Tag Archives: science fiction romance

Mar 11 2017

Do I Have To Carry You Weekend Writing Warriors

Warriors logo revisedHere’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!)

I’ve switched to excerpts from my upcoming release, Danger in the Stars. This story is a companion piece to Star Cruise: Stowaway, my story in the PETS IN SPACE anthology, and is a completely standalone novel about the sister of Stowaway‘s heroine. Continuing on from last week, where the heroine, Miriell, had a strong reaction to an unknown man’s voice (not Jareck).

(Oh, and there’s some award news and a book on sale at the end!)

Intrigued by her own reaction, she forced herself to sit up, bracing herself against the cargo container that had been her prison. Blinking to focus, she turned her head, searching for the owner of the new voice.

Jareck grabbed her elbow in a bruising grip and yanked her to her feet. He must have removed the shackles while she was still unconscious. Giving her a shake, he said, “I swear, every time we travel for a job, you act as if your sweet time asleep in the cryo unit was torture.”

Maybe because for me it is. Swaying, balance still off, she couldn’t resist Jareck as he tugged her close to him, the smell of his cheap cologne another assault on her overloaded senses. Her stomach heaved and she had to make a conscious effort not to throw up all over him, slapping her free hand over her mouth.

“Do I have to carry you?” His voice was low and she knew it was a threat. 

dangerinthestarsfinalThe story:

Miriell, a powerful empathic priestess, has been kidnapped from her own primitive planet along with a number of her people, and sold to the evil Amarotu Combine, largest organized crime syndicate in the Sectors. When she and her handler are sent to use her power to commit an assassination, she must leave behind her own sister as hostage to ensure her compliance. Miriell cannot ask for aid without endangering herself and others.

Despite his best efforts, Combine enforcer Conor Stewart is entranced by Miriell, and helps her evade the worst of brutal treatment from the rest of the mob. But Conor must keep his distance, before the lovely empath learns that he has secrets of his own–secrets that could get them both killed.

The situation becomes dire when Conor and Miriell come to the attention of both the Combine overlords and the deadly Mawreg, aliens who threaten the Sectors. Can she save herself and the Mawreg’s next victims? And will Conor help her, or remain loyal to his evil bosses?

At the copy editor, coming in late March/early April.

In other news, my Lady of the Star Wind was selected as an EPIC eBook Award Finalist last week! WHEE! I’ve put the book on sale for $.99 in honor of the honor…

Lady of the Star WindFinal-FJM_High_Res_1800x2700The story:

Are they merely luckless lovers … or a legend come back to life?

Mark Denaltieri, ex-Sector Special Forces, has been hired by the Outlier Empress to rescue her granddaughter, Princess Alessandra, from kidnappers. Since the Empress once had him tortured and banished, she’s the last person Mark wants to work for. But he takes the job. He’ll save Alessandra, his first love, and discover why she didn’t speak for him when he desperately needed her. Then he’ll be on his way, finally free of his past.

Alessandra would rather her rescuer was anyone but Mark–after all, he let her believe he was dead all this time. But when the couple are forced to flee her captors by Traveling via a strange crystal globe, they find themselves in a lovely Oasis on a desert planet, the old attraction sizzling between them again.

They soon discover they are far from alone. The Oasis holds the entrance to another world, one in which the inhabitants are convinced Sandy and Mark are the Lady of the Star Wind and her Warrior, come to free them from an evil Queen.

Mark and Sandy must work together to unearth an ancient mirror, and crown the true king of this land.  Can they fulfill the prophecy of the Lady and her Warrior … and this time, will their love survive the test?

Buy Links:  iBooks     Amazon    KOBO     Barnes & Noble

 

Mar 3 2017

Danger in the Stars Cover Reveal

dangerinthestarsfinalI did the cover reveal this week for my upcoming scifi romance novel Danger in the Stars! My friend author Pauline B. Jones was kind enough to host it for me, and I included a short discussion of why I wrote this book  as well as the first ever excerpt from the book.

