Taking a snippet from my scifi rock star romance STAR CRUISE STAR SONG. I’ve jumped ahead after Addy and Ryder spend a little time in his cabin, listening to music and talking. Now she’s back in her own cabin on the crew’s deck. Maeve is the Ship’s Artificial Intelligence:

She ought to be studying but the evening and her reaction to Ryder unsettled her. With a curse, she got up and went to the interface. “Maeve, who is Ryder McRhodes?”

“I’m not allowed to discuss passengers with crew members,” the ship replied promptly, in a prim voice. “You don’t have access to the information.”

“Oh. I guess the restriction makes sense. Can you give me the flow drawings for the synmaxilon system? I’m going to be working on the pumps and boosters and wiring tomorrow with Barbra.”

The requested diagrams came to life in the middle of the living room immediately and Addy walked around and through them, taking notes on her handheld. Maeve provided a few comments about peculiarities and challenges of the system as-built into the hull which Addy found useful. “I appreciate the help.”

“I like having you on the crew,” Maeve said. “You have a good understanding for the technology and a real knack for diagnosing problems.”

Warmed by the ship’s praise, Addy flicked the drawings out of existence and prepared to go to bed, surprised by how late it was.

Maeve cleared her nonexistent throat. “You could research the Fireball Flash.”

“Who?” Addy ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m sorry, I’m too tired to think straight. Sounds like a rock band.”

“Exactly.” The AI made the small clicking sound which Add had learned signified the end of a communication and there was silence.

Puzzled, Addy went to brush her teeth and in the middle of the process, she lightly smacked her forehead. Oh, Ryder must have been in a band. Which made sense since he was a musician. She’d never paid any attention to music, much less popular music, so her mild curiosity was satisfied and she saw no need to probe further. It’s not as if I’m going to see him again.

The thought made her sad as she crawled into bed but she was drifting off to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and if she dreamt, she didn’t remember.

VS: I have a feeling Addy is wrong about never seeing Ryder again…he’s pretty determined…

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Here’s the official blurb:

Addy Tryndall is a fresh graduate from a highly respected engineering college in the Sectors, on her way to a plum job on the Nebula Zephyr cruise ship. She knows she’ll be on probation but she’s determined to succeed and nothing is going to distract her.

Ryder McRhodes is a has-been interstellar rock star, on his way to reunite with his fellow band members to see if the lightning of mega success will strike twice for them. He isn’t sure he wants to be in the spotlight again and he hasn’t been able to write music since the band broke up.

Addy has secrets. Ryder needs a muse to unblock the creative flow…could her tightly guarded past be the answer  to his problem?  When the two are thrown together in an attempt to avoid the interstellar paparazzi he’s intrigued. She’s wary.

And someone is sabotaging systems on the Nebula Zephyr. Addy unwittingly finds herself in the middle of the situation while juggling her increasing attraction to Ryder and her challenges on the new  job. Can she trust him with her secret? Or will he break her heart?

The danger on board comes ever closer to Addy as the cruise continues…

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