Review: Enemy Mine {L.O.S.T., #2} by Karin Harlow

Title: Enemy Mine

Author: Karin Harlow

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Series: L.O.S.T., #2
Publisher: Pocket Books
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Rating: 4/5
Received By: Publisher for Review

~*~Book Blurb~*~

Lovers from opposite worlds reunite in Karin Harlow’s explosive, erotic new L.O.S.T. adventure. .  

While tracking a hijacked cask of enriched uranium in Kyrgyzstan, L.O.S.T. operative Nikko Cruz is ambushed and left for dead. Which means he must be hallucinating when the only woman he ever loved—the woman he was sentenced to death for killing—comes to his rescue. Half-daemon Selena Guererro has secrets she’d kill for. The most important one, she’s already died to protect. Now she’ll do anything to keep her daughter safe. But she can’t just leave her lost love to perish. She injects Nikko with immortal blood serum, putting herself in grave danger.

When Nikko comes to, he is superhuman and super pissed. The mother of his daughter—the one he thought killed their child—is alive. He wants answers. He wants blood. And despite his best intentions, he wants Selena. He traces her to a mysterious terrorist cell where the cask has surfaced. First, he must retrieve the deadly material. Then he’ll take revenge on his beautiful ex. But when nothing goes as planned, Nikko and Selena find themselves burning with desire . . . and blowing the roof off their separate worlds, human and daemon alike.

How much engaging action and passionate sexiness can be put in one place you ask? Apparently a lot! In Karin Harlow's newest release of the L.O.S.T. series, readers are immediately thrust into the action as one Special-Ops member embarks on a dangerous journey of life and death, and of facing one of the most difficult realizations of his life: He didn't succeed in killing his ex.

Welcome to the L.O.S.T. {Last Option Special Team} world. Here you'll find a closed world where humans and supernatural creatures unknowingly -- well at least to most -- live amongst one another. Where The Order, a council made up of a representative from vampires, daemons, weres, fey, and the fallen, all weigh in on the governing of the supernatural creatures. A world were a human Special Ops team is made up of some fabulous -- and hot -- military men and one woman. This is also a world where blood lines are blurred, creating both internal and external conflicts -- a great example being heroine, Selena with her part human, part daemon DNA.

Enemy Mine has a highly engaging, action-driven, very complex plot. It's intricacies are leaving me little room for explanation of events for fear that I may accidentally give away some very important spoilers. But, what I will say is I was constantly on the edge of my seat during the high suspense moments, and completely captivated during the character interactions and very passionate scenes. I honestly hated having to put this book down because I always felt it was during a "good" spot!

Heroine, Selena, is a great female lead character. Strong, feisty, intelligent, and a bad-ass who's learned that the only way she can keep those she cares about and loves safe is by pushing them away. This is exactly what she did with the man whom she passionately loved and was to be the father of her child: Johnny, aka Nikko Cruz. With her daemon father threatening the lives of Nikko and her unborn child, Selena risked her own life to sever ties with her most precious loves. Selena is a sexy, tough as nails lead female character who's driving force is to rid herself of her daemon father, keep her vigilante position in an underground organization, keep her supply of 'rev' (a potent mixture or vampire blood and enhancements) plenty, keep her self-owned nightclub profitable, keep her most valuable secret safe, and now -- unknowingly -- keep her ex safe as well; despite her still wanting to kill him occasionally. Whew!! She's a busy girl! :)

The hero, Nikko Cruz, is nothing short of alpha sexiness! A pure male, in a very alpha male career, and with a very brooding, ice-cold disposition. Eight years prior, his ex, Selena, ripped his heart out of his chest. Now, his life and family is being a member of L.O.S.T.. And, despite him wanting to kill Selena -- again -- her sudden presence in his life brings back a flood of emotions, memories, and passion, he can't help but feel every time she's near him.

The characters, both primary and secondary, were very dynamic, almost life-like as I read them interacting with others and gathering an insight into to their thoughts through the third-person writing. Emotions could easily be felt between the heroine and hero. I laughed and even cried during some very heartfelt moments of one bad ass, heart-hardened hero meeting his daughter for the first time. The way the hero and heroine "dealt" with one another was spectacular! 

This really was a get-to-know-you-all-over-again type of romance story; one that is heartfelt and poignant. After nearly eight years of not seeing one another, fate thrusts them onto the same dangerous path as they deal with stolen uranium, psychotic terrorists, and demon antagonists. Like I've mentioned, there is never a dull moment in Enemy Mine! :)

And speaking of action .. wow, is the heat and chemistry between Selena and Nikko hot!

Can you read the book without having to read the first? Yes, you can! While characters from the previous book are in book two, I didn't feel like there was a missing story arc.  

I definitely recommend this book to urban fantasy romance lover who crave action and sexiness in there reads! Don't let all the character introductions and names being thrown at you at the beginning  of the story turn you away. You'll quickly learn all those key player names and the importance of each as they help drive the action and plot lines and set up the next installment of the series, one of which I can't wait to get my hands on!! I'm seriously hoping it follows Joran --- one super hot and naughty vampire!! Yum! :)

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