When Arizona Game and Fish Ranger Madison Huntley responds to a wild animal attack on a ranch in Cave Creek, her investigation reveals disturbing details.  If she didn't know better, she'd say the legends frightening the ranch hand might be true. But Madison isn't just a  wilderness cop. As a biologist and a wild life expert, she believes in facts and science, not fairytales.

Kaletaka, a Hopi Native, enjoys fame among the white man, as an artist, forging haunting metal sculptures of half gods, half humans.  When he awakens bloody, without any recollection of what he did last night, he remembers the legends of his tribe, and the meaning of his name.  But as hard as he tries, can he escape his destiny?

Can Madison solve the mystery killings and insure the safety of the town? Let alone her own safety?  For each step closer to the truth and to Kaletaka, unleashes an unspeakable evil, and no one is safe...

EXCERPT

No one answered. Madison circled the white tent to peek inside from the open flap. She came face to face with a life size...Chupacabra? A cloud moved across the sky, hiding the sun and bathing the tent in shadow. Her heart raced and she reached for her sidearm. She stopped mid movement. When did she get so jumpy?

The object of her fright was a tall metal sculpture, an armored muscular man with the head of a coyote. Or was it Anubis, the Egyptian god with the jackal head? The bright silver finish and turquoise decorating the black metal could indicate either. Madison had never made the connection between the jackal and the coyote. In this representation, they looked identical.

More sculptures crowded the concrete slab inside the tent, all stylized, teaming with life, strikingly beautiful and awe-inspiring, with bright enamel colors.

...

Something growled behind Madison. She whirled about, holding the 9mm .357 SIG pistol in a two-handed grip. Aiming, she stared into the yellow eyes of a large bobcat, sitting atop a flat boulder in the shade of a pine tree. The animal had an orange top coat and white spotted belly. Forty pounds of quick muscle. Was this the killer? Was it rabid? The bobcat growled again but didn't crouch to pounce.

"Felix seems to like you."

The low baritone at her back made Madison's skin prickle all over, but she maintained eye contact with the bobcat. Never take your eyes off a wild animal in a standoff.  "Felix?"

"You better put that thing away. He's like me. He doesn't like guns." The calm male voice seemed to caress her. "It's okay, little brother."

The wild cat grunted a response, lay down on the flat rock and yawned. He licked a front paw and rested his head on it to resume an interrupted nap.

Madison lowered her firearm and relaxed her finger on the trigger, but her heart beat like a jungle drum. Reluctantly, she turned to face the man who had spoken in such a smooth voice.

Tall, with a welding mask flipped up over his head, he stood legs apart, boots firmly planted in the ground. The top part of his leather apron had fallen, and his black open shirt exposed a thick silver chain resting on the copper chiseled muscles glistening in sunlight. Madison allowed her gaze to linger on such male perfection.

"Sorry if Felix startled you." The Native American man removed the welding mask with gloved hands, revealing a face streaked with soot like black war paint. He wore his long black hair in a ponytail and stared at Madison with the most startling green eyes she had ever seen, fearless, with intense fire, like a wild animal.

Shaken, Madison buried her lusty thoughts under a gruff attitude and returned her sidearm to the holster. "A bobcat is not a pet. There are laws protecting wildlife."

"Felix chooses my company." He didn't seem sorry at all and grinned, showing white teeth, as if he'd enjoyed her fright. Something was odd about him.

The man's bold stare made Madison uncomfortable. "This is a dangerous animal to keep around, mainly for your neighbors' pets. Don't they complain?"

"Felix and I have an understanding. I feed him, and he doesn't kill." He grinned at her with insolence. "My name is Kaletaka, and I own this house."

THE HOPI DECLARATION OF PEACE

It is in the Power of the True Hopi People to unify the minds and spirits of all true peace seeking peoples of the earth...

"Hopi" means "Peaceful People"... and the truest and greatest power is the strength of Peace...because Peace is the Will Of The Great Spirit...

But do not think that just because the True Hopi People have been told by the Great Spirit never to take up arms... that the True Hopi People will not fight... even die for what we know to be the right way of Life.

The True Hopi People Know how to fight without killing or hurting...

The True Hopi People Know how to fight with Truth and Positive Force In The Light Of The Great Spirit...

The True Hopi People Know how to Educate by clear thoughts... good pictures... and by carefully chosen words...

The True Hopi People Know how to show to all the world's Children the True Way of Life by setting an example... by working and communicating in a way that reaches the minds and hearts of all people who are truly seeking the methods of a simple and spiritual Life which is the only Life that will survive...

THE TRUE HOPI PEOPLE PRESERVE THE SACRED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WAY OF THE EARTH BECAUSE THE TRUE HOPI PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE EARTH IS A LIVING... GROWING PERSON... AND ALL THINGS ON IT ARE HER CHILDREN...

The True Hopi People Know how to show the Right Way of Life to all the world's people who have ears to listen... who have eyes to see... and who have hearts to understand these things...

The True Hopi People Know how to generate enough Power to link up the forces of the Minds and Spirits of all the True Children of the Earth ... and to Unify them with the Positive Force of the Great Spirit so that they may put an end to affliction and persecution in all afflicted places in this world...

THE TRUE HOPI PEOPLE DECLARE THAT HOPI POWER BE A FORCE WHICH WILL BRING ABOUT WORLD CHANGE.

Thomas Banyacya
Hopi Interpreter

There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel that they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.
Know that the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep your eyes open and our heads above the water.
And I say "See who is in there with you and celebrate!"
At this time in history we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word "struggle" from your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
WE ARE THE ONES
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

Hopi Elders
Oraibi, Arizona
 

REVIEWS FOR COYOTE GORGEOUS

BOOK  JUNKIE  REVIEWS
gave COYOTE GORGEOUS a five-star review

Why did I love this book so much? It kept me guessing until the very end. The action scenes were fantastic and let's just say a little surprising towards the end, which had me speed reading just to take it all in. A little mystery and suspense wrapped in a whole lot of very carnal yet sensual encounters between a man who is determined that it is best to stay away from his new lover and a woman who just can't let that happen. Willing to risk her life and her job to capture a creature who wants nothing more than to kill again and a man who wants nothing more than to continually push her away in hopes of saving her life. This story is beautiful and engaging, passionate and suspenseful, capturing my heart and my full attention in my own quest to find out if Kal and Madison will make it and who the heck the killer really is. So
many times my theory of who done it was thwarted and yet I was thrilled to stay on the edge of my seat until the very last word just to find out!

Read the whole review on their site HERE

 

CK2's KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
gave COYOTE GORGEOUS a Four-and-a-half-shamrock review by Debbie

"Phenomenal world building, characters the readers cares about, and an intriguing mystery…COYOTE GORGEOUS has all the elements one expects from a Vijaya Schartz story! Easily recommended!"

Read the full review on their site by clicking on the logo below

 

ROMANCE BOOK SCENE
gave COYOTE GORGEOUS a Five-heart review by Roni

"While reading this book I became so fascinated about the subject matter and the legend of the Chupacabra that I had to stop and do some research on the net...  excellent characters... well written.  Definitely an interesting book for shape-shifter, paranormal and urban legend fans. "

Read this review on their site HERE

 

THE  HOPE  CHEST  REVIEWS
gave COYOTE GORGEOUS a four-star review

"The suspense element was so well written, I got nearly all the way through the story thinking I knew who the 'bad guy' was, only to get a surprise twist at the end... I'm not sure Kaletaka could have been more scrumptious if he tried. He's a sexy Hopi Indian with long dark hair who rides a motorcycle, is an incredibly talented sculptor, and knows his way around a kitchen to boot. All I have to say is, 'Yummmm!'  Madison was a great match for Kaletaka. She's a spunky lady, a law enforcement officer of a different sort, a ranger with the Arizona Department of Game and Fish. I love how she deftly handles herself, both in the field (guns included) and against the unwanted advances of her boss/ex-boyfriend, but also knows how to be gentle and feminine.  The candlelight, 'not-a-date' dinner that Kal cooked for Madison was particularly wonderful and probably my favorite scene in the entire novella.... Overall, Coyote Gorgeous was a fast-paced, action-packed and enjoyable read."

Read this review on their site HERE

 

COFFEE TIME ROMANCE
Gave COYOTE GORGEOUS Three Cups

"I love the concept of Kaletaka being the embodiment of his heritage, while fighting to retain his humanity, and Madison is well on her way to being a gutsy and exciting field agent."

Read the full review on their site HERE

 

BITTEN BY BOOKS
Gave COYOTE GORGEOUS Four Stars

"...a fantastic story, with the integration of Navajo legend into the modern setting... this volume is a real page turner... I am a Choctaw Indian myself... I was truly impressed with the seamless integration of the Navajo legends of skinwalkers. This is a fun read that I highly recommend to anyone with a passion for shapeshifters, Indians and mystery."
Four stars - Cassie - Bitten By Books

Read the full review HERE