Kept (Gemini Men, #2) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Jan 16, 2009 Shawna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cop-bodyguard-govop-merc-military, favorites, 5-stars, romantic-suspense, 2009-reads, erotic-romance-erotica-romantica, hero-alpha‎, heroine-abused-traumatic-past-rape, i-read-own-faves-keepers, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst

5 stars – Romantic Suspense

Kept is the second book in Jami Alden’s Gemini Men series about three ex-military brothers, twins Ethan and Derek and older brother Danny, who run a private security firm that specializes in undercover work for very high-profile, elite clientele. Although I liked the first book in the series, Caught, this installment has a deeper, more intriguing plot, much steamier sex, and the suspense has been stepped up a notch as well. I was very pleasantly surprised and entertain 5 stars – Romantic Suspense

Kept is the second book in Jami Alden’s Gemini Men series about three ex-military brothers, twins Ethan and Derek and older brother Danny, who run a private security firm that specializes in undercover work for very high-profile, elite clientele. Although I liked the first book in the series, Caught, this installment has a deeper, more intriguing plot, much steamier sex, and the suspense has been stepped up a notch as well. I was very pleasantly surprised and entertained by this one.

Derek “Iceman” Taggart is a security specialist who prides himself on never making mistakes or errors in judgment while working a case. Years of experience as an Army Ranger sniper have taught him how to control his feelings and close off his emotions in order to avoid serious relationships, personal entanglements, and any sort of deep emotional involvement. His hard, tough, cold, distant demeanor makes him a great security expert, but has "kept" him from forming a real connection with anyone besides his brothers, which is just the way he likes it.

While working security at a social benefit, he encounters a beautiful, young socialite and feels an instant pull and attraction that he’s never experienced before. He gives her a ride home and they share a passionate night of hot sex, but he senses something deeper that scares him. They casually part ways, but he has a hard time forgetting about her.

Fast forward a few months...Gemini Security has landed a new high-profile client, Van Weldt Jewelers, and are tasked with providing bodyguard/babysitting duty for the daughter of the recently murdered CEO, who’s also Van Weldt’s star model. Alyssa Miles is a famous party girl and gossip rag queen whose crazy antics pose a threat to Van Weldt’s reputation. Derek is assigned to protect her 24/7, from external threats, but mainly from herself. This of course wouldn’t be a problem except that the fiery beauty also happens to be the same girl he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about since their wild night together months before.

Things get even more complicated when Derek begins to realize that Alyssa’s really a sweet, kind, naïve, trusting, honest, and open girl underneath the glamorous facade and that she offers her love freely and generously; which is the last thing he wants or needs, or so he thinks anyway. Soon he’s dealing with feelings, emotions, and trust issues that he’s spent his whole life avoiding, and so he denies what they have and pushes her away. Of course, when Alyssa’s life is threatened by an obsessed, malevolent villain, Derek has to rely on all his training and experience to save her, but will it be too late?

The plot involves a suspicious double murder-suicide, a blood diamond and arms trafficking ring, and stalker threats, and there are numerous potential suspects thrown in to keep the reader guessing as to who the real baddies are. The sex scenes are scorching hot and frequent without inhibiting the plot or disrupting the story's flow.

The Gemini Men series has some similarity to Lucy Monroe’s Mercenary/Goddard Project series, but with better writing, more sizzling sex, and better suspense. Derek is an emotionally distant ex-Special Forces Lora Leigh-esque alpha military hottie. Kept is a verrry steamy read with great characters, a clever plot, and exciting suspense...I really enjoyed it! My only complaint is the boring, not so attractive guy on the cover who looks nothing like how I pictured Derek. Cover model dissatisfaction notwithstanding, it’s a very entertaining read! 5 stars! ...more

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Apr 11, 2010 Cindy rated it liked it

I loved book 1 but I can't really give this one a fair review because I absolutely hated the heroine. The whole Paris Hilton thing [even if she is trying to get over it:] makes me faintly ill... I just can't read paparazzi stories!

I'll still look for book 3 though... Incidentally order doesn't seem to matter between these two.

Gemini Men
1. Caught (2008)
2. Kept (2009)
3. Unleashed (2009) ...more

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Apr 03, 2011 Bianca rated it really liked it

Shelves: romantic-suspense, available-to-loan-on-kindle

I didn't like it as much as the first, but it was still a good read! The heroine was a little hard to relate to! The hero was a jerk, but I like jerky hero's so it worked for me! The bad guys were definitely more sinister in this one, much more suspenseful then the first! ...more

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