Cover Image: Loyalty

Loyalty

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Member Reviews

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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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"Loyalty" by E.J. Noyes is an exhilarating addition to the Halcyon Division Series, offering a gripping blend of espionage, personal turmoil, and unexpected revelations. In this installment, we follow intelligence analyst Lexie Martin, who, despite being touted as important by her superiors, feels anything but significant. Devastated by personal upheavals and professional setbacks, Lexie's emotional journey forms the core of this fast-paced narrative.Noyes expertly weaves together Lexie's personal struggles with the high-stakes demands of her work at Halcyon Division.

The strength of "Loyalty" lies in its intricate plotting and well-drawn characters. Lexie's internal conflicts and doubts are palpable, making her journey relatable and engaging. Noyes keeps the tension high, skillfully balancing Lexie's personal growth with the escalating dangers of her mission. The author's knack for suspense is evident as secrets unravel, and loyalties are

Overall, "Loyalty" is a must-read for fans of the Halcyon Division Series and a compelling standalone novel for those new to E.J. Noyes's work. With its blend of espionage, emotional depth, and surprising revelations, this book delivers an enthralling ride from start to finish.

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What a brilliant conclusion to an incredible series!
Intense, suspenseful to the end, tricky and also tender and romantic.
I love Lexie. Her spirit, her intelligence as well as her self-doubt and despair make her a favorite character!
In my opinion, “Loyalty” is the strongest of the three books.
If you haven't read anything yet, I hope I'm not giving anything away. It's too good for that and I'm trying to keep everything superficial.
Lexie has something very important to solve and her past makes her the crucial key.
If you've read the other books in the „Halcyon Division“, you know that Lexie isn't in the best shape right now.
Life itself is sad and recent events have been challenging.
Without Sophia in her life, everything seems bleak. But a new chance, interesting developments and some very interesting information about her past bring some light, distraction and eventually healing.
Reading this fabulous romantic thriller took a lot out of me.
Sleep, nails, and even dates with friends that I canceled so I could just keep reading.
Never mind, my friends know me too well ;))
E.J. Noyes is a brilliant author in my opinion and this series is one of her best works!
You can read this book individually, but it helps a lot if you know the whole story!
Thanks to the author for this brilliant book and of course for the ARC and thanks to Bella Books too! It was a pleasure!

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100% worth the wait! This series has been so good and Loyalty did not disappoint. I love a good sapphic thriller with romance, twists and mystery and this book delivers. As their story continues, Lexie and Sophia are both engaging and I have rooted for them throughout the entire series. Steamy, sweet and beautiful together.
Loved the arc and am so excited to hear Abby Craden bring them all to life!

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

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In the aftermath of a harrowing mission in the mideast, all Lexie Martin wants to do is recover. Instead the head of her agency AND Halcyon want her to unlock a critically important archive.

As she investigates that her 'ex' contacts her with news that raises even more questions....

First of all, I'm going to try to avoid spoilers, so will have to be vague.

Secondly, you could probably read this as a stand alone, but it works much better having read the others.

So, good solid read as I would expect from this author. I really liked Lexie and the others (spoilers) and I thought it wrapped things up in a satisfying way.

My only (overall) gripe is that you REALLY didn't need book two, other than to develop a certain character.

Anyway, 4/5 stars.

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Intelligence analyst Lexie Martin finds herself once again at the centre of a high-stakes game. As in the previous 2 instalments, the lines between loyalty and betrayal blur once again but this time the effect can be even more devastating. Lexie has been accustomed to being told she's crucial, yet when the time comes to prove it, she struggles with the personal implications of this ‘mission’. A weave of intrigue and suspense with a sprinkle of romance, Noyes knocks it out of the park once again. What a finish to this series! A must read.
Free ARC via NetGalley

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To say I’ve been waiting for this book since the last word of Leverage would be an understatement. I realized what completely draws me into E.J. Noyes’s books, the personalization and wit. I knew her books stood out as some of my all-time favorites, but reading Loyalty the lightbulb finally went off. The way she inserted these little sidebars with Lexie’s internal conversations and her speaking to the reader added that extra something to the story and has you feeling that much more connected to it. I was dreading the closer I got to 100% because I loved this series and Lexie’s character so much. Really hoping this isn’t the end of her story (and her story with Sophia).

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EJ Noyes does it again. This was a fantastic ending to the trilogy and I loved every minute of it. It kept me on the edge of my seat even after I figured out how it would all play out. The writing was amazing and the story kept me engaged through out the entire book, hell the entire series.

Lexi Martin is back from her sixth month stint overseas and is tasked with figuring out the passphrase for a hard drive that is most important as its believed she is the only one who can crack it. Lexi is still dealing with her breakup from Sophia and the clue she left, and just the writing is amazing.

I wish I had better words for how much I enjoyed this series. Noyes is an author to watch, no matter what the story is, it's always good. The pace, the characters, the suspense, the drama, the writing, it was all so good. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll leave it at that.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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