I’m taking snippets from my recently released scifi romance GABE: A Badari Warriors SciFi Romance Novel, the next book in the award winning series. (I’m hard at work on KIERCE by the way…)
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.
If you haven’t read any of my Badari Warriors books, here’s the background:
Genetically engineered soldiers of the far future, the Badari were created by alien enemies to fight humans. But then the scientists kidnapped an entire human colony from the Sectors to use as subjects in twisted experiments…the Badari and the humans made common cause, rebelled and escaped the labs. Now they live side by side in a sanctuary valley protected by a powerful Artificial Intelligence, and wage unceasing war on the aliens.
The excerpt – I’ve skipped ahead. Keshara mends his broken leg with her powers but can’t do the same for his most serious internal injuries. They agree to hike toward her home in the morning and now they’re talking as neither can sleep.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“I told you, I’m a human, but I run with a pack of Badari,” He gave her a hard look in the gloom of the den, “It’s probably better for both of us if I don’t tell you too much. I have to protect my people and just meeting you tells me there are more secrets about this planet than anyone ever guessed, which could be dangerous. Surprises aren’t good in this environment.”
She sat back on her heels, “You have so many mysteries wrapped about you that I find your talk of surprises ironic.”
Unable to resist touching her, he reached out and took her hand, “I feel like a real louse not satisfying your curiosity, after all you’ve done for me tonight. I’m sorry, believe me, but I have a duty to the people who trust me not to betray them or their secrets.”
“You have honor,” she said grudgingly.
“We can probably both agree the Khagrish are the mutual enemy,” He released her hand and made himself a bit more comfortable on his makeshift pillow.
Keshara tilted her head, gazing at him like a cat, eyes glowing ever so slightly in the gloom, “Maybe not all of them.”
The blurb for GABE: Gabe Carter, hotshot pilot and ex-Special Forces soldier, is far from his home in the human Sectors, kidnapped by alien scientists to be the subject of horrifying experiments. Shot down by the enemy over desolate territory far from his Badari allies and gravely injured, Gabe’s only hope is a mysterious woman on the run herself.
Keshara has to decide whether to abandon the human to die of his injuries on a windswept mountain top or give up her own quest for freedom and take him to a place he can be helped. The undeniable spark between them complicates matters.
His attraction to her is off the charts but when she betrays him to the Khagrish enemy, Gabe doesn’t know what to believe. Trapped inside an alien lab bursting with mysteries and lies, his only hope may be to trust her…again.
Because the renegade alien scientist running her own private experiments wants to use him to accomplish her goals and perpetuate the evil, no matter what she has to do to ensure his compliance. Keshara’s life hangs in the balance and Gabe has to make a choice.
Buy Links for GABE:
A very intriguing excerpt, both of them with their own secrets and reasons for keeping them.
I love when characters have secrets. They make me feel I’m experiencing the story blind, just like the characters are.
Hm, what is she/does she know, I wonder? Whatever the truth, it’s bound to be trouble!
That last line is intriguing.
That last line is a killer hook! What does she know? I have some suspicions, but I’ll hold onto the for now. 🙂 Fantastic snippet!
Aha – both have secrets that might be mutually incompatible! Intriguing.
That’s a very intriguing last statement!
That’s the first hint I’ve ever heard that the Khagrish aren’t all thoroughly evil. Adds another interesting layer to this world.
I like the foreshadowing about the Khagrish. Secrets add so much dimension to the story, esp. here.
Maybe not all of them?? Intriguing! That would be an interesting twist in this series, Jean. I think you’ll have to work hard to get this reader to change her opinion about the Khagrish. lol
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! As to the Khagrish, let’s just say Gabe may be opening Keshara’s eyes to some hard realities in the near future.
Very intriguing last line.
Love the visual of the cat’s eyes gazing in the gloom.
Tweeted.
I loved the snippet. Great banter and great imagery. Love that they both have secrets. So intriguing.
Sounds like complications are on the way!
The excerpt is very intriguing. Nicely done.
An interesting exchange. They’re still playing it pretty close to the vest but once they start opening up, who knows what’ll be revealed. Nice scene!
I like their honesty in the need of keeping secrets. Intriguing snippet.