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!

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.

Romances filled with action and adventure have been becoming a favorite of mine lately, so I was thrilled to receive a copy of this new book from Carlie Walker!

Max is a doppelganger for the prime minister of a small European country, and when the CIA makes her an offer she can't refuse to pretend to be the prime minister on vacation and draw out the assassins targeting her, Max is immediately in danger. Oh, and her handler is her ex. Can he keep her safe on their Italian vacation?

This was such a fun read! Max is a complete fish out of water trying to live the prime minister's lifestyle, and there are definitely hijinks and hilarious side characters to balance out the assassins and danger. I'd love to see Max's antics on the screen, as this would make for such a fun movie or show!

The second chance romance is a slow burn as our characters get to know one another as adults and learn to trust and rely on each other in a dangerous situation. They truly feel like a team once they realize that their best option is to get along, and this book had the perfect blend of adventure and romance!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advance reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This was such a fun book. I am here for all the spy romances I can read. Add in a trip to an Italian resort getaway? Sign me up.

Max is a look alike to the prime minister of a small European country. So the CIA asks her to be a body double on a vacation because the prime minister is being targeted by an assassin. It will be easy, they said, Just lounging by the pool, they said.

This is action packed and such a good time. I side-eyed literally every single character and suspected all of them. Read this book for the everyday person becomes a spy storyline. It's more developed than the romance.

But the romance was still quite sweet. It was a second chance love story, and that made the fast pace work for me in a way that a first time meeting would not have. Flynn is Max's CIA handler, and sparks fly from the very first moment.

Stephanie Nemeth-Parker did an excellent job narrating the whole story and adding to the intensity and excitement through the emotion her voice conveyed.

4.5 stars rounded up

I’m easy to please. Give me a Vespa, a second chance romance, spies, a quirky side character or two, and a gorgeous setting and I’m all in.

Max and Flynn were such a fun couple. I love a forbidden/bodyguard romance and I loved how his book had a doppelgänger element as the catalyst for the story. Their second chance reunion was a bit more action than romance, but it fit the story perfectly.

I loved The Takedown, so Code Word Romance has been a highly anticipated 2025 read. I thought it was a great blend of action and romance, and the fast pace kept me engaged from beginning to end.

Grab your ranch dressing and your kindle and dive in!

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the #gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker is an entertaining second chance, high stakes, forced proximity, and secret identities with a bit of mystery, an identity switch and assassins that was filled with humor and lots of action.

Max Adams was living her dream when she opened the restaurant of her dreams to raves, but they were destroyed when the pandemic hit. She amassed a huge amount of debt trying to keep the doors open but ultimately failed. Slowly trying to rebuild her life, Max gets an offer that could solve all her money problems, since she is the perfect doppelgänger for the Prime Minister of Summerland. She expected to be able to relax in Italy, not being thrown into the deep end of having to evade assassins and fake her way through international diplomacy; all while being stuck with her maddeningly attractive ex, Flynn Forrester, now a CIA agent.

Packed with Vespa chases, assassination attempts, Ms. Walker combined romance, comedy, and suspense, all set against the Amalfi Coast. There were plenty of twists and turns in this book with the romance portion being secondary to the action and suspense. The secondary characters were an integral part of this story, adding depth and dimensional factors.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
# NetGalley # BerkleyPublishing

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

This book is like if The Lizzie McGuire Movie were for adults, and those adults were actually in the CIA, and Isabella is a foreign prime minister instead of a pop star, and Lizzie is a body double standing in to foil an assassination attempt, and her CIA handler is actually her ex-boyfriend/summer fling from high school that hasn’t seen her in over a decade but never fell out of love with her. That is the exact vibe of this book. And if that intrigues you, then this might be the book for you! 😉

Code Word Romance is the story of Margaux Adams, or Max as her friends know her. Max has always dreamed of being a chef and owning her own restaurant. Unfortunately, after making that dream a reality, COVID hit her business hard, and she had to close, leaving her in major debt. When a suspicious woman in a trench coat comes knocking and makes her an offer she can’t refuse, her life gets flipped upside down. All she has to do is pretend to be the prime minister of a small island country for five days, and she’ll get five million dollars. She can pay off her debt to her friends and family and maybe even re-open her restaurant. But there’s a catch … this prime minister is currently the target of a major assassination plot. The CIA assures her that this will be as easy assignment. Spend a few days on the Amalfi Coast in Positano, Italy, then a few days in Rome pretending to be Sofia Christensen while they draw out the assassin, and all her money problems will disappear. But things are not always as they seem, and the plot on her/Sofia’s life may go deeper than even the CIA knows. That is not to mention her super sexy handler who also just happens to be the boy who broke her heart when she was 17 … what could go wrong?

This book was so cute!! I actually loved it, which is unusual in a second chance romance for me. It’s actually my least favorite trope in romance books, but this one did it so well that I didn’t even mind. The premise of this book is so cool. How fun would it be to have a famous doppelgänger? And to work with the CIA? Anything cloak and dagger like that has always been so fascinating to me, and I love reading about it. Asset x handler was a pairing I didn’t know I desperately needed in my life, but I did! Now was some of it wildly unrealistic? Ok, yeah sure. But isn’t the whole point of reading to escape your world and suspend belief for awhile? I digress.

Flynn and Max had such good chemistry! It was so fiery and palpable. I was rooting for them so hard. Flynn totally had “touch her and die” vibes and actually had the skills to make good on it. He had that whole mysterious, CIA thing going for him, too. It was so obvious that he was still hung up on Max after all those years, and there is nothing I love more than a man who pines 😮‍💨.

Also, I am so obsessed with Calvin, Max’s quirky roommate who always happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He truly made this book laugh out loud hilarious with all of his antics.

This really was an adorable read! I would compare it to a Katherine Center novel. It would be the perfect book to take to the beach or sit by the pool with. A little romance, a little action, a little spice. Picturesque, European beach scenery. We loooove. I highly recommend adding this to your summer TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley, Carlie Walker, and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!