*4.5 stars*

A suspenseful whirlwind…

I really enjoyed Seb and Jenna’s action-filled courtship! They were both on the same side – the good one – but one fought in the shadows while the other, well, he hid nothing….

Talk about opposites attract! Seb is a seemingly happy-go-lucky, adventure-seeking fighter pilot while Jenna hid everything about herself as she fought under whatever name and face the job required. Their first encounter was full of professional antagonism and a lot of flirty banter, setting a solid for a relationship that was going to be tested over and over again…

Seb had hidden depths and a chivalrous soul that would pull him out of his comfort zone and also off side with his colleagues he considered friends. Jenna had quickly become someone he could not let go or be left unprotected. Jenna was a strong-willed woman who had spent a lot of years avoiding relationships, friendship and even her family. She’d given up everything for her career, one that may get her killed by friendly fire. How it all came to be and worked out was one explosive scene after another. And those scenes? They came together in an intrigue-filled, surprisingly emotional, futuristic read.

I have to admit it again. The covers of this author’s books are pure visual addiction and I am once again thrilled that the story matches it…

Cover Fire (Valiant Knox) Kindle Edition
by Jess Anastasi
Jess Anastasi is a romance world. Jess has created a world within a world on the Valiant Knox, which only make since it is the outer space version of an aircraft carrier. There are shops, bars, restaurants and arcades. A mini-city to keep the `service people sane while drifting through the blackness of space.
She has also given us mind blowing characters. Cowboy quick draw, master fighter pilot, Sebastian volunteers to take the devastatingly beautiful CI Agent Jenna planet side And he begins to regret every minute.
She is the opposite of his type,plastic looking and deceitful. So when does he go crashing back to the planet when he hears `she is dead. And why does he try to help her? Could it be the betrayal he faced from his own b`st friend or could it be the growing attraction between them or could it be his innate distrust of the CI?
Or could it be all of the above?
Ms Anastasi has a wonderful way with creating characters voices and narration. Sebastian seems to be a blend of Han Solo and Tom Cruise. He can't take anything seriously because if he does he will lose it. Jenna, on the other hand, is a tough, strong woman ready for her death because there is a mole in her organization out to kill her. Their love-story is `so authentic, that love-hate story that appears on every soap opera everywhere It is a blast
Red herrings lay everywhere, keeping you off the track of the real bad guy(`s?) Wild rides on space ships and a touch of motion `sickness keep the laughter rolling.
A combo of Star Wars and Top Gun, Cover Fire is definitely Book Nerd Approved

5 stars out of 5

n Cover Fire, Jess Anastasi has created a scorching romantic sci-fi thriller set on a ship in a galaxy far, far . . . well, not here at any rate. While Cover Fire is the third in the Valiant Knox (refers to the ship) series, it really can be read as a standalone as I didn’t feel that I missed a lot by not having read the previous two. However, I probably will and all the while hoping Sub-Lieutenant Sebastian Rayne, who is the hero of Cover Fire, shows up.

Yes, Seb Rayne is the perfect hero. He’s funny, good-looking, somewhat cocky, but he’s also honorable with a deep sense of loyalty. Really, Anastasi has created one of the best heroes I’ve come across in a while. I could read more books with him in them…oh, there was a heroine?

Kidding. While Agent Jenna Branson wasn’t as intriguing to me as Seb Rayne, she was still kickass and smart and very competent. As a highly skilled agent, at no time did she play the weak female card so I do have to say kudos to Anastasi for that as well. It’s nice to read about competent and strong women.

Cover Fire is extremely well-written with alternating points-of-view that ensnare the reader. It can be a pretty hard book to put down. There’s a load of action and a mystery that might be guessable to people who read a lot of mysteries, but still there’s surprises at the end.

The only hiccup for me, and I will say that this happens sometimes in romantic thrillers, is that the couple who are trying to escape and are hiding, decide to have sex and remove all of their clothes even though there is a threat of them being discovered. Obviously a malfunction in the survival gene.

But that was the only glitch, for me, in this otherwise engrossing story.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So Bas is the crazy kamikaze pilot, pretty much the only guy willing to take on the riskiest of missions. And this one just happens to be the riskiest one he's ever going to be on. Because somehow his hearts gone and gotten involved. Jenna is an expert at espionage and all things covert. So getting involved with anyone is the number one no-no in her line of work. But Bas, standing up and taking her side when she has a target on her back thaws something within her. And Bas is sick and tired of betrayal so he knows how much Jenna needs his support right now. Butting coming out of this mission alive and dismantling the dissent on the Valiant Knox is the only way they'll get a shot at a future together.

