The Outback Stars by Sandra McDonald

The Outback Stars by Sandra McDonald

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I've never read Sandra McDonald before, but based on some reviews, I decided to pick The Outback Stars up. I'm glad I did.



I love both SF and Romance and am delighted when the two are well blended. Ms. McDonald does that pretty well.



Lieutenant Jodenny Scott is recovering from the injuries and horror of her former ship blowing up and is bored to tears waiting for a berth on another ship. Her actions on The Yangtze earned her a medal and a bit of an advantage with at least one higher up - she cashes in on that advantage to get the berth that opens on the Aral Sea, even though she is warned it isn't a happy ship.



Boy is that an understatement! The Aral Sea has more bullies, incompetants, unhappy people than you can shake a stick at.



Sergeant Terry Myell is just trying to survive long enough for his term to be over so that he can get out. But he has gotten on the bad side of a bully with a lot of power and friends. And he is determined to get Terry.



Jodenny is put in charge of Underway Stores - and Myell. The department is a complete mess, the people are lazy, arrogant, or just plain ignorant for the most part. Jodenny has her work cut out trying to bring the department in line, and determined to help Terry in spite of his reluctance to be helped. Of course falling in love with one of her Sergeants isn't exactly in her best interests...or his, but never the less it is happening. A chance meeting planetside, and a startling, accidental discovery will only cement the feelings between the two. Although they do try very hard not to break the fraternization rules, a dangerous situation pulls them even closer.



But more is going on than meets the eye and once again, Jodenny finds herself thrown into the role of hero. And the final resolution includes a wedding.



I enjoyed the book a lot. It kept my attention, entertained me, and even threw a curve or two I wasn't expecting. The only quibble that I have is that there is a lot of Australian Aborignal religion/philosophy/symbolism that was a bit confusing at first, but eventually smoothed out quite a bit. I did find myself re-reading some of these parts right away because I didn't really grasp some of the concepts the first time.



I'm going to pick up the next book The Stars Down Under, and I expect to be just as entertained as I was with this book.






View all my reviews.