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Runaway Ranch #4
His Christmas Guardian: A Thrilling Holiday Romance Novel
Trained to be enemies...
Do they dare become lovers?
CIA Agent Alex Creed’s mission is to take down a deadly criminal before Christmas…and only Nick Kane stands in his way. The black ops agent claims he's after the same target and that working together is the best plan. Never before has Alex been so attracted to someone he shouldn’t trust. Especially knowing Nick has a bit of a death wish, while Alex envisions a future together...
From Harlequin Romantic Danger. Passion. Drama.
Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances, part of the Runaway Ranch
Book 1: Navy SEAL's Deadly Secret
Book 2: The Cowboy's Deadly Reunion
Book 3: Her SEAL Bodyguard
Book 4: His Christmas Guardian
Do they dare become lovers?
CIA Agent Alex Creed’s mission is to take down a deadly criminal before Christmas…and only Nick Kane stands in his way. The black ops agent claims he's after the same target and that working together is the best plan. Never before has Alex been so attracted to someone he shouldn’t trust. Especially knowing Nick has a bit of a death wish, while Alex envisions a future together...
From Harlequin Romantic Danger. Passion. Drama.
Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances, part of the Runaway Ranch
Book 1: Navy SEAL's Deadly Secret
Book 2: The Cowboy's Deadly Reunion
Book 3: Her SEAL Bodyguard
Book 4: His Christmas Guardian
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 21, 2022
10 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Dees
172 books1,953 followersCindy Dees started flying airplanes while sitting in her dad’s lap at the age of three and got a pilot’s license before she got a driver’s license. At age fifteen, she dropped out of high school and left the horse farm in Michigan where she grew up to attend the University of Michigan.
After earning a degree in Russian and East European studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift and the “C-5” Galaxy, the world’s largest airplane. She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, she got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories.
Her hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening and medieval reenacting. She started writing on a one-dollar bet with her mother and was thrilled to win that bet with the publication of her first book in 2001.
After earning a degree in Russian and East European studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift and the “C-5” Galaxy, the world’s largest airplane. She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, she got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories.
Her hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening and medieval reenacting. She started writing on a one-dollar bet with her mother and was thrilled to win that bet with the publication of her first book in 2001.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 10, 2022
Hmmm. Leaves a lot to be desired. Very little romance. Too big a story for the size of book.
November 8, 2022
Good book that started with a rush and kept me hooked to the end. Nick is a government black ops operator tracking a fellow operative who went rogue. He used to work with this operative, and the betrayal he feels has made the search personal. After following Gray to an art gallery and planting a tracking device on the man's limo, Nick walks casually away. A few minutes later, he is attacked by a man who is easily as good, if not better, at hand-to-hand fighting as he is.
Alex is a CIA agent whose job is to go after operatives who have gone bad. Gray and his team are suspected of stealing valuable international artifacts and murdering US military personnel. His first impression is that Nick is one of Gray's men, and he wants to capture and question him. He did not expect to encounter someone who could fight him to a stalemate.
Alex and Nick agreed to a wary truce as they worked out who each other was and why they had a mutual interest in Gray. These men have worked in the shadows for so long that neither of them trusts easily. It was sad and amusing to see how each was constantly looking for signs of betrayal, even once they figured out they were on the same side. Deciding to work together was logical, but there was still some struggle for control until they got past their trust issues.
Matters are complicated by the attraction Nick and Alex feel for each other. Each tries to ignore it while concentrating on their mission, but it is always there, simmering under the surface. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and discover their differences and similarities. I found it interesting that Alex, the "fixer" who has dished out so much death, has dreams of a peaceful retirement. Nick expects to die in the line of duty which lends itself to some reckless behavior on his part. I liked Alex's determination to get Nick to stop seeing himself as expendable.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Nick and Alex develop. It was fast, helped along by the intensity of their situation. Each felt protective of the other, which had the potential to create some problems while they were working. There were some fun parts, such as their differing views on Christmas. I loved watching Alex try to bring a little Christmas spirit into Nick's life, from the Christmas tree with its unique decorations to the snowball fight. Alex's sensitivity is unexpected, given his vocation, and I enjoyed seeing it come out in his desire to help Nick. Both have some insecurities regarding relationships, but their love for each other overcomes them in the end. I loved the ending and their plans for the future.
The suspense of the story kept me turning the pages. The backstory of Gray and what he did are explained as the story goes on but can be read in more detail in the previous book in the series (Her SEAL Bodyguard). The tension remained steady as Nick and Alex looked for clues about what Gray had stolen, then planned ways to draw him into a trap. The intensity ramped up when they found the stolen crate and what was in it (WOW!). I was glued to the pages as they prepared their trap and set the bait. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Nick and Alex were significantly outnumbered.
#netgalley
Alex is a CIA agent whose job is to go after operatives who have gone bad. Gray and his team are suspected of stealing valuable international artifacts and murdering US military personnel. His first impression is that Nick is one of Gray's men, and he wants to capture and question him. He did not expect to encounter someone who could fight him to a stalemate.
Alex and Nick agreed to a wary truce as they worked out who each other was and why they had a mutual interest in Gray. These men have worked in the shadows for so long that neither of them trusts easily. It was sad and amusing to see how each was constantly looking for signs of betrayal, even once they figured out they were on the same side. Deciding to work together was logical, but there was still some struggle for control until they got past their trust issues.
Matters are complicated by the attraction Nick and Alex feel for each other. Each tries to ignore it while concentrating on their mission, but it is always there, simmering under the surface. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and discover their differences and similarities. I found it interesting that Alex, the "fixer" who has dished out so much death, has dreams of a peaceful retirement. Nick expects to die in the line of duty which lends itself to some reckless behavior on his part. I liked Alex's determination to get Nick to stop seeing himself as expendable.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Nick and Alex develop. It was fast, helped along by the intensity of their situation. Each felt protective of the other, which had the potential to create some problems while they were working. There were some fun parts, such as their differing views on Christmas. I loved watching Alex try to bring a little Christmas spirit into Nick's life, from the Christmas tree with its unique decorations to the snowball fight. Alex's sensitivity is unexpected, given his vocation, and I enjoyed seeing it come out in his desire to help Nick. Both have some insecurities regarding relationships, but their love for each other overcomes them in the end. I loved the ending and their plans for the future.
