Spies in Love

A Spy to Die For is the second book in the Assassins Guild series. Instead of a sequel, Kris DeLake cleverly decides to push two minor characters from the first book to the forefront in the same timeline. It’s more a take two on the events of the first book,  Assassins in Love. The set up is the same, two strangers working for rival organizations are thrust together by chance.

Jack Hunter works for the Rovers, a group of rogue mercenaries who refuse to join the Guild. Skye Jones is a by the book, no nonsense girl working for the Guild who raised her from a young age. But she works for them out of obligation as they took her in when her criminal parents took off. Neither of them are actual assassins, but the guys who research the mark and act as back up. Think the geeky characters on all the crime shows who see all the death, but rarely meet any danger. Nevertheless, both are cautious of who they open their heart and their bed to as they are spies for a living.

They meet on Krell, a dank space station with a greasy burger joint with ingredients you probably don’t want to know about but taste damn good. The assassins from book 1 both end up here in the middle of their story. This time around, we meet Jack and Skye slightly before their arrival. They bond over the food and hit it off, so much so they spend the night together. But the ever cautious and fatalistic Skye lies to Jack to protect herself. Claiming it was just a bit of fun. Inside both are totally smitten for each other, never had the other met someone they connected with intellectually and in the sheets. They go their separate ways, but while spying on a Guild assassin Skye learns that Jack may be in danger from the Rovers. Against the training of the guild but true to her morals, she rushes to his room to warn him. They are forced to escape in her swanky spaceship to an even more lawless sector to lie low. Together, they must piece together a conspiracy all while trying to fight their feelings for each other.

I rather liked the return to the events of the first book with this new angle. A Spy to Die For‘s characters are more hacker smart than secret kick-ass agent. They are thrown outside their comfort zone physically and emotionally, which is perfect for the alternating narrative format of the Assassins Guild novels. We get to see all their insecurities first hand and better understand what’s holding the other back. Of course in the end, their efforts are futile.Whether they are each other’s True Love as the cover claims is irrevelant to me. I simply enjoy reading about two characters navigating their feelings and desires. I’d recommend this book for fans of spy novels & space based sci fi romances.

Read my other #cbr6 reviews on my blog.