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!)
The snippet is from my new novella Star Cruise: Songbird, from the EMBRACE THE ROMANCE: PETS IN SPACE 2 anthology, which released on October 10th.
This will be the final snippet I’ll share from the novella. Grant has taken Karissa the singer to the security office while they wait for an unruly crowd of fans to disperse. Grant has been checking the wall chrono anxiously and Karissa asked if she was keeping him from a date…
The excerpt:
Reluctantly he said, “Not a date. I have a—a pet, who requires exercise.”
“A pet on board the ship? I never expected that answer. So Fido needs a walk, does he? Let’s go—I could use some exercise.”
“It’s not that simple,” he said.
“Is the pet exercising area open to passengers?”
“Not the one I use.” He admitted. “But—”
“This office is boring,” she said, “Now I’m not a Socialite who’d probably die of boredom if you kept me here, but you can’t dangle a chance to take a pet for its walk in front of me and then yank it away. Too cruel, Officer Barton – be mean to me and I might have to write you into a song.”
The story:
Grant Barton, a Security Officer on the Nebula Zephyr, is less than thrilled with his current assignment to guard an Interstellar singing sensation while she’s on board the ship. It doesn’t help that he and his military war bird Valkyr are dealing with their recent separation from the Sectors Special Forces and uncertainty over their future, with their own planet in ruins.
Karissa Dawnstar is on top of the charts and seemingly has it all – talent, fame, fortune and devoted fans, but behind her brave smile and upbeat lyrics she hides an aching heart. When a publicity stunt goes wrong, Karissa finds herself in the arms of the security officer assigned to protect her – and discovers a mutual attraction she can’t ignore.
Trouble continues to plague the pair, driving a wedge between them and leaving Grant certain that Karissa is in more danger than she realizes, from overzealous fans and her own management. Grant is determined to protect Karissa whether she wants his help or not. Can he discover the truth behind what’s going on before he loses Karissa or is there someone else plotting to keep them apart – permanently?
Blurb for Embrace the Romance: Pets In Space 2:
The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors brings you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King, for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!
10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.
Buy Links: Amazon iBooks Kobo B&N
Bwahahahaha! I might have to write you into a song…or a novel. Great snippet, Veronica. 😀
I love that last line. Seems too true. LOL Though I don’t think his pet is exactly what she expects. 😉
love her attitude …. 🙂 great snippet.
Haha! Yes, I mentally threaten people with that(though novel, not song) quite often. 😉
I love it! Though I have a feeling his pet is somewhat unconventional.
LOL! Now that’s an excuse. Love that she doesn’t let him wiggle out of it. Thanks for reminding me to go over and One Click. Love these stories!
This is fun coming fast; a change from danger. Hugs to my friend now that I’m better.
Lol, how Taylor Swift of her. 😉 Fun and humorous snippet, Veronica! Best of luck with the anthology!
LOL – she might put him in a song – like a writer can put an annoying person in their book.
Tweeted.
Can’t wait to meet the pet! Since this is the last snippet I guess I better hop over and buy.
Haha She is so much more than he can handle. I love it!
She might address him in song in a good way!
I love the last line. Now he has to let her go with him. Can’t wait to get to this story.
All comments much appreciated! I hate to stop sharing from this story but gotta move on…if you do get the book to read the whole novella from me, I hope you’ll enjoy it! (And the charity benefits, which is always a good thing.) HUGS!
I’d be stir-crazy too!
I wonder what his pet is? Hopefully nothing too strange. Good luck with the anthology.
Valkyr is a telepathic alien eagle 🙂
I also love the last line. Powerful threat.
“…be mean to me and I might have to write you into a song.” Or kill you slowly in my next novel?
I like that she’s animal friendly. And loved her threat–like a novelist threatening to put someone into a novel to kill them off!
That last line tickled me too – I thought she must have purloined it from a novelist! I think she’s in for a bit of a shock when she meets his ‘pet’. I have ‘Pets In Space 2’ on my Kindle, all I need now is the time to read it! Really looking foward to it. Every story sounds so good! (and I loved book 1)
You’d be surprised how often that threat sends people running, but I don’t think he will. I wonder what she’ll think of his pet.
Ha! Well…I guess there are worse threats. lol 🙂
Good snippet, Veronica. Congrats on this release! 🙂
That stutter, and his use of the word “exercise” when he’s such a precise soul makes me certain that this isn’t going to be what she expects at all. Now she’s the one not quite getting the idea.
Congrats on your release!
I’m curious to know what she’ll think of his pet. lol Loved the banter.
She might want to take a dog for a walk, but how does she feel about a flight?
Sorry for being late to comment. Blame *#@!@ LAX for getting me home a day late.
I love everything about the snippet and the story!