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Intimate Enemies
SHE HAD NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE... — The accident that claimed her parents' lives had left Amber to languish alone in hospital, certain she had only months left to live. — Despair drove her into a romantic encounter with a man she didn't know, and when she learned she wasn't to die after all, she prayed she would never again come face to face with the stranger who knew her shame.
But it was not to be. Seeking solace in her best friend's home, she was reunited with the man whose memory tormented her.
But it was not to be. Seeking solace in her best friend's home, she was reunited with the man whose memory tormented her.
189 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1983
3 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
337 books112 followersJessica Steele was born on May 9, 1933 in the elegant Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. She has two super brothers, Colin and George, and a lovely sister, Elizabeth. She was a delicate child and missed a lot of school. In fact, she left school at aged 14, when she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. At 16, she started work as a junior clerk. In 1967, Jessica married with her husband, Peter and within a very short space of time they had moved from her hometown to the lovely area where they now live. Their house is built into the side of a hill, and has beautiful views over more hills and valleys. Her brothers and her sister are very close and she has plenty of nephews and nieces to make up for the fact that she and her husband have no children of their own. Both she and her husband are more than a little dog-oriented, and their current dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier named Florence. Florence is gorgeous. She loves everybody but, since she is 40 pounds of dynamite and would hurl her boisterous self at everyone she meets - given half a chance - she has to be restrained (as much as possible). She is fun.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 28, 2021
"Intimate Enemies" is the story of Amber and Dyson.
Young heroine lives a happy life with her parents, until a tragic accident snatches them away and she is left badly wounded. Mistakenly thinking she has little time left to live, she finds a man and decides to have a one night stand. Unfortunately, high dose of painkillers make her forget the night and next morning she runs away. Months later, she meets the hero during holidays, who turns out to be her friend's stepbrother. She is instantly labelled a gold-digging slut and the drama forms the story.
I felt so bad for the heroine spine with all the harm she, and the other characters did to it. The hero was absolutely infuriating and the heroine the epitome of stupid. I didnt enjoy this book at all.
Safe
1.5/5
Young heroine lives a happy life with her parents, until a tragic accident snatches them away and she is left badly wounded. Mistakenly thinking she has little time left to live, she finds a man and decides to have a one night stand. Unfortunately, high dose of painkillers make her forget the night and next morning she runs away. Months later, she meets the hero during holidays, who turns out to be her friend's stepbrother. She is instantly labelled a gold-digging slut and the drama forms the story.
I felt so bad for the heroine spine with all the harm she, and the other characters did to it. The hero was absolutely infuriating and the heroine the epitome of stupid. I didnt enjoy this book at all.
Safe
1.5/5
January 1, 2013
I am a huge Jessica Steele fan...mostly because she delivers such a punch and makes her heroines strong but also loving and slightly vulnerable. I had difficulty with this story though.
Mostly because there is a very violent near rape scene that I just couldn't get past. This was no forced seduction, this was violent rape. From there it seemed implausible to me, that the heroine could actually overlook what happened. To make matters worse she conveniently excuses his behavior and ends up assuming the responsibility and even apologizing to the hero for it.. Nothing can excuse rape. She should have shouted from the rafters what he attempted to do and then ran for her life.
This one lost the romance for me.
Mostly because there is a very violent near rape scene that I just couldn't get past. This was no forced seduction, this was violent rape. From there it seemed implausible to me, that the heroine could actually overlook what happened. To make matters worse she conveniently excuses his behavior and ends up assuming the responsibility and even apologizing to the hero for it.. Nothing can excuse rape. She should have shouted from the rafters what he attempted to do and then ran for her life.
This one lost the romance for me.
April 27, 2020
Very good story!! Poignant, angsty, and sexy! I love how Jessica Steele creates conflict in her heroes, who end up loving the very one they hate and distrust. Then they must grovel a little! Her heroes can be ruthless.
I read this eons ago, and never forgot it, keeping it on hand.
Jessica Steele is on auto buy for me, but she doesn't write much anymore. She is now about 80 years old, sad to say.
Steele is a quirky writer, in terms of syntax, grammar, etc. Her sentence construction is ... unusual.
But she is among the best at Hqn in terms of storytelling, dialogue, and sexual tension. Also, her characters make me chuckle sometimes. I love her books, even the ones I only rate three stars are good.
