Pets in Space 5 @paulinebjones @RegineAbel @j_c_hay @lchasewrites @CarolNatta46374 @MDiener77 @kyndrahatch #CassandraChandler @sesmithfl @SFRLaurie @vscotttheauthor @sophiarose1816

Posted January 19, 2025 by Sophia in Book Review / 10 Comments

Pets in Space 5 @paulinebjones @RegineAbel @j_c_hay @lchasewrites @CarolNatta46374 @MDiener77 @kyndrahatch #CassandraChandler @sesmithfl  @SFRLaurie @vscotttheauthor  @sophiarose1816 Pets In Space 5 by Alexis Glynn Latner, Pauline Baird Jones, Veronica Scott, SE Smith, Laurie A Green, Regine Abel, JC Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Cassandra Chandler
Series: Pets in Space Anthologies #5
on October 6, 2020
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
Pages: 1492
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

Twelve of today’s top Science Fiction Romance authors have written 12 original, never-before-released stories filled with action, adventure, suspense, humor, and romance that will take you out of this world.

The giving doesn’t stop there.

For the fifth year, Pets in Space® will be donating a portion of the first month proceeds to Hero-Dogs[dot]org, a non-profit charity that supports our veterans and First Responders. Pets in Space® has donated over $15,000 in the past four years. Together, we can make a difference!

Dark Ambitions by Michelle Diener
Finding Mogha by Kyndra Hatch
Galactic Research and Rescue by Carol Van Natta
General's Holiday by Pauline Baird Jones
Glitch by Leslie Chase
Juggernaut by Laurie A. Green
Mittens Not Included J.C. Hay
Pastfinders by Alexis Glynn Latner
Rate of Return by Cassandra Chandler
Reaper by Regine Abel
Star Cruise: Return Voyage by Veronica Scott
The King's Quest by S.E. Smith

The Pets in Space series of anthologies have delivered some of my favorite sci-fi romantic adventures and introduced me to several series that are top reads for me.  I adore how there is a theme of pets and a vast majority of sci-fi worlds and situations.  Like with previous anthologies in the series, I’ll be reading a few stories at a time and leave a mini review for each.

 

The King’s Quest by S.E. Smith  One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

#12 Dragon Lords of Valdier

A story of two side characters who appear earlier in the series.  This is a standalone tale, but it’s obvious that one is jumping into a series.

This was a sweet romance because of Arosa’s innocence and fun to have most of the action featuring little people in a blend of fantasy and sci-fi alien setting.  I am already a fan of the Dragons of Valdier series and other SE Scott sci-fis so I really need to hit the backlist.

 

Dark Ambitions by Michelle Diener  One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

#4.5 Class Five

Jumping into a series mid-stream can be something of a gamble.  Dark Ambitions returns to the heroine of the first book to explore what comes after for her, her alien mate, and the powerful sentient AI friend who is the big Class Five ship.

Dark Ambitions was my first time experiencing the series and Michelle Diener‘s writing.  Though this is a follow up story and it was obvious I missed a whole lot that came before it, I enjoyed how the author added depth to the story by exploring Rose’s ongoing integration with the Grih people and trying to build relationships with them since she is in a relationship with Dav.

A well-developed sci-fi world, relationships, and exciting plot.

 

Star Cruise: Return Voyage by Veronica Scott   One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

#14.5 The Sectors

Things come full circle when Return Voyage brings the youngest character from Wreck of the Nebula Dream, prequel to the series, back aboard the Nebula Zephyr a later-built cruise ship and a confrontation with her memories of the past. I had high expectations for this third story in the Nebula Dream sub-series and I was not disappointed.

I love the blend of action, romance, and character development that comes together quickly because of the page count, but is fully-formed nonetheless. The complexities of relationship and mental health struggles, mysteries, intrigues, as well as the amazing space cruise setting and familiar cast of characters had me deeply engaged with the story and sad when I clicked on the final page. The big climax scene was worth the buildup as was the warm and spicy denouement that came after showing what will come after for Gianna and Trevor.

Sci-fi Romance and Space Opera fans should definitely have this series on their radar.

 

General’s Holiday by Pauline Baird Jones   One StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

#8.9 Project Enterprise

A human general from earth is enjoying a respite from war when a mysterious woman and her alien frog companion appear in his private quarters with a confusing and mysterious proposition. Why not? And, so this Lovecraftian-style sci-fi adventure with a slow burn romance commences.

I admit that I was very much at sea for a goodly portion of General’s Holiday. Later, I discovered that this was meant to be.

The romance was a side thought and this ended on a moderately satisfying happy for now.

 

Juggernaut by Laurie A. Green   One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

# The Inherited Stars

Another Star Dog sci-fi adventure from The Inherited Stars series. Laurie A Green‘s worldbuilding and action plots with engaging characters make for an exciting story to read.

In this latest, which appears to take place earlier chronologically in the series than the other two Star Dog stories, Juggernaut has the star dog trial run happening on a planet with a top secret base where scientific exploration work is done.

The action, romance, and a surprise twist late in story are well developed in this fast-read novella. I’m looking forward to more star dog action and I really need to go back for the main stories in this series.

 

Galactic Search and Rescue by Carol Van Natta   One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

#5.5 Central Galactic Concordance

Taz and Ryland get called out on a SAR mission to aid a colony planet with an isolated town hit by an earthquake. The action around the rescue and a twist to heighten the danger had me riveted. Toward the end, a further addition of political intrigue that is a reference to the overall series situation added some conflict.

While there is romance and it is a main element, it is not the central element and shares with the character development and action side of the plot. I love how the author balances it all and particularly leans heavily on the futuristic space world setting to make it a perfect blend for sci-fi lover and those who are not generally sci-fi fans. This sci-fi series that make my favorites lists each year and are a high recommend.

 

Reaper by Regine Abel    One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

#7 Xian Warrior

A survival story with many emotional layers.   Janelle has been isolated and dying in an underground lab so she is relearning and learning much which puts the fated mate romance on slow burn.  I enjoyed watching Reaper, a strong warrior, is vulnerable about whether she can get past his looking like the enemy who killed her parents and some of the Creckels and left her to suffer and die. Janelle is facing so many choices for her future and secretly hopes the strong and capable Reaper would be interested in an undernourished half-blind woman with little talent.   Surrounding their romance is the story of the enhanced Creckels figuring out their future, too.

I really enjoy this series and need to go back and finish the backlist.

 

Past Finders by Alexis Glynn Latner   One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

#.6 Starways

A sci-fi archeological adventure taking place before the first Starways book.  Past Finders introduces a jittering PTSD-cursed Haze and Mercury, a mysterious human with a gift for luck.  The Past Finders team are making interesting discoveries about Old Tellans with Mercury and Haze, but the time is short with the river flood coming.

I’ve enjoyed a few others novellas in this world and still need to read the author’s backlist.

 

Mittens Not Included by J.C. Hay    One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

#2 Tri Systems Smugglers

After really enjoying the first entry in this series, I was glad to be back aboard with a familiar crew for the next adventure.  This time, the ship’s reclusive and secretive doctor, Layth Ali, is paired with the ship’s passenger, Dr. Meja Aquarone, and her highly illegal cargo that’s worth a fortune that someone will want back.

Time with the smuggling crew and Layth have Meja making connections and wanting to do something about the attraction going on with Layth if he’ll let her and she doesn’t get arrested first.

Love the development of the characters, the LGBT rep, and build of romance while getting an exciting space adventure.

 

Finding Mogha by Kyndra Hatch    One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

#2 Before the Fall

Another adventure with a delightful mogha and this one is a puppy too cute for words.  Dani and K’vyn are the enemies to lovers who get off on the wrong foot.  Stuck on a deserted planet, they slowly work their way through confusing feelings and trust issues in time for Dani’s intel to make a big difference in the lives of all mogha.

Love the world building that goes beyond war in space to include complex alien animals, people, and sentient ships.  Each novella in the series is standalone and I’ve enjoyed them all.

 

Rate of Return by Cassandra Chandler    One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

#14 Dept of Homeworld Security

A communication out of the blue leads to a trip to earth.  This time Serac will stop Dean and do what he can to make up a little for the bad stuff they did together.  Meanwhile, a feisty human woman comes to his rescue and shock of all, she reads something called a paranormal romance and has not trouble believing he’s an alien werewolf and wants to help.

This series is just so light and fun, sexy and whimsical.  I like there is a strong overall series plot, but an easy low angst romance.

 

Glitch by Leslie Chase    One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

#3.5 Crashland Colony

A nice take on an enemies to lovers blended with fated mates.  I could appreciate Molly’s perspective and the fact that Karnac’s pirate clans did what Molly hated them for.  I thought the world building of high-tech and frontier survival was great and an interesting take on pets with the hologram device assistants taking animal familiar forms.  And, best of all, there was mystery and intrigue with a sultry hot scene or two.  Another series I must explore.

 

 

And, so, there it is, the sadness that comes with the end of another Pets In Space anthology.  Another superb sci-fi romance reading experience with a variety of romance tropes, sci-fi settings, writing styles, intriguing characters, and plots.  The Pets In Space 5 anthology may be out of print now, but most of the individual stories are sold as standalones now.  Delve in with confidence to the next Pets In Space anthology or any of the series and authors represented in this volume.

 

About Veronica Scott

USA Today Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author.

Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.

MISC FACTS ABOUT VERONICA
Seven time winner ~ SFR Galaxy Award

Proud recipient ~ NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – I’ll improve your process (mwahahahaa)!

Elvis Presley’s best friend once serenaded Veronica on a local TV telethon…now that could be a novel…

Sophia
Follow Me
Please follow and like us:
Follow by Email
Instagram
Twitter
Visit Us
Follow Me
RSS

Posted January 19, 2025 by Sophia in Book Review / 10 Comments


10 responses to “Pets in Space 5

    • Yes! I’m slowly making my way through the anthology series to catch up to the current one. I hope you do get a chance to try one- helps to sample so many SFR out there.

    • It’s a big reading commitment when you start into one, but the stories are so engaging that its easy to read two or three at a go. 🙂 Hope you enjoy when you crack yours open, Lisa. 🙂

Leave a Reply

(Enter your URL then click here to include a link to one of your blog posts.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.