RELEASE DAY- REVIEW: Dealing Him In -The Kings Royal Flush Book #1- Charlie Cochet

Title: Dealing Him In
Series: The Kings Royal Flush Book #1
Author: Charlie Cochet
Genre: Gay Romance, LGBTQ Romance, Military Romance
Publisher: Independent
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Format: Kindle
Pages: 267
Source: Amazon

Play with fire, and you’ll get burned.

Santos “Saint” Cavallero had his life all figured out when he married his high school sweetheart, joined the Navy, and became a SEAL. After years of being deployed, Saint comes home for good, only to discover his wife has fallen for another man. Now divorced and a bodyguard for Four Kings Security, Saint loves his job and his found family. His dating life? A hot mess, until the spark of an unexpected attraction strikes him like lightning, leaving Saint confused. Why is he feeling hot and bothered over the ruggedly handsome Fire Chief?

After twenty years of service, Valentino “Val” Serrano is passing his fire ax on to the next Fire Chief. His retirement starts off with a bang, literally. Val is saved by the young, hot bodyguard he’s been dreaming of for longer than he cares to admit, but Saint is straight, isn’t he?

Val and Saint get roped into working on Val’s tavern, but Val is determined not to let Saint get under his skin. He’s been here before, and he’s not about to risk his heart, no matter how hot and flirty Saint is. When a killer sets his sights on Val and puts everyone he cares about in harm’s way, there’s suddenly more at risk than their hearts. If Val and Saint don’t stop the killer, their whole world could burn to the ground, and the possibility of a future together will go up in smoke.

Reviewed by Linda Tonis

Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

Saint Cavallero works for Four Knights Security as an executive protector but fills in whenever extra security is required. When a celebration for Fire Chief Val Serrano is being held at an open-air venue to honor his years of service and his retirement it is all hands-on deck. A venue near a beach and out in the open is a very tricky situation especially when county and state officials will be present.

Saint was married and when he was away on a mission, he came home to his wife having found new love and a divorce. Any thought of a new relationship is the farthest thing from his mind even though every time he sees Val his heart goes pitter patter. He questions his sexuality since his attraction to another man is something he can’t seem to understand but is it possible he is bi and always has been. When he sees a shadow in the bushes, he immediately runs to Val just before a bomb goes off. Val is thrown into the pool with a pillar holding him down and with help Saint can save him never realizing that the one who is badly injured is himself.

Like Saint, Val has always been attracted to Saint but he knows that he is straight and is not going to even consider taking his feelings further. Saint’s injury requires him to be off work and with Val’s life in danger he agrees to help work on Val’s new tavern, protecting Val and giving him something to do other than sit around the house. Working side by side with Val, Saint makes the first move revealing he likes Val and wanting more than friendship, Val refuses to leave himself open to hurt being with a man who has no real idea of what he is and not wanting to be his test dummy.

Saint tries and Val denies, their story continues in that way and when it becomes apparent that the person responsible for the bomb is not finished yet Saint not only works with Val but stays in his home. With Val refusing to accept a relationship with Saint they remain friends, all the while Saint is pushing for more. A simple question from Val, are you all in and ready to face your family, the look on Saint’s face tells it all.

When shots are again fired, they hit Leo the man King loves and when he comes close to dying despite every effort Saint made to protect him King is furious, and he is fired. His guilt is overwhelming for Saint it is his job to protect and he failed and one of the people he cares deeply about is almost killed.

Val’s life is in danger with no clue who or why someone wants him dead so badly that other lives are put in jeopardy.

The search for the suspect is in full swing only this time Saint is in the line of fire. While Saint and Val try to figure out what they mean to each other, more damage is done and to a group of innocent people having no real connection to Val or Saint. One of my favorite parts was when Saint called Val his sugar daddy for feeding him and Val replies to not being rich enough for a sugar daddy, so Saint calls him a Splenda daddy, it was something I never heard before and it put a smile on my face.

Romance, sex, and a story of two men who have trouble following their hearts and only follow their heads. It is a story of revenge and hatred that puts everyone in danger. Love this book and can’t wait for the next one.

LGBT/ROMANCE/ACTION ADVENTURE/MILITARY