The details…
- Title: Integrity
- Author: E. J. Noyes
- Publisher: Bella Books
- Publication date: June 2, 2023
- Available formats: ebook, paperback, audiobook
- Ebook file size: 3980 KB
- Print length: 286 pages
- Audiobook release date: May 23, 2023
- Audiobook length: 9 hours, 42 minutes
- Audiobook narrator: Abby Craden
- Genre: Romantic thriller
- Themes: war crimes, espionage, government cover-up, falling in love
- Tropes: online dating, close proximity
The blurb from the publisher…
There’s a place for truths and lies, and sometimes you need both to get what you want. Lexie convinces the woman she’s only just started dating to “go on vacation” with her, hoping a constant companion and witness will keep Them at a distance, and the intel safe. But when she develops feelings for the beautiful and sweet Sophia Flores, she wonders if a relationship built on a foundation of secrets can ever work. That might not even matter, because when Lexie uncovers the truth, the price of it could be her freedom.
It’s an ordinary workday when intelligence analyst Lexie Martin learns about a horrific chemical weapon attack abroad. Just an ordinary day…until a stranger breaks into her house and warns her to forget what she saw and heard, setting off a chain of events Lexie thought only happened in movies. Falsely accused of stealing intelligence and unsure of who to trust, Lexie quickly realizes the significance of the intel, and that she must do everything she can to keep it safe. And as she runs—maybe for her life—Lexie knows she needs something, or someone, to help her.
Book One in the Halcyon Division Series.
My thoughts…
Noyes never fails to impress me with her talent. She is fearless in her storytelling, never hesitating to flesh it out and let the story take her where it will. Because she does, it feels organic to the reader. Scenes don’t feel forced. They work. Furthermore, they advance the plot. It all works to prove Noyes is a master at producing stories that are pure, indulgent escapism. Readers get so caught up in the narrative that it’s over before they know it and they’re a little disappointed that it has. However, a true Noyes fan always knows that the reread is going to be just as good, if not better than the first time through.
Such is the case with Integrity. Integrity is the first book in Noyes’s new Halcyon Division Series, and it is some top-shelf stuff. It’s a lovely romance infused with a fast-paced mystery, and it all makes for one hair-pulling ride. The romance plays a central role in the fabric of this story, and Noyes weaves it into the framework quite beautifully. Readers will love Lexie and Sophia’s chemistry. They are strong, independent women and perfect for each other. Moreover, they are perfect for this series.
When I first cracked open the pages of this story, I wasn’t sure how Lexie and Sophia’s relationship was going to fit into the big scheme of things. However, Noyes surprised me; she’s quite clever with her romance plotting in Integrity. I thought the story was going to be all espionage/government cover-up/crooked politics. I kept wondering how the romance would matter to the storytelling as a whole. I shouldn’t have questioned Noyes’s intentions though. I should have known she’d reveal all in due time; she’s sneaky that way. In a delightful turn, Noyes uses the romance to strengthen the plot, and it plays out superbly. Readers are hooked by the spy action as much as they are the bedroom eyes being tossed about on the page. It’s lovely, and it’s engaging, and it leaves one wanting more.
Final remarks…
Readers can always count on Noyes for a first rate story and Integrity does not disappoint! Book one of theHalcyon Division Series is a fantastic beginning; I have no doubt readers are going to enjoy this journey and sign up for more. This is heart-pumping, non-stop, page-flipping fun, and one heck of a ride! My recommendation: don’t miss out!
Strengths…
- Well-developed plot
- Thrilling storyline
- Likable characters
- Exciting and fast paced
- Engaging romance
- Leaves one wanting more
This book is available from…
A bit about the author…
E. J. Noyes is an Australian transplanted to New Zealand which may be one of the best things that’s happened to her. She lives with her wife and the best cat in the world.
She started writing because she was bored and had “ideas” and thought writing might free up some brain space. It didn’t. Now she’s addicted and spends much of her free time bashing out words while more new words jostle for attention.
In her scant free time, E. J. scream-swears at computer games, tries to sleep past dawn, coos at her cat and works the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into conversation.
E. J. loves to procrastinate, so feel free to get in contact so she can read that instead of doing work. Here’s her links:
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