HelenKay Dimon is an absolute favorite of mine, and this story is vintage Dimon with humor and suspense. I've found only a handful of authors who write gay romance and make it feel real, with Ms.Dimon being at the top of that list.

The usual steaminess between characters is well done, along with those emotional moments all relationships need. And it's all infused with witty banter and fun.

I loved both Seth and Rick and am sorry this is the end of a terrific series.

In theory, this MM romance would be right up my street. However, I struggled to get into this story and warm to the characters and their romance. This, sadly, didn't work for me.

Seth Lang is looking to blow off some steam before his next assignment begins. After the danger and craziness of his last job, Seth’s CIA handlers have given him an easy assignment guarding the new U.S. consul general in Munich. Seth has no interest in the low key job, and wants to get back into the field, but he has no choice. When Seth meets a hot guy in the local bar, the no-strings, back room sex is just the thing to take his mind off work and give him a night of steamy fun.

When Seth meets the new consul general, Rick Fine, Seth is shocked to find it’s his hookup from a few days earlier. Rick has been brought in to temporarily take over as consul general after the most recent man in the job committed suicide. What he reveals to Seth, however, is that Rick is suspicious that more is going on here. Rick works for the CIA as well and has been investigating the flow of weapons hiding under the cover of humanitarian aid. He has tracked the dealings to Munich and believes either the former consul general was involved, or he was killed to keep him quiet. Either way, Rick is there undercover to investigate, and Seth will publicly be his personal bodyguard, while helping Rick track down the culprits behind the scenes.

Seth does not do relationships, but despite his determination to keep a distance, it isn’t long before the sexual connection from the night the guys met is too much for them to ignore. Rick and Seth continue their hot hookups, all while tracking down the arms dealers. But Rick has a secret he is keeping from Seth, one about a shared past that Seth isn’t aware of. Not to mention that the more Rick and Seth look into the arms sales, the more dangerous things get. Now the men are falling for one another, but their lives are on the line. And even if they make it out alive, the secret that burns between them may destroy all they have built together.

Guarding Mr. Fine is the third book in HelenKay Dimon’s exciting Tough Love series. I have been really enjoying it from the start, and I was thrilled to see we were getting Seth’s story in this book. Seth had a big role as a side character in The Talented Mr. Rivers and I loved his snarky, sarcastic personality. So it was great to see him falling in love despite himself here. The first two books in the series tie together pretty directly as they deal with the Pentasus investigation. However, this plot of this story is independent of that case, so while I’d definitely recommend all the books, you could start here pretty easily without having read the others.

Like I said, I loved the glimpses we got of Seth earlier in the series. He is snarky and sarcastic and a bit grumpy, but at the same time, he is excellent at his job and totally dedicated. I loved that we still see that same personality here, and the banter and exchanges between he and Rick add a lot of fun to the story. We see Seth resist his feeling for Rick, but at the same time, it is clear he is falling for him. These guys are super sexy together and the chemistry between them is intense. But at the same time, there is a lot of fun and playfulness and I enjoyed watching them get to know one another.

The story, like the others in the series, has a nice suspenseful side. The investigation centers on the employees at the consul and we get an interesting case, as well as some high octane moments. I think things could have gone a bit further into the mystery end, but I still found the investigation to be well done and I liked the mix of romance/relationship building with the suspense plot.

I am not sure if this is the end of the series, but I have really enjoyed all three books. Dimon writes super sexy stories with a nice thriller angle. If you are fan of romantic suspense, definitely check these out.

Another great story in the True Love series by Helen Kay Damon. Book three is Rick and Seth’s story set in the German Consulate in Munich. These are well rounded thought out characters, I truly enjoy her stories.

Oh wow! What a book. It was so good, and I loved and enjoyed every word. I need more NOW! This author's writing style is amazing. I'm going to read more books by her. I just know it has to be as good as this one.

I found this book to have a tired trope and while the chemistry between Seth and Rick was off the charts, the story just didn't do much for me.

This book was very steamy! I liked the parts of suspense that isn't common in these type of books. Rick and Seth sure had some heavy chemistry. I felt that like that is all I could concentrate on and often lost parts of the story line. This book did put HelenKay Dimon on my radar to read again. I liked her style and think maybe another book I would like a little more. I just felt like something was missing. Too much steamy and not enough plot for me.

Love hate with this authors writing.
Some work for me some don't. this one was just ok

Started Reading
Review *****Free copy received from NetGalley for an honest review*****
This is the third book in the Tough Love series featuring Seth. I really enjoyed the interaction between Seth and Rick Fine. This is a book of alpha males who are not afraid to show their love for one another and declare their status to others. Seth is sent to guard Rick Fine in German Consulate after a previous murder. They hook up in a bar and later find out they will be working together. Seth is not aware that Rick played a hand a previous failed op that resulted in the death of Seth's teammates. We also have matchmaking going on my supervisors, staff and teammates. I really enjoy all of Ms. Dimon's books and would love to see more of these characters.

Reviews posted on Goodreads, Amazon, B & N and V's Reads: https://vsreads.com/2017/05/05/unexpected-intrigue-guarding-mr-fine-a-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!

Guarding Mr. Fine by Helen Kay Dimon is a contemporary romance novel. 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.

Guarding Mr. Fine is a solid romance, with aspects of danger- both emotional and physical, that keep the reader guessing. I think both Seth and Rick have their issues, and hide away pieces of themselves for protection. I like that they are both capable and complex men, with a significant mystery surrounding the death of the previous consul general and the missing vaccines. I think the solution was a little too expected, as I had my suspicious about that particular character from the very beginning. However, the journey toward the reveal and later the happy ever after, were well worth it. I liked that the characters were open about their faults, even if they were not open about their secrets. I found the give and take, and gradual emotional growth from Seth to be very well done.

I think many readers will enjoy Guarding Mr. Fine. There is suspense, romance, and an accurate portrayal of gay and bi characters. I would not recommend it to readers that do not enjoy same sex romances with men in the staring roles. However, readers that like contemporary, suspense, and military or undercover agent style romances will enjoy the read.

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.



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GUARDING MR. FINE has it all. Hot men, danger, intrigue, a well written story line and even hotter sex. Those are enough for an enjoyable book but this book goes beyond by trying to correct some misconceptions that heterosexual people have about bisexuals such as they are unable to commit to a monogamous relationship or that dating a person of the opposite sex will suddenly cause them to become 'straight'. Kudos to Ms. Dimon for bringing those up.


I really enjoyed the book. Both Seth and Rick are men that I would be happy to call friends and I cheered them on as their relationship developed. I think that my readers who enjoy romances about gay and bisexual men will really enjoy this book. I do want to put out a gentle warning that there are some extremely hot sex scenes between two men so avoid this book if that makes you uncomfortable.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Unfortunately I couldn't connect with this book. I thought there was too much insta-love and that the relationship was not believable.

Congratulations to Helenkay Dimon for her RITA nomination for Guarding Mr. Fine! The book definitely deserves the nomination and we hope you will all check it out!

If you are a fan of romantic suspense, Mr. Fine is for you. It's full of spies, intrigue, murder, and two clueless men falling in love - what's not to enjoy? Mr. Fine is the third book in the Tough Love series and they just keep getting better. This installment is heavier on the humor and lighter on the angst, which was awesome. Am I the only one that feels overwhelmed by all the angsty books lately? I mean, angst has its place and is awesome sometimes, but sometimes I need something less rip-my-heart-out and more laugh-out-loud. Helenkay is great when you need some suspense or some laugh-out-loud.

Anyway, back to the amazing Mr. Fine... Seth and Rick come together to investigate the death of a diplomat in Germany. These are two intelligent, capable men and when they get together sparks fly and trouble follows. Mr. Fine has a quick pace and plenty of twists to keep you interested. I recommend the Tough Love series to any fan of the genre.

If you haven't read Helenkay Dimon, I suggest you check her out. She's a prolific writer with an impressive backlist. We had the pleasure of meeting her at RT a couple of years ago (and hope to see her in Atlanta in a few weeks) and definitely invited her to join us on BFF island for fun and frivolity. :-) Check her out at here.

