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Valiant Knox #1
Escape Velocity
Rebuilding his life.
And rediscovering love...
Ilari, Brannon System, 2436
At first, Dr. Sacha Dalton is simply curious about the prisoner of war admitted to her med-lab...until she sees who it is. For Commander Kai Yang--the commander of the battleship Valiant Knox--has long been thought dead. Killed in action. But after almost a year and half, he's returned home. Returned to her.
Kai is recovering from his ordeal and under the watchful care of Sacha, his childhood friend and the widow of his best friend. Only now, their friendship has grown and deepened into something far deeper, and far more complicated. Yet as Kai's body recovers, his psyche remains broken. How could he ever be the man he was, and the man Sacha deserves? But an intergalactic war has a way of forcing a man to be the hero he was always meant to be...
Ilari, Brannon System, 2436
At first, Dr. Sacha Dalton is simply curious about the prisoner of war admitted to her med-lab...until she sees who it is. For Commander Kai Yang--the commander of the battleship Valiant Knox--has long been thought dead. Killed in action. But after almost a year and half, he's returned home. Returned to her.
Kai is recovering from his ordeal and under the watchful care of Sacha, his childhood friend and the widow of his best friend. Only now, their friendship has grown and deepened into something far deeper, and far more complicated. Yet as Kai's body recovers, his psyche remains broken. How could he ever be the man he was, and the man Sacha deserves? But an intergalactic war has a way of forcing a man to be the hero he was always meant to be...
368 pages, ebook
First published February 2, 2015
14 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Jess Anastasi
26 books182 followersJess has been making up stories ever since she can remember. Though her messy handwriting made it hard for anyone else to read them, she wasn’t deterred and now she gets to make up stories for a living. She loves loud music, a good book on a rainy day, and probably spends too much time watching too many TV shows. Jess lives in regional Victoria, Australia. Find out more about Jess on her website www.jessanastasi.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 10, 2015
I thought this book was SFR, but the SF part was only the setting: a starship similar to Battle Star Galactica - a city in a starship!
All the other parts of the story was kind of military romance where military stands for fighting PTSD.
The hero, Kai, was prisoner of CSS, a fundamentist religious fanatics group who want to convert everybody to a faith taht everything technologic is evel and should be destroyed. Still the CSS fighters use advanced technological weapons and aircrafts... A little bit of countersense, no?
He was tortured and his cell-mate died and he had to mutilate him in order to escape.
He's rescued and brought on the same starship he was commander of: Valiant Knox and ends in the hands of a doctor who's also his best friend's wife - Sacha.
Kai, Elliot and Sacha were a close knit group, but after Kai was declared KIA, Elliot become more and more reckless and got killed, leaving Sacha alone to deal with the loss of both her husband and best friend.
When Kai is rescued she's overwhelmed by her feelings: first relieved, then attracted to Kai.
Kai, besides fighting with PSTD, fight also his attraction to Sacha.
So, basically this book is a drama-romance: he fights, she fights; he doubts, she doubts; he's feeling guilty, she's feeling guilty... etc, etc...
In the backgroung was what I wanted to read about: what CSS wants? Who are the traitors? What is their strategy? What I got are only one-word relies: no technology; the man Kai suspects; convert all to thir believes. Full stop. That's it...
And that's soooo disappointing...
The feelings and the drama were very well done, but that was not what I was expecting, so only 3 and 1/2 stars. Hoping the next will be more to the point...
All the other parts of the story was kind of military romance where military stands for fighting PTSD.
The hero, Kai, was prisoner of CSS, a fundamentist religious fanatics group who want to convert everybody to a faith taht everything technologic is evel and should be destroyed. Still the CSS fighters use advanced technological weapons and aircrafts... A little bit of countersense, no?
He was tortured and his cell-mate died and he had to mutilate him in order to escape.
He's rescued and brought on the same starship he was commander of: Valiant Knox and ends in the hands of a doctor who's also his best friend's wife - Sacha.
Kai, Elliot and Sacha were a close knit group, but after Kai was declared KIA, Elliot become more and more reckless and got killed, leaving Sacha alone to deal with the loss of both her husband and best friend.
When Kai is rescued she's overwhelmed by her feelings: first relieved, then attracted to Kai.
Kai, besides fighting with PSTD, fight also his attraction to Sacha.
So, basically this book is a drama-romance: he fights, she fights; he doubts, she doubts; he's feeling guilty, she's feeling guilty... etc, etc...
In the backgroung was what I wanted to read about: what CSS wants? Who are the traitors? What is their strategy? What I got are only one-word relies: no technology; the man Kai suspects; convert all to thir believes. Full stop. That's it...
And that's soooo disappointing...
The feelings and the drama were very well done, but that was not what I was expecting, so only 3 and 1/2 stars. Hoping the next will be more to the point...
October 24, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality
Before I start critiquing, let me say at the beginning that I had a terrific time aboard the Valiant Knox in Escape Velocity. But because this is science fiction romance, I have a few things that are niggling at me.
The plot of Escape Velocity is relatively straightforward. One of the doctors aboard the space ship Valiant Knox has had the universe’s worst year and a half. Her best friend was declared KIA and her husband was very definitely killed in action.
That best friend, Commander Kai Yang, has had a time equally as bad. He was NOT killed in action. He was captured by the enemy and kept prisoner in their “re-education center”. The CSS are fundamentalists, and not just when it comes to technology. They want to step back from the high-tech universe and go back to their roots, but they don’t seem to care how many spaceships they have to steal along the way in order to fight their more technologically advanced enemy.
The CSS soldiers are real fanatics who don’t seem to care if they die to further their cause, which wasn’t spelled out nearly well enough for me. They’re not winning, but they are not losing either. It’s always difficult to fight an enemy who does not give a damn about his own life as long as he can take you with him. Think suicide bombers on steroids. Or at least the bombs are on steroids.
Kai escapes from prison in a rather grisly, but totally necessary, way. It’s gut-wrenching and heart-rending and totally makes you feel for his pain and his trauma. Which is really important for the rest of the story.
Kai escapes the prison grounds and is rescued by a patrol ship, only to reach the Valiant Knox, a ship he once commanded, to discover that everyone believes he was dead, and that there have been a whole lot of changes while he was gone. Especially changes to himself. Just because he physically escaped that prison does not mean that he has escaped psychologically.
He doesn’t even want to think the phrase “PTSD”, but it keeps staring him in the face and derailing his attempts to return to his old life.
His best friend, Dr. Sacha Dalton, is going through a turmoil of her own. She is absolutely overjoyed to have Kai back, but is still emotionally scraped raw by his presumed death followed by the loss of her husband. When Kai returns, she goes on an emotional rollercoaster of her own.
Kai turns to her, not just as the only friend and trustworthy face, but also as the woman he dreamed of in his cell. Thinking of returning to Sacha was one of the things that kept him alive. But he remembered her as married. Now that she is a widow, Kai is able to let a lot of feelings into the light of day that he would have kept bottled up if Sacha’s husband Elliot had still been alive.
Sacha comes back to life, herself. But starting a romantic relationship with Kai is the right kind of wrong. As a doctor, she knows that Kai needs to focus on his own recovery. He can continue to avoid dealing with his PTSD by getting into a relationship. Sacha knows better but can’t resist, then goes through all kinds of guilt for giving in to emotions that she has been burying since long before Kai was captured.
They both suffer from a massive amount of misunderstandammit as Sacha lets her doctor side get in the way of really listening to what Kai is saying. Not just about their relationship, but about a possible CSS infiltrator he has seen aboard the Valiant Knox.
Sacha thinks his paranoia is just another facet of his PTSD. It takes her almost too long to realise that Kai is absolutely right - both about the infiltrator and about their relationship.
Escape Rating B+: I enjoyed the hell out of this. However, as I read it I couldn’t decide whether this was truly SFR, or whether it was a contemporary military romance cloaked in SFR trappings. It was an excellent military romance about PTSD sufferers and the beginnings of their recovery, but it felt like it could have been contemporary without too many changes. The SFR setting was good, but it didn’t feel integral to the plot. Which makes this a good book for military romance fans to dip their toes into SFR.
I didn’t get enough of a picture of the CSS to figure out exactly what they stood for. They felt like cardboard fundamentalist fanatics of the crazy cult school. Also, the stealing of spaceships was absolutely counter to what they were supposed to believe, and yet they knew how to not just pilot them, but conduct space battles with them to pretty good effect. Those two things felt mutually exclusive, and I need more on what they believe and how the war got to this point.
Where the SF really shone was in the setting. The Valiant Knox was a city in a space ship. It reminded me more than a bit of the Enterprise D and E in Star Trek: The Next Generation, particularly if Ten Forward was transformed into a whole deck of commercial and leisure outlets. Or maybe a cleaned up version of Battlestar Galactica. Or possibly even a Babylon 5 that moved. Kai’s position and the straightening out thereof fit really well into an Starfleet-type bureaucratic framework.
The centerpiece of the story is the relationship between Kai and Sacha. They both have a metric ton of baggage and it gets in the way both of their relationship and Kai’s recovery. Which it probably should. Kai’s PTSD is something he has to learn to manage but will never get over. He isn’t the man he was before he was captured, so he has to figure out who he is now and learn to deal with that. Sacha never really grieved for either Kai or her late husband. She’s numbed herself with work. Kai’s return forces her to come back to life, and just like with a limb that has fallen asleep, the pins and needles are often painful. She has to decide whether she is Kai’s doctor or his friend and lover. As she bounces between those two emotional states, she almost kills their entire relationship.
While the attack by the CSS forces everyone to get their heads out of their asses and face the real threat, I wish that there hadn’t been an accidental pregnancy involved. It felt a bit too deus ex machina as far as fixing their relationship was concerned. I also question whether a military organization would put Kai back in command so easily, considering the way his PTSD manifests. If they are that desperate for experienced commanders, there is way more wrong with the war effort than we have seen so far. And I want to see it.
So I can’t wait for the next book in this series, Damage Control. I hope that it answers my unanswered questions.
Before I start critiquing, let me say at the beginning that I had a terrific time aboard the Valiant Knox in Escape Velocity. But because this is science fiction romance, I have a few things that are niggling at me.
The plot of Escape Velocity is relatively straightforward. One of the doctors aboard the space ship Valiant Knox has had the universe’s worst year and a half. Her best friend was declared KIA and her husband was very definitely killed in action.
That best friend, Commander Kai Yang, has had a time equally as bad. He was NOT killed in action. He was captured by the enemy and kept prisoner in their “re-education center”. The CSS are fundamentalists, and not just when it comes to technology. They want to step back from the high-tech universe and go back to their roots, but they don’t seem to care how many spaceships they have to steal along the way in order to fight their more technologically advanced enemy.
The CSS soldiers are real fanatics who don’t seem to care if they die to further their cause, which wasn’t spelled out nearly well enough for me. They’re not winning, but they are not losing either. It’s always difficult to fight an enemy who does not give a damn about his own life as long as he can take you with him. Think suicide bombers on steroids. Or at least the bombs are on steroids.
Kai escapes from prison in a rather grisly, but totally necessary, way. It’s gut-wrenching and heart-rending and totally makes you feel for his pain and his trauma. Which is really important for the rest of the story.
Kai escapes the prison grounds and is rescued by a patrol ship, only to reach the Valiant Knox, a ship he once commanded, to discover that everyone believes he was dead, and that there have been a whole lot of changes while he was gone. Especially changes to himself. Just because he physically escaped that prison does not mean that he has escaped psychologically.
He doesn’t even want to think the phrase “PTSD”, but it keeps staring him in the face and derailing his attempts to return to his old life.
His best friend, Dr. Sacha Dalton, is going through a turmoil of her own. She is absolutely overjoyed to have Kai back, but is still emotionally scraped raw by his presumed death followed by the loss of her husband. When Kai returns, she goes on an emotional rollercoaster of her own.
Kai turns to her, not just as the only friend and trustworthy face, but also as the woman he dreamed of in his cell. Thinking of returning to Sacha was one of the things that kept him alive. But he remembered her as married. Now that she is a widow, Kai is able to let a lot of feelings into the light of day that he would have kept bottled up if Sacha’s husband Elliot had still been alive.
Sacha comes back to life, herself. But starting a romantic relationship with Kai is the right kind of wrong. As a doctor, she knows that Kai needs to focus on his own recovery. He can continue to avoid dealing with his PTSD by getting into a relationship. Sacha knows better but can’t resist, then goes through all kinds of guilt for giving in to emotions that she has been burying since long before Kai was captured.
They both suffer from a massive amount of misunderstandammit as Sacha lets her doctor side get in the way of really listening to what Kai is saying. Not just about their relationship, but about a possible CSS infiltrator he has seen aboard the Valiant Knox.
Sacha thinks his paranoia is just another facet of his PTSD. It takes her almost too long to realise that Kai is absolutely right - both about the infiltrator and about their relationship.
Escape Rating B+: I enjoyed the hell out of this. However, as I read it I couldn’t decide whether this was truly SFR, or whether it was a contemporary military romance cloaked in SFR trappings. It was an excellent military romance about PTSD sufferers and the beginnings of their recovery, but it felt like it could have been contemporary without too many changes. The SFR setting was good, but it didn’t feel integral to the plot. Which makes this a good book for military romance fans to dip their toes into SFR.
I didn’t get enough of a picture of the CSS to figure out exactly what they stood for. They felt like cardboard fundamentalist fanatics of the crazy cult school. Also, the stealing of spaceships was absolutely counter to what they were supposed to believe, and yet they knew how to not just pilot them, but conduct space battles with them to pretty good effect. Those two things felt mutually exclusive, and I need more on what they believe and how the war got to this point.
Where the SF really shone was in the setting. The Valiant Knox was a city in a space ship. It reminded me more than a bit of the Enterprise D and E in Star Trek: The Next Generation, particularly if Ten Forward was transformed into a whole deck of commercial and leisure outlets. Or maybe a cleaned up version of Battlestar Galactica. Or possibly even a Babylon 5 that moved. Kai’s position and the straightening out thereof fit really well into an Starfleet-type bureaucratic framework.
The centerpiece of the story is the relationship between Kai and Sacha. They both have a metric ton of baggage and it gets in the way both of their relationship and Kai’s recovery. Which it probably should. Kai’s PTSD is something he has to learn to manage but will never get over. He isn’t the man he was before he was captured, so he has to figure out who he is now and learn to deal with that. Sacha never really grieved for either Kai or her late husband. She’s numbed herself with work. Kai’s return forces her to come back to life, and just like with a limb that has fallen asleep, the pins and needles are often painful. She has to decide whether she is Kai’s doctor or his friend and lover. As she bounces between those two emotional states, she almost kills their entire relationship.
While the attack by the CSS forces everyone to get their heads out of their asses and face the real threat, I wish that there hadn’t been an accidental pregnancy involved. It felt a bit too deus ex machina as far as fixing their relationship was concerned. I also question whether a military organization would put Kai back in command so easily, considering the way his PTSD manifests. If they are that desperate for experienced commanders, there is way more wrong with the war effort than we have seen so far. And I want to see it.
So I can’t wait for the next book in this series, Damage Control. I hope that it answers my unanswered questions.
April 7, 2017
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!
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 4, Flames - 3
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!
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 4, Flames - 3
October 8, 2017
Although it seems I’ve been reading primarily contemporaries so far this year, I have taken a couple of different brief paths and this book was a SciFi romance path. It’s one I need to get on more often as I truly do appreciate the genre.
Commander Kai Yang had been the commander of the battleship Valiant Knox – think Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica or something along those lines for the feel of the book – until his was captured and horrifyingly tortured by this fringe lunatic religious group who are gaining power in this galaxy. He manages to somehow escape and ends up back on the Valiant Knox. The doctor on board who treats him, Dr. Sasha Dalton, is a dear friend. Kai, Sasha and her husband Elliot had been a tight group. But Elliott has died and with Kai being so damaged, the dynamics have changed. There had always been an unspoken attraction between them but neither ever acted on it.
So this is the basis of the story, Kai healing, Sasha and him debating on whether to give into their attraction with Elliotts ghost between them. In addition Kai needs to find his place. He had been missing for so long and presumed dead, his spot as commander has been replaced. As well, it seems they have a spy on board who is leaking information to CSS, the lunatic group who are trying to take over the galaxy.
This is the first in a series by Jess Anastasi and she has set it up brilliantly. One of the things I admire and appreciate about SciFi romance is the author starts and builds from the ground up, the world she is writing about. Though this world is entirely different from life as we know it, it’s a believable world with believable characters.
Escape Velocity has it all, a fascinating world, wonderful characters in Kai and Sasha and the secondary cast, suspense, mystery and a fine friends to lovers romance.
I have the second book and I’m not quite sure why I haven’t started it, but I surely do recommend this book.
Commander Kai Yang had been the commander of the battleship Valiant Knox – think Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica or something along those lines for the feel of the book – until his was captured and horrifyingly tortured by this fringe lunatic religious group who are gaining power in this galaxy. He manages to somehow escape and ends up back on the Valiant Knox. The doctor on board who treats him, Dr. Sasha Dalton, is a dear friend. Kai, Sasha and her husband Elliot had been a tight group. But Elliott has died and with Kai being so damaged, the dynamics have changed. There had always been an unspoken attraction between them but neither ever acted on it.
So this is the basis of the story, Kai healing, Sasha and him debating on whether to give into their attraction with Elliotts ghost between them. In addition Kai needs to find his place. He had been missing for so long and presumed dead, his spot as commander has been replaced. As well, it seems they have a spy on board who is leaking information to CSS, the lunatic group who are trying to take over the galaxy.
This is the first in a series by Jess Anastasi and she has set it up brilliantly. One of the things I admire and appreciate about SciFi romance is the author starts and builds from the ground up, the world she is writing about. Though this world is entirely different from life as we know it, it’s a believable world with believable characters.
Escape Velocity has it all, a fascinating world, wonderful characters in Kai and Sasha and the secondary cast, suspense, mystery and a fine friends to lovers romance.
I have the second book and I’m not quite sure why I haven’t started it, but I surely do recommend this book.
February 5, 2018
Compelling leads with rich emotional lives. I love how the author acknowledges that though this couple loves each other, they can't magically solve their issues with that. PTSD, loss, and grief are serious business. They have a strong foundation, and a lot of work to do. I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the rest of the series.
February 22, 2015
3.5*s
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Escape Velocity was a well written, easy to read story and although I enjoyed it, it lacked something for me.
We begin the story with two prisoners in a cell, one realises the other is dead and decides now is the time to escape….
Then we head to the battleship Valiant Knox and meet Dr. Sacha Dalton as she is informed that there is a new patient and he is a POW. We find that during the last 18 months, Sacha has lost everything she loved – her husband and their best friend and former Commander of the Valiant Knox Kai Yang, both killed in action – she is alone and just living life through her job…. Until she sees who the patient is…. Commander Kai Yang! After 18 months he has returned alive and Sacha takes him under her care, who better to watch over him than his childhood best friend? It isn’t easy going for them, especially when Kai decides her wants to be something more to Sacha, but Sacha is worried it’s just because of his ordeal. Healing is challenging at the best of times but when there’s a war right outside their window…. It can be deadly
So, as I said – I did enjoy this. I found the characters very easy to like and connect with; Sacha seemed so lonely and threw herself into her work to combat that. We see a different side emerge when Kai returns but we also see a lots of emotions surrounding the loss of her husband and her feelings for Kai, she struggles with these and with the boundaries of the doctor/patient relationship. Kai himself struggles to deal with his life as it is now, it’s going to take time to heal but everyone around him thinks he is worse than what he is although he does struggle with PTSD. He knows his own mind and what he wants but Sacha seems to think that he shouldn’t be making decisions about his future at this time. There are a lot of pent up feelings between them and it’s clear to the reader that they are ‘meant’ to be together but both are struggling with their issues to be able to make a life changing decision to be together. They bring some lovely sexual tension to the story as we witness their will they/won’t they struggle where at times they let some passion through and you really want them to get a happy ever after.
Most of the story is the making of the relationship and dealing with the fallout from Kai’s imprisonment & Sacha’s grief, it’s easy to forget that there is a war going on around them. In the beginning when Kai is escaping, it was great – full of tension, anxiety and action. I was excited to see where it would go as he was chased….but it fizzled straight out and we didn’t even read of him being rescued and took back to the ship. That is all of the action we get until most of the way through the book when an event happens and I think – ok, here comes the action…..but it doesn’t and I was left deflated again. Then in the last part of the book we do get some action but it’s resolved too quickly and still not enough for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the relationship aspect of the book but I was expecting more from the overall story, they were at war! Where were the battles? Where were the fighter pilots? Where was the main bad guy? And that is what the book lacked for me, I wanted Kai to take his revenge on his captors but we dealt mostly with emotional issues and that to me wasn’t what I thought I would be getting. So, whilst I liked most of the book, it just didn’t excite me, it never took off, excited me or amounted to much… yeah it kept me reading because I was invested in the characters but other than that it was meh!
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Escape Velocity was a well written, easy to read story and although I enjoyed it, it lacked something for me.
We begin the story with two prisoners in a cell, one realises the other is dead and decides now is the time to escape….
Then we head to the battleship Valiant Knox and meet Dr. Sacha Dalton as she is informed that there is a new patient and he is a POW. We find that during the last 18 months, Sacha has lost everything she loved – her husband and their best friend and former Commander of the Valiant Knox Kai Yang, both killed in action – she is alone and just living life through her job…. Until she sees who the patient is…. Commander Kai Yang! After 18 months he has returned alive and Sacha takes him under her care, who better to watch over him than his childhood best friend? It isn’t easy going for them, especially when Kai decides her wants to be something more to Sacha, but Sacha is worried it’s just because of his ordeal. Healing is challenging at the best of times but when there’s a war right outside their window…. It can be deadly
So, as I said – I did enjoy this. I found the characters very easy to like and connect with; Sacha seemed so lonely and threw herself into her work to combat that. We see a different side emerge when Kai returns but we also see a lots of emotions surrounding the loss of her husband and her feelings for Kai, she struggles with these and with the boundaries of the doctor/patient relationship. Kai himself struggles to deal with his life as it is now, it’s going to take time to heal but everyone around him thinks he is worse than what he is although he does struggle with PTSD. He knows his own mind and what he wants but Sacha seems to think that he shouldn’t be making decisions about his future at this time. There are a lot of pent up feelings between them and it’s clear to the reader that they are ‘meant’ to be together but both are struggling with their issues to be able to make a life changing decision to be together. They bring some lovely sexual tension to the story as we witness their will they/won’t they struggle where at times they let some passion through and you really want them to get a happy ever after.
Most of the story is the making of the relationship and dealing with the fallout from Kai’s imprisonment & Sacha’s grief, it’s easy to forget that there is a war going on around them. In the beginning when Kai is escaping, it was great – full of tension, anxiety and action. I was excited to see where it would go as he was chased….but it fizzled straight out and we didn’t even read of him being rescued and took back to the ship. That is all of the action we get until most of the way through the book when an event happens and I think – ok, here comes the action…..but it doesn’t and I was left deflated again. Then in the last part of the book we do get some action but it’s resolved too quickly and still not enough for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the relationship aspect of the book but I was expecting more from the overall story, they were at war! Where were the battles? Where were the fighter pilots? Where was the main bad guy? And that is what the book lacked for me, I wanted Kai to take his revenge on his captors but we dealt mostly with emotional issues and that to me wasn’t what I thought I would be getting. So, whilst I liked most of the book, it just didn’t excite me, it never took off, excited me or amounted to much… yeah it kept me reading because I was invested in the characters but other than that it was meh!
January 21, 2015
I seem to have read quite a few sci fi romances recently but I have to admit that I really really liked this one. From the very first scene the author wrote an incredible and raw portrayal of the hero Kai's incarceration and his escape is not without costs. Like so many military men it's unthinkable to Kai to leave a man behind but to survive he has to do the very worst that he can imagine and yet this damaged man does escape but that's just the beginning of his very emotional journey.
I enjoyed this story with it's futuristic slant and from the outset it's obvious that a romance is on the cards. Kai and Sacha have been friends a long time so have lots in common and in fact Sacha is the widow of Kai's best friend. The attraction they share is powerful but as his doctor perhaps not exactly the correct thing to pursue professionally. What the author does here though is explore Kai's reactions and it's very obvious that he has a long road to true recovery. Modern medicine and scientific advances can only do so much and Kai is emotionally and mentally drained and let's be honest his character is going through PTSD which might not be an obvious avenue in a romance but this heartfelt story expresses so much.
Two people who really deserve to be happy but with so much against them it's far from easy. Sacha makes mistakes but I liked that as a heroine she is not perfect. Kai is truly damaged and at times I just could not see how the author could effect an ending that would satisfy her readers but happily Ms Anastasi had enough plot twist up her sleeve to give a credible ending. As previously mentioned I really enjoyed reading this book and will definitely seek out more from this author.
I was gifted a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed this story with it's futuristic slant and from the outset it's obvious that a romance is on the cards. Kai and Sacha have been friends a long time so have lots in common and in fact Sacha is the widow of Kai's best friend. The attraction they share is powerful but as his doctor perhaps not exactly the correct thing to pursue professionally. What the author does here though is explore Kai's reactions and it's very obvious that he has a long road to true recovery. Modern medicine and scientific advances can only do so much and Kai is emotionally and mentally drained and let's be honest his character is going through PTSD which might not be an obvious avenue in a romance but this heartfelt story expresses so much.
Two people who really deserve to be happy but with so much against them it's far from easy. Sacha makes mistakes but I liked that as a heroine she is not perfect. Kai is truly damaged and at times I just could not see how the author could effect an ending that would satisfy her readers but happily Ms Anastasi had enough plot twist up her sleeve to give a credible ending. As previously mentioned I really enjoyed reading this book and will definitely seek out more from this author.
I was gifted a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
August 9, 2025
ESCAPE VELOCITY was an angsty and emotional romance. It is sci-fi but I would say the focus is more on the characters' relationship and recovery from trauma. The setting was a military spaceship and there's an ongoing war between two groups but the sci-fi elements were pretty light. I do wish there was more background on the war because we’re thrown into the middle of the war and there wasn’t a whole lot of context provided.
However, I did really enjoy the characters. I especially loved Kai and his inner strength; he was so determined to return to normal after being a POW and he wanted to be with Sacha but he struggled with his PTSD. Sacha’s struggle was different but very real and genuine. She wanted to make sure nothing interfered with Kai’s recovery but she also wanted to embrace having Kai back in her life. I liked her dedication to her patients and her work and the way she was strong but soft.
What prevented me from liking ESCAPE VELOCITY more was the grieving widow plot. It's just personal preference but I really don't like this setup for a story. Shortly after thinking Kai, her best friend, was killed Sacha losses her husband in the war as well. So Sacha's been alone for less than a year when Kai returns and she hasn't really grieved yet. This caused a lot of angst for Sasha internally but also between the two of them for their growing relationship.
Content Warning: recent captivity and torture, on page PTSD and panic attacks; past death of a spouse
However, I did really enjoy the characters. I especially loved Kai and his inner strength; he was so determined to return to normal after being a POW and he wanted to be with Sacha but he struggled with his PTSD. Sacha’s struggle was different but very real and genuine. She wanted to make sure nothing interfered with Kai’s recovery but she also wanted to embrace having Kai back in her life. I liked her dedication to her patients and her work and the way she was strong but soft.
What prevented me from liking ESCAPE VELOCITY more was the grieving widow plot. It's just personal preference but I really don't like this setup for a story. Shortly after thinking Kai, her best friend, was killed Sacha losses her husband in the war as well. So Sacha's been alone for less than a year when Kai returns and she hasn't really grieved yet. This caused a lot of angst for Sasha internally but also between the two of them for their growing relationship.
Content Warning: recent captivity and torture, on page PTSD and panic attacks; past death of a spouse
January 29, 2022
I was probably expecting something more adventurous, but all in all, we could sum it up with the phrase "love story on an orbiting station", with the addition that the two main characters are so worried about their past that they devote much more time to it than to their possible future together. I don't know if I will continue to read this series....
Probabilmente mi aspettavo qualcosa di piú avventuroso, invece tutto sommato, potremmo riassumere il tutto con la frase "storia d'amore su stazione orbitante", con l'aggiunta che i due personaggi principali sono cosí preoccupati del loro passato da dedicarci molto piú tempo che al loro eventuale futuro assieme. Non so se continueró a leggere questa serie....
Probabilmente mi aspettavo qualcosa di piú avventuroso, invece tutto sommato, potremmo riassumere il tutto con la frase "storia d'amore su stazione orbitante", con l'aggiunta che i due personaggi principali sono cosí preoccupati del loro passato da dedicarci molto piú tempo che al loro eventuale futuro assieme. Non so se continueró a leggere questa serie....
November 7, 2015
War wages in the science fiction world that Jess Anastasi has built in Escape Velocity. The war happens to be a faith based one. The faith is not pseudo religion, but the author has co opted Christianity, as the faith that the bad guys are using to wage war. War in Anastasi books is no different in 2436, than war in the twenty-first century where people are killed or wounded because ideologies, or faith, or for land and resources.
The reader of Escape Velocity, is plunged directly into a POW camp, where Commander Kai Yang is being held by the enemy forces. The book is set in 2436 and the opposing forces are the United Earth Forces (UEF); which Kai Yang is apart of, and the CSS which stands for Christ's Sunday Soldiers. As the reader I needed some background on the conflict, which the author did not provide. I had no clue why these forces were fighting one another. As I gleaned enough to understand that the CSS were anti technology zealots based upon Christianity. The problem I have with the story is not the idea of future Christians causing a galactic holy war, it is that the author does not reveal the background to the war. We are told that the CSS abhors technology, but how are they able to fight an advanced force without using the latest technology and weapons. The war is taking place not only on planets, but also in space; which would require spaceships. In fact the author does not explain the politics of either side in the conflict. I had more questions, than answers, and I felt as if I was playing catch up in a world that was not explained to me.
The story revolves around Commander Kai Yang former POW, and his return from being presumed dead. Either the world of that the United Earth Forces inhabits is very trusting or the author did not think about the Commander being a security threat. Returned POW or not the Yang is given free run of the ship. He had been held in an CSS Enlightenment camp for eighteen months, I personally would not have trusted him anywhere on my military base ship without an armed escort and major debriefing.
The relationship between Yang and his best friend turned lover Sacha is the highlight of the book, as both of them are dealing with PTSD and survivors guilt; and it is the major theme of the book. How Yang deals with his PTSD is more real than the rest of the book, and I wish the author would have concentrated more on Yang and his struggles than the plots involving CSS infiltrators. Yang and Sacha relationship and struggles to learn to live again made for a heartwarming and emotional draining story, because it isn't all sunshine and roses coming back from war.
This book is only getting three stars from me because of the non existent backstory of the conflict that has resulted in a war. You can't have a character having flashbacks of torture sessions involving crucifixes without giving me, the reader, the background to the conflict.This review was originally posted on Literati Literature Lovers
The reader of Escape Velocity, is plunged directly into a POW camp, where Commander Kai Yang is being held by the enemy forces. The book is set in 2436 and the opposing forces are the United Earth Forces (UEF); which Kai Yang is apart of, and the CSS which stands for Christ's Sunday Soldiers. As the reader I needed some background on the conflict, which the author did not provide. I had no clue why these forces were fighting one another. As I gleaned enough to understand that the CSS were anti technology zealots based upon Christianity. The problem I have with the story is not the idea of future Christians causing a galactic holy war, it is that the author does not reveal the background to the war. We are told that the CSS abhors technology, but how are they able to fight an advanced force without using the latest technology and weapons. The war is taking place not only on planets, but also in space; which would require spaceships. In fact the author does not explain the politics of either side in the conflict. I had more questions, than answers, and I felt as if I was playing catch up in a world that was not explained to me.
The story revolves around Commander Kai Yang former POW, and his return from being presumed dead. Either the world of that the United Earth Forces inhabits is very trusting or the author did not think about the Commander being a security threat. Returned POW or not the Yang is given free run of the ship. He had been held in an CSS Enlightenment camp for eighteen months, I personally would not have trusted him anywhere on my military base ship without an armed escort and major debriefing.
The relationship between Yang and his best friend turned lover Sacha is the highlight of the book, as both of them are dealing with PTSD and survivors guilt; and it is the major theme of the book. How Yang deals with his PTSD is more real than the rest of the book, and I wish the author would have concentrated more on Yang and his struggles than the plots involving CSS infiltrators. Yang and Sacha relationship and struggles to learn to live again made for a heartwarming and emotional draining story, because it isn't all sunshine and roses coming back from war.
This book is only getting three stars from me because of the non existent backstory of the conflict that has resulted in a war. You can't have a character having flashbacks of torture sessions involving crucifixes without giving me, the reader, the background to the conflict.This review was originally posted on Literati Literature Lovers
February 2, 2015
They thought he had been killed in action but now he has returned to and been put under the care of his friend Sasha, only Commander Kai Yang doesn’t know that if he can ever be the man he was or the man Sasha deserves in this emotionally gripping sci-fi romance.
Dr. Sasha Dalton has thrown herself into her work since she lost Kai and her husband Elliot one after the other and the reader can’t help but get caught up in the story as Kai returns after escaping from the enemy to find that his feelings for his childhood friend has changed into something more. Their attraction to each other burns hotter that the explosions from the battles but they are both are torn apart emotionally as they struggle with past issues and current issues that have such a stirring and profound effect on their lives. The characters are strong, compelling and capture the heart as they draw the reader in to this steady to fast paced and smooth flowing romance full of suspense, excitement and romance.
The story starts off building spine tingling anticipation and keeps the readers on the edge of their seat throughout as they get to know the characters and want to know their whole story. Exciting action and suspense draws the reader in as well when Kai suspects that the enemies have infiltrated the Valiant Knox but due to what happened to him no one’s sure whether it’s stress related or not. The well written scenes and details capture the imagination and bring the story to life and readers should be prepared for some scenes may inspire tears (if you are like me and get completely immersed in the story).
Jess Anastasi has created a fascinating futuristic sci-fi romance with an interesting setting, intriguing characters and interesting elements to keep readers completely entertained. I couldn’t put the book down until I had read every last word and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the people of the Valiant Knox.
4 1/2 STARS
Dr. Sasha Dalton has thrown herself into her work since she lost Kai and her husband Elliot one after the other and the reader can’t help but get caught up in the story as Kai returns after escaping from the enemy to find that his feelings for his childhood friend has changed into something more. Their attraction to each other burns hotter that the explosions from the battles but they are both are torn apart emotionally as they struggle with past issues and current issues that have such a stirring and profound effect on their lives. The characters are strong, compelling and capture the heart as they draw the reader in to this steady to fast paced and smooth flowing romance full of suspense, excitement and romance.
The story starts off building spine tingling anticipation and keeps the readers on the edge of their seat throughout as they get to know the characters and want to know their whole story. Exciting action and suspense draws the reader in as well when Kai suspects that the enemies have infiltrated the Valiant Knox but due to what happened to him no one’s sure whether it’s stress related or not. The well written scenes and details capture the imagination and bring the story to life and readers should be prepared for some scenes may inspire tears (if you are like me and get completely immersed in the story).
Jess Anastasi has created a fascinating futuristic sci-fi romance with an interesting setting, intriguing characters and interesting elements to keep readers completely entertained. I couldn’t put the book down until I had read every last word and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the people of the Valiant Knox.
4 1/2 STARS
February 4, 2015
Dr. Sacha Dalton has lost a lot. Her best friend went missing and was presumed killed in action and then a year later her husband was killed. She has been dragging along since, in a state of just living when Kai turns up injured, but alive. She never realized how much he meant to her until he was gone and now that he's back she feels a tremendous amount of guilt over her feelings for Kai when her husband died only a year ago. One of the only things that kept Kai alive while he was being held captive and being tortured were thoughts of Sacha, his best friend since childhood and his friends wife. Now he's back in her midst and wants nothing more than for her to be his.
The attraction and love between Sacha and Kai is pretty strong from the moment they are in each others sight again. Only problem was that they have way too much baggage between the two of them and they had some major communication issues. SO much stress and strife could have been avoided if they would have just opened their mouths and talked about what they were thinking and feeling instead of assuming things. They did make a really good couple when they finally got on the same page and I wish we had more book to see what happens next.
ESCAPE VELOCITY was a great mix of science fiction and romance. There was plenty of suspense with Kai's escape and the infiltration of the enemy on the Valiant Knox. I enjoyed the world, but would have liked to know more about it. It seems like we just got a glimpse. Another book on the horizon maybe to encompass more? I would read it!
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The attraction and love between Sacha and Kai is pretty strong from the moment they are in each others sight again. Only problem was that they have way too much baggage between the two of them and they had some major communication issues. SO much stress and strife could have been avoided if they would have just opened their mouths and talked about what they were thinking and feeling instead of assuming things. They did make a really good couple when they finally got on the same page and I wish we had more book to see what happens next.
ESCAPE VELOCITY was a great mix of science fiction and romance. There was plenty of suspense with Kai's escape and the infiltration of the enemy on the Valiant Knox. I enjoyed the world, but would have liked to know more about it. It seems like we just got a glimpse. Another book on the horizon maybe to encompass more? I would read it!
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2015
I think I'd give this book a solid 3-3.5 stars. I don't know exactly what genre it would fall into, but I don't normally read romance novels because they're just not my forte. Escape Velocity was a good middle ground. A little bit of the "romance" but just enough to make it romance and the rest was really good story. To be honest, I didn't initially think I was going to enjoy the book but I really did. Jess did a really great job at the suspense and keeping my mind engaged and my eyes moving.
It's set in the future on a distant planet in a separate system from Earth, which I hope we see more of in future books, but the only sci-fi things we saw in Escape Velocity is medical and that they're living on a giant space ship.
Kai and Sacha were both SO SO SO frustrating and I wanted to reach into the book and smack them and tell them to stop thinking they know what's best and actually verbalize something. I mean, they've been best friends for a solid 20 years. Stop being big ol babies. So job well done, Jess.
I definitely plan on reading the rest of the series because I wasn't really given much of a choice with how she ended Escape Velocity.
It's set in the future on a distant planet in a separate system from Earth, which I hope we see more of in future books, but the only sci-fi things we saw in Escape Velocity is medical and that they're living on a giant space ship.
Kai and Sacha were both SO SO SO frustrating and I wanted to reach into the book and smack them and tell them to stop thinking they know what's best and actually verbalize something. I mean, they've been best friends for a solid 20 years. Stop being big ol babies. So job well done, Jess.
I definitely plan on reading the rest of the series because I wasn't really given much of a choice with how she ended Escape Velocity.
January 23, 2015
I don’t read much scifi, but the premise intrigued me, so here goes: wow! As the blurb tells the gist of the story, I won’t waste any time with that. Ms. Anastasi writes a very cinematographic, vivid, and totally convincing future: nothing is far-fetched, and it is so well described that it feels completely real. The characters: Kai and Sacha are just great: complex, genuine, and flawed. Dr. Sacha Dalton’s husband was Kai’s friend Elliot, who was killed in action and indirectly helps Kai escape from a prison camp, a most memorable escape! I love Kai, he’s a fantastic character, and Sacha is not a wimp! There’s the figurative ghost of Elliot that hovers for a good while, and what a great story it makes!
ESCAPE VELOCITY is a fantastic futuristic romance, there’s quite a bit of action, the world-building is fabulous, and the writing is positively spectacular! I often feel that in scifi the writing is somewhat not up to par, but Ms. Anastasi is head and shoulders above most writers. A great story and I’m definitely looking for more from Jess Anastasi!
I would like to thank the publisher for making this fabulous book available to me.
ESCAPE VELOCITY is a fantastic futuristic romance, there’s quite a bit of action, the world-building is fabulous, and the writing is positively spectacular! I often feel that in scifi the writing is somewhat not up to par, but Ms. Anastasi is head and shoulders above most writers. A great story and I’m definitely looking for more from Jess Anastasi!
I would like to thank the publisher for making this fabulous book available to me.
February 2, 2015
This is the first time in reading this author with this being a interesting looking sci-fi romance. The author grabs your attention right away with your meeting of a prisoner-Kai who is about to escape in a most unconventional way. Once he realizes he has been successful he also finds out they have thought him dead. Long time friend Sacha is for one glad he is alive but this is were their trials will begin. Their friendship will also take a different turn testing them at every turn. They will also be facing more danger from the very forces that has been plaguing everyone with that also being the one who had him captured. Deceit will be uncovered thanks to his memory but not at a easy cost. Most fascinating reading with the events that take place with their relationship that grows lighting their way, it will also be what heals many a broken piece in them both. This author does a splendid job at their relationship that they will have quite a explosive meltdown. Received a arc for a honest review.
February 4, 2015
*** I received a free copy of Escape Velocity from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for an honest review***
WOW! I absolutely loved this futuristic world, but Escape Velocity isn't just about a world of flying warships and travel to other planets. It is a love story.
What begins as a life-long friendship blossoms to something entirely blazing hot when Doctor Sacha Dalton reunites with her friend and former Commander Kai Yang. Kai ends up escaping the dank dungeon where he'd been kept as a POW for over a year and a half. Sacha had mourned his death, but didn't realize the intensity of her feelings until she discovers that Kai is in her Med-Lab.
Jess Anastasi has done a remarkable job drawing the reader into her world, separating the ugly truth of war and those that suffer from PTSD. I sat on the edge of my seat as the plot unfolded and each time I thought I knew what was coming next, I was thrown into an 'Oh no way.'
This is an amazing read for the Romantic/Sci-FI adventurer.
WOW! I absolutely loved this futuristic world, but Escape Velocity isn't just about a world of flying warships and travel to other planets. It is a love story.
What begins as a life-long friendship blossoms to something entirely blazing hot when Doctor Sacha Dalton reunites with her friend and former Commander Kai Yang. Kai ends up escaping the dank dungeon where he'd been kept as a POW for over a year and a half. Sacha had mourned his death, but didn't realize the intensity of her feelings until she discovers that Kai is in her Med-Lab.
Jess Anastasi has done a remarkable job drawing the reader into her world, separating the ugly truth of war and those that suffer from PTSD. I sat on the edge of my seat as the plot unfolded and each time I thought I knew what was coming next, I was thrown into an 'Oh no way.'
This is an amazing read for the Romantic/Sci-FI adventurer.
January 19, 2015
This was an interesting kind of romance. Commander Kai Yang had been a prisoner of war until he managed to escape. He's going to have to spend along time recovering from his ordeal, not just physically but also mentally, but he's not willing to face up to that fact. Dr Sacha Dalton grew up with Kai, she's over the moon when she's told he's alive, and is put in charge of seeing to his recovery.
Kai was at times confused and damaged by the terrible treatment he endured and Sacha was just the right person he needed, but she had a hard time separating her personal life from her professional life which she felt she had to do to treat Kai properly.
I enjoyed the storyline very much, it was different. The characters were interesting especially Kai. Even though the book was futuristic, story was very believable as the premise for the plot line could be from today.
January 14, 2015
I liked Kai he was a nice boy, "thanks," he said, not sure if he should be insulted by her prediction for his future behavior. "What are you doing now? Want to share a meal?" Kai and Sacha go really well together like seriously she's ying to his yang, "at her touch, relief broke up the hard sensations tearing through him. On blind instinct alone, he wrapped his arms around her, dragging her closer to bury his face in her neck." I liked this book it was different and it was a on a spaceship.
October 18, 2015
If you like science-fiction romance, then this is one to read. Loved Kai (the hero) and his PTSD issues. The book is a quick read and a great mix of SF & romance.
June 19, 2023
Series: Valiant Knox #1
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
This book throws us into the middle of a war and the harried escape of Command Kai Yang who has been a POW for over a year. While I did enjoy Kai and Sasha’s story, the lack of information about the war between the UEF and CSS was a bit disappointing. I want to know why this war is so important to these two sides and how it happened.
While we do get minimal world building, the romance between Sasha and Kai was very emotional. Kai is struggling with his return to the Knox and PTSD from his captivity. While Kai is an extremely strong and resilient man, his struggle to deal with his PTSD and panic attacks was heartbreaking. I just wanted to hug Kai and make it better.
Sasha is determined to help Kai recover and work on his PTSD but she also wants to explore her feelings for him. Sasha’s struggle felt very real and I appreciated that she didn't just fall completely in Kai’s arms or let him use her to ignore his PTSD. Sasha was a woman who is determined to help everyone around her but in the process hides herself too. Being around Kai makes her finally confront her grief over his supposed death and the death of her husband. While the best friend’s widow trope is not one I really enjoy, Anastasi does a great job at tackling the situation.
Overall, this was an enjoyable space opera. My only real complaint was the lack of world building around this war. I am excited to read the next book and learn more about this world.
Trigger Warnings: imprisonment and torture; death of a friend; PTSD; death of spouse referenced; grief;
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
This book throws us into the middle of a war and the harried escape of Command Kai Yang who has been a POW for over a year. While I did enjoy Kai and Sasha’s story, the lack of information about the war between the UEF and CSS was a bit disappointing. I want to know why this war is so important to these two sides and how it happened.
While we do get minimal world building, the romance between Sasha and Kai was very emotional. Kai is struggling with his return to the Knox and PTSD from his captivity. While Kai is an extremely strong and resilient man, his struggle to deal with his PTSD and panic attacks was heartbreaking. I just wanted to hug Kai and make it better.
Sasha is determined to help Kai recover and work on his PTSD but she also wants to explore her feelings for him. Sasha’s struggle felt very real and I appreciated that she didn't just fall completely in Kai’s arms or let him use her to ignore his PTSD. Sasha was a woman who is determined to help everyone around her but in the process hides herself too. Being around Kai makes her finally confront her grief over his supposed death and the death of her husband. While the best friend’s widow trope is not one I really enjoy, Anastasi does a great job at tackling the situation.
Overall, this was an enjoyable space opera. My only real complaint was the lack of world building around this war. I am excited to read the next book and learn more about this world.
Trigger Warnings: imprisonment and torture; death of a friend; PTSD; death of spouse referenced; grief;
August 8, 2019
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…
*Thank you to NetGalley
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…
*Thank you to NetGalley
July 26, 2017
I read Cover Fire (Bk 3) first, so the books in the series can be read out of order. I'm sure the author would rather you read them in the order they were written. LOL A year ago, Sacha lost the 2 most important men in her life--her husband and her best friend. When a tortured POW is brought into her medical center, she's stunned to find her best friend didn't die. Kai was held in a detention center and tortured relentlessly. He's wounded physically and emotionally. Sacha and her team can treat the physical scars. The emotional ones go much deeper. Kai is lost aboard the "city" ship Valiant Knox. His job is gone, filled by someone else. His terrors hit him at the worst times. Sacha can't remain impersonal. When they both finally admit their love for each other, I thought the culmination came too soon. With her grief and his tortured soul, they needed more time. A small issue in a bigger picture of betrayal and war.
October 20, 2017
I think that from reading the blurb, I was expecting a different story to what this one actually is: a second chance romance. I'm not saying that this is a bad trope, by any means; but I find it very marmite-y and probably would have checked some more reviews before picking it up.
I read about a third in one sitting, and despite a strong start it just got less interesting as it progressed. I liked the hero, but the heroine just irritated me
Bit disappointed, really :(
I read about a third in one sitting, and despite a strong start it just got less interesting as it progressed. I liked the hero, but the heroine just irritated me
Bit disappointed, really :(
July 14, 2024
Well, that wasn't at all what I'd hoped it'd be, so this is likely a case of "it's me, not you". But, I just have to say that GONZA's comment, 'I was probably expecting something more adventurous, but all in all, we could sum it up with the phrase "love story on an orbiting station", 'in their review was spot on for how I felt when I finally reached the end of this one.
January 30, 2021
perfect mixture of romance and science fiction.
Read
June 7, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Torture
Kidnapping & captivity
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Torture
Kidnapping & captivity
Read
March 18, 2017That 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!
This is a voluntary review via netgalley my thoughts are my own!
January 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this tale of love, loss and coping with trauma all set on a military base somewhere off in distant space. Although it's less about sci-fi and war than it is about the aftermath, regardless of the fact that the fighting is still going on. The war itself is never really explained – beyond the fact that the CS soldiers are really nasty rulers, so the good guys decided to invade and have been fighting for twenty years – nor is it clear just whereabouts in the galaxy/space this is all set, but that hardly matters. Valiant Knox is the setting, and since this is a massive base in orbit above the planet Ilari it’s plenty big enough to encompass most of the action.
Both Kai and Sacha have been through a lot and this story deals with their individual recoveries as much as their romance. I thought Kai’s PTSD was handled really well, especially as Sacha is there waiting for him to show all the various signs. His frustration when she was too busy being his doctor to listen to him as a friend is clear and understandable – from both sides. They both have major issues to overcome, but at least Kai knows he’s messed up and needs to work on things.
Ah, Sacha. Much as I liked her there were times when I wanted to shake her. She works so hard, pushes herself to constant exhaustion and gets all her priorities in the wrong order. Poor Kai, it’s a wonder she didn’t knock his recovery back to square one several times the way she wavers between loving him and treating him, not to mention always jumping to the worst conclusions where his recovery/behaviour is concerned. But Kai’s stronger than that, regardless of what Sacha thinks about his emotional state. I loved seeing him recover and how he was never unrealistic about his recovery and what he could and could no longer do.
Some parts of this book definitely felt like the beginning of a series, which is not always a bad thing, but in this case left a lot of loose ends that seemed to fade away in a rather frustrating manner. There is clearly a bigger plot intended to span more than one book, to do with the war below and various aspects of it. I would have liked a little more investigation into how Kai was taken in the first place (or even what he was doing in order to get taken), and why he was held in secret, but that doesn’t even get a whimper of a mention.
So the romance and main plot surrounding Sacha and Kai is good and I really enjoyed this book as a whole, I just wish there’d been a little more world-building and a bit more exploration of what else is going on on Valiant Knox and Ilari. Still, it is a good start and I’ll definitely be on the look out for more.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Both Kai and Sacha have been through a lot and this story deals with their individual recoveries as much as their romance. I thought Kai’s PTSD was handled really well, especially as Sacha is there waiting for him to show all the various signs. His frustration when she was too busy being his doctor to listen to him as a friend is clear and understandable – from both sides. They both have major issues to overcome, but at least Kai knows he’s messed up and needs to work on things.
Ah, Sacha. Much as I liked her there were times when I wanted to shake her. She works so hard, pushes herself to constant exhaustion and gets all her priorities in the wrong order. Poor Kai, it’s a wonder she didn’t knock his recovery back to square one several times the way she wavers between loving him and treating him, not to mention always jumping to the worst conclusions where his recovery/behaviour is concerned. But Kai’s stronger than that, regardless of what Sacha thinks about his emotional state. I loved seeing him recover and how he was never unrealistic about his recovery and what he could and could no longer do.
Some parts of this book definitely felt like the beginning of a series, which is not always a bad thing, but in this case left a lot of loose ends that seemed to fade away in a rather frustrating manner. There is clearly a bigger plot intended to span more than one book, to do with the war below and various aspects of it. I would have liked a little more investigation into how Kai was taken in the first place (or even what he was doing in order to get taken), and why he was held in secret, but that doesn’t even get a whimper of a mention.
So the romance and main plot surrounding Sacha and Kai is good and I really enjoyed this book as a whole, I just wish there’d been a little more world-building and a bit more exploration of what else is going on on Valiant Knox and Ilari. Still, it is a good start and I’ll definitely be on the look out for more.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
April 9, 2015
I had a good time with this book. It was a primarily a romance, but there was a lot of world building and a greater concept beyond that of the relationship between our two main characters.
This book is definitely a sci-fi romance with a contemporary spin to it. And I think that's what drew me to it. I'd never read anything by Jess Anastasi before and so I was very intrigued and wanted to try something new.
This book is about a a young doctor, Sacha Dalton who is trying to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband and best friend. Both lost in battle. Only one day she discovers that her best friend, Commander Kai Yang, isn't dead. He ends up in her medical lab, where their relationship starts to build once more.
This was a cute read. Definitely more on the cute side, as opposed to gripping and profound. I did enjoy it, but mainly due to the budding relationship between the two characters. Because of this particular component, the story felt more like a contemporary romance. The setting and the world building is what made the story more of a sci-fi book.
And I think that's where my inability to give this book a five-star rating makes itself known. The book was fun. The characters were great, the romance was good. Those aspects were pretty fulfilling, for the most part. There were moments in the book where I wanted to strangle Sacha, but it was all a part of the experience and her reactions to certain things throughout the story didn't really change my liking of the story. What did was the perfect setting, perfect world building and perfect opportunity to expound upon that... and you don't get it. At all.
That's what's so disappointing for me when it comes to this book. Apparently, this was meant to focus on relationship as opposed to space adventure, but Anastasi set it up so well, I couldn't help but want more. I think I find myself waiting for the next book (not sure if there will be one, but she's given herself the perfect pickup).
That's the only thing that really got to me about this book. The thing that I didn't enjoy about this reading experience. I just wanted more. On the world and in the world. What was going to happen with the society in the book? How were they going to defeat the antagonist? When can I get more scenes like the fantastically written escape scene at the very beginning of the book with Commander Kai.
I just want more. And you know what? That's not really a bad thing, but because of the perfect set up and lack of execution, I can't give this book five stars. So a definitely four-star for a solid effort!
This book is definitely a sci-fi romance with a contemporary spin to it. And I think that's what drew me to it. I'd never read anything by Jess Anastasi before and so I was very intrigued and wanted to try something new.
This book is about a a young doctor, Sacha Dalton who is trying to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband and best friend. Both lost in battle. Only one day she discovers that her best friend, Commander Kai Yang, isn't dead. He ends up in her medical lab, where their relationship starts to build once more.
This was a cute read. Definitely more on the cute side, as opposed to gripping and profound. I did enjoy it, but mainly due to the budding relationship between the two characters. Because of this particular component, the story felt more like a contemporary romance. The setting and the world building is what made the story more of a sci-fi book.
And I think that's where my inability to give this book a five-star rating makes itself known. The book was fun. The characters were great, the romance was good. Those aspects were pretty fulfilling, for the most part. There were moments in the book where I wanted to strangle Sacha, but it was all a part of the experience and her reactions to certain things throughout the story didn't really change my liking of the story. What did was the perfect setting, perfect world building and perfect opportunity to expound upon that... and you don't get it. At all.
That's what's so disappointing for me when it comes to this book. Apparently, this was meant to focus on relationship as opposed to space adventure, but Anastasi set it up so well, I couldn't help but want more. I think I find myself waiting for the next book (not sure if there will be one, but she's given herself the perfect pickup).
That's the only thing that really got to me about this book. The thing that I didn't enjoy about this reading experience. I just wanted more. On the world and in the world. What was going to happen with the society in the book? How were they going to defeat the antagonist? When can I get more scenes like the fantastically written escape scene at the very beginning of the book with Commander Kai.
I just want more. And you know what? That's not really a bad thing, but because of the perfect set up and lack of execution, I can't give this book five stars. So a definitely four-star for a solid effort!
February 1, 2015
Escape Velocity was a terrific Sci-Fi read. Set in the year 2436, there's action, battleships, romance, and great writing. I'm fairly picky when it comes to sci-fi books and I didn't want to put it down.
For the last year and a half, Commander Kai Yang, believed to be dead, has been a prisoner of war. Forced to survive in unspeakable conditions, he finally escapes CSS, suffering from physical and emotional damage. The only thing helping survive were thoughts of his oldest friend Sacha, who also happened to be married to his best friend.
“There'd been days in that CSS cell when the only thing he'd wanted was to see her again. Her memory had stayed with him a lot longer than anything else of his former life."
Dr. Sacha Dalton can’t believe her eyes when she sees her Kai alive. For the last year and half she’s been in mourning. First for her childhood friend who she’s always harbored feelings for and then for her husband who died a few months after his disappearance. Now back in her life, she’ll do anything to help him. But her feelings are muddled. While she should have still been in mourning for her husband, her real pain stemmed from the lost of Kai. Sacha is struggling to separate her feeling for him and treat him as his doctor and push her feeling for him aside. Added to the fact that the sexual tension is high between these two and neither one knows what to do with these feelings.
"One of these days, you're going to lose control. I'm going to make you lose control."
But with Sacha believing he's suffering from PTSD and Kai frustrated with thoughts of how his life has changed, trying to figure out where he fits after having been gone so long, these two butt heads. Tensions are high between the two and at times, I wanted to sleep them both upside the head, Sacha especially. There were few moments that I thought this might end up being a cliff hanger and we'd get another book to resolve their issues but I'm glad it had an HEA. I'm also hoping this expands to a series, as I found the technology, and the action a lot of fun to read. I'll definitely be looking for more books from this author.
For the last year and a half, Commander Kai Yang, believed to be dead, has been a prisoner of war. Forced to survive in unspeakable conditions, he finally escapes CSS, suffering from physical and emotional damage. The only thing helping survive were thoughts of his oldest friend Sacha, who also happened to be married to his best friend.
“There'd been days in that CSS cell when the only thing he'd wanted was to see her again. Her memory had stayed with him a lot longer than anything else of his former life."
Dr. Sacha Dalton can’t believe her eyes when she sees her Kai alive. For the last year and half she’s been in mourning. First for her childhood friend who she’s always harbored feelings for and then for her husband who died a few months after his disappearance. Now back in her life, she’ll do anything to help him. But her feelings are muddled. While she should have still been in mourning for her husband, her real pain stemmed from the lost of Kai. Sacha is struggling to separate her feeling for him and treat him as his doctor and push her feeling for him aside. Added to the fact that the sexual tension is high between these two and neither one knows what to do with these feelings.
"One of these days, you're going to lose control. I'm going to make you lose control."
But with Sacha believing he's suffering from PTSD and Kai frustrated with thoughts of how his life has changed, trying to figure out where he fits after having been gone so long, these two butt heads. Tensions are high between the two and at times, I wanted to sleep them both upside the head, Sacha especially. There were few moments that I thought this might end up being a cliff hanger and we'd get another book to resolve their issues but I'm glad it had an HEA. I'm also hoping this expands to a series, as I found the technology, and the action a lot of fun to read. I'll definitely be looking for more books from this author.
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