Barron's Last Stand

The Black Wing Chronicles #3

by J.C. Cassels

It was supposed to be an easy job – break a crime boss’s kid brother out of prison and collect her fee. Bo Barron didn’t count on accidentally freeing Inner Circle Agent Blade Devon, nor did she count on him stowing away aboard her ship. Five years ago, he married her, betrayed her, lied to her, and used her. She swore she would kill him if their paths ever crossed again. Blade knew he was taking a risk boarding her ship, but an attempt on the Overlord’s life has landed Bo in the cross-hairs of every bounty hunter and law enforcement agent in the Commonwealth. In a frame-up so perfect that it even fools her uncle, Blade is her only alibi. With the fate of her people, and the future of the Commonwealth itself at stake, can Bo set aside five years of hurt and anger to trust him one more time? Or will the Barron make her last stand alone?

Genres: Space Opera

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2017

About the author

JC Cassels, a native of Tampa, Florida, traces her lifelong fascination with SF/Adventure to watching Star Trek on a tiny black and white portable television aboard the family boat as a child. The Space Opera trend that followed the release of Star Wars fed an obsessive need for swashbuckling adventure set in deep space. Today, JC feeds that need by writing her own adventures, heavily inspired by 1960's television adventure shows like Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Wild Wild West and fueled by Firefly reruns.

When not writing in her haunted hospital, JC lives with her husband, three children, five dogs, four chickens and a horse in a century-old house in a tiny rural community, and enjoys spending her free time sewing, camping, and heckling theoretical physicists on the Science Channel.

Reviews

[carlybanarly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s hard to put into words my thoughts about this book and series as a whole. It was definitely well written. Plenty of action, intrigue, some politics but not so much as to bore me- I’m not a fan on reading political heavy books. The romance was great to read, with plenty of chemistry, but closed door scenes which I really appreciate. It mustn’t be easy to write a romance storyline where the characters clearly have physical chemistry, but not get too detailed about the physical side of their relationship. This series does this well.

But there were also things I didn’t like. They are spoilers, so be warned I don’t understand how Bo can leave her baby behind and never visit or get involved?. I know she has a dangerous life, but she really didn’t need to be a pirate for those 4 years. Even if she is framed for crimes, she could set up a nice under cover life for herself to raise her child. And when she does get reintroduced, everyone is just totally fine and all “happy instant family.” Why is Dev not angry at her for leaving their child and not telling him about him? Also, so much focus is on her having to forgive him for keeping secrets, but he doesn’t deserve an apology for how she believed wrong information and punished him for 5 years so for something he didn’t do? And why is it okay for a woman to hit a man in anger and frustration? If roles were reversed, and he hit her when he was frustrated and angry it is called abuse. But if she does it, it’s somehow just meant to be therapeutic and an okay way to express your emotions?

So, yeah, I had some issues, but overall think it is a space opera worth reading.

[Trish Robles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! It had everything you could ask for-- a love story, intrigue, action, and more! I couldn't put it down all day. It had a great ending that wrapped all the story lines up so you know what happened with everyone. There was so much to the relationship between Dev and Bo that I got teary at times. But it was filled with action at the same time. It never dragged and I couldn't put it down! My only problem with the book is that it ended and I was so disappointed that it was over-- I need more Bo and Dev!!!

[T.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent conclusion to the trilogy

Had a bit of a time when first reading this one, remembering where things had left off after the first two novels (which I read some time ago), but caught up quickly. Thought this was an excellent conclusion to the trilogy with a satisfying ending. Only disappointed that there are no more books in the series.

[Shirley Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great end to series

Plot, characters, all there. Enjoyable world building, good pacing for the trilogy, main characters had good chemistry and banter. Fun space opera.