| Title | : | Nightchaser (Endeavor, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0349420874 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780349420875 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 416 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2019 |
Captain Tess Bailey and her crew of Robin Hood-like thieves are desperate and on the run. Pursued by a vicious military general who wants them dead or alive, Tess has to decide if she can trust Shade Ganavan, a tall, dark and arrogant stranger with ambiguous motivations.
Shade Ganavan had oodles of arrogance, oodles of charm, and oodles of something that made me want to kick him in the nuts.
What Tess and Shade don't know about each other might get them killed... unless they can set aside their differences and learn to trust each other - while ignoring their off-the-charts chemistry.
Shade swallowed the bad taste in his mouth. Two hundred million. He could buy back his birthright and live like a king forever on that.
Captain T. Bailey.
Beautiful. Ballsy. And Brave.
A wanted criminal.
Indecision clawed at his chest. He knew where she was.
The easiest nab and grab of his life was waiting for him. He could land two hundred million in his account. Double that if she still had the goods.
Nightchaser (Endeavor, #1) Reviews
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3.5 stars
I was so extremely excited to be able to pick up the first book in Amanda Bouchet’s new trilogy. And since I love a great science fiction novel, I couldn’t wait to start reading.
This book had everything that belongs into a fantastic read.
A strong, kick-ass heroine. A heroic male lead that is destined to help his female counterpart, and a supporting cast that showed promise.
Unfortunately all in all the novel didn’t reach its potential. At least not for me.
I truly loved the author’s first trilogy. The banter, the energy and the action – I loved EVERYTHING!!!
This time around it felt like the banter between the characters was missing. And the entire love story felt more like an afterthought, more like a slow burn, which isn’t bad at all, but it didn’t add any excitement to the story either.
I think my main issue was that nothing was truly memorable, unique or fascinating about Nightchaser. I wanted to be WOWed and that just didn’t happen. The story was missing something and I’m still trying to figure out what it was exactly. Maybe I needed more dialogues between the characters, and for a space adventure it was definitely low on action, but also the characters weren’t as unique as you would imagine in a sci-fi novel.
Now I’m not saying I won’t read the next book, because I definitely will pick it up. The story has promise and I’m looking forward to see how Tess and Shade manage to deal with certain events, but Nightchaser was nothing like A Promise of Fire. And I must admit I’m a little disappointed. I had high hopes, maybe they were too high.
ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review. -
Star Wars meets Robin Hood in this explosive adventure full of betrayals, hot pursuits and SCORCHING romance!
Review to come closer to release date! -
Scrambled, abrupt plot drops, character black holes, unbelievable characters. (possible spoilers) -This started out really good. I loved the action, the mystery man, the ship the mystery. At about 15% everything went wonky. The books is filled with cliches and I saw the big moments coming from the very beginning, no surprises These people are running for their lives, they are escaped prisoners with bounty's on their heads they can not trust anyone. Too bad the story didn't stick with that little detail. Then the "big guy" (yes that was his title) who was introduced and seeming to have a major part just vanished from the story. Okay, I was thinking he'll be right back with some trick to get them going on to the next level right ? No, it's didn't happen till the end, (the end !) when he just popped up again out of the mist and was accepted back into the fold. The MC the most wanted of them all, is so wishy washy, she trusts no person, then blabs her whole story to a complete stranger she just met, and wants to do business with. Then she takes a shower in this strangers house ! What ? Okay she's dirty, water is tight on the ship, something mentioned so many times, but really? You are in so much danger, wanted, hunted and you take a shower in a strangers house ? Wait there is more. She steals a dangerous super solider vaccine, and finds out it's made from her blood. So because she's a super special girl she can drain herself almost dry to make a fix it for some sick kids. The story goes from this super solder vaccine to sick kids with whiplash speed. The vaccine that can cause war/death/destruction suddenly becomes almost forgotten in the story, it's all about saving these orphans, yeh orphans. I could go on but I think you get my feeling on this one. What happened ? I had this author on my top 20 list, this doesn't read like her work at all. Her last 2 books declined in quality this one dumped. I'm done and will not invest in her writing anymore.
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I fell in love SO HARD with Amanda’s writing and her Kingmaker Chronicles. And Sci-Fi Romance has become one of my favorite genres as well so when I heard she was writing this particular book, I counted myself one lucky fangirl, sigh. a new book from a favorite author in a favorite genre? YES.PLEASE! It was so EXCITING to receive an ARC of this book because it’s been one of my most highly anticipated 2019 releases. I cannot believe Amanda went above and beyond to provide me with an arc, that means the world to me - Yes, I may have an author crush going on here because Amanda is such an amazing person and I don't feel sorry for it one bit! So, yeah… I’ve had some high expectations you could say, lol.
Did it live up to those expectations?
YES.IT.DID!
A female ‘robin hood’, space adventure at it’s best and a scorching hot romance to top it all off. What more could a girl want?! This book reeled me in right from the very first page and left me craving more. The wait for book two is going to be excruciating but until then I'll just have to recede to keep re-reading this one hihi.
STORY-LINE
Captain Tess Bailey and her crew of Robin Hood-like thieves are desperate and on the run. Pursued by a vicious military general who wants them dead or alive, Tess has to decide if she can trust Shade Ganavan, a tall, dark and arrogant stranger with ambiguous motivations.
Shade Ganavan had oodles of arrogance, oodles of charm, and oodles of something that made me want to kick him in the nuts.
What Tess and Shade don’t know about each other might get them killed…unless they can set aside their differences and learn to trust each other—while ignoring their off-the-charts chemistry.
It's a synopsis that's promising to provide you with an awesome space adventure and let me tell you; it definitely delivers. There's action, adventure, and romance. There's friendship, love, and betrayal. It's an on-the-edge-of-your-seat reading experience that made me feel all the feels.
The world-building is really well developed and the settings created are so well and vividly written that it feels like you're a part of this crew when they go on these crazy space adventures. I could easily imagine all of it without having the feeling that I missed things being present. Amanda's writing is addictive and enthralling. Her imagination is such a joy to be a part of when reading a book by her and this one is no exception. I just love it when it’s so easy to ‘form’ these scenes and settings in your mind, thanks to the amazing writing skills of an author. I wish I could read books like these non-stop, le sigh.
CHARACTERS
The set of characters created in this first book of a new series by Amanda, is yet again so A-MA-ZING and I’m in awe of her writing skills. The characteristics of our main and minor characters are so much fun to read about.I didn't want to get caught. But I also wouldn't stop doing what I needed to do just because I feared the possible consequences. Fear was something I could accept. Abandoning the galaxy to a group of despots was not.
Our main female lead, Tess, felt so relatable which made forming a connection with her so easy. I loved her humor and her thinking and just loved being a part of her thoughts on this journey in general. I love how selfless she is and the fact that she still opens herself up every now and then when she's being so afraid of it at the same time. She can be bad-ass one moment and in the next, she can be extremely vulnerable and because of that, she came across as such an interesting and realistic feeling character.When he looked at Tess Bailey, he knew what he wanted the galaxy to be like, not how it actually was.
Shade was a really interesting character to read about as well. I love the fact that he has his own POV. That really creates more dimension to his character I think and connecting with him is also that much easier when you can read what's in his mind. I love how he's falling in love with Tess bit by bit when trying to fight it at the same time. His mind and heart are at odds and the struggles he comes across when falling for her and knowing who she really is and the fact that he shouldn't be falling for her, come across as realistic and believable. It was such a great journey to see him develop throughout the book.
Who's ready for some space Romance?
Tess and Shade...These two are so freaking adorable! Their developing romance was a joy to see unfurl throughout the book. I couldn't stop smiling at some of their interactions because it was so funny and cute. Sure, there are these moments in which each author - I swear, it feels like they live for it...evil masterminds - carves your heart out and steps on it a thousand times. They let you fall in love with characters and their developing romances and then just pull your feet out from under you when you're least expecting it. And then you're in a freefall and hoping you don't die of ALL THE FEELS. Yeah, that summons up my feels a bit I guess, lol - Yes Amanda, see me judging you here, LOL. My poor fangirl mess of a heart and you're responsible..."We have dragons," Shade said, nodding toward the darkening treetops. "That's where they live."
She gasped, and her head whipped around. "What? Really?"
Damn. He couldn't help smiling again. "Just kidding."
"Why would you do that?" Tessa's hand snapped out and thumped him hard across the chest. "Dragons don't exist."
His lip twitched. "Maybe they did- at one point."
She shook her head. "Next you'll be telling me there are mermaids in your ocean."
Shade sighed. "Ah, wouldn't that be nice. I'd come to the beach every day if that were the case."
He thought she muttered men under her breath.
Add in the fact that Amanda always adds some level of hotness to her romances and you understand the word 'perfection'. Yep, this romance is one for the books. It's really well developed, sexy and hot and so incredibly adorable.
This is what I love about a good romance in a book; feeling so connected to it on an emotional level thanks to a beautifully developed romance, that you can't do anything other than live and breath the book you're reading as if you're one of those characters. Of course, there's so much more than romance alone present in this awesome book, but Tess and Shade are so PRECIOUS and I love them so much already *and the sobfest starts again*
CONCLUSIONThis book contains everything I could've wished for in a new Amanda Bouchet read;
- a badass heroine
- an adorable and loveable sweet and funny hero who is a perfect blend of alpha male and someone who can give a woman her time to shine as well.
- action and adventure in some amazing settings (I MEAN: SPACE!!!!)
- interesting world building that's already well developed but still has some room to grow as well.
- a super adorable, and HOT AF at the same time, romance
- a plot-driven story
- plot twists
and most importantly, it's able to give me:
- ALL THE FEELS!
- and made me laugh out loud on several occasions!
As Nalini Sing's quote on the cover of the book so perfectly tells: "Amanda Bouchet's talent is striking." I couldn't agree more! I can't recommend this and her other books enough because they provide for such magnificent reading experiences. They are those kinds of books that I can keep obsessing about. Amanda has a writing talent that I know I'll never get enough off.
If you aren't familiar with this author yet; go BUY her kingmaker chronicles and go PRE-ORDER Nightchaser and get hooked on her writing. Fall in love as I did; fast and hard and treasure authors like her, who are capable of writing such amazing books.
With Love,
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This was a fun book! I liked the characters and the world and enjoyed the story. I really loved Amanda's A Promise of Fire and this had a similar spark. I did notice a few similarities between books, which I found interesting.
I'm looking forward to reading Book 2, Starbreaker which just got a fabulous review from Kirkus! -
Nightchaser was nothing like I expected but more than I ever anticipated. I couldn't help but be swepted away by the world created by Bouchet. I am also pretty ecstatic that I found this new epic space fantasy at the beginning, because I know nothing is going to keep me away from the Endeavor series as they come out.
I received this ARC copy of Nightchaser from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca. This is my honest and voluntary review. Nightchaser is set for publication Jan. 1, 2019.
My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Amanda Bouchet
Series: Endeavor
Sequence In Series: Book 1
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: January 1, 2019
ISBN-10: 1492667137
ISBN-13: 978-1492667131
Genre: Paranormal Romance | Scifi
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This review can also be found at
Carole's Random Life in Books.
I must say that I ended up enjoying this book quite a bit. It did take me a while to really get into the story but once I did I had a lot of fun with it. I was really eager to read this book since I really liked her books from the Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy. This is the first book in a brand new series that blends science fiction with romance and I think it worked really well.
Tess Bailey and her crew start out this story in a bit of trouble. They have a stolen lab attached to their ship and are about to be caught. They take a chance on a risky maneuver to escape and then need to put the pieces back together. Their ship needs a lot of work and they are wanted by the authorities. Tess runs into Shade who happens to have the skills to put her ship back together.
I did like the characters in this story quite a bit. Tess was a bit of a mystery especially as the story started but I liked her more an more as we learned more about her past. She considers her crew to be her best friends but she has kept her past hidden from even them. Tess was smart, loyal, and kind, but unsure when it came to Shade. Shade has been through some things and has made some big mistakes. I must say that I liked him right away. He seemed incredibly confident and observant. He does have a pretty big conflict of interest to contend with and I did enjoy getting the chance to peer into his head as he tried to figure out what he wanted to do.
I really did like Shade and Tess together even though it seemed to take a long time for things to start happening. I thought that they had great chemistry and their personalities seemed to mesh very nicely together. I really enjoyed the fact that they had some rather heartwarming scenes, some steamy scenes, some were filled with humor, and some with action. No matter what kind of scene they were in, it seemed that their characters just made it better because they were working together. I also really liked seeing the relationships that Tess had with her crew, who were really more like her family than anything.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys romance blended with some lighter science fiction. I think that this book is a solid first entry in what I expect will be an exciting series. I cannot wait to read more from Amanda Bouchet!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts
This is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me so I am rounding up for now. It took me a bit to really get into the story but I thought that the second half of the book was pretty strong. I liked Tess, her crew, and Shade even if I didn't fully connect with any of them. I was surprised that Shade didn't even make an appearance until around the 20% mark. There was plenty of action especially as the book progressed. I am looking forward to seeing what will happen in the next installment in this series. -
Oh man did I want to love this more than I did.
I think it's a pretty decent sci-fi romance series opener but there's just too much happening that the pacing feels a little off. We have a bit of an info-dumpy opener, though we do open up kinda in the middle of things which is both a fun reading experience and somewhat of a slow-to-adapt reading experience, and then a kind of.. slow, plodding, middle period where the plot isn't moving but it's building up suspense for the romance, and then.. kablow! boom! surprise! lots of things, lots of moving parts, right before the ending for shock value.
This pseudo Robin Hood meets special snowflake in space does have a fairly high romance element but if you've read Bouchet's previous series this will come as no surprise. Nor did I really mind it. I found Tess a little hard to pin down because she's at turns very competent and capable and yet equally as naive and awkward as a result of her background and circumstances. Shade, on the other hand, despite his shade-y (I kill me) profession and conflict, was actually kind of fun. I did think the build-up and mystery surrounding his whole solo quest was kind of overblown and dragged out too long (also rehashed every time we had his POV which, by the way, it's sorta dual but definitely heavier on Tess' perspective) but otherwise I enjoyed him.
There's definitely possible potential here assuming things don't kind of spiral out of control the way I felt the latter half of the book did but sometimes these kinds of stories, with the overdone villain, and the super speshul heroine, don't always land. I'm not yet sure which way this one will go but I'm hoping it goes for the good.
2.5 stars
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. ** -
She could start a war…
You may not know this about me, but I have an aversion to Tentacle Romance. My fellow readers have tried to convert me to loving “extra appendages” and “special abilities” but it’s just not for me. Unfortunately, I’m picturing characters like Jabba the Hutt, Yoda and Jar Jar Binks…which does not help my cause. So, I was pleasantly surprised when Nightchaser turned out to be Sci-Fi of the “Humans of the Future” variety.
I really like Amanda Bouchet’s style of writing. Her heroines are strong, courageous, determined and capable of making a decision in the toughest of circumstances. While this strength makes them heroines to admire, she also balances them by giving them vulnerabilities and challenges. While Tess shares some similarities to Cat from Kingmaker Chronicles they are different. I don’t mind that the similarities are strength and courage, who doesn’t like to see a strong woman at the front.
I tend to go into my reads a little blind, so, when introduced to male characters, *Are you my hero?* pops into my head. I met a few characters before the hero and I went through my usual checklist to see if my hero was up to scratch. Too much previous heartbreak for the first bloke and no emotional connection with the second one. Let’s just say, thank goodness it was Shade. Shade walked into the room and my Hero Beacon was flashing. The air was sizzling with chemistry, the snark and banter were appealing, and my smirk came to life with his physical description. I love that shiver up my spine when I meet a new hero.
Nightchaser was an interesting story that kept my attention from start to finish. It was a thought-provoking look into what our future could be. I think deep down, we know that we are damaging our world so we can’t help wondering what we are going to do if we ruin it completely. Will it be a bomb, environmental damage or is there an expiry date for Earth, that will end us?
I really enjoyed meeting the characters and learning more about where they had been and what their plans were for the future. Shade and Tess had a very rocky beginning. Even I wasn’t completely convinced that Shade was going to make the right decision for their future. Funny thing is though, I wasn’t completely sure of the right decision. Sure, I knew what would benefit Tess and her gang, but, Shade was working towards a goal and was close to realising it. I admired both Tess and Shade for their ability to look past their noses to benefit their world.
The goodies were good and the baddies were bad…then again…the goodies could be bad and the baddies could be good. The trick is in the balancing act. In true Amanda Bouchet fashion, we are not given a clear picture at the beginning. Each page explained a little more of how the characters came to be and where and what they hope to achieve in the end. This is not just Tess and Shade’s journey. Each of the characters, even the additional ones have a path and while some of those paths end, others are just beginning.
Nightchaser was a fast-paced, exciting and sexy adventure into the future. I was completely sucked in and I can’t wait for more.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
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Title: Nightchaser
Series: Endeavor #1
Author: Amanda Bouchet
Release date: January 1, 2019
Cliffhanger: Yes
HEA
This is the first installment in the Endeavor series and a little bit of a departure from what I typically read. I enjoyed the first in the Kingmaker Chronicles a lot, so I was curious what Bouchet would have to offer in the sci-fi genre. I figured if things went well, reading a wider variety under the speculative fiction umbrella could be in my future.
One of the things I remembered about this author's writing is that she excels in creating secondary characters with real depth and emotion. Her Beta Team were standouts in their own rights that are bursting with potential to be fully fleshed out in their own stories. Once again, we see a fascinating interplay of friendships that tug on your heartstrings in Tess's ragtag rebel crew.
Jax and Fiona in particular had some really emotionally charged scenes with Tess that were brilliantly done. Jax had a heartbreaking history that he still battled to recover from. He held his new family close to his chest with a fierce protectiveness towards the group. Particularly Tess, whom he'd been partnered with in prison on Hourglass Mile. The relationship of the entire crew was a bond closer to family, strengthened by mutual respect and trust.
When I gave an order, they obeyed, but that was because loyalty and trust had been earned, not imposed in any way. If one day I asked them to do something they didn’t want to do, they wouldn’t. And I would respect that choice.
Nightchaser begins in a high-octane moment that effortlessly slipped me into the futuristic world. As the captain of the ship, Tess is faced with either surrendering to the galactic military who are demanding to board, or a suicide flight into a black hole. My first impression of the book was a very Star Wars-esque feel which couldn't have made me happier. Tess is like a mash up of Han Solo and Robin Hood, both rebel smuggler and thief who steals for the poor and downtrodden. Who wouldn't love that?
Besides the obvious heroic attributes, I liked Tess for her love of books and reading. She doesn't put value on monetary wealth, instead giving what she steals to the kids in the orphanage where she grew up. The things that are important to her are freedom. Creativity. Imagination. All of the things that had been stripped away from humanity through Galactic Overseer Novalight’s reign. She shares opinions freely that many are scared to voice.
The dictatorship government was an interesting theme. You step inside what it would be like to be ruled by a regime that runs on fear and total oppression. To always be at risk of going to jail or being killed for simple things like owning a "contraband" book or speaking out against inhumane treatment. Tess uses her time while grounded to repair their ship and savor her feet being on solid ground for a short while. She's so used to floating out in the deep darkness of space that she's missed many simple joys in life. Ocean waves crashing over her bare feet on the beach, sunlight on her skin, and just...breathing.
My excitement started to wane in the middle of the book because the lagging time they spent on Albion 5 was just too long. I'm always up for romance in my books, no matter what sub-genre. But in this case, unfortunately the romance portion was underwhelming. Both Tess and Shade are hiding a lot from each other, things that are vital to understanding who they are as a person. I couldn't really connect much to them as a couple. Shade is downright deceptive the entire time, though he is at war with his conscience about it. Which to be honest became a little repetitive for me. He yo-yo'd back and forth with determination to betray her and his unrest because of his growing admiration. Which of course would send mixed signals when he'd retreat, giving her a sudden cold shoulder in an attempt to keep his distance emotionally.
I didn't really understand why Tess would ignore his standoffish attitude that flicked on and off. It was like a school girl crush controlled her, and she was always pursuing him and giving him trust when he hadn't earned it. I think knowing the entire time that their relationship was based on lies and deception had me just waiting for the fall out. The movement of their feelings towards love was too rushed, especially when the narrator kept repeating that Tess was slow to trust because of her past. That certainly wasn't the case here, and he didn't go out of his way to prove she could. His charisma and charm were enough to disperse her aversion to romantic entanglements. She wasn't a consistent character that was tough, guarded, and exuded leadership traits. At times she was anxious and unsure, reckless rather than brave.
Her one past relationship with Gabe kept being mentioned and pondered but with no real purpose. It had been seven years since she'd seen him, I didn't see the point in his insertion in the story.
We'd been in love. There was no doubt. My heart still sometimes gave a hard thump when I thought about him. Every now and then, I felt a phantom touch, and my belly clenched.
Issues aside with the pace and the romance, the last 30-35% or so really picked up and delivered on the suspense. Overall, it wasn't too bad of a read, and I am curious what she will uncover about the anomaly in her blood. Will the effect of the serum be catastrophic in the long run? Maybe I expected too much action upfront because that was such a strong element in the Kingmaker Chronicles. Bouchet's skill in creating and expressing those scenes are flawless and I wanted to see it shine at the front of the story more. This first installment could be a stepping stone into a higher density of space battles. But more importantly, clashes with the evil Overlord are guaranteed after the continuation.
Book two in the Endeavor series is titled Starbreaker, and is scheduled for publication April 28, 2020.
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Nightchaser is book one in a brand new series, Endeavor, by Amanda Bouchet. It’s got heartache, betrayal, secrets, lose, action, and so much more.
I had a delightful time reading Bouchet’s Fantasy trilogy The Kingmaker Chronicles and was excited to read her new Sci-Fi Romance.
Tess Bailey is a women on the run and everyone is out kill her. At the begging Tess is strong and decisive on her decisions, but then Shade comes into the picture and she seams to loss something. I was disappointed in this, but hopeful she will grow. She hasn’t had an easy life and it won’t be getting any easier. I will say I was shocked on the reveal of who she is and the thing about her blood is interesting. I’m curious to learn more on that aspect. As for Shade, the love interest, I liked him enough. I could understand his dilemma, it felt like something we all could go through, thou I think he should have told her what was what sooner. Both Tess and Shade have some flaws.
I will say I very much enjoyed the secondary characters. I really liked Tess’s intersection with them and that they support her. The other character I found fascinating was this strange guy Tess and her crew find on the science station they stole. We only see him a little at the beginning and then again near the end. He’s a mystery and I like mysteries.
The world-building is easy to understand. Their aren’t any unnecessary details, and the information we do get is spread out nicely. The author did a nice job in giving us snippets of Tess’s past. I liked what we got, when we got it, and that it’s not overwhelming.
I had a delightful time reading Nighchaser. I will say that some of it felt like filler. The begging and end where outstanding, both in capturing the readers attention. The romance I’m not so on board with. It was way to fast and felt more like attraction, desire, and sex then falling in love. Their are still more books so, maybe we will see growth in that area and in some of the characters. The action, mystery, and politics kept my attention. I could have done with out the fast romance.
Nightchaser is full of action and political intrigue. This is only the begging.
Rated: 4 Stars
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
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Publication Date: January 1, 2019
What an incredible read!
This is the first book I've read by Amanda Bouchet, and I was hooked on this story within the first chapter.
This is the type of book I wanted to make last as long as possible because the story was so good, but I also couldn't wait to see what happened next.
Amazing writing.
Amazing characters.
Amazing world building.
I can't wait for the second book, because Gawd, there HAS to be a second book!
"I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher." -
I can honestly say I’ve never read a book like this one before. This is so sci-fi but with romance and written in such a way that I was totally absorbed into the story from the first page. There is plenty of adventure, drama and action as well as a wonderful chemistry between the hero and heroine. I worried what type of decision Shade was going to make and how Tess would respond to his actions. It was the perfect amount of angst to keep the romance part of the story moving even while Tess is leading a group of rebels and keeping some pretty deep secrets to herself.
Tess is a strong, independent heroine with a deep drive to protect those that she considers family. I loved her character in every way possible. Shade was protective and alpha enough to keep an eye on her but smart enough to know she led her own life and he couldn’t dictate to her.
This is a lengthier book but it never felt bogged down or wordy. The secondary characters are awesome and the twists had me reading wide-eyed and transfixed. The steam factor didn’t even register to me because it was all about Tess, Shade and their gang and the danger that hovered dangerously close to them. The ending is a cliffhanger but it has a happy for now quality to it even as the future for these characters is uncertain.
And now the wait for book 2…
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers -
What a fantastic read! Amanda Bouchet is quite the story teller and I loved this futuristic space world she has created!
Tess, the female lead was so fierce and brave. She has such a sense of right no matter the consequences. She's a true rebel at heart. The mystery surrounding her has me anxious to find out more about her and what she can do.
Shade is just plain awesome. He struggles with a huge decision in this first book and he fights his attraction to Tess. That didn't stop him from protecting her from the first moment he layed eyes on her. He is going to make for a great hero in this series.
The suspense around Tess and her crew's fight for survival had me at the edge of my seat. The side characters were great and brought more to the story.
This was a fun book to read. It doesn't end on a huge cliffhanger but it does set up the story for the next phase. I will be anxiously waiting for book two. -
This Book Had Me Like...
If Robin Hood, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, And Firefly Had A SciFi Romance Baby!
From The Beginning, You Are Warped Into This Epic Space Conflict
Our Heroine Tess Bailey Is The Captain Of This Spaceship. She Is A Tough, Altruistic, Ex-Con, Willing To Literally Give Up Blood, Sweat, And Tears For The Disenfranchised
Tess Has Accidentally Acquired A Misfit, ModSquad Crew
Miko
Shiori
Jax
Fiona
Big Guy
Our Hero Shade Ganavan Is A Charming, Silver-Tongued Bounty Hunter
"In my ear, he whispered, “That’s my Tess.” The possessive affection in his voice sent pleasure fluttering through me. “You mean your Captain,” I teased. “In bed, I steer the ship.” A mischievous glint lit his eyes when they met mine again. My mouth twitched. “Is that so?” He nodded. “I have to press all sorts of complicated buttons. You’re the copilot. All you need to do is grab the handle and pull.”
Tess And Her Crew Are Running From The Tyrannical Government Galactic Overseer
The Story Toggles Between Inner Dialogue, Conversations, And Intense Action
This SciFi Adventure Gives Us A Bit Of Everything With Quirky Bookstores
Adorable Animals
Gradual World Building (My Fav)
The Chemistry Flows Between The Characters As Well As The Romance
I Cannot Wait To Read More Of This Epic Story.
April 28th, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhojY... -
This was such a fun sci-fi romance! This pretty much follows a crew of people running from the government who are trying to steal important medical research and get that to children in need. Tess is on the run and is wanted by the government. Shane is a bounty hunter and realizes the woman he just met asking him to fix her ship is the very woman the government wants. And is giving a lot of money to have. I really loved the development of Shane and Tess's relationship! Shane is so conflicted over what to do as he was slowly falling for her. We also had a lot about who Tess really is slowly revealed, which was interesting. I'm excited to pick up the next book!
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I have never read this particular author before so wasn't quite sure what I was in for.
Got to say I am really impressed with this, Nightchaser the first book in the endeavour trilogy and it really managed to capture my imagination.
So in terms of genre, I would say this is predominantly a romance.
It's a sci-fi space opera and I really did adore just how different this was in terms of setting.
I loved the fact it was set in space it really leaves so much open in terms of plot expansion.
This wasn't perfect by any means but it really did have just so much to recommend picking this up and giving it a chance.
Tess has a bounty on her head, she's captain of her own rebel ship and along with her crew is on a mission to stay one step ahead of the Black Watch.
Her enemies now they suspect she may still be alive will stop at nothing to capture her alive or dead and she needs to stay one step ahead and evade capture.
Tess also has secrets which are yet another reason for her lying low.
Shades past actions have cost him everything he thinks matter to him and he will do anything to put things back the way they once were.
Even if that means working for people he doesn't really want to and doing things that fly against his own conscience.
Collecting a bounty that will put him back on top should be easy pickings even if his heart and head are constantly at war with what he should do over what he really wants to do.
So the beginning of this was great really pulling me into the story.
The middle of this for me let it down slightly, even though the story itself was well written and intense I found it did drag slightly and we were very much in one spot for a lengthy time.
I myself would have preferred a tad more space action.
But when this did finally rev up again for the final stretch it more than made up for it.
Then Nightchaser then went from zero to a hundred in ten seconds flat and I was practically on the edge of my seat with the sheer anticipation.
