India Holton

Secret Service of Tea and Treason

Two rival spies must brave pirates, witches, and fake matrimony to save the Queen. Known as Agent A, Alice is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, a secret government intelligence group that is fortunately better at espionage than at naming itself. From managing deceptive witches to bored aristocratic ladies, nothing is beyond Alice’s capabilities. She has a steely composure and a plan always up her sleeve (alongside a dagger and an embroidered handkerchief). So when rumors of an assassination plot begin to circulate, she’s immediately assigned to the case. But she’s not working alone. Daniel Bixby, otherwise known as Agent B and Alice's greatest rival, is given the most challenging undercover assignment of his life— pretending to be Alice’s husband. Together they will assume the identity of a married couple, infiltrate a pirate house party, and foil their unpatriotic plans. Determined to remain consummate professionals, Alice and Daniel must ignore the growing attraction between them, especially since acting on it might prove more dangerous than their target.

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason

Emma Hak-Kovacs

The company separated after dinner, ladies returning to the drawing room to drink tea and discuss such feminine concerns as fashion (what exactly should a lady wear when robbing a bank?) and lip rouge (which shade was best for writing ransom notes?) and recipes (could one substitute belladonna for digitalis in poisoned wine?). The gentlemen remained at the table to trade risque jokes and ideas for scrapbook layouts.

Primula declared herself to be in Heaven, but Alice privately wished the lady would go direct the other way. 

Among the Stacks

“Um,” she replied dazedly. “You’re smoking.” “Er…” “Literally, Miss Dearlove. Your petticoat is catching alight.”

OK so this was actually really fun. Some of the jokes landed a little juvenile but I liked the dynamic between the characters regardless. I enjoyed it so much that I pondered going back and reading through the previous books as physical copies since I feel it would have actually made me like them more. Truly perfect beach reads.

Teeeeeesha

This series is probably the most fun series I have ever read. It is a historical romance with a fantasy aspect so there are witches and pirates with flying houses. This one has spies who are undercover as a married couple. I loved it. 

Brianna Foley

Holton is one of those authors whose work gets better and better with each book. I'm obsessed with the way she crafts stories. I'm convinced the word "romp" was created just for her books. You know you're in for a wild, bonkers ride whenever you pick one up, and I can't get enough. I've loved the whole series, and this latest installment was no exception. I thought the spy angle was so fun, and I loved the new spin on the fake dating/marriage trope. Alice and Daniel were everything to me. The banter! The chemistry! The pining! It was all too good. Watching them navigate their relationship while trying to complete their mission was so entertaining. This book is chock full of hilarious hijinks, emotional moments, flying houses, undercover maids, and pirates playing rooftop tennis with grenades; I mean, what more could you want? I'm sad to see this series end, but I'm thrilled to see what Holton comes out with next.

Secret Service of Tea and Treason

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