You can read the interview with details on Why I Wrote This Book and the excerpt on Pauline’s blog.

Here’s the book’s blurb:

Miriell, a powerful empathic priestess, has been kidnapped from her own primitive planet along with a number of her people, and sold to the evil Amarotu Combine, largest organized crime syndicate in the Sectors. When she and her handler are sent to use her power to commit an assassination, she must leave behind her own sister as hostage to ensure her compliance. Miriell cannot ask for aid without endangering herself and others. 

Despite his best efforts, Combine enforcer Conor Stewart is entranced by Miriell, and helps her evade the worst of brutal treatment from the rest of the mob. But Conor must keep his distance, before the lovely empath learns that he has secrets of his own–secrets that could get them both killed.

The situation becomes dire when Conor and Miriell come to the attention of both the Combine overlords and the deadly Mawreg, aliens who threaten the Sectors. Can she save herself and the Mawreg’s next victims? And will Conor help her, or remain loyal to his evil bosses?

You an sign up for my newsletter  or follow my Amazon Author Page to be alerted when the book releases, which will probably be in late March or early April. It’s at the copy editor now.

The book will be at all major ebook sellers of course and I’ll get the CreateSpace paperback available as soon as possible after the publication date.

 

Feb 4 2017

A Poisoned Blade? STAR SURVIVOR SciFi Romance Snippet

From STAR SURVIVOR, the story of what happened to two of the survivors of the worst interstellar cruise liner disaster in history, a few years after the traumatic events in WRECK OF THE NEBULA DREAM (Titanic in space”). My readers kept asking for the story of Twilka and Khevan, who were supporting characters in WRECK. I researched the lives of survivors of the actual Titanic and how they coped and what they did, which in part informed my plot, at least as far as what Twilka chose to do.

(I’m SUCH a Titanic nerd…I have a huge stack of books on every aspect of the sinking, not to mention replica tea cups…)

(Blurb for Star Survivor below the excerpt.) Twilka and Khevan are on the run, trying to evade other assassins, since the Red Lady has a kill order out on Twilka. The couple are in a bad area of town, waiting for their friend Nick to arrive. Khevan has been talking to another D’nvannae Brother  while Twilka watches suspiciously from close by. The two men get into a knife fight, which Twilka breaks up, but Khevan is wounded. He says it’s a mere scratch. (Edited a bit from published version):

He assessed the surrounding area, “We must go deeper into the slum, then obtain an automated rent-by-the-hour room and stay there for the night. I have fake ID we can use to secure the room.”

Arm in arm as if they were lovers, she and Khevan strolled through the trash-filled streets, rejecting the first few rent-a-room places before Twilka decided enough was enough and booked a chamber with his fake ID. The robo clerk delivered a card key and she led Khevan to the designated unit, breathing a deep sigh of relief as the door closed behind them and they were out of the public eye.

“Let me see your injury,” she said, as he sank onto the none too generous bed.

The slash looked dangerous to her, the edges red and puffy, “Do D’nvannae ever coat their blades with poison?” She asked the question over her shoulder as she went into the tiny bathroom to search for something to wash the wound with.

“A treachery against our code of honor – such an act would only be done at the Lady’s express command, and the Brother I met in the street wasn’t part of a compliance squad sent by her. I taught his class at the local temple in the afternoon before the kill order arrived, so he recognized me,” Khevan removed his shirt as she approached with cloths, “I think he overestimated his own abilities and hoped to earn renown by being the one to turn me in – a smarter move would have been to stay out of sight, call for assistance, and attempt to follow us.”

Star Survivor by Veronica ScottThe story:

The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive.

They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her.

Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady.  Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.

But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

Amazon    Apple Books     Kobo       Barnes & Noble

The box set is available wide by the way!

 

 

Jan 28 2017

You’d Be Dead Weekend Writing Warriors

Warriors logo revisedHere’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!)

