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The Sectors #14
Star Cruise: Idol's Curse (The Sectors #14)
An unusual bequest….
Juli Shaeffer, the Nebula Zephyr’s cruise director, receives a mysterious bequest from the estate of a longtime passenger -- a lump of rock taken from a reef on the planet Tahumaroa -- where legend claims anyone who steals from the ocean gods will be cursed. The passenger’s will requests the rock be returned to the beach so his heirs won’t be affected by the bad luck he believed he’d incurred. Juli doesn’t believe in superstitions and she agrees to carry out this small favor on the ship’s next stop at the planet in question.
Until the rock disappears from her office…
When the rock disappears and reappears in various locations around the ship, and seems connected to a steadily escalating series of mishaps, Juli turns to Third Officer Steve Aureli as the only one she feels she can trust. Along with Steve and his elderly Aunt Dian -- a passenger aboard the Nebula Zephyr for this cruise -- she investigates the strange series of malfunctions plaguing the interstellar luxury liner. Steve and Juli enlist his Aunt Dian’s dog, Charrli, a retired Sectors Z Corps canine, to help them track the missing rock as it moves about the ship.
Juli and Steve must find the rock -- hang onto it -- and transport it to the planet’s surface, before the alien idol’s curse turns deadly. The attraction between the two of them grows as the threat to Juli becomes more and more focused. Can she carry out her task while he keeps her safe from the alien curse? Will the capricious alien idol bring them good fortune…or disaster?
** ** * ** **
(Set on the Nebula Zephyr so a few of the crew appear in supporting roles.)
Author's Note: This is a re-release of the 42,000+ word novel I included in the Pets in Space® 4 anthology, which is no longer available. NO revisions or additions have been made to the original novel for this re-release.
I have also now included a 4,000 word prequel story Butterfly Hair, in which the diva Azlaya arrives on board the Nebula Zephyr. This short story was a free reader magnet available only in the time before the anthology was originally published.
Juli Shaeffer, the Nebula Zephyr’s cruise director, receives a mysterious bequest from the estate of a longtime passenger -- a lump of rock taken from a reef on the planet Tahumaroa -- where legend claims anyone who steals from the ocean gods will be cursed. The passenger’s will requests the rock be returned to the beach so his heirs won’t be affected by the bad luck he believed he’d incurred. Juli doesn’t believe in superstitions and she agrees to carry out this small favor on the ship’s next stop at the planet in question.
Until the rock disappears from her office…
When the rock disappears and reappears in various locations around the ship, and seems connected to a steadily escalating series of mishaps, Juli turns to Third Officer Steve Aureli as the only one she feels she can trust. Along with Steve and his elderly Aunt Dian -- a passenger aboard the Nebula Zephyr for this cruise -- she investigates the strange series of malfunctions plaguing the interstellar luxury liner. Steve and Juli enlist his Aunt Dian’s dog, Charrli, a retired Sectors Z Corps canine, to help them track the missing rock as it moves about the ship.
Juli and Steve must find the rock -- hang onto it -- and transport it to the planet’s surface, before the alien idol’s curse turns deadly. The attraction between the two of them grows as the threat to Juli becomes more and more focused. Can she carry out her task while he keeps her safe from the alien curse? Will the capricious alien idol bring them good fortune…or disaster?
** ** * ** **
(Set on the Nebula Zephyr so a few of the crew appear in supporting roles.)
Author's Note: This is a re-release of the 42,000+ word novel I included in the Pets in Space® 4 anthology, which is no longer available. NO revisions or additions have been made to the original novel for this re-release.
I have also now included a 4,000 word prequel story Butterfly Hair, in which the diva Azlaya arrives on board the Nebula Zephyr. This short story was a free reader magnet available only in the time before the anthology was originally published.
- GenresScience Fiction Romance
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2020
10 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Scott
91 books242 followersUSA Today Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author.
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
MISC FACTS ABOUT VERONICA
Seven time winner ~ SFR Galaxy Award
Proud recipient ~ NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – I’ll improve your process (mwahahahaa)!
Elvis Presley’s best friend once serenaded Veronica on a local TV telethon…now that could be a novel…
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
MISC FACTS ABOUT VERONICA
Seven time winner ~ SFR Galaxy Award
Proud recipient ~ NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – I’ll improve your process (mwahahahaa)!
Elvis Presley’s best friend once serenaded Veronica on a local TV telethon…now that could be a novel…
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 11, 2022
Juli is the cruise director aboard the star cruise liner, Nebula Zephyr. An assignment to pick up an object a deceased former passenger asked to be returned to the planet it came from leads to Juli experiencing a bizarre series of events. She doesn't want to believe the rock- because the object to be returned is a mere rock- can be responsible. And, because it seems others really want the rock, she and Steve, the third officer and former military man along with his capable aunt and her dog companion, are now on a real mission to get the odd little rock to its former resting place on Tahumaroa's beach.
Exciting action, fun far future space cruise ship setting, and engaging sexy romance. Love this series.
Exciting action, fun far future space cruise ship setting, and engaging sexy romance. Love this series.
January 6, 2023
A fun addition to the Sectors series, and one that is set on the interstellar cruise ship, the Nebula Zephyr. The cruise director and Third Officer have to track down a disappearing rock and return it to its home. Or bad things will happen. They are aided by the Third Officer's aunt and her canine companion.
I'd read this story before in the anthology Pets in Space 4. It was fun reading it again plus an added short short story. You can count on Ms. Scott to deliver an exciting, action-filled, out of this world adventure and a sexy romance. She doesn't disappoint.
I'd read this story before in the anthology Pets in Space 4. It was fun reading it again plus an added short short story. You can count on Ms. Scott to deliver an exciting, action-filled, out of this world adventure and a sexy romance. She doesn't disappoint.
August 12, 2020
Awesome series!
Steve and Juli along with Dian, Charrli and some of the crew of the Nebula Zephyr made for amazing cruise. Lots of adventure and suspense, along with a special love.
Steve and Juli along with Dian, Charrli and some of the crew of the Nebula Zephyr made for amazing cruise. Lots of adventure and suspense, along with a special love.
May 10, 2023
SFR, another quick, light read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews