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Explosive Combination
It’s hard to feel the romance when you’re being chased through the jungles of Columbia … but it won’t be for lack of trying! When an undercover CIA agent rescues a kidnapped ATF explosives expert, it’s a race against time as they try to stay one step ahead of the Colombian drug lord hot on their trail. If you’re looking for passion and adventure, you’ll find it all in KaLyn Cooper’s action-packed romance, Explosive Combination.
Separately, Harper Tambini and Rafe Silva are lethal… Together, they’re explosive.
ATF Special Agent Harper Tambini is kidnapped by a Colombian drug lord and forced to use her explosives knowledge to kill his competition before she can escape with the help of undercover CIA agent Rafe Silva.
As they make their way through the rivers, mountains, and jungles, their desire for each other detonates. But Harper reminds Rafe of his murdered fiancée and the shadow world he wants to leave.
Harper learned the hard way that men never stay, so now she doesn’t keep them around long enough to see if the sparks can light a fire that will last forever.
In their short time together, can they crystalize a relationship, or will it all blow up?
Content Notes: Spicy, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Action Adventure
Separately, Harper Tambini and Rafe Silva are lethal… Together, they’re explosive.
ATF Special Agent Harper Tambini is kidnapped by a Colombian drug lord and forced to use her explosives knowledge to kill his competition before she can escape with the help of undercover CIA agent Rafe Silva.
As they make their way through the rivers, mountains, and jungles, their desire for each other detonates. But Harper reminds Rafe of his murdered fiancée and the shadow world he wants to leave.
Harper learned the hard way that men never stay, so now she doesn’t keep them around long enough to see if the sparks can light a fire that will last forever.
In their short time together, can they crystalize a relationship, or will it all blow up?
Content Notes: Spicy, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Action Adventure
- GenresFiction
202 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2014
357 people want to read
About the author
KaLyn Cooper
60 books525 followersKaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense. Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. She, her husband, and bird dog live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 15, 2016
This was a impulse buy at a con. I don't regret it one bit. I absolutely loved explosive combination. The characters are so intuned & it was such an awesome read. I really enjoyed the suspense of it all.
This was the second go round of reading the book. I wanted to enjoy something that was explosive. Why I waited so long to do a re-read I have no clue. I actually forgot about parts of this book on the first read through. The second time around was even better. I enjoyed the battle for a little sexual domination between both the characters. The twists and turns just makes it even more enjoyable. Kalyn writes a great series and since I have visited South America it felt like I was back there within each page turned. That is what I love. I want a page grabber and a book full of imagination. Kalyn spares non of that. She makes sure its got the action, suspense, romance, and anything else you can think of in between.
I suggest this book to anyone that likes strong willed characters but crumbles like a cookie with the right hero. :D
This was the second go round of reading the book. I wanted to enjoy something that was explosive. Why I waited so long to do a re-read I have no clue. I actually forgot about parts of this book on the first read through. The second time around was even better. I enjoyed the battle for a little sexual domination between both the characters. The twists and turns just makes it even more enjoyable. Kalyn writes a great series and since I have visited South America it felt like I was back there within each page turned. That is what I love. I want a page grabber and a book full of imagination. Kalyn spares non of that. She makes sure its got the action, suspense, romance, and anything else you can think of in between.
I suggest this book to anyone that likes strong willed characters but crumbles like a cookie with the right hero. :D
August 23, 2015
Harper and Rafe don't meet under ideal circumstances and by no means should be attracted to each other. Harper is an ATF agent that is kidnapped by a drug lord named Carlos in Colombia and Rafe is his "Segundo" or "Second". Harper senses that there is more than meets the eye but trusts no one, especially the "Segundo" that held her at gunpoint.
Harper is an explosives expert and is threatened with the harm to her ATF team if she does not cooperate with and follow the orders that the Carlos has issued, to build him a bomb. A VERY dangerous one at that.
Rafe the ex-Navy Seal and Carlos the Colombian drug lord have history, one that makes Carlos trust Rafe and never doubt his loyalty making Rafe the perfect candidate to be recruited by the CIA to be a double agent, when his school friend started his nefarious and no longer purely humanitarian dealings. Carlos may have started off trying to help his country become a more beautiful place but his ambitions and increased paranoia have made him a dangerous man.
From the beginning, Rafe feels the need to protect Harper. She feels drawn to him, something she is not familiar with. Harper uses men until she is done then boots them from her bed, Rafe is a gentlemen that does not love and leave em.
The story is fast paced and there is an element of danger throughout the book. Harper and Rafe eventually can no longer fight their attraction and give in to those feelings. But those feelings are confused and contradictory. They cannot believe they feel the way they do, but they also can not help themselves.
Although Harper is a a damaged character she is not weak, she knows what she wants and takes it. She is not used to feeling at all. She also has a rule "No sex during a mission". Rafe has a type of woman and Harper is it. He wants her but he is not willing to go there again. Both are afraid of heartache that love pretty much guarantees but they can have a fling and use it a pretense to keep Harper safe. And keep feelings out of it, right?
I liked the suspense and thrill I got reading this book. You are on the edge of your seat from the beginning. It is also apparent that the author has a lot experience with the military. She writes almost like she lived the life.
I would have like the characters to have had more time to develop their relationship so that is was not so much of a tennis match of feelings. The sex scenes were tastefully done and not too frequent and that was okay with me because there was enough and the rest of the story was actually very enjoyable.
If you are looking for a steamy, suspense thriller, this book is perfect for you.
Harper is an explosives expert and is threatened with the harm to her ATF team if she does not cooperate with and follow the orders that the Carlos has issued, to build him a bomb. A VERY dangerous one at that.
Rafe the ex-Navy Seal and Carlos the Colombian drug lord have history, one that makes Carlos trust Rafe and never doubt his loyalty making Rafe the perfect candidate to be recruited by the CIA to be a double agent, when his school friend started his nefarious and no longer purely humanitarian dealings. Carlos may have started off trying to help his country become a more beautiful place but his ambitions and increased paranoia have made him a dangerous man.
From the beginning, Rafe feels the need to protect Harper. She feels drawn to him, something she is not familiar with. Harper uses men until she is done then boots them from her bed, Rafe is a gentlemen that does not love and leave em.
The story is fast paced and there is an element of danger throughout the book. Harper and Rafe eventually can no longer fight their attraction and give in to those feelings. But those feelings are confused and contradictory. They cannot believe they feel the way they do, but they also can not help themselves.
Although Harper is a a damaged character she is not weak, she knows what she wants and takes it. She is not used to feeling at all. She also has a rule "No sex during a mission". Rafe has a type of woman and Harper is it. He wants her but he is not willing to go there again. Both are afraid of heartache that love pretty much guarantees but they can have a fling and use it a pretense to keep Harper safe. And keep feelings out of it, right?
I liked the suspense and thrill I got reading this book. You are on the edge of your seat from the beginning. It is also apparent that the author has a lot experience with the military. She writes almost like she lived the life.
I would have like the characters to have had more time to develop their relationship so that is was not so much of a tennis match of feelings. The sex scenes were tastefully done and not too frequent and that was okay with me because there was enough and the rest of the story was actually very enjoyable.
If you are looking for a steamy, suspense thriller, this book is perfect for you.
August 15, 2014
The review was originally posted at http://booksandspoons.weebly.com/books
At first I have to compliment the author with the name of the book, Explosive Combination, rarely is there more fitting name for a book, on many different levels.
The action doesn't build up, it starts from the page one with a bang. From there the life and death situations continue through out the story, keeping the tension up, and interest on the events high.
After Harper is being captured by the drug lord, and put into a 'luxury prison', Harper and Rafe's instant, electric attraction takes hold of them. The pull for each other is stronger than the threat to her life, or him being outed as an agent. The events that follow are nothing short of classic spy movie, high end parties, cartels fighting with each other, dangerous escapes from the numerous villains through the water, air, and jungle.
The allure Harper and Rafe has for each other is captivating, and as they try to fight for their feelings for each other, by just 'scratching the itch' -- not falling for each other becomes a mission impossible when things get soft, tender. and caring. The pull for each other is instant, constant, and overpowering. Even the past disappointments, and future plans, can't hold them apart, as they explore the steamy, sensuous appeal they have for each other.
Everything happens in short period of a time, in just four explosive, tension ridden days, Harper and Rafe goes through lifetime of danger, tension, and feelings.
The story is very detailed in every aspect of the story, adding more depth and insight to the events, if you don't let all the details drown the red thread of the story.
Four spoons for Explosive Combination
At first I have to compliment the author with the name of the book, Explosive Combination, rarely is there more fitting name for a book, on many different levels.
The action doesn't build up, it starts from the page one with a bang. From there the life and death situations continue through out the story, keeping the tension up, and interest on the events high.
After Harper is being captured by the drug lord, and put into a 'luxury prison', Harper and Rafe's instant, electric attraction takes hold of them. The pull for each other is stronger than the threat to her life, or him being outed as an agent. The events that follow are nothing short of classic spy movie, high end parties, cartels fighting with each other, dangerous escapes from the numerous villains through the water, air, and jungle.
The allure Harper and Rafe has for each other is captivating, and as they try to fight for their feelings for each other, by just 'scratching the itch' -- not falling for each other becomes a mission impossible when things get soft, tender. and caring. The pull for each other is instant, constant, and overpowering. Even the past disappointments, and future plans, can't hold them apart, as they explore the steamy, sensuous appeal they have for each other.
Everything happens in short period of a time, in just four explosive, tension ridden days, Harper and Rafe goes through lifetime of danger, tension, and feelings.
The story is very detailed in every aspect of the story, adding more depth and insight to the events, if you don't let all the details drown the red thread of the story.
Four spoons for Explosive Combination
October 8, 2015
ATF Special Agent Harper Tambini finds herself with a team in Columbia, getting ready to leave and finding herself captured by a cartel boss. Fortunately, she finds herself in safe hands by someone deep under cover in the organization, who protects her, especially after she's given a knock out drug that almost kills her because of her allergy to one of the components. What happens when she is held captive for her knowledge and skills? What skills does she have that the cartel boss wants her for? What was she in Columbia in the first place for? Who is Rafe? What is he? What does he do for Harper? What happens when a cartel head and a capo are murdered, and a bounty is put on her head? What happens? How does she try to escape? Does she make it? This book is definitely one of those books that I will look forward to further books for in the series. It kept me on the edge of my seat reading it. It is INTENSE! Oh, don't forget it is EROTIC AS ALL GET OUT!
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.
April 12, 2014
Strong cast of characters in this fast paced action adventure. Harper Tambini has quite the resume. She’s been the female equivalent of a navy seal in the army, lots of degrees one of which includes chemicals which lead her to join ATF. At the completion of an op in Columbia, Harper is kidnapped by a drug lord who wants to use her to create a bomb to take out a rival. Said drug lords lieutenant Rafe Silva, happens to be an undercover CIA agent who does his best to protect her – even though she can take care of herself pretty well – before they can be extracted. There is plenty of action during her time with the drug lord and during their escape all while these two finally give into their sexual needs with each other but a past tragedy in Rafe past means he isn’t looking to get involved with another adrenaline junkie who is constantly putting herself in danger. Other than a bit of a rushed ending and to quickly dealing with Rafe’s issue I thought this was a solid read for a debut book and look forward to seeing what is next from this author.
March 15, 2015
There's certainly a lot going on in this tale, which reads like a thriller first and romance second.
Along with a group from the US Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives department, the heroine is captured in Colombia by drug gangsters. Why did they specifically kidnap Harper? She's an explosives expert.
I found the early James Bond films bore a close resemblance to Harper's finding herself in an exotically lovely home and compound, treated as a guest. Of course the drug baron is paranoid, violent and vindictive; he takes cocaine. He doesn't treat women in general well either. Harper encounters an undercover agent, also American, called Rafe, who tells her all about himself in her bedroom, which I would have assumed was bugged.
Action of the dangerous kind and of the romantic kind follows and will keep readers gasping as the pair try to escape. The setting detail is good and characters do come across as very real.
Along with a group from the US Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives department, the heroine is captured in Colombia by drug gangsters. Why did they specifically kidnap Harper? She's an explosives expert.
I found the early James Bond films bore a close resemblance to Harper's finding herself in an exotically lovely home and compound, treated as a guest. Of course the drug baron is paranoid, violent and vindictive; he takes cocaine. He doesn't treat women in general well either. Harper encounters an undercover agent, also American, called Rafe, who tells her all about himself in her bedroom, which I would have assumed was bugged.
Action of the dangerous kind and of the romantic kind follows and will keep readers gasping as the pair try to escape. The setting detail is good and characters do come across as very real.
March 17, 2014
This was action packed from the first page to the last. I'm blown away by the amount of research Kalyn Cooper must have done to write this book. I don't normally read romantic suspense, but I'm so glad I took a chance on this one. Harper is a no holds barred kind of Heroine. She kicks ass and takes names later. Rafe is every woman's dream of a hero. While he's also a no holds barred kind of guy, he's also full of heart. The passion that ignites between this pair burns the pages up. This story has it all, intense passion and non-stop action. This book is so well-written and is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I highly recommend this great story.
October 23, 2014
Great first book
Kalyn Cooper's first book is a doozy, it will keep you engrossed from the first page to the last one. You'll feel like you are really in the rainforest with Race and Harper are navigating the rapids of thee river. The book is that good, it's a definite must read.
Kalyn Cooper's first book is a doozy, it will keep you engrossed from the first page to the last one. You'll feel like you are really in the rainforest with Race and Harper are navigating the rapids of thee river. The book is that good, it's a definite must read.
February 2, 2015
great read
I loved Harper and Rafe's story. The action was constant and I finished the book in one day while on vacation. I loved the fact that Harper was portrayed as a strong women and an equal to Rafe. I recommend this book to anyone that likes action adventure with steamy love scenes.
I loved Harper and Rafe's story. The action was constant and I finished the book in one day while on vacation. I loved the fact that Harper was portrayed as a strong women and an equal to Rafe. I recommend this book to anyone that likes action adventure with steamy love scenes.
March 17, 2015
Explosive Combination was my first read by KaLyn Cooper, but won't be my last. This book was well written, packed with action and littered with great characters. There's a few scenes that will fog your glasses, but in a good way. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger. I look forward to reading more from KaLyn Cooper.
August 4, 2014
Fast paced action with a kick ass hero and heroine. Loved the locale descriptions...so clear it felt like you were there. Chemistry between the hero and heroine was sizzling. This one was a page turner and difficult to put down. Can't wait til the next one.....
April 10, 2014
This one has a lot of steamy sexual tension. Lots of steamy sex. And lots of action. A strong heroine and a hero to die for. Fast paced and an excellent read.
Teresa Reasor
Teresa Reasor
January 17, 2016
wow could she kick ass, loved it
April 4, 2015
A fast-paced adventure that moves from one scene to another very smoothly. If you love romantic suspense this is definitely a book you'll want to read.
August 23, 2015
See my review on DayReader Review page at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 21, 2015
Explosive indeed! The chemistry between Rafe and Harper is explosive! Never a dull moment in this book. Non stop action, suspense and romance.
October 12, 2015
Harper Tambini, ATF agent, has a simple reconnaissance mission in the Columbian jungle trying to find out if the cartels who purchased two ingredients to make a rare and deadly explosive have the knowledge and means to combine them. Reconnaissance only so what could go wrong? Everything. Rafe Silva, Segundo to the drug lord the ATF is investigating finds her and captures her and her team. Rafe tries to talk his boss into letting the men go while using Harper to gain information but the boss has them all killed. Harper is now on her own in Columbia inside the cartel’s compound and no one even knows they are missing. Worse still, sexy Rafe is supposed to “own” her now which means he can do anything he wants with her which her betraying body wants him to. Eventually Rafe lets her off the hook and lets her know that while he does find her very attractive, he is an undercover CIA agent who has been under for 5 years and wants out just as much as she does. They must work together using her explosive skills and his contacts to thwart a major bomb attack and assassinate some high ranking cartel leaders before escaping the country without a Seal team to extract them.
This was an incredibly good novel, not just a debut novel. The realism and research that went into the development of the cartels, the characters’ backgrounds, but most importantly the rescue and escape details was very thorough to develop this incredibly authentic feeling action-packed romance military romance. Rafe is so incredibly hot and alpha male and while Harper does not know he is actually a good guy, he is caring enough with her to keep his cover but still make her feel important and attractive it is no wonder she can’t wait to get her hands on him.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It is extremely well written. The story line is fully flushed out and detailed enough to be completely believable and yet so very steamy. There is so much to offer here. I could not believe I was reading a debut novel as I read this. The action is on par with some of the top action adventure writers out there. I can’t wait to read something else by KaLyn Cooper. I have a new favourite author.
This was an incredibly good novel, not just a debut novel. The realism and research that went into the development of the cartels, the characters’ backgrounds, but most importantly the rescue and escape details was very thorough to develop this incredibly authentic feeling action-packed romance military romance. Rafe is so incredibly hot and alpha male and while Harper does not know he is actually a good guy, he is caring enough with her to keep his cover but still make her feel important and attractive it is no wonder she can’t wait to get her hands on him.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It is extremely well written. The story line is fully flushed out and detailed enough to be completely believable and yet so very steamy. There is so much to offer here. I could not believe I was reading a debut novel as I read this. The action is on par with some of the top action adventure writers out there. I can’t wait to read something else by KaLyn Cooper. I have a new favourite author.
February 4, 2016
I will admit - I am a critic when it comes to believable female protagonists. Harper was no exception. Throughout the story, I wavered between whether I found her believable as a character or not. In the end, I wasn't convinced. The story builds her up as a highly intelligent badass... but I just couldn't get into her character. I can't see someone being successful as an ATF Agent (or trained by any armed forces) who is so impulsively tempermental. Several characters mention Harper's intelligence, her extensive training and impressive history; but she is too reactive. Her mind wanders and she's controlled by her emotions during critical moments. I couldn't see her, realistically, staying alive long if she behaved that way while on a real mission. I know realism isn't the point, but I want to be able to believe the characters in their roles/occupations.
Despite the flaws, I didn't hate the book. I'm still deciding, as I type this, if I want to give it a two or three star because it took quite some time and research to get right what was right with the story (like locale, topography, etc). And the story moves at a good pace, with the action beginning immediately and carrying on through the story. Overall the story of drug lords, bomb-making and rivals holds up well. The fact that the characters are speaking in Spanish throughout most of the books is a given and it's pointed out when they switch to English. I found the usage of Spanish words (and typed out in italics) unnecessary to the story, but that is a small complaint. Although I'm not a fan of Harper, I don't hate her either. She wasn't as awesome as described (for me), but she wasn't the stereotypical dependent damsel-in-distress either. If there had been just a couple of different choices made, I could have quite liked Harper and rated this higher.
Despite the flaws, I didn't hate the book. I'm still deciding, as I type this, if I want to give it a two or three star because it took quite some time and research to get right what was right with the story (like locale, topography, etc). And the story moves at a good pace, with the action beginning immediately and carrying on through the story. Overall the story of drug lords, bomb-making and rivals holds up well. The fact that the characters are speaking in Spanish throughout most of the books is a given and it's pointed out when they switch to English. I found the usage of Spanish words (and typed out in italics) unnecessary to the story, but that is a small complaint. Although I'm not a fan of Harper, I don't hate her either. She wasn't as awesome as described (for me), but she wasn't the stereotypical dependent damsel-in-distress either. If there had been just a couple of different choices made, I could have quite liked Harper and rated this higher.
January 6, 2017
Harper and Rafe are explosive together from the beginning. They are on the same side but Harper just doesn't know it. Harper brings out a side of Rafe he thought was long buried. But he knows he'll do what he has to keep her safe. Even if that means betraying one of his oldest friends. While Dodging bullets and million dollar bounties on their heads, they manage to fall in love. Can Rafe let go of the past and his preconceived notions of what he needs for a wife? Can they even survive the jungle long enough to find out?
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews