Review: The Spy and I (My Spy #1) by Tiana Smith

Title: The Spy and I

Series: My Spy #1

Author: Tiana Smith

Genre: Adult, contemporary romance, adventure

Publication date: February 13th 2024

Published by: Berkley

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Right place. Wrong person. After a case of mistaken identity, one woman must work with her sister’s sexy spy partner to save the world in this heart-pounding romantic comedy.

The first thing to know about Dove Barkley is that, even though she works as a cyber security analyst, she is one hundred percent not an undercover CIA operative. But when a group of bad guys mistake her for her super-spy sister (news to her!), Dove gets roped into a dangerous government mission that she’d very much rather be left out of, thank you.

Too bad Mendez, the man who claims to be her sister’s partner, says she's in too deep to back out now. He’s smart, capable, and has a body almost distracting enough to make Dove forget about the team of trained assassins after her.

Dove has information that can help prevent a national tragedy, but there’s mounting evidence that Mendez might not be who he claims. More importantly, she's running out of time to save her sister. Because the last thing Dove wants is for either of them to go out with a bang.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Computers? Sure, I could handle those. Murder, guns, and running for my life? Not so much.

I’ve been really getting into contemporary romances in recent years and I’m starting to recognize the things I like and don’t like in those types of books, but this book did things right! I liked it!

Review: A Sense of Danger (Section 47 #1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: A Sense of Danger

Series: Section 47 #1

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2021

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC from author

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Synopsis: A SPY . . .

My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m an analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks terrorists, criminals, and other paramortal bad guys who want to unleash their abilities on an unsuspecting mortal world. I have a magical form of synesthesia that senses danger and uncovers lies—making me a stealthy operative.

I’m trudging through another day when one of Section’s cleaners—assassins—takes an interest in me. I don’t need my synesthesia to realize that he is extremely dangerous and that he will do anything to achieve his goals—even if it means putting me in the line of fire.

. . . AND AN ASSASSIN

I’m Desmond Percy, one of Section 47’s most lethal cleaners. I’m also a man on a mission, and I need Charlotte Locke’s skills to help me keep a promise, settle a score, and kill some extremely bad people.

Charlotte might not like me, but we’re stuck together until my mission is over. Still, the more time we spend together, the more I’m drawn to her. But at Section 47, you never know who you can trust—or who might want you dead.

My rating: ★★★★★

Oh man, I was so excited to dive into a brand new Jennifer Estep world—you guys know how much I love her writing! And I absolutely loved this book! But no one is surprised. Lol.

Review: Capture the Crown (Gargoyle Queen #1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Capture the Crown

Series: Gargoyle Queen #1

Previous series: Crown of Shards

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, high fantasy

Publication date: July 6th 2021

Published by: Harper Voyager

Source: ARC from author for review

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Synopsis: Bestselling author Jennifer Estep returns to her Crown of Shards world with an all-new trilogy and a bold new heroine who protects her kingdom from magic, murder, and mayhem by moonlighting as a spy.

Gemma Ripley has a reputation for being a pampered princess who is more interested in pretty gowns, sparkling jewelry, and other frivolous things than learning how to rule the kingdom of Andvari. But her carefully crafted persona is just an act to hide the fact that Gemma is a powerful mind magier—and a spy.

Gemma is undercover, trying to figure out who is stealing large amounts of tearstone from one of the Ripley royal mines when she encounters Prince Leonidas Morricone of Morta—her mortal enemy. Gemma tries to steer clear of the handsome prince, but when she finds herself behind enemy lines, she reluctantly joins forces with Leo. Also coming to Gemma’s aid is Grimley, her beloved gargoyle.

Despite the fact that Andvari and Morta are old, bitter enemies, a dangerous attraction sparks between Gemma and Leo. Further complicating matters is Leo’s murderous family, especially Queen Maeven Morricone, the mastermind behind the infamous Seven Spire massacre.

The closer Gemma gets to the stolen tearstone, the more deadly plots she uncovers. Everyone is trying to capture the crown, but only one queen can sit on the throne…

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was insanely good. I read this back in February, so it’s been a couple months, but even back then I knew with absolute certainty that this would definitely be one of my most favorite books of 2021! It was THAT good! I loved every second of it!

