Damage Control

This author seems to write sci fi with romance woven through it and I really enjoyed the previous book Escape Velocity as it had a huge emotional pull. This story also set aboard the battleship Valiant Knox had me really starting to understand the conflict going on as the two very different ideologies battle. Those aboard the Knox are doing their best to reduce the damage caused by the rebel forces of CSS, a faction that frown on technology and their bloodthirsty ways are really getting out of hand. From the offset it's clear that the danger levels are ramping up as new trainees arriving are targeted but once safely on board the Valiant Knox nefarious plans come to light and it's very clear that there is a traitor travelling in their midst!
So into all this the author drops Mia, she's young, she's incredibly smart and she's also a huge fly in the ointment that constitutes Captain Leigh Alphins life. Known as a hard ass it's his job to push the new recruits to their limits but there's something about Mia that really appeals to Leigh but she's so off limits it's just not real! Leigh could lose his command if he pursued Mia but as events unfold it's clear working together might just be their only salvation. Forbidden love is always a winner in romance and I thought the author did a credible job of ramping up the tension. No instant love thankfully but a mystery to solve with plenty of intrigue and action along the way. Leigh may be used to being in charge but Mia really holds her own and frankly at times she steps up and saves the day. I loved that even though she can fight for herself she never felt like a hard person and her softer side really helped make her feel more of a rounded character. This is I guess space opera but the technical side is not in your face and full of gobbledygook it's just enough to make the situations believable. As for the relationship that grows it's a slow burn that seemed inevitable and I will say the couples ingenuity at times was nearly their downfall! Oh yes the gloves come off as Leigh succumbs to the forbidden desire he feels for Mia with plenty of hot scenes. Leigh was a revelation and an old fashioned type of hero who would sacrifice anything for the woman he loves.
Whist admittedly I did prefer Yangs emotional journey in the previous story I really had fun reading this book. It expands the world and we are starting to learn a lot more about the war being fought. There are some interesting supporting characters who will surely step up soon but for now all I can say is this book was well written, with suspense and shocks galore. This author had clearly plotted this out and it paid off spectacularly well leaving this reader with a smile on her face.