I felt the plot was a bit slower in this book than it was in the first however that did not impact my enjoyment of the story.

Lexie continues to be an incredible and interesting character.

I love the way that Noyes writes as I feel it really keeps you engaged in the story no matter what is happening.

I’m looking forward to reading the next installment!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for providing me with this arc.

The plot thickens in part 2 of this clever and amazing series. Several plot twists and a bit of a cliffhanger at the end has left me thirsty for more. Can’t wait for the next edition.

Loved it. Sometimes I get really bored of sequels and series because I find the character development stagnates, but E. J. Noyes manages to deliver something different. The story as always is top quality and a wonderful read. Highly recommended.

Leverage left me pondering long after I turned the last page. Known for her enthralling contemporary romance, E.J. Noyes ventures into new territory with this series, and while I appreciate the fresh direction, book 1 and 2 haven't quite hit the mark for me.

In this instalment, Lexie navigates her challenging role as an analyst amidst bureaucratic nightmares, all while striving to nurture her relationship with Sophia. Despite her professed competence and dedication, Lexie's professional struggles felt under-explored, leaving me craving more insight into her actual work. One main aspect that I struggle with is the portrayal of governmental operations and intelligence work - it lacks authenticity and reduces the impact of the narrative's attempts at tension and intrigue. Despite being hailed as a top analyst, Lexie's actions often reflect incompetence, undermining her credibility and the story's stakes. As a realist at heart, it's hard for me to see past this.

The narrative often circles back to Lexie's longing for Sophia, and their seemingly endless virtual communications that, while poignant, start to feel repetitive. The narrative's reliance on repetitive scenes and dialogues, possibly a result of Noyes's "pantser" approach to writing, exacerbates its pacing and depth issues. Scenes that could have propelled the plot or deepened character development instead languish in a cycle of eat-drink-repeat, a mundane loop that detracts from the potential richness of the story's world.

However, the introduction of Jeffrey, Lexie's new partner, injected an unexpected layer of complexity into the story. His dynamic with Lexie added a fresh dimension, offering some of the character depth and intrigue I found lacking elsewhere. The action picks up towards the end, but without the impactful twists I had hoped for.

Noyes' skilful writing shines through in her vivid settings and emotional depth, yet I'm left desiring a deeper dive into Sophia's character, who remains unknown. This series, while a departure from Noyes' usual fare, showcases her versatility, even if it leaves readers like me yearning for a bit more cohesion and clarity.

My fingers are crossed that book three will pack a punch to conclude the series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Poor Lexie. She really doesn’t have it easy working in Intelligence for Halycon. And she pissed off the President as well. At least she has the love of Sophie to get her through tough times.

Ms Noyes never eases off on the tension of this second part of the Halycon series. Set in some of the world’s trouble spots we get insight into the day to day life of a spy. There’s death, deceit, destruction and angst aplenty.

The cliffhanger ending leaves us gasping for part three… I’m hoping Ms Noyes is busy writing.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Second book in the trilogy, in which the plot slows a little as Lexie is sent to a dangerous posting, where there is not much for her to do but ponder her life and then her future. It picks up towards the end with a shocking ending that sets up book three nicely, in all areas of her life. Well written as ever by this author who writes multi layered characters and gives a wonderful sense of place, through the sounds and the food.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the 1st book Integrity, Lexie Martin, Intelligence analyst, comes across some life changing information and she and her girlfriend Sophia go on the run until Lexie can figure out who’s behind the coverup. She is arrested for stealing documents and questioned until her employer Halcyon, breaks her out of jail and sets her free. The Vice President was behind the new weapon which did not make the White House happy. After being back at work for a few days she is assigned to a new job in the Middle East. She is terrified. Her partner in this new adventure is her interrogator.
As I was reading this book, I felt all the grief Lexie was going through. But as time went on Jeffery and Lexie developed a companionship. Took care of each other. EJ Noyes did such a great job with this book. You never knew what was going to happen. Who were the good guys and who we the bad? Then there was the ending. All I can say is WOW!!

This is the kind of story that leaves me full of adrenaline after I’ve finished reading or listening and I kinda want to end each sentence with an exclamation mark. Because spies! Not spies! Danger! Love! Heartbreak and betrayals!

