Can anyone suggest a book or series?

Hi, got an interesting challenge - can anyone suggest a good book or series of books for me, but with the following criteria:<br /><br />1 - reasonably well written sci-fi or space opera.<br />2 - if its set on a ship or involves a ship, it must be a small one, crew of around 3-30, no star destroyers!<br />3 - if it's not set on a ship, no hardline military sci-fi.<br /><br />About the nearest I got was Joshua Calvert and the Lady Macbeth from the confederation series of books by peter hamilton.<br />