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!)
I’ve switched to excerpts from my upcoming release, Danger in the Stars. This story is a companion piece to Star Cruise: Stowaway, my story in the PETS IN SPACE anthology, and is a completely standalone novel about the sister of Stowaway‘s heroine. Continuing on from last week, where the heroine, Miriell, had a strong reaction to an unknown man’s voice (not Jareck).
(Oh, and there’s some award news and a book on sale at the end!)
Intrigued by her own reaction, she forced herself to sit up, bracing herself against the cargo container that had been her prison. Blinking to focus, she turned her head, searching for the owner of the new voice.
Jareck grabbed her elbow in a bruising grip and yanked her to her feet. He must have removed the shackles while she was still unconscious. Giving her a shake, he said, “I swear, every time we travel for a job, you act as if your sweet time asleep in the cryo unit was torture.”
Maybe because for me it is. Swaying, balance still off, she couldn’t resist Jareck as he tugged her close to him, the smell of his cheap cologne another assault on her overloaded senses. Her stomach heaved and she had to make a conscious effort not to throw up all over him, slapping her free hand over her mouth.
“Do I have to carry you?” His voice was low and she knew it was a threat.
The story:
Miriell, a powerful empathic priestess, has been kidnapped from her own primitive planet along with a number of her people, and sold to the evil Amarotu Combine, largest organized crime syndicate in the Sectors. When she and her handler are sent to use her power to commit an assassination, she must leave behind her own sister as hostage to ensure her compliance. Miriell cannot ask for aid without endangering herself and others.
Despite his best efforts, Combine enforcer Conor Stewart is entranced by Miriell, and helps her evade the worst of brutal treatment from the rest of the mob. But Conor must keep his distance, before the lovely empath learns that he has secrets of his own–secrets that could get them both killed.
The situation becomes dire when Conor and Miriell come to the attention of both the Combine overlords and the deadly Mawreg, aliens who threaten the Sectors. Can she save herself and the Mawreg’s next victims? And will Conor help her, or remain loyal to his evil bosses?
At the copy editor, coming in late March/early April.
In other news, my Lady of the Star Wind was selected as an EPIC eBook Award Finalist last week! WHEE! I’ve put the book on sale for $.99 in honor of the honor…
The story:
Are they merely luckless lovers … or a legend come back to life?
Mark Denaltieri, ex-Sector Special Forces, has been hired by the Outlier Empress to rescue her granddaughter, Princess Alessandra, from kidnappers. Since the Empress once had him tortured and banished, she’s the last person Mark wants to work for. But he takes the job. He’ll save Alessandra, his first love, and discover why she didn’t speak for him when he desperately needed her. Then he’ll be on his way, finally free of his past.
Alessandra would rather her rescuer was anyone but Mark–after all, he let her believe he was dead all this time. But when the couple are forced to flee her captors by Traveling via a strange crystal globe, they find themselves in a lovely Oasis on a desert planet, the old attraction sizzling between them again.
They soon discover they are far from alone. The Oasis holds the entrance to another world, one in which the inhabitants are convinced Sandy and Mark are the Lady of the Star Wind and her Warrior, come to free them from an evil Queen.
Mark and Sandy must work together to unearth an ancient mirror, and crown the true king of this land. Can they fulfill the prophecy of the Lady and her Warrior … and this time, will their love survive the test?
Buy Links: iBooks Amazon KOBO Barnes & Noble
It strikes me as unwise to shake a lady who’s doing her best not to hurl all over you.
Unless you’re not very smart and don’t realize that’s the case.
Oh, what a horrible situation. I hope she finds a way out of that situation like her sister. Congrats on the EPIC win! 🙂
I love the scene you create, as dark and gritty as it is. Congratulations on being a finalist!
Interesting situation … I wonder about that last sentence.
I’d like to shake Jareck around and see how much he likes it. I almost wish she would throw up on him.
Bruising grip, cheap cologne, threatening voice: nice job showing Jareck is a bad guy without saying so!
Yes, Jareck is Not A Nice Person. I’m glad that comes through!
Possibly throwing up on him would have been a good thing- lol.
Tweeted.
Cheap cologne is enough to make anyone hurl! I’m kind of hoping she does, although it would probably make him smell even worse–or not. Great snippet!
I’m in favor of her tossing her cookies right down the front of his shirt! Congrats on the honor!
Congratulations, Veronica, on well deserved recognition.
This sounds like an intriguing story. Looking forward to much more!
You are a wonder with all the outer spaces you’ve created. I’m mind-boggled by names, warriors, situations. Hurray for your achievements with big hugs. Bought the book, sure to love it, my friend.
How’s the munchkin?
You’ve done your job well; I’m outraged on her behalf and really want to kick his ass.
Throwing up over him must surely have been a sore temptation!
I think I’d have gone with the puking, just to make a point.
She should have puked on him. Serve him right for manhandling her. Great excerpt. Congrats on being a Finalist. That story was an exciting read.
HUGS! I really appreciate how supportive you *always* are 🙂
Thanks for all the comments (and kind words about that EPIC Final – I just had to squee on that). Yeah, I might have let Miriell throw up on Jareck just because…except I hate to throw up and so does she. So undignified…but she does feel pretty darn wretched.
aaand you can totally tell he WILL carry her if he must! Excellent snippet. And ooh, congrats on the EPIC news. 🙂
I agree with Diane. He’s clueless. Super job all round!
Nicely laid out. And mucho felicitationes for your selection!
Congratulations about becoming a finalist. Yes, cheap cologne would make me want to hurl too. It says a lot about a man who wears it.
Congrats on being an epic finalist. I think the priestess is in a world of trouble here.
Definitely a mean and stupid man. Too bad throwing up on him would end badly for her. He deserves it.
Congrats!
Great excerpt. I could see it all. And I love that name – Jareck!
She should throw up on him. Very gritty descriptive scene. Really liked the last line, too.
Not exactly a knight in shining armour. I wish she had puked on him… but he might have been rougher. :S
Great sample. I know I love to sleep when I travel, but understand how it unsettles others.
Jack needs to brush up on his people skills, lol. Big Congrats on being an EPIC Award Finalist. YAY!!
He clearly doesn’t sound like a nice guy, she should have vomited all over him. I wonder if he actually likes his own smell.
Ugh, she needs that mysterious man to extract her from the situation already.
Threat or not, I’d say, yes, please carry me. 😉