Emotional start to new sci-fi, military romance series…

I’d started this series out of order but after reading Damage Control I had to immediately jump to the start! What I found was the start of the futuristic world building as Earth became but a small part of a vast universe. What hadn’t changed was the evil and war that continued on into the future. Thank goodness there was still love though as Sacha and Kai got another chance…

Kai was a respected Commander before he was captured and held for months by the enemy. Torture and captivity had taken its toll, both physically and mentally, so there were many battles still to fight. Sacha was his best friend’s wife, a friend he loved dearly, so when he returned and realized even more had changed in his absence, he had hope once again… I loved Sacha’s character. Torn between the different roles she wore – widow, doctor, friend, professional – she struggled to find the right balance, the perfect person that Kai needed her to be. Given they both had a lot of baggage to get through, it was no wonder their reunion was anything but quiet…

Even as I wished for more of the backstory, the great writing, strong characters and heartfelt emotion made up for the pieces I felt I missed. I’m diving into another reread of Damage Control (any excuse to get re-acquainted with Leigh and Mia!) and that hopefully will tide me over for a while…

It's been some time since I've read any romantic science-fiction story, but reading Escape Velocity has me itching for more! Jess Anastasi's Valiant Knox series starts with an emotional bang as former commander of the Knox escapes imprisonment. His longtime friend, Sacha Dalton is in charge of his recovery and the dormant attraction between them surges to life.

While Kai struggles with PTSD and finding a place on the Valiant Knox, Sacha is determined to find a way to heal his mental scars. Even if it means keeping their relationship professional. As they rekindle their friendship, the war outside the Valiant Knox continues. Kai continues to block out the torture he endured by the hands of the Christ's Sunday Soldiers, their enemy, but suspicious activity on the ship causes him to believe they're planning a big attack. So not only does Escape Velocity weave readers through the sexual tension between Kai and Sacha, but there's a little action as Knox soldiers defend themselves on the planet Ilari.

Anastasi gets to the heart of the story quickly and throughout there isn't a solid well of information about the intergalactic war, or it's heavily mentioned CSS soldiers. They kind of become like a phantom evil presence, because there's no backstory about them and they don't feel like a looming threat even though that's their main role. The story doesn't focus on them at all unless they're being reinforced as the enemy. On one hand, I didn't care because this story is all about the romance, but I also think answering more detailed questions about the decades long war would've given it more substance. Plus, I'm a sucker for in-depth world building. Hopefully the world setting will be built up more as it continues. I imagine fans of Battlestar Galactica will appreciate the setting as it's primarily on the ship and there's a crew of fighter pilots.

There's more to explore on the Valiant Knox and I'm ready to jump into the next installment Damage Control! Jess Anastasi will surely continue to bring the sexy to science fiction.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

I originally discovered author Jess Anastasi two years ago when I read the second book in the Valiant Knox series, Damage Control. I always meant to go back and read Escape Velocity, I just didn't intend for it to take me this long. Oh well, I'm finally getting around to it now and it was so well worth it!

The story hits the ground running with Commander Kai Yang, held captive by religious zealots for well over a year, escaping. Patrols find him and bring him back to the Valiant Knox where he is treated by Doctor Sasha Dalton. Sasha happens to be his longtime friend and married to his best friend. Or so Kai thought! Things begin to shift into high emotions as Kai and Sasha reconnect. Kai is struggling with everything. Presumed dead, trying to get his life and career back, suffering from PSTD, he doesn't know where he fits in. With all the uncertainty, his one constant is Sasha. Since he is her patient, she has to resist the temptation, the want to give in and be with him.

I just loved Sasha and Kai's story. He's so broken, - mind, body, and soul. The struggles he goes through are enough to bring me to tears. Sasha cares deeply for him and has her internal battle of trying to be his doctor. Then there's her dead husband hanging between them. Not quite a forbidden love if you consider they were friends before. What cranks up the tension between them and may keep them apart are the ghosts of their pasts. Add into the mix a possible spy on board and everybody thinking Kai is crazy for suggesting it. Top it all off, all this happens on a spaceship. ACK! I love books like this!

Normally, I would now say I can't wait to read the next book but as I said before, I already did. Both worked well as stand-alones, at least the romance side to it did. There's the battle with the Christ's Sunday Soldiers that is carrying through the series that I'm curious about. CSS are religious zealots and all I know about them so far is that they shun technology. Not sure if we'll every find out more about them but I predict they will continuing to be in the series. Will the Valiant Knox prevail over the CSS? That I don't know, but, I can't wait to find out!

reviewed by Jac

That was awesome, just enough angst and thrills! Can't wait to read more of this world!

This is a voluntary review via netgalley my thoughts are my own!