Book Review Tuesday - Black Dragon by Vijaya Schartz

Book Review for: Black Dragon

Written by: Vijaya Schartz

Desert Breeze Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-61252-084-1

5 Stars

Schartz shines in this installment of the Borealis series, "Black Dragon." Set in the future, the Borealis is a space station run by Commander Kal Raines. It's a cesspool for criminals run by the TPP. In this environment, Czerno Drake, aka, Black Dragon, must save his Uncle, Shepard Jeremy Markel, from certain death at the hands of the TPP.

Drake soon draws the interest of TPP Lieutenant Zara Frankel. She's attracted to him, but is her attraction strong enough to betray the hive of villainy known as the TPP?

Schartz puts the reader in the thick of the action with Drake's arrival on the Borealis. Her writing is easy to read and her style helps the reader understand the futuristic gadgets of the story without slowing the pace.

Schartz's characters shine. Drake is the daring space hero, bold, brave, and honorable. Zara is spunky, not afraid to make her own decisions and choices.

The novel is sensual for romance readers, capturing several heated moments between Drake and Zara. "Black Dragon" has it all – adventure, excitement, and romance. I highly recommend this book.

Amazon Buy Link:

http://amzn.com/B005QUQV6Q

Welcome Guest Author - Vijaya Schartz

VIJAYA: Thanks, Steph, for inviting me to your blog. It's a great place to be. Love the atmosphere you created here with all your wonderful novels.

STEPH: It's always nice to have you visit and I enjoy your writing very much.

VIJAYA: One of these days, I will spend the holidays on a space station. Maybe not our current international space station, probably something more comfortable... although I would accept an invitation no matter what. And if I live long enough, or maybe in my next incarnation, I definitely want to do it, just for the thrill of experiencing what it feels like to see a planet from space, while floating in orbit.

The BOREALIS space station, however, may not be the best place for a vacation. It's old, decrepit, falling apart, not the ship-shape type of gathering hub described on TV's sci-fi series like Babylon Five. And there is a rebellion brewing in that quadrant, at the fringe of conquered space.

But like in the TV series, adventure lurks around its multiple decks. Shady characters hide in its bars, and houses of ill repute. Uudon addicts roam the lower decks with unseeing eyes. TPP uniforms patrol the upper corridors. And there is an intergalactic prison near the disintegrating radioactive core. What better place to lock up hard core criminals?

Several authors contributed novellas to the Borealis universe. They all have the same type of cover with the blue space station. Mine is titled BLACK DRAGON and came out this fall. Find it everywhere eBooks are sold. Links at the bottom of this post.



BLACK DRAGON is the name of my hero... his secret name for the rebellion. For the ladies, he is Captain Czerno Drake, or Lucky Drake, an incorrigible dandy and a notorious gambler.

A gambler is cheating in a den of the Borealis space station, and Lieutenant Zara Frankel intends to catch him in the act. She always gets her man, but this one could prove more than she can handle.

Captain Czerno Drake, code name Black Dragon, has come under cover to break his innocent uncle from the most secure penitentiary in the galaxy, on the Borealis space station. He will stop at nothing to succeed, even enrolling the help of the lovely straight arrow TPP enforcer. When Zara realizes that she’s been used by a shrewd but seductive rebel, her reaction surprises everyone, most of all herself.

EXCERPT:

When she breezed through the doors of the crowded and noisy casino, Zara glided straight to the private area behind the row of tall greenery and searched the high stakes tables for her suspected cheater. The owner said he wore a tan and yellow outfit and flaunted a white fluffy Terran cat. An ostentatious luxury.

She easily spotted the caramel overcoat and the sleeping white fluff on the pink gambling table. From the back, as she walked toward the table, she studied the square shoulders stretching the expensive velvet, strong shoulders for a pleasure-seeking dandy. The gleaming dark hair tied at the nape with a yellow silk scarf denoted a rare degree of refinement for a human male, and as she neared him, the musky scent of his cologne made her best perfume seem cheap in comparison.

Just before she reached him, he turned around, rose from his chair, and smiled down at her. He stood taller than she expected, muscular, with strong thighs bulging under the caramel velvet pants tucked into soft brown boots.

"Captain Czerno Drake, of the Providence. Lucky Drake to the ladies." The deep baritone voice rumbled low, like a sexy promise. The regular planes of his face, the square jaw, high forehead, dark brow, and the sparkle in his deep topaz eyes under thick eyelashes screamed of perfect genes and high-born society.

When he took her hand and kissed her fingers lightly, a frisson crossed her spine and her legs melted like chocolate in a solar flare. Despite the extraordinary refinement of his garb and manners, this man was alpha-male through and through, and as wild as they came. Eye candy in caramel velvet and yellow silk wrapping. All she could think about was unwrapping him, like a present at yuletide.

REVIEWS for Borealis: Black Dragon:

Long And Short Reviews - 4½ rating - Sensual - "I like the balance of humor and danger in this story, and the action kept me glued to the pages... I enjoyed watching as suspicion turned to admiration, and admiration became the first flickers of love between Czerno and Zara... Pick up a copy of Borealis: Black Dragon, by Vijaya Schartz, and enter a world of adventure, romance, and a spoiled cat named Marshmallow."

Single Titles Review - 4½ stars rating - "Vijaya Schartz is known for her strong female characters and Zara is no exception... gives the reader lots of action and a sweet love story."

VIJAYA'S CONTEST
Enter Vijaya's contest to win A DESPERADO FOR CHRISTMAS by clicking on CONTEST at the top right of her main page at:
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Vijaya's books at Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz

Vijaya's eBooks at ARe:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Vijaya+Schartz

Vijaya's nooks at:
http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=vijaya+schartz&STORE=EBOOK&SZE=100&SRT=SA
Thank you again for the opportunity to talk about BOREALIS. Hope to see you guys in space whenever we can make it.

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Guns, Swords, Romance with a kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Book Review Friday - Black Jaguar

Reviewer's note: I love Schartz's Chronicles of Kassouk series. Book 3 releases on 1 NOV, but I got a sneek peek of it. For those who love sci-fi/futuristic, romance and adventure, this series as it all!

Smiles
Steph
*****

Book Review for: Black Jaguar
Chronicles of Kassouk, Book 3
Written by: Vijaya Schartz
Desert Breeze Publishing
ISBN: 1-936000-55-5
Ebook Format
4.5 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

Schartz pens an exhilarating story of adventure and the power of love with "Black Jaguar," book three in her futuristic series, "The Chronicles of Kassouk." Prince Kahuel of Yalta travels with Princess Esperenza of Kassouk to an unexplored continent on New Earth. What they find there will test their strength of will, resolve, and courage.

The novel is set in the future. Princes Kahuel and Basilk of Yalta are traveling with Princess Esperenza from Kassouk to an unexplored continent on New Earth. A typhoon destroys their vessel and takes Basilk's life. Most of the travelers are marooned on an unknown land. Kahuel is saddened over his brother's death, but steps up as the group's leader.

Kahuel sets up camp on the beach and send parties to explore the interior. Kahuel, with his loyal jaguar, Diablo, finds a native by the waterfall. Her name is Talina and she is a Princess of the Chosen, the native humans who have the power to read minds. Kahuel is attracted to Talina.

The Chosen are in contact with the Estrell, a race of people from outer space who want to use the Chosen to repopulate their dying race. Kahuel and Esperenza's presence upset the Estrell who order the Chosen to attack Kahuel's people. Talina goes against the order and is banned from the Chosen, by her brother, Vanaru. Talina seeks out Kahuel and the couple makes love. Soon, Talina is captured by the Chosen. Kahuel goes after her, but can the couple overcome the obstacles the Estrell and Chosen place in their way?

Schartz pens an exciting story, about discovery. The plot is tight and filled with surprises.

Schartz uses a good economy of words to paint vivid pictures of the setting. It's easy to see the setting in the reader's mind.

"Black Jaguar" has a great cast of characters that will quickly endear themselves to the reader. Kahuel is noble and honorable, doing all the right things to lead his people, yet his internal struggle is something that the reader can identify with. Talina is a little naïve, but she isn't afraid to take chances and to learn about others. Her love for Kahuel is honest and pure, yet tested when her brother reveals some awful truths about Kahuel to her.

"Black Jaguar" shines as it gives the reader a peek of happy after ever for the previous couples in the series from "White Tiger" and "Red Leopard." Schartz's love scenes are tasteful and sensual.

"Black Jaguar" does not disappoint!

*****
Here's a link to the publisher's page: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-120/Vijaya-Schartz-Chronicles-of/Detail.bok

Book Review Friday - White Tiger

I just want to gush a little about Vijaya Schartz, her novel, White Tiger, and it's award winning cover! hehe. I always wanted to read this story, but it got put on the backburner with all my other stuff I had to read. I wanted to read it because I like sci-fi/speculative/futuristic type stories. Boy did Vijaya deliever. This story had me riveted. I was anxiously looking forward to reading it and hated it when I had to put it down.

Also, the cover won EPIC's award for best sci-fi/futuristic cover and the QUASAR award from EPIC for best overall cover. That told me the story inside was just as special.

Here's my review.
Smiles
Steph

*****

5 Stars

Schartz has created a world rich in futuristic mythology with "White Tiger," Book One in the Chronicles of Kassouk. Tora is a human soldier whose loyalty to the Emperor is without question. As she follows Field Marshall Killion to war, she meets a man called Dragomir who challenges all that she knows to be true about the world.

The novel is set on the plant of Kassouk. The plant's natural climate is Arctic. Humans settled there after leaving a decimated Earth. They know the planet as New Earth.

The Godds have also come to Kassouk, but it's obvious they are an alien race. There are no female Godds so they mate with human females called Valshas. Their children are known as mutants. The Godds provide for the humans, but they also have enemies – the Reptoids. When the Reptoids shoot down the weather satellite that controls the weather, the climate on Kassouk becomes frigid. The Godds prepare to leave, but only after harvesting their female mutant children's eggs.

Tora, daughter of a great general, realizes there is change in the air when the satellite is shot down. The Reptoids and Zerkers pursue the humans of Kassouk, and so Tora takes her company White Tiger, and follows Field Marshall Killion's army into battle.

Along the way, she meets Dragomir, a man who ignites the more passionate, baser emotions in her. Dragomir confesses to be a mutant, but harbors secrets. He warns Tora of a human traitor and leaves after the couple share a forbidden night of passion.

Can Tora find the traitor to the human race and rekindle the love she shared with Dragomir.

Schartz's writing is crisp, original, and filled with creativity. The plot is smooth, action-packed, and moves fast.

"White Tiger" uses a good economy of words to explain the rich mythology and exotic locales of Kassouk without weighing down the reader.

The novel has a strong supporting cast that quickly endears itself to the reader. Driana is a loyal friend, Leah is a clever and beautiful mutant, Phaleg is the fierce Reptoid leader, and Khor and Kasil are the heartless Godds.

Dragomir is honest and loyal, brave in the face of adversity. His only weakness is his love for Tora. Tora is also loyal to her beliefs and exhibits a courage to be admired.

The love scenes are sensual and tasteful. From the first page to the last, "White Tiger" will take the reader for a breathless ride filled with action, adventure, myths, and love.

Guest Author Series - Welcome Vijaya Schartz!

Vijaya is a fellow Desert Breeze Author and writes about people and cats in THE CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK.

Thank you, Stephanie, for having me on your blog to talk about my new series, The Chronicles of Kassouk. For this particular world, I used my love of felines and created a world where large felines have become pets, and are trained for warfare.

The people of Kassouk are the descendants of a Human expedition named Noah's Ark, who crashed on this winter planet centuries ago. Having lost all technology in their fight for survival, they are now a flourishing medieval society exploited by Aliens, with the help of their hybrid children called Mutants.

Book One - WHITE TIGER:

"... an exceptional tale that belongs in a place of honor on keeper shelves everywhere." Coffee Time Romance - 5 cups rating.
In a winter world where blood and loyalty are everything, how can Tora avenge her father’s death when a handsome Mutant challenges her bloodline, and his offer to help can get them both killed... Dragomir offers to help, but Humans and Mutants are forbidden to fraternize under penalty of death... Should Tora trust her mind, her instincts, or her heart?


In the vortex of war, treason and intrigue, among blizzards, avalanches and ambushes, will Tora solve the mystery of her father’s death and unveil the secret of her birth? Can she and Dragomir escape persecutions long enough to save their planet from the invaders and fulfill their destiny?

Book Two - RED LEOPARD:

"...another good read in this fantasy romance series... packed with action and adventure. Galya ... a tough warrior... a sweetness about her that makes her easy to like... I loved how Rascal was Terek's faithful companion and defender throughout nearly the entire story... I really liked Red Leopard." 4.5 stars - The Hope Chest Reviews



In charge of the fortress of Kassouk in the King's absence, what is Terek to do when a Goddian spacecraft lands in his medieval backyard, and the striking woman leading the galactic party insists on colonization?

Galya, the Goddian Princess commanding the geological vessel, is bent on finding a crystal with unusual hyperconductor properties. And the futile resistance of the local population isn’t going to stop her. Not even that defiant tribal chief nicknamed Red Leopard, like the infernal feline that follows him everywhere.

Terek and his band of swordsmen and felines must defend their people’s freedom, no matter the cost. But with this unexpected arrival, an old prophecy surfaces, taking new meaning and carrying a new threat...


When political intrigues, greed, murder and betrayal tip the scales, whom can Galya really trust? Her fellow Goddians? the Mutants bred to serve her race? or her primitive Human enemy?

EXCERPT OF RED LEOPARD:

The tall woman had ivory skin, full pink lips, short flaxen hair and deep blue eyes enhanced by curved blue lines tattooed around them. “And what about your sword, Red Leopard, is it?”

A Gray took a step toward Terek.

The woman raised one hand to stop him. She had six fingers, like a Mutant or a Godd. “I’ll handle this.” She stared into Terek’s eyes. She looked Human, taller than him, and extremely refined. “What are your intentions, Red Leopard?”

“How do you know my name?” Terek’s heart beat like a battle drum.

She had a sad smile. “The same way I knew you were coming. You were betrayed.”

Terek bristled at the idea that someone had intentionally sent a hundred Humans and a dozen felines to certain death. “Who is the traitor?”

“It’s not important.” The woman moved with natural grace, the pale blue silk floating around her shapely hips and slim thighs with each step. “I’m Galya.”

The name told him nothing. She exhibited no fear as she approached him, although he still held his sword at the ready, and she wore no armor that he could see. If she came any closer, he would…what? Kill her? The Grays would retaliate and massacre his warriors.

Struggling to ignore the way his body flushed in her proximity, Terek stared back at Galya. “I hope in all fairness that you will spare my fighters. I take full responsibility for the attack. But I would rather die than surrender myself.”

“I like your style, Red Leopard.” The shadow of a smile played on the woman’s lips and she patted the exquisite white scabbard hanging from her silver sash. “I need field practice, and you seem like a worthy opponent.”

She stepped out of her high platform shoes. A general gasp filled the room. She now stood at eye level with Terek. Could she be Human? No. She had six lovely toes.

Terek couldn’t imagine grappling with her in single combat. Or rather, he could. An intimate battle. He felt himself blush at the lusty thought and caught amusement in Galya’s blue eyes. Despite her pale looks and cool demeanor, he sensed in her a smoldering passion.

She unsheathed a pristine silvery blade that shimmered in the artificial light. “You fight me, and I’ll decide whether to spare your warriors or execute you all for treason.”



Book Three - BLACK JAGUAR
scheduled for release in November 2010

I can only tell you that Black Jaguar is the son of Terek and Galya from Book Two, that the daughter of Tora and Dragomir from Book One plays an important role. As for the heroine of Black Jaguar, she is a mind reader, and the story is one of exploration.

Check my contest page to win my books, click on CONTEST on the left at: http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Vijaya Schartz
Award-winning Sci-Fi, Guns, Swords, Romance with a kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Chronicles of Kassouk - Book One - WHITE TIGER
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-30/%3Ci%3EThe-Chronicles-of-Kassouk/Detail.bok
Chronicles of Kassouk - Book Two - RED LEOPARD
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-77/%3Ci%3EThe-Chronicles-of-Kassouk/Detail.bok

Vijaya's paperbacks, kindle, and audiobooks at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JP7UJ4

Visit or befriend Vijaya:
Blog: http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com/
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/vijayaschartz
Tweeter: http://www.tweetbook.tw/profile/VijayaSchartz
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Vijaya-Schartz/739542531
Join Vijaya's reader's group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vijayaschartzreaders/