Monday, January 18, 2016

Book & Audio Review

Intimate Enemies by Joan Swan
(Covert Affairs, Book 1)



Publisher & Release Date: Cygnet Books, November 9, 2013

Time and setting: Present Day, Baja, Mexico

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Erotic/Romantic Suspense

Length:  362 pages

Heat Level: 3 Flames

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

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.

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Vikki’s Musings

I recently read Reckless by Skye Jordan and thoroughly enjoyed it. I discovered she also writes as Joan Swan and when I read the book description for Intimate Enemies, I was intrigued. Since it also had the audio version, I downloaded it. I am so glad I found this book!

The story pulled me in from the first scene and kept me glued to my seat until the end. The pacing is very fast with lots of action and highly emotion. This is an excellent romantic suspense novel. Ms. Swan’s vivid description of the Baja area is excellent, giving an idea what it must be like to live there with the gangs and drug cartels ruling the streets.

I liked Cassie’s character, even though at times, she didn’t make  the best decisions, especially when it came to her safety. She is fearless to the point she puts her life in danger and the man who is supposed to be protecting her. I could feel her anguish over her mother and step-brothers’ deaths keenly. Her compassion for her cousin, her desire to help the poor, makes her a great heroine.

Now, Rio Santana is everything I love in a book boyfriend. He’s tall, dark and handsome as sin. He’s brave, loyal and determined to keep Cassie safe, even when she rushes in where angels fear to tread. I love a warrior character archetype and Rio fits it perfectly. And when you add in some bad boy, it’s enough to make a girl reach for her fan!

Intimate Enemies is an emotionally-charged love story. I could feel the sexual tension between Rio and Cassie in every scene. The love scenes are erotic, yet they are not all about the sex. The love growing between Cassie and Rio jumped off the page.

I listened to the audio version, and I really liked Christa G. Lewis. She reads with a great deal of emotion and tension radiated in her voice during the suspenseful scenes. I particularly enjoyed all the accents, and her voice tone for Rio is perfection. I will certainly look for other books narrated by her.


If you love erotic romances with lots of action and suspense, and a romantic love story, then you will love Intimate Enemies as much as I did. While this is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Swan, it will not be the last. Happy reading!

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