spy romance

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!

Love on the Run: FOR HIS EYES ONLY–A Review

fheo-available-nowHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new romantic suspense novel from Lexi Blake. FOR HIS EYES ONLY pairs two former lovers on a wild ride to reconnection–and against some rather determined assassins. Hayley never would have sought out Nick again, until her life depended on him….

forhiseyesonly_highresAbout the book:
A night he can’t forget
Five years ago, Nick Markovic found himself consumed by his quest for vengeance. The one time he managed to find peace was in the arms of Hayley Dalton. Being with her was like bathing in sunlight, and he ached to feel that again, but he couldn’t. He gave his oath to Hayley’s cousin Desiree, his partner at McKay-Taggart and Knight, that he’d never let his darkness infect Hayley’s innocent world.

A spark she can’t put out
It was years before that Hayley offered everything she had to Nick. After that one amazing night, all she wanted was to be his forever. Unfortunately, Nick’s reaction was to walk away from her and never look back. The warm and caring man she’d discovered was gone, and after Des’s death, he’d only grown colder. But when Hayley finds herself in mortal danger, she’s forced to seek protection from the man who broke her heart.

A flame that threatens to consume them both
Haunted by the women he failed, Nick can’t allow himself to grow close to Hayley again. Running to stay ahead of the powerful forces that endanger their lives, they travel from the lush Garden in London to the glittering lights of Rio. As the threat against her becomes clearer, he realizes that to keep her safe he must confront the demons from his past, even if it costs him a future with the woman he loves.

How about a little taste?

Nick went back to staring at the report. “Hayley’s not mine. She was Desiree’s cousin. Now she’s my client.”

Who had been tired the night before and that was why she’d said the things she’d said. This morning she’d seemed much more sensible. After she’d had some sleep and a shower and had straightened herself up, she’d been quiet and seemingly reflective. She was very likely embarrassed by what had been said the night before.

I would get safety from murderers and I would get orgasms. I’m sorry, Nicky, you’re going to tell me how that’s a bad deal for me.

He was going to make sure she understood that his protection wasn’t based on whether or not she slept with him.

Because he wasn’t sleeping with her. He couldn’t hurt her that way again.

“So she was your old lover’s cousin,” Owen mused. “The lover you weren’t exclusive with and who wouldn’t marry you. The pretty girl who looks at you like you’re the sun in the sky is her cousin.”

“She looks at me like she would look at man who can save her.”

“I can save her.” Owen’s eyes lit up, his brows waggling. “Maybe she’ll look at me like that.”

Anger flared through his system. “Don’t you dare. I told you I would take care of her.”

His arms crossed over his big chest and Nick knew he’d been had. “Well, that answers the question with more honesty. You can pretend, but you like the girl. And if you honestly don’t then you need to know that the boys got a good look at her last night. If she’s going to be hanging about, she should be ready for some serious male attention.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The lads talked it over last night and decided there’s no dibs on this one. They all saw her at pretty much the same time. They looked over that dead body and saw her walking in the hall and that was when the fighting started. We all sat down and decided no dibs on her. She’ll get to pick. You should know that Sasha and Jax have decided if she picks either of them, they’re willing to share. I don’t play that way. That’s something I do know about meself. No need for you to be telling me that tale. If there’s going to be some sharing in the bedroom, it’s going to be the traditional kind between a man and a woman and her stacked best friend. That’s what I say.”

“You tell those boys to stay away from her or they will be dealing with me. They will not like to be dealing with me. I will put up with many things from them. They can poke all the corpses they like. They can punch each other. I do not care. They touch Hayley and I will be caring.”

“Wow, now you do sound Russian. A scary Russian. Still, I think if you don’t want the girl, shouldn’t she be allowed to choose? Think about it. It could be fun.”

“Are we talking about the lost boys and their battle for the new chick?” Kayla strode in, her hair in a high ponytail. It bounced as she walked, a testament to her seemingly ever-sunny personality. “I had babysitting duty last night and they kept talking about her even after lights out. Bad boys. I had a plan though. I think we make them compete in a beauty pageant. Hayley gets to judge.”

“I’m judging a beauty pageant?” Hayley followed behind Kay, and both women were followed by Charlotte Taggart and Penelope Knight. It looked like Hayley was rapidly being accepted by the women on his team.

That was not necessarily a good thing. The women on his team could create chaos like no others.

“That sounds like fun,” Charlotte said with a smile. “I think we should require Speedos for the bathing suit competition. No boring board shorts. If Hayley’s picking a lover, she needs to see some booty.”

Hayley stopped, her cheeks going the sweetest color of pink. “Wait. What?”

Penelope put a hand on her arm. “They’re teasing you, dear. Don’t worry about it. The lads will be very polite. Though you should expect some suitors while you’re here. Especially if you come down to the dungeon.”

Now he was the one flushing. “Excuse me?”

Hayley shook her head as she joined him at the table. “It’s nothing. I was just talking to the girls. Did you get the report? Penny said the Dallas office had found something.”

He was all too aware that they weren’t alone. Damon and Ian walked in with Brody Carter and Walter Bennett. The four men settled into chairs as the women joined them. Nick held out a chair for Hayley. He would have to remember that he couldn’t leave her alone for a minute or someone would be whispering in her ear, giving her ideas she shouldn’t have.

Like visiting The Garden on a play night.

It wasn’t happening.

My Review:
Hayley fell for Nicolai years and years ago, when he was the boyfriend her posh and mysterious cousin Desiree would drag to family gatherings. They were only a few years apart in age, but worlds apart in terms of experience. Nick had been Russian intelligence officer who got on the wrong side of the government and nearly died. His sister was murdered, and his quest for revenge cost him Hayley–for five years. They’d shared one night together, planned a new and bright future, but Des had wormed her way back in–and neither Hayley nor Nick has been the same since.

Hayley wouldn’t seek out Nick unless her life depended upon it. And, now it does. Her home in Seattle has been blown up, and the police who should have been protecting her seemed to be looking to remove her, permanently, from their problems list. All of this shortly after she’d received the effects of Des’ Tokyo apartment–bequeathed following Des’ funeral. On the run, and with no one else to help, she flees to London to find Nick–who works for a security company and is a part-time spy. Like Des was.

Hayley isn’t excited about staying in Nick’s apartment–which happens to be in the same building complex that houses his office and The Garden, an exclusive BDSM kink club, but she decides she has no choice when she’s almost killed en route to a hotel. Who is behind the attempts on her life? And, why? It must be linked to the letters Des left behind, right?

Well, Des left a mess, and may have been planning it to reunite Nick and Hayley, but their path back to togetherness isn’t so easy. This is the 13th book in a series, and all of them involve some combination of suspense and kink, though this one seemed higher on the suspense and lower on the love. Nick has lots and LOTS of memories of Des–which got in the way of building the romance here for me. Hayley is dead set against learning anything about Nick’s kink–because she hates thinking about him with anyone else, though she eventually caves on that because she wants Nick back. They are on the run for a good bit, but get things back on track traveling to Brazil to exorcise the ghost of Des from their lives–and it all goes south again…

I think the book ran a bit long, and the chemistry wasn’t as deep as I’d have wished/expected given the high stakes of the suspense plot. That said, readers who’ve followed the series have lots to enjoy, as there’s a wide and varied cast with so many characters to catch up with, or whet the appetites for further stories. I think the end was fine, an HEA that seemed believable, if a bit drawn out.

Interested? You can find FOR HIS EYES ONLY on Goodreads, Amazon (US and UK) Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Google Play.

lexi_blakeAbout the Author:
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Catch up with Lexi on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Amazon.
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Lives Destroyed by a ROGUE SOLDIER-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary military M/M romantic suspense novel from Jamie Lynn Miller. ROGUE SOLDIER is the second book in her series, and is probably best enjoyed if you’ve already read BROKEN SOLDIER, but it’s not a requirement.

rogue-cover-final-6x9About the book:
Shadow Unit may have overturned the illegal arms cartel in Kuala Lumpur, but the harrowing undercover op left emotional scars on Sergeants Shawn Weller and Connor Finley. Slowly, patiently, they piece their partnership back together, closer now than ever before.

