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Live, Love, Spy: Lexie Blake

Live Love Spy

Posted on March 16, 2024 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in Reviews / 3 Comments

Live, Love, Spy is the second book in the Masters and Mercenaries: New Recruits series. This book served as my introduction to the work of Lexie Blake. I chose this book, without realizing that it was part of a series. The synopsis made me curious about the story embedded in the pages of the book. Top secret mission, CIA, hero kidnapped, heroine rescuing the hero, friends to lovers, and unrequited love, were all the things promised with this instalment.

 

Live, Love, Spy: Lexie BlakeTitle: Live, Love, Spy
Author(s): Lexi Blake
Published by DLZ Entertainment LLC on March 5, 2024
Pages: 376
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Publicist
Format: eArc
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: One StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameHalf a Flame

Life can often be awkward when you are a child genius. For Louisa Ward, that came in the form of meeting her one true love at age 12. TJ Taggart was perfect. But being a year younger and a full year ahead of him in school always made things weird. Working in the CIA has made her into a strong and capable woman. Until she sees TJ. Fifteen years later, she still gets butterflies every time she sees the gorgeous soldier, but she’s tired of waiting and ready to find love, even if it can’t be with him.
Not everyone knows what they want out of life when they are a teenager, but TJ Taggart could always see exactly where he wanted to go. But joining the Army would require a sacrifice. Since meeting Louisa, TJ knew his cousin’s brilliant, oddball friend was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. He couldn’t ask her to live that life with him. She was meant to change the world at some prestigious research job or maybe teach a new generation of geniuses like herself at an Ivy League school. There would be a chance to sweep her off her feet when his time in this dangerous life was done, and their happily ever after could begin.
Before he can make it home on his latest leave, TJ is kidnapped by an unknown adversary. As he waits to die, all he can think of is the time he wasted and how badly he wants to be with Lou. He’s more than a little surprised when his sweet, quiet girl shows up leading a CIA special ops squad to bust him out. Back in Dallas, it’s time to claim the woman of his dreams. He has a plan to win her over, until the adversary who almost killed him returns to finish the job.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

 

Regrettably, Live, Love, Spy failed to live up to my expectations. It would seem that making this book my introduction to the author’s work wasn’t a good idea. Firstly, it took awhile to get into the story. For a story advertised as romantic suspense, it was rather slow. I was tempted to DNF it several times, but I held on, hoping the pace would pick up, and I would get the story I so desired.

The hero and heroine frustrated me for the entire story. First, the hero claimed to have loved the heroine since childhood, but he never felt he was good enough for her, so for years he friend zoned her. It took his kidnapping, and a rescue effort led by the heroine, to make him acknowledge his need for her.  Of course, she did not buy into his revelation, and so the frustrating drama begins. He tried to persuade her, but she rejected him each time. It’s obvious to everyone around them that they both loved each other, if only they would both get out of their heads and focus on what was in front of them.

The suspense thread took awhile to build up. It wasn’t until about the last thirty percent of the book that things began unravelling and danger came knocking once again. All went well at this point until the ending, which revealed that the threat was not over. 

I see where some reviewers mentioned the feature of soft BDSM.  With my limited knowledge of BDSM, I cannot concur if it was soft or hard. All I can say, it didn’t take over the story. The supporting cast added some flavour to the story with their sarcasm and humour, making the story easier to digest.

Although not my cup of tea, I’ve seen where other readers have enjoyed it. So, if frustrating drama and indecisive characters are your thing then look no further than Live, Love, Spy.

 

Story Evaluation
Plot
4
Characters
2.5
World Building
4
Writing Style
3
Pacing
2
Cover
4
Enjoyment
2
Ending
3
Overall: One StarOne StarOne Star

 

 

 

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading

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