New Excerpt: Rogue Heart - Available Now!

Rogue Heart by Bernadette Garder

A Chi-series-enhanced human, Onika can seduce any man, but the fatal flaw in her biological programming is that she falls in love with her targets. When Zed, the enigmatic scientist who created her, wants to see her, she chances a reunion, determined to convince him to change her biological programming and free her from her enslavement to chemical lust.When she finds Zed has been brutally murdered, she feels relief and terror. No one can save her now, least of all Aidan Fynn, the attorney assigned by Central Command to represent her. Given into Fynn's mercurial care, Onika faces the greatest challenge of her life to not fall hopelessly in love and lust with the former soldier once he learns the only way to gain her trust is to take her to his bed

****

EXCERPT:

The first thing Aidan learned after being pulled from basic training and sent to study at Central Command's legal academy was that both guilt and innocence were negotiable.

He'd waltzed into the prison in Yebec Cavern Settlement believing he'd be negotiating Onika Ramos' guilt. After all, Central Command had briefed him on her history. She was Cy-Ops—a body reclaimed and rebuilt by Zed Lantrell in the early days of the man's ambitious and somewhat psychotic bio-gen experiments. She had every reason to hate the man who'd plucked her from the comforting bosom of death and thrust her back into the Viliri war as a spy and a glorified sex toy.

Justifiable homicide would be easy to prove.

Now as he studied her from across the dimly lit interrogation room, he berated himself for not anticipating two things. One, that she'd actually seem indignant at the insinuation of guilt, and two, that even wilted from a full day in the custody of morons, her beauty would stun him.
Of course, she'd been made that way, designed by Lantrell to be irresistible to the opposite sex. He'd have to find a way to boost his immunity to her obvious charms if he was going to get this job done. He couldn't afford to get sidetracked by those wide electric blue eyes, the silky curtain of hair, the perfectly seductive lips and skin like fresh cream.

He stood a little straighter and captured her sullen gaze. "We don't have to work on your defense right this minute. Follow me. We're going home."

She tilted her head like a curious feline and smirked. "I don't have a home, Mr. Fynn. Surely Central Command told you that. I go where I'm needed, stay until the job is done, and move on."

"Well, right now, your job is to do as I say, and that includes going to my home—or at least my temporary residence here on Serilon. You'll remain in my protective custody until your trial is over."

The term "protective custody" seemed to startle her a bit. Here was a woman used to being owned rather than cared for. She rose shakily from the metal chair to which she'd been bound and paused to tug at the deliberately short hem of the tunic they'd given her. Aidan's gaze followed her fingers as they brushed the tops of her thighs. Unbidden desire surged, and his cock gave an involuntary pulse.

If she were to reach above her head, the woefully inadequate garment would rise enough to reveal all of her secrets. Lightning fast, his mind provided a visual. She'd be smooth, exquisitely curved and delicate, and her ass would fit perfectly against his cock…

"I'm ready when you are." She forced the words through a tight jaw and Aidan reined in his inappropriate thoughts. He didn't fuck clients. At least not until he'd won their cases.

Onika Ramos was off-limits for the time being.

****

To find out more, or to order Rogue Heart, visit  Ellora's Cave!

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Sizzling Excerpt from Wolfsbane 2: Leader of the Pack

Wolfsbane 2: Leader Of The Pack
by Jennifer Colgan
ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-337-5 (Electronic)
AVAILABLE AUGUST  3, 2008!

Sequel to Wolfsbane: Aspect Of The Wolf...

Torn between a werewolf and the man who vows to destroy him, hereditary witch Charlotte Swanson is faced with a deadly choice.

Vance Garrison's werewolf blood was a curse he hid for years. Now cured of lycanthropy and still reeling from his broken engagement to an Alpha female who sought to exploit his secret heritage, his resolve to avoid emotional attachments is sorely tested when he finds himself fighting for the affection of the beautiful witch who makes him long for position as Leader of the Pack...

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Sneak Peek: Thieves in Paradise

Here's a snippet of my upcoming Amber Heat release, Thieves in Paradise:

Charity sat in the feeble shelter provided by the port wing of the Antarean's shuttle. He'd taken the unnecessary precaution of fastening the kevlex tether to one of the shuttle's landing struts while he climbed on the nose of the craft and removed the huge tree limbs that had landed on the wind screen. Her assurances that she had no intention of trying to escape in this weather had been met with stoic indifference.

Even partially protected from the driving rain, she was shivering and exhausted. The only consolation she found in this otherwise hopeless situation was that the bounty hunter had nearly fallen off the slippery bow of the shuttle twice during his efforts to dislodge the branches, and he seemed suitably vexed by the crack in the glass.

At the moment he lay spread-eagle against the forward hull while he attempted to shove the second limb free of the ship. At least he hadn't expected her to help. But that left her with little to do except ruminate on how she could possibly escape from him.

After a while she ran out of imaginary scenarios, and now she was left with nothing else to do but study his impressive physique.

Paid bloodhound or not, by the Goddess, he was put together well.

Though most of his body was covered in mud at the moment, his corded muscles rippled with every movement. The fallen tree limbs were each as thick around as her waist, yet he moved them with relative ease. A human would have required help, maybe even machinery, to complete the daunting task.

She wondered what made such a fine male specimen loyal to a runt like Gar Gremin. It had to be money. Since he hadn't even acknowledged her offer to split her take with him, the Magistrate of Valencia must have offered him something substantially more valuable that a quarter million credits.

That left Charity short at the bargaining table. If he wasn't interested in money, what could she trade him for her freedom?

That thought lead her curious gaze to his firm backside and his massive thighs and, despite the icy rain, her face went hot.

She couldn't. She would never—had never—bartered her body, even with men who would have willingly accepted such a proposition.

She wasn't that kind of woman, and she'd steadfastly refused to let circumstances dictate a compromise in her values. Just because she'd grown up struggling on one of the galaxy's poorest colonies, didn't mean she had to rely on her body to make a living when her brain could get her so much further.

Nevertheless, he was certainly a prime candidate for debauchery. His face was handsome enough, despite what seemed to be a perpetual scowl of disapproval, and he moved with sensual, almost predatory grace that hadn't escaped her attention, especially when her wet body had been plastered against his.

He'd be huge, no doubt, a challenge for her physically...ooh, but what fun it might be to peel off his tight flight suit and see for herself what an Antarean cock looked like.

"Goddess bless me, I've lost my mind!" As quickly as the wind-driven rain changed direction, reality intruded on her uncharacteristic sexual fantasy and Charity's thoughts careened back to the problem at hand.

She'd sooner shoot the bounty hunter than fuck him. Obviously the relentless rain and mind-numbing discomfort had made her delirious.

* * * *

Kol's boots hit the squelching mud and he sank to his ankles in front of the shuttle. At least he'd managed to remove the branches. Now he had to worry about getting atmo sealant to set in this humidity. He calculated at least six hours before they'd be able to lift off, and by then he'd be half out of his mind trying to interpret the true meaning of his erotic vision.

He swung around to glance at his captive and looked away quickly when their eyes met. She'd been watching him work, no doubt planning her next nefarious scheme. Magistrate Gremin had warned Kol about Charity Foster. She was smart, fast, and could talk her way into or out of just about anything. That's how she'd ended up in Gremin's monthly game of High Aces where she'd cheated him out of four million in selenite.

Granted, it seemed it was more Gremin's pride than his purse that had taken a beating in the game, and cheating at High Aces was not a federal offense, but Kol had taken the job because the price was right and he had a personal dislike of cheaters of any kind.

His job would be much easier if she looked guilty. Right now, she seemed small and defenseless. The mud and rain had left her blond hair stringy and plastered to her skull, all but obscuring the decorative purple streak. Her face was smudged and her slender body trembled with the cold.

He could have secured her inside the shuttle, but short of tying her to a seat, she'd have had access to the controls and his supplies, and he couldn't trust her not to sabotage his mission.

She raised her graceful brows at his approach and swiped at the chilly drops of rain that hung from the tips of her dark lashes. "Now what?"

"I have to apply the sealant on the inside of the glass." He unhooked the kevlex tether from the landing strut and then from the cuffs and directed her toward the shuttle's hatch. "I'll be watching you closely. Don't try to escape."

She rolled her golden eyes at him. "Where in Goddess's name would I go? Face it, flyboy, you've got me. I'm your prisoner."

He didn't like the emphasis she put on the word prisoner. There seemed to be a sexual innuendo there that made his thoughts circle round to the vision he'd been trying so hard to forget. Had her hands been tied when he'd fucked her? Kol would never force himself on a female, certainly not a captive and certainly never a non-Antarean, yet the idea of pushing her bound hands above her head and settling her hips against his made his cock stir uncomfortably.

Did he only imagine the flirty tilt of her head and the secretive smile as she passed by on her way into the shuttle? Her rounded ass swayed a little as she lifted one leg and climbed into the ship. He dared not follow right away, but instead stood for a moment in the driving rain, allowing the cold water to soothe the sudden flush that traveled up from his groin.

He would not use her. Even if she begged him to.

Stay tuned for more info on Thieves in Paradise, coming May 11, 2008!

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Release Day Excerpt of SKIN

To celebrate my release day, here's another steamy excerpt from SKIN!

SKIN by Bernadette Gardner

"I don't really need a tattoo—it's just something I've always thought about doing and I wanted to get some ideas."

"You need to get something you'll be happy with. I do a lot of cover work—fixing and changing images people purchased on the spur of the moment without considering the long-term implications. It pains me to see someone having an old lover's name covered up or who's had extensive laser work to remove an image entirely. You have beautiful skin, and I would hate for you to one day want to remove the work I do for you."

She nodded, still uncertain but clearly warming to his honesty. She let out a slow breath and the sound of her quiet exhalation made his balls tighten. She moved past him, stirring a faint essence of sultry perfume. He almost leaned in for a deeper breath of her before she turned again to face him. "I know I'd like something small to start with. I don't want any names or hearts and flowers."

"No. You need to make a statement with your choice. Something that will remind you, whenever you see it, of why you came here today."

She tilted her head. "I just don't want my boss to see it. I work for a very conservative company."

"If you were truly worried about someone else's opinion, you wouldn't be here. You want something that speaks to you and you alone."

She smiled and Darq's heart responded with a quickened beat. "How can you tell all that just by looking at me?"

"It's what I do, Makena. Now sit down, relax. Why don't you take your jacket off and we'll discuss where you want the image?"

She hesitated. Would she obey him? She shrugged her purse strap off her shoulder and set the little black bag down next to his chair. Darq held his breath when her fingers slid into the front of her suit jacket and flicked open the two silver buttons. If he didn't control himself, he'd probably start panting. He gave a moment's thought to the Open sign still hanging on the front door. This would be a private consultation from this point forward. Though he'd probably catch hell from his partner for closing the shop even temporarily this late on a Friday evening, it would be worth the drama to have some uninterrupted time with her. This one was special. She needed personal attention he wouldn't be able to give with a shop full of customers asking questions and comparing their previous tats.

Makena Brady slithered out of her jacket and folded it carefully over her arm. He noticed the tight grip she had on the gray fabric. She held it like a shield, telegraphing her reluctance to completely let herself go. How long would it take him to cure her of her inhibitions? he wondered. More than the space of an hour's discussion no doubt, but he'd bet it would be worth the effort.

While she focused her attention on the flash that decorated the walls, he indulged in another long look at her. The faint outline of a lacy bra was visible through the thin fabric of her blouse. Darq fixed his gaze on it and imagined the sensual joy of pushing that skinny strap down off her shoulder to examine the skin beneath. He'd never felt such a strong desire to unwrap a woman, layer by layer, before.

To find out more, visit Ellora's Cave

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New excerpt - Skin!

Skin will be released on January 25th from Ellora's Cave.

Here's the blurb:

Her body is his canvas.

When Makena Brady walks into SkIntense Body Art, she expects nothing more than a little prick, and a small tattoo to satisfy her quest for independence from her 'good girl' lifestyle. What she gets instead is a sensual awakening.

Darq Stone is an artist and Makena's body is the perfect canvas. He works his magic on her, bringing her to the edge of reason with a temporary tattoo airbrushed on her inner thigh. Enthralled by the excitement of lying nearly naked while he paints on her, Makena yearns for more, but can she handle the real thing? Darq is much more than he seems and once he brands her with a permanent mark, she'll be drawn into his world forever.

Here's a short excerpt:

Makena trembled when Darq Stone raked his eyes over her body. His gaze traveled from her mouth all the way down to her primly crossed ankles in a sensual sweep that left her weak.

He would do it. He would ask her to take her clothes off and he'd touch her and look at her and she'd love every minute of it.

He stood so quickly she almost jumped out of the chair.

"I don't normally do this, but in your case…" She watched his Adam's apple bob before he turned his back on her. With a startling swish, he pulled a dark curtain around the chair, forming a secluded alcove that was separate from the rest of the brightly lit shop. When he turned to face her again his eyes seemed darker, feral and piercing.

"This seat is reserved for private work, for the modesty of my customers. No one can see you from outside the shop. If you'd like to show me the areas you have in mind, feel free."

Her eyes tracked over his shoulder. How private could this be after all? Of course, she thought nothing of removing her clothes in a dressing room surrounded by mirrors and hidden from other customers by nothing more than flimsy shower curtains or half doors. Other female customers, anyway.

"I'll lock the door out front, if that's all right with you. Our busy time isn't until later. Since there's no one else here, I can close for a little while."

"Okay." She realized she didn't want to get undressed alone. That wouldn't be any fun at all, and already Makena had decided this adventure was going to be fun. If nothing else, she was going to enjoy having Darq Stone look at her and touch her and whatever else she wanted him to do. The look in his eyes told her he was ready, willing and able to give her far more personal service than a private consultation about body art.

What had come over her? She didn't care. She'd worry about it later, after she'd asserted her independence with this beautiful, sexy beast.

She was still fully dressed when he came back into the alcove. He gave her a curious glance.

"My hands are shaking," she said. "Maybe you could help me." She dropped her suit jacket on the chair behind her, but it slithered to the floor. She shrugged and tried to quell her internal tremors. If he continued to look at her that way, she might come from anticipation alone.

In two long steps he crossed to stand in front of her. The musky scent of his cologne reached her and her head swam. Darq Stone was nothing like she'd expected him to be. In fact, with his long-sleeved casual shirt and black Dockers, he didn't even appear to have any tattoos of his own. She wondered if she might convince him to show her all of his body as well.

"Would you like me to unbutton your blouse?"

She nodded. "Yes." The word came out as a breathless whisper. She held herself utterly still until he obliged, raising his hands and clasping the first tiny button.

It popped open under his expert touch and Makena gasped. Good Lord, if just having him open one button felt this good, what would it feel like if he actually put his hands on her?

She'd come apart under him.

The next button went and Makena felt his warm breath on the vee of flesh exposed above her collar.

"Are you considering an image above one of your breasts?" His voice had gone thick. His eyes were locked on the third button of her blouse.

"I'm not sure. Maybe the small of my back, or on my shoulder. Or my inner thigh."

"That's a very sensitive area. You might not be able to wear a tight skirt or pantyhose for several days after the work is done. That could interfere with your job."

"I have vacation time coming."

Two more buttons. Makena wanted to put her hands on his broad shoulders and lean on him. Her legs felt rubbery and each breath hitched in her chest. "Pull my blouse out of my skirt, please."

He hesitated only a second then tugged the creamy yellow silk out of her waist band. She didn't need to ask him to push the blouse off her shoulders or to run one finger under the strap of her bra. 

She bent forward to ease the intense ache that crawled up from her pussy to her womb. Her stomach clenched when his breath hit the bare skin of her shoulder. "Do you see a spot you like?"

He didn't answer. Instead he curled his fingers around the satiny strap and pulled it down, almost exposing her breast. He ran his fingers over the skin below her shoulder and then into the cup of her bra.

Every nerve in her body went tight and she gasped when his fingers grazed the smooth skin just above her nipple. 

"You're very sensitive here as well. The process can be painful in certain areas . I wouldn't want to see you in discomfort for a long period of time…unless you like pain. Some people do…they get a sexual satisfaction out of being tattooed."

"I don't know if I would…ah…"

"Turn around."

She obeyed on wobbly legs. In her mind's eye, he put his hand on her back, just between her shoulder blades and pushed forward so that she bent over the chair. She pictured herself spreading her legs for him and biting her lower lip hard while he lifted her skirt and probed between her thighs for the hardening nub of her clit.

Instead he merely removed her blouse, sliding the cuffs over her wrists. He placed the garment on the stool he'd been sitting on and then brought his hands up in delicate strokes along her spine to the clasp of her bra.

"Will you allow me to—"

"Yes!"

Stay tuned for more Skin....

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New Release! Forbidden World: Ambrax

Forbidden World: Ambrax
by Bernadette Gardner

Dark and dangerous, bounty hunter Damen Cantor leaves Lea Vargas breathless. His gravelly voice rides over her like a caress, making her skin tingle and her knees weak. He's the only man that has ever intimidated her and she doesn't like that, but since he's the perfect man for the job she has in mind, she'll have to deal with it.

Born into a life of privilege as an heir to the Vargas Industries fortune, Lea has never wanted for anything until now. No amount of money can cure her beloved sister, Darya, of Lorcan Syndrome, but perhaps a Braxan healer can. Darya's husband, Troy, hasn't returned from an expedition to the forbidden world of Ambrax, though, and time is running out. Lea's only hope to save her sister lies in enslaving herself to Damen Cantor and landing on the male-dominated planet, from which visitors rarely return.

CHAPTER 1

The miners' bar on Soffran smelled like sweat mixed with the tangy, medicinal aroma of the black ore they dug from the airless tunnels below the planet's surface. The unmistakable scent of testosterone laced the dry, recycled air as well, and it was that essence that drew Lea Vargas into the deepest recesses of the male-dominated lair.

Lea carried her drink high to keep from spilling it on the boot-scuffed floor. The one-armed bartender had served her the bubbling blue Dimarian rum concoction with a scowl and a few words muttered under his breath in Soffrani. She supposed he had a right to be surly. Rumor had it he'd lost the missing limb in a bailer explosion less than a month ago. To keep his Company pension, he had to continue slinging watered drinks to a bar full of men who would have preferred to be anywhere else in the universe.

Funny, that was precisely where Lea wanted to be as well, but she had less choice than the miners. Her promise to her sister held more weight than a Company contract, and even the dangerous looks from a few of the patrons who recognized her as a Company baby, couldn't induce her to break it.

"Bring some of that over here, babe," a gnarled man in dusty trousers and an ore-stained shirt flashed her a gap-toothed grin. "All the rum you can drink for a fast ride to paradise."

His bar buddies snickered and Lea eyed them each in turn. Apparently her reputation hadn't filtered this far into the bar. A point in her favor, no doubt. Nevertheless, she shifted to allow the trio of drunks a better view of the shock-stick holstered at her hip. The only weapon allowed on Soffran, it wasn't deadly, but rammed into certain bodily orifices it packed a punch not easily forgotten. "I've got something you can ride, drock turd, but you won't end up in paradise."

Snaggletooth stopped grinning, though his companions laughed themselves breathless. His curses followed Lea halfway across the bar, but she didn't look back.

She'd located her objective and nothing else mattered, least of all the lewd suggestions of a man who would leave nothing on her sheets but ore-dust. The object of her search sat with his back to the wall, as she would have expected, and he sat alone. There seemed to be a void around him, as though the boundaries of his personal space were impenetrable. No one muscled in on his territory and that was exactly the kind of man she needed for this job.

She strolled toward him and set her own drink down next to his on the scarred table in front of him. The clear liquid in his glass didn't bubble or smoke or change colors in the dim light from the overhead glo-panels. Lea respected a man with simple tastes.

He looked up only when she placed her hands on the table and leaned forward just enough to give him a teasing view of her cleavage. The skin-tight crimson flight suit she'd chosen for this excursion invited leers from all over the bar, but the appreciative look in this man's eyes was worth a little exposure. She'd been told money alone wouldn't be enough to entice him to work for her.

"Damen Cantor." It wasn't a question. The man who'd directed Lea here had described him perfectly. His black hair was cut short and spiky and he wore the brown vest of an independent trader. Massive hands curled around the slender glass of what smelled like bootleg vodka. The muscles cording his bare arms flexed at the sound of his name, and he pinned her with a gaze that had the same effect on her insides as if he'd jammed a hand into her panties. Her clit responded with a curious pulse, eager for an introduction, but Lea ignored the reaction.

She wasn't looking to get laid, though later that might be part of the bargain. She certainly wouldn't object if it became necessary to—

"I'm not interested." His voice rode over her like molten lead, making it hard for her to move or speak.

"I-I'm not a..."

"Whore? In that outfit, Cherry, what else would you be?"

Heat rushed to her cheeks and she straightened her spine, letting her fingers trail off the dusty surface of the table. Up until this moment, there wasn't a man alive who intimidated Lea Vargas. She would take on anyone with a set of balls to match his bravado, and she never backed down from a challenge, but Damen Cantor, bounty hunter, left her speechless.

He flicked his gaze across the bar toward the exit, a wordless dismissal.

"I want to hire you." The words tumbled out fast, and she wished she had the strength to pick up her drink. With her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, it would be near impossible to say anything else.

His lips curled in an expression that might have been a smile or a sneer. "I doubt you can afford me."

"Ten thousand a day is your going rate, I believe."

He lifted his glass and took a single, measured swallow before responding. "Plus expenses."

"There won't be any expenses. I have a ship and I have a landing permit for Ambrax."

Several nearby heads turned at the mention of one of the forbidden worlds, but Cantor silenced any curious murmurs with a sweeping glance of his ore-black eyes. He leaned back in his seat and scowled much like the bartender had, only the expression served to make his handsome face more sensual rather than cruel. Dark brows knit over those bottomless eyes. "Didn't whoever put you up to this explain that I don't have a sense of humor?"

"This isn't a joke."

"Of course it's a joke."

Lea tugged the zipper of her suit down an inch and snaked her fingers inside to where a slim pouch rested against her bare flesh. A moment later she slapped a wrinkled paper onto the table.

He gave it a casual perusal, though his gaze lingered on the official Federated seal. "You're not the first person to come up with a landing permit. Anyone with a bucket of cash can—"

"It's not a forgery." Interrupting him was a gamble. Lea's heart thundered.

"I didn't say it was a forgery."

"I need a good pilot and a guide. You were recommended. Do you want the job?"

He pursed his lips and stared at his half-empty glass as if contemplating another swallow.

"You've been mislead. I'm not a ferry service, Miss."

"Vargas. Lea Vargas."

"I didn't ask your name, but since you made a point to tell me, let me rephrase my response." He sat forward, and Lea fought the urge to step back. She probably should have used an alias, but her name usually opened doors for her. Vargas Industries, the Company, owned Soffran and ten other planets stretched across four systems. If nothing else, the name was a guarantee that she was good for the money.

"I don't play games with rich bitches. I can tell by the look of you, this is personal, and I don't need those kinds of complications. Not to mention the fact that I would never take a woman to Ambrax, and if you have to ask why, you should be back in your daddy's mansion polishing your nails."

Lea allowed herself a curse under her breath. "I'm not naïve, Mr. Cantor. I know why Ambrax is forbidden."

To find out more about Forbidden World: Ambrax visit:

http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat/Ambrax.html

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BOTW - A Calculated Risk

Here's a little tidbit about this week's book of the  week. Nola Rule, the sultry, sexy corporate spy and 'anti-heroine' from A Calculated Risk was originally played by another sultry, sexy secret agent type. I changed heroine's halfway through writing A Calculated Risk because I was also working on my Ellora's Cave release, Rogue Theta and I thought the woman I'd set up against the incomparable Tarrant Kane belonged in a slightly different universe.

Onika Ramos isn't the heroine of Rogue Theta, but she makes an appearance toward the end of that story in preparation for her own sordid tale of intergalactic intrigue.

How does Onika feel about being kicked out of the starring role in A Calculated Risk to play a secondary character in Rogue Theta?

You may just have to read the story to find out. ;) For now, read on to meet Nola Rule, the bad girl who got the lead role in this week's Book of the Week.

A Calculated Risk
by Bernadette Gardner

Tarrant Kane was bred for one thing: military command. When the war ends, his forced retirement leaves him with more money and free time than any man should have. His new objective becomes learning how to be a civilian.

Kane's self-imposed mission gets a little easier when he meets exotically beautiful Nola Rule at the exclusive resort on Sensuron. Nola offers him intense carnal pleasures and something he craves even more than sex: a challenge.

But Kane's dalliance with Nola comes with a steep price. When she disappears after a night of unbridled passion, he realizes that falling in love is a risk he isn't prepared to take.

Five Angels! A Calculated Risk is ...loaded with intrigue, along with some powerful sensual seduction, Ms. Gardner fashions a story that acts like a magnet from the first page. -Linda L., Fallen Angel Reviews

Kane sensed her approach even before he saw her. Fifteen years running Earth-Sec had taught him a thing or two about surveillance. Even shielded by thick, dark sunglasses, he'd felt the weight of her stare from across the room, and he relished it. Most of the women on Sensuron seemed intimidated by him, and he hadn't yet figured out why. This dark-haired beauty was different. She seemed utterly confident in herself, and that drew his undivided attention immediately.

Unbidden, his military conditioning kicked in. He assessed her as she approached the bar, gauging height, weight, and general build as if she were the enemy. He had to stop thinking like that.

After spending his entire life as a soldier, he'd come to Sensuron to learn how to be a civilian. Now that he had the money and the time to indulge his every fantasy, why couldn't he stop thinking like a general?

He turned slightly, angling his body to face her as she sidled up to the bar. He made himself take in the details of her appearance the way a wealthy, healthy single tourist would, rather than the way a jaded, career security specialist would.

Her jet black hair hung in soft ringlets down her mostly naked back, just brushing the waistband of a golden yellow thong bikini. The scrap of fabric left her perfectly shaped ass visible to detailed inspection, and Kane wasn't the only male in the area who had indulged. The entire resort was crawling with barely dressed females, but this one commanded a much greater percentage of admiring glances.

First, Kane allowed himself a good, long look at her legs. Like most of the women on Sensuron, she wore high-heeled sandals that accentuated her luscious curves. Thin straps wrapped around her calves and a chain of sparkling platinum links dangled around one finely turned ankle.

She flicked a curtain of hair aside, revealing the equally scant top of her bathing suit. Shimmery triangles of nearly transparent fabric hugged the peaks of her breast, tented by the hard tips of dark nipples.

Her profile was all sensuous curves. A strong chin and patrician nose were softened by a light olive complexion. Unlike most of the wealthy female patrons of Sensuron, she carried just enough weight to give her a very feminine softness. No bony angles or visible ribs detracted from her perfect hourglass shape.

Kane dragged his gaze up to her ruby lips and for a brief moment he entertained a vision of those lips poised to swallow his cock. A mouth like that was made for one thing...

"What can I get for you, Ms. Rule?" The bartender leaned forward, nearly diving into her generous cleavage. Kane gave him a disapproving look.

On Sensuron, the staff was not allowed to hit on guests.

"I'll have a Martian Sunrise, with two slices of passion fruit, please." She didn't even glance at Kane. Her suddenly stiff posture made him realize it might have been obvious how intently he was staring. Had she noticed he was breathing deeply, taking in the sun-warmed aroma of her glistening skin? He hadn't expected the scent of a woman to be so intoxicating, and he indulged in a brief glance toward his crotch where his swim trunks had become marginally tighter.

She stood motionless, her chin high and defiant, while the bartender prepared her drink. When he placed the frothy pink concoction on the bar, his eyes again dipped to that sweet valley where Tarrant now planned to spend a good portion of his very first vacation.

"Charge it to my account," she said, reaching a manicured hand toward the drink.

"Put the lady's drink on my account. Kane 745," Tarrant said, seizing the opportunity. He turned to her, meeting her curious gaze. "Perhaps you'd like to join me at a table by the pool?" Smooth, he thought. During the early days of the war, on the rare occasions he'd sought female attention, he'd followed the lead of his regiment and offered to buy the lady a drink. In the outlying colonies, that technique had never failed to get him laid.

Here on Sensuron, his offer earned him a wilting glare. She turned her head very slowly in his direction, and her lips drew into a pucker that made his cock pulse for attention.

Her eyes were amethyst, the color of Sensuron's sky. They held an odd mixture of amusement and...contempt.

"I'm flattered," she said in a voice that told him the opposite was true. "But I really didn't come here to pick up a leering playboy. I can afford my own drinks. Thank you." She curled her fingers around the stem of the glass and lifted it with a little more force than was necessary. For an instant Kane thought she might hurl it at him, but instead she brought it to her mouth and took a long sip. He nearly came when she licked those lips with a slow swirl of her tongue.

Then she turned her gorgeous back on him and sauntered away, her nearly bare bottom swaying in a way that made every man present drool just a little.

"Hmm." Kane sat back, torn between dumbfounded shock and unbridled lust. In all the years he'd served Earth-Sec he'd fought in countless battles, won most of them, and limped home from a few. He'd never been shot down with such precision before. He'd also never backed away from such an obvious challenge.

With his target in sight, former General Tarrant Kane began to formulate his battle plan.

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How about a little tease?

I've got two new stories on the way from Amber Quill Press – here are the blurbs:

Forbidden World: Ambrax

Coming in September 2007

Dark and dangerous, bounty hunter Damen Cantor leaves Lea Vargas breathless. His gravelly voice rides over her like a caress, making her skin tingle and her knees weak. He's the only man that has ever intimidated her and she doesn't like that, but since he's the perfect man for the job she has in mind, she'll have to deal with it.

Born into a life of privilege as an heir to the Vargas Industries fortune, Lea has never wanted for anything until now. No amount of money can cure her beloved sister, Darya, of Lorcan Syndrome, but perhaps a Braxan healer can. Darya's husband, Troy, hasn't returned from an expedition to the forbidden world of Ambrax, though, and time is running out. Lea's only hope to save her sister lies in enslaving herself to Damen Cantor and braving a landing on the male dominated planet, from which visitors rarely return.

****

Thieves in Paradise

Coming in May 2008

Kol A'Kosu, an Antarean bounty hunter, is on the trail of another rim colony criminal. Gifted with visions that show him future events, he's already seen himself capturing Charity Foster, the beautiful Human selenite thief, but that's not all he's seen. His visions have never been wrong before, but this time there must be a mistake. He can't possibly take a Human as a bond mate, or worse, subject her to the painful rite of separation, the only way to dissolve the intense sexual link that draws Antarean couples together.

Charity faces certain death at the hands of the Magistrate of Valencia, but before she loses her life, she'll lose her heart to the man assigned to bring her to justice.

Both stories will be available separately and as part of Amber Pax collections, so feed your need to read! Stay tuned...I'll be posting some tasty snippets on my blog in the coming weeks.

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BOTW- Naughty X-Cerpt from The Demon of Pelican Bluff

The Demon Of Pelican Bluff
by Jennifer Colgan
ISBN-13: 978-1-59279-674-8 (Electronic)

Something is on the prowl in Pelican Bluff, Minnesota. When the mayor of the small town calls in cryptozooloist Laurel Jensen to investigate strange sightings of a winged, demon-like beast roaming the forest, she can't resist. It's not her passion for the unknown that draws her, though, it's her need to come face-to-face with the creature that's been haunting her dreams.

Laurel has seen the beast, too. He calls to her, eager to lure her into his clutches and claim her for his own. Certainly not a run-of-the-mill cryptid, more than a clever hoax, the beast is real, and it's searching for the perfect mate.

National Forest Service Ranger Cade Morrison draws the thankless task of escorting Laurel on her search for evidence of the beast's existence. Cade knows the mayor is looking for publicity to attract tourists to the Bluff and he doesn't want any part of it. But he does want part of Laurel Jensen. Or maybe all of her. Too bad he's not willing to share her with The Demon of Pelican Bluff...

The Demon of Pelican Bluff is a definite must-read that you don't want to miss!  With enough sexy hot chemistry, the flying sparks will cause your pulse to race and your legs to cross and squeeze. –Kerin, Two Lips Reviews

Rated X

The visions came with the scent of sex and the sharp intake of breath that accompanied the feral thrust of a cock between her legs. Instead of lounging on a Sunday morning reading the latest journals with a man she'd playfully call "professor," she saw herself clutched in the dark-skinned arms of a winged beast. She saw golden eyes and upswept brows and long fingered hands that delved between her ass cheeks and pinched her nipples. She felt his tongue, hot and wet on the skin beneath her ear, felt massive thighs part hers and heard her own voice plead with him for release.

What frightened her most about the visions and the dreams was that she wasn't fighting to get away from the monster. She was clutching his muscular body to hers, arching her needy sex against him and urging him to fuck her. She was ravenous for it, for the scrape of sharp teeth over her breasts, the slap of heavy balls against her ass and a panting, gasping orgasm that left her breathless and trembling. And always alone.

She had to be going insane. Dreaming of sex with a monster, a creature that mounted her and took her body with reckless abandon--it was just not normal. Yet she craved it, and that's why she wanted to go out into the forest all alone. Not to exorcise the demon from her mind once and for all, but to see if it would come for her and give her what she craved.

To find out more about The Demon of Pelican Bluff, visit:

http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat/DemonPelicanBluff.html

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BOTW - More Than a Fantasy

More Than A Fantasy is part of the Forbidden Amber Pax published in May of 2006. While MTF is certainly erotic, I consider this one of my more romantic titles. You need to read it to find out why.

Forced into exile on a private Aegean island, Mara Zander longs for freedom. Prince Tiran of Atlantis has watched the red haired beauty from afar for weeks. When he breaks the centuries old law that forbids contact with humans, he discovers he'll have to compete with his brother, Poseidon, to win Mara's heart and set her free.

Five Angels! More Than A Fantasy is a wonderful short story with an imaginative plot, a delightful heroine, and two very intoxicating males. Bernadette Gardner has created a unique story centered around the desire to have your fantasy come true and what a wonderful experience it can be when it does. – Shayley, Fallen Angel Reviews

Excerpt from More Than A Fantasy by Bernadette Gardner

Copyright 2006, Amber Quill Press

http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat/MoreFantasy.html

The late-afternoon sun cast Mara's shadow, long and straight, ahead of her in the sand. She lay on her stomach, on a double-sized beach towel, with her back to the rising tide and watched a miniature crab dig itself a burrow one damp claw full of sand at a time.

A copy of Pride and Prejudice lay unopened next to her. She'd almost begun to read the book half a dozen times, but at the moment, the familiar story just didn't appeal to her. Not that watching a crab was so fascinating, but at least it was something she couldn't do in her apartment back home.

She crossed her arms and lay down her head, letting the breeze from the water lull her. Her breathing slowed and she fell instantly into the shallow sleep of boredom where her fantasies took shape.

When she lifted her head again, two shadows framed her own on the pale dunes. Startled, she pushed herself up and turned around, clutching her gauzy beach cover-up over her breasts.

Good Lord, this was already an excellent dream. Her vivid imagination had conjured two incredible male specimens.

The one on the left had hair the color of sun-bleached wheat and eyes like polished beryl. He was a mountain of ripped muscle--massive arms, broad chest, narrow hips. Naked and wet, he strolled toward her, a magnificent erection growing between his powerful legs with each determined stride.

The one on the right was her dark fantasy lover from yesterday. Bold blue eyes locked hers in a gaze she couldn't break. He matched the blond man step for step, muscle for muscle. His cock was longer, jutted higher, where the other's was thicker and tautly ridged like some exotic dildo.

Mara licked her lips. Which one would she have first? Maybe both at once?

Her hand dropped away from her cover-up and she arched her back so the material pulled away from her breasts. She spread her legs, wondering which one of them would reach her first.

Eenie meenie meinie--oh!

The blond one grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet.

"Tell me what you'd like me to do to you, woman," he said, then laughed. Mara didn't like the sound, but that didn't stop her from letting her thoughts roam to which way she'd let him have her first.

"We should let her choose, Poseidon," the dark one said. His blue eyes sparkled when he looked at her, and the sound of his voice made her shiver with pleasure. The blond's response just made her shiver.

"We chose her. Any female should feel honored by that, Tiran." He dragged her against his chest and banded her waist with his thick forearm. "Will you walk with me, or should I carry you somewhere where I can bed you properly?"

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