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"Two rival spies must brave pirates, witches, and fake matrimony to save the Queen. Known as Agent A, Alice is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, a secret government intelligence group that is fortunately better at espionage than at naming itself. From managing deceptive witches to bored aristocratic ladies, nothing is beyond Alice's capabilities. She has a steely composure and a plan always up her sleeve (alongside a dagger and an embroidered handkerchief). So show more when rumors of an assassination plot begin to circulate, she's immediately assigned to the case. But she's not working alone. Daniel Bixby, otherwise known as Agent B and Alice's greatest rival, is given the most challenging undercover assignment of his life- pretending to be Alice's husband. Together they will assume the identity of a married couple, infiltrate a pirate house party, and foil their unpatriotic plans. Determined to remain consummate professionals, Alice and Daniel must ignore the growing attraction between them, especially since acting on it might prove more dangerous than their target"-- show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This book is an outrageously fun read! I was amazed to get swept up in a grown up world of pirates, witches, and hilarious, but effective secret agents. It's a veritable Harry Potteresque literary world for grown ups (and I do mean grown ups, as it has some definite R rated material).
A.U.N.T.'s (Agency of Undercover Note Takers) best agents, Agent A and Agent B are on assignment together to prevent the possible assasination of the Queen. They'e in for a wild week at a house party of pirates and witches and you won't want to miss this invitation to join them. And I do mean you're in for a wild ride, quite literally--as in this realm houses fly and Pirates fly them!
The humor throughout is brilliant and somehow through all the fantastic show more plot, hilarious comedy and outlandish situations Agents A and B are involved in; this story manages to also be a romance, and a very convincing one at that! Honestly, I didn't think this combination of elements was possible. Count me in. I'm an India Holton fan! Her imagination has brought us an entertaining and uplifting new series. I can't wait for more. show less
A.U.N.T.'s (Agency of Undercover Note Takers) best agents, Agent A and Agent B are on assignment together to prevent the possible assasination of the Queen. They'e in for a wild week at a house party of pirates and witches and you won't want to miss this invitation to join them. And I do mean you're in for a wild ride, quite literally--as in this realm houses fly and Pirates fly them!
The humor throughout is brilliant and somehow through all the fantastic show more plot, hilarious comedy and outlandish situations Agents A and B are involved in; this story manages to also be a romance, and a very convincing one at that! Honestly, I didn't think this combination of elements was possible. Count me in. I'm an India Holton fan! Her imagination has brought us an entertaining and uplifting new series. I can't wait for more. show less
This book is my favourite of the series, possibly because the MCs are more relatable. Both orphans trained to be spies and assassins, they are the best at what they do but have had emotions beaten out of them (literally). But they have always been fascinated with each by reputation and when they are forced to work undercover as a married couple among the pirates of this series, they fall in love and dare to dream of a future of their making. What I really love about them is that they just get each other, and their fastidiousness (which is really a way of them having control and pride in what they do) that annoys everyone else becomes a huge turn on in each other.
And the epilogue is just lovely, a moment with all three of the couples in show more this series, just being good friends. A lovely way to end it. It's been a wild ride. show less
And the epilogue is just lovely, a moment with all three of the couples in show more this series, just being good friends. A lovely way to end it. It's been a wild ride. show less
Silly fun at the house party from hell which is saying something since I recently finished the Lady Violet series.
I appreciate that the female lead, Alice, was not neurotypical with sensory issues, a difficulty catching idiom in conversation, a finger-tapping mannerism. What's more, I appreciate that the story isn't about these aspects of her personality; they're treated as distinguishing characteristics. Which is helpful, because I have a hard time remembering which pirate is which and can't tell you which of the previous couples is witch or what those plots were.
My only complaint is trope of first intercourse pain for women. Insufficient lubrication is the most likely reason for pain, which is true for anything similarly inserted at show more every occasion. Writers, please stop normalizing sexual pain for women.
Library copy show less
I appreciate that the female lead, Alice, was not neurotypical with sensory issues, a difficulty catching idiom in conversation, a finger-tapping mannerism. What's more, I appreciate that the story isn't about these aspects of her personality; they're treated as distinguishing characteristics. Which is helpful, because I have a hard time remembering which pirate is which and can't tell you which of the previous couples is witch or what those plots were.
My only complaint is trope of first intercourse pain for women. Insufficient lubrication is the most likely reason for pain, which is true for anything similarly inserted at show more every occasion. Writers, please stop normalizing sexual pain for women.
Library copy show less
With the third book in the series the author might be hitting her stride. Alice, one of the top agents in a secret government department dedicated to spying on the pirates, is paired up with another top agent, Bixby in order to infiltrate a pirate house party. They must disguise themselves as husband and wife in order to do this. It's cute and has a satisfying ending.
library book read 8/28/2023
library book read 8/28/2023
urban-fantasy, historical-fiction, romance, magic, witches, pirates, espionage, punny, snarky, disguises, unputdownable, laugh-riot, laugh-out-loud, New Zealand-author*****
Between the publisher's blurb and the Table Of Significant Characters, it was obvious that this was going to be a Great Fun Read. And so it is! There is fantastic wordplay of all sorts, terrific world building, the zaniest characters ever, and a real plot! LOVED IT!
I requested and received an e-book copy from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley/ courtesy of NetGalley. Thank you!
Between the publisher's blurb and the Table Of Significant Characters, it was obvious that this was going to be a Great Fun Read. And so it is! There is fantastic wordplay of all sorts, terrific world building, the zaniest characters ever, and a real plot! LOVED IT!
I requested and received an e-book copy from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley/ courtesy of NetGalley. Thank you!
This is like a 3.96 for the swoons. I enjoyed this more than others.
One thing about this series though is everyone's at an arms length due to the initial relationship and world,as well as the humor.
This one just did that bit of vulnerability well, so I felt it was a bit more rewarding.
One thing about this series though is everyone's at an arms length due to the initial relationship and world,as well as the humor.
This one just did that bit of vulnerability well, so I felt it was a bit more rewarding.
Ok. A bit clumsy with the characters personality traits. A bit overdone.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Secret Service of Tea and Treason
- Original publication date
- 2023-04-18
- People/Characters
- Alice Dearlove (Agent A); Daniel Bixby (Agent B); Mrs. Kew (A.U.N.T.-in-Chief); Cornelius Snodgrass; Veronica Vale (V-2); Miss Jemima Darlington (show all 17); Jake Jacobsen; Frederick Bassingthwaite; Jane Fairweather; Alexander O'Riley (Rotten O'Riley, an old assignment of Agent B's); Charlotte Pettifer; Mia Thalassi; Cecilia Bassingthwaite; Ned Lightbourne; Evangeline Bassingthwaite-Lightbourne; Queen Victoria (offpage); Gertrude Rotunder
- Dedication
- For Taylor, Kristine, Bridget, and Stephanie.
And for the team behind the curtain, making magic happen. - First words
- It was the best of dress shops, it was the worst of dress shops. It sold the most beautiful garments, it sold the ugliest scraps, and Miss Primula Tewkes fell in love and despair as she walked amongst its displays.
- Quotations
- “Knitting?” he asked.
She glanced at him briefly, irritably. “What?”
“Or embroidery? Or perhaps you paint watercolors?”
“I have no hobbies, Mr. Bixby.” Click-click went her shoes against t... (show all)he cobblestones, and as she listened to the emphatic sound, Alice reminded herself she was a successful, professional woman, and Daniel Bixby was altogether allur—that is to say, annoying.
“Not even reading?” he asked, easily matching her stride.
“Reading is not a hobby,” she said. “It is a way of life.” - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Anything we want."
- Blurbers
- Mandanna, Sangu; Liese, Chloe
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