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Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire #14
Stuck in the Astral with You: Mission 14
It may not be healthy, or particularly tasty, but it’s reasonably affordable and Earthlings LOVE it!
Tanny and Esper’s rebel syndicate needs to hit the Ruckers hard and where it hurts: in the finances. They decide on a target, one that most of the galaxy is blissfully unaware is owned by a vicious criminal gang: Friendli Foods. Purveyors of the Milky Way’s favorite junk foods, they make shipments to Earth on a megafreighter large enough to feed billions. Tanny has a plan to hijack it.
Meanwhile, Esper embarks on a mission to ensure that the rebels aren’t blamed for the hijacking. They need a patsy, and what better way to set one up than to replace a mid-level lieutenant in the Rucker organization with a mole. It’ll be up to Esper to convince a bunch of hardened killers that she’s one of them—and to turn them against their own people.
Stuck in the Astral with You is the fourteenth mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series.
Tanny and Esper’s rebel syndicate needs to hit the Ruckers hard and where it hurts: in the finances. They decide on a target, one that most of the galaxy is blissfully unaware is owned by a vicious criminal gang: Friendli Foods. Purveyors of the Milky Way’s favorite junk foods, they make shipments to Earth on a megafreighter large enough to feed billions. Tanny has a plan to hijack it.
Meanwhile, Esper embarks on a mission to ensure that the rebels aren’t blamed for the hijacking. They need a patsy, and what better way to set one up than to replace a mid-level lieutenant in the Rucker organization with a mole. It’ll be up to Esper to convince a bunch of hardened killers that she’s one of them—and to turn them against their own people.
Stuck in the Astral with You is the fourteenth mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2020
7 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Morin
193 books615 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 2, 2021
The war to take down the Rucker Organization - or, in the case of Tanny Rucker, take OVER the powerful crime syndicate - is ready to see a major move by the newly remodeled Mercy For Hire family. While the brawn of the team moves to capture a financial opportunity that is the size of a small moon, the brains stage a covert take over that, if successful, will place them directly in the enemy network and open doors to the final take down. And, while, the wheels spin and the plans unfold, Tiffany takes the next step in the evolution to become the wizard that she has the potential to be. But, all the best laid plans may fail when betrayal by the someone whom you trusted completely threatens to destroy the family that you have made.
Book 14 in the MERCY FOR HIRE series is perhaps one of the best examples of Jeff Morin's abilities as a story teller. Many ongoing series become redundant as the characters and the stories simply repeat the same elements over and over in an effort to maintain those factors that made the books a success. Unfortunately, that repetitiveness doesn't leave much room for growth and change. The beauty of the BLACK OCEAN books is that Jeff never lets his creations stagnate. They grow and change - sometimes for the better and definitely, sometimes for the worse. This story was a prime example as almost every one of the ongoing characters has a moment that will make them more than they were.
Another great journey through the BLACK OCEAN.
Book 14 in the MERCY FOR HIRE series is perhaps one of the best examples of Jeff Morin's abilities as a story teller. Many ongoing series become redundant as the characters and the stories simply repeat the same elements over and over in an effort to maintain those factors that made the books a success. Unfortunately, that repetitiveness doesn't leave much room for growth and change. The beauty of the BLACK OCEAN books is that Jeff never lets his creations stagnate. They grow and change - sometimes for the better and definitely, sometimes for the worse. This story was a prime example as almost every one of the ongoing characters has a moment that will make them more than they were.
Another great journey through the BLACK OCEAN.
July 15, 2021
I fired this one up because needed something lite. I went into it mostly just ready to wrap up these last few books, but the closing chapter has me excited for the next book.
Same great narration as the other books in the Black Ocean series.
Same great narration as the other books in the Black Ocean series.
August 3, 2020
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
In "Stuck In The Astral With You: ( Black Ocean: Mercy For Hire, Mission 14" Morin delivers a delightfully dark and twisty tale.
As usual the author does a bang up job with world building and character development. Particularly Tiffany. She steps up, does a massive mission with Wesley and in the process discovers a Judas Iscariot in their midst and deals appropriately with said Judas.
I was hooked from the first page and couldn't stop reading until the last word on the page had gone by in this entertaining page turner.
Morin masterfully leaves we readers with a cliffhanger that does the job of making me salivate to see what they do next in Mission 15.
In the interest of transparency: I was given a review copy of this book and I am voluntarily sharing this review.
This is my own honest opinion.
In "Stuck In The Astral With You: ( Black Ocean: Mercy For Hire, Mission 14" Morin delivers a delightfully dark and twisty tale.
As usual the author does a bang up job with world building and character development. Particularly Tiffany. She steps up, does a massive mission with Wesley and in the process discovers a Judas Iscariot in their midst and deals appropriately with said Judas.
I was hooked from the first page and couldn't stop reading until the last word on the page had gone by in this entertaining page turner.
Morin masterfully leaves we readers with a cliffhanger that does the job of making me salivate to see what they do next in Mission 15.
In the interest of transparency: I was given a review copy of this book and I am voluntarily sharing this review.
This is my own honest opinion.
July 28, 2020
A bit back and forth with this section of the story. Was not pulled in so much coming in, if you read my review of the previous and it took getting about 3/4 in for me to get pulled into the story here. Writing is fine .. I'm just not as captivated by the characters or plights they have found themselves in. Also at this point I'm getting confused about which families are which .. Though it should be easy.. Didn't realize how close Tammy and Tiffany's backstories were til the last two books. That last line though.. That last line… I'm ready for the next one after that for sure.
Warnings - same sex relationships and language are prevalent, and I'm not sure if it was sooo much more this time, but it was very distracting during this section
Warnings - same sex relationships and language are prevalent, and I'm not sure if it was sooo much more this time, but it was very distracting during this section
July 30, 2020
We see some nice internal battles as the characters grow more involved with their latest venture. Tiffany grows stronger and more confident (as well as more terrifying with her dubious morals and ethics); Esper pits the bigger picture against the lesser transgressions she commits; Kubu tries to balance helping out with what he sees as doing the right thing (how to hurt and intimidate without killing); Wesley exposes more of his past, proving he's way more than the bumbling oaf he portrays; and Tanny demonstrates what she's willing to share (and with whom) and risk in her efforts to change the future of her family's fortune.
Fun to also hear from those left behind to wait while others face danger, learning some of our heroes' history from a different perspective.
The ending certainly sets up some interesting times ahead!
Fun to also hear from those left behind to wait while others face danger, learning some of our heroes' history from a different perspective.
The ending certainly sets up some interesting times ahead!
September 3, 2020
We are on to book 14 and things are really kicking off. The team heads out with more than rescue in mind. It’s time to take the fight to Galactic mob boss Don Rucker, and we get to see them all doing their bit. Wesley leads a military assault, Tiff kicks magical butt, Esper goes undercover, and Kubu finally gets to go big!
This is the story we have been building up to where finally the gloves are off and the team are all pulling in the same direction to deal with overwhelming odds, and it’s awesome to see. Not that everything goes smoothly, of course, and as the story progresses we get to see what the team doesn’t, and realise that this enemy will certainly not be a pushover.
Can’t wait for the next one!
This is the story we have been building up to where finally the gloves are off and the team are all pulling in the same direction to deal with overwhelming odds, and it’s awesome to see. Not that everything goes smoothly, of course, and as the story progresses we get to see what the team doesn’t, and realise that this enemy will certainly not be a pushover.
Can’t wait for the next one!
August 3, 2020
Tammy and Esper are back in Stuck in the Astral with You: Mission 14 (Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire, #14) , the perfect blend of magic, high tech space romance and so much more that it’s hard to even remotely describe. But this series, starring the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who, yes, is NOT a dog, but I won’t explain more no matter how sweet it is), is sheer perfection, and so is this latest astoundingly fun addition. Totally addictive, and totally fun. Also (no shock here) highly recommended.
July 28, 2020
Twists and cliffhangers
The hardest part of reading the new missions as they come out is the doggone cliff hangers. And while this one wasn't as crazy as some, there's a lot of moving parts and no doubt that the next couple books are going to be absolutely nuts. This one had a bunch of twists I didn't expect, and lots of set up for the next few books. Definitely a good read if you've been keeping up with the series.
The hardest part of reading the new missions as they come out is the doggone cliff hangers. And while this one wasn't as crazy as some, there's a lot of moving parts and no doubt that the next couple books are going to be absolutely nuts. This one had a bunch of twists I didn't expect, and lots of set up for the next few books. Definitely a good read if you've been keeping up with the series.
August 3, 2020
Things really start heating up in this mission. This puts our heroes in a position of having to really stretch and go beyond their comfort levels. We even get to see Kubu let loose.
As the intrigue builds, things are poised for some crazy times.
As the intrigue builds, things are poised for some crazy times.
January 10, 2022
The crew gets bigger, and the syndicate civil war starts to heat up.
April 24, 2023
I feel like I slept through this one.
February 29, 2024
3.25 stars.
April 29, 2024
Tiffany really gets to flex her magic muscles in this one and separate her methods from those of her mentor. Not much Kubu or Wesley Wesley this time around.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews