"The action reminded me of an INDIANA JONES movie and the romance was equally intense." Paranormal Romance Reviews "the fantastic anticipation only a ticking bomb can generate, I was enthralled from page one" 4 Stars rating Lynn Lowe - Ecataromance "...suspenseful, gripping saga of survival, betrayal, and hope...the resourcefulness and courage that occurs when a person refuses to admit defeat and die." 5 Angels rating Dena - Fallen Angel Reviews   The year is 3033, the place Zurin Five,  a moon-size mining planet in the Andromeda Galaxy with an underground high security prison run by a human corporation. An artist at heart, Rhonda Alendresis never wanted this prison job. When the civilian personnel vanishes and an earthquake damages the nuclear reactor, she must go down to effect the repairs with Mr. Perfect himself, Captain Cole Riggeur, who always plays by the rules and never trusted a woman in his life. Cole Riggeur, a seasoned professional loyal to a fault, dreads to take Rhonda along on a perilous mission.  She is a rookie and a woman to boot, but he has no other choice.  Rhonda, a free-spirited medic, a lover and a healer, doesn't like her boss's macho attitude.  She only hired on at the Garrison to pay for her trip back home, and no one should ever learn the deadly secret that brought her to this place. But deep in the underground penitentiary, something has gone terribly wrong. The most wicked convicts in the Galaxy are loose, and a treacherous shape-shifter plans his revenge. Disconnected from the Garrison, locked down with the convicts, fighting against impossible odds, Cole and Rhonda now face their greatest challenge... trusting each other in order to survive. In their desperate flight, Cole and Rhonda may well discover that  hate often masks a passion of a different nature, and love flourishes at the most unexpected times in the strangest places... Read excerpt BUY  THE  PAPERBACK     OTHER  NOVELS  IN  PRINT  BY  VIJAYA Operation Pleiades - RELICS Operation Pleiades - Anaz-voohri Ashes for the Elephant God Archangel Crusader Archangel Checkmate all these print titles are available from:

Andromeda Galaxy Zurin Five, Andromeda System Captain Cole Riggeur  the wicked yataghan blade he keeps hidden in his boot   Rhonda Alendresis, a courageous heroine, a healer and an artist The Control Room AI The Engine Room

EXCERPTS OF REVIEWS  FOR  LOCKDOWN
 (Read the full reviews here)

"Packed with tension and action from the first page to the last, Schartz's novel is an exciting adventure. She has a rich imagination and deftly executes it."
Romantic Times Magazine - October 2006

"Vijaya Schartz takes the reader on a thrill ride. Between the prisoners, earthquakes and lava flows, Cole and Rhonda work together to survive. Can they get back to the surface before the planet explodes? Will they find a way to get off the planet? Will they give in to their feelings for each other? Read the book and find out."
Candy - Ecataromance - rating: 4 1/2 stars - sensuous - August 2006

"...suspenseful, gripping saga of survival, betrayal, and hope...the resourcefulness and courage that occurs when a person refuses to admit defeat and die."
Dena - Fallen Angel Reviews - 5 Angels rating - April 2006

 

"The action reminded me of an INDIANA JONES movie and the romance was equally intense."
Paranormal Romance Reviews -Feb. 2006

LOCKDOWN is an exciting, action-packed futuristic romance with an intense, suspenseful plot. I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning of LOCKDOWN and the intensity didn't let up until the very end. The action reminded me of an INDIANA JONES movie and the romance was equally intense. Rhonda is an artistic person, who sees the gray in life. While Cole is a by-the-book person, who sees only black and white. It is interesting to watch them work together and grow to love one another. Ms. Schartz has created a great futuristic romance; I highly recommend it.

"Why ISN'T this book on the NYT Bestseller] list?"
Action Girl - Amazon Reviews - January 11, 2006
5 Stars rating

 

"the fantastic anticipation only a ticking bomb can generate, I was enthralled from page one"  4 Stars rating - Ecataromance - Reviewed by Lynn Lowe - October 30, 2005

"The Garrison - Lockdown" author Vijaya Schartz delivers an all-out, action packed, sci-fi feast! There are marauding, murderous criminals, a devious and disloyal Company, and two guards trying to make it out alive. Sci-fi fans everywhere rejoice! With just enough romance to spice it up, two lively and dedicated main characters, and the fantastic anticipation only a ticking bomb can generate, I was enthralled from page one. I can't wait for the next in the series!

