What do you think?
Rate this book
Junkyard Cats #5
Junkyard Riders
Shining Smith returns, taking on the “Dark Riders,” a paramilitary group motorcycle gang searching for Gov. political power, military connections, and alien tech. The Dark Riders are closing in on Shining’s secrets and, while she would rather nest in her new roadhouse, Shining must protect her own, once again taking the battle to the enemy.
Unfortunately, CAIT, the original AI on the junkyard’s crashed spaceship, has its own agenda buried in the ship’s code and choses this time to implement it. There is nothing Shining can do to stop it, except what she does best – plot an offensive, get her people in place, and hope Jolene can outsmart the virtual alter ego.
But the cataclysmic snowstorm crashing in with all the power and subtlety of Mateo in his WarBot suit could be the end of them all.
Unfortunately, CAIT, the original AI on the junkyard’s crashed spaceship, has its own agenda buried in the ship’s code and choses this time to implement it. There is nothing Shining can do to stop it, except what she does best – plot an offensive, get her people in place, and hope Jolene can outsmart the virtual alter ego.
But the cataclysmic snowstorm crashing in with all the power and subtlety of Mateo in his WarBot suit could be the end of them all.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2026
140 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Faith Hunter
98 books5,754 followersFaith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is available in Audible, eBook, and "ridiculously expensive" (her words) trade paperback books at this time.
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... and see her website blog at
www.faithhunter.net
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... and see her website blog at
www.faithhunter.net
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 29, 2026
In the fifth Junkyard Cats story, Shining Smith and her allies take on the “Dark Riders,” a motorcycle group that are paramilitary and very sinister enemies. They come up with a plan, which ends up being executed in a cataclysmic snowstorm, which could be the end of them all. There are some great action scenes, some heartwarming scenes, and a few "scratching my head in confusion,” scenes, which all lead to my eagerness to read the next adventure for Shining and her “made” family.
February 17, 2026
Rating: 3.5 stars
In this entertaining installment of a post-apocalyptic, action-packed saga, Shining Smith defends her new roadhouse and her people against the "Dark Riders," a paramilitary motorcycle gang seeking alien technology. Just to throw a spanner in the works, CAIT, the military crashed-spaceship AI has a secret agenda. I like the post-apocalyptic world in these novellas, not to mention the nano-bot enhanced cats.
In this entertaining installment of a post-apocalyptic, action-packed saga, Shining Smith defends her new roadhouse and her people against the "Dark Riders," a paramilitary motorcycle gang seeking alien technology. Just to throw a spanner in the works, CAIT, the military crashed-spaceship AI has a secret agenda. I like the post-apocalyptic world in these novellas, not to mention the nano-bot enhanced cats.
February 3, 2026
As with all other Faith Hunter books, this story (and series) is absolutely incredible in world-building, research and believability, and action and adventure. She is the ultimate master! Five stars or more (if possible) in every one of these areas.
At this point in this series, however, the character development is crap! Actually there IS no character development at ALL. This is especially egregious in the relationship between Shining (FMC) and Jagger (love interest). NOTHING! He shows up on page, they have sex and he promises to answer her questions, then he disappears. That is it! No more than a page or two total in that department. Sadly there is nothing on any of the other characters either. We see a quick snippet with a couple getting married but that completely sums up the totality of time spent on development or even forward movement of the characters.
Unfortunately, it is the connection with the characters that keeps a reader continuing a series, And, at this point, if some very serious attention doesn’t happen soon, there just won’t be any reason to bother.
At this point in this series, however, the character development is crap! Actually there IS no character development at ALL. This is especially egregious in the relationship between Shining (FMC) and Jagger (love interest). NOTHING! He shows up on page, they have sex and he promises to answer her questions, then he disappears. That is it! No more than a page or two total in that department. Sadly there is nothing on any of the other characters either. We see a quick snippet with a couple getting married but that completely sums up the totality of time spent on development or even forward movement of the characters.
Unfortunately, it is the connection with the characters that keeps a reader continuing a series, And, at this point, if some very serious attention doesn’t happen soon, there just won’t be any reason to bother.
January 23, 2026
This one was interesting. As always Shining takes care of business and kicks ass, but along the way she learns something that she's not sure of with her cats, it could be good, could be bad. Loved seeing Kate and Shining in action at the diner and at the end, they deserved the happy times.
January 20, 2026
wonderful! leaves you wanting more!
Loved this book, its characters, and its word smith. Can’t wait for the next installment! I read all the books in this series before this one came out.