Most of Jessica Steele's books follow a pattern, or formula. The plot goes something like this: Her heroes are always wealthy, world-wise, dashing, and debonaire, like Cary Grant. Her heroines are always beautiful virgins, so no sex (usually) and the wanting always drives the heroes nuts. But usually, the hero starts off on the wrong foot, thinking the gal did something terrible (embezzle, cheat, steal, sleep around, etc), so he is nasty, cold and ruthless. Steele's heroes always endure internal conflict, because they think they are falling in love with a dishonorable woman, a shady character! So they blow hot and cold and generally mess it all up. Ha ha! Later, when they realize how wrong they've been, they sweat it out! Sometimes they grovel - I like a good grovel. :-)
I read this eons ago, and never forgot it, keeping it on hand.
Jessica Steele is on auto buy for me, but she doesn't write much anymore. She is now about 80 years old, sad to say.
Steele is a quirky writer, in terms of syntax, grammar, etc. Her sentence construction is ... unusual.
But she is among the best at Hqn in terms of storytelling, dialogue, and sexual tension. Also, her characters make me chuckle sometimes. I love her books, even the ones I only rate three stars are good.
Most of Jessica Steele's books follow a pattern, or formula. The plot goes something like this: Her heroes are always wealthy, world-wise, dashing, and debonaire, like Cary Grant. Her heroines are always beautiful virgins, so no sex (usually) and the wanting always drives the heroes nuts. But usually, the hero starts off on the wrong foot, thinking the gal did something terrible (embezzle, cheat, steal, sleep around, etc), so he is nasty, cold and ruthless. Steele's heroes always endure internal conflict, because they think they are falling in love with a dishonorable woman, a shady character! So they blow hot and cold and generally mess it all up. Ha ha! Later, when they realize how wrong they've been, they sweat it out! Sometimes they grovel - I like a good grovel. :-)
May 5, 2025
I didn’t hate it 🤷🏼♀️🫣
The heroine was delulu - like a real dumb-dumb who was very sure of her very wrong ideas. 😂
The hero was quite the sexist vintage hero - a little too concerned about the heroines v-card for even MY tastes…. But in that, still kinda fun to read - he’s so VERY a man of his time in Harlequin land. 🤡
The heroine was delulu - like a real dumb-dumb who was very sure of her very wrong ideas. 😂
The hero was quite the sexist vintage hero - a little too concerned about the heroines v-card for even MY tastes…. But in that, still kinda fun to read - he’s so VERY a man of his time in Harlequin land. 🤡
February 7, 2022
The poor h is as sweet as can be, but she has to try to fight back when the often-vicious H goes after her. These exchanges are really uneven -- he is as bitchy as an OW. When he realizes how wrong he has been, he is suitably docile, and I don't think the h will have any problems managing him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2014
this was a huge disappointment! amber was incredibly naive and i dunt believe for one sec dat dyson actually fell for her! she was such a pathetic duck! i'm really sad for her, she was nearly crippled but her childishness was over the top and grated my nerves! frankly, she spoiled the book! dyson also was no great character. he was one of those men who had a huge paranoia about gold-digging little sluts! typical harlequin lala land!just did not work for me!
July 1, 2024
This is a 3, but the h was so incredibly dumb I had to knock down a star. You can tell shes never taken a biology class in her life.
The H was decent and there was some angst too but the heroines silly motivation dampened it for me.
The H was decent and there was some angst too but the heroines silly motivation dampened it for me.
August 28, 2021
Very un-pc and vintage.
May 17, 2016
2009 Review It was through my Mom that I got my love of reading Harlequin novels. Anyhow since I have a lot of Harlequin novels thanks to library sales etc., my Mom requested that I pull out all of the Jessica Steele novels coz that was her favorite author. She finally returned them all to me, and since I was lazy to return them to my bookshelf I decided to read one of the Steele novels. And I'm glad I did! The back cover kinda tells the story already so no need to rehash. Needless to say, I liked the story. Of course, there is misunderstanding all around, haha. The hero thinks the heroine is loose morals woman, and the heroine thinks the hero is a bastard for taking advantage of her and doesn't really remember their "night of passion". So misunderstandings all around! Of course I liked it coz i wanted to see how they will sort all this out =P Anyway, a very enjoyable read!
December 28, 2019
Four stars for the memorable effect.
I read this book some 20+ years ago when I was a teenager and I still remember(ed) the gist of it all.