I’m continuing on with my latest release, Star Survivor for another week or two. I’ll have a new release soon! (Blurb for Star Survivor below the excerpt.) Twilka and Khevan are on the run, trying to evade other assassins, since the Red Lady has a kill order out on Twilka. The couple are in a bad area of town, waiting for their friend Nick to arrive. Khevan has been talking to another D’nvannae Brother  while Twilka watches suspiciously from close by. The two men get into a knife fight, which Twilka breaks up, but Khevan is wounded. He says it’s a mere scratch. (Edited a bit from published version and used some really odd punctuation today):

“Let me see.”

“Not here,” He pushed her away, “We’ve got to put more distance between us and them.” He pulled his jacket closed and applied pressure to the wound with his hand, “I’ll manage.”

“Can we steal a groundcar maybe?” Twilka fell into step beside him as he walked down the alley toward the next street.

He glanced at her, “We don’t want the local police involved – if you or I, or both of us, were confined in jail, the Lady would extract us like clams from a shell. Treaties, remember?” He staggered a little, “Civilian authorities would have to yield to her. You’d be dead soon after walking out of the cell.”

Concerned as he staggered slightly, she put her arm around his waist, “You’re not doing well; we need to hole up and take care of the wound.”

Star Survivor by Veronica ScottThe story:

The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive.

They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her.

Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady.  Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.

But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

iBooks      Amazon    Kobo       Barnes & Noble

 

Jan 21 2017

A Mere Scratch from STAR SURVIVOR

From Star Survivor. (Blurb below the excerpt.) I’ve jumped way ahead in the book, to a point where Twilka and Khevan are on the run, trying to evade other assassins, since the Red Lady (an alien goddess) has a kill order out on Twilka. The couple are in a bad area of town, waiting for their friend Nick to arrive. Khevan has been talking to another D’nvannae Brother  while Twilka watches suspiciously from close by. The two men get into a knife fight, which Twilka breaks up. “Where did you learn to throw so well?” was the last line before this:

“One of my half-brothers plays professional ball,” she said in between gasping breaths,“I was bored one summer and he was on injured reserve so he taught me. Can we stop for a moment?”

“All right.” He skidded to a halt in between two buildings as she bent over, struggling to inhale enough air to renew the run. “He was trying to delay me, keep me there until the Temple forces arrived.”

“Yeah, the people I was standing with said the Brothers would be coming soon. Concussing him with a hard object to the head was the only thing I could think of to help you.” As she straightened, breathing more easily, she did a double take, reaching out one hand to his abdomen, where red blood was dripping through a tear in his shirt, “Lords of Space, you’re injured – how bad is it?”

“He got in a lucky slash,” Khevan said, face set in tense lines, “A mere scratch.”

“Let me see.”

Depositphotos

The story:

The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive.

They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her.

Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady.  Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.

But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

iBooks      Amazon    Kobo       Barnes & Noble

Or you can get the box set of all three stories, available wide:

 

Jan 14 2017

Quick Thinking Weekend Writing Warriors

Warriors logo revisedHere’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!)

I’m continuing on with my latest release, Star Survivor. (Blurb below the excerpt.) I’ve jumped way ahead, to a point where Twilka and Khevan are on the run, trying to evade other assassins, since the Red Lady has a kill order out on Twilka. The couple are on the run in a bad area of town, waiting for their friend Nick to arrive. Khevan has been talking to another D’nvannae Brother  while Twilka watches suspiciously from close by. The two men get int a knife fight. (Edited a bit from published version):

Twilka sidled away as the bystanders continued to gossip. If reinforcements were coming from the Temple, she had to get Khevan and herself gone. Now. A stack of ripe kochani nuts, each as big as a Terran apple, sat on the table next to her and she grabbed one. Bouncing it in her hand for a moment to judge the weight, she stepped forward, out of the crowd, took aim, and flung the nut with deadly accuracy, striking the younger Brother in the forehead. He recoiled, blinking as if dazed, and glared at the crowd. She threw a second one, aiming for his forehead and hitting his temple instead.

