GUARDING MR. FINE (Tough Love #3) by HelenKay Dimon-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 14, 2017

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.

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REVIEW: 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.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Mr & Mr Smith
The Talented Mr. Rivers
Guarding Mr. Fine

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy