Fiction Furbaby: Meet Bandit from the Pets in Space 6 Trade Secrets by Cassandra Chandler @CassChandler @HeroDogsInc @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets
Gwen Williams is searching for extraterrestrial intelligence in space—and discovers aliens secretly colonizing Earth! Will she take a chance and believe the sexy space pilot and his incredibly intelligent kitten are part of a group working toward peace in the galaxy, or will she decide to turn over their secrets?
Cassandra Chandler, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Trade Secrets.
Trade Secrets by Cassandra Chandler
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
Gwen Williams wants nothing more than to explore the vast possibilities of outer space, but Earth’s technology isn’t going to get her there. Her solution? Make contact with aliens. The only problem is, her plan works a little too well—landing her on the radar of a group of aliens with plans of their own that involve her homeworld.
Xan was just trying to help his Vegan friends avoid getting into trouble for messing with human things they should have left alone. He didn’t expect to run up against Gwen, a brilliant, beautiful Earthling who stirs a depth of emotion in him that he didn’t know he possessed—and who also has evidence of his friends’ transgression. Adding in the fact that the super-smart “space cat” who’s adopted him has plans to bring Gwen into their little family and this Coalition pilot has some tricky space to navigate.
As if that wasn’t complicated enough, the trio discovers a plot on Xan’s ship that could compromise the security of all of their people—and the newly forged bonds between the sentients working toward peace in the galaxy. Will they be able to work together to secure a more peaceful future, or will their secrets drive them apart.
Meet Bandit from the Pets in Space 6 anthology story Trade Secrets
Full name: Bandit
Nickname: Bandit
Gender: Male
Species: Earth Cat
Physical description: Bandit is a marmalade tabby kitten with orange and white stripes and greenish-gold eyes
Relationship to main character: Bandit has chosen Xan and Gwen to be his human family
Relationship to the villain/antagonist: Bandit’s sister, Queenie, gets in trouble often—but this time, she’s landed everyone in true danger
Where this furbaby came from: Bandit was born aboard the Coalition warship called the Reckoning. His commander had been given an Earth cat, and had no idea she was pregnant. The Earthlings who have met Bandit and his sisters are surprised at how smart all of the kittens are, which is only getting more pronounced as they get older.
What inspired you to create this character?
The Sadirians who make up most of the Coalition of Planets reproduce through genetic engineering and use maturation chambers with mental programming facilities to create new citizens. For my first Pets in Space® anthology story several years ago, I came up with the idea of one of these stoic soldiers getting a cat and having no idea what to do when she turns out to be pregnant, since his people never encounter infants of any kind and never actually were children themselves. Bandit is one of the three kittens born aboard the warship Reckoning in my novella from that anthology, Import Quarantine. I loved the idea of telling each of the kittens’ stories, and now it’s Bandit’s turn in Pets in Space 6!
What does the main character think about this furbaby?
Xan and Gwen both adore Bandit. Xan is the main pilot for the Reckoning and Gwen is the Earthling who discovers aliens secretly living in her solar system—and even on Earth itself. Bandit is instantly taken with Gwen, who is also smitten, especially when she realizes that she somehow is miraculously not allergic to Bandit.
What does the villain/antagonist think about this furbaby?
The biggest threat the heroes face in Trade Secrets is brought about by Bandit’s sister, Queenie. She thinks that Bandit is a fool and should demand better treatment from everyone around him. Cats are obviously superior—especially Queenie and her siblings—and they should be given all the attention, toys, and treats that they deserve! In fact, they should be put in charge of everything. It doesn’t matter if they’re only kittens and don’t have opposable thumbs to run the ship—there are plenty of Sadirian soldiers on board that she can order around. The fact that all Bandit wants is love and companionship makes Queenie roll her eyes. Where’s his ambition?
How do other characters react to or interact with this furbaby?
Most of the Sadirians on the ship where Bandit and his sisters live are confused to see children of any species. Since they also have never seen cats, they assume that everything the trio get up to is within the normal range of behavior and capabilities for Earth cats. The Earthlings who interact with them are shocked and amazed…and starting to suspect there really is more to these three than meets the eye.
What does this furbaby add to the story?
Bandit is an integral connector between Xan and Gwen. Even though Gwen is drawn to Xan immediately, she wouldn’t have given in to her feelings so quickly if she didn’t see how kind and gentle and loving his is with Bandit. Their feelings for the little kitten help to cement the strong bond that forms between them.
What about this furbaby will readers like, and why?
Bandit is the sweetest little guy. He loves his people and his family, even though his cat-family drives him crazy and his sisters can be mean. He’s affectionate and curious and loyal and absolutely loveable. Plus, super-smart-Space cat! Er…not Space cat. He’s an Earth cat. A totally typical Earth cat. *whistles innocently*
Describe a humorous incident involving the animal character.
When Gwen first encounters Xan and Bandit, the alien soldier and his kitten have snuck into her house in the middle of the night. She and her best friend have armed themselves as best they could (with a rolling pin and a spatula—they were in the kitchen having tea), and are planning to get the jump on Xan. When they see him gently holding the little ginger tabby at the end of a hallway, Gwen has second thoughts about rushing him. “You can’t attack a guy holding a kitten,” as she tells her friend. Xan chooses that moment to point out to them with a smile that he can hear everything they’re saying, and would really appreciate if they didn’t attack him.
Where to buy Pets in Space 6 to read Trade Secrets
Publisher Pets in Space Books for Chavanch Press
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0994RRBK2
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pets-in-space-6-veronica-scott/1139825092
iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1576119274
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pets-in-space-6
Books2Read https://books2read.com/PISA6
Cassandra Chandler Social Media
USA Today Bestselling author Cassandra Chandler uses her vivid imagination to make the world more interesting, spawning the ideas she turns into her enthralling Science Fiction Romances and darkly evocative Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Romances. Fast-paced and funny, lighthearted or dark, her stories will introduce you to characters you’ll fall in love with and worlds you long to explore.
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Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist
Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues
Shout out to Hero-Dogs.Org!
Pets in Space is proud to support Hero Dogs
Hero-Dogs.org improves the quality of life for our nation’s heroes by raising, training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of charge with lifetime support of the partnerships. You can learn more ways to help by visiting their website: https://www.hero-dogs.org/
Each year, the anthology donates a portion of the preorder and first month’s sales. To date, Pets in Space has proudly donated more than $5,000 to this fantastic organization.
