Excerpt from my newly released STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER, my Sectors novel in the Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 anthology! The story has a definite ‘Anastasia’ vibe…

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!)

Punctuation may be wonky to comply with our guidelines here. May be edited a bit from published version.

The excerpt – Broke and alone, Tassia is on the run from assassins and has asked her genie-like companion for a way off the planet.: 

She flinched against the padded seat as a vision thudded into her head. She saw the announcement board at the neighborhood dance studio, and as she held her breath, the vision focused in on one message in particular. She’d paid it no attention at all earlier in the evening.

Nebula Zephyr Comettes seeking fill in dancers for cruise to Dyenbachar Five – All expenses paid, union salary, must have experience.

The open auditions were tomorrow morning, in a hotel complex adjacent to the spaceport.

Could escape be that easy? But what did she know about dancing for a popular revue? Her training was classical, with odd bits of folk dance acquired over the years.

As the robo cab deposited her outside the bustling spaceport, Tassia clutched her backpack with trembling hands, determination putting steel into her frame. If the audition announcement was what the vision had shown her, this was her only chance, success not guaranteed.

STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER blurb:  Tassia Megg is a woman on the run after the death of her elderly guardian. Her search to get off the planet in a hurry comes when chance directs her to an open dance audition for the luxury cruise liner Nebula Zephyr’s resident troupe. If there is one thing Tassia can do, it is dance!

Security Officer Liam Austin is suspicious of the newest performer to join the Comettes. She shows all the signs of being a woman on the run and seems to fit the Sectors-wide broadcast description of a missing thief, accused of stealing priceless artifacts. As he gets to know Tassia during the cruise, he starts to wonder if she’s something more – a long vanished princess in hiding from deadly political enemies of her family perhaps? And what’s the story with the three-eyed feline companion other crew members swear Tassia brought aboard the ship? Does the animal even exist?

As the ship approaches its next port of call, all the issues come to a boil and Liam must decide if he’ll step in to help Tassia or betray her. Life is about to get very interesting aboard the Nebula Zephyr as Liam tries to uncover the truth. Could F’rrh, the peculiar alien cat he has been hearing about, be the key to the mystery and Tassia’s fate?

Anthology Blurb:

Pets in Space™ is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity. Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space™ authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space™ 3 today!

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