We’ve had amnesia and the small town sheriff, and we’ve had the secret pregnancy, so clearly it was time for The Elliotts to have a top secret spy. While this is probably just as unlikely as the aforementioned pregnancy and amnesia scenarios, I found that it worked much better as a fantasy (at least for me). Once I got past the hideous cover, that is. Why exactly the art department decided to depict a suave restaurateur/super spy as a fourteen year old boy attending a homecoming dance I can’t imagine.

The hero in question is Bryan Elliott, the only member of the clan who isn’t involved in the family publishing business. Instead, he owns the popular New York restaurant Une Nuit, which has already figured in the previous books. Bryan lives a somewhat enigmatic lifestyle, and takes frequent, vague trips abroad. He tells his family that he is searching for new recipes and exotic spices, but some of them are beginning to think that something else is up. They’re right, of course. Bryan does enjoy his restaurant, but his real job is espionage. He works with a so-secret-it-doesn’t-have-a-name agency that’s affiliated with the Department of Homeland Security. He meets the heroine, Lucy, because she has noticed some suspicious activity at the bank where she works. She has been working with Bryan to find an embezzler, but her position is compromised.

When Bryan comes to her rescue, he realizes that someone from his own organization betrayed him. He had planned to take Lucy to a safe house, but now none of the safe houses are truly safe, so he takes her back to his own apartment, where they work together to figure out who is behind the embezzling. Although the attraction between them is immediate, neither plans on getting involved. Bryan doesn’t think his lifestyle is suited to a long-term relationship. Lucy had a fairly serious relationship that went awry, involving a famous person. She’s leery of getting involved with anyone wealthy, and even though Bryan tries to keep out of the public eye, his family is prominent. But as they spend more time together, Bryan and Lucy discover that they have a lot in common. They both enjoy cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, and Lucy even has an affinity for Bryan’s spy work. They also need to explain Lucy’s presence to the Elliott family, so Bryan tells them they are involved with each other. Before long, it’s more than just a story. But can they come to terms with their pasts and make their lifestyle really work?

This book worked better for me than either of the last two. Some of that is fairly subjective; top secret government operatives are just sexier to me than small town sheriffs. It was easier for me to buy into the fantasy of Lucy (who is from a small town in Kansas) becoming entranced with a glamorous lifestyle than it was to believe that Bridget (the heroine of the pervious book) would leave her glamorous lifestyle to live on a ranch. In any case, the author does a good job with the restaurant setting. Une Nuit sounds fun and alluring. Though it started as more of a side-hobby for Bryan, its quick success made it much more than that. Lucy fits into his world, and she’s interested in both the food and the behind the scenes stuff.

Lucy and Bryan are likable characters as well. The whole spy scenario is a little outlandish, but I was able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy it – mostly because the relationship itself was believable. The conflict between them was realistic, and I was actually surprised by the secret in Lucy’s past. The whole plot fit neatly into the short series format (no mean feat), and I wasn’t left scratching my head at the end, wondering whether these two could really stay together.

That said, some of the spy stuff was over-the-top. At one point, there was a major coincidence I just couldn’t believe. Buying into the scenario in the first place may take more work for some, and if you are not a fan of spy stories this probably wouldn’t be a great choice for you.

That said, I enjoyed the book on a light and fun level, and that’s usually what I am looking for when I pick up a series romance. It’s a nice addition to the continuity series, and it also sets up the next book, which features Bryan’s divorced parents. Under Deepest Cover provides just enough of a teaser for their story, so I am looking forward to next month.