First Temptation by Joan Swan – a Review

Links to order First Temptation(part of Wicked Firsts anthology):
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Counterterrorist agent Taft Walker knows the Mexican cartel smuggling game. But posing as part owner of an adult store to ferret out the newest tunnel into the US is a first. So is Zoe Brooks, his partner, new to undercover and a sex-toy virgin. Taft’s up for the sexy challenge. At least until he sees the real Zoe beneath her tough façade and realizes, for the first time in his life, he’ll have to risk his heart to win.

After the death of a teammate, Border Patrol Agent Zoe Brooks is ready to get off the front lines. She’s willing to tolerate a swaggering partner like Taft for a chance to work investigations with ICE. But she’s not prepared for the way he understands her deepest, sexiest desires. Or the fact that she’ll have to break her own rules to grab hold of the passion she’s always wanted.

Review:

First Temptation by Joan Swan is a novella, which is part of her Covert Affairs series. The first book in this series, Intimate Enemies was great, a true romance suspense thriller, as well as having steamy sex scenes.  First Temptation, though a novella, is also romance suspense, but this book took the steamy sex to the next level.  The difference between the two, perhaps because it is a novella, but in First Temptation, I felt the suspense story was totally overshadowed by the hot steamy sex scenes, with sex toys.  I enjoy steamy sex in  books I read, but I do prefer when its part of the story, not when it is the main theme.   

However, that being said, Joan Swan knows how to write a story with super characters.  I loved Taft and Zoe, as our couple in this book.  Zoe is a Border Patrol Agent, and a tough as nails leader, but she wants to move onto something different; especially after having lost one of her men while back.  She has an interview with ICED leader Rio, and he has the perfect job for her, then she meets Taft, who is to be her partner in this sting; the two of them get off on the wrong foot. 

Taft is an experienced Counterterrorism Agent, and he looks down upon Zoe.  Since they have to act like a married couple in an Adult Only Store, he feels she can’t handle it.  It doesn’t take too long for her to change his mind, as she puts on a show for him.  Zoe also has a lot of experience with the Mexican drug cartel, as being a Border Patrol Agent, she has been responsible to bringing down many of them.  When they begin working together, Taft finds himself totally falling for Zoe, but she holds back, as she does not believe in becoming involved with someone she works with, having had a very bad experience.  Needless to say, in a very short time, their sexual chemistry is so hot, neither can avoid each other.  At first when I met Taft, I wasn’t crazy about his macho attitude, but that changed quickly.  He turned out to be a fabulous hero; sexy hot, wonderful sense of humor, and his charm won Zoe over.  I loved Zoe, as she was a great heroine, and her and Taft were totally smoking hot together.

The suspense part of the story was good, but I would have liked more attention on this, though the end was exciting, with Zoe being in danger, as her identity was compromised.  There were some surprises and twists at the end that was done very well. 

I am a fan of Joan Swan, especially her Phoenix Rising series, and First Temptation was a  very good read, especially for a novella.  If you are a fan of romance suspense, with a hot steamy couple, Joan is one of the best.  If you like an erotica element added to your romance, and Joan knows how to push all the buttons in this one, then First Temptation is a must for you.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Netgalley