✨ Review ✨ Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker; Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

After her restaurant failed during COVID, Max is struggling financially, emotionally, socially, etc., so when the CIA offers her $5 million to be a body double for a prime minister, she jumps on it. When she arrives in Italy, she finds her handler is her first and only love, Flynn, and he trains her and accompanies her on her mission.

This is full of fast-paced Italian undercover adventure! As Max stumbles through her role, she finds more challenges than she had expected. On top of that, she struggles with her renewed atrraction to Flynn. This is the best sort of second chance romance!

🎧 The audio was a fun way to enjoy this fast-paced adventure! This is the perfect beach read for summer!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Genre: romance
Setting: small-town Maine, Rome and Positano, Italy
Length: 9 hours 53 minutes
Reminds me of: It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier
Pub Date: March 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ fast-paced narratives about spies and people undercover
⭕️ second chance romances
⭕️ Italian settings
⭕️ adventurous vibes

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || CODE WORD ROMANCE [thank you to PRH Audio and Berkley Romance for my #gifted copies!]

Title: Code Word Romance
Author: Carlie Walker
Genre: Romance
Format: audio
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Narrator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Narration: ★★★★☆

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
Oh my gosh, my spy romance loving heart could not get enough of this one! It’s sort of like I fyou mixed James Bond with the Lizzie McGuire Movies but added in a little more steam and assassins. And I was here for it!

I really enjoyed seeing the character development of Max in this one. She’s a girl (likely a millennial, because aren’t they all) who’s a little down on her luck after her restaurant fails and she’s not sure what she’s supposed to be doing and has lost a lot of her self-confidence.

But enter the CIA and thrust her into a life-or-death scenario, and suddenly she’s realizing that she’s capable of so much more than she’s settling for (with a little help from a dashing CIA handler, obviously).

If you suspend disbelief and read this one for the fun and adventure of it, I know that you’ll love it as much as I did!

🎧 The audiobook was really well done too! I thought that Nemeth-Parker really captured the duality of Max — both as the lost girl she was in the beginning and the confident woman she became. Her male voice for the MMC was pretty spot on as well. All in all, I’d highly recomment this format if you’re looking to pick this one up!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Tiana Smith (THE SPY AND I, MR. NICE SPY)
Spy Romance
Opposites Attract
Second Chance Romance
Bodyguard Romance

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.89⭐️
# of Pages: 320
Pub Date: March 18, 2025

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the review copy. This was such a fun read! This story had the perfect blend of action and romance so that neither one overpowered the other. I found myself smiling as the two struggled their way through their second chance at love. I highly recommend this.

Code Word Romance was a fun read filled with laughter, second chances, and a bit of an action adventure-esque storyline.

After starting over when her restaurant unexpectedly went under, Max gets a surprise request from the CIA—to go undercover as an influential prime minister and pose as her on an Italian getaway for a considerable amount of money. But when she accepts the offer, she discovers that she has to work in close quarters with her ex, who left her heart broken.

This reminded me of a grown-up version of The Lizzie McGuire Movie but with more action. I loved the second-chance romance with a bodyguard twist in this book. It gave me butterflies and with a name like Flynn, you can't help but swoon! It was lighthearted and fun and would make for a perfect comedic action-adventure movie.

3.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Max receives a job offer that is a combination of intriguing and exciting even if it may place her in danger. The fact that she looks like a political figure that is being threatened is the only criteria. Besides the danger the only downside is that the man who broke her heart is also responsible for protecting her.

Flynn knows that working with Max will be a challenge, but he has a job to do. Spending time with her only reinforces the feelings he has always had for her especially when the increasing danger will force them to revisit their past and decide if this will be their second chance or if they are destined for heartbreak once again.

This story is an adventure that includes action, humor and a romance that rekindles under less-than-ideal circumstances.

4 A Good Second Chance Romance Stars!!

This is my first book by Ms. Walker and it’s a great introduction to her writing. I was thoroughly intrigued by the premise and wasn’t sure if it would work. I’m here to say it did work and throughout this book, I was chuckling while Max and Flynn get the second chance neither of them ever expected to happen.

Max is a woman that has an uncanny likeness to the British PM and when the CIA comes to her with an outlandish request, she wasn’t sure what to do, until they told her there was $5 million dollars in it for her… that made it impossible for her to say no to as she’s in debt up to her ears. Little did she know that while she’s gallivanting around Italy, her ex-boyfriend will be her bodyguard… let the fun begin.

I loved how this story developed and that the chemistry between Max and Flynn still existed making their spending all that time together even more intriguing. There are moments of levity that broke the tension and as they grow closer together, what’s at stake becomes even more suspenseful. This book kept my attention throughout the entire time I was reading it and I really loved Ms. Walker’s writing. This is a book that is a must read if you’re looking for a story with undeniable chemistry, suspenseful moments and wonderful second chance at love.

This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

f you are looking for a fun, light romance with a bit of danger, Code Word Romance is a great pick! Max is a dead ringer for a Prime Minister and she is hired as a body double. Oh and her handler, Flynn? He broke her heart years ago. This was fun and an easy weekend binge read for sure!

What a ride this book was! Thoroughly entertaining, adventurous and action-filled, I just love this fusion of adventurous romance/romantic suspense. Also, Code Word Romance mainly takes place in Italy and majorly stirred up the wanderlust feelings within me. I really loved Carlie Walker’s, The Takedown, and I am happy to say that this book was just as good! I binged it in one day because I couldn’t put it down and loved the concept of body double and bodyguard plotline.

4.5⭐️
2🔥

Quick Breakdown

Second Chance
Set in Italy
Espionage & Suspense
Body Double x CIA Agent
Only One Room
Single POV
Open Door - Mild

Down on her luck Max is offered the opportunity of a lifetime - use the fact that she looks nearly identical to the current Prime Minister of Summerland in order to protect her from credible death threats while on vacation in Italy & she’ll walk away with 5 million dollars. The surprise is her new CIA handler & ridiculously hot bodyguard, Flynn, who just so happens to be the boy who broke her heart years prior.

Always a fan of bodyguard romances, I ate this up. I loved the unique premise - it played out like it was straight from a movie. The action had me equally hooked as the romance, which as a second chance romance is an impressive feat. From the premise & setting to quite hilarious secondary characters, I was sold!

Jumping between the ebook & audio, you’ll enjoy this one in either method. Code Word Romance is narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker - my first by her, but hopefully not my last. She did a fantastic job bringing this book to life!

Put this one on your beach read TBR & thank me later!

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Berkley Publishing Group.

Two exes. One mission. A trip she will never forget.

Max is just your average girl. She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt and just happens to have an uncanny resemblance to Europe's youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen.

So when the prime minister receives a credible death threat, the CIA approaches Max with a a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister's annual Italian trip.

It would be a dream if it were not for those pesky assassins and Flynn, Max's ridiculously hot handler - the man who broke her heart years and years ago.

With her life now on the line, Max knows she has no choice but to lose herself in the role. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that is a risk that she is not willing to take.

Code Word Romance had such a unique premise, which I have never read before. It was the perfect balance of a high stake spy thriller and second chance romance. It was just done so well and I had so much fun reading this one. I loved how Max stepped into her role as playing prime minister. And the plot is easy to follow and moves quickly. There is enough mystery and twists to keep you on your toes. The only thing is I did like the romance, but I wished there was more. I wanted more connection between them and I think some flashbacks of their time together would have been really helpful. Overall, Walker nailed this one with the balance of action, humour, and romance, making this read feel like a rom-com meets an action movie, which I would totally be down for a movie like that. If you love anything spy related and a romance set in the Italian summer, definitely read this one. This book would also be the perfect summer read.

Rating: 3.5/5

This was just the right amount of action and adventure, witty banter, romance, and friendship. I had so much fun listening to the audiobook and felt like I was right in on the plot too. Flynn is fantastic as the hot CIA agent handler and Max is perfect as a civilian lookalike decoy. It reminded me of the movie Spies Like Us, but with a romantic twist. Max's roommate is hilarious as the stoner that doesn't seem to be aware of much, but surprises everyone eventually. This love story is the perfect read to lighten your day and have a bit of fun.

4.5 stars - this book was such a delight. Even though the entire premise was a bit implausible, I had the best time with this book. Max was a really fun main character, I enjoyed her point of view and her reactions to the different situations she was put in somehow felt believable and realistic. I absolutely loved the dynamic and tension between Max and Flynn, the forced proximity was delicious and their relationship was somehow both hot and tender. Absolutely would recommend this one for a fun, fast and delightful read.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

4 stars.

"Code Word Romance" by Calie Walker is a blast of a story! It's an espionage suspense thriller with a second-chance and forbidden romance mixed in for good measure. I found this book to be snappy and fast-paced. It engaged me and kept my interest from start to finish. The story might be fairly farfetched, but that's spy novels for you! I liked the characters a lot, especially Max. I found her to be wholly relatable and well-rounded as a character. The doppelganger aspect involving a Sofia, a prime minister, and Max, was entertaining and even had its moments of hilarity. It took me a while to warm up to Flynn as the main male character, but once I did, I got fully invested in his story. Max and Flynn have a lot of chemistry and red-hot, sharp-tongued banter between one another. I liked learning about their backstorie, though I did absolutely *hate* his nickname for her. I laughed out loud on several occasions and even gasped a few times, too! This is a high-stakes, bullet-flying thriller with a good balance of exhilaration, heat, passion, intrigue, and romance. Great writing, a really fun read. I liked it a lot!

Thank you to NetGalley, Carlie Walker, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect going into this one, but it turns out romcoms and assassination attempts are a solid combination. I really enjoyed this one. I thought it was fast-paced and fun while still keeping you on your toes.

I love a spy romance, and while our main character isn't technically a spy, I think being a body double counts. This was a really fun read between the second chance romance, faking being a prime minister, and all the action of thwarting assassination attempts meant for said prime minister. I enjoyed the mystery of it all and was engaged with romance too. Definitely recommending as a good beach read!

This was a fun and fast paced second chance romance. It was quirky and silly at times, but I thought it balanced the action well. Sometimes the reason for the separation tanks the second chance trope for me, but this one worked. Max and Flynn were so young when they were together, that it was understandable that things would turn out the way they did. I liked that they got to know each other again as adults and readers were able to see the connection that brought them together in the first place. I will admit though that the second chance trope could have probably been omitted from the story completely and I think it still would have worked as a forced proximity/bodyguard romance. The ending was very sweet and this one left me with a smile on my face.

The narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker was wonderful! I was very impressed by all of the different accents and voices she used to differentiate the characters. Overall, this was an entertaining and fun romance!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

CW: financial concerns, threats to safety, assassination attempts (knives, bombs, car chases, guns, etc)

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

Thank you to @berkleyromance & @carliewalkerauthor for the free #gifted copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Code Word Romance
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Carlie Walker
𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 320

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Margaux (Max) had lost everything after the pandemic…her restaurant/job, her home, her close relationships. It broke her when she lost her restaurant. On top of that she couldn’t find a chef job anywhere and resorted to work for a catering company UNTIL she was contacted by the CIA for an undercover assignment that could change her life forever! Flynn is her handler/bodyguard and happens to be her teenage ex-boyfriend surprises her when she gets to Italy for the assignment. He tries to talk her out of it but the five million dollars would fix all of her problems!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬:
• Second Chance
• Romantic Suspense
• Fake Dating
• Forced Proximity
• Undercover Spy Mission
• Italian Getaway

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
• It’s full of action!
• Safe word “pesto”
• Lots of bullets & sparks flying!
• Great side characters
• All of the sass and banter!
• The Ending!!! I LOVED it!

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I really enjoyed this book! It was super cute, full of twists and turns. Just when I thought I knew who the bad guy was, something happened and I changed my mind. It did get a little silly at times but I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good romantic suspenseful story! Carlie is a new author to me and I can’t wait to read more books by her!

This book was such a fun and unique read! A woman is approached by the CIA to act as a body double for a world leader—only to find out her bodyguard is none other than her ex-boyfriend. The action and mystery kept me on my toes, while the romance added a sweet touch. I would have loved to see more of their second-chance history (which is often my complaint with this trope), but their current dynamic was charming. The chemistry and banter between them made for a fun contrast to the high-stakes plot, making this an enjoyable read overall!

The first thing that I have to say is I don’t like the CIA butting into my life or the main character's life. I find it a bit rude to interrupt my life for someone else who looks like me. It’s a hard no. I don’t like it at all, especially for the main character, Max.

Second thing, why did I have a feeling that Max Handler might be familiar? And I was right. It’s Max’s former love from years ago. Talk about heartbreak and betrayal all in one. That will be hard on anyone on any day. I feel for Max.

Third thing, we have a second chance trope in this cute cozy mystery book. And why do I feel so heartbroken for Max? She literally didn’t think she would see her former lover again after so many years. Now, he is her handler. I think it’s a good thing because they both have feelings for each other that need to be addressed. Best to get closure than to linger on.

Fourth thing, the roommate! I don’t know why, but I love him. He is one of a kind. The way he is so unserious yet determined to save Max is just perfect. I need him as my roommate.

Fifth thing, the comedy throughout the cozy mystery book had me going. There were so many moments that I laughed out so loud. It made the read lighthearted while the main character, Max, was trying to stay in character and stay alive. 

Last thing, I had a feeling who was behind it. You always have to trust your gut. It’s always someone you know. Always.