But the arrival of Julian Montgomery, Shawn’s former CIA handler and lover, threatens to tear them apart. Julian knows all of Shawn’s secrets as well as the past Shawn has kept hidden from Connor. Now the self-serving Julian wants Shawn back—with the CIA and with him. No one will get in his way. Including Connor.

When the joint Shadow Unit/CIA mission to stop the supplier of a deadly biological weapon goes sideways, Connor is captured, tortured, and used as a human test subject. It’s a race against time to save his life. But who can Shawn trust?

And who has gone rogue?

My Review:
Connor and Shawn are a committed couple who are also operatives in Shadow Unit, a covert ops coalition that includes former SEALs, CIA and MI5 agents and other paramilitary professionals. In this book, Connor and Shawn have healed from their last mission–one where Shawn was continually drugged and forced into sexual contact with an arms dealer.

Their newest mission goes a little sideways when an innocent gets in the way of Connor’s kill shot. Add to his horror, their team is immediately shipped out to attempt a capture of a biological weapon developer in Pakistan. That’s not out of the ordinary, but their new contact is not a friend. Julian Montgomery was CIA, a “wetwork” specialist who relished killing his targets. Shawn didn’t share the same bloodlust, and it was part of why he left the CIA, and Julian, behind four years ago–despite he and Julian becoming lovers.

Julian hasn’t forgotten his connection with Shawn, and he makes it clear he’d like to pick up where they’d left off. Connor isn’t willing to let Julian wander right into his relationship, however. And, Shawn’s deeply unsettled about any mission that Julian is managing. Shawn’s digging doesn’t reveal any issues, though, and he’s beginning to doubt his doubts…until their operation goes really really bad.

Is it coincidence, or a convenient? I liked this book better than BROKEN SOLDIER, because I really struggled with the drug aspect in that book. It was outside my comfort zone. It gave a darker edge to the book, because it intimated dubious consent. In this book, the lines are clearly drawn. There are VERY dark moments, and what was supposed to be a clean job gets so FUBAR that both Connor and Shawn are clinging to life. The likelihood either may die, or live but be permanently disabled, is extremely high. I don’t want to spill the details, but the suspense is really well managed, and the end arrives with sweet plausibility. There’s enough confusion regarding Connor’s injuries, in particular, that his recovery is just the right side of miraculous–not edging into unreal, but you’ll understand how it could have gone that way. I was glad for the author’s deftness, because I kinda hate when I read books where it’s all brushed over and super implausible but happens anyway because reasons. That said, the love between Connor and Shawn is completely unshakable in this book, and that was really pleasant to experience. These guys no how to get it on, and on…

The book ends with a reasonable resolution, and a promise for more stories. To that I’ll say: I’m in!

Interested? You can find ROGUE SOLDIER on Goodreads, Amazon (US and Amazon UK) Barnes & Noble, KOBO, and AllRomance.

You can also check out my review for BROKEN SOLDIER here and see if it’s in your reading wheelhouse.

About the Author:
Jamie Lynn Miller has been writing male/male fanfiction stories for nearly fifteen years and decided to take the plunge and go pro in 2008. She’s a romantic at heart, and her stories reflect the desire we all have to find “the one”, persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending.

Jamie has a degree in Fine Arts and has spent the last thirteen years working as a Graphic Designer. She was born in Chicago and still lives there today, with her husband and their furry, four-footed “children”.

Besides writing, Jamie enjoys traveling, softball, reading, science fiction, hanging out with friends, and just being creative. She is eternally thankful for all of the love and support her husband has given her over the years with her writing and other endeavors.

Catch up with Jamie online on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!
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Dark and Gritty: BROKEN SOLDIER–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a dark contemporary M/M spy story from Jamie Lynn Miller. BROKEN SOLDIER features a covert couple taking down an arms dealer–if they don’t get destroyed first…

broken-soldierAbout the book:
Sergeant Connor Finley and Sergeant Shawn Weller are dedicated soldiers working covert ops for Shadow Unit — a joint UK/US anti-terrorism task force.

Partners in the field and out, they had been through hell together for the last four years and made it through standing side by side. But when their latest undercover op to bring down an arms dealer plunges them into a world of drugs, sex and violence, Shawn must literally get in bed with the enemy in order to complete the mission. And Connor is forced to watch, helpless, as his partner is broken into pieces.

Will love be enough to put them both back together or will this be their final mission?

WARNING: Contains scenes of drug use, graphic sex and realistic situations.

My Review:
This is a dark contemporary spy novel that features a M/M love story, hard drug use, deep cover, dubious consent, death, and destruction with a happy ending.

Connor Finley and Shawn Weller are operatives in Shadow Unit, a inter-national cadre of soldiers and infiltration specialists (think ex-CIA/MI5) that go in and “get the job done” against mega-badguys. They are also covert lovers, having built a friendship over the course of years, and now being a committed couple for the past five months. The current mark is Jae Chan, an arms dealer operating out of Kuala Lumpur. Jae likes his men drugged out and biddable, as Shawn discovers as soon as he’s able to catch Jae’s roving eye in a gay entertainment club run by Jae. Connor’s hired on as club security, but Shawn’s the one who’s in the most danger.

If you take a gander at the cover, you’ll see cut lines of drugs. Expect Shawn to be pushed into taking both cocaine and heroin in order to maintain his cover, and get close enough to Jae to get the necessary evidence. Also, Jae’s going to use Shawn rather horribly, and Shawn’s guilt over both betraying his lover, and getting dependent upon the drugs, is a tough journey to experience. You may also notice the title is: BROKEN SOLDIER, because Shawn gets REALLY messed up in the process of maintaining this covert-op. I’ve never read a book with so much hard drug use, and it wasn’t pleasant, from a voyeuristic standpoint. I’m a gal who got raised in the “Just Say No” era, so I’m not fascinated by drug-culture. I did feel as if the experiences were described with an eye to reality, and nothing about this situation with Shawn is positive. He’s trying to romance a scumbag drug-dealing arm-dealing bully, and he knows his life is constantly on the line.

Connor has to watch from afar, and provide as much back-up as he can to Shawn without tipping off Jae’s many bodyguards. Meanwhile, seeing Shawn be used and abused make him furious–and he’s really worried about the seemingly constant drug use he witnesses. Will Shawn make it through this mission intact? Will Connor blow their cover to save Shawn?

I’ll tell you, it was a bit harrowing. There’s a good build-up of suspense, with death on the menu. The climax wasn’t nearly the end of the book–because we still needed to see Shawn get off the junk. If anything, this book obliterated any hint of desire I may have ever harbored for heroin. Ugh. Yuck! That said, the walk-back from the edge that Shawn experiences in Connor’s loving embrace was very tender.

This is a work of fiction, and I know that reality is likely not as convenient as the set-up in this book, but the situations felt authentic, and interesting. The emotional dilemmas and hard choices within reflect a seedy subculture that I’m sure exists, to some degree, somewhere. I liked the strong love between Connor and Shawn, and I’m looking forward to following their dangerous adventures.

Interested? You can find BROKEN SOLDIER on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author:
Jamie Lynn Miller has been writing male/male fanfiction stories for nearly fifteen years and decided to take the plunge and go pro in 2008. She’s a romantic at heart, and her stories reflect the desire we all have to find “the one”, persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending.

Jamie has a degree in Fine Arts and has spent the last thirteen years working as a Graphic Designer. She was born in Chicago and still lives there today, with her husband and their furry, four-footed “children”.

Besides writing, Jamie enjoys traveling, softball, reading, science fiction, hanging out with friends, and just being creative. She is eternally thankful for all of the love and support her husband has given her over the years with her writing and other endeavors.

Catch up with Jamie online on her website, Facebook and twitter.

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!