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’m only going to do one or two more excerpts from Danger in the Stars since it’s now released. Then I’ll switch to something else.
This is from a scene later in the book, after Mirielle’s used her power and is having a hard time recovering. Jareck, her ‘controller’, left her alone in the hotel suite, confined to the couch by ankle restraints. Conor has stopped by as promised earlier, to check on her health. Edited a bit from the published version.
The excerpt:
“Please, can you do one thing for me?” She hated to ask for anything from these people, but her breathing wasn’t improving, and she was frightened. Jareck wouldn’t show up for hours, if at all, and when he did, his mood might be volcanic if he’d lost, or he might be too drunk to pay any attention to her. At least Conor had tried to get a doctor for her.
Hand already on the door, he paused, glancing over his shoulder, “What do you need?”
She gestured at a huge bouquet the hotel had placed on the table at the other end of the capacious sitting room, “Could you bring those closer to me, maybe on the floor next to the couch?”
He threw back his head and laughed, “Lady, that’s the strangest request I’ve ever heard. You like the smell, do you eat them, what?” Conor strolled closer, “No answer? I’m not touching the flowers till you explain.”
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?
Buy Links:
Amazon iBooks Kobo Barnes & Noble
Oh now I’m intrigued. If she can’t breathe, why does she want the flowers closer? Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
Yes, that’s Conor’s question too…I’m really getting too close to spoilers on this book so probably only one more excerpt after this one!
I’m definitely intrigued as to why she needs the flowers as well.
Can’t wait to see why she needs the flowers–nice snippet!
At least she has Conor looking out for her. I know why she needs the flowers based on your story in Pets in Space, but I look forward to reading this story to find out how they end up together. It’s waiting on my Kobo app. 🙂
That is a strange request!
Well, she is an alien 🙂
Definitely an interesting request. I’m guessing aliens don’t have allergies like we do.
Sort of a reverse asthma? Curious.
He’s a clever fellow! I’m thinking she’s used to saving her own skin and whatever healing agent those flowers have will do the trick. I like the dynamic between them, Jean.
Intriguing request, but it sounds like they will help her, so I hope Conor gives in and moves them. I suspect what she needs them for, but I’ll have to read the story to find out, I bet! 🙂
He almost sounds a little sadistic there…
Well to be fair to Conor, she is an alien who’s demonstrated some lethal power…so he’s being cautious too. Always hard to know, with only snippets to go on!
Hmm…does Conor have a reason to feel paranoid?
I’m hoping she doesn’t eat the flowers – I like how he
s insisting on an answer. Tweeted.
Hmm, she’s not looking so good still, I bet, and he’s claiming to be concerned about her health. He should just move the flowers!
Hum, so why does she want the flowers? I’m intrigued!
So there’s a connection between her and the flowers. At least this guy is listening to her.
I’m as curious as Conor. Why does she want the flowers? Why is her breathing off?
You must admit, it’s a strange request. How is this going to help her?
I wonder what her reply will be. 🙂
That is an odd request. He has so much to learn about her. Loved this book.
Hmm, I’m thinking she needs something from those flowers. Their scent. Or the pollen, maybe.
I’m intrigued …