I usually like to include a short(ish) summary of the plot, with no spoilers, just my take on the premise of the story, but I won’t in this review. Part of what makes it exciting is not knowing what’s happening, who you can trust and who’s a villain. There’s no road trip this time but all sorts of twists still. And an ending that makes me wish May and Loyalty, the third and last (for now?) book in the series, weren’t in so many months…

I’m a victim of terrorism, so I won’t pretend everything in this story was easy to listen to, even if, as the author warns at the start of the book, “This one is fiction too”. And yet the first word that keeps coming back to me when I think about this series is fun. It’s seriously entertaining, the book equivalent of action movies and sure, you’re going to get gore and violence (never for violence’s sake though) and suffering but you’re also going to have a lot of fun. That’s one of the things I love about E.J. Noyes’s books, this sense of humour that keeps the reader engaged even when tragedy strikes, as if to remind us that a person is more than their PTSD. Lexie is such an endearing character, sarcastic, smart, driven, and also tender and vulnerable. For someone whose life is more often than not filled with extraordinary dangers, she’s surprisingly relatable. And as usual, Abby Craden breathes even more life into characters that are already very easy to love. Lexie, of course, but also Sophia, and a third very important character we met in book one, who turns out to be a lot more complex and a lot more interesting than I expected. The relationship between Lexie and this new partner in her latest mission is the best part of Leverage in my eyes.

This book is the second in a trilogy, which is always a difficult position to be in. The novelty factor of the first book has passed and it’s a given that all loose ends won’t be tied since there needs to be something leading to the final book. Yet, while Leverage is a middle book, with a seemingly quieter plot than Integrity, there’s plenty of tension and stakes to hold the reader’s attention, and even if that wasn’t enough, Lexie’s wit and reluctant badassness would make up for it.

Also, bonus points to the author for turning the prologue into something I wish authors who write sequels did more often: a reminder of what happened in the previous book(s) that you very possibly have forgotten since, you know, life can be busy. Just enough to refresh your memory but not so much that you’ll be terribly spoiled if, by mistake, you pick up Leverage before Integrity. It’s still time to go read the first book before getting into this one. It also means you can skip the prologue if the events of Integrity are crystal clear in your mind but why would you? On top of being informative, it’s also amusing (of course it is). And short.

And if you haven’t read or listened to Integrity , you should. 4.5⭐️

Book 2 in EJ Noyes’s Halcyon series picks up directly from where book 1 finishes, deepening and extending the story and taking the reader on an even more fun journey than book 1. Lexi and Sophia’s relationship is drawn and developed wonderfully. Until that is, Lexi receives deeply disturbing news requiring her to leave the country for an extended period of time.

We get a study of what it means to be in a relationship and the responsibilities that entails towards your partner. How difficult long-distance relationships can be for the one left behind, with all the worries and concerns that entails when your partner is away in a strange land. And we also get to see just how hard it is to leave that special someone behind for what seems like an eternity. Don’t worry, although Lexi and Sophia may be physically apart for a good part of this story, but does not mean that they don’t share plenty of page time together.

Outside of the romance plot, this Halcyon series is a joy. There are more layers and more complexities added into the story after the establishment and setup in book 1. Halcyon leverage is more than a worthy sequel, it surpasses the first book in the series and is a very solid five stars for me. I can’t wait for book 3, due for release in the spring next year… Which is far too long a break to have to wait to see what will befall Lexi and Sophia!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Strap yourselves into your chair for this book because you won’t want to be going anywhere until you finish it. What a roller coaster of emotions this provides. Another thought provoking story from Noyes that has you wondering what would you do if you were Lexie or Sophia.

Lexie is once again thrown into the deep end with her work but at least this time she has Sophia or does she? How can she survive six months back in the place where one of the darkest periods of her life took place with a man who had just interrogated her and was willing to send her to jail for an unknown amount of time? Can Lexies sense of humour save her again? Wonderful snarky dark humour, an intriguing storyline and complex characters that pull at your heart strings make for compelling reading.

I highly recommend this series.

Leverage is the second book in the Halcyon series and while it can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading book 1 first as this reads like the middle of the series.

This book picks up right where Integrity left off with Lexi Martin still reeling from the fact that she's not in jail. She's back to work and she and Sophia are spending more time together while settling into their fledgling relationship. Lexi can't be allowed to enjoy her life since what she discovered in Integrity embarrassed some high-powered politicians.

Honestly, there is not another sapphic fiction writer out there that can write in first person POV like Noyes. She's outdone herself with Lexi's POV. Lexi is an extremely complex woman with scars and traumas that have shaped her life. She's sarcastic, self-deprecating, courageous, and brilliant. Being privy to all of her thoughts is a treat and in this book, I feel that I got to know Lexi well.

Jeff (Jeffrey) is a really interesting character whose layers are intriguing and as each layer was revealed, I found myself gravitating to him more and more. I feel that there's more to come from him in book 3 and I can't wait!

Lexi and Sophia's relationship has a smaller, but no less impactful part in Leverage. I adore Sophia and the way that gets Lexi. She's supportive yet is challenging enough to keep Lexi on her toes.

The book ends with a cliffhanger (much to my dismay) and I can't believe that I have to wait months to find out how everything is going to shake out. Well done, EJ Noyes!

"Leverage" by E.J. Noyes is a compelling and skillfully crafted novel that seamlessly blends elements of romance and suspense. The story picks up from book 1 giving the reader another complex and engaging narrative. The main characters, Lexie and Sophia, continue to be well-developed and relentless you just can't help but wanting to reach out and help them along. The romantic features continue to develop against the thrilling plot full of twist and turns.

Ms. Noyes once again delivers us a balanced storyline that contributes to a winning reading experience that will appeal to fans of both romance and suspense genres. Lexie and Sophia battle with issues beyond the romance, giving the reader a realistic story of love and tension.

All I can wrap up with is, bring on book 3 please and thank you Ms. Noyes for a wonderful series.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

Outstanding as usual by Noyes. This is the second book in this series and did not disappoint at all. Noyes has a gift for words and drawing the reader in from the very beginning.

The book picks up right where the first one left off. Lexie is sent overseas again even though its not her job anymore. It's punishment for her role in the previous book after she gets a get out of jail free card. She did break the law and ends up getting sent back to the same place as before when she was a hostage.. She ends up trying to do long distance with Sophia after spending the last few weeks reconnecting. Sophia isn't happy about the arrangement at all. Plus, Lexie gets stuck with a partner she least expected, I didn't expect to like Jeffrey, but he was an engaging, interesting character and more insightful then I thought he would be.

I wish I had the right words for how much I enjoyed this book. The pace slowed down, and there were more questions then answers, but I still couldn't put the book down. Noyes constantly surprised me all the way to the end. It was such a wonderful book and I can not wait till the next installment in May.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The journey continued, and E.J. Noyes did not give us one second to take a break! I love book one, Integrity, and I was looking forward to the sequel. But somehow, I just can't connect with the book and the characters. I love Lexie in book one. She's quirky, smart, and a bit awkward(which I love the most), but these elements have been maxing out in this book, and it all becomes too much. It feels like two different characters between the first book and the sequel. Sophia still remains my favorite, and I'm looking forward to the third one!

This is book #2 in the Halcyon series and picks right up where book one left off. Lexie and Sophia’s relationship has grown and they have become inseparable. But…..the US Government/the President has other plans. Lexie is forced into an overseas mission and is under constant stress worrying about Sophia and her family.

Jeffery is sent with her on her mission and he is a complex character with many twists and turns In their relationship.

I liked this better than book one. I especially liked the scenes in the Middle East and the surprise ending. There is some good sizzle scenes too! We are definitely left with a huge cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read book 3.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book

The story of Dr. Alexandra (Lexie) Martin and Sophia Flores continues! This is book two in the Halcyon series and cannot be read as a standalone. You’ll have to read Integrity first. And that my friends, is definitely not a punishment! This second installment brings our heroines in situations nobody wants to be in, once again.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Intelligence analyst Lexie is trying to get back to a semblance of her normal life. Having been rescued from a very harrowing situation, she hopes she can go back to what she does best: reviewing secret intell. Her relationship with Sophia is going great. They’ve grown stronger together since surviving their impromptu trip to Florida, where Sophia, unbeknownst to herself, helps Lexie save the world by uncovering the truth about a very high impact government official.

Lexie knows in her gut that her actions from before will keep hunting her. She doesn’t know what to expect exactly but it’s definitely not being reassigned to a field op in a hostile country, once again. But for the first time in her life, she has a very good reason to get home safely. Home to Sophia.

Noyes has constructed another story that keeps you turning page after page. The suspense keeps you on your toes. While away Lexie tries to keep her relationship with Sophia alive and it seems like they succeed until it all goes to hell.

Lexie is paired with the last man on earth she wanted to spend six months with in close quarters. As their working relationship develops, they grow closer in a way that is extremely valuable. When a woman from Lexie’s past turns up on the scene, the situation takes some very unexpected turns.

This story is a wonderful mix of head and heart. The secret operation forces Lexie to keep thinking clearly and work as hard as she can to keep her country and its citizens safe from terrorists. The love she has for Sophia makes it harder and easier at the same time, because she knows personally for the first time in her life, what she is fighting for.

The story is told from Lexie’s point of view. At one point in the book it would have been nice to get a glimpse into the reasoning behind Sophia’s actions. That being said, this book is a great second installment, because it makes you crave the rest of the story. For me, that’s the hard part of reading a series that isn’t complete yet. I just have to find a way to keep myself occupied until the final book is released. I wholeheartedly invite you to join me in this agony, because the Halcyon series is very much worth it.

I loved this book and hope there is another one to continue the story. This is a fast paced thriller with romance mixed in. This is the second book and i have to say i did not read the first book so i was a little lost in the beginning. Alexandra is a government analyst and she found out some stuff in the first book that the President is angry she discovered. Being petty, he sends her to the field where she has to stay for 6 months. She is just beginning a relationship with Sophia and they are both trying to live with the distance. She also has to work with Jeffry Burton as her partner. He was the bad guy but, in this book, has to watch her back. It is interesting how they develop a relationship in this book. He becomes a confidant and is really taking care of her to make sure she makes it home safely. I like this author a lot and now I will need to go buy the 1st book to fill out the story. Well worth the time and wait for the next one. I received a free copy from Net Galley in exchange for an unbiased review.

First chapter brings those that skipped the first book up to speed, or for those that read the first ages and books ago, a quick refresher. The romance is what moves in the first part of the book and in the majority of the book there is little romance and plenty of blend plot. I am determined to avoid spoilers so I will only say as soon as I finished this book I looked up when the next in the series will be out. Prepare for a sort of cliffhanger but definitely a surprise with more to come. 3.5 not up to 4 because, I need to get the next book for resolution and because although I kept reading, there were some parts my reading was less urgent.

I’m going to assume that if you are about to read Leverage, then you have already finished Integrity. If not, go back and start there, this is not a standalone. And who would want it to be? This series so far has blown me away.

Three weeks have passed since Lexie hid an octopus in Sophia’s car, and surprised her with her return, and both are madly in love and settling into life not on the run. Only the big guns are holding a grudge and finding a way to blow up her plans of a simple, carefree life by sending her back to the place she swore she would never go. Getting reassigned to a hostile region, watching her back constantly and having to build the foundations of a happy and loving relationship long distance are all going to take their toll on Lexie, but one thing she won’t do is give in.

E.J. Noyes is a master storyteller. She takes you right into the middle of her character's lives, lets you get to know their likes, dislikes, nuances and pet peeves, and then she makes sure to throw every possible challenge their way. Getting to ride these challenges out with the MC is intensely satisfying; it’s not about feeling one or two emotions, it’s about feeling them all; love, terror, regret, suspense, heartbreak and that’s all just in one chapter!
From pop culture references including Captain Planet, and Family Ties, to great language quips like Okey Dokey and Assholery, E.J. Noyes brings Lexi alive. She would have to be one of my favourite protagonists to date and ninety per cent of that comes down to her smart-arse comments and wickedly clever internal monologues. And she is just an overall good person, whose purpose in life is serving the greater good, and too bad if her heart gets trampled in the process.

Book three is up next, and I can’t wait to see where it takes Lexie and Sofia. Five stars from me.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley for my honest review.

Book two in the Halcyon Division Series begins where book one, Integrity, left off. This  series must be read in its logical order to gain a better understanding

 Lexie Martin has been given a get out of jail free card and doesn’t understand why. By all accounts Lexie did break the law in order to expose the involvement of the Vice President with the Russians. Yet she is returning to work in just a couple of weeks. Lexie’s down time is being spent reconnecting with Sophia. 

I believe this is the middle book of a three book series because it definitely reads like one. The pace slows down considerably which leaves the door open to some repetitive navel gazing by Lexie. Yet Noyes is such a talented writer that she makes the navel staring full of tension and pressure. There are a number of plot twitches which is setting the ground work for the final book.

Jeffrey is a secretive and interesting character throughout the Middle East section of the book. He is a calming foil to the coming apart Lexie.

The ending saves this book for me and makes it a four star read. It is totally unexpected and I loved being blindsided by it. Now I cannot wait until book three.

I received an advance review copy  from Bella Books through NetGalley.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.