I've been
keeping an eye out for futuristic
undersea adventures in science fiction romance, so when author S.A. Huchton
came aboard the Galaxy Express to let me know she had just such a story in the pipeline I was
immediately intrigued. MAVEN is a new adult sci-fi romance that takes
place beneath the sea and will release on 6/3/13.
I'm
excited to present an exclusive cover reveal for S.A. Huchton's MAVEN (The Endure Series #1). Read on for the
blurb and an excerpt the author handpicked for TGE passengers!
Book Description:
How far
would you go for love?
Since
losing her parents at 14, young prodigy Dr. Lydia Ashley has focused on one
thing: an appointment on the Deep Water Research Command Endure. Now
21, she's about to realize that dream, but nothing is how she imagined it
would be. Her transitional sponsor forgets her, her new lab is in complete
chaos, and, as if that weren't enough, she's about to discover something
so horrific it could potentially destroy all life on the planet.
Daniel
Brewer, a noted playboy and genius in his own right, may be exactly what she
needs... Or he may make everything worse.
Has she
finally found a puzzle she can't solve?
Excerpt:
"Did you have a chance to look
at those files I sent yet?" Daniel changed the subject.
"Files?" She thought back.
"Oh, those files. No, not yet. I can take a look now though, since we're
waiting for everyone else to get here." Lydia set her cup on the desk and
walked around to the chair. Settling in, she called up her messages and opened
the attached files Daniel had sent a few days earlier. He stood behind her, watching.
"Hmm," she murmured as she
read the first one. "It looks like experiment results, but I'm not sure
what the initial subject is." She opened another. More results. "I
don't get... Wait. This list of bacteria?" She pointed at a column on the
screen. He put a hand down on the desk and leaned in close to her to read the
words. She was surprised that her voice didn't tremble when she spoke.
"These are all marine specimens. Specifically, ones that have been found
around deep ocean volcanoes. They're rare and we don't know much about them
yet, but we do know they're dangerous. These are some of the most resilient
bacteria on the planet. They have to be, given the environment they live in.”
Daniel frowned. "What kind of
experimentation would have been going on here with these things?"
"That's what has me concerned.”
She bit her lip. "These documents don't give any information aside from
which samples were being used and basic test results, like genetic composition
and temperature reactivity, but they’re reference documents for another
research project. Given the dates they originate, I would have heard about any
work with these specific bacteria, and I know of none. I wouldn't normally pick
up research from another study without specifically being tasked, but something
here isn't sitting right with me." It was hard to concentrate. At this
proximity, she could smell the scent of his body; soft and clean, with the
faintest hint of his aftershave.
"So, what will you do?"
Daniel asked.
Lydia considered that for a moment,
struggling to retain her composure. "Did you say you thought there were
other related files somewhere?" She turned her head slightly, but couldn't
face him directly. Not with him this close.
He shrugged. "It's possible.
There was a ton of old data dumped into a trash file I dug up while cleaning
out the system. Backups of backups, it looks like. I didn't know what I was
looking for specifically, so I tossed anything from 3-SSR into the same group.
It wasn't much, but there was other stuff I couldn't identify." He
straightened, much to her relief. The near contact was clouding her brain.
"If I gave you a list of
keywords to search for, would that help? Based on these documents, I can narrow
down what might be contained in related files."
"Yes," he said.
"Definitely. If I know what I should be looking for, I have some tools for
doing entire sweeps of all connected computers, including the Endure’s core
programs. How long would it take you to make up that list?"
She looked at the list of files he
had already sent. "There's forty-eight documents here. Not all of them may
pertain to this project, but it will take me at least a day to do a quick once
through. Are you sure you have time to take this on?" Lydia faced him.
"Absolutely," he said, his
hazel eyes locking on to hers. Her breath caught unexpectedly in her throat.
Something in the way he looked at her made her think that she could ask him for
anything at that moment and he would say yes.
The sound of the lab door and voices
shattered the moment. Lydia spun around and closed the list of files, along
with the messaging program.
"Looks like people are
arriving. I'll go fire up the lab computers so we can all see the new
software." She rushed out of the office, hoping no one else could hear her
pounding heart.
About the author
Starla Huchton released her first novel, The
Dreamer’s Thread, as a full cast podcast production beginning in August
2009. Her first foray went on to become a double-nominee and finalist for the
2010 Parsec Awards. Since her debut, Starla’s voice has appeared in other
podcasts including The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine, The
Drabblecast, and Erotica a la Carte. She is also a voice
talent for Darkfire Productions, and narrates several of their projects,
including The Emperor’s Edge series, This Path We
Share, and others.
Her writing has appeared in the Erotica a la Carte podcast,
a short story for The Gearheart, and an episode of the Tales
from the Archives podcast (the
companion to Tee Morris and Philippa Balantine’s Ministry of Peculiar
Occurrences series), which garnered her a second finalist badge from
the 2012 Parsec Awards. Her second novel, a Steampunk adventure entitled Master
of Myth, was the first place winner in the Fantasy/Science Fiction
category of The Sandy Writing Contest held annually by the Crested Butte
Writers Conference. Maven is her third completed novel and the
first in a planned series of four.
After completing her degree in Graphic Arts at Monterey
Peninsula College, Starla opened up shop as a freelance graphic designer
focusing on creating beautiful book covers for independent authors publishers.
She currently lives in Virginia where she trains her three Minions and military
husband.
Connect with S.A. Huchton:
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Starla-Huchton-Author-Page/255657227797465
Twitter: @riznphnx
***
Joyfully yours,
Heather