The Spy Who Loved Me...Sort Of

by S. Doyle

See the world. Go to Italy. Have an affair with a sexy stranger. Get out of the rut my life has become.

Done. Done. And done.

Except I slept with the wrong sexy stranger who turns out wasn’t the easy going sports writer I thought he was. Instead he’s a spy. A spy who is after me!

Then the father I’ve never met turns up and he’s a nuclear scientist. What the fork? Throw a kidnapping Russian into the mix and my once dull life is now chaos.

And to make it that much worse…I fell in love during the whole mess!

Which makes my new boyfriend the bad guy. Or the good guy. I’m not really sure.

One thing I know for certain… I can’t totally trust him.

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2019

Reviews

[Anne E ♡ emo + OTT Hs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks like the same book as My Super Sexy Spy but shorter by 5 pages.

MEH or the BAD:
Romantic-comedy with some funny moments but nothing laugh-out-loud or angsty. Even-keeled emotionally. Just meh overall--the romance/pacing/S chem/Sex scenes. Likable characters but nothing really outstanding about H&h. 22yo agoraphobic travel-blogger h was creative in her intent to survive & rise out of her homelessness from when she runaway from her meth-addict mother @ age 17 & living on the streets for more than 1 year until she started blogging about traveling (based on reading about locations & her writing savvy) to escape her real-life & started getting paid for it. Her deception was understandable, given her homelessness/dire financial circumstance/agoraphobia. Her POV was both funny & sad, given how she kept deceiving her readers, advertisers, & her “nice” BF of 2 years (who she picked so she can experience what a normal boyfriend & normal family is like). Early-30s H was kinda beta (some is due to his disguise as a geeky casual American tourist as well as pretending to be h's lesbian internet-friend & some his humorous cockiness) but his alpha-hotness would arise here & there especially sexually. The action-suspense was more comedic than action-packed exciting.

The GOOD:
H's love for h was what made this romance more solid—he couldn't compromise her safety for his CIA duties & he quit his long-held CIA job for her. He didn't let her anger due to his lies (i.e., he pretended to be a tourist but was actually a CIA spy sent to abduct her to get to her estranged nuclear-scientist father, he pretended to be her female internet-friend) dissuade him from leaving her, even when she clearly rejected him. Instead, he stalked her both openly (i.e., showing up wherever she went) and secretly (i.e., breaking into her condo & leaving gifts for her). So, he does some groveling.

Sexual History:
h had 2 lovers before H: a high-school BF & her recent BF of 2 years. She picked her recent BF coz he was a nice normal guy who had weekly dinners with her family that she wanted to be part of. However, she made him think she was a nice normal girl so she would turn her nose ring around so he wouldn't see it & sex with him was always in the dark so he wouldn't see her tattoo & occurred on their Saturday date nights). H had casual lovers only due to him being a loner & his CIA work.

[Anne E ♡ emo + OTT Hs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks like the same book as The Spy Who Loved Me...Sort Of but 5 pages longer.

MEH or the BAD:
Romantic-comedy with some funny moments but nothing laugh-out-loud or angsty. Even-keeled emotionally. Just meh overall--the romance/pacing/S chem/Sex scenes. Likable characters but nothing really outstanding about H&h. 22yo agoraphobic travel-blogger h was creative in her intent to survive & rise out of her homelessness from when she runaway from her meth-addict mother @ age 17 & living on the streets for more than 1 year until she started blogging about traveling (based on reading about locations & her writing savvy) to escape her real-life & started getting paid for it. Her deception was understandable, given her homelessness/dire financial circumstance/agoraphobia. Her POV was both funny & sad, given how she kept deceiving her readers, advertisers, & her “nice” BF of 2 years (who she picked so she can experience what a normal boyfriend & normal family is like). Early-30s H was kinda beta (some is due to his disguise as a geeky casual American tourist as well as pretending to be h's lesbian internet-friend & some his humorous cockiness) but his alpha-hotness would arise here & there especially sexually. The action-suspense was more comedic than action-packed exciting.

