Covert Game (GhostWalkers, #14)

by Christine Feehan

“I spoke at length with Bellisia and she assures me that she knows the woman; her name is Zara Hightower. Apparently, Zara has always been Bellisia’s closest friend.”

It’s always interesting to me to see what readers highlight. This was highlighted several times and I’m not exactly sure why, but I find it intriguing. The point was to show there’s a long standing relationship between the girls. What people may not know is that Zara and Shylah are the names of my granddaughters and these characters were named after them as a special gift. They’re too young to read this book right now, but when they’re older they will read it and remember that I did this for them. Bellisia however, is my granddaughter Zara’s imaginary friend.

“It’s need that matters, Gino. Find the kind of woman you need. Wanting can fool you.”

People can mistake physical attraction for what they want. Physical attraction is important, but what you need is someone who can complete you. Someone who has characteristics that fit with yours. Someone who is strong where you are weak. Someone who makes you a better person just by being in your life.

Your woman will find her place with you and whatever that is, it is a partnership with each of you having your role. You just need to make her feel loved and cared for. Communication is important, not just in the bedroom, but mostly out of it. You have that, you’ll have no problems.”

This is, in my opinion, absolutely true for everyone. Communication is key in any relationship. You can’t let things go, you must talk them out.

Zara Hightower needed protection, not the cold monster lurking inside him, but he knew it was the same thing. His monster was her protection. “I take care of what’s mine. He won’t get his filthy hands on you again. That’s my promise to you.”

You might think you’re the worst there is. That something about you is too terrible. But, it could be that that is exactly what someone else needs from you.

“Just because you don’t want to conquer the world doesn’t mean you aren’t a feminist. A true feminist wouldn’t tell other women what they should or shouldn’t do. They would support their decisions.

We’re a sisterhood. Part of that means accepting what another woman wants for herself even if it is something you might hate. You’re not there to judge her, but to support her. We’re all individuals who want or need different things and we don’t need to fit a certain mold to be accepted. Zara didn’t want to go out on missions and kick butt. She wanted to stay home and do her research. That was what made her happy.

“You can only decide who you want to be. What kind of man you want to be. What example you set for our children. We all have choices. If you don’t like something about yourself, you work on changing it. It might take a lifetime, but that’s a gift you can share with your children. With me. That kind of lifetime commitment to change something in yourself you don’t particularly like.”

We all have things we don’t like about ourselves. If you know you don’t like it, it’s up to you to work on that. Don’t just accept it and let it go if you don’t like it. Yes, it’s work to change, but over time and with enough sincere determination you can change.

“You don’t worry about what you’re getting from him. Worry about what he’s getting from you. If you married the right man, he’s doing the same for you. Don’t think he’s going to anticipate or know what you need, communicate it to him. Talk to him. Let things go that are trivial. Laugh every chance you get with him. It’s the little things that make or break a relationship. Put him first and hope he puts you first. That’s the best advice I can give you. I was married for a lot of years to my man, and I loved every minute I had with him.”

People often enter a relationship thinking about what the other person can do for them. Really, you need to think about what you can offer that other person. If you both enter the relationship wanting to give the best to the other person, you’ll both receive something in return. And of course it goes back again to communication. It almost always does. You want the best for your partner. The next GhostWalker book is Toxic Game out March 12, 2019.