Sneak Peek Excerpt: PHANTOM CORPS: INSATIABLE
Jan
8
2010

INSATIABLE is set in my Federation world and it’s Daniel’s story. We meet Daniel in Relentless, he’s Abbie’s brother. INSATIABLE is the first in a mini-series called Phantom Corps, the name of the team of operatives Daniel has been part of since he was plucked out of lock up by Wilhelm Ellis (in charge of all branches of the Federation military corps). War is coming and tensions are heightened.

Desire is the most dangerous sensation of all.

With tensions between the Federation and Imperial ‘Verses rising, one woman may hold the key to victory. The dangerous mission to smuggle her out of Imperial Territory falls to Daniel Haws and his team, the ultra secret Phantom Corps. This elite squad of the Federation Military is the only one trusted and skilled enough to remove her from under the watchful eye of her father, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial ‘Verses.

Carina is used to wearing a mask. Her father and his men think her little more than a pretty prize to be won by a man more ruthless than the rest. When he announces his intention to marry her to one of his henchmen, a man known for his cruelty, Carina knows she has to move as soon as possible to get out. But getting secret information to the Federation has served her well for years and she appeals to them for help.

She expected rescue from a man who’d been her enemy. But she wasn’t prepared for just how intense her attraction to Daniel Haws would be. Born as adversaries into different ranks, and on the run for their lives, they now need each other to survive–by holding on to the only thing they have in common: a growing desire that is dangerous, irresistible, and insatiable…

PHANTOM CORPS: INSATIABLE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Group
Releasing July 6!

Despite the summons she’d received from her father, Carina stared out the windows of her bedroom, looking down the long, steep line of the rampart and into the courtyard below. The late afternoon suns sent warmth over her face, even through the darkened glass. A warmth she didn’t feel inside. Inside she was cold. Always cold, alert, scheming, listening and keeping her mask firmly in place. The penalty for slipping was something she kept close to her heart every moment of every day.

Not many people were outside at this point of the day. The heat drove them into the shade of the arches and into the buildings. They’d congregate in the cafes and taverns until the first sunset and the heat wore away. The local taverns were raucous, filled with noise and laughter and the sharp scent of the spices used for the mulled wine. She’d always wanted to spend some time in one, but the best she got was observing from across a square or through the plasglass.

Over the years, she’d observed life far more often than she’d lived it. Observing was her one guilty pleasure.

A muted sort of yearning stole over her, as it always did, as she continued to stare at the scene below, wondering how they felt, if any of them felt normal or whole.

What she wanted so much was the space in her life when she didn’t have to pretend. Exhaustion at keeping up a false identity every waking moment had taken over her life in ways she hated, but couldn’t seem to stop. She searched her memories and realized she couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t constantly fear for her life.

She exhaled hard. It did no good to be morose and she didn’t have the luxury of it anyway. Feeling sorry for yourself never made a difference, it never made anything better. In truth, her life was far better than most, she needed to remember that.

Taking a deep breath, she sipped a glass of juice and continued to watch the scene below and mull over the changes. Earlier she’d been out, returning from the room where she taught sums to some of the local children. She stopped at a stall, one of her favorites where the couple brought in freshly farmed gourds and purri fruit. Today though, it had been bread. Her farmer couple had been gone and they all pretended not to notice the difference. That she went along with it had slashed through her heart. Every time something like that happened and no one spoke of it, it eroded their society even more. She was just as guilty as anyone else and it stuck to her like filth she could not rinse away.

Something inside her was broken. The fissures had widened and she wondered what it might be like to feel whole, tried to remember if she ever had and failed.

16 comments to “Sneak Peek Excerpt: PHANTOM CORPS: INSATIABLE”

  1. Lori
    January 8th, 2010 at 7:08 pm · Link

    Me want! Thanks for posting another excerpt.

    And hey, I just noticed that as hot as the cover is, what’s up with his belly button? But that scruff. Yummmmm.



  2. Melissa
    January 8th, 2010 at 9:10 pm · Link

    OMG, Lauren ~~ you always hit the cover JACKPOT! That is awesome…I’m drooling, not just over the excerpt, but the damn cover!! YEAH!!! Oh, and I can over look that belly button thing, lol…his abs SO make up for it!!



  3. ShellBell
    January 9th, 2010 at 2:11 am · Link

    Is it July yet?



  4. Meg
    January 9th, 2010 at 6:45 am · Link

    Hot ! It gets more and more torturous to wait for your next book !!! 😕



  5. Tamsyn T.
    January 9th, 2010 at 7:30 am · Link

    Wow, hot cover! Watching out for it!



  6. Diane Sadler
    January 9th, 2010 at 9:20 am · Link

    really ice cover and the book preview is great!



  7. ~ames~
    January 9th, 2010 at 9:47 am · Link

    The cover gods have struck again! That’s such a great cover. But July? That’s so far away!



  8. Collette
    January 9th, 2010 at 10:06 am · Link

    That cover is…oh my. And thanks for the excerpt.



  9. limecello
    January 9th, 2010 at 10:06 am · Link

    I. Cannot. Wait. For. This. Book.
    Period.
    :mrgreen:



  10. Lauren
    January 9th, 2010 at 12:38 pm · Link

    His belly button is partially an outtie, and his belly is so flat and muscled it shows more than it would on another dude.

    Thanks everyone, for all the great comments. I too, love this cover with all my heart. I have been so very fortunate with my Berkley covers – they do such a great job every single time.



  11. Mary G
    January 9th, 2010 at 4:38 pm · Link

    I know its content that matters & you’re a wonderful writer but that cover is… WOW.



  12. Christine
    January 9th, 2010 at 4:54 pm · Link

    Another great cover. Another great installment to the series. Can’t wait



  13. HelenKay Dimon
    January 10th, 2010 at 6:10 pm · Link

    I am ridiculously excited for this book!! Thanks for posting a sneak peek.



  14. Sabrina
    January 11th, 2010 at 7:46 am · Link

    Sounds great. Can’t wait for July.



  15. azteclady
    January 11th, 2010 at 9:54 am · Link

    What Ms Dimon said! isitjulyyet???? :mrgreen:



  16. Tabitha
    January 17th, 2010 at 5:07 pm · Link

    I can’t decide what I’m drooling for more — the guy on the cover or the story. Lol!