Review: Down Under with the Hottie (Investigating the Hottie #3) by Juli Alexander

Title: Down Under with the Hottie

Series: Investigating the Hottie #3

Previous books in this series: Investigating the Hottie (#1) | Undercover with the Hottie (#2)

Author: Juli Alexander

Genre: YA, contemporary romance, mystery

Publication date: January 2015

Published by: Juli Alexander

Source: Bought E-book

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Synopsis:

Ten days in Sydney, Australia with my first boyfriend! My Spring Break couldn’t be better. Sure, it’s a mission for GASI, but we lucked out with our cover story. We are boyfriend and girlfriend traveling with a group of American high school students.

I mean, sure, we have some terrorists to stop. And some of the teens on the trip aren’t the nicest. Then there’s this guy, Aaron, who seems to be watching us. With Grandma, Nic, Christie, and some help from the Australians, how can we lose? Except some of our help is actually a hindrance and we’re down to the wire on stopping the terrorists from blowing up the Sydney Tower. The brutal truth is that missions fail, but can we live with ourselves if we don’t succeed?

My rating: ★★★★☆
Will and Amanda's next mission is in Australia where they're trying to stop some explosions from taking place. Luckily for them, this time around they're going undercover as boyfriend and girlfriend! Oh yeah! ;)

Review: Undercover with the Hottie (Investigating the Hottie #2) by Juli Alexander

Title: Undercover with the Hottie

Series: Investigating the Hottie #2

Previous book in this series: Investigating the Hottie

Author: Juli Alexander

Genre: YA, contemporary romance, mystery

Publication date: January 2014

Published by: Suasponte Press

Source: Bought e-book

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Synopsis:

Amanda and Will are back! This time, they're heading to New York City the day after Christmas. The mission: stop an assassination plot against the UN Secretary General. Aunt Christie and her partner Nic, are back as well, and playing the role of the parents on the undercover operation.

As for Amanda and Will, they're still adjusting to the boyfriend-girlfriend thing, but while in the Big Apple, they are pretending to be brother and sister. Oh, and don't forget Grandma. She's on the team as well. Can Will and Amanda convince the New York teens that they're twins? Can they track down the bad guys before the ball drops in Times Square? Because if they fail, lives will be lost and the UN and the US may never be the same.

My rating: ★★★★☆
This book was a lot of fun! I am so glad I found Juli Alexander because she is just awesome!

Review: Investigating the Hottie by Juli Alexander

Title: Investigating the Hottie

Series: Investigating the Hottie #1

Author: Juli Alexander

Genre: YA, contmeporary romance, mystery

Publication date: December 2012

Published by: Suasponte Press

Source: Own e-book

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Synopsis:

Peterson. Amanda Peterson. When my life suddenly turns into the Princess Diaries meets Mission Impossible, can I do in a week what I haven’t managed to do in all my fifteen years—reel in a hottie?

Investigating the Hottie is a completed young adult romance. When Amanda spends a week with her aunt, Christie, she learns that her aunt is a spy. Christie admits that Amanda has security clearance and has already started her training. When her aunt asks her to investigate a teenage hacker, Amanda thinks that spending time with a nerd should be doable despite her social ineptitude. Unfortunately for Amanda, the hacker is a hottie.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Oh man, this book was such a fun and light read... it was just fantastic!

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: The Agent's Daughter by Ron Corriveau

Title: The Agent's Daughter

Author: Ron Corriveau

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: May 18th 2013

Published by: Geek Parade Books

Source: From author for review for Blog Tour

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Synopsis:

Melina has been preparing for a future career as a spy.

She just doesn’t know it.

Legendary spy Evan Roberts always knew that his fifteen-year-old daughter Melina also possessed the absolute lack of fear required of an agent. Without telling her his real profession or his intention, he began to guide her toward an eventual career as a spy. However, Melina’s world is shattered after her mom is involved in an accident that leaves her mysteriously unhurt but unresponsive. Her father’s plans on hold, Melina settles into life at a suburban high school, immersing herself in a world of schoolwork, her friends and a budding romance with Alex, the cute new guy in her class.

When Melina and her father uncover shocking new information about her mother’s accident, Melina is pulled deep into her father’s shadowy world. With Alex desperately trying to find her and only hours to go before it will be too late to save her mother, Melina and her father work together using their combined skills to find a way to reach her.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
I found the concept of The Agent's Daughter very intriguing... I've always liked this adventurous spy stuff, so I couldn't wait to read it!