m glad she participated. Seems she showed Jake, and the rest of the crew she could have fun, too. Wonderful snippet! Oh, and I love the new banner! 🙂
Thanks! Yes, Kim Killion did the banner for me – I always love her creativity 🙂
I’m glad she taught him she didn’t need help. I often had to do the same in co-ed soccer games in college. The men never expected me to run over them. 😉 Great snippet, Veronica.
Thank you – Emily is a strong person, which her having PTSD in no way diminishes.I love to play volleyball myself and I thought it made a good scene to show her in a lighter moment than most of the book will be!
Glad to see she’s proving herself.
I really like the way you’ve connected the books of this series. They really are stand-alones, yet there’s a continuity to them. Your world-building is so detailed.
Thanks! I’m having so much fun setting more stories on this ship 🙂
Well written, light-hearted excerpt, with some great character building. Nicely done!
Wonderful scene and I do love the strength in women.Major Hugs, GF.
It’s funny that she has to trip him before he will sop trying to “help” her!
Definitely not what he was expecting, was she? 😉
Oh so true!
Book looks great. Really enjoyed the snippet.
I have this on my “soon to read” list. Every week I get drawn in further.
Mwahahahaha! Thanks 🙂
Great bit of character-building here!
Ooh, volleyball! One of my favourite sports! I love the way you describe the match, and I especially love when she elbowed and tripped Jake to get him off her turf. lol. I totally would have done the same. I love your new banner too! 🙂
Glad that she is able to show Jake that she is no weak woman. Playing is also good therapy for the PTSD. Getting caught up in the story now.
Sounds like she wasn’t too out of shape. lol Glad she showed Jake she could have fun. Probably surprised him. 🙂
A fun scene, and I like how she handled over-protective poaching on her territory.
Girl power! I majorly suck at volleyball, so I’m always impressed with anyone who can play well. Great snippet!
Ha! A ringer….loved this exchange between them! He gets to see a different and surprising side of her. 🙂
Yay, I love her showing them that she doesn’t need any of their help, thank-you-very-much! Great snippet.
Nice scene! Love that she’s showing there’s much more to her than expected.
Sports can be a great way to bond with a guy. I bet his appreciation of her went up several notches!
Marcia
Love the confidence she displays about playing, good snippet
Loved it. Well worth a read.
Thank you very much, so happy you enjoyed the book 🙂 !
She strikes a good balance there–one game, a rematch, then bows out before she can get hurt–or hurt some feelings by keeping winning!
I love this lady, Veronica. I think she will field any shot, on or off the court. Another excellent story.
Great snippet. nice character building..
I haven’t played volleyball in years. Mind you, sport has never been my thing. Emily, however, can clearly play, even if she’s a bit out of shape. Great snippet, Veronica!
I like that she is demonstrating depth to her personality, and more strength then he saw coming!
Sounds like she had fun after all! (And good to see that sexism is alive and well in the future — and that she’s having none of it.)
Great scene, loving this character.
Love volleyball! Looks like it’s turning out she’s having fun at this party after all. I hope nothing ruins it.
Great that she’s becoming a real part of the crew. It’s good to see her having fun.