Guarding Mr. Fine is the third book in the Tough Love series by author HelenKay Dimon. This is my first time reading this series. I did find myself slightly lost in places but not overly so. The main love story between Seth and Rick is the focus of this story so I could follow that with no problems at all.
Seth is bisexual. He really wants to be in the field and not babysitting high profiled people but he does what he has to. Who knew though going to a club in Munich would change his life and complicate so much.
Rick wants one night where he doesn't have to be under protection and he can be himself. He goes to a sex club and unknowingly has an encounter that will change his life. Rick is always responsible. He knows his job and what is expected of him. But in love he is a novice and floundering to find his way.
There is chemistry right away in this book. Also this book can be read as a stand alone in the series. Both men are keeping huge secrets in this book, those secrets could destroy the love they are trying to build. Trust is something they both have to learn before it is too late.
Over all really loved this one. Has action, adventure and tons of love inside.


Five Shooting Stars

Recently, BJ posted a lovely review of Guarding Mr. Fine by HelenKay Dimon (http://allaboutromance.com/book-review/guarding-mr-fine-by-helenkay-dimon/), and really, I’m just gonna sit here and second everything she said. I won’t go into the full story, but the brief version is: Seth the spy expects a one night stand to be just that, and when it’s not, he has to deal with protecting and working with the man he’s been obsessing over, Rick. The third in the gay romantic suspense series Tough Love, this installment brings more fun, sexy romantic spy thriller-lite stories and characters. Seth’s story is better for having read the previous two books, but brand-new Rick Fine shares all with both Seth and the reader. The suspense side of things worked pretty well, and the romantic side had me quite pleased overall. I enjoyed the rather snappy dialogue, but do wish, like BJ said, there was more world-building to flesh out the story. Again, though, the characters were quite fun, and the book reads so easily.

Guarding Mr. Fine is another hit in this exciting series. Seth, whom I loved in Mr. and Mr. Smith and The Talented Mr. Rivers, is back, this time with his own story. He's been dispatched to babysit Rick Fine, the new Consular General in Munich. Imagine Seth's surprise when he meets Mr. Fine and realizes the's the hottie he hooked up with 3 days earlier.

Seth and Rick are a study in contrasts. Seth is all sexy and brooding, has the "Tall, Dark and Lethal look down." and Rick is the perfectly put together blue eyed, sexy nerd with the gorgeous glasses. They're both so alpha and are constantly trying to wrestle for the domination, especially in the office. It's funny that neither seems to ever concede, but then, they don't need to. Rick is technically Seth's boss for this assignment, but honestly, Seth doesn't really answer to anyone but Helena and Max. Rick is so calm and always in control, Seth, by contrast, is rough edges and raw, always alert and ready to fight. Seeing them come to terms with their growing feelings is entartaining, and their chemistry is both sexy and a little sweet.

I think my favorite part of Guarding Mr. Fine is that sweet ending. Knowing that Seth would never have admitted his feelings earlier in their relationship, or earlier in his life, yet, seeing him so uncomfortably admitting just how he feels for Rick, it's so adorable, and awkward. Because Seth really doesn't do the feelings thing, yet when he does you can't help but to smile. And the chocolate part...yep, that is perfect!

Overall, I liked Guarding Mr. Fine. The story premise – of two men hooking up in a club, only to find out the next day that they’ll be working together (one posing as a foreign counsel, the other as his bodyguard – though there’s more to this secret op mission than that) – was good and I enjoyed the dynamic and tension that made. The sex was fairly hot, though I admit that the writing style, for me, wasn’t the . . . smoothest, for lack of a better word, and kept me from completely being submersed in the scenes. I enjoyed the banter and smartass comments, both between Rick and Seth and with their friends (I’m thinking of Nathan and Alec).

At times, I think I was more caught up in the suspense/plot than their romance though. Not that the romance was a flop – it wasn’t! – but it didn’t come across as strongly, didn’t engage me as much, as the story. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation from my own reading of it.

I wasn’t really fond of the quickie wrap up and ending. And I hate, HATE, when secrets are kept until the last few chapters, most especially when the secret is vital to the other character’s own past, etc. I’m not happy that Rick kept that from Seth until damn near the very last page, and worse, I felt like the “I’m mad at you for this . . . . but I’ll forgive you and we’ll just NOT SPEAK ABOUT IT because love/lust” was eye-roll worthy and not at all believable. That particular secret carried a lot of weight, affected Seth so much, yet it’s finally laid out with mere pages left and then swept under the rug in the same breath? No, I don’t believe that nor do I like that. I think the ending could have been stronger, much stronger.

I liked this one. Did I love it? No. Did it wow me? No. But it was quick and mostly entertaining and I finished it in a day. I’ll still try another from Dimon. I see that Alec is getting a book later this year and that has me curious because he definitely has secrets and I want to know what they are. But hopefully they’re covered more thoroughly than the secrets in this one.

♥¸.•´♥¸.•*´♥¨) ♥¸.•*¨♥
(¸.•´♥ (¸.•`♥ Who doesn't love a good intriguing romantic mystery? This one earned 4.5 Stars.

"I knew you were going to be trouble." ~Rick

The theme to this book for me was Beyonce's Crazy in Love. Hot, sexy, steamy give-it-to-me and give-it-to-me-good men who knew what they wanted and not afraid to take it.

Set in the same universe of the Tough Love books, AKA Mr. and Mr. Smith and The Talented Mr. Rivers, this third book picks up after the events of Pentasus' destruction. (I suggest you get to reading these great and steamy books to catch up!)

The opening scene set the pace of the book and blew me away. Sex when written on the pages should draw one in, making them a spectator and left gasping. Sex by HelenKay was like a schooling in lovemaking 501. These men did not hesitate to heat up the bed, and desk, and walls, and...you get the picture. First meeting was meet and greet and hot and heavy. Now onto the meat.

"Do I mess up your focus?"

I am friggin exhausted! I don't know if I can survive another man like Rick "F*&K me sideways" Fine. And God, was the man foine. I could have eaten him with a fork, he was so done. HelenKay Dimon painted a picture of the perfect man and that is pretty much what Seth referred to the blue-eyed Adonis as throughout the book. Here was a man who was not afraid to ask for what he wanted and fought with a smile. Taking on the job of Consulate to Germany, desk jockey Rick's only job was to uncover the mess left behind following his predecessor's death. What he did not expect was to have his past glued to his side. Seth Lang, a man he had never met but one he felt familiar with. Now he was Rick's personal bodyguard.

Being with Rick was easy.

Seth was a man accustomed to having his orders followed. Yeah, not happening with Rick. The man was not who he seemed and Seth had a hard time taming this gentleman. What Seth also had a hard time with was relationships; but the more time he spent with Rick, the more he found himself being pulled down by quicksand. As far as Seth was concerned, given Rick's past, he should have been the one to run from commitment, yet he seemed to be a card-carrying supporter of the concept.

Several lines stood out to show Seth's test against what he was fighting.

"What is it about you? You make me stupid. Reckless."

"I despise eggs but i like the sex, so I made the sacrifice. (In order to understand this and how eggs played an important feature, you must read to get it.)

"I knew you were worth the risk. That you aren't perfect, but that you are perfect for me."

This book was more than sex and heat. There was mystery, intrigue, jealousy (and thank you HelenKay, you were subtle but book two clued me in on who would be the next victim-er-whipped man, LOL), so I am looking forward to the next book(s). This was an edge of your seat, woven tightly, thriller that had me reading faster and faster just so I could see if what I was thinking was right.

Through it all, trust was gained, perfection was debunked, the mystery was dealt with and love saved the day. I do not hesitate in recommending this book. It was wild, juicy, detail orientated and kept me invested.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Penguin Random House
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club

HelenKay nails it yet again. Her ability to write with such authenticity and heat is what I absolutely love about her books that keeps me coming back for more. And here I am, wanting more.

When I first saw this book I knew I needed to read it. The cover was super hot, the synopsis was intrigueing and I couldn't wait to get started. The passion and chemistry between Seth and Rick is apparent within the first few seconds of eye contact. It explodes when they are in constant contact. When the suspense is added in it ratchets up the book's tension level and makes for a great read. I love that Seth has such a hard time putting things together in his head while Rick is the calm and collected one. It makes thier dynamic even more interesting. These two alpha types are hot all by themselves but when they are wrapped up in each other they create inferno type heat. I recommend this read!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This series keeps getting better. In this story, two agents with a complicated history are brought together to investigate the suspicious death of an American ambassador. This story has all the excitement of the earlier books, but the character and plot development here is much stronger.

I love Rick as the acting ambassador. It takes a while for him to develop a sense of authority, but underneath his wonderful intensity is a quirky humour. Seth struggles slightly with the decorum required in his role as a foreign service bodyguard, but he is clever and deadly. The romance between Rick and Seth is a little bit instalove, but the focus of the story is the espionage and these two are great partners with fantastic chemistry.

The storyline is simpler and more believable in this book than the last one. Everyone is a suspect as Rick and Seth sift through embassy staff members and international contacts to find the ambassador’s murderer. Clues and distractions are dropped into the story carefully and I really enjoyed sleuthing alongside Rick and Seth.

Ultimately, this is an exciting and well-crafted story of murder and international espionage. I loved the intrigue, the adventure, and the chemistry between the two leading men.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order. They are linked, but more importantly are all super hot and well worth the time.

The relationship between bodyguard Seth and new Consul Rick has an unexpected start, and neither of them are what they are on the surface. And I don't just mean their CIA roles, but their previous ops history too. That secret is one which Rick is preserving, but wishing things were different. As their relationship heats up and develops, the plot thickens at the Munich consulate. Just who is the bad guy, and when will Rick be safe again? The setup is good, the level of confusion and obfuscation just right for this kind of book, and then add in the scorching romance that is in progress, and I challenge you to not just want to keep turning the pages.

Very satisfying read, thank you once again Ms. Dimon.

received in exchange for a honest review.

These two will drive you batty in the most delicious and fun way. Their story is wildly entertaining and hot in more ways than one.

Seth lives in risk. He loves the danger and he is good at what he does. He doesn’t think love is something for him though and prefers his one night moments. Suddenly this tall delicious man is in a assignment that is not as he thought. He is a bodyguard to Rick Fine at the consulate in Munich.

Rick is smart and cunning. He also has guilt over a assignment he was on that involves Seth. So when he walks in the room and there is Seth it takes him a moment to come to terms. He is in Munich playing the role of the lost consul general when in reality he is investigating some shady shipments and the death of the previous consul general. Suddenly Rick is in danger and so is Seth.

The danger is two fold though for these two had a steamy night together. And when I say steamy I mean steamy. They have crazy chemistry and also the sexual tension is through the roof. Seth once he sees Rick is confused but being the smart guy he is catches on fast and becomes all business. Except his body and heart can’t except what his mind is begging for.

Rick does bring Seth into what is going on and together they work on figuring out what is happening in Munich and who is behind it. At the same time they are enjoying each others company and finding out who each other is. They become close and learn to trust and respect one another. They fall in love except Seth is scared of this feeling. He almost loses Rick to because of it.

I love the action and problem solving Rick and Seth were in together. They worked off each others strengths to discover the truth behind what is happening in Munich. What kills them is the secrets and guilt of Rick. He is afraid to tell Seth and when he does Seth lashes out. He makes them both miserable. Good thing he has some solid people who kick his butt so we get a HEA here.

The story is action packed, filled with some twists and turns and a romance that will steam your mirrors and keep you needing a cold shower. These two will capture you from the beginning. Their interactions are entertaining at times, sexy all the time and show who they really are. The mystery is intriguing and the relationship of these two men is complex and wonderful. A great addition to this series that just keeps getting more sexy and entertaining with each pair of men and book.

Seth Lang lives his life on the edge. Working for a branch of the the CIA, the SAD unit, he is used to being shot at, and taking the bad guy down. When he receives a “cush” job of watching after a sit in for the US Consul General in Munich after the “suicide” of the previous Consul General, he is a little peeved. He may have just come off active duty where he was almost killed, but he doesn’t like a desk job…ever!
Rick Fine has been chose to investigate the so called suicide. His job is to play dumb, but investigate as quietly as he can, to uncover a massive illegal operation that is going on. Going in playing dumb will be a catch 22; hopefully he can act the part and no one will know the wiser. Until sexy as hell Seth enters and he realizes he is his newly assigned “bodyguard”. Things are about to get interesting in Munich.
I absolutely LOVED this read. Action packed, hot alpha men, military expertise, and attraction through the roof are my favorite combinations. Both Seth and Rick come from crazy pasts, with Rick keeping secretes from Seth that could potentially unravel everything the two worked so hard for. I felt like I was constantly waiting for the shoe to fall, waiting for something else to happen to the two of them to try to take out Rick, and then LOVED waiting every time the two finally would get a chance to get RED HOT!!! This book had it all and you definitely need to put it on your TBR list!

Apologies, I am trying to find out from amazon UK and US why my review has disappeared, and I will repost as soon as I hear back, It is a 5* tale.

This book was completely out of my comfort zone. I normally do not read M/M fiction and I don't read too many action romance books. However, I found this book very well written. I really enjoyed the storyline and I wouldn't hesitate to read another book from this author.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This review is my opinion only. This is a M/M romantic suspense set in the American Embassy in Germany. The characters were wonderfully developed and the pace of the story kept me interested. I didn’t want to put it down. It was a great combination of romance and suspense.

Predictable.

I don't want to nitpick the stuffing out of this thing. In the simplest terms, I was disappointed which is unfortunate but it is what it is and mine is but one opinion.

Mainly I didn't like Seth. I found his professionalism grossly lacking. I understand love clouding one's judgment and the need to be overprotective of a loved one, but when it's essentially instalove... that's a harder sell for me. He's that guy that walks into a room and feels compelled to prove he's swinging the biggest meat. Pretty much every conversation he engages in has the potential to turn into a throwdown and there seems to always be a thread of contention. I'm not big on anger balls. I'm not averse to some alpha dynamics but the alphahole schtick got WAY too heavy handed for me especially considering Rick outranks him.

I can go for domineering (see every Crossfire review ever) but when the one he's trying to protect at all costs is black ops CIA? Does that guy really need his "bodyguard"/"boyfriend" (of about 15 mins) to dictate every move he makes? It made Rick look like a damsel in distress and I don't even like my actual damsels to need saving when they're in distress! I'd put these two at Level of Cray-2: we get it you're in each others pocket 24/7.



A little less testosterone, please.

My second complaint, and there may be a bit of cyber foot stomping here, is under no circumstances should a reader of a suspense thriller be able to figure out who the bad guy is by 7%!




I care not that this is first and foremost a romance but the window dressing is thriller. Is it too much to ask for at least a mediocre mystery plotline? A little subtlety would've been appreciated. I want to be made to work for it and the clue dropping was about as subtle as ole Spicey.

Even though I found both the MCs to be far too trusting of someone they'd fucked once in a back room of a club, their sexual chemistry is undeniable. There are some sweet moments between them, particularly that shower scene was sappy in a way I like. I found some of the bedroom power games weird but they like to bone often so whatever. I probably would've found all the boinking hotter had I connected with either one of them but I didn't. They're both annoying to varying degrees and 2D. I did like Rick more than Seth. He's cheeky and irreverent but not nearly as cheeky and irreverent as Nathan.

I LOVED Nathan! He was the highlight of the book.

The endgame is predictable on both the romance and the whodunit fronts. Some of the thriller aspects didn't particularly add up which wasn't exactly a shocker given the aforementioned SEVEN PERCENT (implied exclamation point) but the spy lingo was good.

Guarding Mr. Fine can be read as a standalone. I've not read the two prior books and was able to keep up just fine.

I would recommend it to those in search of crazy possessive MCs. I'm looking at you, fans of The Calmes. Also, those who enjoy escapism infused with loads of testosterone fueled sex should add this to the TBR immediately.







A review copy was provided by NetGalley.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Guarding Mr. Fine is the third book in the Tough Love series by HelenKay Dimon, I would recommend reading the first two books, Mr. and Mr. Smith and The Talented Mr. Rivers, before you start Guarding Mr. Fine that way you have some background on the super sexy CIA’s special activities division agent Seth Lang.

Seth Lang is recovering from injuries he sustained during his last mission and even though he's itching to get back into the field he doesn't like that he's being sent to guard the new U.S. consul general in Munich Germany, he wants ACTION not to play babysitter! Boy oh boy you need to be careful what you wish for.

Rick Fine has been sent in to be the new U.S. consul general but his true agenda is to find out exactly what happened to the former one. Before he starts his new position he has a hot and steamy one-night-stand, no names have been exchanged this is truly a one nighter....or so he thought.

Needless to say, Seth is Rick Fine's new bodyguard, after their one night together they cannot wait to hit the sheets again, but when Rick's life is at risk Seth will do anything and everything to protect him. The chemistry between the two was great! I have to say that I didn't like Rick keeping a HUGE secret from Seth, I realize that it would definitely affect things between the two of them, but for me that bit of angst wasn't needed.

HelenKay Dimon is hitting the ball out of the park with this series, all of the men are drool worthy, and the stories are action-packed. I am having a hard time picking one favorite couple because they are all great. I cannot wait to see who gets a story next.

Wow, this was a great book. Hot and steamy!

I've read all of the books in this series and loved them but you don't need to have read the others to enjoy this one. All of the books stand alone and can be read in any order.

Until I began reading this series I hadn't read any M/M stories that were so suspenseful or thrilling. Guarding Mr. Fine starts off with the sexy stuff pretty quickly but doesn’t lack suspense or thrills later.

Seth Lang is on his way to an assignment to "babysit" a diplomat; something that he certainly isn't looking forward to. He has a hot, fast hook up with a guy in a bar and you can probably guess who that turns out to be.

Rick Fine knows how stupid he is to ditch his protection and hook up with a stranger but he just couldn't resist the fine specimen that had both male and female heads turning.

This book had my heart pounding more than just a few times and as much for the sexy time as it did for the thrilling suspense. When Seth discovers his assignment it to guard the man he hooked up with a few days before they officially meet he just manages to keep his "cool" face in place; Rick does a much better job of hiding his reaction.

This story is full of suspense, intrigue and enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the bad guy is revealed. And oh, Rick Fine has a secret of his own that might just destroy the best thing that ever happened to him.

I hope there will be more books in this series as I am nowhere near ready for it to end.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

With a perfect blend of sex and suspense, HelenKay Dimon's third novel in her Tough Love series takes us to Munich, Germany and the suspicious death of the American consul general. Tasked with investigating the supposed suicide and a mystery surrounding discrepancies in medical aid shipments, CIA agent Rick Fine is ready to play the part of an innocuous bureaucrat while looking for answers. What he doesn't expect is that the sexy stranger with whom he had a one night stand on route to his assignment turns out to be the special ops agent assigned to be his bodyguard. Seth Lang is determined to do his job and protect Rick with his life – and if it means he has to be close to him to do it, so be it. Unable to resist the chemistry between them, they quickly become physically involved. But someone is determined to keep Rick from finding out the truth. With the clock ticking, will Rick and Seth survive long enough to admit their true feelings for each other?

Be prepared to drop all other things in favor of reading this book from start to finish in one fell swoop! Starting from their first steamy encounter, I was totally hooked on this story. When Rick arrives at the consulate and encounters Seth again, to their credit they don't circle around each other long before admitting that they want to dive into a sexual relationship. While the sex scenes are hot, equally compelling is the emotional connection that they develop. They both have had tragedies in their families, making them prime targets for recruitment as government agents and making opening up to someone else a challenge. The fact that they can trust each other with their secrets puts them on the path to a real relationship.

As Seth and Rick are getting closer the action around them heats up. The staff who interact with Rick at the consulate all seem to have their secrets. The author skillfully keeps the readers (and Rick and Seth) on their toes with one action scene after another, and no obvious culprit. I loved how the plot unfolded at a fast pace all leading towards a dramatic conclusion. There are some interesting secondary characters, in particular Seth's special ops teammate Nathan and Rick's friend and asset Alec who add some lighthearted bromance type moments to the story. If you want action, suspense and steamy sex combined with an emotional romance, I highly recommend this story.

Review has been posted at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews and feedback updated with the link. It has been posted at Amazon, BN, Kobo and Goodreads.

GUARDING MR. FINE is the third installment in HelenKay Dimon’s contemporary, adult TOUGH LOVE(formerly End of the Line) erotic, M/M romantic suspense series. This is CIA and special activities division agent Seth Lang, and temporary U.S. consul general to Munich, Germany Rick Fine’s story line. GUARDING MR. FINE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The reader was first introduced to Seth in book two-The Talented Mr. Rivers.

NOTE: GUARDING MR. FINE contains scenes of M/M sexual situations and mature subject matter.

Told from dual third person points of view (Seth and Rick) GUARDING MR. FINE focuses on uncovering an arms shipment ring with connections to the US Consulate in Munich, Germany. Former consul general Ed Wright’s death was labeled a suicide but for all intents and purposes not everyone believes Ed’s death was a suicide-at all. CIA Special Agent Seth Lang is one of those who suspects Ed’s death is part of something much larger including an illegal arms ring that leads back to the people with whom he works. Enter Rick Fine, temporary US consul general, and the man with whom Seth will fall in love. What ensues is the search for the people behind the arms deals, and the building relationship between Seth and Rick as our couple must stay one step ahead of the threats against Rick Fine.

GUARDING MR. FINE looks at international espionage, illegal arms deals, secrets, betrayals, lies and power. Someone with access to the consul general is using the position of power in an unlawful manner. Seth has been hired to protect Rick Fine but Rick’s is also working to uncover the truth and the people involved.

The relationship between Rick and Seth begins as an anonymous hook up before our couple have been introduced on a professional basis. Seth’s immediate attraction to Rick finds our hero breaking all of his rules to protect the man with whom he is falling in love. Rick is determined to protect Seth knowing he is willing to risk his life to do his job but Rick has a secret, one that if revealed, may destroy his relationship with Seth Lang. The $ex scenes are intimate, graphic, intense and erotic.

We are introduced to Owen Rankin, a civilian and the head of security at the consulate; Tim Craine-a spoiled consular language employee who uses his family connections for career appointments; Ben Rogers, the consulate’s public affairs officer; Alec Drummond, another civilian security specialist with high ranking government contacts; and the women in charge of the CIA’s Special Activities Division Helena Bond.

GUARDING MR. FINE is a story with a bit of an inst-love trope that finds two men struggling with their attraction to one another, and the over-protective alpha-ness of being in charge. The premise is entertaining and spicy; the characters are sexy and colorful; the romance is intoxicating and intense. GUARDING MR. FINE is an intimate story of passion and intrigue.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

THE READING CAFÉ: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/guarding-mr-fine-tough-love-3-by-helenkay-dimon-a-review/


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Guarding Mr. Fine is the 3rd book in the Tough Love Series by HelenKay Dimon and can easily be read as a stand alone (I did). This book opens with the two main characters locking eyes across a crowded bar and a very hot, no-names hookup.

The next part has Seth Lang arriving in Munich to be the bodyguard of the U.S. consul general. Seth isn't happy about this assignment and thinks of it as glorified babysitting. Rick Fine has been sent undercover to discover what happened to the last U.S. consul general who he thinks was murdered although the official ruling was suicide. Both Rick and Seth are shocked to find out that they will be working together and the attraction between the two is still blazing.

Throw in to males who are used to being in charge, a secret Rick is keeping from Seth, a mystery of who is using vaccine shipments to move illegal arms and this book explodes of the pages. The pacing of the book was well done and things moved along at a nice speed. There were a few twists and turns and a few suspicious characters although I have to admit I thought the villain was fairly obvious from the beginning.

I really liked both characters, the chemistry was fantastic and they had some humorous banter along the way, especially when Seth got jealous when faced with one of Rick's old lovers. The sex was hot and just the right amount for me. I also found the dichotomy of Rick being a sexy "nerd" but still having his Alpha moments one of my favorite parts of the book. I found the secondary characters interesting and I hope that Alec and his brothers have their own books at some point.

The thing that took this from a 5 star to a 4 star book for me was the confusing climax at the end. (view spoiler)and the ridiculous match making part of the plot.

Overall, an explosive, fast-paced, sexy and fun romantic suspense. I definitely plan to go back and read the first two books!

Review originally posted on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange :)

I gotta be honest here: after The Talented Mr. Rivers, I didn’t think it would be possible for Dimon to deliver a more perfect book and I was kind of sad. We meet Seth briefly in the previous books and I didn’t like him, so reading a book in which he was one of the main characters sounded bad, you know? Oh boy. I was SO. WRONG. This book actually became my favorite in series and I thought nothing would rob Will’s place in my heart… Until Rick came along. What’s up with Dimon’s bottoms that enchant me so much? And this sounded so wrong hahahaha! FIVE SHINY PRETTY STARS!

The narrative followed the pattern for the previous books in the series: third person, switching between Seth and Rick’s points of view. Dimon’s wonderful writing style reached it’s fullest with this book, seriously: fast and fun dialogues, sexual tension just a blink away from exploding, brilliant humor and awesome references. ALL THE PACKAGE TO MAKE ME FAINT.

The plot was surprising. I never walk into a gay romance expecting anything regarding subgenres inside the book – for example, this is a thriller/action/gay romance. I don’t usually expect anything of the thriller/action parts because I came for the romance. Makes sense? Good. Hahahha

Dear Annelise, what if we didn’t understand and you’re just assuming we did? You’re awful.

My bad? ;D Okay, let’s try again, more words and more meaning now. If you follow me for a time (it can be a week), you’ll have probably already stumbled on gay content over here. I really REALLY love gay romances, especially male/male ones to be clear, and any book that promises me it, I’m reading. If the book also happens to be a drama or a young adult, or an adventure, those are elements that I will analyze as they are showed to me. I don’t walk into a gay romance/mystery book expecting the mystery to blow my mind, so if it does, nicer for the book, but if it doesn’t, that’s okay. I think now it’s clearer, right? Hahaha

As I was saying, the plot was surprising. I suspected the culprits, but kept changing my mind, as everyone acted weird on that embassy! =O It was a lovely surprise and only counted more points for the book, haha!

The characters were the. Best. Part. Seth and Rick were so intelligent and witty, I couldn’t get enough of them! Especially Rick, haha! The guy was a walking perfection – Seth himself said so several times. And he ALWAYS had a comeback answer to Seth, no matter the situation. How can I cope with that? I did complained that there weren’t many dialogues on The Talented Mr. Rivers and goddess Dimon heard me more than right! *--* I don’t even know how I’m going to select the right passages for the quotes section, as 80% of my ebook is highlighted HAHAHAHA

On a more deep level now: Seth evolves emotionally so much during the story, it was beautiful. And I loved that he took the risk because of himself, not for someone else. He changed to be happier, not to make someone else happy. THIS IS EVERYTHING. Also, Rick is a winner in life for having turned out as he did. With such a problematic past, anyone would forgive him for being petty or downward an asshole. #justsaying Both men are so complex and have so many faces that it was delightful to keep peeling off their layers <3

To wrap the blabbering part of the review, I’d like to talk about the sex scenes and say a small rant. Sex scenes: I love when characters have fun during sex. Like, there is desire, there is desperation for the touch, the craving, the sexiness, okay. But Rick and Seth truly had fun while they got lost in all the previous emotions and they joked around with each other pretty much almost they got there, if you get my meaning, haha! It was so refreshing, I loved it!

And the small rant: Rick’s name is actually Richard. Richard. It’s such a lovely and beautiful name! Like, in one of my favorite male names ever! AND ALL WE HEAR THROUGH THE WHOLE BOOK IS RICK. It’s not that I don’t like Rick – I’m a big fan of Ricky Martin, for example – but OMG, WHY?! I was so sad when I realized I’d never hear/read the Rick’s full name again on the book I almost cried.

*~.Cover Analysis.~*

I have to be honest: I’m not this cover’s biggest fan. While the shadows make all sense and the orange in the title has EVERYTHING to do with the plot (especially after you read the book), I didn’t feel like the models portrayed well Rick and Seth. Especially because Seth has oriental ancestry. I did like their position, tho, as it is very realistic, haha!

~*~

Noowww, quote time!! Because nothing is better at convincing you that the book is good than the book itself! #what This time, only killer dialogues, because seriously, this book:


Rick: Admittedly, this whole tough alpha thing you’re doing right now is hot. Like, fuck-me hot. Clearly it appeals to me since I dropped my pants without even getting your name the last time we met, but here in this building, there is one rule.
Seth: Enlighten me.
Rick: I’m in charge. You show some respect or you’re on a plane to Yemen.

~*~

Seth: For the next however long this mission takes, I will be at your side. Always. You sneeze, I’m there to wipe your nose.
Rick: Sounds sexy.
Seth: You want sex, I’ll handle that, too.
Rick: Okay, but I’ll probably need to work now and then.

~*~

Rick: So, under this protection-with-a-side-benefit-of-sex plan you’re going to get naked, we’ll have sex and somehow you’ll still hold on to your gun and keep me safe?
Seth: My talents are endless.

~*~

Seth: It took all I had not to hit him with a chair.
Rick: Subtle.
Seth: But honest.

~*~

Seth: I still hate your relocation plan.
Rick: It’s smart.
Seth: I’m perfectly capable of hating smart things.

If you like gay romance, complex characters, great steamy hot sex scenes and loads of action in your books, this series is the perfect pick!

Thank you so much for reading and thanks a lot to Loveswept for another delightful review invitation! You guys rock <3