The younger Brother fell and Khevan ran to her, grabbing her away from the gawking cluster of startled citizens. Dragging her by the wrist, he sprinted past the moaning man in the street, taking a sharp left into an alley and cutting through another area of the bazaar. “Quick thinking,” he said over his shoulder, “Where did you learn to throw so accurately?”

Star Survivor by Veronica ScottThe story:

The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive.

They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her.

Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady.  Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.

But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

iBooks      Amazon    Kobo       Barnes & Noble

Jan 13 2017

Guest Cara Bristol and CLAIMED BY THE CYBORG Excerpt

claimed-by-the-cyborgVeronica: I really loved this scifi romance novel and admired the twists and turns that Cara worked into the plot along the way.

Today Cara talks about the musical inspirations she had while writing the book.

Cara:  

Authors often are asked what kind of music they listen to while writing or if a particular song inspired a story. For me, usually the answer is none and no. However, Claimed by the Cyborg is an exception. The most romantic of all the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series books, it’s about the love a man never forgot, a cyborg searching for the woman he lost.

Although I didn’t listen to music while writing, two songs ran through my head when I thought about the story. Both songs are oldies, not very “hip,” but their lyrics spoke to me.

The first song that influenced the story was “Morning Side of the Mountain,” originally recorded by Tommy Edwards in the 1950s (Lol, I’m not that old. It was rerecorded by Donny and Marie Osmond in the 1970s). Listen to the song on You Tube.

To me, the song speaks of soulmates who never meet, two people who are meant for each other, but have a divide between them that prevents them from realizing their love.

In Claimed by the Cyborg, March and Jules do meet and fall in love, but they’re torn apart by duty and culture. They are literally from two different planets. I used the metaphor of morning and twilight in the story, naming places on Jules’ planet after the song.

The other music piece that strongly influenced Claimed by the Cyborg was “Sleep With Me Tonight,” recorded by Neil Diamond. Listen to it on You Tube.

It’s a moody, mournful song (Lol, Neil Diamond is like that) speaking about second chances, one lover getting the courage to approach the other and say, I need you, let’s try again.

March has never been able to forget Jules. He still loves her, but when he finds her, the same old problems still exist. She offers him a night to remember, and he has to decide if taking it is worth the pain it might cause later.

 

No spoilers, but Claimed by the Cyborg does have an HEA. It’s also a standalone. You don’t have to read the other books in the series to enjoy it.

Claimed by the Cyborg Description

March Fellows assumed he had all the time in the galaxy to pursue a relationship with Jules, an alien exchange student from Xenia, until she vanished without a trace. After years of searching, he finds his lost love on the eve of her arranged marriage.

The daughter of the Xenian emperor, Julietta never meant to fall in love with a Terran man while visiting Earth. Leaving to fulfill her responsibilities on her home planet opened up a hole in her heart that could never be filled. When March, now a cyborg, unexpectedly shows up just before she is to be bonded, she struggles to find the courage to turn him away a second time and follow through with her duty. Before she can act, the lovers are thrust into a political conspiracy that threatens the Xenian empire and their lives.

Claimed by the Cyborg is available in ebook and paperback: 

Amazon: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-Amz

iBooks: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-iBooks

Kobo: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-Kobo

BN:  http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-BN

 

Excerpt:

(In this scene, March finally finds Julietta and confronts her.)

“I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry. I can’t speak to you.” She reached for the scanner to close the door.

He shouldered past her into her quarters.

She gaped. “What are you doing? You have no right to enter!”

He jerked his head at the controls. “Close the door.”

“Maybe I’ll call the guards instead.” She reached for the call button.

He grabbed her wrist and pressed her hand to the screen, locking them in together. He released her and planted himself between her and the call button. Julietta rubbed her wrist. Though his hand had been callused and rough, his touch hadn’t been hurtful. The March of her past had had the smooth skin of an academic who spent the majority of his time indoors. She didn’t know what work he did now, but she guessed he didn’t teach at the university.

