Fallen Comrade by Jillian David

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SKU 978-0-3695-0651-1
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Project Morpheus, 1

The Project Morpheus series: Military romance, steamy passion, and heart-stopping suspense.
 
The Morpheus Squad: Ultimate soldiers who hide in plain sight, fierce protectors risking their existence for those they love ... and virally-altered, ticking time bombs. 

Ex-Green Beret Jake Zimmerman’s Georgia mountain seclusion is shattered when the one woman he should never have left, pregnant Kiera McNeill, shows up on his doorstep. Her life is in danger, thanks to a botched Morpheus Squad mission. If the nature of her baby is discovered, evil forces will stop at nothing to capture Kiera. When Kiera learns of Jake’s top-secret Morpheus Virus running through his veins, she realizes that her protector is the deadlier threat.

Kiera knows the secrets of Fallen Comrades, a billion-dollar “charity” which siphons donations away from wounded veterans and into the pockets of power-hungry CFO Beau Lequire. Now her sadistic ex-boss, Lequire, wants revenge. Her only chance of escape rests in the lethal hands of the man who once rejected her: Jake. All she needs to do is suppress her feelings for Jake long enough to destroy Fallen Comrades, stay alive, and save her baby.

 

Excerpt:

Thanks to his tree-mounted security cameras that made the system guarding the crown jewels look amateur, it took less than ten seconds for Jake Zimmerman to identify the vehicle creeping to a stop in front of his remote Blue Ridge, Georgia, cabin. Silver Hyundai Accent, five years old, brand-new tires. Getting the registration info from the license plate, however, led to a dead end. His computer kept cranking through databases. So far, nothing had come up.

Odd. Normally, he could get the information right away.

Where was the convoy? When would they storm the compound?

He cocked his head to the side. No whumps of an incoming helo.

Sparks of adrenaline fired up his nerves, lasering all of his senses on the intruder.

His first thought was that the Army had finally found him. He ran the pad of his index finger over the rough grip of the Sig nestled in his shoulder holster. How could anyone find him? He’d buried his personal intel deeper than a black ops mission file. The powers that be would have had to connect a hell of a lot of dots to figure out Jake’s real identity and location.

Besides, if Uncle Sam wanted to storm Jake’s castle, there better be a battalion coming. If Uncle Sam was smart.

He shifted, feeling the weight of a second pistol in the drop leg holster. With minimal concentration, Jake could detect the mild indentations of a Ka-Bar fixed blade in the sheath at the small of his back as well as the ever-present multitool tucked away in a pocket and ready to go for any occasion.

He peered at the … occasion … on the computer screen.

He kept the house lights off and waited despite a driving need to run out there and exterminate whoever had dared to invade his peace and quiet. Control, dammit. Drawing a hand over his face, he took several deep breaths and tightened and loosened a fist. The muscles in his neck clenched, refusing to loosen despite his automatic relaxation techniques.

The damned virus had started to take over his brain again until his entire world narrowed down to one mandate: destroy.

No, damn it. He was a man, not this … monster.

His ability to restrain those calamitous urges was slipping. Thanks to the top-secret Project Morpheus he had volunteered for almost two years ago in Special Forces, the part of Jake that had previously kept him from devolving into base violence now fucking loved it when he lost control. The darkness within Jake thrived on the anarchy that was his virally corrupted soul.

Add in an uninvited visitor, and it looked like tonight would bring even more fun for one of the U.S. Army’s best-kept secrets.

Question of the evening: what idiot would show up at his place at 2:00 AM? Better yet, why? It was mid-March, still damp and at times freezing up here in the southernmost part of the Appalachian Mountains.

Did the person want to rob him? Jake had no material items of value. Not for lack of resources, thanks to his combat pay savings and mother’s life insurance policy. But he didn’t need much—just the ability to keep his demons at bay chopping wood out back and lifting weights until oblivion. That, and a deep-seated desire to not interact with any other humans suited him fine.

Something of value? Well, he had a locket with a clip of smooth auburn hair he should have thrown away long before now. Yeah, he was a bastard for preserving the keepsake, despite being technically faithful to his then-wife who did not have auburn hair. Could explain part of why he was no longer married.

He peered out the window again. Whoever was out there remained in the vehicle. Come on, people, let’s go.

So. What to do about the person parked outside his house? Well, right now, his goddamned virus had a helpful suggestion. It wanted Jake to dismember whoever was in the car. Now.

Wiping his hands on his black cargo pants, he unholstered the Sig and crept to the front door. Time to eliminate the person stupid enough to visit him. Because one person could lead to two people, which could lead to being put back in the military “testing facility.”

Unclenching a fist, he carefully released more of his tenuous control over the virus. It infused every cell in his body with unnatural strength and reflexes. But as the strength and acuity of his senses grew, his sanity ebbed.

The hellish yin and yang.

Ingrained training was all that kept him from falling over the cliff into psychosis.

The one person who knew he lived here was Mateo, and Jake hadn’t seen his Special Forces buddy since Mateo and the rest of the Morpheus Squad had gone underground a year ago. Actually, strike that. He’d seen Mateo briefly at Brady McNeill’s funeral.

Brady’s funeral. And one particularly fucked-up night. Not in small part because of seeing Brady’s sister, Kiera.

Seen? A bland word for the silky skin sliding over him and around him during their sweaty, heated reunion.

Since that night, nothing besides Jake’s own misery mattered. Not his best friend’s death, not the Morpheus Squad, his own emotional baggage. Nothing.

Which was exactly what he had now, wasn’t it? Nothing.

Well, not completely. He had someone casing his house.

He licked his lips.

The figure closed the car door and stood, unmoving, facing the front porch.

Jake took stock in a matter of seconds: The person was around five-foot-eight, with a hooded jacket hiding the head and face in shadow. They favored one leg on those first few steps toward the house. Thin legs and what looked like a bit of a paunch. He squinted. Paunch or explosives vest? Damn it.

If the government had found him, they would attempt to take him back in for more experiments or wipe him off the face of the earth trying. Best of luck.

Maybe someone was lost out here in the mountains. The road petered out in another five miles, deep into the National Forest. Who the hell wandered around the Georgia mountains in the middle of the night?

He rubbed the back of his neck. The virus crackled through his nerve endings. Mental processes turned to sludge, making high-level analysis more challenging.

What a time to skip an antidote dose.

Too late now. Don’t care.

As a swell bonus for volunteering to become a walking military biological experiment, each Morpheus Squad member had gotten extra goodies, like Jake, with his extraordinary upper body strength. He rolled his shoulders, upper back, and arms, priming for action.

Each muscle popped as poorly contained rage swept through him, turning him from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde.

Sweat broke out on his forehead as the shaking began.

Using his military training and what little humanity he still possessed, he fought to retain a shred of control. Adrenaline whipped like an icy breeze on naked skin.

He tightened up on the Sig’s grip.

Neutralizing the guy was going to feel like nirvana.

On second thought, he could use a good brawl. Stuffing the weapon back in his holster, he flexed his hands. Mr. Hyde would much rather do this the natural way.

The hunched figure in the baggy jacket trudged up the gravel driveway, halting gait a little short on one leg. Jake spied a hint of a pale nose and cheek as the person looked up at the house, but he couldn’t make out any other facial features with the hood casting a shadow.

Pressing his back to the wall next to the front door, he waited. Listened. Biofeedback techniques and clenching and releasing his hands allowed him to slow his heart rate and focus all of his energy on the shuffle of footsteps up the porch stairs. The virus strained like a chained dog tempted by a wounded rabbit.

Jake became a metal spring, coiled and ready.

At a knock on the door, he didn’t move.

The spring inside of him tightened. Tick, tick, tick. His body ratcheted down as tight as he could go.

A tap on the electronic keypad outside. What the hell? The bolt turned and the door cracked open.

The coil released.

Series:
/series-project-morpheus/

Product Reviews

Score: 5 out of 5 (based on 24 ratings)
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4/5
FALLEN COMRADE
Written by Sandy S on 19th Nov 2022

FALLEN COMRADE is the first instalment in Jillian David’s contemporary, adult PROJECT MORPHEUS slightly sci-fi, erotic, romance series focusing on a group of former Green Berets and Black Ops soldiers who had previously volunteered as subjects in the US government sponsored Project Morpheus, meant to create an army of super soldiers. This is twenty-eight year old, Jake Zimmerman, and twenty-six year old, CPA Kiera McNeill’s story line. Told from dual third person perspectives (Jake and Kiera) FALLEN COMRADE follows the second and third chance relationship between Jake Zimmerman, and CPA Kiera McNeill. Ten years earlier, Jake Zimmerman and Kiera McNeill were high school sweethearts but a pregnancy scare sent Jake on the run, where he would enlist in the military to escape the memories of what was and what could have been. Fast forward to present day, a very pregnant Kiera, the woman Jake hasn’t seen in several months, not since the funeral of her brother Brady. Brady had been investigating a group calling themselves the Fallen Comrades, a group Kiera and Brady would discover was a front for fraud and nefarious purposes. Hoping to gather information Kiera, and Jake’s Special Forces teammate Mateo, would go undercover to ferret out any and all information about the Fallen Comrade organization but all does not go according to plan when Mateo is killed, and an injured Kiera goes on the run to save her life, and the life of her unborn child. With only one person in mind, Kiera searches for the only man she has ever loved, a man who is constantly on the run when the going gets tough. Enter former Green Beret and Special Ops soldier Jake Zimmerman. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Jake and Kiera, and the fall-out as Jake and his team find themselves the target of the Fallen Comrade organization, a organization hoping to take control of Project Morpheus, and the group of men calling themselves the Morpheus Squad. Jake Zimmerman has lived under the radar since leaving his teammates behind in the Morpheus Project. Volunteering to become part of the government experiment Jake and his fellow Special Ops soldiers become something they no longer recognize, something that must be controlled before it’s too late. With the arrival of Kiera, Jakes struggles with his attraction and love for a woman he is doomed to fail, a woman who knows more than anyone could have ever imagined. The relationship between Jake and Kiera is one of second and third chances. Jake is constantly pushing away the woman he loves but with a target on her back, Jake and the Morpheus Squad must work together to protect Kiera and the child Jake believes is fathered by someone else. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense. We are introduced to Jake’s teammates and fellow Morpheus Squad members: CO Hunt, Gonzo, Rodeo, Stumpy, their physician Doc, Curly, Pele, Rivera and Red, as well as Beau Lequire, the son of Senator Lequire, the man controlling the Fallen Comrade organization. FALLEN COMRADE is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, grief and struggle, love and forgiveness. The premise is intriguing, captivating and somewhat familiar; the characters are powerful, determined and charismatic; the romance struggles in the face of what was, what is, and what may never be.

4/5
Not my usual type but loved the book
Written by Allison H on 19th Nov 2022

Not my usual type but loved the book. A romantic military suspense with a second chance romance. Jake and Kiera date 10 years ago but jake left shortly after her having a miscarriage. Her brother and him joined the military together and later joined special forces. After her brother is discharged with his honor and joins fallen comrades. He dies suspiciously. So she goes under cover with a friend of his brother to avenge his death but she must run when things go side ways. I loved all there different relationships and how the guys catered to Kiera . It was like having a second family

5/5
Action packed, romance with a hint of sci-fi
Written by Amber Keehn on 11th Oct 2022

Do you like books that contain the following? Second chance, military heroes, secret baby, conspiracy theories, protective alphas…just to name a few? This is probably the book for you. And while Fallen Comrade seemingly has all of the tropes, the author weaves the story in a way that they all come together nicely…with just a hint of SciFi in the form of a government sanctioned weaponized virus. That turns soldiers into super warriors. In the middle of this is very pregnant Keira, who runs to Jake when her mission to avenge the death of her brother takes an awful turn and now she’s being hunted by the men who killed him. Jake broke her heart years ago but is the only man who can keep her and her unborn baby safe. The story has amazing angst, adventure, suspense and just enough steam to make it a real page turner. There’s also a lot of open plotlines involving her sisters that make me think we haven’t seen the last of this crew!

4/5
Thrilling!!
Written by Wendy Livingstone on 13th Sep 2022

This is the 1st in a new series, and this is Jake and Kiera’s story. Jake is an ex-green beret, who is a runner when things become difficult, and is enjoying the peace and tranquillity of his mountain seclusion retreat. Jake peace is shattered when a pregnant Kiera arrives on his doorstep when her life is in danger. Can Jake protect and keep Kiera safe, or will he run again? This is a well written action-packed story, with an intricate and in-depth storyline, and is filled with suspense, danger, twists, secrets, family, adventure, and is an unpredictable and thrilling page turner. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4/5
I really liked this one!
Written by Sandy K on 31st Aug 2022

This is the first book I have read by Jillian David but I don't think it will be my last! Jake is an ex-Green Beret who is hiding out on his mountain in Georgia. Kiera is the woman he left behind. But now she needs his help in order to keep not only herself safe but the baby she is carrying as well. I really liked this one! I am a paranormal junkie when it comes to books and this one has enough in it to suck me in and make me want to know more. There is a lot of action and adventure involved along with a mystery virus. These two not only have a lot history but they also have chemistry. Jake has a lot of issues but Kiera is strong enough to not only call him out about them, but to force him to face them and actually end the cycle. He makes a lot of assumptions and at first I was iffy on if I would truly like his character. But I am happy to say, I definitely did! Not only that, but you throw in the side characters and I am left hoping for books for all of them as well! If you are a fan of Dogs of War series by JM Madden, then you will like this book as well!

5/5
Jake and Kiera
Written by weaveswife on 16th Aug 2022

Poor Kiera. She's been through so much. Jake has to really, but he always runs when things get difficult. It seemed like he never dealt with anything and then he is forced to. Little bit of paranormal in this and also action. It did take me several chapters to really get into it. But overall I liked it.

5/5
Excellent start to the series!
Written by Flavia Karina on 16th Aug 2022

Excellent start to the series! This is a new author for me. I really enjoyed reading this. It has all the ingredients to keep the reader hooked from start to finish. The characters are amazing and the plot is very interesting, with twists, lots of action and just the right dose of romance. Kiera is a woman who takes risks, and seeks revenge. Jake struggles with his past and a present that he can't always control. A surprising pregnancy, a love story looking for a second chance. Secret experiments, a corrupt government and a team of Special Forces stronger than ordinary. These are some of the topics that make this story simply captivating.

4/5
Fallen Comrade!
Written by Mary on 16th Aug 2022

This is such an intriguing paranormal read. The plot is so good with action, suspense and good twists in the story. Jake is in seclusion up in the mountains. When a wounded and very pregnant Kiera shows up at his door. The two have history because they grew up together. She was investigating some bad people and is now on the run. This story is really good with a very unique and refreshing plot. I love the characters and the chemistry between them. This is a new author for me. I cannot wait to read more of this author works.

4/5
Great series start
Written by Abooknut on 16th Aug 2022

This was a great start to this new series and this book really captured my interest straight from the start. It doesn’t take much to see that Jake and Kiera have a strong connection, but the question that I had throughout the book is, can he keep her and her baby safe when he himself could be considered dangerous? Can they have a second chance?

5/5
Romantic Suspense with Enhanced Powers - What Could Go Wrong?
Written by Nicole Potter on 16th Aug 2022

Fantastic story! I would have no hesitation in recommending "Fallen Comrade" to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense involving a military veterans with enhanced powers & a take no BS heroine. The story is action packed & keeps you so engaged you don't want to put it down until it's finished. Kiera & Jake have a lot to deal with but they they overcome these hurdles for a chance at a future. I can't wait to read the next book by this author

5/5
Fantastic Book
Written by JOLeary on 10th Aug 2022

Wow. The blurb for Fallen Comrade is what caught my attention, and man I was not disappointed. This was a very fast paced book full of action & suspense. Jack & Keira dated in high school, Jack being best friends with Keira's older brother. They reconnected at Jack's funeral then Jack left. These two are both dealing with loss. And Jack has decided he is best off alone. When Keira shows up at his home bleeding and very pregnant. This was such a great book. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for more!

5/5
intense read, full of action
Written by Di Ketchup on 10th Aug 2022

I was totally hooked on this story because it was so different, it is dark, gritty, twisted, scary and painfully realistic in parts. It is definitely not a soft and fluffy romance. Look out when that finale hits you, you will be floored.

5/5
Fallen Comrade.
Written by Loubie73 on 10th Aug 2022

I don’t often read contemporary books, but the added secret military team definitely swayed me into giving this book a try. As an ex military wife from England this had an extra incentive to read this book. God it doesn’t disappoint, the story is absolutely brilliant and I love how much the military plays a part in this story. The story is so damn good and I can’t wait to read the next book. This book jumps straight into the story and keeps going at a fast pace that doesn’t leave you a second to get bored or page skip. I loved how all the guys look out for Keira, that’s how it is, even without the secret team they have going on. I seriously loved the way this book was written, the depth of the characters and am impatiently waiting for the next book.

4/5
Good Story
Written by Merry Jelks-Emmanuel on 10th Aug 2022

Jake's life takes a turn when Kiera a woman from his past shows up on his doorstep seeking protection. When the villain shows up will Jake be able to keep Kiera safe? This is the first book in the series, and it looks like it is going to be good!

5/5
Excellent read
Written by Another world awaits on 10th Aug 2022

Absolutely wonderful read. Great suspenseful story with twists and turns and a smattering of romance , PTSD and big box store shopping .. Kiera and Jakes HEA is amazingly written and a must read

4/5
Good
Written by Noelia Gutierrez on 7th Aug 2022

I thought this book was good. It kept my interested and I loved that these was an inner turmoil with the character. He was flawed and i love when a flawed character is the main one.

5/5
Action, Suspense and Revenge ... there's more than one kind of heartbreak
Written by robbob19 on 6th Aug 2022

A military experiment gone wrong.. well maybe not wrong for the ’givers’ but definitely bad for the ‘takers’. Those Special Forces are strong men already. What will happen when injected with a virus giving Superman type strength? A pregnant woman running for her life. She knows too much. A wanted poster has her name all over it : Dead or Alive…. Nope, she is wanted DEAD and she has the bullet holes in her clothes and fresh shrapnel embedded in her flesh to prove it. Fooling around with DNA is a tricky thing. It can make a real Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation. And the ‘takers’, those brave military men, have little choice or control now that they are infected. And just because she’s pregnant, doesn’t mean Kiera is not dangerous. Revenge is a very powerful tool. When push comes t shove, she’s a take no prisoners type of woman. And a really important piece in her toolbox is an old high school flame who happens to be injected with the Morpheus Virus, which can make him trigger happy. Now, throw in a shady Fallen Comrade organization, the Almighty Dollar and whistleblowers, then lives are expendable. So, if you like action, drama, and revenge, alongside suspense with some hopeful romance, I’m guessing you will love this book. Just know, not all land mines are explosives. There can be some even more dangerous. It’s not always easy keeping Mr Hyde locked away.

5/5
Action packed with a little bit of romance thrown in
Written by Laura S on 2nd Aug 2022

Wow, this story keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat turning the pages to see what is going to happen next! Big, burley, ex-military good guys take on a corrupt government program while dealing with their own unwelcome issues that were the result of corrupt military experiments. Throw a bit of romance into the ride with a fallen comrade's pregnant sister and all of the the pieces come together in an action packed story that you won't be able to put down until the end!

5/5
Phew!
Written by BecM on 2nd Aug 2022

Though it took some serious concentration to actually understand what I was reading, it ended up being a real roller coaster ride. The emotional toll on each man goes through pulls at you. The mission & trials that Kiera goes breaks your heart. So worth the HEA they get. Fabulous read!

5/5
End-of-your-seat page-turner!
Written by H.M.S. Brown on 2nd Aug 2022

What a fantastic book! Fallen Comrade is a book written by new-to-me author, Jillian David and wow! I was blown away. I love romantic suspense and the more action an author throws in the better! This is a well-written story that brings together two people who were grieving the combat death of a family/friend. Kiera, whose brother was killed in combat, and Jake, who served with her brother on that same mission. Not having seen each other for several months, Keira shows up on his doorstep - wounded and very pregnant. Using his training as well as the benefits of a top-secret military team, Jake and his fellow veterans / security ops team are able to protect her, though the bad guys certainly didn't make it easy. This book is action-packed and full of tension and romance that kept me turning the pages. I can't wait to read more books by this author and hope there are more in this series.

5/5
Fallen Comrade
Written by mysticbaby1991 on 2nd Aug 2022

I absolutely loved this book! All the men dealing with the Morpheus Virus had me enthralled and wanting to know more about how the virus effected or enhanced each of the members. I really hope we get to see more with these team members and their fight to live in the now with the virus and maybe even finding more women to love them for who they are. Kiera and Jake have a history that goes all the way back to high school. From first loves to heartbreak, losing friends/brother, and heartbreak all over again. However, now Kiera is in a position where she needs Jake's help. Only Jake can't help on his own. He'll need the entire squad together again to help protect Kiera and maybe take down Fallen Comrades, a billion dollar "charity" that is responsible for killing now two of his 'brothers' But every time Kiera and Jake are around each other feelings always seem to arouse. Hence, Kiera's current state... Jake isn't one to stay around though. When things get serious or he gets scared he runs, always has. Now being stuck with Kiera he's forced to confront his feelings. Will he be able to see past all of his issues and see the future he could have with Kiera and his baby?

5/5
Fallen Comrade
Written by Niki T on 2nd Aug 2022

This is the first book in this series, and I cannot wait to read more from this series. It is an intense read, but very good. Jake's world is disrupted when Kiera shows up at his house and tells him that she is running for her life, and one of his friends is dead. When her trouble comes to his door, he will do everything to keep her safe.

4/5
4 stars
Written by Suzi on 26th Jul 2022

Interesting premise. A little bit paranormal and a whole lot of action suspense. Kiera and Jake have a history. They grew up together but Jake was very good at walking away when the going got uncomfortable. Now Kiera is messed up with so really bad people and needs his help. Loved the banter with these two although I didn't like that Kiera wouldn't just override Jake and tell him about the baby. Loved the rest of the Morpheus men as well. Looking forward to seeing where this group goes. The bad guys are still out there so you know there is more suspense to come. Great start to a series.

5/5
5 stars
Written by Donna on 26th Jul 2022

Jillian David is a new-to-me author, and I was so intrigued by the synopsis of this novel, listed as a romance, that I requested an advance reader copy, but this novel is hard to classify--it's a highly original, paranormal, second chance, romantic suspense novel on steroids, and it kept me turning pages until dawn, and it gets 5 bleary-eyed stars from this reader. Keira, the heroine, is on the run and pregnant. Her brother, Brady, who was in Special Forces was killed. She's being looked after by one of this comrades, Mateo, and the two are working to bring down a phony wounded veterans charity she and Mateo have been working for under assumed identities, run by the son of a powerful U.S. senator. But somehow, their boss is on to them and Keira manages to escape with a thumb drive, Mateo is killed when their house is bombed, and thanks to his directions and her eidetic memory, she manages to turn up at the secret and secure hideaway of Jake Zimmerman, her late brother's best friend, who was also once his teammate in Special Forces, and she's about to get them into more trouble and danger than you can possibly imagine, all because of something called Project Morpheus. Jake's and his teammates all volunteered for the highly classified project, which involved being injected with the Morpheus Virus, designed to alter their DNA and turn the already highly trained and fit soldiers into ultra-fit, bulked-up, super killing machines--the ultimate warriors, except there's a catch--while the experimental virus did do what it was intended to do, the genetic upgrade didn't have an off-switch, and the virus continues to work, causing the men to go into hair-trigger, manic killer-mode at the slightest trigger if they aren't given regular shots of an antidote to slow down the process. They've all gone into hiding because the government wants to reacquire and study them, turning these skilled warriors into human lab-rats. The men who were given this viral upgrade were advised to get vasectomies, since no one had a clue what would happen should they father a child post-inoculation, but Jake attended the funeral of Keira's brother before having the procedure, and although he's in denial, and assumes that the fetus Keira is carrying is Mateo's, he's in for a rude awakening. Jake and Keira were high school sweethearts, when she became pregnant with his child in high school--she miscarried, and he joined the military. Later, his marriage to another woman he impregnated and dutifully married, ended when his wife also miscarried--he's a runner, and Keira is a strong enough heroine to finally call him on it--and that's just for starters, in this high-tech, thrill ride of a novel, which is also the first novel in a new series, and it's a series I'll be following, because Ms. David has serious wiring skills, and quite an imagination, and each and every one of the men in the Morpheus Project are going to have to deal with the aftermath of this experiment. Frankly, I can't wait to read those upcoming novels.