This book is one night stand turned forced proximity. I enjoyed the meeting a stranger in an airport aspect of the book, but there were parts that just drug for me. I think it could be for fans of Ali Hazelwood with the women in STEM themes, but it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.

This was a cute and quick read. I wasn’t sure about it because of the cover and title but it ended up being really really good.
I loved the characters and the small down vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley for an earc

Slightly over the top spy adjacent shenanigans and fun side characters. It kept me entertained while reading.

Okay book that took me a while to get into. It was the pace or writing in the front part that slowed me down.

I really tried to read this one. However about 10 percent in and just wasn't hooked. I appreciate the eARC and I hope to read more from you in the future. I think the content and instant sex part of this story turned me off. Thanks again!

Since I did not finish this book I will not be leaving a review in Goodreads or anywhere else.

DNF

I was really excited about this book's premise but in execution it just wasn't grabbing me. I didn't love either character's POV and my least favorite scenes were the scenes where they were together. Because of this I chose to DNF but I'm sure someone else would appreciate this story more than I did!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

I dislike one night stand to more and this book lacked genuine connection to me. I wish I liked it more.

This book starts with a hot one night stand between scientist Blake and newly former spy Wyatt. But of course they end up meeting again in the same small town in Maine. Even better, they end up paired together for a science and art competition (I know I know). Will they ignore their crazy chemistry or will they give in (you know what happens)? And will danger from Wyatt's past come back to bite them?

I really liked the characters chemistry and banter in this book, it made it a fun read. My main quibble is the book starts with Wyatt being forced out of the spy game because his identity was burned. But that fact never really came up again except as an explanation of Wyatt being hyper observant. I wish that had been explored more. I loved Blake's passion for science and that she was so insistent on staying where she was happy instead of climbing the ladder. Overall this was a fun beach read while I was on vacation.

I rarely not finish a book, but this was a book I just could not finish. I do hope this book finds it's rightful audience.

Blake is bored. Nothing is happening in her life. She works for her family's company and leads a quiet life in Swan Cove. At least until her one-night-stand Wyatt turns up and becomes her partner in the art competition that her company organises every year.

My opinion:
I really like the cover and the title also fits the plot well. Christi Barth's writing style is pleasant to read and generally fluid.

I like Blake because she is an interesting, intelligent and curious woman who is very likeable. I also like Wyatt, but his past as a spy gives him a completely different perspective and that freshens up the plot in many places. He supports and motivates Blake to dare and want more. At the same time, he protects his past from her, which always leads to interesting situations.

Unfortunately, there are a few stretches where the tension is lost. I thought that was a shame, because it stopped me from reading.

I think the ending was very successful, it suited Blake and Wyatt perfectly. A great conclusion!

My conclusion:
A great RomCom with slight weaknesses that were made up for by the great harmony between Blake and Wyatt.

This book was ok. It was easy to get into and the characters were cute. This was a fun quick read but nothing I will remember.

This was an entertaining one-night stand turned true romance. Blake gets stranded in New York City one extra night on her way back to Swan Cove, Maine. She connects with Wyatt at the airport and spends the night with him. Once they have both reached their destinations, they are surprised to find that not only is their destination the same place, but they will be working together. Wyatt is battling being free from his spy life, plus what to do with his life when he is forced into retirement. Adding this into the relationship it makes for a lot of complications, but eventually, Wyatt and Blake decide what's best for them.

Cute and fun read. I’ve not read any of the author’s works before but I found her writing style to be fun and easy to follow. This book is set in a series of interconnected standalones, but I didn’t feel that I was missing out on too much having not read any of the previous novels. I loved that our two MCs were so different, Blake being a scientist and Wyatt a former spy, and that’s just their jobs, not to mention their personality differences! Blake and Wyatt get up to all sorts of shenanigans and their banter and chemistry was off the charts! I plan to read more from this author in the future.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Not excellent but surely entertaining. If you’re in the headspace to let go of small inconsistencies and oddities I’d recommend this. The romance is quick moving and fun. Lots of banter and tropey goodness to go around.

I didn’t read the first Swan’s Cove book, but I had no trouble at all jumping into this. There didn’t seem to be too much context or development that I missed out on, if any really. It just added to the simplicity of what the story was, a take it as it is meet cute romcom.

"The (ex) Spy Who (maybe) Loved Me" by Christi Barth is a playful and intriguing romantic adventure that sweeps readers into a world of espionage, romance, and the delightful complexities of unexpected connections. This novel is a delightful blend of wit, suspense, and the sparks that fly when two unlikely partners come together.

Barth's writing style is engaging and witty, immersing readers in a world of banter, action, and sizzling chemistry between the main characters. The dynamics between the protagonists are palpable, and their journey toward solving a mystery while navigating their attraction creates a dynamic that is both entertaining and captivating.

At the heart of the narrative is a lighthearted exploration of trust, second chances, and the excitement of diving into a world of intrigue. The author skillfully weaves together elements of romance and espionage, creating a narrative that keeps the reader engaged and eager to uncover the truth.

"The (ex) Spy Who (maybe) Loved Me" successfully balances humor with moments of genuine emotion, resulting in a narrative that is both playful and emotionally resonant. The themes of adventure, redemption, and the power of unexpected alliances add depth to the story.

In conclusion, "The (ex) Spy Who (maybe) Loved Me" is a delightful and entertaining read that offers a perfect mix of romance and mystery. If you're looking for a book that delivers both witty repartee and thrilling action, this novel is a fantastic choice that will leave you thoroughly entertained and invested in the characters' journey.

I absolutely love the two main characters, Blake and Wyatt they are believable and interesting...with their own stories that they tell themselves. Blake is so intelligent and bright, but she is missing some major clues: the clues around her ex and the clues about the handsome man she just had a fling with.

Now that this man is at her work site, and she's in the spotlight panic starts to set in so she sets up boundaries and rules on how things will go. Wyatt suddenly sees some things that are going on that don't feel right. Hmm. So there's this mystery in the middle of major spotlight attention and how is he going to get to the bottom of everything not to mention he is over his head with how he feels about the lovely Blake.

I really enjoyed this read, found it a fun escape and neat characters. Even a few characters that should have their own story! Definitely recommend!!!

This book just wasn't for me. I gave it a fair go, made it about 15% through, but it was truly becoming a slog to get to the end of the page every single page. Shame, but it happens.

The (Ex) Spy Who (Maybe) Loved Me by Christi Barth
Status: Available Now, on KU
Reading Method: Audio via Scribe

📖 🎧 Writing &/or Audio Style : It took me a little bit to settle in to the writing style for this one, mostly just because of some verbiage you rarely hear in books (nothing too outlandish, for ex “hinky”) but eventually I got used to it and didn’t really have any issues.

👥 Characters & Relationships: I loved the meet cute & bit of insta “intense interest” Blake (FMC) and Wyatt had. “City Shopping Blake” really knew her own minds and needs and I loved those opening scenes. Upon returning to her normal life and finding that her one night stand was now essentially a work shadow, her personality annoyed me a tiny bit. That said I loved the way her character was when expressing about her career. I love a strong female in stem character. She was a bit of a mixed bag for me, if you can’t tell. I loved seeing their relationship develop

⁉️Plot, Intrigue & Logic: The plot was cute. A little outlandish, but cute and not like alarmingly far fetched.

🏞️Atmosphere & Setting: Setting was not super remarkable, it was set in a small seaside tourist town, though you don’t really get too much towniness.

🥰Enjoyment: I thought this was cute, I would definitely file this under the palate cleanser column, I’’m probably not going to be shouting from the rooftops about it but it was a good time.

🚨 For Reader Awareness: Very brief references/acknowledgement to the existence of c0v1d, mentions of losses caused on 9/11

📣Recommended for fans of: Light easy reads

3.5 stars (rounded up)!

"The (Ex) Spy Who (Maybe) Loved Me" is the second book in Christi Barth's Swan Cove series following "Hottie on Her Shelf." While this book isn't quite as successful as the first installment, I still really liked this book! I looooved the premise where main characters Wyatt (a former spy trying to transition into civilian life) and Blake (a Ph.D. scientist) have a mind-blowingly good one-night stand, but quickly realize the next day that they have been paired up in a forced proximity work situation in Swan Cove, Maine, which just so happens to be Blake's small hometown where everyone knows her and her legacy-family. I hate how people automatically call Blake "grumpy" when she's a strong person with a driven, work-oriented personality. God forbid women should be allowed to focus on their careers! Eventually, she realizes, that not everything should be sacrificed for her profession. She struggles to find the balance and struggled to open up to being herself and choosing herself first, while Wyatt needs to find a way to express himself since he has lived a life where secrecy has always been demanded due to his former profession. Wyatt and Blake have interesting, diametrically opposing personalities, which leads to a lot of funny banter and zany situations involving things like parkour (which made me laugh out loud). Their chemistry is very believable and grand! I found myself rooting for them to work out their differences so they could be a full-fledged couple by the book's end. The spicy scenes between them are also well-written. Barth also does an excellent job making us haaaaaaaaaaaate the people involved in Blake's job, including her boss and her scummy ex-boyfriend. I like the small-town vibe of Swan Cove and cannot wait for a third entry in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara, and Christi Barth for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.