Nightchaser wasn’t really the space adventure I was looking for, but it was a good romance and set us up for further stories. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does end at the start of what I presume will be the big adventure.

I chose Nightchaser because I thought a space adventure would be fun. I expected the Endeavor to be on the scale of Star Trek or at least Voyager and was looking forward to a Captain Janeway level captain taking us out into a Star Wars/Star Trek mergered fight against the dark forces story. Ummm…not so much.

That it not to say the story was bad, it was just less…intergalactic or adventurous than I anticipated. Tess Bailey, who was more the captain by default as she was best at making decisions, runs the crew of five individuals. All of whom are human. They all were lucky to escape from a hell-hole prison and abscond with the Endeavor. Since then they have aided the rebellion where they could stealing from the space dictator and providing food or medicine where it is needed most.

The Endeavor tripped across a tiny space lab which was in the middle of nowhere and vacuum-sealed it to their little ship before they were confronted by one of the high commanders of the space dictator’s fleet. They jumped into a black hole, choosing to die rather than return to the prison and take the space lab with them. The black hole turned out to be more of worm hole than certain death and Tess and crew survived but the ship was damaged and they need to land for repairs. That is where the crew meets Shade Ganavan.

Most of the story takes place on the planet with Shade and Tess doing the mating dance. See not only is Shade an awesome mechanic, but he is a sometimes bounty hunter and he knows that Tess is worth a king’s ransom to the space dictator, twice if he can return whatever she stole. So kudos to Shade for hesitating on the strong attraction between himself and Tess because he isn’t so much of a jerk that he would sleep with her and turn her in for the fortune. So there is a lot of attraction and flirting, and a good deal of confusion on Tess’s part when Shade runs hot and cold on her.

We do learn a lot of background about Tess and her crew while we wait for things to happen but mostly it is the romance between Shade and Tess (and whether or not there will be any) which takes center stage.

I liked some of the simple things that are noted in the story, which no one usually bothers with in the big adventure, such as how pale the crew was since they spend so much time in the darkness of space. There is the novelty of seeing animals and how Tess isn’t certain at first if the cats she sees are dangerous or not, also how the crew is fascinated by the cat she brings back to the ship and how animals react to space travel. Her crew consists of an elderly lady who is blind and a woman who lost a hand when she cut it off to escape her chains as a sex slave. There was no magic replacements (or no money for magical replacements) and they had to do their space-jobs despite their handicaps. I also liked that they needed to get chunks of their ship repaired as the space tyrant literally blew holes in it. Tess had to go shopping for new everything since her room lost its outside wall and all her clothes and sheets, and everything not barred or bolted down get sucked into space. They also have to schedule their showers since water use is limited and Shade gets quite the shock over the four minute ice cold shower he shares with Tess. It was not the sexy, foreplay he anticipated. Even magical wand healing is expensive and Tess has to make due at one point with old-fashioned stitches. It had a lot of little details added in which big space adventures glance over.

There is a lot of set up and introduction of the main characters and some of the secondary yet still important characters as well. Now that we have dealt with the romance, and of course, end up bringing Shade into the crew (shocking, right? It’s a romance.) I am going to look for the next book and see if the space adventure gets beefed up as part of the next story.

It's been quite some time since I've read a space-themed romance. To be honest, its been Sherrilyn Kenyon or Gena Showalter universes that have held my interest. But I;m so glad I took a chance on Amanda Bouchet's new series with Nightchaser. Not only does it remind me of Robin Hood but for an other nerds out there, it reminds me a lot of Serenity/firefly. Space pirates out there, somewhat reluctantly seeking justice and righteousness for those less fortunate. Tess and her crew are welcome among those groups but her tale comes with a side order or espionage.

Not only does Tess take risks, she's not afraid to face authority. But when it comes down to revealing her #1 secret, Tess has to reveal her true identity in order for them to make an almost kamikaze choice. But when the risk pays off and spits her into a new Sector of space, her refuge leads her to one charming rogue by the name of Shade. He knows the planet like no one else and their attraction sparks immediately. But before Tess can escape to the reaches of space again with her crew, Shade has to help her repair her ship. With close calls of the Overseer's (our villain) goons; Shade poses a danger Tess has no idea about. He may be a rogue, but her picture has landed in his lap as the largest bounty he's ever been given to collect. Enough for him to repair the past he's been chasing for years.

I would almost categorize this is an action/suspense romance because while Tess and her crew may be avoiding capture, it's a slow paced evasion. Their essentially hiding out on a planet which has it's own dangers. Tess and her crew face them every day before their week of repairs are up. Meanwhile Shade is falling for Tess while trying to decide if her bounty is worth sacrificing a woman he's connected with for the first time in a long time. A new battle in space determines their fate and I'm excited to see where Tess, Shade, and her crew go!

Amanda Bouchet's Nightchaser is a great addition to the sic-fi romance genre. Her writing and characters, specifically her heroine Tess reminds me of the great Linnea Sinclair who made sci fi romance her own. If you're a fan of Sinclair, you must read this first book in what I assume will be a series. The story building and imagination from Amanda to create this universe and the characters involved is deep and intense, and oh so realistic when it comes to space travel.

Tess's backstory is riveting and she reminds me of a DC or Marvel superhero. She may or may not have super powers, but what those super powers involve isn't flying in the air or invisibility. It's her makeup that allows her to save those sick and dying, and mainly children. Tess has a great support system with her intergalactic crew, but she is also shown as alone. But Tess won't be alone for long because that is where Slade enters the picture. Slade is a mystery who is not really solved until the very end, and even then you'll have questions about him that will move to the next book. Is her a bounty hunter, a criminal or a man just trying to survive like Tess because so much was taken away from him. The way he and Tess bond is a slow build up but oh so swoony from Slade helping Tess get a cat to finding books. Plus he won't betray her even though he can. Also the sex between them is hot. Amanda sure can write great love scenes.

The only downside is the book goes on a little too long to establish Tess and Slade's relationship. If you don't mind that, then Nightchaser will work for you and will want feed your appetite for more sci-fi romance.

Nightchaser reminds me of so many skiffy (science fictional) things that it’s hard to pick one. Or even two or three.

Particularly in the beginning, there’s a whole lot of Firefly. Not so much that you need to be familiar with the show to get the book, not at all. The characters and the setting of Nightchaser are most definitely capable of standing on their own.

However, if you do have fond memories of Firefly, the beginning of the story has a lot of similar elements. Or to put it another way, if Captain Mal Reynolds and River Tam were one slightly crazed and depressed person you’d end up with someone a lot like Tess Bailey. The big difference is that Tess’ highly sought-after anomalies are physical rather than mental. And not that Tess isn’t a bit mental, but in her case that’s the effect and not the cause of her troubles.

We meet Tess and the crew of her cargo ship Endeavor as they are on the run from the forces of the tyrannical and repressive Galactic Overlord, in the person of her uncle Bridgebane. He’s hunting Tess because her father, the aforementioned Galactic Overlord, wants her back so he can turn her back into a lab rat. There’s something “different” about Tess and he wants it studied, used and abused.

Tess has just stolen a secret lab filled with samples of her own blood, mutated into serum intended to create supersoldiers, along with one of the supersoldiers. Daddy Dearest wants the lab – and Tess – back.

Tess and her crew pilot their ship into a black hole, intending to escape or die trying.

The first happens immediately – to everyone’s surprise. The second, unfortunately, nearly happens later.

But first, the Endeavor has to hole up on a planet – any planet – to repair the damage the Overseer’s battlecruisers have done to her. And that’s where fate, or at least romance, in the person of Shade Ganavan steps in.

Shade is a parts dealer with a whole lot of secrets and an unexpected yen for Tess Bailey. A situation that gets a whole lot more complicated when his secret life as a government bounty hunter lets him know that Tess is a prize worth enough to solve all the problems he’s been working on for ten years.

He just has to give up the best thing that’s ever happened to him to cash in. And he can’t manage to decide which he wants more – to buy back his family’s lost legacy – or Tess.

His indecision lasts one little bit too long – forcing him into an unplanned reveal, an unintended betrayal, and the loss of everything he ever wanted.

Because if Tess recovers, she’s not going to want him back. Not even if he brings back her cat.

Escape Rating A-: Nightchaser does remind me of Firefly – and a whole lot of other marvelous SF and SFR adventures. If you’ve read Ann Aguirre’s Grimspace series, or Nina Croft’s Blood Hunter/Dark Desires series, or Linnea Sinclair’s Dock Five Universe, you’ll find pieces of all of them in Nightchaser. Along with a bit of the rebels vs. the evil empire that is such an integral part of Star Wars.

But those are all terrific antecedents, so anything that’s made of parts of them starts at a pretty awesome place.

A big part of this story is the setting up of the SFnal universe in which this series takes place. We kind of jump right into the action, with the crew of the Endeavor on the run, and then Tess making her dramatic speech and big reveal just before they leap to what seems like certain death – only to discover that it isn’t.

After that we get a slightly more leisurely introduction to this universe, as they dock at planet Albion 5 for repairs. Not only do we meet our hero Shade, but through Tess’ eyes we see how not just this planet but this universe actually works. We get onboard with the tyranny of the Overseer, and through Tess’ interactions with people other than Shade we learn just how awful things are, and not just why Tess is part of the rebellion but why there needs to be a rebellion in the first place.

Tess’ interactions with the bookstore owner make the problems both intimate and universal at the same time. Imagination is illegal, books are censored, and bookstores are fined and hassled at every turn. And yet, the woman can’t stop trying.

And she gives Tess a cat! Bonk provides many of the necessary bits of both sweet and comic relief – even as he takes off on an unexpected adventure of his own.

But this is also a romance between two very broken people. Tess and Shade are strong and brittle, broken in so many ways that run deeper than the way that the Overseer and his “Brownshirts” make sure that everyone is to too broken down to resist. Neither of them trusts easily, and when Shane betrays Tess’ trust our hearts break with her.

That they live to fight another day – even after all the secrets seem to be revealed and all the depths appear to be plumbed – is bittersweet. The cost to win this undeclared war is going to be very high – and Tess will be at the center of paying it.

Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet is the first story in her sci-fi romance series Endeavor. It's full of action and adventure and the story starts with a bang to keep you on your toes from the beginning to the end!

Tess Bailey has known lots of hardship in her twenty six years and it's led her to her current position – captain of the star ship Endeavor and its small crew. They pride themselves on being Nightchasers, Robin Hood-esque thieves who steal from the rich and powerful to help the less fortunate. Tess tries to stay out of the limelight but when her crew steals a lab and the powerful vaccines inside it she's forced to make some quick decisions when the military government will stop at nothing to get them back.

Landing on an out of the way Sector with a ship that barely survives a trip through dark matter, Tess seeks out someone who can repair her ship and make it space worthy again. She meets Shade Ganavan, clearly a space rogue but the guy who can get the job done without asking too many questions. Of course Shade has as many secrets as she does, but that doesn't stop them from acting on a mutual attraction for a sexy fling while she's in space dock. But can she trust the smooth talker or will it end with her and her crew in even deeper trouble?

I loved the action packed start to this series and settled in for a fun and exciting ride! Tess has a crew of five – Jaxon, her best friend, and the man who helped her survive a stint in a prison colony, Miko and her grandmother Shiori, and Fiona, their resident biologist who all joined Tess when they escaped from the prison. They've been together for five years when this story starts and have gotten into all kinds of scrapes but always made it through. This time though, they may have stolen the one thing that won't be ignored by the higher ups. The story is told in first person point of view by Tess and third person point of view by Shade in alternating chapters which is a unique way to write the story but makes it clear that it's Tess's to tell.

Tess is special, and the reader learns more about her as the story progresses and some surprisingly revelations are made. Shade and Tess get to know each other a little bit better as he works on repairs to her ship, leading to some sexy love scenes. But things aren't always what they seem, and the crew is forced to make more snap decisions and some harrowing and action packed scenes ensue. I don't want to give away too many details except to say that Shade and Tess come to an understanding (we'll call it a happy for now ending for them) and the story is clearly not over for the Endeavor crew. The worldbuilding is really interesting and if you're a fan of Star Trek or Star Wars type science fiction stories, you'll definitely be interested in this one! I can't wait to continue the series!

This review has been posted at Harlequin Junkie and feedback updated with the link. It has been posted at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and will be posted at Goodreads when the blog link goes live.

Science fiction/romance with a focus on a fast plot. Fun with some questionable science, there’s a lot of plot which feels somewhat unresolved as this starts a new series. It feels very much like Firefly.

The male love interest is more of a beta male which is an nteresting and very different choice from her last series. Not a bad thing, but he’s too earnest and noble to really be the bad boy he pretends to be. He’s not really as dangerous as he’s supposed to be so I think that’s why this feels a little off.

Still, it’s enterntaining and a fun read.

Less romance, more intrigue. Not a big fan of this, but I love the author overall, so I'm going to give the next one a shot to see if the world building (as opposed to the romance building) gets better.

My Review: The last few years Amanda Bouchet has been one of my favorite authors, I am obsessed with her fantasy romance series Kingmaker Chronicles. I have to admit though that I was a little hesitant when it came to this book, I am not really comfortable in the Sci-fi genre yet and I wasn't sure how her writing would translate from high fantasy to Sci-fi. I shouldn't have been worried though, I really ended up enjoying this one. Even with different settings in space, I was still able to picture so much of the descriptions. I also fell in love with the characters, but let's all admit that Bonk steals the show. I really appreciated how the love of books and reading was drawn into the story, it was a little extra icing on the cake. I also like how the relationship struggles to unfold with so many doubts and opposing sides. I am looking forward to the next book!



My Rating: I was pleasantly surprised with this book, though I shouldn't have been with my love of her other books. I enjoyed the story, the characters, the banter back and forth, and of course Bonk. I give it a rating of Four Paws!

DNF @ 23%

I wanted so desperately to love Nightchaser as all of the plot pieces are ones that I enjoy reading in a story, and yet it was so slow-moving that it was a struggle to maintain interest in continuing reading after the explosive action that started the story disappeared so abruptly. There was such potential with a fun, ragtag crew, the sci-fi worldbuilding of planet-to-planet travel, and a seemingly strong heroine who captains their ship that I tried my best, but eventually I petered out in hoping it would grab me when the action (or forward moving of the plot) never reappeared. Sadly, at this point, I believe its the author's way of telling a story that doesn't mix well with what I like as her other series fell flat for me too, but I had wanted to give her another chance. And that's okay as some readers simply aren't for some authors, even if I wish that weren't the case.

This book could have been written in anytime frame. As a science fiction book it fails for me as a reader, as too many twenty first century terms are used. It is as if the author wrote a book and the decided the setting. I could go on but that would be mean, and I know the author has talent as I’ve read her other books.


P.S. The cover is horrid.

Nightchaser is quite the ride! I was shocked with how fast I read this book, but then again, I couldn't put it down! We start off with Tess on the run after stealing a lab the government definitely wants. We just don't know why. Things turn bad fast when her secret is exposed and she's not sure who to trust!

I love the world created in Nightchaser. There are different districts and it's clear every one has their own way of living. I think this is the only thing a bit lacking for me in this book, I would've love more details on how this world works. Hopefully we'll get more of that in the next book!
Tess hasn't had an easy life, but made it against all odds. Now she's determined to help the people who need help the most. There are sick children and she needs to get them medication. Her ship being damaged is an issue though. It's going to cost a lot and take away the precious time they really can't spare.

Tess and her crew find a space where they can hopefully have their ship repared and that's when things get fun. I love reading about Tess discovering things she doesn't know. Like cats. That part was so much fun for me. As a fan of cats, I'm all in having them appear in books! Bonk is by far my favorite character.

Nightchaser is a good first book for this series. A lot is going on, but it's not too fast paced. I love that the author chose to take time for the ship to be fixed and Tess to start discovering whole new sides of life. Learning to trust, finding out more about her past, how can she help the people who need her the most? Can she avoid being caught by the military and do all of this?

