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Sunshine, secrets, and swoon-worthy stories—June's featured reads are your perfect summer escape.

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He doesn�t need a woman in his life; she knows he can�t live without her.


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A promise rekindled. A secret revealed. A second chance at the family they never had.


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A cowboy with a second chance. A waitress with a hidden gift. And a small town where love paints a brand-new beginning.


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She�s racing for a prize. He�s dodging romance. Together, they might just cross the finish line to love.


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She steals from the mob for justice. He�s the FBI agent who could take her down�or fall for her instead.


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He�s her only protection. She�s carrying his child. Together, they must outwit a killer before time runs out.


The Dare

The Dare, July 2005
by Susan Kearney

Tor
Featuring: Dora; Zical
360 pages
ISBN: 0765351927
Paperback
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"Entertaining and sexy sci-fi adventure."

Fresh Fiction Review

The Dare
Susan Kearney

Reviewed by Vicky Gilpin
Posted June 17, 2005

Fantasy | Science Fiction | Romance

In Kearney's previous book, THE CHALLENGE, readers met the computer with a human personality of gold, Dora. In THE DARE, Dora is just as mischievous as ever and even more bent on her goal of having intimate relations with the handsome Zical. On her mission, Dora "grows" a body in which to funnel her personality and some of her impressive mind. However, she can't take all of her mind with her and must leave most of her supercomputer abilities with a new personality. Though Dora's personal goal to be with Zical drives her desires to become human, when she does gain a body, she has plenty of other things to worry about: physical discomfort, emotions and a mission to save the galaxy from ancient protector machines. While growing as a person instead of a computer and helping with the mission, Dora also learns about the multiple layers of love and compassion woven into human relationships, those layers that transcend the physical. However, the physical activities have unexpected side- effects for a computer in human form. This book is a riot. It's a fun romp filled with playful sexuality and sci-fi adventure. The characters are well- drawn and the storylines are intriguing. THE DARE is easy to fall into even if one has not read THE CHALLENGE.

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SUMMARY

DORA WANTS TO MAKE LOVE Specifically, Dora wants to make love with the handsome Rystani warrior-pilot Zical. But since Dora is a computer-albeit a sentient computer-she cannot experience touch, taste and true desire. Dora's logic functions refuse to accept this, so she uses the advanced technology of the 24th century to build herself a body specifically crafted to appeal to Zical, and downloads her computer brain into it. But Dora's sassy attitude makes her too different from the women of Zical's culture. He's attracted to Dora, but he won't make love to her. And while it would be easy for Dora to adapt to his desires, she likes being smart and funny; she's becoming good at being human. When Zical accidentally summons the ancient machines that protect the galaxy from invasion, Dora's mission is to intercept them and bring them back to the galaxy's rim. Fortunately for Dora, this puts her and Zical into very close quarters for a very long time. But much has changed, and as Dora learns more about human emotions and what they mean, she realizes that she doesn't just want to make love with Zical--she wants to love him. And be loved in return.


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