Today let's welcome back guest blogger Diane Burton with a book from her Outer Rim collection.
In the world I created, the Outer Rim is an area far from the Central Planets. Think concentric circles. The Central Planets—those that make up the Coalition of Planets—are at the center. Expanding outward are the lesser planets, those that aren’t members of the Coalition but still civilized. Beyond that is an unexplored region. The Outer Rim.
I think of the Rim as similar to America’s Wild West. A frontier where people go to explore or escape. They change their names so the law can’t find them. As if given a second chance, they start their lives over. Some go by choice, others are taken there then abandoned. The latter was the case with Rissa Dix, the main character in THE PROTECTOR.
Rissa had made her own life on the frontier. Where most females work in menial jobs or as pleasure providers, Rissa owns a tavern. She provides food and drink for the rowdy miners who excavate valuable minerals from the mountains near Astron Colony. A fem has to be tough to survive on the Frontier. A tavern owner has to be tougher. Strong enough to hoist kegs of ale and break up fights.
She also has a secret. A secret she never shares so she doesn’t appear vulnerable.
As more people arrive on the Rim, outposts become colonies that become cities. Crime abounds, especially organized crime. Racketeering, trafficking, drugs and illegal weapons. Most people give gangsters a wide berth and a blind eye. Not so Rissa, Celara, and Jileena.
My Outer Rim series is about strong women on the frontier of space. Rissa (THE PROTECTOR) is tall with broad shoulders. One look and you know she is physically strong. The other fems in the series are strong in different ways. Celara (THE PILOT) has a mouth on her that makes sure everyone knows that though she is short, nobody pushes her around. Jileena (THE CHAMELEON) looks like a dainty fluff brain. Under that disguise, she has a strong will, a determination to prove she’s worthy to run the family business. Each story is a standalone book.
To enjoy the latest, THE PROTECTOR, you don’t need to read the previous books (although I hope you will).
Blurb ~
After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from raiding the frontier colony. She’s met with apathy and disbelief. Because she lost her own baby to traffickers, she’s determined that no other mother will suffer the same heartache.
Industrialist heir Dillan Rusteran aids her in rescuing more children. Little do they know they’re about to tangle with a trafficking ring that puts Rissa in danger. Dillan’s loved her for years despite her claim she’s too old for him. As they fight the traffickers, will she finally see him in a new light?
Excerpt —
Two things hit him at the same time. He wasn’t in the wide, comfortable bed in his quarters aboard ship and the thumping wasn’t his sublight. Thank the stars for that. Still, it had been acting a little wonky lately. He’d have to check it out.
After dressing and taking care of his needs in the small san-fac near the stairs, he ambled down carrying his boots in the event the big Zebori was still asleep. Although how anyone could sleep through all that thumping he had no idea. He followed the noise into the kitchen.
Rissa stood at the island kneading dough. Last night he remembered how much higher than normal the island was. She’d built it to accommodate her height. For a moment, he just watched her as she concentrated on the dough. Several lumps of grayish-brown dough sat on the flour-covered table waiting their turn. Even though he was a few meters away, the yeasty scent hit his nose and brought back memories of the times he’d been there before. And how much he enjoyed her company. Despite her treating him like a kid.
The dark haired teen—Pela?—worked alongside Rissa. She noticed him first. Panic crossed her strong features before she murmured to Rissa.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” She laughed as she turned the dough she’d been punishing into a long, loaf pan. She picked up another lump and went to work on it.
Dillan yawned. “What time is it?”
“Almost Mid-Day.” When she looked up, she did a double take. “Your beard is gone.”
“It itched. When I find the barber, I’ll get my hair cut, too.” He ran his fingers across the top of his head. “It’s Mid-Day? Damn. I wanted to get an early start.”
Without stopping her kneading, she asked, “Early start on what?”
“Going into the mountains.”
“Did you come here to go climbing again?”
Grief hit Dillan the way it had for the past six years any time someone mentioned his former favorite sport. He hadn’t climbed since his best friend died in a freak rock slide. Or so he thought until a year ago.
Rissa’s dark eyes reflected guilt. She stopped working the dough. “I’m sorry, Dillan. I forgot.”
“Apparently, so did Konner.” He didn’t conceal the hurt he’d felt when he learned Konner was not only alive but had a family. “Turns out I was wrong about some things. I’ll, uh, leave you to your work.”
With her forearm, she wiped the sweat off her brow then went back to kneading. “Pela, you did fine. Turn that one into the next pan then get Dillan a cup of sheelonga tea.”
Pela eyed him with uncertainty.
“I can get it.” He sure didn’t want to upset the girl. “Mugs still next to the sink?”
Rissa looked surprised that he remembered. He remembered everything about her. She’d stayed in his mind after every trip from the time he was sixteen. Konner had teased him about being infatuated. Dillan knew it was more than infatuation. Especially after that last visit.
Author Bio ~
I’ve been a reader all my life, and I love movies, especially action adventure, mysteries, science fiction, and romantic comedy. Castle, Firefly, and NCIS are my favorite TV shows. So is it any wonder that I write science fiction romance and romantic suspense, both with comedic elements?
You can find Diane at:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
You can buy THE PROTECTOR at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | Smashwords
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