Code Word Romance
Author: Carlie Walker
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B
What I’m Talking About:
The story opens with a dangerous motorcycle chase on the streets of Rome, where we find our heroine Max being chased by assassins. Then the story jumps back six days where we find out Max looks just like Sofia Christiansen, the young prime minister from Summerland, small island nation off the coast of Norway. There is a plot to kill Sofia, and the CIA needs Max’s help as a body double. Offering her enough money to pay off all her debts and then some, Max reluctantly agrees, and quickly finds out she’s in way over her head.
Overall, Code Word Romance is a silly, fun adventure romance. The story can be completely over the top and ridiculous at times, which works; however, other times the mood is more serious, making the over the top parts feel slightly out of place. But Walker uses lots of fun humor and banter to keep the mood light.
“Driving a Vespa to an assassination is like bringing a loofah stick to a sword fight.”
Flynn is Max’s CIA handler and the whole reason she’s been selected for the job. They had a first love summer romance 14 years prior; it was meant to be, but distance and youth kept them apart. Now by a weird fluke, they are together and it works. From the moment Max sees Flynn, she knows he’ll always be the one for her. And even though she tries to protect her heart, he’s right there, wanting and hoping the for same things. Because of the memories and recalled feelings, it doesn’t feel like an insta-love. I hurt with Max as she remembered both the good times and the pain of rejection.
The assassination plot is mediocre but fun. In what I am guessing is an attempt at red herrings, the author has a couple characters behave a bit oddly. It always felt off to me, like it’s supposed to be funny, but came off more silly and odd. And despite having no training, Max does a good job. However, she unnecessarily keeps putting herself in difficult situations and trying to make them work. Like when pretending to be Sofia and running into a Summerland diplomat, then agreeing to play tennis with him – why not walk away? She really does mess things up quite often, but it works in the end.
Code Word Romance is a fun adventure, but you have to suspend reality and enjoy the romance for the silly fluff that it is.
My Rating: B Liked It — Recommend
Jen
About the Book:
One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.
Max is just your average girl. She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt and just happens to have an uncanny resemblance to Europe’s youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen . . .
So when the prime minister receives a credible death threat, the CIA approaches Max with a a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister’s annual Italian trip.
It would be a dream if it weren’t for those pesky assassins and Flynn, Max’s ridiculously hot handler – the man who broke her heart years and years ago.
With her life now on the line, Max knows she has no choice but to lose herself in the role. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that’s a risk that she isn’t willing to take . . .
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Spy RomCom
Format(s): paperback (320 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher / NetGalley
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)