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Americans Abroad #3
Stockholm Syndrome
ASIN B076X3HRRX moved to the most recent edition
When a spy dials a wrong number, could it be the connection of a lifetime?
Leigh is a secret agent in peril whose life depends on reaching her agency’s emergency hotline. But when she dials the local public radio pledge drive by mistake, a spy-obsessed office temp named Amanda becomes her only hope for rescue. Amanda thinks it’s an exciting game of make-believe, until dangerous elements from Leigh’s past force her to reveal her true identity and take Amanda with her on the run. The answers lie in Stockholm, but whether Leigh should be more frightened of the Russian mobsters who want her dead, or Amanda when she realizes she’s been lied to, is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain, if they can figure out a way to work together, the seasoned agent and the savvy civilian just might make the perfect team!
When a spy dials a wrong number, could it be the connection of a lifetime?
Leigh is a secret agent in peril whose life depends on reaching her agency’s emergency hotline. But when she dials the local public radio pledge drive by mistake, a spy-obsessed office temp named Amanda becomes her only hope for rescue. Amanda thinks it’s an exciting game of make-believe, until dangerous elements from Leigh’s past force her to reveal her true identity and take Amanda with her on the run. The answers lie in Stockholm, but whether Leigh should be more frightened of the Russian mobsters who want her dead, or Amanda when she realizes she’s been lied to, is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain, if they can figure out a way to work together, the seasoned agent and the savvy civilian just might make the perfect team!
Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2017
130 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Miranda MacLeod
43 books466 followersOriginally from southern California, Miranda now lives in New England and writes heartfelt romances and romantic comedies featuring witty and charmingly flawed women that you'll want to marry. Or just grab a coffee with, if that's more your thing. Before becoming a writer, she spent way too many years in graduate school, worked in professional theater and film, and held temp jobs in just about every office building in downtown Boston. To find out about her upcoming releases, be sure to sign up for her mailing list or follow her on Goodreads!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 12, 2018
“Stockholm Syndrome” is a hilarious book about the misadventures of Leigh, a rather scatterbrained government spy, and Amanda, an adventure craving, sex craving civilian.
The story itself is pretty entertaining, with enough of a twist to keep it interesting, despite some seriously inept hiding from the bad guys on Leigh’s part. What really makes the book fun though is the terrific banter between the characters, and our being inside the heads of Leigh and Amanda.
Both characters are likable, but I liked Amanda best - she's smart, sexy and has a joie de vive throughout the adventure she's thrust into. Leigh spent too much time trying to dodge accepting her feelings for Amanda. Eventually, of course, we are treated to an HEA, but I do wish the story featured some steamy action to followup on all the banter and suggestive teasing.
I recommend “Stockholm Syndrome” with 4.25*, and if an audiobook were available the right narrator could easily tip this book into a 5* listen. Hopefully, the author follows through with the promise of one or more sequels!
The story itself is pretty entertaining, with enough of a twist to keep it interesting, despite some seriously inept hiding from the bad guys on Leigh’s part. What really makes the book fun though is the terrific banter between the characters, and our being inside the heads of Leigh and Amanda.
You’re not a hostage.”
“So, I can go home?”
“No.”
“Can I at least have my phone back?”
“No.” Leigh squirmed. This was starting to sound a little hostage-like.
Both characters are likable, but I liked Amanda best - she's smart, sexy and has a joie de vive throughout the adventure she's thrust into. Leigh spent too much time trying to dodge accepting her feelings for Amanda. Eventually, of course, we are treated to an HEA, but I do wish the story featured some steamy action to followup on all the banter and suggestive teasing.
I recommend “Stockholm Syndrome” with 4.25*, and if an audiobook were available the right narrator could easily tip this book into a 5* listen. Hopefully, the author follows through with the promise of one or more sequels!
OMG, y’all, there are Russians everywhere. Lesbian spies are our only hope.
October 30, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Amanda and Leigh make a great team. And looks like she's got book 2 and 3 scheduled on the horizon. The footnote at the end was brilliant. Now that we have new books coming out post election, it's interesting to read how much that moment in our history affected everyone.
March 6, 2018
Not really a crime mystery or comedic read.
Honestly I expected more from this book when I saw the ratings and read a preview. It started off really well but as soon as I realized that the two main characters were about to sleep together (which was fairly early on) and under which weird role playing circumstance that was, I knew there was a good chance I might struggle to get through this book. Turns out I was right.
Arn in their review did a great job summing up my thoughts as to why this book failed to get a higher rating from me. Namely that it started to feel like a "what to see and do" guide while in Sweden which is why it for me didn't feel like a mystery/crime/spy story at all. The other issue I had was that the (comedic) banter between the main characters felt too forced and therefore they lacked in chemistry.
Last but not least at this point in time anything however small regarding a combination of America, Russia and politics makes me consider getting a lobotomy! I'm sure at the time the author wrote this book it might have seemed like a good way to vent any possible frustrations she had regarding the US elections but I will be skipping the other books in this series because of it. 3*
Honestly I expected more from this book when I saw the ratings and read a preview. It started off really well but as soon as I realized that the two main characters were about to sleep together (which was fairly early on) and under which weird role playing circumstance that was, I knew there was a good chance I might struggle to get through this book. Turns out I was right.
