It's the mid-twenty-first century and Michelle "Mac"
Mackenzie has a set of specialized skills that she uses as
an employee of Obermeyer Institute (OI) to help those in
trouble. The OI trains humans with the right potential to
integrate their brain function to unleash the brain's hidden
power (including empathy, telekinesis, precognition, and
healing, among others). Currently, they are trying to
understand the effects of Destiny, an instantly addictive
drug that ignites an individual's brain potential but can
quickly drive them insane before killing them. Mac's work
is dangerous and she's found that she can heal herself much
more quickly with sexual intimacy (in spite of the OI's
recommendation to remain celibate). When she gets home to
discover her boyfriend has moved out Mac heads to a bar.
Shane Laughlin, blacklisted Navy SEAL (see , is down to the last of his cash and is in Boston
for testing at the OI because he's been identified as a
"potential." He's not sure what this means but it's the
chance at a job and some money in his pocket. He's at the
bar to scam some money playing pool when Mac walks in and
he's instantly drawn to her. Soon, she's taking him home.
The next morning she's shocked to discover he's headed to
the OI. She's determined to keep her distance until it
becomes clear that sex with Shane has boosted her brain
integration. With Shane determined to help with a Destiny
related missing-person case, and the scientific pressure to
explore the connection between sex and brain potential, Mac
can't escape him. The question becomes, does she want to?
BORN TO DARKNESS remains true to Suzanne Brockmann's roots
in military romantic suspense. Mac, Shane, and the OI team
fight their way out of a number of dangerous situations with
the skill and courage we have come to expect from Ms.
Brockmann's characters. The relationship between Shane and
Mac is passionate and contentious. Additionally, there are
two well-developed romantic subplots. While I enjoyed the
story as a whole, I think it would have been more powerful
and chilling had it been set in present day. As far as I
could tell, the differences between the present and future
were relatively minor, and the idea that an underworld of
super-humans exists now is much more compelling. Because
the book is set in a minimally defined future, the
pop-culture references sprinkled throughout the book are
jarring as it seems unlikely that those references would be
relevant in 30-40 years. I work with college students,
every year I become more aware of how quickly things drop
out of the common lexicon.
Fans of Ms. Brockmann's Troubleshooter series will like
reading BORN TO DARKNESS. This is the first book in the
Fighting Destiny series. It's possible that subsequent books
in the series will provide a more fully developed future
world that will negate so of my concerns.
In the not-too-distant future, the Obermeyer Institute (OI)
has made a revolutionary discovery: With special training,
humans can tap into the brain's hidden powers (think
telepathy, telekinetic powers, super strength, and more).
The training is strenuous, though, and it works only for
those with natural potential. Tough girl Mac has that
potential, and she's a devoted member of the OI. But there's
one rule she can't help but bend. Her boss thinks celibacy
is key to their work. Mac's learned differently—an active
sexual life enhances her powers. And when she meets Shane, a
sexy former Navy SEAL, the sparks are instant. But after the
two spend an amazing night together, Mac finds out that
Shane's a new recruit at the institute. How can she mix
business and pleasure?
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