The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton | Book Review

AUTHOR - India Holton

 RATING - ★★★★★

TROPES - 

• Rival Agent pretending to be married for a mission
• One bed trope 
• Slow-burn 

SYNOPSIS

Known as Agent A, Alice is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, a secret government intelligence group that is fortunately better at espionage than at naming itself. From managing deceptive witches to bored aristocratic ladies, nothing is beyond Alice’s capabilities. She has a steely composure and a plan always up her sleeve (alongside a dagger and an embroidered handkerchief). So when rumors of an assassination plot begin to circulate, she’s immediately assigned to the case.

But she’s not working alone. Daniel Bixby, otherwise known as Agent B and Alice’s greatest rival, is given the most challenging undercover assignment of his life— pretending to be Alice’s husband. Together they will assume the identity of a married couple, infiltrate a pirate house party, and foil their unpatriotic plans.

Determined to remain consummate professionals, Alice and Daniel must ignore the growing attraction between them, especially since acting on it might prove more dangerous than their target.

MY REVIEW

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I’VE READ IN A LONG WHILE. Best read of the year istg😭😭. This book gave me everything I’ve wanted from a book in a long while. Good slow burn. Good humour. Actually, they are Interesting Main Characters. Fake Marriage while they are rivals. THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING. 

Daniel “Touch my books, and you die” Bixby is my favourite guy ever. He’s charming, and the way Alice annoys him IS EVERYTHING TO ME. Daniel “I’m sure you don’t mean to threaten MY WIFE”, Bixby. UGH. 

Alice was such a refresher from other female main characters. She can kick your ass, but at the same time, she’s so innocent 😭 it’s honestly entertaining as hell. 

Another thing I enjoyed about Daniel and Alice was their being neurodivergent. It is always so refreshing when I see characters who have flaws that cannot be corrected from a romance (it has happened in so many books), but you just find someone who understands those flaws, and you just feel you fit and not odd. 

The overall plot of this book just added to everything. The side characters, the world-building, everything was immaculate. It’s been a really long while since I’ve read a book with good romance and good humour. This had both of those elements don’t really well which made me enjoy the book even more. 

I urge everyone to drop what they are doing and read this book right now because I am obsessed. Overall it's a really cute romance read with elements of Fantasy and Historical romances so if you're looking for a fun read this has to be it.