Conscript
by Pamela Stewart
Book One of Star Defenders series
Release date: 11/14/19
Rating: 4/5

This story was so much fun! Having never read anything from this author before, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed her storytelling! Pamela Stewart has created a super interesting world that I would love to get lost in. Her characters are flawed but the reader still wants to root for them and discover the truth. Definitely lost some sleep trying to finish the story.

Vega Volante is a 17-year-old who just wants to get home after performing her 1 year mandatory military service to the Axis government. Unfortunately, hostile aliens attack and she’s the only survivor. She gets sent to an old mining ship for more training to fight the incoming war. However, if she has to fight, Vega longs to be a pilot. As someone who grew up on land and not in space, she is stronger and has a different view on life. As she tries her best in training to show she is officer material, she and her crewmates find themselves experiencing “accidents” that could have been fatal if Vega had not stepped in and saved the day with her strength and quick thinking. What is going on? Will Vega and her friends be able to figure it out before someone dies? Who can Vega trust?

This story kept me on my toes and constantly guessing who was behind what and who had betrayed who. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series and will anxiously await the next book.

Highly recommend if you are a sci-fi fan. 

My thanks to the author for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Marisol – Spanish Rose
by Elva Cobb Martin
Book 1 in the Charleston Brides series
Wild Heart Books – Release date: 11/12/19
Rating: 4/5

Such a fun, sweet, action-packed story of love and redemption! I love being able to read books from the past. Historical fiction is always so interesting and different – the author has a way of transporting the reader to a time where pirates and privateers ruled the seas. I didn’t anticipate the amount of action that this book contains and it was wonderful!

After murdering the nobleman who raped her, Marisol flees the country to find refuge in the New World. On her voyage, she discovers she is pregnant and vows to keep her innocent child safe and loved. She must keep her past a secret and somehow find her only living relative in Cartagena. What happens when someone finds out the truth about her past?

Captain Ethan, a former pastor, rescues Marisol in order for her to be a governess for his young son. He is eager to protect her and her child no matter the cost. Can he get over the loss of his wife and other child which caused him to leave the church? Can he find a way to trust a God like that? Does he dare hope that he can be happy again and love another?

I enjoyed the story but I docked a star because some of the scenes seemed too out of character. I understand prayer can work miracles but it almost felt too easy. There weren’t believable consequences for actions. The problem is these scenes sort of took me out of the story but I ignored them because I loved the rest of the book. 

Great story about the power of prayer. Highly recommend!

My thanks to the publisher for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.