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profromance's review against another edition
5.0
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anyone who has, for any length of time, read romance knows that not all romances are created equal. What does that mean? You can read the same trope (enemies-to-lovers tends to be my favorite) by any number of writers, and their voices will be so distinct that you can fall in love with any of them (or the opposite). I am currently obsessed with April White. To be fair, I have just finished reading a second novel by her, Code of Honor, her second SmartyPants Romance book, and I can’t seem to get her writing (and this book) out of my mind. I found her with Code of Conduct, her first book in the SmartyPants Romance world. Her booklist looks fairly small, and honestly, I didn’t rush to read it after reading Code of Conduct. Mostly, that has more to do with my constant reading of ARCs. It isn’t that I didn’t want to read her booklist; I simply find myself indulged in other authors’ ARCs at the moment. Yet, after reading Code of Honor, I’m dying to get my hands on her other books. Like Code of Conduct, this book bowled me over. It would be easy to say that it has everything to do with the story and its connection to Penny Reid’s Cipher Security connection. Who doesn’t want to return to the Knitting in the City folks? Honestly, though, it isn’t that. It’s April White’s prowess at writing romance. Truly. I found myself most intrigued by her story development, prose, and heroine than the connection to the Penny Reid universe. Let me explain further…
It’s hard for me to try and elaborate on this next point without using words that cannot relay my meaning. I’m going to try, so bear with me. This book, according to Amazon, is 337 pages. That’s a good-sized book; I’m not sure how that equates out to total words. Why am I talking about this? Because April White’s story reads deep, “filled in,” so to speak. It reads as though there are so many words that swim on the page, and it’s glorious. Her details woo-ed me. I kept thinking wow…the level of research she did on this story is impressive. What’s more impressive is how seamless her research and details add to the gravity and depth of her story. I’ve recently read stories where the details overwhelmed, where there should have been revision, to bring back the levity of the story. With White’s Code of Honor, these details place you more firmly in Darius and Anna’s story. The story blooms under White’s control, and I was hooked from the first page. I remember feeling the exact same way with her first book in this series, Code of Conduct: so many details, so well-researched, and impressively developed that it pulls the reader into the depths of it. When you buy this book, you’re purchasing something weighted and refined. It is quite a remarkable read.
Add to this depth of soul in her book, April White’s prose. I will get to Anna, White’s heroine in this story, next. However, the words of this story, the way that White strings words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs is impressive. I left this note in my ARC: “April White’s prose is exciting. There are so many witticisms and oddities that it entertains beyond the story.” White’s ability to craft story and character while integrating little facts from history and art compels you through her romance. These words find themselves spoken in the voice of her heroine, Anna, which is probably my favorite part of Code of Honor.
The true beauty of April White’s writing is her ability to create heroines who are created from their own mold that seems broken afterward. I felt these same thoughts during Code of Conduct with her craftsmanship of Shane. White writes heroines who own their idiosyncrasies and originality. Anna isn’t like most people. In fact, if you’ve read Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series, you know Janie, Quinn’s wife. Like Janie, Anna speaks her thoughts without a filter. She oftentimes begrudges herself of this habit, but it’s these actions that bring the humor and levity to the story which is underpinned by suspense. Additionally, Anna challenges Darius through this habit of unfiltered thinking. Anna doesn’t apologize for herself. It is this truth that is Anna’s power as the heroine. It also sets up the major conflict of the story and White’s play on the idea of honor. In this story, honor is defined in different ways between Anna and Darius, just as “conduct” finds re-definition in White’s first book in the series. Through Anna, we are challenged to consider the gray lines of honor. For Darius, honor is black and white; while for Anna, honor can be re-defined given the situation. As Anna “teaches” Darius this truth, these two struggle. Yet, it’s Anna’s sense of self that eventually bridges their conflict. I cared so much more for Anna as the heroine than Darius because White gives her dimensions in a way that Darius doesn’t quite have. And I loved this. I loved that the heroine was much more interesting than the hero; that, while she tends towards verbal diarrhea of the mouth, she speaks the most truth; that she seems more astute than our hero. I’m not one to pit the hero against the heroine, but Anna represents the feminism of this book, just as Shane did in Code of Conduct. It is Anna’s characterization that illustrates April White’s true genius: the ability to craft interesting, compelling heroines.
You do not need to have read Penny Reid’s universe of books to read a SmartyPants Romance book. You see its colors when you have, but these SmaryPants authors create their own spaces and find their own fans. I had not read April White prior to this series, and I am thankful to the powers that be behind SmartyPants Romance for including her. White is a writer who manufactures her own compelling world of romance that entraps you in her tales. Code of Honor is no different. Anna and Darius’s romantic journey is one full of intrigue, chemistry, hilarity, and happy endings. Through them, April White demonstrates that opposites can attract and find their compromise as they live lives filled with immense love and passion.
