Riley Collins hasn't had the typical childhood, she has missed out on the traditional experience, but at the same time has had some that are out of this world. She has a little blip on the radar and this sets quite a few things in motion. She is sent to the United States and must try to disguise herself as an American teenager while also completing a mission.

This was such a fun read. It was easy to get into and invest in Riley Collins and hope for her to succeed and maybe even get a few life experiences. I don't read a ton of YA partly because I just can't relate to the main character and I tend to get frustrated by them and their ways, but this one struck a great chord.

I loved that this was a boarding school book, but had a great twist with a little mystery and drama! If you are a fan of YA then you will love this one. If you are like me and tend to limit your YA reading, I think this one will be a good one off to enjoy. As a mystery reader, the way that Kes Trester put together the book was just right and the flow and the story were spot on.

Sell Me in a Sentence: If you love Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series and/or Alias, you'll also love Kes Trester's forthcoming Riley Collins series.

Short Summary: Riley Collins, daughter of a career American diplomat, is recruited as an agent by the State Department. Her mission is to watch over the daughter of a billionaire techie who is releasing a new intelligence system for the U.S. government's use.

Review: I had a really fun time reading this book! The plot was intriguing, although pretty far-fetched, and kept me coming back to the story. I immediately started loving Riley, the gutsy, whip-smart protagonist. Seeing how she would handle the various conflicts she was presented with was most of the fun.
I really enjoyed the way Trester described culture shock and high school friendships. I felt like Trester knowledgeably wrote about adolescent girls in 2017. I have just a tiny quibble: a section about Instagram's #mancrushmondays. I feel like most people only participate in #mancrushmondays to showcase their current partner or celebrity crush (and I feel like I can say this comfortably as a 22 year-old Instagram user, although I am no longer 17), but I digress...
This isn't one of my favorite spy novels, as I didn't find it particularly deep, but I would read it again just for the entertainment value it provided. When I saw that Kes Trester used to work in the movie business, I wasn't surprised because this book definitely reads like a movie. It pulls you in, particularly during the climactic moments. I would really like to finish this series and hope Trester releases the sequels soon! This is definitely a quick read to pick up in between "serious" (i.e. long reads or classics) reading. Levity and action-packed scenes will do you some good! 4.25 STARS!

Thank you Curiosity Quills Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

More 3.5

A Dangerous Year felt a lot like a mash up of two Ally Carter series, Gallagher Girls because of the boarding school setting and the MC being an undercover agent/bodyguard, and Embassy Row because of her father being a US Diplomat currently to Pakistan.

With its fast pace, compelling writing that’s easy to get into, and romance that doesn’t take over the story, the comparisons don’t end there, but A Dangerous Year feels unique to itself because of Riley. She’s quick witted, intelligent, knows how to take care of herself, strong and embraces her femininity. Hayden’s a great character too, she’s not how she portrays herself, she portrays the spoiled rich celebrity kid because she knows that’s what’s expected of her, but she’s a lot more than that which we saw glimpses when she began to trust Riley.

A Dangerous Year was a quick and fun read, but I did have some issues, firstly, most of the secondary characters could have been more fleshed out, I would’ve liked to get to know them more. Secondly, the conclusion and twists felt rushed, and I don’t know if some of the other characters will be back in the next book, but some things were left open that wasn’t to do with the cliff-hanger ending that looks like the next will be focused on.

All on all, A Dangerous Year also wasn’t what I expected, but it delivers a fun, light hearted spy mystery novel, but it fell short on the danger and suspense. If you love Ally Carter, A Dangerous Year is for you.

Finally, another book with cool teen spy action like Alex Rider, but with a super cool girl MC, who has an actual character and cultural history. Not to mention, I'm really really wanting her spy gadgets, if I can't at least have her fighting prowess.

This is a great mix of action, suspense, boarding school, snobby kids, and girl bonding, with good male characters too. Hot guys without insta-love, and actual character development. This is a gold mine.

I highly recommend. Can't wait for the next.

For those of you who've read: this is in the same spirit of Chris Bradford's BuddyGuards, or maybe a bit of Robert Muchmore.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (But seriously, this book is great!)

"A Dangerous Year" is a young adult novel. Much of the story was about Riley trying to fit in at school. From the title, I was expecting a story spanning a year focused on Riley protecting Hayden, but Riley only does this for a few weeks. Don't expect Riley to be a super-spy. She's given few instructions on how to do her new job, and she made common sense mistakes left and right. Things like getting very drunk or showing off that she can kick butt when she's supposed to be undercover. Her main weakness was an irresistible, hunky boy that Hayden warned her to stay away from. Riley's supposed to make friends with Hayden, but Riley forgot that every time she saw him.

Halfway into the book (and a couple weeks into the school term), Riley got a shipment of spy gear from home. She knew how to use it all (without instructions), and I was left confused: is she supposed to be a super-spy after all or are we supposed to be laughing at her mistakes? Well, she kept making basic mistakes and bad assumptions, didn't pass on information to her bosses like she was supposed to, put off looking into important clues, etc. I wasn't even surprised by the "surprise twists," but Riley sure was.

Don't get me wrong: it's a fun story and clearly meant to be humorous. But it's more teen high school drama than bodyguard detail. If you like that type of teen movie or TV show, then you'll probably enjoy the book. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language.

This was a high energy, high school spy story that grabbed my attention and didn't let go. I probably would have given five stars, but I thought the climax/resolution were a bit rushed, and I would have liked to see a little more development there. However, there is room for a sequel, which I will definitely read, and I know there will be a market for this title in my library, so it's a definite purchase. Thanks to NetGalley for the preview copy!

Sadly this book was not what I had hoped. :(

I am sorry, but the MC was just a bit too perfect. Oh fighting? Done. Dodging assassins? Done! Getting called for an important assignment because the higher ups heard about her amazing skills? Done and done... whut? Sorry, that really didn't set the right tone for me. Plus how the girl just didn't want to accept the mission. I thought she would be interested, but instead she wanted to stay with her daddy.

And it was just a bit too weird that those higher ups spend so much money on getting her dressed. Do they have some sort of magic gold reserve somewhere?

Plus I found it silly they didn't tell her a lot of details. They just told her a few things, and then just let her figure it out on her own. Like with what happened to Rose, why seniors weren't generally accepted.

The principal/director, urghhhhhhh. That is all I will say.... urghggg!

Ah, and the love triangle. One of my most disliked tropes in YA. Or anything actually, but it happens more often in YA. Can that trope please just die already?

Also it amazes me that the teachers didn't enforce the rules more, I guess they are too worried about their funding to care to educate those kids in proper dresscode. :P

So yeah, thanks for this book, but sadly it just didn't turn out to be for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and this publisher for allowing me to read this book in the new series.
First, let me say I would have given this book 5 stars, but at times the characters were just to unbelievable for me. I love the adventure and speed of the novel. Riley Collins is a great character for young women. She is positive, independent, and full of smart choices. She brings a breath of fresh air to the young adult spy series. Riley is one of the most realistic and relatable characters in this genre that I have read in awhile. She comes from a family that has raised her to think and act for herself, but at the same time she is still young and makes foolish choices. I liked that direction that this series seems to be headed in. This first mystery/adventure moved a little slow, but it was mostly for readers to get to know Riley while she learns to get out on her own for the first time. Great first book overall!

This is a fun, witty start to a YA series I want to read. The female main character is smart, strong and funny. The government access the characters have is a unrealistic, but close enough that it works for YA.

This book was lighthearted with a bit of action and suspense added in.

The main character Riley Collins is a young female daughter of an American diplomat who has spent her childhood and teen years moving around the world being brought up by her widowed father and the help of a gruff ex-army best friend. Riley is a well adjusted and fun character who knows how to look after herself.

The book starts off action packed where Riley saves a young female from attackers in the Karachi market place. You see that she is not someone you mess with! Due to this she is picked to work for the State Department and take up babysitting duty at a prestigious boarding school for the rich and famous protecting a daughter of a businessman who is building software that would change the course of the world.

You see Riley trying to fit into high school after being homeschooled and trying to do a good job as a special agent for the state department. There she meets some characters that you can't help but gore to like from
Von, Sam, Steff and Hayden.

Riley comes up against the bad guys at the end and one you aren't expecting!! Definitely read this book if you like a bit of action, romance and sarcasm.

Well written and an open ending for the next book. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will definitely be reading the next one.

20 Stars!!! Of all the books I have read this Summer I think this really is my favorite. This reminds me a little of the Gallagher Girls series. Riley is funny, snarky, smart, brave, honest, and a feisty. I cannot wit to read the next book in the series and I cannot wait until it is released on Amazon Unlimited so I can reread it. Riley, Von, Sam, Hayden, are just a few of the fantastic characters in this book. Once you start reading you do not want to stop.
Thank you NetGalley and Kes Trester for allowing me to read and write a honest review of this book.

**Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of A DANGEROUS YEAR by Kes Trester in exchange for my honest review**

GRADE: A-
4.5 STARS

Riley Collins, who grew up in the Middle East along with her diplomat father, has been tapped by the US Government to watch over Hayden Frasier, daughter of a software mogul. Attending school for the first time, particularly among Harrington Academy's elite, is only one of Riley's challenges. Endearing herself to Hayden may be even more difficult.

I hadn't expected A DANGEROUS YEAR, the first book in the Riley Collins series, to be such a gem. Riley personifies badass. She's tough, strong and socially vulnerable. Her inexperience with peers and the teenage experience makes her even more endearing. She doesn't always make the best choices, but what seventeen-year-old does? I loved her relationship with her father and his assistant.

Trester's crisp writing kept the pace steady, although I never felt a real sense of concern for Riley and Hayden. While one mystery was solved, the ending started another conundrum that I'm certain Riley will help commandeer. I can't wait to see what happens next.

A thrilling, fast-paced chase in the world of spoiled rich kids.

Lately I’m not really into YA stories but the synopsis of this one just fascinated me. Maybe because I loved Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The naturals series and this one somewhat reminded me of it. So yes with less enthusiasm that it would deserve but I started it. In the end I freaking loved it.

I adore the cover. It’s nothing really special or outstanding but thanks to the bright colors its quite eye-catching also I love when the small details on the cover has meaningful role regarding the storyline. I also find the headers and the rules in the beginning of every chapter creative and adorable.
The writing style is smooth, easy to read and engaging. The plot is awesome, thrilling, fast-paced. It’s full of suspense, intrigue, action and just a touch of romance. Seriously, once I started it I couldn’t put it down. Really the only thing that I can ‘complain’ about is that I would have liked a bit more investigating and actual action, but then it would mess up the dynamism if the story. Because however ridiculously the base concept of the plot sounds at first (secret agents choosing a 17 years old girl without real experience to work for them) , the way the author built up her storyline, not taking things over a certain line made the book more realistic, even believable.

I liked Riley character from the beginning. She grew up in a quite unconventional way and thanks to things she saw; experienced she has a different perspective of life than most teenagers. I loved how she handles herself in various situations. She is entertaining and relatable. She has a great moral code, she is smart, brave, resourceful but not without doubts or fears.
Even the secondary characters are amazing and well fleshed out. They all present a very wide range of personalities.

This was a marvelous, ineradicable read and quite honestly I can’t wait to read the next one. This book doesn’t exactly ends with a cliffhanger but you definitely left wanting more.

This is like an Ally Carter but a bit darker and a whole lot more diverse.

I love Ally Carter's books and this was just like that with higher stakes but the same spy missions and cute romances. We have a Pakistani MC who is an amazing female lead She's sassy, get's the job was done and logical. Can we have more characters like Riley, please? She's realistic, she makes sense and doesn't take crap from anyone, you can tell why she's just so AWESOME! She has this just wonderful relationship with her dad (YES FOR FAMILIES!) and Benson who is like this awesome other guy?

It's no secret I love spy books and this book does it perfectly. For instance
-fast-paced action.
-boarding school setting
-smart and tech savvy
-food appreciation as well!

you can just see why it's such a fun read! It's so easy to get into and the character arcs are quite good. I admit you have to wait a while for the action but other than it's an awesome book that you just need to add to your TBR.
Oh, and I can't wait for the next book since a whole new plot was introduced in the last sentence of the book so EEP! I just have a feeling it's going to be even more epic!

Thank you netgalley for the arc for an honest review!

And must I say that this book was so surprisingly good! It was fun, suspenseful, gripping, and I couldn't put this book down for a second. I connected with the well written characters and fell in love with this story and Kes Trester's writing!