Breakeven (Verdant String)

By Michelle Diener

The Blurb: Dee had been fighting one war, only to find herself caught up in another . . .

When circumstances leave Dee stranded on the Breakaway planet of Lassa, she has to choose--take the easy way out, or stand and fight an enemy much like the one she left behind on her home world of Garmen.

For Sebastian, leading the Lassian resistance has come at a heavy price. Forced to gamble the last of his resources on a risky ploy to get some leverage over the Core Companies that run Lassa, he stares defeat in the face when it fails. There's no backup plan left. Nothing more to work with. And all around him, people are starving, and it looks as if the Cores have entered a deal with a hostile alien force, to enrich themselves even more.

But Dee inspires him. Even though it's his fault she's on Lassa to begin with, her courage and steady calm are the assets he needs, and unbeknownst to both of them, she has with her the key to bringing the Cores to their knees.

Now they just have to turn the lock in time.

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Breakeven is the follow up novel to Breakaway (Verdant String Book 1). I didn't read the first book, but I was so intrigued by the blurb that I decided to give it a try anyway. I'm really happy that I did.

First, the author gives a great "story so far" prologue that gives you a quick and succinct overview of what has already occurred and who Dee is. Dee, our heroine, is a security officer and was separated from her crew in the previous book. But, we quickly find out, that she is so much more.

The story begins with Dee being the victim of mistaken identity and kidnapped by Sebastian and other members of the Lassa Resistance. She quickly learns the motivations for the kidnapping and finds out that Lassa's situation is very similar to her own group's fight against the same enemy (story line in the first book).

Dee is a fantastic heroine; a true Wonder-Woman. She's smart, level-headed, and good at her job. Once all the facts are laid out in front of her, she can't help but get involved.

Sebastian is a fantastic hero. As the leader of the resistance, he is passionate, intelligent and honest. He refuses to use Dee for their own gains and is determined to protect her at all costs.

Their attraction blossoms believably. And this attraction is not solely based on their physical attributes. It grows stronger out of mutual respect and admiration that develops as they maneuver from one harrowing situation to the other.

And if these two aren't perfect enough, wait till Fluffy joins the adventure. This little show-stealer is adorable and dangerous. She slowly becomes a major player in winning the battle against the Cores once and for all.

This story is a perfect mix of sci-fi and romance. The action, intrigue and world-building is top-notch and the romance is realistic, well-paced and will melt your heart.

Having said that, with so much "new" world-building, it is important to pay attention. There are a lot of balls in the air and players in the fold, so keeping them straight can be a little difficult in the beginning.

If you're a fan of Veronica Scott or S.E. Smith, I think you'll really enjoy Ms. Diener's writing as well. I was sincerely pleased with this space-opera and look forward to finding out what else is in store.

What did you think?