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The Sector Fleet #2
Apparent Brightness
“Please do not be alarmed. This is for your own protection.”
Working as the Chief Engineer onboard the ESAS Chariot out of Europe, Commander Camille Rey expected her position to be somewhat challenging on occasion.
She did not expect to be fighting for her and her fellow crewmen’s lives immediately after take-off.
Teaming up with the very proper, and very English Captain Noah Vaughan to combat a desperate saboteur onboard their vessel, Camille discovers that not all the malfunctions the Chariot is experiencing are human-related.
Secrets and desires are exposed amongst the stars and plasma fire, but can the captain and the chief overcome their cultural differences?
And can any of them hope to survive the treacherous voyage to New Earth unscathed?
When humanity reaches for the stars in a race for survival, only the most daring amongst them will succeed.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2018
34 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Claire
142 books735 followersNicola Claire lives in beautiful Taupo, New Zealand with her husband, two teenage boys and a Miniature Schnauzer named Rudy.
A bit of a romance junkie, she can be known to devour as many as half a dozen books a week if she drinks too much coffee. But her real passion is writing sexy, romantic suspense stories with strong female leads and alpha male protagonists who know how to love them.
So far, she’s written well over 70 books. She might have caught the writing bug; here’s hoping there’s no cure!
A bit of a romance junkie, she can be known to devour as many as half a dozen books a week if she drinks too much coffee. But her real passion is writing sexy, romantic suspense stories with strong female leads and alpha male protagonists who know how to love them.
So far, she’s written well over 70 books. She might have caught the writing bug; here’s hoping there’s no cure!
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 6, 2018
Far and away, Engineering Chief Camille Rey is the star of the show in this second installment of Nicola Claire's Sector Fleet sci-fi romance series. I love the idea of a gorgeous Frenchwoman with the mouth of a midshipman serving as the brilliant and instinctual version of Star Trek's Scotty. She is laid out with some stereotypical French mannerisms (rapidly talking to herself in anger is one), and mix that with a little haughtiness and copious self-confidence, and I had certain expectations of this character - and then Camille moved way, way beyond them. She thinks quick on her feet, tempers suspicion with candor, and knows when to grasp on to what is important in life. I really liked this woman. And so did hottie British Captain Noah Vaughan.
In tone, he reminded me a smidgen of the hero in the first book in the series, Capt. John Jameson, albeit with an English accent and a little more decorum on the bridge. Well, more decorum until the malfunctioning AI pulled an "out of the mouths of babes" moment. From that point on Noah simply embraced the suck and did the job that had to be done, regardless of his personal pride. It was a sublimely hilarious moment. I laughed out loud. Which was good because the tension in the novel needed a little relief.
The Chariot, ostensibly under the command of Captain Vaughan, is experiencing sabotage and systems anomalies. Camille is on task, but the situation is disintegrating rapidly with a distressing loss of life. I don't want to say too much, because the mystery is a big part of the excitement and suspense, but if you read book one, it isn't giving it away to say that The Chariot is experiencing its own set of AI problems. Vela is not Pavo. And Camille and Noah do not react to the rogue AI in the same way that Jameson and Ana did in book one. Which I loved! Thank you, dear author, for NOT rehashing reactions and situations and making carbon copies of characters.
Speaking of not rehashing, be prepared for a dial-up of the heat. Noah does a turn at arrogance, mightily proud of his ability to morph the proud and temperamental Camille into a pile of goo in his bed, and on his desk, and in his ready-room chair. When this Brit decides on a lusty course of action, he does it with gusto, plus on a personal side his character continuously surprised me with his less than stereotypical reactions. The love scenes are good-natured, and I was unprepared for that. I was grinning and fanning myself at the same time. Camille and Noah are equals, and they thrive on it.
Secondary characters are more minimal in this book, and I missed them somewhat. But even they are not carbon copies of book one, although the chain of command and the interactions between military, corporate and civilian structures are similar. Plus, Nicola Claire manages to sneak in a little philosophical debate on the merits and meaning of freedom, choice and privacy. This is a new book, and a new, bright daylight cycle controlled by computers in a tin can in space. But there is darkness ahead for the fleet traveling to New Earth.
This book had it all: fun, romance, adventure, suspense and a few moments where I stilled and thought about the value of democracy.
Book source: Kindle Unlimited.
In tone, he reminded me a smidgen of the hero in the first book in the series, Capt. John Jameson, albeit with an English accent and a little more decorum on the bridge. Well, more decorum until the malfunctioning AI pulled an "out of the mouths of babes" moment. From that point on Noah simply embraced the suck and did the job that had to be done, regardless of his personal pride. It was a sublimely hilarious moment. I laughed out loud. Which was good because the tension in the novel needed a little relief.
The Chariot, ostensibly under the command of Captain Vaughan, is experiencing sabotage and systems anomalies. Camille is on task, but the situation is disintegrating rapidly with a distressing loss of life. I don't want to say too much, because the mystery is a big part of the excitement and suspense, but if you read book one, it isn't giving it away to say that The Chariot is experiencing its own set of AI problems. Vela is not Pavo. And Camille and Noah do not react to the rogue AI in the same way that Jameson and Ana did in book one. Which I loved! Thank you, dear author, for NOT rehashing reactions and situations and making carbon copies of characters.
Speaking of not rehashing, be prepared for a dial-up of the heat. Noah does a turn at arrogance, mightily proud of his ability to morph the proud and temperamental Camille into a pile of goo in his bed, and on his desk, and in his ready-room chair. When this Brit decides on a lusty course of action, he does it with gusto, plus on a personal side his character continuously surprised me with his less than stereotypical reactions. The love scenes are good-natured, and I was unprepared for that. I was grinning and fanning myself at the same time. Camille and Noah are equals, and they thrive on it.
Secondary characters are more minimal in this book, and I missed them somewhat. But even they are not carbon copies of book one, although the chain of command and the interactions between military, corporate and civilian structures are similar. Plus, Nicola Claire manages to sneak in a little philosophical debate on the merits and meaning of freedom, choice and privacy. This is a new book, and a new, bright daylight cycle controlled by computers in a tin can in space. But there is darkness ahead for the fleet traveling to New Earth.
This book had it all: fun, romance, adventure, suspense and a few moments where I stilled and thought about the value of democracy.
Book source: Kindle Unlimited.
October 24, 2018
The lead ship, Vela, of the third wave has been destroyed escaping Earth…
…and now the Chariot is the leading ship.
Unfortunately it doesn’t have the AI, which has been destroyed with Vela, and without it the whole group of ships cannot make the transition…
So the captain gets in contact with Pavo and reluctantly asks them to wait for them. He hopes they’ll wait even if that means great problems and loss of time-line for Pavo.
But, as if the AI loss wasn’t enough, strange things are happening all around the ship… things get broken and almost miraculously get repaired… What is happening?
This second book is as good as the first was! It is a completely different story, but as excellent as the first!
We have a damaged, clandestine Ai who takes over the ship and causes enormous problems.
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We have a saboteur/s damaging the ship and killing people. And we have a truly excellent cast of characters who work frantically to make everything right!
We have a fantastic couple too! He’s English and she’s French! He’s the captain and she’s the chief of engineering. He’s a typical Enlishman: cool, strict; she’s the typical Frenchwoman: temperamental and easy to rile. But they work well together. They’re professional towards each other, until they’re not!
And we get some of the hottest scene and incredibly hilariously hot dialogues!
In this book the action is at break-neck speed with twists and turns that will leave you breathless! It’s excellent and fast paced!
Towards the end we get to see Pavo and Jameson and Ana! Particularly I loved the interaction between AI Pavo and Vela!
On to the next!!!!
…and now the Chariot is the leading ship.
