But I disagree with you on the other point - sorry about that. I think that there are some very good VOY books out there and even if they are not canon, they are well worth a shot. My favourite one is DISTANT SHORES - a collection of short stories which take place during the seven years of the TV show and the stories feel very much like they are part of the show.
So how come that you like J/C almost throughout the show and then towards the end you decided "well, maybe not ..."?
I may look into the one book you mention but the others make me cringe.
Sigh...J/C. I will try to explain.
The Workforce. Great show overall. B'Elanna and Paris...he feels an instinctive need to protect her and she is drawn to him even though their memories have been altered. He panics when she disappears.
Janeway...turns Chakotay over to the authorities. The instant she did that J/C went up in flames for me. He was suppose to be her closest friend, confidante, no one she trusted more, right... pfft. A memory wipe and it's all gone. Not for Paris and B'Elanna though.
When he was lying on that gurney, knowing what was coming, he was still fighting for her and the crew. The sight of him being reprogrammed because of her... sigh. Couldn't muster any J/C love after that. The flames had turned them to ashes for me.
Thanks for letting me know about the Fight. Saved me a lot of looking. I love The Fight. Chakotay's genuine fear of losing his sanity is heartbreaking and as I said elsewhere, something some people deal with every day. His scenes with his grandfather are so touching and well acted, particularly when he asks his grandfather to come home and they rest their heads against each other. Touching...and the symbolism of the fight to stay sane and the bell ringing to call them back to the fight. Heartbreaking imo.