I found myself pulled in and reading way past my bedtime I couldn't put it down. The characters makes your toes curl with there chemistry and is a fantastic read you have to try. Would recommend

Cover Fire is the third book in the Valiant Knox series, and it both lives up to its predecessors and takes the action in several new directions. If you like science fiction romance, start with Escape Velocity and jet right on over to Damage Control before jumping into Cover Fire. You’ll be glad you did.

And if you have a friend who likes military romance but is hesitant about the whole SF thing, this series is a terrific gateway drug for those who are thinking about trying SFR. It definitely has the flavor of military romance, but in setting that easily evokes contemporary military romance.

Because that Valiant Knox that the series is named for? She’s a battleship. She just happens to be a space battleship.

She’s also a floating city in space, much like a considerably less battered Battlestar Galactica, or a Babylon 5 that does more than just orbit a planet.

While the previous two stories in this series have focused more on the military side of the military police action to embargo the planet Ilari and its fanatic CSS soldiers, Cover Fire is all about the truly dirty side of war. Not black ops, but much, much dirtier. Jenna Maxwell is a member of Command Intelligence. She’s a spy, an infiltrator, and on occasion, assassin.

And somebody on her own side wants her dead. The question in her mind is whether she did something wrong that CI thinks needs to be “cleaned up”, or whether someone in CI is a mole for the CSS. All too many CSS moles have been uncovered among the crew of the Valiant Knox, so there’s plenty of reasons to believe that CI might have some too, in spite of the extreme vetting its agents go through on their way in.

That’s where our story begins. Hot-shot pilot Sebastian Rayne is still reeling after the revelation that his best friend was a CSS mole all along. They were best buds for years, and Seb never noticed a thing. He’s still kicking himself, and questioning his own judgment at every turn.

And taking suicide missions, like the one he’s offered to drop Jenna behind enemy lines on Ilari, the enemy stronghold, in a top-secret mission using a POS stolen CSS space shuttle. Of course the whole thing goes FUBAR. There was a damn good reason that shuttle didn’t look spaceworthy. It wasn’t.

But in their enforced togetherness while running from the wreck and escaping the CSS soldiers sent to investigate, Jenna and Seb have a little too much time to spend together. Just enough for Seb to notice that the tough-as-nails exterior doesn’t always match the woman who begins to question, just a little, whether her lonely, dark place in the underbelly of this war is worth the price she has to pay for it.

And just when both their missions seem to be back on track, Jenna is betrayed by her own side, and Seb is sent to pick up the pieces – pieces that are supposed to include Jenna’s body. Instead, he finds a live, scared and pissed off Jenna who has been forced to expose her real appearance, because that’s the only face that CI doesn’t have on file.

Jenna needs Seb’s help to track the reasons for her would-be assassination. And she needs Seb to remind her that the lonely life of a field agent is no life at all. And Seb needs Jenna to help him find closure for the biggest betrayal of his life.

But there is someone gunning for them both. Whether that’s CI, a CSS mole, or a player to be named later is anyone’s guess. But running for their lives together is the best thing that’s ever happened to both of them.

And it might just turn the tide of the war.

Escape Rating B+: I always have a great time aboard the Valiant Knox – or flying around it. But as much as I like the stories and the setting, I’m still not totally clear on the motivations of the CSS. They come off as “standard evil repressive fundamentalist cult” which is a common trope but doesn’t give me enough.

It also, as this story discovers, isn’t enough for some of its adherents. The CSS claims they want independence to go about their evil, repressive ways, but they may not be the only dog in this fight. We’ll see. That possibility gives me very high hopes for subsequent books in this series.

But about Cover Fire. All the stories in this series, so far, have dealt with forbidden romances in one way or another, and this one is no exception. Unlike the standard trope of the fighter pilot jock, Seb is not out to notch his bedpost. He is much more interested in a real relationship, or at least trying for one. And as much as he comes to want Jenna, as long as she believes that she has to run, he’s not after just a one-night-stand, no matter how he wants her.

He’s also going through a lot of self-doubt after the exposure of his friend as a CSS mole. He’s not sure what he feels, or with Jenna, who he feels it for. She turns her CI mask on and off like flipping a switch. Meanwhile, Jenna isn’t sure not just what she feels, but who she really is and whether she has a life expectancy longer than a few hours. She thinks her own organization is out to get her, and they are very, very effective at tying up loose ends.

Any relationship between them is the ultimate distraction from the effort to find out who ordered the hits and to keep them both alive long enough to expose the rot. There are plenty of times when that effort seems doomed, and often by their own mistakes.

I’ll admit that I did figure out whodunnit quite a bit before the end. I had the motives wrong, but the perpetrator seemed obvious, and was. Which didn’t decrease my enjoyment of the story and the series one iota.

I can’t wait to see what happens next. In the somewhat ominously titled War Games, coming out later this year.

Sebastian, a Sub-Lieutenant, embraces challenge, which is why he agrees to fly an agent behind enemy lines. The mission goes off without a hitch, aside from the crash landing, but while she's there, something goes wrong and now Sebastian, as the agent is assumed dead, must return to retrieve her body.

Jenna, an agent, narrowly escaped death, one intended for her by her own people. Knowing she can't do it alone, Jenna asks the pilot sent to take her remains home, the same one who dropped her off, to help her sneak onto his ship, allowing her the chance to uncover who wants her dead and why.

However, as Sebastian and Jenna begin working together, their newfound partnership eventually brings their mutual attraction to the forefront, as well as strengthens their connection the more time they spend with one another. But Jenna is still in danger, and will be as long as whoever wants her gone is out there, able to try again. Thankfully, Sebastian is just as determined to ensure her safety, unfortunately, that also leads to some reckless decisions on his part, ones that may endanger both his and Jenna's lives.

Who is after Jenna and why? Are both Sebastian and Jenna safe? Can they stay that way long enough to discover the identity of the person after Jenna? Is their relationship strong enough to survive this deadly situation? Or is it simply a case of the intense dilemma and close proximity they find themselves facing? Is there a HEA for these two?

One-click now and follow along as two people face danger, both to their lives and hearts.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

I really enjoyed this book full of action it had me sucked in right from the start.A super read that you won't be able to put down i just loved the banter between Seb and Jenna had me laughing out loud at time a super read would recommend.I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Jenna embarks on a mission into enemy territory to retrieve vital information that could turn the tide of the war in their favor - the mission turns south from the start when the transport she is in, piloted by the cocky and elite fighter Sebastian Raynes, crash lands (or skids and bumps depends on how you look at it) - Soon Jenna and Seb are finding it hard to stay alive while they uncover the mole within their ranks.
An action packed suspense Sci-Fi read that will keep you completed invested from the opening dialogue to the closing scene -
The electricity between Jen and Seb is off the charts - their opposing personalities play off each other to point
The supporting cast is well defined and easy to connect with - Anastasi leaves you wanting to know more and with the feeling as if you are part of the family
New Author and new series for me - even though I came into this series with book 2 I had no problem following the plot and the characters - though I am really excited to go back and start at book one
I received a free copy of this book and chose to leave a voluntary review

It's ages since I've read a good Sci-Fi Romance, and this is an excellent example of one. I loved this story, it was full of action and adventure, deadly peril and intrigue, not to mention plot twists that came out of the blue.

The hero, Seb, is super sexy but also sweet and vulnerable, whilst the heroine, Jenna, is strong, feisty and a definite go-getter. The chemistry between them was not only hot and intense but you could feel it, In fact the book had a lot of 'feels' and I really loved both the main characters.

The plot was excellent, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me gripped. The writing is very good, I found the book so easy to read and could follow the story with no effort, yet there was plenty of action too. The pace kept me engaged and I just couldn't wait to find out how the story would end.

This is the first book I've read by Jess Anastasi but it won't be the last - I will definitely be adding this author's work to my TBR list.

Rating 4.5/5
Right from the start this is an action packed science fiction romance, a page turner packed with suspense, suspicion and danger. This highly skilled author writes evocatively, bringing the scenarios and characters vividly to life in the imagination of the readers.

Jenna is an undercover agent, used to working on her own and being self reliant, determined and an expert spy. Seb is the dare devil pilot taking her on her mission in a decrepit spaceship. After a dramatic crash landing life for the pair will never be the same as they discover someone has ordered her assassination . . . . As the two work together to discover who is out to get her - and why - there’s never a dull moment through the rest of this enthralling story.

If you enjoy superbly crafted suspense filled mysteries with an added twist of both science fiction and romance definitely check out this book and the series. Whilst it is the third story in the series it can be read and enjoyed even if you haven’t read the others. However, I suspect that after reading this you’ll be tempted to check the other two books out, too - I’m certainly planning on doing so!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this novel via NetGalley; this is my honest opinion after choosing to read the book.

I was needing a good one in this genre with my catching this one. I had also read a couple of other books by her so I knew I liked her style. Even though I had not read all in this series I still enjoyed diving into this one. This one circles around Sebastian and Jenna with it being quite the adventure to be sure. Being dead can be bad for the ego so a mystery will have to be solved. What else also grows out of this mission is also a hot one for us to observe and taste. The secrets that you see unveiled captivate will you experience quite the banter between these two. You will stay tuned for everything so not to miss one single morsel till the very end.

Loved this book.

Cover Fire is one busy story! Jenna is a Command Intelligence agent. That loosely translates into a super spy. Her current assignment is to go deep into CCS enemy-held territory. Her and her handler approach Sub-Lieutenant Sebastian aboard the Knox and request he flies her in. He thinks they’re crazy but he takes the challenge. Once the crash land on the planet they go their separate ways. Seb hijacks another ship and heads back to the Knox only to be told that something has happened Jenna and he must return to retrieve her body. What?! He gets back only to find out not only is she not dead but now they realize her own people attempted to kill her. She asks Seb for his help, to get back to the Knox and to find out who and why somebody wanted her dead.

So much subterfuge going on. Jenna a special agent, someone trying to kill her, sneaking around finding who is after her. Whew! And Seb finds himself in the middle of it all. She's used to doing things on her own and he insists on helping her. When the methodical agent meets the reckless stick jockey and you just know sparks are going to fly.

Both have vulnerable sides. She's had to give up so much to do her job. He was deeply betrayed and as much he tries playing it off the pain has him doubting himself. Between the danger and the intrigue, the excitement just keeps building and building and along the way they find love and an HEA. Possibly not for just themselves! Hint-hint!

A final note: I try to be good about reading series in their proper order, however, I didn’t quite follow that guideline when it came to the Valiant Knox series. 2, 1 and now 3. At least I’m up to speed now on everything and let me suggest reading them in proper order, especially when it comes to Damage Control #2 and Cover Fire #3. There a major plot line that takes place in #2 that has a huge impact on Sebastian. Without that knowledge, the continuing storyline may not have the proper oomph it needs.

reviewed by Jacque

Sub Lieutenant Sebastian Rayne is a fighter pilot on the Valiant Knox a space station in orbit over a war torn planet. He has always been the one to take on the risky jobs.
Taking an agent from Command Intelligence behind enemy lines is exactly what he enjoys.
CI agent Jenna Maxwell finds this latest task to be a lot more complicated than it should be. Someone on her own side seems to want her dead.
This is part of a series that is best read in order, but you could enjoy it on it's own. Our hero finds himself well outside his comfort zone. He is an honest man and the lies that come so naturally from our heroine unnerve him.
Lots of intrigue and exciting fights. It's hard to say just who is the real hero in this story because the females involved can really kick ass. Great fun, I loved it.

Given my lukewarm feelings towards the previous book in this series (Damage Control), I was a little hesitant about reading this book. No need! This is my favourite of the series by far – possibly of everything I’ve read by Jess Anastasi. Seb is such a light-hearted charmer, perfectly balanced by the secretive Jenna. Their chaotic adventure is fast-paced, intriguing, fun and sexy, and I really enjoyed it.

Mostly because of Seb. He’s a charming daredevil with a heart of gold, a beautiful face and emotionally bruised by previous betrayals. There is a lot more to him than the carefree face he tends to show the world, but his courage and loyalty when it came to protecting Jenna just proves what a strong man he is underneath all the hurt and humour. I loved him.

I liked Jenna too. She’s a woman who has been alone and isolated for a long time, constantly undercover, working to expose the secrets of the tyrannical CSS and help win the war. Yet, like Seb, there’s so much more to her than her spy skills. She’s also full of doubts about the work she does and the people she works for. Plus, she’s a far better person than she ever believes herself to be. She and Seb make an excellent team.

There’s rarely a dull moment in this tale as the pair of them lurch from mission to disaster to mystery to chaos. Their romance is equally explosive, pushing forward at some unsuitable moments and filled with plenty of heat. It moves pretty fast at times, but it fits the speed of the book, so I didn’t mind too much.

The speed with which people healed, however, I did have a problem with. There are some serious injuries incurred throughout, but it seems that within hours they’re all back up and bouncing straight into the action again. I would say those are some good drugs they’re using, but there isn’t a chance for any after one beating, yet the injuries are still shaken off and they’re all sprinting about the next day. There’s also a scene which implies some pretty heavy psychological damage, yet again, within a few pages it’s as if it never happened. Except it did happen and by effectively forgetting about it all, my enjoyment of the whole book was sadly undermined.

Which is a huge shame, because I thought the rest of it was great. The characters are fun, the plot is packed with action, the romance is hot and it was nice catching up with the crew of the Knox again. If you can stop yourself from getting too distracted by stuff I probably take too seriously, and can read this as the high-octane space romp it is, then you’ll probably enjoy it too.

Sub-Lieutenant Sebastian Rayne is a pilot on the <i>Valiant Knox</i> who is tasked with flying CI Agent Jenna Branson behind enemy lines for her mission. When he's sent to retrieve her body, he discovers that the CI Agent is not dead - but someone wants her to be. Sneaking her back to the ship, the two of them engage in a deadly game of trying to figure out who wanted Jenna dead - and who now wants him out of the way.

<i>Cover Fire</i> by Jen Anastasi is a suspense-filled military spy thriller. Oh, and there's some romance. The third book in Ms. Anastasi's <i>Valiant Knox</i> series, it stands alone. This is the first book I've read in this series and while I'm sure I would have enjoyed some of the secondary characters more if I'd read the previous books, I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

I like science fiction and I like romance. I tend <i>not</i> to like sci fi romance. <i>Cover Fire</i>, however was fantastic. From the start, I was drawn into Seb and Jenna's plot. The dialogue feels natural, the world feels complete, and the characters - both main and secondary - are developed. More importantly, this was a true spy thriller. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me engaged. Watching Seb and Jenna trying to resist the attraction between the two of them was also fun as they had a connection to each other from the start.

If you're looking for a good spy thriller, you can't go wrong with <i>Cover Fire</i>. In fact, like me, you might have trouble putting this one down.

5 stars.

Cover Fire is a SciFi taking place in outer space where conflicts abound and double agents have infiltered the Command Intelligence. A war against technology!

Seb is the best fighter pilot in the organisation. He has a terrific sense of humour and appears to be too laid back but there is more to him that meets the eyes. Except for his looks!

Tessa is one of the best secret agents. She has dedicated the last ten years, putting on various guises and she no longer remembers who she really is. Interacting with others outside her missions is uncomfortable!

Seb is given the task of transporting Jenna to her next mission behind enemy lines. Drop her off and return to base. Simple? The first hurdle is navigating the ship that they have been allocated, then avoiding being detected by the enemy. As soon as Seb returns, he is summoned and ordered to go straight back to retrieve Jenna's body. What he finds when he gets there is a total surprise.

Jenna has realised that there is a conspiracy and is determined to get to the bottom of its origin. Seb believes in her and together, they embark on a treacherous and dangerous journey. They didn't expect to fall for each other though. Seb is cautious because he has been so badly betrayed that it still stings. Jenna is surprised at her reaction to him, and the current situation doesn't bode well for either of them.

Identifying the moles proves to be dangerous. The traitors play their cards well and they are lethal. Seb puts his life on the line for Jenna and she is prepared to do the same. Their interactions are witty but passionate and loving. The plot is strong and convincing. The team spirit of the stick hockeys is examplary. This novel is full of suspense. It had me guessing and on the edge of my seat most of the time. It's so well constructed that it's like watching a movie.

I received a complimentary eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Agent Jenna Maxwell has a new undercover assignment and needs a ride down to Ilari. Enter Sub-Lt. Seb Raynes.

Seb is still in a funk after realising he had been friends with a traitor. But when he's given babysitting duty for a CI spy he's not a happy chappie. When they later go behind enemy lines, Jenna is dropped off and Seb makes his way back to the ship. But he is told to return as Jenna is now dead and he is to retrieve information from her corpse!

Jenna managed to make it out of the trap set for her alive. Now she and Seb have to return to the ship and investigate who set her up and why. Just as well part of her arsenal of spy gadgets are facial altering gizmos!

Jenna starts off quite cold but you soon see past the facade to the warm, intelligent and loyal woman beneath. Similarly, Seb presents a playboy outlook to the universe but he feels things deeply, especially betrayal. They have plenty of sparky banter and I loved the way the kind of goad each other into doing what they want! All the CI spies kind of remind me of the fembots from Austin Power! That kind of plasticised, bland pretty package hiding deadliness.

Plenty of mystery, thrills/spills and romance and a great paced story. I really love SCi Fi romance and this series has been amazing so far. I cannot wait to see what happens between CAFF and a certain male who rubs her the wrong way!