HelenKay Dimon

Love, Seeds and DIRTY DEEDS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new M/M romantic suspense from HelenKay Dimon. DIRTY DEEDS is the first book in her Dirty series. It’s also a spinoff from her Tough Love series, which featured MR. AND MR. SMITH, THE TALENTED MR. RIVERS, and GUARDING MR. FINE, and you know I liked bunches. In fact, one of the leads had cameos in Guarding Mr. Fine, and he’s a smart sexy devil.

About the book:
No dirty deed goes unnoticed in a seductive game of cat and mouse. But for Alec and Gaige, the wrong move could get them killed.
Alec Drummond didn’t make his billions by playing nice—or by playing much at all. When it comes to pleasure, Alec only has time for whatever’s quick and easy, which is exactly what he gets from his company’s hot new computer genius. But Gaige Owens isn’t some pushover. He pushes back, and it’s giving Alec a rush. The question is, could Gaige be the one who’s leaking trade secrets? Just to be safe, Alec keeps him close at hand . . . night and day.

Gaige never thought he’d roll over for a man like Alec again, but who could resist sex this mind-blowing? Then there’s the draw of Alec’s mysterious side: his cutthroat ambition, his covert CIA connections, and the murder in his past. For Gaige, a deeper look proves an irresistible temptation. But when Gaige and Alec are stripped of their defenses by an unseen danger, everything they don’t know could bring them closer together—or tear them apart. Only one thing is certain: Before it’s all over, someone’s going down.

My Review:
Alec Drummond is a billionaire agri-business mogul living in Munich–and he’s got a reputation for shooting first when his financial interests are in jeopardy. He’s not happy that a CIA operative, Gaige Owens, makes it into the nerve center of his cybersecurity offices. Naturally, Gaige isn’t really CIA, he’s actually a guy in limbo, left to twist in the wind by his former partner and compelled into action by the CIA Special Acitivites Division officer Seth Lang. Gaige’s ex did a bad job of hacking some high-level places and framed Gaige for the dirty deeds, and Seth’s holding Gaige’s feet to the fire for his own purposes.

Gaige is sure Alec will kill him, but Seth set up this meeting to demonstrate Gaige’s abilities to Alec, as a way to get Alec to take Gaige on as an operative. See, Alec’s company makes quarterly deposits to the Doomsday Bank for seeds to ensure food security. Unfortunately, there’s been some shady deposits there in the last six months. Extra deposits that no one seems to know about, but were seemingly arranged by Alec himself.

As little as Alec wants him, he grudgingly accepts Gaige into his company–and his private residence–so he can keep a very close eye on him. It’s clear that Gaige is a gifted hacker, and a sexy young man, but Alec doesn’t want any part of that…at first. As they end up the subject of a couple of fatal attempts on their lives, Alec and Gaige get closer out of necessity. And, that’s some more dirty deeds right there, folks. As the danger intensifies, Gaige and Alec recognize the answers they need are buried in the seed vaults in Svalbard. Not that it comes together easy. Nope, it’s a rough situation and results in double-crosses by members of Alec’s most intimate circle.

In this romantic suspense, we’ve got spies, CIA, powerful men, assassins, and a plot that could endanger the food security of nations. It’s interesting and intriguing with a pace that keeps the pages turning. Both Gaige and Alec despise Seth and his machinations, but they work out their personal differences without too much difficulty in order to discover the plot to sabotage Alec’s business and reputation.

This series seems to revolve around the Drummond brothers–all three of them–and Alec is the stalwart one who’s not willing to even look for love. His family has some dark secrets, and it really colored his outlook. That said, Alec’s curiosity about Gaige leads to more than partnership, even if it’s “no strings”. They get tied up quick enough, nonetheless, and Alec got over his ingrained aversion to relationships because Gaige was worth the effort. Gaige is a little bit of a wisecracker, and I so wanted him to get into a good relationship after all the hub-bub of his horrible ex.

I’m expecting the next book to feature Alec’s brother, Finn, and I’m looking forward to it!

Interested? You can find DIRTY DEEDS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
HelenKay Dimon spent the years before becoming a romance author as a divorce attorney—not the usual career transition. Now she writes full-time and she’s much happier. The author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and short stories that have twice been named “Red-Hot Reads” and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, she’s on the board of directors of the Romance Writers of America and teaches fiction writing at UC San Diego and Mira Costa College.
You can find HelenKay online on her website, Facebook, twitter Tumblr and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Unexpected Intrigue GUARDING MR. FINE–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a M/M romantic suspense novel from HelenKay Dimon. GUARDING MR. FINE is the third book in her Tough Love series of spy-romances and I liked it. I also enjoyed the first two books, MR. AND MR. SMITH and THE TALENTED MR. RIVERS, though you don’t have to read those first.

About the book:
In this steamy novel of seduction and international intrigue, two brave men are stripped of their defenses—and exposed to dangers and desires that simmer below the surface.

As an agent with the CIA’s special activities division, Seth Lang lives for risk—and yet he’s stuck playing bodyguard to the U.S. consul general in Munich. Although Seth’s last assignment nearly killed him, babysitting some desk jockey in a suit sounds way too easy. But when he lays eyes on the new top man, tactical expert Rick Fine, Seth’s thrilled to see just how hard this job is going to get. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Quiet has a body worth guarding—and he requires hands-on attention day and night.

Dispatched to a German consulate to expose the murder of his predecessor, Rick finds himself in an extremely vulnerable position. He needs a man like Seth—in so many ways. This mission will inevitably plunge them both into jeopardy, but each new threat only brings them closer. Rick just hopes that he can keep his deepest, darkest secret hidden—or else risk imperiling a relationship they’re both fighting for their lives to protect.

My Review:
CIA Special Agent Seth Lang is not happy to be reassigned to “guard” the new consul general in Munich–especially when the man he meets turns out to be the one he picked up anonymously the weekend before the job was to begin. Still, Rick Fine suits his name, and Seth’s more frustrated than ever.

Rick Fine isn’t just a consul–he’s deep cover CIA tactics, and sure his predecessor was doing some shady, shady things that led to his fatal “accident.” How to prove it as a stranger in a new place? Make use of all his tactical training–and keep Seth handy. Even if he’s guilty for hiding a secret about Seth’s past mission. It’s not long before Rick turns up discrepancies in budgets and humanitarian aid drops seemed inexplicably filled with weapons instead of medicine. But, those powerful people who made the former consul go away are certainly not interested in keeping snoopy Rick Fine alive. Nope, that’s Seth’s problem.

This books takes place over several seriously action-packed days. Seth discovers weaknesses in the security, and Rick uses his deep cover contacts to flush out the perpetrators who’re using the consul’s office to traffic arms. Thing is, people keep turning up dead, and Seth and Rick might soon be one of them. Expect steamy sexytimes, shoot-outs, and a raging inferno of more than lust. Each book in the series keeps me on my toes, and wanting the next book!

Interested? You can find GUARDING MR. FINE on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
HelenKay Dimon spent the years before becoming a romance author as a divorce attorney—not the usual career transition. Now she writes full-time and she’s much happier. The author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and short stories that have twice been named “Red-Hot Reads” and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, she’s on the board of directors of the Romance Writers of America and teaches fiction writing at UC San Diego and Mira Costa College.

You can find HelenKay online on her website, Facebook, twitter Tumblr and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Hidden Love: THE TALENTED MR. RIVERS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new M/M romantic suspense from HelenKay Dimon. THE TALENTED MR. RIVERS is the second book in her Tough Love series and is best enjoyed after MR. AND MR. SMITH.

mr-riversAbout the book:
HelenKay Dimon’s suspenseful, provocative series of double agents and dark desire continues with a novel featuring two men bound by a dangerous job—and by the cravings they feel for each other.
As the son of an international crime lord, Will Rivers only inherited one thing after his father died: trouble. The Pentasus organization deals in kidnapping and murder, and Will wants no part of the power grab that’s tearing leadership apart. But the only way he’ll be able to escape is with some help from his former bodyguard, Hunter Cain, whose sculpted body and brooding looks keep Will awake at night. Somehow, Hunter has resisted the tension between them . . . until, suddenly, he gives in.

As a German intelligence officer working deep undercover, Hunter has a very good reason to keep Will in the dark about his identity and his intentions. Although the sex is hot, Hunter’s true feelings are a growing liability. Now the only way to save Will from his old life is to push him deeper into danger. But when two strong men are each determined to protect the other, the heat isn’t just combustible—it’s a firestorm.

My Review:
This is the second book in a series, and is probably best enjoyed when read in order. This is M/M romantic suspense series, and each book features a new couple, but most are CIA-type agents.

Will Rivers is the youngest child in his nefarious crime family. In the first book, MR. AND Mr. SMITH, we learned that Will’s family ran Pentasus, a corporation known for human trafficking and murder-for-hire. The situation resulted in a huge fire-fight on the Rivers’ estate and an explosion that killed Will’s ailing father and murderous sister. Will’s not sure if his brother escaped, but the first person who finds him hiding in Paris is his bodyguard, Hunter.

Hunter is a deep-cover agent from Germany’s secret police. He discovered Pentasus, its activities, and the principals–the Rivers family–but Will was the sheltered bookish half-sibling who’d spent the past ten years in the US in college and grad school. He’d only returned to England to attend at his father’s death bed. Hunter was immediately drawn to nerd-chic Will and the two months he spent watching him, gathering intel for the CIA co-op, were fraught with mutual attraction. They never stepped past the boundaries: Will was afraid any liaison would make him weak in front of his feuding siblings, and Hunter wasn’t sure he could stomach any physical contact with Will if he was directly involved in Pentasus.

