REVIEW: A Spy’s Secret by Rachel Astor

In A Spy’s Secret by Rachel Astor, bakery owner Ava Katz has become a beloved person in her new town of Ambrosia Falls, but she’s hiding a secret, even from her best friend, author Zach Harrison. When suspicious things start happening around town, Ava believes her past is coming back to haunt her. After Zach’s daughter becomes a target, she has no choice but to confide in him. But will their friendship and budding romance be able to survive the truth?

I enjoyed this book, but I did find it to be a bit unrealistic at some points. For example, when Zach finds out that Ava had been a spy, he acts like she’s told him that she’s run a bakery for her whole life. I would have expected him to have more concerns about it, but what does he do? He joins her on her mission to find his daughter, even though he has no experience in such things, and Ava lets him. It seemed like a big risk for Ava to take, considering Zach had no idea what to do or how to handle the situation.

That being said, Ambrosia Falls is filled with interesting and quirky characters, and I enjoyed the scenes involving the townspeople. They even seemed like they were trying to play matchmakers for Ava and Zach. Their romance blends in seamlessly with the suspense, and things between the pair develop naturally, instead of being rushed or feeling forced.

If you enjoy a well-written romantic suspense, the friends-to-lovers trope, and small towns filled with quirky residents, A Spy’s Secret is a book for you.

Book Info:

Publication: September 24, 2024 | Harlequin Romantic Suspense |

She’s wholesome as apple pie… Or is she? Bakery owner Ava Katz adores everything about her adopted hometown of Ambrosia Falls—especially her best friend, mystery writer Zach Harrison. But the bucolic setting is hiding something—or someone—more sinister. The Apple Cider Festival is threatened by a series of mishaps, and Zach’s young daughter goes missing—just as the spark between Ava and her neighbor begins to explode into flames. Has Ava’s mysterious past plunged them into danger? Can Zach solve the tangled mystery of just who his best friend really is—and will Ava find his child before it’s too late for them all?