📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Spies Don’t Fall for Their Asset (Romancing the Spy, Book 1) by Meg Easton
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 460 / Genre: Romcom
Audiobook Narrator: Hallie Bee Bard and Rusty Mewha
Duration: 10 hours 41 minutes
Release Date: September 26, 2023

A big fan of spy thrillers, Mackenzie never thought her boring life would be anything like what she enjoys watching on the big screen. But when she catches the interest of a real life secret agent, she proves she’s more than up to the task.

This is such a cute romcom with a twist. I especially liked Jace’s spy family and how supportive they are of him. I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of this series, which is free with #KindleUnlimited.

The audiobook was excellent. Hallie Bee Bard and Rusty Mewha did a great job narrating.

Thank you, @MegEaston_Author, @Dreamscape_Media, and @NetGalley for my gifted audiobook.

I’m loving all of these spy/adventure romance books and can’t get enough. This one had great characters, loads of chemistry, and a lot of spying but it didn’t overshadow the romance. I laughed so much through this one) but wanted just a little more tension on the spy missions to add some grit. Otherwise, I enjoyed getting to know Jace’s family and I am looking forward to the next one.

An ace, fun Rom-com with a difference. If you want to be entertained and amused listen to this audiobook. Narrated by both a male and female for the respective points of view. Great characters. Jace has a wonderful family. There’s clever dialogue and interesting interactions. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC!

I had so much fun with this book. It was a cheesy spy romcom but it really worked. I loved the chemistry between the main characters and I was rooting for them the entire book. Will definitely recommend this to friends looking for a fun read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: spy romance
Content: makeouts

This story was so fun! I absolutely loved Jace and Mackenzie. I ADORED their meet-cute and everything that followed. Mackenzie was fun and spunky and determined to live big. I really admired her intentionality in creating the life she wanted to live. Jace’s desire to protect Mackenzie was *chef’s kiss*. Hammy was such a fun side character. And their first kiss! 🔥 Seriously, such a cute book!

Edited to add: I reread this one via audiobook and thought it was so well done! Both narrators were good, though I did prefer the female. She was just excellent with her inflection and infusing emotion into her voice.

Quotes I Loved:
🦝After a single kiss from Jace, I'm completely hooked. In my defense, it was a very long kiss. And unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. It was the kind of kiss that they base entire movie scripts around. Write songs about. Nations rise and fall because of kisses like that. I'm an addict. Like a raccoon who has discovered where the camper's stash of Oreos is. I've never related to a raccoon more.

🤩She sees my smile and seems to shake herself out of whatever she was thinking and says, "I'm sorry, what did you say? I couldn't hear over the sound of you being the sexiest man alive."

♥️She finds joy in the smallest things and it just makes life... better. It makes me better.

💯Don't spend your whole life worrying and not living.

I have discovered that I don't like audiobooks where they shift narrators in between chapters. It takes me too much out of the book while I am listening.

Meg Easton’s Spies Don’t Fall for Their Asset is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and action. The story revolves around Jace, a suave international spy, and Mallory, an ordinary woman who stumbles into his world of high-stakes espionage. What starts as an accidental rescue mission quickly turns into a series of thrilling adventures, complete with gala events, motorcycle chases, and the classic spy movie charm.

Mallory’s witty, down-to-earth narration makes her instantly likable, and Jace is the perfect mix of mysterious and endearing. Their chemistry is both playful and heartfelt, with Easton skillfully balancing the tension of their budding romance against the fast-paced action. The audiobook narration by Hallie Bee Bard and Rusty Mewha adds depth and personality to the characters, making their interactions even more engaging.

This story is ideal for fans of light-hearted romantic suspense who enjoy a good laugh alongside heart-fluttering moments. With its witty banter, high-energy escapades, and emotional depth, Spies Don’t Fall for Their Asset is a charming escape that will leave listeners smiling.

This one has been on my TBR for a while and I'm so stinkin' mad mad at myself that it took me so long to finally read it. It's 100% my favorite book that I've read in A WHILE. This is my first Meg Easton book, but now I clearly need to play catch-up because this girl is amazing! The humor, banter, and intrigue are top-notch. Plus, who seriously doesn't want to read a spy romance?!

Mackenzie...I loved this girl's back story. It was so interesting to figure out why it was so important to her to live a life of adventure. She's such a courageous and relatable heroine and I just loved her dedication to getting out of her comfort zone and constantly growing as an individual.

Jace...Well, what girl wouldn't want her own personal James Bond?! This guy definitely fits the bill. I love his confidence, loyalty, and dedication. I also love that Mackenzie becomes his everything. Sigh and swoon. 😍 I really appreciated the growth and healing Jace went through to get to a place where he and Mackenzie could have a real chance. Um, now where is my hot spy guy?

Things I loved:
❤️Mackenzie's garage apartment
❤️Spy movie nights
❤️Top notch bestie
❤️The "Outside the Bubble" club
❤️Perfect pink heels
❤️Amazing banter
❤️Walk in the rain
❤️Honey and note
❤️Epic dates (including first date picnic)
❤️All the cool spy things (especially trips to really cool places)
❤️Gala
❤️Safe house
❤️Dinner and flag football with Jace's family
❤️All the jokes Mackenzie's family made about her injury
❤️Alphabet improv/grand gesture
❤️Couldn't put it down/forever had to find out what happened next
❤️Great world building
❤️Characters with awesome depth
❤️Jace's entire family (I can't wait to read ALL their books!)
❤️Epilogues
❤️Sad when it was over

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

Meg Easton’s Spies Don’t Fall For Their Asset is a delightful and hilarious romantic comedy that kicks off the Romancing the Spy series with a bang! As someone who has already devoured the second book, I can confidently say that this series is a must-read for fans of lighthearted spy romcoms. While the books can be enjoyed as standalones, starting with this one is an excellent way to dive into Easton’s world of undercover operatives and unexpected romance.

This book had everything I love in a romcom:
• A charming spy male main character (MMC) with just the right amount of intrigue and vulnerability.
• Dual points of view that let readers experience both sides of the story.
• A hilariously memorable meet-cute that had me laughing out loud.
• A unique and heartwarming picnic date that was pure swoon material.
• Witty, laugh-out-loud dialogue that kept the pages turning.
• Just the right amount of romance, including those swoony kisses that will leave you grinning.
• And let’s not forget—there’s a helicopter!

The story balances humor, action, and romance perfectly, creating a sweet and fast-paced read that’s hard to put down. Easton’s writing is light and fun, with just enough suspense to keep you invested in the spy adventures without overshadowing the romance.

The accompanying audiobook, narrated by Hallie Bee Bard and Rusty Mewha, is an absolute gem. Their voices brought the characters to life, adding extra charm and depth to the story. From the witty banter to the intense car chases, the narration elevated every scene and made the listening experience a total joy. If you’re on the fence about audiobooks, this one might just convert you.

Overall, Spies Don’t Fall For Their Asset is a sweet, action-packed romcom that will leave you smiling from start to finish. If you love quirky meet-cutes, endearing characters, and a touch of spy drama, this book is for you! Highly recommended in either print or audio—don’t miss it!

Once I started the story I wanted to abandon all my responsibilities and just listen to great narrators. Fun story. It is a simple and cute closed door romance but very entertaining. Lived the characters and the mix ups.

This audiobook was exactly what my sweet romance TBR needed—a little spy action to shake things up! Mackenzie’s whirlwind adventure with Jace, the determined (and totally swoony) spy, had me hooked from the meet-cute to the heart-racing finale. The dual narration really brought these characters to life, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them long after my walks.

If you’re a fan of:
✨ Spy movies and small-town charm
✨ Swoony moments and lovable family dynamics
✨ Dual POV storytelling that pulls you right in

…then you need this book in your life. Trust me, you’ll find yourself looking for every chance to listen.

Big thanks to @dreamscape_media for the ALC—this story kept me smiling through the cold, crisp air. 🥶❤️

Makenzie, a girl who loves spy movies and adventure, becomes involved in a spy novel herself. And boy is it a fun read! 4 stars!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Meg Easton book. It's a sweet closed-door romcom with likeable characters. It's pretty fast-paced and the narrators (dual) were great.

Unfortunately, there were several situations/responses that were so unbelievable it took me out of the story. All in all, a cute 3 star read.

This was really fun and different! I romantic comedy that has a bit of suspense thrown in there too!

You meet our FMC while she’s on a blind date, and her and our MMC have the funniest meet cute. I really enjoyed the overall plot of the book. The banter was top tier and the characters and side characters were really funny and enjoyable to read.

There are a lot of characters, but it wasn’t hard to keep them straight.

I really enjoyed the narration. The dual pov was a good choice for this book!

This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last!

Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscape_media, and @megeaston_author for this advance copy of Spies Don't Fall For Their Asset audiobook! It's a dual narrated book that has you rooting for our two main characters as soon as the book begins. Mackenzie is a down home girl who loves to spend her time watching spy movies with her best friend. Jace is a...well, a spy. They first meet when Mackenzie is on a date going HORRIBLY wrong and Jace saves her...then they unintentionally run into each other when Mackenzie is mistaken for a drop on a mission so Jace has to protect her, without telling her, she's now become his asset. But, can he keep his feelings out of this mission or is he doomed?
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This was my first book from this author, but not my last! I enjoyed the TWO epilogues, getting to see what happens down the road AND a sneaky little interlude into the next book (which follows Jace's brother) and I can't wait to read that one!
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The audio narration was fun and kept me hooked. This was also my first ever spy related novel and I'm here to say...I LOVED IT! This is a great, wholesome book, perfect for all ages as well! The audiobook was released yesterday, so snag yourself a copy!
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#audiobook #audio #readhowyoucan #netgalley #megeaston #dreamscape #dreamscapemedia #fun #romance #closeddoor #book #novel #spy #spybook #clean #reader #bookshelf

I was enjoying the story and the kind of over the top spy movie story line, but at about 70% in I got the ick and I just couldn’t come back from it. One of the spy missions the MMC went on was to Israel and I just feel like that was a WILD choice for a book that was written within the last year. Well, ever. But especially the last year. Of all the countries. Really? And it wasn’t just mentioned once and we moved on, it was brought up multiple times and I couldn’t concentrate on the actual story.

So yeah.

That’s it. That’s the review.

I was very excited about the premise of this book. I very much enjoy a lighthearted, romantic suspense and that is not a prolific subgenre. While this book was lighthearted and romantic, there was not nearly as much action as I would have liked in a book boasting an international spy as a main character. Much of the story was normal, everyday romance rather than the excitement we are used to seeing in Mission Impossible or James Bond. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it just wasn't what I was looking for in this book.

I liked the chemistry between the two main characters, Mackenzie and Jace. Their meet-cute was clever, if a bit contrived, and they had an immediate connection. I also found their struggles as a couple to be reasonable and appropriate for the plot and genre. However, the writing style felt more YA than adult, but the ages of the characters suggest this is an adult novel. Many of the descriptions and the FMC's voice came off more juvenile than what fits the story.

I listened to the ARC of the audio release and found the narrators to be good overall. The female narrator's tone I think contributed to the too young sound of the FMC's voice, which may just be her interpretation of the writing or her own inflection, I can't know for certain. Not a bad listen but not one that will stay with me.

Spies Don’t Fall for Their Asset was so much fun! I cannot wait for the next in the series to meet the other characters as well as get some insights on how Jace and Mackenzie are fairing. There are so many laugh out loud moments that are just organically perfect. There are some cheesy lines too, but I am not one who minds cheesy lines; they make me smile. This is more on the humor and lighthearted side than on actual spy and action activity, but they are blended well. This is clean, sweet, closed-door romance. The dual POV narration was an added bonus for me as the narrators did an excellent job.
I received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

3.5 ⭐️

Spies Don’t Fall for Their Assets was a fun, easy and lighthearted read, but I wanted more spy action and less romance. The plot had so much potential, and I really enjoyed the concept, but there were moments where I was cringing hard. It leaned pretty heavily into the cheesy side, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s what you’re in the mood for, but I found myself wishing for a bit more depth and tension. That said, it’s an entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the arc🫶🏼

This is such a fun book. Mackenzie is very into spy movies. Then she meets an intelligence operative on a bad blind date with another guy. The fun just compounds from there.
As Mackenzie and Jace get to know one another, they bring hope and joy to each other. There is adventure and excitement, and then fear sets in. It is interesting to see how they each work through fears and race toward a happy ending.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the dual narrators. It enhanced the listening pleasure. Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to enjoy this book, I've been eying it for a while.
I recommend listening to Spies Don't Fall For Their Asset.