Book Binge

Casee's review of Ruthless Game (GhostWalkers, Book 9) by Christine Feehan.

Ghostwalker Kane Cannon is pure male—animalistic, sexual, protective, instinctive—and his past missions have prepared him for anything. But his newest assignment, to rescue hostages in Mexico , plunges him into a hot zone he never anticipated: the hiding place of Rose Patterson—fugitive, ex-lover, a fellow Ghostwalker pregnant with his child.

Rose is in flight from the insidious experiments that still live in her dreams, and from the madman who’d do anything to take her child. Of all the Ghostwalkers enlisted to hunt her down, Kane is the only one she can trust. But as their passion reignites, the stakes are raised. Because Kane is now a wanted man as well. And together they’re about to face the most desperate challenge of all: staying together and staying alive.

I just finished this book today and wanted to review it first thing. That is somewhat unusual these days because I tend to procrastinate when it comes to reviews. Usually I let it stew for a few days and something that really bugged me didn't really bug me when I look at it from another perspective. That's not going to happen in this case, so I thought what the hell? I might as well get all my bitterness out in the open.

Back in this WAYR post, I mentioned that the GhostWalkers are basically Carpathians, but they're humans with psychic ability. The only thing we haven't been informed of yet is that they live very long lives because of Peter Whitney's experiments. I'm sure that will be coming any day. They're hunted. They're genetically matched with someone of the opposite gender against their will. They have to keep the differences about themselves a secret or they would be persecuted. They have spechual powers. The men are overbearing arseholes. The women are strong, but the sex is good so they stay. Are you catching my drift?

Rose is a special breed (haha-pun intended) of GhostWalker. She was put in Whitney's breeding program because he's a sociopathic weirdo who wants to breed the perfect super-solider. The man is completely off his rocker. He pairs Rose with Kane, letting Rose think it was her choice when in actuality he was pulling the strings the entire time. Rose didn't realize it until later which makes the guilt she feels even worse. I don't believe it was ever made clear exactly how Rose got away from Whitney, but she did escape. Pregnant with Kane's child and determined to protect her baby.

Several months go by. Kane knows Rose is somewhere in the world, but doesn't know where. He has been looking for her with no luck. When he goes into Mexico to retrieve some hostages with his team, he's shocked to find that Rose is the informant. He immediately decides to take charge because that's what men do. Kane had a serious hard-on about Rose doing anything other than what he considered appropriate for women to do. Probably knitting and wringing her hands while waiting for him to get home.

The woman he finds is not the same woman that he expects. Rose has been on her own for a long time and is used to protecting herself. Kane finds that utterly unacceptable while Rose finds his arrogance overbearing, but her happiness at seeing him again is overwhelming. So is the guilt since she knows that she is the one that is responsible for attaching him to her. She hasn't figured out that it was all a part of Whitney's diabolical plan.

This review is already too long as it is and we're not even halfway through the book yet. Eventually Kane has to concede that Rose is capable of protecting herself and is a solider just like most GhostWalkers are. I just found his attitude intolerable. Insufferable. I don't know how Rose could stand him. Yes, he was the father of her children. And there was the whole genetic thing. And the sex. Other than that, I would have kicked him to the curb.

One of the good things about the book (there were good things) was seeing Rose surrounded by Kane's ragtag family. They all looked out for each other and they didn't hesitate to take Rose in once they knew that she wasn't going to kill Kane. That was really beautiful to see especially since Rose was such an outcast and not used to such closeness.

3 out of 5.

This book is available from Jove. You can buy it here.

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