Tag: spy thriller

Book Review: The Spy Coast (The Martini Club #1) by Tess Gerritsen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Spy Thriller
Length: 341 pages
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

WELL THAT WAS A RIDE.

This book wasn’t on my radar whatsoever until my Dad mentioned it to me, and told me, “it has plenty of romance.” Famous last words.

NOW. I wouldn’t call this a romance, at all (there is a sub plot dynamic that does play into the larger theme). I did like the dynamic though and was intrigued by where the story would go.

This book gave me Red 2 vibes. But add in flashback chapters and focus on mostly one character. I did love that this had multi-POV and felt that all of the POV’s played a part and made sense for the story. The audiobook was great too, definitely recommend that format.

The twists and turns of the second half were fantastic. I usually don’t love thrillers because it often comes across as, a lot of bad people doing bad things. I loved that this did have some good guys who were trying to do the right thing. Even with complications and mistakes, I loved having someone to root for.

Not disappointed at all in reading this spy book. I will be interested to see what the next book in the series will be about!

Overall audience notes:

  • Spy Thriller
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: murder, loss of life, gun violence, kidnapping a child, teen drug use

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ALC Book Review: Icon and Inferno (Stars and Smoke #2) by Marie Lu

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Romantic Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Roaring Books Press
Release Date: June 11th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Spies meet romance meet popstars in this thrilling follow up to Stars and Smoke by bestselling author Marie Lu.

A year has passed since superstar Winter and secret agent Sydney Cossette went undercover – on a dangerous mission to bring down the baddest man in London.

Winter hasn’t stopped thinking about Sydney since, and she’s been trying not to think about him.

Family secrets and nasty newspapers has Winter desperate to re-enter the secret world. And it’s not long before he gets his chance.

Sydney is back, and this time the mission goes right to the heart of the United States of America. A rescue gone wrong, an assassination attempt – and the return of an old flame – puts Winter right back into the action . . . and into a country on the brink of chaos.

And when a murder accusation has Sydney on the run, suddenly it’s not just a life at stake, but all-out war.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

ALL THE ACTION.

Audiobook notes: I loved the audiobook. No complaints here! I think it honestly helped me enjoy the book more after digitally reading Stars and Smoke.

I think managed expectations from my thoughts on book one helped me here. I wasn’t as focused on the romance, even though I do think it played a bigger role in this book. I love the push and pull between Winter and Sydney. Mixed with a pop stars world, dangerous agents and explosive action and this made for a fun an entertaining story.

The twists were a little predictable, but not something that took anything away for me. I loved how intense many moments felt and wondering who was going to survive. I thought it ended at a logical and good conclusion. I would read another book in this world if one’s coming.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Romantic Suspense
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one vague-ish open door
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, gun violence, explosions

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Book Review: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Ally Carter
Length: 304 pages
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: August 8th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory.

She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.

2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!

Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister.

Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear.

That’s easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught. Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe–dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Avon books for the gifted copy.

PURE FUN.

This is outside of my usual romance reads and I LOVED it all the more for that fact. I like mixing it up sometimes and this was the perfect thing I needed.

I thought our two mysterious leads stole the show. I loved the banter. I loved all of the running and hiding aspects. Having to fake date and find safe spots together. Learning more about each other. It’s so good. And you kind of get swept away in the speed of their romance alongside the speed of the plot.

The reveals were awesome. I liked the bit of unreliability that came with the narration and watching the chips fall where they may as the plot thickened. It’s a short book, definitely fast paced and a book I truly adored.

Overall audience notes:

  • Mystery / Contemporary Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: closed-door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, near death experiences

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