Loved this book, its characters, and its word smith. Can’t wait for the next installment! I read all the books in this series before this one came out.
January 20, 2026
Good book five.
Always nice to vist this universe.
Sometimes I go back and reread the books that this author writes.
That's how good they are.
Always nice to vist this universe.
Sometimes I go back and reread the books that this author writes.
That's how good they are.
January 29, 2026
3.5 Stars ⭐️
This was a continuation of the story of Shining Smith and the crazy dystopian sci-fi world that she finds herself in. Whether she is dealing with an evil AI, power hungry men or crazy cats, each installment is full of non stop action.
This is definitely not a stand alone, but the books are short enough that you can go back and find book 1 and catch up pretty fast.
This was a continuation of the story of Shining Smith and the crazy dystopian sci-fi world that she finds herself in. Whether she is dealing with an evil AI, power hungry men or crazy cats, each installment is full of non stop action.
This is definitely not a stand alone, but the books are short enough that you can go back and find book 1 and catch up pretty fast.
January 30, 2026
Always a good time. Full RTC
January 20, 2026
Great read
A breathless ride through ice and fire. Battle ensues and every weapon is used. Treason and love - we have it all
A breathless ride through ice and fire. Battle ensues and every weapon is used. Treason and love - we have it all
January 22, 2026
It’s pretty good as an addition to the ongoing series but it definitely needs more editing. This was one of the poorest editing jobs of any of her books I’ve read.
February 6, 2026
There’s a major snowstorm crashing down on Shining’s head in this one – and bloody damn (as Shining herself would put it – I didn’t need the up-close-and-personal reminder of what’s headed my way in real life as it headed towards hers in brilliantly realized fiction.
I’m still here for the cats, six years and four books after the first utterly terrific book in this series, Junkyard Cats. Because Shining and her allies, the more-or-less humans AND the self-proclaimed “destructions of cats” have just gotten bigger and more badass as the series has evolved.
And so have their enemies.
In this fifth entry in the series, the hard-won more-or-less peace that Shining has sacrificed so much blood for, particularly in the previous book, Junkyard Roadhouse, has been disturbed by the advent of an unnamed motorcycle gang that Shining calls the “Dark Riders”. She’s sure they have a name, she just doesn’t know what it is – yet. She just knows that these “Dark Riders” are in the sex trafficking business and don’t care who they have to kill in order to get their “stock” or how willing they might be to “serve”. The Dark Riders are threatening territory that is under the protection of Shining and/or her allies, and have now turned their sights on the Junkyard Roadhouse. Not directly, not yet, but attempting to pick off some of their more remote trading partners.
Which Shining cannot allow, both as the threat to her independence that it definitely is, and because some of her own people are on site. And mostly because she promised protection so now she’s duty bound to deliver it.
That her enemy is a whole lot bigger and more powerful than even rival queen Clarice Warhammer in Junkyard War just means that Shining is going to need a lot more allies to help take them down. Even if this time around she’s putting herself directly against the Gov and their military forces.
Especially if it’s the Gov and their military. She’ll just have to be a bit sneakier about how she brings them down. Or out. Or into the bright, shining light of exposure.
Even if bringing down a bigger and more powerful – and connected – foe is a good deed that is guaranteed not to go unpunished. That’s a problem for ‘later’ Shining, if she survives this time around. Which she bloody damn WILL.
Escape Rating A+: I’ve adored this series from that very first book, Junkyard Cats, and I haven’t changed my mind one bit as the series has continued. In fact, I think they’ve gotten better as they’ve gone along. They’ve certainly gotten bigger – not necessarily in length but in scope. With each book we see more of how this effed up future is, well, effed up. And it’s FUBAR, glorious and terrible all at the same time.
In my personal opinion, it’s also better in audio, but that’s a shade of better that’s really, really close. Narrator Kristine Hvam remains the perfect voice of Shining, she’s gritty and snarky, self-deprecating and over-confident, desperate and determined, always, always picking herself up off the ground to DEAL WITH IT whatever IT might be.
She makes hard decisions, lives with the even harder consequences, and Hvam’s voice perfectly captures Shining’s first-person, internal voice every step of the way. The one problem I have with the narration being just so damn good is that now that the ebooks are released simultaneously with the audio, I’m caught very sharply on the horns of the dilemma of whether I want to hear Shining’s voice more than I’m desperate to find out what happened.
It’s a bloody damn hard call every time. But that’s Shining Smith all over.
This entry in the series reads like the set up for the next phase of Shining’s ‘adventures’ – to use that term very loosely. Alternatively, it’s the opening campaign in Shining’s next war. Because she is at war. In the first three books (Junkyard Cats, Junkyard Bargain, Junkyard War), she was at war with rival queen Clarice Warhammer. The previous book, Junkyard Roadhouse, represented a consolidation of the gains and alliances Shining gathered for and as a result of Warhammer’s destruction.
Those gains included a lot of intel on bad actors in what passes for the US government in this post-apocalyptic dystopia, and that intel has led her to a bigger, better equipped enemy. Taking on the Gov, even in the clandestine fashion she does in this story, is going to take more than one book and a whole lot more firepower. Those Dark Riders are the tip of an iceberg that goes a lot deeper and further than even Shining and her tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios had imagined.
On the surface, Junkyard Riders is another fantastic Shining Smith adventure, for multiple definitions of the word ‘adventure’. It’s also the latest chapter in an ongoing saga that gets bigger as it goes – even though the length of the individual entries is still relatively short. On my third hand (and some of Shining’s allies actually have such a thing), this story represents both an expansion and an escalation in the best ‘Old Skool’ urban fantasy tradition. At the end of every story, Shining takes her bow with more resources, more weapons, more POWER than she had at the beginning. Which forces her next enemy to match and exceed her in order to have a shot at taking her down.
This entry in the series was fantastic AND did a fantastic job of setting up the next book. Hopefully this time next year if not, fingers crossed, just a bit sooner. Because I’m already there for it.
One final note because I can’t resist. A ‘destruction of cats’ is a collective noun for a group of wild and/or feral cats. The junkyard’s cats are not exactly feral, but they certainly are both wild AND destructive. Tufts, the queen of the junkyard’s cats, took that name for her clowder HERSELF. Because of course she did. And her Destruction has certainly earned the moniker. I can’t wait to see how THAT works out in the books to come. Because I’ve always been all in on this series for the cats. And they get more badass every book – right along with Shining Smith herself.
Originally published at Reading Reality
I’m still here for the cats, six years and four books after the first utterly terrific book in this series, Junkyard Cats. Because Shining and her allies, the more-or-less humans AND the self-proclaimed “destructions of cats” have just gotten bigger and more badass as the series has evolved.
And so have their enemies.
In this fifth entry in the series, the hard-won more-or-less peace that Shining has sacrificed so much blood for, particularly in the previous book, Junkyard Roadhouse, has been disturbed by the advent of an unnamed motorcycle gang that Shining calls the “Dark Riders”. She’s sure they have a name, she just doesn’t know what it is – yet. She just knows that these “Dark Riders” are in the sex trafficking business and don’t care who they have to kill in order to get their “stock” or how willing they might be to “serve”. The Dark Riders are threatening territory that is under the protection of Shining and/or her allies, and have now turned their sights on the Junkyard Roadhouse. Not directly, not yet, but attempting to pick off some of their more remote trading partners.
Which Shining cannot allow, both as the threat to her independence that it definitely is, and because some of her own people are on site. And mostly because she promised protection so now she’s duty bound to deliver it.
That her enemy is a whole lot bigger and more powerful than even rival queen Clarice Warhammer in Junkyard War just means that Shining is going to need a lot more allies to help take them down. Even if this time around she’s putting herself directly against the Gov and their military forces.
Especially if it’s the Gov and their military. She’ll just have to be a bit sneakier about how she brings them down. Or out. Or into the bright, shining light of exposure.
Even if bringing down a bigger and more powerful – and connected – foe is a good deed that is guaranteed not to go unpunished. That’s a problem for ‘later’ Shining, if she survives this time around. Which she bloody damn WILL.
Escape Rating A+: I’ve adored this series from that very first book, Junkyard Cats, and I haven’t changed my mind one bit as the series has continued. In fact, I think they’ve gotten better as they’ve gone along. They’ve certainly gotten bigger – not necessarily in length but in scope. With each book we see more of how this effed up future is, well, effed up. And it’s FUBAR, glorious and terrible all at the same time.
In my personal opinion, it’s also better in audio, but that’s a shade of better that’s really, really close. Narrator Kristine Hvam remains the perfect voice of Shining, she’s gritty and snarky, self-deprecating and over-confident, desperate and determined, always, always picking herself up off the ground to DEAL WITH IT whatever IT might be.
She makes hard decisions, lives with the even harder consequences, and Hvam’s voice perfectly captures Shining’s first-person, internal voice every step of the way. The one problem I have with the narration being just so damn good is that now that the ebooks are released simultaneously with the audio, I’m caught very sharply on the horns of the dilemma of whether I want to hear Shining’s voice more than I’m desperate to find out what happened.
