Smitten by Books

Touching Darkness
Author: Jaime Rush
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: April 27, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061690372
Retail: $7.99
400 pages

They live ordinary lives, but they are extraordinary. They are the Offspring, children of a mysterious experiment gone awry—and they are in terrible danger.

Nicholas Braden has an uncanny psychic talent for finding things—which is why he’s been recruited for a covert government program designed to hunt down terrorists. While his work for a shady controller named Darkwell is leading him down some very questionable alleyways, it’s also bringing him closer to Olivia, Darkwell’s stunning young assistant. A “good girl” with a wild, secret side, Olivia tempts Nicholas in ways he never believed possible—and in his business, a loss of control could prove fatal.

But there is something not right about the operation. And as Nicholas and Olivia’s passion reaches a white-hot intensity, chilling reversals of good and evil, of right and wrong, suddenly threaten their very survival.

~*~*~

A government conspiracy, psychic abilities, and romance are just some of the exciting elements in this engrossing paranormal tale.

Nicholas Braden has been searching his entire life for a place where he feels he belongs. Ever since he was young he’s had the ability to finds things or people by picturing them in his head. As a youth this ability alienated him, but as he’s grown older he’s learned to use his gift to help others.

By joining a secret CIA organization run by Gerard Darkwell, he believes he’ll be locating terrorists and bringing them to justice. This organization includes Nicholas and two others who also have psychic abilities and Darkwell’s mission for them is to find a group of individuals referred to as the Rogues. The mission finally gives Nicholas a sense of belonging and a sense of importance.

Meeting Olivia, Darkwell’s assistant, is also of great importance and the two start a relationship. It’s a relationship that quickly becomes complicated. For one, Nicholas has been having visions of his death just like his father did before his own death. For this reason, he doesn’t want to get too close to Olivia for fear of breaking her heart. For another, he’s starting to have concerns about Darkwell and who the Rogues really are.

After finding Darkwell’s secret files he realizes there’s more to the program than he originally thought. The program has been around for a very long time and its former members have connections to many of the players introduced throughout the story. After a few close encounters, Nicholas also starts to see the Rogues in a whole new light. Secrecy suddenly becomes vitally important as he tries to figure out if he’s truly working on the right one.

Nicholas isn’t the only one with secrets. Olivia too is full of secrets perpetuated by a father who’s mentally abusive and a lifelong obsession with family obligations. Slowly but surely she’s coming out of her shell. From defying orders and falling in love with Nicholas, to questioning the true agenda Darkwell has for his group of psychics. The braver Olivia gets, the greater the danger to her life. As a stalker gets closer, will Nicholas be able to save her? And if he saves her, will he be able to save himself?

At no time did I feel lost not having read the previous books in the Offspring series. The flow of the story sucks you right in for the excitement to come. The story is full of heightened suspense and strong primary and secondary characters. The series’ ongoing mystery is original and a final revelation leaves you in shock and counting down the days until the next installment.

Rating: 8 (Very Good )

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)