Review posted 8/3/17 at https://mommasaystoreadornottoread.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-dirty-deeds-by-helenkay.html
HelenKay Dimon has a writing style that quickly pulls a reader in and that, combined with the opening scene in Dirty Deeds, caught my attention and had my gears turning long before the romance began. Both Gaige and Alec have their secrets and determined to keep them, so naturally, they divulge things, little by little, in their intimate moments. The pair is good together and they have great chemistry, even when they're tiptoeing around each other.
Between spies, possible espionage, attacks, break-ins, and the steam generated by our main characters, there's plenty going on, but the story did still lag a bit at times. Fortunately, the suspense, intrigue, and twists kept me plunging ahead for the next bit of action.
Overall, Dirty Deeds is well-written, interesting, and entertaining. It is steamy and those scenes are pretty hot, but it's about so much more than that. There's a lot of story here and well worth the read.

I enjoyed Dirty Deeds, although it did get off to a slow start. Especially during the first half of the story. But the second half really picked up and grabbed my attention much more. Even though there wasn't as much suspense as I was anticipating. There was still enough to keep me intrigued until the very end and I literally had no idea who was behind everything until it was revealed. Also those couple of chapters where everything went down had me on the edge of my seat and were extremely enjoyable to read. And I would happily recommend Dirty Deeds to others. Especially if you are a fan of this author or the Tough Love Series. Which this is a spin off from.

A new spin off from the Tough Love series has Seth leading an undercover operation involving a secretive seed vault. Sort of like a Doomsday bank for all the different plant sends that will feed the world after the big event. The idea behind this story is unique and I found the idea fascinating. Compared to the other M/M series this was a bit slower but eventually kicked up about 2/3 in the book. The sex is intense, remember it is M/M, and the suspense top notch. Not necessary to have read the other series, this stands alone. I received my copy from Netgalley and have written my review voluntarily.

This is a very enjoyable M/M romance that is full of suspense and mystery giving lots of twists and turns to the story that kept me flipping page after page. This is a spin off from Guarding Mr. Fine but can definitely be read standalone. Alec Drummond is the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company. When he discovers Gaige Owens trying to hack his systems something tells him he could learn something from this guy. It may not be all business when it comes to Alec and Gaige thought!

A very well done book and one I recommend to any who likes a little steam with their suspense!

this book was a miss for me. the plot was way too confusing and i just couldn't get into it to figure out what was going on. the relationship between the two wasn't that great and didn't seem very believable. i finished the book but was skimming a lot of it towards the end

I want to be a HelenKay Dimon fan. I LOVE QUEER ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. But I just don't think she does enough plot or character development. There's too much instalust & unsatisfying sex to sustain these novels. Not for me. Again.

I've read several of HelenKay's Tough Love books and that is where I met Alec Drummond the main character of Dirty Deeds. Her books can be read as standalone novels but I'm happy I read the Tough Love books first.

This book was filled with action, mystery, explosions and of course love. The middle of the book dragged a bit for me but things eventually picked up again.

It looks like this will be a new series and more Drummond brothers will get their story told. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Alec is a businessman who is forced to keep an eye on Gaige who is a computer genius 24/7, that means he has to live in his home. The closeness makes the two men acknowledge that there is chemistry between them but will they live to see where it ends?

Another good book from this author, action, love and suspense, it's all in there.

The writing style is easy to read and there are lots of dialogues which also makes it very enjoyable.

The storyline is good and the characters are well described with lots of feelings. No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings makes the reading experience wonderful.

Both Gaige and Alec have their secrets from the past and the way the author makes them open up to each other was very good described.

Good story with well described characters 5 stars ✨

3.5 stars

This started off slow for me and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. It really picked up for me about half way through and was full of action till the end.

This is a romantic suspense that follows Gaige who is a computer hacker and Alec who runs a billion dollar business that involves putting seeds into one of the worlds's doomsday seed vaults (these really exist and are super interesting to google if you've never done so). The two are brought together by Seth from Guarding Mr. Fine. (I haven't read GMF yet and I was fine understanding this book. I will say this book doesn't paint a very flattering picture of Seth though. He's an ass through most of this book.)

It followed a traditional romantic suspense plotline and was both fun and sexy. I enjoyed it and will go back and read some of this author's others books now.

**ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley**

Dirty Deeds
HelenKay Dimon
3.5 Stars ✨

This was a suspense romance that was mainly about security, CIA, and a seed vault.
I felt this book to be very wordy and difficult to understand at times especially since I don't have a security or computer background.
I liked the personal parts, like the relationship between Gaige and Alec. There were a few sexy scenes but I felt myself skimming through the heavy parts of the book.

Back
Description
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.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say I absolutely love this author. Her Tough Love series is one of my all-time favorites.
This book is the start of a new series and it was off the charts amazing! The MC's were two very different men, both Alphas in their own right, but in very different ways. They complimented each other perfectly. And the best part of this story is that Gaige and Alec were grown men and acted as such. There was no ridiculous childish angst, no cliched misunderstandings, etc. They felt what they felt and communicated those things to each other. There is NOTHING I appreciate more as a reader than when two grown up MC's act their age. It makes a book so much more enjoyable. It's hard to find an author who writes grown up characters as actual grown ups. And, HelenKay is a master at her craft in that regard.
I have to mention that the only reason I didn't give Dirty Deeds 5 stars is because of Seth. He's a MC from one of the Tough Love books. I liked him in his story. I really did. He came off as a jerk in the other books in the TL series, but I figured it was just his nature. He showed up in this book often and he was not a good guy. I hated him. I hated that I hated him. But, he made this book one less star enjoyable for me.
I recommend this book to EVERYONE. Read it now, and hell, read it often. You won't be disappointed!

I liked Gaige and Alec individually. Alec's big bad billionaire attitude was cool. Gaige's geek came out more as smart than nerdy. But that was ok. It took me a while to warm up to them as a couple. The insta-lust didn't make sense to me at the point where it happened.

I like mysteries and suspense stories. This one took a while to ramp up. I was pretty lost the first 30-50% or so with regards to the crime mystery.

Honestly, I would have liked a more intense beginning. I needed more of each MCs thoughts and emotions early on so I could connect with them. I didn't like being on the outside looking in to both characters. It just made it hard for me to invest early on.

A good book. I only wished for more intensity at the beginning.

I absolutely loved this book. It was intense, fast paced and filled with humour and emotion. I couldn't put this one down, just kept me glued to my iPad. Would totally recommend

Gaige is hired by threat to get into an office that does not welcome them. He meets Alec there, however, and this changes everything. The attraction is explosive and instant.

Alec is disgusted that he is attracted to someone who he cannot trust. As he gets to know him better, they realize they are really on the same side. Now if they can build trust and start to show it, then maybe a future can happen. If they save the world in between, just a bonus, right?

I have to tell you, I am never disappointed with this author's work. The characters have excellent banter, the pace moves along quickly, and the heat is just sizzling! The mystery to solve is like the icing on the cake. I cannot wait to read the next book in this new The Dirty series.


***This ARC copy was given by Netgalley and its publishers, in exchange for an honest review only.

This book wasn't for me, I found it too slow, it really did not hold my interest. AAAnd i did not feel the connection.

Dirty Deeds the first of a spin-off series By HelenKay Dimon.
I have read the tough love serie.and enjoyed that one.
this one is just as nice,it is about the Drummond Brothers.
and have al the things you can expect,in suspence,romance,
with a touch of humor and banter.
The first part takes a while to get on track.
the second part is well paced,and more action.

I loved it and hope too read the others as well.

Wow, I really liked the story line of Dirty Deeds. This was a great start for this series. I've not read anything by Helen Kay Dimon, but am looking forward to in the future.

Trigger warnings: Suicide


My review:

Dirty Deeds is the first book in The Dirty series which is a spin-off of HelenKay Dimon’s Tough Love series. Filled with action, steamy sex scenes and exotic locations, I was kept glued to the book until it ended.

Alec was introduced in Guarding Mr. Fine as Rick’s ex-boyfriend. While he was only in Guarding Mr. Fine in small bits, he had me intrigued. So when I saw that HelenKay Dimon had started a new series and he was going to be one of the main characters, I was pretty pumped. The more into the story that I got, the more I liked him and the more I felt bad for him. During the scene where he told Gaige about his family and the trauma of finding his sister after she committed suicide, I felt awful for him. I also felt awful for him when he revealed his relationship with his father and uncle and I thought to myself “No wonder he keeps everyone but his brothers at arm’s length“.

Gaige, I had a tougher time liking. I don’t know why but I had a really hard time connecting to him at first. I think it was the circumstances in which the reader was introduced to him. I did eventually warm up to him by mid-book after he saved Alec’s life and I got more background on him. I really thought what his ex did was awful but what Seth was doing to Gaige was worse. By the end of the book, I liked him. He definitely more than made up for my first disconnection from him.

The attraction between Gaige and Alec was immediate and guess what, there was no Instalove!! While I felt that the sexual part of the relationship was a bit rushed, the “L” word wasn’t even mentioned until later in the book….after the events at the seed vault. With great attraction comes mind-blowing sex and these two were like bunnies throughout the book. The sex scenes were page burning hot.

Now the plotline about the seed vault was pretty original and I liked how it tied into Alec’s job. But I was very disappointed in how Seth was portrayed. He came across as a huge jerk who enjoyed needling both Gaige and Alec. It drove me nuts because I remember him being a different way in Guarding Mr. Fine. I just wish that he was written to be less of a jerk. Honestly, his interactions with both Gaige and Alec kind of ruined parts of the book for me.

Back to the plotline. I was pretty surprised who the bad guy turned out to be. Very surprised. It was a twist that definitely took me by surprise. The end of the book, after the twist, was pretty standard with an HEA. I am pretty excited to read Finn’s story next and see who is his perfect match!!

How many stars will I give Dirty Deeds: 3

Why: While I liked the story, the romance, and the sex, I had a hard time connecting to Gaige in the beginning. Couple with Seth being a jerk and it brought the rating down for me. Other than that, I really enjoyed reading the book.

Will I reread: Maybe

Will I recommend to family and friends: Maybe

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex, violence, and language

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

HelenKay Dimon's latest MM spy romance is so thrilling I couldn’t put it down. Two strong men determined to protect their interests are forced to work together to uncover a dangerous secret. Alec Drummond isn't the trusting type, he isn't built for relationships either, but there is something about Gaige that gets under his skin and forces him out of his comfort zone. Determined to figure out who has used his company and for what purposes, he is set to bring Gaige to his side and to his bed. Gaige Owens is in this jam because of trouble he didn’t cause. He is paying for the sins of his ex, who not only betrayed him, but set him up for the fall. Gaige knows Alec's type, the strong, unyielding, take charge type that will do things his way and have everyone else follow his lead. Too bad Gaige can't do that. With a CIA agent hot on his heels, Gaige has to do what he's ordered or risk life in prison. But when Alec enters the picture, Gaige's loyalties will be tested and soon he will have to decide whose orders to follow. With a battle between strong wills and even stronger hearts, these two men are destined to fall and save each other while saving the world from a crazy extremist that no one ever saw coming. An exciting, hot as hell read, with an ending that will surprise nerds, millionaire CEO's and spies.

"<i>I have two words for you--</i>"
"<b>I can guess them.</b>"

Considering this is only my second read by Dimon, I clearly picked the right book to start with as there is some character overlap from GUARDING MR FINE that pops up in DIRTY DEEDS. Now, do you need to have read the former? I can't say for sure. Definitely the backstory is hinted at but the dynamic between the relevant characters is totally spelled out for the reader, so I'd almost be willing to say you could start fresh with <i>The Dirty</i> series.

"<i>This feels like a boyfriend conversation and I'm not really into that.</i>"
"<b>Since you're going to be inside me before the night is over, I think you can share this detail.</b>"

Similar to my experience with my previous Dimon read, though, I found the characters and the emotional connections that cemented the relationships between our leads to be the best part. The author writes great snarky banter usually in a hate-to-lust flavour, gives us strong but generally stunted leads to root for, and definitely steams up the pages. Alas, I didn't really care for the background noise about seeds and Doomsday Vaults (though the fact that it's a real thing is super cool). And, again, like that previous read, I also guessed the villains of the piece. Dimon did a really neat job about laying down the groundwork for this mystery without making it obvious and yet still allowing for your brain to jump around and make connections. Plus, I mean, there was a great tie-in that may annoy some people.. but I actually really liked.

"<i>He clearly inherited all the tact in the family.</i>"
"<b>That's why I don't bother with that skill.</b>"
"<i>Really? That's why?</i>"

I never did get around to backtracking through her first series but I definitely plan to read on in this one. Both because I see it's Finn's, Alec's brother, story next -- and I'm pretty happy to see more bi-men feature in queer romance -- and I really liked what we saw of him, plus the action in that plot sounds a little more interesting, too. Here's hoping!

3.5 "not shooting you in my sever room when I had the chance was the best decision I've ever made" stars