Unfortunately it doesn’t have the AI, which has been destroyed with Vela, and without it the whole group of ships cannot make the transition…
So the captain gets in contact with Pavo and reluctantly asks them to wait for them. He hopes they’ll wait even if that means great problems and loss of time-line for Pavo.
But, as if the AI loss wasn’t enough, strange things are happening all around the ship… things get broken and almost miraculously get repaired… What is happening?
This second book is as good as the first was! It is a completely different story, but as excellent as the first!
We have a damaged, clandestine Ai who takes over the ship and causes enormous problems.
We have a saboteur/s damaging the ship and killing people. And we have a truly excellent cast of characters who work frantically to make everything right!
We have a fantastic couple too! He’s English and she’s French! He’s the captain and she’s the chief of engineering. He’s a typical Enlishman: cool, strict; she’s the typical Frenchwoman: temperamental and easy to rile. But they work well together. They’re professional towards each other, until they’re not!
And we get some of the hottest scene and incredibly hilariously hot dialogues!
… France conquered England…
In this book the action is at break-neck speed with twists and turns that will leave you breathless! It’s excellent and fast paced!
Towards the end we get to see Pavo and Jameson and Ana! Particularly I loved the interaction between AI Pavo and Vela!
On to the next!!!!
January 20, 2018
I loved book 1 so much that I just couldn't wait to get started on book 2. This book focuses on the Chariot's crew, specifically Noah and Camille. They have worked together --and had feelings for each other, although they had never acted on them-- for 5 years. I really enjoyed their banter, and they had a fun relationship overall. They never hesitate to challenge each other, yet they still have each other's unwavering support.
"If I didn't already know that I'd been in love with him for years, I'd have fallen for the man all over again right then and there. He was my elixir. My rock. My anchor. My north star."
The plot of this story was really interesting and felt fresh and unique. Vela is very different from Pavo, even though there are some obvious similarities. I really liked the angle of the saboteur and was constantly trying to guess who it was. I was also thrilled to see that Ana and Jameson made a cameo, even though I am greedy and was hoping for more of them.
While I liked Noah and Camille a lot, I still found that I preferred Ana and Jameson, although I can't pinpoint exactly why. Overall, this was a solid second installment that I enjoyed immensely. I can't wait to see what happens in book 3!
"If I didn't already know that I'd been in love with him for years, I'd have fallen for the man all over again right then and there. He was my elixir. My rock. My anchor. My north star."
The plot of this story was really interesting and felt fresh and unique. Vela is very different from Pavo, even though there are some obvious similarities. I really liked the angle of the saboteur and was constantly trying to guess who it was. I was also thrilled to see that Ana and Jameson made a cameo, even though I am greedy and was hoping for more of them.
While I liked Noah and Camille a lot, I still found that I preferred Ana and Jameson, although I can't pinpoint exactly why. Overall, this was a solid second installment that I enjoyed immensely. I can't wait to see what happens in book 3!
February 6, 2018
You never know if the 2nd book in a series will live up to the first one, but this one was even better - and I loved the first one! Great plot and world-building and wonderful characters - especially the AIs. I will definitely be ordering all the books in this series as soon as they are available. Fantastic!
January 26, 2018
This book links nicely to the first in the series, the AI Vela is very different to Pavo however.
The ships are struggling to meet up, a saboteur is determined not to let that happen. There’s a chief and a Captain who wants more than reports on engineering.
The ships are struggling to meet up, a saboteur is determined not to let that happen. There’s a chief and a Captain who wants more than reports on engineering.
February 5, 2019
The second book in The Sector Fleet series by Nicola Claire. The ESAS Chariot is in trouble. The lead ship, Vela, was destroyed leaving Earth and now the ship is experiencing strange malfunctions that lead Cdr. Camille Rey and the Captain Noah Vaughan to the conclusion they have a saboteur on board. Added to the fact Vela was destroyed and they have no AI to guide them on. The Chariot depends on Pavo to guide them if they are able to catch up with the ship.
The timeline coincides with the first book. Written first person from both Noah and Camille's point of views. I am really enjoying this series.
The timeline coincides with the first book. Written first person from both Noah and Camille's point of views. I am really enjoying this series.
November 10, 2019
4.5 Stars! Second in an all new Sci-Fi series by Nicola Claire, Apparent Brightness (AB) continues the last-ditch effort of humankind to survive a dying world only to be thrust into the unknown dangers of space.
Summary:
From the moment she’d learned of Earth’s imminent demise five years earlier, Commander Camille Rey knew that her rank of Chief Engineer on the ESAS vessel Chariot, would be a challenge. And dangerous. She’d trained endlessly with her fellow officers to ensure the last of mankind made it to New Earth, traveling across the universe. It just wasn’t expected that those challenges would start after barely leaving Earth’s atmosphere. Captain Noah Vaughan had no way of knowing an unscheduled solar flare would put the entire Sector One Fleet at risk. As it stands, the final evacuees of a dying Earth are dead in the water without their AI controlled lead vessel. Their only hope is to catch up with Sector two’s fleet in hopes of utilizing Pavo to calculate their jump points. When an excess of shipwide malfunctions are noticed, it quickly becomes apparent that a saboteur is aboard. Commander Rey must team up with her Captain to find the desperate soul willing to kill in order to keep them from reaching their destination. But an enemy isn’t all that’s hiding. Desires, long since buried under duty are revealed, as well as a treacherous plot throughout all the Sector fleets. Will Camille and Noah set their obvious cultural differences aside and take a chance on each other? Time is running out. Can their relationship flourish under the stress and fear? Especially when it’s realized that not all the ship’s mishaps are human related.
Except for a couple of movies and tv shows, Sci-Fi isn’t a genre I’m familiar with. I can just take it or leave it, really. Accelerating Universe and now Apparent Brightness make me want to take it all. I want all the Sci-Fi goodness that is The Sector Fleet. They are a family in more ways than one, and their arms are wide open for us to be included. This book took me a bit longer to fall into than book one, but it had everything to do with personally feeling a bit confused at what was going on in the beginning and feeling the need to read extra carefully so as not to miss anything or misinterpret. That changed quickly enough, and the story took me away. I liked Camille well enough. As we saw with Ana, she was a very strong heroine; intelligent, competent, loyal, brave and supportive. Captain Vaughan was a steadfast and competent leader. Despite setback after setback he was determined to complete his mission, even going so far as to reach out and ask plead for help. To me, this made him an even better leader. I loved the relationship between Noah and Camille. Their banter was funny and comfortable. They had known each other for five years, so it wasn’t insta-love. It was a romance built on the foundation of friendship, and that friendship just enhanced. While most of their relationship-building happened off-page, I never felt like I was missing anything. The steam factor was very much there, too. Vela, while like Pavo in a lot of ways, was also very much different. He’s still very childlike, but with an obsessive focus, to the exclusion of everything else. It made the Chariot’s situation even more precarious. The Saboteur was a complete mystery. Their identity wasn’t being revealed until Nicola wanted it to. Vela and the Saboteur together had my heart racing and my mind going in circles. It was digital and psychological warfare, and kept me glued to my eReader. Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the series. There’s a uniqueness in these stories in that the people we are reading about are survivors. They do not have Earth to go back to when there is a problem. Their only choice is to move forward, in whatever they have to do this. It’s an added element of conflict and tension. I have no idea where the series will go from here. There are vast possibilities, which is fitting since we are set in the vastness of space. I’m impatiently awaiting the next instalment and our next romance among the stars. ♡
Summary:
From the moment she’d learned of Earth’s imminent demise five years earlier, Commander Camille Rey knew that her rank of Chief Engineer on the ESAS vessel Chariot, would be a challenge. And dangerous. She’d trained endlessly with her fellow officers to ensure the last of mankind made it to New Earth, traveling across the universe. It just wasn’t expected that those challenges would start after barely leaving Earth’s atmosphere. Captain Noah Vaughan had no way of knowing an unscheduled solar flare would put the entire Sector One Fleet at risk. As it stands, the final evacuees of a dying Earth are dead in the water without their AI controlled lead vessel. Their only hope is to catch up with Sector two’s fleet in hopes of utilizing Pavo to calculate their jump points. When an excess of shipwide malfunctions are noticed, it quickly becomes apparent that a saboteur is aboard. Commander Rey must team up with her Captain to find the desperate soul willing to kill in order to keep them from reaching their destination. But an enemy isn’t all that’s hiding. Desires, long since buried under duty are revealed, as well as a treacherous plot throughout all the Sector fleets. Will Camille and Noah set their obvious cultural differences aside and take a chance on each other? Time is running out. Can their relationship flourish under the stress and fear? Especially when it’s realized that not all the ship’s mishaps are human related.
Except for a couple of movies and tv shows, Sci-Fi isn’t a genre I’m familiar with. I can just take it or leave it, really. Accelerating Universe and now Apparent Brightness make me want to take it all. I want all the Sci-Fi goodness that is The Sector Fleet. They are a family in more ways than one, and their arms are wide open for us to be included. This book took me a bit longer to fall into than book one, but it had everything to do with personally feeling a bit confused at what was going on in the beginning and feeling the need to read extra carefully so as not to miss anything or misinterpret. That changed quickly enough, and the story took me away. I liked Camille well enough. As we saw with Ana, she was a very strong heroine; intelligent, competent, loyal, brave and supportive. Captain Vaughan was a steadfast and competent leader. Despite setback after setback he was determined to complete his mission, even going so far as to reach out and ask plead for help. To me, this made him an even better leader. I loved the relationship between Noah and Camille. Their banter was funny and comfortable. They had known each other for five years, so it wasn’t insta-love. It was a romance built on the foundation of friendship, and that friendship just enhanced. While most of their relationship-building happened off-page, I never felt like I was missing anything. The steam factor was very much there, too. Vela, while like Pavo in a lot of ways, was also very much different. He’s still very childlike, but with an obsessive focus, to the exclusion of everything else. It made the Chariot’s situation even more precarious. The Saboteur was a complete mystery. Their identity wasn’t being revealed until Nicola wanted it to. Vela and the Saboteur together had my heart racing and my mind going in circles. It was digital and psychological warfare, and kept me glued to my eReader. Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the series. There’s a uniqueness in these stories in that the people we are reading about are survivors. They do not have Earth to go back to when there is a problem. Their only choice is to move forward, in whatever they have to do this. It’s an added element of conflict and tension. I have no idea where the series will go from here. There are vast possibilities, which is fitting since we are set in the vastness of space. I’m impatiently awaiting the next instalment and our next romance among the stars. ♡
February 4, 2018
Another awesome series!
I am loving this new series and can’t wait to see where it goes!! Different but equally as good as her Kindred series!
I am loving this new series and can’t wait to see where it goes!! Different but equally as good as her Kindred series!
April 26, 2021
I recently discovered Space Opera and I must admit I am a huge fan of it! I think what's so great is the constant action--and this book is no exception! From the first chapter until the last, we are in continuous action mode! I love when books keep me on my toes, and I could not put this one down.
The romance was hot, and the chemistry was through the roof! My only qualm was the Hero being described as having a stern side and very commanding. He did not come across that way at all to me. He was charming and amiable - never the intimidating alpha commander I was hoping for. I didn't mind it, but was expecting something else.
The romance was hot, and the chemistry was through the roof! My only qualm was the Hero being described as having a stern side and very commanding. He did not come across that way at all to me. He was charming and amiable - never the intimidating alpha commander I was hoping for. I didn't mind it, but was expecting something else.
February 7, 2018
I loved the first book in the series Accelerating Universe, but this one still managed to top it! It was amazing! First of all I loved the characters. Noah and Camille had me hooked from the first page. This was no instant attraction (though that can be fun!) but instead it was a deep relationship that had been built up over years and when they decided to act on their feelings it felt honest and satisfying! The plot was brilliant as well. The tension created by both the saboteur and the malfunctioning computers was extremely well done and I couldn't have put this down if my house was on fire!
Highly recommended!
*Many thanks to the author for providing an ARC for review. All opinions stated are honest and my own.*
Highly recommended!
*Many thanks to the author for providing an ARC for review. All opinions stated are honest and my own.*
June 16, 2019
Re-read 5/25/19 5 stars
Aw, I really like this series! I seriously enjoy exploring the whole AI thing... where they can take us and the consequences. These books read like a Star Trek movie but with new characters and a romance. The author has really set herself up for a great series too, I just can't wait to see what's going to happen with the other ships and when they reach New Earth! This is such a fun book with an enjoyable international cast...british, french, german etc. I didn't love love the romance in this one, like I did the last, but there was enough other awesomeness to keep me reading. I can't wait for the next book!
Aw, I really like this series! I seriously enjoy exploring the whole AI thing... where they can take us and the consequences. These books read like a Star Trek movie but with new characters and a romance. The author has really set herself up for a great series too, I just can't wait to see what's going to happen with the other ships and when they reach New Earth! This is such a fun book with an enjoyable international cast...british, french, german etc. I didn't love love the romance in this one, like I did the last, but there was enough other awesomeness to keep me reading. I can't wait for the next book!
April 12, 2018
Very sexy space opera 3.5
This one is quite different than the first book of the series. So much so it felt almost like a different author. This one is less romantic, and highly sexual which the first was not. I was not drawn to the main characters as much. I am also not a big fan of the whole ‘you are such a dirty girl’ thing which is used repeatedly in this one. I will continue reading, but I strongly hope the rest of the series more closely resembles the first book than this one.
This one is quite different than the first book of the series. So much so it felt almost like a different author. This one is less romantic, and highly sexual which the first was not. I was not drawn to the main characters as much. I am also not a big fan of the whole ‘you are such a dirty girl’ thing which is used repeatedly in this one. I will continue reading, but I strongly hope the rest of the series more closely resembles the first book than this one.
November 18, 2018
Apparent Brightness begins with Camille discovering something isn't exactly right with their ship, the Chariot. And when they realize that they have an AI now things get complicated.
This book was okay. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it was still enjoyable. I was a little disappointed with the AI in this one, but I really loved the relationship between the hero and heroine. They were really awesome. I'm excited to read the next book now.
This book was okay. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it was still enjoyable. I was a little disappointed with the AI in this one, but I really loved the relationship between the hero and heroine. They were really awesome. I'm excited to read the next book now.
February 7, 2018
The writing is still good, I didn't rate this one as high as book one as it felt a little like a repeat just with different nuances. It felt like the saboteur was forgotten about for awhile in the middle of the book which was strange. Plus the word dirty was overused imo :) I'm still keen for the next book, just hoping it'll be good!
May 25, 2019
I liked, I liked.
The slow Charles Dickens references sorta confused me, but whatevs...I liked both the chief of engineer and the captain of the ship. Vela, the AI was definitely unexpected.
Will be reading the next book!
The slow Charles Dickens references sorta confused me, but whatevs...I liked both the chief of engineer and the captain of the ship. Vela, the AI was definitely unexpected.
Will be reading the next book!
Read
January 24, 2018loved it, can't wait for book 3
December 28, 2020
This series is starting to fall a bit flat for me. The captain is a little too willing to act on his sexual impulses with his subordinate. And the characterizations are inconsistent. Camille refers to Noah as restrained, but as soon as he’s not on the bridge, he acts like a horny teenager. So why would she describe him as restrained? I actually liked the restrained, professional version of him better, but that character disappears and is replaced by a captain who hits on his chief engineer every chance he gets pretty quickly. And Camille feels like a caricature of a “sexy French woman”. The inability to control her emotions to the point where she gets thrown off the bridge is stereotypical at best. She’s a Commander and she can’t keep a lid on her emotions? Really? Also, why is a Commander referred to as “Chief”? Maybe this is just a personal gripe, but for a military ship, it’s a mess. A chief is an NCO. And where ARE the NCOs and NCMs?? Every single member of the crew appears to be an officer which is just strange. The lowest rank is Midshipman which is really a training rank, so I’m just entirely confused as to how this crew functions. Like Rat is a Midshipman, but also seems to be fully trained, so I feel like the author is using it synonymously with a non-commissioned rank (maybe some level of Seaman/Crewman or even Petty Officer?). I feel like a tiny bit more research into how a ship actually functions would have helped in setting the scene a bit better. I know it’s sci-fi, and anything goes but this is so clearly based on a naval vessel and it’s so easy to find what a crew might look like.
This book had so much potential for me. I loved how . I loved the mystery of sabotage (which they just kind of forgot about in the middle...?) and . But the plot seems a bit meandering and sometimes serves only to support the space boning. Which is not really what I want from something that claims to be space opera (even romantic space opera).
This book had so much potential for me. I loved how . I loved the mystery of sabotage (which they just kind of forgot about in the middle...?) and . But the plot seems a bit meandering and sometimes serves only to support the space boning. Which is not really what I want from something that claims to be space opera (even romantic space opera).
May 30, 2023
Apparent Brightness is book two in the Sector Fleet series by Nicola Claire. While technically it can be read as a stand alone, it closely follows book one (Accelerating Universe) in terms of plot and time line.
Now that I had a bit more background, I could actually sit back and enjoy the story and the characters. Apparent Brightness hooked me from page one and it was very hard to put it down. I'm finding these rogue artificial intelligence fascinating, even if Vela (Chariot's AI) is a bit more violent than Pavo (from book one) throughout most of the book. Also, Apparent Brightness is a bit heavier on the sexual content than the previous book.
I'm well into book three now - and loving it too - so stay tuned for the next review.
Now that I had a bit more background, I could actually sit back and enjoy the story and the characters. Apparent Brightness hooked me from page one and it was very hard to put it down. I'm finding these rogue artificial intelligence fascinating, even if Vela (Chariot's AI) is a bit more violent than Pavo (from book one) throughout most of the book. Also, Apparent Brightness is a bit heavier on the sexual content than the previous book.
I'm well into book three now - and loving it too - so stay tuned for the next review.
April 30, 2018
4.5*
And the adventure continues.
Often second book may suffer from, well, a 'second book syndrome ' , but not in this case. Full - on action, full - on intrigue, more sexy time, flashes of humor, another satisfying for now closures and : " What! !?? Next book !" hook in the epilogue. I am loving that each AI is developing highly individual personality - some of the learning curves produced funniest moments ( such as understanding privacy rules ). Very entertaining, well - plotted and written series - on to the Book 3 at warp speed. Engage.
And the adventure continues.
Often second book may suffer from, well, a 'second book syndrome ' , but not in this case. Full - on action, full - on intrigue, more sexy time, flashes of humor, another satisfying for now closures and : " What! !?? Next book !" hook in the epilogue. I am loving that each AI is developing highly individual personality - some of the learning curves produced funniest moments ( such as understanding privacy rules ). Very entertaining, well - plotted and written series - on to the Book 3 at warp speed. Engage.
February 12, 2018
Space love!
I love Nicola Claire and all of her books, so why not a sci fi romance? Noah and Camille are leading the next ship in the series and they are in trouble. The drama/ mystery was entertaining, figuring out who or what the culprit was. The romance wasn’t as good as Jameson and Ana in my opinion but it was good enough for the story.
I love Nicola Claire and all of her books, so why not a sci fi romance? Noah and Camille are leading the next ship in the series and they are in trouble. The drama/ mystery was entertaining, figuring out who or what the culprit was. The romance wasn’t as good as Jameson and Ana in my opinion but it was good enough for the story.
March 19, 2018
Nice
I have read 1st one and now the 2nd, I rented though kindle unlimited then decided to purchase because it a great series. These book keep it real. Not over the top with internal dialog, action, romance, and suspense. It's well written and real. I even pre-order the next two books. Well done Nicola, I hope and look forward to more than just 4 installments.
I have read 1st one and now the 2nd, I rented though kindle unlimited then decided to purchase because it a great series. These book keep it real. Not over the top with internal dialog, action, romance, and suspense. It's well written and real. I even pre-order the next two books. Well done Nicola, I hope and look forward to more than just 4 installments.
August 30, 2018
Definately need to read in order, but a great Sci-fi Romance without aliens
After book 1, I knew I was keen on reading more about the Sector Fleet adventures but didn't know if the characters in book 2 would be as engaging. Happily, book 2 was a great mix of action and romance with great lead and supporting characters.
After book 1, I knew I was keen on reading more about the Sector Fleet adventures but didn't know if the characters in book 2 would be as engaging. Happily, book 2 was a great mix of action and romance with great lead and supporting characters.
August 20, 2019
I loved the first book in the series, and this one is also really good. I got a bit thrown with the excess sex much earlier in this book than the other, but other than that the plot was good and the overall plot is thickening- I went straight to book three right afterwards!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2022
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I stopped reading at about page 3 and tossed the book.
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I stopped reading at about page 3 and tossed the book.
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August 14, 2024
3.5 out of 5
July 20, 2024
The Sector Fleet is a 4-book series about each of the 4 lead vessels that are taking the remnants of Earth’s population to their new home. After enjoying book 1, Accelerating Universe, I decided to give book 2 a try.
In Apparent Brightness, the first thing you find out is that the Sector 1 lead vessel, Pavo, was destroyed in a solar flare as the sector vessels left earth. Chariot, captained by Noah Vaughan, is now the lead vessel. Chariot’s Chief Engineer Camille Rey is the first to discover the odd message “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” that seems to appear out of nowhere. It is accompanied by system failures and Camille quickly becomes the detective that follows the clues left by the mysterious message sender.
Having read the first book, I was pretty sure there was an AI involved, and I don’t think it is much of a spoiler to confirm that. This AI seems very child-like and unpredictable. The captain and the engineer team up to figure out the AI and the system failures all the while fighting their attraction to each other. Okay, they don’t fight it that much.
The AI and characters from book 1 in also make an appearance in book 2, nicely tying the two books together. Like book 1, Apparent Brightness succeeds as both sci fi and romance. I found the two books similar enough that I don’t plan to read the any more in the series. That is just me though. I think many will look at this book and continue with the series. It does seem destined to tell a great story.
In Apparent Brightness, the first thing you find out is that the Sector 1 lead vessel, Pavo, was destroyed in a solar flare as the sector vessels left earth. Chariot, captained by Noah Vaughan, is now the lead vessel. Chariot’s Chief Engineer Camille Rey is the first to discover the odd message “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” that seems to appear out of nowhere. It is accompanied by system failures and Camille quickly becomes the detective that follows the clues left by the mysterious message sender.
Having read the first book, I was pretty sure there was an AI involved, and I don’t think it is much of a spoiler to confirm that. This AI seems very child-like and unpredictable. The captain and the engineer team up to figure out the AI and the system failures all the while fighting their attraction to each other. Okay, they don’t fight it that much.
The AI and characters from book 1 in also make an appearance in book 2, nicely tying the two books together. Like book 1, Apparent Brightness succeeds as both sci fi and romance. I found the two books similar enough that I don’t plan to read the any more in the series. That is just me though. I think many will look at this book and continue with the series. It does seem destined to tell a great story.
June 17, 2018
No me importan pequeñas inconsistencias en algunas reacciones de los personajes, me lo he pasado bomba con esta historia que pese a seguir un patrón muy parecido a la primera lima las asperezas que encontré allí (aquí los protagonistas se conocen desde hace 5 años y su relación tiene sentido).
Acción, humor y dilemas morales.
Una delicia.
Acción, humor y dilemas morales.
Una delicia.
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