 

"...kept me on the edge of my desk chair, completely mesmerized by the non-stop action and suspense...I recommend "The Garrison" to anybody, and everybody."
5 Stars rating - Phoenix Forrester - Realms Of Love - December 31, 2005

 

"...an Action filled sequence from start to finish."  Tami Brady - TCM reviews and BookIdea.com

Lockdown is an action filled sequence from start to finish. Moreover, the characters evolve and learn about themselves from their interactions with each other and their traumatic experiences as the unimaginable happens at the high security prison. This book reminds us that we sometimes cling stubbornly to what we believe to be true regardless of the consequences. Often we don't even realize who we are and what we want from love and life until fate steps in.

 

"To be honest with you LockDown is not my type of book; but when I started reading it I had to finish it before I could put it down. I look forward to reading something else of yours."
Tammy Kelley, Romance Junkies - July 2005 Rating: 4.5 blue ribbons

 

"...this book will appeal to men and women alike."
Beverly Forehand - Round Table Reviews - July 2005

THE GARRISON:  LOCKDOWN is wonderful!  This story is bright, compelling, full of wit and humor, and salted with just the right mix of romance and action.  Rhonda is ingenuous, plucky, and brave--with just enough naiveté to make her real and endearing.  Cole is noble and clever, with a few flaws thrown in to make this futuristic Achilles seem attainable and mortal.  The villains are completely villainous--brutal, raw, and primal in every instance.  Although there are certainly a few morals to this story, they are woven neatly into the plot and don't come across as heavy-handed, but rather as organic developments of the characters' natures.  If you are a fan of action/adventure, sci-fi, or romance, you'll find THE GARRISON:  LOCKDOWN to be your cup of tea!  With such a strong heroine, this book will appeal to men and women alike.  Once again Vijaya Schartz has managed to give us a strong female character that manages to save the day without losing the essence of what it means to be a woman. 

"...a super entertaining read. Wow! I cannot wait for the next one! Can you write faster?"
Annie Bonneau - Canadian Review

BUY  THE  PAPERBACK

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Full Reviews for LOCKDOWN from:
BookIdeas.com  |  TCM Reviews  |  Romance Junkies  |  Canadian Review  |   Round Table Review  |  Ecataromance-1 | Ecataromance-2 | Realms of Love | Amazon | Paranormal Romance | Fallen Angel Reviews  | Romantic Times
Buy the paperback

"Vijaya Schartz takes the reader on a thrill ride."
Candy - Ecataromance - 4 1/2 stars - sensuous - August 2006
 

Zurin Five is a mining planet in the Andromeda Galaxy. It is also the location a high security prison. Rhonda Alendresis never expected to work as a guard in a prison. When the civilian population suddenly leaves Zurin Five, Rhonda and the other guards find themselves fighting for their lives against prisoners who want to see them dead and a planet about to explode. Rhonda is thrown together with the one man who does not trust her: Captain Cole Riggeur. She must prove herself to him and keep herself alive. Becoming involved with Captain Riggeur was the last thing on her mind.

Cole Riggeur runs a tight ship. All of the guards follow his rules or they soon find themselves out of a job. Cole Riggeur never trusted women. The female guards must work extra hard to prove they are worthy of his trust. He is faced with the almost impossible task of finding a way off the planet before it explodes. When an earthquake damages the nuclear reactor, he is forced to trust Rhonda to assist him. Together they face the deadliest criminals in the universe who were released by the earthquakes. He never expected to fall in love with Rhonda.

Vijaya Schartz takes the reader on a thrill ride. Between the prisoners, earthquakes and lava flows, Cole and Rhonda work together to survive. Can they get back to the surface before the planet explodes? Will they find a way to get off the planet? Will they give in to their feelings for each other? Read the book and find out.

"...suspenseful, gripping saga of survival, betrayal, and hope...the resourcefulness and courage that occurs when a person refuses to admit defeat and die."
Dena - Fallen Angel Reviews - 5 Angels rating - April 2006
 

In Vijaya Schartz’s The Garrison: Lockdown, prison guards Rhonda and Cole realize that they need to trust and rely on each other if they want to survive.

Rhonda Alendresis is the garrison’s newest guard and medic. Her artistic flair often hinders her observance of the rules and regulations enforced by Captain Cole Riggeur. During a routine scan of the civilian offices, Rhonda discovers that all the civilians are missing. Immediately, she contacts Cole with the information. As they search for the missing civilians, the prison’s nuclear reactor fails, due to severe seismic activity. Now Rhonda and Cole must descend to level nineteen, where the prison’s deadliest inmates reside, and repair the reactor before it explodes.

Captain Cole Riggeur has worked for Duran’s Prison for twelve years. He hired Rhonda because they needed a medic prison guard, but he does not believe she is capable of handling the job due to her lack of obedience to the dress code and other regulations. As the evidence points to the Duran Company’s abandonment of its guards and prisoners on a self-destructing planet, Cole must reassess his opinion of Rhonda before it costs them their lives.

Unexpectedly Cole is captured by a violent and dangerous alien prisoner. Rhonda will not leave him to die; however, how can one guard overpower a crowd of desperate and aggressive prisoners. The Garrison: Lockdown is an intense, suspenseful, gripping saga of survival, betrayal, and hope. Vijaya Schartz deftly depicts the resourcefulness and courage that occurs when a person refuses to admit defeat and die.

The Garrison: Lockdown is a compelling and fast-moving tale of greed, treachery, and retribution. Cole’s realization that the corporation he trusted and was loyal to has forsaken them to a brutal and painful death shatters his preconceptions and beliefs. Vijaya Schartz cleverly weaves Cole’s internal struggle into his relationship and actions toward Rhonda. I cheered and was anxious for Cole and Rhonda until the surprising finale. I eagerly await the next book in this captivating series.

 

"an intense, suspenseful futuristic romance... The action reminded me of an INDIANA JONES movie and the romance was equally intense. "
Reviewed by Marlene Breakfield - PARANORMAL ROMANCE
February 11, 2006

In Zurin Five Penitentiary on a frozen planet in the Andromeda Galaxy, prison guard, Rhonda Alendresis notices that the civilian population has disappeared. Meanwhile, a bad tremor has caused the nuclear reactor to fail, and Rhonda and Captain Cole Riggeur must go deep within the prison to manually fix it. It becomes evident that the civilian population abandoned the guards and the prisoners, because the planet is in its final death throes. The company, which mines the planet and runs the penitentiary had mined the planet, with no concern for its ecology. Rhonda and Cole are in even more danger, because the many tremors have caused much damage to the prison and most of the prisoners are free. Will Rhonda and Cole survive the nuclear meltdown, the escaped prisoners, and the dying planet?

LOCKDOWN is an exciting, action-packed futuristic romance with an intense, suspenseful plot. I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning of LOCKDOWN and the intensity didn't let up until the very end. The action reminded me of an INDIANA JONES movie and the romance was equally intense. Rhonda is an artistic person, who sees the gray in life. While Cole is a by-the-book person, who sees only black and white. It is interesting to watch them work together and grow to love one another. Ms. Schartz has created a great futuristic romance; I highly recommend it.

 

"Why ISN'T this book on the [NYT Bestseller] list?"
Action Girl - Amazon Reviews  5 Stars rating

Undiscovered Gem, January 11, 2006
Sometimes, you read something that's so far away from the NYT Bestseller list and say to yourself, "Why ISN'T this book on the list?" :::scratches head::: Simply put, Vijaya Schartz's THE GARRISON: LOCKDOWN is sublime. If you like action, sci-fi, and best of all, steamy, character-charged romance, this book is for you. There are no annoying heroes and stupid, wimpy heroines in this book. As a matter of fact, it's SHE who saves the day. The writing is exciting, concise and fast-paced, the plot action-packed, and the characters awesomely crafted.
 

"...kept me on the edge of my desk chair, completely mesmerized by the non-stop action and suspense...I recommend "The Garrison" to anybody, and everybody."
5 Stars rating - Phoenix Forrester - Realms Of Love - December 31, 2005

When Prison Guard Rhonda Alendresis scanned the monitors, she knew something was wrong by the shear stillness of the offices on the surface. Rhonda immediately got Captain Cole Riggeur on the com to inform him of the possible emergency. Cole came from his personal quarters thinking the new hire was making something out of nothing.

Then when an earthquake shook Zurin Five, a planetary penitentiary for the hardest criminals in the Andromeda Galaxy, the nuclear reactor springs a leak. Captain Riggeur and Rhonda make their way down to the reactor, through levels of inmates, each level harboring more violent criminals. Level Nineteen, the crimson level, holds the most dangerous of them all, which is exactly where the reactor is located.

Cole, a strong willed man who hates not being in control, finds himself on a dangerous journey into the "belly of the beast", tripping over one dangerous adventure after another with Rhonda, an artist turned prison guard for secret reasons of her own. She likes to talk, and is strong-willed herself. Their clash of personalities brings on the confusion of secret desires.

"The Garrison" is a sinister puzzle that Cole Riggeur and Rhonda need to put together before they find themselves stuck on a planet in peril. With convicts on their tail and mercenaries at their door, they don’t know whom to trust, or even if they can trust each other because of the shape shifters that are housed on Zurin Five.

"The Garrison" kept me on the edge of my desk chair, completely mesmerized by the non-stop action and suspense. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what would happen next until it happened. All the different characters brought something different to the story that was essential, yet the didn't drown each other out.

"The Garrison" was well written and the author has an imagination that can keep a reader busy for hours, not to mention the talent to pull it off. In this reviewer’s humble opinion, I recommend "The Garrison" to anybody, and everybody.

 

"the fantastic anticipation only a ticking bomb can generate, I was enthralled from page one"  4 Stars rating - Ecataromance - Reviewed by Lynn Lowe - October 30, 2005
 

"The Garrison - Lockdown" author Vijaya Schartz delivers an all-out, action packed, sci-fi feast! There are marauding, murderous criminals, a devious and disloyal Company, and two guards trying to make it out alive. Sci-fi fans everywhere rejoice! With just enough romance to spice it up, two lively and dedicated main characters, and the fantastic anticipation only a ticking bomb can generate, I was enthralled from page one. I can't wait for the next in the series!

Newbie medic Rhonda Alendresis has signed up to work at the Garrison on Zurin Five, a high tech underground prison and mining operation, for her own reasons. But when the Duran company's civilian employees suddenly go AWOL, alarm bells start sounding in Rhonda's head. The company uses inmates to mine Zurin Five for the lucrative Styx and the only reasons she can think of for abandonment are terrifying. Trying to keep herself from panicking, and thinking the civilians might be playing a nasty joke on the new guard, Rhonda contacts Captain Cole Riggeur and tells him the mine's civilian staff have disappeared. She's sure he'll think she's overreacting.

At first Cole does think Rhonda's making too much out of nothing, until his own investigation proves she's right. The company he's given his life and loyalty to has abandoned them to die on a planet in upheaval. Not just the guards either, but everyone on the planet is in danger. When systems crash and Rhonda and Cole are paired up to see to repairs, nothing can prepare them for the mayhem that waits in the bowels of the Garrison. Fugitives are free, people are dying, and the planet is about to collapse on itself. What else could go wrong?

Readers, let me tell you, this one played like a movie in my mind! The imagery Vijaya employs are crisp, clear, and roll over your imagination like a tank! If you love sci-fi and action adventures, with capable heroines and loyal heroes, "Lockdown" should be on your "to buy" list! Fantabulous!

"...an Action filled sequence from start to finish."  Tami Brady - TCM Reviews and BookIdeas.com - July 2005

The last place in the universe Rhonda Alendresis had imagined herself was at the Zurin Five high security prison. Rhonda sees herself as an artist turned doctor not some sort of by the book guard that thinks all prisoners deserve to be treated like garbage. Rhonda knows differently. She realizes that sometimes prisoners are simply misguided or in the wrong place at the wrong time. Plus Rhonda can't see how a little color with her drab grey uniform could possibly hurt anyone as her supervisor keeps telling her. In Rhonda's mind, rules are meant to be bent.

Lockdown is an action filled sequence from start to finish. Moreover, the characters evolve and learn about themselves from their interactions with each other and their traumatic experiences as the unimaginable happens at the high security prison. This book reminds us that we sometimes cling stubbornly to what we believe to be true regardless of the consequences. Often we don't even realize who we are and what we want from love and life until fate steps in.
 

"Packed with tension and action from the first page to the last, Schartz's novel is an exciting adventure. She has a rich imagination and deftly executes it."
Jennifer R. Wells-Marani -  Romantic Times Magazine - October 2006

Summary: In the garrison of Zurin 5's prison facility, guard Rhonda Alendresis sees that something has gone wrong. Captain Cole Riggeur doubts Rhonda's assessment, but soon the garrison begins to collapse around them, and the inmates roam the facility at will. As they descend into the deepest, most dangerous levels of the penitentiary to repair damage to the nuclear reactor, Cole gains new respect for Rhonda when she saves his life... (TRISKELION, Dec. '05, 246 pp., $14.99) sensuality rating: SCORCHER

 

 

"To be honest with you LockDown is not my type of book; but when I started reading it I had to finish it before I could put it down. I look forward to reading something else of yours."
Tammy Kelley, Romance Junkies - July 2005 - Rating: Blue Ribbon 4.5

In the Andromeda Galaxy there is a small mining planet called Zurin Five.  This planet supports an underground prison with various floors representing the prisoner's crimes.  Rhonda Alendresis is a guard in this facility and not too happy about it either.  Not long after she begins work she is checking in and realizes that all the other human workers have deserted the prison.  With little else left to do she contacts her captain, Cole Riggeur.  He is disbelieving at first until Rhonda points out that all levels are devoid of human life, other than her and the prisoners.  Together they must face their reality of desertion by the corporation that runs them.  Now if only Cole and Rhonda can begin to trust each other before it is to late.

Planet Zurin Five is an unstable environment due to the mining.  The mining has left many holes and cracks in the planet allowing the underground volcanoes to erupt and cause more chaos.  Amid all this the prisoners are escaping and a nuclear reactor has disabled.  It is up to Rhonda and Cole to face the prisoners and fix the reactor.  Among the prisoners is a shape shifter who will stop at nothing to gain his freedom and his revenge on the captain.

Vijaya Schartz deals with the depth of human courage, fear and companionship in THE GARRISON-LOCKDOWN.  Rhonda and Cole are thrown into multiple obstacles and must decide together and alone their course of action.  Fire is raining down prisoners are killing and it is left to two guards to make it out alive and contain the prisoners.  Do they make it or not?  To find out you must read THE GARRISON-LOCKDOWN and experience the full depth of emotion and human character.

I am not a fan of Science Fiction Futuristic books; but I started reading THE GARRISON-LOCKDOWN and wasn't able to put it down till I was finished.  Not knowing what is going to happen to the prisoners and trying to keep everyone alive it had my heart racing.  I would recommend this book to all my friends.  Vijaya Schartz is a great author one I would be glad to read any time.  

 

"If you are a fan of action/adventure, sci-fi, or romance, you'll find THE GARRISON:  LOCKDOWN to be your cup of tea!  With such a strong heroine, this book will appeal to men and women alike."
Beverly Forehand - Round Table Reviews - July 2005

Rhonda Alendresis is not quite cut-out for her job as a garrison guard at the high security prison on Zurin Five.  But, as a medic, her skills are a necessary garrison component.  Even though Captain Cole Riggeur doesn't care for the artistic Rhonda's disregard for rule and regulation, he does admire her skill and perseverance.  And, when the prison is forced to go on lockdown when the power mysteriously fails, Rhonda and Cole are left alone to secure the reactor and make sure that the lower levels of the prison that house the most violent criminals are under control.  But, as Rhonda and Cole come to realize that the power problems are more than the result of the planet's unstable seismic situation, they'll have to use every bit of their wits and ingenuity just to survive.

Trapped on the lower levels with limited time and weapons, Rhonda and Cole must rely on each other if they are going to outwit their many foes and reach the surface alive.  But, can Cole trust a woman with little experience and a blatant need to challenge authority at every turn?  And, is the free-spirited Rhonda willing to put her life in the hands of a man that doesn't seem to be able to see beyond the need for order?  As the temperature outside the prison begins to heat up, so does Rhonda and Cole's attraction for each other.  Will these opposites attract under extreme pressure--and will they even make it out alive?  You'll have to read THE GARRISON:  LOCKDOWN to find out! 

THE GARRISON:  LOCKDOWN is wonderful!  This story is bright, compelling, full of wit and humor, and salted with just the right mix of romance and action.  Rhonda is ingenuous, plucky, and brave--with just enough naiveté to make her real and endearing.  Cole is noble and clever, with a few flaws thrown in to make this futuristic Achilles seem attainable and mortal.  The villains are completely villainous--brutal, raw, and primal in every instance.  Although there are certainly a few morals to this story, they are woven neatly into the plot and don't come across as heavy-handed, but rather as organic developments of the characters' natures.  If you are a fan of action/adventure, sci-fi, or romance, you'll find THE GARRISON:  LOCKDOWN to be your cup of tea!  With such a strong heroine, this book will appeal to men and women alike.  Once again Vijaya Schartz has managed to give us a strong female character that manages to save the day without losing the essence of what it means to be a woman. 

 

"...a super entertaining read. Wow! I cannot wait for the next one! Can you write faster?" - Annie Bonneau - Canadian Review

 

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