This is the third book in the Halcyon series and you absolutely must read the previous two before starting this one. It’s basically all one very long story. I re-read the previous two before diving head first into this one. You don’t necessarily need to re-read because Noyes is kind (and smart) enough to start each new instalment with a nice recap. I wish more authors would do that for a series. It doesn’t take away from the story as it is absolutely in line with how the story is told and it definitely increases reading pleasure.

Obviously with it being a third book I can’t say much about the story itself without spoilers. I love Lexie’s dry wit and her passion for her job. I think I did get a little tired from reading about how much she loves her country more than anything and does everything for the good of the people. There is no mistaken where here loyalties lie.

All in all I’d say this is another strong one by Noyes, might be the favourite of this series, so far. And I do hope it’s so far because we could go on many more adventure with Lexie and all the fun secondary characters

Really good book. I've read all the books in this series and this is by far my favorite. This book dealt with more of the espionage and intrigue more than the romance between the two main characters.. I loved all the action and secretive clandestine spying, and code breaking. It was all very well done and written. Lexie and Sophia were great main characters and I'm bummed to see the end of their story. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

The final installment of not-a-spy Dr. Lexie Martin’s story. This book cannot be read as a standalone and you shouldn’t want to anyway. The whole Halcyon series is awesome! This end (but hopefully it’s not) to the story is everything you could want.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Super data analyst to the secret service, Lexie Martin finally knows why she is deemed so important by her superiors. Her father who died three years ago, wasn’t just a diplomat. No, he was an actual spy. His life’s work is compiled unto a secure hard drive and somehow Lexie’s boss is convinced she is the only one that can crack the code. Feeling she has some leverage she asks for Jeffrey Burton to help her with this new job. Lexie and Jeffrey spent six months living in close quarters in the midst of a terrorist zone and he eventually saved her life. The guy has earned her trust. That cannot be said of her boss, Lennon.

When Lexie runs into Sophia at a cafe the hurt of their break up soars. She is still very much in love with Sophia and agrees to get together to talk. What Lexie learns then is that her boss is the reason Sophia broke up with her out of the blue while she was shipped away on a nonsensical assignment. And it might not even be the worst she discovers about the guy she has trusted for 15 years.

The world of state secrets and international enemies is really intriguing. Like the first two Halcyon-books, this one is page turner. E.J. Noyes knows how to create a world that is riddled with mysteries and it’s very satisfying to watch it unfold. Who can you trust when the future of the country rests, once again, on your shoulders?

Lexie is almost a different person to when we first met her in book one. All the events that occurred have shaped her into an even stronger woman. Where she was first solely focused on her job, Lexie has now realized that her personal happiness is just as important and even makes her better at her job. That happiness is closely tied to the love of her life, Sophia. After book two I was heartbroken for them, so I was very happy to see their story continued. Lexie is determined to make their relationship work and that includes telling Sophia more about her work, within limits of course. The result is a deeper connection than they had before.

The characters in Lexie’s professional life are all familiar from the other books. I loved seeing Lexie and Jeffrey work close together again. Their relationship reminds me of siblings: there is hilarious ribbing and witty banter, but underneath lies a foundation of immense trust. Jeffrey supports Lexie’s drive to make her relationship with Sophia work. He enfolds them in his personal life as well, just like a big brother would do. As for the other people in Lexie’s professional life, let’s just say there will be a rude awakening.

Loyalty is the perfect end to the Halcyon trilogy. But! A little birdy was heard singing on social media, about this maybe not being the final installment after all. I, for one, would wholeheartedly agree we need more and more about Lexie and Sophia. Wouldn’t it be fun if they could, knowingly, save the world together? A girl can dream! 😉

Loyalty by E.J. Noyes is definitely a novel you want to read. This is the third book in the ‘Halcyon Division Series’, and you really must read all three of these novels.

All three of these volumes are filled with action, espionage, danger, thrills, and even a romance. It has everything you expect from an adventure-filled crime/spy series.

Loyalty doesn’t have quite as much action as the first two books, though it still has its share of excitement. I was really fascinated with what Lexie (the main character) had to go through to crack an important code her dead father left for her. The author did an excellent job describing the fine art of code-breaking.

If you love novels filled with espionage, spies, danger and love, then this book and this series is definitely for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

I don’t think this could be read as a stand alone, although the writer does do a good catch up if you are not going immediately from one novel to the next. In the last novel, which finished with me NEEDING to read the next, the romance although it informed reactions was not front and centre, this continues initially the same way. We are straight in to the blend story.
The last book I rated 4, because the story was obviously unfinished, and I needed it finished to know if I could round up. For this one 40% in and I find the blend plot moving slowly and the romance back on an even keel, quite quickly, which is a long winded way of me saying, there is no tension in either plot strand, and I’m not sufficiently back in the book that I am just enjoying all going smoothly for the mains, although immediately after the last book I would have enjoyed their respite.
Just after I wrote the above the blend plot ratcheted up and I was engrossed in a way I hadn’t been up till now (in this book). 3.5, higher than 3 for the last third.

I have been anxiously awaiting Loyalty since last May when I finished Integrity and was left with the cliffhanger of the note from Sophia in Lexie's drycleaning when Lexie was at her lowest point. At long last, Loyalty has arrived and this was a thrilling intelligence agency assignment that had Lexie paired once again with Jeffrey Burton, and this time at her request. They were charged by Michael Lennon with breaking the pass phrase on a protected drive that Lexie learns was left by her father, who died in 2021 along with her mother, in a private plane crash.

The book, which was quite well written, combines intriguing spy/espionage elements, along with solving a pass phrase, and a glorious reconciliation between Lexie and Sophia. This entire series was spectacular.

I received an ARC from Bella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️
I waited with great anticipation for the third book in the Halycon Division series. And E.J. Noyes has once again delivered. The third installment has a slightly slower pace than the first two, but it was no less exciting.

Lexie, the CIA intelligence analyst, is still recovering from her last overseas assignment and suffering from a broken heart. What will happen when she sees Sophia again? Is it possible to repair the relationship? At least her latest assignment is back at home. She has to find the password for a super important thumb drive by hook or by crook. But a few incidents and the behavior of a certain person make her a little nervous and suspicious, or is she just paranoid? Together with Jeffrey, she tries to get to the bottom of it all. What she discovers is very surprising.

I love the combination of an espionage, thriller, or crime story paired with a love story. The romantic in me gets her fill and the second strand of the story provides suspense and adventure. This is also the case here when Sophia and Lexie get closer again to find out which path their relationship should take. I liked how they were open with each other and communicated their doubts, secrets, and feelings. It's also fascinating, if maybe a little lengthy, how Jeffrey and Lexie work together and how they approach the task of figuring out the password. What Lexie finds out about her father is both depressing and positive. But all this and the uneasy feeling that creeps up on her are messing with her head. The tension increases more and more until things get really action-packed again at the end.

It is an exciting, entertaining, sometimes action-packed series about CIA intelligence analyst Lexie. Absolutely worth reading. This series must be read in the correct order.

I’ve enjoyed this entire series. This is the third, and according to the author, last for the moment, book in the Halcyon Division series. These books should be read in order as this concludes an overarching storyline. Intelligence analyst Lexie Martin is tasked with an assignment to figure out the password to a secure file created by her father. It has her reflecting on her relationship with her dad and her parents death in a plane crash. At least she is working in the safety of her Washington DC offices. She is still recovering from the physical and emotional fall out from her last assignment.

Sophia Flores wants to give their relationship another try and I love that Lexie wants to woo her. I like Sophia and was glad that she was more of part of this story than the second book. I’m ready to move on and read whatever Noyes writes next but if she wants to return to these characters in the future I will be interested. I’m not as invested in this series as much as her Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell series. Remember to start the Halcyon series with Integrity (May 2023). It was in my mind the strongest and most entertaining of the series.

I just finished book3 in this series and all I can say is WOW-it left me both feeling satisfied things worked out but also a bit down that it came to an end (maybe?). Ms. Noyes brought us readers along for the ride from the start with book1 and never let us down for a moment-with her foot on the accelerator and us holding on, Ms. Noyes never let up on the speed, the twist and turns or the ups and downs of the 3book road trip we were privileged to ride along with. If this is the last full story of Lexie, book3 gave me the satisfaction that everything will be ok in Lexie's world, which to me make a perfect series ending.

There is so much going on in this series that it will be on my re-read list and I know I will find something new again, which makes me just love the storyline of your not so much a love story as it is more of intrigue and suspense. Yes there is Lexie and Sophia and will they or won't they, but along with them you have the dark shadows working around them and Lexie navigating it all of who or what to trust.

Ms. Noyes has brought her readers a story arc that as a said from the start, will have you holding onto the 'oh sh#t handle' (more polite term being 'grab handle') on the passenger side of the car as she takes us for a fun ride.

Thank you Ms. Noyes and Bella Books for an ARC

I was very happy to have the opportunity to finish this series, and the third installment started with a bang. It ended with a bang too, but it was just the middle that fell a little flat. All I could think throughout the entire book was “Girl, you need to find a new job!” This was probably my least favorite of the series. The whole plot seemed a little disjointed. The romantic line was lackluster, but that’s ok, this book was more about the action. Except there wasn’t much action here either. It was much more cerebral than in the previous books. I think the idea was to wrap up the story in a nice little bow, but it seemed forced as if the story line took the path of the most resistance. I’m being a little harsh, because in all honesty, I enjoyed the book, I just had super high hopes. The entire series is excellent and I would defined read again and recommend. I would actually love to see the series carry on.

In this final book of the Integrity series, Noyes gives a good spy story. I’ve always enjoyed espionage books so mixing in a romantic sapphic angle upped the pleasure for me.

Lexie Martin is an intelligence officer working for the CIA and a secret spin off agency as well. Her boss in both organizations is Lennon who has known her since birth. Lennon and her dad were best friends back in their early days of working together at the agency. Her parents died two years ago in a plane crash. Lennon puts her on a top secret assignment to find the pass code to her father’s documents. Lexie requests her pall Jeffery from book two to help her unravel the code.

We also have Lexie’s ex girlfriend, Sophia, back and they attempt a reconciliation. Sophia is struggling with all of Lexie’s secretiveness and lies.

I liked the espionage and mysteries in this series the best. I would have liked more character development of Sophia and her point of view. And I felt that the feelings and emotions that lead up to their relationship were not detailed enough.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I recommend it to all my friends.

Loved this book. It is the third book in the series and looks like it is the final book. Please read the others before this book since it ties up the questions. Lexie works for an intelligence agency and needs to find the pass phrase for a protected drive her father left that has information about Russian spies in the US government. Lennon (her boss) is sure that Lexie can figure out the code but Lexie is not so sure. She is pushed and at the same time not pushed to figure it out. Lennon calls on her love of country, etc. I cannot go into too much detail without giving away the twists and turns. It will keep your attention and is a great story. I am a fan of this author and have liked the previous books. You will not go wrong getting this book. The story is engrossing, and the writing is great. Thumb up all around!

I received a free copy from Net Galley for an unbiased opinion.

The third book finally arrived, and boy, was it worth the wait, especially after the rollercoaster of emotions from book 2. After wrapping up Leverage, I was left breathless and feeling every bit of heartache alongside Lexie and Sophia. The writing is just brilliant. EJ Noyes has this knack for creating characters that feel so real and plots that keep you guessing till the very end. Loyalty doesn't hold back either—it's packed with intense moments, witty exchanges, unexpected twists, and a romance that reignited my heartbeat. Trust me, this book deserves all the praise it can get!

I liked this book much better than Leverage (the second one). This one seemed to dive in right at the start and take my interest. Sophia broke up with Lexie at the end of Leverage but Lexie discovered that Sophia had been forced into doing so. So will Lexie and Sophia make a go of it again, and if so will everything be the same? I was intrigued by the storyline about the pass code protected thumb drive Lexie had to try and decipher and how Lexie determines what her father has given her that will help with this.
I liked the intrigue and action and the interaction between Lexie and Sophia.

EJ Noyes does it again!!! An excellent ending to one of the best series I’ve ever read!

Thank you Bella Books for the opportunity to read an ARC

Third part and end of a truly entertaining and exciting series. Now with the perspective of having read the three books, which, warning, should not be read individually but in succession and in their proper order, I have to say that the first one was extraordinary and the other two, although they have been very interesting, have not reached the level of said first.

On this occasion, Alexandra and Sophia have a lot of interaction again, something that I missed in the second book, But in a more serene and formal way, without the vitality and spontaneity that they demonstrated in the first book. The hidden plot has been quite evident from the very beginning, although you never know where the threads of power are going to pull. But the truth is that in some parts I expected a surprise that did not come.

The trilogy as a whole is worthy of attention, so without hesitation I recommend that you tackle it.

EJ Noyes brings home this (apparent) trilogy with aplomb. The three entries read smoothly together as one story, and so you will definitely need to read books 1 and 2 in order to get the most out of three, although there is a page or two synopsis of the story so far. But if you’re tempted by this, then you are surely tempted by book 1!

It’s hard to say which of the three books I enjoyed more, since, as I mention above, they read seamlessly as one whole story. Book 3 thus picks up where book 2 left off, with Lexie discovering the surprising identity of one of her bosses. This time Lexie’s new mission is set in her offices in the US, after her recent posting abroad, and this allows us to enjoy how she and Sophia begin to repair and perhaps rekindle their relationship.

The Halcyon Division series is full of romance and relationship development between the leads that definitely pays off throughout the series and is full of neatly constructed organic development; however, much of the page time is given over to the suspense and thriller elements of the overall story, and this is very much the case throughout book 3 as it is for books 1 and 2. Fear not, romance lovers, as I’m sure you’ll be as hooked as I was into the analyst/spy arc. Ms. Noyes keeps the arc fairly simple, although that doesn’t mean you will guess what comes next, which means you can enjoy this element of the series without it feeling too taxing. And that’s why I suspect, along with the very well-constructed romance element, this will appeal greatly to romance lovers that love a good plot weaved into the romantic elements.

Indeed, I’m sure fans of the author will be as pleased with this as with Ms. Noyes’s other books. If you’re looking for romance with an engaging plot interlaced, then all three books of the Halcyon Division are likely to appeal.

A highly recommended five-star read, not only for this book 3 but also for the trilogy.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I really enjoyed the series.

The third installment in the Halcyon series is most definitely worth the wait! When I finished the last pages of Leverage, my breath left my lungs and I couldn’t take a full breath until I got my hot little hands on Loyalty. The sheer brilliance of EJ Noyes’s writing abilities is second to none. Her ability to create such rich characters and intricate plots (and twists) left me breathless. Lexie’s wit and sarcasm add such a delightful layer, one where I feel like she’s a friend whose life I am completely invested in. Leverage is filled with intense scenes, witty dialogue, twists, connections, and a swoon-worthy romance. I can’t give this book (and series) enough praise!

We all know that EJ Noyes is a gifted writer, with a back catalog of nothing but five-star books. Now we also know that she is also a brilliant tactician. I can't even imagine the giant white board covered with sticky notes used to develop the plot and the deciphering of clues in Loyalty.

The third installment in the Halcyon Division series was worth waiting for and then some. Lexie and Sophia reconciled, we spent more time with Jeffrey, Derek, and Lennon, and got to meet Jeffrey's wife Dominique. The project that Lexie and Jeffrey were working on was fascinating at every turn.

I tried, I really tried, to savor this book in sections to make it last longer. And then in typical Noyes fashion, "something happened" and I had to finish in one sitting. Wow. Cue the book hangover. Next up, read the whole series again.

The big finale of the Halcyon series
Lexie, intelligence analyst extraordinaire in one of the many US agencies, saved the world or at least the US in #1 of the series, in #2 she is send into a hotspot of terrorism in the Near East, now she is back home and confronted (again) with solving a big puzzle - again to save at least the US. Loyalty brings together the threads and the cast of the first two books.
I found the scavenger hunt to unravel the big puzzle, i.e. cracking a pass-word, entertaining and I loved to meet Jeffrey Burton again - he grew on me (and on Lexie) in book 2. The leisurely pace at the start is picking up more and more. Don‘t worry there is enough action coming around.
Unfortunately I read the blurb first (as it is meant to be) and had from the get-go a very good idea where the story and the relationship with Sophia was going. That spoiled the possible excitement of the unfolding plot for me as well as some pretty obvious plotholes which were IMO inconsistent with Lexie‘s/Jeffrey‘s characters.
The writing and the dialogues of Noyes are captivating as always. So if you want to see where it all ends you won‘t be disappointed. Leverage though remains for me the best in this series.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.