Guarding Mr. Fine by HelenKay Dimon is a deliciously captivating romantic thriller. If you enjoy bodyguard romance novels, this one should be on your list of books to read. This is book three of the Tough Love series but I have not read the other two and understood the story just fine.

Seth is a man of action and having just left a harrowing assignment that almost killed him, he does not want to babysit some desk jockey. He is gruff and snarky with a protective streak a mile wide. He says he is just doing his job but guarding Rick Fine becomes something much more than a paycheck. Seth struggles to keep Rick at arm’s length, though, while guarding his heart along with his new assignment.

Rick is actually much more than a desk jockey and he desperately needs Seth’s help. The former German consulate was murdered and there are some seriously dangerous forces at play in this book. He has a secret, though, that will drive a wedge between him and his new bodyguard. And since he is beginning to care way too much about the guy, that means heartbreak is a definite possibility.

One thing I really loved about this story is that Rick was (mostly) honest with Seth about his role in the consulate. He let him know up front that he was more than a desk jockey and could hold his own when push came to shove. Yes, he did keep a few key facts to himself which does create a bit of drama at the end of the story. But, these two guys work as a team to uncover what is really going on behind the scenes of the consulate.

The plot is well thought out and I won’t give away the details. You will have to read it yourself and I highly recommend you do! Great writing, wonderful snarky banter between two strong and sexy men, and a nice cast of supporting characters as well.

The chemistry between Seth and Rick is off the charts. It draws you in and heats you up while giving you just enough warm and fuzzies to make it so much more than just sex. The pacing of the book was awesome. Yes, you have a very early slightly anonymous sex scene but after that, the plot takes over and while the sex is there, it doesn’t overpower the storyline. You will get a happily ever after once they get through some minor drama and I finished the book with a smile.

Overall, I really enjoyed Guarding Mr. Fine by HelenKay Dimon and definitely recommend that you add it to your ‘must read’ pile of books. Especially if bodyguard romance novels are your cup of tea!

I absolutely loved this book :) So much that I had to read the other books in the series. Both MCs are engaging and interesting. Their chemistry is off the charts. Seth is a character from previous books in the series that has just been begging for his own book. Rick is a multi-layered character with many secrets, some he desperately wants to keep from Seth. The action is fast paced and the underlying emotion from both characters invests the reader in their relationship. The suspense behind the attempts on Rick's life and the murder of his predecessor keeps the interest of the reader. The writing is clever and witty. If this is your first taste of this author, you will definitely want more :)

Wow! This book was so good! If you are a M/M romance fan - you must read this one! Amazing hot chemistry with great steamy scenes and fantastic suspense and mystery - you couldn't ask for more!

A one-night stand could affect his job. Seth was caught off guard when faced with "Blue eyes" who turns out to be his next assignment. Rick had not forgotten that night either nor their shared past. As they work together, learning personal things about each other, danger kept coming at them. Watching these two men decide how important they were to each other made this a page-turner for me. The relationship with its ups and downs had a real feel to it. I have enjoyed this series, and this book continued that enjoyment. I look forward to more.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

Guarding Mr. Fine is the third book in the Tough Love series, and while I've loved them all, I think this might be my favorite. I just loved the relationship between Rick and Seth. There is a big secret that involves both of them - which only Rick is aware of - but it's a secret that makes sense to be kept, at least while the mission is happening. It adds drama to the end of the book, but nothing unwarranted or too over the top.

As for the rest of the book, this is essentially a mystery novel, and I loved that. Sure, it has plenty of romance, but it also has suspense and intrigue. Rick is sure that the former ambassador to Germany was involved in something shady and that his death is more than a suicide. He has to keep this theory mostly a secret though, so that if something is going on, they aren't spooked and hide away. It soon becomes clear that Rick is correct as someone tries to take Rick out. They don't know Seth though. He's been in the CIA for years and he's an excellent "body guard." He may have feelings for Rick, but that doesn't distract Seth. It might just make him more determined to bring down whoever would dare kill Rick.

Definitely a great read! I'll include links to the other books in the series below in case you want to read in order!