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Tag Archives: Veronica Scott

Pets in Space 6 By Many (11) Authors – Review

21 Thursday Oct 2021

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

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5 stars (and then some!), anthology, Book Review, Carol Van Natta, Cassandra Chandler, Deborah A. Bailey, Greta Van Der Rol, Honey Phillips, J.C. Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Melisse Aires, other worldly creatures, pets, Pets in Space, S.E. Smith, S.J. Pajonas, scifi romance, Veronica Scott

 

Pets in Space 6

Review of Pets in Space 6

Reviewed by K J Van Houten

Pets in Space 6 Anthology. Summary: can’t recommend this strongly enough! 5+ stars

Pets. Space. Hero dogs. What’s not to love? This is the 6th Pets in Space anthology, raising money for the Hero Dogs charity that matches support dogs with veterans and first responders. Maybe that’s why so many stories in each anthology star pets and unusual creatures that are also worthy of being called heroes.

Below is my brief review for each novella in PIS 6. One thing that struck me is that all of the stories here seem to be part of larger series, providing hints at past stories or peeks at things to come, even if some are presented as standalone here. I didn’t really feel lost at not knowing some of the background hinted at. I know I’d have gotten more out of some of these short novellas if I’d previously read within their series though. All of the stories here were really enjoyable! And I’ve got a few new-to-me series to start! Definitely recommend these, especially if you’re looking for an introduction to some of the participating authors and their series.

Behr’s Rebel by SE Smith (Book 2 in Marastin Dow series)

Smith’s novels are often a hit or miss with me, but her novellas for PIS always score a home run! I fell in love with the ‘pets’ Pi and Chummy instantly — and fell hard. How could I not love a cuddly pair of telepathic, telekinetic fuzzballs. One of them can also predict danger in the near future. That is pretty important when you’re paired up with a sarcastic but charming human pilot and the Marastin Dow rebel leader she was hired to break out of prison. I want an entire series of Pi and Chummy’s adventures with their ‘pets’.

Star Cruise: Time Loop by Veronica Scott (Part of the Sectors series)

Return to the Nebula Zephyr cruise starship, setting of previous stories in Scott’s Sectors series. I love this series so much, I was excited to jump into this story. This was a Groundhog’s Day type of story, with the heroine repeating the same day in which she has to suffer through a staff meeting, getting through her first trideo film acting experience, meeting the man of her dreams, and saving the entire ship from being blown apart and everyone on board dying. With only her pet moyed — which seems like a cross between a PERN dragonette and a turtle to me — sharing the repetition with her. Satisfying mix of love and adventure, typical of the Sectors series which I am always eager to read. And reread.

The Cyborg with No Name by Honey Phillips (Part of Cyborgs on Mars series)

The story revolves around the scientist who designed robotic horses to aid cyborgs with terraforming projects on Mars. What happens when an ex-engineer and her robotic dog encounter a wounded cyborg Ranger with amnesia? They must solve the mystery of who is he, what happened to him, and why is his health not recovering as it should. This may be my favourite story in this Cyborg on Mars series — it comes across as a sweet and slightly steamy love story that doesn’t try to do too much within a novella format. Makes me want to return to reading the series.

Escape from Nova Nine by Carol Van Natta (Part of the Central Galactic Concordance series)

What do you do when you’re on the run from a captain that wants to use or sell you, only to get kidnapped and find yourself imprisoned on a remote mining station? If you have special empath abilities like Zach Lunaso, you try to keep your head down while plotting escape and making friends with local hordes of griffins living in the mines. Doesn’t hurt if you fall in love while you’re at it! Van Natta’s Central Galactic Concordance series is a favourite of mine, so loved getting back into her universe of minders. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, as I’d have liked to see villains suffer more, but it was still an excellent and fun read.

Trade Secrets by Cassandra Chandler (Part of The Department of Homeworld Security series)

I know it’s difficult to develop a romantic relationship between strangers in a novella, and I did feel this one was rushed. But I guess that’s part of life when you’re a human meeting aliens for the first time — and not just one species. Then you’re whisked away with said aliens and a ‘not normal’ kitten to an alien warship to find yourself helping solve problems that threaten the safety of Earth, a secret moonbase, and more. Not to mention revealing the secret that aliens really are among us. This was a fun and light-hearted read.

See How They Run by JC Hay (Part of the TriSystems: Smugglers series)

What’s it like to secretly be attracted to one of your closest friends and coworkers? Jesusa Baker accidentally overhears that her best friend, April’s, life may be in danger due to a spacefarers disease that has caused the death of some of their family. Baker sets out to find a solution — involving stealing lab mice from a medical research facility, and getting back to the ship they work on only to end up in quarantine with April and the mice. To make life more interesting, the research facility has sent bounty hunters to retrieve the mice at any cost. Caught between life and potential death from multiple threats, what can they can do but fall in love! Hay does a great job of fitting this novella into his series without it needing a lot of backstory to fall right into it.

Suri’s Sure Thing By S.J. Pajonas (Part of the Kimura Sisters series)

There are some things in life you can be sure of — a stable job, a bonded animal companion, a loving family, and a best friend. Then fate comes along and messes it up. There’s the ex-boyfriend who wants to get back together for his own secretive reasons, the father who wants to control her life and starts making ultimatums, and the friend who may or may not want to be more than friends. Not to mention a loving dog who wants to stay at her side no matter what — even if that means stowing away on a space shuttle! I loved this friends-to-lovers story and wish it had gone on longer. I’d like to see the ex-boyfriend suffer consequences, too!

The Thunder Egg by Greta van der Rol (Part of the Dryden Universe series)

Drew is a historian, traveling around the Empire seeing places of old that he’d only read about, and collecting souvenirs. How was he to know the Thunderegg geode he bought wasn’t what it seemed to be? Afra is captain of her own small freighter desperately looking for cargo. She was not looking to find a hurt man with a strange flying creature in a dark alley. She was not looking to take them on as passengers, helping Drew discover what sort of creature he’d found and return it to its home. She most definitely was not looking to fall in love! But I fell in love with this story. I wish it were longer, just the types of main characters I like best. Once again I’m reminded that I haven’t read enough of this series.

Worlds of Fire: Metamorphosis Deborah A. Bailey (Part of the Worlds of Fire series)

Being a student near the end of studies can bring on a mix of feelings — ready to prove you know more, can do more, than the elders around you think, yet also afraid of making it on your own or not measuring up to family expectations. Even worse when you are attracted to the gargoyle shifter magistrate who is your mentor for transmutation, the final exam you need to pass, and then you accidentally ingest an elixir that throws your life into jeopardy! This story has a more paranormal feel to me, caught up in a world of shifters, alchemy, and elixirs. although there are certainly a few SF elements so it’s more of a hybrid. This felt like a glimpse, enough of a peek into the world Bailey has created to catch my interest, so I will be looking at her series for more!

Stranded on Grzbt By Melisse Aires (Start of the Far Star series)

First story in a new series and I’m already hooked! Three women and a teenager find themselves abducted by aliens, then unintentionally stranded on a bustling trade world. Each are very different personalities and don’t always get along, but manage to pull together when they need to. Their adventure lead them into encounters with some interesting creatures such as a nanoscoot and a telepathic cat breed. Of course, this adventure also leads a certain woman into the arms of a very handsome and helpful alien! The ending definitely sets up for more stories to come.

Escaping Korth By Kyndra Hatch (Part of the Before The Fall series)

Life as an agronomist should be peaceful, but that’s not Liana’s fate. Snatched from the terraformed world she was studying, she finds herself a prisoner on Korth, caught in the war between humans and Korthans. The Korthan cyborg interrogator seems familiar, his mogha companion not really scary, and the strange rainbow-coloured spyder-crab creeping around her cell is rather cute. Now if only the other Korthans didn’t want her dead! Or is there a way to escape even as human warships appear in the sky? I will definitely be reading this series. Hatch presents a lot of story in a small number of pages, has interesting characters and creatures that I want to know more about!

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Pets in Space 6

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Pets in Space 6 By Many (11) Authors – Feature

09 Saturday Oct 2021

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

anthology, Carol Van Natta, Cassandra Chandler, Deborah A. Bailey, Greta Van Der Rol, Honey Phillips, J.C. Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Melisse Aires, other worldly creatures, pets, Pets in Space, S.E. Smith, S.J. Pajonas, scifi romance, Veronica Scott

One of my favorite series is back!  Just in time for the weekend.  Scifi, Romance and otherworldly creatures abound in this anthology.

Pets in Space 6
About Pets in Space 6

Pets in Space® is back for a new year of adventures!

Join the incredible authors in this year’s Pets in Space 6 for another out-of-this-world adventure. This award-winning, USA TODAY Bestselling anthology is packed full of your favorite Pets in Space®. Featuring 11 original, never-before-released stories from some of today’s bestselling Science Fiction Romance and Fantasy authors, Pets in Space 6 continues their vital support of Hero-Dogs.org, the non-profit charity that improves quality of life for veterans of the U.S. military and first-responders with disabilities. Don’t miss out on this limited-edition anthology before it’s too late!

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Story Blurbs for Pets in Space 6

Behr’s Rebel (Marastin Dow, #2) by S.E. Smith

With the help of her two innovative pets, a human woman rescues an alien General and becomes part of the revolution he is leading.

Star Cruise: Time Loop (Sectors Romance) by Veronica Scott

No one will believe Raelyn when she insists she’s lived through this day before, not even the man she loves. She only has a few hours to find the mad bomber intent on destroying the interstellar cruise ship, before the day repeats again…and again…

The Cyborg with No Name by Honey Phillips

Can a rogue robotic horse and a misfit mechanical dog protect a wounded cyborg and a lonely scientist from a vicious new enemy?

Escape from Nova Nine (Central Galactic Concordance) by Carol Van Natta

She’s a space pirate with vital information. He’s a wanted fugitive with enemies hot on his afterburner. Will their unexpected attraction survive escaping a dangerous asteroid mine in time to avert a war?

Trade Secrets (Department of Homeworld Security) by Cassandra Chandler

She wanted to learn about aliens—and ended up uncovering their secrets!

See How They Run (TriSystems: Smugglers) by JC Hay

Quarantines, deadly diseases, and vicious hunters – just another day in Engineering.

Suri’s Sure Thing (Kimura Sisters) by S.J. Pajonas

QA Mission Specialist Suri Kimura wants to skip the ball and work instead, but her meddling father has brought her ex-boyfriend in to woo her back to dating again. Too bad she’s secretly in love with her best friend.

The Thunder Egg by Greta van der Rol

When an alien foundling becomes a target for thieves, a freighter captain and an academic join forces to get her back where she belongs.

Worlds Of Fire: Metamorphosis by Deborah A. Bailey

When an alchemy student is deceived into using her transmutation skills to assist a smuggling ring, will her gargoyle shifter mentor help her expose the criminals or turn her in?

Stranded On Grzbt by Melisse Aires

A human woman and her companions escape from one disaster and find hope in the form of an alien officer.

Escaping Korth (Before The Fall) by Kyndra Hatch

With only one chance to find a true mate, the call of a mating bond demands a higher loyalty, even if it’s to his sworn enemy.

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Links

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Purchase Pets in Space 6:

Pets in Space 6

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Pets in Space 5 By Many (12) Authors- Review

12 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

5 stars, Alexis Glynn Latner, anthology, Book Review, Carol Van Natta, Cassandra Chandler, cats, dogs, frogs, J.C. Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Laurie A. Green, Leslie Chase, Michelle Diener, other worldly creatures, Pauline Baird Jones, pets, Pets in Space, Regine Abel, S.E. Smith, scifi romance, Veronica Scott


About Pets in Space 5

The King’s Quest (Dragon Lords of Valdier) by S.E. Smith

A playful trick leads to love for a Goddess, but will the King she falls in love with accept her for who she really is?

Dark Ambitions (Class 5) by Michelle Diener

When a planetary exploration trip takes a dangerous turn, a human woman and her powerful AI friend will need all their skills to come to the rescue.

Star Cruise: Return Voyage (Sectors SF Romance) by Veronica Scott

She survived the worst interstellar shipping disaster in history as a child but can she survive the Return Voyage as an adult?

General’s Holiday (Project Enterprise) by Pauline Baird Jones

A General is ready for another fight—this time for the woman he loves.

Juggernaut (The Inherited Stars) by Laurie A. Green

A security commander must decide if she can trust a mysterious stranger and his bioengineered StarDog when the secret underground site she protects is threatened.

Galactic Search and Rescue (Central Galactic Concordance) by Carol Van Natta

Two military first-responders and an animal team of rescuers are the only hope for saving an entire town when disaster turns deadly.

Reaper (Xian Warriors) by Regine Abel

With time running out, a woman accepts her fate only to find hope in the genetically engineered warrior created by her captors.

Pastfinder (Starways) by Alexis Glynn Latner

A woman’s psychic gift might be the catalyst needed to save the life of the man she loves—in an ancient archaeological site that contains a stupendous discovery.

Mittens Not Included (TriSystems: Smugglers) by JC Hay

He craved order and discipline to help his life make sense. She offered him cats instead.

Finding Mogha (Before The Fall) by Kyndra Hatch

A human’s effort to save a sentient being takes her straight into the path of a Korthan warrior.

Rate of Return (The Department of Homeworld Security) by Cassandra Chandler

Falling for an Earthling sends an alien and his adorable, six-legged pet in a tailspin.

Glitch (Crashland Colony Romance) by Leslie Chase

An alien pirate and a human find love in the shadow of disaster.

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Review of Pets in Space 5

I can’t believe there are 5 Pets in Space collections already.  My how time flies when you are enjoying great stories.  Pets in Space 5 is the best collection yet!

Many of the stories are a part of series that I am following.  Having the qualities of both new and familiar make them favorites in this anthology.  However, whether you follow the series or not, all of these stories stand pretty well on their own.  For me, there was one exception that seemed a bit disjointed because I had not read any books in the series.  Individual results will vary.  However, I still enjoyed every tale in this book!  Today, I am offering a few short reviews of some of my favorites.

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Dark Ambitions (Class 5) by Michelle Diener

Rose, having lived on a ship for some time, is excited to be able to set foot on a planet.  This is where she meets Sweetpea, a small squirrel-like critter.  Make that flying squirrel.  Daz is off on a mission, but Sazo is still in contact with Rose.  Good thing.  There will be trouble for Rose and her explorer friends.  I am a big fan of the Class 5 series and was especially pleased to go back to the story of Rose, Daz and the original Class 5, Sazo.  Sazo has not changed much, so imagine him to be very protective of Rose while not especially concerned about the others.  The ongoing education of a superpower ship/AI is one of the things I like about the series.  Sweetpea makes a delightful addition to Rose’s family while Daz sweeps in for the assist.  But leave it to Rose to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to being the heroine.  After all, she is from gravity-rich Earth.

——————-

General’s Holiday (Project Enterprise) by Pauline Baird Jones

I am a long-time fan of the Project Enterprise series.  General Halliwell is a recurring semi-major character who really deserved his chance at romance.  Halliwell, who likes to wonder WWPD (What would Picard do?) runs into the engaging and lovely Naxe and her friend who happens to be a frog.  If you read Ms. Jones’ book, you now that sentience can occur in just about any type of creature.  Add some impressive, if scary, plants, a long-deserted ship complex and some bugs that create quite the buzz and you get another Project Enterprise adventure full of plenty of Picard moments.

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Juggernaut (The Inherited Stars) by Laurie A. Green

What you need to know about The Inherited Stars series is that the order the books are released is not an indicator of the time line of the overall story arc.  Each new story sheds light on something you may have read about that will happen on a future timeline or something that happened in the past.  Either way, it is a unique and entertaining way to read a series.

In Juggernaut, the reason for the threat to the project Dek is providing security for reads as secondary to the immediate situation she finds herself in.  That is, Dek is more concerned with the actual attack and with the enigma that is Sno Telon.  Dek and Telon are a natural couple once they decide they can trust each other.  It should be noted that CaSandra, Telon’s stardog, intuits that Dek is on the right side immediately.

Back to that reason for the threat.  It is part of the big story arc picture.   It is not critical for taking care of the threat, nor does it play into the romance.  However, if you have read the series, when you get done with the story, you might think “Hmmm”.  (If you haven’t read the series, you can still enjoy this story very much.  You can just skip the “Hmmm”.)

——————-

Reaper (Xian Warriors) by Regine Abel

Dark is the word I would use to describe the beginning of Reaper.  Having been imprisoned and stranded in an underground bunker for years, Janelle and her Creckel companions are running out of resources.   Death is near.  The arrival of genetically engineered soldiers/peacekeepers may be her last hope, but the first one to find her, Reaper, looks too much like her former captors.

After a minor glitch, Reaper and Janelle hit it off just fine.  Really it is a major glitch, but I don’t want to worry you too much.  Besides the glitch adds humor to what was a very dark situation.

Of all the ‘pets’, I think the Creckels are the least fluffy.  I mean that in the sense that they are way too ferocious and deadly to be considered a pet.  In fact, companion is probably a better word.  Just the kind of companion one would want in a hostile situation.  

——————-

Finding Mogha (Before The Fall) by Kyndra Hatch

Ms. Hatch’s After the Fall in Pets in Space 3 blew me away.  The two follow up stories, Interrupting Starlight in Pets in Space 4 and Finding Mogha in this anthology have helped to fill in the details of the world(s) of the Korth and a few human women that seem to get in their way.  In each story, there is a new planet to test the humans and the Korth as well as an enemies-to-lovers romance that tests the ability of sentients of diverse backgrounds to overcome prejudice.

And there are moghas.  Mogha is the term for an alien that forms a bond with a Korth warrior.  Every warrior longs to find his own companion mogha.  In Finding Mogha, K’vyn is sorely disappointed to find the mogha, C’hase, has already bonded with a human woman, Dani.  The odd circumstances of their meeting are just a warm up for the adventure because the mogha homeworld will soon be under attack.  Warning: humans are the bad guys in this one (except Dani).

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Even though the anthology is supposed to be about pets, many of the cats, dogs and otherworldy creatures are so much more than pets.  Many are sentient companions, have specific purposes and even seem to be as in charge of things as their partners.  Pet lovers can relate to this.  Not only does my dog appear to understand me, he often seems to direct me to certain actions (fill the water bowl, go for a walk, toss a ball).  He would make a great SFR companion-hero!

No two stories are alike!  There is enough variety, with 12 original stories, everyone that reads Pets in Space 5 is sure to find their own 5-star story.  Probably several stories!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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