The suspense of the story kept me turning the pages. The backstory of Gray and what he did are explained as the story goes on but can be read in more detail in the previous book in the series (Her SEAL Bodyguard). The tension remained steady as Nick and Alex looked for clues about what Gray had stolen, then planned ways to draw him into a trap. The intensity ramped up when they found the stolen crate and what was in it (WOW!). I was glued to the pages as they prepared their trap and set the bait. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Nick and Alex were significantly outnumbered.
#netgalley
October 13, 2022
Action-packed, flirty romantic fun!
OK, I am going to say this very quickly there are a lot of firsts here;
1. This is my first book by Cindy Dees 😳 why, oh why have I waited so long to read this author? Who knows, it's another case of me staying inside my bubble and only reading what I know. Well, I have changed that here and I am very excited to read more from this author.
2. Even though I have read so many M/M romances over the years, I do have a real soft spot for watching two gorgeous men falling in love and yet this is my first from Mills and Boon. Have I missed them or are these books relatively new Anyway this one is my first Mills and Boon M/M romance and I loved it and I am now wanting more!
3. This is my first ever book from the Intrigue line, I know, I know all new things today! I do have a few Intrigue stories on my kindle shelf and they are going to be bumped up the reading list now.
His Christmas Guardian is a relatively short and quick read, I liked how easy it was and well the plot flowed. I believe that this is a part of a series, though I didn't know that when I started reading and I have to be honest I didn't feel as though I was missing out on anything by not reading the previous books so I would say you can easily read this one as a stand-alone, I will certainly be looking for the other books in the series.
I loved the two heroes of the story, Nick and Alex are smoking hot, I loved the chemistry between them and that in between the exciting non-strop action of the plot that we have moments of calm where we get to know them both and in those moments it's so lovely watching them discover more about one and another.
I loved their romance, it's very real, they go from enemies/rivals on the hunt for the same man to joining forces and ending up lovers and I thought it was exciting and gorgeous at the same time.
I liked the story, nothing is challenging about it, it's the edge of your seat with the manhunt element, suspense and intriguing and it does read like an action movie which I thoroughly enjoyed then we have the intense passion, the tantalising atmosphere between the lads which crackles and keeps you glued to the page.
I loved it, I can't say that enough! It's fun, edgy, action-packed, romantic and thoroughly entertaining a definite must-read!!
--------
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
@chicksroguesandscandals
OK, I am going to say this very quickly there are a lot of firsts here;
1. This is my first book by Cindy Dees 😳 why, oh why have I waited so long to read this author? Who knows, it's another case of me staying inside my bubble and only reading what I know. Well, I have changed that here and I am very excited to read more from this author.
2. Even though I have read so many M/M romances over the years, I do have a real soft spot for watching two gorgeous men falling in love and yet this is my first from Mills and Boon. Have I missed them or are these books relatively new Anyway this one is my first Mills and Boon M/M romance and I loved it and I am now wanting more!
3. This is my first ever book from the Intrigue line, I know, I know all new things today! I do have a few Intrigue stories on my kindle shelf and they are going to be bumped up the reading list now.
His Christmas Guardian is a relatively short and quick read, I liked how easy it was and well the plot flowed. I believe that this is a part of a series, though I didn't know that when I started reading and I have to be honest I didn't feel as though I was missing out on anything by not reading the previous books so I would say you can easily read this one as a stand-alone, I will certainly be looking for the other books in the series.
I loved the two heroes of the story, Nick and Alex are smoking hot, I loved the chemistry between them and that in between the exciting non-strop action of the plot that we have moments of calm where we get to know them both and in those moments it's so lovely watching them discover more about one and another.
I loved their romance, it's very real, they go from enemies/rivals on the hunt for the same man to joining forces and ending up lovers and I thought it was exciting and gorgeous at the same time.
I liked the story, nothing is challenging about it, it's the edge of your seat with the manhunt element, suspense and intriguing and it does read like an action movie which I thoroughly enjoyed then we have the intense passion, the tantalising atmosphere between the lads which crackles and keeps you glued to the page.
I loved it, I can't say that enough! It's fun, edgy, action-packed, romantic and thoroughly entertaining a definite must-read!!
--------
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
@chicksroguesandscandals
October 12, 2022
Thank you #Netgalley and the publishers for a arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love a story where the action and falling in love go hand in hand. I felt like the balance was amazing and yet still need more. The action was well paced, but still showed the falling in love part in a different view. Really enjoyed this book!
I love a story where the action and falling in love go hand in hand. I felt like the balance was amazing and yet still need more. The action was well paced, but still showed the falling in love part in a different view. Really enjoyed this book!
October 26, 2022
This title was a pleasant surprise as I hadn't read anything by this author before, but the story sounded intriguing so I decided to give it a chance. I'm glad I did because I found the book to be quite well done, with a fun mixture of suspense and action, with a healthy dose of romance thrown in and Nick and Alex were interesting characters with intriguing backgrounds. I particularly liked that the author threw the reader right into the middle of the story and started the action right away, with background being given to the reader as the book went along, which helped keep the story on a suspenseful pace.
I had a couple of quibbles towards the end with some of Alex's moralizing considering his line of work but I suppose this was meant to be a crisis of conscience of sorts. There was also a plot point that I found questionable in the first third of the book when Alex and Nick obtain some information through some phones (find my phone, anyone?) Still, the book did what it needed to do, which was keep me turning the pages, wanting to find out how the two of them got to their happy ending. Throw in some genuinely bad guys, and an interesting prize that they're all after, and you've got quite an enjoyable book here.
I had a couple of quibbles towards the end with some of Alex's moralizing considering his line of work but I suppose this was meant to be a crisis of conscience of sorts. There was also a plot point that I found questionable in the first third of the book when Alex and Nick obtain some information through some phones (find my phone, anyone?) Still, the book did what it needed to do, which was keep me turning the pages, wanting to find out how the two of them got to their happy ending. Throw in some genuinely bad guys, and an interesting prize that they're all after, and you've got quite an enjoyable book here.
September 6, 2022
Whoa whoa whoa, this book took off right from the beginning and never stopped! I would have read it in one sitting if I could have, but you know... parenting.
Nick Kane and Alex Creed work for two sides of the same coin, tracking down a dangerous criminal in the days before Christmas. They run into each other after tracking said criminal to an art gallery and after fighting it out to an impasse on the street, they have to decide whether or not they can trust each other and work together to capture this man. The suspense here is amazing, the two of them were constantly on the move and I was eager to learn what it was the criminal had stolen... and boy was that an interesting Christmas twist!
The other side of the story is the romance between Nick and Alex, which certainly didn't start as a romance but more of aggressive attraction. Even thought the story takes place over such a short amount of time, their relationship progression still seemed organic and natural. It was fantastic to see the two change as the book went on, and I'm not going to spoil anything here but the ending to their storyline was so perfect.
This book was a roller coaster ride, I adored every minute and I'd be happy to read more from this author (read her bio it's impressive!). Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy; all opinions here are my own. If you like Christmas romances and suspense, you'll definitely want to pick this up when arrives in October.
Nick Kane and Alex Creed work for two sides of the same coin, tracking down a dangerous criminal in the days before Christmas. They run into each other after tracking said criminal to an art gallery and after fighting it out to an impasse on the street, they have to decide whether or not they can trust each other and work together to capture this man. The suspense here is amazing, the two of them were constantly on the move and I was eager to learn what it was the criminal had stolen... and boy was that an interesting Christmas twist!
The other side of the story is the romance between Nick and Alex, which certainly didn't start as a romance but more of aggressive attraction. Even thought the story takes place over such a short amount of time, their relationship progression still seemed organic and natural. It was fantastic to see the two change as the book went on, and I'm not going to spoil anything here but the ending to their storyline was so perfect.
This book was a roller coaster ride, I adored every minute and I'd be happy to read more from this author (read her bio it's impressive!). Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy; all opinions here are my own. If you like Christmas romances and suspense, you'll definitely want to pick this up when arrives in October.
Want to read
September 6, 2022Woah, is this the first MM HQN RS book?
November 10, 2022
4.5 stars.
If I have to describe this book in one sentence, it would be like this: Alias meets James Bond in an Uncharted/Call of Duty: Black Ops games, gay version.
Alexander Creed's mission is to take down a dangerous criminal before Christmas. His only problem has first and last name: Nicholas Kane. The black ops agent is after the same target so, after a rough first encounter (including a man to man fight between them), they agree to join forces to capture the man. They both work on different sides of the same agency, after all. As agents trained to be enemies, they don't trust each other, but how does the saying go, "keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer"? That way Alex could keep an eye on Nick while they're doing the job. And vice versa. What they didn't expected was the powerful attraction they would feel for each other. Will they dare to surrender to their feelings? How what's happening between them would affect their mission?
Alex and Nick are the last of each other's shoes: smart, confident, clever guys with complicated families due to their sexual orientation. Both men live in a dangerous don't-trust-anyone world; one tiny mistake would kill them—literally. Yet their vision about the future makes the difference. While Alex thinks about retirement, Nick always sees himself dying in the line of duty. Something to mention is how they measure each other in the first chapters. They trying to decide whether to trust one another or not, after all.
As a couple, they're FAN-TAS-TIC. Their sexual tension builds in such a magnificent way. Their intimate moments (Nick fixing Alex's tie, for example) and how they tease each other spices the scorching passion they developed for each other.
Alex mumbled, “Um, okay. Are we on a date, then?”
“Sure.” Nick grinned at him. “Just don’t call me sweetheart.”
Nick and Alex are excellent characters. Both have real issues they have to deal and overcome, but they did it in such a smooth way it seems natural. The same thing with their romance. How their emotions grow as you turn the pages is organic and credible. Nothing is forced here. Their chemistry is all over the book!! Although I felt their first sex encounter a bit off for a moment. All the book you have this meaningful sexual tension surrounding the dialogues and interactions to end up making love at the wrong time?
As a romantic suspense story, there are some characters that come and go thru the plot. Of course there's Harlan Grey, the infamous target Alex and Nick are after, but the book is centered in the heroes, as it should be.
This is my first Cindy Dees' book AND my first Harlequin Romantic Suspense book, so I have to say that not only I loved it but I'm glad it's a MM story. The plot has a good pace, starting with a scene with an espionage vibe as Nick is following his target in an art gallery, ending his night fighting against Alex—both believing the other was part of Gray's team—and finishing it with a HEA this couple truly deserved. Ms. Dees made her homework well, as it shows her knowledge about the topic she presents in the story. Maybe she has some experience in the field? Yes, there were a few inconsistencies in some scenes an a bit rushed romantic ending but well...
A story packed with action, cool gadgets, suspense (obviously) and funny moments you will enjoy from its first page until the last one. I'm gonna look forward to Ms. Dees' books (especially this series since this is book 4 of Runaway Ranch) because first impressions do count and mine's a great one.
ARC given by Harlequin via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
If I have to describe this book in one sentence, it would be like this: Alias meets James Bond in an Uncharted/Call of Duty: Black Ops games, gay version.
Alexander Creed's mission is to take down a dangerous criminal before Christmas. His only problem has first and last name: Nicholas Kane. The black ops agent is after the same target so, after a rough first encounter (including a man to man fight between them), they agree to join forces to capture the man. They both work on different sides of the same agency, after all. As agents trained to be enemies, they don't trust each other, but how does the saying go, "keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer"? That way Alex could keep an eye on Nick while they're doing the job. And vice versa. What they didn't expected was the powerful attraction they would feel for each other. Will they dare to surrender to their feelings? How what's happening between them would affect their mission?
Alex and Nick are the last of each other's shoes: smart, confident, clever guys with complicated families due to their sexual orientation. Both men live in a dangerous don't-trust-anyone world; one tiny mistake would kill them—literally. Yet their vision about the future makes the difference. While Alex thinks about retirement, Nick always sees himself dying in the line of duty. Something to mention is how they measure each other in the first chapters. They trying to decide whether to trust one another or not, after all.
As a couple, they're FAN-TAS-TIC. Their sexual tension builds in such a magnificent way. Their intimate moments (Nick fixing Alex's tie, for example) and how they tease each other spices the scorching passion they developed for each other.
Alex mumbled, “Um, okay. Are we on a date, then?”
“Sure.” Nick grinned at him. “Just don’t call me sweetheart.”
Nick and Alex are excellent characters. Both have real issues they have to deal and overcome, but they did it in such a smooth way it seems natural. The same thing with their romance. How their emotions grow as you turn the pages is organic and credible. Nothing is forced here. Their chemistry is all over the book!! Although I felt their first sex encounter a bit off for a moment. All the book you have this meaningful sexual tension surrounding the dialogues and interactions to end up making love at the wrong time?
As a romantic suspense story, there are some characters that come and go thru the plot. Of course there's Harlan Grey, the infamous target Alex and Nick are after, but the book is centered in the heroes, as it should be.
This is my first Cindy Dees' book AND my first Harlequin Romantic Suspense book, so I have to say that not only I loved it but I'm glad it's a MM story. The plot has a good pace, starting with a scene with an espionage vibe as Nick is following his target in an art gallery, ending his night fighting against Alex—both believing the other was part of Gray's team—and finishing it with a HEA this couple truly deserved. Ms. Dees made her homework well, as it shows her knowledge about the topic she presents in the story. Maybe she has some experience in the field? Yes, there were a few inconsistencies in some scenes an a bit rushed romantic ending but well...
A story packed with action, cool gadgets, suspense (obviously) and funny moments you will enjoy from its first page until the last one. I'm gonna look forward to Ms. Dees' books (especially this series since this is book 4 of Runaway Ranch) because first impressions do count and mine's a great one.
ARC given by Harlequin via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
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November 2, 2022I'm glad that Harlequin is finally including queer romances in a variety of their category lines. It made sense for Roan Parrish to be the pioneer, (Special Editions' The Lights on Knockbridge Lane), because she had a healthy backlist of queer romance novels. I can easily think of numerous authors (Josh Lanyon, Abigail Roux Tal Bauer) who would have been great candidates to write the first M/M Harlequin Romantic Suspense, but for some reason that honor went to Cindy Dees, who as far as I can tell has never written a book with queer MCs.
I have to admit that romances featuring CIA Special Ops agents are not my cup of tea, so this was a hard sell from page one. It's hard to believe that two people can fall in love while they are busy killing multiple bad guys and fighting for their lives. In this case, we're also asked to accept that they are celebrating a quaint small-town Christmas at the same time. I might have tried to suspend my disbelief if the plot was interesting or the romance believable. But Nick and Alex spend a lot of time chasing and being chased, shooting and being shot at, etc. without ever actually accomplishing anything .
As for the romance, at least the MCs don't engage in sexytimes while they are in a life or death situation. However, once they find themselves in the aforementioned charming small town, they not only find time to do it, they immediately declare their love for each other. It felt like someone dropped a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie into the middle of Call of Duty.
The author does have military experience, so I suppose her fighting and shooting scenes are realistic. But there's no way in hell that two hardened operatives would participate in the small town's annual snowball fight - and leave their backpacks filled with ammo and emergency supplies on the sidewalk as they frolic. Neither would they propose to each other while pinned down by enemy fire. Nobody expects romance novels to be like real life, but the characters' behavior shouldn't make me feel like I've slipped into a very odd multiverse.
ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
I have to admit that romances featuring CIA Special Ops agents are not my cup of tea, so this was a hard sell from page one. It's hard to believe that two people can fall in love while they are busy killing multiple bad guys and fighting for their lives. In this case, we're also asked to accept that they are celebrating a quaint small-town Christmas at the same time. I might have tried to suspend my disbelief if the plot was interesting or the romance believable. But Nick and Alex spend a lot of time chasing and being chased, shooting and being shot at, etc. without ever actually accomplishing anything .
As for the romance, at least the MCs don't engage in sexytimes while they are in a life or death situation. However, once they find themselves in the aforementioned charming small town, they not only find time to do it, they immediately declare their love for each other. It felt like someone dropped a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie into the middle of Call of Duty.
The author does have military experience, so I suppose her fighting and shooting scenes are realistic. But there's no way in hell that two hardened operatives would participate in the small town's annual snowball fight - and leave their backpacks filled with ammo and emergency supplies on the sidewalk as they frolic. Neither would they propose to each other while pinned down by enemy fire. Nobody expects romance novels to be like real life, but the characters' behavior shouldn't make me feel like I've slipped into a very odd multiverse.
ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2022
Review to appear on Smexy Books:
There is a lot to like in His Christmas Guardian. For one thing, it starts us right in the middle of things, with Nicholas Kane scoping out an art auction in search of his treacherous spymaster boss, Gray. We begin with intrigue, action, and a near death experience. We learn that Nick, an operative in the US intelligence services, was left out of a deadly and treasonous expedition to steal almost priceless artifacts. His sense of betrayal is extremely strong, because the men he trained and worked with for years apparently put monetary reward over duty, and loyalty to Gray over country. There are elements of the story – and yes the artifacts do have a Christmas theme – that made me think fondly of the tv series Alias.
Fairly soon into the novel, Nick meets Alex, a fixer. Alex’s job is to diffuse or take out intelligence assets like Gray, who have gone rogue. Alex is highly suspicious of Nick, for good reason, and for several chapters we get to see the two men get the measure of each other, as they decide whether to trust one another. In this process, we learn about their families and their backgrounds. One thing we discover is that Alex, who has meted out so much death in his career, has a vision of retirement, whereas Nick assumes he will die in the line of duty. It becomes Alex’s goal to get Nick to change his view, and not view his life as sacrificial and expendable.
The romantic and sexual tension builds so well – and even moments like doing surveillance under a mylar blanket while their shoulders touch seemed incendiary and meaningful. There is a little cheesiness in places – and that seems at odds with Alex and Nick’s hyper competence. And the Christmas tie-in seems tangential at best. But when the guys finally get their moment of consummation, it just did not feel right. For one thing, their relationship speeds up at the end – I am assuming because of the dramatic events and near-death experiences towards the end of the novel. But the sex felt formulaic and perfunctory. I was disappointed, because I really enjoyed most of the novel and the tension was built well enough that I didn’t mind waiting until near the end. But the wait was not rewarded. From what I understand, this is the first m/m romance under the Harlequin Romantic Suspense line, so perhaps it was an editorial decision to constrain the gay intimacy.
Grade: C+
There is a lot to like in His Christmas Guardian. For one thing, it starts us right in the middle of things, with Nicholas Kane scoping out an art auction in search of his treacherous spymaster boss, Gray. We begin with intrigue, action, and a near death experience. We learn that Nick, an operative in the US intelligence services, was left out of a deadly and treasonous expedition to steal almost priceless artifacts. His sense of betrayal is extremely strong, because the men he trained and worked with for years apparently put monetary reward over duty, and loyalty to Gray over country. There are elements of the story – and yes the artifacts do have a Christmas theme – that made me think fondly of the tv series Alias.
Fairly soon into the novel, Nick meets Alex, a fixer. Alex’s job is to diffuse or take out intelligence assets like Gray, who have gone rogue. Alex is highly suspicious of Nick, for good reason, and for several chapters we get to see the two men get the measure of each other, as they decide whether to trust one another. In this process, we learn about their families and their backgrounds. One thing we discover is that Alex, who has meted out so much death in his career, has a vision of retirement, whereas Nick assumes he will die in the line of duty. It becomes Alex’s goal to get Nick to change his view, and not view his life as sacrificial and expendable.
The romantic and sexual tension builds so well – and even moments like doing surveillance under a mylar blanket while their shoulders touch seemed incendiary and meaningful. There is a little cheesiness in places – and that seems at odds with Alex and Nick’s hyper competence. And the Christmas tie-in seems tangential at best. But when the guys finally get their moment of consummation, it just did not feel right. For one thing, their relationship speeds up at the end – I am assuming because of the dramatic events and near-death experiences towards the end of the novel. But the sex felt formulaic and perfunctory. I was disappointed, because I really enjoyed most of the novel and the tension was built well enough that I didn’t mind waiting until near the end. But the wait was not rewarded. From what I understand, this is the first m/m romance under the Harlequin Romantic Suspense line, so perhaps it was an editorial decision to constrain the gay intimacy.
Grade: C+
July 1, 2023
Action-packed, flirty romantic fun!
OK, I am going to say this very quickly there are a lot of firsts here;
1. This is my first book by Cindy Dees 😳 why, oh why have I waited so long to read this author? Who knows, it's another case of me staying inside my bubble and only reading what I know. Well, I have changed that here and I am very excited to read more from this author.
2. Even though I have read so many M/M romances over the years, I do have a real soft spot for watching two gorgeous men falling in love and yet this is my first from Mills and Boon. Have I missed them or are these books relatively new Anyway this one is my first Mills and Boon M/M romance and I loved it and I am now wanting more!
3. This is my first ever book from the Intrigue line, I know, I know all new things today! I do have a few Intrigue stories on my kindle shelf and they are going to be bumped up the reading list now.
His Christmas Guardian is a relatively short and quick read, I liked how easy it was and well the plot flowed. I believe that this is a part of a series, though I didn't know that when I started reading and I have to be honest I didn't feel as though I was missing out on anything by not reading the previous books so I would say you can easily read this one as a stand-alone, I will certainly be looking for the other books in the series.
I loved the two heroes of the story, Nick and Alex are smoking hot, I loved the chemistry between them and that in between the exciting non-strop action of the plot that we have moments of calm where we get to know them both and in those moments it's so lovely watching them discover more about one and another.
I loved their romance, it's very real, they go from enemies/rivals on the hunt for the same man to joining forces and ending up lovers and I thought it was exciting and gorgeous at the same time.
I liked the story, nothing is challenging about it, it's the edge of your seat with the manhunt element, suspense and intriguing and it does read like an action movie which I thoroughly enjoyed then we have the intense passion, the tantalising atmosphere between the lads which crackles and keeps you glued to the page.
I loved it, I can't say that enough! It's fun, edgy, action-packed, romantic and thoroughly entertaining a definite must-read!!
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Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
@chicksroguesandscandals
OK, I am going to say this very quickly there are a lot of firsts here;
1. This is my first book by Cindy Dees 😳 why, oh why have I waited so long to read this author? Who knows, it's another case of me staying inside my bubble and only reading what I know. Well, I have changed that here and I am very excited to read more from this author.
2. Even though I have read so many M/M romances over the years, I do have a real soft spot for watching two gorgeous men falling in love and yet this is my first from Mills and Boon. Have I missed them or are these books relatively new Anyway this one is my first Mills and Boon M/M romance and I loved it and I am now wanting more!
3. This is my first ever book from the Intrigue line, I know, I know all new things today! I do have a few Intrigue stories on my kindle shelf and they are going to be bumped up the reading list now.
His Christmas Guardian is a relatively short and quick read, I liked how easy it was and well the plot flowed. I believe that this is a part of a series, though I didn't know that when I started reading and I have to be honest I didn't feel as though I was missing out on anything by not reading the previous books so I would say you can easily read this one as a stand-alone, I will certainly be looking for the other books in the series.
I loved the two heroes of the story, Nick and Alex are smoking hot, I loved the chemistry between them and that in between the exciting non-strop action of the plot that we have moments of calm where we get to know them both and in those moments it's so lovely watching them discover more about one and another.
I loved their romance, it's very real, they go from enemies/rivals on the hunt for the same man to joining forces and ending up lovers and I thought it was exciting and gorgeous at the same time.
I liked the story, nothing is challenging about it, it's the edge of your seat with the manhunt element, suspense and intriguing and it does read like an action movie which I thoroughly enjoyed then we have the intense passion, the tantalising atmosphere between the lads which crackles and keeps you glued to the page.
I loved it, I can't say that enough! It's fun, edgy, action-packed, romantic and thoroughly entertaining a definite must-read!!
--------
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
@chicksroguesandscandals
October 21, 2022
His Christmas Guardian by Cindy Dees is a romantic suspense novel currently scheduled for release on October 25 2022. CIA Agent Alex Creed’s mission is to take down a deadly criminal before Christmas and only Nick Kane stands in his way. After the same target, and trained to be enemies, do they dare become more? The black ops agent claims he’s after the same target and that working together is the best plan. Never before has Alex been so attracted to someone he shouldn’t trust. Especially knowing Nick has a bit of a death wish, while Alex envisions a future together.
His Christmas Guardian has a good premise, and I thought that Alex and Nick were good characters. I did feel like there were moments that they were just a little too perfect, but for the most part I found that they each had some realistic issues that would need to be overcome for them in the future beyond this book. I did like the alternative points of view, and thought that gave me a better understanding of where everyone stood, and what their concerns were even before they could express them. However, I did feel like this was part of a larger series. That some of the characters mentioned in passing and some of the situations discussed could be found elsewhere. None of this made the read less enjoyable, in fact I think that those that really like it will be out hunting for those other books, but I felt like it was not mentioned in the blurb or on the cover that it was part of a series, which bothered me a little. I felt like I was only getting a small part of a much bigger story, and that more could have been done even just with Nick and Alex to make it all feel a little less easy.
His Christmas Guardian is a good romance with a decent amount of suspense and action.
His Christmas Guardian has a good premise, and I thought that Alex and Nick were good characters. I did feel like there were moments that they were just a little too perfect, but for the most part I found that they each had some realistic issues that would need to be overcome for them in the future beyond this book. I did like the alternative points of view, and thought that gave me a better understanding of where everyone stood, and what their concerns were even before they could express them. However, I did feel like this was part of a larger series. That some of the characters mentioned in passing and some of the situations discussed could be found elsewhere. None of this made the read less enjoyable, in fact I think that those that really like it will be out hunting for those other books, but I felt like it was not mentioned in the blurb or on the cover that it was part of a series, which bothered me a little. I felt like I was only getting a small part of a much bigger story, and that more could have been done even just with Nick and Alex to make it all feel a little less easy.
His Christmas Guardian is a good romance with a decent amount of suspense and action.
listen-i-tried
December 12, 2022dnf around 60%
you need to know one thing about me, so this review makes sense.
i am from europe, the eastern side of it to be more exact. while i did grow up with loveswept books (because aunt and grandmas and some mothers — not mine tho, my mum is hella cool & only reads smart stuff — had the translated versions), we didn't get the harlequin series translated or published here. or at least i am not aware of it, anyway.
why does that matter? because i'd never read a harlequin original (?) before this one & i had no idea what to expect. i clearly was ill prepared for it.
it brought me back to the days of reading loveswept books under the covers late at night in middle school. from the writing to the editing that always misses at least 3 misspelled word to the obsession of describing every room the characters are in even when it doesn't matter to the weird patriotism. clearly, this book was not for me. it was fun to read late at night while having insomnia, but i refuse to finish it.
i am not a gay man, so i cannot comment on the representation, but dear god, i haven't read something so terribly handled in a very long time.
this would have been way more fun of a read during a vacation, at the beach, where i could have enjoyed the absurdity of it all. but right now it's cold, i have one more week until i am done with my shitty job & i cannot get over the "hubba hubba" i read.
in a published book.
TWICE.
you need to know one thing about me, so this review makes sense.
i am from europe, the eastern side of it to be more exact. while i did grow up with loveswept books (because aunt and grandmas and some mothers — not mine tho, my mum is hella cool & only reads smart stuff — had the translated versions), we didn't get the harlequin series translated or published here. or at least i am not aware of it, anyway.
why does that matter? because i'd never read a harlequin original (?) before this one & i had no idea what to expect. i clearly was ill prepared for it.
it brought me back to the days of reading loveswept books under the covers late at night in middle school. from the writing to the editing that always misses at least 3 misspelled word to the obsession of describing every room the characters are in even when it doesn't matter to the weird patriotism. clearly, this book was not for me. it was fun to read late at night while having insomnia, but i refuse to finish it.
i am not a gay man, so i cannot comment on the representation, but dear god, i haven't read something so terribly handled in a very long time.
this would have been way more fun of a read during a vacation, at the beach, where i could have enjoyed the absurdity of it all. but right now it's cold, i have one more week until i am done with my shitty job & i cannot get over the "hubba hubba" i read.
in a published book.
TWICE.
November 7, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
His Christmas Guardian is billed as a Christmas romantic suspense, and it sort of hits all of those marks. This is the 4th book in a series (the others being male/female romances), and I think I would have enjoyed it better if I’d read any of the previous books. These guys seem great, but it was a little tough getting to know them, with all the running, fighting, and scheming they had to do from page one. Their chemistry seemed a little tepid to me as a result. Meanwhile, Gray is always three steps ahead, and there are a lot of bodies piling up. Events happen so fast, without a lot of context for who’s good, bad, or ugly. I had sincere trouble keeping up. I’m generally cool with romantic suspense, but there was a lot of double/triple crossing, and all sorts of alphabet soup when it came to who was running what op with whom, so I got confused in the first half.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
His Christmas Guardian is billed as a Christmas romantic suspense, and it sort of hits all of those marks. This is the 4th book in a series (the others being male/female romances), and I think I would have enjoyed it better if I’d read any of the previous books. These guys seem great, but it was a little tough getting to know them, with all the running, fighting, and scheming they had to do from page one. Their chemistry seemed a little tepid to me as a result. Meanwhile, Gray is always three steps ahead, and there are a lot of bodies piling up. Events happen so fast, without a lot of context for who’s good, bad, or ugly. I had sincere trouble keeping up. I’m generally cool with romantic suspense, but there was a lot of double/triple crossing, and all sorts of alphabet soup when it came to who was running what op with whom, so I got confused in the first half.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
January 3, 2023
Kept me on the edge of my seat.
AFAIK, this is the first book I’ve read by Cindy Dees and I thought it was a great introduction to her writing. I don’t know if this is the first MM (male/male) book she’s written or not. If it is, she did a great job.
Two trained killers teaming up together and then finding love under difficult circumstances kept me engaged throughout the entire story. Alex and Nick were believable MCs and their connection felt real to me. I have only one small complaint…this story desperately needed an epilogue – something to let us know how they are doing a little way into the future. I guess there was enough information throughout the story, especially near the end, for readers to be able to form an HEA in their own minds but I wanted more closure from the author.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
AFAIK, this is the first book I’ve read by Cindy Dees and I thought it was a great introduction to her writing. I don’t know if this is the first MM (male/male) book she’s written or not. If it is, she did a great job.
Two trained killers teaming up together and then finding love under difficult circumstances kept me engaged throughout the entire story. Alex and Nick were believable MCs and their connection felt real to me. I have only one small complaint…this story desperately needed an epilogue – something to let us know how they are doing a little way into the future. I guess there was enough information throughout the story, especially near the end, for readers to be able to form an HEA in their own minds but I wanted more closure from the author.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
January 14, 2024
My first Cindy Dees novel, and it is part of the Runaway Ranch series, but appears that all can be read as a stand alone.
The story follows two operatives that are after the same man for different reasons - and end up finding love along the way. A pretty good LGBTQ+ read in my opinion, but personally I would have appreciated more sweet scenes from the couple, as well as at the end of the novel after the action was completed.
This book felt more focused on the action and suspense, which might be what some people want, but I was looking for more from the couple, especially Alex and Nick. Both characters were well developed with their own personalities, and I appreciated their opposing stances on Christmas which played into the plot pretty well too.
I'd definitely check out future books, but to get my sweet MM romance, I might move to another author for that focus.
My opinion is my own and freely given.
The story follows two operatives that are after the same man for different reasons - and end up finding love along the way. A pretty good LGBTQ+ read in my opinion, but personally I would have appreciated more sweet scenes from the couple, as well as at the end of the novel after the action was completed.
This book felt more focused on the action and suspense, which might be what some people want, but I was looking for more from the couple, especially Alex and Nick. Both characters were well developed with their own personalities, and I appreciated their opposing stances on Christmas which played into the plot pretty well too.
I'd definitely check out future books, but to get my sweet MM romance, I might move to another author for that focus.
My opinion is my own and freely given.
Read
December 15, 2022Heat Factor: An extremely slow and unusually chaste burn
Character Chemistry: That “enemies” to “in love” switch flipped pretty fast
Plot: Government assassins put the Christ back in Christmas romance
Overall: Well…this was a thing I read
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Character Chemistry: That “enemies” to “in love” switch flipped pretty fast
Plot: Government assassins put the Christ back in Christmas romance
Overall: Well…this was a thing I read
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
January 4, 2026
Alex and Nick work for the same team, they just don't know it yet. But the two must now work together to take down Harlan Grey; but the two may also find a little bit of Christmas spirit in each other.
Dees gives us action from the very first page. This was a great narrative that was fast-paced and with two characters who were very similar but had opposite views that complemented one another perfectly.
This was a Christmas romance with cute scenes, such as the snowball fight and the inn, that gave off warm cosy vibes, in between the suspense of gunfire.
Because the two main characters were so similar I sometimes struggled to tell which was which and got muddled with their backstories. This wasn't too much of an issue because the resolution outweighed their past and wasn't too prominent in this narrative.
Dees gives us action from the very first page. This was a great narrative that was fast-paced and with two characters who were very similar but had opposite views that complemented one another perfectly.
This was a Christmas romance with cute scenes, such as the snowball fight and the inn, that gave off warm cosy vibes, in between the suspense of gunfire.
Because the two main characters were so similar I sometimes struggled to tell which was which and got muddled with their backstories. This wasn't too much of an issue because the resolution outweighed their past and wasn't too prominent in this narrative.
September 12, 2022
His Christmas Guardian is my first Cindy Dees book. Great story!
Two special ops men are brought together after an edge-of-your-set fight while tracking the same man, another special ops guy who'd gone bad.
The time span is short, but the intensity of the situation draws out the commonalities in their lines of work which was a lot of fun to read. There's plenty of action throughout, something I love about the Harlequin Intrigues, but enough downtime for them to get to really know each other.
There's a happy ending, but I do with there were another chapter or an epilogue at the end to take it beyond the final action sequence.
All in all a good book. I'd love to read more books by this author.
Two special ops men are brought together after an edge-of-your-set fight while tracking the same man, another special ops guy who'd gone bad.
The time span is short, but the intensity of the situation draws out the commonalities in their lines of work which was a lot of fun to read. There's plenty of action throughout, something I love about the Harlequin Intrigues, but enough downtime for them to get to really know each other.
There's a happy ending, but I do with there were another chapter or an epilogue at the end to take it beyond the final action sequence.
All in all a good book. I'd love to read more books by this author.
September 27, 2022
REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ His Christmas Guardian by Cindy Dees is an action packed and sizzling hot romantic thriller. The job of both Nick Kane and Alex Creed is to remove dangerous criminals from the streets, only their methods vary. They meet at an art gallery gala and soon realize that they are tracking the same target. Can these two men learn to trust each other enough to join forces in bringing down one very dangerous man? And can they manage to accomplish this as the explosive attraction between them intensifies by the minute?⠀
⠀
His Christmas Guardian is amazingly suspenseful and the action is virtually non-stop. The plot operates in a narrow time frame in which these men go from rivals to lovers, but the author executes this seamlessly and the romance develops in a purely organic manner. Every element of this book throbs with intensity, from the perilous adventure to the explosive passion. The suspense never lags from the opening pages to the powerful conclusion. But the reader will be so enamored by these characters that they will never want it to end. ⠀
⠀
His Christmas Guardian is amazingly suspenseful and the action is virtually non-stop. The plot operates in a narrow time frame in which these men go from rivals to lovers, but the author executes this seamlessly and the romance develops in a purely organic manner. Every element of this book throbs with intensity, from the perilous adventure to the explosive passion. The suspense never lags from the opening pages to the powerful conclusion. But the reader will be so enamored by these characters that they will never want it to end. ⠀
October 26, 2022
If you are looking for a sweet MM romance, this is not the book. Don't get me wrong. It has romance and steam, but it has so much more than that. Suspense, intrigue, action, and intensity. Two men meet while looking for the same criminal, and it is not sunshine and roses in the beginning. They need to trust each other enough to work together to apprehend the man they are after, but can they? I really liked this story. The action kept going, and I loved the interaction between Nick and Alex. The characters and plot kept you wanting to turn the page. However, there were times when I think the story was a little rushed. It did not overly distract, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I suggest everyone get a copy. 4 stars.
Read
November 5, 2022DNF @ 57%
I struggled with this one and ultimately decided to put it down. The writing was just fine, but I struggled with the characters. I feel like there was no chemistry between them, and I’m not invested in their growing relationship or the case they’re working on. I don’t normally rate books that I’ve DNF’d, but I’d give this one a 2.75 or 3 star so far from what I’ve read. I did want to finish this book just to give it a proper review, but I feel like it’s putting me in a slump.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for sending me an eARC to review! HIS CHRISTMAS GUARDIAN is available now.
I struggled with this one and ultimately decided to put it down. The writing was just fine, but I struggled with the characters. I feel like there was no chemistry between them, and I’m not invested in their growing relationship or the case they’re working on. I don’t normally rate books that I’ve DNF’d, but I’d give this one a 2.75 or 3 star so far from what I’ve read. I did want to finish this book just to give it a proper review, but I feel like it’s putting me in a slump.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for sending me an eARC to review! HIS CHRISTMAS GUARDIAN is available now.
November 18, 2022
This is my first Cindy Dees book, like so many others have already said. For the size of the book, there's a lot packed inside. Two men come to follow the bad guy from separate agencies, each not trusting the other at all. They do come to an understanding and work together but it seems that trust is an issue for each of them in their personal lives as well, and with good cause. Coming to terms with who they each are and how they do or do not tolerate being treated by others helped shape who they are now. One's a grinch and pretty fatalistic and the other is completely the opposite. But working together, each realizes the potential for growth. Looking forward to more from this author.
October 12, 2022
Great romance to escape into. It opened fast and kept the action going all the way through. This had great chemistry between the leads, with a nice arc for how their relationship progressed. I like seeing it evolve over the novel. The suspense was well done and kept me flipping pages. I know I have a good book when I choose it over sleep. I highly recommend this for a fun holiday read. Thank you NetGally for the ARC. I will be checking out this author now after reading this book.
February 10, 2025
Really wasn't expecting to read a gay harlequin that ultimately "proves"/hinges upon the literal historical existence of Jesus Christ, but that's where this one ends up. The sex scene (singular) is very sanitized/unrealistic and the romance moves very quickly, despite both main characters being notably guarded. Not sure how we jumped from two dangerous government spies in the prime of their careers wanting to settle down, buy a bed and breakfast, and adopt some kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2022
Thank you, Harlequin, for allowing me to read The Christmas Guardian early.
I love Christmas stories, I love slow burn, and I love M/M. So it didn’t surprise me that I gobbled up this story within 24 hours. Highly recommended for a few hours of distraction this fall or winter!
I love Christmas stories, I love slow burn, and I love M/M. So it didn’t surprise me that I gobbled up this story within 24 hours. Highly recommended for a few hours of distraction this fall or winter!
May 5, 2023
This was such a fun and exciting Christmas tale. Alex and Nick made a perfect pairing. The mission they mutually undertook was well paced and had an awesome amount of action to it. It was also had an intriguing amount of spywork to it.
This was a fun holiday romp.
This was a fun holiday romp.
Read
October 1, 2022Military Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Gay
Miniseries
Runaway Ranch (Book #4)
Miniseries
Runaway Ranch (Book #4)
November 30, 2022
His Christmas Guardian is a good mm-romance-action-packed adventure without the many senseless sex scenes commonly found in MM romance. I liked the enemy to lovers troupe and the action that served as the background for their adventure. It is simple, entertaining, and without being over the top when it comes to sex
December 20, 2022
How is a book - enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, slow burn and insta love, all in one book?!
Another reviewer said it best, there is too much story for this short of a book.
Another reviewer said it best, there is too much story for this short of a book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews