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!)
May be edited a bit from published version.
Sharing excerpts from STAR CRUISE: RETURN VOYAGE, my full length novel in the Pets In Space 5 anthology for 2020!
The excerpt, which continues on from last week and is from the beginning of the story. Trevor and the captain are discussing his new assignment to guard a special passenger. Picks up from last week. The captain is speaking. (Nick Jameson was the soldier who saved Gianna’s life as a child.)
“We’re trying to keep Gianna’s presence here with us a secret but you know how these things go. Newshounds and fanatics will find out. My understanding is she’s likely to suffer a PTSD incident or two while on board and I want an escort with her who knows what to do.”
And I have a lot of personal experience. Trevor drained the coffee, which had become tasteless to him. “Surely the doctor—”
Fleming cut him off. “Can’t be with her all the time.”
Trevor tried again. “Cryo sleep?”
“Ms. Nadenoft ruled out the cryo option. Many of those in the cryo unit of the Nebula Dream perished or became ill and Jameson saved the rest but she was left with a phobia about ever submitting herself to cryo.”
Sitting back, he tried a different approach. “Sir, may I ask why you’re so personally invested in this?”
“Fair enough question, lieutenant.” Fleming smiled. “I have some old friends, mutual friends with Jameson, who specifically requested me to make extra accommodations for Gianna.”
The Mellureans. He means the Mellureans. A chill ran up Trevor’s spine at the thought of the mysterious, ancient race. The Sectors was desperate to keep the all-powerful Mellureans as allies and any request the reclusive aliens made was granted without question. There’d been a small chance of asking them to help with his rehabilitation after he was rescued from the prison camp, but of course the aliens held themselves aloof from the rest of the galaxy and received thousands of requests all the time, so he’d never allowed his hopes to get very high. He’d done his best to handle his own issues.
“I can’t say any more right now.” Fleming set his mug aside and it was plain the meeting was over.
VS Note: But there’s always more, right?
PETS IN SPACE® 5 ANTHOLOGY BLURB:
It’s time for an escape! Pets in Space® 5 is back for the fifth amazing year! Escape to new worlds with twelve of today’s top Science Fiction Romance authors. They have written 12 original, never-before-released stories filled with action, adventure, suspense, humor, and romance that will take you out of this world. The giving doesn’t stop there. For the fifth year, Pets in Space® will be donating a portion of the first month proceeds to Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that supports our veterans and First Responders. If you are ready to forget the world around you and make a difference while you are having fun, grab your copy before it’s gone!
STAR CRUISE RETURN VOYAGE blurb: Gianna Nadenoft is a reclusive survivor of one of the worst interstellar cruise ship disasters in the history of the Sectors. Now a renowned artist, she hasn’t left her home planet in decades, not since returning there after the wreck as a traumatized three-year-old. With her service animal at her side, she’s going to attempt to travel across the star systems to attend her brother’s wedding and reunite with her fellow survivors.
Trevor Hanson is a security officer aboard the cruise liner Nebula Zephyr with his own traumatic past as a former Special Forces soldier and prisoner of war. He’s assigned to provide personal protection to Gianna during her time aboard the ship but soon finds his interest turning from professional to romantic.
Onboard the Nebula Zephyr, powerful enemies are watching Gianna and making plans to seize this rare opportunity to gain access to her and the secrets they believe she’s still keeping about the wreck. Can Trevor overcome his personal demons and rise to the occasion to save Gianna from the danger waiting on his ship, or will she slip through his fingers and suffer a terrible fate deferred from her last disastrous voyage?
Amazon Apple Books Nook Kobo Google Play
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VS: If you enjoyed my STAR CRUISE: RETURN VOYAGE in the Pets in Space 5 anthology and wanted more stories set on the Nebula Zephyr…here they are!
In order:
STAR CRUISE: OUTBREAK – She saved countless soldiers in the wars … but does she have the weapons to fight an outbreak? Apple iBooks Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble GooglePlay
STAR CRUISE: STOWAWAY – Can the cargo master save a beautiful alien empath stowaway from the interstellar crime syndicate? (Appeared in Pets in Space 1) Amazon Apple Books Kobo Nook GooglePlay
STAR CRUISE: SONGBIRD – Can there be a happily ever after for an interstellar rock star singer and the ship’s security officer assigned to guard her for a special cruise? My scifi rock star romance and one of my own personal most favorites! (Appeared in Pets in Space 2) Amazon Apple Books Kobo B&N GooglePlay
STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER – Is she a fabled princess on the run or an imposter? A desperate dancer auditions for an opening in the ship’s Comettes dance troupe. My scifi take on the Anastasia legend, set in the far future… (Appeared in Pets in Space 3) Amazon Apple Books Kobo Nook GooglePlay
STAR CRUISE: IDOL’S CURSE – Can Juli the Cruise Director return the piece of an alien idol to its home before the ship is destroyed by the cursed rock? Can Third Officer Steve Aureli get between her and the escalating bad luck? Will their second attempt to kindle a romance succeed or will the curse affect that too? (Appeared in Pets in Space 4)
Amazon Apple Books Kobo Nook GooglePlay
And if you’d like to see how Red and Meg met before they joined the Nebula Zephyr:
STAR CRUISE: MAROONED: Inexplicably left behind by their cruise ship when it suddenly leaves orbit, can Red and Meg save their passengers and themselves? Amazon Apple Books Kobo Nook GooglePlay
So much mystery in this snippet! I’m intrigued!
Looks like he’s left with no other options but to be with Gianna almost all the time. And it does sound like something else may be going on as well. Lots of great conflict here! Now I want to go back and read Wreck of the Nebula Dream!
So Trevor wants to know why the captain is so insistent, but I want to know why Trevor is so reluctant. He’s squirming for a way out of this!
This situation sounds so intriguing, with so much dramatic potential.
Yeah, I’m sure this is definitely going to get interesting. Great snippet.
I’d have a problem with the cyro option based on its track record.
Tweeted.
Cryosleep always seems a lot like going under anesthesia to me. I’m not a big fan of going under anesthesia.
~Cie from Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost~
Gianna and the Mellureans have my full attention. Great snippet.
Like it or not looks like he gets the job.
Oh intriguing ….
This situation is suitably mysterious and important enough to carry the full book. But then, that’s no surprise.
Things are about to get interesting, aren’t they. Great snippet. I want to know more.
If he does what the Mellureans want, maybe they’ll notice him and help him out too?
I like how legitimate her reason for not wanting cryo sounds.. Also like how this raised almost as many questions as it answered. Great snippet.
Quid pro quo. perhaps? This can get interesting.
Oy! He really doesn’t want the responsibility. Sounds like that’s too bad. He’s getting it. Loads of intrigue here!