Covert Game (A GhostWalker Novel)

Zara Hightower is the world's leading genius in artificial intelligence and is sent by Dr Whitney to still Intel back from a dangerous Chinese businessman. She is held prisoner and the ghostwalkers are sent on a suicide mission to rescue her. Gino Mazzo, one of the ghostwalkers, is drawn to Zara instantly and is determined to save her and love her. Treason, love, a fixated psychopath, and family; this book has it all. This is another great sequel to the ghostwalker series. Get it now!

Hard alpha male meets soul-strong submissive who doesn't mind letting him keep her safe & not being a warrior-woman like the other ghostwalker girls in this series. As always the pages the. A d it's hard to put down any Christine Feehan books. As one of !y most favorite author and series, I'm never disappointed in the story and it is always written so well you know the depth of your characters and their struggles! Amazing!!! Just read!

I can never deny myself any of her books. No matter what series it is, I am there as soon as they are released. I have had some disappointments with some storylines but must have taken me on adventures only she can. Now I am enthralled in the rescue of Zara, an expert on artificial intelligence. Gino, the gang and I must rescue her or kill her depending on what we find. But we are at a loss for words when Gino takes control of Zara and refuses to let her go. Enemies are abound, a Chinese crime lord and his personal torturer as well as the creator of the Ghostwalkers. Who must we kill to make Zara safe? Apparently, a lot of people!!!!

Usually I read the ghost walker series books straight thru. This one was difficult for me due to the graphic description of sadistic torture. If a movie or tv you can close your eyes but when you read you can’t close the images in your mind. I really enjoy the ghost walkers, leopard, carpathians Feehan has given us. I really think the vampires and evil beings deserve what is dealt to them. I have a hard time when it is people being hurt. May not affect you the same. The story is good, there is good verses evil, there are tender love scenes. So go ahead and try to get past the parts that bother me.

Christine Feehan did it again! Creating an exhilarating story where the good guys win and live happily ever after and the bad guys....well you know the rest. I suggest everyone to read Zara and Gino’s story! I loved every word of this action packed, suspenseful and extremely steamy romance!

It's one of the best of the ghostwalker series! Finished in one setting. Can't wait for Shylah or Joe's story. Zara is not a superhero like the other heroine but she strong and loyal in ways that's heroic and make her human and easier to relate with in reality

I love Christine Feehan but I feel like this should be the final game in the series. The writing seriously lacked quality, was very repetitive in saying descriptives over and over, because it was obvious what she had was very thin so she was just trying to stretch it. Towards a painfully dull point 2/3rds thru this gal who a spy and a brain like Whitney rsyher than a fighter like the other gals

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.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Is this what a NYTimes bestseller looks like? Awful writing, ridiculous porn, with big doses of sadism thrown in to pad out a plot that's no longer than 20 pages.

I'm guessing Feehan's writing hasn't improved over 13 books and that her publisher has no editors on staff.

The book features a character that can talk to computers as long as the computers are on wifi. She talks them into giving up their data, which she stores in a device in her brain. But for some unaccountable reason, she can't talk to the computer in her brain until someone finds the password although all the other computers she has penetrated are also password-protected. Super dumb.

I was somewhat disappointed with this book. First of all, it was repetitive. Both as compared to other books in the series, and in terms of repeating the same inner dialogues. Recent books by Ms. Feehan have a lot of things in common. You could replace one MC with another and most of the time dialogues and actions would still make sense. Mostly because, with several exceptions, the men and the women are very much alike and have the same major problems, insecurities and fears. Also towards the end of the book Gino really started to annoy me with all that 'I am dark and bad and yada yada'. I wanted to see more development in his thinking and view about himself. Secondly, I missed progress on the macro level. It felt as if the series did not move forward at all with this book.

What saved this book for me was the conflict between Zara, Gino and Bellisia. It was not major but it did add the additional theme of 'do what works for you, even if others do not understand'. If not for that, I would have rated it 2 stars, although the writing style is great, but charaters are no longer distinct and plot is somewhat blury.

The only reason the major give 4/5 stars in my opinion is that they love reading about violence and rape of women. So very sad that this is what she writes to please the current trend of readers. From the beginning I so enjoyed her books regardless of the series. They made me laugh and cry. Not anymore. Good bye to another author.