The GOOD:
H's love for h was what made this romance more solid—he couldn't compromise her safety for his CIA duties & he quit his long-held CIA job for her. He didn't let her anger due to his lies (i.e., he pretended to be a tourist but was actually a CIA spy sent to abduct her to get to her estranged nuclear-scientist father, he pretended to be her female internet-friend) dissuade him from leaving her, even when she clearly rejected him. Instead, he stalked her both openly (i.e., showing up wherever she went) and secretly (i.e., breaking into her condo & leaving gifts for her). So, he does some groveling.

Sexual History:
h had 2 lovers before H: a high-school BF & her recent BF of 2 years. She picked her recent BF coz he was a nice normal guy who had weekly dinners with her family that she wanted to be part of. However, she made him think she was a nice normal girl so she would turn her nose ring around so he wouldn't see it & sex with him was always in the dark so he wouldn't see her tattoo & occurred on their Saturday date nights). H had casual lovers only due to him being a loner & his CIA work.

[Auj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why this book on Goodreads doesn't have the cover with it. Anyway, I really enjoyed it. I discovered it through Stephanie's preview of this book in her other book I was reading, "Mostly My Girlfriend". I enjoyed this book more than that one.

The beginning is great and really sucked me in. That's why I added this book on Kindle Unlimited. I liked how the author kept me guessing in the beginning who the hero would be. I thought it would be Mr. Dangerous.

I would have liked to have known what the dad wanted Liza to do with his life's work. Also, I thought it was weird how Ted and Liza went to none of the main attractions in Venice.

I would love to read another story like this one and of course more from Stephanie Doyle!

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was nice, short fun read.

[NICUnurse Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

S. Doyle is a new-to-me author, but I’m always on the hunt for my next favorite author, so that is never a deterrent for me. I’m a huge romantic suspense junkie, but I also love a good laugh. (And we could all use a good chuckle right about now, am I right?!) The cover and the blurb were the two things that drew me in, and I’m so glad I took a chance on this book and author!

As a borderline agoraphobic, Liza spends her days blogging about cities she’s never traveled to as a travel blogger. Say what?! Exactly. Finally convinced to travel, she sets off on what she believes is a work trip. But what happens when the life you think you have lived is all a lie? A crazy adventure, of course!

This book was a little corny, a bit quirky, a lot funny, and a tad steamy, all rolled into one fabulous read. Oh, and add in a few emotional scenes, and you get a real winner. I loved the snark and sass of our heroine, Liza. Her chemistry with Liam was surprising but ultimately is what made the plot work so well. All in all, this entire book reminded me of the Austin Powers movies, which I loved back in the day. If you need a good laugh that’s not too cheesy and you like a bit of romantic suspense thrown in with your romantic comedy, you’re going to love this book!

NICUnurse’s Rating: I give The Spy Who Loved Me (Sort Of) by S. Doyle 5 out of 5 stars!

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is so adorable and cute I couldn’t get enough of it. Beth and Liam are hilarious together and I loved how literally everything goes wrong for her I’m the funniest way and she still just keeps it moving but being kidnapped just took the cake lol

[Jenreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the few KU books I’ve read that I wished were longer. It was sweet, sexy and funny. Just what I needed this week.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ms. Doyle's style of writing, its fun, quirky and fast paced and always wildly entertaining. Beth is a travel blogger who has never left the country and actually rarely leaves her apartment. Her one friend is in an online chat room and that anonymity is what fuels their relationship. When Beth discovers that the father she never knew is actually a world renowned scientist with life changing information, it appears that several people think that she is their route to securing that information. When one dorky guy strikes up a friendship with Beth she has no idea of his real identity or that he has a seriously hot body under those baggy clothes. What happens when you find out your dorky friend is actually a super sexy spy?

[Jeanne Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy S Doyle's books. Like the others I've read, My Super Sexy Spy has well defined characters with great attraction to one another, and a touching story. This book also includes lots of suspense which makes it all the more fun to read. The book kept me turning pages because I wasn't sure I knew who was the good guy and who was bad. The story developed at the perfect pace to keep me highly interested and always guessing. I liked Beth and Liam/Leigh/Ted immensely.

I recommend this story especially if you like intrigue in your love story.

[Love-Leigh Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

•”I’ve broken all of my rules for you. Only for you. You have to know that.”•

This book brought me out of my DNF slump! I loved everything about it!!! The Bride series is one of my all time favorite series and I can’t believe it took me this long to read another from her.

The characters are so fun and whimsical, the humor is on point and the story itself kept the ride going until the very end. Oh and the spice? Excellent!! Along with a surprise piercing!
HIGHLY recommend!!!

[Bella' · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ay sí me divirtió un poco jaja

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed "The Spy Who Loved Me (Sort Of)", a fast-paced and funny story that featured an engaging plot and likeable characters. Main character Liza Ryan overcame a rough childhood to build a successful travel blog, but ironically had never traveled anywhere and was, in fact, nearly agoraphobic. After a tough breakup and receiving an offer to write a book that would include photos of her in various locales, Liza decided that it was time for her to leave the comforts of home and explore the world. She began her trip in Venice, where she met a fellow American who seemed harmless enough and quickly became her sightseeing companion. When Liza was nearly kidnapped, however, she discovered that there was a lot more to Liam than met the eye. He was actually a spy trying to track down the father Liza had never met, a gifted nuclear physicist who had developed a revolutionary technology the whole world wanted.

Despite their very different backgrounds and career paths, Liza and Liam were a lot alike. They were both loners and had difficulty trusting people, though for different reasons. There was an undeniable connection between them from the start, and as they spent more time together, the chemistry between them really heated up. The slow build of their relationship development was excellent, and when they finally acted on it, there was plenty of steam.

Overall, "The Spy Who Loved Me (Sort Of)" was super cute, and I would recommend it for all fans of romantic comedy and light romantic suspense. I look forward to checking out more of this author's work in the future.

*Review copy provided by the author via Candi Kane PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book as an ARC in return for my honest review**

This was such a fun read! Liza decides to travel to Italy after trying to be ‘normal’ for several years after her turbulent youth that prevented her from living like herself. Once there, it becomes clear very quickly that normal can’t describe what’s happening anymore. Being followed by spies, kidnapped, all because of her father. Who she doesn’t even know! Liam is one of the spies, and he struggles with having a job to do but falling in love with the target. Those things don’t match up. I loved that the book wasn’t just Liam rescuing Liza from the situations she landed in, but Liza did her fair share of rescuing Liam too. Maybe not literally, but she’s rescuing him from a life without any human connections!

Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

🗺THE SPY WHO LOVED ME...SORT OF BY S. DOYLE 🗺

🗺🗺🗺🗺 4.5 stars

🗺 Travel Blogger
🗺 Spy
🗺 Slow Burn
🗺 Funny

The Spy Who Loved Me...Sort of by S. Dole is a standalone filled with laughs and twist you won't see coming.

Liza is a travel blogger who never actually travelled to any of the place before. When an opportunity arises to go to Europe she takes it and let's just say the trip doesn't go quite as planned. Liam is a spy who target is Liza. Liza is about to find out what happens when she steps out of her comfort zone and learns she may have never had the life she thought. I had so much fun reading this book Liza was funny and Liam was unpredictable! Do you like books that make you think what?? I did not see that coming. Than this is for you!

[The Dragon Den Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review by The Dragon Den
* * * * *
A funny, adventurous, cute book on stepping back out in the world and taking risk on life and living...only to be pulled into the world of espionage, secrets and guns. I for one, would totally think that would happen to me. The humour was great, the chemistry was sexy and the drama was awesome. Really pushing me to go travel now.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was cute... reminded me a lot of Catching the Billionaire... and DiNic's has the best roast pork, not Tony Lukes!

[CK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this cute romantic comedy! It was fast paced, and quirky romance that had all the feels - the love, the passion, the mystery and intrigue - and of course the HEA! Great job!!