DIRTY GAMES (DIRTY SERIES #2)

Sometimes, to get what you want in business or in love, you have to get your hands dirty. Luckily for Finn and Justin, dirty comes naturally.

Finn Drummond is the baby in a family of sharks—which means he’s worked twice as hard to make a name for himself. After learning the tricks of the trade from his brothers, Finn’s just as ruthless and dominant. Out in the field, his appetites are legendary: for success, for money, for women and men. But when supplies from Drummond Charities go missing, Finn has to partner up with the smoldering ex–Army grunt who’s always challenging his authority—or giving him mixed signals.

Justin Miller wanted his attraction to Finn to be mutual, but the cocky brat always had a girlfriend. Who could blame Justin for trying to move on? Despite their history, they’ve got to work together to figure out who’s been derailing their humanitarian work. But after Justin and Finn are thrown together against gunrunners and kidnappers, their simmering chemistry turns explosive. Turns out, Finn knows how to handle himself in a crisis—and in the sack. Justin only hopes that hot sex is enough to persuade this spoiled pretty boy to do the right thing.

Release Date: March 13, 2018

Random House Loveswept

Dirty #2

Romantic Suspense/M/M Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's review:

Dirty Gamesis the second book in the Dirty series from HelenKay Dimon. I loved getting Alec Drummond's book with Dirty Deedsand really enjoyed reading Finn Drummond's book with Dirty Games.

I loved there was chemistry between Justin and Finn pretty much from the moment they met, even if Justin didn't deal with it very well. Seriously when they met years ago, Justin was so attracted to Finn, he slept with his brother Alec as a substitute. Of course, Justin is gay and in his defense, Finn, who is bi, did have a girlfriend at the time. I had to laugh at how hard it was for Justin to be around Finn and not be a jerk, as he kept trying to hide his feelings. Seriously, if something could be said wrong or bitchy, it came out of Justin's month when talking to Finn. I really expected Justin to have better game around a man he was attracted to honestly.

Finn and Justin came from completely different backgrounds, yet both had some really bad experiences with family in their past. I loved that Finn really wanted to not only help the people the Drummond Charities were already helping, but wanted to step up and do even more. I will say I was stumped by who was after Finn and trying to make him leave through much of the book. He was there to investigate missing shipments and discovered there were some weapons runners in the area. I thought I had it figured out pretty early on, but was actually pretty happy to be wrong. I love when an author writing romantic suspense keeps me guessing, and Ms. Dimon did an amazing job in Dirty Games.

I loved watching Finn and Justin figure out both their working relationship and their personal relationship and if the two could be one. Seriously these two had some of the most amazing chemistry and smoking hot sex scenes between them. I loved the steaminess of them together every bit as much as I loved the moments of tenderness between them. 

Dirty Gamesis another winner from HelenKay Dimon. Fans who love romantic suspense books will love this book and series. I've been reading Ms. Dimon's books for years and highly recommend each and every book she writes, but have to say I have special love for her romantic suspense books.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

THE PRETENDER (GAMES PEOPLE PLAY #3)

They say it takes a thief to catch a thief, and Harrison Tate is proof. Once a professional burglar, he now makes a lawful living tracking down stolen art. No one needs to know about his secret sideline, “liberating” artifacts acquired through underhanded methods. At least until one of those jobs sees him walking in on a murder.

Gabrielle Wright has long been estranged from her wealthy family, but she didn’t kill her sister. Trouble is, the only person who can prove it is the sexy, elusive criminal who shouldn’t have been at the island estate on that terrible night. She’s not expecting honor among thieves—or for their mutual attraction to spark into an intense inferno of desire.

Under the guise of evaluating her family’s art, Harris comes back to the estate hoping to clear Gabby’s name. But returning to the scene of the crime has never been riskier, with their hearts and lives on the line.

Release Date: December 26, 2017

Avon

Games People Play #3

Romantic Suspense

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

The Pretender is the latest book in the Games People Play series from HelenKay Dimon. Once again I was pulled into the story from the very first page and taken on a sexy and wild ride.

I really do think Harrison Tate became my new favorite character in the series with The Pretender. Seriously he is not only super smart, but witty and sexy as all get out. He also wants to make sure Gabrielle doesn't take the fall for the murder of her sister when he knows she didn't do it. Harris and Gabby's basically instant connection totally worked for me. Harris really only ever trusted a select few people, so it was refreshing to how quickly he accepted and trusted Gabby.

Gabby was a bit of a mystery to me at first. While she was an incredibly strong and independent woman, I felt like there was more to her that what we saw at first. I knew she didn't kill her sister, but also knew she was keeping secrets about her sister. I loved how protective she was of her little sister and even understood her reasoning once she was honest with Harris about everything that had happened. 

I loved the chemistry between Gabby and Harris. I do believe part of it was they had a pretty instant connection to one another. They just worked for me as a couple, even knowing Harris was keeping a huge secret from Gabby. I knew it was torturing him, so I guess that is why I was okay with it, as I'm usually very unhappy with characters lying to each other. I will say I completely supported Gabby's reaction upon finding out the secret and have to say she actually was way more forgiving than I would have been.

I thought the suspense portion of the story line was spot on and have to say I had the wrong person in mind as the killer early on. I love when an author keeps me guessing and HelenKay Dimon did an awesome job keeping me guessing in The Pretender. I loved that while the suspense portion of the book was always in the forefront, it never took away from the romance between Harris and Gabby. The Pretender was another winner from HelenKay Dimon and I can't wait to revisit the characters from the Games People Play series soon.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

THE NEGOTIATOR (GAMES PEOPLE PLAY #2.5)

Lauren Gallagher’s life changed almost three years ago. After her husband disappeared at sea, she was left with a failing pleasure boat company and more than a few secrets. Now, after years spent rebuilding the business and paying off the pile of debts, she finally feels in control. But when she finds her husband, actually dead, on the floor, she becomes the leading suspect in his murder investigation.

Garrett McGrath wants Lauren in his bed, not his heart. He doesn’t do emotions, but every time he sees her, holding himself back gets harder and harder. When Lauren comes under suspicion for killing her previously presumed-dead husband, he knows he has to help her, any way he can.

But as the danger becomes more intense and Garrett and Lauren grow closer than either planned, they’re in danger of losing everything…including their hearts.

Release Date: November 14, 2017

Avon Impulse

Games People Play #2.5

Romantic Suspense

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

With The Negotiator we finally got Garrett's story. I absolutely adore him and am pretty sure I might have squealed a bit when I saw we were getting his story.

As The Negotiator is a novella length story, it is really set at a fast pace and I felt like the pacing was absolutely perfect. I felt like Lauren and Garrett had been circling around each other long enough and needed to move forward. With the reappearance of her husband, and his subsequent death, Garrett was the perfect person to help her solve the mystery.

I loved the banter and chemistry between Lauren and Garrett. I knew it would take a strong woman to make him lose his heart and Lauren is just the woman for the job. She is such a smart and strong woman who really has taken care of herself with help from no one for too long. Part of what I loved about Lauren was when she knew she was outside her abilities she had no problem asking Garrett for help.

I did figure out the real killer of her husband pretty early on, but the elements of suspense were still strong without overshadowing any of the romantic times between Lauren and Garrett. I love when a romantic suspense has such a perfect balance in the story. I highly recommend The Negotiator as well as the other books in the Games People Play series.

Rating: 4 stars (B)

DIRTY DEEDS (DIRTY #1)

No dirty deed goes unnoticed in a seductive game of cat and mouse. But for Alec and Gaige, the wrong move could get them killed.

Alec Drummond didn’t make his billions by playing nice—or by playing much at all. When it comes to pleasure, Alec only has time for whatever’s quick and easy, which is exactly what he gets from his company’s hot new computer genius. But Gaige Owens isn’t some pushover. He pushes back, and it’s giving Alec a rush. The question is, could Gaige be the one who’s leaking trade secrets? Just to be safe, Alec keeps him close at hand . . . night and day.

Gaige never thought he’d roll over for a man like Alec again, but who could resist sex this mind-blowing? Then there’s the draw of Alec’s mysterious side: his cutthroat ambition, his covert CIA connections, and the murder in his past. For Gaige, a deeper look proves an irresistible temptation. But when Gaige and Alec are stripped of their defenses by an unseen danger, everything they don’t know could bring them closer together—or tear them apart. Only one thing is certain: Before it’s all over, someone’s going down.

Release Date: August 8, 2017

Random House Loveswept

Dirty #1

Romantic Suspense

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Dirty Deeds is the first book in a new series, but is also a spin-off from the Tough Love series. Dirty Deeds can totally be read as a stand-alone story, but some of the information at the beginning of the book does come from the Tough Love series. Ms. Dimon did a great job catching readers up, so the dynamics can be understood.

I really enjoyed Dirty Deeds. I felt like it moved a little slowly in the first part, but the second half of the story really picked up. I found myself pretty much falling in love with Gaige and his sarcastic banter from the moment he appeared on the page. I really loved sexy billionaire Alec as well. I honestly felt a pretty instant connection between Gaige and Alec, and loved the sexy banter between them. I had to laugh that Alec really wanted to shoot Gaige when he caught him in his server room after he broke into his business on Seth's orders. I still have totally mixed emotions when it comes to Seth. One minute I want to shoot him and the next he steps up and does something amazing and I want to hug him.

I have to say I adored Gaige and Alec together. They had some of the most amazing chemistry from the moment they met. I definitely won't call it an instant love type of thing, but will say originally there was totally instant lust. OMG the hotness factor of this story was wonderful! Two extremely sexy men being together and having a really hard time keeping their hands off each other. Seriously loved them as a couple.

The suspense portion of the story was really great. I have to say I wasn't surprised at all at who was behind everything. I honestly suspected this person of something from the moment they appeared not he page.  Something just didn't add up about this person for me. I have to say I was really glad to see it not be one of the other people I suspected, so I really liked the outcome of the bad guy.

Dirty Deeds was a super sexy and fun read for me. Loved the suspenseful portion of the story right along with the romance between Gaige and Alec. Again, I felt like the first 30% of the book moved a little slow, but once it picked up, the story moved along quickly. I recommend Dirty Deeds to readers who enjoy a super sexy M/M story with a great suspense storyline as well.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+) 

MR. AND MR. SMITH

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.

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Bantam Loveswept

End of the Line #1

Romantic Suspense

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

HelenKay Dimon has been an auto-buy author for me from the moment I discovered her books. I adore her stories and especially love when she writes in the romantic suspense genre.

Mr. and Mr. Smith was another wonderful story from Ms. Dimon. I do wish we had gotten a chance to see Fisher and Zach interact before this story started. I totally got Fisher's anger and resentment at discovering Zach's betrayal as the book opens, but without seeing them before, I wanted a bit more background to see where their relationship started. I did love the flashbacks Fisher had letting us see how they first met.

I'm a big fan of undercover stories with spies and various special agencies. The fact that both Fisher and Zach were part of the CIA, under different divisions, made it way more believable for me that they would not know anything about the other being in the agency. As both Fisher and Zach had lied about pretty much everything in their live since they met, I thought Fisher was a little over the top in his anger at Zach, but soon realized his anger came from feeling betrayed by someone he loved more than concern for his own life.

I really enjoyed the whole Pentasus storyline and look forward to what will happen with this on-going storyline over future books. Seriously love the idea of bad guys kidnapping special agents and auctioning off their deaths to the highest bidder. Why yes, I'm a bit morbid, but it is such an interesting premise to me.

I really did love the chemistry between Fisher and Zach. I hated their relationship was used against Fisher repeatedly, but could feel how much they each loved one another. Add is the super hot M/M sex scenes, and I have to say my kindle screen steamed up quite a few times.

Overall, I really enjoyed Mr. and Mr. Smith. I had issues with Fisher repeatedly throwing the fact Zach was undercover and hadn't been truthful in his face. I loved the premise of the whole Pentasus storyline and think it will be interesting to see where it goes in future books in the series. 

Rating: 4 stars (B-)