Jen’s review of Playing Dirty (Bad Boys Undercover #1) by HelenKay Dimon
As an elite Alliance agent—the joint undercover operation of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, and the CIA—Ford Decker lives for the adrenaline. But when he befriends sexy property manager Shay Alexander in hopes of finding her cousin, a known national security threat, Ford crosses the line, getting to know her better . . . in bed.
After being burned by her last relationship, Shay wants to take things slow. Yet she can’t keep her hands off the drop-dead gorgeous hottie who’s moved into her apartment building. So when Ford’s identity as an undercover agent is exposed, his betrayal cuts deep. Shay never wants to see him again, but Ford can’t let her go, not when her life is still in danger. He will sacrifice everything to protect her, then be prepared to walk away from the only woman he’s ever loved, even if it breaks him.
Ford Decker is an agent for a top secret, shadowy agency run jointly by the CIA and MI6. It’s the kind of agency that is so top secret they mostly operate independently and without regard for pesky things like laws. One of their primary purposes is to thwart terrorists, which is how Ford ends up searching for a young scientist who appears to have developed and then stolen a frightening new biological weapon. Shay Alexander is the scientist’s cousin, and Ford moves into the building where she and her cousin live to keep an eye on her. He ends up getting involved with her (because of course he does), which causes him all kinds of guilt. He has to do his job and save the world from a terrorist, even though he knows it might cost him Shay’s trust.
This is one of those books I could have really loved, if not for one issue. Ford has to lie to Shay because he’s a super secret agent. It’s not my favorite situation, but I’ve enjoyed plenty of books with that set up before because once the truth comes out, everyone can move past it and work together. Very slightly spoilery bit: But here, the truth doesn’t come out until almost the very end. Ford plays Shay the whole time. Yes, he genuinely cares about her and yes he feels guilty, but yet he keeps screwing her, literally and figuratively. She gets no chance to help, no chance to get to know the real Ford, no chance to do the right thing and help catch her cousin. As Ford kept lying and lying, I went from cringing to downright frustrated. Ford is said to be such a dedicated agent that he is willing to take advantage of the love of his life to save the world because that’s how important this is. But then we’re expected to believe he isn’t quite dedicated enough to keep it in his pants, something that was in opposition to his mission directives at first. I guess horniness trumps terrorism.
When the truth finally comes out, Shay is understandably crushed. Not only does she learn the guy she thought she was falling in love with used her for the entire length of their relationship, but she finds out the little cousin she has always loved and protected is involved in something horrific. This might all be turned around if she (and we as readers) were given some time to adjust, but the book is nearly at an end by this point. I was left with all this pent up indignation and anger for Shay. She, on the other hand, changes her opinion ridiculously quickly and forgives Ford in the end. Maybe Ford genuinely loves her, but she can’t love him because she doesn’t know him!
You’d think after this diatribe my score for the book would be a zero, but I really did like much of it. (If the truth had come out a little earlier, this could have been a solid 4 grade!) Aside from the lying, I liked Ford. He does try to be a good boyfriend to Shay for much of the book. Early on I assumed the lie would be revealed somewhere in the middle, so I actually appreciated his attempts to be supportive and caring toward Shay. It was only as the end neared and I realized the reveal would be humiliating that I started questioning Ford’s caring moments and wonder whether it was all basically grooming. Was he being supportive because he loved her or to build up her trust so she’d come to him if her cousin made contact? I loved seeing Ford’s teammates and all the complicated relationships in the agency. I am definitely looking forward to the other books because I usually like Dimon’s writing and fast-paced action.
I’m starting to feel like an uptight goody two shoes because I am always complaining about lies in romances, but I have such a hard time believing in any HEA when a relationship is built on lies. I know tons of readers would have no problem with the lying in this book, so if that’s not a deal breaker for you I do think you’d enjoy it. I clearly was not the right reader for this one.
Grade: 2.75 out of 5
This book is available from Avon Books. You can purchase it here or here in e-format.
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