By: Karen Harlow
Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Pocket Star
Rating: 4 Hearts
When you have no alternative, then you call in L.O.S.T. Because with the Last Option Special Team, it’s do or die…
It’s Jax Cassidy’s first mission for L.O.S.T. – one that will give the former cop who went rogue a chance to prove herself. Her assignment: gain the trust of assassin Marcus Cross…eliminate him…then take down Marcus’s mentor, Joseph Lazarus, a man with a bold eye on the White House. But the woman who’s known by her team for being a femme fatale succumbs to passion, only to discover Cross’s deadly secret. He’s a vampire, and Joseph Lazarus is his creator.
Left for dead by his platoon in the violent hills of Afghanistan, Special Ops sniper Marcus Cross was given a second chance at life. His newly heightened skills make him the perfect killing machine, and as Lazarus’s right-hand man, he’s quickly rising to the top of his dark empire, purging enemies with speed and precision. Only when dangerous beauty Jax Cassidy is sent to bring him in does he begin to question Lazarus’s motives and his own actions. But when Jax’s life is threatened by the one thing that can destroy them both, Marcus must make a bitter choice – her death or his.
I was a little skeptical about this book after reading the cover. The concept of Marcus being a vampire was unexpected, and I wasn’t sure how it would fit into the premise of the story. On the other hand, I knew this book would be mixing my two favorite types of stories – urban fantasy and secret agent. I was either going to love it or hate it. Let’s just say I’m really glad I didn’t miss this one.From the first chapter, I knew I was going to like Jax. She is strong, resourceful, and a smart-ass. However, she isn’t without her vulnerabilities – but that’s what makes her realistic. The author, Karin Harlow, certainly didn’t pull punches with Jax. She is a heroine who has had a tough life, and it’s about to get tougher from the moment she sets eyes on Marcus.
Marcus is all kinds of yummy. He’s controlled, focused, and determined to be on the side of right. This man has a tighter hold on his emotions than most women keep on their purses. And yes, he is a vampire…not that he needs the heightened senses or special skill-set that comes with being an undead considering he would be a force to be reckoned with as a plain human.
Watching these two spar words and rough each other up – in more ways than one – was a lot of fun. Especially since Karin didn’t make this just a book about two enemies falling for each other. The plot is intricate and fast-paced. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing all the way to the end. The one thing I wish Karin would have paid more attention to is the vampire aspect. I didn’t really get to connect with the world that Marcus lives in, because I didn’t really get to see it. It’s there…but its background noise. I would have liked a more in-depth look at the paranormal world and the rules that govern those who live in it. I felt a little taken aback by how rationally everyone seemed to accept there being vampires. It was so fast and easy for L.O.S.T. to figure out how to handle them – I’ve read a million vampire books, but if I ever ran across one in real life I’m still not sure if my best bet is wood, silver, perhaps a cross and some sunshine.
I also felt a little sorry for Gage. He appears to be a central character at first, getting some page time at the beginning, but sort of disappears through a lot of action. He obviously has a thing for Jax, and if it weren’t for Marcus, I would say they’d make a great pair. I guess all I can hope for is that Karin will write another L.O.S.T. book and Gage gets to find himself in his own sticky situation. I’ve definitely got my fingers crossed.
If you like urban fantasy, suspense, and SEAL-like men, you’re going to love Enemy Lover. It’s like a s’more…all your favorites in one place and hot! Happy Reading!
Cheeky Girl L.A.
Sounds like a great book, will be adding this to my list :-)
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