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Games People Play #4
The Protector
“Dimon excels at creating memorable, complex characters.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Salvation, Pennsylvania. The commune located in the small town was advertised as a modern Utopia: a place to live, share, and learn with other like-minded young people. Cate Pendleton’s sister was one of them. Now she’s dead—and Cate won’t rest until she finds out who killed her. Stonewalled at every turn, she approaches a DC Fixer for help and ends up with Damon Knox, a mysterious man with a secretive past. But Cate soon discovers that she not only needs Damon, she wants him, which isn’t good—for the attraction brewing between them will only lead to complications that can turn into danger . . .
Damon has tried to erase the hellish memories and the evil that happened in Salvation ever since he left a long time ago. Still, he can’t turn his back on Cate. As Damon works with Cate to uncover her sister’s killer, he finds himself drawn to her more and more. But how will she feel about him when she learns about his connection to the place?
Joining forces to uncover the truth, they must stay one step ahead of a cunning killer who’s bent on not being exposed.
Salvation, Pennsylvania. The commune located in the small town was advertised as a modern Utopia: a place to live, share, and learn with other like-minded young people. Cate Pendleton’s sister was one of them. Now she’s dead—and Cate won’t rest until she finds out who killed her. Stonewalled at every turn, she approaches a DC Fixer for help and ends up with Damon Knox, a mysterious man with a secretive past. But Cate soon discovers that she not only needs Damon, she wants him, which isn’t good—for the attraction brewing between them will only lead to complications that can turn into danger . . .
Damon has tried to erase the hellish memories and the evil that happened in Salvation ever since he left a long time ago. Still, he can’t turn his back on Cate. As Damon works with Cate to uncover her sister’s killer, he finds himself drawn to her more and more. But how will she feel about him when she learns about his connection to the place?
Joining forces to uncover the truth, they must stay one step ahead of a cunning killer who’s bent on not being exposed.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 15, 2018
63 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
HelenKay Dimon
167 books989 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 56 reviews
July 27, 2018
HelenKay Dimon is an author who I’ve been meaning to read for a while and, with equal measures of sexy and suspense, The Protector was an impressive introduction to her writing.
...if you want someone who will literally risk everything to find an answer, then you want me, Cate.”
Cate Pendleton is grieving the death of her sister and not knowing how and why she died torments hers. She’s not weak, far from it, but she knows she can’t find the answers she needs alone. Enter Damon Knox, a man with the skills to help her, but who is harbouring his own secrets and a past in which getting involved with Cate will risk old wounds being reopened.
I know you think you’re all broody and complex and hard to read, but you’re really not.”
From the moment they meet, Cate and Damon created a spark which carried on throughout the entire story, flitting between verbal sparring and tender moments as they grow closer and work towards discovering how Cate’s sister met her untimely demise. But what struck me was how light a read this was considering the suspense element, gathering momentum as the story heads towards its conclusion and creating tension and action, yet the the romance and passion remains ever present throughout: I loved Cate’s confidence both sexually and in helping Damon open up, along with their knack of creating subtle, sexy innuendo.
Is that a hard rule? Like, no sex at work ever. Is there wiggle room?”
“Are you going to wiggle for me, Cate?”
This is the fourth book in the Games People Play series and although my first, diving in this far down the line wasn’t a problem and has simply left me with my sights firmly set on the previous books.
I never expected you.”
Copy received courtesy of Avon Books via Edelweiss for an honest and unbiased opinion.
...if you want someone who will literally risk everything to find an answer, then you want me, Cate.”Cate Pendleton is grieving the death of her sister and not knowing how and why she died torments hers. She’s not weak, far from it, but she knows she can’t find the answers she needs alone. Enter Damon Knox, a man with the skills to help her, but who is harbouring his own secrets and a past in which getting involved with Cate will risk old wounds being reopened.
I know you think you’re all broody and complex and hard to read, but you’re really not.”
From the moment they meet, Cate and Damon created a spark which carried on throughout the entire story, flitting between verbal sparring and tender moments as they grow closer and work towards discovering how Cate’s sister met her untimely demise. But what struck me was how light a read this was considering the suspense element, gathering momentum as the story heads towards its conclusion and creating tension and action, yet the the romance and passion remains ever present throughout: I loved Cate’s confidence both sexually and in helping Damon open up, along with their knack of creating subtle, sexy innuendo.
Is that a hard rule? Like, no sex at work ever. Is there wiggle room?”“Are you going to wiggle for me, Cate?”
This is the fourth book in the Games People Play series and although my first, diving in this far down the line wasn’t a problem and has simply left me with my sights firmly set on the previous books.
I never expected you.”
Copy received courtesy of Avon Books via Edelweiss for an honest and unbiased opinion.
July 29, 2018
5 'color me surprised how fabulous this book is' Stars.
Characters & Chemistry.
Cate Pendleton has exhausted every avenue in trying to find out what happened to her sister. Her last chance is talking to the mysterious Fixer of D.C. you need help? If you are legit. You’ll be helped. The last ten years or so she has put her life on hold. To find out the truth of what truly happened that night.
I really liked Cate. She is strong, resilient, observant and a heroine who knows what she wants and has no TSTL moments. At the beginning she came off as a bit boring but there is a calmness about her and a strength that runs deep.
Damon Knox doesn’t want to take this job, but the Fixer knows how to get to him. Helping a damsel in distress. As it connects strongly to Damon’s past, the Fixer is also hoping Damon will get closure. At the beginning that is a road Damon doesn’t want to take. He is carrying one whooper of a secret around with him.
Damon is one of those alphas, a tortured soul with a need to make amendments of what happened in the past. Damon is a fantastic Hero and he has great character development throughout the book. He has my stamp of approval although he does come across as heavy handed.
Now the chemistry is one of a kind. What with a fake relationship as their undercover they are going to have to figure some things out. It’s a rocky start but they have chemistry and, in the end,, they act on it. They are good together.
Writing, Plot & Pace.
The writing is flawless, the story is engaging. The author hits every note perfectly be it the suspense, the banter and especially romance. For those of you who follow my reviews you know that I have had enough of all the too much sex, same old, same old romance. But once again I am so effing ecstatic that it didn’t happen here. Add in some mystery and unsolved murder and decade old secrets and you have a fantastic read right here.
The plot is one of a kind. There are twists and turns that kept me guessing and believe me it is hard to surprise me when it comes to some plots that are out there.
I’m sure I mentioned the pace but that won’t stop me from mentioning it again. There was never a dull moment, the pace flowed well and kept me on my toes.
Verdict.
Seeing as I came in on the tail end of this series I really do hope that all the previous books are the same but there is only one to find out, I’m off to the beginning to read The Fixer. As to The Protector it gets to thumb up from me. If I had more thumbs, then I would stick those up as well.
What does niggle at me is what happened to the relationship between Damon and his father? What happened to the Sullivan school? Those are my two loose ends that should be tied up in a pretty bow.
Characters & Chemistry.
Cate Pendleton has exhausted every avenue in trying to find out what happened to her sister. Her last chance is talking to the mysterious Fixer of D.C. you need help? If you are legit. You’ll be helped. The last ten years or so she has put her life on hold. To find out the truth of what truly happened that night.
I really liked Cate. She is strong, resilient, observant and a heroine who knows what she wants and has no TSTL moments. At the beginning she came off as a bit boring but there is a calmness about her and a strength that runs deep.
Damon Knox doesn’t want to take this job, but the Fixer knows how to get to him. Helping a damsel in distress. As it connects strongly to Damon’s past, the Fixer is also hoping Damon will get closure. At the beginning that is a road Damon doesn’t want to take. He is carrying one whooper of a secret around with him.
Damon is one of those alphas, a tortured soul with a need to make amendments of what happened in the past. Damon is a fantastic Hero and he has great character development throughout the book. He has my stamp of approval although he does come across as heavy handed.
Now the chemistry is one of a kind. What with a fake relationship as their undercover they are going to have to figure some things out. It’s a rocky start but they have chemistry and, in the end,, they act on it. They are good together.
Writing, Plot & Pace.
The writing is flawless, the story is engaging. The author hits every note perfectly be it the suspense, the banter and especially romance. For those of you who follow my reviews you know that I have had enough of all the too much sex, same old, same old romance. But once again I am so effing ecstatic that it didn’t happen here. Add in some mystery and unsolved murder and decade old secrets and you have a fantastic read right here.
The plot is one of a kind. There are twists and turns that kept me guessing and believe me it is hard to surprise me when it comes to some plots that are out there.
I’m sure I mentioned the pace but that won’t stop me from mentioning it again. There was never a dull moment, the pace flowed well and kept me on my toes.
Verdict.
Seeing as I came in on the tail end of this series I really do hope that all the previous books are the same but there is only one to find out, I’m off to the beginning to read The Fixer. As to The Protector it gets to thumb up from me. If I had more thumbs, then I would stick those up as well.
What does niggle at me is what happened to the relationship between Damon and his father? What happened to the Sullivan school? Those are my two loose ends that should be tied up in a pretty bow.
June 30, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this a B for narration and a B- for content at AudioGals, which just about squeezes it into the 4 star bracket.
The Protector is the fourth full-length novel in HelenKay Dimon’s series of romantic suspense tales, Games People Play. The other three aren’t available in audio (yet?) but fortunately, while there are some characters who recur in each book, each story is self-contained, so there’s no need to be familiar with the earlier instalments in order to be able to follow this one. It might help to have a rough idea of the premise – the hero of each story is a member of a mysterious group that operates under the radar (and sometimes outside the law) in order to fix the seemingly unfixable – but the author includes enough basic information about the enigmatic Wren and his organisation for the newbie to be able to work it out easily enough. Jeremy York is another of those narrators I’ve been aware of for some time but haven’t yet listened to, so as I’ve read some of the earlier books, this seemed like a good opportunity to give him a try.
Cate Pendleton has been trying for years to find the truth about the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death at a place known as Salvation, a commune in South Pennsylvania that advertises itself as the ideal place to live, work, share and learn among other like-minded people. But Cate suspects it to be something more sinister, and past events involving the place would seem to bear that out. Around fourteen years earlier, an FBI investigation into Salvation ended in violence, and Cate is convinced the place is more akin to a cult than a harmless Utopian community. Having come to dead end after dead end, Cate has only one place left to turn for help in her search for the truth about her sister, and reaches out to Wren in the hope that he’ll be able to help her to get the answers she’s looking for.
Damon Knox doesn’t want to take the assignment. He has inside knowledge of Salvation that could be helpful, yes, but he has too many bad memories and wounds he’d rather not open, too many unanswered questions he wants to keep buried to ever want to go back to the place that nearly destroyed him. But… Wren is a difficult man to say no to, and when he tells Damon that someone from Salvation is keeping tabs on Cate and trying to intimidate her, Damon’s natural instinct to protect and his need to find ways to atone for the past soon have him warily accepting the assignment – which is to go back to Salvation and see what he can find out.
So he’s not best pleased when Wren introduces him to Cate and says arrangements have been made for them to go to Salvation together, posing as a couple – which will allow them to spend a lot of time together and share accommodation without arousing suspicion. Damon and Cate strikes sparks off each other from the get go, and the attraction between them builds quickly, even though Damon makes it clear from the start that he’s a “no strings” kinda guy who doesn’t “do” emotional entanglements. I liked Cate’s metaphorical eye-roll and “yeah, yeah, you’re dead inside, got it” reaction; it made a nice change from a needy heroine wanting to soothe the damaged hero’s wounded soul. Not that Cate doesn’t see that Damon really does have a lot of emotional baggage; she does and comes to realise that he needs to face his demons if he’s ever going to be able to shake free of the shadows of his past – but she doesn’t push him too hard and (mostly) lets him open up when he’s ready. She’s comfortable in her own skin, she’s focused, mentally strong and doesn’t need a man to prop her up. She’s strongly attracted to Damon, and if all he is prepared to offer is a few bouts of hot sex, then she’s okay with that, although the more time they spend together, the more Cate realises that there’s a lot more to Damon than the rather aloof front he projects – and how much she’d like to get to know the warm, funny, thoroughly decent guy she is starting to see behind it.
Going back to Salvation is difficult for Damon, and once we – and Cate (who is, rightly, somewhat pissed that Damon didn’t prepare her for the truth about his past) – get to know exactly why that is, his initial resistance to going back and his dislike of being there make perfect sense. He’s a complex character who carries deep mental scars as the result of his regimented upbringing and a devastating betrayal that destroyed the man he was. Like the other members of the “Quint Five”, (heroes of the other books), he was well on his way to self-destruction when he was taken under the wing of Quint, a former undercover operative who taught him to redirect his energy and use his new-learned skills for other – legal – purposes. Wren re-invented himself as the mostly anonymous fixer (The Fixer is the first book in the series) and the others all work alongside him in some capacity. Some of my favourite scenes in the book are those between Damon and Garrett (Wren’s right hand man, and probably my favourite of all of them – I’m a sucker for his brand of dry, smart-mouthed humour!) and Damon and Trevor, who is Wren’s inside man at Salvation; Ms. Dimon writes these interactions extremely well, and they’ve been highlights of all the books in the series I’ve read.
The thing is, that while the idea of Salvation-as-cult had a lot of potential, it’s not fully realised, and I found that aspect of the plot to be a little flat. There’s a definite air of menace permeating the chapters that take place at the commune, and there are some exciting moments, but while Damon’s character development and the romance between him and Cate are well done, the suspense part of the story just wasn’t quite as… well, suspenseful, as I’d hoped it would be.
I’m really glad, though, to have finally got around to listening to Jeremy York. I know he’s a very experienced performer and that he narrates quite a lot of romance novels, so with luck, I’ll be able to find more of his work to add to my TBL. His performance here is generally well-paced and clearly differentiated; Damon, Wren, Garrett and Trevor are all alpha males with forceful personalities, which comes through clearly in Mr. York’s interpretations of them, and they are all easy to tell apart whenever they’re in scenes together – mostly it’s Damon with either Wren, Garrett or Trevor, so it’s easy for the listener to keep track. I was impressed with his portrayal of Cate as well; his female voices are pretty good, not pitched too high, no recourse to falsetto, and while there aren’t too many other women in the story, there’s clear differentiation there, too. The steamy scenes are nicely-judged, and he injects a sense of urgency into the more dramatic moments; it’s a strong performance all-round and I’m looking forward to listening to him again.
I enjoyed listening to The Protector, even though I found the suspense element somewhat lacking. Jeremy York’s narration kept me engaged through the weaker parts of the story, and I’d certainly be open to listening to other books in the Games People Play series, should they ever find their way into audio.
I've given this a B for narration and a B- for content at AudioGals, which just about squeezes it into the 4 star bracket.
The Protector is the fourth full-length novel in HelenKay Dimon’s series of romantic suspense tales, Games People Play. The other three aren’t available in audio (yet?) but fortunately, while there are some characters who recur in each book, each story is self-contained, so there’s no need to be familiar with the earlier instalments in order to be able to follow this one. It might help to have a rough idea of the premise – the hero of each story is a member of a mysterious group that operates under the radar (and sometimes outside the law) in order to fix the seemingly unfixable – but the author includes enough basic information about the enigmatic Wren and his organisation for the newbie to be able to work it out easily enough. Jeremy York is another of those narrators I’ve been aware of for some time but haven’t yet listened to, so as I’ve read some of the earlier books, this seemed like a good opportunity to give him a try.
Cate Pendleton has been trying for years to find the truth about the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death at a place known as Salvation, a commune in South Pennsylvania that advertises itself as the ideal place to live, work, share and learn among other like-minded people. But Cate suspects it to be something more sinister, and past events involving the place would seem to bear that out. Around fourteen years earlier, an FBI investigation into Salvation ended in violence, and Cate is convinced the place is more akin to a cult than a harmless Utopian community. Having come to dead end after dead end, Cate has only one place left to turn for help in her search for the truth about her sister, and reaches out to Wren in the hope that he’ll be able to help her to get the answers she’s looking for.
Damon Knox doesn’t want to take the assignment. He has inside knowledge of Salvation that could be helpful, yes, but he has too many bad memories and wounds he’d rather not open, too many unanswered questions he wants to keep buried to ever want to go back to the place that nearly destroyed him. But… Wren is a difficult man to say no to, and when he tells Damon that someone from Salvation is keeping tabs on Cate and trying to intimidate her, Damon’s natural instinct to protect and his need to find ways to atone for the past soon have him warily accepting the assignment – which is to go back to Salvation and see what he can find out.
So he’s not best pleased when Wren introduces him to Cate and says arrangements have been made for them to go to Salvation together, posing as a couple – which will allow them to spend a lot of time together and share accommodation without arousing suspicion. Damon and Cate strikes sparks off each other from the get go, and the attraction between them builds quickly, even though Damon makes it clear from the start that he’s a “no strings” kinda guy who doesn’t “do” emotional entanglements. I liked Cate’s metaphorical eye-roll and “yeah, yeah, you’re dead inside, got it” reaction; it made a nice change from a needy heroine wanting to soothe the damaged hero’s wounded soul. Not that Cate doesn’t see that Damon really does have a lot of emotional baggage; she does and comes to realise that he needs to face his demons if he’s ever going to be able to shake free of the shadows of his past – but she doesn’t push him too hard and (mostly) lets him open up when he’s ready. She’s comfortable in her own skin, she’s focused, mentally strong and doesn’t need a man to prop her up. She’s strongly attracted to Damon, and if all he is prepared to offer is a few bouts of hot sex, then she’s okay with that, although the more time they spend together, the more Cate realises that there’s a lot more to Damon than the rather aloof front he projects – and how much she’d like to get to know the warm, funny, thoroughly decent guy she is starting to see behind it.
Going back to Salvation is difficult for Damon, and once we – and Cate (who is, rightly, somewhat pissed that Damon didn’t prepare her for the truth about his past) – get to know exactly why that is, his initial resistance to going back and his dislike of being there make perfect sense. He’s a complex character who carries deep mental scars as the result of his regimented upbringing and a devastating betrayal that destroyed the man he was. Like the other members of the “Quint Five”, (heroes of the other books), he was well on his way to self-destruction when he was taken under the wing of Quint, a former undercover operative who taught him to redirect his energy and use his new-learned skills for other – legal – purposes. Wren re-invented himself as the mostly anonymous fixer (The Fixer is the first book in the series) and the others all work alongside him in some capacity. Some of my favourite scenes in the book are those between Damon and Garrett (Wren’s right hand man, and probably my favourite of all of them – I’m a sucker for his brand of dry, smart-mouthed humour!) and Damon and Trevor, who is Wren’s inside man at Salvation; Ms. Dimon writes these interactions extremely well, and they’ve been highlights of all the books in the series I’ve read.
The thing is, that while the idea of Salvation-as-cult had a lot of potential, it’s not fully realised, and I found that aspect of the plot to be a little flat. There’s a definite air of menace permeating the chapters that take place at the commune, and there are some exciting moments, but while Damon’s character development and the romance between him and Cate are well done, the suspense part of the story just wasn’t quite as… well, suspenseful, as I’d hoped it would be.
I’m really glad, though, to have finally got around to listening to Jeremy York. I know he’s a very experienced performer and that he narrates quite a lot of romance novels, so with luck, I’ll be able to find more of his work to add to my TBL. His performance here is generally well-paced and clearly differentiated; Damon, Wren, Garrett and Trevor are all alpha males with forceful personalities, which comes through clearly in Mr. York’s interpretations of them, and they are all easy to tell apart whenever they’re in scenes together – mostly it’s Damon with either Wren, Garrett or Trevor, so it’s easy for the listener to keep track. I was impressed with his portrayal of Cate as well; his female voices are pretty good, not pitched too high, no recourse to falsetto, and while there aren’t too many other women in the story, there’s clear differentiation there, too. The steamy scenes are nicely-judged, and he injects a sense of urgency into the more dramatic moments; it’s a strong performance all-round and I’m looking forward to listening to him again.
I enjoyed listening to The Protector, even though I found the suspense element somewhat lacking. Jeremy York’s narration kept me engaged through the weaker parts of the story, and I’d certainly be open to listening to other books in the Games People Play series, should they ever find their way into audio.
July 22, 2018
Meh. I struggled to finish this. I liked the story okay but it wasn't compelling. The romance was pretty good but the mystery and suspense parts were lacking. They primarily served to drive the romance. I prefer a more even balance if romance and mystery in my romantic suspense.
August 7, 2018
✦Review: THE PROTECTOR: Games People Play by HelenKay Dimon https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-aPB
Publication Date: July 31, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 4 Stars
I’ve always loved a book that has a lot of group camaraderie, especially in an alpha-male unit. This book fulfilled that wish, so now I must go buy the rest of the series! Thankfully I had no problem jumping into the middle of the series. Damon was ornery and secretive, loaded down with a past guilt that made him standoffish. I didn’t mind that and quickly wanted him to find release. It took me longer to warm up to Cate. She was a touch too argumentative and some of the risks she took seemed a bit improbably. That being said, she grew on me. They matched up into a believable couple, despite the mystery and danger bombarding them. It turned out to be a sexy, exciting suspense – that kept me guessing.
*Review copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
~*~*~*~
Kindle https://amzn.to/2NVuUqv
Publication Date: July 31, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 4 Stars
I’ve always loved a book that has a lot of group camaraderie, especially in an alpha-male unit. This book fulfilled that wish, so now I must go buy the rest of the series! Thankfully I had no problem jumping into the middle of the series. Damon was ornery and secretive, loaded down with a past guilt that made him standoffish. I didn’t mind that and quickly wanted him to find release. It took me longer to warm up to Cate. She was a touch too argumentative and some of the risks she took seemed a bit improbably. That being said, she grew on me. They matched up into a believable couple, despite the mystery and danger bombarding them. It turned out to be a sexy, exciting suspense – that kept me guessing.
*Review copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
~*~*~*~
Kindle https://amzn.to/2NVuUqv
August 11, 2018
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH INKSLINGER PR. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
I came into this book cold, meaning that I had not read any of the prior books in the series, though they had been on my radar as something to check out. Unfortunately, after this experience, I may not go read those earlier books, even considering the fact that I had purchased a couple of them while they were on sale!
My biggest problem with this was that it was not new reader friendly. It really felt as if the author expected the reader to have read all previous books in the series, as there was very little explanations given about much of the supporting characters or background organizations. I felt very lost while reading this!
Because of that lack of world building, the characters didn't resonate with me as much as they could have/should have. I had a hard time connecting to Damon or Cate, even though I could sympathize with their points of view. Their relationship really didn't resonate with me, and while I realize it was a "fake" one, when they did start developing feelings for one another, it didn't ring true for me.
The best part of the book was the suspense plot. I had a hard time pinning down the "Who dunnit?" portion of things, and this is where I think the author shines. She kept me guessing, and I was surprised at the end when the final reveal came out!
Since I have the first book in the series, I may go back and read it at some point, but it will be a very long time before I do so, especially since this one took me so long to get through.
I came into this book cold, meaning that I had not read any of the prior books in the series, though they had been on my radar as something to check out. Unfortunately, after this experience, I may not go read those earlier books, even considering the fact that I had purchased a couple of them while they were on sale!
My biggest problem with this was that it was not new reader friendly. It really felt as if the author expected the reader to have read all previous books in the series, as there was very little explanations given about much of the supporting characters or background organizations. I felt very lost while reading this!
Because of that lack of world building, the characters didn't resonate with me as much as they could have/should have. I had a hard time connecting to Damon or Cate, even though I could sympathize with their points of view. Their relationship really didn't resonate with me, and while I realize it was a "fake" one, when they did start developing feelings for one another, it didn't ring true for me.
The best part of the book was the suspense plot. I had a hard time pinning down the "Who dunnit?" portion of things, and this is where I think the author shines. She kept me guessing, and I was surprised at the end when the final reveal came out!
Since I have the first book in the series, I may go back and read it at some point, but it will be a very long time before I do so, especially since this one took me so long to get through.
August 10, 2018
The book was ok and I had no problem finishing the story, but I wasn't feeling compelled to finish the story in order to find out all the answers. I was reading the book at my usual pace and I wasn't as excited as I was when I was reading the third book. This one had some strong moments that I can still remember despite all the time that has passed and others that were very forgettable. Damon caught my eye from the previous book and I continued to like him through the story. We got to see more about his past and everything that made him the person he is now. Cate was focused on finding what exactly happened to her sister and I liked her for that. She risked a lot of things when she was digging into the past, but she never gave up and that's a trait I want my heroines to have. Cate and Damon relationship had a good development and for me, they worked as a couple. They are a good pair and I never felt like their relationship was forced or anything like that. I was happy with them the whole time and that's the reason I will recommend the book. The romance was great and it had some suspense.
August 14, 2018
Pretty derivative romantic suspense, with close-mouthed, wise-guy hero and "feisty" heroine. I liked them well enough, but the suspense plot was loose and disjointed. Nothing that rocked my world, but enjoyable enough, especially the final "make-up" scene (which was GREAT). If you'd like to read a more extensive review, please follow the link to my blog:
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...
Please note I received an e-ARC from Avon Books, via Edelweiss+.
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...
Please note I received an e-ARC from Avon Books, via Edelweiss+.
August 14, 2020
How have I not read this series before? Full disclosure, I read this completely out of order with this one first. I have read a couple of Ms. Dimon's books before and found them to be enjoyable and erotic. The one I liked more was the suspense thriller type. When I found out about this series, I had to try it. I am glad I did.
In this latest book, I can definitely see the growth in Ms. Dimon's writing style. The plot is a bit stronger and felt more like suspense thriller with romantic elements rather than a romance with a contrived suspense. This book reminds me a bit of Kat Martin, Christina Dodd and Heather Graham's romantic suspense. If you like their books, you will enjoy this series from Ms. Dimon.
The characters Cate and Damon are an unlikely pair. Cate is determined to find out why her sister is dead and she doesn't care who gets in the way. This makes her go to her last resort, find a special "fixer" who can help. Damon is part of a secret club type group. These are men with skills who seem to be in the gray area between law and order. Damon's friend sets him up here because the place Cate wants to get into, is the same place that Damon escaped as a youth. Going back to his past is something his friend firmly believes in.
The plot is interesting as random acts of violence are thrown at Cate and Damon. The suppositions as to who and why they are being targeted keeps me engaged. What I enjoyed is Damon seeing and learning about his past from a different set of eyes. With distance and age, Damon can almost see what was previously obscured to him. Cate's fresh pair of eyes is what helps Damon get to the bottom of his past. Whilst Damon finds out why her sister was killed. Or at least prove that her sister was killed.
The romantic elements between the two are fiery. They are like water and oil and don't seem to mix well at first. Or I guess more like vinegar and oil, Cate being the bitter vinegar and Damon being the slick oil. After being thrown together and shaken up several times, they bond and are good together.
This contemporary romance is recommended to readers who enjoy suspense and contrary stubborn characters.
*provided by Edelweiss
In this latest book, I can definitely see the growth in Ms. Dimon's writing style. The plot is a bit stronger and felt more like suspense thriller with romantic elements rather than a romance with a contrived suspense. This book reminds me a bit of Kat Martin, Christina Dodd and Heather Graham's romantic suspense. If you like their books, you will enjoy this series from Ms. Dimon.
The characters Cate and Damon are an unlikely pair. Cate is determined to find out why her sister is dead and she doesn't care who gets in the way. This makes her go to her last resort, find a special "fixer" who can help. Damon is part of a secret club type group. These are men with skills who seem to be in the gray area between law and order. Damon's friend sets him up here because the place Cate wants to get into, is the same place that Damon escaped as a youth. Going back to his past is something his friend firmly believes in.
The plot is interesting as random acts of violence are thrown at Cate and Damon. The suppositions as to who and why they are being targeted keeps me engaged. What I enjoyed is Damon seeing and learning about his past from a different set of eyes. With distance and age, Damon can almost see what was previously obscured to him. Cate's fresh pair of eyes is what helps Damon get to the bottom of his past. Whilst Damon finds out why her sister was killed. Or at least prove that her sister was killed.
The romantic elements between the two are fiery. They are like water and oil and don't seem to mix well at first. Or I guess more like vinegar and oil, Cate being the bitter vinegar and Damon being the slick oil. After being thrown together and shaken up several times, they bond and are good together.
This contemporary romance is recommended to readers who enjoy suspense and contrary stubborn characters.
*provided by Edelweiss
Read
January 30, 2019DNF at 23%. This book isn't offensive, it's just boring. The hero and heroine are investigating the heroine's sister's death. They have an unconvincing, grating sort of pretend chemistry, more because they're expected to have chemistry than that they actually do. There is nothing compelling the plot forward. The heroine has taken a brief leave of absence from her job, but her sister disappeared years ago and there is no pressure on this investigation that drives the reader onward. Plus the characters are boring. The heroine is an actuary. She appears to not have a personality beyond grumpy. The hero has an unnecessarily shadowy past and a jovial sort of resistance to human relationships. For this to work, the sense of drama and mystery has to be much higher. We have to care what his secrets are and she needs motivation beyond the sister thing because why now after all this time? This book needed a revise and resubmit to give it some movement, not a cover.
August 13, 2018
Je suis fan de cette saga depuis que je l'ai découverte en VF et je ne pouvais pas passer à côté de cette occasion de découvrir le tome 4. Il se focalise sur un autre membre de Quint à savoir Damon Knox qui va nous donner du fil à retordre.
HelenKay Dimon , qui a été récompensée au derniers RITA awards qui se sont déroulés à Denver le mois dernier, nous offre un nouvelle tome palpitant de sa saga Investigations. Ce romantic suspense tient toutes ses promesses et nous promet de belles heures de lectures.
Chronique complète http://thelovelyteacheraddictions.blo...
HelenKay Dimon , qui a été récompensée au derniers RITA awards qui se sont déroulés à Denver le mois dernier, nous offre un nouvelle tome palpitant de sa saga Investigations. Ce romantic suspense tient toutes ses promesses et nous promet de belles heures de lectures.
Chronique complète http://thelovelyteacheraddictions.blo...
August 14, 2019
Another solid book by Dimon. I am in love with the characters. The murder/detective stories always include leaps of faith but not unrealistic ones in this novel.
August 1, 2018
I hang on to each and every word as I was reading The Protector. With the brilliant banter, the twisted word games, the subtle hints with the ever-escalating suspense, the way the fake romance turns into an inferno of real, true feelings, emotions that wrapped around my heart as well as the protagonists, and how the thrilling suspense and anticipation of the malice influenced and affected the deepening emotions growing between Cate and Damon, all together it created an amazing, riveting, and ardent tale, an unputdownable story that enchanted and charmed my mind and heart while I devoured it.
Cate Pendleton's fearless pursuit of justice for her sister, to find out the truth about her sister's destiny and death was admirable and showed the capacity of kindness, consideration, compassion, and determination she was able to. She is smart, goal oriented, with an organized mind, and capable to hold her own. She is passionate, comfortable within herself, and she knows what it is to want more, to need more, to survive, and to succeed.
Damon Knox is such a complex man with deep mental wounds from his upbringing and from the consequences of the actions of the authority figures in his early life. He has completely closed off his past to survive, relying only on his inner circle of friends. He has his job, where all the good he does, is like a redemption from his past. He uses jokes and humor to hide behind, yet there is a deeply feeling, caring, passionate man under all the tough exterior, that won my heart, over and over again through the tale.
Together Cate and Damon complete each other. They bring peace of mind to each other, they feel safe and centered, able to conquer anything while in each other's company. The passion between them is beautiful, I loved how equal they were in each other's eyes, physically, mentally, with the investigation, and with the battle to survive the deadly hostility the face.
The palpable malice in the air, the intense and intimidating atmosphere at the Sullivan compound, the threats, and attacks against Cate and Damon are constant in the story, giving it a very edgy and potent tone. The suspense is well twined together with the developing love story. The tight bond, and support of the members of Fixer's team demonstrating what a true brotherhood is like.
With vivid images of the thrilling, dramatic action and suspense, of the desirous, delightfully delicious love story, built by sharp and illustrative dialogue, words that easily captured my mind and wrapped around my heart, HelenKay Dimon delivers another home run in this prized and popular series. A must-read in my opinion
~ Five Spoons
Cate Pendleton's fearless pursuit of justice for her sister, to find out the truth about her sister's destiny and death was admirable and showed the capacity of kindness, consideration, compassion, and determination she was able to. She is smart, goal oriented, with an organized mind, and capable to hold her own. She is passionate, comfortable within herself, and she knows what it is to want more, to need more, to survive, and to succeed.
Damon Knox is such a complex man with deep mental wounds from his upbringing and from the consequences of the actions of the authority figures in his early life. He has completely closed off his past to survive, relying only on his inner circle of friends. He has his job, where all the good he does, is like a redemption from his past. He uses jokes and humor to hide behind, yet there is a deeply feeling, caring, passionate man under all the tough exterior, that won my heart, over and over again through the tale.
Together Cate and Damon complete each other. They bring peace of mind to each other, they feel safe and centered, able to conquer anything while in each other's company. The passion between them is beautiful, I loved how equal they were in each other's eyes, physically, mentally, with the investigation, and with the battle to survive the deadly hostility the face.
The palpable malice in the air, the intense and intimidating atmosphere at the Sullivan compound, the threats, and attacks against Cate and Damon are constant in the story, giving it a very edgy and potent tone. The suspense is well twined together with the developing love story. The tight bond, and support of the members of Fixer's team demonstrating what a true brotherhood is like.
With vivid images of the thrilling, dramatic action and suspense, of the desirous, delightfully delicious love story, built by sharp and illustrative dialogue, words that easily captured my mind and wrapped around my heart, HelenKay Dimon delivers another home run in this prized and popular series. A must-read in my opinion
~ Five Spoons
June 28, 2018
Salvation, Pennsylvania. Although the name of the town could mean so many things, the only thing it means for these two characters can be summed up in one word, "devastation". But maybe, just maybe, they'll leave the town with a new definition to the word.
Even since Cate's sister died (many years ago), she's been on a mission to figure out what exactly happened. Everyone says it was an accident, but things just don't add up. And now? Now she seems to have a stalker of some sort. She must be getting close to the answers she's been searching for. But in order to complete her task, she needs the help of the fixer, Wren. Except it's not Wren who's helping her. It's Damon, and he's been tasked to protect her.
When Damon gets the summons from Wren to help with a case, it's usually pretty cut throat. Not this one. He doesn't want to touch this one with a ten foot pole. Too many memories. Too many unanswered questions, and WAY too many demons for him to ever want to return to Salvation. But Wren seems to always get what he wants. Right now? Right now, Wren wants Damon to protect Cate. Potentially from the one thing that he's needed "closure" with for years.
As usual, we're taken on a "who done it" adventure. Like the others, there's intrigue, suspense, chemistry and lots and lots of drama. I really enjoyed experiencing the banter between these two characters. Actually, ALL of the character. The twist had a twist that I actually didn't see coming. The chemistry became romance. And the ending was the perfect HEA.
Even since Cate's sister died (many years ago), she's been on a mission to figure out what exactly happened. Everyone says it was an accident, but things just don't add up. And now? Now she seems to have a stalker of some sort. She must be getting close to the answers she's been searching for. But in order to complete her task, she needs the help of the fixer, Wren. Except it's not Wren who's helping her. It's Damon, and he's been tasked to protect her.
When Damon gets the summons from Wren to help with a case, it's usually pretty cut throat. Not this one. He doesn't want to touch this one with a ten foot pole. Too many memories. Too many unanswered questions, and WAY too many demons for him to ever want to return to Salvation. But Wren seems to always get what he wants. Right now? Right now, Wren wants Damon to protect Cate. Potentially from the one thing that he's needed "closure" with for years.
As usual, we're taken on a "who done it" adventure. Like the others, there's intrigue, suspense, chemistry and lots and lots of drama. I really enjoyed experiencing the banter between these two characters. Actually, ALL of the character. The twist had a twist that I actually didn't see coming. The chemistry became romance. And the ending was the perfect HEA.
July 31, 2018
4 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 31, 2018
Salvation, Pennsylvania. The commune located in the small town was advertised as a modern Utopia: a place to live, share, and learn with other like-minded young people. Cate Pendleton’s sister was one of them. Now she’s dead—and Cate won’t rest until she finds out who killed her. Stonewalled at every turn, she approaches a DC Fixer for help and ends up with Damon Knox, a mysterious man with a secretive past. But Cate soon discovers that she not only needs Damon, she wants him, which isn’t good—for the attraction brewing between them will only lead to complications that can turn into danger . . .
Damon has tried to erase the hellish memories and the evil that happened in Salvation ever since he left a long time ago. Still, he can’t turn his back on Cate. As Damon works with Cate to uncover her sister’s killer, he finds himself drawn to her more and more. But how will she feel about him when she learns about his connection to the place?
Joining forces to uncover the truth, they must stay one step ahead of a cunning killer who’s bent on not being exposed.
•••••
REVIEW: 4 stars-- THE PROTECTOR is the fourth full-length instalment in HelenKay Dimon’s contemporary, adult GAMES PEOPLE PLAY erotic, romantic, suspense series focusing on a tight knit group of life-long friends, known as the Quint Five whose business it is to investigate and ‘fix’ whatever has gone wrong. This is Damon Knox and Cate Pendleton’s story line. THE PROTECTOR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Cate and Damon) THE PROTECTOR follows Damon Knox as his latest assignment working for Levi Wren is to return to a place that all but destroyed his life. Cate Pendleton’s sister ‘died’ under mysterious circumstances while living and learning at the Sullivan Compound in Salvation Pennsylvania, a cult-like compound whose secrets lie hidden behind locked gates and armed guards. Having approached Levi Wren for assistance in uncovering the truth Cate learns she is to work with a man whose own secrets are closely related to the Sullivan Compound where her sister had died. Enter Damon Knox, the man with whom Cate will fall in love. What ensues is the fake relationship between Damon and Cate, and the potential fall-out as Cate and Damon are targeted for sins of the past, sins that wish to remain buried along with the dead.
Cate is desperate to uncover the truth about her sister’s death but years of searching for the truth have the people living and working at the Sullivan Compound worried when our heroine arrives in town with Damon Knox. Damon is a man who is unable to let go of the past but finding himself in Salvation, Pennsylvania stirs up too many memories for himself and the people who remember what happened years before.
The relationship between Cate and Damon begins as a business arrangement that must present as a fake romance in order to get past the people in charge. Damon believes himself empty and cold, unworthy of love having been betrayed by the people from his past. Cate suspects Damon’s inability to let go of the past stems from his need for closure thus facing his demons means facing the man who destroyed his life. A fake relationship with Cate forces Damon to reveal the truth, and in doing so allows our hero to forgive himself for what happened in the past. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Levi Wren, Wren’s second in command Garrett McGrath and Trevor Gault (of the Quint Five); as well as several members of the Sullivan Compound-Leader Steven Sullivan, brothers Roger and Vincent, and Steven’s assistant Liza.
THE PROTECTOR is a story of suspense, romance, betrayal and revenge. The premise is entertaining; the romance is seductive and compelling; the characters are charismatic and dynamic but the lack of any significant background information regarding Cate or Damon was a bit disappointing especially as it concerned Damon and his years spent in the Sullivan Compound; or what it was he actually did for Levi Wren. THE PROTECTOR is an interesting, spicy and intriguing tale of determination and grit.
Copy supplied by Edelweiss
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 31, 2018
Salvation, Pennsylvania. The commune located in the small town was advertised as a modern Utopia: a place to live, share, and learn with other like-minded young people. Cate Pendleton’s sister was one of them. Now she’s dead—and Cate won’t rest until she finds out who killed her. Stonewalled at every turn, she approaches a DC Fixer for help and ends up with Damon Knox, a mysterious man with a secretive past. But Cate soon discovers that she not only needs Damon, she wants him, which isn’t good—for the attraction brewing between them will only lead to complications that can turn into danger . . .
Damon has tried to erase the hellish memories and the evil that happened in Salvation ever since he left a long time ago. Still, he can’t turn his back on Cate. As Damon works with Cate to uncover her sister’s killer, he finds himself drawn to her more and more. But how will she feel about him when she learns about his connection to the place?
Joining forces to uncover the truth, they must stay one step ahead of a cunning killer who’s bent on not being exposed.
•••••
REVIEW: 4 stars-- THE PROTECTOR is the fourth full-length instalment in HelenKay Dimon’s contemporary, adult GAMES PEOPLE PLAY erotic, romantic, suspense series focusing on a tight knit group of life-long friends, known as the Quint Five whose business it is to investigate and ‘fix’ whatever has gone wrong. This is Damon Knox and Cate Pendleton’s story line. THE PROTECTOR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Cate and Damon) THE PROTECTOR follows Damon Knox as his latest assignment working for Levi Wren is to return to a place that all but destroyed his life. Cate Pendleton’s sister ‘died’ under mysterious circumstances while living and learning at the Sullivan Compound in Salvation Pennsylvania, a cult-like compound whose secrets lie hidden behind locked gates and armed guards. Having approached Levi Wren for assistance in uncovering the truth Cate learns she is to work with a man whose own secrets are closely related to the Sullivan Compound where her sister had died. Enter Damon Knox, the man with whom Cate will fall in love. What ensues is the fake relationship between Damon and Cate, and the potential fall-out as Cate and Damon are targeted for sins of the past, sins that wish to remain buried along with the dead.
Cate is desperate to uncover the truth about her sister’s death but years of searching for the truth have the people living and working at the Sullivan Compound worried when our heroine arrives in town with Damon Knox. Damon is a man who is unable to let go of the past but finding himself in Salvation, Pennsylvania stirs up too many memories for himself and the people who remember what happened years before.
The relationship between Cate and Damon begins as a business arrangement that must present as a fake romance in order to get past the people in charge. Damon believes himself empty and cold, unworthy of love having been betrayed by the people from his past. Cate suspects Damon’s inability to let go of the past stems from his need for closure thus facing his demons means facing the man who destroyed his life. A fake relationship with Cate forces Damon to reveal the truth, and in doing so allows our hero to forgive himself for what happened in the past. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Levi Wren, Wren’s second in command Garrett McGrath and Trevor Gault (of the Quint Five); as well as several members of the Sullivan Compound-Leader Steven Sullivan, brothers Roger and Vincent, and Steven’s assistant Liza.
THE PROTECTOR is a story of suspense, romance, betrayal and revenge. The premise is entertaining; the romance is seductive and compelling; the characters are charismatic and dynamic but the lack of any significant background information regarding Cate or Damon was a bit disappointing especially as it concerned Damon and his years spent in the Sullivan Compound; or what it was he actually did for Levi Wren. THE PROTECTOR is an interesting, spicy and intriguing tale of determination and grit.
Copy supplied by Edelweiss
www.thereadingcafe.com
July 27, 2018
HelenKay Dimon’s upcoming novel, The Protector, is a fine reminder of what a great storyteller she is. This Games People Play series is an interesting set of romantic suspense books, not for the shoot-’em-up-bang action, but in the non-traditional heroes and heroines working together to overcome troublesome pasts so they can resolve unsolved cases. That’s a mouthful, but this book’s got a lot of teeth.
Damon Knox is one of the five men taken in by a man named Quint. The Quint Five were all on angry, wayward paths of destruction until he “encouraged them to funnel their anger into legal pursuits.” Damon’s history is shrouded in mystery and truths he chooses to keep hidden. You see, he grew up in a commune-style school that operated more like a cult than any educational institution in mainstream communities. When Steven Sullivan established The Sullivan School in Salvation, Pennsylvania, his utopian yearnings were good on paper, but destructive in execution because he failed to plan for the inevitable: Every utopia has inherent flaws, because the people who inhabit it are inherently flawed. Steven’s biggest flaw might’ve been in his choice of partner, who was interested in incorporating guns and a shooting range in the “craft” portion of the “farming, mathematics, writing” breakdown of the schedule. Because those guns and that shooting range became a war zone the first time the FBI raided the compound. And Damon’s biggest flaw might’ve been that he was born into the wrong family … one in which his father naively thought his utopian vision would actually work.
Cate Pendleton is an actuary on a 60-day leave so she can focus on trying to finally figure out how her sister Shauna really died. Shauna was one of the utopian seekers at The Sullivan School and, like Damon, experienced its trauma firsthand. Cate believes Shauna’s untimely death was the result of murder, but she’s had a hard time proving it. Now, thanks to a series of break-ins and a contact from Senator Sheila Dayton, Cate finally has the ear of someone who can help her: Wren, the Fixer (from the first book in the series).
Wren calls in the best man he knows for the job, Damon, knowing Damon has no intentions of ever stepping foot in Salvation again. Having experienced The Sullivan School’s violent methodology firsthand, though, Damon recognizes the importance of Cate finding the answers to her sister’s death, so she can have some closure.
There’s a good deal of redemption in this tale of woe, and an even larger amount of personal growth. I found it far easier to commiserate with Damon than Cate, because she was a steamroller of intentions before she softened to the knowledge of Damon’s past. Both characters are flawed, and both characters have steely cores of strength, and I find that to be so enjoyable. I also like Dimon’s pacing, whereby the suspenseful focus of this contemporary romance is rooted in the past.
*Originally published with USA Today's Happy Ever After: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2....
Damon Knox is one of the five men taken in by a man named Quint. The Quint Five were all on angry, wayward paths of destruction until he “encouraged them to funnel their anger into legal pursuits.” Damon’s history is shrouded in mystery and truths he chooses to keep hidden. You see, he grew up in a commune-style school that operated more like a cult than any educational institution in mainstream communities. When Steven Sullivan established The Sullivan School in Salvation, Pennsylvania, his utopian yearnings were good on paper, but destructive in execution because he failed to plan for the inevitable: Every utopia has inherent flaws, because the people who inhabit it are inherently flawed. Steven’s biggest flaw might’ve been in his choice of partner, who was interested in incorporating guns and a shooting range in the “craft” portion of the “farming, mathematics, writing” breakdown of the schedule. Because those guns and that shooting range became a war zone the first time the FBI raided the compound. And Damon’s biggest flaw might’ve been that he was born into the wrong family … one in which his father naively thought his utopian vision would actually work.
Cate Pendleton is an actuary on a 60-day leave so she can focus on trying to finally figure out how her sister Shauna really died. Shauna was one of the utopian seekers at The Sullivan School and, like Damon, experienced its trauma firsthand. Cate believes Shauna’s untimely death was the result of murder, but she’s had a hard time proving it. Now, thanks to a series of break-ins and a contact from Senator Sheila Dayton, Cate finally has the ear of someone who can help her: Wren, the Fixer (from the first book in the series).
Wren calls in the best man he knows for the job, Damon, knowing Damon has no intentions of ever stepping foot in Salvation again. Having experienced The Sullivan School’s violent methodology firsthand, though, Damon recognizes the importance of Cate finding the answers to her sister’s death, so she can have some closure.
There’s a good deal of redemption in this tale of woe, and an even larger amount of personal growth. I found it far easier to commiserate with Damon than Cate, because she was a steamroller of intentions before she softened to the knowledge of Damon’s past. Both characters are flawed, and both characters have steely cores of strength, and I find that to be so enjoyable. I also like Dimon’s pacing, whereby the suspenseful focus of this contemporary romance is rooted in the past.
*Originally published with USA Today's Happy Ever After: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2....
August 1, 2018
Cate Pendleton is trying to find the truth to what really happened when her sister dies at Sullivan. She doesn't believe that she fell off a water tower to her death, when her sister was afraid of heights. But her investigation into her sister's death is getting nowhere and now there is someone breaking into her home.
Damon doesn't want to accept the job at Sullivan. He rather keep those secrets buried. But Wren does not give him much choice in the matter. When he meets Cate, whom he is to protect, he is struck by her beauty and her need for help. But when danger arises and the risks becomes higher, Damon is determined to help solve the mystery. Or die protecting the one who has opened his heart. Will he be able to protect her and deal with the blast from the past that is his father?
Oh my I loved this book! This book was full of action, danger and suspense from page one. I had such a hard time putting it down. The story was explosive and edge of your seat fun. This is the first book I have read from HelenKay. I was not disappointed at all. I do wish I knew it was a series before starting this one. Even though it was perfect as a standalone, I would have loved to have a more in-depth reality on the other characters. I think I would have enjoyed this one even more than my 5 stars worth. ;)
This author mixed the perfect cocktail of suspense and romance, creating a very exciting book. The book flowed smooth and was flawless. It had a unique story line with plenty of twists and turns, with plenty of secrets to reveal. It will keep you guessing till the very end. Who you may think did it, most defiantly will not be the one who did it.
The main characters were magnetic and fierce. They were strong and perfect for each other. These two were a hot commodity. They burned up the pages with their steamy love affair. Damon the bad boy and Cate the strong independent female. A perfect match. Yin and Yang. I loved their crazy banter and unfinished sentences, that sometimes had me laughing out loud. Very lovable.
"You do not eat a hamburger everyday."
"True. Some days I mix it up and order a cheeseburger."
"Then why were you walking away from me?"
"I was giving that man his coat back."
Overall this book was amazing. It is full of suspense, danger, family issues, hot steamy sex and most of all love. Not the conventional kind but it works for these characters. If you love action and adventure and thrills to no end, then this book is perfect for you. With amazing characters and great suspenseful plots, this book is sure to hold your attention and make you a fan. So go and grab your copy today. You will be glad you did.
Damon doesn't want to accept the job at Sullivan. He rather keep those secrets buried. But Wren does not give him much choice in the matter. When he meets Cate, whom he is to protect, he is struck by her beauty and her need for help. But when danger arises and the risks becomes higher, Damon is determined to help solve the mystery. Or die protecting the one who has opened his heart. Will he be able to protect her and deal with the blast from the past that is his father?
Oh my I loved this book! This book was full of action, danger and suspense from page one. I had such a hard time putting it down. The story was explosive and edge of your seat fun. This is the first book I have read from HelenKay. I was not disappointed at all. I do wish I knew it was a series before starting this one. Even though it was perfect as a standalone, I would have loved to have a more in-depth reality on the other characters. I think I would have enjoyed this one even more than my 5 stars worth. ;)
This author mixed the perfect cocktail of suspense and romance, creating a very exciting book. The book flowed smooth and was flawless. It had a unique story line with plenty of twists and turns, with plenty of secrets to reveal. It will keep you guessing till the very end. Who you may think did it, most defiantly will not be the one who did it.
The main characters were magnetic and fierce. They were strong and perfect for each other. These two were a hot commodity. They burned up the pages with their steamy love affair. Damon the bad boy and Cate the strong independent female. A perfect match. Yin and Yang. I loved their crazy banter and unfinished sentences, that sometimes had me laughing out loud. Very lovable.
"You do not eat a hamburger everyday."
"True. Some days I mix it up and order a cheeseburger."
"Then why were you walking away from me?"
"I was giving that man his coat back."
Overall this book was amazing. It is full of suspense, danger, family issues, hot steamy sex and most of all love. Not the conventional kind but it works for these characters. If you love action and adventure and thrills to no end, then this book is perfect for you. With amazing characters and great suspenseful plots, this book is sure to hold your attention and make you a fan. So go and grab your copy today. You will be glad you did.
July 31, 2018
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Publisher
The protector is the 4th and last volume in the Games people play series by Helenkay Dimon. I wrote a review for the first two volumes :
The fixer (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... )
The enforcer (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... )
The third volume is titled The pretender and there is also a novella titled The negociator. I didn’t read these two but now I know I’m going to do it. On the whole this series is very good and I absolutely loved The protector.
Our heroes have to work together in order to investigate about the presumed accidental death of the heroine’s sister a few years ago. Cate Pendleton, the heroine, has been searching information about the case for some time now but she can’t go inside the establishment where her sister was doing studies and where she was found dead. This establishment has a heavy heritage : arms trafficking, the murder of an FBI agent and the possibility that it could be a cult (so far nobody have succeeded in finding any evidence).
Out of desperation, Cate asks the help of one of her contacts who connects her with Wren, the hero in The fixer. Damon Knox, our current hero, works for Wren.
From the beginning, the relationship is intense between Damon and Cate et I loved that they don’t play with each other before succombing to their attraction. It’s all the more so simple that they have to pretend to be a couple. Plus, they confess their feelings to each other very quickly and when we close the book we don’t have any doubt about their HEA.
About the suspense, as always it’s well handled and we have a lot of twists. I have to say, the villain is very stupid LOL I don’t doubt for one second that the author wanted to create a villain with this kind of personality and it’s well done. I had a feeling about the name of the villain but when I had the answers to all my questions I was very surprised. The villain’s identity is revealed at the end of the book.
There are a lot of secondary characters and I loved to see Wren again because I really liked him in the first volume. However Steven Sullivan is the most naive man I have ever seen in a book LOL Some times I wanted to shake him as he annoyed me so much. He is the one who funded the school.
In any case, I spent a very good time with this book and I highly recommend it. J’ai Lu pour elle in France has just published the first two volumes in the series and I hope they will translate the rest.
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Publisher
The protector is the 4th and last volume in the Games people play series by Helenkay Dimon. I wrote a review for the first two volumes :
The fixer (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... )
The enforcer (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... )
The third volume is titled The pretender and there is also a novella titled The negociator. I didn’t read these two but now I know I’m going to do it. On the whole this series is very good and I absolutely loved The protector.
Our heroes have to work together in order to investigate about the presumed accidental death of the heroine’s sister a few years ago. Cate Pendleton, the heroine, has been searching information about the case for some time now but she can’t go inside the establishment where her sister was doing studies and where she was found dead. This establishment has a heavy heritage : arms trafficking, the murder of an FBI agent and the possibility that it could be a cult (so far nobody have succeeded in finding any evidence).
Out of desperation, Cate asks the help of one of her contacts who connects her with Wren, the hero in The fixer. Damon Knox, our current hero, works for Wren.
From the beginning, the relationship is intense between Damon and Cate et I loved that they don’t play with each other before succombing to their attraction. It’s all the more so simple that they have to pretend to be a couple. Plus, they confess their feelings to each other very quickly and when we close the book we don’t have any doubt about their HEA.
About the suspense, as always it’s well handled and we have a lot of twists. I have to say, the villain is very stupid LOL I don’t doubt for one second that the author wanted to create a villain with this kind of personality and it’s well done. I had a feeling about the name of the villain but when I had the answers to all my questions I was very surprised. The villain’s identity is revealed at the end of the book.
There are a lot of secondary characters and I loved to see Wren again because I really liked him in the first volume. However Steven Sullivan is the most naive man I have ever seen in a book LOL Some times I wanted to shake him as he annoyed me so much. He is the one who funded the school.
In any case, I spent a very good time with this book and I highly recommend it. J’ai Lu pour elle in France has just published the first two volumes in the series and I hope they will translate the rest.
August 14, 2018
Damon was dark broody and has you from the beginning. The man is sexy and mysterious. He has so much guilt that he doesn’t believe he deserves to feel or have anyone by his side. He feels he has done so much wrong that he should be left to wallow and feel like a shell. Only he isn’t one and in reality he is a strong, kind caring person. He also has a haunting and sad past. One that once you learn you just want to hold him and help him through the pain.
Cate is a strong and determined woman. She wants to know what happened to her sister years ago at Sullivan and no one is answering her questions. So she turns to the last person she can-Wren. And this is when she is put into Damon’s path and his past blends with the present.
Wren believes that Damon needs closure. What he didn’t expect was the danger and what would go down if he put Damon in contact with Cate and had him go back to Salvation. Back to Sullivan. And back to his past. What we get is a book of danger and intrigue. Family pasts and pain that need to be aired, mysteries that need to be solved and truths that need to be found. We get Damon and Cate who drive each other nuts but are also insanely attracted to one another. They get one another and yet they are opposites in many ways. His need to protect Cate almost costs him alot and Cate sees him beyond his anger and pain. She sees the boy who needs to find his future by letting go of the past. A boy who needs to confront his demons and have someone by his side. They do this as they dive into danger and try to find out what happened to her sister. The story has twists and turns that will have you reeling at times but also a good reel because they keep you on your toes and guessing. A story with romance and a man finding a way to live with his past and maybe let in his family once again. To give his family hope that things aren’t broken as much as they were. A love that endures the danger surrounding them and the mysteries that brought them were they were.
A book that is intriguing and alluring. A romance that has you smile at the sassy banter and attraction while loving how Cate and Damon interact with one another and find their way to each other. A story of family, pain, loss, truth and letting go.
Cate is a strong and determined woman. She wants to know what happened to her sister years ago at Sullivan and no one is answering her questions. So she turns to the last person she can-Wren. And this is when she is put into Damon’s path and his past blends with the present.
Wren believes that Damon needs closure. What he didn’t expect was the danger and what would go down if he put Damon in contact with Cate and had him go back to Salvation. Back to Sullivan. And back to his past. What we get is a book of danger and intrigue. Family pasts and pain that need to be aired, mysteries that need to be solved and truths that need to be found. We get Damon and Cate who drive each other nuts but are also insanely attracted to one another. They get one another and yet they are opposites in many ways. His need to protect Cate almost costs him alot and Cate sees him beyond his anger and pain. She sees the boy who needs to find his future by letting go of the past. A boy who needs to confront his demons and have someone by his side. They do this as they dive into danger and try to find out what happened to her sister. The story has twists and turns that will have you reeling at times but also a good reel because they keep you on your toes and guessing. A story with romance and a man finding a way to live with his past and maybe let in his family once again. To give his family hope that things aren’t broken as much as they were. A love that endures the danger surrounding them and the mysteries that brought them were they were.
A book that is intriguing and alluring. A romance that has you smile at the sassy banter and attraction while loving how Cate and Damon interact with one another and find their way to each other. A story of family, pain, loss, truth and letting go.
September 17, 2018
Everyone has a past. Most people accept it and move on to adulthood. Damon had to escape his past to be able to become an adult. Now his boss wants him to go back to his past to help a young woman who's sister died in the compound where Damon grew up. To say Damon is not enthusiastic about this plan is an understatement.
Cate wants to know how her peaceful sister with an absolute fear of heights, died by falling off a water town in the 'educational' compound of Salvation. She must find a way to go to the compound and find out the truth. She can't move on until she has answers to her questions.
Now the fun begins. Lots of suspense, trying to guess who the murderer is (and being wrong more than once), both Cate and Damon realizing that they care for each other more than just a quick hookup, although that's here too and is very HOT! Fire, close calls, big reveals about Damon's life, and hamburgers. It's all here!
Pick this book up for a great read. Humor, heart, dealing with the past, and finally looking to the future.
Cate wants to know how her peaceful sister with an absolute fear of heights, died by falling off a water town in the 'educational' compound of Salvation. She must find a way to go to the compound and find out the truth. She can't move on until she has answers to her questions.
Now the fun begins. Lots of suspense, trying to guess who the murderer is (and being wrong more than once), both Cate and Damon realizing that they care for each other more than just a quick hookup, although that's here too and is very HOT! Fire, close calls, big reveals about Damon's life, and hamburgers. It's all here!
Pick this book up for a great read. Humor, heart, dealing with the past, and finally looking to the future.
August 3, 2018
Cate has been searching for the truth of how her sister died as the explanation she has been given doesn’t mesh with the sister she knew and loved. With the investigation providing no answers she has decided to contact the Fixer of DC as the not knowing is very hard to live with.
When his boss assigns Damon this job it is the last thing he wants. Going back to his hometown of Salvation will bring up all the memories he has buried deep, but he is unable to turn down a person in need.
This story is an adventure filled with suspense and twists as both Cate and Damon have the same goal which is to find peace with their pasts. The chemistry between them is off the charts whether they are in bed or out of bed and they have a deep connection that goes well beyond their business relationship. Although this is the final book in the series I will be going back to read the previous ones. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
When his boss assigns Damon this job it is the last thing he wants. Going back to his hometown of Salvation will bring up all the memories he has buried deep, but he is unable to turn down a person in need.
This story is an adventure filled with suspense and twists as both Cate and Damon have the same goal which is to find peace with their pasts. The chemistry between them is off the charts whether they are in bed or out of bed and they have a deep connection that goes well beyond their business relationship. Although this is the final book in the series I will be going back to read the previous ones. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
August 13, 2018
* I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own *
This is the story of Cate Pendleton who is grieving for her sister who had died, but she doesn’t know why or how she died and she needs to find answers. The only way she can do this is to go to Salvation Pennsylvania and visit the small commune town being advertised as the modern day Utopia.
Damon Knox is a DC Fixer who Cate has asked for help to find out who killed her sister, but he has some secrets of his own, and never wants to return to Salvation after the hell he went through there, but he finds that he wants Cate more and there attraction for each other leads them on a path of discovery, will there relationship hold when Cate does find out Damon’s connection to the town or will the killer turn on them to not get exposed.
This is a great story in the “Games People Play series” by HelenKay Dimon and look forward to the next instalment.
This is the story of Cate Pendleton who is grieving for her sister who had died, but she doesn’t know why or how she died and she needs to find answers. The only way she can do this is to go to Salvation Pennsylvania and visit the small commune town being advertised as the modern day Utopia.
Damon Knox is a DC Fixer who Cate has asked for help to find out who killed her sister, but he has some secrets of his own, and never wants to return to Salvation after the hell he went through there, but he finds that he wants Cate more and there attraction for each other leads them on a path of discovery, will there relationship hold when Cate does find out Damon’s connection to the town or will the killer turn on them to not get exposed.
This is a great story in the “Games People Play series” by HelenKay Dimon and look forward to the next instalment.
August 14, 2018
I enjoyed this book so much. It’s a given that with Ms. Dimon, you would get action adventure with a mystery that wouldn’t be quite easy to solve. The Protector definitely has those elements in spades but add two protagonists that appears not the ideal couple but with witty and humorous bantering between them it’s easy to see where the relationship is going. Cate and Damon takes readers on a murder waiting ten years to be solved. Add in a fake relationship and you can predict the sparks are about to fly. What I really love about this romance is Damon and Cate’s lighthearted often humorous zinging banter that takes a lot of weight out of the heavy theme of murder, betrayal and dark family pasts. It’s sexy, with a female protagonist who has he own agency and a hero marching to her tune. The Protector is one of those romantic suspense reminiscent of those old romance comedies with great memorable couples!
June 21, 2022
Damon's story. Wren hands Damon a case to go back to his painful past at the commune/school where tragedy happened so long ago. Damon wants nothing to do with confronting his painful past but Cate has hired Wren's company to investigate the death of her sister at said school. She's been told it was suicide but she knows better. Damon goes home undercover with Cate, posing as his girlfriend, so they can get answers. Surprising revelations, attacks, and threats pull Damon under, drowning him in his past where he might not be able to escape from. Cate turns into a target while they are gathering information and will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her sister with or without Damon. Along the way revelations about each other and their fake relationship bubble to the surface causing Damon to either flight or fight before they both get killed. Also introduced in this book is the Trevor, the final guy in the Quint Five!
June 22, 2020
This book has to be the worst out of the series games people play. It felt as though HelenKay had copied and pasted large sections or the pretender into this book. There were too many similarities, like to lead female characters getting attacked and the fire.
Again, the killing didn’t really make much sense, if Shauna was afraid of heights why was she on the water tower? When the killing is being explained, it never felt like Shauna was been drag up to the water tower so really it was an accident. The explanation was too vague, so you don’t know if it was a fight that escalated.
Overall the book just felt as though HelenKay was trying to create stories for the Quint five, and even Damon background story felt flat. Was his father running a cult or a school and the reasons for the guns was absurd. The story overall seemed pointless.
Again, the killing didn’t really make much sense, if Shauna was afraid of heights why was she on the water tower? When the killing is being explained, it never felt like Shauna was been drag up to the water tower so really it was an accident. The explanation was too vague, so you don’t know if it was a fight that escalated.
Overall the book just felt as though HelenKay was trying to create stories for the Quint five, and even Damon background story felt flat. Was his father running a cult or a school and the reasons for the guns was absurd. The story overall seemed pointless.
August 1, 2018
3.5* Damon didn't want to go back to his hometown. He had too many secrets, kept to himself, didn't want to let anyone in. Then his boss pretty much all but forced him to take this job and to take Cate with him as his fake girlfriend.
So many secrets, he was hoping not to reveal them but that didn't work for him. He's not supposed to have feelings for Cate but he was falling before he realized it. She was falling right back. Unfortunately there were those that didn't them finding the answers out that Cate had about her sister's death there and would go to any lengths necessary to stop them from finding them out.
So many secrets, he was hoping not to reveal them but that didn't work for him. He's not supposed to have feelings for Cate but he was falling before he realized it. She was falling right back. Unfortunately there were those that didn't them finding the answers out that Cate had about her sister's death there and would go to any lengths necessary to stop them from finding them out.
May 14, 2019
This book is one of my favorites that I've read. I found it in a Fred Meyer and thought I'd give it a try. Normally, I didn't read books involving romance, but I have now found my favorite genre because of this book! The relationships formed between characters is something you can only read about. This is one of those books that you can't put down once you start reading. The events all fold out, one after the other. This is my favorite book, and it has further influenced my choices in genre, and how I view the characters in books. I would recommend this book to anybody and everybody; however, this isn't recommended for anybody who isn't a young adult.
February 12, 2025
Cait and Damon search for answers to her sister’s disappearance at a place only Damon could take her back to and protect her. The place he escaped from decades before. Home. He’s taking her back to the Sullivan School, a place more like a cult than an educational institution. Can they learn what happened to Cait’s sister without becoming another victim?
This romantic suspense novel was ok. It had twists and turns, but there was no clever plotting. There was wit and banter between the MC’s, but zero slow burn, which I found weird for a non-spicy romance. I like Helen’Kay Dimon’s writing, and love romantic suspense, but this book just wasn’t for me.
This romantic suspense novel was ok. It had twists and turns, but there was no clever plotting. There was wit and banter between the MC’s, but zero slow burn, which I found weird for a non-spicy romance. I like Helen’Kay Dimon’s writing, and love romantic suspense, but this book just wasn’t for me.
August 29, 2018
This is the fourth book in this series and they just keep getting better. Damon Knox was asked by his friend Wren to help a young lady who's sister died at a school called Sullivan in a town named Salvation, Pennsylvania. This was one job that he did not want to do because he had a history with Sullivan and did not want to go back for any reason, even for a beautiful woman by the name of Cate Pendleton. When he met Cate, he knew she was different and stood up for herself and if he did not help her, she would go headstrong into Sullivan no matter what. I really enjoyed this story.
August 13, 2021
This is my favorite book out of the entire series. Two unlikely characters who both have extremely complex lives are put in the oddest of circumstances, but what comes out of it may be better than they ever imagined. These books never fail to have a page-turning story, but also I can clearly paint an image of the characters (even though they are very complex) and the issues that they may be faced with. This series is one I would recommend to any thriller readers as well as anyone who loves a steamy romance.
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