Name: Code of Conduct
ISBN: 9781949202021

April White

Smartypants Romance

** 2021 RWA Vivian Award Finalist - Romantic Suspense ** ** Finalist in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards ** “The slow-burn romance between Gabriel and Shane becomes delicious torture. This is a winner.” –Publishers Weekly Starred Review There are three things you need to know about Shane P.I. 1) P.I. is not her last name, it’s her job title, 2) Her specialty is catching cheaters, and 3) She’s a superhuman – kind of. Gabriel is a security expert for Cipher Security, and a former UN Peacekeeper with a fierce protective streak that finds its focus on the beautiful P.I. Their attraction is like an elephant in a room full of breakable things, and figuring out how to trust each other with their hearts, and maybe their lives, is the most fragile thing of all. 'Code of Conduct' is a full-length contemporary romantic suspense, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Cipher Security series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Code of Conduct

Sheena

I wanted to like this. I tried to like this but I got nada from the read. Let's be honest as a reader, when you find yourself skimming more pages than what you're actually reading it's probably best to let this go before anyone got hurt.

Lynn Braden

Shane is a PI working in Chicago for wives of husbands who are cheating on them.  Denise hires her to get proof of her husband, Dane Quimby's affairs and find the money he's hiding.  Posing as Dane's eharmony date, Shane manages to move half of Dane's money into Denise's bank account, but Shane is almost caught on her way out of the restaurant when Dane's security company, Cipher Security, sends in two agents who have detected the theft of Dane's money.  One agent, Gabriel, is fascinated with Shane and makes it his mission to find the clever PI, but when he does, both are in for more than they bargained for.

There are many things to like about Code of Conduct, but unfortunately, the book is not without problems.  At the beginning of the story, the pacing is crafty as we learn about the mystery involving Dane and at the same time, get a glimpse into Shane's world as well as her mind.  Also, the attraction between Gabriel and Shane is immediately palpable, but quickly turns into a delicious slow burn romance. Although I don't claim to be an expert on the issues resulting from amputation, the representation of an amputee seems well done, especially since it involves a main character.  However, the mystery goes off the rails a bit after we learn that Denise has disappeared and the plot shifts focus to a character named Karpov that we never really get to know.  Dane does come back into the story later, but by then, his part of the story seems to have gotten lost.  Overall, Code of Conduct is a very interesting romantic suspense novel with moments in the book that actually shine.

Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures 

Rating: 5 Stars!
bookboyfriendsdoitbetter.com

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! I am loving all the new Smartypants characters. This is my first book by April White and it definitely won't be my last. Can't wait to get to Code of Honor. 

better review up soon!

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


Code of Conduct was my first April White book and my second from Smartypants Romance. I'm a big fan of both. I don't read a lot of romantic suspense. Whenever I do I always question why I don't make it a point to read more. Thankfully I have every intention of following the Cipher Security series, so I'll be getting a good dose here soon.

There was so much to love about Code of Conduct, I'm honestly not even sure where to start. The characters made this book. Both Shane and Gabriel were absolutely wonderful. Shane was a badass. Since romantic suspense isn't a go-to subgenre for me, I don't often read about heroines with super cool jobs like hers. Not only was she strong and smart, but she was also an inspiration. Gabriel was all the things I want in a hero: sexy, thoughtful, kind, and quite the badass himself. And boy could he turn a phrase. I highlighted so many of his words because they made me quite literally swoon. He was all in for Shane and I couldn't get enough of them together.

With the Cipher Security side of things comes cameos from two of my favorite of Penny Reid's characters, Quinn and Dan. Dan especially. Oh, how I've missed him! The suspense portion of the book had me on the edge of my seat more than once. My heart was pounding, y'all. But to be fair, some of the sexy scenes had my heart pounding, too. 😉 I'm two for two with the Smartypants Romance books and I can't wait to dive into my third. I can't get enough of Penny's world and I'm thrilled to discover new authors who are writing in it. It's a win-win for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Favorite Quotes:

"A word only has the power you give it. Truth is just five letters unless the promise of it is honored, and trust–those five letters are meaningless without a whole lifetime of evidence to back it up."

I was smitten. More than smitten, actually. Probably something closer to besotted, with a side of lustful thoughts for added intrigue.

"Flying kisses are the ones that make your insides feel like you're accelerating to reach altitude, and the moment you begin to soar, your chest can fill with air again, and your body floats free."

"I taste you in my dreams. I think about kissing you ten, fifty, a hundred times a day."

"You could never be normal. Extraordinary is not normal. Stunning is not normal. Brilliant is. Not. Normal."

"You can be afraid and still strong, still fearless and indomitable. You can be afraid, and you can trust, and then when you're ready, you can let go of the fear. Fear muffles you. Let it go, and then you can live out loud again like you're meant to." 

"I am so fucking hungry for you..."

April H. White

There are three things you need to know about Shane P.I. 1) P.I. is not her last name, it's her job title, 2) Her specialty is catching cheaters, and 3) she's a superhuman - kind of. Gabriel is a security expert for Cipher Security, and a former UN Peacekeeper with a fierce protective streak that finds its focus on the beautiful P.I. Their attraction is like an elephant in a room full of breakable things, and figuring out how to trust each other with their hearts, and maybe their lives, is the most fragile thing of all.