Only Good Enemies by Jennifer Estep
Galactic Bonds #2
Science Fiction Romance
July 18, 2023- Self Published
ARC

Review by Angela

Vesper Quill and Kyrion Caldaren are back in the second book of the Galactic Bonds series. When we last left them, they had defeated the traitorous owner of Kent Corp and went their separate ways, Kyrion oblivious to the bond that still existed between him and Vesper after she had cleverly hidden the effects of the test given by the Imperium leader Lord Callus Holloway.

When the book opens several months later, Vesper has taken over Kent Corp and turned it into Quill Corp, determined to right wrongs and put out quality products. But thanks to her seer abilities she knows that members of the Techwave movement will contact her and she has plans to track them to their hidey hole and turn that information in so they can be taken down. Then it all goes sideways, she’s taken hostage and Kyrian finally realizes that his truebond with Vesper is still intact and he sets out to save her. He has other orders from Holloway, to kill her, but he’s not about to do that when he’s just coming to terms that Vesper means more to him than he had admitted to himself in the past.

I will admit to taking a sneak peek at the ending when I first opened my Kindle copy. After the conclusion of the last book, I NEEDED to know if Vesper and Kyrion’s relationship would show some progression. I wasn’t expecting all hearts and flowers, but my romance-loving heart needed some movement in a positive direction. Let’s just say that I was happy. The pacing is a bit slow at the very start, catching up with Vesper and Kyrion, and seeing how they are both doing on their own, without each other despite their bond. Then Vesper is kidnapped and taken off-world to a Techwave facility and the pacing and action picks up pretty quickly.

Once this couple reunites and partners in an investigation into what the plans are for Vesper’s stolen designs, their chemistry, and bond are undeniable. But they are still fighting it and their feelings for each other. Ms. Estep uses familiar tools to connect all the plot points, as both Kyrian and Vesper take trips into Vesper’s dream world and find that their bond is the key to saving both of their lives. The last 25% is a wild, thrilling ride and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out how they would defeat the bad guys and cement their union. Of course, they are helped out by loyal, loving friends and their contributions are necessary to the success of Kyrion’s rescue plans.

While I have a feeling we will see more of this couple in the future, I do sense that the next book might feature a different couple, or at least set them up as prominent characters. Which makes me very happy. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this author writes more books in this world, especially after the revelations in the last few pages.

Grade- B