Hunter Cain works for German intelligence and has been undercover trying to infiltrate the Rivers crime family. Although he was determined to keep things professional, Hunter could not help his attraction for Will Rivers, the youngest brother and the one who seems least interested in the family business. Posing as Will’s bodyguard, Hunter spent lots of time with Will and the attraction only grew. Now, in the aftermath of the CIA attack on the Rivers’ home and the explosion that left Stacia dead and the family scattered, Hunter is determined to track Will down.

Will has been laying low, but now he has shown his face, knowing Hunter will come for him, and he does. Will shares Hunter’s attraction, but he has no idea that Hunter is anything other than a sexy bodyguard. Will is in danger as both his brother, Peter, and the head of a rival crime organization, Gatt, are hoping to use him to gain control of the Rivers’ criminal enterprises. And both Hunter and Will are pretty sure that once they get what they need from Will, neither man intends to keep him alive.

Hunter struggles to both protect Will (who isn’t all that interested in being protected), and to keep his role in the investigation hidden. It becomes more difficult as the CIA gets involved in the case, forcing Hunter to work with a team rather than solo like he prefers. As the team gets closer to luring in Peter and Gatt, Hunter and Will grow closer as well. Neither man ever expected to want the other for anything more than sex, but they are both realizing there are real feelings underlying the extreme attraction to one another. But Hunter’s secrets, not to mention the threats to Will’s life, leave both men in danger and their relationship hanging in the balance.

The Talented Mr. Rivers is the second book in HelenKay Dimon’s Tough Love series and follows shortly after Mr. and Mr. Smith. Although Hunter and Will are new MCs here, we meet them both in the first book and the connection between them was so intriguing in that book, I was thrilled to learn they were getting their story told. This book picks up a few weeks after the end of the first and Hunter continues to work with the CIA team of Fisher, Zach, and Seth. So although you could probably manage this one without the first, the plots and the characters are pretty solidly connected and I think you will get a lot more out of this one knowing the background on the Rivers’ family crime syndicate and the earlier parts of the investigation.

Like the first book, The Talented Mr. Rivers does a nice job combining the romance and the suspense sides of things, something I look for in a romantic suspense story. On the relationship front, the chemistry between these guys is intense. Sometimes when the origin of a relationship takes place off page, it can weaken the connection between the guys because you don’t see things begin to build. But here the connection between them is so palpable and between that and the glimpses we get of them in the first book, I had no problem feeling their relationship. There are a lot of elements in play, between two men who normally keep their distance, combined with the fact that Hunter is hiding that he is really an intelligence officer looking to take down the Rivers family, to the fact that they are facing mortal danger. Both men start off fully into the sex side of things, but remaining a bit reserved emotionally out of self preservation. But it doesn’t take long before they are both realizing that they have feelings for one another. I loved seeing these guys break down walls and open up to each other about their pasts and their connection.

The suspense end of things continues the story of Pentasus, the Rivers’ family criminal enterprise. Law enforcement now knows much more about the operation, but with Stacia’s death, they are trying to figure out what is happening next and who will step into the void. There are two competing groups — Peter on one side, and Gatt, one of Stacia’s confidants and head of his own criminal enterprise, on the other. Both want Will, but it is pretty clear both are using Will. So between the CIA team and Hunter, they are trying to lure these guys in and trap them both, finally destroying Pentasus, all while keeping Will from being killed in the process. Of course, Will’s life is not quite as important to the CIA as it is to Hunter, which makes things even more complicated. The story moves at a fast pace and there are some nice maneuvers and twists to keep things interesting. There is enough time for some romantic and sexy times with the guys, while still keeping the suspense end moving.

I am really interested to see where Dimon takes this series. I am not clear if there is more to come, though we do get some teasing glimpses of Seth, one of the snarky CIA team members, that definitely indicates an interesting story. But the main plot arc regarding Pentasus seems to be wrapped up here.

I really enjoyed this story and found it both sexy and exciting. It was a great follow up to the first in the series and I am really hoping there is more to come.

Hunter is fierce, guarded and seemingly cold hearted. Enter Will Rivers. Heir to a dynasty he wants nothing to do with. Instead of running he seeks out Hunter, the bodyguard hired by his family. Fighting each other and playing their parts in an effort to destroy his family business brings them together. When the dust settles what will be left.

Full of suspense and drama, this action packed book/series will keep you hooked and wanting more! A+

¸.•´¸★*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤So talented he needed tough love.¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★

"I want there to be an after for us."
"Ah." Will smiled then. "The undercover agent and the criminal dynasty heir. Quite the romance."

No one knew the real Will, not even Hunter who had played so many roles, he could barely hang onto the truth. He'd first met Will, the younger Rivers siblings when he infiltrated the powerful family and became bodyguard to the younger man. Hunter fell and hard, not that he was willing to admit it. Losing Will made Hunter even more determined to find him. There was still a hit on Will's head, and Hunter would be damned if he lost the man.

Who was he? Friend or foe.

"You are the only thing I've ever taken for myself." ~Will

All Will knew and wanted was Hunter and he was riding a line of heat and chemistry. If they were not careful, they would burn alive. But with everything happening around them, Will became Hunter's focus. His only job once again was keeping the young man alive even with the guns at his head.

I asolutely love this series and look forward to the next book.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Netgalley.

Mr and Mr Smith is a high intensity, high adrenalin, emotional roller coaster of two men navigating undercover assignments, covert government agencies and the toughest things of all - love and trust.
I don't read MM books and I must say the pacing and the approach to two testosterone-filled men admitting they love each other is fascinating to me. It's so unlike the soft edges you find in a regular hetero romance story, especially when two alpha males are involved. I liked the way Ms Dimon handled how both Fisher and Zach expressed their feelings for each other and how they went about showing it. It's harder, rougher, edgier but it still works because at the end of the day, love is love no matter who he is.
I had a hard time wrapping my head around both Fisher and Zach's characters probably because this is a sub-genre I don't usually read but also because of the situation they find themselves in as they work out whether they can trust each other, particularly Fisher because he feels so betrayed by Zach when he first finds out what's going on.
Fisher started off angry, bitter and resentful and all of those emotions showed through with great clarity. Ms Dimon did not pull her punches when she described Fisher's feelings when he finds out about Zach. But Fisher while working through his own insecurities and emotional demons, also tries to come to terms with his feelings for Zach. Feelings he is afraid of and has trouble expressing.
Zach, I think, is the braver of the two. While trying to do his job, he's also trying to help Fisher work through his feelings and admitting to his own. He's not afraid to admit how he feels and he does his best in the face of a very angry Fisher to work through their feelings.
I found this story very interesting in that Ms Dimon did not soften either Fisher or Zach. They were men. They behaved like men, felt the way men felt, and reacted the way men reacted when hurt or when confronted with feelings they were afraid to admit. In that, Fisher and Zach could have been any man, whether gay or straight in expressing their feelings - with difficulty and with a lot of stumbling around.
Aside from the whole men having feelings thing going on, this story is also filled with a heck of a lot of action. It starts off action-packed and is a non-stop adrenalin ride right through. You'll feel like you're racing through the book while reading because the pacing of the book is incredibly fast. Totally in-keeping with all the action in the story. The sort of action you see in this book will be perfect for an action movie. Lots of explosions, gun-fire and boom. My favorite kind of movie. :-)
I'm looking forward to the other books in the series. This one has me hooked.

This story really has a great mix of mystery, intrigue and romance! I really liked the suspense of it all and the chemistry between Hunter and Will! I can't wait to see what is next!

Sorry, requested but did not find the time to review.

I read this book without having read the first one in the series, but I think I followed it well enough without the background. It was a cute read, but I had a problem with the dialogue - mainly, there's waaay too much of it! For a couple of supposedly rough and action-packed gay heroes, these boys sure talk endlessly about their feelings, each of them back and forth on it, to each other and to other characters, it's like two sorority sisters from the same house are dating. Which wasn't what I was expecting from the summary. If you have read action-with-romance before and been left cold by the lack of touchy-feely dialogue though, you'd probably get a kick out of this one, which is decidedly romance-with-action instead.

Are you in the mood for a good, old fashioned sexy spy thriller? Have I got the book for you!
There is a catch, though. This is the second book in HelenKay Dimon’s End of the Line series
and you really need to read the first book, Mr. and Mr. Smith first to be completely up to speed.
You can read The Talented Mr. Rivers first but it will take you a little longer to figure out who is
who and what is what, especially since this is about spies who are deep undercover and may or
may not be double agents.
We met Hunter in the first book when he was hired by the Rivers family to be Will’s bodyguard.
Hunter is undercover for the CIA. He also is interested in Will sexually, but knows that is against
all protocol and good sense. Hunter and Will are separated by a disaster at the end of the first
book and Hunter has been searching for Will. When Hunter finds him he has to fight several
people to get to Will.
Will is the youngest of the Rivers family but has a different mother than his siblings. He also
may have a different outlook on how the family makes its money. Or does he? That is for Hunter
to find out before his CIA bosses interfere.
This story is so full of suspense! I read it in one day because I just couldn’t put it down. The sex
between Hunter and Will is hotter than hot man on man action. When Hunter finds out that some
of their activities have been taped he is less than happy about it because Hunter is so protective
of Will, and not just in his role and bodyguard. The two men kept enough secrets from each other
to make me want to shake them and tell them to just talk to each other, but then that’s the nature
of their relationship outside of sex.
This is a wonderful continuation of an electrifying series and I assure you that you will love
every spine-tingling, nerve chilling moment. It contains just enough angst without making you
want to throw the book across the room in frustration. Pick up a copy and enjoy!