Haven - The Channel Riders, #4

This is Book Four in the Channel Riders Series. Elena Calabrese has managed to open an earth-based store with very few people realizing that her wares come from several different galaxies. The merchant society called the Guild of Families is conducting business as usual, trying to stay as secret as possible while the military launches their own program of Ship building. They are trying to build their own Channel riding ships that do not rely on Guild trained pilots to operate. The militaries, lead man, Will Thompson, has managed to get several of his crew onto the planet RJ457 that forms the center of Elena's trade routes. They are curious about the new planet and Elena's investigation and exploration of it. Elena and her people try to keep Thompson's men from learning that there is a shipyard run by Council member Inoue Riko's House, after all too much information and Peter Baranov, aptly nicknamed Black Pete, might start arranging for accidents to occur. As rumors of Riko's ill health begin to circulate, new House alliances are formed, old ties severed and more and more people begin to wonder when Elena will step forward and take a seat on the ruling Council. Elena tries to conduct business as usual while dodging a military investigation, plots, political maneuvering and a crazed cousin with a lust for power. Not even Thompson is who he seems. Can Elena keep her balance and keep her family safe? Will picking up the reins of power and stepping into the dangerous political arena be the only way to protect those who depend on her?