This was very much slow-burn which I did think fit the narrative nicely here and I liked both Slade and Tess very much.
They were great central characters both with some fab strengths and weaknesses.
This also had an interesting side cast as well.
Finally, though this is part of a trilogy this doesn't really end on a cliffhanger this is more a HFN.
So your not left hanging anxiously chewing your nails for the next part of the story.
There are obviously still questions to be answered but nothing that you're going to lose any major sleep over so that was definitely a big plus for me in this book's favour.
I will most certainly be reading the next one in this series which I believe is due out next year.
This was a well written interesting read that I am happy to give a thumbs up to.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Friends with Benefits Nightchaser (Endeavour, #1).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com -
7/22/19 - On sale for $2.99
Some ends are just a new beginning....
A sci-fi romance with space pirates, fans of Amanda Bouchet’s previous work will enjoy this story.
Tess is a space pirate, stealing goods from the rich and giving them to the poor. She has had a traumatic childhood, and her crew is her family. After a narrow escape, her ship is in dire need off repairs. They land on a nearby plant to lay low where she meets the mysterious Shade, who can help her with repairs.
Bouchet’s strength of writing interesting secondary characters excels here. I really liked Jax, and felt like his relationship with Tess, while not romantic, was far more meaningful than Shade’s. I also really liked Bridgebane but I’m a sucker for a villain with a motive.
The world building was imaginative. It’s in a sci-fi setting, but there are different cultures in each section. I really liked the idea of a highly technical world having a religion, some are devout, others are not.
The story starts off in the middle of the action. It unfortunately loses its momentum when they land for repairs. It does pick up the pace by the end, but the story is really stalled in the middle.
Tess’s POV is first person, but Shade’s is third person. The changes in the narrative were jarring, I think it would have been better to have either third person POV or chapter titles with the character name and stay in first person POV.
If you have read Bouchet’s other series and didn’t care for the romance, you might want to borrow this book before committing to buy. Shade isn’t quite the alphahole that Griffin was, but there’s an instant attraction between the two main characters that’s similar to Cat and Griffin.
While this book does not end on a cliffhanger, it does set up the stage for an interesting next story. I am intrigued in what will happen next and will be continuing the series.
I received this ARC through Netgalley and the opinions are my own. -
(Review from ARC read in September)
Another amazing book that sucked me in until I binged it in ONE SITTING! It felt good to be sucked into a story like that again.
Nightchaser is full of twists and turn, romance, deception, and action. Ah, the action! I caught myself holding my iPad inches from my nose so many times eagerly and anxiously reading through certain scenes, my heart pounding and nerves racing as I tried to keep from reading too fast for my brain to keep up.
Not only did the story keep me engaged, but so did the characters. Tess is not the typical 'strong female' swing first/shoot first/stab first archetype that I know and love. She has weaknesses that she displays openly. She's uncertain at times, especially where other people are concerned, but it doesn't stop her from putting herself out there and taking risks time and again. It also doesn't stop her from taking full control when people she cares about are in danger.
She has a few moments of childlike curiosity and innocence when experiencing new things which I thing tug on Shade's protective 'caveman' instincts and turns him into a right cinnamon roll when he's trying to be cold hearted. They're dynamic was really enjoyable to watch unfold. especially towards the climactic ending, though I love how the story took a moment to settle a few things down a little bit afterwards instead of leaving off shortly after the action wrapped up.
Can't wait for the sequel! -
Pre-read:
I really loved The Kingmakers trilogy, but the final book fell really flat for me when compared to the first two books... I was so disappointed. This story sounds so intriguing - I really really REALLY hope it doesn't disappoint. *fingers crossed*
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Post-read:
UGH. I'm so disappointed. I don't think Bouchet is cut out for science fiction. I'm heavily involved in science due to my career, as well as having immediate family who are physicists and doctors, so stating that I have more than a basic knowledge and understanding of science is an understatement. With that being said, I found the obvious lack of research on the scientific concepts that should have applied in this story to be evident. There were a lot of instances that could have benefited from having some small details that were scientifically based included to incorporate depth into the descriptions. It felt more like Bouchet was cutting-and-pasting things she had seen or read to generate similar scenarios with no real basis for them.
Another unpopular opinion I hold is that the story severely lacks world-building. It felt like a blend of Star Trek, Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Stargate, and Titan AE all blended into one (minus the aliens - although, how could there NOT be aliens?!). I grew up with some hardcore sci-fi fanatics and so I've seen and read a HUGE share of sci-fi. I share this because anyone who has seen Star Trek, Stargate SG1, Voyager, Enterprise, and/or any of the other popular sci-fi series would have noticed what I did. I can easily spot sci-fi tropes that Bouchet simply regurgitated enough of what she's seen to bullshit her way through this book's science and world-building...
An Exodus 2 was vaguely described as to how humans left Earth and through some things NOT described or explained, a Big Brother figure took over as an authoritarian and dictator that rebels are fighting against. The rebel regime is also vague. It felt like we were expected to just understand that it is a dystopian society and to just assume and *obviously* understand that the bad guys are bad and the good guys are good. And honestly, that's just not enough for me. I need to understand the history to empathize and root for character causes.
I also found the majority of characters lacked development that would have allowed them to stand out from other side characters found in other works of fiction. Jax was really the only character worth acknowledging as interesting, but he got little to no screen time like all the other side characters so we didn't really get to know him either.
The 2 MC's were decently written, but they weren't special in any way. They didn't stand out in comparison to all the books of fiction I've read, but they weren't bad either. Their romance was a bit forced - I would have much preferred a more natural development of their relationship, but I guess since the book covers the time-span of 1 week, Bouchet had to get the story done quick. *rolls eyes*
I would like to take a moment and agree with other reviews by stating that the book started very strong, in the middle of some great action, but fizzled out for the majority of the book and only picked up in pace by the end of the book when shit hit the fan.
Overall, Nightchaser lacks depth, development, and originality. It's a good book if you've never read or watched sci-fi or read a pocket romance novel. And it was a truly easy read - nothing hard to follow or stressful to read and the interesting parts were interesting.
The most disappointing part? I really really REALLY adored the Kingmaker's Chronicles. She did a really fantastic job especially with Promise of Fire, and while I wasn't in-love with the last book of the Kingmaker's Chronicles, it was overall a great series. I was hoping that Bouchet's writing would continue to be just as strong in a new series. I really wanted to love this book and I'm so disappointed and sad that it was a "just okay" book for me that I wouldn't recommend or re-read. I have no intention of reading the next book in this series and I will likely be hesitant to read a new series by Bouchet. -
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me a copy!
“A lot of the men and women who joined the galactic military wore their uniforms all the time because it gave them a power trip—always knowing people would get out of their way, say they were right, and look at them like they were a sight.”
Well, that was one hell of a space ride, and I enjoyed every second of it!
You guys have no idea how much I adored this one and I’m so excited for you all to read it! Now excuse me while I cry in a corner because this book hasn’t even come out yet and I already need the next one😭
*Review to come closer to publication day*
5/5★★★★★ -
✅ World-building
✅ Action and funny moments
✅ Sexual tension
🆗 Romance
🆗 Characters
I was a little wary of this new series since spaceships and sci-fi novels are not usually my favorites, but I liked
A Promise of Firevery much, so I decided to give this one a try.
In this new series, we get to meet Tess, a kind of space Robin hood: thieving from the wealthy and corrupted government (well... more of a dictator actually) and giving back to the poor and the orphans. Traveling under her command is a gang of criminals, all escaped from the same prison, although in this universe, it seems that you can be sent to prison for just about any reason. The team seemed nice enough, but honestly, I would have liked to know a little bit more about them, to read more about their life. They are present in the book almost as accessories in Tess' life, but they don't do much besides traveling with her and following her in her insane plans. Honestly, I grew more attached to the cat (Bonk) than most characters in this book.
Then there is the dark, mysterious, and gorgeous Shade. I knew there would be romance, and it was so obvious since their very first meeting, but at least the author built up a (sexual) tension between Tess and Shade. They do not just end up together in a spur of the moment because they can't resist each other's heated gaze.
The story is well written, it was not too much alien/sci-fi/paranormal so it is a good fit for me. There is a bit of action, humor, romance, and good descriptions, but the book just did not reach its full potential I think. There is a lack of chemistry/interactions between the characters, everything revolves around Tess and Shade and there could have been more action. The middle part where Shade repairs Tess' ship while wondering what to do about her is a little long.
I will pick up the next book, but I was expecting a little more from Amanda Bouchet, especially after reading her other trilogy.
Follow me on Instagram 🙂 -
I really liked Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles and was so excited to see she was working on a new series set in space!
I have to say she has a knack for writing sexy heroes and some awesome slow burn. She also knows how to write a relatable, smart heroine who I liked from the start.
The story starts with a bang and keeps up the action and excitement throughout the novel. I enjoyed every moment and cannot wait to see what comes next.
This book is set to publish January 1, 2019! I received this ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca. All my opinions are my own.
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Squeee my first NetGalley ARC!! I'm so excited to read this. -
1st read - December 2018
2nd read - April 2020
Tess Bailey is the captain of the spaceship Endeavour, a ship she stole with the help of her entire crew when they all managed to break out of prison in the middle of a riot. They’re all wanted criminals with a price on their heads but instead of laying low they all chose to join the rebellion against the oppressive Overseer who put them in prison in the first place. They spend their time stealing supplies like food and medicine from the rich to help people who are desperately in need and they do it without expecting anything in return.
When a close encounter with the Overseer’s military leaves them with a badly damaged ship they are forced to take refuge on a planet where they have no existing connections. It’s imperative to keep their identity safe and get the repairs completed as quickly as possible but with the Dark Watch hot on their tails and a huge price on their heads escape might not be as easy as they thought.
I’m a huge fan of Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles so she’s already on my auto-buy list and I was incredibly excited to read Nightchaser, the first book in her new sci-fi romance series. Let’s just say we’re off to a fabulous start and I’m now desperately waiting for the rest of the series, so no pressure Amanda!
I really liked Tess and her whole crew, they all brought different skills to the table and combined they make a pretty good team. Tess is hiding some huge secrets but her crew are like her family and she will do whatever she has to in order to protect them. Tess is a pretty fierce character but she had some vulnerable moments too that made her very easy to relate to and of course I always feel like I could be friends with a woman who loves both books and cats!
They meet Shade when they land on planet and employ him to carry out repairs on their ship but he has his own secrets and they’re ones that could destroy everything Tess cares about. I was glad that we got parts of the story from his POV as well as from Tess’s because seeing his thoughts and feelings made his actions much easier to understand. I don’t want to give too much away about the story but Amanda Bouchet definitely excels at writing slow burn romances and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Nightchaser is a brilliant start to a series that I’m excited to continue reading. -
I was first introduced to Amanda Bouchet through her Kingmaker Chronicles series. I'd read a lot of books based around Greek myths but I'd never read anything quite like A Promise of Fire. I'm telling you now that if you haven't read them you need to stop reading this review right now, click this link, and get reading.
It was heartbreaking for me when Amanda Bouchet, who is now one of my most favorite authors of all time, decided to take a break from her Kingmaker world to dabble in sexy space time, but since Amanda Bouchet is one of my favorite authors I decided to give her new book, Nightchaser, a chance.
Nightchaser is Star Trek meets Sherrilyn Kenyon, but with Amanda Bouchet's very unique way of story-telling. The book flips between third-person and first-person, although I didn't realize that until about 47% through the book. You might think that sort of thing might be annoying, but trust me when I say that it was actually an enjoyable way to read a story. Judge for yourself.
I stupidly thought that it would be hard for me to accept another couple from Amanda Bouchet. Cat and Griffin were so perfect. How could Bouchet do it twice? Could it even be possible? The answer is yes.
Nightchaser is everything you want from romantic suspense meets paranormal. It's got a badass heroine who fights for the greater good. It's got a sweet, hilarious hero who is more than happy to play second fiddle to his woman. It's got action, adventure, an adorable cat, and a healthy amount of daddy issues. This book has it all!
The first time I checked how far along I was I was 47% through the book. The second time I went to check I was 99% and totally disappointed that I'd read through it so quickly. I just couldn't put it down! Bouchet set the series up so beautifully that I just know that the rest of the books are going to be obscenely amazing. -
⭐️4 stars⭐️
Respect is the key to leadership. You've shown it to others, and the inevitable reward is that you've gained it for yourself.
The day you decide to lift your voice, do not be surprised when people listen.
ARC received via Netgalley -
ONE WORD: Addicting...
Lately, I've been in a sort of mini reading slump. Not able to finish more than a few books a month, so I figured why not try sexy NA novel to spice things up from my usual YA mix. And since I loved A Promise of Fire, though I did not adore the follow-up, I thought to try another Amanda Bouchet book. Thankfully, it all worked out. I finished this thing in one day. For some reason, I did not want to put it down.
I've always had a soft spot for sci-fi and since I'm not really techie I never really find issues with their use of technology because I don't think too much about the theory behind the concept. Like, hey if that's how things work in this book that's how they work. You won't hear any complaints or over-analyzing from me.
Both of our main characters were likable and their actions relatively understandable. I never really found myself rolling my eyes at any ridiculous antics. Thank goodness, because I hate when adult characters act like they're hormonal teens. Tess and Shade were believable and had enough sexy chemistry to sell me on the pairing.
The supporting cast was also delightful and I look forward to hopefully getting to know better in the next book.
Verdict: I'm onboard with this crew -
*I received a free copy from the publisher via Netgalley and chose to leave a voluntary review. Thank you!*
1 ½ ★---- DNFed at 47%
When I saw this and got approved for it on Netgalley I was super excited. Even when I started reading, it really started out good……….
But sadly after about 12% in, it went downhill, and when I say downhill I mean a steeeeeppppp hill.
Pretty much when she meets the main love interest, it goes downhill. Tess just becomes sooo dumb and oh so weak in the knees and pretty much just lusts after him all this time.You would think all that is bad enough but that is not all, the story is completely taken over by the romance….. Shane our main guy seems more douche than alpha hero and sometimes felt forced to be macho funny. The same for Tess.. She also felt forced at times and there is not much to her, very blah and two dimensional and flat. The only thing I enjoyed about her was her friendship with her crew.
A lot of the story felt like a filler, and most of it didn’t even make sense really, people disappear and reappear for no reason, other parts of the story are thrown in and make no sense whatsoever.
And yes I only read 47% of the book and then cheated and read the last few chapters, well everything I thought I figured out at 20 some percent was right, it was very predictable and again some things didn’t even make sense. Not because I didn’t read it all, no but because it didn’t fit into the main story arc.
Another thing for me personally was, the switching of POV. I love multiple povs in a book, what I don’t love is when they alternate between first and third person. Either it should be all in first person or all in third person, but that is just my personal preference.
Overall, I really wanted to like this book, I really did but I just couldn’t there are just way too many things that annoyed me that I couldn’t even really finish the book.
I hope that other people enjoy it more and can overlook some of the things.
I rate it 1 ½ ★
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As much as I enjoyed the Kingmaker series from Amanda Bouchet, I think I might like this foray into space opera even more. Here, Bouchet has created another great heroine, who is easy to root for, along with a conflicted, flawed, yet very sexy hero. Together, they make for an awesome, angsty romance, set amid a cool futuristic series arc.
You with me so far?
Tess is the captain of a ragtag group of resistance fighters. I’ve seen comparisons to Firefly here and that’s not too far off, except in this case, the crew is made up all of escaped prisoners, including Tess, herself. But there is way more to her than meets the eye. She is the long lost daughter of the Overseer, the meglomaniac dictator of the galaxy. The world thinks she died long ago, but she’s really been hiding—from her father and from who (or what) she is. Tess knows she is different. She’s never been sick a day in her life and her youth was spent undergoing test after test at the hands of scientists. Now she just wants to help the orphans and outworlders long neglected by her father’s oppressive reign. And the book starts with her stealing what she thinks are vaccines to do just that. Spoiler alert: they’re something much more.
Her uncle, a bigwig in her father’s galactic force, chases her down and forces her into hiding on the very planet where the delicious Shade works as a bounty hunter. Of course, Tess doesn’t know that’s his gig. When she meets him, it’s under his guise of a mechanic on the planet. She hires him to fix her ship, and he digs her despite himself. Shade will have to decide whether to follow his heart or cash in the bounty on her that will solve his money problems forever.
I fell into this book so easily. There’s a ton of backstory, but Bouchet does a good job of parceling it out, rather than giving it all in big info-dumps. I loved the concept of the partners/pairs on the prison world and what Jax means to her. In fact, I was down with a lot of the secondary characters and wanted to know more about them. Like the Big Guy. Oooh and the uncle. I think there is way more to him than it appears. –And I’m waiting for that Gus guy to reappear and bite her in the ass.
There is not a ton of time spent in space. Most of the book is set in the dry dock where the ship is being repaired, but that didn’t bother me. I was super-invested in Tess’s backstory and her relationship with Shade. The romance worked for me and there was good tension and sexy times that satisfied.
I am excited to see where this series goes from here. And I wouldn’t mind a spinoff book on Jax… and his delicious tortured, messed up self.
*ARC provided by publisher -
I liked this one. Slowed down a bit in the middle, but a fun world with great characters
Really enjoyed the heroine! Looking forward to book two
