#Review - Breathing Space by Kristen Painter #SyFy #Romance

Series: Ellis McFadden Mysteries # 1
Format: Kindle, 274 pages
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Space Opera / Romance

Step into the enigmatic world of the Athos—a vessel that blends the luxury of a cruise ship, the intrigue of a scientific research station, and the might of a military starship. Here, amidst the stars, you'll find Ellis McFadden, the ship’s head librarian, embarking on adventures she never anticipated this late in her career.

Even better that she gets to experience it all while in proximity to her daughter, who just happens to be the vice admiral. But life aboard the ship takes a darker turn when a library patron is found dead, and Ellis falls under suspicion.

With her reputation on the line, Ellis must navigate a labyrinth of secrets and lies. Armed with her wits, the loyalty of her eclectic friends, and her trusty android cat, she dives into a mystery that's as thrilling as the unexplored galaxies around her. Can she find the critical evidence to clear her name before the next jump into the unknown?

Breathing Space is the first installment in author Kristen Palmer's Ellis McFadden Mysteries series. The Ellis McFadden Mysteries series is a blend of cozy mystery and sci-fi, set aboard the luxurious yet enigmatic starship Athos. The novel introduces readers to Ellis McFadden, a middle-aged head librarian who embarks on an unexpected adventure in her later career, drawn to the ship partly to be near her daughter, the vice admiral, Hazel Perry. 

Painter crafts a unique setting that feels like a cruise ship among the stars, combining the intrigue of a scientific research station with the might of a military vessel. The story kicks off when a library patron is found dead, and Ellis becomes the prime suspect after she decides to bring a copy of a book that the deceased wanted to his habitat. Determined to clear her name, she dives into a web of secrets and lies, armed with her sharp wit, a loyal group of eclectic friends, her charming talking android cat, Hieronymus (aka Harry), and a new love interest in Frank Kitson, who has a few interesting twists of his own.  

The mystery is engaging, though not overly suspenseful, striking a cozy tone that avoids sharp edges. The droid pets, especially Harry, steal the show, bringing warmth and humor to the narrative. Ellis is a compelling protagonist—relatable, mature, and resourceful. Her budding friendship (and potential romance) with Frank adds a sweet layer without overshadowing the mystery. While the story could have used a few more twists or deeper stakes, the solid mystery, endearing characters, and promise of more adventures make it a strong series starter. 

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#Review - Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep #SyFy

Series: Galactic Bonds # 4
Format: Kindle, 504 pages
Release Date: October 29, 2024
Publisher: Jennifer Estep
Source: Publisher
Genre: Space Opera / Science Fiction

A WOMAN WHO CAN’T CONTROL HER POWER 

Everyone knows the name Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat working in a Regal-owned corporation, but thanks to my truebond with Kyrion Caldaren, I’m now one of the most wanted fugitives in the Archipelago Galaxy.

Kyrion and I have spent the last few weeks avoiding bounty hunters, along with the Arrows, the elite Imperium warriors tasked with capturing us. Now we’ve journeyed to a distant planet that’s supposed to be a refuge for truebonded couples, but when new enemies appear, we’re once again in grave danger.

As a seer, inventor, and engineer, I’m skilled at figuring out how things work, but I can’t quite understand my growing magic and newfound psionic abilities. The clock is ticking, and if I don’t figure out how to tap into my power, I’ll doom myself to a gruesome fate, along with Kyrion.

A MAN WHO CAN’T LET GO OF HIS FEAR . . .

As Kyrion Caldaren, I’m used to being respected and feared, especially given my telekinesis, telepathy, telempathy, and other powerful psionic abilities. What I’m not used to is being on the run, but as a rogue Arrow, I’ll do anything to protect Vesper.

Just when I think we’ve finally reached a safe haven, trouble finds us again, reigniting all my fears about losing Vesper.

When the cold depths of our enemies’ plan are finally revealed, the truth is more terrifying than anything I could imagine. Soon Vesper and I are fighting for our lives again, but even with our growing truebond power, this is one battle we might not survive.

Only Cold Depths is the fourth installment in author Jennifer Estep's Galactic Bonds series which takes place right after the events of Only Hard Problems which featured Zane and Asterin Armas. The story alternates between Vesper Quill and Kyrion Caldaren. Vesper is an inventor, engineer, and seer who has escaped enemies like Holloway and Techwave who want her recaptured. Kyrion is the former leader of the Arrows and has taken to protecting Vesper even from herself. 

The couple are the most wanted individuals in the galaxy thanks to their truebond connection. With bounty hunters and elite warriors trying to track them down for their master, Holloway who wants to siphon their abilities for himself, Vesper and Kyrion jump from planet to planet looking for a sanctuary to deal with the reality of their new bond, and what abilities Vesper has come into since, and trying to figure out if she wants a connection with her new family which was revealed in book # 2 and Zane's book. What better place than Asterin's? 

I have to say that Zane has grown on me. He has gone from a dangerous enemy to something more to Vesper who really is confused by the emotions that Zane and his family show her during this book. Especially Wendell. While Vesper and Kyrion explore their new truebond, trying to figure out how it works best, but also struggling with their individual challenges, it helps that the couple runs into another bonded pair who gives them a hint as to why the connection is on the fritz. 

Finally, the story ends on a cliffhanger and I pray that the author finds a way to pay Vesper's mother for all the hurt and heartache she has caused from calling her names, to doing nothing to try to make up for her machinations against everyone. 

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#Review - Honor & Shadows by Jessie Milhalik / Betwixt by Darynda Jones #SyFy #Paranormal

Series: Starlight's Shadow # 0.5
Format: E-Book, 64 pages
Release Date: November 1, 2022
Publisher: NYLA
Source: Amazon
Genre: Space Opera

Captain Octavia Zarola needs an infusion of credits—fast—if she’s going to keep her close-knit bounty hunting crew paid and fed. Tracking down an escaped embezzler on a backwater planet should be a piece of cake, but bounties are rarely as easy as they seem.

As the crew closes in on their quarry, the hunt becomes entangled with a local criminal overlord, and Tavi will have to decide what’s more important: money or honor, and how much she’s willing to risk for either one.

Jessie Milhalik's Honor and Shadows is a 10,000 prequel to the authors Starlight's Shadow series. The crew of the Starlight Shadow is down to basically supplies and looking for a bounty to collect to keep the ship running, and stocked with food. So, Captain Octavia (Tavi) Zarola, 1st Officer Elias Bruck, and engineer, Kee Ildez, set their sights on a man named Alan Hudson who has eluded capture for 2 years. When Tavi and crew arrive, Megan Gail knows that Tavi is after Alan, and agrees to help as long as the crew helps them get off planet, and away from her father who runs the town, and the mines, and has used Hudson to get rich. Even though this is a fairly short story, it is entertaining, especially when it leads directly into the first installment called Hunt the Stars. If you've read Hunt the Stars, read this novella! You won't be disappointed!

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Series: Betwixt & Between # 1
Format: EBook, 256 pages
Release Date:  February 18th 2020
Publisher: Feather & Leaf, LLC
Source: Amazon
Genre: Paranormal

Divorced, desperate, and destitute, former restaurateur Defiance "Dephne" Dayne finds out she has been bequeathed a house by a complete stranger. She is surprised, to say the least, and her curiosity gets the better of her. She leaves her beloved Phoenix and heads to one of the most infamous towns in America: Salem, Massachusetts.

She’s only there to find out why a woman she’s never met would leave her a house. A veritable castle that has seen better days. She couldn’t possibly accept it, but the lawyer assigned to the case practically begs her to take it off her hands, mostly because she’s scared of it. The house. The inanimate structure that, as far as Dephne can tell, has never hurt a fly.

Though it does come with some baggage. A pesky neighbor who wants her gone. A scruffy cat who’s a bit of a jerk. And a handyman bathed in ink who could moonlight as a supermodel for GQ.

She decides to give it three days, and not because of the model. She feels at home in Salem. Safe. But even that comes to a screeching halt when people begin knocking on her door day and night, begging for her help to locate their lost objects.

Come to find out, they think she’s a witch. And after a few mysterious mishaps, Dephne is beginning to wonder if they’re right.

Darynda Jones' Betwixt is the first installment in the authors Betwixt and Between series. Divorced, desperate, and destitute, former restaurateur Defiance "Dephne" Dayne finds that she's been bequeathed a house by a complete stranger named Ruthie Goode. She leaves her beloved Phoenix and heads to one of the most infamous towns in America: Salem, Massachusetts. She’s only there to find out why a woman she’s never met would leave her a house, and why people are all of a sudden eager to speak to her when barely a minute has passed.

The home is a Victorian that has seen better days. In fact, it needs a lot of work! It comes with a cat named Ink, and a handyman who wears a kilt and calls himself Roane. With barely a dime to her name, how can Defiance keep the home? As a twist, the house, aka Percival, well, it appears to be sentient! and it's not happy that Defiance is thinking about getting rid of the house. She decides to give it three days, and not because of the model. She feels at home in Salem. Safe. But won't stop begging for her help to locate their lost objects or missing persons.

To top things off, she learns several things. 1. Ruthie Goode is her grandmother who has been watching over her for 40 years. 2. She's something of a witch called Charmling. Charmlings were created by original witches thousands of years ago. They were a coven, and they saw the injustice women suffered at the hands of men, even in the witch realm. They sought to balance the power by creating three beings no man can defeat. They pooled their power and the power of their ancestors and funneled it into three witches to be a beacon of light. A balance of power.

Along with her best friend Annette, who decides to pick up her life and be with her friend Dephne, Defiance now has to deal with learning her own powers that have been hidden for decades. She has to deal with new people asking her strange questions. Then there's Roane who is, well, eye candy. One of the thing that Jones is very known for is the snarky commentary of her characters and that doesn't change in this book. Defiance does and says some irritating things, but when all is said and done, I'm good with the overall direction the book went in and will continue with the series. 

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#Review - On Destiny (Aunare Chronicles #4) by Aileen Erin #SyFy

Series: Aunare Chronicles # 4
Format: Paperback, 464 pages
Release Date:  July 19th 2022
Publisher: Ink Monster
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Science Fiction / Alien Contact

When Amihanna di Aetes first got to Sel’Ani, she never thought she’d have the full support of the Aunare, but she does. She never thought that she’d fall in love, get married, or become the High Queen, but she did. She never thought that she’d be planning something so stupid as her return to Earth, but that’s exactly what she’s doing.

With the Alliance broken, SpaceTech has fully retreated to their home planet, but the chaos of war will descend again. Amihanna and Lorne know they don’t much time to plan their next move. Everything in their guts tells them to head straight to Earth but going into the heart of SpaceTech’s territory is stupid, reckless, and very likely deadly.

Amihanna and Lorne have one chance to end this war quickly, protect the Aunare, free the Earther’s from SpaceTech’s rule, and save Declan, Ahiga, and the missing ABQ Crew members. Trying to do it all feels impossible, but Amihanna has never been one to back down from a challenge, especially when defeating SpaceTech was never just her mission. It’s her destiny. 

On Destiny is the final installment in author Aileen Erin's Aunare Chronicles. The story revolves around two characters: Amihanna di Aetes, the new High Queen of Aunare and Lorne ni Taure, the High King of the Aunare. It has been 3 weeks since Ami nearly died after being exposed to a bio-weapon created by SpaceTech. Ami is still mourning the loss of her guards who sacrificed themselves to save her. But time moves on, and so doesn't the threat from SpaceTech. 

When Ami first got to Sel’Ani, she never thought she’d have the full support of the Aunare, but she does. She never thought she would forgive her father Rysden for leaving her behind on Earth, but she has. She never thought that she’d fall in love, get married, or become the High Queen, but she did. She never thought that she’d be forced to return to Earth where she was hunted for 13 years, but that’s exactly what she’s doing. 

After a visit from a Bactah dignitary who can control minds, Ami is told that in order to help her in her war on SpaceTech, she needs to find a way to remember the time before she spent on Earth with her mother hiding from SpaceTech. Ami must face her own past before she can deal with the future or she'll constantly feel as though she's not safe anywhere. Even if it forces her to face painful memories. Ami is always prepared to flee in a moments notice. She has go-bags everywhere that will allow her to escape in a moments notice. 

Recently, Lorne and her guards have begun doing the same thing. Unfortunately for Ami and Lorne, their honeymoon ends too soon, and now allies have chosen a different side, which leads to attacks on the planet of Sel'Ani and other colonies which forces Ami to move up her plans on going to Earth. Ami also finds out that Declan and her ABQ crew is in big trouble. Declan has after being captured by his brother Jason who wants to use Declan to lure Ami into an inescapable trap on Earth. 

The rest of the crew is in hiding or on the run. Ami knows the only way to stop her hated enemy, Jason Murtagh and SpaceTech, she needs to find a way to get humans, Aunare, and hybrids on Earth and its colonies to rise up and take back their freedoms. To do so, Ami will have to rely on her ABQ crew to get to places she needs to be. While on Earth, Lorne still has some serious regrets about not being able to find the girl he watched grow up, one who would be his rival in power when she grew up. So, he tends to be overly protective of her, and that often grates on my nerves.

The author ends the series on a pretty nice moment. I won't spoil it for you, but Ami's new Destiny is just beginning! It's also kind of fun watching Ami's best friend Roan, and Lorne's sister Nori, hit it off which makes Lorne's head explode. The only negative commentary I have about this series is Ami's fatalism. She often puts herself in harms way, and that leads to explosive moments with Lorne feeling that he's not strong enough to keep her out of trouble. Technically, this is the 5th installment in the series, but one of the books, In Command, is a novella that should be read between Off Balance and On Mission. 

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#Review - Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik #SyFy

Series: Starlight's Shadow # 2
Format: Paperback, 448 pages
Release Date: July 12, 2022
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher
Genre: Science Fiction / Space Opera

Kee Ildez has been many things: hacker, soldier, bounty hunter. She never expected to be a hero, but when a shadowy group of traitors starts trying to goad the galaxy’s two superpowers into instigating an interstellar war, Kee throws herself into the search to find out who is responsible—and stop them.

Digging up hidden information is her job, so hunting traitors should be a piece of cake, but the primary suspect spent years in the military, and someone powerful is still covering his tracks. Disrupting their plans will require the help of her entire team, including Varro Runkow, a Valovian weapons expert who makes her pulse race.

Quiet, grumpy, and incredibly handsome, Varro watches her with hot eyes but ignores all of her flirting, so Kee silently vows to keep her feelings strictly platonic. But that vow will be put to the test when she and Varro are forced to leave the safety of their ship and venture into enemy territory alone.

Cut off from the rest of their team, they must figure out how to work together—and fast—because a single misstep will cost thousands of lives.

Eclipse the Moon, by author Jessie Mihalik, is the second installment in the authors Starlight's Shadow series. This story begins right where Hunt the Stars left off. Kee Ildez is a specialist onboard the Starlight's Shadow. She's been a hacker, a soldier, and a bounty hunter. Varro Runkow is a Valorian weapons expert who came aboard along with Torran Fletcher in the previous installment. After saving the heir to the Valovian Empire, the crew is now hunting for Commodore Frank Morten.

But Kee has unrequited feelings for Varro and decides that she needs to get away from the ship for awhile and put some space between them so she can get over her feelings. Kee knows that if she gets off the Shadow, she might be able to use Bastian space station to track down Morten before he can start another war between the FHP (Federated Human Planets) and Valovian Empire. Varro, however, has other plans and follows Kee to the station.

Digging up hidden information is Kee's job, so hunting traitors should be a piece of cake, but the primary suspect spent years in the military, and someone powerful is still covering his tracks. To make things more interesting, there is a fashion show onboard Bastion which features prime designers from both FHP and Valovian which is sure to lure out all the trouble makers. When Kee is offered a position as a model for an important designer, she says yes which of course leads to chaos. 

A fashion show is that has both Valovian and humans collaborating to create clothing that combines both art and technology together is almost unheard of. This is all in an effort to bring their two races together in peace rather than continue to promote harm and war between the two of them. Varro rarely shows his emotions. He has a powerful ability that forces him to keep a tight leash on his feelings so that he doesn’t impose on other people’s will.

Because of this, he is difficult to read, as Kee learns throughout the story. Even though there are more than a few moments of penned up frustration on Kee's part, Varro really does mean well. So much so that he gets angry when she gets hurt, or someone tries to hurt her. Kee cries easily, loves hard and opens herself to those around her. She's pretty much an open book when it comes to emotions. His most adorable aspects is making cookies for Kee which makes her weak at the knees.

This has been a pretty interesting series so far and the third installment is likely to be even better with two characters stepping into the starring role. While Kee may be the brains onboard, the rest of the crew has formed a unique bond that aims to stop another war from breaking out. The combined crew of humans and Valovian's cooks real food, eats together, and watch videos together. Sometimes they connect with each other like Tavi and Torran. The Starlight crew is determined to help maintain peace and root out the people intent on destroying it. Espionage, kidnappings, daring and dangerous rescue missions at what keeps this series from wandering off target.  

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#Review - The Exiled Fleet (The Divide #2) by J.S. Dewes #SyFy #Space #Operat

Series: The Divide Series (#2)
Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Release Date: August 17, 2021
Publisher: Tor Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Science Fiction / Space Opera

J. S. Dewes continues her fast-paced science fiction action-adventure with The Exiled Fleet, where The Expanse meets The Black Company—the survivors of The Last Watch refuse to die.

The Sentinels narrowly escaped the collapsing edge of the Divide.

They have mustered a few other surviving Sentinels, but with no engines they have no way to leave the edge of the universe before they starve.

Adequin Rake has gathered a team to find the materials they'll need to get everyone out.

To do that they're will have to evade a ruthless enemy and find new allies. Some of them will not survive.

"While they stood guard, humanity turns its back."

 

The Exiled Fleet is the second installment in author J.S. Dewes' The Divide Series. This series focuses on two main characters, and dozens of secondary characters. Sentinel Cavalon Mercer and Excubitor Adequin Rake are the main characters, while Jackin North, Mesa, Puck, and Owen Larios are important secondary characters. Adequin and her people survived a catastrophe in the previous installment that left her lover dead. Hundreds of Sentinels are dead, and Adequin puts the blame on her shoulders. 

If you've read the first book, which I dare hope you have, Adequin made a choice that got her banished to the Divide. Now the Divide is moving in and expanding and anything in the way is being destroyed, including Sentinels who don't know they've been abandoned by higher ups. What's interesting is that while she was only gone for 5 weeks, in reality, she was gone 6 months. As hard as she tries, Rake can't rescue everyone and she does make mistakes. Hundreds of Sentinels have died but more would have died if she had done nothing. In essence, Rake has created a rebellion against those in charge which include Cavalon's grandfather.

Even though his secret heritage has been exposed, Cavalon has become a key piece in the puzzle. He's a brilliant astromechanical engineer who is trying to build an actual star as a power source on the ship, and if he’s successful, they’ll have enough power to make a jump to the Kharon Gate for much needed supplies. Unfortunately, the jump drive uses a rare material which Rake and her team are forced into traveling hundreds of light years in order to find. 

While Cavalon and team works on the Typhos’ jump drive online, everyone else onboard contends with diminished rations and the temporal anomalies caused by their proximity to the Divide. With 4,000 rescued Sentinels onboard, rations are being cut back every day. After Adequin Rake returns from restarting the last of the mysterious Viator generators, she realizes that unless she does something, she is likely to be tossed out into the Divide.  

The need for supplies soon forces Adequin and her team to venture back into populated space on “a hundred-million light-year errand.” Along the way, a deeper exploration of the motives of the hostile alien Viators adds complexity that nobody could see coming. Thankfully, Adequin's actions 5 years ago has earned her a bit of respect from those she is supposed to be at war with.  

We also get a bit more background on not only Adequin, but Jackin North which leads to yet another revelation and an entire new group called Corsairs who are basically smugglers. To top it off, after encountering his diabolical Grandfather, Cavalon uncovers a disturbing secret about his own childhood. In my opinion, one of the best things the publisher did was release books # 1 and # 2 within months of each other. I love that because for an elderly reader like me, it makes it easier to remember key events and key characters without having to resort to digging up old notes. 

There is a whole lot to this story. New characters push their way to the front, old characters find themselves in trouble, twists, and turns, and surprises are at every turn, but the story doesn't get bogged down with unnecessary over the top science fiction lingo that often leaves a reader flabbergasted.

 

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#Review - Shades of Allegiance by Sandy Williams #SyFy #Space #Opera

Series: Anomaly # 3
Format: E-Book, 360 pages
Release Date: January 26, 2021
Publisher: Sandy Williams
Source: Kindle
Genre: Space Opera / SyFy

Lieutenant Ramie Ashdyn is going home--or rather, to the hellhole that is her home world. With vengeance driving her, she's intent on tracking down the criminal who can help her unravel the conspiracy that's threatening the Coalition. Unfortunately, old enemies are sabotaging her efforts, jeopardizing the lives of the few people she trusts. To accomplish her mission, she'll need to be cunning and ruthless, and that means scrapping her conscience and burying emotions are adversaries could exploit.

Of course, being cunning and ruthless would be easier if the Coalition hadn't sent "Rest in Peace" Rykus to retrieve her. Ash is the only person who can detect the telepaths who have infiltrated the government, and Rykus must keep her safe until they can escape the planet. But with secrets between them and Ash determined to contact the Known Universe's most feared crime lord, staying alive--and together--might be an insurmountable feat.

Shades of Allegiance, by author Sandy Williams, is the third and final installment in the authors Anomaly trilogy. For the first time in a little over 5 years, Lieutenant Ramie "Ash" Ashdyn is going home to the hellhole that is her home world; Planet Glory. She's intent on tracking down the criminal mastermind, Neilan Tahn, who she believes can help her unravel the conspiracy that's threatening the Coalition by disrupting as much business of his that she can. Ash is an anomaly. She's badass. She's stronger, faster, and more skilled than normal humans. 

She has to take regular boosters that help her heal and keep her sane. She also underwent loyalty training that pretty much ensures that she will continue her mission until the very end. Even if that end means her death. Ash is the only one in the Coalition who can detect telepaths which threaten to bring down the Coalition, unravel the Interplanetary Government, and turn allies into enemies. But Ash hasn't exactly had an easy time. Her entire team was murdered leaving her brainwashed by a telepath who forced her to fall in love with him.

She's been called a deserter and put-on trial for treason and she was assigned a new crew and team leader. After her last mission though, everyone believes she's dead. Unfortunately for Ash, that doesn't last long. Old enemies are sabotaging her efforts, jeopardizing the lives of the few people she trusts. To accomplish her mission, she'll need to be cunning and ruthless, and that means scrapping her conscience and burying emotions are adversaries could exploit. Enter Commander Rhys (Rest in Peace) Rykus a hero of the Coalition and Ash's fail safe.

Rykus tried for 2 years to get Ash to quit. 3 year later, he tried again. Ash isn't ready to throw in the towel until she pays back a certain telepath who murdered her first team and brainwashed her. Being on Planet Glory means that we, as readers, finally get a better understanding of who Ash was before she left to join the Coalition. Mira who was supposed to be protected by Ash while she was away, but she’s turned into someone Ash doesn’t recognize. Glory is a tomb, a purgatory, a world destined to crush spirits. It is a world where crime bosses rule different parts of the planet.

It is where Ash made a name for herself before joining the Coalition. One of the many questions of this story was what really happened Ash's brother Trevast way back in Shades of Treason. Ash and RIP end up working together to put down the threat from Valt, who took over her mind several months ago, and his fellow conspirators who have infiltrated every level of the Coalition. With Tahn, Ash finally learns the reason why she was targeted for elimination and was the lone survivor of the Chalos II mission. The story doesn’t stay on Glory, it can’t with all that’s happening in the Known Universe.

I am grateful that we actually get a final book in this trilogy. The author experienced some serious ups and downs for 4 years before this book was finally ready to be published. Honestly, I think most authors would give up and move on, so I am grateful that Williams finished this series. This book has plenty of action as more than enough romance between Ash and Rip.

 

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