Now, however, Will claims he wants nothing to do with Pentasus or his tainted legacy. That doesn’t mean he’s free to go. No, there are factions who are pushing Will to take up his family’s mantle–if only as a figurehead. There’s millions at stake, and Will’s not sure which side Hunter is on…until the CIA comes a-callin’.

I liked this one better than the first book in this series. Will and Hunter have had a long time of close interaction for a slow burn to develop. We already knew there was something going on in the first book, so stepping in at their beginning is really easy. Also, we know that Will’s a decent guy from the start. Hunter doesn’t want to fall for him and isn’t convinced Will’s completely innocent, but the more they battle to gain Will’s freedom, the more Hunter learns he can’t step back. It’s a fast-paced, romantic thriller with very high stakes. There are lots of room for double and triple-crosses, but the heart of the story is two solitary men finding solace and support. We get a return of deep-cover CIA agents Fisher and Alex, from the first book, as well as Seth who takes a front-stage role here–so I expect he’ll be the focus of another/the next book in this series, if it continues.

Expect bullets, backstabbing, back-biting, big men posturing, late night heart-to-hearts, love and sexytimes. And an HEA.

Interested? You can find THE TALENTED MR. RIVERS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

About the Author:
HelenKay Dimon spent the years before becoming a romance author as a divorce attorney—not the usual career transition. Now she writes full-time and she’s much happier. The author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and short stories that have twice been named “Red-Hot Reads” and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, she’s on the board of directors of the Romance Writers of America and teaches fiction writing at UC San Diego and Mira Costa College.

You can find HelenKay online on her website, Facebook, twitter Tumblr and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Double Crosses Abound–MR. AND MR. SMITH–Release Day Review

RB Banner-1Hi there! Today I’m sharing a release day review for a new M/M romantic suspense from HelenKay Dimon. MR. AND MR. SMITH is a spy/counter-spy drama that features two US agents abroad who meet, fall in love, and then discover neither is who they claim to be. For these agents to survive, they have to trust one another–when they probably shouldn’t.

Mr. and Mr. Smith Ebook CoverAbout the book:

Secrets and seduction make for an explosive combination in HelenKay Dimon’s edgy, thrilling new series, which kicks off with a novel about two men who can handle any threat—except the one posed by desire.
 
Fisher Braun knows how to keep a secret. As a covert paramilitary operative, his job—and his life—depends on it. He’s at the top of his game, ready for action and always in control. No enemy has ever brought him to his knees, but one lover has: Zachary Allen, the man currently sharing his bed. The perfect package of brains and brawn, Zach is someone worth coming home to, and Fisher hates keeping him in the dark about what he does. But the lies keep Zach safe. Until the day Fisher loses everything. . . .

Zachary Allen is no innocent civilian. Although he plays the tech geek, in reality he’s deep undercover for the CIA. In a horrible twist of fate, the criminal enterprise he’s infiltrated has set its sights on the man whose touch drives him wild. Zach would do anything for Fisher—except blow his own cover. Now, in order to save him, Zach must betray him first. And he needs Fisher to trust him with all his heart if they want to make it out alive.

My Review:

Fisher is a CIA operative working in London as part of a well-oiled extraction team. The book opens with Fisher’s house being invaded and the message that his secret lover, Zach, has been kidnapped. Fisher must now come clean to his team about his sexuality (funnily enough none of these guys had any misconceptions of Fisher’s sexuality…) and his lover.

The attempt to recover Zach turns Fisher inside out and upside down. Mostly because Zach’s on the wrong side of the gun. Yup. Is Zach, as he later claims, a deep cover operative investigating international human trafficker organization–Pentasus? Or, is Zach just a bad dude.

The rest of the book is Fisher and Zach coming to terms with their secret lives. They had been living together, secretly, for months, and Fisher had thought he’d found a man to spend his life with–until Zach’s Big Secrets are revealed. The time frame of the book is really compressed–the whole span is roughly 48 hours, so we have an hour-by-hour unfolding of their relationship–from fury and betrayal, to reconnection and resolve.

Zach must get back to his role, and Fisher thinks it’s a suicide mission. It likely is–except Fisher won’t stand for it.

Expect hate sex, make up sex, making love and lot and lots of explosions. For me, I wanted a bit more of Fisher and Zach, on the page. It was tough coming in at such an adversarial moment, and it took a while for me, as a reader, to catch up. I really loved the ending, and I look forward to more books in this setting–clearly we have some men to catch up with in a new book. (HUNTER AND WILL!!)

Interested? You can find MR. AND MR. SMITH on Goodreads, Amazon (US, UK) Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, GooglePlay, and BAM.

About the Author:
HelenKay Dimon spent the years before becoming a romance author as a divorce attorney—not the usual career transition. Now she writes full-time and she’s much happier. The author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and short stories that have twice been named “Red-Hot Reads” and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, she’s on the board of directors of the Romance Writers of America and teaches fiction writing at UC San Diego and Mira Costa College.

You can find HelenKay online on her website, Facebook, twitter Tumblr and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!