Anyone who has, for any length of time, read romance knows that not all romances are created equal. What does that mean? You can read the same trope (enemies-to-lovers tends to be my favorite) by any number of writers, and their voices will be so distinct that you can fall in love with any of them (or the opposite). I am currently obsessed with April White. To be fair, I have just finished reading a second novel by her, Code of Honor, her second SmartyPants Romance book, and I can’t seem to get her writing (and this book) out of my mind. I found her with Code of Conduct, her first book in the SmartyPants Romance world. Her booklist looks fairly small, and honestly, I didn’t rush to read it after reading Code of Conduct. Mostly, that has more to do with my constant reading of ARCs. It isn’t that I didn’t want to read her booklist; I simply find myself indulged in other authors’ ARCs at the moment. Yet, after reading Code of Honor, I’m dying to get my hands on her other books. Like Code of Conduct, this book bowled me over. It would be easy to say that it has everything to do with the story and its connection to Penny Reid’s Cipher Security connection. Who doesn’t want to return to the Knitting in the City folks? Honestly, though, it isn’t that. It’s April White’s prowess at writing romance. Truly. I found myself most intrigued by her story development, prose, and heroine than the connection to the Penny Reid universe. Let me explain further…
It’s hard for me to try and elaborate on this next point without using words that cannot relay my meaning. I’m going to try, so bear with me. This book, according to Amazon, is 337 pages. That’s a good-sized book; I’m not sure how that equates out to total words. Why am I talking about this? Because April White’s story reads deep, “filled in,” so to speak. It reads as though there are so many words that swim on the page, and it’s glorious. Her details woo-ed me. I kept thinking wow…the level of research she did on this story is impressive. What’s more impressive is how seamless her research and details add to the gravity and depth of her story. I’ve recently read stories where the details overwhelmed, where there should have been revision, to bring back the levity of the story. With White’s Code of Honor, these details place you more firmly in Darius and Anna’s story. The story blooms under White’s control, and I was hooked from the first page. I remember feeling the exact same way with her first book in this series, Code of Conduct: so many details, so well-researched, and impressively developed that it pulls the reader into the depths of it. When you buy this book, you’re purchasing something weighted and refined. It is quite a remarkable read.
Add to this depth of soul in her book, April White’s prose. I will get to Anna, White’s heroine in this story, next. However, the words of this story, the way that White strings words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs is impressive. I left this note in my ARC: “April White’s prose is exciting. There are so many witticisms and oddities that it entertains beyond the story.” White’s ability to craft story and character while integrating little facts from history and art compels you through her romance. These words find themselves spoken in the voice of her heroine, Anna, which is probably my favorite part of Code of Honor.
The true beauty of April White’s writing is her ability to create heroines who are created from their own mold that seems broken afterward. I felt these same thoughts during Code of Conduct with her craftsmanship of Shane. White writes heroines who own their idiosyncrasies and originality. Anna isn’t like most people. In fact, if you’ve read Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series, you know Janie, Quinn’s wife. Like Janie, Anna speaks her thoughts without a filter. She oftentimes begrudges herself of this habit, but it’s these actions that bring the humor and levity to the story which is underpinned by suspense. Additionally, Anna challenges Darius through this habit of unfiltered thinking. Anna doesn’t apologize for herself. It is this truth that is Anna’s power as the heroine. It also sets up the major conflict of the story and White’s play on the idea of honor. In this story, honor is defined in different ways between Anna and Darius, just as “conduct” finds re-definition in White’s first book in the series. Through Anna, we are challenged to consider the gray lines of honor. For Darius, honor is black and white; while for Anna, honor can be re-defined given the situation. As Anna “teaches” Darius this truth, these two struggle. Yet, it’s Anna’s sense of self that eventually bridges their conflict. I cared so much more for Anna as the heroine than Darius because White gives her dimensions in a way that Darius doesn’t quite have. And I loved this. I loved that the heroine was much more interesting than the hero; that, while she tends towards verbal diarrhea of the mouth, she speaks the most truth; that she seems more astute than our hero. I’m not one to pit the hero against the heroine, but Anna represents the feminism of this book, just as Shane did in Code of Conduct. It is Anna’s characterization that illustrates April White’s true genius: the ability to craft interesting, compelling heroines.
You do not need to have read Penny Reid’s universe of books to read a SmartyPants Romance book. You see its colors when you have, but these SmaryPants authors create their own spaces and find their own fans. I had not read April White prior to this series, and I am thankful to the powers that be behind SmartyPants Romance for including her. White is a writer who manufactures her own compelling world of romance that entraps you in her tales. Code of Honor is no different. Anna and Darius’s romantic journey is one full of intrigue, chemistry, hilarity, and happy endings. Through them, April White demonstrates that opposites can attract and find their compromise as they live lives filled with immense love and passion.
vmars314's review against another edition
5.0
I loved Anna and her no filter comments. This was such a fun read!
rek216's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mrssoule's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
amandaj6's review against another edition
5.0
What an awesome adventure that book was! I have a total girl crush on Anna, she’s who I want to be in life, love how she sees the world. And of course Disney Prince Darius. Swoon. And then with them together! ~explosion with hearts and flowers and corgi butts~
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
5.0
Anna fits so seamlessly with Shane. Yes I am aware that there is a different hero in this book but the way that this author writes female friendship is just this side of Penny’s own books.
I love awkward heroines who speak in non sequiturs and typically flummox most people. Those are not her people and they don’t deserve her.
Darius is so swoony. I love that she describes him as a Disney Prince. He is very together but this blast of sunshine that is Colette or is it Anna. (The narrator for Darius is delicious).
Anna so much fun. She is a parkour ninja with mad skills. She’s a bounty hunter. She doesn’t always have control of her tongue and her filter rarely works.
I am really loving this series inside Cipher systems. Getting glimpses of Dan. Quinn, Shane. & Gabriel was great.
I loved that this book did not gloss over issues. There was a fundamental problem that had to be worked through. It was reasonable and not blown up drama. I just loved the book all the way round.
I love awkward heroines who speak in non sequiturs and typically flummox most people. Those are not her people and they don’t deserve her.
Darius is so swoony. I love that she describes him as a Disney Prince. He is very together but this blast of sunshine that is Colette or is it Anna. (The narrator for Darius is delicious).
Anna so much fun. She is a parkour ninja with mad skills. She’s a bounty hunter. She doesn’t always have control of her tongue and her filter rarely works.
I am really loving this series inside Cipher systems. Getting glimpses of Dan. Quinn, Shane. & Gabriel was great.
I loved that this book did not gloss over issues. There was a fundamental problem that had to be worked through. It was reasonable and not blown up drama. I just loved the book all the way round.
izziede's review against another edition
3.0
I am a bit on the fence with this book.
At first the humor was a bit juvenile for me, I almost didn't bother but it got better.
The set up is the heroine is a twin and the Hero meets her while she is pretending to be her sister, but he realises things aren't quite right.
The twin sister has a one night stand with 'the mark' but the Hero thinks it's the heroine and she has just slept with another man, he even sees camera footage of it and then he has sex with the heroine some hours later.
That felt a bit ew to me.
Yes he is having sex with the heroine and it's the heroines twin sister he saw having sex with another man but he thinks it's the heroine.
There are a few intimate comments about the sister and other man.
Intimate scene with the Hero and heroine.
Also the pooing on a boat scene.... Really... Ew... And why have that there??
Humor? I think not, I suppose it depends on your taste.
We see glimpses of Quinn, Dan and Stan, as they all work at Cipher Security and the previous couple from an earlier book.
That said the plot of the theft is quite clever and the book is well written.
HEA in form of happy for now, I imagine we may see bits of them as a couple in future books in series.
At first the humor was a bit juvenile for me, I almost didn't bother but it got better.
The set up is the heroine is a twin and the Hero meets her while she is pretending to be her sister, but he realises things aren't quite right.
The twin sister has a one night stand with 'the mark' but the Hero thinks it's the heroine and she has just slept with another man, he even sees camera footage of it and then he has sex with the heroine some hours later.
That felt a bit ew to me.
Yes he is having sex with the heroine and it's the heroines twin sister he saw having sex with another man but he thinks it's the heroine.
There are a few intimate comments about the sister and other man.
Intimate scene with the Hero and heroine.
Also the pooing on a boat scene.... Really... Ew... And why have that there??
Humor? I think not, I suppose it depends on your taste.
We see glimpses of Quinn, Dan and Stan, as they all work at Cipher Security and the previous couple from an earlier book.
That said the plot of the theft is quite clever and the book is well written.
HEA in form of happy for now, I imagine we may see bits of them as a couple in future books in series.
megkstyler's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a fun book! I loved the mystery of it! It was a fun ride! I was intrigued from the very beginning and couldn’t wait to see how it all played out! I would definitely recommend this book!
Received an arc for an honest review
Received an arc for an honest review
lianareadsblog's review against another edition
4.0
Blog tour https://lianareads.home.blog/2020/04/07/bode-if-honor-by-april-white-blog-tour-and-review/
4.5 stars
If you haven’t read Code of Conduit yet, what are you waiting for?
I fell in love with the author’s writing from that book and I couldn’t be more excited when I’ve heard we get more of her stories in the Penny Universe.
I loved this book so much for so many reasons. Great characters, especially the female one, great banter and greater romance moments.
Can’t recommend it enough.
4.5 stars
If you haven’t read Code of Conduit yet, what are you waiting for?
I fell in love with the author’s writing from that book and I couldn’t be more excited when I’ve heard we get more of her stories in the Penny Universe.
I loved this book so much for so many reasons. Great characters, especially the female one, great banter and greater romance moments.
Can’t recommend it enough.