I loved this book. Zara the ultimate spy is sent in to retrieve data on the GhostWalker Project, as well as wiping all the computers of a paranoid megalomaniac . Even tho she knows that this may be her last mission she is willing to sacrifice herself to protect the others in the project.
Gino is the ultimate killing machine, to others he seems cold, hard, and totally devoid of feelings but when his team is called upon to rescue Zara by the very person who created the GhostWalkers, Dr Peter Whitney, he questions why this operative is so important. Gino goes above and beyond to learn about Zara before the rescue even takes place and what he finds is a woman that makes him want things he never thought possible.
Covert Game is a tough read in some aspects due to the nature of the torture inflicted on Zara but even throughout the torture what we see is a woman that is honestly one of the strongest female characters in this series, who also has one of the coolest enhancements within the GhostWalkers.
Can Gino and Zara overcome adversity to find their happily ever after or will outside forces win? Can Gino reconcile his beliefs with what Zara sees in him? Will the good guys or the bad guys prevail? All will be revealed in Covert Game, the newest installment to the GhostWalker series.
You definitely don't want to miss this one

I wanted to love this book... We didn’t see the series move forward. What we got was controlling men, a submissive woman, an evil but surmountable villain, etc. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. The weak character development and stuck storyline seems to be a recurring theme in Ms. Feehan’s novels lately. There is no denying she is a brilliant author with multiple great series - most of which I have read every released book. The series now appear to be stuck on autopilot.

This is book 14 in this series and you absolutely need to read the previous books or you may be lost on certain things! This one is about Gino Mazza and Zara Hightower. Gino is a part of Zeke's team (Power Game) and we also heard about Zara in that book as well. Zara was sent into a Chinese terrorist's fortress to steal his intel and wipe out any mention of the Ghostwalkers. While on her mission the alarms are triggered and since she is the only stranger on site, she is interrogated and tortured. Gino and part of his team are sent in to rescue her. His team leader has told them if she is an innocent then she needs to be protected but if she is a traitor then she needs to be eliminated. She is rescued however, now there are two different factions hunting her for the information that she has. And the race is on to keep her safe from both.

I loved this book! Once I started it I couldn't put it down. Gino always seemed like he was cold as ice. You never really knew what was going on in his head other than he needed to protect his team. But then he meets Zara and you realize that yes, he is extremely Alpha and protective but know that it's because of how much he holds inside. Zara is completely different than most of the heroine's in this series in that she is not a fighter. She is scared of just about everything and would prefer not to have to make the hard decisions even though she is smarter than most people can ever hope to be. She is naturally submissive. It's just the way she is wired. That's not to say she won't fight if she is forced to do it, but she would prefer not to. She reminded me of the old style 50's housewife. And that's not a bad thing when it works for the people involved. And it absolutely worked for these two! I loved them together! I loved how no matter how scared Zara gets Gino is always there to help her through it. And it didn't matter whether it was her "sister" or the crazy people after her! I love how he still treats her as an individual with her own thoughts and feelings and even though he likes the way she is, he still wants her to know that her opinion matters to him the most. I even loved how they handled what he did towards the end! Perfect for each other in every way! I am really, really hoping we see Shylah's story next! And can I hope that she is with Drayden? Of course I want to see all of the rest of the team members get their HEA's too! All of them!! Including Joe!!

Number 14 in the Ghostwalker series, clearly Ms. Feehan knows her craft well. It is not necessary to have read the previous books as explanations are given for who and what the characters are in this world of physically and psychically enhanced elite super soldiers, scientists, and spies. COVERT GAME is an action thriller series with paranormal elements.

Zara Hightower was raised in a compound by the creator of all these super enhanced people and still works for him though not willingly. Dr. Whitney seems to be a decidedly evil Dr. Frankenstein type of fellow who only cares for his own work and glory. Zara’s skill is industrial espionage and developing artificial intelligence. She is a genius at what she does on both fronts being able to communicate telepathically with computers. Zara’s assignment to infiltrate the data network of a Chinese crime lord turns into a mélange of torture and suffering before she is rescued by members of the Ghostwalker team who have left Whitney’s control. One of the members, Gino Mazza, a doctor, but also antithetically an assassin, sets out to save Grace from the psychopathic businessman holding her hostage in Shanghai. Once rescued, she needs much physical and emotional healing while staying in the Fontenot compound deep in the swamps of Louisiana. Zara is too valuable of an asset to be left alone by the sadistic Zhu or Whitney, so several attempts are made to recover her with deadly consequences. Gino sees Zara as the woman who will rescue him as well from his own personal darkness. She is his to love and protect which he will do with his own life if necessary.

This story is a very intense ride with some very gritty elements of torture and abuse juxtaposed with a group of people, the renegade Ghostwalkers, who have overcome their own difficult situations becoming a family that cares for and protects one another. Clearly, Ms. Feehan really does her research well. In this case not only artificial intelligence, but the seamy underworld of human trafficking in countries where the monsters are not paranormals; but, humans who use and abuse others with seeming impunity.

