Star Cruise Stowaway by Veronica Scott Series: Star Cruise #8
Published by Self-Published on May 2, 2017
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
Pages: 173
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple
In this volume I’ve gathered three stories set in the Sectors which have previously only been available in anthologies (which are no longer on sale), plus a bonus Sectors short holiday story that I originally wrote for my blog.
Star Cruise: Stowaway: A novella of 22K words, previously in the ‘Pets In Space’ anthology.
Cargo Master Owen Embersson is shocked when the Nebula Zephyr’s ship’s cat and her alien sidekick, Midorri, alert him to the presence of a stowaway. He has no idea of the dangerous complications to come nor does he anticipate falling hard for the woman whose life he now holds in his hands. Life aboard the Nebula Zephyr has just become more interesting – and deadly.Star Cruise: Rescue: A short story of 9K words, previously in the ‘Romancing the Stars’ anthology.
When a shore leave excursion goes terribly wrong for Mira Gage, a member of the Nebula Zephyr’s crew, Security Officer Clint Miltan races the clock to find her before the ship leaves orbit and abandons Mira to her fate. Clint’s got more than a professional interest in Mira, but will he be able to save her from the aliens holding her prisoner?The Golden Token: A short story of 13K words, previously in the limited edition ‘Dealer’s Choice’ paperback anthology handed out at the 2016 RT Booklovers Convention Interstellar Bar & Grille event.
Sectors Special Forces operator Charlie McBrire had a few days to kill on a layover at Space Station 47. He never expected to find himself in the middle of a miners’ rebellion, fighting to save the life of a casino dancer he just met but can’t imagine living without.BONUS: Star Cruise: Thanksgiving: A short short story of 3K words, originally published on my blog
The crew of the Nebula Zephyr arranges a holiday feast for one of their members.
Gathering together novellas and short stories which had once been part of separate anthologies that have gone out of print since their release, Veronica Scott released this slim collection of three novellas and a short story for her The Sectors’ fans. Each story comes with an author’s explanation for why it was written, how it fits into the series, and where/when it was first released.
The four stories in this collection are mostly part of Veronica Scott’s Star Cruise sub-series of The Sectors sci-fi romance world (Stowaway, Rescue, and Thanksgiving) taking place around the lives of a space cruise ship crew with only the Golden Token from the main The Sectors series. All can be read standalone save Thanksgiving because that short story brings together several characters in the Star Cruise world and assumes the reader is familiar.
Star Cruise: Stowaway was a re-read for me and has the distinction of being my introduction to Veronica Scott’s writing when I read it as part of the Pets In Space anthology. It introduces a luxury space cruise ship’s cargo master, Owen, who along with his ship’s cat encounter both an intriguing alien creature and a human psychic stowaway when going about their usual business down in the holds. Loved the average joe hero and the heroine, Tyrelle who brings an exciting adventure from those coming after her.
Star Cruise: Rescue was new to me and featured a planet-side adventure for two of the cruise ship staff. Clint, a security officer, is interested in shy Mira, a crew member, so hopes to get to know her better when they both have shore leave, but his ex shows up and Mira’s insecurities flair so she goes off with some rich passengers and a rough and tumble rescue and a big apology from Clint is needed to put things back on keel.
Golden Token was another story new to me and presented a fun Wild West in space-style set up though the frontier is an out of the way mining station on the edge of Sectors-controlled space with the hero dropped off by his military ship at the nearly deserted mining station to meet his friend’s cargo ship only to be delayed long enough to meet a casino dancer who is struggling now that the mines and casino are closing down and must face her contract sending her to who knew where. This was a quick meeting and time period, but I loved the way their situations and background were deftly explained and a foundation to a relationship was happening even as a startling dangerous surprise happens and poor Charlie has to go back into Special Forces mission mode for one last adventure.
Lastly, there was the short piece, Thanksgiving, in which poor cruise ship chef, Stephanie, gets inundated with people grumpily telling her they have her exotic or weird, expensive orders and would she get them out of their way. Stephanie and the other crew and staff finally get an explanation for all the mystery when Maeve, the ship’s AI explains her plans for the Captain’s surprise.
Side note, I read this out of order and after a more recently released pair of novellas featuring Maeve and the Captain (Captain’s Prequel and Captain’s Story) so the short story, Thanksgiving fit well after that though it was actually written some time before. And, fun fact, my next venture into reading the series is another novella featuring Chef Stephanie. I didn’t plan it this way, but what luck- I feel I read at the optimal time.
All were great stories and I was excited to go on all these little adventures in the futuristic far-space The Sectors sci-fi romance world. The characters are fleshed out as are their situations and quick romance developments. There is action and some setting description. All are shorter pieces with Stowaway being somewhat longer and so had more room for world and character development. This probably isn’t a good place to start for newbies to the series, but series fans will love getting these all in one spot since their first published locations are no longer available.
About Veronica Scott
USA 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…
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Six Weeks in Reno by Lucy H. Hedrick #LucyHedrick @sophiarose1816 #KindleUnlimited - March 12, 2025
- Star Cruise: Stowaway – Rescue – Golden Token – Thanksgiving by Veronica Scott @veronicascott.bsky.social @sophiarose1816 @vscotttheauthor - March 9, 2025
- Anthony Bourdain Unloaded by Juliana Sharaf #JulianaSharaf@sophiarose1816 - March 5, 2025
Her stories have always been good, at least the ones that I’ve read.
You said it, Mary! 🙂
I need to start this series at some point! Nice to see it’s still a hit! I see Mary (above) enjoys Scott, too!
It sure is, Rachel! I was so glad she gathered up all these out of print shorts and novellas from other collections and brought them together for the super fans like moi. 🙂
This looks fun Sophia! I should try the series.
Oh yes, it really is. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve read this one actually, except for Stowaway which I also read in pets in Space. Will have to pick this one up at some point so I can get to those stories I haven’t read yet as they sound fun.
Oh, you hadn’t? I would have mentioned it to you earlier. Yes, a good one for you to read when you get the chance, Lola.
I should read more by this author 🙂
I’ve really enjoyed her series as one of my go-to Top Three Sci-fi romances. Hope you get further opportunities, Carole!