A science fiction retelling of the Book of Ruth, NEXT OF KIN is a thrilling exploration of the human spirit. War-weary veteran Ami Lehem loses her husband, her farm, and the life she built on the planet Dibon following a catastrophic meteor strike. Her journey across the galaxy to return her mother-in-law to her ancestral home on the moon Melas, is far more adventure than either woman wanted, but the web of intrigue waiting for them at the end of their odyssey threatens to drag Ami back to a life of war. NEXT OF KIN is author Melinda Mitchell's first novel. === Years after leaving war behind, Ami Lehem can't shake the shadow of death. When a meteor strike kills her husband and renders the planet Dibon uninhabitable, she vows to bring her mother-in-law Mara home to Melas. After a harrowing journey across the galaxy, Ami and Mara find hope in a new life. But even in a new place, they can't seem to bury their past. For when she finds work on Melas, Ami recognizes a familiar face, a mysterious man named Bo who shared their journey. As they become closer, Ami discovers nothing on Melas is what it seems ... including Bo. When her former commanding officer makes terrible accusations against her new love, Ami is torn between duty and hope. Ami must find truth within a web of lies, and one wrong move can send her back into the never-ending cycle of war she tried so hard to escape.