Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker is a fun, action-packed rom-com with the perfect mix of suspense and sizzling chemistry.
Max, a chef drowning in debt, is offered a life-changing deal: pretend to be Europe’s youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen, while avoiding assassination attempts. The catch? Her assigned bodyguard is Flynn—the man who once broke her heart.
I loved the blend of humor, action, and romance. Max is a strong, relatable protagonist, and her banter with Flynn had me laughing throughout. Their second-chance romance adds depth to the story, making their dynamic even more engaging. The spy training scenes were especially fun, and the Amalfi Coast setting added a dreamy backdrop.
While some parts felt a little rushed, the chemistry between Max and Flynn kept me hooked. If you love second-chance romance, espionage, and witty banter, this book is a must-read!

This was just what I needed! This book has everything. It’s hilarious, packed with action and suspense, and has a captivating second chance romance that had me rooting for Max and Flynn the whole way through. The writing is witty and entertaining, and I had so much fun following along on the adventure. I loved main character Max, she is endearing and unique, just like the storyline!

Read/listen if you like ⇣
•Rom-com
•Action-packed
•CIA mission
•Italian setting
•Second chance romance
•Fake dating
•Single POV
•Light spice

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the eARC

This book was really cute and kind of gave me vibes of Chasing Liberty/First Daughter vibes.

Max is recruited by the CIA to be a body double or a Prime Minister in a small island called Summerland. They happen to look exactly alike, and the Prime Minister, Sofia, is currently the target of an assassination. When Max accepts the job and shows up to Italy, it turns out that her handler is her ex and first love, Flynn. Now she has to not only avoid being killed, but see her ex for the first time in over 10 years.

Honestly, my favorite part of this novel was the action movie style with Sofia and Max and Flynn. I love the assassination attempts and trying to figure out who was after Sofia and why. I was a little let down by who ended up being behind the attempts as well as how it was figured out. But up until that point I really liked it.

I also did like the chemistry between Max and Flynn. It was interesting to see that they immediately picked up with their feelings from where they had left off, but I guess if you loved someone and never got closure those feelings could still be pretty close to the surface. I didn’t love the reveal for why their relationship ended in the first place. To be fair, I don’t love second chance romances so as far as that goes, the reason was fine. I didn’t feel like they had split due to reasons that were going to ruin a second chance. I was just a little disappointed because it was more of a “Really?” moment.

Max is an interesting character because she’s simultaneously a mess and really together. She knows what she wants but doesn’t quite know how to get it. I did enjoy her roommate because he was a bit silly. But at times that silliness went a little too far. At one point, he slips out of the CIA’s hands and ends up just exploring Rome and I don’t understand how the CIA could be that incapable.

Overall, the story was super cute. I was sucked in pretty quickly and wanted to know that Max, Sofia, and Flynn were going to be ok. There just were some parts that I felt could’ve been fleshed out a little more. I think if you enjoy early 2000’s bait and switch action comedies, you’ll enjoy this one. I just wanted a little more.

Code Word Romance felt like I was watching a movie. Part Knight and Day, part The Spy Who Dumped me. This is a fun quick read that makes me want to book a ticket to Italy ASAP.

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Thanks to NetGalley for providing a eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Flynn. Calvin. ☺️

I was worried this book would be predictable but there were so many scenes that surprised me! Flynn was a delightful MMC. Max made for an interesting FMC. Calvin was such a fun side character.

The hijinks that unfolded all around Max through this story definitely kept you interested and trying to figure out what would happen next. Anyone else want to throw a lobster at someone?

Carlie Walker has found her niche. She has cornered the market with action Rom-Coms. Codeword Romance is so fun, thrilling and action packed. This was a fun one, and I loved the Italy atmosphere

Max agrees to body double as a foreign prime minister to the tune of five million dollars and a stress free Italian vacation. Only it's not stress free and someone wants her (errrr the PM) unalived.
Her handler is none other than the one who got away which is confusing and a little painful but also a lot dreamy.
Carlie's debut The Takedown was such a joy to read, Code Word Romance immediately became a highly anticipated read for
2025. It did not disappoint. If you need a book to bring you joy, I don't think you could go wrong with this one. It's a romp (not serious) sort of high stakes Italian adventure but with paparazzi, pasta, and a high speed chase or two. I had a lot of fun reading this one while traveling myself!
Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.

Max is majorly in debt after her restaurant went under. When the CIA approaches Max to act as a body double for the Prime Minister of Summerland (whose life is in danger) for $5 million dollars, she says yes. She is shocked to find out her handler is Flynn, who she shared a summer romance with years ago.

This book had a little bit of everything. A romcom mixed with action and mystery. It was a quick and entertaining read. I really enjoyed Max as the FMC. She was brave, smart and fun. Unfortunately, the chemistry was lacking for me. A bit disappointing with the second chance romance trope.

This story is a mix of completely implausible events and great characters. Max and Flynn are wonderful, the additional characters are confusing, are they good guys or bad, colorful and interesting.

Did I say implausible? I'm repeating myself because that was a key word as I read this story. Max a nearly exact image of prime minister Sofia? Flynn, her ex, an agent for the CIA who just happens to need a double for Sofia. Some of the events that occur to these three are almost cringe worthy. Somehow, Walker managers to pull it all together, give almost believable explanations and make the entire story worth following. I found myself enjoying Flynn, Max and their relationship. Max is so hard on herself. Hard enough that she's willing to put her life at risk standing in for Sofia to earn the money to pay back everyone who supported her failed restaurant. She's also capable enough to actual pass herself off as Sofia when their ruse of laryngitis doesn't work. It doesn't take long for the attraction between Max and Flynn to rekindle but he hurt her badly. She needs some time to deal with memories while he needs to maintain a professional position. There is tons of intrigue and action which I enjoyed. And of course the happily ever after.

I can recommend this books to readers who like romance, suspense and can accept the story at face value. It was a good read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5

Max, an average American girl, who happens to closely resemble the prime minster of a small European country, gets recruited by the CIA to act as her double in Italy. Max is an incredible amount of debt, and doing this 'simple' job of vacationing at a luxurious resort will change her life for the better. The other bonus? Her handler is Flynn, a handsome ex who broke her heart many years ago. Once in Italy, things quickly turn and Max's life is threatened causing her and Flynn to grow closer and closer as they race around the streets of Italy, then across Europe to keep her alive.
Code Word Romance is light-hearted, romantic and full of fast-paced adventure. Overall it was a delightful escape and I will continue to read whatever Carlie Walker writes!

Out of desperation, Max agrees to work with the CIA unaware that she’d be partnered with her ex.

This was the perfect mix of action, humor and steamy romance!

I enjoyed the action pace that propelled this story forward. There was just enough suspense without being too much. The stakes were high almost the entire book but were able to come to a satisfactory conclusion.

More than once I caught myself laughing out loud. I loved the witty bite of humor throughout and her roommate was something special!

The romance goes through so many phases of awkwardness, bitterness and longing but it all worked together. This was open door but not overdone.

Second Chance
Suspenseful
One Bed
Funny
Fast Paced

Rating: 4/5
Spice: Open Door, 3/5

#bookstackcityreviews

Thank you @berkleypub for this #gifted copy!

🍕🍕🍕

This book was so much fun! I loved the set up and the premise, I loved the setting, and I loved the action. But mostly, I really loved watching these two characters fall back in love with each other. This book was so unique and I think it's the perfect vacation read!

Well color me surprised! I didn't hate this book! If you follow my reviews, you will know that I do NOT read romance books. No shade at all, they just don't interest me. I find the tense banter unrealistic and I don't enjoy reading sex scenes.

I picked this one up because the plot sounded a little more suspenseful and/or a little mysterious, and I am happy to report that it was! I liked the exciting plot of a decoy for a prime minister. I like the adventure in Italy parts! Overall it was really enjoyable!

I found Flynn and Max's relationship to be 100% realistic, their conversations with each other were real, not eye-rolling cheesy. I think this fact alone is what made me not dislike the book. It ended up being a very nice palate cleanser for me and I think this would make a great summer beach read!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker is a fun rom-com with an unexpected second-chance romance.

We’re taken on several adventures as we race through parts of Rome and try to stay one step ahead of the assassins. The prologue drew me in immediately, and the epilogue gave me excellent closure.

Max and Flynn are the leads, with a cast of secondary characters, and it is often hard to decide who to trust. Max was a restaurant owner in Maine, and she had to give up her dream during the pandemic. She has a boatload of debt and owes family and friends but can’t get a job in her field. She lives with a roommate who is a character but definitely comes through in a clutch.

Flynn is CIA and becomes her handler when she becomes a body double of the prime minister of a small country who plans to holiday in Italy. Max and Flynn had a summer romance in their teens, but they lost touch when he returned home to Texas.

The story has several layers, marked with twists and turns and red herrings. The CIA often fails to protect Max while playing Sophia, so it’s good that she’s so resourceful. The story has closure with a happily ever after back in Maine, but I wish there were a few more details regarding Sophia after the big reveal.

Code Word Romance takes readers through Italy with laughter, secrets, and surprises. Max and Flynn are likable characters, and I enjoyed the plot and adventure.

The review is on NovelsAlive.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

Max was living her best life. She opened the restaurant of her dreams to raves, but her dreams were stolen when the pandemic hit. She amassed a huge amount of debt trying to keep the doors open and ultimately failed. Slowly trying to rebuild her life, Max got an offer that could solve all her money problems. She just has to impersonate the Prime Minister of Summerland while relaxing in Italy and evading assassins. Easy peasy, right?

I was a HUGE fan of The Takedown, and I am a HUGE fan of Code Word Romance. Once again, Carlie Walker took me on an action packed adventure with extremely likable characters. My heart ached for Max. Not only was she mourning the loss of her restaurant, but she carried so much guilt over all the money her family and friends pumped into her business. She longed to make things right with them and was willing to risk her life to do so. Obviously, I was rooting for her, but I was rooting for the romance even more.

Could you imagine being tapped by the CIA for a mission and discovering that your handler was none other than your first love? This was a second chance that was many years in the making, and I was here for it. Flynn had a magnetic personality, and I was easily drawn into his orbit. My adoration quickly grew, and there was no denying that there was still a little something burning between him and Max. It was lovely getting to learn about their past while watching their bond grow anew in real-time.

I felt like this book had it all - action, adventure, drama, danger, rom, and com, and it was one heck of an entertaining ride.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Ms. Walker for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

This was fun! Definitely a good beach read (the cover is spot-on). Max is a failed restauranteur whose restaurant failed during COVID and who has been treading water ever since, desperate to repay all the money she borrowed from friends and family. The CIA approaches her about her uncanny resemblance to the prime minister of "Summerland," a tiny European island country in the Scandinavian area, who has been besieged with assassination attempts. Apparently Max is being recruited to be Sofia Christensen's body double during Sofia's annual vacation to Italy in an attempt to draw out the assassins and uncover who is behind the attempts.

Max overcomes her hesitation to get involved when the CIA offers her $5 million for the job - it would repay everyone she owes and allow her to move on with her life. Her handler, though, is none other than the guy who broke her heart years ago. Apparently he made an offhand comment about how a girl he used to know "looks just like Sofia" and things snowballed from there. Anyways, once Max has been dyed and plucked and educated (Miss Congeniality-style) she's off to Italy where things get really serious really quickly - both with the assassins, and with Flynn, her handler.

This was actually a lot of fun. It started off a little slowly but things sped up once Max touched down in Italy. The romance was a little muted but I actually liked that: who has time for romance when you're continuously being shot at, fending off attacks, and escaping from explosions? I kept thinking: this would make a fun movie. I particularly liked the roommate, Calvin.

This is not earth shattering literature but it was a LOT of fun. I will absolutely keep my eye out for future books from Ms. Walker. *4 stars*

I don’t read enough romance with suspense/action elements - this was so fun!

Max bears an uncanny resemblance to the Prime Minister of Summerland, and when she’s offered $5 million to be her decoy for one vacation, she’s all in. The small issue she discovers after? Her bodyguard is CIA agent Flynn, who broke her heart years ago.

In addition to romance, this one is full of twists and betrayals and nonstop action (and so many mentions of delicious Italian goodies!) and is such a great summery read!

Are car chases involving Vespas your thing? How about Italian beaches? Seeing the sights of Rome? Fighting with food? Thwarting assassination attempts? Well, then I have the book for you.

A chef, buried under mountains of debt, agrees to impersonate a young, European prime minister on vacation, only to discover that her CIA handler is the ex who broke her heart years ago.

This is the perfect book to throw in your beach bag or read poolside this summer. It’s second chance romance without the heartbreaking angst meets forced proximity goodness with a dash of fake dating and an Italian backdrop.

It's a ton of fun, and I highly recommend it.

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley. All review opinions are my own.

Another edition to this rebooted "romantic action/suspense" genre that I thoroughly enjoyed. This one totally kept me on my toes and was so original and fun. Equal parts action and romantic chemistry and steam. I still wonder if Sophia and Max are somehow related, but I guess we'll never know! I really liked this author's fast-paced writing style with just the right amount of description to put you right there in Italy with the characters without getting bogged down in it. I'm definitely going to read The Takedown now and her next novel when it's out.

The premise of this was more fun than the execution. Although predictable, I was hoping for a bit more fun and a bit more steam. Still, it delivers on its description and is a fast read. The setting could have been utilized slightly better but I think this book will work for a lot of readers. Good luck!

Code Word Romance comes out next week on March 18, 2025, and you can purchase HERE.
We swerve around a Fiat 500, whose driver has the audacity to obey the speed limit. Gail drives like she's fleeing the scene of a crime, paying very little attention to trivial things like stoplights, stop signs, or traffic laws. In the passenger's seat, I thread my fingers through the grab handle, holding tight. "Just thinking. Overthinking"
"Don't do that."
"Sorry."
"Also, don't apologize," Gail chides. "Prime ministers never apologize."
"Seems like maybe they should," I mutter, considering one or two in particular.