Going to a fantasy spy camp isn’t my idea of a good way to spend a couple grand, but it does provide for an interesting backdrop for romantic suspense. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t hold up to its potential.
Reilly Peterson's abusive ex has made her afraid for too long, but instead of signing up for an actual self-defense course, she goes on a fantasy vacation to a spy camp that teaches fighting, spying, and hostage negotiation. As the only woman at the camp, she's getting a lot of attention-- but she's mostly interested in Van Keller. The two have chemistry.
However, more is going on at camp than just simulated spying exercises and some heavy flirting. Reilly's ex is released from prison and starts sending her threatening messages, and someone is convinced she has a damning piece of evidence in an important mob trial. And when a dead body turns up at camp, she doesn't know which bad guys are working for her ex and which work for the mob.
Van and Reilly have undeniable physical chemistry, and their flirting is fantastically over-the-top. However, as well as they meshed physically, I just didn't feel it to quite the same extent emotionally. I wouldn't consider this book to be a true HEA-- more like “we’re happy for now, and we'll see where this goes.” At times it felt more like a chick-lit suspense than the romantic suspense billed on the cover.
The writing style feels reminiscent of a number of other suspense/humor authors; the first-person narration reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum or Linda Howard’s To Die For heroine. The heroine of Spy Game had the same mix of flippancy and vanity, with the occasional hard-hitting fear. Unfortunately, Gina Robinson doesn’t do this blending quite as well as other writers do.
The story moved quickly, but it sometimes felt like too much was going on. There were also a number of inconsistencies in terms of location. If I didn’t know my geography, I’d think Seattle and Los Angeles were neighbors, considering how much overlap there is in this book. There are a few too many coincidences that are necessary to move the plot along, that are in reality incredibly unlikely. The believability factor was rather low in this book.
For much of the book, I found myself more or less entertained, while also a bit disappointed. There was a lot of potential here to create a funny relatable heroine, a protective and attractive hero, and a strong and multifaceted suspense. Unfortunately, all three of these aspects failed to catch my attention as fully as they could have.
Sensuality: Hot
Publication Date: 2009
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