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 … 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…
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Loved it
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.
Covert Game is intriguing and dangerous.
I have loved every single novel by Christine Feehan. Each of her stories and characters are unique, and Christine allows the reader to immerse themselves into the world she has writes. Her grasp of the English language, along with the research she has done for the settings, welcomes all who read the words into the world.
Covert Game is intriguing and dangerous. Gino is articulate and precise. Zara is smart and capable. The novel kept me on the edge of my seat, each page turning faster than the next.
I can’t wait for Christine’s next masterpiece!Covert Game
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.
Team Four never expected to honor one of Dr. Whitney’s requests but the rescue of Zara Hightower meant the rescue of one of their own. Prepared for anything, Gino Mazza suspected the rescue was a trap, but a trap that found our hero falling in love.
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.
Most of GhostWalker Team Four (and their significant others) play secondary and supporting characters: Diego Campo, Draden Freeman, Ezekiel Fortunes, Team leader Joe Spagnola, Malichai and Mordichai Fortunes, Trap Dawkins, Rubin Campo and Wyatt Fontenot, along with Wyatt’s Nonny Grace Fontenot.
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.
Most of the recent male GhostWalkers volunteered for the genetic enhancements such that to blame the doctor for many of their problems is not necessarily true but Dr. Whitney’s ongoing experiments with the female GhostWalkers, many of whom were abducted and tortured at an early age, is still quite prevalent throughout the series. As well, our heroine appears to have no psychic power, or the ability to communicate psychically with the man that she loves, something that wasn’t addressed in this particular 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.
Love all this author’s books. Characters that have depth and plots that keep me reading and caring
Loved this book, love this series!
I really enjoyed this book. It is a continuation of characters that we have met in previous books. It is a story of good and evi!. Good wins out.
This book is exactly what fans of the series will expect. With the Ghost Walkers you know what you’re getting-its just a matter of how you get there.
One of fav authors……LOVE this series!!!!!!!
Ah, Gino. You’ve finally met the woman that makes you whole. And Zara can finally be at peace with who she is, and not have to live her life for Whitney.
Zara’s brain, beauty, poise and sweetness are her allure. Gino is definitely a dominant man and Zara brings him to his knees. Almost before he met her, he knew she was his. His match, his hope, his missing piece. Zara’s submissive nature has been hidden to all but Gino…and Bolan Zhu.
Not only is Whitney after her, so is Bolan Zhu. He lost her once to a GhostWalker rescue mission and he’s determined to get her back. But Gino isn’t going to let that happen. Retribution.
I really enjoyed Gino and Zara’s story and the chance to get together again with Trap and Cayenne, Zeke and Bellisia, Wyatt and Pepper, Nonny, Joe and Draden. They are beyond a team. They are family.
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.
If its a Christine Feehan book then you can not got wrong.
I love all the “Game” books. The characters are unique and their paranormal abilities are interesting. I like following the recurring theme in each book trying to finally deal with the “ good” doctor in spite of his connections.
Another awesome Ghostwalker novel never disappoints
I listened to this one out of order since I could not get any of the others…sigh…I was not disappointed other than missing some puzzle pieces but was able to figure out somewhat. I have enjoyed every book in this series, even those I have revisited. This is a new one for me. Zara was taken prisoner and rescued by a team and Gino took it upon himself to make sure he took care of her. That was not a hardship for him and the bonds were strong. She has psychic abilities like a computer and Dr. Whitney wants her back because of the information she stole and is stored on the chip in her brain and Chen wants her back after he took her prisoner because he is sick and likes to cause pain. Gino is not going to let either have her. Definitely one that cannot be missed!
Zara and Gino were a good couple. Gino helped Zara heal, both physically and mentally, and gave her safety and freedom. While she was submissive she wasn’t a pushover. Zara was strong but sensitive. She could fight, was super smart, had a deadly venom but wanted peace. K really liked her.
Gino was the strong, mysterious, quiet type. He was the Phantom of the team. But underneath he was a teddy bear, at least to Zara. Overall, a good book and I look forward to the next one.
Love the Ghostwalker series!
Christine Feehan is still one of my favorite authors and I was pleased with Covert Game which is a Ghostwalker book. Awesome series, very intriguing and definitely a page Turner for sure
Covert Game started off really quick with our heroine Zara Hightower in China getting ready to deliver a speech about artificial intelligence to a Fortune 500 foreign company. However, not everything is as it seems! Zara is a secret agent placed there to steal secrets from Cheng’s (said business owner) computers while simultaneously giving her AI speech. (You may ask how that can be? Let’s just say she’s got more in her head than her wit and common sense!) Of course things go wrong, Zara is held captive and tortured (pretty horrifically!) and our Ghostwalker team with hunky hero Gino Mazza come in to rescue her from captivity to the evil Bolan Zhu who wants her for his personal submissive. Like I said, it got off to a really quick start!
I liked Zara a lot. She was plucky, held out against telling secrets while being tortured and just an overall good person. These were my thoughts pre-Gino, anyways. Our hero Gino is introduced to us as a very conflicted guy. Orphaned and brought up by his uncle who is a Crime Lord, Gino is a Ghostwalker with his cousin Joe. Raised together, he always had his cousin’s back. Joe wasn’t in this novel too much, but my understanding is that although he is the leader of these Ghostwalker’s he’s a pretty likable guy. Gino, not so much. Other than when with his brothers in arms, Gino flies solo. Think dark, broody, silent type hero. When they receive their mission to save Zara, he becomes slightly obsessed. Once she is in his hands he doesn’t let go and she doesn’t want him to, becoming totally dependent upon him for her safety. What happened to plucky heroine Zara? Well, she did get the sh*& kicked out of her, but she absolutely dissolved. I hated that for her. Gino wasn’t that bad a guy, he actually cared for her, but he really wanted her under his thumb and she allowed herself to be there.
Now, before everyone goes crazy on me I will back down a bit. You can read a novel like this and take it two ways. One, there is someone for everyone. Gino had a rough life, so did Zara, and they seemed to need what the other person was capable of giving. Sounds pretty reasonable. I fell into the other column. To me, Zara was a victim that wanted a strong man to take care of her and Gino was that guy who wanted to keep his woman safe and dominated. I was so conflicted! I really don’t like love stories where the woman is a victim. Covert Game started off really good, but the middle was a muddled mess, and then the action amped back up and gave the story a purpose again. A mixed bag for me. How do you rate a novel that was well written but just did not hit any of my hot buttons? It was a fantasy so I gave it some leeway, but please Ms. Feehan give women a role model in their heroine, not a doormat. For those of you who don’t have trouble reading victim love stories, you’ll love this one. Don’t let my opinion turn you away.
Another one of the ghost walkers books, a good series.