Review Briefs: Mr. Nice Spy and Spy By Night by Jordan McCollum

Mr. Nice Spy (Spy Another Day Prequel, #2)Mr. Nice Spy
(Spy Another Day #0.2)
by Jordan McCollum
Adult Romantic Suspense
Ebook, 101 Pages
May 28th 2013

Summary

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. CIA operative Elliott Monteith has made it work, just like he’s made things work with his longtime fiancée Shanna. Until Shanna lays out an ultimatum: move forward or move on. Meanwhile, Elliott and his best friend and fellow operative, Talia Reynolds, try to track an elusive leak at the American embassy.

But something changes between Elliott and Talia as they close in on the man selling out his country. Professional and personal lines blur and Elliott has to choose—his fiancée or his best friend.
  

My Review

I loved this prequel novella! I loved getting to see the before of Elliott and Talia and some of their history that is then referred to in the first book of the series, I, Spy. You don't need to have read other books in the series for you to pick up this one. It was full of banter, lots of humor, some danger and deception, and a great time between two best friends. Both of them have some rough parts of their lives that they try to keep separate from work that creep in and that creates some tension. I really love these characters!

Content: Clean
Source: Purchased

Spy by Night (Spy Another Day Prequel, #3)Spy by Night
(Spy Another Day #0.3)
by Jordan McCollum
Adult Romantic Suspense
Ebook, 331 Pages
November 15th 2014

Summary

After watching her parents' marriage crash and burn, CIA operative Talia Reynolds doesn't believe in "happily ever afters." Besides, her job entails eighty-hour weeks, juggling a dozen covers and disguises, and tracking down a dangerous Russian spy ring. She hardly has time for romantic entanglements, even if she could let her guard down enough to get close to anyone. But all the rules she lives by could be broken when she meets aerospace engineer Danny Fluker.

Danny moved to Canada for a great job--and a chance to start over after a bad breakup. Dating definitely isn't in his plans . . . until beautiful and enigmatic Talia throws a perfect storm right in his flight path. When he catches a glimpse of the real woman behind her facade, he has to get to know her better.

Talia has to find a Russian spymaster before he figures out she's not who she claims, and failing to keep her two lives separate in the process could mean the death of more than just her budding relationship. Danny has to decide if a future with Talia--and facing the past--is worth the risk of getting hurt again. If they can break through the barriers keeping them apart (and avoid a major international catastrophe), they might have a chance at being happy together.

  

My Review

Spy by Night was another fabulous addition to this series. I loved getting to see Talia and Danny meet for the first time and how they interact with their religion. This one probably has the most in it about their religion, but not in a religious way. The story just shows who they are and what they do, like any regular character of faith. Unlike the first and second books of this prequel series, this book was the length of a full novel. It was still a very quick read for me. I loved the sparks that flew between Talia and Danny and the friendship they had, along with the danger and usual spying (of course). I also loved continuing to see Elliott and Talia work together. There was a lot of character development and it sets things up beautifully for the first book in the series, I, Spy.

Content: Clean

Source: Received for review in order to judge for The Whitney Awards, which did not affect my review in any way.


Both of these were seriously fabulous! I almost like the novellas more than the full books, but not quite. This is a great series if you like some action, espionage, and lots of witty internal dialogue.


8 comments

  1. I love to do a mini review, especially when I read something for pleasure and opt out of taking notes :) Glad to see you are enjoying these prequels. I'm not especially fond of them myself... perhaps I'm greedy and like a full story :D Heh

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  2. I do like full stories, but these were so hilarious plus lots of snark and sarcasm with the added feel of danger, that I just loved them.

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  3. I have most of these books, but I need Spy By Night. I haven't read any of them, so maybe I should do that first! I'm glad to see that you enjoyed them so much!

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  4. Okay, I really do not like novellas and prequels. I want to read the series, but I just hate it when they come out with "prequels" AFTER books have come out. But, these sound great. I have read a few novellas I have really enjoyed. Now that I know there are novellas I will have to read it in order. Kind of an OCD thing with me. Probably why I hate it so much when they come out after...hehe They have to be read in order.

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  5. I like the sound of this series! I love seeing character's backgrounds before the actual story :)

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  6. The first book had its slow moments, but then it really picks up and the action is very intense. Plus it made me love the main characters more. I need to read the last book and am planning on doing so soon.

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  7. That's how I fell sometimes too. Excerpt, with these it made me really love them because I knew the characters and there is so much humor and sarcasm... Just loved them! :)

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  8. And I loved that the character is Mormon, but there's no religious element. It's just a part of her life and I liked that. I read about characters of other faiths in mainstream fiction all the time, but very rarely is there a Mormon character.

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