Kimber's review posted on Guilty Pleasures 
 4.5 Stars 
 Intimate Enemies is the first in the Covert Affairs series by up and coming author Joan Swan. When I read an excerpt of the book a few months back I immediately knew I wanted to read more so when the opportunity for Intimate Enemies came, I snatched that baby up. I love those sitting on the edge of your seat type of suspense novels and this one did not disappoint. This book reads like something from a seasoned author, and it totally exceeded my expectations. 
 Cassie Christo lives in California, works as a doctor but is unsettled in her life. She can't stop thinking of a man who comforted her at the funeral of her mother and stepbrother. She doesn't know who he is but she's determined to find him and thank him for his kindness, something she isn't used to. On this trip to her hometown, she's also determined to confront her evil stepfather about the estate money he is throwing away on prostitutes in the wake of the deaths of her mother and stepbrother and plans to kick him out. After her arrival, she decides to start her own investigation of the tragedy involving the two people she loved and cared for the most in her life. However, before she even reaches her destination the adventure begins, and a dangerous one at that. Cassie is a complex character who is stubborn and determined beyond measure, and at times reckless. She never thinks twice about putting herself in danger in her quest to find out what really happened on the family yacht that day, even if it means going up against drug dealers, the Mexican mafia, Drug Lords, gang leaders, corrupt politicians, and human traffickers. She is tough as nails, fearless, and loyal to her core. 
 Since the funeral of his friends, Rio has been thinking of Cassie too, and dreaming of her is what gets him through most days. Thing is, he's so close to the end of his yearlong undercover operation that finding Cassie is on the backburner and until he's done with this job he sees no reason to even try. Fate steps in when she shows up at her mother's house and he's forced to face the feelings he's been carrying around for months. It's an inner battle because as much as his heart and other parts of his body want to be with her, he's determined her safety is more important, which only causes more friction. It's not like he can tell her what he's doing, so in her eyes, he's as bad as her stepfather, Saul. She's smart and knows things aren't adding up so she's torn about her feelings forward him. It's tearing him up and Ms. Swan does a great job showing the emotional turmoil. 
 Talk about sexual tension--WOW. Ms. Swan proved she can write it. Don't you just love the sparks that fly when that tension is FINALLY broken? I loved Cassie and Rio as a couple because they complement each other. She's a fly off the handle kind of person and he's the level headed one who always swoops in and saves the day. Their romance is a rocky one. She's really good at throwing up walls and is known for being a bit irrational, but once you learn what she has endured, her lack of trust makes sense. Rio has had his own share of misfortune and we see some of his vulnerabilities where his past comes into play. Rio has that irresistible, sexy, tough, mysterious bad-boy thing going on that will leave you drooling. At the end of the day though, he's just an all-around good guy that any girl would love to have warming her bed every night. 
 This book has it all, suspense, mystery, twists and turns, sexual tension, action, emotion, griping story line, and multi-dimensional characters. If you like books that grab you from page one and don't let go until the very end, this is the book for you. I found several of the supporting characters to be interesting so I'll be watching and impatiently waiting for the next installment. 
 Enjoy everyone!