Sneak Peek: Pets in Space 9/Meet the Sabotaged MCs!

I have enjoyed all the Pets In Space anthologies and am beyond honored to be included in Pets in Space 9 with such a talented group of authors. I'm super excited that I was able to explore the Thirteenth System for the first time in Sabotaged. Even more so, I was able to spend time with Bran, one of my favorite characters from the Nightingale's crew.   

Releases October 8, 2024!

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From reluctant allies to lovers.

There are centuries of animosity between the Matahorn cartel of the First System and the free-traders of the Eleventh and Twelfth Systems in the complex universe of the Thirteen Systems.  I could not resist putting together two main characters from those camps for the first story in the newly discovered Thirteenth System.  

The Nightingale, the only space exploration vessel in the Thirteen systems, is on a mission that requires skills and resources from three rival cartels and the free-trader systems. To survive the adventure, the crew will need to set aside centuries of bias and work as a team. 

In his early fifties, Bran was raised in an outlying system isolated economically and politically from the Twelve Systems mainstream.  He has fought pirates, self-educated until he is a leading designer of low-orbit transports, and with good cause, dislikes and distrusts warriors.  He did not expect his intense attraction to the lead zoologist—a woman dedicated to the warrior belief system. He fears he cannot trust her, but that does not stop him from wanting her.

Adriana Pepys, raised in comfort among the second-level elite, found her life upended when her warrior consort betrayed her. Joining the Nightingale was her escape from public humiliation. Her life is further shaken when she finds herself marooned on an uninhabited planet with the alluring free-trader First Officer. Everyone knows that free-traders are only a step above pirates.

A star-bred terrier match-maker.

Extracting two water vials from storage, Bran tossed Adriana one.

With a grateful smile, she cracked the seal.

He waited until she had swallowed half before speaking. “Are you deranged? Incapable of following orders? You should never have been out there when the nocturnal creatures emerged.”

Her eyes widened and a blush darkened her cheeks. “I apologize. I fell asleep while waiting for the lures to activate.” Her sharp little chin came up. “I did jettison the sample closest to the forest.”

“Closest to the forest? There was one even farther away from the DOP-C?”

She had the grace to look abashed. “Er, yes.” But then that chin came up, again. “The breeze carried the lures a good distance. I did not have time to recast. It takes at least a bell for my scent to dissipate.”

She fell asleep. The breeze carried the lures. Terror-fueled anger had him barking, “You are completely lacking in discipline. You endangered your life. The mission.”

“I did apologize.”

Bran clenched his fists against the desire to shake her. “This is your last landing until you can demonstrate the ability to follow orders.”

“What? No.” All signs of contrition vanished, replaced by defiance. “You cannot. I am the lead zoologist. We will not finish in time if I am confined to the Nightingale.”

Bran’s control snapped. His hands wrapped around her shoulders. So fragile. So readily slain. “You could have died.”

Defiance fled as quickly as it had surfaced. Her dark eyes filled with remorse, and warm fingers pressed against his wrist. “I am sorry. I was foolish and I know it. You can have no notion how relieved I was when I saw you standing on top of the DOP-C with the rifle.”

“Promise me you will not be so foolish, again.” He squeezed her shoulders. “Your word.”

With a deep breath she nodded. “My word.”

She was in his arms, her head against his chest. Her black curls soft and springy under his lips. The pleasant scent of the purple flora tickled his nose. Bran enjoyed women, but none had felt so right in years. Not since he lost his wife in the pirate actions. The memory returned him to the present and the fact that he did not have her consent. With reluctance, he released her. “I overstep.”

Her fingers lingered on his waist. “I do not object.”

“This is not the best timing.”

“I suppose not.” With a sigh, she released him. “What of communications?”

Pets in Space® authors have donated over $18,000 in the past eight years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space 9 will again go to Hero-Dogs.org. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space 9 today so together we can continue to assist this worthy charity! https://www.hero-dogs.org/

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AMAZON

APPLE

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