Publication Date: June 18, 2015
Meg Antille and Simon “Red” Thomsill work as crew on a high-end star cruise ship. Meg struggles to send money home to her family and keep things strictly business while Red is simply looking to get to know Meg better before the time comes when he moves on to another vessel. When the ship stops at a luxury planet and abruptly leaves Meg, Red and some of the guests behind, they know that they’re facing dire circumstances. Can Meg and Red dodge danger and keep their charges alive?
The author, Veronica Scott, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.
In [easyazon_link identifier=”0996290311″ locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Star Cruise: Marooned (A Sectors SF Romance)[/easyazon_link], Scott gives us a straightforward and fast moving story with two simple plot lines. Will the stewardess and crew member marooned with several passengers stay alive and if they do, will they find love? Marooned on a lush planet where food is plentiful, animals are poisonous prone to vicious storms, ex-Special Forces Red has good company in capable Meg who has worked a long time with people and knows how to mediate and motivate. Meg is no wilting violet and Scott gives readers real and imminent danger to the survival of this couple. Fans of Bravo’s “Below Deck” will notice a similarity in language and acrazy primary passenger.
Red falls for Meg on sight. He sees her across the room at a party and decides he will delay a high-paying and high-potential job in the jewel of the star-cruise industry to pursue a chance at a relationship with his ladylove. He knows she’s not one to dally with the crew and hears that she is all business all the time; but he sees her as his, to the reader, improbable chance at the one soul he will follow to the ends of the galaxy. I hear you, readers, and an eye-rolling prospect to be sure, but Scott winds the story around so that the moon-eyed Red ends up looking less pathetic and fueled by fantasy. Red recognizes a spirit backed by competence in Meg so that when she declares herself in charge, he will allow her to lead him and the rest of the survivors as she sees fit.
Meg is attracted to Red, but she needs to be convinced of their suitability. She’s been badly burned by mixing with co-workers before. Meg’s crew mates recognize that she’s tightly wound and use the rookie Red to needle her. When she’s left behind and in charge of the primary, with a few of his guests she knows, all chance of a tip is gone; but she has a duty to try to ensure the safety of her charges. She knows they must all work together and so she is very direct in her approach balancing the strategic Red.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0996290311″ locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Star Cruise: Marooned (A Sectors SF Romance)[/easyazon_link] featured more of the romantic naval gazing than I like. In one scene the survivors are hiding from the enemy in the trees and as they’re going to sleep Red and Meg have the rueful “I felt this way when I first saw you” and the creepier “I stalked you, found out where you lived and tried to get close.” Neither knows how much longer they’ll be together or alive. Red is recognized by the enemy as a valuable captive though they think he’d make a high-priced slave as opposed to the real worth of his military knowledge. The look back fits with Red’s starry-eyed character. If he survives, you know he will tell the story of first connecting with his ladylove in the tree tops over and over again. His optimism and bright-eyed willingness to accept life as it comes is unique in male characters of the genre.Scott portrays the world on which they are stranded in beautiful detail. The first impression is of a lush rainforest filled with brightly colored Amazonian-like animals.The visitors of this world fish and swim—and when they must escape in the heavily covered forest they need to go along the tops of the trees the monkey-like creatures in hope that it will mask their trail. The detail Scott gives her creative stories is stunning and evocative. There are some things readers will view as a little easy for the characters, but it lends itself to the value of Red as a captive and as a cohort in this adventure.
I am a fan of all of Scott’s work but must admit that the sci-fi novels are where she really shines. [easyazon_link identifier=”0996290311″ locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Star Cruise: Marooned (A Sectors SF Romance)[/easyazon_link]” ties in to “Wreck of the Nebula Dream” but is really a whole new experience. Scott’s fluid style gives the action a mile-a-minute flavor that will keep readers entranced. At it’s core [easyazon_link identifier=”0996290311″ locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Star Cruise: Marooned (A Sectors SF Romance)[/easyazon_link] is a romance novel but Scott never lets a little sex get in the way of a good story.
If you’re looking for a fast and fun read, read an excerpt and pick up pick Star Cruise: Marooned: A Sector Science Fiction Romance by Veronica Scott on:
Amazon U.S. • Amazon U.K. • Amazon Canada
For further reading, check out the reviews of the first book of the Sector series Wreck of the Nebula Dream and the second book Escape from Zulaire.
Credits:
Veronica Scott’s first book of The Sectors series was awarded with the 2012 SFR Galaxy Award. She also writes semi-monthly column on U.S.A Today.
For more information Veronica Scott and her work, visit her website. You can connect with her on Facebook, GoodReads and Twitter @VScotttheauthor.
Series readers can track “The Sectors” and “Gods of Egypt” series on FictFact.