I also greatly enjoyed the final scene
I read this book some 20+ years ago when I was a teenager and I still remember(ed) the gist of it all.
I also greatly enjoyed the final scene
March 18, 2025
Heroine (22) needing some therapy meets hero (34ish) in a bar and once in his room passes out from too many pain meds for her back injury.
3 months later she goes for Christmas at her new friend's house and sees the man - her friend's stepbrother, who then slut shames her (despite being one who sleeps with random women himself apparently), whilst she torments herself about that forgotten night. He also thinks she is making a move on his stepbrother. A few misunderstandings and injuries later, a HEA in which the hero berates himself and the heroine kisses it all better.
3 1/2 stars as I do love a repentant hero.
3 months later she goes for Christmas at her new friend's house and sees the man - her friend's stepbrother, who then slut shames her (despite being one who sleeps with random women himself apparently), whilst she torments herself about that forgotten night. He also thinks she is making a move on his stepbrother. A few misunderstandings and injuries later, a HEA in which the hero berates himself and the heroine kisses it all better.
3 1/2 stars as I do love a repentant hero.
June 14, 2021
Beautiful, heartwarming story. Loved it.
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April 22, 2019
"A hot blush stole across her cheeks. 'I wasn't too bright, was I?'"
That pretty much sums up the h and the H is about as exciting as three-day old fish.
That pretty much sums up the h and the H is about as exciting as three-day old fish.
December 24, 2019
sexless. heroine needs to ask questions and stop being afraid. lots of issues
Read
February 14, 2020H was a bit crazy
November 27, 2020
I liked this one quite a bit and could empathize with the heroine. The hero is sometimes a real jerk.
November 10, 2021
Good book
September 13, 2024
At first I thought the heroine at 22 was strangely ignorant and an idiot to boot and then I realised it was a matching set since the hero was even more of an idiot.
May 9, 2025
Dyson's reaction to his perception of what happened when Simon was in Amber's room was abusive, and brings my opinion of his character down to nothing. Inexcusable. Brutish.
I did like the ending. And Uncle James.
I did like the ending. And Uncle James.
June 29, 2021
Didn't come together as a better or even good-enough Steele.
Heroine's main issue is she really needs therapy. lol, but also, no joke. She's not in a good place and also acts none to bright, on many levels and choices.
Hero is disturbed by her (why he picked her up in the first place and would be forgiven it, whereas she's a tramp--at least she's given a moment to call him out on that double standard). He treats her with the usual run hot-cold clang-care JS hero veiled motivations.
I'm not sure why they fell for one another, and I'm not sure they know either.
Many of JS' heroes are severe and hold judgement and act out of jealousy / misunderstanding / other contrivance, behaviors that aren't always so great but are explained and made up for by the great grovel at the end. I didn't get that for Dyson, whose behavior was ratcheted up to one of those old skool elements, the pushed-past-reason assault-that-becomes-desire. He grovels, but it can't make up for the rest.
Still has moments of punch, as JS has a knack.
Overall, meh.
Heroine's main issue is she really needs therapy. lol, but also, no joke. She's not in a good place and also acts none to bright, on many levels and choices.
Hero is disturbed by her (why he picked her up in the first place and would be forgiven it, whereas she's a tramp--at least she's given a moment to call him out on that double standard). He treats her with the usual run hot-cold clang-care JS hero veiled motivations.
I'm not sure why they fell for one another, and I'm not sure they know either.
Many of JS' heroes are severe and hold judgement and act out of jealousy / misunderstanding / other contrivance, behaviors that aren't always so great but are explained and made up for by the great grovel at the end. I didn't get that for Dyson, whose behavior was ratcheted up to one of those old skool elements, the pushed-past-reason assault-that-becomes-desire. He grovels, but it can't make up for the rest.
Still has moments of punch, as JS has a knack.
Overall, meh.
August 17, 2021
SHE HAD NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE... — The accident that claimed her parents' lives had left Amber to languish alone in hospital, certain she had only months left to live. — Despair drove her into a romantic encounter with a man she didn't know, and when she learned she wasn't to die after all, she prayed she would never again come face to face with the stranger who knew her shame.
But it was not to be. Seeking solace in her best friend's home, she was reunited with the man whose memory tormented her
But it was not to be. Seeking solace in her best friend's home, she was reunited with the man whose memory tormented her
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews