Viper Game, the new paranormal romance from Christine Feehan, is an irresistible page-turner that transports the reader to the Louisiana Bayou. Blending aspects of violence, romance, relationships and family, Feehan has written a wildly entertaining story. Viper Game is the eleventh book in the GhostWalker series, however, it is not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this one.
The GhostWalkers are members of a secret paramilitary group. The government has experimented upon them and given them various kinds of animal DNA in order to boost their abilities. Although violent and ruthless, the Ghostwalkers operate as a fiercely loyal team and have a strong moral code that they are devoted to helping each other adhere to.
Wyatt is a Cajun GhostWalker and surgeon harboring some impressive feline abilities. He takes a few members of his team to the Bayou to meet his beloved grandmother, who has asked him to help identify the culprit in a series of break-ins. Wyatt discovers that the break-ins were conducted by Pepper, an intriguing and desperate woman on the run from the same agency that experimented on Wyatt. Pepper was kidnapped by the agency as a child and now has snake DNA, along with biochemical enhancements that make her irresistibly seductive to men. While imprisoned by her kidnappers, she was tasked with raising three babies who also carry snake DNA. Pepper escaped her captors with one baby, and Pepper, Wyatt and the team are determined to rescue the two left behind.
The story is especially powerful because it effectively deals with both family issues and romantic love.
Despite Pepper’s initial hesitations, neither Wyatt nor Pepper can deny the strong physical and emotional pull they feel toward each other. Their romance works because Wyatt makes it clear that he loves Pepper for herself, not because of her chemical enhancements. Pepper also lives up to her name and is able to stand up for herself when Wyatt becomes domineering. Part of Wyatt's nature is to be the leader and take charge, but Pepper has enough force of character to avoid being a doormat. Wyatt is jealous and possessive, and these traits are presented not as endearing signs of love, but as problems that stem from his own enhancements that he must work on controlling. Pepper is extremely insecure, but Wyatt is insistent that he is committed to their relationship, reassuring her that there is no problem they can't work through together.
The story is especially powerful because it effectively deals with both family issues (both families of birth and families of choice) and romantic love. The relationships between the team members, Pepper, the babies and the grandmother are heartwarming and fascinating. There's plausible character growth and trust-building between all the characters. Viper Game is sexy, exciting and emotionally powerful, but above all, it's fun!
