Enemies Like You
M/M Romantic Suspense
Released: May 15, 2017
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

I’ve really enjoyed Annika Martin’s (also writes as Carolyn Crane) romantic suspense books. She writes action-filled, black ops type books with super sexy heroes and good banter. This book had a very similar feel, if you are familiar with her work. I was not familiar with Joanna Chambers, so I was happy to try out this book and get a taste of them together. I ended up liking both heroes quite a bit.

Will is on a mission to kill a bad Russian guy named Polzin. Years ago, Polzin was responsible for killing Will’s Army buddies, and Will wants revenge – badly. On top of that, Polzin is just a horrible, violent, disgusting human being. The CIA also wants him dead, as he has access to a file with some very interesting information in it. Will offers himself as the assassin, and the CIA accepts his help. He travels to a fancy party Polzin is attending to do the dirty deed there.

Our other hero is Kit, and he is Polzin’s bodyguard and tasked with keeping him alive. Don’t fret! Kit isn’t on the wrong side – he too wants Polzin dead, as Polzin has a file on Kit’s deceased parents that he doesn’t want out in the open. Kit is playing the long game, waiting for Polzin to make a mistake, so Kit can obtain the information and then he can kill him.

It’s a grim mission, protecting Polzin: killer, arms trader, blackmailer extraordinaire. He thinks I’m the best bodyguard money can buy. Well, I am the best. I’ll continue to be the best till I retrieve the Roc file.

Nobody gets to kill Polzin until I have that file in my hands.

On that glorious day, I’ll end the slimy bastard myself.

But it’s been two years, and Kit is still waiting for his chance. He has become Polzin’s trusted bodyguard – as he has foiled many attempts on Polzin’ s life. Kit’s secret? He dresses as a gorgeous, self-absorbed woman. Long blonde hair, gorgeous dresses that catch the eye of many men. No one expects him to be a deadly…man.

When Will sees Polzin at this party, with “Kate” draped on his arm (aka Kit!) Will finds Kate very attractive. Will is bisexual, and although she catches his eye, his main goal is getting Polzin alone. Just when he attempts to do that – Kate/Kit shows up. There is such a deep, instant lust/attraction between them, they don’t immediately try to kill each other. And after a series of events…Will ends up on his knees…in front of “Kate.”

I stare at her for what feels like forever, but is probably only a second or two.

“What?” I say stupidly.

She – he – looks at me with those bird-of-prey eyes – so fucking fierce – and yanks up the fancy white dress.

Underneath, he’s wearing white, silky panties with lacy bits, but they’re covering a very male bulge.

And I can’t breathe.

Oh, Christ.

I stare at that bulge. My mouth goes dry. My heart hammers. My cock is an iron bar in my pants.

To Kit’s surprise, Will goes to town, and then escapes.

These enemies fight back and forth, until they realize they have the same end-goal…and that they are also falling in love.

I love their first meeting where Kit is dressed as a woman and Will is attracted to both “Kate” and Kit. In the long run, Kit doesn’t get off in dressing as a woman. He does in mostly because Polzin’s enemies don’t expect a woman to come in for the kill when they are trying to attack Polzin. He also does it because it weirdly amuses Polzin and he has to keep him happy. Kit is tall, lithe, sharp features, where Will is built more like a tank. Where Kit can come in silently and wait for hours to make one move, Will just rushes in and knocks everything over, hoping to get the bad guys in the process. They both think the other’s technique is inferior and the push/pull is fun in this one.

There is one scene where Will is trying to kill Polzin for the second time and Kit interrupts him – and the instead of pursing Polzin, he ends up making out with Kit. Will seemed SO intent on killing Polzin, I didn’t really believe that he would give up that chance so easily. Especially when another CIA agent was involved…waiting on Will to do his part. Instead he is humping Kit and letting Polzin get away. That scene didn’t quite seem believable to me.

And maybe…just maybe I would have liked a little more solid HEA at the end. These two were definitely in love but I wanted to see them together more outside of the crazy action that drove them together. Like – having a picnic without the threat of death.

But this is a fun action spy book. It’s super sexy and I loved both Kit and Will and how their personalities clash, yet work so well together in the end.

Grade: B

Note: The first nine chapters of this book, is free and available under the title (prequel novella) Enemies With Benefits, if you want to get a taste of this book.

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