Stolen glimpses at the banquet and in the arena hadn’t prepared her for the effect of his presence. He had grown taller and acquired heavy, thick muscles, though there wasn’t a gram of excess fat on him anywhere. Maturity bracketed his mouth and etched the skin around his temples, but his eyes still reflected the Terran sky. Full lips, no longer soft, slashed across his face with dislike.

His nostrils flared as he exhaled, and then he raked a hand through his hair. He tilted his head. This time, when he looked at her, his anger had evaporated, and his eyes appeared haunted.

She’d earned his anger; his pain was more than she could bear. “March…”

“I shouldn’t be here. I apologize.” He turned to leave.

“Wait!” The entreaty was torn from her. What am I doing? Let him go. ”You’re right. We should talk.” She motioned to a settee. “Would you like to sit?”

“No, but I will.” He positioned himself with his legs spread wide, his hands clasped between his knees, taking up the entire space. He didn’t need to stake out his territory to prevent her from sitting next him; she wouldn’t have dared to join him. Distance was the only protection she had.

She lowered herself onto an opposite chair. “How have you been?” It sounded so inane, she winced.

“I’m sorry about Naimo,” he said. “I hope he will recover.”

“Thank you.” She rubbed the sore spot left by the headdress. “I don’t—how—I don’t understand how you came to be in the arena as the challenger.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “I don’t either.”

“What?”

“I work for a spaceship remanufacturer. I delivered a ship your father had ordered.”

Business, then. A foolish hope deflated, leaving her more heartbroken. March would not have come for her, and if he had, she would have had to reject him. It is for the best. Let the past remain buried where it can do no harm.

“I still don’t understand the connection to the Sha’A’la,” she said. He’d been magnificent in the arena. Her eyes had been on him the whole time. Her heart had fought with him, for him. The sexy but mild mannered teaching assistant had turned lethal.

He fixed his gaze on her face. “Why did you disappear?”

Julietta rose to her feet and paced the room. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Cara Bristol Bio
USA Today bestselling author Cara Bristol has been the no. 1 best seller in science fiction romance, bdsm erotica, and holiday fiction on Amazon. She’s the author of two science fiction romance series featuring tough alpha heroes: the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance cyborg series and the Breeder science fiction romance series, which emphasize character-driven stories written with a touch of humor and sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine. Cara lives in Missouri with her own alpha hero, her husband.

Website: http://www.carabristol.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/9aRJj

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.bristol.3

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Cara-Bristol-Romance-178661122147994/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Cara-Bristol/e/B004D8KZTQ/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carabristol/

Twitter, @CaraBristol: https://twitter.com/CaraBristol

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4136271.Cara_Bristol

VS NOTE: The Prize Drawing is not via this blog – please follow the link Cara has provided to enter.
Do a photogram/bookstagram of Claimed by the Cyborg on Instagram and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card. The contest runs until January 20. The earlier you enter, the greater your chances of winning. Get the details and contest rule HERE.

carab-instagram-contest

Jan 7 2017

Fight Won’t Last Long Weekend Writing Warriors

Warriors logo revisedHere’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!)

I’m continuing on with my latest release, Star Survivor. (Blurb below the excerpt.) I’ve jumped way ahead, to a point where Twilka and Khevan are on the run, trying to evade other assassins, since the Red Lady has a kill order out on Twilka. This snippet is the next day, after the conversation the two were having in last week’s  excerpt. I’m trying not to give spoilers! The couple are on the run in a bad area of town, waiting for their friend Nick to arrive. Khevan has been talking to another D’nvannae Brother  while Twilka watches suspiciously from close by. (Edited a bit from published version):

Khevan moved to walk away from his compatriot and the other man deployed a curved knife so smoothly the movement seemed like magic.

Khevan shoved the man’s blow aside with a sharp defensive parry and the opponents retreated a few feet from each other, faces set in grim lines, clearly about to duel in the street.

There were gasps and a few screams, and many of the more timid in the crowd surged to flee the immediate vicinity, temporarily knocking Twilka aside. Clawing her way to a new vantage point, she saw Khevan had his own knife out now and had clearly drawn blood. Another flurry of clashing knives and well-aimed kicks had her scared to death, clenched fist to mouth. She wanted desperately to find a way to help Khevan, but only an idiot got between two deadly men.

“Unusual sport, to see two of them fight,” said a man behind her, “Twenty credits on the younger Brother.”

“Fight won’t last long enough to know who wins,” said the bald man next to the first speaker, “Temple forces will be here any minute now, break it up, make them take the quarrel to a private place. Bad for the Red Lady’s reputation, her men fighting among themselves.”

“Over a woman,” the original would-be gambler explained, “Heard them talking before the knives came out.”

Star Survivor by Veronica ScottThe blurb:

The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive.

They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her.

Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady.  Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.

But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

iBooks      Amazon    Kobo       Barnes & Noble

Dec 24 2016

Too Late for Apologies Weekend Writing Warriors

xmas-three-cat-pin-betteralttippedA very Merry Christmas to you if you celebrate the holiday and best wishes for an excellent, cozy winter day instead, if that’s more appropriate!

Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the Warriors logo revisedparticipants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)

I don’t have a holiday story – sorry! So I’m continuing on with my latest release, Star Survivor. (Blurb below the excerpt.) I’ve jumped way ahead, to a point where Twilka and Khevan are on the run, trying to evade other assassins, since the Red Lady has a kill order out on Twilka. The couple are hiding out in a dingy hotel in a bad area of town. (Edited a bit from published version):

Star Survivor by Veronica Scott“I’m sorry I got you into this,” he said.

“A little late for apologies,” Twilka glared at the sagging bed with distaste. “I’m supposed to be at a gala party in a glamorous dress designed by me, working the crowd, drinking expensive feelgoods, and drumming up new business by the shipload. Maybe flirting with cute trideo stars or investors and being photographed. Instead I’m in this dump, in stolen clothes I wouldn’t wear for a night crawling through dive bars, and I’m with you. Oh, and with a contract out on my head.” She squared her shoulders. “So, who are we going to get to help us? I can call my father, but I don’t think he has influence with the Red Lady – how many credits would it take to get her to back off?”

“At best, he could hire civilian bodyguards for you, maybe get you off the planet for now if he moved fast enough, but she’d find you eventually.”

The blurb:

The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive.

They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her.

Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady.  Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.

But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

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Dec 17 2016

Quirk of Fate Weekend Writing Warriors

If you’re here for the SFRB Showcase & Giveaway, which by the way has a longer, new excerpt from Star Survivor, go HERE.

Warriors logo revisedHere’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!)

I’ve switched to my NEW RELEASE Star Survivor, which is the long awaited sequel to Wreck of the Nebula Dream. (Blurb below the excerpt.) Continuing on, I’ve skipped over Twilka’s conversation with her companions as she leaves the casino. Khevan has now insisted on escorting her to her cabin (edited a bit from published version):

   “I’ll say this one more time, I don’t need your help and I don’t want you near me,” She moved as fast as she could toward her cabin, wanting this encounter with her past to be over.

            But he stayed with her, adjusting his stride to hers, “We should take this quirk of fate bringing us together and talk.”

            “Is that what you think this is, fate? I call it a nightmare and we have nothing to talk about. You left me, went running back to your flaming bitch Lady…” She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. She was not doing this with him. She’d never give him another chance to destroy her.

            “Twilka, it wasn’t as simple as it appeared when we first escaped the Nebula Dream.”

           She faced him, noting his restored full face tattoo, the scarlet tariqna curling over his high cheekbones and strong brow, proclaiming his rank in the service of the Red Lady.

Star Survivor by Veronica ScottAuthor note: The tattoo was erased by the end of Wreck of the Nebula Dream, and I can’t say what happens to it in this new book without giving spoilers, so please don’t be upset that it isn’t on his face on the cover art!

The blurb:

The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive.

They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her.

Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady.  Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.

But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

iBooks      Amazon    Kobo       Barnes & Noble