Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 24, 2016
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.
I’m a total sucker for super-secret spy-type stories (I blame watching waaaay too much Scarecrow and Mrs. King in my formative years), so I jumped at the chance to read this one. In a lot of ways, I wasn’t disappointed–the espionage and action keep you on the edge of your seat–right from the very first chapters, I was hooked. I liked the main players–Zach, Fisher, Nathan, and Seth–especially how Nathan and Seth spent so much of their time ragging on Fisher.
Because Fisher? Totally deserved it. And then some.
I get that he felt betrayed–heck, who wouldn’t? But OMG, he needed to let it go. About seventeen chapters before he actually did. Because, hello? You’re both super-secret spy guys. Lying is what you all do for a living. And getting all in Zach’s face for doing his job? Hello, pot, meet Kettle. Your blackness is pretty darn equal, so stop making your boyfriend miserable with your crappy ‘tude, ‘kay? Way too much whining. Way too much blaming. Eventually we get a better reason for it other than “you hurt my feelings, you big lying liar” and I was slightly less aggravated with him, but for a good chunk of the middle of the book I just wanted to skip all of his parts and get to the exciting stuff.
But I persevered. And I’m glad I did, because it got much better at the end, with all of the dramatic spy stuff and a hero who’d finally gotten over himself and stopped punishing his boyfriend for doing what he had to do (and risking his job to save his boyfriend’s life in the process.)
So–4 stars, for fun espionage and camaraderie among agents, a decent romance, and likable characters, the one star detracted for the incessant whining of Fisher (especially since it didn’t stop him from pursuing physical–ahem–pleasures with Zach all the while. Totally not fair, dude). If there’s going to be a series around these characters (there’s some question at the end about where some of the bad guys/possible bad guys have ended up) I’d definitely sign up to read more.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
