Warning: There are probably some spoilers in here. Not huge but a bit of info.
Dishonorably discharged, former Navy SEAL Shane Laughlin is down to his last ten bucks when he finally finds work as a test subject at the Obermeyer Institute, a little-known and believed-to-be-fringe scientific research facility. When he enters the OI compound, he is plunged into a strange world where seemingly mild-mannered scientists—including women half his size—can kick his highly skilled ass.
Dishonorably discharged, former Navy SEAL Shane Laughlin is down to his last ten bucks when he finally finds work as a test subject at the Obermeyer Institute, a little-known and believed-to-be-fringe scientific research facility. When he enters the OI compound, he is plunged into a strange world where seemingly mild-mannered scientists—including women half his size—can kick his highly skilled ass.
Shane soon discovers that there are certain individuals who possess the unique ability to access untapped regions of the brain with extraordinary results—including telekinesis, super strength, and reversal of the aging process. Known as “Greater-Thans,” this rare breed is recruited by OI, where they are rigorously trained using ancient techniques to cultivate their powers and wield them responsibly.
But in the depths of America’s second Great Depression, where the divide between the haves and the have-nots has grown even wider, those who are rich—and reckless—enough have a quick, seductive alternative: Destiny, a highly addictive designer drug that can make anyone a Greater-Than, with the power of eternal youth. The sinister cartel known as The Organization has begun mass-producing Destiny, and the demand is epidemic. But few realize the drug’s true danger, and fewer still know the dirty secret of Destiny’s crucial ingredient.
Michelle “Mac” Mackenzie knows the ugly truth. And as one of the Obermeyer Institute’s crack team of operatives, she’s determined to end the scourge of Destiny. But her kick-ass attitude gets knocked for a loop when she finds that one of the new test subjects is none other than Shane, the same smoldering stranger who just rocked her world in a one-night stand. Although Shane isn’t a Greater-Than like Mac, as an ex-SEAL, he’s got talents of his own. But Mac’s got powerful reasons to keep her distance from him—and reasons that are just as strong to want him close. She’s used to risking her life, but now, in the midst of the ultimate war on drugs, she must face sacrificing her heart.
The blurb tells you quite a bit about what’s going on in the story so I won’t go too far into detail – at least I’ll try not to.
Yes, Shane and Mac get together with a one night stand but OI finds that even though Shane isn’t a Greater-Than he has a way of amping up Mac’s power so that hers are enhanced. This proves to be quite a good thing. Shane is pretty much smitten from the one night he spent with Mac but Mac knows that it’s not a true feeling on Shane’s part. You see, one of Mac’s powers is almost like a charm spell. She can ramp up the power and men will come running to do her bidding. She believes that Shane is under the power of her charm and that once he’s away from her for any length of time that he will not want her any longer. But Shane’s damned persistent and tries to prove time and time again that not only does he love her but he can help her in her work at the OI.
Then we have the highest Greater-Than at the OI. His name is Joseph Bach and he’s kind of an enigma. He had something horrible happen to him in the past and he’s been a mental fortress ever since – not letting anyone in at all. He and his team, which includes Mac and another man, Stephen, need to find a certain girl who the Organization has kidnapped. Nika is a powerful Greater-Than and the Organization has taken her for her blood. What the Organization does is terrorize the young girls they kidnap which causes their adrenaline to pump and that adrenaline filled blood then makes the Destiny drug. Joseph wants to find Nika and in doing that he takes her sister Anna under his wing as they work together to find and free her sister. You think that there are feeling between the two but they’re never fully explored during the story.
Then we have Stephen who is gay and comes out in the story. It’s not that he was hiding it but since he was celibate it wasn’t really an issue. When he finally gives in to his feelings for one of the doctors at the OI, Elliot, the pair quickly form an unbreakable bond.
The story revolves around the lives of these 3 operatives from OI and their relationships but also the fight to find Nika and save her and the other little girls that have been kidnapped. While the story was a bit slow with a lot of world-building in the beginning it definitely picked up during the last half of the book. I very much liked seeing the 2 couples, Shane and Mac and Stephen and Elliot getting together but Mac made me a bit crazy. You see, Mac just couldn’t believe that Shane had feelings for her. The problem I had with that is that the protests just got old. Mac had been burned under the same circumstances when she was much younger so I understood her hesitance at grabbing the golden ring but it became a tad annoying to hear the same arguments over and over.
Shane was a great guy. He was fun and funny, he had a great sense of humor, a great sense of honor and a wonderful protective streak while still letting Mac be who she was. I definitely wanted to read more about him. lol
As much as I liked the writing – as I really enjoy Brockmann’s writing style – I had some issues with the story. First, why was Nika of all people causing OI to finally track down and infiltrate the Organization? Why did none of the other girls that had been taken prior rate that kind of reaction? It bothered me that they really wanted Nika out of there and the other girls were a bonus. I mean I was glad they were getting out but it shouldn’t have taken this one girl to make them act imho.
Another thing was the use of Destiny by OI members. I don’t want to give too much away but Destiny is a drug that is instantaneously addictive and everyone who takes it dies sooner rather than later. At one point in the story not one but two different OI members take the drug – for different reasons – and don’t die or even freak out as most Destiny users had been doing. In fact they don’t have the reactions that ANYONE ELSE IN THE BOOK had. They were important characters so I understood they couldn’t die but really? Everyone had horrible reactions except these two? Just too fictional for me.
Last on the list of issues was Joseph Bach. This was an amazing man that both Nika and her sister Anna had come to trust and Anna had feelings for Joseph. The problem is that the amped up powers that both Mac had due to Shane and Stephen had due to Elliot were, on the surface, due to the admittance of love – but in the story it was credited to having sex. Now it would be easy for me to credit the amped up powers to love but that doesn’t explain why Mac’s amped up the first time she had sex with Shane and they certainly weren’t in love. IDK, I MAY be a bit wrong on that one. lol When Joseph’s power spikes because of Nika – who’s only 13 – Anna is disgusted and orders Joseph to stay away. This bothered me very much because it was so obvious that Joseph had feelings for Anna and not Nika but wasn’t admitting it. I hated seeing Joseph treated that as some pervert when he had not acted inappropriately in any way. I certainly hope that this is cleared up in the next book but who knows?
I think that Brockmann did a good job with this paranormal story. She came up with a premise that actually could be plausible…if you stretch your imagination. The story was very dark at times and pretty disturbing as the young girls were terrorized in varied ways. I can’t say that this is a book for everyone as those images will stay in my brain for a while – which is NOT a good thing. I hope the next book is as good but maybe a bit lighter.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Agree – very dark story. Shane was the bright spot with his humor. I hope the next book focuses on one couple instead of three.
Great review Tracy! Hmmm. I should probably get my A into G and read SB's contemporary series first 🙂 I'm SO behind!
Leslie – Shane was definitely the bright spot in the story. I think Brockmann tends to have a lot going on in her books on a regular basis. Maybe one or two couples but 3 is just too much, imho.
Orannia – Well her Troubleshooters series is LONG so you won't be reading this one for a while. lol I really liked the most of that series but it tapered off for me near the end. Hope you like it! 🙂