Love & Deception (Agents in Love Book 1)

What if everything you believed in was a lie?

In hiding for six years, Carlie Hollis is tired of running. All she wants is to stay in Sayle, Washington and make a success of her struggling delicatessen. Because of her past, she's suspicious of anyone who takes an interest in her.

Nick Kendall works as a spy in a top-secret government operation, protecting innocent people from danger. Sent to Sayle on a mission to infiltrate a suspected terrorist organization, Nick finds himself attracted to Carlie, an alleged key player of the group.

Despite her misgivings, Carlie develops feelings for the handsome stranger, believing he is there to help her. But when Nick finds evidence of her guilt, he's given orders to do the unthinkable--eliminate the target, one he's fallen hopelessly in love with. Will he follow orders...or become hunted himself?

Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite

"Carlie Hollis is on the run and she has been for quite some time, finally settling in the town of Sayle, Washington, where she has found a sort of quiet existence as a deli owner. Then she meets Nick, who immediately has her on edge thanks to his good looks and easy charm. Always skeptical of any person in general, but men specifically who take an interest in her, Carlie is reluctant to date or spar with Nick in her quest for her karate black belt. In Love & Deception, we learn that both Carlie and Nick have secrets that could not only have a deadly impact on their budding relationship, but also on their lives. Chantal Rhondeau does a great job of hinting at the reasons for Nick and Carlie's deception without giving away the story, but she manages to avoid the annoying habit of teasing the reader. From early in the story I knew they both had hidden agendas and I was eager to plow through the pages to find out the what and the why.

If you were looking for a simple love story, Love & Deception is a lot of things, but simple it is not. Nick thinks Carlie may be a terrorist - yes, that kind of terrorist -- and he is basically there to assess her threat level and take her out if needs be. Throughout the story, Chantal Rhondeau leaves you guessing about the motives and real loyalties of both Nick and Carlie, which left me frustrated because I love to solve a mystery before the characters do, but also completely enthralled in the story because I just needed to know! There's romance in this story, but it is really the mystery behind the romance that will have you on tenterhooks for most of the book. The twists and turns will have you putting aside chores and ignoring phone calls until you've gotten to the bottom of this story. Love & Deception is not your standard love story and it is all the better for it!"