Arn in their review did a great job summing up my thoughts as to why this book failed to get a higher rating from me. Namely that it started to feel like a "what to see and do" guide while in Sweden which is why it for me didn't feel like a mystery/crime/spy story at all. The other issue I had was that the (comedic) banter between the main characters felt too forced and therefore they lacked in chemistry.
Last but not least at this point in time anything however small regarding a combination of America, Russia and politics makes me consider getting a lobotomy! I'm sure at the time the author wrote this book it might have seemed like a good way to vent any possible frustrations she had regarding the US elections but I will be skipping the other books in this series because of it. 3*
December 12, 2017
3 stars. Technically well written but I dislike how it developed. It started off very promising - solid characterization, pleasant writing style and so on but the plot devolves into a barely high school level conspiracy. Ask a kid what the nefarious are up to and you get this book.
Furthermore it starts to drag on the latter part of the book and jumps locations without much connection and reason simply to showcase some locations in . Reads more like an ad for the country rather than a consistent story line.
The characters are alright I guess but how a fan of all things spying gets to save an actual spy is too convenient. Same with other aspects of the book, one of the characters knows a trustful hacker and he's right there when you need him or help, that too is there when they need it. In fact nothing's too serious about this book and it doesn't read like a spy flick at all, more like an adventure with some light spy elements.
The love part was also lacking. Sex scenes fade to black and there's barely any chemistry but they're both hot so it kinda works.
It is entertaining though and therefore worth a read but I expected something more serious.
Furthermore it starts to drag on the latter part of the book and jumps locations without much connection and reason simply to showcase some locations in . Reads more like an ad for the country rather than a consistent story line.
The characters are alright I guess but how a fan of all things spying gets to save an actual spy is too convenient. Same with other aspects of the book, one of the characters knows a trustful hacker and he's right there when you need him or help, that too is there when they need it. In fact nothing's too serious about this book and it doesn't read like a spy flick at all, more like an adventure with some light spy elements.
The love part was also lacking. Sex scenes fade to black and there's barely any chemistry but they're both hot so it kinda works.
It is entertaining though and therefore worth a read but I expected something more serious.
January 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. It is topical, and it has a lot of humor. The Swedish cultural bits were fun for me, as well as the places. I always like learning about other cultures and countries. This reminded me in tone of Natasha West's Chase Me, with a touch more steam in the romance :).
June 19, 2018
Fun read. Nice characters, add to that a little romance and a bit of excitement and intrigue from the spy part and you have a nice novel. The romance started a little fast and was not very deep, though you could see the connection between the two main characters build. Recommend for a nice relaxing day.
February 22, 2018
I really enjoyed the beginning of this. It has a good premise, fast pace, witty banter and the promise of some fantastic chemistry. Leigh, a secret agent, is trapped in the boot of an upside down car and tries to call her handler for help. What she gets is Amanda, a smart temp with a penchant for spy novels and movies. How did she know what answer to give for the secret password? Is she part of the Russian crime syndicate?
I was drawn in until 25% when the pace slowed. The two main characters' interaction and dynamic became distant and they seemed to be moving from place to place without getting to know each other any better. The mystery element also lost it's tension and became loose and fuzzy.
It was still a nice enough story but I found my attention waning far too often.
I was drawn in until 25% when the pace slowed. The two main characters' interaction and dynamic became distant and they seemed to be moving from place to place without getting to know each other any better. The mystery element also lost it's tension and became loose and fuzzy.
It was still a nice enough story but I found my attention waning far too often.
September 15, 2024
Rounding up.
I appreciated lesbian spies and the modernization of the old Russian spy trope. But there were a number of pieces that were left unanswered by the end.
The balance between the intruige and the romance was not as strong as I would have liked it to be. I would have appreciated spending more time with the characters getting to know one another without urgency or angst. If the book was action-packed, I probably wouldn't have minded as much.
I will still be searching for the perfect sapphic spy novel, but this one might be yours! It was not a very long read and did describe some beautiful Scandinavian sights.
I appreciated lesbian spies and the modernization of the old Russian spy trope. But there were a number of pieces that were left unanswered by the end.
The balance between the intruige and the romance was not as strong as I would have liked it to be. I would have appreciated spending more time with the characters getting to know one another without urgency or angst. If the book was action-packed, I probably wouldn't have minded as much.
I will still be searching for the perfect sapphic spy novel, but this one might be yours! It was not a very long read and did describe some beautiful Scandinavian sights.
November 2, 2017
Stockholm Syndrome (Agency of Secret Agents #1) is the first in a series of (at least) three books with Leigh Smith (Secret Agent Vesper) and Amanda Princeton (office temp extraordinaire).
When Leigh gets caught in a sticky situation and needs to be extracted by her team she mistakenly calls the Baltimore-Washington Public Radio pledge drive hotline where Amanda works as a temp. Amanda thinks this is all part of a Spy-ventures experience her aunt Millie has arranged for her and when she aces Agent Vesper's authentication question a classic case of mistaken identities takes off.
Amanda - an amateur sleuth - has always been longing for the adventurous spy life and really thinks this spy-venture is pretty neat (hey, anything better than a boring temp job, right?). But when a notorious Russian mobster gets released out of jail and bodies begin to drop, the whole thing changes from fantasy to deadly serious reality. Agent Vesper, suddenly a target, has to flee America and has no choice but to take Amanda with her to Sweden. There starts a race against time to stay one step ahead of the Russians seeking revenge, retrieve a stolen laptop with damaging evidence and keep themselves alive long enough to unmask a political coup in the making.
Miranda MacLeod manages to write an entertaining spy caper with a Swedish backdrop and plenty of elements to advance the plot. There are disguises, kidnappings, agents with dubious motives, mobsters, hackers, a past riddled with secrets, a tragic loss of a loved one and puzzles to solve. Add lots of sexually charged banter between our two main characters and a growing (forbidden) attraction and you have Stockholm Syndrome. Enjoy!
f/f explicit
Themes: strawberry lipbalm, If I had actually paid for that Spy-ventures experience pack I would like my money back please, those silly Swedes... I mean having jam with your meatballs... really... that's like eating herring with whipped cream, recent American right-wing politics are already seeping in todays stories, I like the cover art.
4 stars
* I recieved this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When Leigh gets caught in a sticky situation and needs to be extracted by her team she mistakenly calls the Baltimore-Washington Public Radio pledge drive hotline where Amanda works as a temp. Amanda thinks this is all part of a Spy-ventures experience her aunt Millie has arranged for her and when she aces Agent Vesper's authentication question a classic case of mistaken identities takes off.
Amanda - an amateur sleuth - has always been longing for the adventurous spy life and really thinks this spy-venture is pretty neat (hey, anything better than a boring temp job, right?). But when a notorious Russian mobster gets released out of jail and bodies begin to drop, the whole thing changes from fantasy to deadly serious reality. Agent Vesper, suddenly a target, has to flee America and has no choice but to take Amanda with her to Sweden. There starts a race against time to stay one step ahead of the Russians seeking revenge, retrieve a stolen laptop with damaging evidence and keep themselves alive long enough to unmask a political coup in the making.
Miranda MacLeod manages to write an entertaining spy caper with a Swedish backdrop and plenty of elements to advance the plot. There are disguises, kidnappings, agents with dubious motives, mobsters, hackers, a past riddled with secrets, a tragic loss of a loved one and puzzles to solve. Add lots of sexually charged banter between our two main characters and a growing (forbidden) attraction and you have Stockholm Syndrome. Enjoy!
f/f explicit
Themes: strawberry lipbalm, If I had actually paid for that Spy-ventures experience pack I would like my money back please, those silly Swedes... I mean having jam with your meatballs... really... that's like eating herring with whipped cream, recent American right-wing politics are already seeping in todays stories, I like the cover art.
4 stars
* I recieved this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2020
An amusing spy themed novel that doesn't take itself seriously.
I enjoyed the banter between Leigh and Amanda, and their sexual tension.
If you enjoyed shows like Burn Notice, Alias and Covert Affairs you'd probably enjoy this.
I enjoyed the banter between Leigh and Amanda, and their sexual tension.
If you enjoyed shows like Burn Notice, Alias and Covert Affairs you'd probably enjoy this.
October 30, 2021
This was an entertaining read so suspend reality and join two likeable characters trying to save themselves and the world. Well, their part of it. Enjoyed it.
January 17, 2024
Well... this was certainly an interesting read.
(When a spy dials a wrong number, could it be the connection of a lifetime?
Leigh is a secret agent in peril whose life depends on reaching her agency’s emergency hotline. But when she dials the local public radio pledge drive by mistake, a spy-obsessed office temp named Amanda becomes her only hope for rescue. Amanda thinks it’s an exciting game of make-believe, until dangerous elements from Leigh’s past force her to reveal her true identity and take Amanda with her on the run. The answers lie in Stockholm, but whether Leigh should be more frightened of the Russian mobsters who want her dead, or Amanda when she realizes she’s been lied to, is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain, if they can figure out a way to work together, the seasoned agent and the savvy civilian just might make the perfect team!) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
I loved the scene in chapter three where Amanda has to extract Leigh from an overturned car that's leaking gasoline and has a dead body in the back seat. So Amanda is under the impression that this is a mission set up by the Spy-ventures company. In reality, it's very, very real. Given how the Spy-ventures company is described, this scenario seems very on-brand for them and thus, very believable for Amanda to assume that it is, in fact, part of the Spy-ventures experience.
I adored the dynamic between Leigh and Amanda. They're so adorable and have so much chemistry. Part of that comes from the fact that they really compliment each other. Amanda is a civilian who's obsessed with spy stuff and Leigh is an actual spy and both love the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The scene in chapter five where was one of my personal favorites because they do not hold back in how much they enjoy each other's company, but in a way that remains professional. What's also cool is that, Amanda and Leigh still manage to feel distinct from one another. For example, Leigh is a loose cannon whose desire to accomplish her goals no matter what has lead to her getting into trouble one too many times to the point where her job is at stake and Amanda is the naive civilian who has struggled to find a purpose and a great job.
I was shocked by how the novel actually work. So I usually hate the trope for practically the same reasons I hate the Third Act Misunderstanding trope. It feels forced, it grinds the story to a halt, and it's very obvious that the consequences of the reveal will be reversed. However, this novel manages to pull it off. Not only does the dropping of the whole occur only a little over a quarter of the way into the novel (as opposed to there quarters or so like other pieces of media that use this trope), but the way deal with the situation feels like how adults who are actually in this situation would react and the novel gives just enough time for the reader to understand how they feel about it and nothing more.
I'm really split on the ending. On the one hand, I was really satisfied by the way Leigh and Amanda's character arcs ended, with Leigh Not only was this something I was not at all expecting, but given the circumstances of the characters at the end, it makes so much sense. But, on the other hand, at the tail end of the novel, it's revealed that In response, Yeah, so on top of not being well defined, the is never given any kind of resolution. The reader doesn't know if There's nothing. It's just tossed aside in a "Eh who cares? Don't question it" kind of way. What? I mean, we're talking about a Yet, the reader is suddenly supposed to stop caring about it? Why? Keep in mind. There's no actual sequel to this. Yes, it is part of a series. But from what I can tell, this is a series in which each entry, aside from Americans going abroad and having lesbian couples as the stars, has nothing to do with one another. I mean, all the author would've had to do was add a sentence or two or even a short scene revealing
That being said, it is a touch dated in spots. For example, in chapter one, there's a character named Giselle who is described as, "...no more than what she appeared to be, a smoking hot au pair who giggled a lot and was obsessed with Snapchat and dancing." In chapter twenty-five, one character named Nilsson says, "I won't argue. Your country's use of alternative facts is nothing short of masterful." Does anybody still use Snapchat anymore? Does anybody still say "Alternative facts"? Or, at least to the same extent that they did when this novel came out?
In chapter twenty-six, there's this, "...No one carried guns in Sweden..." This is laughably false. According to an article on the Seek Scandinavia website titled Sweden Gun Laws, Ownership, and Control Stats: Get The Facts (which I found in five seconds worth of Googling), "The number of guns that are owned by civilians is around 3 million, with approximately 8% of the Swedish nation being reported to live in a household with a gun. At the same time, the number of government-issued guns are at a combined 200,000 for the military and law enforcement." Yes, gun regulations in Sweden are much stricter compared to the U.S, but that doesn't mean Swedish gun ownership isn't a thing.
There's a couple things that really bugged me. Just as a heads up, I'm not gonna be bothering with spoiler tags for these.
First, Leigh is in possession of a chunky laptop that contains evidence that could shut down a powerful Russian mob boss' organization and the information on the laptop is now next to impossible to access according to her hacker friend, Max. It is also the only device in existence to hold this information. How does Leigh know what's on it? Was she able to access the information? Did someone else tell her what was on it? If so, why hadn't anyone thought to back up the information on something like a flash drive? You know, a device that can hold data that is much more portable and much easier to hide than a chunky laptop? I think one way to fill in this plot hole would be to do something like this: As Amanda and Leigh fail to find a way to hack into the mob boss' laptop, images of a flash drive and a mountain pop into Leigh's head. She slaps her forehead and says, "Oh my God! The backup!" Then Leigh and Amanda go on a quest to find the flash drive, which is easier said than done because Leigh doesn't clearly remember all the steps to get to the hiding spot, as it's been a long time since she's actually hid and never thought she would actually need it. Is it a great solution? No. But it would explain why it seemed like there was no alternative to hacking the laptop in a way that's believable. Now some might argue that Amanda eventually works with Max to figure out the password to the laptop and back up the files, but this should've been done in the first place.
Second, in chapter twenty-five, a supervisor for the catering company at the Swedish Heritage Foundation's gala that Leigh and Amanda infiltrate complains about how the eastern European workers don't speak Swedish and feels that they're dumb. A female attendee says, "Who knew that when Sweden opened its borders to so many refugees in 2012, it would lead to this." Here's the problem. We never really see any of the refugees or foreign workers or immigrants that have chosen to live in Sweden in general. Yes, it does constantly mention them, including here. But never do they become more than mere words. Like, Leigh and Amanda visit big Swedish cities, small towns, a diverse array of areas in Sweden and not once do they ever pass or interact with a single one of these people. The Russian mob, the villains of this novel, have more of an on-page presence. In other words, the novel wants the reader to sympathize with the refugees, foreign workers, and immigrants that have chosen to live in Sweden, but doesn't want to take the time to really humanize them. It wouldn't have even taken all that much to do so. For example, there could be a scene where Leigh and Amanda encounter this grocery/knickknack store that they believe may have an item or items that they think would come in handy for one of their little missions. They run in and come across a man named Aabdar, who is restocking the shelves while reading an old Adventures of Tin Tin comic that appears to be a handmade reproduction and translated into a language that is neither Swedish nor English. He turns and greets them in slightly imperfect Swedish. Leigh asks Aabdar if the store carries what they're looking for. Aabdar says yes and walks them over to its location. On the way, Aabdar points out some of the most popular items the store sells, including a meal that's a fusion of Swedish cuisine and cuisine of his and his family's native land and little figurines of Swedish icons like ABBA, Pippi Longstocking, and so on that are smiling and holding Swedish flags hand-carved by his wife Caliana. He also shares a tale of him and his family's struggles to get to Sweden and why they kept going in spite of the struggles. Across from the aisle that they've been lead to is a small scene of destruction that looks half cleaned, some of the destruction including spray-painted slurs. Leigh asks Aabdar about it and he sighs, saying, "Ah. Yes. It's a miracle it wasn't worse." Leigh apologizes for what happened, despite it not being her fault, and decides to step up and help clean the mess. Amanda does too. Aabdar is as giddy as a schoolboy. Moments later, after they're all done cleaning, he leaps over the checkout counter and produces two little figurines. To Leigh, he gives a figurine of Tin Tin. To Amanda, he gives the figurine of Tin Tin's dog Snowy. He says, "Thank you." As Leigh and Amanda leave the store, Leigh notices a sign on the door that says in less than perfect Swedish, "Thank you, Swedish Heritage Foundation." On this same sign is a child's drawing of a woman that kind of resembles Leigh's late mother, who worked for the foundation. Leigh smiles, shedding silent tears.
Overall, Stockholm Syndrome was a novel that certainly had some great things to offer, but it just really fell apart by the end.
Overall Grade: C+
(When a spy dials a wrong number, could it be the connection of a lifetime?
Leigh is a secret agent in peril whose life depends on reaching her agency’s emergency hotline. But when she dials the local public radio pledge drive by mistake, a spy-obsessed office temp named Amanda becomes her only hope for rescue. Amanda thinks it’s an exciting game of make-believe, until dangerous elements from Leigh’s past force her to reveal her true identity and take Amanda with her on the run. The answers lie in Stockholm, but whether Leigh should be more frightened of the Russian mobsters who want her dead, or Amanda when she realizes she’s been lied to, is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain, if they can figure out a way to work together, the seasoned agent and the savvy civilian just might make the perfect team!) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
I loved the scene in chapter three where Amanda has to extract Leigh from an overturned car that's leaking gasoline and has a dead body in the back seat. So Amanda is under the impression that this is a mission set up by the Spy-ventures company. In reality, it's very, very real. Given how the Spy-ventures company is described, this scenario seems very on-brand for them and thus, very believable for Amanda to assume that it is, in fact, part of the Spy-ventures experience.
I adored the dynamic between Leigh and Amanda. They're so adorable and have so much chemistry. Part of that comes from the fact that they really compliment each other. Amanda is a civilian who's obsessed with spy stuff and Leigh is an actual spy and both love the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The scene in chapter five where was one of my personal favorites because they do not hold back in how much they enjoy each other's company, but in a way that remains professional. What's also cool is that, Amanda and Leigh still manage to feel distinct from one another. For example, Leigh is a loose cannon whose desire to accomplish her goals no matter what has lead to her getting into trouble one too many times to the point where her job is at stake and Amanda is the naive civilian who has struggled to find a purpose and a great job.
I was shocked by how the novel actually work. So I usually hate the trope for practically the same reasons I hate the Third Act Misunderstanding trope. It feels forced, it grinds the story to a halt, and it's very obvious that the consequences of the reveal will be reversed. However, this novel manages to pull it off. Not only does the dropping of the whole occur only a little over a quarter of the way into the novel (as opposed to there quarters or so like other pieces of media that use this trope), but the way deal with the situation feels like how adults who are actually in this situation would react and the novel gives just enough time for the reader to understand how they feel about it and nothing more.
I'm really split on the ending. On the one hand, I was really satisfied by the way Leigh and Amanda's character arcs ended, with Leigh Not only was this something I was not at all expecting, but given the circumstances of the characters at the end, it makes so much sense. But, on the other hand, at the tail end of the novel, it's revealed that In response, Yeah, so on top of not being well defined, the is never given any kind of resolution. The reader doesn't know if There's nothing. It's just tossed aside in a "Eh who cares? Don't question it" kind of way. What? I mean, we're talking about a Yet, the reader is suddenly supposed to stop caring about it? Why? Keep in mind. There's no actual sequel to this. Yes, it is part of a series. But from what I can tell, this is a series in which each entry, aside from Americans going abroad and having lesbian couples as the stars, has nothing to do with one another. I mean, all the author would've had to do was add a sentence or two or even a short scene revealing
That being said, it is a touch dated in spots. For example, in chapter one, there's a character named Giselle who is described as, "...no more than what she appeared to be, a smoking hot au pair who giggled a lot and was obsessed with Snapchat and dancing." In chapter twenty-five, one character named Nilsson says, "I won't argue. Your country's use of alternative facts is nothing short of masterful." Does anybody still use Snapchat anymore? Does anybody still say "Alternative facts"? Or, at least to the same extent that they did when this novel came out?
In chapter twenty-six, there's this, "...No one carried guns in Sweden..." This is laughably false. According to an article on the Seek Scandinavia website titled Sweden Gun Laws, Ownership, and Control Stats: Get The Facts (which I found in five seconds worth of Googling), "The number of guns that are owned by civilians is around 3 million, with approximately 8% of the Swedish nation being reported to live in a household with a gun. At the same time, the number of government-issued guns are at a combined 200,000 for the military and law enforcement." Yes, gun regulations in Sweden are much stricter compared to the U.S, but that doesn't mean Swedish gun ownership isn't a thing.
There's a couple things that really bugged me. Just as a heads up, I'm not gonna be bothering with spoiler tags for these.
First, Leigh is in possession of a chunky laptop that contains evidence that could shut down a powerful Russian mob boss' organization and the information on the laptop is now next to impossible to access according to her hacker friend, Max. It is also the only device in existence to hold this information. How does Leigh know what's on it? Was she able to access the information? Did someone else tell her what was on it? If so, why hadn't anyone thought to back up the information on something like a flash drive? You know, a device that can hold data that is much more portable and much easier to hide than a chunky laptop? I think one way to fill in this plot hole would be to do something like this: As Amanda and Leigh fail to find a way to hack into the mob boss' laptop, images of a flash drive and a mountain pop into Leigh's head. She slaps her forehead and says, "Oh my God! The backup!" Then Leigh and Amanda go on a quest to find the flash drive, which is easier said than done because Leigh doesn't clearly remember all the steps to get to the hiding spot, as it's been a long time since she's actually hid and never thought she would actually need it. Is it a great solution? No. But it would explain why it seemed like there was no alternative to hacking the laptop in a way that's believable. Now some might argue that Amanda eventually works with Max to figure out the password to the laptop and back up the files, but this should've been done in the first place.
Second, in chapter twenty-five, a supervisor for the catering company at the Swedish Heritage Foundation's gala that Leigh and Amanda infiltrate complains about how the eastern European workers don't speak Swedish and feels that they're dumb. A female attendee says, "Who knew that when Sweden opened its borders to so many refugees in 2012, it would lead to this." Here's the problem. We never really see any of the refugees or foreign workers or immigrants that have chosen to live in Sweden in general. Yes, it does constantly mention them, including here. But never do they become more than mere words. Like, Leigh and Amanda visit big Swedish cities, small towns, a diverse array of areas in Sweden and not once do they ever pass or interact with a single one of these people. The Russian mob, the villains of this novel, have more of an on-page presence. In other words, the novel wants the reader to sympathize with the refugees, foreign workers, and immigrants that have chosen to live in Sweden, but doesn't want to take the time to really humanize them. It wouldn't have even taken all that much to do so. For example, there could be a scene where Leigh and Amanda encounter this grocery/knickknack store that they believe may have an item or items that they think would come in handy for one of their little missions. They run in and come across a man named Aabdar, who is restocking the shelves while reading an old Adventures of Tin Tin comic that appears to be a handmade reproduction and translated into a language that is neither Swedish nor English. He turns and greets them in slightly imperfect Swedish. Leigh asks Aabdar if the store carries what they're looking for. Aabdar says yes and walks them over to its location. On the way, Aabdar points out some of the most popular items the store sells, including a meal that's a fusion of Swedish cuisine and cuisine of his and his family's native land and little figurines of Swedish icons like ABBA, Pippi Longstocking, and so on that are smiling and holding Swedish flags hand-carved by his wife Caliana. He also shares a tale of him and his family's struggles to get to Sweden and why they kept going in spite of the struggles. Across from the aisle that they've been lead to is a small scene of destruction that looks half cleaned, some of the destruction including spray-painted slurs. Leigh asks Aabdar about it and he sighs, saying, "Ah. Yes. It's a miracle it wasn't worse." Leigh apologizes for what happened, despite it not being her fault, and decides to step up and help clean the mess. Amanda does too. Aabdar is as giddy as a schoolboy. Moments later, after they're all done cleaning, he leaps over the checkout counter and produces two little figurines. To Leigh, he gives a figurine of Tin Tin. To Amanda, he gives the figurine of Tin Tin's dog Snowy. He says, "Thank you." As Leigh and Amanda leave the store, Leigh notices a sign on the door that says in less than perfect Swedish, "Thank you, Swedish Heritage Foundation." On this same sign is a child's drawing of a woman that kind of resembles Leigh's late mother, who worked for the foundation. Leigh smiles, shedding silent tears.
Overall, Stockholm Syndrome was a novel that certainly had some great things to offer, but it just really fell apart by the end.
Overall Grade: C+
November 7, 2017
It took me a bit to get into the book because of the beginning but once I got into the story, I couldn't put the book down.
The beginning of the story is a little bit surreal and kind of unbelievable. Then as it goes on it is a display of suspense, risks, thrill, humour and love?
Leigh is a government spy who finds herself stuck in the trunk of a car.
Amanda is an office temp at a radio station and obsessed with espionage. She spends her nights answering phone calls.
And then Leigh calls for help to Amanda´s job by mistake and the wheel starts to roll. And what a way to roll.
A surreal situation and a chain of circumstances lead Amanda into a spy story. It's just a game for Amanda at first but then reality bursts into her face. And she won't get a “no” for an answer so she gets inmerse in the whole plot.
This book has everything: strong characters, funny moments and suspense, and love.
I am greatly surprised and glad I went on reading because it's an excellent book.
I totally recommend this book.
I received an ARC from the author for a honest review.
The beginning of the story is a little bit surreal and kind of unbelievable. Then as it goes on it is a display of suspense, risks, thrill, humour and love?
Leigh is a government spy who finds herself stuck in the trunk of a car.
Amanda is an office temp at a radio station and obsessed with espionage. She spends her nights answering phone calls.
And then Leigh calls for help to Amanda´s job by mistake and the wheel starts to roll. And what a way to roll.
A surreal situation and a chain of circumstances lead Amanda into a spy story. It's just a game for Amanda at first but then reality bursts into her face. And she won't get a “no” for an answer so she gets inmerse in the whole plot.
This book has everything: strong characters, funny moments and suspense, and love.
I am greatly surprised and glad I went on reading because it's an excellent book.
I totally recommend this book.
I received an ARC from the author for a honest review.
October 31, 2017
I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't that.
It is a nice spy comedy with a strong dose of romance. A good book for when you need a light read. It was entertaining but I probably won't read it again.
ARC Review.
It is a nice spy comedy with a strong dose of romance. A good book for when you need a light read. It was entertaining but I probably won't read it again.
ARC Review.
October 11, 2019
Didn't work on a number of levels though the romance was good, if short-changed in the book. Never quite recovered from a silly premis - and it just got sillier. Finished it, but that was about it - sad, as I loved the 1st one in the series.
April 29, 2024
christ this book is so long for what it is
December 8, 2019
This book surprised me, because it tied a couple of different types of book I love into a single book. Lovers, a spy, and a temp who goes from answering the phones at a public radio station to… Well, if I told you, I'd have to kill you. (Not really, but it would be spoilery, so I'll refrain from revealing the ending!)
April 19, 2018
Lesbian spies save the world..at last.
At last the real truth, no fake news here. Russia is at the heart of this story, the cold war never ended and Russia wants to rule the world well at least Sweden. A great spy mystery with some hidden truths embedded within the storyline.
At last the real truth, no fake news here. Russia is at the heart of this story, the cold war never ended and Russia wants to rule the world well at least Sweden. A great spy mystery with some hidden truths embedded within the storyline.
May 19, 2022
Cute and fun
I like this book, it's cute, funny, and doesn't take itself too seriously. It was a fun read all the way through.
I found Amanda frustrating. But her annoying impulsive quirkiness stayed true to her character all the way through and seemed like an intentional part of her. As irritated as I was with her, I was still rooting for her. I was way more sympathetic towards Leigh, who was always looking out for Amanda every step of the way, even in the early parts before she knew her well.
I even felt her lies were justified given that they were more out of protecting everyone than mistrust. Amanda on the other hand...I felt Leigh should have put her in her place at least one good time.
Still, it read like an action comedy flick. Actually it has a similar feel to the movie Central Intelligence...but like, really gay.
This book would make a great movie, with a bit of that film noir detective style narration when it's being shown from Amanda's perspective as a sort of comedic way to show what she's thinking. But then I think Leigh's side should be more Bond like, ridiculous but serious at the same time.
Its kind of how I read the book actually.
I like this book, it's cute, funny, and doesn't take itself too seriously. It was a fun read all the way through.
I found Amanda frustrating. But her annoying impulsive quirkiness stayed true to her character all the way through and seemed like an intentional part of her. As irritated as I was with her, I was still rooting for her. I was way more sympathetic towards Leigh, who was always looking out for Amanda every step of the way, even in the early parts before she knew her well.
I even felt her lies were justified given that they were more out of protecting everyone than mistrust. Amanda on the other hand...I felt Leigh should have put her in her place at least one good time.
Still, it read like an action comedy flick. Actually it has a similar feel to the movie Central Intelligence...but like, really gay.
This book would make a great movie, with a bit of that film noir detective style narration when it's being shown from Amanda's perspective as a sort of comedic way to show what she's thinking. But then I think Leigh's side should be more Bond like, ridiculous but serious at the same time.
Its kind of how I read the book actually.
September 15, 2022
This was such a let down! I mean, come on, lesbian spies?? I was so excited for this one, but the writing was so horrendous, it was all I could do to get through it. The plot didn't make sense and there were so many very obvious plot holes that it was infuriating that one of the agency's so-called "top spies" couldn't see them. The characters were extremely poorly written and the author's voice was so incredily juvenile. A lot of the plot points felt as if the author had been initially writing them in one direction, then changed course halfway through and never went back to make it cohesive. Also, the audio narrator was horrible. She made Amanda sound so whiny and all of the characters sound juvenile. The two MCs had the same voice so it was confusing trying to keep up with who's POV we were on, not to mention that there were no distinct accents to differentiate the characters. I mean, the story takes place in Stockholm! Two of the characters were Swedish living in Sweden, and others were Russian, and I can't remember there being any particularly distinguishable accents. It was so frustrating. Definitely regret picking this one up.
June 11, 2022
A government spy. A spy-obsessed office temp. Plenty of misadventures and flirty banter.
This book does take a few chapters to get into the story but once you do, it was such a fun rollercoaster of events. Leigh, the government spy, gets stuck in the trunk of a car and calls Amanda, a spy-obsessed office temp, by mistake. While Amanda believes her aunt signed her up for a Spy-Ventures experience, Leigh believes Amanda is authenticating her position. The events that occurred after felt so unbelievably real, that I could not put the book down. Add this fun, sexy gay spy book to your summer reading list!
This book does take a few chapters to get into the story but once you do, it was such a fun rollercoaster of events. Leigh, the government spy, gets stuck in the trunk of a car and calls Amanda, a spy-obsessed office temp, by mistake. While Amanda believes her aunt signed her up for a Spy-Ventures experience, Leigh believes Amanda is authenticating her position. The events that occurred after felt so unbelievably real, that I could not put the book down. Add this fun, sexy gay spy book to your summer reading list!
May 2, 2021
I Spy For Love
Amanda had worked ever temp job in the city. While working at Public Radio she gets a call from a spy asking for a rescue from the trunk of a car. What she thought was part of a “spy training course” turns into a night of passion with Leigh, an agent for some government bureau. Now they’re running for their lives in Sweden. A fun story with quirky characters and lots of twists and turns. Great author.
Amanda had worked ever temp job in the city. While working at Public Radio she gets a call from a spy asking for a rescue from the trunk of a car. What she thought was part of a “spy training course” turns into a night of passion with Leigh, an agent for some government bureau. Now they’re running for their lives in Sweden. A fun story with quirky characters and lots of twists and turns. Great author.
October 17, 2022
NoComment of Nunawading (AU)
Enjoyed Stockholm Syndrome, but honestly not as much as I usually do when it comes to Miranda MacLeod’s works… a little too far fetched for my liking, although the liberal scattering of brilliant, hilarious one-liners was definitely up to her usual standard! Worth a read for these alone, but don’t be disappointed that the story and characters lack depth… so if that doesn’t bother you, dive right in!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ best I can do this time around.
Enjoyed Stockholm Syndrome, but honestly not as much as I usually do when it comes to Miranda MacLeod’s works… a little too far fetched for my liking, although the liberal scattering of brilliant, hilarious one-liners was definitely up to her usual standard! Worth a read for these alone, but don’t be disappointed that the story and characters lack depth… so if that doesn’t bother you, dive right in!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ best I can do this time around.
June 8, 2023
fun
Ok, really different from the usual romance books I normally read but it was brilliant, I didn’t want to put it down. If you fancy some secret spy drama with a underestimated and overlooked partner then this is the book for you. This book certainly keeps you on your toes throughout…from the first chapter to the last. I really loved both main characters and would love to read more.
Ok, really different from the usual romance books I normally read but it was brilliant, I didn’t want to put it down. If you fancy some secret spy drama with a underestimated and overlooked partner then this is the book for you. This book certainly keeps you on your toes throughout…from the first chapter to the last. I really loved both main characters and would love to read more.
June 23, 2023
This started off pretty funny. It lost a bit of steam as it went on though, with the duo just floating around not doing much of anything. It annoyed me quite a bit that Leigh, the actual spy accomplished diddly squat over the course of the story. And it became clear that Amanda was the super Mary-Sue character who solves and does everything because she's just great like that 🙄.
With a bit of balance and more action this could have made a really fun rom-com.
With a bit of balance and more action this could have made a really fun rom-com.
May 30, 2025
“all the time wondering if Spy-ventures had been founded by a couple of twelve-year-old boys”
Sadly that’s exactly the sentiment I had about this book, as it seemed to be more about male fantasy than any kind of real emotion or storytelling in the romance of this novel. DNF’d at 47% of the way through.
Very light touch and so may be enjoyable to someone who just wants to get through a book quickly without having to think too hard, but this one is just not for me.
Sadly that’s exactly the sentiment I had about this book, as it seemed to be more about male fantasy than any kind of real emotion or storytelling in the romance of this novel. DNF’d at 47% of the way through.
Very light touch and so may be enjoyable to someone who just wants to get through a book quickly without having to think too hard, but this one is just not for me.
November 18, 2017
Fantastic story, great characters
There's nothing quite like a good old fashioned spy story. Add in a touch of romance, a brilliant novice who may or may not save the day, if she doesn't throttle the frustrating woman who can't seem to decide if she is in love with her or just protecting her, that is. I'm really glad Miranda MacLeod decided to make this a series of its own!
There's nothing quite like a good old fashioned spy story. Add in a touch of romance, a brilliant novice who may or may not save the day, if she doesn't throttle the frustrating woman who can't seem to decide if she is in love with her or just protecting her, that is. I'm really glad Miranda MacLeod decided to make this a series of its own!
December 24, 2020
Spies on the loose.
Amanda became her fantasy of being a spy and did it well. Leigh, the actual spy became careless and forgot her rescue telephone number and the adventure starts for Amanda. If you like spy stories, this book is for you. If you don't like spy stories, then this book is not for you. Not a love story.
Amanda became her fantasy of being a spy and did it well. Leigh, the actual spy became careless and forgot her rescue telephone number and the adventure starts for Amanda. If you like spy stories, this book is for you. If you don't like spy stories, then this book is not for you. Not a love story.
September 7, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable spy story/romance. Leigh and Amanda may have their differences and come from different worlds, but they do work so well together, and there really is something special between them. The story is well written and decently paced, amusing at parts and well crafted, the mystery unveiling itself as it progresses, and it wraps up well.
June 5, 2018
"Lesbian spies are our only hope"
My new favorite book from MacLeod! It's just so much fun without being frivolous. A perfect blend of romance, humor, sexy times, pathos, and of course, intrigue. Very well edited too. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
My new favorite book from MacLeod! It's just so much fun without being frivolous. A perfect blend of romance, humor, sexy times, pathos, and of course, intrigue. Very well edited too. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
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