I have to make a confession: I'm reading the GhostWalkers out of order. I do not read books out of order but I saw a sample at the end of Shadow Reaper (her Shadow series - go read it too) and was completely sucked into the story and couldn't help but skip ahead to Power Game.

The book puts us right into the action with Bellisia. She's on a job and with that we see the type of person she is, her skills, the life she's trying to escape and what she'll do to accomplish that.

As I had skipped a few books there was a bit of a learning curve, getting to know Zeke's team, but things made sense even without that background. Zeke is the typical Feehan alpha male, a little over the top but everything he does is to protect those he cares about. Bellisia is one of Feehan's stronger female leads and one of my favorites. She's been trained and used as an asset, and she's good at her job, we see that right off the bat. She's strong, courageous and more than once she saves the day.

I like how the story moved forward, Violet pops up in this one, but the Ghostwalker's eternal foe is still out there, leaving me, as always, anxious for the next installment.

A super soldier and a genetically engineered spy fight terrorist in Indonesia.Will they stay alive long enough to fall in love?

“Power Game” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Christine Feehan (http://www.christinefeehan.com). Ms. Feehan has published an impressive 100 novels. This is the latest of her currently 13 Ghostwalker novels.

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The story takes place in the swamps of Louisiana and in South East Asia. The primary characters are Captain Ezekiel Fortunes, a genetically enhanced special operations operator, and Bellisia, also genetically enhanced to act as an assassin.

Bellisia escapes the man who is controlling her and spies on Fortunes and his family. When Fortune is kidnapped, she pursues and saves him. Once they meet they feel a bond that quickly grows into a deep desire for one another.

Bellisia is quickly adopted into Fortunes family circle. Soon she and the others must defend the family compound from those coming to take Bellisia back.

I enjoyed the 10.5 hours I spent reading this 400 page Science Fiction Romance Thriller. There was quite a bit of action and some very heated romance depicted. I liked the plot with the enhanced soldiers, each having different levels and types of enhancements. I would certainly read other novels in the series. This one, even though the 13th in the series, read well as a stand-alone novel. The cover art is OK, but really does not reflect much in the novel. I give this novel a 3.9 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

A continuation of the Game series is the latest book from from Christine Feehan. While the series is a good one about military men who volunteered for a special experiment/team and came out altered more than they bargained for, it is getting a little long in the tooth. How many men volunteered for this secret group? They keep adding different groups and groups of matching women in an unbelievable number.
The series is interesting and fans of Feehan will love the latest book, Power Game. It has become a bit tired, which is why the Shadow series is new and waiting for the second book.
Fans of paranormal fiction will keep reading the Game series as long as it is being written but the casual fan will be tired of the same old thing being redone.

Awesomeness! Ms. Feehan strikes again! I was at the edge of my chair at several parts!

Veena’s review of Power Game (Ghost Walkers, Book 13) by Christine Feehan
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 24 Jan 17

I really enjoyed this series when it first started but found it less appealing as time went on. This story seems to bring back a lot of the original elements that made these stories initially appealing, albeit with a darker note that has whetted my curiosity to see how things will unfold in the future.

The story gets off to an exciting start with the chameleon-like Bellisia hiding in plain sight observing one of the ghost walkers commit treason and sell out other ghost walker teams. She has a harrowing escape from the locked-down fortress and then, despite her obvious pain and discomfort, escapes her own team to find freedom. She returns stateside to relish new experiences while keeping a keen eye on the ghost walker team who’s been exposed to the enemy.

It’s the gentle Zeke who appeals to her as he spends time around the swamp, singing to his teammate’s daughters, telling them stories, and teaching them survival skills. Zeke is a ghost walker, a genetically engineered super soldier who raised his brother and another orphan under the harshest of circumstances. He believes himself to be anything but gentle, but Bellisia definitely brings out all that is gentle in him.

There’s plenty of action and suspense. Readers will enjoy the twists and turns as tense battle situations give way to heroic rescues with betrayals and enemies hiding around every corner. Bellesia rescues Zeke and, at much pain to him, gives him her own blood to keep him alive. It is not fun when she’s repaid by being taken a prisoner by his teammates, and yet her reaction when Zeke takes her out of the cell and invites her into the house is priceless.

The author has done a tremendous job in humanizing these ladies who are genetically enhanced with the DNA of some of the most dangerous creepy crawlies. Bellisia’s interaction with Nonna, the matriarch who rules the Fontenot family with stern love, is a bittersweet delight. She’s been in Whitney’s programs since she was a baby and has never known the warmth and love of a home or had friends. Her terror at the breakfast table and her joy in learning to cook make the story real and appealing.

Grade: B

Paranormal romance like no other!

I’m an uber-fan of this author from way back. From Dark to Shadow, each series had me from the first page of the first book. For some reason, this series wasn’t quite like that. I don’t know if the premise of the story – genetical engineering introducing some very different shifter-types – caught me off-guard but I didn’t fall in love with the books right away. I wanted to crazy love them. I wanted to fall head over heels for the characters and the stories as I had done before. Something held me back. I LIKED the series. A LOT! The stories are well-written with paranormal, suspense, military and romance meshed in equal, delicious balance. The characters were strong and compelling, unique and interesting. I don’t know what phantom element was missing but this story, THIS story, had it in spades!

Bellisia…
“She looked feminine and she acted it, but when push came to shove, she was a warrior through and through.”

Ezekial…
“He gave her so much of himself, made himself utterly vulnerable, laying his emotions on the line for her…”

Bellisia was a spy. A very good one. She was smart and stayed ahead by always watching, waiting, deliberating before her next move. That is how she stayed alive for so long. Weary, when she meets Ezekial and those around him, she yearns for something she only had glimpses of… Love. Family….

Ezekial was a soldier who endured his own version of physical enhancements and is so much more than what he shows to the world. He is strong and powerful yet he is different with his family. His way with Nonny and the children is enough to prod anyone’s ovaries into dancing a jig. I wasn’t surprised at his protectiveness or loyalty but the gentleness completely disarmed me.

The mistrust on both sides was enough to fill two boatloads yet the connection they had was mesmerizing. Lives were at stake, his family was at stake and the enemy could be everywhere. Be anyone. Not exactly a relationship starter but setting the stage for a relationship that was going to be challenged and questioned from the start…

There is action and danger around every corner with love and emotion surrounding every scene. Heart-aching, sweet and sexy emotion… I didn’t want this story to finish but it certainly renewed my interest in this series and I can’t wait to start right back at the beginning! -Diane

POWER GAME is the Ghostwalker series at its best! The action is spine tingling, the camaraderie will hold you to the pages, and the romance between Zeke and Bella is amazing. I have to commend author Christine Feehan in the fact that though Zeke is possessive and arrogant he never leaned toward abusive as a few of her other recent Ghostwalker's had. He was commanding and demanding but did not go overboard so ... thank you for that.

I can't go into too much detail but one danger to the Ghostwalker's is removed in a very engrossing way, and I admit I was glad it happened, but you will have to read this book to see who and why. The other aspect of this book that I loved is we are being sent back into the Bayou and to Nonny, the grandmother that everyone just loves. The cooperation, not just the men but with Pepper, Cayenne and the adorable triplets (recently met in VIPER GAME and again in SPIDER GAME) and Bella is sweet to watch especially the little girls and the cooking lessons. I also got a kick out of Nonny taking charge of things that she feels needs fixing ... and yes you have to read POWER GAME to find out what she fixed this time at the end. POWER GAME is action packed, nail biting, sweet and steamy ... in other words Christine Feehan giving her readers what they love.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

The complete review may be found on http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=62148

Like any longer running series some of the books are better than the others. I thought this one was pretty good. It's the same overall story arch. Bellisia is an enhanced female (with an interesting dna twist) and circumstance lead her to meeting Ezekiel, who is one of the Fortune brothers.

I liked Bellisia as a heroine and I thought she was one of the better ones of this series. I also like Ezekiel. He could be gruff with his team but was kind and sweet to the women and children. While he was a strong male, he didn't cross the line to alpha a-hole.

An overall enjoyable plot. This can be read as a standalone but you might get more from it if you've read the previous books.

**ARC received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Life often comes down to a series of choices. For most folks, the options are mundane: should I have the egg white omelette for breakfast, or the French toast? Coffee or tea? The comfy Birkenstocks or the four-inch pumps? But for Christine Feehan’s genetically engineered men and women, the options are always laced with life or death considerations.

Shadow Game was the first book in her GhostWalker series, and has always been one of my favorite romances. Since paranormal is not my usual go-to genre, it’s easy to remember reading about the genetically engineered supersoldiers who could communicate telepathically with one another (and with the women they love) and rushing through the book to see how it ended. Feehan’s written a dozen more GhostWalker stories since 2003, and I have discovered another great set of characters in Ezekiel Fortune and Bellisia in her most recent installation, Power Game.

The GhostWalkers are constantly forced to make choices, chief among them who to invite into their carefully cultivated and protected lives. It’s not like they run out of milk and go to the grocery store, then BAM, run into a pretty lady in the produce section. It happens to Zeke one morning when he goes into town to pick up spices for Nonny, the matriarch of the family.

That Nonny. There’s nothing engineered about her abilities, just good, old-fashioned bayou instinct and knowing. Zeke forces himself to be civil and sit at the table in the small restaurant where Bella works, waiting on him and reacting nervously to him.

It’s hard to fight his instinct to take violent action and end the potential threat from Bella, but the way he’s physically drawn to her makes him pause long enough to think. She’s a mimic, able to blend into her environment and pick up things like language and the culture around her, so at first glance she seems okay.

Whereas Zeke’s big choice was to put his attack instinct on simmer, Bella made her choice the day she escaped Whitney’s testing compound: she chose to linger near GhostWalker Team Four’s compound in the swamps outside New Orleans to make sure they were safe. Her plan backfired when she got caught up in their lives. Rather than fleeing to a faraway place and beginning a new life on her own, she stayed too close to home.

While all the characters move forward in the GhostWalker world, there’s always the constant threat of rediscovery, and recapture. None can ever let down their guard. The scientist who created the program, Dr. Peter Whitney, is still actively working on new stuff all the time. Whitney has a legion of supporters who want to use the skills and abilities of GhostWalkers. One of them is Senator Violet Smythe-Freeman, one of the original orphans Dr. Whitney experimented on.

Violet also wants to wipe out a subset of the GhostWalker program, the women who’ve undergone Dr. Whitney’s latest experiments that have spliced their genetics with vipers and spiders. Some of those women—and their children—are part of Zeke’s family and live with Nonny in the bayou.

Power Game tells the story of struggle: Zeke’s struggle with the weight of his responsibilities versus his attraction to Bella; Bella’s struggle with finding a life outside of the lab versus staying with Zeke and building a life with him; and Violet’s struggle in Washington versus her private battle to wipe out any of Whitney’s women with viper or spider DNA.

Despite the mortal struggle that inhabits the GhostWalker world, love remains a unifying force. After all, this is the world of romance, yo. Love is always gonna win.

Powergame is the next Ghostwalker paranormal story by Christine Feehan. Enhanced warrior meets supernormal match. Constant action and great sex. Worthy addition to the series.

Bella has lived her life at the mercy of Peter Whitney. During a mission to discover if one of her fellow GhostWalkers is actually selling them out, Bella uncovers the unthinkable. Violet Smythe is trying to sell them out. Not only sell them out but eradicate them from the face of the earth. While that sounds laughable to Bella, Violet can certainly do it as Vice President of the United States. Bella knows that it is not going to be long before Violet is President. Then she will have access to almost all the GhostWalker records. With that knowledge, Bella escapes Whitney and heads to Louisiana, and the GhostWalkers that Violet wants to go after first.

Ezekiel Fortunes is someone whose temper runs hot. Literally. The only outlet he has is to fight. That and to keep his family safe. He is obsessed with safety. When he realizes someone has breached his security, he goes nuts. He has no idea how they have done it, but they have. He has no idea that it's the very woman that he's drawn to when he goes into the French Quarter for a fools' errand by Nonny, the grandmother of their merry band.

Ezekiel is immediately drawn to Bella and he has no idea why. Then he does. She's a GhostWalker and she is the one that has been circumventing his security. All Bella wants to do is help Ezekiel and leave. She wants to build herself some semblance of a life and keep out of Whitney's hands. When she finds herself in a situation and has to help Ezekiel, he repays her by taking her captive.

That was heartbreaking. Bella truly believed that Ezekiel worked for Whitney. She gave up her potential freedom to help save his life. The sense of betrayal she felt was immense. You could literally feel it coming off the pages. Bella literally lived her life living in a cage and Ezekiel and his family captured Bella after she saved his life and threw her in a cage. It was heartbreaking.

Ezekiel was mad that she was put in a cage and immediately got her out (though the damage was done) and brought her into Nonny's home. It was sweet to see how Bella took to being part of a family. Even though she had a family with her fellow GhostWalker sisters, it obviously wasn't traditional. Ezekiel's family isn't traditional either, but Nonny definitely is and she tries to keep things as normal as possible.

Of course Violet comes after them again. Bella and Ezekiel have to work as a team along with their fellow GhostWalkers. Bella gets in trouble and she has to trust Ezekiel when she hasn't trusted anyone in her life. It shows how far she has come in her relationship with him that she trusts him so much.

Rating: 4/5

(the link below will be live in February)

Review: POWER GAME (A GhostWalker Novel) by Christine Feehan
Publication Date: January 24, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 5 Stars

I enjoyed this installment in the Ghostwalker series, especially as it delved into Ezekiel’s life. I’m glad to have liked Bella right away too. The author could have given her a harder edge, but she didn’t. She made her unique, yet relatable, with a teasing sense of humor. Their first real encounter was cautious, but so darn sweet, that I couldn’t stop smiling. She and Zeke blended well and developed into a smoking hot romance. It was fast paced, smoothly written and full of nail-biting moments that kept me reading. On top of all the action, you have the banter and humor of the group and the lovely Nonny holding them all together. I loved it.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars-POWER GAME is the thirteenth installment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult GHOSTWALKERS paranormal, romance series focusing on an elite group of ‘genetically enhanced’ men and women known as the Ghostwalkers. These ‘supersoldiers’ were part of an unauthorized government experiment performed by Dr. Peter Whitney-a man tantamount to evil incarnate. This is Ghostwalker Dr/Captain Ezekiel Fortunes, and Bellisia Adams’s story line. POWER GAME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order (especially the previous 2-3 installments) for cohesion and back story.

Told from several third person perspectives including Ezekiel and Bellisia POWER GAME returns to the Louisiana Bayou, and focuses on the take down of Senator Violet Smythe. Violet is a female Ghostwalker but a woman driven to become the most powerful person in the USA at the expense of her fellow female Ghostwalkers. Dr. Peter Whitney will send Bellisia Adams, a female Ghostwalker with ‘unusual DNA’ to ferret out Violet’s plans with the intent that our heroine returns to Whitney’s compound to reveal all of Violet’s secrets including her plans to destroy Ghostwalker Team 4 and anyone with insect or reptilian DNA. Enter Ezekiel Fortunes, a Ghostwalker targeted by Violet Smythe, and the man who has been genetically matched to our story line heroine. What ensues is the struggle to keep one step ahead of both Whitney and Smythe, and the building relationship between Ezekiel and Bellisia.

The relationship between Ezekiel and Bellisia is a dramatic change from several of Feehan’s previous story line couples including the relationship between Trap and Cayenne (Spider Game #12)-a relationship that bordered on abusive and controlling. Our current hero Ezekiel Fortunes, although alpha and protective, is also a man who does not use power or abuse to control or protect the woman he claims to love. The building love and partnership is an equal and balanced relationship in that our heroine is just as capable of making her own choices and decisions as the man with whom she is falling in love. The one hundred and eighty degree turn in the author’s writing style is a welcome relief. The $ex scenes are limited although seductive and intense.

In Power Game, the author tries to justify Trap’s abusive behavior towards his mate in Spider Game (Ghostwalker 12) by backtracking and proclaiming Trap suffers with Asperger’s syndrome-a neurobiological disorder on the higher end of the autism spectrum thus rendering him with issues of social and communication skills. The ‘Asperger’s’ story line is new and never once mentioned in the previous installment thusly I suspect the author is trying to justify her hero’s behavior to appease the many negative comments about the abusive and controlling character.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters. We are reintroduced to several members of the Ghostwalker Team 4: Gino ‘Phantom’ Mazza and Draden ‘Sandman’ Freeman, psychic surgeon Joe Spagnola whose own potential DNA match is revealed, newcomer Rubin Campo, as well as Ezekiel’s brothers Malichai and Mordichai Fortunes; the female Ghostwalkers Cayenne, Pepper and her Ghostwalker husband Wyatt, and their triplets Ginger, Thym and Cannelle; and we cannot forget about Grace ‘Nonny’ Fontenot-sadly Gator is no where to be seen. We are introduced to Bellisia’s friend, a war veteran named Donny, and her ‘handlers’ Adam and Gerald whose own Ghostwalker DNA may be a cause for concern. The requisite evil comes with many names and faces including Violet Smythe and a Chinese businessman named Cheng angling for the Ghostwalker technology. If only by way of mention there are a number of female Ghostwalkers waiting for rescue: Zara, Shylah, Scarlett, Blue, Cat and Amaryllis-I am suspecting these ladies will be matched with several members of Team 4.

Unlike some of the other installments in the series, there is a large amount of military jargon and technical information as it pertains to a rescue mission in Indonesia, and Ezekiel’s Navy SEALs although it does not interfere with the understanding or enjoyment of the story line.

POWER GAME is a story of action, suspense, betrayal and revenge. The slow building romance is almost secondary to the overall plot but the relationship is dramatic and captivating none-the-less. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the characters are colorful, animated and inspiring; the romance is passionate and sensual. POWER GAME is a thrilling and powerful return to the original Christine Feehan brand of paranormal romance.

Copy supplied by the publisher

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GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1738640718


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Bellisia is a prisoner to Whitney’s powerfully enhanced team. When the opportunity arises for her to escape, she takes it. Overhearing Violet’s plot against the Fontenot girls and the Louisiana family, Bellisia heads to Louisiana. She hangs out in the swamp to observe and protect, eventually getting entranced by the clan that surrounds Nonny. Bellisia goes so far as to protect them from an attack that brings her presence known Ezekiel and his team.

Ezekiel recognizes Bellisia for what she is…his perfect match.

The girls instantly understand Bellisia and her trouble trying to connect to the world outside Whitney's prison's walls.

Power Game has reinforced the community bonds and what has made me love this series.

I have to admit I was concerned with the past few alpha males and their over-the-top “asshatness”. (Yes, that is my made up word, but it is fitting). Ezekiel is tough but he puts everything into keeping Bella safe, comfortable and a partner while balancing his alpha tendencies.

Strong and Sexy, this is what I love about the genius storytelling that is Christine Feehan. Her ability to make enigmatic and compelling paranormal characters jump off the pages and into your heart, like they were your friends or neighbors who live next door, which in turn brings Power Game to life. Bottomline, Feehan is a master at weaving a tales that entraps the reader into the fictitious imaginings.

I received this ARC copy of Power Game from Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for a honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication January 24, 2017.

My Rating: 5 Stars
Written by: Christine Feehan
Series: GhostWalker Novel
Sequence in Series: Book 13
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: January 24, 2017
ISBN-10: 0399583912
ISBN-13: 978-0399583919
Genre: Paranormal Romance | Scifi

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/powe...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Power-GhostWal...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/power...

Reviewed for:
http://tometender.blogspot.com

10 likes

Oh Ghostwalkers, how I've missed you.
It's been a long time since I've read a book in this series, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this one. AT ALL.
Power Game is the story of two people brought together to find something beautiful that they never thought was in the cards for themselves. Zeke is the ultimate protector. He is a protector, a sniper, a hunter, a doctor...a soldier with physical and psychic enhancements that make him deadly. Bellisia is tiny but deadly. Enhanced with rare DNA, she is at home in the water, can climb walls and kill with a venomous bite.
I loved everything about this book. The story was action packed from beginning to end. Christine Feehan knows how to create an alpha hero that you will crush on big time. Zeke knew Bellisia was it for him the moment he first saw her, and I loved that. Bellisia surreptitiously followed Zeke around, watching him with his "family", longing with every fiber of her being to be a part of it. I loved how protective Zeke was with her, even though she could take care of herself. I also loved how Bellisia opened up to Zeke and trusted him despite never having done that before with anyone. Their connection was immediate and intense, and very believable.
If you've followed the Ghostwalkers from the beginning, you'll be satisfied that there is a key development in this book. There are plenty of unattached Ghostwalkers yet to get their happy ending, so I'll be patiently waiting for the next book in the series.

I haven't read the rest of this series but the blurb of this one caught my attention. I admit at first it was a bit hard to follow and to catch onto. The book was action packed and the story was engrossing.

I think fans of this series will be thrilled with this story and enjoy this latest installment from this series. This author is a fantastic writer and I look forward to checking out her other books.

Like many readers I started with this authors Dark Carpathian books but quickly discovered her more suspense based GhostWalkers . It's been an eventful journey with characters that if honest at times I've struggled with. This author seems to have a preponderance of very demanding males as her lead characters and unfortunately that often means very long, drawn out and intense intimate scenes. I'm all for a little love but do realise that it's the story and plot that really needs to grip the reader . So I'm over the moon to reassure anyone considering reading this book that not only is there a huge turning point in the overall story arc but our two main characters are full of surprises .
So surprise number one is Ezekiel , doctor, brother, bad tempered and yet strong without being overpowering . Such a delight to see him being the one in charge whilst at the same time realising that this man has such a gentle side . He knows what he wants but has the patience to coax and wait, plus seeing him interact with other characters really makes him more than one dimensional.
Our leading lady is Bellisia, a character with an ability we've previously seen but this time the source is a revelation . If frank I wasn't sure initially about the abilities the author has imbued her more recent female characters with but it works beautifully here to give Bellisia DNA that was truly a huge surprise and fascinating to boot! She is so likeable , practical and yet giving . Although don't think Bellisia isn't deadly because she might be small but she's one mighty tough cookie!
Set in the swamps we are yet again safely in the home of the Fontenot family and the irascible Nonny is very much front and centre adding a warmth to the book. I love the way she's taken her grandsons friends into her heart and home and her presence somehow grounds the story. Admittedly it's not as playful as Night Game featuring the naughty Gator Fontenot but this story is possibly one of my favourites in this series. This had a lovely sweet romance whilst at the same time gave this reader an action packed ride that I can't recommend enough . The GhostWalkers are back and it's simply fabulous!
A copy of this was provided for me which I have voluntarily read and these comments are my own honest opinion

POWER GAME introduced me to the thrilling world of Feehan's GhostWalkers. This book is so fresh and engaging it's hard to believe it is the thirteenth in the series! Rest assured, Feehan's going to keep her fans happy for decades to come, for apparently, her creativity and ingenuity flow in an ever-rejuvenating gush!

As a lover of Christine Feehan I jumped at the chance to read this. Sadly the espionage aspect was a bit more than I bargained for. I am sure fans will enjoy reading this but I had to hang it up about 20%.