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Red Dragon #1
The Company Man
Jarvez Kashari travels light, sacrificing relationships for ambition. Alyn Evans is out to establish himself as a company captain. Falling in love was not part of either man’s plans.
The Red Dragon is a ship in trouble. It was once the pride of the Outer Spiral Trading Company’s fleet, but is neglected and fallen from its old glory. It’s a ship in need of love – and a new captain.
Alyn Evans is a man in need of a new challenge. He’s an ex-warship captain and peace has put him out of a job. A man of his experience should have no trouble commanding a merchant ship…he thinks. But of all the challenges he faces on his first trip out, the hardest one is keeping his hands off his gorgeous and fascinating company rep, Jarvez Kashari.
Jarvez Kashari is a man with a plan. He’s determined to make a name as the company’s best trader and thinks reviving the fortunes of the Red Dragon is the perfect opportunity to prove himself. Jarvez travels light, sacrificing personal relationships to focus on his ambitions – until he meets Alyn Evans. Falling in love was not part of the plan.
It’s four months to Earth. Four months for Alyn to juggle passengers, prisoners, suspicious officers, a resentful crew and the intensifying relationship with Jarvez. Four months in space with a traitor aboard…
The Red Dragon is a ship in trouble. It was once the pride of the Outer Spiral Trading Company’s fleet, but is neglected and fallen from its old glory. It’s a ship in need of love – and a new captain.
Alyn Evans is a man in need of a new challenge. He’s an ex-warship captain and peace has put him out of a job. A man of his experience should have no trouble commanding a merchant ship…he thinks. But of all the challenges he faces on his first trip out, the hardest one is keeping his hands off his gorgeous and fascinating company rep, Jarvez Kashari.
Jarvez Kashari is a man with a plan. He’s determined to make a name as the company’s best trader and thinks reviving the fortunes of the Red Dragon is the perfect opportunity to prove himself. Jarvez travels light, sacrificing personal relationships to focus on his ambitions – until he meets Alyn Evans. Falling in love was not part of the plan.
It’s four months to Earth. Four months for Alyn to juggle passengers, prisoners, suspicious officers, a resentful crew and the intensifying relationship with Jarvez. Four months in space with a traitor aboard…
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2013
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 4, 2016
Alyn Evans, after leaving the military, has signed up to captain for a trading company. However, he was promised a ship much more glamorous-–and far less broken down–-than the Red Dragon. Still, a ship is a ship, and Alyn is confident he can get the Red Dragon back to Earth with very few problems. And then he finds out that in addition to passengers and cargo he’ll also be transferring not only the last captain (who’ll be making her home in the brig), but Jarvez Kashari–-a company rep and the man set on discovering just how fraudulent the last captain was. Jarvez also happens to be the man that Alyn slept with last night. Oops?
With the mysterious third party to the ex-captain’s crimes still at large on the ship, and a crew incredibly suspicious of their new captain, Alyn has his work cut out for him. Especially when his determination to keep his hands (lips, and other body parts) off of Jarvez starts to falters.
When it comes to m/m scifi I’m pretty used to being underwhelmed. Something about the addition of spaceships to a world just seems to throw things off. Or maybe I just like a specific type of scifi, and I can’t expect authors to cater to my every whim (this is mistake that I have every intention of altering once I rule the world. Just you wait!). I had a vague idea what I was getting into when I started this book, since it’s been rolling around the bottom of the tbr list for a while, but expectations are always a bit hit a miss when it comes to new-to-me authors.
I however found myself really enjoying this. It isn’t very angsty at all, and while I would have loved a bit more tension with the whole ex-captain thing, I liked how it resolved itself. I also liked how the ex-captain was not evil. Criminal, yes, and an asshole, absolutely–-but not evil. Plus she brings out some of the conflicts that I’m sure that Alyn is going to have to face soon in the second book.
And Alyn and Jarvez were damn hot together. Especially in the beginning when they are trying fight (with dubious results) their attraction to each other. It was also really nice that while their dynamic in the bedroom was one thing, they were perfectly capable of realizing that when the clothes were back on, Jarvez was not one to push around. I liked that this wasn’t a problem for them. It will also be interesting to see how they handle this relationship in the next book, where some things are not going to be able to be kept secret.
Overall, this was a very nice book, and I am really looking forward to the next one. It seems to bring with it a whole new set of problems for them to overcome. This one was pretty light read, even if there were a few moments of tension, and I’d say if you’re looking for a pretty straightforward scifi story to pick up, this one is a good bet.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
With the mysterious third party to the ex-captain’s crimes still at large on the ship, and a crew incredibly suspicious of their new captain, Alyn has his work cut out for him. Especially when his determination to keep his hands (lips, and other body parts) off of Jarvez starts to falters.
When it comes to m/m scifi I’m pretty used to being underwhelmed. Something about the addition of spaceships to a world just seems to throw things off. Or maybe I just like a specific type of scifi, and I can’t expect authors to cater to my every whim (this is mistake that I have every intention of altering once I rule the world. Just you wait!). I had a vague idea what I was getting into when I started this book, since it’s been rolling around the bottom of the tbr list for a while, but expectations are always a bit hit a miss when it comes to new-to-me authors.
I however found myself really enjoying this. It isn’t very angsty at all, and while I would have loved a bit more tension with the whole ex-captain thing, I liked how it resolved itself. I also liked how the ex-captain was not evil. Criminal, yes, and an asshole, absolutely–-but not evil. Plus she brings out some of the conflicts that I’m sure that Alyn is going to have to face soon in the second book.
And Alyn and Jarvez were damn hot together. Especially in the beginning when they are trying fight (with dubious results) their attraction to each other. It was also really nice that while their dynamic in the bedroom was one thing, they were perfectly capable of realizing that when the clothes were back on, Jarvez was not one to push around. I liked that this wasn’t a problem for them. It will also be interesting to see how they handle this relationship in the next book, where some things are not going to be able to be kept secret.
Overall, this was a very nice book, and I am really looking forward to the next one. It seems to bring with it a whole new set of problems for them to overcome. This one was pretty light read, even if there were a few moments of tension, and I’d say if you’re looking for a pretty straightforward scifi story to pick up, this one is a good bet.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
June 13, 2013
I'm totally going to cheat here, and I have never done this before. Because I have never been more in tune with another reviewer like I am with what Lena has to say about this book. Plus she says it better than I could have too :)
Hand over my heart her review is exactly how I feel about everything.
There is nothing wrong with this book and nothing exciting about it - agreed!
Totally forgettable - yup! I've already forgotten the MC's names.
Completely standard run of the mill romance - yes, nothing new here.
I won't go on, because you get the idea and LenaLena has it covered.
What I will add is that as a newbie to the sci-fi genre, I still found The Company Man to be totally uninspiring. I mean it's fine and everyone's really nice but it's just too dull for my taste. I need quite a bit more than nice and fine, some angst and anticipation would have been appreciated.
It's okay for some light uncomplicated romance reading.
Hand over my heart her review is exactly how I feel about everything.
There is nothing wrong with this book and nothing exciting about it - agreed!
Totally forgettable - yup! I've already forgotten the MC's names.
Completely standard run of the mill romance - yes, nothing new here.
I won't go on, because you get the idea and LenaLena has it covered.
What I will add is that as a newbie to the sci-fi genre, I still found The Company Man to be totally uninspiring. I mean it's fine and everyone's really nice but it's just too dull for my taste. I need quite a bit more than nice and fine, some angst and anticipation would have been appreciated.
It's okay for some light uncomplicated romance reading.
June 12, 2013
There is nothing very wrong with The Company Man, but there is nothing exciting about it either. It’s a paint-by-numbers scifi romance and if you’ve haven’t already read over a hundred of those, it may be a fairly good one. For me, this one is completely forgettable. The scifi story is pretty standard: Former Military Captain gets rustbucket spaceship and sullen crew and wins over crew and makes spaceship the pride of the fleet by means of his impeccable principles, conquering the few rotten apple crew members that are irredeemable and grabbing the price. Romantically it is pretty standard too: Two guys are thrown together after what they though was a one off anonymous sexual encounter, swear to never do it again because of reasons, they keep doing it so then they swear to be discreet and to not get emotionally involved. Emotions follow and discretion is screwed.
With a run of the mill story like this, the only thing that can set it apart is brilliant writing and attention to details. Neither of those are particularly prevalent. It’s not badly written or anything, it just isn’t anything special. The world-building is anemic. We are far enough into the future that the human race has colonized at least several planets and can travel to one in two months. But we get no theories on how this kind of interstellar travel is accomplished, we barely get any new technology (there are force fields, artificial gravity and holoscreens-with-breezes, which are pretty much the scifi technology version of stock photography) and apparently they haven’t even invented hot tubs yet that are easier to fuck in. Nothing seems to exist beyond the walls of the places the characters visit. There is no sense of a universe beyond the confines of the immediate story. I am not even sure whether this universe has aliens or not, or who the military is fighting against.
The main characters are likable enough. In fact, they are so likable they’re boring. If either one of them has any flaws, I didn’t see them. I initially had some hopes for Jarvez (Alyn was a lost cause from the start, he obviously was the blond golden boy who was a decent man through and through), but no, besides one tiny teenage tantrum, Jarvez was pretty much all decent too. They each have an epiphany at some point, realizing ‘how complicated the other man is’. But honestly, these guys are about as complicated as a box of cereal. Smooth and square on the outside, crunchy and sweet on the inside. Even Han Solo is a more complex character.
There are some weird inconsistencies, like the sex scene where Jarvez muses that 'Alyn probably wouldn’t be as rough with him as Jarvez wanted‘ only to remark less than a paragraph later that ‘he was lucky Alyn hadn’t jumped him and pounded him raw‘. Make up your mind, dude, you want it rough or not? Other scenes have unnecessary repetitions in them, like the one where Jarvez meets Alyn’s parents and Alyn reminds hims twice beforehand he should ‘try to charm them like you do the passengers on the ship‘, only to tell him in the middle of dinner ‘you’re charming them like you do the passengers on the ship‘. Just in case we miss anything that isn’t spelled out for us, I guess. Nothing that better betas and editors can’t fix next time around, really. Whether they can fix the been-there-done-that feel of books like these remains to be seen.
With a run of the mill story like this, the only thing that can set it apart is brilliant writing and attention to details. Neither of those are particularly prevalent. It’s not badly written or anything, it just isn’t anything special. The world-building is anemic. We are far enough into the future that the human race has colonized at least several planets and can travel to one in two months. But we get no theories on how this kind of interstellar travel is accomplished, we barely get any new technology (there are force fields, artificial gravity and holoscreens-with-breezes, which are pretty much the scifi technology version of stock photography) and apparently they haven’t even invented hot tubs yet that are easier to fuck in. Nothing seems to exist beyond the walls of the places the characters visit. There is no sense of a universe beyond the confines of the immediate story. I am not even sure whether this universe has aliens or not, or who the military is fighting against.
The main characters are likable enough. In fact, they are so likable they’re boring. If either one of them has any flaws, I didn’t see them. I initially had some hopes for Jarvez (Alyn was a lost cause from the start, he obviously was the blond golden boy who was a decent man through and through), but no, besides one tiny teenage tantrum, Jarvez was pretty much all decent too. They each have an epiphany at some point, realizing ‘how complicated the other man is’. But honestly, these guys are about as complicated as a box of cereal. Smooth and square on the outside, crunchy and sweet on the inside. Even Han Solo is a more complex character.
There are some weird inconsistencies, like the sex scene where Jarvez muses that 'Alyn probably wouldn’t be as rough with him as Jarvez wanted‘ only to remark less than a paragraph later that ‘he was lucky Alyn hadn’t jumped him and pounded him raw‘. Make up your mind, dude, you want it rough or not? Other scenes have unnecessary repetitions in them, like the one where Jarvez meets Alyn’s parents and Alyn reminds hims twice beforehand he should ‘try to charm them like you do the passengers on the ship‘, only to tell him in the middle of dinner ‘you’re charming them like you do the passengers on the ship‘. Just in case we miss anything that isn’t spelled out for us, I guess. Nothing that better betas and editors can’t fix next time around, really. Whether they can fix the been-there-done-that feel of books like these remains to be seen.
June 3, 2013
Finding complications and love where you least expect it.
Solid suspense plot. Unnerving because its written like, "Don't worry...nothing going on here", which precisely makes me worry. This is not a fast-paced thriller, but a more realistic portrayal of life aboard a ship--dull, very predicatable moments broken by sporadic incidents. Now that might not be fun or sexy enough for some readers, but if you enjoy a stable pace this is quite enjoyable. Plus, these down moments are where the relationship between Jarvez and Alyn develops.
Excellent characters. Each one makes sense for their job and existence on a spaceship of this sort, even the "villains" are well-done, not cheap caricatures. I especially appreciated that as it is always so easy to let them slide. Okay, maybe there's a few digs about the French, but be honest--they make it so easy.
Jarvez and Alyn are hot together from the very start and while the fires are temporarily banked drawing out the torment when they flare again, it is supernova hot. No kinky bedplay, just sexy loving from two strong-willed men.
This ends well and there's enough development for subsequent stories about Jarvez, Alyn and the crew of The Red Dragon, which I'm definitely interested in reading.
Recommended for fans of sci-fi crews and "steady as she goes" readers.
~~ A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
Solid suspense plot. Unnerving because its written like, "Don't worry...nothing going on here", which precisely makes me worry. This is not a fast-paced thriller, but a more realistic portrayal of life aboard a ship--dull, very predicatable moments broken by sporadic incidents. Now that might not be fun or sexy enough for some readers, but if you enjoy a stable pace this is quite enjoyable. Plus, these down moments are where the relationship between Jarvez and Alyn develops.
Excellent characters. Each one makes sense for their job and existence on a spaceship of this sort, even the "villains" are well-done, not cheap caricatures. I especially appreciated that as it is always so easy to let them slide. Okay, maybe there's a few digs about the French, but be honest--they make it so easy.
Jarvez and Alyn are hot together from the very start and while the fires are temporarily banked drawing out the torment when they flare again, it is supernova hot. No kinky bedplay, just sexy loving from two strong-willed men.
This ends well and there's enough development for subsequent stories about Jarvez, Alyn and the crew of The Red Dragon, which I'm definitely interested in reading.
Recommended for fans of sci-fi crews and "steady as she goes" readers.
~~ A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
June 28, 2013
Review posted on World of Diversity Fiction Reviews
2.5 Stars
I thought this story was kind of slow at the beginning. It does pick up a bit but it never grabbed me completely. The plot was alright but no different than a million other plots out there scifi or other. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Alyn and Jarvez and I kept having this nagging feeling that something big was missing or I accidently missed something reading it. I found myself going back and re-reading parts just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. I also found myself putting it down a lot. I wasn’t thinking ‘I need this story to end’ but I also didn’t think ‘I can’t wait to find out who done it’.
I think I had some trouble with it because I had recently read a story that was similar the only real difference, it was contemporary. Nothing exactly the same just the same type of concept. I’ve seen some readers call this type of story “paint-by-number” and yeah that’s what it felt like.
It wasn’t badly written it was just blah. I never got a visual of what this world looked like nor what Alyn and Jarvez looked like and the sex between them ended up feeling repetitive. It never explains how this futuristic world works you’re just plunked into it to either sink or swim; I treaded water until the end.
I wish I could have liked this more and I wish I could find a better way to explain how I felt reading it. I wasn’t bored just indifferent.
April 9, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
The Company Man is the first in the new Red Dragon series by Becky Black and, for the most part, I enjoyed it. Evans and Kashari are a strong couple and have a natural affinity for one another, and while the plot was, at times, uneven, I found the overall story fairly interesting.
The resolution to the overall threat to both the ship and crew was resolved a bit too quickly. We’re never in doubt, as readers, as to where the threat is coming from, but once it actually unfolded, it was over almost as soon as it began. Given the build up, it would have been nice to see more time devoted to the resolution.
On the whole, I enjoyed The Company Man. The main characters certainly have chemistry and they work well together, both in and out of the bedroom. The storyline was engaging, but it needed better balancing against the romantic aspects of the book. But despite that, I’m looking forward to seeing where Evans, Kashari, and The Red Dragon end up heading on their next adventure.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
The Company Man is the first in the new Red Dragon series by Becky Black and, for the most part, I enjoyed it. Evans and Kashari are a strong couple and have a natural affinity for one another, and while the plot was, at times, uneven, I found the overall story fairly interesting.
The resolution to the overall threat to both the ship and crew was resolved a bit too quickly. We’re never in doubt, as readers, as to where the threat is coming from, but once it actually unfolded, it was over almost as soon as it began. Given the build up, it would have been nice to see more time devoted to the resolution.
On the whole, I enjoyed The Company Man. The main characters certainly have chemistry and they work well together, both in and out of the bedroom. The storyline was engaging, but it needed better balancing against the romantic aspects of the book. But despite that, I’m looking forward to seeing where Evans, Kashari, and The Red Dragon end up heading on their next adventure.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
July 3, 2017
4.5 stars
Synopsis: Alyn was a war ship captain, but times of peace has made his job superfluous, so Alyn agrees to captain a merchant ship whose captain and company rep have been accused of treason. Before heading to his new job, Alyn goes out for a night of anonymous sex. Upon arriving at the company headquarters, he discovers that his new company rep is his hook-up from the night before. Jarvez is going along to discover who else was in on the treachery because he wants to make a name for himself by finding the missing link and making a big profit for the company. He doesn't want to be distracted by his intriguing captain.
Alyn can't believe how badly the ship was treated by the previous captain, not to mention the crew. Alyn doesn't try to force himself on the crew, and instead works to prove that he has the best of intentions as the captain. As he and Jarvez work together to find out who the third conspirator is, they try hard to deny their attraction to each other, since neither of them want a relationship.
The crew has four months to find out who the other person is, and to learn to trust each other and their captain. They also have to get the ship in to shape so that it doesn't get sent to the scrap yard. When a mutiny happens aboard the ship, the crew has to pull together to get their ship back.
What I liked: The world building. I liked that Alyn didn't try to force himself on the crew, and that he wanted the ship to look good and perform well. I liked that after a few near misses, Alyn and Jarvez managed to keep everything professional with regards to each other when they were working. I liked that they worked together, and that, even though they had differing opinions on who the possible suspect was, neither of them was completely fixed on who the "bad guy" was to the point that they dismissed the other one's opinion. I also liked that Jarvez, although he was mainly on the journey to advance his career, cared about the crew when mutiny occurred, and not just his lover. Alyn was respectful of the crew and the talents that they brought to the table, including Jarvez. I liked that Alyn didn't just phone in the job, even though he was promised a much newer ship than he got. He spent the time and money getting everything back up to snuff, even though he didn't know if the ship would be decommissioned after the run or not.
What I didn't like: That Jarvez came across as a little bit of a creeper at first.
Synopsis: Alyn was a war ship captain, but times of peace has made his job superfluous, so Alyn agrees to captain a merchant ship whose captain and company rep have been accused of treason. Before heading to his new job, Alyn goes out for a night of anonymous sex. Upon arriving at the company headquarters, he discovers that his new company rep is his hook-up from the night before. Jarvez is going along to discover who else was in on the treachery because he wants to make a name for himself by finding the missing link and making a big profit for the company. He doesn't want to be distracted by his intriguing captain.