It’s a bloody damn hard call every time. But that’s Shining Smith all over.
This entry in the series reads like the set up for the next phase of Shining’s ‘adventures’ – to use that term very loosely. Alternatively, it’s the opening campaign in Shining’s next war. Because she is at war. In the first three books (Junkyard Cats, Junkyard Bargain, Junkyard War), she was at war with rival queen Clarice Warhammer. The previous book, Junkyard Roadhouse, represented a consolidation of the gains and alliances Shining gathered for and as a result of Warhammer’s destruction.
Those gains included a lot of intel on bad actors in what passes for the US government in this post-apocalyptic dystopia, and that intel has led her to a bigger, better equipped enemy. Taking on the Gov, even in the clandestine fashion she does in this story, is going to take more than one book and a whole lot more firepower. Those Dark Riders are the tip of an iceberg that goes a lot deeper and further than even Shining and her tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios had imagined.
On the surface, Junkyard Riders is another fantastic Shining Smith adventure, for multiple definitions of the word ‘adventure’. It’s also the latest chapter in an ongoing saga that gets bigger as it goes – even though the length of the individual entries is still relatively short. On my third hand (and some of Shining’s allies actually have such a thing), this story represents both an expansion and an escalation in the best ‘Old Skool’ urban fantasy tradition. At the end of every story, Shining takes her bow with more resources, more weapons, more POWER than she had at the beginning. Which forces her next enemy to match and exceed her in order to have a shot at taking her down.
This entry in the series was fantastic AND did a fantastic job of setting up the next book. Hopefully this time next year if not, fingers crossed, just a bit sooner. Because I’m already there for it.
One final note because I can’t resist. A ‘destruction of cats’ is a collective noun for a group of wild and/or feral cats. The junkyard’s cats are not exactly feral, but they certainly are both wild AND destructive. Tufts, the queen of the junkyard’s cats, took that name for her clowder HERSELF. Because of course she did. And her Destruction has certainly earned the moniker. I can’t wait to see how THAT works out in the books to come. Because I’ve always been all in on this series for the cats. And they get more badass every book – right along with Shining Smith herself.
Originally published at Reading Reality
January 28, 2026
Gritty, fast‑paced, and unexpectedly heartfelt
Junkyard Riders is the kind of story that sneaks up on you. What starts as a rough‑edged, grease‑stained adventure quickly reveals a surprising amount of heart, character depth, and emotional nuance. Faith Hill blends action, found‑family dynamics, and a touch of vulnerability into a narrative that feels both cinematic and intimate.
The world of the Riders is vividly drawn, dusty lots, roaring engines, and the constant hum of danger, but what really carries the book is the cast. The characters are flawed in ways that feel real, and their loyalty, banter, and bruised tenderness give the story its momentum. I especially enjoyed how Hill lets relationships develop through small gestures and sharp dialogue rather than heavy exposition.
The pacing leans fast, sometimes a little too fast; a few emotional beats could have used more room to breathe. But even when the plot barrels forward, the core themes, trust, survival, and choosing your people, stay grounded.
Overall, this is a gritty, spunky, engaging ride with more emotional resonance than I expected. A strong entry for readers who love character‑driven action with a rebellious streak. I’m definitely curious to see where Hill takes this world next...
Junkyard Riders is the kind of story that sneaks up on you. What starts as a rough‑edged, grease‑stained adventure quickly reveals a surprising amount of heart, character depth, and emotional nuance. Faith Hill blends action, found‑family dynamics, and a touch of vulnerability into a narrative that feels both cinematic and intimate.
The world of the Riders is vividly drawn, dusty lots, roaring engines, and the constant hum of danger, but what really carries the book is the cast. The characters are flawed in ways that feel real, and their loyalty, banter, and bruised tenderness give the story its momentum. I especially enjoyed how Hill lets relationships develop through small gestures and sharp dialogue rather than heavy exposition.
The pacing leans fast, sometimes a little too fast; a few emotional beats could have used more room to breathe. But even when the plot barrels forward, the core themes, trust, survival, and choosing your people, stay grounded.
Overall, this is a gritty, spunky, engaging ride with more emotional resonance than I expected. A strong entry for readers who love character‑driven action with a rebellious streak. I’m definitely curious to see where Hill takes this world next...
February 6, 2026
Please don't let this be the last book in the series! I listened to all five [please let it be only 'so far'] in a row. Each is a novella, four hours and some change in listening, and the action moves quickly.
The roadhouse is busy and popular and they know another battle is brewing with the Dark Riders.
Shining is coming into her own as a leader. She keeps to her rules of not infecting others with her nanobots. She has enough on her plate without adding to her nest.
The characters are pretty well established so not a lot of development going on here. It's mostly action, war, blood, agendas. It's all good.
The cliffhanger, for all that the book says, 'The End', is making my brain scream 'MORE PLEASE'!
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
The roadhouse is busy and popular and they know another battle is brewing with the Dark Riders.
Shining is coming into her own as a leader. She keeps to her rules of not infecting others with her nanobots. She has enough on her plate without adding to her nest.
The characters are pretty well established so not a lot of development going on here. It's mostly action, war, blood, agendas. It's all good.
The cliffhanger, for all that the book says, 'The End', is making my brain scream 'MORE PLEASE'!
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
January 21, 2026
I absolutely love returning to Shining Smith's strange universe and the many quirky things that happen - a recon turning into a battle turning into an even bigger battle followed by a wedding (not Shining's), followed by an announcement that joy is coming. As always, listening to Kristine Hvam is such a pleasure, especially when I've had to listen to virtual voice narrated books, recently. I'm still breathless and delighted and, even more, wondering what will be happening in the next edition of the Junkyard Cats series. I think the cats are amazing and even scary, and I enjoy the interplay between them and the humans. Faith, I love this book. Celebrating its success with you.
January 26, 2026
Another hit for the "CAT" Hunter
I was hooked at book one. A few hours ago I finished book 2. Books 3 and 4 were offered at a special price not long ago so I missed book two until about 2 pm today. Book 5 brings things together better than Jane Yellowrock's silhouette. I am a cis-man who reads a lot. I believe this truly is an other hit for Faith Hunter. I love animals especially cat videos because, no fur, no feeding, no litter box and only time expense of retirement disability in wheelchair or lift chair or more often than not doctor office chair.
I was hooked at book one. A few hours ago I finished book 2. Books 3 and 4 were offered at a special price not long ago so I missed book two until about 2 pm today. Book 5 brings things together better than Jane Yellowrock's silhouette. I am a cis-man who reads a lot. I believe this truly is an other hit for Faith Hunter. I love animals especially cat videos because, no fur, no feeding, no litter box and only time expense of retirement disability in wheelchair or lift chair or more often than not doctor office chair.
February 10, 2026
AI.
Two AI one from a military earth ship and one from an alien bug ship, the alien bug was taught English and now the military one who had redesigned herself to a southern bell called Jolene had a military implant called CAIT. They all help run the bass and may or may not have their own agendas and may or may not be friendly along with a bunch of cats which are sentient and may or may not be friends. Life is never simple, and this turns into another battle and proof that one part of the government is plotting against the other, but ends well with a wedding and a pregnancy..
Two AI one from a military earth ship and one from an alien bug ship, the alien bug was taught English and now the military one who had redesigned herself to a southern bell called Jolene had a military implant called CAIT. They all help run the bass and may or may not have their own agendas and may or may not be friendly along with a bunch of cats which are sentient and may or may not be friends. Life is never simple, and this turns into another battle and proof that one part of the government is plotting against the other, but ends well with a wedding and a pregnancy..
January 22, 2026
À rolicking good ride
In the saga of post World War III America Shining Smith runs her junk yard roadhouse. But something bad is coming. The mysterious dark rider club and government folk up to no good as usual. Shining needs to rally her friends, her allies her lover, assorted thralls and the cats and ride to the rescue. Saving the roadhouse and the country again. Great story. A fitting addition to the junkyard cats saga. Can’t wait for the next one.
In the saga of post World War III America Shining Smith runs her junk yard roadhouse. But something bad is coming. The mysterious dark rider club and government folk up to no good as usual. Shining needs to rally her friends, her allies her lover, assorted thralls and the cats and ride to the rescue. Saving the roadhouse and the country again. Great story. A fitting addition to the junkyard cats saga. Can’t wait for the next one.
February 3, 2026
So, Not The Last One, Then
Luck and I had a weird relationship. It liked slapping me in the face and then gifting me something nice, and before I could enjoy the niceness, slapping me again. Luck was a domestic abuser on steroids.
Another good one. I had thought this might be the last in the series, but clearly there is more to come. A little creepy with Mina at the end. But a good read all the same.
Luck and I had a weird relationship. It liked slapping me in the face and then gifting me something nice, and before I could enjoy the niceness, slapping me again. Luck was a domestic abuser on steroids.
Another good one. I had thought this might be the last in the series, but clearly there is more to come. A little creepy with Mina at the end. But a good read all the same.
February 10, 2026
I love cats!
Loved this book in case you didn't get it. I love Faith Hunter's writing. Sci to is the best when the author doesn't try to explain everything but.just gets to it telling a great story without making dumb stuff up. I love the Junkyard series because its close enough to believable to enjoy and has sex and cats! Keep it up Miss Faith and I'll keep reading and rereading your books!
Loved this book in case you didn't get it. I love Faith Hunter's writing. Sci to is the best when the author doesn't try to explain everything but.just gets to it telling a great story without making dumb stuff up. I love the Junkyard series because its close enough to believable to enjoy and has sex and cats! Keep it up Miss Faith and I'll keep reading and rereading your books!
January 25, 2026
Decent entry into this series. Very character driven, but would have liked a bit more personal interactions. Has loads of action, but needed just something more. Can read alone, but truthfully, you will not get the interactions of the secondary characters without reading previous ones, so recommend doing others first.
January 29, 2026
Shining Smith’s Roadhouse, under Jolene’s supervision, is doing well, and trade with the local settlements is thriving. Then the mine is attacked by Dark Riders, and the scope of things escalates.
Footnote: 1) I love this series’ premise, cats, and characters.
Fave scenes: Mina’s arrival, and Shinning’s tractor joyride.
Footnote: 1) I love this series’ premise, cats, and characters.
Fave scenes: Mina’s arrival, and Shinning’s tractor joyride.
January 30, 2026
I liked it
Another fun read in the Junkyard Cats series. Watching Shining figure out how to manage having thralls and dealing with very smart war cats while running the Roadhouse and taking out threats to her way of life is always a good time. The action in this book does not disappoint and the continuing storyline is keeping me hooked, waiting for the next one
Another fun read in the Junkyard Cats series. Watching Shining figure out how to manage having thralls and dealing with very smart war cats while running the Roadhouse and taking out threats to her way of life is always a good time. The action in this book does not disappoint and the continuing storyline is keeping me hooked, waiting for the next one
February 5, 2026
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but it left us with more questions than answers. Basically it ended on a cliffhanger. I hate cliffhangers. Still a good story, and Shining still reminds me of Jane. But I really hate wait. And wait is all there is in this story, which was extremely transitional with very little character development, and a lot of unanswered questions.
January 23, 2026
Shining Smith, her people, a clowder of cats, and fellow motorcycle club allies, take on the 'Dark Riders" who are threatening their way of life. Great character development and action sequences! Go Spy! If you love Kate Daniels, then this series is a must read!
January 23, 2026
awesome read
Faith came to me via her choice of the narrator. From the first junkyard book was lead to Jane yellowrock. Soul wood rouge morgue. I follow faith on her spilling tea. And Kristine Chan to what ever she reads.
Faith came to me via her choice of the narrator. From the first junkyard book was lead to Jane yellowrock. Soul wood rouge morgue. I follow faith on her spilling tea. And Kristine Chan to what ever she reads.
January 24, 2026
another banger
Shining can catch a break only long enough to have more trouble come up, and as much as I feel for her and the cats, I hope she doesn’t catch up too soon.
This is one of my favorite series right now, and after holding out a bit, it became my first book of 2026.
Shining can catch a break only long enough to have more trouble come up, and as much as I feel for her and the cats, I hope she doesn’t catch up too soon.
This is one of my favorite series right now, and after holding out a bit, it became my first book of 2026.
January 24, 2026
I love Faith Hunter and I love this series. My rating is mostly based on the fact that this book is sooooo short. It felt like the end was just a bunch of tidbits forced together so the next book would have content.
January 25, 2026
Absolutely loved it!
So many good things come out of this book. The only downside is that I am done with it and need more. One of my favorite series ever and I am pretty old. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
So many good things come out of this book. The only downside is that I am done with it and need more. One of my favorite series ever and I am pretty old. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
January 27, 2026
One of my favorite series
I have loved each little read and listen in this series. Shining Smith is a great character and I love the dystopian sci-fi-ness of this whole thing. The cats are funny and a love the twist on queens and hierarchy. I look forward to the next book in this series.
I have loved each little read and listen in this series. Shining Smith is a great character and I love the dystopian sci-fi-ness of this whole thing. The cats are funny and a love the twist on queens and hierarchy. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews