This undercover mission was clear…
until one life-altering moment changed everything.
Ivan Mostek's visit to Kansas City should have been a
camera-friendly bit of international diplomacy -- except someone wants him
dead. And Carly Valentine pretending to be his girlfriend might be the only
thing that can keep him safe. But this is a mission like none the experienced
cop has ever trained for. One in which fake feelings could turn into something
all too real.
I love Julie Miller's books. They consistently manage to
suck me in and keep me enthralled from start to finish. That said, this one has
quickly become one of my favorites, with the unlikely pairing of a royal prince
and an undercover cop. Ivan recently took over leadership of his country after
the former regime was finally overthrown, ending decades of brutal leadership. Ivan
is committed to bringing prosperity back to his country, but someone is equally
determined to stop the changes he tries to implement. When a bomb derails his
plans for an economic summit in his country, Ivan moves his talks to Kansas
City. Ivan suspects that someone inside his circle is behind the attacks, and
meets privately with the head of KCPD to request some unusual help. He would
like to borrow an undercover cop who can expose the traitor. The catch is that
he wants a female who can play the part of his girlfriend while conducting the
investigation.
I liked both Carly and Ivan. Carly is a kick-ass
undercover cop. She is in her element when she is on the street, helping to
keep her city safe. She also has a close relationship with her father and
brothers. What she doesn't have is much confidence in herself in social
situations, where she always feels awkward. Ivan is a great guy. He feels very
strongly about his duty to his country and has given up a lot to fulfill his new
role. He is kind, often sweet, and has an endearing geekiness that occasionally
makes an appearance. He also has no problem asserting his authority when he
needs to.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between
Carly and Ivan. They first met in an elevator at the police station when she
was bringing in a criminal. Ivan was impressed with how the relatively small
woman handled the perp's attitude and attempted escape, and thought that she
was exactly what he needed. It was funny to see her reaction to his request. Even
more fun were the reactions of her father and brothers when her
"date" showed up at her house. It's clear that not only are there intense
sparks between Carly and Ivan, there is also an unexpected connection. I loved
Ivan's strength and support when her brother ends up in the hospital and seeing
Carly lean on that strength. I also enjoyed seeing the push and pull between
them as Carly asserts herself as his bodyguard, and Ivan wants to protect her.
As they worked together to find out who is behind the threats and attacks, the
attraction and feelings between them grow stronger. I ached for Carly as she
realized her feelings and that there was no chance of a future for them. Ivan,
too, had fallen for Carly, but obstacles were keeping them apart. I loved the
ending as an unexpected twist changed everything. Ivan's big moment at the end
was fantastic as he finally got his wish of being loved for himself.
The suspense of the story was great and kept me glued to
the pages from beginning to end. From the prologue and the attempted
assassination to the final confrontation, I was wholly invested in trying to
figure out who had it in for Ivan. Was it his head of security, Filip, who had
the most opportunities and was often overzealous in his actions? Perhaps his chief
of staff, Galina, whose fiancé died in that first attempt, and who always knows
where Ivan will be at any time? Or perhaps Danya, Ivan's bodyguard, who has
some serious attitude problems? Then there was Ivan's best friend, Aleks. Do his
flirtatious and lighthearted ways hide something darker? Not knowing who they
could trust made things much harder for Carly and Ivan. As written threats
appeared out of nowhere and attacks escalated the closer they came to the
embassy ball, Carly and Ivan had to depend on each other. They made a fantastic
team. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat as the assassin made
their final play. Unexpected revelations changed some of the dynamics, and
kick-ass Carly got in the last licks.
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