I went into "What the Bride Didn't Know" without having read the two previously published books in the series – this can be read as a standalone, but there were times when it felt obvious that I was missing ~something~ about characters or plots that are likely fun Easter eggs for those who have read the other two books. In addition, I was under the impression that this book would be about Trig and Lena posing as a newlywed couple while on an undercover mission – instead, it's about Lena developing amnesia after a traumatic event and believing that she's married to Trig and with him in Turkey on their honeymoon. Further, there is no "action" in this book, despite the fact that it's about a special ops team, even though the mission takes place in Turkey and is the search for Lena's brother, who has disappeared.

Overall, I was disappointed in this read – I had hoped for a book that married the action and romance genres. Though there were some fun, spicy, and funny moments, I wish that it had delivered a bit more on all fronts.

2.5 stars

A short, good story but not what I was expecting. The story reads a bit cliched with some steam and the ever-popular amnesia element and a friends to lovers trope. The writing was good, but I think this story would have benefited from more content. I hardly recognized the connection between Trig and Lena. They were friends, then faked being married and then they ended up together, yet I didn't get a sense of them being deeply connected to pursue a romance. In any case, this made for a quick read in between ARCs.

Thank you for the opportunity to read What the Bride Didn't Know. Unfortunately, I did not download the book before it was archived in February 2014. I do not plan to finish the book.