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Bad Boys Undercover #3
Facing Fire
When his uncle is brutally murdered, Josiah King knows that business just got personal. His uncle's ties to the Alliance can mean only one thing: Josiah and his black ops team are targets, along with everyone they love. Primed for vengeance, Josiah is determined to unravel the plot—until long-legged redhead Sutton Dahl becomes a dangerous distraction.
Sutton's dream job turned into a nightmare when her boss hired someone to kill her. With nowhere else to run, she turns to Josiah. Secretive, strong, and much too sexy, he's a puzzle she longs to solve, and a temptation she can't ignore.
Thrown together in the face of Alliance's most lethal threat, Josiah and Sutton become unlikely partners, fighting for their lives even as the attraction between them flares into real passion. Torn between his team and the woman who means everything to him, Josiah will risk it all to save Sutton, even if that decision is his last.
Sutton's dream job turned into a nightmare when her boss hired someone to kill her. With nowhere else to run, she turns to Josiah. Secretive, strong, and much too sexy, he's a puzzle she longs to solve, and a temptation she can't ignore.
Thrown together in the face of Alliance's most lethal threat, Josiah and Sutton become unlikely partners, fighting for their lives even as the attraction between them flares into real passion. Torn between his team and the woman who means everything to him, Josiah will risk it all to save Sutton, even if that decision is his last.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2015
23 people are currently reading
460 people want to read
About the author
HelenKay Dimon
169 books993 followersHelenKay Dimon is a divorce lawyer-turned-romance author. After dedicating years to helping people terminate relationships she now writes romance novels full time. Her books have earned praise, appeared on bestseller lists, won numerous awards and twice been named Red-Hot Reads and excerpted in Cosmo. She sometimes writes erotic romance, sometimes writes romantic suspense and sometimes writes contemporary romance. But no matter what she's writing her books are always filled with smart banter and sexy times, and a HEA is guaranteed.
-"Sharp writing and plenty of sexy romantic sizzle..." - John Charles, Chicago Tribune
-"So smart, sexy and fast-paced, I devour her stories." - Lori Foster, NYT bestselling author
-"Lots of heat with lots of humor." - MaryJanice Davidson, NYT bestselling author
-"She's a delight." - Christina Dodd, NYT bestselling author
-"Sharp writing and plenty of sexy romantic sizzle..." - John Charles, Chicago Tribune
-"So smart, sexy and fast-paced, I devour her stories." - Lori Foster, NYT bestselling author
-"Lots of heat with lots of humor." - MaryJanice Davidson, NYT bestselling author
-"She's a delight." - Christina Dodd, NYT bestselling author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 12, 2016
I really enjoyed the elaborate plot that the story conveys. It's got the action/thriller vibe down pat. Josiah is determined to find his villain even if he has to go through Sutton. Then, he meets the curious beauty and he has the attraction between them to factor in. He was a lot less than charming to her for a good portion of the story. I liked that Sutton brought him down to a more relatable level after the initial rough go of it. The plot gets more intense and involved as the story progresses and different internal conflicts arise, adding another dimension. While I liked how our MCs were together, I'm not so sure that what little they were able to build on as they worked together would be enough to mean a HEA for them. Despite that, their intimacy was hot. The world building definitely left room for future plot lines and the overall delivery was solid. Safety: No others for either of them. There is one instance of pushing away. No rape or abuse.
July 17, 2016
3.5 stars
Action was raw, romance not really there, and kind of an anti-climatic end to the villain. This author has a way of writing pulse pounding action scenes (sometimes shoot 'em up but heavier on emotional aspects of making dark decisions) that captivate me and will keep me locked into this series.
Action was raw, romance not really there, and kind of an anti-climatic end to the villain. This author has a way of writing pulse pounding action scenes (sometimes shoot 'em up but heavier on emotional aspects of making dark decisions) that captivate me and will keep me locked into this series.
February 26, 2016
2/5; 2 stars; C
The best thing about this book was the narrator, Steve West. For some reason the story fell flat and I came away disappointed. The romantic element was all over the map and the inconsistencies in characters was off-putting. The mystery had the potential to be quite good but somehow the timing of the plot development had me just wishing it would wrap up. I WILL check out another book by this author if I get the chance because I could see some real quality in her writing, its just that this one didn't come together for me.
The best thing about this book was the narrator, Steve West. For some reason the story fell flat and I came away disappointed. The romantic element was all over the map and the inconsistencies in characters was off-putting. The mystery had the potential to be quite good but somehow the timing of the plot development had me just wishing it would wrap up. I WILL check out another book by this author if I get the chance because I could see some real quality in her writing, its just that this one didn't come together for me.
November 4, 2025
Facing Fire is a fabulous romantic suspense. Intense action, will get your heart pounding with this the third installment in the Bad Boys Undercover series.
Josiah's actions in the Alliance puts a target on his uncle's head. This means their amaninity has been broken and the ones they hold dear are now at risk. To save their loved ones they must track down their most deadliest foe.
Sutton's undercover work puts her on the same path as the Alliance. But what they've tried to uncover, she has already found. Now they don't know if Sutton is working for the enemy or just a case of wrong place, very wrong time.
It all comes down to Josiah deciding between the Alliance's or Sutton's safety.
Facing Fire has marvelously conflicted but strong main characters that you can really get behind.
Sexy, passionate and adrenaline increasing storyline make for great reading.
I received this ARC copy of Facing Fire from Avon in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication September 29, 2015.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Josiah's actions in the Alliance puts a target on his uncle's head. This means their amaninity has been broken and the ones they hold dear are now at risk. To save their loved ones they must track down their most deadliest foe.
Sutton's undercover work puts her on the same path as the Alliance. But what they've tried to uncover, she has already found. Now they don't know if Sutton is working for the enemy or just a case of wrong place, very wrong time.
It all comes down to Josiah deciding between the Alliance's or Sutton's safety.
Facing Fire has marvelously conflicted but strong main characters that you can really get behind.
Sexy, passionate and adrenaline increasing storyline make for great reading.
I received this ARC copy of Facing Fire from Avon in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication September 29, 2015.
My Rating: 4 Stars
April 11, 2016
Nominated for a 2016 RITA award for romantic suspense!
This is the third story in the sexy romantic suspense Bad Boys Undercover series, an exciting, nail biting story that kept me on edge from beginning to end. The Alliance, an undercover group made up of former MI6 and CIA operatives is under threat, this time from an old nemesis, Benton, a man they thought they'd killed but who turns up still very much alive. He's on a personal vendetta, to destroy each of the operatives one by one by threatening someone dear to them. But while Josiah and his crew are hunting him down, so is someone else, a woman whose mother died at the hands of this evil man. Sutton's investigation into Benton turns up some of his files, and her subsequent delving into what she finds leads the Alliance right to her. It's a game of cat and mouse, trust and deceit as Sutton and Josiah find that the sexual chemistry between them won't be denied. In a world of strange bedfellows, theirs might just be the sexiest pairing, but one that could get them killed.
Ms. Dimon is masterful at creating fictitious worlds that rock both the suspense and the sexy edge looked for by readers in the romantic suspense genre. Her characters are strong, dependable,loyal, yet conflicted, with all too human flaws. Josiah definitely fits that description. As a leader on the team, he's ruthless and never afraid to do what it takes to get the job done. When he goes after Sutton, it's with the intent of finding out exactly what she's up to - he doesn't trust her, and she doesn't do anything to clear herself in his eyes, keeping her own counsel and not willing to reveal why she's after the same man he is. Soon enough though, Josiah's actions towards her show that he isn't a threat (even though he isn't sure of the same) and bit by bit they start to reveal more personal details to each other. I loved Sutton's strength, her unrelenting willingness to pursue her mother's killer on her own, and her ability to face her fears (of heights, for example) if it gets her closer to the truth. When Josiah and Sutton end up giving in to their attraction, their scenes are smoking hot! But beyond the sex, in the aftermath they become adept at comforting each other too, and it's this combination that draws them closer together.
While Sutton and Josiah are getting emotionally attached, Benton's thirst for revenge is ongoing. We get to see the story from three points of view - Sutton, Josiah and Benton, which gives the story a great well rounded view and adds to the suspense level in knowing Benton's thoughts and plans. There is some violence in the story, as expected, and lots of twists and turns (and definitely events I didn't see coming). This story is my favourite so far in the series, and I'm looking forward to where it's headed next! 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for review.
This is the third story in the sexy romantic suspense Bad Boys Undercover series, an exciting, nail biting story that kept me on edge from beginning to end. The Alliance, an undercover group made up of former MI6 and CIA operatives is under threat, this time from an old nemesis, Benton, a man they thought they'd killed but who turns up still very much alive. He's on a personal vendetta, to destroy each of the operatives one by one by threatening someone dear to them. But while Josiah and his crew are hunting him down, so is someone else, a woman whose mother died at the hands of this evil man. Sutton's investigation into Benton turns up some of his files, and her subsequent delving into what she finds leads the Alliance right to her. It's a game of cat and mouse, trust and deceit as Sutton and Josiah find that the sexual chemistry between them won't be denied. In a world of strange bedfellows, theirs might just be the sexiest pairing, but one that could get them killed.
Ms. Dimon is masterful at creating fictitious worlds that rock both the suspense and the sexy edge looked for by readers in the romantic suspense genre. Her characters are strong, dependable,loyal, yet conflicted, with all too human flaws. Josiah definitely fits that description. As a leader on the team, he's ruthless and never afraid to do what it takes to get the job done. When he goes after Sutton, it's with the intent of finding out exactly what she's up to - he doesn't trust her, and she doesn't do anything to clear herself in his eyes, keeping her own counsel and not willing to reveal why she's after the same man he is. Soon enough though, Josiah's actions towards her show that he isn't a threat (even though he isn't sure of the same) and bit by bit they start to reveal more personal details to each other. I loved Sutton's strength, her unrelenting willingness to pursue her mother's killer on her own, and her ability to face her fears (of heights, for example) if it gets her closer to the truth. When Josiah and Sutton end up giving in to their attraction, their scenes are smoking hot! But beyond the sex, in the aftermath they become adept at comforting each other too, and it's this combination that draws them closer together.
While Sutton and Josiah are getting emotionally attached, Benton's thirst for revenge is ongoing. We get to see the story from three points of view - Sutton, Josiah and Benton, which gives the story a great well rounded view and adds to the suspense level in knowing Benton's thoughts and plans. There is some violence in the story, as expected, and lots of twists and turns (and definitely events I didn't see coming). This story is my favourite so far in the series, and I'm looking forward to where it's headed next! 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for review.
October 16, 2015
Josiah wasn't as smooth and sharp in his own story as he is in the other two books. I felt his romance with Sutton was forced. One second he doesn't trust her the next second he's having the tinglies for her. The whole thing just felt forced. the suspense part was AWESOME. The romance left me wanting ......something more that just wasn't there.
A few things
Mike - Did not see that coming
Harlin - OMG
Lucas - almost had me in tears
I was a bit confused as to where the hell the rest of Josiah's team was but ok this was the J&M show save the day team. I'll go with it.
I'm sure the author has more stories to tell in this world so I'll sit tight and see what interests me.
narrator 4
story 3 the actual romance was like a 1.75 or a 2 the great story telling and suspense bumped it up to a 3
A few things
Mike - Did not see that coming
Harlin - OMG
Lucas - almost had me in tears
I was a bit confused as to where the hell the rest of Josiah's team was but ok this was the J&M show save the day team. I'll go with it.
I'm sure the author has more stories to tell in this world so I'll sit tight and see what interests me.
narrator 4
story 3 the actual romance was like a 1.75 or a 2 the great story telling and suspense bumped it up to a 3
April 1, 2016
This one was just ok for me. I sort of expected more with the opening, with all that was on the line for these folks as the bad guys targeted their loved ones. They were just barely able to stay ahead of them.
What I found more interesting was how Josiah told Mike that he knew is secret, how it was no big deal to him and then how Mike was able to talk freely about it later. It helped cement their friendship when Josiah had his head up is butt and needed it pulled out.
What I found more interesting was how Josiah told Mike that he knew is secret, how it was no big deal to him and then how Mike was able to talk freely about it later. It helped cement their friendship when Josiah had his head up is butt and needed it pulled out.
July 25, 2018
Good book that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Josiah is the leader of Alliance's Delta team. The team has been working to track down their nemesis, Benton, the one who got away at the end of Falling Hard. It hasn't been easy, as the man always seems to be one step ahead of them. The search became personal for Josiah when Benton brutally murdered Josiah's uncle. This was Benton's opening shot in his war of revenge against Alliance.
Sutton is a PI who has spent the last several years on a quest to find the man she holds responsible for her mother's death. Her search has brought her to Paris and the office next door to the man now calling himself Bane. A covert trip into Bane's office revealed a puzzling file of names, photos, and code of some kind. After barely making it out of his office undetected, Sutton went to work investigating the list of names, trying to find their connection to Bane.
The action ramped up when Sutton's investigation came to the attention of the folks at Alliance - because it was their names she was searching. Josiah and Mike went to Paris to discover what Sutton knows. I loved the confrontation between Sutton and Josiah. He is adamantly convinced that she is working with Benton, as he and Mike kidnap her to find out what she knows. Sutton does not give in easily, even when they are attacked and she has to depend on Josiah and Mike to keep her safe.
The development of the relationship between Josiah and Sutton is fast and intense. Josiah is quite a jerk at the beginning with his threats and refusal to believe in her innocence. Sutton doesn't exactly make things easy either, by keeping much of what she knows to herself. It was pretty obvious that part of Josiah's extreme attitude toward Sutton is because he is fighting his attraction to her. Sutton is more accepting of the attraction and has no trouble calling Josiah out on his attitude. I loved watching the push and pull between them as the attraction deepened to something more. I really like the way that Sutton understood Josiah and sees past his walls to the man inside. Some of the scenes between them are heart-wrenching as Josiah deals with the things that happen. I ached for both of them as Josiah pushed her away because of his feelings of being broken. I loved the conversation with Mike that helped open Josiah's eyes. His big moment at the end was pretty great, especially when he let his vulnerability show.
The suspense of the story was great. The horror of the murder of Josiah's uncle and the subsequent threats made by Benton showed just how evil the man is. The additional information that Sutton provided gave the Alliance team the boost that they needed to get closer. With some of the story told from Benton's POV, we also get to see his actions and reactions. The intensity increased with each attack, as the team faced seemingly impossible, and sometimes heartbreaking choices. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat as I wondered if Benton would slither away again.
I loved the various team members. It was immensely satisfying to have two such strong women on the team. Tasha and Ellery were awesome in what they could do and the respect that the others had for them. I also enjoyed how Benton underestimated them and Sutton. Harlan was the one, among the men, who seemed to be the voice of reason. He was just as intense as the others, but he also had a way of cutting through the emotion and bringing them back to the reality of what had to be done. Mike was my favorite. I loved the close friendship he had with Josiah. He had a terrific way of cutting through Josiah's angst so that he could see the whole picture. Mike was also the center of some other drama that was completely unexpected.
Sutton is a PI who has spent the last several years on a quest to find the man she holds responsible for her mother's death. Her search has brought her to Paris and the office next door to the man now calling himself Bane. A covert trip into Bane's office revealed a puzzling file of names, photos, and code of some kind. After barely making it out of his office undetected, Sutton went to work investigating the list of names, trying to find their connection to Bane.
The action ramped up when Sutton's investigation came to the attention of the folks at Alliance - because it was their names she was searching. Josiah and Mike went to Paris to discover what Sutton knows. I loved the confrontation between Sutton and Josiah. He is adamantly convinced that she is working with Benton, as he and Mike kidnap her to find out what she knows. Sutton does not give in easily, even when they are attacked and she has to depend on Josiah and Mike to keep her safe.
The development of the relationship between Josiah and Sutton is fast and intense. Josiah is quite a jerk at the beginning with his threats and refusal to believe in her innocence. Sutton doesn't exactly make things easy either, by keeping much of what she knows to herself. It was pretty obvious that part of Josiah's extreme attitude toward Sutton is because he is fighting his attraction to her. Sutton is more accepting of the attraction and has no trouble calling Josiah out on his attitude. I loved watching the push and pull between them as the attraction deepened to something more. I really like the way that Sutton understood Josiah and sees past his walls to the man inside. Some of the scenes between them are heart-wrenching as Josiah deals with the things that happen. I ached for both of them as Josiah pushed her away because of his feelings of being broken. I loved the conversation with Mike that helped open Josiah's eyes. His big moment at the end was pretty great, especially when he let his vulnerability show.
The suspense of the story was great. The horror of the murder of Josiah's uncle and the subsequent threats made by Benton showed just how evil the man is. The additional information that Sutton provided gave the Alliance team the boost that they needed to get closer. With some of the story told from Benton's POV, we also get to see his actions and reactions. The intensity increased with each attack, as the team faced seemingly impossible, and sometimes heartbreaking choices. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat as I wondered if Benton would slither away again.
I loved the various team members. It was immensely satisfying to have two such strong women on the team. Tasha and Ellery were awesome in what they could do and the respect that the others had for them. I also enjoyed how Benton underestimated them and Sutton. Harlan was the one, among the men, who seemed to be the voice of reason. He was just as intense as the others, but he also had a way of cutting through the emotion and bringing them back to the reality of what had to be done. Mike was my favorite. I loved the close friendship he had with Josiah. He had a terrific way of cutting through Josiah's angst so that he could see the whole picture. Mike was also the center of some other drama that was completely unexpected.
December 31, 2022
Pros: Steve West is a great narrator. Mike, Josiah's partner.
Cons: Everything else.
This is like a low budget action movie that would have been show on USA network at 3pm on a Saturday in 1996, including a monologuing villain out for revenge. The problem is, the characters, who are supposed to be members of the CIA, MI-6 or in Sutton's case, a private investigator, are incredibly stupid and do very stupid things. Why would you, as a member of a Black Ops team concerned about your information being leak, break into the home of a person of interest and take of your mask to talk to her?!? Why are you, as that person of interest, telling a guy with a gun what you aren't going to do? Especially when bad guys are supposed to be shooting at you? And you don't have a gun or anywhere to go? If a member of your Black Ops team just watched the villain blow up his uncle, why would he not be reassigned? Why is the private investigator, who stole a tablet and was shocked that may make her look suspicious, with the team on the final confrontation with monologuing villain?
You maybe thinking, "Okay, the characters are dumb as rocks who do things that don't make sense, but what about the romance?" No. Just. . .no. Even as an enemies to lovers type situation, these two make no sense. The power dynamics are messed up. If you like the scrappy protagonist forgetting her tragic backstory and focusing on comforting her angry, broken love interest that she's known less than a week and who threatened to shoot her earlier, this is your book.
I will say that I appreciate Mike's crisis in the story doesn't veer off into a certain trope. Honestly, Mike seems like a way more interesting character with a more promising story.
Cons: Everything else.
This is like a low budget action movie that would have been show on USA network at 3pm on a Saturday in 1996, including a monologuing villain out for revenge. The problem is, the characters, who are supposed to be members of the CIA, MI-6 or in Sutton's case, a private investigator, are incredibly stupid and do very stupid things. Why would you, as a member of a Black Ops team concerned about your information being leak, break into the home of a person of interest and take of your mask to talk to her?!? Why are you, as that person of interest, telling a guy with a gun what you aren't going to do? Especially when bad guys are supposed to be shooting at you? And you don't have a gun or anywhere to go? If a member of your Black Ops team just watched the villain blow up his uncle, why would he not be reassigned? Why is the private investigator, who stole a tablet and was shocked that may make her look suspicious, with the team on the final confrontation with monologuing villain?
You maybe thinking, "Okay, the characters are dumb as rocks who do things that don't make sense, but what about the romance?" No. Just. . .no. Even as an enemies to lovers type situation, these two make no sense. The power dynamics are messed up. If you like the scrappy protagonist forgetting her tragic backstory and focusing on comforting her angry, broken love interest that she's known less than a week and who threatened to shoot her earlier, this is your book.
I will say that I appreciate Mike's crisis in the story doesn't veer off into a certain trope. Honestly, Mike seems like a way more interesting character with a more promising story.
October 3, 2015
Facing Fire is the third full length novel in Ms. Dimon's Bad Boys Undercover series, which also includes a novella. Although I read pretty much all subgenres of romance, romantic suspense is my very favorite. The Bad Boys Undercover series has everything I like - a solid, overarching theme, a solidarity of brothers (and sisters, love the roles the women play in this series), a lot of action...and hard and fast love stories.
We find our intrepid heroes trying to pinpoint the location of their nemesis, Benton, when a PI from Baltimore comes up on the radar. Mike and Josiah go to "intercept" (i.e., kidnap) her, trying to get a handle on how she fits in with Benton. Sutton is no easy mark, however. She holds her cards close to the vest, doling out information like currency. Sutton has information on Benton that the Alliance does not, though. Josiah is unsure as to whether Sutton is as innocent as she seems, especially when she is so reticent with her knowledge. They begin a back and forth dance, one in which Josiah seesaws over Sutton's guilt or innocence.
The thing I love, love, LOVE about Helenkay Dimon's writing is her knack for getting into the head of the characters, and laying it out beautifully for the reader. From the main players to the one line walkoffs, you know exactly where the character fits into the story. Nothing unnecessary, but nothing is missing, either. Also love smart, resourceful sheroes who can handle themselves, but are smart enough to let the hero help them, and Sutton is a great example of that. She calls Josiah out more than once for not being "comforting", to the point where he tells her she may have to accept that tact and charm are not in his skill set!
For all the heaviness of the plot (Benton is finding those closest to the Alliance and targeting them for death), there is a lot of humor to lighten the moment.
Awesome sexy times, from Josiah's reluctance to give in to his desire, to his awareness that he cares about Sutton. These two are much more able to show rather than tell how they feel, and do so on a regular basis.
Beyond the smexy times, though, there is a wealth of feeling. There are events in Facing Fire that make Josiah question his career choice, and Sutton is there to try to help carry his burdens.
Josiah is a study in what makes a man become an operative. Seriously, that was the thought I had as Dimon carefully laid out his character, layer by layer. Guilt, responsibility and a need, sometimes reluctant, to take care of others and keep innocents safe. The decisions made in moments of horrifying clarity, where there is no good solution, are ones they carry on their soul forever. Yes, that sounds cryptic, but I refuse to spoil this book for anyone. What I will say is, I am hard to surprise, and more than one scene in Facing Fire shocked me, made me cry, and made me think. Made me think of all of the real life heroes out there who face similar situations every day, making choices that weigh on them to keep the rest of us safe. A heartfelt "thank you" doesn't seem enough, but I mean it sincerely.
Bottom line - Though you can certainly start the series here, I would recommend going back to the beginning. It's so good, why deprive yourself? If you like uber-alpha males and smart female leads, with a lot of plot and hawt love scenes, you will love this! Highly recommend!
Edited to add - Am I the only one who hopes there is at least a novella about Mike and his hot professor?!? I think I am not! Ms. Dimon, I hope such a story is at least being considered - just sayin'
We find our intrepid heroes trying to pinpoint the location of their nemesis, Benton, when a PI from Baltimore comes up on the radar. Mike and Josiah go to "intercept" (i.e., kidnap) her, trying to get a handle on how she fits in with Benton. Sutton is no easy mark, however. She holds her cards close to the vest, doling out information like currency. Sutton has information on Benton that the Alliance does not, though. Josiah is unsure as to whether Sutton is as innocent as she seems, especially when she is so reticent with her knowledge. They begin a back and forth dance, one in which Josiah seesaws over Sutton's guilt or innocence.
The thing I love, love, LOVE about Helenkay Dimon's writing is her knack for getting into the head of the characters, and laying it out beautifully for the reader. From the main players to the one line walkoffs, you know exactly where the character fits into the story. Nothing unnecessary, but nothing is missing, either. Also love smart, resourceful sheroes who can handle themselves, but are smart enough to let the hero help them, and Sutton is a great example of that. She calls Josiah out more than once for not being "comforting", to the point where he tells her she may have to accept that tact and charm are not in his skill set!
For all the heaviness of the plot (Benton is finding those closest to the Alliance and targeting them for death), there is a lot of humor to lighten the moment.
Awesome sexy times, from Josiah's reluctance to give in to his desire, to his awareness that he cares about Sutton. These two are much more able to show rather than tell how they feel, and do so on a regular basis.
Beyond the smexy times, though, there is a wealth of feeling. There are events in Facing Fire that make Josiah question his career choice, and Sutton is there to try to help carry his burdens.
Josiah is a study in what makes a man become an operative. Seriously, that was the thought I had as Dimon carefully laid out his character, layer by layer. Guilt, responsibility and a need, sometimes reluctant, to take care of others and keep innocents safe. The decisions made in moments of horrifying clarity, where there is no good solution, are ones they carry on their soul forever. Yes, that sounds cryptic, but I refuse to spoil this book for anyone. What I will say is, I am hard to surprise, and more than one scene in Facing Fire shocked me, made me cry, and made me think. Made me think of all of the real life heroes out there who face similar situations every day, making choices that weigh on them to keep the rest of us safe. A heartfelt "thank you" doesn't seem enough, but I mean it sincerely.
Bottom line - Though you can certainly start the series here, I would recommend going back to the beginning. It's so good, why deprive yourself? If you like uber-alpha males and smart female leads, with a lot of plot and hawt love scenes, you will love this! Highly recommend!
Edited to add - Am I the only one who hopes there is at least a novella about Mike and his hot professor?!? I think I am not! Ms. Dimon, I hope such a story is at least being considered - just sayin'
February 24, 2016
Be still my Strike Back ever loving heart! Seriously, fans of the former Cinemax show, Strike Back, will love love love this series. It’s full of gun-toting action, suspense, intrigue, hot-steamy sex scenes…the whole shebang, people!
Josiah King is an operative with the Alliance–a covert, black ops team dealing with bad guys in unconventional ways. The Alliance has an old enemy hunting them down, and he’s making it personal. We open with a brutal scene involving Josiah’s uncle. And Josiah and the team are forced to watch it unfold, helpless to stop it. Fueled by vengeance and determined to protect their own, the Alliance is relentless in their pursuit of this enemy.
Sutton Dahl is on a mission of her own. A private investigator from the U.S. is hunting the streets of Paris for the man who’s behind her mother’s death. However, thinking him a mere con-artist, she has no idea the danger she has truly put herself in. Sutton and the Alliance are after the same man.
Sutton’s digging around puts her on the Alliance’s radar, and in Josiah’s direct path. He thinks she’s working with the enemy, and she has no idea how much she can trust him with. Her snooping around however, has not gone unnoticed by their mutual enemy. And her life is in danger.
From start to finish, I was on edge with this book. The action is amazing and pretty much non-stop. Bullets fly. Bombs explode. Hostages are taken. Ms. Dimon does not hold back. And thus being true to the story she unfolds for us, not everyone walks away. The characters, every single one of them, fight for survival. The enemy is a ruthless, vile monster set on destroying them. And I ate up every word.
Oh and those steamy sex scenes I talked about. Yeah, the kind where you’re so damned attracted to someone and you don’t want to be, but your heart says “screw you” and takes the reigns, it’s like that. Hot, explosive, consuming and terrifying for Sutton and Josiah. Both of them are out of their element in this situation. And neither know if it’s the adrenaline driving them or if they have an actual shot at something more once the dust settles. But before they can decide that, they have to survive.
I highly recommend this read. 5 explosive stars from me.
Josiah King is an operative with the Alliance–a covert, black ops team dealing with bad guys in unconventional ways. The Alliance has an old enemy hunting them down, and he’s making it personal. We open with a brutal scene involving Josiah’s uncle. And Josiah and the team are forced to watch it unfold, helpless to stop it. Fueled by vengeance and determined to protect their own, the Alliance is relentless in their pursuit of this enemy.
Sutton Dahl is on a mission of her own. A private investigator from the U.S. is hunting the streets of Paris for the man who’s behind her mother’s death. However, thinking him a mere con-artist, she has no idea the danger she has truly put herself in. Sutton and the Alliance are after the same man.
Sutton’s digging around puts her on the Alliance’s radar, and in Josiah’s direct path. He thinks she’s working with the enemy, and she has no idea how much she can trust him with. Her snooping around however, has not gone unnoticed by their mutual enemy. And her life is in danger.
From start to finish, I was on edge with this book. The action is amazing and pretty much non-stop. Bullets fly. Bombs explode. Hostages are taken. Ms. Dimon does not hold back. And thus being true to the story she unfolds for us, not everyone walks away. The characters, every single one of them, fight for survival. The enemy is a ruthless, vile monster set on destroying them. And I ate up every word.
Oh and those steamy sex scenes I talked about. Yeah, the kind where you’re so damned attracted to someone and you don’t want to be, but your heart says “screw you” and takes the reigns, it’s like that. Hot, explosive, consuming and terrifying for Sutton and Josiah. Both of them are out of their element in this situation. And neither know if it’s the adrenaline driving them or if they have an actual shot at something more once the dust settles. But before they can decide that, they have to survive.
I highly recommend this read. 5 explosive stars from me.
May 17, 2016
Good story. I enjoyed it. Very good narration by Steve West (audible review)
This was a good book. I liked the special op romance stories. The chemistry between Josiah and Sutton was good it felt real and genuine. There was a couple nicely written sex scenes too.
The story line and plot was good. The story flowed very well and wasn't confusing at all. There was bad guys, bombings and espionage.
As for the narration. It was fantastic. I really liked Steve West's voice. He does the women voices very well, the british and the american accents well. His reading voice is very good and he reads with emotion.
This was a good book. I liked the special op romance stories. The chemistry between Josiah and Sutton was good it felt real and genuine. There was a couple nicely written sex scenes too.
The story line and plot was good. The story flowed very well and wasn't confusing at all. There was bad guys, bombings and espionage.
As for the narration. It was fantastic. I really liked Steve West's voice. He does the women voices very well, the british and the american accents well. His reading voice is very good and he reads with emotion.
June 11, 2018
I liked this one but to be honest, I probably won’t read this again. I liked Sutton, she was ok but I wished her character was a little more stubborn in letting things go. She seemed like a little bit of a pushover when she needed to stand her ground and defend herself when she was being accused of being involved with Benton not only from the team but especially Josiah. She let them think the worst of her without trying to clear her name. They kept talking about her behind her back and straight to her face about her being an enemy and she took it, whatever they said, whatever they suspected, she just let it go. That’s not cool, especially when Josiah snapped on her, that should have taken her some time to come back from. Her words to him when he went to apologize made it seem as if he was gonna have to put in some work to get back on her good side in order for her to be open to starting something with him again but he kissed her and suddenly everything was ok again. That doesn’t work on me.
The team also didn’t sit well with me when they talked about killing her so easily simply if she “made a wrong move” and they’d kill her no questions asked. They kidnapped her, demanded she answer their questions with a gun pointed at her, how the heck do you expect someone to want to cooperate and help you if you’re scaring them the whole time and they don’t know why you took them in the first place?
Josiah was a huge jerk and an idiot. He treated her like crap, and while he did later apologize for it sincerely, it still didn’t erase the fact that he went back and forth throughout the book way too many times in believing her and then turning on her. It didn’t change the fact that he pushed her away and then when she did as he asked he still tried to control her free will by giving a lame excuse, a half ass apology, and taking away her choice by not asking for her to forgive him but TELLING her he’d stop her from leaving no matter how many times she tried to leave. That is crap and I can’t believe she still took him back that easily. He doubted her most of the book, I don’t see how she could fall for someone who treated her terribly, bounced between mixed signals, and pushed her away after all they’d been through. Josiah was a pig and turned out to be way different than I expected him to.
I will probably keep this in my library to refer back to when reading the good books of this series but that’s as far as it goes. I can’t handle another reading of this book. Too much for me to go through when Ford and West’s book are so much better. Hoping the author doesn’t forget about Ellery and Lucas though, I’d love to see how their story plays out. I’ll keep an eye out for this author.
The team also didn’t sit well with me when they talked about killing her so easily simply if she “made a wrong move” and they’d kill her no questions asked. They kidnapped her, demanded she answer their questions with a gun pointed at her, how the heck do you expect someone to want to cooperate and help you if you’re scaring them the whole time and they don’t know why you took them in the first place?
Josiah was a huge jerk and an idiot. He treated her like crap, and while he did later apologize for it sincerely, it still didn’t erase the fact that he went back and forth throughout the book way too many times in believing her and then turning on her. It didn’t change the fact that he pushed her away and then when she did as he asked he still tried to control her free will by giving a lame excuse, a half ass apology, and taking away her choice by not asking for her to forgive him but TELLING her he’d stop her from leaving no matter how many times she tried to leave. That is crap and I can’t believe she still took him back that easily. He doubted her most of the book, I don’t see how she could fall for someone who treated her terribly, bounced between mixed signals, and pushed her away after all they’d been through. Josiah was a pig and turned out to be way different than I expected him to.
I will probably keep this in my library to refer back to when reading the good books of this series but that’s as far as it goes. I can’t handle another reading of this book. Too much for me to go through when Ford and West’s book are so much better. Hoping the author doesn’t forget about Ellery and Lucas though, I’d love to see how their story plays out. I’ll keep an eye out for this author.
January 16, 2018
Facing Fire by HelenKay Dimon is a fast paced, action packed romantic suspense. It follows Josiah from the Alliance and Sutton, a PI who stumbles across the Alliance while going after the same target as the group - Benton. He is an evil son of a gun and one that I despised more than most villains in the books I read. Josiah and Sutton's romance is back and forth but so dynamic due to the undeniable chemistry. It was quite a rush of a book. I was a bit tired after reading it.
If you have read any of Dimon's other books in the series, you know the Alliance is a tight knit group backing one another up. In Facing Fire we see that so clearly with Sutton being tossed into the mix. I love watching a group of people stand together and fight evil. That's what this team does. They sacrifice so much to protect so many.
Josiah is an interesting character. He has so much angst in him that it came off the pages while I was reading and was almost a bit too much at times, but then I can't imagine going through what he has. Sutton is the perfect partner for him. She pushes him when he needs it, let's him be when he needs some alone time and wants him for exactly who he is. She isn't asking him to change. He need that strong companion. Dimon did a very nice job with their romance as well.
There are a lot of surprises in Facing Fire for the characters which adds to the excitement of the book. While we get Benton's point of view, we don't get the whole picture so we are just as surprised as the characters. Normally I am not a fan of the antagonist's point of view, but Dimon does just enough in Facing Fire to show Benton's crazy. Dimon does a fabulous job with the ending to the story as well. I was quite pleased!
If you like romantic suspense, give Facing Fire a read. While it is part of a series, each book is connected by characters while they each have their own plot. It's a great story!
If you have read any of Dimon's other books in the series, you know the Alliance is a tight knit group backing one another up. In Facing Fire we see that so clearly with Sutton being tossed into the mix. I love watching a group of people stand together and fight evil. That's what this team does. They sacrifice so much to protect so many.
Josiah is an interesting character. He has so much angst in him that it came off the pages while I was reading and was almost a bit too much at times, but then I can't imagine going through what he has. Sutton is the perfect partner for him. She pushes him when he needs it, let's him be when he needs some alone time and wants him for exactly who he is. She isn't asking him to change. He need that strong companion. Dimon did a very nice job with their romance as well.
There are a lot of surprises in Facing Fire for the characters which adds to the excitement of the book. While we get Benton's point of view, we don't get the whole picture so we are just as surprised as the characters. Normally I am not a fan of the antagonist's point of view, but Dimon does just enough in Facing Fire to show Benton's crazy. Dimon does a fabulous job with the ending to the story as well. I was quite pleased!
If you like romantic suspense, give Facing Fire a read. While it is part of a series, each book is connected by characters while they each have their own plot. It's a great story!
July 9, 2018
This was a very disappointing read. I honestly could not connect with the characters, especially Josiah. He was a complete jerk in the beginning and it was hard for me to look past that, especially since he kept his emotions to himself the entire time. I didn't really have an issue with Sutton, other than her being a bit too stubborn at times. This was supposed to be a romantic suspense, but the romance was severely lacking (it's funny that I wrote the same exact thing for Book 2 it seems). I couldn't even feel the connection between Sutton & Josiah. They claimed they loved each other, but their actions didn't show it. There was very little time for them to even have a romantic relationship because they were constantly on the run or trying to kill Benton.
Now, the suspense was crazy (the ending of the bad guy, not so much). It seemed like every time they'd make progress, they'd go right back to where they started again and that was frustrating. There's one part that utterly broke my heart. I kept waiting for the author to reveal something surprising and make that part not true, but it wasn't to be. I still can't believe what happened and the whole book is overshadowed by that one unfortunate moment. It takes a strong writer to write something like that, so I respect HelenKay Dimon for having the guts to do the unthinkable. But that doesn't make it any easier to handle or look past.
It's been 18 months since I read the previous book, so I could only vaguely recall the other characters and their stories. Regardless, I don't think it would have helped me connect with the characters any better or enjoy the story more.
Now, the suspense was crazy (the ending of the bad guy, not so much). It seemed like every time they'd make progress, they'd go right back to where they started again and that was frustrating. There's one part that utterly broke my heart. I kept waiting for the author to reveal something surprising and make that part not true, but it wasn't to be. I still can't believe what happened and the whole book is overshadowed by that one unfortunate moment. It takes a strong writer to write something like that, so I respect HelenKay Dimon for having the guts to do the unthinkable. But that doesn't make it any easier to handle or look past.
It's been 18 months since I read the previous book, so I could only vaguely recall the other characters and their stories. Regardless, I don't think it would have helped me connect with the characters any better or enjoy the story more.
July 2, 2017
When it came to the action, I really liked it - the whole Benton storyline really picked up in this one and it was great. However, when it came to the characters, it was a whole different story.
For starters I got pretty much allergic to the way the other characters always tell the male "I like her" whenever the heroine does or says something special (or whatever). It felt just so unreal? I mean, you could be with someone your friends don't like and yet the person could be it for you. It just feels so unnatural that in every book of this series so far, it was like this.
And another thing - except for the backstories and the way the characters look, they honestly seem so generic to me. The woman is always the one who has no problem talking back to the guy which is ofc why he likes her and never met another woman like that (lol imagine that). And the guy has a lot of secret, hidden manpain ofc... Also, what felt really lame to me was how both in the second and third books, the heroines are afraid of heights. I mean, really?
So, there. The action and story were good, but the generic-ness of it all is really starting to get to me and piss me off.
For starters I got pretty much allergic to the way the other characters always tell the male "I like her" whenever the heroine does or says something special (or whatever). It felt just so unreal? I mean, you could be with someone your friends don't like and yet the person could be it for you. It just feels so unnatural that in every book of this series so far, it was like this.
And another thing - except for the backstories and the way the characters look, they honestly seem so generic to me. The woman is always the one who has no problem talking back to the guy which is ofc why he likes her and never met another woman like that (lol imagine that). And the guy has a lot of secret, hidden manpain ofc... Also, what felt really lame to me was how both in the second and third books, the heroines are afraid of heights. I mean, really?
So, there. The action and story were good, but the generic-ness of it all is really starting to get to me and piss me off.
July 14, 2020
PI Sutton Dahl has been on the trail of Ryan Bane for a while now. He is the one responsible for the death of her mother, but she doesn't have enough evidence against him yet to get the authorities to listen. What she doesn't realize is that Bane is really Benton, a terrorist who escaped from the Alliance. When he brutally kills the uncle of Josiah King, Sutton finds herself in the middle of an operation to track down the terrorist and make him pay. Benton is scarred from his last encounter with the Alliance, so he not only wants to show the people that pay him to supply a variety of different kinds of weapons that he is back, but he also has a plan to get revenge on those who have caused him pain.
Facing Fire is jam packed with action and adventure. Although Sutton and Josiah are likable characters and firey as a couple, they solve their differences a little too quickly. They do face challenges, which reveals many things about them as characters, adding something to the overused plot device of black-ops groups searching for an evil terrorist. Overall, this is a pretty good quick summer read.
Facing Fire is jam packed with action and adventure. Although Sutton and Josiah are likable characters and firey as a couple, they solve their differences a little too quickly. They do face challenges, which reveals many things about them as characters, adding something to the overused plot device of black-ops groups searching for an evil terrorist. Overall, this is a pretty good quick summer read.
June 28, 2018
This is the third book in the Bad Boys Undercover series and I enjoyed it very much. Josiah King is a member of an elite black ops group that goes wherever they are needed when no one else can help. In the first two books we meet up with Benton who is the worse terrorist they have come across and he is threatening to release the real names and families of the members of the two elite groups. While looking for Benton, Josiah met Sutton Dahl who is on her own journey trying to locate who she things is someone named Bane but who really is the terrorist. He wasn't sure if she was working for Benton or not but he needed her information so he had to find out. The banter between him and Sutton made this suspense story have a light side. Great book.
June 14, 2017
This is book 3 in her Bad Boys Undercover series and the second book I’ve read and loved. Josiah and Sutton are mismatched from the start but find a way to push through the personal walls they’ve built to survive. I love romantic suspense but sometimes the author makes it a bit unrealistic with the timing or the “heat” of the moment. Not so with this series. The romance (which is spicy but not over-the-top) amidst the tension and horror of Josiah’s and Sutton’s task is perfectly balanced with the evil that they face and the missing pieces in their lives. Ms. Dimon is an author I admire and aspire to be like in my writing.
February 25, 2021
My. Goodness. This book was on a whole diff level than all the other books I’ve read so far. Compelling, full of suspense and action, sizzling hot romance, surprises left and right, jaw dropping and CRAZY good. The book had me shivering with excitement, the feels were too real and definitely something you can relate to just by reading and the need to know what happens at every flip of the page. I cant begin to imagine what each of the characters go through or the decisions they have to make but WOW this book went beyond what I expected! DEFINITELY A MUST READ!! Hold on tight and enjoy this ride!!
January 25, 2021
As this series goes on, it becomes more and more about the mission of Alliance and less about the romance. I did enjoy this one a lot though! This story focuses on Josiah. It's getting really tough to envision this group of super intense black ops muscle men falling for every woman they are obligated to protect, but I'm letting myself enjoy the fun of the series. I really enjoy the characters in each story and I'll be sad when I run out of these books!
May 8, 2017
This book keeps you on the edge of your seat from the start to finish. It is all about the revenge and saving them from the psycho maniac who is out to destroy them. Josiah has a destruction though in the name of Sutton Dahl. She is smart enough to help them as she has the information they are looking for to catch this psycho.
May 9, 2017
wondering why this was RITA nominated, i thought it was meh with a side of *yawn*
May 12, 2017
OMG, the action sequences in this book will have you holding your breath as you frantically turn the page. SO GOOD. SO HOT. I adore this whole series!
September 18, 2017
Great book - outstanding characters - super suspense - could not put it down.
This was a really good series!!!!
This was a really good series!!!!
September 15, 2018
Great story! Enjoyed Josiah and Sutton!
May 22, 2019
I gotta admit I wasn't a big fan of Josiah- he was too much of a jackass for me to like him- but I did love the Alliance dynamics. Essentially Mike, who was a much more likeable character.
October 14, 2015
FACING FIRE (Bad Boys Undercover #3) by HelenKay Dimon
4 stars---
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 29, 2015
When his uncle is brutally murdered, Josiah King knows that business just got personal. His uncle's ties to the Alliance can mean only one thing: Josiah and his black ops team are targets, along with everyone they love. Primed for vengeance, Josiah is determined to unravel the plot--until long-legged redhead Sutton Dahl becomes a dangerous distraction.
Sutton is very good at uncovering other people's secrets—and protecting her own. When Josiah bursts into her life she's torn between pushing him away and asking for his help. Mysterious, strong, and much too sexy, he's a puzzle she longs to solve, and a temptation she can't ignore.
Thrown together in the face of Alliance's most lethal threat, Josiah and Sutton become unlikely partners, fighting for their lives even as the attraction between them flares into real passion. Torn between his team and the woman who means everything to him, Josiah will risk it all to save Sutton, even if that decision is his last.
•••••••
REVIEW: 4stars--- FACING FIRE is the third full-length installment in HelenKay Dimon’s contemporary, adult Bad Boys Undercover romantic suspense series focusing on an undercover Black Ops organization known as the Alliance. This is Alliance operative Josiah King, and PI Sutton Dahl’s storyline. FACING FIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I would recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary.
NOTE: There may be some spoilers in my review if you are a follower of HelenKay Dimon’s BAD BOYS UNDERCOVER series. At the end of FALLING HARD (BBU #2) the Alliance Team’s target is presumed dead and gone.
Told from several third person perspectives FACING FIRE follows the Alliance Team as they are once again threatened by an enemy known only as Benton. Benton is seeking revenge against the Alliance Team for the physical and emotional damage caused when Benton survived a fiery explosion that left him scarred. Benton is evil; seeks world domination through chemical warfare and is offering a secret weapon to the highest bidder. When Benton targets Josiah King, Josiah loses someone close in the ensuing carnage and death. Enter Sutton Dahl-a woman hoping to get close enough to a man named Bane, to seek revenge of a different kind-but first Sutton must convince the Alliance Team that she is not partnered with Benton in his crimes against Josiah and the team.
The attraction between Josiah and Sutton is immediate but Josiah does not trust Sutton as she keeps secret her need to make contact with Bane. Sutton’s connection to the Alliance Team proves dangerous when she is tagged by Benton in his plans for revenge and retribution. The $ex scenes are provocative and erotic but Josiah is slow to accept that Sutton does not mean any harm against the people with whom he works and loves.
FACING FIRE is an ensemble storyline that includes several member of the Alliance Team whose relationship is that of family and friends. There is good natured camaraderie between friends; and heartbreak when one of their own sacrifices himself to save the others.
The world building continues to focus on the assignments, and Benton’s need for global control. Benton is a man on a mission: the Alliance Team and everyone they love has been targeted in the name of revenge.
FACING FIRE is a story of suspense, romance and intrigue: the premise is entertaining; the characters are animated and energetic; the romance is seductive. I was drawn into the storyline-became one with the characters-I felt their heartbreak and need.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Edelweiss
www.thereadingcafe.com
4 stars---
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 29, 2015
When his uncle is brutally murdered, Josiah King knows that business just got personal. His uncle's ties to the Alliance can mean only one thing: Josiah and his black ops team are targets, along with everyone they love. Primed for vengeance, Josiah is determined to unravel the plot--until long-legged redhead Sutton Dahl becomes a dangerous distraction.
Sutton is very good at uncovering other people's secrets—and protecting her own. When Josiah bursts into her life she's torn between pushing him away and asking for his help. Mysterious, strong, and much too sexy, he's a puzzle she longs to solve, and a temptation she can't ignore.
Thrown together in the face of Alliance's most lethal threat, Josiah and Sutton become unlikely partners, fighting for their lives even as the attraction between them flares into real passion. Torn between his team and the woman who means everything to him, Josiah will risk it all to save Sutton, even if that decision is his last.
•••••••
REVIEW: 4stars--- FACING FIRE is the third full-length installment in HelenKay Dimon’s contemporary, adult Bad Boys Undercover romantic suspense series focusing on an undercover Black Ops organization known as the Alliance. This is Alliance operative Josiah King, and PI Sutton Dahl’s storyline. FACING FIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I would recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary.
NOTE: There may be some spoilers in my review if you are a follower of HelenKay Dimon’s BAD BOYS UNDERCOVER series. At the end of FALLING HARD (BBU #2) the Alliance Team’s target is presumed dead and gone.
Told from several third person perspectives FACING FIRE follows the Alliance Team as they are once again threatened by an enemy known only as Benton. Benton is seeking revenge against the Alliance Team for the physical and emotional damage caused when Benton survived a fiery explosion that left him scarred. Benton is evil; seeks world domination through chemical warfare and is offering a secret weapon to the highest bidder. When Benton targets Josiah King, Josiah loses someone close in the ensuing carnage and death. Enter Sutton Dahl-a woman hoping to get close enough to a man named Bane, to seek revenge of a different kind-but first Sutton must convince the Alliance Team that she is not partnered with Benton in his crimes against Josiah and the team.
The attraction between Josiah and Sutton is immediate but Josiah does not trust Sutton as she keeps secret her need to make contact with Bane. Sutton’s connection to the Alliance Team proves dangerous when she is tagged by Benton in his plans for revenge and retribution. The $ex scenes are provocative and erotic but Josiah is slow to accept that Sutton does not mean any harm against the people with whom he works and loves.
FACING FIRE is an ensemble storyline that includes several member of the Alliance Team whose relationship is that of family and friends. There is good natured camaraderie between friends; and heartbreak when one of their own sacrifices himself to save the others.
The world building continues to focus on the assignments, and Benton’s need for global control. Benton is a man on a mission: the Alliance Team and everyone they love has been targeted in the name of revenge.
FACING FIRE is a story of suspense, romance and intrigue: the premise is entertaining; the characters are animated and energetic; the romance is seductive. I was drawn into the storyline-became one with the characters-I felt their heartbreak and need.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Edelweiss
www.thereadingcafe.com
January 3, 2017
Title: Facing Fire
Series: Bad Boys Undercover bk 3
Author: Helenkay Dimon
Genre: Romantic Suspense
When his uncle is brutally murdered, Josiah King knows that business just got personal. His uncle's ties to the Alliance can mean only one thing: Josiah and his black ops team are targets, along with everyone they love. Primed for vengeance, Josiah is determined to unravel the plot--until long-legged redhead Sutton Dahl becomes a dangerous distraction.
Sutton is very good at uncovering other people's secrets—and protecting her own. When Josiah bursts into her life she's torn between pushing him away and asking for his help. Mysterious, strong, and much too sexy, he's a puzzle she longs to solve, and a temptation she can't ignore.
Thrown together in the face of Alliance's most lethal threat, Josiah and Sutton become unlikely partners, fighting for their lives even as the attraction between them flares into real passion. Torn between his team and the woman who means everything to him, Josiah will risk it all to save Sutton, even if that decision is his last.
Thoughts: So here's the thing, I didn't like the first book in this series, Playing Dirty, enjoyed the second book, Falling Hard, and loved this book.
First whenever Josiah spoke I heard his posh, at least to me, British accent and oh man...seriously what woman can resist a man decked out in black-ops gear and British accent? I know I can't.
Plus knowing where the inspiration fro this series came from, the Starzz show Strike Back, I had zero problems imagining our hero.
The heroine, man she had moxy. I've found I'm super critical of heroines in romantic suspense books who do boneheaded things because of reasons, and I have to say that Sutton, while she had her reasons for not telling them everything she knows, in no way does it hurt them in their hunt.
One of the very many things that Helenkay does really well is create characters and story lines that draw you in until you are so involved in that what is going on all you can think about is the story to the point you ignore everything and everyone around.
That very much is the case in this series, and especially this book. From the opening scene, which is one of those OMFG scenes, to the very last confrontation with the bad guy and then the fallout with each of them I was completely invested in Josiah, Sutton and the members of the Josiah's team.
I was already a fan of Helenkay's but with this book she planted herself firmly on my auto-buy list. If you haven't read Helenkay before you need to correct this and pick up one of her books.
Grade: A
Review by: Heather
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: Bad Boys Undercover bk 3
Author: Helenkay Dimon
Genre: Romantic Suspense
When his uncle is brutally murdered, Josiah King knows that business just got personal. His uncle's ties to the Alliance can mean only one thing: Josiah and his black ops team are targets, along with everyone they love. Primed for vengeance, Josiah is determined to unravel the plot--until long-legged redhead Sutton Dahl becomes a dangerous distraction.
Sutton is very good at uncovering other people's secrets—and protecting her own. When Josiah bursts into her life she's torn between pushing him away and asking for his help. Mysterious, strong, and much too sexy, he's a puzzle she longs to solve, and a temptation she can't ignore.
Thrown together in the face of Alliance's most lethal threat, Josiah and Sutton become unlikely partners, fighting for their lives even as the attraction between them flares into real passion. Torn between his team and the woman who means everything to him, Josiah will risk it all to save Sutton, even if that decision is his last.
Thoughts: So here's the thing, I didn't like the first book in this series, Playing Dirty, enjoyed the second book, Falling Hard, and loved this book.
First whenever Josiah spoke I heard his posh, at least to me, British accent and oh man...seriously what woman can resist a man decked out in black-ops gear and British accent? I know I can't.
Plus knowing where the inspiration fro this series came from, the Starzz show Strike Back, I had zero problems imagining our hero.
The heroine, man she had moxy. I've found I'm super critical of heroines in romantic suspense books who do boneheaded things because of reasons, and I have to say that Sutton, while she had her reasons for not telling them everything she knows, in no way does it hurt them in their hunt.
One of the very many things that Helenkay does really well is create characters and story lines that draw you in until you are so involved in that what is going on all you can think about is the story to the point you ignore everything and everyone around.
That very much is the case in this series, and especially this book. From the opening scene, which is one of those OMFG scenes, to the very last confrontation with the bad guy and then the fallout with each of them I was completely invested in Josiah, Sutton and the members of the Josiah's team.
I was already a fan of Helenkay's but with this book she planted herself firmly on my auto-buy list. If you haven't read Helenkay before you need to correct this and pick up one of her books.
Grade: A
Review by: Heather
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
September 23, 2015
If you like bad boys and tough women this is a series for you. This series keeps you on your toes and holding your breath to see what happens next.
Josiah is the leader of Delta team and has just witnessed his uncle being blown up and is dealing with the anger and guilt it caused. Sutton is a private detective that is trailing the man she believes set up the supposed accident that killed her mother trying to prove that it was murder. She has spent her adult life working towards revenge and when she stumbles on a list of names and places that she doesn't understand she turns to the internet for answers. Unfortunately that puts her directly in the path of Josiah and the Alliance. The information she has was supposed to be confidential and no one was to have it. Sutton is drawn into the private war between the man she knows as Bane and Josiah knows at Benton. Neither one is ready to trust the other other but they are thrown together and have to work together to face their enemy. Neither one expects to find happiness or love as they both have lived a life fueled by revenge. The sparks fly immediately and the two of them do a dance before they finally give in. In the meantime they are busy trying to catch up to Bane/Benton, prevent anyone else from being killed and being forced to make some really hard decisions. They have to work out their relationship and how best to deal with the conflicting emotions they are both feeling along with the sense of peace and rightness they feel in each other's arms. I couldn't put this book down and couldn't wait to see what would happen in the end. I laughed, cried and screamed at this book before it was all over but loved every minute of it. This is my favorite book in this series and I can't wait to see what the author does next!
Josiah is the leader of Delta team and has just witnessed his uncle being blown up and is dealing with the anger and guilt it caused. Sutton is a private detective that is trailing the man she believes set up the supposed accident that killed her mother trying to prove that it was murder. She has spent her adult life working towards revenge and when she stumbles on a list of names and places that she doesn't understand she turns to the internet for answers. Unfortunately that puts her directly in the path of Josiah and the Alliance. The information she has was supposed to be confidential and no one was to have it. Sutton is drawn into the private war between the man she knows as Bane and Josiah knows at Benton. Neither one is ready to trust the other other but they are thrown together and have to work together to face their enemy. Neither one expects to find happiness or love as they both have lived a life fueled by revenge. The sparks fly immediately and the two of them do a dance before they finally give in. In the meantime they are busy trying to catch up to Bane/Benton, prevent anyone else from being killed and being forced to make some really hard decisions. They have to work out their relationship and how best to deal with the conflicting emotions they are both feeling along with the sense of peace and rightness they feel in each other's arms. I couldn't put this book down and couldn't wait to see what would happen in the end. I laughed, cried and screamed at this book before it was all over but loved every minute of it. This is my favorite book in this series and I can't wait to see what the author does next!
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