Ex Libris

Please give a warm welcome to Karina Cooper, author of the beloved and popular Dark Mission series, who is celebrating the recent release of , the fifth and final book in the series. Karina stops by today to tell you about one of her favourite tropes: the enemies to lovers one, which as a matter of fact is one of my favourite ones. I just love how the spark fly between hostile characters who can't deny the attraction and obvious chemistry present between them :-D But I've chatted enough, Karina please take it away.:-)

Enemies to Lovers... to Enemies
by Karina Cooper

The enemies to lovers tropes is one of my favorite tropes to explore, because it can cover so much ground. For example, in my Dark Mission series, the first full-length book——introduced Jessie Leigh and Silas smith. Respective? A witch and a witch-hunter; natural enemies.

We see the trope again in , which pits Caleb Leigh, a witch with a murderous past, against Juliet Carpenter—the witch who will see him dead for betraying her family.  doesn’t quite reach this level of antagonism, if only because Simon Wells makes no secret about the fact he’s trying to protect Parker Adams from her own nosiness, but the salsa really hits the fact when opens up to the final Dark Mission conclusion.

Shawn Lowe watched the Lauderdale patriarch gun down his family, and has nursed a hatred for the name ever since. Part of May’s insurrection, he’s a good—if grim—soldier bent on one thing and one thing alone: revenge. Kayleigh Lauderdale is the daughter of his most hated enemy, and a chip off the old, murderous block. When he finally gets the opportunity to get his hands one, the very last thing he wants is... well, to want to get his hands on her, if you know what I mean.

It’s a case of hatred taking a hard knock when the object of revenge turns into somebody who’s really quite likable... and the choices made by both Kayleigh and Shawn as secrets are revealed that could push both into unfamiliar waters. They begin the tale as enemies, turn into lovers before either can really figure out what’s what, and are shoved back into enemies by events that neither knows how to control.

What chance does love have when it’s up against decades of bloody history?

What are some of your favorite enemies-to-lovers books out there, and what do you love about the trope?

After writing happily ever afters for all of her friends in school, Karina Cooper eventually grew up (sort of), went to work in the real world (kind of), where she decided that making stuff up was way more fun (true!). She is the author of dark and sexy paranormal romances, steampunk adventures, crossover urban fantasy, and writes across multiple genres with mad glee. Tarnished, first in The St. Croix Chronicles, was the recipient of the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Steampunk Novel of 2012.

One part glamour, one part dork and all imagination, Karina is also a gamer, an airship captain’s wife, and a steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with a husband, a menagerie, and a severe coffee habit.

Where you can find Karina:

Website | | | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY RULES: 

Avon Books has generously offered a copy of  to a lucky commenter!

To enter just leave a comment and answer's Karina's question: What are some of your favorite enemies-to-lovers books out there, and what do you love about the trope?