Operation Pinpoint (Space Force Rejects, #1) by Landra Graf
@Archaeolibrary, @LandraGraf,
This alien tracker has finally found his mate, but how can he claim her when she loves another? Captain Ravenna Joyner has one mission: rescue her missing lover. She'll ruin every ounce of her credibility to save the one person who made her universe brighter, even partner with a bloodthirsty alien who can't be trusted.
Dravos Trax has one mission: find the missing Space Force vessel Perseus. If he follows through, his prison sentence will be commuted. Only he doesn't expect to find his mate in a human who is in love with someone else.
When the ship is located, the occupants are found dead, including Ravenna's lover. But, there's no time to mourn, as the other Space Force Ops commandos betray Dravos and Ravenna to cover up the murders, putting their lives in jeopardy. They'll have to put aside their fears and stow this simmering passion between them to find a way to gain their freedom. Though the chase for answers only leaves more questions, and the commandos won't stop until all loose ends are tied.
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Series inspiration can come from just about anywhere. For those interested in this series, Space Force Rejects has been a labor of love for the past five years. The initial thought came from the concept of Earth being transformed into a prison planet, used by humanity to house anyone they deemed criminal, alien or human. Then I thought, what would happen if a human woman, a desk jockey for the military, wanted to break someone out of Earth?
Of course, Operation Pinpoint doesn't start with Earth. It's a prequel story that was inspired by an alien boxset, Chosen by the Alien. My goal was to create an intro to the wide universe I'm building, featuring multiple alien species some evolved from animals, insects, dinosaurs, and plants. It's not a concept unique to Sci-Fi or even Sci-Fi Romance, but I'm enjoying putting my own spin on things. Get ready for Velocimonks and the Cheese Monger along with a variety of Fated Mates scenarios that make me smile. I hope this first book is enjoyable and can't wait to bring more of this series to life.
4 out of 5 (very good)
OPERATION PINPOINT is the first book in the Space Force Rejects series and we are introduced to a world where people live on Motherships and Space Force helps other species. Of course, help isn't always wanted and Dravos is one who definitely didn't want the humans' help. He has been imprisoned and tortured for the past five years, and now has a kill chip inserted in his brain stem. Ravenna has the code to set it off, but she is more interested in saving her lover, Yve, than blowing up an alien who hasn't harmed her. Plus, she feels a connection with him she's not prepared to admit to, just yet.
This was a great story, with wonderful world-building that helps you to see the ships, the commandos, the scientists, and the other species. Ravenna, for all she is a good commando, is also incredibly naïve, thinking Space Force only does good, not harming anyone or anything. Both Dravos and Ravenna have a lot of learning to do as their story intertwines.
The story moves along at a good pace, the relationship between Ravenna and Dravos deepening as it does. I did feel their declarations were a bit out of the blue, but that's probably just me. I did love how they were together, the protectiveness they felt towards each other shone through.
It ends with a HFN semi-cliffhanger that will definitely leave you wanting to return to this world. I have questions I need answers to, that involve Ravenna, Dravos, and Centra. I need more! A great start to a series that I definitely recommend and can't wait to read more.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.