Ancient Enemy Book Three
Kicking Bots

Sci-Fi  Action Romance
The Damsel in distress has come a long way...

Dr. Melissa Campbell, head researcher at the San Francisco Center for Disease Control, asks an eminent colleague for help to protect her precious vaccine, one that could end the deadly alien plague. She didn't expect to get a crazy renegade like Bennett Sevastian for a bodyguard. She hates military types, and this genetically enhanced super-soldier is pure testosterone, hot-headed, quick-tempered, impulsive, impatient, and downright impossible. But these are dangerous times with riots in the streets, and rumors of alien invasion. In a breathless race against time, experience the decisive battle for humankind, one that will decide whether Earth belongs to humanity, or to a powerful alien race...

“As always, Ms. Schartz's dialogue is believable and authentic and her characters hero-worthy. I loved Melissa's smarts, compassion, and daring. She matures as a character from start to finish and ends up making letter-perfect decisions, even when it seems she really is working for the Anaz-voohri. Kicking Bots is a veritable thrill-ride, with some twists and turns that lead to a passel of exciting, suspense-filled moments… moved the story quickly along an unpredictable path that so engrossed me, I found it hard to put the book down. Great ending to a great series!”
4.5 lips - Two Lips Reviews - Read it HERE

"... Bennett. Sexy, balls to the walls Bennett. Ladies man, his own military militia and a devilish sense of humor. ...A sensational and fantastical alternate universe was painted and laid out for me with every wondrous word. I really enjoyed being taken away into the lives of the characters as they wove their way through imminent death, every lie and betrayal, every scary new path they took on their journey to get to the truth and save the world as they knew it."
Book Junkie - 4 stars

"Kicking Bots is the latest in the Ancient Enemy series from the prolific author, Vijaya Schartz. I loved how smart Melissa is, and that she understands when she is in dangerous situations... This sci-fi has interesting plots and subplots and while it would have been helpful to have read the first two books in the series first, it was not required. The connection between the sisters was very fast, but moved the story quickly into an unexpected path... The relationship between Melissa and Bennett, along with the other supporting characters, built in a logical time frame. The dialogue was good..."
Coffee Time Romance - read the review HERE

EXCERPT

 

How the doll-face doctor fired the bazooka without training was beyond Bennett. Had she gone to Bot fighting camp? Right now, she worked like a team mate. Weird. A jolt seared his left thigh. Bennett braced himself and bit his lip not to scream. When he fired back, he noticed a slight power decrease in the Thunderbolt. "Shit!"

 Amazingly, the half-dozen Anaz-voohri vessels still in the air withdrew, probably realizing they had become vulnerable. Not only that, but by returning fire, they risked killing their own agent in the person of the pretty doctor standing next to him. Obviously, she did not know who she really was. The shot that damaged his thigh had hit too close to their precious mole.

As Bennett checked the load on the Thunderbolt, the power cell read almost empty. He needed to reload, and only in a Mythos facility could he find the equipment to do that.

"Hang on tight!" Revving the engine, Bennett sat in the stern, extending his leg to release the pressure on his wounded thigh. He ignored the pain as he swerved west, toward the Golden Gate Bridge then raced between the red metallic piles out of the bay. He hoped the military, busy with the aftermath of the battle, wouldn’t pursue him.

Once in the open ocean, Bennett angled south along the California coast and set the engine to stealth mode. The boat slowed a bit, but the sound wouldn’t attract attention.

Dr. Campbell sat in the bow, the thick jacket enveloping her completely as she tucked it around her legs like a poncho. Somehow she had managed to return all his equipment to the bag.

She stared at him with wide misty eyes. "Where are we going?"

"Someplace safe." Bennett didn’t like anyone, much less a woman in heels and a skirt, touching his arsenal. At least not that arsenal. He nodded toward the bag. "How can you even balance that big bazooka? You work out?"

Dr. Campbell smiled briefly. "Just because I have a brain doesn’t mean I’m not fit. I do practice Yoga."

"Yoga?" His attempt to laugh turned into a grimace due to the pain in his thigh, but Bennett didn’t change position. He didn’t want the doll face doctor to notice his wound. A soldier never revealed his weaknesses. So he humored her. "And just because I bench press doesn’t mean I have no brains."

"Touché!" She chuckled. "That’s why you read comic books?"

"Graphic novels." Bennett struggled to remain calm. "And there is much more in these books than most people know. It’s also art, graphic art."

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stereotype."

"Why not? Everybody does." He didn’t tell her he’d labeled her as a stuck up know-it-all goodie-two-shoes before he even met her. Before she blew his mind by shooting a bazooka.