She blinked her eyes open, and he was there, right in front of her, still holding her arm, taking care of her.
“Hey,” he said, his voice so soft. He tilted his head slightly, with a little smile, like he was wondering what was going on in her head.
“Hi,” she said, giving him a tiny smile back.
They stayed like that for a moment, volleying silent questions back and forth with their eyes until one of them—Ava didn’t know if it was her or Zach, maybe it was both—closed the small gap between them, their lips finally, blessedly meeting.
A Spy’s Secret is a small-town romance with a cat-and-mouse suspense twist.
She’s wholesome as apple pie…
Or is she?
Bakery owner Ava Katz adores everything about her adopted hometown of Ambrosia Falls—especially her best friend, mystery writer Zach Harrison. But the bucolic setting is hiding something—or someone—more sinister. The Apple Cider Festival is threatened by a series of mishaps, and Zach’s young daughter goes missing—just as the spark between Ava and her neighbor begins to explode into flames. Has Ava’s mysterious past plunged them into danger? Can Zach solve the tangled mystery of just who his best friend really is—and will Ava find his child before it’s too late for them all?
This is my first Romantic Suspense book from Harlequin, but it won’t be my last. This was a fun, fast, and easy read. I loved how Rachel took that typical charming small-town tropey romance and put this fast-paced cat-and-mouse twist to it. It’s such an easy book to sink into and things move along quickly, which is pretty typical for a category romance. For those who are new to category romances, be aware of the fact that these kinds of books aren’t meant to have lots of depth and a lot is going to happen in a short period of time. What I would recommend when reading this book and any other category of romance is just to enjoy the ride. Don’t overthink it.
This is a clean romance and not a dark suspense. What I mean is that the most that happens romantically between the two MCs is that they kiss, and the suspense is not gruesome, chilling, or dark in nature. Both the romance and the suspense are light and entertaining. I loved the little bit of time that I got to spend in Ambrosia Falls. What a fun quirky town! Rachel nailed those small-town vibes, and I hope I get to visit this town again in future books. The characters were all great. Both Ava and Zach are great MCs and instantly likeable. I enjoyed the fact that Ava was the retired spy who took charge when danger came crashing into their small town. It was such a great, addictive read. I loved the chemistry between Ava and Zach. There is this great friends-to-lovers trope chemistry between them. I just devoured everything this book had to offer.
A Spy’s Secret is an easy-to-love Harlequin Suspense novel, and I can’t wait to see what Rachel writes next.
Thank you, Harlequin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
