Sydney: CIA operative, focused, gets the job done no matter what.....until this assignment that involves her beloved sibling & her Grandma. She may be distant (with a load of unresolved daddy issues) but she'll do anything to protect her family....including seducing the enemy's head of security.

This book was fast paced and entertaining. The banter between Sydney and Nick and their simmering attraction made you look forward to all their interactions.

The only downside to me was Johnny, I felt he could have been a little more better rounded out. We needed more relevant insight into his motives and ambitions.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion for this Arc.

I loved this one!! I know it's a romance novel so there is a requirement to suspend some disbelief and acknowledge it's a fictional world, but having anyone work for the CIA really takes me out of the story since they are such an evil institution. There's a throwaway comment about this which almost makes it worse - I'd much rather it be a completely made-up secret agency so I'm not thinking about real life war crimes. But other than that - really liked the chemistry, the stakes, the pacing, all of it.

Wow! This book is absolutely amazing. The descriptions are so touching and vivid. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I loved the personalities of each character and I definitely recommend this book to every other reader out there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

The whole book spans around 2 weeks around Christmas.
The undercover CIA element was what drew me into it. Some times her over thinking and over analysing every single thing said and done took me a bit to get into as conversations lost the flow. But I also get that what she was there to do.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Sydney Swift who is an undercover CIA agent who is sent home to investigate her soon to be brother in law, Jonny Jones's, criminal background, however she doesn't expect to fall in love with his bodyguard.

I really enjoyed this fast paced, thrilling festive novel with a romance thrown in and a side of laugh out loud, alongside a fabulous main character Sydney!

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏

𝚜𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜
Sydney, a successful CIA agent is forced to go home for Christmas, since her beloved baby sister is engaged to Crime Lord Jonny Jones. It seems easy enough to quickly go home and convince her sister not to marry someone she has known for such a short time, while avoiding any terrible childhood memories. But Sydney didn't account for Nick, Jonny's bodyguard, he's smart, strong an very interested. All Sydney has to do to save Christmas is successfully navigate painful family truths, her growing attraction to Nick and the takedown of a lethal criminal mastermind. What could go wrong?

𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝
Open Door Romance (1 detailed scene)
Sisters Reconnecting
Enemies to Lovers
Spy vs Crime Family
Only One Bed
(Sorta) Fake Dating

𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍
I loved how much fun this was! It leaned into to the 'gimmicks' or rather fun and games of it's narrative idea - spy vs criminal master who happens to be engaged to her sister! Very fun concept. I was also invested in the family because of the background we get of the sister's being abandoned by their father after their mother's death, that really grounded the story for me in the midst of some crazy antics. The tension between our romantic leads and the moments they shared was also very well done, they balanced emotion and heat very well.

𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏
At times it leaned a bit too far into slapstick for me, I thought there was a lot of great emotional groundwork and tension inherently in the story so the gimmicks sometimes did feel more cheap than fun. I also felt the 'villain' was really underutilized, he was very much a typical villain type which disappointed me. I would have loved for him to make us all fall for him the way the sister did - I felt like it was not the great challenge to break them up that was promised in the set up. Because of this I also felt I didn't understand Calla (the sister) at all, i wanted to really believe she loved him or at least was really avoiding being alone. Also knowing why Jonny picked Calla / Loved Calla would have been so interesting and we are never given this. For me every aspect felt unfinished or underdeveloped - the family aspect, the romance aspect and the overall crime story aspect all felt about 80% done.

𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕
I was not sure what to expect with this read and really had fun with it! This is a cute RomCom that surprises by ending up a touching story about family reunification, forgiveness and navigating close sibling relationships in adulthood. It very much feels like a Berkley Romance, or what I have come to expect from them. Lots of focus on a character and her relationships with a dose of heat when it's open door. It did not hot a homerun for me, but it was heartwarming, tense, hot and fun! An enjoyable read I would recommend for romance and women's fiction readers. 3.75/5.

Thank you Orion Publishing Group, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The mystery thriller element in this book is light…almost comical but provided a little boost to just another romance. The comedy from this romcom is witty and bordering on ridiculous at some points but the characters are a mixture of zany, stereotypical and intriguing that this was a good fun read that was just a little different enough for me to enjoy just that little bit more

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review

LOVED this book! I’m so grateful to have been given the ARC to read this. It had me laughing and crying all at the same time! I really wanted the happy ending as this book had so many twists and turns I was living for it!

Well written romance with suspense and action all in one - if you need a romance with a little something extra this is the one for you.

Sydney Swift works at the CIA, its ideal for keeping people at arms length and keeping yourself hidden. She still hasn't come to terms with her father walking out on them after failing to cope on their mothers death. She feels guilty because it also means lying to her family often resulting in avoiding contact with her sister and grandmother. Things are about to change, Sidney is going home for the holidays, her latest mission is to nail down crime lord Johnny Jones who is engaged to her sister and planning a sudden Christmas wedding. Dramatic and fast paced, with a strong romantic vibe.

Romcoms generally take a predictable route that we all love and while this one did to some degree, it was also an original take on the stories and tropes we’re familiar with. Firstly, we have a female spy as the central character, and secondly, she has to spy on her own family. It is also filled with surprising twists along the way that keep the reader on their toes and make it all the more entertaining to read. I also enjoyed that although this one is technically a holiday read, the Christmas side of things isn’t overbearing. I do love a Chrismassy read, but sometimes you aren’t in that mood, and I liked that this one could be read whatever mood you’re in or at any time of year.

I loved this book. I was a little wary of reading a book with a main character who is in the CIA - who are generally morally grey at best, but I was happily surprised that this wasn't a book where the military and government agents are held as the perfect bastions of morality and "do whatever it takes". Instead there is the nuanced internal view of a women who has problems with her job especially now that her little sister might get caught in the crosshairs.

The premise, characters, growth, and plot are all *chef kiss*. There are flaws, personality, family and romantic relationships, and internal growth which all add a depth to what could have been a one note spy romance, instead turned it into a story that by turns ripped by heart out, and wrapped it up tight. My only regret is that I can't read this book again for the first time.

I see this as a great read for anyone looking for a Christmas-y book, that is not heavy on the holiday, but instead focuses on the personal growth with a large dash of spy thriller thrown in.

This had a super fun premise - the Die Hard of 'Christmas' books!

I love an action/spy movie, but I feel like I don't read a ton of books like that, so this one really intrigued me! And then I realised it's set at Christmas and that sounded perfect! This book was a fun read and definitely ticked the Christmas spirit boxes, whilst having a truly ridiculous premise. I would love to see a Netflix adaptation which would be one of those films where you think "wow that was a waste of time" but it's still a fun waste of time. (Like The Knight Before Christmas, which is truly terrible, but also excellent.)

It does also hit on some deeper themes about family and abandonment. I enjoyed the family aspect and how close they were, however I think some topics got a bit repetitive.

I would have rated this higher, but I found the beginning to be quite difficult to get into - I wasn't really enjoying it until I was about 35% of the way through. On that note, the prologue was completely unnecessary, and I actually wanted to DNF from that, but just push past and it gets better.

But overall, I enjoyed this story. If you go in knowing it is completely ridiculous, you'll have a fun time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the story and how it unfolded, as well as the character growth of Sydney throughout the story. I especially loved the dynamic between her and Nick, who is definitely not at all what he seems, but I will say is a bit trope-y.

I thought the book was well written if a bit long in some places and a bit lacking in others. But I would definitely read it again.

This was a fun little book that really surprised me!

The Takedown is the authors first adult novel, having previously written children's and young adult novels and I absolutely loved it.

Sydney is in the CIA but her family is unaware. The FBI seek her out to gather intel on a crime lord, the reason she has been chosen? Johnny Jones is engaged to Sydney's sister and will be at their home for the Christmas holidays. When tasked to get the lowdown by seducing his bodyguard Nick, she tells herself she absolutely must not fall for him.

I know the plot sounds ridiculously cheesy and cliché but it was cute, had the festive vibes and even threw a few twists in there too. The characters were well developed and you really got a feel for their family dynamics. I loved Grandma Ruby!

As a reader who loves both crime fiction and romance, it felt like the perfect mix of both. Oh, and the little bit of spice made it even better.

Highly recommended if you want a fun, Christmassy read!

Go get yourself a copy of this amazing book now that it’s been published!!

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC! My first 5⭐️ read in a while.

WOWWWWW!!! I expected this book to be good from the synopsis, but didn’t expect it to be THAT good! I fell in love with the characters, the storyline and the writing style.

This book was everything-witty, cute, badass, suspenseful and just so funny😂
Love that the heroine is a CIA officer. She’s sent on a mission to investigate a criminal who turns out to be her sisters fiancé! Talk about dramaaaaa. Over the course of the mission, she falls in love with the criminals bodyguard.

Genuinely love Sydney and Nick so so much, their interactions are so funny and cute. I’ll admit I did think at some point that they rushed into their love for each other but I guess that’s what happens when you meet The One and you know it.

This book was fast-paced, easy to read and genuinely intriguing. Cant recommend it enough!

A Romantic Comedy where our female MC is a spy caught up in a case too close to home.

I really love when comedy is paired with spy storylines, two things that probably shouldn't work but do beautifully.

Was the romance a little predictable? Yes. Did I still eat it up like a starved reader? Also yes.

Nick was a dreamboat and I would love to actually read a Sequel with Nick and Sydney maybe trying to have a normal date or holiday and being embroiled in an investigation.

It had me laughing, awwing and devouring the pages.

It is set at Christmas but Christmas plays more of a background role in this and it can be enjoyed anytime of the year!

This book is Christmas, laughing out loud, a wedding, intrigue & mystery, romance, witty banter and a farting dog under a Christmas tree! Ok, so maybe the dog doesn't actually fart under the Christmas tree, but I was on a roll! Seriously though, this book is the fun you didn't know you were missing out on! The characters are well written with uniquely cast personalities that only enhance the plot! Yes, this is a rom com, but it is layered and with depth that will add enjoyment for other types of readers as well. There is an alphabet soup of agents running an undercover Opp including a few of the main characters while also attempting to enjoy a family Christmas and stop a family member from getting married on Christmas to a crime lord. Sometimes the comedy is straight up on the nose and sometimes the zinger comes in and has you laughing out loud in public without a moment to contain yourself, so you don't bother the other people hanging out in the local coffeeshop...or maybe that was just me! If you are looking for a fun read, this is it. Looking for a Christmas rom com, this is it. Looking for a bit of spy/undercover agent mystery, this is it. Looking for a bit of sweet romance, this is it. Looking for action, this has it too. This book sounds like they threw everything including the kitchen sink into the story and in a way the author did, but they did it so very well and with witty banter to boot so it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I'm recommending it to all my book swapping friends as they will all enjoy it as well!

I was so excited to read this book from the moment I read the synopsis; it’s such a cool, fun and uncommon romance story. And I’m so thankful to have received an ARC because this book was so joyful.
Sydney is a secret agent for Cia with a mission to take down a crime lord, but she falls in love with the target’s bodyguard! Oh my… Just writing this phrase makes me excited again for this book. Sydney is so focused on her career that we can see she is ignoring any attraction for Nick to focus on the mission. I was swooning over Nick from the first time he showed up in the book and trying to nudge Sydney to open up and give him a proper chance (as I could do this through the pages!). There is great chemistry between them and great action, too. I love how badass Sydney is; it always makes me feel so lively and excited to read about women who know martial arts and have excellent skills in an action scene.
Also, I would like to highlight that this is a Christmas book!! Christmas + romance + secret agents = perfection!
There is a bit of everything in this book: action, romance, and fun; it’s like watching a 2023 book version of Miss Congeniality set in a Christmassy small town.
Thanks to NetGalley UK and Orion for sending me this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Charming and funny! I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨️Holiday romance
✨️Mistery

💞If you're looking for a story with the perfect mix of fun, mystery, and romance, this is the book for you.💞

The characters are very well-developed, and I loved Grandma Ruby. I have to say I loved the main characters; the chemistry between them is undeniable.

The story captivates you, and you find yourself following every twist and turn. I was busy crafting theories until the plot was revealed, and I must say, this plot was very well written.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for sending me this ARC