The heroine has found herself in a dangerous situation being held by a ruthless man. She is one of Dr. Whitney's GhostWalkers and still works for him. She is highly intelligent, educated, an expert in the field of artificial intelligence and machines, and a corporate spy. She has some enhanced skills as well, but also some inherent weaknesses. And she has been conditioned to feel unworthy. She is in trouble and the team just cannot leave a GhostWalker in peril no matter what the circumstances.

The "hero" or perhaps her "Guardian Devil" has been trained all his life to be deadly. He has a coldness about him that he is not sure can be eradicated. He has more money that he knows what to do with, but despises what money does to people. He tends to fade into the background especially darkness and nature, and not draw attention.

He knows that if he ever finds a woman, he could not handle her being one like the other GhostWalker women that will fight beside the men. He needs something different...someone calming in order to soothe his demons and someone for him to be able to protect, take care of, and give her everything. She needs someone to make her feel worthy and needed...and someone she can trust to make her feel safe. On the surface they seem to be opposites, but they actually fit together quite well despite the fact that not everyone is happy about the idea of them being being together.

This mission will involve most of the team while taking on old and new enemies and trying to keep her, their group, and some important information safe. They are surrounded by multiple threats, danger, and several antagonists so there is plenty of action and violence. One of the villains literally made my skin crawl, and definitely earned enemies with his actions.

This brings back all of the new team, their significant others, and Nonny from their swamp fortress. It is easy for me to get caught back up in this GhostWalker world and exploring all of their special abilities. I am getting more and more attached to this newer group. My only complaint is that these books sometimes seem a bit long and repetitious at times, but I am still so attached to the characters and the stories that I cannot stop reading them. I am still interested in more with Joe, Malichi, Mordichai, and Draden especially. And I hope that we see one the Whitney's other "flowers", Shylah, make an appearance in a future story.

It doesn't seem that Christine Feehan is writing her own books anymore. This book was boring and the violence at the end was gratuitous. It didn't add anything to the plot or the character development - it was just gross. The earlier Ghostwalker books had an interesting umbrella story that spanned the individual stories of each couple which is part of what made this series so interesting. This book referred to that over-arching plot, perhaps made one small contribution to it, but not much else. The characters were boring, and instead of building insights into the characters through actions, there was page after page of the same descriptions droning on and on like Earthbound. A 100 page novel was stretched to over 300 pages. I miss the quality of the Drake Sisters books, the early Sisters of the Heart and Dark series. But it seems that as the different series progresses, the quality of the writing and storytelling deteriorates. This is my last Christine Feehan book. I'm not going to waste the time or money.

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.

Read in Nook format.

Covert Game by Christine Feehan
Release Date: 03/20/2018
Review by SKO
In Covert Game we are introduced to Zara Hightower another of Dr. Whitney’s “girls”. Her psychic gift enhanced by Dr. Whitney made it possible for her to serve as a wireless conduit. She did not need to hack in any computer of figure out passwords. The only thing she needed was a wireless environment. She had an incredible mind and ability on solving number problems. She wanted to believe that the mission Whitney sent her on was too important and he would not allow her to die. Or would he?
Geno Mazza grew up in an extremely wealthy family; however that money did not save his family, both his parents and grandparents died to protect him. He learned to be strong and feared. He cultivated the stillness and the coldness he was born with in order to survive. He was an officer, doctor, and surgeon. He was the “Phantom Wind” when he moved through the darkness no one could hear him or see him, just the wind.
Gino and Joe Spagnola are best friends; they went to the best schools, and later Gino followed Joe into the Air Force, paraprescue training, and into the Ghost Walker program. Joe Spagnola was not only Geno’s best friend, he was he was also now his team leader.

There is no love lost between Whitney and the Ghost Walker’s. However when the Ghost Walker’s find out that one of their own is a prisoner in enemy territory and that she is in danger Joe and Gino form a rescue mission to save her.
Christine Feehan brings us another action packed Ghost Walker novel; it has it all, action, mystery and suspense, international espionage, and then some. I have to admit that some parts were difficult for me to read, especially about torture. It took our hero Gino all his skills as a doctor and a surgeon to help Zara recover. As always Christine Feehan storyline amid all the action still focuses on family, love and relationships. As wounded as they are Zara and Gino never thought they would have a chance at love. Will their past prevent them from having a future together?
This is Christine Feehan’s 75th book in print. Let’s help her celebrate her achievement. If you like GhostWalker novels you will like this book. Happy Reading!

The next in the GhostWalker series is an action-packed, emotional roller-coaster that has you fall in love with Zara and Gino. The character growth throughout their story, and how their relationship helps it happen, tugs at your heart strings. Both characters regarded their beauty, inside and out relying on the reflection through a "broken mirror". A distorted reflection based on what they thought others saw and expected. Together, they begin to see themselves as they truly are, heal each other's self-image, and find strength to accept they are beautiful, brave, and enough as themselves. Of course, this is all done through GhostWalker adventure and the excellent inclusion of all supporting team members. Torture, treason, sadistic madmen, and the narcissistic Dr Whitney propel their story with action packed rescues and their special paranormal enhancements shining through. The team grows closer giving them both a sense of family and the touch of humor, Christine Feehan has become known for, along with steamy heat her heroes are known to share.

Fourteenth in the GhostWalker paranormal romance-science fiction series revolving around the psychic supersoldier team based in the Louisiana bayou. The couple focus is on the dominant Gino Mazza and the submissive Dr Zara Hightower.

My Take
I do enjoy Feehan’s premise of the GhostWalkers, the supersoldier special ops teams and how Dr Whitney created them. Feehan takes us way further out there with their abilities and the, ahem, estrangement between them and their creator. And after fourteen books, I'm still not buyin' supermodels, doctors, billionaires, and crime bosses signing up for military service, let alone Whitney's "enhancements".

Still, the series certainly makes for some exciting action and makes those unbelievable abilities more so. It also satisfies that bloodthirsty part of me. I’m fascinated by how these men take down the bad guys and protect their own. I gotta say, I did love their reaction to Zhu’s men shooting up the club; I so agree.

On the other hand, Feehan tends to str-e-t-ch things out and out and out. All that sex just plain wore me out. Never thought I’d say I got tired of it, but…*eye roll*

Feehan is using dual third person point-of-view from Zara’s and Gino’s perspectives. I kinda wish she hadn’t. I got tired of being beat over the head with Zara’s obsession with how stupid and useless she is, with her fear of pain, with her desire for a strong man to take care of her. I did not “buy” Zara’s concerns for what she could tell Gino and whether she could release her big secret to Zeke, Trap, and Wyatt. Jesus, she’s seen what they’ve done for her. She sees how happy Pepper, Bellisia, and Cayenne are, how much they trust the men. I mean, hello!? It makes me wonder just how smart Zara is.

Her reaction to Bellisia greeting her husband was incredibly childish, but then she does have good reason for not understanding relationship dynamics. As for Bellisia. She’s another one for jumping to conclusions, insisting people see things her way.

As for Gino, I was exhausted with all his whining on about how his parents’ murders affected him. Yes, it was horrible. I’m thrilled he was able to “pay back” those murderers. But then the whinging continues on about the kind of woman he needs, how he never thought he’d find someone, oy…gimme a break. And yet, I did appreciate his perspective on Zara being a submissive. It was excellent.

As for Feehan’s writing style… Okay, Covert Game is an improvement over her last few stories, but she still has this jumpy thing going on between paragraphs. It’s not a constant, but frequent enough that my eyes got to rollin’ again. Some of her “jerks” were too silly to actually be uttered or thought by such supposedly strong characters.

Ya know, I gotta wonder. If Zara can download all these files, why does she have to actually be inside? Seems like a LOT of risk to run. What’s with introducing Gino’s nickname so late in the game?

I do adore that Cayenne. She’s so forthright, ROFL. I also adore the family feeling of the team, how much they care for each other…and that Nonny. She’s an amazing woman, an incredible cook, and an intuitive medic with a knowledge of herbs.

But then, Feehan winds it up with this statement:
”You can only decide who you want to be. What kind of man you want to be. What example you set for our children. We all have choices. If you don’t like something about yourself, you work on changing it.”
Yep, that about sums up the entire series.

The Story
It’s a suicide mission for the GhostWalkers. Seems Dr Whitney “lost” one of his GhostWalkers to a Chinese crime boss. She hasn’t been seen, and her mission is vital.

The Characters
I do like Dr Zara Hightower. Beautiful and bright (an undergrad at MIT, her PhD at Stanford) with a passion for computers and machine learning, who has developed the VALUE system, which integrates learning techniques and then uses them in context. She’s a world treasure, and she has her own value to Whitney as an industrial spy, even if she can’t take pain.

Dr (and Master Sergeant) Gino “Phantom Wind” Mazza, a surgeon, was adopted by Ciro Spagnola, crime boss, when his son, Dr (and Colonel) Joe Spagnola, found his best friend under his dead family. Now Joe, a psychic healer and surgeon, is the squadron leader for the GhostWalker team.

The Louisiana GhostWalker unit is…
…Team Four and is overseen by Major General Tennessee Milton. Each man on this team was given a strand of big cat DNA, and now the team is setting up a base camp surrounding the Fontenot family home. Grace “Nonny” Fontenot is Wyatt’s eighty-some-year-old grandmother, a traiteur with second-sight, and the glue that holds them all together. Dr Wyatt Fontenot is married to the newly pregnant Pepper, and they have triplets, the little viper chicklets: Ginger, Cannelle, and Thym ( Viper Game , 11). Flame is Wyatt’s sister-in-law, married to his brother Gator ( Night Game , 3). Jaimie is another GhostWalker wife ( Street Game , 8).

Bellisia (genetically cross-engineered with blue octopus with a deadly poison and setae that allow her to climb anything) is Zara’s best friend and is married to Dr (and Captain) Ezekiel “Zeke” Fortunes ( Power Game , 13). Mordichai Fortunes is Zeke’s brother. Chief Master Sergeant Rubin and Diego Campo are brothers with the psychic ability to disrupt electrical equipment. Dr Trap Dawkins, a brilliant billionaire with Asperger’s, is married to Cayenne, who has tremendous spider powers and cannot cook to save anyone’s life. Dr (and Lieutenant) Draden Freeman had been a supermodel, too gorgeous for words, who has a passion for running. Donny and Adam Cox and Gerald Perkins defected from Whitney’s GhostWalkers.

Shylah had been the other part of Zara and Bellisia’s trio. They haven’t seen her since Bellisia escaped. Ryland Miller was one of the first GhostWalkers ( Shadow Game , 1); Lily Whitney Miller is Ryland’s wife and Whitney’s adopted daughter.

Berengere had been Nonny’s beloved husband. Lonna and Melissa had been Nonny’s best friends back in the day. The now-named Huracan Club has been owned by Thibodeauxs for years with Delmar Thibodeaux its current proprietor. Pascal and Blaise Comeaux are brothers, the only nasty neighbors the Fontenots have; Alide is Pascal’s wife. Shanty and Jean-Baptiste were their parents.

Shanghai
Bernard Lee Cheng is the head of a criminal enterprise, buying and selling secrets, people, and weapons ( Power Game ). Bolan Zhu is gorgeous and vicious with a love for inflicting and seeing pain and Cheng’s right hand man. Heng Zhang is Cheng’s go-fer. Zhu’s 25-man private army includes Dai, Longwei, and Feng. Moffat runs a brutal BDSM club, the Razor’s Edge, and buys and sells people.

Houghton and Hurley are guards at the U.S. Embassy in Shanghai.

Dr Whitney is…
…a horrible megalomaniac who buys young girls and experiments on them with genetics and psychic abilities, holding them prisoner, using them. What he learned on them, he used on soldiers who volunteered. The men whom Whitney sends to re-capture Zara include Damon, Glenn Ridges, Tom, Tyler, Brax, and Buck. Senator Violet Smythe had been a GhostWalker who went rogue and betrayed the U.S. and her fellow women.

Jacopo Mazza had been Gino’s father; he and Ciro had served in the Marines with Sergeant Major Theodore Griffen and had been friends ever since.

The Cover and Title
The cover is grim with that dark Shanghai skyline, a driving rain making it worse with a dark-haired, dark-shirted Gino, a five-day stubble on his chin and a helmet of tousled black hair, as he stares grimly out in a three-quarter profile. A quick info blurb in white is at the top below which is the author’s name in an embossed metallic silver. The title is at the bottom in an embossed copper with the embossed series information below it, in a ghostly outline.

The title is what Zara plays, a Covert Game.

I know, I know. It’s another story by one of my favourite authors and you probably think the fangirling is going to get mushy. I suspect you are right as this was another great read in this paranormal, action-packed series!

Zara is an expert in the field of artificial intelligence and loves nothing better than sharing her knowledge with the world. If she throws in a bit of corporate espionage that will better that world, then more is the better. When she finds herself in dangerous, no escape situation, she is grateful to her rescuers, especially Gino. Gratitude changes to more as Gino proves himself to be her everything…

“I’m not just a brain to you. I’m a person.”

If I make it sound like insta-love then I’m definitely giving the wrong impression. The build up of the story is slow and meticulous with stomach-churning tension guaranteed as enemies unleash their brutality. It is gritty and unrelenting, as the forces of good and evil never meet for a garden tea party. Gino and Zara bond during life-threatening situations and their aftermath, allowing time for each to uncover hidden depths and surprises along the way….

“He needed someone who would soothe him, quiet the dark demon when it began to emerge.”

“She wanted him to be real, a terrible demon, and she didn’t care if he was sent from heaven or hell.”

Zara is a strong heroine but Gino taps into wants and desires she never shows to anyone, hardly admitting them to herself… He makes Zara even prouder of her abilities, making her feel safer as she learns how trustworthy and capable he is…

“You going to give me everything like that, baby? Whenever I ask? Whatever I ask for?”

“Trust is a gift, Zara, and I won’t forget that you give it to me every day we’re together.”

I’ll be re-reading this story often – and soon!

**Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher

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.

I’m giving 2 stars instead of 1 because of the obvious love Gino had for Zara. But the story was very boring to me. Author has gotten into the bad habit of saying the same thing over and over and over AND OVER again. Yes we get that point... different dialogue please! In general good story but could’ve been a novella if you take out all of the repetitive info. Hate this uber dominant male bordering on mentally abusiing these already damaged women. All of Feehans series have gone this route and I’m getting really bored with them. Which is sad because she used to be my favorite author. Stop repeating details!

I'm not going to lie, I almost quit this book. Four chapters in and I was still overwhelmed with all the characters being introduced and the situations summed up from previous books. I should know better than to pick book #14 in a series but I like Christine Feehan so I picked Covert Games. Readers who've read previous books will certainly not have this problem.

Freehan writes imaginative stories with intriguing characters though and I'm glad I stuck with this book. I like that the Ghostwalkers are humans as we know it but they're not exactly paranormals either. They're just superhumans which was an interesting touch.

The story is gritty. Lots of unpleasant situations (cringe-worthy and stomach-churning !) and horrible characters (by design is not badly written) of the sort you never want to meet in real life and make for tense, suspenseful action.

Gino is sexy and demanding and someone comes off as caring instead of controlling which was good. I found Zara surprisingly identifiable, very surprisingly. At some level, even the strongest of women can find themselves hoping for a guy to make her life easier by taking charge. Archaic and anti-feminist as that may seem.

Read the other books first and add to your enjoyment of this well-developed story.

Debut author Maria Vale weaves a lyrical, at times haunting paranormal story about werewolves living in today's world. This is not a light, frothy read, but a deep, dense, dark tale of love, loss, and sacrifice.

Silver Nilsdottir has little chance for a decent life living at the bottom of her pack's social structure. Her only chance is to mate, with hope for a spot into the pack as more than her alphas' slave. When a wounded stranger arrives, he might just be her salvation...or the end of everything she knows.

Tiberius Leveraux is more than he seems. The mystery surrounding him grows, as does his connection with the wild Silver. But just when they seem to be building a deeper bond, secrets rise and threaten the pack--and Silver--leaving Tiberius with no way out but to destroy his past and any hope for a future with his mate.

Vale's treatment of werewolves is decidedly different, a fresh take on the paranormal genre. She writes with care, and her lush, descriptive narrative serves to flesh out the characters, giving them added dimension. 

Nothing is easy or glossed over in Vale's world, and the nuances in pack logic and wisdom make the story that much richer. A definite addition to any fantasy or paranormal romance lover's shelf. 

I look forward to the next in Maria Vale's THE LEGEND OF ALL WOLVES series, A WOLF APART.

4.5 Hearts, SJ, Romance Junkies

The beginning was great, in your face action from the start........then, wow....straight to boring uninteresting repetitive drivel. It just felt like Zara's lack of confidence and Gino's "I'm not worthy" was never ending.

There was some more action in the middle which got my hopes up.......but once again it descended into repetitive musings......just told in different way!

I liked that we caught up with the other Ghost Walkers and their wives, I hope we get a follow-up in the next one as well, especially the children!

This book was ok but certainly not my favourite.

The newest book in the Ghostwalker series is a must read for all Ghostwalker fans. In this one we are back with team 4 in Louisiana and we finally get to see into Gino's life. He is the silent one which is saying a lot in a team of Ghostwalkers. His team is contacted to get a fellow Ghostwalker out of Shanghai without notice. Zara is an industrial spy who cannot be linked to stealing materials. Even though she cannot be linked to any crime Cheng contains her and has her tortured to give up all of her secrets.
From the first moment Gino sees Zara (in photographs) he knows she is meant to be his. He doesn't know how he will convince her because he has a very dark past and she is an innocent but he knows that he will not give her up. We learn more about Whitney's decent into madness, the challenge of Cheng wanting the Ghostwalker program, and the lives of the others in team 4. This is a book not to be missed!

Zara Hightower is an expert in AI. She accepts and invitation to visit Cheng’s headquarters in Shanghai. She is sent by Whitney to retrieve all the. Info off his computers especially the one about the ghost walkers that Violet sold to him. When alarms go off notifying Cheng that there was a breach in his computers. Zara being the only “outsider” in the building is held and tortured to tell him how she did it! When Whitney calls in the ghost walkers to help retrieve her they know she must be something special. After they rescue her and get her back to the US she immediately bonds with Gino. Whitney breaks his word and keeps coming after her as well as Chengs brother, Bolan Zhu who tortured her. This was a fast paced book with plenty of intrigue and action. I think this was the best book of the ghostwalkers series so far. I highly recommend this book and this series! Christine Feehan never disappoints!

This book was good. At times it didn't know how I how I felt about Zara, whether she was weak or strong. In the end I was pretty happy with her character. Gino was very dominant, even more so than the other Ghostwalkers, but obviously, we did indeed get to see a small part of his softer side. Both, Zara and Gino fit perfectly to each other, we always expect this though, so no surprise. The series is pretty much keeping to its roots right now in the swamps. I'm curious to see if we will get to see any others again, or just all together different in their abilities. Zara , I will admit, had a very unique ability that was impressive. I'm still holding out for Joe's story. Other then that, I'd love to see more of a mix up, like the beginning of this series.

It was a pleasure not to have such overwhelming pornography in this book. Ms Feehan actually remembered this time that there was a story line and other characters. However - the violence and possessiveness of the male characters in her books is disturbing. At least in this book I could skip over the porn and violence and still retain some semblance of the plot. She has definitely gone downhill over the years. Too bad because I used to love all her stories.

People, Christine Feehan is SO GOOD! Her characters live and breathe and baffle me! I'm no big techy, so what do I know, but Zara's lecture about AI was impressive. The thing that is even more shocking is that this level of detail happens with every single character. Feehan is wickedly diverse in her knowledge or simply smart enough to do the research to really sell the character's story. Whichever it is, I'm a forever fan.

This is a Ghostwalker tale so you get the super soldiers, mad scientists, slap crazies and so many sexy and intimate moments. It's literary candy, drenched in dark chocolate, drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt. I'm already chomping at the bit for the next installment.

Non stop action and intrigue from the first page.! Mz. Feehan takes you to Shanghai on a Ghostwalker mission to save Zara Hightower, a spy who has been captured by Cheng and tortured by his partner and enforcer Bolan Zhu. Zara has the ability to download information into her brain, she has taken all of Cheng's information and wiped his computers clean. Zhu is determined to get her to tell what she knows, he has become obsessed with Zara and will never let her go. He has tortured her relentlessly, knowing just the way to not scar her for life, the worst was done to her feet. Rendering her totally helpless.
The Ghostwalkers must attempt to save her, a possible suicide mission. Gino Mazza had already become obsessed with Zara he feels she is his woman just from reading her profile and must save her at all cost. With his heart involved this makes the mission even more dangerous.
Non-stop action in this story, you cannot help getting attached to Zara and Gino's story. Mz. Feehan puts you right there in her books with her writing and descriptive words. WTG Mz. Feehan!
Once again the Ghostwalkers take you to the Louisiana swamps, one of Mz. Feehans favorite places to visit and gather research and information to create her stories with accuracy to her writing. This ads real factual content and descriptions to each of her books.
I have to say her reading her books I learn so much as well as enjoy being consumed by her story telling. Each books of Mz. Feehans is amazing and well written. You feel you are there with the characters in each story. That's what I love about her writing, you feel it...
Looking forward to each and every new release!

Sara is a captive of Whitney, but sent to do a job in Shanghai. When she is done, they try truth serum and then tortured her. Dino and the team of Ghostwalkers break in and save her. She is in bad shape but feels safe as long as Dino is with her. Whitney keep sending in teams to get her back, but to no avail. Then the man that tortured her tries to steal her also. But she is saved again. This time, Dino is determined to end the fear she has. He hunts down the man and Mets out his own punishment. Whitney is ordered to leave them alone, because she turned over the Intel she had stolen and he couldn't get it back. She and Gino are so in love and get married.

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.

Covert Game brought me to tears. Christine Feehan has done it again! Brilliant writing! Zara is sent into a hostile environment to use her mind and copy information on the companies computers, then destroy the data. She is taken prisoner and tortured as they try to figure out how their computer systems were destroyed. GhostWalker Gino rescues Zara, and has to decide if she is a traitor or not. Even not knowing, he takes care of her so preciously, helping her to heal from the terrible torture. They and the other GhostWalkers work together to take down the Crime Lord and protect their own. Lots of action! Could read this one again and again.

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!

This is the first Ghostwalker book that I have read. Absolutely great. Glad that it could be a standalone. Geno and Z complement each other. Fast moving which is what I enjoyed.

I will go back to read some of the other books more so because of the grandmother. She added so much love and she cherishes each member of her new found family. Absolutely good book.

Perfect ending to an EVIL VILLAIN!!! I don't think I will finish this series but I am going to give it a good try. Adios.

I love this book.
I'm a huge fan of ghost walker series my favorite one was always the one with Gator and flame this is right beside it.
I have been reading all the time....even at work :)
I just wished you could write them faster... I hate having to wait on the next one.
I notice a cou ole times in this book it talks about the 4 team's and this is the fourth team I hope that doesn't mean you gonna stop writing about the ghost walkers.. I feEl real like all the men ers in this team.

