Covert Game

Christine Feehan

Mar 2018 · A GhostWalker Novel Book 14 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Treason, torture and temptation haunt the GhostWalkers in their most dangerous adventure yet, as Christine Feehan's #1 New York Times bestselling series hits an explosive new high.

Rescuing an industrial spy from the hands of a criminal mastermind is a suicide mission for the GhostWalkers. And there's no one more up to the task than Gino Mazza. He's the perfect killing machine--a man driven by demons so dark and destructive that his blighted soul has given up trying to find solace. But his laser-sharp focus on his target has transformed into something nearing desire.

A treasonous senator dangled top secret GhostWalker data in front of a Chinese crime lord, and he bit. Zara Hightower, one of the world's leading experts on artificial intelligence, was sent in to psychically wipe the crime lord's computer network. She succeeded, but at a huge cost. Now she's the captive of a man who has descended into paranoid madness. Torture and death await her...

But GhostWalkers never leave one of their own in enemy territory. And it's up to Gino to save Zara, or kill her if it turns out she's led them into a trap. Either way, heaven or hell won't stop him...

Ratings and reviews

I always like Christine Feehans various series. I like the plots, the good versus evil. There is always hurt and sorrowful past, and you know there will be a rainbow at the end. That they will deal with pain, and their inner strength will prevail. The torture was a bit more graphic in this one, or I a really, really getting old. As always there is more than the required sex scene in detail after detail, of which I skim. I like investing in the characters, cheering them on , telling them to hold in their trials. Covert Game provides all that with a little scientific enhancement to boot. I would recommend this book, but its not for the faint of heart.

4.25 stars--COVERT GAME is the fourteenth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary adult GHOSTWALKERS paranormal, romantic suspense series focusing on an elite group of ‘genetically enhanced’ men and women known as the GhostWalkers. These ‘super soldiers’ were once part of an unauthorized government experiment performed by Dr. Peter Whitney-a man tantamount to evil incarnate. This is GhostWalker/hunter Gino ‘Phantom Wind’ Mazza, and industrial spy/GhostWalker Zara Hightower’s story line. COVERT GAME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion. WARNING: COVERT GAME contains very descriptive scenes of graphic violence and torture that may not be suitable for all readers. Told from dual third person perspectives (Zara and Gino) COVERT GAME follows the abduction, torture and eventual rescue of enhanced female Zara Hightower. Considered a genius in the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence), Zara was Dr. Whitney’s pawn; an industrial spy whose special abilities superseded what the evil doctor considered her glaring failures. Sent to ‘download’ a file about the GhostWalkers, from Chinese crime lord Mr. Cheng, Zara found herself trapped by a man, Bolan Zhu, whose reputation in specialized torture preceded our heroine’s visit to Shanghai. What ensues is the rescue and recovery of our Zara Hightower; the building relationship and romance between our leading couple; and the fall-out when several teams of Whitney’s enhanced soldiers, and Bolan Zhu, are sent to recapture our story line heroine.The relationship between Gino and Zara is one of immediate attraction but unlike the earlier GhostWalker story lines there is no proof that the attraction is chemically connected or fated by enhanced DNA. Gino is an alpha male; a dominant man who is quick to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love but a dominance that appears to be genetically matched to our heroine’s submissive personality. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.COVERT GAME is a story of power, abuse, betrayal and revenge. As the series continues to develop the author has changed the original direction of the series in that the enhanced soldiers no longer need or require a ‘female’ to anchor their abilities (Team 1); and the most recent instalment does not confirm or deny the existence of genetically matched DNA between two unsuspecting GhostWalkers, both changes the author addresses in the current story line.I would also like to point out the author continues to justify Trap’s abusive behaviour in Spider Game (GhostWalker #12) as a by-product of Asperger’s Syndrome –a plot point that was never mentioned in Trap’s story line- Spider Game- but has been addressed in the last two instalments in an effort, I believe, to appease the many negative comments and reviews about Trap’s abusive and controlling behaviour. In this, there is also much talk between the heroines, throughout Covert Game, rationalizing and accepting their mates’ controlling behaviour-something I see as the author, once again, as trying to defend her male characters’ less than favourable characteristics. I do not have a problem with alpha males in my ‘fictional’ story lines but the increase in controlling and somewhat abusive behaviour is something the author is most likely trying to address and explain via her female leads. COVERT GAME is a suspenseful and action packed story line. Gino will seek retribution for the woman he loves, retribution that is equal to the torture inflicted upon our story line heroine. The premise is startling, dramatic and intense; the characters are intelligent, complex and charismatic; the romance is intimate and emotional. COVERT GAME is an intriguing and fascinating look at the paranormal.

The GhostWalkers are back in another exhilarating book, one where I was completely thrilled to read. There was lots of action and adventure that got my blood pumping and intriguing suspense that had me biting my nails and the chemistry is off the charts electrifying. Gino and Zara are strong, exciting characters that stir emotions and captivate readers with their story. The romance is sweet but oh so hot with Gino’s alpha protective personality and Zara’s tough but sweet vulnerable personality, so they are a bit opposite but it works fantastic for them as it sure generates some raging hot heat and keeps readers enthralled with the relationship as it grows. Hair raising suspense builds from the very beginning as Zara finds herself in hot water and keeps right on building throughout the story which keeps readers on the edge with lots of thrills. Whitney is back of course with his usual tricks and total disregard for human life but the GhostWalkers have a new set of enemies that were introduced in Power Game and let me tell you I would to blow this bad guy to smithereens. There is lots of danger with explosive action throughout the book and also a disturbing torture scene involving Zara that adds to the emotional impact of this fast paced plot. Christine Feehan is one my favorite authors and the GhostWalkers world is of my top favorites. It is paranormal but it is also a tough action series that really gets the adrenaline pumping and makes hearts pound with some uber hot and sexy heroes and heroines. Covert Game is definitely that and more and there was no way I could put it down until I had read every last exhilarating page, of course, my family was not very happy about this and kept trying to interrupt but Gino and Zara held my complete attention.

About the author

Christine Feehan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Carpathian series, the GhostWalker series, the Leopard series, the Shadow Riders series, and the Sea Haven novels, including the Drake Sisters series and the Sisters of the Heart series.