Alyn can't believe how badly the ship was treated by the previous captain, not to mention the crew. Alyn doesn't try to force himself on the crew, and instead works to prove that he has the best of intentions as the captain. As he and Jarvez work together to find out who the third conspirator is, they try hard to deny their attraction to each other, since neither of them want a relationship.
The crew has four months to find out who the other person is, and to learn to trust each other and their captain. They also have to get the ship in to shape so that it doesn't get sent to the scrap yard. When a mutiny happens aboard the ship, the crew has to pull together to get their ship back.
What I liked: The world building. I liked that Alyn didn't try to force himself on the crew, and that he wanted the ship to look good and perform well. I liked that after a few near misses, Alyn and Jarvez managed to keep everything professional with regards to each other when they were working. I liked that they worked together, and that, even though they had differing opinions on who the possible suspect was, neither of them was completely fixed on who the "bad guy" was to the point that they dismissed the other one's opinion. I also liked that Jarvez, although he was mainly on the journey to advance his career, cared about the crew when mutiny occurred, and not just his lover. Alyn was respectful of the crew and the talents that they brought to the table, including Jarvez. I liked that Alyn didn't just phone in the job, even though he was promised a much newer ship than he got. He spent the time and money getting everything back up to snuff, even though he didn't know if the ship would be decommissioned after the run or not.
What I didn't like: That Jarvez came across as a little bit of a creeper at first.
September 11, 2018
Surprisingly good, enjoyable, and very light on sci-fi, angst, and drama. I liked the MCs and the rest of the crew was also alright. Recommended if you're looking for a light sci-fi story. But I'm not going to read the second book because it seems full of drama and politics.
Read
March 17, 2025This terrific, tightly knit space odyssey dishes out a nice little romance betwixt its intergalactic adventure. It reminded me of a good episode of a science fiction show like Serenity, maybe because the space ship, Red Dragon, serves as a catalyst for most of the action taking place.
Former warship Captain, Alyn Evans, is in the middle of his vacation when he receives word that the trading company he now works for has a ship for him to captain and they want him to come in, pronto. He arrives at headquarters to find he’s in a hurry up and wait situation; neither his uniform or his ship will be ready until the following day. Figuring it’s his last free night before he’s in deep space for four months, he blows off a little steam in a sauna, picks up a guy, and they have a go at it. Surprised, at a freaky twist to the sexy tryst, he finds himself interested in possibly hooking up with the dude again, but the guy is a one-time-only-pony, doesn’t want to know his name even, so they part ways.
It’s cool, he’s got his head full of this ship he is supposed to be captaining, and by the looks and raised brows he’s getting whenever the name “Red Dragon” is mentioned, he knows something’s amiss in paradise. The next day he reports to company headquarters and gains quite a few surprises. The Red Dragon is in horrible shape, her last captain has been arrested, her crew is practically mutinous, and he’s expected to cart the traitorous captain and her cohorts back to Earth, where justice will be meted out. The final cherry on the Red Dragon cake? A company representative will be joining him and the crew on board the ship.
So, new ship, new challenges; he ran a warship, he figures he can rise to the occasion. But his introduction to the company rep throws him yet another curve: it’s his hookup from the previous night, a Mr. Jarvez Kashari.
What follows is a nice romantic mystery. The company suspects another crew member was involved in the original captain’s treachery, and Alyn and Jarvez must work together to figure out which of their many shipmates is the traitor before they reach Earth. They also must keep their hands off each other, a daunting task as although electrical sparks fly between the two men, getting involved will not help the crew morale problem, as the last captain and her company rep were having an affaire.
Sexy and swiftly paced, the overall story was sharp and witty; the romance between the two leads playing out winningly throughout the adventurous mystery. The building of trust between Alyn and Jarvez and the supporting crew members was both humorous and realistic and a touch of perversity gave Jarvez Kashari a stirring air of exotic mystery. Kudos to the author for being able to pull off a very cool, “Star Trek” worthy rescue, which made the last quarter of the book riveting and quite charming with the active participation of supporting character, Lieutenant Kress, who became one of my favorites. If this is the start of a series, I look forward to reading more about this spirited crew and its courageous lead couple.
Thank you, Becky Black, for this lovely trip to the final frontier. “Stellar!”
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.
Former warship Captain, Alyn Evans, is in the middle of his vacation when he receives word that the trading company he now works for has a ship for him to captain and they want him to come in, pronto. He arrives at headquarters to find he’s in a hurry up and wait situation; neither his uniform or his ship will be ready until the following day. Figuring it’s his last free night before he’s in deep space for four months, he blows off a little steam in a sauna, picks up a guy, and they have a go at it. Surprised, at a freaky twist to the sexy tryst, he finds himself interested in possibly hooking up with the dude again, but the guy is a one-time-only-pony, doesn’t want to know his name even, so they part ways.
It’s cool, he’s got his head full of this ship he is supposed to be captaining, and by the looks and raised brows he’s getting whenever the name “Red Dragon” is mentioned, he knows something’s amiss in paradise. The next day he reports to company headquarters and gains quite a few surprises. The Red Dragon is in horrible shape, her last captain has been arrested, her crew is practically mutinous, and he’s expected to cart the traitorous captain and her cohorts back to Earth, where justice will be meted out. The final cherry on the Red Dragon cake? A company representative will be joining him and the crew on board the ship.
So, new ship, new challenges; he ran a warship, he figures he can rise to the occasion. But his introduction to the company rep throws him yet another curve: it’s his hookup from the previous night, a Mr. Jarvez Kashari.
What follows is a nice romantic mystery. The company suspects another crew member was involved in the original captain’s treachery, and Alyn and Jarvez must work together to figure out which of their many shipmates is the traitor before they reach Earth. They also must keep their hands off each other, a daunting task as although electrical sparks fly between the two men, getting involved will not help the crew morale problem, as the last captain and her company rep were having an affaire.
Sexy and swiftly paced, the overall story was sharp and witty; the romance between the two leads playing out winningly throughout the adventurous mystery. The building of trust between Alyn and Jarvez and the supporting crew members was both humorous and realistic and a touch of perversity gave Jarvez Kashari a stirring air of exotic mystery. Kudos to the author for being able to pull off a very cool, “Star Trek” worthy rescue, which made the last quarter of the book riveting and quite charming with the active participation of supporting character, Lieutenant Kress, who became one of my favorites. If this is the start of a series, I look forward to reading more about this spirited crew and its courageous lead couple.
Thank you, Becky Black, for this lovely trip to the final frontier. “Stellar!”
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.
November 9, 2019
I like this start of Becky Black’s “Red Dragon” series. Properly annoying, want-to-wallop-over-and-over-again, hypocritical villains and delectable, principled, yet imperfect protagonists. No unusual surprises, plot wise - overall pretty straightforward. A bit high on smutty, steamy portion of my preference but dayum, I guess when it’s a way for our MCs to release stress I couldn’t begrudge them that, could I? 😁 And I do want to see more of Alyn and Jarvez (the following installments are ready to be devoured!).
May 30, 2013
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Alyn has accepted a job with a trading company now that peace has put him out of a job, being a captain of a merchant ship will be vastly different than being a warship captain, but he is sure it won’t be too hard. Jarvez is a trader and has plans to be the best trader in the company, he just has to prove himself to his family. Alyn is assigned the Red Dragon, a star-ship that has been vastly neglected and abused by the former captain, Jarvez is the new trader for the ship but his main task is to investigate the corruption aboard the ship. When the two men first meet they are both rocked, a blissful hour the night before has come back to smack them both in the face. Their attraction is fierce but mixing business and pleasure is never a good idea and they face four months of space travel with a disgruntled crew and a traitor, and they each fight their attraction to the other.
Alyn and Jarvez are well rounded characters, they both have an idea of what they want from life, Alyn just wants to captain a star-ship and have the respect of his crew and Jarvez wants to be the best trader in the company, working his way to the best trade routes and improving his wealth. Together they have to decide what they truly want when they can no longer ignore their attraction, especially when they are on-board a star-ship whose crew are suspicious of them. When they reach the end of their journey they have new decision’s, for Alyn it’s a choice to stay with a decrepit star-ship and make her glorious again or accept a newer fancier ship, and for Jarvez it’s improve the current trading route or go for easy money with the larger, more choice, routes…. And then there’s the choice of doing it together or apart.
I really did enjoy this science fiction story because we have the relationship between Alyn and Jarvez vying with the storyline of corrupt officers and traitors, they were blended well together and I can’t say which I enjoyed more. Jarvez is a man who wants to prove himself to his family, he wants to go far in the company on his own merit so getting involved with the captain of one of the ships is a mistake he wishes never happened. It is interesting to watch Jarvez fight his consuming need to be with Alyn, he doesn’t always succeed which gives us some explosive passionate scenes. Alyn is much more able to keep his simmering need controlled but make no mistake it is just waiting to be unleashed.
I loved the investigation side of the story, both men not knowing who they can trust but trying to win the crew over anyway. Jarvez trying to discover who the third traitor is from among the officers, while Alyn tries to put the ship and its crew back together. Then, we have the prisoners who are in the background, just waiting for their shot. The writing is good and flows well, nothing happens too fast and there are one or two exciting scenes.
I recommend this to those that love science fiction, traitors, mutiny, investigations, great characters, falling in love in difficult situations, hot explosive sex and an ending that is a new beginning for our two MC’s.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Alyn has accepted a job with a trading company now that peace has put him out of a job, being a captain of a merchant ship will be vastly different than being a warship captain, but he is sure it won’t be too hard. Jarvez is a trader and has plans to be the best trader in the company, he just has to prove himself to his family. Alyn is assigned the Red Dragon, a star-ship that has been vastly neglected and abused by the former captain, Jarvez is the new trader for the ship but his main task is to investigate the corruption aboard the ship. When the two men first meet they are both rocked, a blissful hour the night before has come back to smack them both in the face. Their attraction is fierce but mixing business and pleasure is never a good idea and they face four months of space travel with a disgruntled crew and a traitor, and they each fight their attraction to the other.
Alyn and Jarvez are well rounded characters, they both have an idea of what they want from life, Alyn just wants to captain a star-ship and have the respect of his crew and Jarvez wants to be the best trader in the company, working his way to the best trade routes and improving his wealth. Together they have to decide what they truly want when they can no longer ignore their attraction, especially when they are on-board a star-ship whose crew are suspicious of them. When they reach the end of their journey they have new decision’s, for Alyn it’s a choice to stay with a decrepit star-ship and make her glorious again or accept a newer fancier ship, and for Jarvez it’s improve the current trading route or go for easy money with the larger, more choice, routes…. And then there’s the choice of doing it together or apart.
I really did enjoy this science fiction story because we have the relationship between Alyn and Jarvez vying with the storyline of corrupt officers and traitors, they were blended well together and I can’t say which I enjoyed more. Jarvez is a man who wants to prove himself to his family, he wants to go far in the company on his own merit so getting involved with the captain of one of the ships is a mistake he wishes never happened. It is interesting to watch Jarvez fight his consuming need to be with Alyn, he doesn’t always succeed which gives us some explosive passionate scenes. Alyn is much more able to keep his simmering need controlled but make no mistake it is just waiting to be unleashed.
I loved the investigation side of the story, both men not knowing who they can trust but trying to win the crew over anyway. Jarvez trying to discover who the third traitor is from among the officers, while Alyn tries to put the ship and its crew back together. Then, we have the prisoners who are in the background, just waiting for their shot. The writing is good and flows well, nothing happens too fast and there are one or two exciting scenes.
I recommend this to those that love science fiction, traitors, mutiny, investigations, great characters, falling in love in difficult situations, hot explosive sex and an ending that is a new beginning for our two MC’s.
June 4, 2014
3.5 stars.
Why I read it: I saw some good reviews and it was on special at LooseID so I bought it.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I don’t have tons of experience with science-fiction/space opera – although I adore the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. That kind of world building is not present here – in part because it is a relatively short book (as compared to say, Shards of Honor) and in part because it is firstly a romance IMO. (Shards of Honor is primarily a sci-fi book which a romantic element.) My husband and I still grieve over the loss of Firefly and enjoy various sci-fi tv shows, so it’s not a wonder that I’m interested in combining my love or romance with sci-fi. I was prepared for the world building to be less developed here – it’s a trade off I don’t mind making for a satisfying romance but there were a couple of things I found jarring. I don’t know whether it is a quirk of mine or reflective of my inexperience with the genre but it was kind of strange to see Earth being apparently the same as it is now except for adding hyperspace travel. There are still countries – Jarvez’ family is from Iran, Alyn is from Wales, one of the other officers is from France, smuggler is from Australia (of course, because: convicts *rolls eyes*). While I enjoyed the multiculturality (I know that’s not a real word) of the cast (and how aspects of those things were woven (mostly) skilfully into the characterisations), I haven’t come across future Earth being described quite that way before. Usually, it is a colony or planet where the racial identity is “human” for example. I found it harder to imagine space travel hundreds of light years away and humans born on Mars right along with the kind of everyday Earth I know now. I don’t suppose, when I think about it, it is any more unrealistic than any other sci-fi I’ve read, but there you are.
Read the rest of the review here: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2014/0...
Why I read it: I saw some good reviews and it was on special at LooseID so I bought it.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I don’t have tons of experience with science-fiction/space opera – although I adore the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. That kind of world building is not present here – in part because it is a relatively short book (as compared to say, Shards of Honor) and in part because it is firstly a romance IMO. (Shards of Honor is primarily a sci-fi book which a romantic element.) My husband and I still grieve over the loss of Firefly and enjoy various sci-fi tv shows, so it’s not a wonder that I’m interested in combining my love or romance with sci-fi. I was prepared for the world building to be less developed here – it’s a trade off I don’t mind making for a satisfying romance but there were a couple of things I found jarring. I don’t know whether it is a quirk of mine or reflective of my inexperience with the genre but it was kind of strange to see Earth being apparently the same as it is now except for adding hyperspace travel. There are still countries – Jarvez’ family is from Iran, Alyn is from Wales, one of the other officers is from France, smuggler is from Australia (of course, because: convicts *rolls eyes*). While I enjoyed the multiculturality (I know that’s not a real word) of the cast (and how aspects of those things were woven (mostly) skilfully into the characterisations), I haven’t come across future Earth being described quite that way before. Usually, it is a colony or planet where the racial identity is “human” for example. I found it harder to imagine space travel hundreds of light years away and humans born on Mars right along with the kind of everyday Earth I know now. I don’t suppose, when I think about it, it is any more unrealistic than any other sci-fi I’ve read, but there you are.
Read the rest of the review here: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2014/0...
October 20, 2015
It's no secret that I love space opera, especially that brand of the genre that comes with a less than shiny spaceship and a crew of misfits and agitators of one kind or another. Throw in a few ex-military types and we have all the elements of an excellent starting point.
This story also starts out with a pair of complex heroes and an intriguing mystery plot for them to get to the bottom of, preferably before they reach Earth or anything else goes wrong.
I enjoyed unravelling the mystery alongside the heroes, and I was pleased at being thrown by the various plot-twists along the way. I could possibly have done with a little more character development and worldbuilding in place of some of the sex, but that's just my personal preference, and won't stoo me picking up the next in the series once my to-read pile is slightly smaller.
This story also starts out with a pair of complex heroes and an intriguing mystery plot for them to get to the bottom of, preferably before they reach Earth or anything else goes wrong.
I enjoyed unravelling the mystery alongside the heroes, and I was pleased at being thrown by the various plot-twists along the way. I could possibly have done with a little more character development and worldbuilding in place of some of the sex, but that's just my personal preference, and won't stoo me picking up the next in the series once my to-read pile is slightly smaller.
November 5, 2015
Becky Black is my new discovery. What's not to like about adding "in space" to any plot idea? I was vaccilating about whether these books were space opera or space adventure. I am leaning towards space adventure, because there aren't space battles with massive technology...but then, there is a bit of a thing that happens which is space operaish, so I'm still vacillating.
The characters were very thourough and well drawn. Their issues flowed logically from their personalities and background.
If you want your sci fi to be about the technology and strategy, this is not the book for you. If you want well drawn character driven adventure (okay, and M/M romance) you will really enjoy this series. I'm surprised Becky Black hasn't drawn more attention.
The characters were very thourough and well drawn. Their issues flowed logically from their personalities and background.
If you want your sci fi to be about the technology and strategy, this is not the book for you. If you want well drawn character driven adventure (okay, and M/M romance) you will really enjoy this series. I'm surprised Becky Black hasn't drawn more attention.
March 3, 2015
I won this from the author in a competition.
Generally scifi is a genre I wouldn't go for but I found this fine, not too difficult for me to follow along and I quite enjoyed it. I was expecting heavy going terminology but it is a light, quick paced read. 3.5*
It was a bit of a pirate/mutiny read, so other than being set in space, the actuals of the events are mostly on the spaceship which could be any enclosed space. I did have the green spaceship from Futurama in my head when reading though!
Alyn and Jarvez do have rather a lot of sex! But I liked them as a couple. I also liked that Alyn's Welshness came over every know and then, see
Generally scifi is a genre I wouldn't go for but I found this fine, not too difficult for me to follow along and I quite enjoyed it. I was expecting heavy going terminology but it is a light, quick paced read. 3.5*
It was a bit of a pirate/mutiny read, so other than being set in space, the actuals of the events are mostly on the spaceship which could be any enclosed space. I did have the green spaceship from Futurama in my head when reading though!
Alyn and Jarvez do have rather a lot of sex! But I liked them as a couple. I also liked that Alyn's Welshness came over every know and then, see
June 24, 2013
As other people have said, it was paint-by-numbers sci-fi. There was nothing wrong with it, per se, and it kept me reading until the end, but there was nothing especially innovative or fresh about it, either. I ended up skimming through most of the sex scenes, because they were repetitive and because I wasn't very invested in the two leads' relationship (a day after reading, and I've forgotten both their names). The plot itself was also standard, and the mysterious third traitor was obvious from the get-go. Again, nothing egregiously awful, just... bland.
July 12, 2013
This was a solid three star read for me. A bit of space action, romance, I thought it was a good start to the series. Read my full review http://devastatingreads.blogspot.ca/2...
September 18, 2013
Im impressed with this authors sci fi writing skillz. I really enjoyed this book and its characters. I also enjoyed how we took the time to see the relationship between them both grow and loved the ending....in fact I have loved all endings by this author (so far).
May 14, 2014
Becky Black done really great work with her story plot.
Its very simple story with no much of drama but still very pulling.
It looks like for some readers its to simple but it was not for me. My reading time was fulfilled.
Its very simple story with no much of drama but still very pulling.
It looks like for some readers its to simple but it was not for me. My reading time was fulfilled.
May 28, 2013
Good story. Nothing that made it spectacular however it held my attention and I will definitely read more of this series.
June 3, 2013
Felt the story lagged a bit in the beginning, despite the sex, but it picked up its pace and sucked me right in. Enjoyed this very much, and I'm looking forward to more from this author.
March 8, 2014
I loved this book.
May 21, 2014
This story was mostly good, sure not especially perfect, but well written nonetheless. I like the story!
May 22, 2015
Review soon!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews