Hey everyone!
After writing over 40 paranormal romance books, I’ve dabbled with many tropes, but one of my favorites is Enemies to Lovers. That line between love and hate is so thin because both of those emotions require that you care about the other person…a LOT.
For me as a writer, seeing the characters dancing back and forth across that line creates chemistry that can ignite the pages!
So I picked my top 5 Enemies to Lovers books from my backlist to share with you.
Thanks so much for reading! Do you have favorites I left out? Let me know in the comments…
Lisa
Hunter’s Moon – This book wrote itself. The heroine and hero met in the previous book in a fight. During the fight, Aren headbutted Sasha and in that moment when their bare skin touched he realized this jaguar assassin was his mate! Whoops! So this book opened with Aren chasing after the woman who was trying to kill him! So fun! Here’s the first time they meet face to face again…
I couldn’t talk to the police any more than I could face the Pack and tell them why I was in Las Vegas killing Nero informants.
No self-respecting cop was going to believe my story. I needed something better than falling on a steak knife.
My gaze flicked to the closed door. Physically I was only a
wolf one night a month, but I still had heightened senses while I
was a man. My hearing and sense of smell were far stronger than
any human’s, and right now I could hear a woman’s voice talking
to the staff, followed by the click of determined footsteps.
I recognized that voice.
When the door opened the wolf inside of me howled.
“This is Detective Marsh.” The nurse snatched my chart from
the counter. “The doctor will be in shortly to check your wound.”
Once the nurse was gone, I couldn’t help but stare at the most
incredible woman I’d ever seen. Tough, beautiful, resilient Sasha.
Her full lips were pressed together as her dark eyes met mine. I
struggled to remind myself that this was also the same woman
who had Tasered me and then shattered my ankle with a single
gunshot. She had threatened to kill Adam, and his mate, Lana, too.
The Nero Organization had her under their control, or at least
they used to. They bred jaguar shape-shifters and trained them
as silent assassins for the highest bidder. Sasha had been bitten,
changed, but she was in their employ nonetheless. So what was
she doing here impersonating an officer?
I had every reason to hate her. Yet here she was, standing
five feet from me, and not only was I not attacking her, but I was
drinking in her scent. She didn’t smell like most of the women I
worked with, like flowers and lace. Or like any of the jaguars I’d
encountered. Her scent was spicy, like leather and musk.
And I was more certain with each breath that I’d never be
able to deny my instincts. I needed her.
When my brother told me he’d found his mate, I didn’t
understand how he knew. Wolves mated for life, so when Adam
claimed a jaguar for his mate, I thought he’d gone insane. I wasn’t
sure I believed the old stories about finding that one mate to
spend a lifetime with in the first place, but Adam and a jaguar?
The bottom line was simple. We don’t mate with enemies of our
Pack.
But here she was, glaring at me in the urgent care room,
and instead of killing her I caught myself wondering how her
mouth might taste. I shoved aside the lust and dug deep for cold
indifference.
“It’s Detective Marsh now? I thought you’d sold your badge
to Nero.”
She dodged my barb without even acknowledging it. “Look,
wolf, I’m doing you a favor by coming in here flashing a phony
badge. I don’t know why, but you saved me at the lake, so I figure
I owe you this.” She tucked the badge into her pocket and met
my eyes. “If you came here to settle the score with me, then bring
it on. I deserve it. But if you think you’re slowing Nero down,
you’re not. I can fight my own battles.” She looked poised to say
something else but just shook her head slowly. “I’m handling this,
so back off.”
I laughed and sat up. It took all I had not to wince at the pain
that burned through my abdomen. “You think I’m trying to help
you? Is that it?”
Her chin lifted as she crossed her arms over her chest. I did
my best not to stare at her breasts. “What I think isn’t important.
What I know is that you’ve been following me, and this is the
second Nero informant you’ve killed. Did you think I wouldn’t
notice?” Her hands dropped to her sides again. “You don’t know
who you’re dealing with, wolf. Nero has eyes and ears everywhere.
Do yourself a favor and stay out of this.”
She spun on her heel and left, slamming the door behind her.
I could hear her telling the nurse she’d sign off on my medical
treatment. She confirmed it was a household accident. No
investigation would follow.
I smirked. So Sasha, the jaguar assassin who tried to kill me
twice, helped me after all.
Go figure.
~~~~~~~~
Pirate’s Promise
This book was such a fun adventure! Greyson and Aura met when he blew her undercover mission in Pirate’s Persuasion, so she is less than thrilled to discover she’s going to be going undercover with him to find the mythical Tyrfing sword…
Greyson balanced the empty bottles on the railing at the stern of the ship.
He shouldn’t let her get under his skin, but it was too late. He couldn’t get her condescending smile out of his head. He’d outshoot her, and maybe then she’d loosen up and he could enjoy the trip to Glasgow Harbor.
Maybe.
“I’m ready if you are.”
He turned around at the sound of her voice, his lips curving into a grin in spite of his annoyance with her. “I’m always ready.”
She rolled her eyes. “Just tell me where we’re standing.”
He crossed to her side, glancing over at the bottles. “This is a good warm up. Twenty-five feet?”
“Works for me.” She lifted her Glock, parting her legs into a solid stance.
She sized up the target, adjusting for the wind, and squeezed the trigger. The shot echoed through the night and the bottle exploded. She turned toward him with a smile that stole his breath and his bravado.
This was Aura. This was the woman she buried under all that hardass bullshit. She was more than a light. She was a beacon.
And just like that, it was gone. She holstered her Glock and raised a brow. “Happy?”
He nodded with a shrug. “Not bad.” He lifted his gun one-handed, his gaze sliding down the barrel to the center of the bottle, and fired. Glass shattered, disappearing from the railing, and from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of her smile again.
His fucking heart lurched. What the hell?
He straightened. “Further back?”
She nodded, backing up a few more paces. Her feet moved apart, her knees bent, naturally compensating for the swells rocking the Sea Dog beneath them.
The wind tugged at her dark hair as she raised her weapon, her eyes focused on the target. Her lips parted slightly, her nostrils flaring. He could almost see her instinctively adjusting her aim for the gust of wind.
This wasn’t just someone who was well-trained at a gun range. She was one with her weapon. Part of her soul would guide the bullet to its target.
Or that’s how it seemed when he fired.
She pulled the trigger and the bottle exploded. There was that smile again. Before he could say anything, she bottled up the unbridled joy, all business again.
“Your turn.”
He inspected his gun and holstered it. “How about we make this interesting?”
“How so?”
“I have a couple of flintlock pistols in the armory. They’re not as precise as a Glock. You’ve probably never…”
The moonlight danced in her dark eyes. “I have, actually.”
He raised a brow, unable to hide his admiration. “Yer toyin’ with me.”
“No.” She shook her head, crossing her arms, but her lips were barely holding back a grin. “I’m trained in historic and mythical weaponry.”
“I’m impressed.” He pointed to a barrel near the railing. “Set up a few more bottles, I’ll be right back.”
He returned to the weapons room and took down a pair of flintlock pistols, then grabbed a pouch of steel pellets, gunpowder, and packing supplies, then went back to the stern.
Aura leaned against the railing, staring up at the moon. The cool glow of moonlight softened her features, offering him a glimpse of the woman behind her Agent Henderson shield.
She was beautiful and deadly. His favorite combination.
Too bad she hated him.
Definitely for the best.
He cleared his throat and waited for her to turn. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She took one of the revolvers, determination glinting in her eyes. “Did you load them already?”
He chuckled. “Nah, that’s half the fun, lass.” He shook his head before she could correct him. “Agent Henderson.” He raised a brow. “I didn’t mean any offense.”
“You’re just saying that because I’m armed.” She grinned.
Was she actually teasing him? She opened the pouch and started packing the barrel of the pistol. She was fucking glorious.
“Cut an old pirate some slack.” He chuckled, pouring in the powder. He glanced her way as he wrapped the steel ball in the small patch of fabric and dropped it inside the barrel of the pistol. She was keeping up with him, obviously experienced with the weapon. He tamped it all down with the ramrod and lifted the revolver.
