The Spy and I

November 1, 2023

YA author Smith's (Match Me If You Can) first adult offering uses the spy romance genre to deliver thrills, both heart-pounding and steamy. Data analyst Dove Barkley, who is being interviewed by the hottest guy she's ever seen, is mistaken for her sister by the kind of people one doesn't want to meet in a dark alley. Unbeknownst to Dove, her sister is a spy for none other than the CIA. It also turns out that Mendez, the guy assigned to interview her, is a spy too. Before Dove knows it, she's knee-deep in espionage with a man who is both annoying and annoyingly sexy. How are they supposed to beat the clock and save her sister when Dove can't keep her mind--and hands--from wandering? Despite Mendez's frustration with out-of-her-element Dove, sparks fly between them as she finds her way to saving the world. VERDICT This mistaken-identity spy romance is fast-paced, mixing twists and turns with humor and not a small amount of chemistry. Recommend to fans of Gina Robinson's "Agent X" series and The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter.--Nanci Milone Hill

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November 15, 2023
An introverted Washington, D.C., computer hacker joins forces with a handsome CIA operative in Smith's first adult rom-com. Dove Barkley is what you might call an honest hacker: All she needs is four minutes (and a Taylor Swift tune) to slither past a company's security system and reveal how vulnerable their database is. As a self-proclaimed computer nerd, however, dating is the one thing Dove has never been able to hack. Her last date was two years ago, something her older sister, Madison, seldom lets her forget. As a travel photographer, Madison rarely stays in one place, but she's never too busy to check in on her baby sister and nag her about getting back out there. But when Dove is interviewed by Sam Olsen, a broodingly handsome journalist, she can't wait to spill the flirty details to her sister over dinner that night. Dove's evening turns sour, however, when a man sits down at her table in the restaurant, hands her a briefcase containing a fake passport with Madison's photo on it, and is promptly shot dead in front of her. In a series of Jason Bourne-level capers, she learns that not only is Madison a CIA agent who's allegedly in cahoots with an arms dealer, but Sam Olsen is actually Mendez, the government agent trying to track her down. ("And your first name?" she asks him. "That's on a need-to-know basis," he responds.) Dove can't believe Madison would switch sides so easily, and she agrees to work with Mendez to clear her sister's name. Smith packs her tale with action, comedy, and perhaps one too many unnecessary similes. Dove is a relatable underdog thrown into a bizarre scenario: "My idea of a good time was more likely to include a sugar rush than a rush of adrenaline." And while her relationship with Mendez leaves a little to be desired--his flirtation is often more inappropriate than charming--Dove's determination to save Madison out of pure sisterly trust is a commendable character trait. An amusing spies-to-lovers tale that's more comedy than romance.

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January 29, 2024
Smith’s fast-paced and deliciously twisty debut kicks off with Dove Barkley heading to meet her twin sister, Madison, for dinner—only to be met instead by a mysterious man who speaks to her in code before being shot and killed at her restaurant table. Fortunately, a CIA operative named Mendez swoops in to help Dove make sense of the situation, revealing that Madison is a spy and Dove must have been mistaken for her. The CIA is in hot pursuit of a notorious international arms dealer, and Madison, whose identity appears to have been compromised, has gone into hiding. Now Dove’s been thrown into the dangerous mix, and as the stakes ramp up, she falls hard for Mendez—but can she really trust him? Smith draws out that question on the way to a well-crafted and deeply satisfying conclusion. The bond between the sisters, who grew up in foster care, adds depth to the narrative and the plot offers plenty of surprises. Glimmers of humor leaven the suspense and the love story is just as likely to get hearts racing as the mystery. The end result is a first-rate romantic thriller.