Review of TEMPTING THE ENEMY

TEMPTING THE ENEMY
Dee Tenorio
Carina Press, June 14, 2010
ISBN:  9781426890123

Detective Pale Rysen, who is an alpha wolf shifter and must keep this secret because shifters are hunted, is working on a serial killer case, in which, several young women were killed.  A few of these women were found by some of his pack and were young female shifters seeking sanctuary with his pack.  Pale must keep the shifters' deaths secret to protect his pack.

The Order of Sibile is a group of people with different psychic powers, who live separately from the humans and shifters.  The Order hires out their members to perform tasks for humans.  Because some members of the Order have been paid to hunt and exterminate shifters, Pale hates them with a great passion.  Unfortunately, the Order sends Jade-Scarlet to track down the killer, and to make matters worse, Jade is a half wolf shifter and in heat.  Needless to say, Pale is seriously conflicted, because he is physically attracted but repelled at the same time, because she is a member of the group that is an enemy to his kind.  Meanwhile, the killer continues on his spree and taunts them at every opportunity.

 TEMPTING THE ENEMY is an entertaining, paranormal read filled with suspense and great characters.  The world-building in this book is elaborate and believable, and the mystery and suspense kept me glued to the pages.  I'll just state upfront, that I fell a little in love with Pale.  At first, I thought Pale need to take his relationship to the next level with Jade sooner than he did.  However, once Jade's character is slowly revealed, it becomes evident, that Pale's restraint is done out of love and concern for Jade.  Jade is kept in almost total seclusion, behind the walls of the Order's enclave, where she is taught to use her powers and to deny her wolf self.  Through Pale's patience and understanding, Jade slowly learns to accept her wolf self.  Jade is strong, yet filled with self-doubt, which she must overcome, in order, to survive the truly chilling villain.  The politics and society, which is revealed about the Order is rather disturbing, and there is a foreshadowing of more upheaval to come.

TEMPTING THE ENEMY goes on my virtual keeper shelf and is one of my favorite reads of 2010.  What's not to love?  It has a hot, sigh-worthy hero in a complex, intriguing world and a heroine, who is his match in every way.  I'm really hoping this is the beginning of a series, because I can't wait to see what happens next.

NOTE:  This book was sent to me in return for an impartial review.