Tracy’s review of Of Eternal Life by Micah Persell
In the hidden basement lab of a military research facility in Needles, California, Eli Johnson jerks to consciousness. He is strapped to a stretcher and remembers nothing until he hears a voice he knows only as “The Tormentor.” That’s when it all comes back: he has been a prisoner in this lab for eight years. And he’s about to die.
Abilene Miller, a newly minted doctor desperate to prove herself, snaps up the opportunity to work at a military hospital, but the reality of Needles proves to be vastly different from the pitch of the two recruiters. She spends her days running labs and wishing for things to be different.
When Abilene stumbles across Eli’s body in a supply close, she definitely gets different. She’s shocked when the dead man jerks back to life in her arms and infuriated when he kidnaps her. He thinks she’s part of a conspiracy; she thinks he’s insane.
Only together can they find out the truth—and brave the risks they run in loving each other.
Abilene Miller was pretty thrilled when she was contacted right after medical school to do be a part of an operation to refurbish small military hospitals for the local population. Since she’d constantly been hounded by her parents to be “perfect” this was her chance to do great research, make a lot of money and get away from the constant disapproval of her parents. The problem was, there were no patients. Abilene and four other women were working in the labs constantly and never saw any patients. Abilene was not thrilled with this and was starting to be discontent when her life gets shaken up in a big way.
Abilene come across Eli in a supply closet in the hospital and he seems dead. She tries to revive him and it seems she’s successful. Not a minute later Abilene’s boss comes tearing out of a hidden wall brandishing a gun and when Eli finds out Abilene works for Major Taylor he knocks her out and kidnaps her. Eli thinks that Abilene is in on the experiments that he’s lived through for the past 8 years but Abilene has nothing to do with them. Eli wants to believe – especially since he finds himself drawn to and completely attracted by this woman. But he’s very wary and decides to play it by ear. Abilene thinks that Eli is a ex-soldier with PTSD and decides that she’ll be the one to heal him so plays along with him.
Abilene doesn’t believe Eli when he tells her that he’s immortal and that was why the experiments were being forced on him but she soon sees for herself that what he says is true. Eli is determined to be free from the experiments and Major Taylor forever and he wants Abilene with him, but he’s just not a trusting person and he’s not sure Abilene, despite the fact he loves her, can be trusted.
This is a contemporary story which contains a large measure of fantasy. The author made a good attempt at keeping the story grounded and I thought she did a good job with it considering the reason for Eli’s immortality.
I liked the premise of the story but would have liked to have gotten to know the characters a bit more. We really only saw one aspect of each life and that played a major role in the couples’ relationship, but it just didn’t feel like it was enough. Despite that fact the book was entertaining and a quick fun read. It was hot and sexy and there was a bit of suspense involved as well. There were also the descriptions of the horrific experiments that were used on Eli – pretty graphic, but well done. The couple falls in love quite quickly but it’s almost a fated mate type thing and in this book it worked for me.
Rating 3.25 out of 5
You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place
This book is available from Crimson Romance. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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