Intimate Enemies By Joan Swam

She is on a quest for answers; answers that could just get her killed.

Six months after the mysterious yacht explosion that killed Cassie Christo’s mother and stepbrother, authorities still have no answers to the cause. Searching for closure, Cassie returns to her childhood home on the Pacific Coast of Baja, Mexico, where she launches her own investigation into the accident. She never expected to find an adversary in the man who had once touched her heart with kindness in her darkest moment.

Rio’s been fantasizing about reconnecting with Cassie for months. But not here and sure as hell not now. As an undercover agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he’s working the biggest sting operation in all of northern Mexico, and he definitely doesn’t have time for the wild attraction he feels for Cassie.

Not only is his cover on the line, so is his heart. Because as the end of a yearlong operation draws closer, Rio knows if he tells Cassie the truth about who and what he is, it won’t only jeopardize his mission, it may result in him losing her forever. And if he doesn’t, his lies and deception could get them both killed.

Grace's Review:


Edgy & Sexy!

So, while waiting for the release of Blaze, book #2 of Joan Swan's Phoenix Rising series, I started reading Swan's self-published book, Intimate Enemies. I've read and loved Fever, and I already knew she can write amazing romance-suspense, but...Holy guacamole! I love it when I'm surprised in a good way, and Intimate Enemies did just that...it was a surprise hit for me! I think I actually loved this slightly more than Fever. Sorry, Teague, Rio has secured a place in my heart as one of my favorite alpha heroes!

With an enthralling story line filled with danger, corruption, gang turf war, kidnapping threat, and a sleazy smuggler who wants to make a big name for himself, it all leads to the plot wrapping up with thrilling action!

“You know why. Because I don't have one hundred percent Rio here. Because I don't know who Rio really is. You have all of me, but...how much of you do I have?”

Cassie Christo is back at home in Baja, Mexico with the goal and determination to find out the truth behind the explosion that killed her mother and stepbrother. Little did she know that she would walk straight into the path of danger. Rio Santana works for Cassie's stepfather, Saul, and has been working undercover on a year-long sting operation to bring the guy down. Cassie's unexpected presence during this time could ruin all the plans. She's trying to figure out if Rio is good or bad, but her learning who he really is endangers both of them.

“From the erotic movement of his tongue to the smooth slide of his lips to the powerful movements of his body, he made the simple act of kissing both animalistic and artful.”

Cassie is one strong, independent woman! She's an ER doctor, a survivor, a woman who won't stop searching for answers. Deep down she wants to believe that Rio is good. Rio can't help but fall hard for the beautiful Cassie, and trying to keep her safe while keeping his boss happy is not easy. Hats off to the author for keeping the sexual tension between Rio and Cassie going and going until it leads to a must-have-tequila-shot-after-reading-that-wowza love scene! So hot and so worth it getting there!

“Emotion geysered up from deep inside him. So deep he hadn't seen it lurking. The sensations and feelings ambushed him all at once, a blitz attack that overwhelmed and shattered every barrier.”

About halfway through, I just wanted to take my time and not rush my reading, trying to draw out reaching the end. I enjoy this author's writing very much. The emotions between Rio & Cassie seem authentic for the situation they are in, and the writing is descriptive and intense without being too over the top. Listen up, Hollywood! While reading, I thought the story would make great movie material! I'd love to see this story play out on the big screen one day.

Intimate Enemies is an excellent choice if you're in a mood for steamy romance-suspense!

An excerpt of Ch. 1 of Intimate Enemies is available here: http://joanswan.com/books/intimate-en...

 

Fever by Joan Swan

When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she's in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need...

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn't, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever...

Grace's Review: 

A Sizzling Thrill Ride!

WOW! Joan Swan's debut romantic-suspense novel, FEVER, is a thrill ride you won't want to miss! When San Quentin prisoner, Teague Creek, former firefighter and paramedic, is transported to a San Francisco medical center for a medical exam, he sets his plan for escape in motion. His plans include taking a specific hostage, but what he didn't know is that the hospital would be short staffed that evening, and he mistakenly takes another person. As Teague and another inmate escape with Dr. Alyssa Foster as their hostage, the suspense just builds and builds from there!

Teague and Alyssa are both strong characters that have obvious chemistry from the beginning. Teague is wrongly accused, hardened from prison life and determined to escape to not only prove his innocence, but to get to the person who matters to him the most. Alyssa is career-driven and strong-willed. She stands up to Teague and fights him from the beginning. When the situation they're in intensifies and Alyssa gets injured, they gradually learn to rely on each another. Ms. Swan does a great job building their romance too. Teague and Alyssa are physically attracted to one another from the get go. Their trust and emotional bond gradually strengthens as they seek answers. Throughout most of the book, these two keep resisting one another to the point of utter frustration, but when they finally get together it is so worth it!

Negative comments: Not much. I know many people will be sensitive to the racial slurs spoken in this book. I don't like reading about bigotry either, but Swan wrote one of her characters very honestly even though he is rather despicable.

One of my favorite moments that made me laugh was when a certain character was belting out a song in the car. Joan Swan, how did you know I love that band? I just had to sing along too!

FEVER is a fantastic start to Swan's Phoenix Rising Series. The paranormal aspect is minimal and used well. Teague was exposed to something in a warehouse explosion and ends up having constant high body heat. He is literally hot to touch and is still learning how to control his power. There were six surviving people from that explosion, so maybe we'll learn more about the others in future books. In this book Luke and Mitch are great secondary characters, and I wanted to learn more about them. Hopefully they will get their HEA in the next books as well.