Published October 3rd, 2023 by Orion
Romance Novel, Mystery, Romantic Comedy, Holiday Fiction
Today is my stop on the blog tour for this funny, sexy and addictive debut. Thank you to Becca at Orion for the invitation to take part and my copy of the book.
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SYNOPSIS:
MISS CONGENIALITY meets Emily Henry with the spice of MR AND MRS SMITH in this fun, sexy and absolutely irresistible romcom.
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‘Fun, flirty, and fabulous!’ LAURA JANE WILLIAMS
‘A hilarious, smart and swoony joy of a romcom’ CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN
‘The heat between Sydney and Nick is a literal inferno right off the bat’ LIZZY DENT
He wants to take her out. She wants to take him down…
Sydney’s mission is simple:
1. Stop her little sister from marrying a notorious criminal
2. Seduce his bodyguard to gather intel for the FBI
3. Definitely do not fall in love…
Agent Sydney Swift is going home for the holidays. She’s just discovered that her younger sister, Calla, is engaged to Johnny Jones – the heir to the nation’s most notorious crime dynasty – and she’s determined to stop their perfect winter wedding at any cost.
But gathering incriminating evidence on Johnny isn’t as easy as she’d hoped, especially as her biggest obstacle is Nick, his infuriatingly handsome and charming bodyguard!
As Sydney spends more time with Nick, lines begin to blur, and while seducing him to gather intel was bad enough, falling for him is even worse.
Soon Sydney is faced with a difficult decision – one that certainly wasn’t covered in her training . . .
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MY REVIEW:
A female spy on a mission to gather intel on the notorious crime lord engaged to her younger sister by seducing his bodyguard. What could go wrong?
The Takedown is one of the best romcoms I’ve read in a while. Addictive, fun, witty, mysterious, and red-hot, Carlie Walker gives us a masterclass in romcom storytelling with her swoon-worthy debut. It had me hooked from the first page, the tension indisputable as the family gathered together the night before Calla and Johnny’s wedding. It then jumps back to a few days earlier when Sydney first learned about her sister’s engagement and then follows on as she attempts to carry out her mission.
Romcoms generally take a predictable route that we all love and while this one did to some degree, it was also an original take on the stories and tropes we’re familiar with. Firstly, we have a female spy as the central character, and secondly, she has to spy on her own family. It is also filled with surprising twists along the way that keep the reader on their toes and make it all the more entertaining to read. I also enjoyed that although this is technically a holiday read, the Christmas side of things isn’t overbearing. I love a Chrismassy read, but sometimes you aren’t in that mood, and I liked that this one could be read whatever mood you’re in or at any time of year.
What isn’t there to love about a bad-ass female CIA Agent who can take down (like what I did there?😉) criminals with ease? Sydney is a great protagonist. But inside that hard shell is a woman who is a hot mess. Her job is a way to run from her past family traumas and prevent anyone from getting close to her. She’s barely been in touch with her Grandmother or her sister in the last three years and while on this mission she finds it increasingly difficult to balance her past and present colliding. She’s having an internal crisis while trying to save her sister and bring down a crime lord. It’s a lot. But it all helps to make her relatable to the reader and I really liked her and was rooting for her. The background characters were also brilliantly written and I had a real soft spot for Grandma Ruby. What a woman she is! But for a romcom to work you need a believable love interest and Nick is a dreamboat. The chemistry between him and Sydney is undeniable from the start, just like his charm. It was so hot in places that I needed suntan lotion and I loved their effortless banter. You can tell where this one is going for sure. Or so you think…
So if you’re looking for a different kind of romcom and holiday read, then The Takedown is for you. Hilarious, sexy and suspenseful, you won’t be able to put this one down.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
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MEET THE AUTHOR:
Carlie is a big fan of rescue dogs, 90’s rom-coms, and books with happy endings. She lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. The Takedown is her first novel for adults.
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BUY THE BOOK:
Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx
Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the tour.
*These links are affiliate links
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