This world is fun but can be hard to stay immersed in with the absurdity. I also found the characters somewhat underdeveloped and like the pirates had lost any sense of actual purpose.

Such a cute romance. I loved the characters loved their story. The chemistry was cute hot and on pointe. Cannot recommend this book enough.

This was an absolute delight. Think Bridgerton meets Kingsman, but with witches, pirates, assassins, and perfectly chaotic British wit. The romance between two secret agents pretending to be a married couple while undercover is equal parts slow-burn and ridiculous—in the best way. Holton’s prose is clever, the pacing is spot-on, and I laughed out loud more than once. The stakes are both high and hilariously absurd, and the emotional payoff is so satisfying. A new favorite in the Dangerous Damsels series, hands down.

A.U.N.T. is a spy organization, its acronym standing for Agency of Undercover Note Takers, naturally. The group is populated by those trained dually as servants and spies, intent on keeping order in a world overrun by the chaos of witches and pirates. Alice Dearlove and Daniel Bixby have been anonymous rivals in the organization as its top two agents. She works as a lady's maid and he as a butler, but now the two will take on a pair of new roles-- that of husband and wife-- to stop an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria. Both have the classic "I work alone" routine down pat, so this is an unwelcome development despite the tension crackling between them.

I can't decide if I think that this book is trying too hard to be funny. One aspect that I believe was meant to be cute and silly, but which I found grating, was how oblivious our protagonists (supposedly the smartest and best of spies) were to obvious clues. I'm not talking about the sorts of missed cues we can attribute to neurodivergence, either (more on that in a moment). I mean overlooking the overhanded pirate usage of spy puns in every conversation. And attributing suspicious behavior to the general suspiciousness or unlikability of a suspect, making it unworthy of specific attention. How are you two the top agents of anything?? So, anyway, a more relaxed individual might find these missteps fun rather than exasperating... I'm just a bit too tightly wound, perhaps.

On the other hand, this book's quite a bit hotter than I remember the first two being. And I think the latter half worked better for me because it's more romance-heavy and less about the humor, though that's still present. We also get more on the history of our characters and see how they tick beyond the surface level. Alice, in particular, has some strong neurospicy energy. She takes things literally, has trained herself to comprehend others' facial expressions, hates messes of any sort, is exhausted by people-ing, and is oblivious to innuendo. And then there's her distaste for light touches, which has a direct impact on how she experiences intimacy and how she would like to pursue it.

The broader story, once you get past the jokes and even the spicy romance, is about how our protagonists are both basically brainwashing victims who get the opportunity to come up for air. It's not obvious to them at first because they're so exactly cut from the same cloth (by design). But they have this shared childhood experience of conditioning that's led to years lacking in relationships or a real life of any kind. Only by seeing each other clearly can they start to understand how unfair it all is. Something you take for granted for yourself feels wrong when applied to a loved one.

A final and maybe weird opinion I have is that a slapdash attempt at found family is worse than skipping the trope altogether. I believed in Alice and Daniel as a unit. It was their supposed friend group that felt convenient rather than real. Add to that a series epilogue where all the couples of the trilogy show up with babies, and I'm not about it. Maybe it's the childless dog lady in me, but that just feels so... ick.

Where I land on this one is that the second book in this trilogy is still far and away my favorite. That being said, I think this story warms up to something really heartfelt and interesting, and I was surprised and delighted at how hot things got, as well. I think that readers who are already committed to the series' humor as a whole (I've always been a bit skeptical) will be excited to find more of the same here. These protagonists add a lot to the series, and I'm glad I read their story. Thanks to Berkley for my copy to read and review!

This book is best described as a romp. India Holton combines fantasy, historical romance, and laugh out loud comedy in a way no other author does (trust me, I've looked). I look forward to her future books.

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton is a delightful blend of humor, romance, and chaos. Following rival spies Alice and Daniel as they embark on a fake marriage to thwart an assassination plot, the story is rich in witty dialogue and quirky characters. The chemistry between the protagonists develops through their comical escapades and shared vulnerabilities, making their journey both entertaining and heartfelt. Holton's prose combines elegance with absurdity, crafting a whimsical world that's perfect for readers seeking an escapist adventure​.

Fun read! If you like rivals to lovers, romance with quirky characters, some fantasy thrown in, and great banter, this one is for you. I do recommend reading the others in the series first to up the enjoyment but it's not strictly necessary.

I'm sorry it took me so long to read this book! The divine silliness, clever dialog, and appealing characters mace me so happy. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

I love this series, the whole thing just makes me chuckle, the world is inventive, the characters are quirky. And maybe Alice was meant to be read as neurodivergent?

I’m in my Regency Romance era this year, and I’m loving it! My recent read of THE SECRET SERVICE OF TEA AND TREASON was so fun.

🎧I paired the book with the audio, and loved reading this way, and found myself transported back in time with such an entertaining read.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-enemies to lovers
-regency romance/Historical Romance
-witty banter
-neurodivergent rep

*many thanks to Berkley, Netgalley and PRH Audio for the gifted copy for review

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this fantastic arc!!

5/5 stars!

India Holton does it again, and I am SO HERE FOR IT!!! This book is full of everything I love and more - regency romance, forced proximity, fake dating(well, marriage), hilarious characters, magic, and pirates! Love love love love love!!

I love these books! India Holton has created one of my favourite worlds to jump into and I love that we get to see old characters flit in and out of the story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

This was a fun read! Follows the same tone and style of the previous books in the series/universe. If you enjoy funny, smart crime-fighting and enemies to lovers, then you'll love this easy read. I think the best comparison is that this is a more wholesome and magical "Kingsman: The Secret Service."

I will happily continue to purchase this series for my library, as it's such a clever and committed twist on Regency and romance tropes. I still feel that the first entry was the strongest, with the clearest tracking of the plot and character development amongst the absurdist elements. However, the broadening of this world to include neurodivergent MCs is welcome and valuable.

One of the hallmarks of a good India Holton book is absurdism, and The Secret Service of Tea and Treason is quite the Barbenheimerian book. Alice, or Agent A, is a top operative in a secret government intelligence agency assigned to stop an assassination plot with rival spy, Daniel Bixby (Agent B). Posing as a married couple, they infiltrate a pirate house party and their explosive intentions. Charms, tea and heinous crime weave together in an elaborate—and entirely absurdist—romance novel.

This book was delightful from start to finish! I just love the way India Holton writes these books, they’re so charming and funny. Both Alice and Daniel were so loveable, and it was great to see some favourite characters again.

India Holton does it again. What a fantastic finale to this series. The tension in this novel was dialed up, the dialogue was witty (and banter-filled) as ever, and the cast of characters (old and new) were jumping off the page. I especially love the neurodivergent representation in India's books. It's not common to have that available in historical romance, so it is firmly appreciated from this reviewer!

I haven't read much of historical romances, really like this one hope to explore more .

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

I haven't read the first two books in this series, but this one was super cute and I didn't feel lost at all! The characters are fun, and the banter is perfect!! A delightfully fun read!

When Alice (Agent A) is paired with Daniel (Agent B) for an assignment with the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, their assignment is to infiltrate a pirate house party. However, pretending to be husband and wife is proving to be harder than they anticipated.

The Dangerous Damsels series is super fun, and this one didn’t disappoint! The situations Alice and Daniel found themselves in were ridiculous but still romantic. If you like quirky and historical, you’ll enjoy this!