Beyond Galaxy's Edge (Phoenix Adventures Book 5) by Anna Hackett Format: eARC
Source: author
Formats available: paperback, ebook
Genres: science fiction romance
Series: Phoenix Adventures #5
Pages: 284
Published by Anna Hackett on December 13, 2014
Purchasing Info: Author's Website, Amazon
Goodreads
Ambitious Patrol Captain Nissa Sander has spent three years at the galaxy’s edge keeping the law and order, and chasing scoundrel smuggler, Justyn Phoenix. But the charming rogue has always outwitted her and she’s had a hard time ignoring his hard body and handsome face. But when one of the galaxy’s most important documents—the US Constitution—is stolen, Nissa finds herself working with the very man she’s been trying to throw in her brig.
Justyn Phoenix embraces life and offers everyone a wink and a smile. He’s also in love with a spit-and-polish Patrol captain. Yep, crazy in love, and he knows she’ll never love him back. But when the opportunity arises to work alongside Nissa on a wild and crazy mission to recover the US Constitution, he can’t resist.
But nothing on this treasure hunt is as it seems. The trail leads them to fake documents, rival treasure hunters, and a millennia old mystery. As the hunt takes them beyond the galaxy’s edge, Justyn and Nissa will face the firestorm of their desire, and soon learn if they can survive long enough to save the galaxy.
My Review:
Patrol Captain Nissa Sander has spent her years at the galaxy’s edge trying to catch Justyn Phoenix smuggling illicit goods across the border. He’s trying to catch her attention. His plans are working a whole lot better than hers – at least when this story begins.
He’s too good a smuggler to let her find anything illegal on his ship. And she’s too good an officer to stop trying. But he’s certain he’s not good for her or good enough for her – and she’d agree with that assessment a little too readily.
Still they can’t stop baiting each other every time they cross paths. Even though they both know they shouldn’t.
At least, not until a thief makes off with one of the original foundational documents of the galactic law that she serves and he mostly gets around. Someone has stolen the US Constitution. The one, the only, the original. Or so everyone believes.
When it is discovered that the constitution that was stolen is old, but not nearly old enough, the hunt is on. Nissa needs a treasure hunter. Justyn has his cousins at the other side of the galaxy eager to help restore a piece of history – just as they did with the Mona Lisa in At Star’s End.
If Nissa can manage to trust a smuggler not to steal the artifact out from under her nose, her ambitions, and her obligations. Because she’ll have to, as she absolutely cannot trust anyone else. Not the father for whom she’s never been enough. And especially not the competing agendas of her GSS superiors, who are using them both in a dangerous plan of their own.
A plan for which Nissa is intended to take the fall – unless she can smuggle her way out. With Justyn’s help. And the heart she never thought he had.
Escape Rating A-: I’ve enjoyed every single book in the updated Phoenix Adventures as I did the originals. Although I still like the original covers better. And hopefully your imagery mileage varies.
Even more than ten years later, the “cousins” half of the Phoenix story still feels like Firefly, in spite of the years and the parsecs. Or however you want to measure things. The Phoenix Brothers on the one side of the galaxy, the ones in At Star’s End, are treasure hunters. The ones at galaxy’s edge are mostly convoy operators. They take colonists out into the black to establish new colonies in risky situations. Or at least unknown situations.
But Justyn is a bit too wild to captain convoys. Or too adventurous. Or both. He might be a better fit with his cousins the treasure hunters, as this story proves. Because he loves a good chase, which is exactly what he’s been doing with Patrol Captain Nissa Sander. Chasing her until she catches him. Over and over and over. He’s just never stayed caught. Not until now.
Both Justyn and Nissa have a lot to overcome to save the Constitution AND reach a happy ever after that neither of them quite believes they deserve. He knows his well-earned reputation will tank her career. She’s been trained to never let her own desires get in the way of her father’s ambitions for her – even if he’s trained her just as hard that she’ll never meet them.
Her superiors think they have her between a rock and a hard place. She knows she can’t trust them and she’s afraid to trust Justyn with the mission – let alone anything else.
The way that their treasure hunt beyond the borders of chartered space teaches them that they can trust each other with everything managed to be both a delightful bit of gaslamp/steampunk in an otherwise completely science fictional universe AND a thrill-a-minute chase on top of a combustible romance.
If you’ve ever had a yen to try science fiction romance, or if you’ve heard about this terrific series but haven’t been able to find a copy, this “remaster” of the classic is a fantastic chance to read a rocket-fueled adventure AND romance.