BORING !!! The over all story with Whitney is going NO WHERE fast. Come on already !!! This book 13 it should be at least moving on a little but instead ot's the same over and over. BORING BORING BORING. If I didn't get to read this from my library I would have stopped reading them long ago. They just are not worth buying.

I have never read a book that Ms Feehan has written that I didn't like. This story like her others is awesome. There is excitement, danger, intrigue. The excitement is so thick it will choke you sometimes. The danger you can feel all around you in the room. Sometimes I need to leave the room and let that feeling dissipate. Her stories will intrigue you and keep you on the edge of your set. They are always so good you will hate to see the last page.

Covert Game is an amazing addition to the GhostWalkers series. I really loved Zara. She may not be as strong as most of the other female GhostWalkers, but she has a heart of gold, and she can hold her own when she needs to. Gino is one of my favorites so far. Tough, hard, and ready to take down the enemy when he has to. But, sweet to Zara, treating her like a princess. Nonny is absolutely wonderful. Everyone needs a grandma like her in their life. Loved the story, and can't wait for the next one!

I am really enjoying the books in this Ghostwalkers series. Ghostwalkers are special enhanced soldiers which enables them to do amazing things. Gino and his team are sent in to rescue Zara. She's been captured by the enemy and tortured. Gino doesn't want to kill her but he may have to if she's a double agent. Zara wants nothing to do with the enemy and when Gino saves her she finds someone who she can finally feel safe with. Great series!

Another fantastic great Ghost Walker book.
LOVE Christine Feehan's Ghost Walkers.
This time it's Gino's turn to save & meet his mate. Zara the woman who was sent out to get the intelligent from the areas she was sent to talk about cyber intelligent.
Where she was sent to Shanghai, kidnapped & tortured.
Here we see another fantastic episode of these GhostWalker protectors, give the comeuppance that the abuser deserved.

AWESOME BOOK!!!!THERE IS NOTHING THAT I HAVE READ BY CHRISTINE FEEHAN THAT HAS NOT BEEN AN AWESOME READ. JUST WISH SHE COULD PUT OUT HER BOOKS QUICKER...SUCH AS GHOSTWALKER SERIES; SHADOW SERIES, DRAKE SISTERS, CARPARTHIAN SERIES, ETC.... FOR O AM ONE OF YOUR ADVATE READERS AND FIND MYSELF REREADING NOVELS FROM THESE SERIES.....BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GOOD AND YOU DO NOT GET TIRED OF THEM.....GREAT WORK AS ALWAYS!!!!!

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Christine Feehan writes great stories. These Ghostwalker men are strong, enhanced men trying to keep the world safe for their extended family - against great odds. The determined women matched to them with their own strengths, have to work together to make their ‘home’. The enhancements are wicked! Loved all these stories.

Zara is installed th at nobody know about till the team get contacted to rescue her. She goes to C Chinese crime Lord to get the information from his computer then destroy them. Gimo is the one to carry her out. It seems that they have a connection and he is only one to help heal her.

I loved this series when it first started, but as with most of her other series it has begun to be boring and repetitive when it comes to the plot lines. Ms. Feehan seems to be under the impression that adding more violent sex will distract us from the lack of story line. It is time to wrap up this series and end it.

I really found Gino an easy man to like, "he gave her another small, reassuring smile. “I’m hell on wheels as a surgeon, baby, and that’s me bragging, pounding my chest and acting like an egomaniac just to impress you.” Gino was so alpha, “I love the way you look laid out like this on my bed, sexy as eff, woman. I’m warning you right now, as of today, things are changing between us.” He smoothed his hand over her buttocks..." The man is just so bossy, “you’re my effing woman, Zara. What the heck do you think it means? And we’re getting married as soon as I can arrange it.” I liked this book, I fell in love with Gino.

As always with the Ghostwalker stories I could hardly put my Kindle down but wanted to keep on reading!! I like the way the stories in the different ? tie together. Can't wait until the next one.

I've read every book in this series and loved each and every one. I hate waiting for the next one. The characters are rich and relatable, the action non-stop, and the suspense will make this book hard to put down.

Love all your books. I'm glad you are continuing with this batch of ghostwalkers, do you have something about Lily & Ryan's kid? And the other kids up in Montana? Would love yo hear from them again. Thank you

Thank goodness I checked this out the library instead of buying it. I made it to page 200 and I just can't anymore. It's nothing but, "oh, I'm so weak, I'm so scared, I'm a coward, I'm too smart, I just want someone to take care of me." No. Just no.