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A review by charlottelovestoread
Code of Honor by April White
5.0
April White has done it again! While this is a standalone, it was preceded by Code of Conduct, which was one of my absolute top reads last year. I went in with high hopes and this delivered in ways I never expected.
There’s a physical feeling I get when a book has me entirely invested and excited. It’s often tied to romance, to banter and chemistry and delicious tension. It feels like my chest is rising, joy moving through me in a way that cannot be contained. It doesn’t happen all the time, but I felt it throughout this book and it was especially welcome during this time of my life.
When we first meet Anna Collins, she is impersonating her twin sister Collette at a party. She is there to begin a theft. Anna is not a thief by nature but she has the skill set from her climbing hobby in addition to her work as a bounty hunter. Anna meets Darius at this party, and immediately he sticks in her head as a Disney prince, mainly Aladdin. He doesn’t even seem put off by her lack of filter or her odd musings.
The theft goes perfectly, which is a problem for Darius, who designed the security system. Cipher Security Systems, with all of our lovely familiar characters, is not at fault but the owner is still unhappy.
Anna and Darius dance around each other, adversaries in the pursuit of the truth of this theft and the philosophy of the reason behind it. This is complicated by their immediate companionship and attraction. They spent a magical day together on a boat (and in a bed!) but it can’t go any further. Anna is a firm believer in her moral code, but it doesn’t align with Darius’s belief system.
The twists and surprises in this book made it nearly impossible to put down. Anna is strong and confident woman with vast trivia knowledge, a highly active imagination, and no filter. Darius is smart, patient, and principled, and the family history that brought him from Iran to the US is compelling. When Anna shares how she hears paintings and dances with statues, Darius listens and marvels. It is a wonderful journey to observe as a reader. They know themselves well, openly acknowledge their attraction and their philosophical incompatibility. Their connection is palpable, and I was rooting for this pair just as much as I respected their honesty. I so enjoyed being immersed in bits of art, Iranian history, appreciation of romance novels, and longing looks and thoughts. Anna’s t-shirt quotes spread light and humor throughout these book. The family and friend interactions serve as a strong thread that gives greater depth to an already robust cast of characters. This story has villains and good people and many shades of gray, and the mystery unveiled by the theft goes deeper than any of the characters imagined. The pacing was also perfection.
I loved this book and highly recommend it.
(I wanted to include my favorite quotes but I couldn’t bear to lessen their impact for anyone else.)
Download your copy today: https://smartypantsromance.com/books/code-of-honor/
There’s a physical feeling I get when a book has me entirely invested and excited. It’s often tied to romance, to banter and chemistry and delicious tension. It feels like my chest is rising, joy moving through me in a way that cannot be contained. It doesn’t happen all the time, but I felt it throughout this book and it was especially welcome during this time of my life.
When we first meet Anna Collins, she is impersonating her twin sister Collette at a party. She is there to begin a theft. Anna is not a thief by nature but she has the skill set from her climbing hobby in addition to her work as a bounty hunter. Anna meets Darius at this party, and immediately he sticks in her head as a Disney prince, mainly Aladdin. He doesn’t even seem put off by her lack of filter or her odd musings.
The theft goes perfectly, which is a problem for Darius, who designed the security system. Cipher Security Systems, with all of our lovely familiar characters, is not at fault but the owner is still unhappy.
Anna and Darius dance around each other, adversaries in the pursuit of the truth of this theft and the philosophy of the reason behind it. This is complicated by their immediate companionship and attraction. They spent a magical day together on a boat (and in a bed!) but it can’t go any further. Anna is a firm believer in her moral code, but it doesn’t align with Darius’s belief system.
The twists and surprises in this book made it nearly impossible to put down. Anna is strong and confident woman with vast trivia knowledge, a highly active imagination, and no filter. Darius is smart, patient, and principled, and the family history that brought him from Iran to the US is compelling. When Anna shares how she hears paintings and dances with statues, Darius listens and marvels. It is a wonderful journey to observe as a reader. They know themselves well, openly acknowledge their attraction and their philosophical incompatibility. Their connection is palpable, and I was rooting for this pair just as much as I respected their honesty. I so enjoyed being immersed in bits of art, Iranian history, appreciation of romance novels, and longing looks and thoughts. Anna’s t-shirt quotes spread light and humor throughout these book. The family and friend interactions serve as a strong thread that gives greater depth to an already robust cast of characters. This story has villains and good people and many shades of gray, and the mystery unveiled by the theft goes deeper than any of the characters imagined. The pacing was also perfection.
I loved this book and highly recommend it.
(I wanted to include my favorite quotes but I couldn’t bear to lessen their impact for anyone else.)
Download your copy today: https://smartypantsromance.com/books/code-of-honor/