Born To Darkness Suzanne Brockmann

Title: Born to Darkness

Series: Fighting Destiny bk#1

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Genre: Paranormal/ Futuristic Romance

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.

Born To Darkness takes you on a roller-coaster ride. Transported 40 years into the future to a world that seems familiar but is technologically advanced in science and medicine. A privately funded company, The Obermeyer Institute is a research facility whose main purpose is to seek out and train individuals who poses the ability to use more that 10% of their brains that science has for years claimed that humans use. These Humans are known as the Greater-Thans and through special training they have been able to develop telepathy, telekinesis, extreme strength, self-healing and in some cases the ability to reverse the aging process.

All of the hard work and good the Obermeyer Institute has created is destroyed by an evil company called The Organization which has created a drug called Destiny that allows anyone who takes it to become a Grater-Than. Highly addictive, Destiny may promise you eternal youth, if it doesn’t kill you first. But the drug is in such high demand that its secret ingredient is making the Greater-Than’s a major target.

I loved this book! As a Suzanne Brockman fan I can count on her for strong characters, tons of action, adventure and Intrigue and in Born To Darkness she delivers. I was drawn in from the beginning Shane Laughlin, a blacklisted Navy SEAL who is broke. Clueless as to what the Obermeyer Institute (OI) does, he agrees to an interview thinking he’s got nothing to lose. At the very least, he should be able to get on as part of the security team. On his last night before heading to OI, he heads to a bar to blow off some steam and this is where he meets Dr. Michelle Mackenzie. Immediately, they have a connection and it isn’t long before they’ve gone back to her place for some private time. Shane doesn’t know it, but Mac works for OI; in fact, she’s one of their highly trained Greater-Thans. This will pose major obstacles for these two as Mac immediately pulls away from Shane, but he’s not giving up. In fact, he’s just as determined that they give their relationship a try. Mac may not have a choice as she realizes that her integration levels seem to have been enhanced by her being intimate with Shane. As the institute’s doctors study this new and strange phenomenon, they realize that Mac may not be the only Greater-than affected by this new information.

In this book we were treated to not only one romantic entanglement, but three. And each situation is given ample time without taking away from the other. This book is highly suspenseful and intricately woven stories with a fabulous paranormal twist. There is a huge twist at the end that brought tears to my eyes as I could not believe what she was doing to one of the characters. This book has everything you look for in a romantic suspense and more!

Grade A