The Challenge
Authors: Susan Kearney
Novels by Susan Kearney from Bell Bridge Books
The Challenge
“Kearney is a master storyteller.”
—Virginia Henley, New York Times bestselling author
“From the first page Kearney captures the reader.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“Looking for something different? A futuristic romance: Susan Kearney’s THE CHALLENGE gave me a new perspective .
. . love and sex in the future!”
—Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
“Sizzling sex and rousing adventure easily combine to produce a truly spicy and fun futuristic tale. The multi-talented Kearney’s story sparkles with excitement and thrills.”
—Romantic Times BookClub Magazine
“The sexual tension and scenes in this book are hot, hot, hot, and sure to delight readers who enjoy the mix of romance and futuristic elements.”
—The Romance Reader’s Connection
“A one-sitting read, purely enjoyable and very enthralling. Ms. Kearney brings this story vividly to life and makes a reader think. One hundred percent recommended for readers who love sci-fi/futuristic romance. I hated to see this story end.”
—Road To Romance
“The Challenge is well written and riveting and worthy of recommendations to all but the most reserved reader.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“The Challenge is a gripping story, from beginning to end. Tessa and Kahn have intriguing layers and the supporting characters are very engaging. The action never lets up, and when things turn romantic, the pages steam with heat. So, if you want to experience a sci-fi romance, but are not quite sure, give The Challenge a try. If you love sci-fi, then this book should be on your auto-buy list, along with the sequel, The Dare.”
—A Romance Review, Five Roses
Kiss Me Deadly
Dancing With Fire
The Challenge (Rystani Warrior 1)
The Dare (Rystani Warrior 2)
The Ultimatum (Rystani Warrior 3)
The Quest (Rystani Warrior 4)
Island Heat
Solar Heat
Rystani Warrior 1
by
Susan Kearney
Bell Bridge Books
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or locations is entirely coincidental.
Bell Bridge Books
PO BOX 300921
Memphis, TN 38130
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-61194-309-2
Print ISBN: 978-1-61194-285-9
Bell Bridge Books is an Imprint of BelleBooks, Inc.
Copyright © 2004 by Hair Express, Inc.
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
A mass market edition of this book was originally published by Tor in 2004
We at BelleBooks enjoy hearing from readers.
Visit our websites – www.BelleBooks.com and www.BellBridgeBooks.com.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cover design: Tara Adkins
Interior design: Hank Smith
Photo credits:
Male (manipulated) © Tara Adkins
Female (manipulated) © Tara Adkins
Rocks (manipulated) © NASA, ESA, STScI, J. Hester and P. Scowen (Arizona State University) - http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/pr1995044a
Stars (manipulated) © NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration -
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/nebula/pr2007034b/npp/all/
:Mctf:01:
For Mom, in loving Memory. You were the best!
Sometimes it takes years to make a dream become a reality or to turn an idea into a book. I wish I could tell you the process was easy. It wasn’t. I wish I could say that I never received a rejection, but I could have wallpapered my bathroom with all those rejections. I wish I could have told you I sold the first book I ever wrote—well I did . . . sort of.
The Challenge
was completed in 1992. However, at the time, publishers weren’t buying sexy, paranormal romances. I could claim I was ahead of my time, but the truth was that to tell this story I had to hone my craft. After selling thirty-eight books to New York publishers, I finally sold the first story I ever wrote.
The Challenge
went into multiple printings and led to the Rystani Warrior Series,
The Challenge, The Dare, The Ultimatum
and
The Quest.
The Rystani Warriors are special to me, not just because they were alpha warriors who fell in love with smart, sexy women, but because I could finally write my favorite kind of romance—stories set in the future. I’m happy to tell you that I’ve tweaked the books and the Rystani Series is once again back in print as well as available digitally.
Eventually, I hope to have all my stories available online.
Best,
Susan Kearney
“GUN! Brown trench coat at two o’clock. Five yards.” Tessa Camen, SAIC, special agent in charge, spoke clearly into her microphone, pinpointing the threat. It figured today had to be the day someone came after the president. But nobody was going to take out POTUS on her watch. No way in hell.
Tessa observed the counter sniper team on the roof zeroing-in on the shooter. Uniformed division officers dispersed through the crowd.
If only she had more time to remove the president from the danger. But instinct told Tessa that she had only split seconds to act.
Tessa uncoiled her bunched thigh muscles. Launching her body, twisting in the air, she tackled the president, covering the short politician’s body with her own.
They went down hard. Rolled behind the podium for cover. The president let out a gasp.
At least the president was still breathing. So far, so good.
The audience screamed and stampeded, creating a rioting mass exodus. Cries became wails as people bolted for the exits.
Tessa drew her Sig Sauer P229 from the holster, crawled over the president’s body, and positioned her torso between the shooter and the president. POTUS was not going to die. Not today. Not on Tessa’s detail.
Shots blasted, the noise deafening, the reek of gunpowder strong and bitter. Bullets raked the stage, shattering lights, shredding the curtains. Agents returned fire. The podium splintered into bits of wood. The audience bolted through smoke that clung like a shroud.
Shards of concrete stung Tessa’s face, neck, and hands. She blinked the blood from her eyes. “You hit, Madam President?”
“I don’t . . .” The supreme commander’s face was pale, her eyes wide with shock. But no blood. Only superficial scratches.
Safe
. The satisfying thought offered Tessa only a measure of relief. “Stay still. I’ll be getting you out of here shortly.”
