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Rogue Justice #1
Celestial Velocity
A brilliant engineer on the run. The space pirate hired to retrieve her. Together, they must escape biker trolls and dodge bounty hunters in pursuit of the truth in this spicy scifi adventure romance, the first in a new series.
Bea Farsirus wants her life back. Not only did someone murder her ex-lover and burn down her workshop, destroying the prototypes of her groundbreaking engine, but they framed her for the crimes. Now, here she is, kidnapped by space pirates and slung over the brawny shoulder of their captain instead of on her way to a crucial meeting for information to clear her name.
Quin Sidron wants his freedom. What was supposed to be a straightforward task—collect the engineer and deliver her to safety in exchange for a clean slate with his powerful cousin—has turned into a complicated operation. He winds up with a hellion on his hands, one who steals his escape pod, accidentally kidnaps him, and threatens his mission.
Despite a rocky start, they make a bargain to root out who set her up and untwist a knot of betrayal to prevent her powerful tech from falling into the wrong hands.
This journey across the galaxy includes a cinnamon roll hero, a badass heroine, only one bed, forced proximity, and an HEA.
Bea Farsirus wants her life back. Not only did someone murder her ex-lover and burn down her workshop, destroying the prototypes of her groundbreaking engine, but they framed her for the crimes. Now, here she is, kidnapped by space pirates and slung over the brawny shoulder of their captain instead of on her way to a crucial meeting for information to clear her name.
Quin Sidron wants his freedom. What was supposed to be a straightforward task—collect the engineer and deliver her to safety in exchange for a clean slate with his powerful cousin—has turned into a complicated operation. He winds up with a hellion on his hands, one who steals his escape pod, accidentally kidnaps him, and threatens his mission.
Despite a rocky start, they make a bargain to root out who set her up and untwist a knot of betrayal to prevent her powerful tech from falling into the wrong hands.
This journey across the galaxy includes a cinnamon roll hero, a badass heroine, only one bed, forced proximity, and an HEA.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2023
39 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 15, 2023
That ending was so cute. This is part of a series and I do want to follow along to see what happens next but our two main characters are happy and thriving together.
Soooo. Yes, you can read this one even tho the next one isn't out.
I LOVE that we get such a smart heroine. She's technologically savvy, clever, a great negotiator, spunky, and just all around fantastic.
The hero starts off too cocky but he quickly discovers that our heroine is better than him and he settles into that. It's not that he can't hold his own. It's just that he surrounds himself with competent people who make great teammates. And he knows how to honor other's strengths.
This is a fun space adventure with two people who learn to respect and love each other.
NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!! And no stupid crap between them once they start falling for each other.
This was so good!!
The OM is the villain and a conniving ex of Bea's. There is some mention of OW. It's a little disturbing that we hear "he used to have a lover in every port". But during this book, he only has eyes for Bea.
The one thing that irritated me is the cover. They are in their 40s. She's described as tall with thick thighs, soft tummy and nice booty. The woman on the cover has a thigh gap! Ugh. What a missed opportunity for better representation.
Soooo. Yes, you can read this one even tho the next one isn't out.
I LOVE that we get such a smart heroine. She's technologically savvy, clever, a great negotiator, spunky, and just all around fantastic.
The hero starts off too cocky but he quickly discovers that our heroine is better than him and he settles into that. It's not that he can't hold his own. It's just that he surrounds himself with competent people who make great teammates. And he knows how to honor other's strengths.
This is a fun space adventure with two people who learn to respect and love each other.
NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!! And no stupid crap between them once they start falling for each other.
This was so good!!
The OM is the villain and a conniving ex of Bea's. There is some mention of OW. It's a little disturbing that we hear "he used to have a lover in every port". But during this book, he only has eyes for Bea.
The one thing that irritated me is the cover. They are in their 40s. She's described as tall with thick thighs, soft tummy and nice booty. The woman on the cover has a thigh gap! Ugh. What a missed opportunity for better representation.
dnf
December 6, 2023DNF @ 20% I can’t go on, as much as I like this author’s writing style and the story thus far…
The sexual disparity between the MCs is making me cringe hard and question this author’s judgement. This wasn’t in the first 20% of the book, but I searched the book based on a friend’s review….
The hero and heroine have an interaction with a past lover of the hero’s, she kisses him twice - open mouthed - in front of the heroine. He acts a little uncomfortable, but doesn’t really do much to stop her. The OW then informs the heroine about how great the hero is in bed, and how he has lovers in every port. The heroine laughs it all off… playing the “cool girl” and saying that they can compare notes later. What a lovely scene. 🤮
Meanwhile, the heroine was celibate for 10 years and then had bad sex with her ex boyfriend (who is also the villain of this story). 🤡
What is that?
Supposedly, this author wrote a strong heroine…. but then does this? So much potential for this book, ruined with one scene, because I can’t take read this without being totally turned off.
The sexual disparity between the MCs is making me cringe hard and question this author’s judgement. This wasn’t in the first 20% of the book, but I searched the book based on a friend’s review….
The hero and heroine have an interaction with a past lover of the hero’s, she kisses him twice - open mouthed - in front of the heroine. He acts a little uncomfortable, but doesn’t really do much to stop her. The OW then informs the heroine about how great the hero is in bed, and how he has lovers in every port. The heroine laughs it all off… playing the “cool girl” and saying that they can compare notes later. What a lovely scene. 🤮
Meanwhile, the heroine was celibate for 10 years and then had bad sex with her ex boyfriend (who is also the villain of this story). 🤡
What is that?
Supposedly, this author wrote a strong heroine…. but then does this? So much potential for this book, ruined with one scene, because I can’t take read this without being totally turned off.
June 7, 2023
Pirates and an engineer on the run. Wait. Sorry. Privateers and an engineer on the run. Because Quin's not a pirate in the strictest sense of the word.
I mean, sure, he kidnapped Bea and locked her in a holding cell, but it was for her own good. Actually, it was all part of a complicated rescue. A rescue which Bea didn't know she needed. And it became complicated because Quin wasn't initially very forthcoming about what was going on and Bea WAS NOT AMUSED by the sexy pirate's actions.
One mucked up escape later and Quin and Bea are dealing with creatures who possibly want to eat them, still on the run from the people who want Bea in their grasp, and maybe possibly kinda starting to trust one another. Which is a good thing because they need to know the other has their back when things get dicey.
No lie, I like Quin and Bea. He made a mess of their first meeting, but he made up for it by being there for her time and time again after. As for Bea, she was already dealing with a lot and Quin's ham-handed entrance into her life was a lot to take. But the lady is smart and sassy and just bloodthirsty enough to be a good match for the big guy. Good times all around.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
I mean, sure, he kidnapped Bea and locked her in a holding cell, but it was for her own good. Actually, it was all part of a complicated rescue. A rescue which Bea didn't know she needed. And it became complicated because Quin wasn't initially very forthcoming about what was going on and Bea WAS NOT AMUSED by the sexy pirate's actions.
One mucked up escape later and Quin and Bea are dealing with creatures who possibly want to eat them, still on the run from the people who want Bea in their grasp, and maybe possibly kinda starting to trust one another. Which is a good thing because they need to know the other has their back when things get dicey.
No lie, I like Quin and Bea. He made a mess of their first meeting, but he made up for it by being there for her time and time again after. As for Bea, she was already dealing with a lot and Quin's ham-handed entrance into her life was a lot to take. But the lady is smart and sassy and just bloodthirsty enough to be a good match for the big guy. Good times all around.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
June 8, 2023
Fun sexy romp of a read
The book flowed effortlessly through adventures of our unprecedented heroes. It almost read like a screenplay and I easily imagined it as a movie. The introduction of creatures on other planets made me curious for more of their stories. This was definitely a fun book!
The book flowed effortlessly through adventures of our unprecedented heroes. It almost read like a screenplay and I easily imagined it as a movie. The introduction of creatures on other planets made me curious for more of their stories. This was definitely a fun book!
Read
June 29, 2023Fun old school (alpha hero - who is nice! just a little cocky- and sassy heroine) romance in a sci-fi setting with trolls and various other life forms that are both friends and foe. Great support group around them.
Low on the angst, high on adventure and twists.
Low on the angst, high on adventure and twists.
May 28, 2023
Celestial Velocity is a delightful romp! I loved the twisty plot and the settings. Best of all are the intriguing characters who are fully developed and a lot of fun. A great read!!
February 26, 2025
One of the better reads I got through a Stuff Your Kindle event.
Pros:
Pretty funny, great spicy scenes like..really well written, cute romance with none of the misunderstanding trope nonsense. Pretty cool sci-fi elements with anything from space travel to planet exploration, to cool tech and machinery.
Cons:
Very repetitive with a lot of repetitive inner monologues. First half was mostly well written tbh but the second half was poorly edited with mistakes that were becoming more and more glaring as the book went on. Supposedly high stakes but it felt pretty low stake (or convenient) with only one real confrontation at the very end of the book? The main characters, particularly the FMC does not come across as a 45-year old at all, but rather juvenile particularly during dialogue with the MMC and whenever things don’t go her way - felt like reading YA romance at some points. When the FMC got drunk and started behaving that way after 1 shot and 1 beer, I nearly lost it. Hard time focusing on the writing at times, partly due to the repetitiveness. Main plot was predictable and the big bad villain was not only foreshadowed early on in the book but also a caricature of a villain, he sounded about 8 and came with a full on foot stomping tantrum.
Overall would recommend this book because it was actually enjoyable, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. The sci-fi elements and great spice are just enough to help you overlook some of the negative aspects.
Pros:
Pretty funny, great spicy scenes like..really well written, cute romance with none of the misunderstanding trope nonsense. Pretty cool sci-fi elements with anything from space travel to planet exploration, to cool tech and machinery.
Cons:
Very repetitive with a lot of repetitive inner monologues. First half was mostly well written tbh but the second half was poorly edited with mistakes that were becoming more and more glaring as the book went on. Supposedly high stakes but it felt pretty low stake (or convenient) with only one real confrontation at the very end of the book? The main characters, particularly the FMC does not come across as a 45-year old at all, but rather juvenile particularly during dialogue with the MMC and whenever things don’t go her way - felt like reading YA romance at some points. When the FMC got drunk and started behaving that way after 1 shot and 1 beer, I nearly lost it. Hard time focusing on the writing at times, partly due to the repetitiveness. Main plot was predictable and the big bad villain was not only foreshadowed early on in the book but also a caricature of a villain, he sounded about 8 and came with a full on foot stomping tantrum.
Overall would recommend this book because it was actually enjoyable, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. The sci-fi elements and great spice are just enough to help you overlook some of the negative aspects.
October 19, 2023
Celestial Velocity is the first title in Ms. Ashe’s Rogue Justice Sci-Fi Adventure Romance series. Main characters Bea and Quin, both in their forties, have hit the point in their lives where they are no longer just going to sit back and let life happen to them. Falsely accused of killing her lover in a fire that destroyed her lab, Bea is sent to jail where someone tries to kill her. With the help of her secret agent sister, Bea escapes jail and goes on the run under a secret identity. After Bea is taken by Quin and his band of pirates (for her protection he claims), she is determined to get away and meet with an information broker who tells her he has proof she’s innocent. Bea is fierce and smart, putting the sexy pirate in his place more than once.
Quin owes his cousin, The Knight, for saving him and the lives of his crew, and bringing Bea back to him will finally clear the slate. But the more time he spends with Bea, the more he realizes he needs to help her. He is no stranger to being falsely accused of a crime and empathizes with her need to prove her innocence.
On the run, under a time constraint, and with huge bounty on her head, being chased by multiple bounty hunters, Bea and Quin go through a lot in a short amount of time. The pair experiences instant attraction, and after some forced proximity, realizes they have a lot in common and enjoy the other’s company. I like how they share their stories, gaining trust, and finding kinship. While the story is action-packed and full of exciting moments, there are tender times and a bit of humor. One of my favorites is when Quin, thinking he’s all sexy, tries to pick up Bea and falls over. They aren’t 20-somethings, and I appreciate that the author doesn’t write them as such.
In the end, Celestial Velocity is an enjoyable, exciting adventure with a standalone romance. After what Bea and Quin uncovered, I feel like there are more exploits to come!
Rating: B
Quin owes his cousin, The Knight, for saving him and the lives of his crew, and bringing Bea back to him will finally clear the slate. But the more time he spends with Bea, the more he realizes he needs to help her. He is no stranger to being falsely accused of a crime and empathizes with her need to prove her innocence.
On the run, under a time constraint, and with huge bounty on her head, being chased by multiple bounty hunters, Bea and Quin go through a lot in a short amount of time. The pair experiences instant attraction, and after some forced proximity, realizes they have a lot in common and enjoy the other’s company. I like how they share their stories, gaining trust, and finding kinship. While the story is action-packed and full of exciting moments, there are tender times and a bit of humor. One of my favorites is when Quin, thinking he’s all sexy, tries to pick up Bea and falls over. They aren’t 20-somethings, and I appreciate that the author doesn’t write them as such.
In the end, Celestial Velocity is an enjoyable, exciting adventure with a standalone romance. After what Bea and Quin uncovered, I feel like there are more exploits to come!
Rating: B
March 3, 2024
I should have loved this book — I love scifi romance, and there aren't nearly enough of them, and this one had a fun setup! And while there was nothing I disliked about it, it somehow took me three months to finish it. There was never anything that made me want to DNF it or that I didn't like, and I can't say I was bored when reading it. But I wasn't very invested and would often put it down after reading only a few chapters and then forget to pick it back up. I think maybe the characterization wasn't there? I wasn't invested enough in either MC and what happened to them to propel me through a book like I normally would be. Idk. Maybe it was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me.
April 2, 2024
It was an enjoyable enough read but wasn’t very thrilling. I skim read through a lot of the last 15% and wasn’t very invested in the story anymore but felt too close to the end to DNF.
I liked the sci-fi elements, I’m not usually a sci-fi reader but this has made me think that maybe I should delve into sci-fi more. The romance and characters are what let the story down. The FMC is in her forties but you wouldn’t think this by the way that she communicates and her inner monologue. The romance is very teenagerish and I’m just not a fan of lovey dovey writing in general.
I won’t be continuing with the series but those who like fairytale romances would probably enjoy this.
I liked the sci-fi elements, I’m not usually a sci-fi reader but this has made me think that maybe I should delve into sci-fi more. The romance and characters are what let the story down. The FMC is in her forties but you wouldn’t think this by the way that she communicates and her inner monologue. The romance is very teenagerish and I’m just not a fan of lovey dovey writing in general.
I won’t be continuing with the series but those who like fairytale romances would probably enjoy this.
June 10, 2024
A rollicking good read. Too many other-world/space romances use character names that are impossible for a reader to pronounce, introduce "foreign" language words that annoys this reader because they pull her out the story trying to figure out what the character is saying/thinking. Ashe does none of that. You know you're on different planets because of the setting descriptions, which are just enough to set the scene and don't overwhelm the reader with unnecessary details. An easy, entertaining read.
July 12, 2025
READ Prequel FIRST!
You can sign up for it at Mary’s website. I’m saying this because I really messed up and read Started on reading Felida King first. I did stop myself and read Barbarian and the realized Rogue justice books first. So read these two, get Crowned then read Barbarian. Next is extra short Crowned followed by Felida and Poison Princess. Alien Privateer is also in this world and focuses on characters from Protectors of Cinzia stories.
This is a really cool interlocking world Mary has created.
You can sign up for it at Mary’s website. I’m saying this because I really messed up and read Started on reading Felida King first. I did stop myself and read Barbarian and the realized Rogue justice books first. So read these two, get Crowned then read Barbarian. Next is extra short Crowned followed by Felida and Poison Princess. Alien Privateer is also in this world and focuses on characters from Protectors of Cinzia stories.
This is a really cool interlocking world Mary has created.
April 17, 2024
DNF
The story has potential but I was really tired of the ml beating himself up over the “rough handling” of the fl in the beginning of the story. In addition to his counterparts equally ridiculous harping on about his “oh so horrible” treatment of her. When the author decided to throw in the “toxic masculinity” trope that was it for me. I was tired of the fl & her ridiculously ignorant and stubborn antics that defied reason, even when it came to her personal safety.
The story has potential but I was really tired of the ml beating himself up over the “rough handling” of the fl in the beginning of the story. In addition to his counterparts equally ridiculous harping on about his “oh so horrible” treatment of her. When the author decided to throw in the “toxic masculinity” trope that was it for me. I was tired of the fl & her ridiculously ignorant and stubborn antics that defied reason, even when it came to her personal safety.
May 2, 2024
I really tried to finish this, I just couldn't get past the annoying main character. She just was kind of daft in my opinion. I did really like the main love interest though an the world building was pretty decent as well. but it just wasn't holding my attention. My 2 stars is kind of harsh though....I'll change to 3 stars because I didn't finish it.
did-not-finish
April 7, 2024DNF
I can't really put my finger on why I didn't like CELESTIAL VELOCITY but I could only make it through 2 chapters before having to DNF. Just not for me I guess.
I can't really put my finger on why I didn't like CELESTIAL VELOCITY but I could only make it through 2 chapters before having to DNF. Just not for me I guess.
Read
August 11, 2025DNF P6
November 17, 2023
Fantastic romantic sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is great, the "good" characters are awesome (Safina is a goddess), and there is laugh-out-loud humor. The story is thrilling and sexy and engrossing. There is graphic sex and graphic violence (small, too cute, fuzzy non-humans are always dangerous). Bea and Quin are a believable couple. And the best part of Celestial Velocity? BEA AND QUIN ARE OLDER ADULTS!! Honestly, that is just plain amazing! And too wonderful for words. Dai and Safina are even older! And "retired." How could I not love a well-written sci fi romantic adventure featuring older adults? I read Celestial Velocity in KU but will buy it to reread a lot, because Bea is awesome, Safina is a goddess, and Quin is a great guy, and I love this book.
The worldbuilding is great, the "good" characters are awesome (Safina is a goddess), and there is laugh-out-loud humor. The story is thrilling and sexy and engrossing. There is graphic sex and graphic violence (small, too cute, fuzzy non-humans are always dangerous). Bea and Quin are a believable couple. And the best part of Celestial Velocity? BEA AND QUIN ARE OLDER ADULTS!! Honestly, that is just plain amazing! And too wonderful for words. Dai and Safina are even older! And "retired." How could I not love a well-written sci fi romantic adventure featuring older adults? I read Celestial Velocity in KU but will buy it to reread a lot, because Bea is awesome, Safina is a goddess, and Quin is a great guy, and I love this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews