Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for the ALC! The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold was such an entertaining, fast-paced read, and I had so much fun with it! I don’t think I’ve ever read a spy romance before, but now I definitely need to read more.

I was hooked by the plot, but the romance was my favorite part. The main characters, Alex and King, are spies, and the book follows them in dual timelines. They go on exciting missions and are forced to work together (and pretend to be married!!!), even though they don’t like each other. There was so much tension between them, and they had banter that was witty and hilarious. There was also a scene where he takes care of her when she gets injured! That’s one of my favorite micro-tropes ever, and it was done so well.

Overall, I really enjoyed the dual timelines, which can usually be a hit or miss for me. I enjoyed seeing Alex and King go from meeting in spy school to working together on missions throughout the years in the past, and then being forced to team up again in the present after things went wrong between them. Sometimes I did feel slightly confused about whether they were in the past or present, but overall it didn’t really take away from the experience.

I loved the audiobook and I highly recommend listening to it if you get the chance! Both Andrew Eiden and Emily Ellet did such a great job bringing the characters to life and I really enjoyed their performance. They made the book so much more enjoyable, and really brought out the emotion and humor (and all of Alex’s sarcasm).

I haven’t read The Blonde Identity yet, but I have to change that immediately. It follows Zoe, Alex’s twin sister, who made an appearance in this book and I already love her! I can’t wait to read her story.

If you want a fun time with spies, enemies to lovers (and back to enemies, then lovers again), a witty FMC, and an incredibly entertaining plot, then you should read this! I can’t wait to read more books by Ally Carter.

The Blonde Identity series is just so much fun, and The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold kept that energy. Book one got me with its mix of spies, secrets, and banter, and book two came in hot, fast-paced, swoony, addictive, and impossible to put stop, with fantastic narration, and dual POV, it was such an easy listen.

Alex and King’s banter has always been a highlight, but what I loved most here was how Ally Carter peeled back the layers. We got more depth, more complexity, more reasons behind who they are and that made every moment hit harder. The payoff felt earned, and I was fully invested.

ALSO, the way this sequel weaves in flashbacks to their then and now gave the story even more emotional pull while keeping the spy/thriller tension high. And the glimpse into the start of their spy lives was so good. It made the whole series feel more complete.

This book has so many of the tropes I adore: enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, fake relationship, one-bed (yes, please), all wrapped inside a high-stakes spy thriller with second-chance romance vibes.

If you loved the first, this one will not let you down. A 10/10 rec from me, but when you grab it, buckle up and enjoy the ride, because it's a fun one!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult / Avon for the ALC in exchange for my feedback!

Another masterful spy romance from Ally Carter – I inhaled The Blonde Identity in one sitting and The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold was no different. Alex and King's relationship had me hooked from the beginning, and the mystery of who was after them was keeping me at the edge of my seat. I loved the cameo of Zoe and Sawyer and overall just had a great time listening to this audiobook. Is it too early to reread?

Thank you Ally Carter, Avon/Harper Collins, Harper Audio Adult, and NetGalley for the Audiobook (and physical) ARC! This was my first Ally Carter book in forever (GG Series) and it was an enjoyable one. I was living for the banter and had such a fun time Alex and King. I went back and fourth between physical and narration and simply just enjoyed being able to read from both versions. The narration was nicely done and I look forward to seeing what Ally does next!

I read The Blonde Identity before reading this and I genuinely had so much fun with both of them! I’m not even sure which one is my favorite because they’re both great! They have a little bit of everything. Romance, spy adventures, and a mystery. I really loved all of those aspects too. This one was also dual timeline and it was fantastic because it helped give backstory to the romance but also the mystery! It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s so much fun! I loved it from start to finish. I highly recommend them if you enjoy a fun mystery romcom.
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Andrew Eiden and Emily Ellet voiced King and Alex perfectly. Hearing Alex and King’s banter and chemistry come to life was the best. I literally smiled at the very last line in the book and I give credit to the audiobook for making that happen. It’s a fun book in general but the audiobook is really entertaining and makes it even more fun. Absolutely recommend.

From beginning to end this was such a fun ride! it grabbed me and didn’t let go until the fabulous conclusion.

It’s exciting, adventurous, suspenseful, funny, and had some great twists and turns to it. I adored the relationship between Michael and Alex. The banter, romance, and chemistry between them was perfection, and I loved how hard Michael fell for Alex despite how hard he tried not to. Alex was such a wonderful character. She’s so tough and fearless, but also has a vulnerability that makes her even more lovable.

I loved the dual narrative and thought both narrators were outstanding.

I genuinely loved everything about this story, and I’m hoping there’s more to come in the series!

Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperAudio, and Avon for the audiobook. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

A fun spy romp told in alternating timelines that unfortunately didn't quite hook me with the romance.

For the majority of the book, I just didn't feel any true chemistry or feeling between Alex & King. Their story is told in alternating timelines and we see them when they first met and throughout the years since. In the 'past' timeline, it takes so long to feel like these two are anything more than reluctant colleagues. In the 'present' they haven't seen each other in a year after Alex disappeared, and they wake up tied together with no memory of how they got there.

The last quarter definitely picked up for me, and I felt like the romance was so much better.

Despite being underwhelmed, I still believe this will find it's audience. I think I went in with certain expectations based on other early reviews, and it made me a bit of a harsher critic when they weren't met.

The audio is really well narrated and still managed to keep me entertained even though I wasn't as invested as I'd hoped.

This was such a fun spy romance! I've been such a fan of Ally Carter since I read the Gallagher Girls series and this one shows such growth in her writing style. I had so much fun reading the adventures that King and Alex would get up to. It was a joy and don't even get me started on the ending, I was squealing with joy because it was SO CUTE!!

So I listened to book 1 one and half years ago and it was soooo good!! So when I saw book two on netgalley I jumped on it ASAP! I absolutely LOVED the narrators! They were both excellent storytellers and I cant wait to hear more from them.

This action packed romance isn’t exactly your typical rom com, but it sure was fun to listen to! I love the banter between Alex and King (Michael) they are so cute together. The book does flip back and forth between previous missions and present time. And if you know me… im not a fan of ‘time jumping’ but It worked with this book for the most part.

AND THAT ENDING!!!!! 😂😅 you gotta read/listen to find out!!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
🩵Action Romance
🩵Spies
🩵Enemies to Lovers
🩵Slow Burn
🩵Protective MMC
🩵Dual POV
🩵Kissing only

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Alex and King have known each other for 10 years. And "knowing' each other really means they have worked together on and off for these years. They are spies, really good ones, but he leaves the the spy life and then falls in love with her. She doesn't leave the life, but she does hide out from EVERYONE. Now they are forced back together seemingly by accident, but will they be able to figure out what happened without killing each other?

I enjoyed this book. The spy storyline, different timelines, and interesting characters kept me on my toes! 4/5 stars! Thank you, Avon Books and Net Galley for the ARC :)

Thanks to Harper Audio for the gifted ALC!

That moment you forget Andrew Eiden is a narrator on a book and then your ears are instantly pleased... THE BEST!!! The Blonde Identity series is such a fun one and I've listened to both books at this point -- the narration by Andrew Eiden & Emily Ellet is just so fantastic! It makes the dual POV come to life and the storytelling so much better because you can just feel the chemistry between Alex and King. This is fun and thrilling with great banter and a spy puzzle and I highly recommend it!

i loved this so much! i cannot wait to go back and read book one! i really loved the narrators and this had me so hooked from the first chapter

This sequel to THE BLONDE IDENTITY just might be a unicorn in that I loved it even more than the first book.

It’s sexy, sassy, and delivering on all things espionage… the perfect combo.

While book 1 takes us on a sort of Born Identity amnesia journey with Zoe finding out that her twin sister, Alex, is actually a super-spy, Book 2 is all about Alex.

Told in alternating timelines, The Blonde Who Came In From the Cold follows Alex Sterling and Michael Kingsley III as they fight for their lives (literally and figuratively) and for love. The last time they saw one another was a year ago when Alex ran away from King and the CIA. Now, they wake up handcuffed together bruised and bloodied on the hunt for the mysterious person who put them there.

Ally Carter absolutely nailed some of my favorite rom-com tropes in this one and the sexy spy backdrop was just an added bonus. Think more Mr. And Mrs. Smith and less 007.

This is definitely a sequel that is not a stand alone and reading book 1 is pretty crucial to understanding what certain plot points.

I had so much fun with this one and will absolutely read whatever comes next in the series.

Thank you to Avon for the ARC of The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold. I absolutely loved everything about this one!

I haven’t read the first in Ally Carter’s Blonde Identity series (yet!), but now I can’t wait to dive in. This can be enjoyed as a standalone, though I’m sure reading them in order would make some details click faster.

From page one, I was hooked by the fun, fast-paced spy plot and the witty banter between the leads. The characters were charming, the action was sharp, and the chemistry was just the right mix of tension and playfulness. Ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, all collide when two rival spies wake up bloody, bruised, and handcuffed together, with no idea who’s after them or why. The only way to survive? Team up… without killing each other first.

I had such a great time reading this book and didn’t want it to end. If you’re looking for a smart, action-packed rom-com with espionage flair, add this one to your list.

This book was fantastic—the kind you can’t put down because every chapter pulls you in deeper. I loved everything about it. I read and loved the author’s holiday romance last year, so I went into this one with high expectations, and it absolutely delivered. The tension. The dual POVs. The dual timelines. The suspense. The angst. The setting. It all came together in a way that kept me hooked from the very first page.

At heart, I’ve always been a suspense/mystery girl, so when you combine those elements with a second-chance romance, it feels like the best of both worlds. And these characters—Alex and King—had so much heart. They wanted to hate each other. They tried to hate each other. But under all that friction, they cared so deeply, and watching them navigate that push-and-pull was delicious.

I loved how both of them were terrified of repeating the mistakes of their past, yet also terrified of letting each other go forever. I also appreciated how book one was woven into the story—through Alex’s sister and other familiar characters—even though I hadn’t read it yet, I never felt lost. That just means now I have to go back and read the first one. The pacing was perfect for the genre, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how they’d go from loathing to loving each other again, all while unraveling a mystery that tied everything together.

Alex is on the cusp of becoming a spy and is thrilled—until the night before training begins, when she meets Michael Kingsley. He tells her she doesn’t have what it takes and should just go home. Well, no sir. Alex takes that as pure motivation to prove him wrong. Fast forward ten years: they’ve been working together on and off ever since, often going undercover as a couple. Somewhere along the way, she realized she enjoyed it—because King challenged her like no one else. But a year ago, everything fell apart. She walked out on him after five years undercover, and he told her not to come back. Now, against all odds, she’s handcuffed to him in the middle of a dangerous situation. They have to figure out how they got here and why someone is keeping them alive long enough to find… something. And as they work together again, she remembers all the reasons she loved him—and why walking away hurt so much.

King has known the spy world his whole life—his father was a spy, his grandfather was a spy. But nothing prepared him for Alex Sterling. Over the years, they built something real, something that scared him enough to push her away. Now, after a year apart, she’s suddenly here, alive, angry, and still able to get under his skin like no one else. The anger, of course, comes from loving her. From wanting her safe. And from knowing he let fear ruin what they had. But this time, with danger closing in and the past staring him in the face, he’s determined to say the words he never did before.

I can’t say enough about how much I loved Alex’s snark—it’s the perfect mask for how much she truly cares for King. I loved how they balanced each other’s insecurities, how they tried to resist but couldn’t, and how the romance unfolded naturally alongside the spy plot. The tension was addictive, the spy elements felt fresh, and the mix of romance and mystery was so well done.

The audiobook experience for this story was absolutely top-tier. Narrated by Andrew Eiden and Emily Ellet, it brought Alex and King’s dynamic to life in a way that made every bit of tension, banter, and emotion hit even harder. Eiden captured King’s mix of guarded intensity and vulnerability perfectly, while Ellet gave Alex’s wit, determination, and hidden softness so much depth. Their performances blended seamlessly, making the action feel cinematic and the romance even more swoony—I was completely immersed from start to finish.

I’m definitely going back to read book one, and I’m crossing my fingers we’ll get another book in this world. If you want a story with heart-pounding suspense, sizzling chemistry, and a second-chance romance worth rooting for—grab this one as soon as it’s out. It’s on sale tomorrow, and you don’t want to miss it.

Audiobook Review: The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold by Ally Carter
Narrated by Andrew Eiden & Emily Ellet

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and appreciate the opportunity to “read with my ears” and leave reviews on some amazing authors.

When I started The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, I decided to pause and go back to listen to book #1, not because I was lost, but because I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I’m so glad I did! While this sequel could stand alone, having the full backstory made me understand and enjoy the characters and their history even more.

This fast-paced, witty spy romance follows the Sterling sisters, master con artists turned reluctant agents, as they navigate high-stakes missions, deception, and a touch of romance. Andrew Eiden and Emily Ellet delivered great performances, each bringing energy and personality to the story. I especially enjoyed how they brought out the tension, humor, and emotion in the banter-filled dialogue.

One of my favorite quotes from the book was, “He is not my epilogue, he is my novel.” I’m not sure why, but I love that, it perfectly captures the love in this spy love story.

The ending left me hoping there’s more to come for the Sterling sisters, I’m ready for their next adventure!

I really enjoyed Alex and King’s story and was wanting to learn more about Alex from the glimpses we get of her in The Blonde Identity. This one is told in flashbacks between what happened over the course of the present and the past 8 years. I got confused a couple of times but I think it was because I was listening to the audio and not eyeball reading. Overall I really enjoyed the story and how King had been pining for Alex for years but was afraid to let her in. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

The dual narration was phenomenal again and these narrators do a great job of getting the chemistry between the characters to feel real

These books are so fun!! I read both back to back and really enjoyed them. The audiobook was great, the dual narration really makes it more entertaining. I was a little confused with the timeline and time jumps at times, which could be because of the audiobook or just me. Once I was able to focus more on them later on in the book it was easier to follow.

I didn’t know how much I’d enjoy a spy romance but I loved it! And the ending, I need to know!

2.5 stars rounded up

This was fun but really not well-written. The plot was entertaining in theory, although messy in the execution. The time jumps were a bit confusing and got more confusing toward the end. I did totally buy the chemistry between the two main characters but there was basically no actual relationship development and not much depth in any of the characters, just a lot of repetition of a handful of tidbits of the characters' backstory so it started getting a little tired (especially Alex's baggage and King's possessiveness). Also there was so much POV telepathy - there is no way they each knew so much of what each other was thinking from a look. I did think the sense of place was strong though. I received the audio version and the narration was good.

I love all of Ally’s books and this is the best one yet! I read it all in one sitting on my plane ride and couldn’t put it down. She has this way of having two people fall in love while also trying to stay alive that makes your heart melt and race at the same time! This mish mash of action and romance is perfection and the chemistry between Alex and King is *chef’s kiss*! And I loved the tie in to The Blonde Identity too! Highly recommend 🤩

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆:

💙 Second chance romance
✨ Spies
💙 Let’s kiss so they don’t catch us