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.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Sooo, I actually liked this book better than the previous one I read. Guarding Mr. Fine is a standalone compared to the other two books in Dimon’s LGBT CIA trio. I had read the previous book and felt out of place in the means of the story. However, I was not out of place in this book. I could follow exactly what was going on.
Now, onto the story . . . okay, so it is easy to figure out who the baddie is. I had it pegged by chapter two. That isn’t to say that Dimon’s red herrings were bad. They weren’t. I just figured it out quickly and I’m sure other readers have as well. That said, the main plot of the story is more about the romance between Rick and Seth, not the thriller action of finding a traitor to his country.
I am in love with Rick. I could understand him and I felt connected to him. He actually has some qualities to some gay men I know. He wants a steady relationship, but isn’t afraid to show that emotional side of himself. I didn’t feel there was a heavy struggle of Alpha male in his relationship with Seth. Both of them have issues and both of them know how to get their way, but neither I would peg as your typical Alpha. It was beyond refreshing. It was normal.
Seth has some deep rooted insecurities that just brush the surface in the book, but the fact that there is not a complete resolution only made their relationship even more normal. Things like that don’t get ironed out and fixed quickly. Those take years of working together as a team.
Honestly, there is only one bit I didn’t like. I didn’t care for the second to the last chapter. It felt like an author cheese, a way to explain something that honestly didn’t need explaining. I felt that it took away the aspect of the CIA. It just didn’t sit well with me.
HOWEVER, I loved that every character wasn’t gay. There was even a good guy female who is badass . . . well, badass in that she’s the bossman. I don’t know if she’s actually badass. I wouldn’t mind seeing a book with her as the main character that shows her badassery. I digress. Honestly though, it was great to see other sexualities that weren’t just LGBT.
Now, I understand this is an LGBT book and I requested it for that reason, however, we can’t deny the fact that there is another sexuality in the grouping and it should also be represented. That said, Guarding Mr. Fine did well with that. Hell, Seth is bisexual (whoop!).
All in all, it wasn’t so bad of an LGBT romance. I actually liked the characters. Sure, the thriller action is nearly nonexsistent and that one chapter irked me, but all in all it was good. The sex scenes are very steamy, so beware. Obviously not a book for peeps under 18.
Casia's Corner 