Helpful Score: 3
I have been a bit fan of Christine Feehan for years, but for me something has been changing with her books for the past few that I have read. Beyond having to wait forever for the next book in a specific series to come out, I have found that the stories seem to have become stretched almost in order for there to be another one written. That and the main guy always almost instantly turns into a marshmallow once love enters the picture.
Ruthless Game felt like it was a "filler" type book for me. I am interested in seeing if the next book is Javier's story as she hinted there is something there between him and Rhee, but I don't know if I will continue this series if there isn't more "meat" next time. :0(
Ruthless Game felt like it was a "filler" type book for me. I am interested in seeing if the next book is Javier's story as she hinted there is something there between him and Rhee, but I don't know if I will continue this series if there isn't more "meat" next time. :0(
Helpful Score: 3
Another great entry in Feehan's action paranormal series about the Ghostwalkers. This one centers on Kane, a member of Ghostwalker Team 3 [urban combat specialists based in San Francisco] whose story started in the last book, Street Game.
I really like the concept behind Team 3 - they are a self-made family who found each other as kids on the streets who had some psychic powers. Whitney [the brilliant but evil mastermind behind the GhostWalkers] enhanced them even further but they are still family.
Rose has never known a family. She was bought from an orphanage by Whitney, enhanced, raised as a soldier at the same time he was destroying her self esteem, and thrown into a 'breeding program' against her will - which is where she met Kane, the soldier selected to 'breed' her. [This occurs in book 5, Deadly Game.] Kane 'outs' the breeding program and helps her [and others] escape.
Switch to book 9, eight months later. Team 3 has been sent in to perform a hostage rescue based on information provided by an unknown informant. Kane is ordered to check out the informant - who turns out to be Rose. He has been desperately seeking Rose since they parted, sure she was pregnant with his baby. He wants the baby and even more, he wants her. He wants the chance to court her, to have her CHOOSE him, for them to be together, for them to be part of his family...
There's a lot of sizzle in the book but not much sex - Rose is either VERY pregnant, delivering, or recovering from the birth of the baby [followed by him recovering from very serious wounds] through much of the book. But they spend a lot of time thinking and talking about it...
There's a lot of action. First in the hostage rescue where they are cut off and have to escape on their own, and then as the two of them are escaping two sets of bad guys [Whitney's troops and drug cartel members] - new born baby in tow. Plus an attempted snatch and an attempted hit in San Francisco which help Rose understand what it means to be part of a team, even more, what it means to be part of a family...
It has a great 'happily ever after' and some great 'tease' information for future books: Hot chemistry between Javier and Rhiannon, super babies...
Could it be read as a stand-alone? Yes. Do I recommend it? No, you'll miss a lot of the 'family' nuances and characters. The books directly involved in this storyline are 5, 8 and 9... But I recommend reading them all in order. Yes, really.
GhostWalkers
1. Shadow Game
2. Mind Game
3. Night Game
4. Conspiracy Game
5. Deadly Game
6. Predatory Game
7. Murder Game
8. Street Game
9. Ruthless Game
I really like the concept behind Team 3 - they are a self-made family who found each other as kids on the streets who had some psychic powers. Whitney [the brilliant but evil mastermind behind the GhostWalkers] enhanced them even further but they are still family.
Rose has never known a family. She was bought from an orphanage by Whitney, enhanced, raised as a soldier at the same time he was destroying her self esteem, and thrown into a 'breeding program' against her will - which is where she met Kane, the soldier selected to 'breed' her. [This occurs in book 5, Deadly Game.] Kane 'outs' the breeding program and helps her [and others] escape.
Switch to book 9, eight months later. Team 3 has been sent in to perform a hostage rescue based on information provided by an unknown informant. Kane is ordered to check out the informant - who turns out to be Rose. He has been desperately seeking Rose since they parted, sure she was pregnant with his baby. He wants the baby and even more, he wants her. He wants the chance to court her, to have her CHOOSE him, for them to be together, for them to be part of his family...
There's a lot of sizzle in the book but not much sex - Rose is either VERY pregnant, delivering, or recovering from the birth of the baby [followed by him recovering from very serious wounds] through much of the book. But they spend a lot of time thinking and talking about it...
There's a lot of action. First in the hostage rescue where they are cut off and have to escape on their own, and then as the two of them are escaping two sets of bad guys [Whitney's troops and drug cartel members] - new born baby in tow. Plus an attempted snatch and an attempted hit in San Francisco which help Rose understand what it means to be part of a team, even more, what it means to be part of a family...
It has a great 'happily ever after' and some great 'tease' information for future books: Hot chemistry between Javier and Rhiannon, super babies...
Could it be read as a stand-alone? Yes. Do I recommend it? No, you'll miss a lot of the 'family' nuances and characters. The books directly involved in this storyline are 5, 8 and 9... But I recommend reading them all in order. Yes, really.
GhostWalkers
1. Shadow Game
2. Mind Game
3. Night Game
4. Conspiracy Game
5. Deadly Game
6. Predatory Game
7. Murder Game
8. Street Game
9. Ruthless Game
Helpful Score: 3
"Ruthless Game" is the 9th book in Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker series. This story features Kane, a member of the 3rd Ghostwalker unit the San Francisco-based unit. Ruthless Game has strong character development with a group of strong secondary characters some who were lead characters in previous books.
While the first part of the books focus on Rose and Kane, the latter section incorporates the other members of Team three, showcasing how they operate not only as an elite tactical team with unique psychic abilities but as a family unit. I loved the way she incorporated the baby in the story. Seeing all the infants and learning their names were a wonderful glimpse of the future of super soldiers. Of special interest was learning how all the teams are banding together in various locales to network with each other and create a safe community for themselves and their growing families.
I agree with Sandy H. when she said "for me something has been changing with her books for the past few that I have read." I keep reading them hoping to get the spark back in the books. Maybe they are just rehashing the same old same old.
While the first part of the books focus on Rose and Kane, the latter section incorporates the other members of Team three, showcasing how they operate not only as an elite tactical team with unique psychic abilities but as a family unit. I loved the way she incorporated the baby in the story. Seeing all the infants and learning their names were a wonderful glimpse of the future of super soldiers. Of special interest was learning how all the teams are banding together in various locales to network with each other and create a safe community for themselves and their growing families.
I agree with Sandy H. when she said "for me something has been changing with her books for the past few that I have read." I keep reading them hoping to get the spark back in the books. Maybe they are just rehashing the same old same old.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book in the series immensely. The emotions seemed more real-life and believable. The action explosive. I just reread the whole series before reading this one and even after being immersed in this line of stories, I enjoyed this one more than some of the others that just seemed same old same old. Was nice to read how they depended on each other as a family and team and how that team worked towards a goal.
Sorry I can't explain it better :)
Sorry I can't explain it better :)
Helpful Score: 1
Yet another excellent storyline by Christine Feehan. Each Ghostwalker has had their own story and this one is all about Kane and Rose. Very well written and keeps you on edge wondering what will happen next. An excellent read.