“You don’t look old to me.” She packed the load in her barrel down and looked over at him. “How old are you really?”
His gaze locked on hers. “Don’t you have that in your files?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I did.” She set aside the gunpowder and gripped the revolver, gauging the weight in her hand. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m old enough to know better than to try firing these old dogs into the wind.”
A sly smile curved her lips. “Afraid you might miss the target?”
“No.” He lifted his gun, focusing all his attention down the barrel, to the center of the bottle on the railing. “Afraid you might miss and damage the ship.”
He pulled the trigger, absorbing the recoil as the loud shot rang in his ears. The bottle exploded and he lowered his still-smoking gun. “Your turn.”
She looked over at him with raised brows. “Impressive.”
In a fluid movement, she lifted the heavy revolver to shoulder height, her knees bent, and her aim slightly north of the bottle. Without hesitation, she squeezed the trigger. The crack of thunder didn’t even make her flinch. The bottle was obliterated.
Laughter bubbled from his throat. “You are fucking amazing with a weapon.”
“Thanks.” She pursed her lips, blowing across the smoking barrel.
A raw jolt of desire slid through his veins, leaving his voice ragged and rough as he took a step toward her. “You’re a natural.”
And in that moment, the light in her eyes vanished. She handed him the gun. “Thanks for the target practice. We’re going to make a solid team.”
He watched her walk away, his jaw slack and his brain full of questions. He replayed the conversation and frowned. Had he said something wrong? He’d complimented her.
But that wasn’t going to make her forget the mission he’d fucked up for her back in Savannah. She disappeared around the corner and he reminded himself that he didn’t want her forgiveness anyway.
And he shouldn’t want to make her smile again either.
~~~~~~~~~
Blue Moon –
This was my rock star werewolf, Logan, and his mate Vivi that he didn’t just let slip through his fingers, he pushed her away to protect her. But now she’s back in town, and he’d never be strong enough to send her away again. This one had SO MUCH ANGST but their journey was beautiful to witness…
This is their first kiss!
I frowned and paused the recorder. The bastard was enjoying this. “I’d like to get this interview over as soon as possible.” I brushed my hair back over my shoulder, unable to miss the way his eyes tracked my every move. I straightened in my chair. Let him look. I wanted him to remember what he lost. “I didn’t come here for a walk down memory lane.”
“Sorry.” His jaw clenched as he stared outside. “I never should have agreed to this.”
“Excuse me?” I shook my head.
He got up, pacing near the window. “I thought I could answer your questions and you could walk back out of my life.”
Pressure built up behind my eyes, an ache pulsing through my head. “News flash. I’m not in your life. I haven’t been since you walked out of mine.”
Damn him for being even sexier than I remembered, and for making my heart race with a look, and for making me wish for the one thing that could bring me to my knees.
No way. Never again. “I’ve moved on.”
Logan turned, his head tilted slightly. “Have you?”
He crossed the room and had me in his arms. His lips caught mine, and my body responded like I’d just found water in the desert. I clutched the back of his hair, and he held me so tight against him I could barely breathe. Our tongues wrestled urgently—hungry, angry, hurt, and desperate. He slid one hand down my back, pressing my hips to his. His rock hard erection had my leg wrapping around his, every part of me aching to be even closer.
Closer to the one man who destroyed me without ever looking back.
I shoved him, stumbling away from the sanctuary of his arms. Reality settled onto my shoulders like a boulder. What in the hell was I doing?
Slamming my laptop shut, I swiped the recorder into my bag. I needed to escape before I went to pieces in front of him.
“Anna, wait.”
He reached for me, and I slapped him so hard the sound made me freeze. I opened my mouth to apologize, but no words came out.
His hair was mussed, his shirt disheveled, and that sexy smile was replaced by…hunger and something else…regret? “I deserve that.”
“I…You…” I jammed the computer in my bag and took a breath before facing him again. “Don’t ever touch me again.”
A deep sound rumbled in his chest, like he was…growling?
“I had no right to kiss you, I know that. But hearing you say you moved on—I panicked.”
Crossing my arms, I let out a frustrated groan. “Do you often make out with women when you get upset?”
His gaze held mine, his expression stoic. “Never.”
“So why me?” My head pounded in time with my heart.
“Can we sit?”
I shook my head. “Not a good idea.”
He sighed. “I swear I won’t touch you without your consent.”
“You’ll never have it.”
He put his hands up in surrender. “All I’m asking for is your time.”
I kept my things in my hands, ready for a quick getaway, but I followed him to the sofa and sat on the opposite end from him. My entire body was hot and achy. Turned on. Bastard.
He stared at his shoes. “You never should have come back to Reno.”
“And you never should have told me you loved me and then vanished from my life.”
He nodded without making eye contact. “I know you won’t believe me, but I did it for you.”
“Enough.” I rolled my eyes and would’ve smacked him with my laptop if I wasn’t worried his hard head would break my computer. “Please don’t make me throw up.”
He finally glanced my way, the corner of his mouth quirked up into a crooked smile. “God, I’ve missed you.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Song of the Soul (The Muse Chronicles) – Trinity spent most of the series thinking Mikolas was ordering the Muses to be hunted, that he had a hand in her friend’s death. None of that was true, but getting Trin to accept the truth took a LONG time! Here’s a scene from the beginning of the book…
Trinity Porter twisted the tuning peg on her guitar as she scanned the crowd of elite guests milling about the Crystal City Observatory. She strummed her thumb across the strings and made a couple more adjustments until her ear approved of the tone of the open chord.
Her sisters should have been there by now. They weren’t sisters by blood, but all of them had been led to Crystal City by prophetic dreams for the same purpose: restoring and reopening Les Neuf Soeurs, the Theater of the Muses. Eventually, they had come to learn that they each embodied one of the nine daughters of Zeus. They were each vessels inspired by the muse inside her soul. And Trinity was the human vessel for Euterpe, the Muse of Music. Other than her and her sisters, there were only two people at this black-tie event that knew the Greek muses walked among them. And she had no intention of speaking to either of them.
She had only accepted the invitation to entertain at tonight’s gala because the new telescope they were unveiling, a gift from Mikolas Leandros to the city, was being named after her friend, Nia Miller. Nia, the Muse of Astronomy, was the light of their sisterhood, but her life was cut short by fanatics in black robes and gold masks. Her murder still haunted Trinity. And no amount of money, or memorials in her name, would bring Nia back.
“Hey, Trin.” Erica approached wearing a flashy red dress that accentuated every curve of her full-figured body.
“Hi, Erica. I was starting to worry.”
Erica was also Erato, the Muse of Lyrics and Erotic Poetry. She and Trinity used to be roommates before Erica found her Guardian, got married, and had an adorable baby girl. Trinity was happy for her, of course, but it was lonely being the only Muse without a Guardian.
“He hasn’t come by to talk to you?” Erica asked, keeping her voice low as she skimmed the crowd for the rich Greek who had donated the telescope. “He swooped in, stopped Kronos, and now he’s immortalizing Nia with a telescope.” She turned to Trinity again. “Maybe he’s not the bad guy we think he is.”
“Well I’m not going to talk to him and find out. No more men for me, thanks.” Trinity tipped her head toward the way-too-sexy-for-his-own-good billionaire staring at her from the other side of the champagne fountain. “He’s over there. Do me a favor and keep him busy.”
Erica followed her gaze and sighed. “Damn. He looks even better in a tux.”
“Yeah.” Trinity focused on her instrument, readjusting the microphone pointed at the hole in the center of her guitar. “I still don’t want to speak to him.”
“I know. I’m on it.” She started to go but then turned back. “You know we’d all be dead right now if Mikolas hadn’t sent Kronos back to Tartarus.”
“Maybe.” Trinity narrowed her eyes at Erica. “But it won’t bring back Nia or Polly.”
“I know, but still…” She glanced around the room and back to Trinity. “Ted Belkin is supposed to be here someplace, too.”
Ted Belkin. Just hearing his name added weight to the guilt on Trinity’s shoulders. Ted’s father had been the leader of the Order of the Titans, the guys in the robes and masks that murdered Nia. Ted had also been her boyfriend in college. Huge mistake.
“Lia and Cooper are covering him.”
Erica cocked a brow. “You have this all planned out.”
Trinity almost smiled as she shrugged. “I’m here to make music. I’m not dealing with any other bullshit. Tonight is for Nia.”
Erica nodded. “Break a leg, Trin.”
Trinity strummed her guitar and gave the sound guy a thumbs-up. The mic went live, and she leaned into it. “Good evening. I’m Trinity Porter. Thanks to the Friends of the Crystal City Observatory for inviting me to be here tonight.”
Her playlist for the night featured a couple of covers, a few tunes off her most recent album, and a song she and Erica had written together to celebrate Nia’s life, “Starlight.”
Trinity started playing and lost herself in the music, allowing the muse inside her soul to take over. The crowd faded away until only the song remained. Her voice joined the melody, weaving emotions into a tapestry of song.
Heaven.
~~~~~~~~~
New Moon – This was the final book of the Moon Series and Sebastian had been a villain through the series. It was an exciting ride to get to see the world through his eyes. Isabelle was trying to protect her Pack from the Nero Organization, and that meant she needed to kill Sebastian, but when she attacked, her wolf recognized him as her mate and refused to allow her to hurt him… This was their first meeting…
The bitter wind matched my mood. Snow still dusted the tops of the red mountains of Sedona, Arizona. Not my first choice of destinations, but Allen Caldwell was dead, and, sadly, my father’s desire to see the two werewolf Packs destroy each other hadn’t died with his old friend.
Again it fell to me.
Being the heir to the Nero Organization, and the right hand of Antonio Severino, was a bloody existence, but it was the only one I’d ever known. Although I had no interest in killing the Pack in Reno, Nevada, if I refused my father’s vendetta, my own life would be at stake.
And I had a vested interest in that.
I threw open the door to the Wolf Pack Bar, my eyes quickly adjusting to the dim light. Almost without conscious thought, I pulled in a deep breath. Two werewolves, four humans, and a jaguar shifter, my one ally.
The werewolf bartender lifted his head, defensive until he recognized me. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
I ground my teeth at the jab to my true nature. Tasteless and reckless with humans present, but I expected as much from a wolf.
He straightened up behind the bar. “What can I get you, Sebastian?”
I waved him off. “I’m not here for a drink.” I approached Vance, taking the stool beside him.
He glanced over at me. “This can’t be good news.”
“I guess that depends which side of the chessboard you’re sitting on.” I shrugged.
Vance chuckled, shaking his head. “And which side are you on today?”
There were only two people in this world who really understood me. One had married into the Wolf Pack in Reno, and the other was Vance Park. Although he wore an easygoing smile, Vance was one of the deadliest jaguar-shifter assassins the Nero Organization had ever turned out.
“I haven’t decided yet.” I leaned on the bar, keeping my voice low. The werewolves would have no trouble hearing, but I wouldn’t say anything in mixed company that could tip my hand. “Either way, I’m going to need your help.”
Vance got to his feet, but his eyes betrayed his wariness. “This Pack isn’t ready for a fight. Not yet. They’ve lost too many.”
I eyed the bartender. He was helping the human customers at the other end of the bar, but his jaw clenched as he glanced my way.
“I need some sleep. Then we’ll plan. Come to my hotel in the morning. I’ll send you a text with my room number.”
Vance nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“Good.” I kept my attention on the bartender as I went to the door.
As soon as he turned his back on his customer, he took out his phone, firing off a text. Shit. No doubt someone now knew I was back in town, but without an Alpha in this Sedona Pack, I had no idea who to expect might jump me.
Not that it mattered. I was ready. Always.
Outside I scanned the parking lot behind the bar. As a jaguar shifter, my sense of smell wasn’t as keen as the wolves’, but my night vision was far better than theirs. I tugged the collar of my wool-lined trench coat up and slid my hand inside, stroking the cold metal of my handgun.
When I reached the black Mercedes rental, I walked right by. I had a stalker, and rather than lead them to my very public hotel, I’d prefer to solve the problem under the cloak of darkness.
Far from the yellow floodlight on the back of the bar, I stopped and turned around. A shadow crouched behind a power box. A slow breath told me it was a werewolf, but not one that I recognized.
“Are you going to introduce yourself, wolf?” I didn’t draw my weapon. Not yet. I could handle one wolf without wasting a bullet.
“Who I am doesn’t matter.” A woman’s voice. Unexpected.
“I beg to differ. The bartender wouldn’t have alerted you that I was in town if you didn’t matter.” I took a couple slow steps in her direction.
“I was hoping you’d show your face again.”
I listened for her footsteps. “And why is that?”
She bolted and I widened my stance, bracing myself for impact. Adrenaline was on her side. The female wolf rammed me so hard we both toppled over. A sharp pain burst through my chest.
A familiar pain. The wolf’s blade was buried in my shoulder.
She lifted her head, staring down with hate in her eyes. I vaguely recognized her from my previous meetings with this Pack. I’d see her before, but I didn’t know her name. Hard to trust my recollections while fighting for my life, but I thought Caldwell had mentioned she was a bounty hunter.
There were probably plenty of bounties on my head. I wasn’t surprised by her attack.
What surprised me was that I was still breathing. Why not deliver the killing blow she obviously yearned for?
She yanked the blade free and pressed it to my throat. “All these years, I thought my father abandoned us. I wondered if I’d done something wrong to make him walk out.”
My left shoulder was hot and wet with blood. While she spoke, I weighed my options. Although my father had spent years trying to beat my mother’s influence out of me, she still lingered in the shadows of my heart.
A conscience I sometimes wished I could silence.
My job would be much easier without her voice whispering in my ear.
And right now, if I didn’t get this woman off me, I might be seeing my mother sooner than I expected. A hard blow to her kidney would stun her long enough for me to roll her over.
Easier said than done.
I had very few moral lines in the sand, but hitting a woman was one of them. “Killing me isn’t going to bring back your father, but I can promise you if you do kill me, my father will not stop until you, and everyone you care about, are dead.”
“Shut up.” She pressed her free hand over my mouth.
Suddenly her pupils dilated, her lips parting slightly. She snapped them shut, shaking her head like she could free herself from some kind of spell.
“No.” Her nostrils flared. “You’re shitting me.” She blinked hard, her hand trembling as if an invisible force kept her from burying the blade in my throat. “Damn it. No!”
Her dark hair framed her face, and even in the dim light, I had no trouble admiring her bright green eyes. If I died tonight, her face would be a beautiful image to take with me as I left this world.
But I had no intention of dying. Not yet. There were still too many loose ends to tie up.
Before she could sink the dagger into me again, I grabbed her wrist with my right hand and kicked my legs, rolling her over to pin her underneath me.
She struggled, and with my strength draining out along with my blood, it took all my focus to keep her down. “I don’t know who your father was, but I’m sorry you lost him.”
“Fuck you, Sebastian.”
I raised a brow. “So you know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
“I’m Isabelle, and I’m going to end you and your father.”
Her threat fell on deaf ears. Isabelle was all I heard. My heart stuttered. It couldn’t be.
“Who was your father?”
She stopped struggling for a moment. “Solomon Wood.”
A chill crept up my spine. I recoiled, releasing her and stumbling to my feet. Stars danced at the edge of my vision, reminding me I needed to stitch up my shoulder. Soon.
After all these years, just as the clairvoyant predicted. Well, not exactly. The letter Solomon gave me before he bit down on a cyanide capsule hadn’t mentioned Isabelle attempting to kill me.
Thanks for checking out my Top 5 enemies to lovers books! Let me know in the comments if I missed one of your favorites! And if you discovered a few you missed, I hope you’ll grab a copy too!
Lisa