Customer Reviews

Kiss of the Blue Dragon (Silhouette Bombshell)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is action, romance, sci-fi, with a touch of mystery and a dash of the paranormal. The characters are compelling and vibrant.
I got much more than I expected when I picked this book up!

Angel is a strong female lead, which I love. She's an independant mercenary. She's got a kickbut and take names attitude with the kung fu moves to back her up. Her only problem is that emotionally she's a wimp. Marco is sensitive, he respects her and he's just what the psychic ordered. But he's a COP, trying to uphold the laws of a bloated bureaucracy.

Overall, Julie Beard has impressed me with creativity and her ability to keep track of and pull the right threads together.

Julie Beard's Kiss of the Blue Dragon is the perfect example of a kick-butt heroine with a softer side. Ms. Beard has penned an excellent story with clever narrative and sassy, sparkling dialogue. Angel Baker has a past that makes her oh, so human and explains why she's a Certified Retribution Specialist. Marco is perfect, a man who's not threatened by a real woman. I hope there will be more Angel Baker books from Julie Beard!

I like a good mystery, I happen to be a sci-fi freak and I don't mind romance in a story. Set around 2100 AD, Chicago, Angel Baker is a Retribution Specialist (people pay her to get back at criminals when the law can't). She is strong, pretty and knows how to handle herself. Sounds great. What went wrong?
Well, the setting seems more 21st Century than 22nd Century with some stuff tossed in hover-that and laser-this, and things kept confusing me. I understand why the Russian Mafia is tough TODAY (they had to deal with the KGB), but the Russian Mafia of the 22nd Century has been in the USA for over a century dealing with a legal system that's in shambles. Why is the author talking about how tough they are because "of relentless suffering in a failed communist economy"? Just how OLD is the members of the Mafia or did Russia try communism a couple more times?
And is the Mongolian gangsters from Mongolia or China? Are they a little of both? Or does she mean Inner Mongolia? And why would they have slavery when they have androids? Why use acid rounds and laser weapons when good, old fashion bullets would do?
Also, the romance seemed rushed (and mostly off-screen/off-page for those of you wanting some action in the bed room). Well, at least the plot made sense (when you ignored the flaws in the setting). Some parts, like the old fashion train being kept as a tourist attraction, seemed to make sense and also added a touch of humor.
I suggest getting it used.

I was favorably impressed by Kiss of the Blue Dragon. I had read three previous Bombshell titles (Proof, Get Blondie, and Code Name Dove) and wasn't impressed by them at all. However, this second batch of Bombshell titles is really good. Alias was excellently written, Kiss of the Blue Dragon is a great read, and I've just started Urban Legend, which is very good so far.

In Kiss of the Blue Dragon, Angel Baker is a quasi-law enforcement officer in the year 2100. This book is vaguely similar to J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas series with air-cars, con artist fortune-telling scams, pleasure robots, homeless people living in a dangerous underground city, etc. However, Angel and the lead man Marco are not as well-fleshed out as Eve Dallas and Roarke.

Marco, the romantic lead, is a cop resembling a 1920's private investigator. Maybe that's why I didn't like him as much as I liked Jack in Alias, because I'm not that interested in the 1920's PI-type.

On the good side, the book is full of action, Angel totally kicks butt (no matter how large the opponent), her relationship with her mom and Mike is great, and I particularly liked the premise behind the little Chinese girls. Angel goes all out when innocents are at stake, and you have to admire her chutzpah in saving lives. Oh, and she's psychic too, so there's a tad of paranormal to go with the futuristic story.

Angel Baker moves through the pages of KISS OF THE BLUE DRAGON like a Salsa dancer on steroids. She's beautiful but also rough and tough in a futuristic Chicago. Angel's a ripped Retribution Specialist, a bounty hunter who doesn't capture her prey. She simply deals out justified revenge. And Angel's happy with her rough edges and dark streets until her mother is kidnapped and a rogue cop enters her life. Then everything changes. Sparks fly and Angel is thrust head first into a dark futuristic underworld that could easily mean her death. Only a writer like Julie Beard could stir up such a steaming caldron of action and romance.

THis item was sent fast and on time and it was in the condition as advertised. Thank You very much
Sandra Welch

when I pick up a book in Silhouette's "Bombshell" line, I'm expecting an action romance book with strong female leads-and that's just what the author delivers with this book. The book is set in the near future 22nd century Chicago. The heroine, Angel Baker, is Retribution Specialist-kind of a bounty hunter,bodyguard, and avenger thrown into one. The story is much more of a futuristic or Sci Fi tale than a romance, though she is developing a relationship with Marco, a police officer, that we will hopefully see in book 2-Touch Of The White Tiger (Silhouette Bombshell).

While the book did have a few issues-mainly not enough romance, and a few concepts introduced but only superficially delved into-it was still good enough to recommend to fellow action/sci fi romance fans.

3.5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised to find this story written in the 1st person. I don't run across it much anymore, and boy did Mrs. Beard Wow me!

Angel Baker's story is funny, imaginative, action-packed, and did I mention funny? I went out and picked up her sequel and LOVED it! Hope she brings Baker back for a 3rd!

In a not too distant future, Angel is a certified Retribution Specialist (CRS), which means that when the law fails to bring justice, the victims can hire a CRS to bring in the perpetrator of the crime to them to enact their own justice. When a closed case is reopened, Angel is again under investigation for "what happened" the night policeman Danny Black died. On top of dealing with this, her mother, Lola, gets kidnapped, and Angel knows that if she doesn't rescue Lola herself, she might die.

Because she has Detective Marco following her and questioning her movements - from the past as well as during the events he witnesses personally, she starts finding things out about herself she really didn't want to know...like her exceptionally good luck. It may not be luck after all; the physic abilities Lola has may actually be genuine and she inherited them.

KISS OF THE BLUE DRAGON is the second story I've read by Julie Beard, and I actually like her writing style better here. The story is written in first person, which can drive readers batty (me too upon occasion); however, it works here. There is a different "feel" to KISS completely. For me, I can "hear" a narrator filling in the details of Angels' activities. So even though we, as a reader, only get to know her thoughts and impressions of what she sees, we still get to know what is going on around her. You get to know Angel, what motivates her and see how she thinks very well. I also really liked the fact that a lot of simple details of her life are included.

I will admit it was a close call as to whether I would like Angel or not. She almost doesn't seem feminine. However, if you read a little further into the book, you learn what her logic is, how she thinks but more importantly WHY. Angel is tough, spunky, kick-butt heroine and out to help those unable to help themselves. She is fearless and makes her decisions based on what is right rather than whether she will get hurt or not. Angel is one busy lady. She has cases that she maintains during the process of rescuing Lola and I liked the fact that Julie Beard didn't drop some of these issues, therefore the story stays three dimensional.

While the reopened investigation is secondary to what is going on in her life, it is what brings our hero and heroine together. I was happy with the chemistry between her and Detective Marco even if the bedroom scenes take place off of the books pages.

I like the fact that even though KISS is a science-fiction romance, the author doesn't go out of her way to create objects that will stump the reader, or throw off the flow of the novel. For an example: in a time where DNA left behind is what would keep you in jail, rather than using a hollow-tip bullet, a criminal would use a bullet filled with acid therefore destroying the evidence.

KISS is technically supposed to be a romance, but with the way this story ends, we don't have our heroine hooking up with the hero. Because Lola was kidnapped by one of the Chicago mobs there are still some unresolved issues that its sequel might wrap up. Regardless, I didn't feel like major details were left out or the story wasn't well developed. As a reader I didn't find myself wondering, "what just happened"?

I found KISS OF THE BLUE DRAGON very interesting, and look forward to reading the further adventures of Angel in its sequel TOUCH OF THE WHITE TIGER. So, if you are looking for something a little different, check out this story!

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Angel Baker is not what typical 22nd century people expect. She's a Certified Retribution Specialist in Chicago, dealing out justice on a contract basis. Her life is full and she's happy with things the way they are, satisfying those more feminine urges with her favorite cyborg Humphrey Bogart. When her estranged mother comes to her for help, Angel takes it lightly, until Lola disappears.

Now Angel must track down the kidnappers and rescue her mother. Along comes detective Riccuccio Marco, who is working towards outlawing Angel's profession and he gets right in the middle of things, and under her skin. The two grudgingly combine forces to find Lola and find out they may have gotten more then they bargained for.

This story packs quite a punch, as does Angel. She is a kick butt, take no prisoners kind of woman who doesn't need any man to foul things up. She's confident in her way of life and is quite content with her friends and lifestyle, if not entirely happy with her family. Lola is a zany fortune teller, has her fingers into many more pies then would be expected upon meeting her. Marco is a throwback to the typical PIs of 40s era movies, right down to attitude and wardrobe. Then there is Mike, the Shaolin monk from China who is Angel's friend, confidante, and personal trainer.

The storyline is expansive with plenty going on to keep readers reading. There is quite a mix of sub plots that all combine seamlessly to create the bigger story. Readers will find run-ins with the mob, kidnapped children, a subterranean city, robots on every corner, and psychic abilities. Action is definitely the focal point of this story, not romance. However, this reviewer finds it refreshing to see believable heroines, with strong minds and bodies who are very independent. There is some romance worked in, but it is much understated so as to not overshadow the real story. Some readers will not like the fact that romance is secondary, but this is what the Bombshell series is meant to be.

Having never read a book by Julie Beard before, this reviewer has nothing to compare this one to, but if Kiss of the Blue Dragon is indicative of the author's skills, then bring on some more! It is also great to know that this will not be the only Angel Baker story, as at least one more is soon to come.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, July 2005. All rights reserved.