Shade made this book so much fun. He's so funny, but sweet at the same time. I have to say I kept wondering if Tess really could trust him though! You'll have to read Nightchaser to find out though, haha. The few chapters we get from his POV were perfect and really were a great part of this book. There weren't many, but just enough to give us more of an idea about who he is!

And the bookstore!!! I could live there myself. I loved that besides Tess loving books there were other characters who did as well. Love of books is something I love seeing in other stories! The romance isn't rushed or too much, but fits the story just right.

Besides the humor and romance, we get a lot of action. I loved seeing this all play out and I really can't wait to see how Tess continues fighting for what's right. Nightchaser doesn't end in a major cliffhanger, but definitely in a way that leaves you wanting more!

Fantastic start to a new series. I wasn't sure what to expect after loving the previous series so much, but Amanda Bouchet did not dissapoint. PSA: do not start reading late at night unless you do not want to get any sleep because you will not be able to out this one down.

4.5 stars

I finished Amanda Bouchet’s galactic romance Nightchaser several nights ago, and I continue marveling at it, at the worlds Bouchet dreamed up and how badass her characters are as they almost die/laugh in the face of danger/otherwise survive. If spaceships, space renegades, and sex are your cup of tea then you’re in luck, because Nightchaser has them all, packed into a wildly inventive story that offers a whip-fast thrill akin to taking off in a really fast roller coaster.

The book opens pretty dramatically: Captain Tess Bailey and the rest of her Endeavor crew are hiding out from the Dark Watch—the galactic “police force” which operates under the orders of the dictatorial Overlord—because they’ve just stolen something big. It’s a laboratory, which they’ve attached to the side of the ship. The Dark Watch isn’t happy about that, and it’s up to Bailey and her crew to see if they can survive the Dark Watch’s efforts to get it back.

This tense episode is over pretty quickly, but it sets up the questions that drive the rest of the book: what’s in the lab and why is the Dark Watch going to such lengths to get it back? And who is the real Tess “Bailey”? How did she come to be Captain and what are her ultimate aims?

With Nightchaser, Bouchet offers us an escape that feels cinematic: the detail is brilliant, the story is action-packed, the characters, particularly Tess, have a messwithmeatyourownrisk vibe that I love. These aren’t shrinking violets; I just know that there’s going to be a lot of setting the world(s) on fire in future books of this trilogy, and I’m. here. for. it. But make no mistake about it: Tess and company are up against a formidable set of opponents, and the coming confrontations promise to be difficult (and enthralling).

Though there were a few moments when I felt like the book had almost a bit too much going on—lots of strands were introduced here, and will, no doubt, be picked back up in later books—I can’t wait to see where the series is going next and what the pay-off will be.

Nightchaser is another explosive read from Amanda Bouchet. “So say we all.”*

*This phrase is from Battlestar Galactica and not Nightchaser, but it seemed fitting. (Or maybe BG is just the only other space thing I've really enjoyed, so it was just a convenient comparison.)
**I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

Thank you @sourcebookscasa @netgalley and @amandabouchetauthor for my free copy of Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet the first installment in the Endeavor Series.

In this Robin Hood in space adventure, Captain Tess Bailey is on the run. She has a bounty on her head and a ship in disrepair. As she tries to figure out how to get out of this predicament she meets Shade Ganavan a sexy arrogant man who might be the answer to her prayers or her ruin. Will they give in to the chemistry between them or let the distrust brew?

I really enjoyed this one. I love the authors storytelling abilities. The story building was well developed and I was instantly engrossed. I thought it was well balanced between the sci fi and the romance that I was satisfied with the pace and story. The characters were also interesting and I’m really interested in how their stories will play out. I can’t wait to see how this adventure plays out. Bouchet has created a world that I a can’t wait to return to.
I definitely recommend this one !

Captain Tess Bailey is a thief and a rebel--and now she is a rebel with a cause that readers can get behind. Her latest haul, which she thought to be something of a panacea previously only available to the super rich, turns out to be something much worse. Something that the government intended for nefarious and horrible purposes, to be used against those very underprivileged people whom Tess had wanted to help. Now, with the aid of her band of quirky characters, Tess must do her illegal best to set things to rights. Bouchet's talent for memorable and entertaining characters is strong, and fans of her Kingmaker Chronicles fantasy trilogy will have no problem at all adjusting to her switch to the sci-fi genre.

Tess Bailey is the captain of the spaceship Endeavour, a ship she stole with the help of her entire crew when they all managed to break out of prison in the middle of a riot. They’re all wanted criminals with a price on their heads but instead of laying low they all chose to join the rebellion against the oppressive Overseer who put them in prison in the first place. They spend their time stealing supplies like food and medicine from the rich to help people who are desperately in need and they do it without expecting anything in return.

When a close encounter with the Overseer’s military leaves them with a badly damaged ship they are forced to take refuge on a planet where they have no existing connections. It’s imperative to keep their identity safe and get the repairs completed as quickly as possible but with the Dark Watch hot on their tails and a huge price on their heads escape might not be as easy as they thought.

I’m a huge fan of Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles so she’s already on my auto-buy list and I was incredibly excited to read Nightchaser, the first book in her new sci-fi romance series. Let’s just say we’re off to a fabulous start and I’m now desperately waiting for the rest of the series, so no pressure Amanda!

I really liked Tess and her whole crew, they all brought different skills to the table and combined they make a pretty good team. Tess is hiding some huge secrets but her crew are like her family and she will do whatever she has to in order to protect them. Tess is a pretty fierce character but she had some vulnerable moments too that made her very easy to relate to and of course I always feel like I could be friends with a woman who loves both books and cats!

They meet Shade when they land on planet and employ him to carry out repairs on their ship but he has his own secrets and they’re ones that could destroy everything Tess cares about. I was glad that we got parts of the story from his POV as well as from Tess’s because seeing his thoughts and feelings made his actions much easier to understand. I don’t want to give too much away about the story but Amanda Bouchet definitely excels at writing slow burn romances and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Nightchaser is a brilliant start to a series that I’m excited to continue reading.

Tess Bailey is the captain of the spaceship Endeavour, a ship she stole with the help of her entire crew when they all managed to break out of prison in the middle of a riot. They’re all wanted criminals with a price on their heads but instead of laying low they all chose to join the rebellion against the oppressive Overseer who put them in prison in the first place. They spend their time stealing supplies like food and medicine from the rich to help people who are desperately in need and they do it without expecting anything in return.

When a close encounter with the Overseer’s military leaves them with a badly damaged ship they are forced to take refuge on a planet where they have no existing connections. It’s imperative to keep their identity safe and get the repairs completed as quickly as possible but with the Dark Watch hot on their tails and a huge price on their heads escape might not be as easy as they thought.

I’m a huge fan of Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles so she’s already on my auto-buy list and I was incredibly excited to read Nightchaser, the first book in her new sci-fi romance series. Let’s just say we’re off to a fabulous start and I’m now desperately waiting for the rest of the series, so no pressure Amanda!

I really liked Tess and her whole crew, they all brought different skills to the table and combined they make a pretty good team. Tess is hiding some huge secrets but her crew are like her family and she will do whatever she has to in order to protect them. Tess is a pretty fierce character but she had some vulnerable moments too that made her very easy to relate to and of course I always feel like I could be friends with a woman who loves both books and cats!

They meet Shade when they land on planet and employ him to carry out repairs on their ship but he has his own secrets and they’re ones that could destroy everything Tess cares about. I was glad that we got parts of the story from his POV as well as from Tess’s because seeing his thoughts and feelings made his actions much easier to understand. I don’t want to give too much away about the story but Amanda Bouchet definitely excels at writing slow burn romances and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Nightchaser is a brilliant start to a series that I’m excited to continue reading.

Title: Nightchaser
Series: Endeavor Book #1
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Amanda Bouchet
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy, Romance
Blurb: Captain Tess Bailey and her crew of Robin Hood-like thieves are desperate and on the run. Pursued by a vicious military general who wants them dead or alive, Tess has to decide if she can trust Shade Ganavan, a tall, dark and arrogant stranger with ambiguous motivations.

Shade Ganavan had oodles of arrogance, oodles of charm, and oodles of something that made me want to kick him in the nuts.

What Tess and Shade don’t know about each other might get them killed…unless they can set aside their differences and learn to trust each other—while ignoring their off-the-charts chemistry.
Favorite quote(s): “I chose you, Tess. I want you. All you have to do is want me back.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure virginity can’t spontaneously grow back.”
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. Nightchaser is the first book I have read by this author – I have yet to read her popular Kingmaker series although it has popped up on my radar a few times as a potential read. I just hadn’t gave in and purchased it yet. That’s partially why I requested Nightchaser….to give me the opportunity to read the author and see if I like her writing style. I was pleasantly surprised. I actually read a series of books a few years ago by little known author Jocelyn Han – the series was called the Stardust series and it was also a romance in space. A lot of the space themed romances I just don’t connect with as a reader….they really need to grab my attention from the get go and hold it, and for some reason a lot of them just don’t nab my attention. I actually really enjoyed the books by Jocelyn Han, however – they really stuck with me – and Amanda Bouchet has that same sort of vibe.
If you’re up for an adventure and are looking for something a little new and different, this is a great book to pick up. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and I look forward to more in the series – not to mention the fact that I will be grabbing the first in the Kingmaker series soon!
Rating: A

It’s been a while since I read a really good science fiction romance and Nightchaser was an excellent one to pick to get back into the genre.

Quintessa Novalight, aka Tess Bailey, is on the run for her life… which is nothing new. Being the rebel daughter of the Overseer of an evil empire gets you into that kind of trouble on the regular.

This time, though, it’s do or die. With a stolen lab of literal super-soldier serum on her cargo ship and a Dark Watch cruiser shooting holes in the ship, she takes a suicide run into a black hole… and nobody is more shocked than Tess when she and her crew emerge alive on the other side.

Seeking repairs, she finds one Shade Ganavan, owner of an unusual space repair shop. Shade is Tess’s love interest, and a man with the worst kind of conflict. His innate sense of honour makes him sympathize with the rebels, but the price on her head is the biggest ever offered - and he’s a bounty hunter with a pressing need for cash.

I’m hoping this is only the first in a series, because Tess and Shade and the crew of the Endeavour (and assorted friends) have a long way to go to get close to parity in their long fight, especially now the ruthless Overseer knows his rebel daughter is alive after all.

This reminded me a little of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Liaden Universe series, just as well written and engaging, with a healthy dose of sex and romance mixed in with great worldbuilding. I’ll definitely be along for the ride for the rest of the series. Five stars!

Dang, Amanda Bouchet knows how to kick you in the pants from page one! Nightchaser is a fast-paced and intense space adventure that made me laugh, cry, and gasp. Tess Bailey and her crew of mismatched rebels are running through the galaxy away from the evil Overseer and his henchmen.

I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again, Amanda Bouchet is a first-class world builder. I thought it would be hard to read this book without comparing it to Star Trek or Star Wars or any of the other space movies/books I’ve watched and read. There was no comparison because Ms. Bouchet created a unique story with one of my new favorite heroines.

Tess: she has secrets and she’s tough, but what surprised me was her ability to be vulnerable and trust, even after all she’s been through. I’ve read plenty of hardcore heroines in my time, but Tess stands apart, and not just because she’s tall and statuesque. Her soft heart is right under the surface of her tough core, which gives her character immediate depth.

I was on the fence with Shade, our hero, at first. Let me tell you though, there is something inherently sexy about a man who loves a strong woman. Being in his head helped us understand his motivations, although sometimes I wanted him to be a little bit more of a mystery. I didn’t like knowing everything about him, but I am sure there will be more character development in the next book!

The only thing that kept me from a full five star read was I think the mix of third and first person made the book a little stilted, it took me a while to get used to. I also wish there had been just a few more chapters at the end. This book was high octane, but I wanted a little more about where the series arc and the next book will take us.

Overall, you can’t go wrong when you pick up an Amanda Bouchet novel. The sci-fi/space setting is refreshing. I flew through this book and can’t wait for the next one!

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**