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You Only Love Twice
Comic-book heroine Angelina Avenger battles dastardly criminals and alien invasions. But her creator Marlie Montague's life isn't as exciting...until Marlie opens the front door and finds the business end of a pistol pointed right at her. Her to channel Angelina fast! Recruiting her new next-door neighbor, who looks like a rock-hard action hero, couldn't hurt either...
The last thing Navy secret agent Joel Hunter expected on this surveillance gig was a luscious brunette bursting through his window. Now he and Marlie are blowing the doors off a full-blown conspiracy with more double agents than a Bond flick. But in between shootouts and squealing tires, the mystery that is Marlie is making Joel's heart go thump thump thump . Is she a femme fatale or an endearing bookworm? And how does she leave him both shaken and stirred?
The last thing Navy secret agent Joel Hunter expected on this surveillance gig was a luscious brunette bursting through his window. Now he and Marlie are blowing the doors off a full-blown conspiracy with more double agents than a Bond flick. But in between shootouts and squealing tires, the mystery that is Marlie is making Joel's heart go thump thump thump . Is she a femme fatale or an endearing bookworm? And how does she leave him both shaken and stirred?
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Lori Wilde
394 books2,265 followersLori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 21, 2015
Fun book. Marlie writes comic books for a living. She's pretty much a loner, living in her own world, until a knock on the door has her facing an assassin. She manages to escape, then goes for help to her next door neighbor. He just happens to be an ex-SEAL who is an NCIS agent assigned to watch her. Suddenly there's more at stake than just watching over her, and it's up to them to find out who wants to kill her and why.
Marlie is an interesting character. She keeps to herself and doesn't have a lot of friends. When she was a kid her Navy father was accused of treason and shot by his best friend. Since then she has trust issues. Her comic book heroine Angelina is her alter ego, someone with whom Marlie has frequent conversations. She also calls on Angelina when the situation calls for more than she thinks she is capable of herself. The conversations between the two of them are pretty funny.
Joel left the SEALs involuntarily due to some trouble during a mission he was on with his then wife. The things that happened have had him shutting himself off from his emotions. Now he is an NCIS agent assigned to watch Marlie. What little he knows of her has him thinking that this will be a slow assignment, as she seems to lead a boring life. That all changes when she breaks into his house looking for help. Suddenly the things he hasn't been told about his assignment take on new importance.
The relationship that grows between Joel and Marlie is one that tests both their issues. Thanks to the attacks on her, Marlie has to trust Joel to keep her safe. She's also attracted to him, but opening herself up that much is very hard for her to do. Joel is also attracted to Marlie, and finds that it's rapidly becoming more than just physical. He's fascinated with the multiple aspects of her personality, and he's fighting hard to keep his heart out of it. He also has some guilty feeling going on, because he's keeping two big secrets from her - why he was there in the first place, and the personal connection that they have. He just knows that's going to cause problems when it comes out. I loved seeing how they ended up balancing each other out, once they were able to overcome their fears.
The mystery part of the story is quite involved. The comics that Marlie writes deal with conspiracy theories, her way of dealing with the events of her childhood. When one of her comics hits a little too close to home, the man at the back of it is determined to shut her up. As she and Joel try to figure out which theory started the whole thing there are a whole bunch of people and connections that get involved. There are some pretty funny moments, including a flashmob involving bowling balls and Joel and a pair of handcuffs. The final showdown is pretty good with Marlie saving the day. There's also an interesting twist involving one of the players.
Marlie is an interesting character. She keeps to herself and doesn't have a lot of friends. When she was a kid her Navy father was accused of treason and shot by his best friend. Since then she has trust issues. Her comic book heroine Angelina is her alter ego, someone with whom Marlie has frequent conversations. She also calls on Angelina when the situation calls for more than she thinks she is capable of herself. The conversations between the two of them are pretty funny.
Joel left the SEALs involuntarily due to some trouble during a mission he was on with his then wife. The things that happened have had him shutting himself off from his emotions. Now he is an NCIS agent assigned to watch Marlie. What little he knows of her has him thinking that this will be a slow assignment, as she seems to lead a boring life. That all changes when she breaks into his house looking for help. Suddenly the things he hasn't been told about his assignment take on new importance.
The relationship that grows between Joel and Marlie is one that tests both their issues. Thanks to the attacks on her, Marlie has to trust Joel to keep her safe. She's also attracted to him, but opening herself up that much is very hard for her to do. Joel is also attracted to Marlie, and finds that it's rapidly becoming more than just physical. He's fascinated with the multiple aspects of her personality, and he's fighting hard to keep his heart out of it. He also has some guilty feeling going on, because he's keeping two big secrets from her - why he was there in the first place, and the personal connection that they have. He just knows that's going to cause problems when it comes out. I loved seeing how they ended up balancing each other out, once they were able to overcome their fears.
The mystery part of the story is quite involved. The comics that Marlie writes deal with conspiracy theories, her way of dealing with the events of her childhood. When one of her comics hits a little too close to home, the man at the back of it is determined to shut her up. As she and Joel try to figure out which theory started the whole thing there are a whole bunch of people and connections that get involved. There are some pretty funny moments, including a flashmob involving bowling balls and Joel and a pair of handcuffs. The final showdown is pretty good with Marlie saving the day. There's also an interesting twist involving one of the players.
December 3, 2011
A handsome hero and a spunky heroine involved in a top secret mystery that manages to find a happy ending and sprinkles some humor into the plot along the way.
October 22, 2011
Kind of on the fluffy side, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I loved the interaction between Marlie & Joel. And Joel? Yummy.
October 12, 2019
Comic book creator Marlie Montague's father was branded a traitor after his "death" in the military just before he was going to be whistle blower. Marlie now draws conspiracy cartoons and "channels" the heroine Angelina when she's stressed. Navy secret agent Joel Hunter has been sent by NCIS to watch Marlie. He's not happy and it was his dad that killed hers and they were close as children. One of her comic books has set off a chain reaction and now someone's trying to kill her. Joel helps her out and gets involved in trying to figure out what's going on and who's behind it.
Kind of off the wall humorous mixed with military secrets and a weird cast of characters, but reasonable well done.
Kind of off the wall humorous mixed with military secrets and a weird cast of characters, but reasonable well done.
July 5, 2024
This was the first Lori Wilde book I read. I really enjoyed the way she writes characters, very relatable. This mystery romance has a little bit of everything.
June 12, 2012
You Only Love Twice by Lori Wilde
ISBN: 9780446555333
Marlie Montague is a comic strip writer and she hurries to freshen up before opening the door to her new next door male neighbor. Her alter ego was carrying on a conversation with her as to whether or not to answer the door.
Problem is she trips over the bowling ball and by the time she answer it's the UPS man but he's got a semi automatic gun in his hands.
MCIS Special agent Joel Hunter was attempting to borrow some shampoo but she never answered her door.
Admiral Augustus Hunter had to warn Penelope Montague.
When Marlie has to leave her house at night she selects her mom's house but things are not what they should be there also.
Her alternate persona takes over at times and she recognizes the man who wanted to kill her. She's hot on his trail now with Joel along for the ride.
When Marlie tries to get medical service for Joel she finds her face on the TV where the police want her for arson suspect at her mothers house.
Now they have to go into hiding and she has to not only take care of Joel medically but keep them safe. Angelina, her other persona and from the comic strip she writes will aid her in this endeavor.
Joel's ex wife also has a say in what happens along with Marlie's mother. The war in the gulf holds them all hostage for many years after it was fought.
Like all the action, adventure, kidnapping, assassins, military and police investigations and romance and storyline. This book has it all.
ISBN: 9780446555333
Marlie Montague is a comic strip writer and she hurries to freshen up before opening the door to her new next door male neighbor. Her alter ego was carrying on a conversation with her as to whether or not to answer the door.
Problem is she trips over the bowling ball and by the time she answer it's the UPS man but he's got a semi automatic gun in his hands.
MCIS Special agent Joel Hunter was attempting to borrow some shampoo but she never answered her door.
Admiral Augustus Hunter had to warn Penelope Montague.
When Marlie has to leave her house at night she selects her mom's house but things are not what they should be there also.
Her alternate persona takes over at times and she recognizes the man who wanted to kill her. She's hot on his trail now with Joel along for the ride.
When Marlie tries to get medical service for Joel she finds her face on the TV where the police want her for arson suspect at her mothers house.
Now they have to go into hiding and she has to not only take care of Joel medically but keep them safe. Angelina, her other persona and from the comic strip she writes will aid her in this endeavor.
Joel's ex wife also has a say in what happens along with Marlie's mother. The war in the gulf holds them all hostage for many years after it was fought.
Like all the action, adventure, kidnapping, assassins, military and police investigations and romance and storyline. This book has it all.
July 22, 2011
You can also read this review at Reflections on Reading Romance
This is a cute contemporary romance about shy comic book artist and conspiracy theorist Marlie Montague, whose father was a Navy whistleblower and died under suspicious circumstances. Marlie manages to hit the mark on an unknown conspiracy in one of her comic books, and as a result she’s being watched by former Navy SEAL Joel J. Hunter. Little does she realize that Joel was her childhood crush and son of the man who shot her father. The two have a rollicking adventure trying to decipher which conspiracy she unknowingly revealed in her comic book, all while fighting an attraction to one another. I laughed out loud so many times with this book. After all, any book that features a bowling ball flash mob with people singing Anchors Away is going to be lots of fun!
This is a cute contemporary romance about shy comic book artist and conspiracy theorist Marlie Montague, whose father was a Navy whistleblower and died under suspicious circumstances. Marlie manages to hit the mark on an unknown conspiracy in one of her comic books, and as a result she’s being watched by former Navy SEAL Joel J. Hunter. Little does she realize that Joel was her childhood crush and son of the man who shot her father. The two have a rollicking adventure trying to decipher which conspiracy she unknowingly revealed in her comic book, all while fighting an attraction to one another. I laughed out loud so many times with this book. After all, any book that features a bowling ball flash mob with people singing Anchors Away is going to be lots of fun!
April 4, 2008
This book was a fair read. Nothing particularly amazing about it. Fair story, fair pace, fair writing, fair ending.
I will say that I did like the way the author had the heroine constantly talking to herself/comic character. It was fun and interesting. Though the reference to how the character came to be and why she clung to her was just a bit...I can't think of how to explain my problem with it. I guess it was just a too-simple, already obvious, psycho-analysis of the heroine. I mean, duh. It was obvious to me why she was so attached to this alter-ego personality. But I will give leeway that other readers my not have radar for psychological analizing characters (just another wierd personality trait to attribute to me).
Anyway, I am glad to say that I only paid 25cents for this book at the library sale because I will not be reading it again.
I will say that I did like the way the author had the heroine constantly talking to herself/comic character. It was fun and interesting. Though the reference to how the character came to be and why she clung to her was just a bit...I can't think of how to explain my problem with it. I guess it was just a too-simple, already obvious, psycho-analysis of the heroine. I mean, duh. It was obvious to me why she was so attached to this alter-ego personality. But I will give leeway that other readers my not have radar for psychological analizing characters (just another wierd personality trait to attribute to me).
Anyway, I am glad to say that I only paid 25cents for this book at the library sale because I will not be reading it again.
December 19, 2009
I really enjoyed this one. An almost perfect romance/suspense novel. I loved how she had all the different kinds of relationship in there; mother/daughter, boyfriend/girlfriend, father/son, enemies/friends... The main story was also brilliant and well developed. The only thing that annoyed me was all the mushy-gushy, lovey-dovey talk. She spent way too many pages and chapters regurgitating the same feelings over and over again. Almost made me throw the novel across the room, luckily the story was too much fun to put down. If you can skim and get past all touchy-feely stuff it's definitely worth a read. Thank you sis for the recommendation.
February 8, 2012
Marlie has retreated from life and has major trust issues. But when her life is in danger, she turns to her new neighbor, Joel, and on the run they go.
What I enjoyed:
* Marlie. When she thought she couldn't handle things her alter-ego took over but by the end she was comfortable enough in her skin to handle it all and to trust.
* Joel has his own issues and has to deal with lying to Marlie.
* I was surprised on who the bad guy was.
What could have been better:
* It wrapped up too neatly. Everybody had somebody and they were way too intermingled.
What I enjoyed:
* Marlie. When she thought she couldn't handle things her alter-ego took over but by the end she was comfortable enough in her skin to handle it all and to trust.
* Joel has his own issues and has to deal with lying to Marlie.
* I was surprised on who the bad guy was.
What could have been better:
* It wrapped up too neatly. Everybody had somebody and they were way too intermingled.
September 22, 2011
This book was really hard to get into at the beginning... it jumped around a lot and I almost gave up on it, but about half way through it started to come together. I wish it had been longer so that there might have been more background time maybe? so that it wouldn't have been so choppy in the beginning. I liked the 2nd half and the ending... It's a little bit of suspence with a romance with a HEA... my kind of book.
September 3, 2013
This book had some really good parts and some highly convoluted parts - many highly convoluted parts. The second half was better as the jumping around between players was less jarring. Light, some funny moments, a military mystery and a hot ex-navy seal... all in all not bad but not something I need on my shelf.
September 15, 2015
Fun read. The heroine is a conspiracy-theory-believing comic book artist/ writer whose life is something of a conspiracy. The hero is an ex-Navy SEAL who now works for NCIS and has been sent to spy on the heroine. There's a lot of chasing and hiding and shooting and such. It's got a lot of humor too. I liked it a lot.
October 27, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much. It had a little of everything: humor, romance, mystery, and adventure. Marlie is an introvert and she's unsure of herself. In the end, though, she ends up being a hero! The relationship between her and Joel just works. They balance each other out and grow together. Will read again!
March 19, 2011
Despite the sexy leading man and the everyday heroine this was not as good as 'Mission: Irresistible' or 'License to Thrill' but still enjoyable. I'll be reading more of Lori Wilde's work in the future.
April 21, 2016
I had a really hard time getting into this one. The lead characters were just a bit too odd. There was too much going on with the dads. Other reviewers have said it gets better in the second half, but even skipping ahead to try and get to the better parts didn't work for me.
May 25, 2021
5/25/2021 - been a long time since I reread this, here it says 2010, but still like it.
January 20, 2010
I like her contemporary romances better.. this felt more like a poorly done romantic suspense.
August 26, 2011
I found some parts eye rolling, but on the whole I enjoyed the book.
July 22, 2011
another good read by this author
July 11, 2013
This is a decent light read but more for when you don't have anything else. It's a little cheesy but still has an okay plot. Good for light entertainment
September 7, 2013
The comic geek in me loves any story where a conspiracy comic book creator gets such into a flight for her life with a hot Navy Seal.
November 20, 2013
Too much conspiracy, not enough humor.
May 28, 2014
Great book. Very creative.
December 10, 2015
This was a fun book. It was full-on right from the start. Lots of action and humor. I enjoy Lori's books and had thought I read them all but must have missed this one.
January 20, 2017
You Only Love Twice is a fast-paced romantic suspense book written by author Lori Wilde.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews