| Title | : | The Secret Service of Tea and Treason (Dangerous Damsels, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0593547276 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780593547274 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 368 |
| Publication | : | First published April 20, 2023 |
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.
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason (Dangerous Damsels, #3) Reviews
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"You know when you open a new book and realize it's going to be perfect?"
"Yes."
"That's how I feel when I look at you."
✔️ Historical fantasy romance
✔️ Rivals to lovers
✔️ Fake marriage
✔️ Both MCs are spies
✔️ Only one bed
✔️ Flirt in poetry 👀
Well that was fun!!! After the second book, I wasn't really keen on this one and completely forgot it was on my shelf. I regret not picking it up sooner 🙈
Alice and Daniel create such intense chemistry between the each other it's hard not to love them. Both of them are autistic , although it was not officially addressed in the book as the author claimed it was not named in the Victorian era, true that. Both of them have childhood traumas of their own and to watch the two open up to each other was so awesome to see.
We get a lot of cameos- Alex and Charlotte, Ned and Cecilia. See, as much as I liked Daniel which was a lot, I still swoon over Ned whenever he makes an appearance 😩😭 That man is fineeeeee 🥵🥵
The romance was so adorable. C'mon the two flirted with each other in poetry 😩😩 I didn't know I needed this until now. They also love reading, the mutual bond over literature and Shakespeare was so well done. Guys, as spies they're not supposed to be together, so the angst they generated with the agency causing a hindrance was EVERYTHING 🤌🤌 The spice surely should be considered sweet lol, in the best way possible.
The reason I rate it four stars instead of five is because although it had a strong start and finish, the middle got too chaotic. There was too much happening with so many characters, it was hard to keep track of.
Overall, it was an enjoyable series. India Holton is such a talented writer, she becomes an auto buy author for me 😉 -
This series is growing on me! I enjoyed the previous books, but this one is something special. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time, and a few chapters later, I was dabbing my tears. Can something be outstandingly hilarious and extremely sentimental at the same time?
My favorite tropes, fake wedding and enemies to lovers, worked so well in this paranormal/historical romance that includes flying houses, scheming shenanigans, word games, and smart literary references.
The witty banter between the characters, their complex relationships, sizzling chemistry, and angsty moments hooked me, making me turn the pages faster.
The plot revolves around Agent A, Alice, who works for a government agency with the weirdest name, and Agent B, Daniel Bixby, her greatest rival. They find themselves working together as an undercover married couple for a very dangerous assignment to prevent an assassination plot by infiltrating a pirate house party to save the queen!
The involvement of the other book's protagonists in the story makes you cheer up as if you are lucky to meet your oldest friends again. Developing the story around neurodiverse characters is an absolutely nice touch to the entire execution.
The last third made my heart ache, and the conclusion was absolutely sweet and satisfying. I am addicted to this smart, laugh-out-loud, paranormal, highly enjoyable series! Alice and Daniel might be my favorite characters the author has ever created! I highly recommend that you go in blind and enjoy each book of the series!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this wonderful book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. -
India Holton seamlessly blends historical fantasy, romantic comedy, and espionage in The Secret Service of Tea and Treason. Alice Dearlove, known as Agent A is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, a secret government intelligence group. She is their best fixer. When rumors of a possible assassination attempt on Queen Victoria reaches the agency, Alice is assigned to the case. However, this time she won’t be working alone. Agent B, Daniel Bixby, the agency’s most reliable investigator, is also assigned to the case. Their undercover assignment is that of a married couple. They must attend a pirate house party and find the hidden weapon. Used to working alone and as a ladies’ maid, butler, or valet, this is new territory for the agents. The assignment doesn’t go smoothly.
Alice has no friends, is sensible, is naive, and has no hobbies other than reading whenever she can. Daniel also reads, is controlled, and is used to working alone. They rely heavily on orders, structure, and discipline. Both characters are more complex than they initially seem and go through transformations as the events unfold. Their banter is a highlight in the book.
The world building and characterization were great. While set in Victorian England, this novel also has witches and pirates with flying houses. It is filled with literary quotes and misquotes as well as humor, and it has a few steamy scenes.
Each chapter heading gives a list of major events without giving away too much. There are many characters in the book, but there is a character list at the beginning of the book. Additionally, if you’ve read the previous books in the series, some of the characters will already be familiar to you. My biggest quibble was that there were times when the story was more “telling” than “showing”. While the book is somewhat over the top, it also has more depth than one might expect with the level of romantic comedy involved. Woven throughout are threads related to loneliness, romance, grief, friendship, and found families.
Overall, this memorable and funny novel has adventure, romance, a mystery, and plenty of excitement. This is a book that I am going to remember. While this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Each book features a different couple. Readers that enjoy historical romances with humor, pirates, flying houses, and witches will likely love this novel.
Berkley Publishing Group and India Holton provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for April 18, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.16 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon. -
✨IF I LOVED IT LESS I MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE 😭😭😭 IM SPEECHLESS✨
I mean it I’m utterly speechless and I truly don’t know how to talk about how wonderful and clever and emotionally fulfilling this book was without pulling out a thesaurus and whacking you over the head with it. If my love was a highlighter, this book would be visible from outer space. Given the 178 times I bookmarked my next favorite quote, I think it’s fairly obvious that the entire book is my favorite quote.
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason was the perfect conclusion to the series and such a wonderful beginning for Alice and Bixby. The euphemisms were absolutely out of pocket and the fake marriage was better than I could have ever imagined. The third act was perfect and heart-wrenching, while the epilogue gave me everything I needed to make peace with the series being over.
Shame on me as I should have known it would be a treat, but I didn’t expect it to be as charming, as fun, as HILARIOUS as it was. I think Bixby was pretty unassuming in book two and we had only a mere glimpse of Alice, so while I knew I could anticipate a good time, I didn’t expect to be so in love with those two people. They were both so starchy and buttoned up!! Sexy sheet folding??? Be still my heart.
My only critique was that Alice seemed to have more POV sections than Bixby. I wouldn’t want to cut anything we got, so I maybe just wanted a few more extra chapters from Bixby’s POV because I’m a greedy bridge troll. I did also anticipate the villain, but that was so low on my priority list of things in this book to care about and didn’t impact my enjoyment. Maybe I just want to brag because I finally caught on for once.
As a whole, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason could go ten rounds with the best of them aka books one and two. And I think it could win??? I thought book two would stay my favorite but I know nothing anymore!! I’ve already preordered and I can’t wait to A. give this book a hug B. reread via the audiobook and C. get my hands on any bonus chapters India releases. You’ll be charmed, disarmed, and thoroughly smitten.
To make it clear, I have given all the books in the series five stars. Each one has the same ingredients—bonkers adventure, sweeping romance, entirely lovable characters—but the recipe is different and delicious every time. Stripped of everything chaotic and fantastical, however, the heart of each book is how the little things of loving someone become everything.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️.25*/5
*I think we got twoish scenes??? I don’t come to these books for steam but the way I get so emotionally invested in the secret glances and veiled threats. PEAK EROTICISM.
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own. -
Somehow each one of the books in this series has managed to be even better than the previous one. Such a delightful comedy of manners! Such distracting chemistry! Such an unabashedly absurd plot! Such a violent smashing of fruitcake!
...a look so wicked, he might as well as gone through and dog-eared all her pages.
And such wonderful, wonderful love of literature, present directly in the story (they are both soothed by their books, and he is bespectacled), in the witty dialogue, and in quotes/misquotes brazenly seized and tossed into the story at dizzying speed. I want to ply India Holton with copious amounts of tea and cake and inspect her pockets for daggers, as her prose is so wickedly sharp, I'm half in love with her myself, despite being neither witch nor pirate. Along with The Lady Janies' work, this series is a masterclass on how to write a madcap historical with a modern eye.
I loved the book, adored the ending, and can't wait for her new series featuring RIVAL ORNITHOLOGISTS in 2024.
4.5 stars
Audio Notes: I fear I'll sound like a deranged stalker if I heap more praises upon Elizabeth Knowelden's narration, but I'll just say she has in her armory a series of demented social laughs that made me burst into giggles every time they appeared.
*satisfied sigh*
*hugs all the books* -
Screaming! The Secret Service of Tea and Treason was everything I wanted and everything I didn’t know I needed. No one writes like India Holton–and I have never met a more immersive read! This regency romcom absolutely sparkles! It was tenderly strong, hilariously romantic, and deliciously steamy. A pitch perfect addition to this fantastical series! I loved it with all my heart.
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I devour and love every book India writes, and THE SECRET SERVICE OF TEA AND TREASON is no exception (thank you, Berkley, for my early reading copy!). The last Dangerous Damsels installment is brilliantly bonkers, romping fun—sleuthing shenanigans, explosive action, and most of all, radiant, romantic joy. I truly adored every page. Get this on your TBR!!
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Hiiiii!!! It’s me!!!!
I’ve been away for a million years because I was lucky enough to get to go on my dream trip to Italy, which was wonderful!!! However, while I did get to read a bunch of romance novels on train rides, I did not have the time to write anything about them. So. Get ready for lots of late reviews!
The first book I read on the trip was the latest installment in India Holton’s Dangerous Damsels series, which I loved, as I did all her books. She has such a specific brand of humor and is so damn good at crafting wild romantic fantasy plots. I’m a forever fan.
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason is the story of Alice Dearlove and Daniel Bixby, the two top secret agents of the Agency of Undercover Note Takers (also known as A.U.N.T.), an intelligence group that recruits household servants as agents due to their almost unlimited access to, well, gossip.
Alice and Daniel worked undercover for years on several missions, and, while they never met face to face, they knew of each other’s very impressive resumes and created a very real rivalry in their own minds. They constantly tried to best each other’s achievements and competed on everything.
As the book begins, the two agents are finally formally introduced – which induces lots of heart palpitations, certainly due to anger and not to attraction – in order to partner up on their most important mission to date: they must uncover a secret weapon which is going to be used to assassinate the queen.
Oh, and the undercover identities they will have to take on are – you guessed it – husband and wife.
Obviously, there is nothing better than watching characters who hate each other have to fake affection and sleep in the same bed (or couch) for Romance Reasons. It just speaks to my id. I mean, there’s just no other way to complete the mission, you know?
Also, seeing Alice and Daniel have to join the societies of pirates and witches introduced in the previous books in order to find the weapon was so wildly fun. Those characters are hysterical and I had such a blast seeing what they were up to. We also get pretty substantial cameos from Cecelia, Ned, Alex and Charlotte (and their offspring), which I loved.
India is a master at hilarious, quick-paced dialogue and yearning. Everything about this book was unexpected, and such a joy to read. It really warmed my heart. ❤️ -
two rival spies come together to save the queen with a little helping hand from a fake marriage and the pirates and witches we have come to know and love throughout this trilogy.
agent a, alice, is the top operative within A. U. N. T. (agency of undercover note takers) where she is tasked with espionage to taking care of those within wisteria society. never seen without her trusty dagger and embroidered handkerchief, she is soon assigned to the assassination case, not alone. in comes agent b, daniel bixby, alice’s rival and newfound partner under fake matrimony. together, under the identity of a married couple, they must foil the plan, whilst ignoring the very required feelings they have for the other.
common with literature, but not always successful, is how an author will create a story to picture and to immerse yourself in. india holton succeeds thoroughly. her historical romance novels are always fun and witty with an adventure to remember. the romances are the heart, more so here than before, as backstories are delved into giving us further desire to root for our spies, fighting against the obvious - their feelings.
i could have consumed the secret service of tea and treason and the wisteria society the characters inhabit forever. i hope this is not the end.
- 4.5 stars! -
Kingsmen/James Bond vibes but make it period (aka dresses with bustles) and have the definition of being in service to the Crown LITERALLY be "in service" where the agents actually love doing housework & tidying. Then mix in our coterie of house flying pirates + intervening witches and here we are in this sadly final instalment of what has been an absolutely bonkers series that has entertained me to no end 🤣
I have seen others describe these books as Monty Python inspired (with which I wholly agree), they are each utter romps where nothing can be taken seriously and the amount of tongue in cheek'iness had me legit snort laughing out loud as I read the shenanigans and interactions unfolding on page. It took me some time to warm up to the writing style in the
first book, but by this final offering I was ALL IN and am so sad to leave this band of misfits behind 🤪
We met the MCs that take center stage in this instalment in the
previous book, but 🤐 because to say more than this could spoil the enjoyment of the previous book if you have not read it yet...c'mon what are you waiting for?
The the backstory India weaves for them alongside the main storyline easily made this my favourite read of the three 🥰
The cameos we're gifted with were a hoot and a half as our MCs have to pose as a married couple to infiltrate a Piratic House party - yes you read that right...the houses may or may not all fly in for the occasion with sporadic spots of battle canons deployed and all sorts of other new and energetic house party games partaken in as the event unfolds.
The "big bad" of this instalment lets it down a smidge, but honestly I lowkey think it's supposed to as having gotten into the spirit of Ms Holton's stroytelling I wouldn't doubt her 100% doing this on purpose lolz
Please don't sleep on this series!
Pick it up and the come back and chat with me in the comments for my reviews and/or lambast me for crowing about them 🤭 -
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
This series is over and I'M SO SAD! I don't want to say good-bye to these characters or this world. I have loved every single book in this series (all were 5-star reads!) and I can confidently say it's one of my most favorite romance series.
This book in particular was a delight. It's so fun, but that's not surprising at all. India Holton is an incredible writer and I want to read more from her. I'll be following her future career with gleeful interest!
Bixby and Alice 💓 UGH, be still my beating heart!!!! These two kids had me laughing, crying, smiling, laughing some more....I loved them so much. I think I highlighted half the book to be honest.
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India Holton confirmed on Instagram that this book is going to be about BIXBY and I'm SO PUMPED. -
What we have here is a spy romance written in Holton's inimitable style. It takes a little getting used to, but now that we've read two Holton books we know what to expect: witty turns of phrase, bonkers situations, and referential prose. We are 100% certain that we didn't catch all of the references to other works, but it also doesn't matter.
Alice Dearlove and Daniel Bixby (Agent A and Agent B) work for the unacknowledged government of Britain: a spy agency that seems to make up about two thirds of the "belowstairs" population. From the perspective of a servant, it's much easier to influence the decisions of the ruling class.
At the beginning of the book, Alice and Daniel are asked to go undercover as a married couple of pirates and infiltrate the Wisteria Society. Why? Because one of the pirates has let it be known that they are going to attempt to assassinate Queen Victoria with some kind of secret weapon. Alice and Daniel must find the weapon and the prospective perpetrator and prevent the assassination from taking place. And if, along the way, they happen to fall in love, it won't have any impact on the outcome of the situation... will it?
This has been our favorite of the series so far, perhaps because our protagonists are spies rather than witches and pirates. Alice and Daniel are out of their depth among the outrageous Wisteria Society. After all, they've been trained all their lives to be the perfect servants: unremarkable and yet incredibly competent. Seeing them navigate a relationship while also completing their investigation and fighting against their spy programming was a real blast.
3-Word Summaries:
Meg: Tough love - undercover.
Laine: Seriously…. Him?...... Him.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel. -
I would, quite metaphorically, follow India Holton everywhere (not literally because that would make me a stalker). Her books are so... sparkly and full of magic, the proof of this being that she has excellent prose that is hilarious, the clever references to other books, the most electric romances ever with the perfect amount of pining, and the greatest absurdist mix of flying thieves (they're all thieves) and kissing thieves.
I think that has always been Holton's greatest strength: she doesn't write very, ahem, traditional romances, but you can tell she loves and believes in whatever she's making, and that simple fact makes me love her work too. Not to mention I've never read books that balance fun fantasy and romance in the same way she does and in the exact same way I love.
This is quickly turning into a love letter, because I seem incapable of writing a simple gushing review. So! Out of the three in this series, my favorite things about The Secret Service of Tea and Treason:
1. Clever cameos. There have been so many book series that just throw in old characters for the sake of nostalgia, but Ned and Cecilia and Aunt Darlington! are all there for a purpose in the plot. So that makes me happy.
2. The backstories of Alice and Daniel (who I still keep accidentally calling Bixby in my head). I loved that they came from such oppressive, terrible backgrounds, and seeing them share that same history and fight it is so worth it.
3. Just being in this world again. *heart heart eyes love love*
3.1. WHY DO THE COVERS KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER? Whenever I see a new one, I'm convinced that they've reached the pinnacle of how pretty covers can be, and then the next one just leaves it in the dust. At this point, I'll never fall for any kind of book just based on the cover.
My only critique would be that I'll have to wait at least another year to read new Holton, and I. Simply. Would die. In anticipation. (Especially since she's released the title and the synopsis and an excerpt, and I am about to cry.) -
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ The Dangerous Damsels series is by far one of my favorite fantasy romance series. It's cozy, super fun, and romantic AF. You all should really read it if you haven't.
It's bittersweet to see it end tho! I will miss Cecilia, Charlotte, and Alice. The pirate, the witch, and the spy. HOW ICONIC! I love that you practically see them all in every single book lmao. Cecilia is that kind of legendary pirate who everyone is scared of and she married the goofiest, most sunshine person in the world. While Charlotte is a witch who fell for a notorious rake pirate! And then we have the newest add to the little friend group: Alice and Bixby. They're both grown in this academy that makes them emotionless in a way. They have never had a family, so they don't know how a family looks like. So, it's so interesting to see the story and their relationships develop during the book, because you can clearly see their heart open for other people, especially for each other.
This book follows Alice and Bixby, the two top secret agents of their organization, who are assigned a new mission to infiltrate a house party hosted by an evil pirate in order to save the Queen from being assassinated. But for the sake of the mission, they have to pretend to be married! They have zero clue how to act married, but it's so FUUUUN to see them figure it out. Kisses, hugs, even steamy moments!!! I love how they're like "why does my heart hurt when I look at this person? maybe i need to go check it out with a doctor, this is not normal!" It's so foreign to them, this new feeling, they question when they start feeling stuff!
It's such a good ending to a magnificent series. These books provide comfort and coziness. If you love romances with thieves, pirates, witches, spies, house parties that end up with guns and explosions, quests, cons, and falling in love with someone you didn't expect, this series is definitely for you. -
My autistic self appreciated Alice & Daniel very very much 🥹, but holy crap how come the book with autistic main characters got the lamest sex scenes oh my gosh?
All I want is to read about autistic people falling in love and then banging each other. Is that too much to ask?
The autistic representation in this book was absolutely wonderful and there was one part, in particular, that punched me right in the heart because it was so accurate for women with autism (Alice). Both characters in this book are autistic and it felt like I was getting a hug from them like oh my goodness Alice & Daniel my parents!!!
Where this book lost stars, though, was the lack of description in the sexual encounters, and quite honestly, the lack of consistent focus on the couple. Regarding the sex scenes: I know that India Holton doesn't do super descriptive sex scenes, but is it just me, or were they WAY less descriptive in this book? Like the sex just SUCKED (and there was no sucking in the sex in that way either).
Also: the pregnancy at the end (everyone has babies in this) and it just felt like the author was like "oh look! Alice and Daniel have a baby too because they can" and it's like yeah I know they can, but I don't need them to. Like as an autistic girl, I don't need to read about another autistic girl and guy having babies quickly after marriage to know that they fully have happiness or that they can "live just as meaningful lives (through babies) as their non-autistic friends." It wasn't necessary. Alice and Daniel give big "we like to stay inside and keep each other company and we kiss a lot and have tender sex" energy and that's all I needed. But no. Like Alice has just gotten used to sex and now we're gonna make her pregnant in the epilogue? No.
I will say this: Although this is still the best book in the series (and while I am used to the wit and humour in this series) so much of of the humour felt so unnecessary in this book. Like it was trying way too hard to be funny (in a tessa dare kind of way which I can't read because I find it so bothersome and cringe). -
India Holton has DONE IT AGAIN. I would read her grocery list, so it came as no surprise that I flew through this book and adored every second of it. The humor and literary references are on point as always, it’s deceptively emotional (my heart hurtssss for little Alice and Bixby), and the romance absolutely ended me in the best way. The spy angle was so much fun, and was a really fun twist on a fake relationship plot while still hitting all the notes you want from a false marriage. Also, the cameos!! I screeched every time Ned, Cecilia, Alex, or Charlotte showed up.
It was just too delicious. I can’t wait for whatever India Holton writes next.
CW: Sexual content, physical & emotional abuse, violence -
”I have no hobbies, Me Bixby.”
“Not even reading?” he asked, easily matching her stride.
“Reading is not a hobby,” she said. “It is a way of life.”
Honestly this trilogy by India Holton will forever go down in history as one of my favourites!
We sadly have come to the finale of the Dangerous Damsels trilogy with the absolutely amazing, hilarious and highly romantic The Secret Service of Tea and Treason and I’m honestly sad because I’m going to miss these characters and this crazy world India Holton has created.
We follow two rival spies who are assigned to work together to put a stop to the assassination of Queen Victoria. Alice Dearlove, known as the infamous Agent A, is a top operative of the Agency of Undercover Note Takers (A. U. N. T), a secret government intelligence group. They’re the maids, cooks, nannies and servants for witches and aristocratic ladies, gathering intel from gossip over tea and biscuits. Alice can do anything, be anyone with her ruthless composure and strict routines. So when she is assigned by her superiors to investigate rumours of an assassination plot, she jumps at the chance. Only she’s not working alone. She has been assigned a partner, Daniel Bixby (known as Agent B) and Alice greatest rival. And to make this assignment worse, they must pretend to be married! Scandalous, indeed!
Besides being hilarious and just absolute genius when it comes to puns, innuendoes and literature references, the romance was a treat. The chemistry between Alice and Daniel was so apparent on every page. It was so easy to fall in love with their love. India Holton has stated on her Instagram that both Alice and Daniel are neurodivergent and I loved that she explored it within the two characters who displayed it differently. It connected them, made them closer because they could understand each other on another level. I loved the romance so much. It was adorable. Their flirtation in poetry, in Shakespeare lines and literature references spoke to my heart. Their mutual love for books was beautiful.
This book was so crazy and so fun and I loved it with all my heart.
India Holton is one of my all time favourite authors! I’m so excited to read her next book in a new series: The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love that’s coming out this year! -
This third book is the final one in the series, and is in many ways as good as the first two, if not better. I think though that I actually enjoyed the first one, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, the most simply for its novelty. The entire series is a madcap romp of pirates, witches, flying buildings, and more similes, metaphors, and paradoxes than is seemingly possible. As a reader I've adapted somewhat to the zaniness of the reading experience by taking lots of breaks, otherwise my brain feels exhausted. This time though I felt restless by the abundance of it all - all of it! I wanted to slow down and pause and allow characters the space to slow down and reflect and engage with each other.
Alice and Daniel are my favorite couple in the series, probably because they are the most grounded in something akin to recognizable human behavior by the standards of their fantastical world. Both characters are spies for the secret service to protect the monarchy and both are deadly serious about their job. Through their eyes, we get to see the spectacle of this world as they are paired together to go undercover. Both characters also seem to be represented as autistic to varying degrees, and I really loved the care the author takes with them and the challenges they face trying to adapt as they work to detect a secret assassination plot to kill Queen Victoria. Alice especially struggles because she cannot often interpret human behavior that is unfamiliar to her. I loved the many scenes when Daniel has to point out the distinctions between literal as opposed to innuendo or colloquial communication. I found it intriguing too that Holton creates a romantic pair who are both on the spectrum. Neither have had successful relationships before, but together they feel understood.
I liked so many aspects of the story, but I also have a bit of an overall sense of disappointment that the relationship and characterization in general are secondary to the spectacle here. I'm hoping that next year with an entirely new series, the author tries something a bit different and I'm curious to see what she does now that this series has ended. -
Much as I loved the world India Holton had created and populated with interesting, powerful and funny women who find happiness both professionally and romantically, this book did not work for me. I know I am in the minority, as Holton's books have everything I should love. Unfortunately, something about this book just did not work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review. -
A rivals to fake marriage to lovers historical romance with flying houses, pirates & witches!
This series is so much fun. I loved Bixby in the previous book and this story did not disappoint. Also, this book was chock full of cameos that made my heart happy! Give me all the Ned, Cecilia, Alex, & Charlotte moments. Honestly, the entire supporting cast of feuding pirates and witches are amazing. So many funny moments!
The witty banter between Bixby and Alice, their sizzling chemistry, and the many angsty moments between them had me hooked. I loved that Alice was neurodiverse and Bixby was so in tune with her needs. I adored their back story and was genuinely rooting for their happiness, away from the Agency. It was so sweet to watch them battle their emotionless upbringing and embrace feelings/emotions.
This one is filled with over the top moments that will have you laughing, emotional moments that will make you swoon and some steamy moments too. If you enjoy quirky romances - I highly recommend this delightful series.
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What a delight to be lost again in India Holton's quirky world. Book 3 in her Dangerous Damsels' series, THE SECRET SERVICE OF TEA AND TREASON, is my absolute favorite and can be read solo, but I'd recommend devouring the first two for an even more wondrous experience.
I guffawed at Holton's laugh-out-loud twists of the pen (A.U.N.T., the British agency that protects the Queen, riffs on that old '60s TV show, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.") Charming humor is a Holton signature, as is slow burn romance, with phrases that hint at passion, sparking more fire than explicitness ever could.
As Alice and Daniel fake matrimony to save the Queen from assassination, I fainted from glee. Holton's newest in the now beloved series cements her as a must-read author for readers who love historical romantic fantasy with heart and wit. She's all that plus a steaming cup of Earl Grey and warm scones with jam and clotted cream.
One quibble: As I raced through this spirited romance, I could only think, "India, please write MORE scintillating stories that make readers quiver." In answer, she includes an excerpt of Book 1 of her next series, The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love, coming Summer 2024. Huzzah! -
Rovnako výborné ako prvé dve knihy. Humorné, inteligentné, so šmrncom. Tentoraz navyše autorka obohatila svoj svet aj o tajných agentov, ktorí napriek môjmu chvíľkovému skepticizmu skvele doplnili pirátky a čarodejnice.
Ach, táto séria mi bude chýbať. Ale plánujem sa k nej vrátiť. -
Thank you SO MUCH to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.
Hands down one of my favorite series of all time. I don't think any other historical romance will live up to my love for this series.
Since book 1, I've fallen head over heels in love with these characters and this world. India Holton built such a fun, quirky, and lovable world.
This book follows a secret society of undercover spies (Butlers, Maids, Cooks, and other employees who go unnoticed). We follow the top 2 spies in the organization as they try and infiltrate the Wisteria Society by pretending to be a pirate couple.
Just like in the previous books, these characters are witty, charismatic, and laugh out loud hilarious. Bixby's dry humor and likelihood to miss jokes makes him such a fun character to follow. The banter between him and Alice was everything I've come to expect and enjoy in this series.
But I think my favorite part of this entire book was the ending. The way Bixby fights for Alice broke me in ways I wasn't expecting (I cried. Through like 4 chapters). And on top of that, the final scene where all the characters came together... beautiful.
I'm going to miss these characters so much but I can't wait to see where India Holton goes next! -
This was just so great ugh I love these books so much. I hope India Holton keeps writing these forever because I will keep reading them forever
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I wish time travel existed so I could go back in time to when I decided to read this book and dig my eyeballs out with a spoon. I'm almost positive it would have been less painful.
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ridiculously wonderful!! one of my absolute favorite series and the ending was so perfect<3 deserves all of the stars ever actually
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The Secret Service of Trea and Treason is a soul-satisfying, cozy conclusion to India Holton's Dangerous Damsels series. Full of everything we've come to love about the previous two books, Alice's and Bixby's story is full of even more hijinks, pirates, magic, and romance, making for a bittersweet finale for these characters we've come to love!
India Holton lives in New Zealand, where she has enjoyed the typical Kiwi lifestyle of wandering around forests, living barefoot on islands, and messing about in boats. Now she lives in a cottage near the sea, writing books about unconventional women and charming rogues, and drinking far too much tea. You can find more of my reviews of her work here.
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 is immediately assigned to the case. But she is 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. Determine 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.
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason is probably the most-full of hijinks and shenanigans than the previous two books! There's a lot of navigating of different social situations—dances! croquet! hiding behind sofas!—making for a lot of interesting interactions between our main characters. The cast is full of those we've come to love—the two couples from the previous books make appearances, don't you worry—but also some new characters who make their mark just as brightly. Even though there's a lot going on in this mission, the romance takes centerstage always, and at its heart, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason is absolutely a love story.
Alice's and Bixby's romance is probably the most trope-y yet. There's fake dating/marriage of convenience, forbidden romance, only one bed, workplace romance, and probably so many others that I'm missing! They (mis)quote poetry to one another and their romance is so sweet, but what I loved the most was how vulnerable both characters were. It seemed to me like, at the very least, Alice was on the autism spectrum. While it's never stated on page if that's true or not, there was something extra vulnerable about their romance. Unlike in the other two, there was more care shown between the two characters as they learned how to navigate one another's needs, while also learning how to work together with the pesky thing called attraction. I love how the vulnerability and the heart of their romance didn't disappear behind the euphemism and the jokes and the (mis)quotes (even though those things are all fun and exactly what I love from an India Holton romance!).
Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn’t gush over the (mis)quotes and the cameos. I think that's what makes this series so special—India Holton is able to entirely carve out her own space in the romance genre, making a unique little world where characters are literary and think and speak in (mis)quotes, where the intention of magic is debated while earrings are stolen right off lobes, and where characters can reappear and make for truly tear-inducing epilogues. I am bereft that this series is over, and the only thing keeping me afloat is knowing that those characters and that world exists in these three books, that I can reread them over and over, and that they will always have their happy ending.
And! That we get more India Holton books soon! I simply cannot wait to read The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love, and you can bet the second it comes out I'll get my hands on it and have a review to share. Until then!
*This review can also be found on my blog, toreadornottoreadnm.blogspot.com* -
4.5 stars
This was such a fantastic read! I think League is still my favourite, but I really enjoyed the rivalry between Alice and Daniel and how that changed through their mission. There were some truly funny scenes - a pirate conga line, I loved it!
I did find this a little slower in some spots, and while I adored the epilogue for the amazing friendships and HEAs, I just wish there was something a little different than the traditional romance epilogue for all of the couples. (I'm trying to be vague for no spoilers haha) Anyways, I will happily pick up India Holton's next books!
TW: violence, gun violence, emotional abuse, emotional abuse, sexual content, kidnapping, hint at pregnancy -
This series is unmatched when it comes to leaning into the fun silly worldbuilding. I love that about this series, and I will keep an eye out for anything new by this author because I think this was the final book in the trilogy.
I think out of the three couples, I actually liked these two the most. I feel like they´re the most distinct, as the other two couples seem more similar. I also just really enjoyed this spy aspect, it was fun.
Just a fun ride, honestly. Solid four stars. -
Thank you to Netgalley and The Berkley Publishing Group for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. It does not change my opinion in anyway.
When I got the offer in my mail box to read this book for review, I hesitated only slightly. The reason being that this is book 3 in a series. However I should not have worried. While they are written following a timeline, each book follows a different couple. It is very easy to follow without having read any of the previous books.
The thing with these kind of books is that they are very over the top. And they are meant to be. The characters are always a bit on the very stereotypical side or very naive on certain things. But that doesn't make them flat. India Holton manages just fine how to still create threedimensial characters that you like and want to follow. But it is a good point to know before going into these books. Don't take it all too seriously. They certainly don't.
I had quite a grand time with this book which has created a very interesting alternate history with pirates that commandeer flying...houses. Yes you read that right. Houses. It is because of a certain spell that they can use them to fly and live in and fight with. Because aerial fights between flying houses are a thing in this world. I know. So exciting.
As for the romance, for the most part I liked it. They were both so clueless on so many different levels. Always having worked for others and never do anything for themselves, its made it hard for them to see what is right in front of them. But both fit very well together.
