Nola Rule's prime directive is to sleep with Tarrant Kane, in order to harvest his sperm for the bio-company In-Teron. A beautiful, intelligent, and driven woman, it doesn't take her long to catch his eye. Her plan is to make him wild for desire for her, and she has an arsenal at her fingertips, including an aphrodisiac patch designed to increase passion for both of them.

Tarrant Kane wants nothing more than to be left alone. Newly retired from his job as a war-machine, he's earned his rest. But when Nola begins her plan to entice him into bed, he can't help but notice her. And even though he's well aware he's being manipulated he'd be an idiot not to play along, because Nola and Tarrant have so much chemistry they don't need the patch — although they use it anyway.

Once the specimen collectors implanted in Nola's uterus are full, her mission should be over. Only, in this case, things have just begun, as the implanted clones of Tarrant Kane put her life in danger. In more ways than one. Can Nola survive long enough to convince Tarrant she isn't the enemy, despite everything she's done?

Even though Nola sets out, very deliberately, to use Tarrant, it's hard not to like her, especially as her motivation becomes clear. Both characters are survivors, and their painful pasts give them a tenderness — a likeability — not obvious from their jobs. It also gives them something in common, which helps forge a connection between the two.

The sex between these two is hot , and Nola has valid reasons to persuade Tarrant into her bed and Tarrant little reason to say no. Since their physical connection is first, and very strong, the emotional connection is almost assumed. However, Ms Gardner doesn't leave it at ‘they've had great sex, they must like each other'. No, she makes them work for the emotional bond they form, which makes them much more three dimensional than the premise might lead you to believe.

I'm certainly a fan of Ms Gardner's work, and A Calculated Risk will not disappoint anyone looking for a sexy, thrilling sci-fi adventure.

Created for Romance Divas :: www.romancedivas.com :: © 2006