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Born to Darkness [Hardcover]

Suzanne Brockmann
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)

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Book Description

March 20, 2012
As the New York Times bestselling author of the Troubleshooters series and a “superstar of romantic suspense” (USA Today), Suzanne Brockmann has an acclaimed history of taking readers’ breath away with her novels of hot passion and high adventure. Now she takes her talent for sexy, action-packed storytelling in a thrilling new direction: forward—into a future, both fantastic and frightening, that only the brilliant Brockmann could envision.
 
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.

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Born to Darkness + The Witness + The Last Boyfriend (Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, Book 2)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A Message from Suzanne Brockmann

Born to Darkness, like many of my books, has a Navy SEAL hero. And I know what you're thinking. Hey, Brockmann, what's with the SEAL obsession?

My answer: Have you seen these guys?

Seriously though, I think a large number of Americans are fascinated by the men who serve in the teams, particularly after SEAL Team Six took out Osama bin Laden last year. But I've been writing books with SEAL heroes since the mid-1990s, and although Born to Darkness is my 26th book with a SEAL as the hero, the truth is that I just don't get tired of creating strong, complex characters who are passionately driven to become part of that elite group of the best-of-the-best, the U.S. Navy SEALs.

First of all, you have to be very intelligent to be a SEAL, so that's a plus for a romance writer, because I think that many women agree with me--smart men are sexy. I also believe that you have to have a sense of humor to survive the punishing BUD/S training that all SEAL candidates endure--and smart, funny men are even sexier.

I also love to write about the loyalties, friendships, and frictions that occur when smart, funny men work together in a team. I'm a long-time lover of the "buddy movie" (my big favorites are Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Midnight Run), and writing a series of books that lets me use some of those same elements has been extremely fun to do.

But I've been writing my Troubleshooters series about fictional Navy SEAL Team Sixteen for 13 years. After 17 books, I found myself wanting to stretch a bit--to write something different, hence the futuristic paranormal world of my new Fighting Destiny series. But when I sat down to plan and plot Born to Darkness, the hero of the book, Shane Laughlin, turned to me and said, "Oh, by the way? I'm a Navy SEAL."

I gazed back at him--he's smart, funny, driven, and honorable, with the shiny, golden gleam of a SEAL officer who leads by saying, "Follow me!" And I said, "Yes, you certainly are, aren't you?"

But Shane is a former Navy SEAL. In Born to Darkness, he's been dishonorably discharged and blacklisted--and he's intentionally staying far from the men who served beneath him in his SEAL team, so as not to tarnish them, too. He's been unable to find work for about a year, and he's getting pretty desperate when he's dropped into the heroine's rather fantastic world.

Shane's a SEAL without a team, and in Born to Darkness he connects with a group of rather odd people who are on a mission to rescue a kidnapped little girl. He wants to help, but it's not easy for him, since he's used to being in charge. And despite his skill and training as a SEAL, he's also the weakest link in this unusual team's chain--which is an eye-opening experience for him.

I've also written an e-short called Shane's Last Stand so that readers can meet Lt. Shane Laughlin and see him in his "natural habitat" as I tell the story of his final, fateful mission as a SEAL.

Happy reading!

Review

PRAISE FOR SUZANNE BROCKMANN
 
“Brockmann strikes the perfect balance between white-knuckle suspense and richly emotional romance.”—Chicago Tribune
 
“Brockmann is a master of adventure, drama, passion, and suspense.”—The Tampa Tribune
 
“[Brockmann] brilliantly combines superbly crafted, realistically complex characters with white-knuckle plotting.”—Booklist

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 528 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (March 20, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345521277
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345521279
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.9 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Suzanne Brockmann is the award-winning author of fifty-one books, and is widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the New York Times bestseller list, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America's #1 Favorite Book of the Year and two RITA awards.

Married to author Ed Gaffney, Suz divides her time between Sarasota, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts and New York City. They have two grown children, Melanie, who is a personal trainer and a writer, and Jason, who is an actor and tap dancer, and two miniature schnauzers, C.K. Dexter-Haven and Little Joe, both of whom (unlike Mel and Jason) still live at home.

Suz is a proud member of PFLAG -- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. She is also a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, and MassEquality. A firm believer in civil rights for all people, she has fought hard to bring equal marriage rights to all citizens of her home state, Massachusetts.

Suz also recently produced her first independent feature-length movie, a romantic comedy called THE PERFECT WEDDING, that she co-wrote with her husband Ed and her son Jason. The film is currently in post-production. (Find out more at www.ThePerfectWeddingMovie.com)

Visit Suz's Website at www.SuzanneBrockmann.com
Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SuzanneBrockmannBooks

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Sex, drugs, and little girls. January 29, 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I've read Suzanne Brockmann's books in the past and have been entertained by them. Born to Darkness is shot forward into a dark future with not one but three sizzling romances and plenty of action - Brockmann style - that kept me reading the book to the end.

In the not too distance future (no date is given) a new highly illicit drug name Destiny is making its rounds. It promises to reverse aging and to bring strength and vitality. However, because of its rarity, it is extremely expensive. What they also don't tell you is that it is instantly addictive....and there's also a good chance to spontaneously and violently lose your mind (aka Jokering) at any moment. What they also are not going to tell you that the main ingredient for their drug comes from the hormones found in the blood of specially selected young girls strapped to hospital beds kept in a constant state of horrific terror.

The future is grim indeed.

Born to Darkness is a entertaining action romance that tells of the story of not one but three couples, each couple having a strong focus of their own.

There is Shane/Mac: Shane is a blacklisted unemployed Navy Seal looking for a job. Mac is a strong-willed, high-strung, rough talking covert agent with the special ability to seduce men. (She reminds me a lot of Starbuck of the new Battlestar Galactica series.) Shane is convince that he loves Mac, even after only a one-nighter. Mac is convinced that it's only her power blinding him and there is no way he could actually "like" her. I wanted more from Shane, but I think the book would've exploded in my hands.

There is Anna/Joseph: Anna's little sister, Nika, has been kidnapped and is desperate to find her. Joseph is a rare Greater Than with mental powers at 70%, which is very powerful. Joseph vows to Anna to help her find and rescue Nika, but he slowly starts to lose his heart to Anna. This was my favorite romantic story line, but there wasn't enough of it and had a surprise twist that left me wondering.

There's another couple as well, but I'm resistant to disclose this one as it's better off being a surprise. However it's fast and furious once it is revealed to not only the readers but for the book characters as well.

Born to Darkness explodes with three avid love stories, a lost and endangered girl, people with incredible mental abilities, deranged and diabolical perpetrators, and - of course - explosives. When the madness ends, you'll be relieved and yet you'll be wanting more. Born to Darkness (#1 in the Eternal Youth series) was a great joy ride and I look forward to more in the series.
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71 of 81 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing Storyline, Predictable Characters February 9, 2012
By Gizmo
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This was a return to Suzanne Brockmann for me. I was intrigued by the futuristic, paranormal plot about heroes with neural integration powers. The opening chapter was terrific and had me eagerly anticipating the rest of the story, but unfortunately it wasn't long before I was reminded why I had taken a hiatus from Ms. Brockmann's books. Sometimes her characters are so raw that I find them neither likable nor sympathetic. This is the case with the first couple in this story: Mac and Shane. They're bad-asses who go to the same bar for a hook-up, spend 5 minutes negotiating sex, another 5 minutes having sex, and then Shane doesn't want to be without her. Mac is manipulative and nasty throughout most of this story. She uses her powers to manipulate Shane's feelings for her - and even enhances her boobs for his enjoyment (no kidding) - so maybe that explains Shane's attraction to her, but in any case, I never cared for these two. The other characters are more likable. The paranormal interactions between Bach and Anna were for me the highlight of the book and the only thing that kept me engaged. Some reviewers here would have you believe it's a spoiler to reveal a homosexual couple in the story, but Ms. Brockmann has included homosexual relationships in her stories for years and this one will be no surprise to her regular readers. I anticipated it, murmured "here we go again," and started skimming. I don't enjoy reading it, but some readers might enjoy it. Whatever your cup of tea, the point of a review is to help others make informed choices, so I have no qualms about revealing this aspect of the story here. The final comment I have is that, true to its title, this story is dark. The setting is a future where none of us would want to reside. If you're looking for feel-good romance, this isn't it.

P.S. Regarding the promotional video that just went up, why did someone waste their time on this? It seems pointless.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Wanted to Like It but, just...couldn't March 26, 2012
By Pat K
Format:Kindle Edition
I've loved Suzanne Brockmann's many SEAL and Troubleshooter novels, but this one left me feeling blah. I got the prequel short story and enjoyed it greatly; it left me wanting more. I thought this story would have the same kind of great characters and action as her previous novels, but I was disappointed. While I really liked Shane in the short story, I think he was very one dimensional in the book. His character offered a great outsider's view to the often bizarre environment in which the story is set, but we got very little of his viewpoint. I would say a good portion of the book was tied up in sex scenes which, frankly, I could have done without. I didn't like many of the characters and those I did were not very well developed. When the next book in the seris comes out, I will probably not buy it, but rent it for my Kindle.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars Born to Darkness
I have read many many of Suzanne Brockman's books and loved them. This one is a great disappointment. I do not need to be preached to regarding the gay lifestyle. Read more
Published 4 hours ago by Sally B
4.0 out of 5 stars Born to darkness
This story is kinda sci-fi. It definitely was creative writing, very imaginative, and interesting. Just let your imagination go and enjoy.
Published 3 days ago by Justin Boyd
4.0 out of 5 stars DIFFERENT, but GOOD!
Totally, a new style to Ms. Brockmann! I was very wary at the beginning if I would enjoy it or more if it would keep and hold my interest. Read more
Published 8 days ago by 10ashian08
1.0 out of 5 stars Simply awful
When I saw the jacket cover to Born to Darkness and saw that it was a futuristic novel featuring "greater thans" that can use a greater portion of their mind, which in essence... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Carl Alves
5.0 out of 5 stars Born To Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann
I love Suzanne Brockmann and her Troubleshooters series! I think that she is an incredible writer and that her books are all fantastic! Read more
Published 13 days ago by Astridana
5.0 out of 5 stars my first SB read and it's AWESOME!
I loved this book! And I am so glad to see it's the beginning of a series, too! It's part sci/fy, part action, part urban fantasy, part romance, it's got it all! Read more
Published 16 days ago by Cheryl King
1.0 out of 5 stars dreadful and Dark
I. like most reviewers, am an SB fan. I couldn't finish this book.
The entire book was sexual. In the middle of the action the protagonists were aroused by their partners. Read more
Published 23 days ago by D. E Anne mc Kenna
4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Futuristic/Paranormal Action-Suspense-Romance
I'm usually not into romance that features enlisted men as heroes, but Suzanne Brockmann is such a great writer that I've read every one of her books. Read more
Published 29 days ago by sealaughing
4.0 out of 5 stars a great read
I picked this book up at the library, without knowing anything about it or the author. and wow am I glad I did. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Julia Monson
4.0 out of 5 stars Troubleshooters meets XMen
If you like Brockmann and you're a closet Trekkie (I'm not sayin'... I'm just sayin') you'll love this new series.

There are spoilers in here. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Stephanie
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