Title: Conspiracy Game
Author: Christine Feehan
Publishing Date: November 2006
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Conspiracy Game is book four of the GhostWalker Series. Jack Norton is a GhostWalker. That means he is a BADASS! No seriously, he has been genetically enhanced to be stronger, faster, and smarter than a normal human. He also has some psychic abilities. His twin brother Ken, who is also a GhostWalker has been captured by rebel forces in the jungle just outside of Kinshasa, Africa. He is able to set his brother free, but ends up being captured by the very same people who were torturing his brother. After a few days he manages to escape and work his way to the town. There he runs into Briony.
Briony is special too. She has always been an outsider of her adopted family. See Briony, cannot be around others without experiencing their emotions. Other peoples’ emotions cause her pain so debilitating, that she has nose bleeds and migraines. Briony also has enhanced strength and other physical and psychic attributes. Her family owns a circus and she and her brothers have a world class trapeze act. They have been asked to come perform in the city of Kinshasa for a substantial amount of money. How can they refuse? After a performance Briony heads away from the city to the jungle to get away from all the emotions of the other people. There she meets Jack and helps him get to safety.
Conspiracy Game was an enjoyable, guilty pleasure read. Perhaps a bit cheesy, but call me a mouse with a full tummy, because I lapped it up hungrily! Here is a passage between Jack and Briony that just showcases “the cheese” to perfection.
He actually snarled, like a wolf. She heard the growl of anger and his hand caught hers and forced it between his legs to rub over his aching, full erection. “Does it feel like I don’t want you? I can’t think straight with wanting you, and damn it, it isn’t all about sex either. Whitney may think he overdosed us with the right pheromones, but it’s a hell of a lot more complicated than that. My need of you, this, monster of a hard-on, comes from my heart, not just from lust.”
Jack is the quintessential protective and over-bearing male. He wants nothing more than to make sure that Briony has everything she needs and wants. His first priority is always for her safety and comfort. If not careful, Jack would completely take control. Fortunately, Briony has no problem standing up to him. She has good judgment on which battles she chooses to pick too.
I really enjoyed both lead characters and the plot of this story. The plot is well thought out with unique world-building. What kept this story from getting a higher rating was the repetition of certain points in the book. I felt like the author kept repeatedly telling me the same thing over and over again. After a while it began to grate on my nerves. Also note that this book does not have a conclusive ending. I am assuming that the next book in the series will continue where this book left off. As it stands, the next book is centered around Jack’s twin Ken.