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The Spy Who Kissed Me
Isabel 'Stan' Stanley's mother has been hoping a man would fall in Stan's lap. But when a handsome spy dives through the sunroof of her car in a hail of bullets, Stan's sure this wasn't what momma had in mind.
Bad guys beware. Stan's packing a glue gun and she knows how to use it. Sort of.
Bad guys beware. Stan's packing a glue gun and she knows how to use it. Sort of.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 1998
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139 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Baird Jones
112 books177 followersPauline Baird Jones is the author of quirky, fast-paced romantic adventures that blend danger, laughter, and love in equal measure. She writes across genres—from romantic suspense and science fiction to comedy thrillers and steampunk—but her stories always share the same heartbeat: heroines who discover their courage, heroes who celebrate their strength, and humor as the best weapon in impossible situations. If you’re looking for an escape from the ordinary, her books deliver adventure, romance, and just enough laughter to keep you smiling long after “The End.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 17, 2021
Hilarious rom-com! Isabel "Stan" Stanley is a 30-something author of children's books that has tried her best to avoid romantic entanglements all her adult life. They tend to complicate things too much. Add to that her strict Baptist upbringing and her mother who sees it as her duty to marry Stan off, and regards one of her necessary chores to play matchmaker for Stan and men who Stan has nothing in common with. On the way home from choir practice one evening, while driving through a hail of gunfire, a mysterious stranger comes through her sunroof who evidently has been shot. He passes out and she has to take him to her vet to get medical attention because the guilty gunmen seem to be waiting for their victim at the hospital. This new, mysterious stranger is very handsome and just does not fit the profile of a bad guy, even though Kelvin Kapone (with a K) has just dove through a plate glass window being shot at and is now bleeding all over the inside of her car. As each day goes by, she can't quite figure him out-- is he a good guy she should be interested in or a bad one to avoid?-- because, ever since that first extraordinary meeting diving into her car, every day someone has tried to kill her, and he must be somehow connected. A mysterious plot unravels, that seems to involve people in the community she knows that have connections she would have never guessed, and seems to involve espionage, terrorism, the CIA and ex-in-laws. I laughed out loud many times in the book-- author Pauline Baird Jones' sense of humor and style of writing is very enjoyable. I would recommend this book to any who enjoy romantic comedies and romantic suspense as well as a fun mystery. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review-- thank you!
May 21, 2018
Hilarious rom-com!
Isabel "Stan" Stanley is a 30-something author of children's books that has tried her best to avoid romantic entanglements all her adult life. They tend to complicate things too much. Add to that her strict Baptist upbringing and her mother who sees it as her duty to marry Stan off, and regards one of her necessary chores to play matchmaker for Stan and men who Stan has nothing in common with. On the way home from choir practice one evening, while driving through a hail of gunfire, a mysterious stranger comes through her sunroof who evidently has been shot. He passes out and she has to take him to her vet to get medical attention because the guilty gunmen seem to be waiting for their victim at the hospital. This new, mysterious stranger is very handsome and just does not fit the profile of a bad guy, even though Kelvin Kapone (with a K) has just dove through a plate glass window being shot at and is now bleeding all over the inside of her car.
As each day goes by, she can't quite figure him out-- is he a good guy she should be interested in or a bad one to avoid?-- because, ever since that first extraordinary meeting diving into her car, every day someone has tried to kill her, and he must be somehow connected. A mysterious plot unravels, that seems to involve people in the community she knows that have connections she would have never guessed, and seems to involve espionage, terrorism, the CIA and ex-in-laws.
I laughed out loud many times in the book-- author Pauline Baird Jones' sense of humor and style of writing is very enjoyable. I would recommend this book to any who enjoy romantic comedies and romantic suspense as well as a fun mystery. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review-- thank you!
Isabel "Stan" Stanley is a 30-something author of children's books that has tried her best to avoid romantic entanglements all her adult life. They tend to complicate things too much. Add to that her strict Baptist upbringing and her mother who sees it as her duty to marry Stan off, and regards one of her necessary chores to play matchmaker for Stan and men who Stan has nothing in common with. On the way home from choir practice one evening, while driving through a hail of gunfire, a mysterious stranger comes through her sunroof who evidently has been shot. He passes out and she has to take him to her vet to get medical attention because the guilty gunmen seem to be waiting for their victim at the hospital. This new, mysterious stranger is very handsome and just does not fit the profile of a bad guy, even though Kelvin Kapone (with a K) has just dove through a plate glass window being shot at and is now bleeding all over the inside of her car.
As each day goes by, she can't quite figure him out-- is he a good guy she should be interested in or a bad one to avoid?-- because, ever since that first extraordinary meeting diving into her car, every day someone has tried to kill her, and he must be somehow connected. A mysterious plot unravels, that seems to involve people in the community she knows that have connections she would have never guessed, and seems to involve espionage, terrorism, the CIA and ex-in-laws.
I laughed out loud many times in the book-- author Pauline Baird Jones' sense of humor and style of writing is very enjoyable. I would recommend this book to any who enjoy romantic comedies and romantic suspense as well as a fun mystery. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review-- thank you!
February 11, 2018
If I was to sum up this book in three words, it was: sweet, fun, and ADORABLE. A rollicking rom-com from beginning to end, with a dash of corny James Bond in the mix, it was so well written that it reads like a movie that I really wish existed!
It's about an author named Isabel Stanley, called Stan because she didn't feel pretty enough to be an Isabel, who is approaching mid thirties and has no hopes of catching a man. And then one falls into her lap, literally. After taking a wrong turn into an unknown neighborhood, a man suddenly crashes through the bay window of a house amid flying bullets and falling glass shards, leaps atop her car, and dives head-first through her sun-roof. Caught in the middle, she does the only thing she can think of... drives! When she discovers that the man she was driving has eyes and a smile even more lethal than the gun he's toting, she decides that nobody that cute can be all bad, and when she finds out he is wounded she decides to help him. This could be the chance of her life. Or her death, because now they were after her too. She discovers that the sweet old lady who owned the house that used to have a bay window was murdered that day... can she trust this wild man she involved herself with, or did she just assist in a murder?
This book was so funny in spots that it had me in stitches, and so cute in other spots that I found myself saying "awwwww". It wasn't exactly clean... it had way too much lusty kissing, fondling, and innuendo for that... but it wasn't obnoxious about it, and was cleaner than a whole lot of other romances out there. The plot was good, albeit a little bit corny, but that just added to the funness and humor of the book. I enjoyed this book immensely. I can't even stop smiling after reading it! Five stars.
It's about an author named Isabel Stanley, called Stan because she didn't feel pretty enough to be an Isabel, who is approaching mid thirties and has no hopes of catching a man. And then one falls into her lap, literally. After taking a wrong turn into an unknown neighborhood, a man suddenly crashes through the bay window of a house amid flying bullets and falling glass shards, leaps atop her car, and dives head-first through her sun-roof. Caught in the middle, she does the only thing she can think of... drives! When she discovers that the man she was driving has eyes and a smile even more lethal than the gun he's toting, she decides that nobody that cute can be all bad, and when she finds out he is wounded she decides to help him. This could be the chance of her life. Or her death, because now they were after her too. She discovers that the sweet old lady who owned the house that used to have a bay window was murdered that day... can she trust this wild man she involved herself with, or did she just assist in a murder?
This book was so funny in spots that it had me in stitches, and so cute in other spots that I found myself saying "awwwww". It wasn't exactly clean... it had way too much lusty kissing, fondling, and innuendo for that... but it wasn't obnoxious about it, and was cleaner than a whole lot of other romances out there. The plot was good, albeit a little bit corny, but that just added to the funness and humor of the book. I enjoyed this book immensely. I can't even stop smiling after reading it! Five stars.
May 13, 2018
Everything was pointing to this book being rubbish. The cover art is pretty crap. It doesn’t scream ‘sophisticated writing that’s going to whisk you away into a story that feels so real you’ll…’ I don’t even know how to end that sentence.
Then the book starts with author’s notes informing us that this is the author’s first ever completed novel, and she had real issues getting it published. Oh joy. I’m definitely in for a thrill here.
If this was a movie, it’d be an action comedy. Or a comedy action. It had a lot of action and a lot of comedy. There were shots fired, car chases, stabbings, people getting run over, explosions, and lots of kissing. But it was interwoven with a sense of humour that kept me smiling as I turned the pages. It was the kind of humour that made you chuckle to yourself or snigger quietly as you read on the train, leaving people wondering what you’re reading or watching.
The story is told in first person by Isabel ‘Stan’ Stanley. She is hilariously self-deprecating. It’s a weird kind of humour too, because the other characters keep commenting on it, which makes sense when you’re reading, but looking back makes you realise that the author was kind of laughing at her own jokes. Never mind, I was laughing at her jokes too, so all good.
Despite all the action, despite the deaths, despite the bad guys doing bad things, it was a light hearted romp of a read, and I really enjoyed it. I’d recommend it as a perfect holiday read, something to read at the beach, or if you’ve had too much of reading dark, intense, brooding kinds of books.
I know humour is individual and you might not enjoy it the same as I did, but definitely give it a go. I was pleased I did. I gave it four stars.
Then the book starts with author’s notes informing us that this is the author’s first ever completed novel, and she had real issues getting it published. Oh joy. I’m definitely in for a thrill here.
If this was a movie, it’d be an action comedy. Or a comedy action. It had a lot of action and a lot of comedy. There were shots fired, car chases, stabbings, people getting run over, explosions, and lots of kissing. But it was interwoven with a sense of humour that kept me smiling as I turned the pages. It was the kind of humour that made you chuckle to yourself or snigger quietly as you read on the train, leaving people wondering what you’re reading or watching.
The story is told in first person by Isabel ‘Stan’ Stanley. She is hilariously self-deprecating. It’s a weird kind of humour too, because the other characters keep commenting on it, which makes sense when you’re reading, but looking back makes you realise that the author was kind of laughing at her own jokes. Never mind, I was laughing at her jokes too, so all good.
Despite all the action, despite the deaths, despite the bad guys doing bad things, it was a light hearted romp of a read, and I really enjoyed it. I’d recommend it as a perfect holiday read, something to read at the beach, or if you’ve had too much of reading dark, intense, brooding kinds of books.
I know humour is individual and you might not enjoy it the same as I did, but definitely give it a go. I was pleased I did. I gave it four stars.
May 21, 2018
Oh, goodness. I'm going to feel really badly about this if I'm wrong, but I get the feeling that this was meant to be a satire of the mystery-romance type genre. Why do I feel this way? Perhaps it has to do with the seven gents presented as love-interests for our main character. Or with the fact that one ends up dating her sister and another ends up dating her mother. Or maybe it was the three-to-one date with the band guys, each of whom was in their early twenties ("We've been reading Cosmopolitan"). And the part where she holds up the bad guy with a glue gun? Definitely a contributing factor. ("You should've shot him." "I couldn't. It wasn't plugged in.") Also, at the police station:
Bad Cop: Don't mess with me!
Isabel Stanley: I'm not! You don't have to scare me into spilling my guts. I'll spill them without the act.
Good Cop: What act?
I.S.: Good cop, bad cop.... Don't feel bad. You do it very well. It's just that I was expecting it. I can pretend I don't notice if you want.
So, apologies to author and fans if I'm wrong, but I definitely think that this is a mystery-romance satire. And I think it's a very good satire. I laughed. Out loud. It's possible I was a little punch-drunk, since it was three in the morning, but I still laughed. Out loud.
Bad Cop: Don't mess with me!
Isabel Stanley: I'm not! You don't have to scare me into spilling my guts. I'll spill them without the act.
Good Cop: What act?
I.S.: Good cop, bad cop.... Don't feel bad. You do it very well. It's just that I was expecting it. I can pretend I don't notice if you want.
So, apologies to author and fans if I'm wrong, but I definitely think that this is a mystery-romance satire. And I think it's a very good satire. I laughed. Out loud. It's possible I was a little punch-drunk, since it was three in the morning, but I still laughed. Out loud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2016
This was a super fun read, with many moments leaving me laughing out loud from the incredible dry wit. Isabella or "Stan" was someone you felt like you could really relate too, with her ordinary life thrust into such exciting circumstances. She was sparky and sassy, and her inner monologue was the best. Between avoiding a matchmaker mother and wielding hospital soap as a deadly weapon, she won me over.
The mystery throughout the story was surprisingly good. I had most of it figured out, but there were still several twist and surprises that caught me off guard, which was satisfying. I caught several the clues early on, but wasn't able to put it all together until the end.
The romance between Isbella and Kel--who was the perfect blue eyed, boy-next-door dangerous spy--was well done; not too fast, despite the attraction between the two. It built well, and ended well, especially with all her other guy encounters throughout the story. I really appreciated how there was heat between the characters, but the romance still remained clean and sweet. And it was fun seeing her interact the with the other male-potential candidates as well.
I would certainly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun, clean spy romance with a great mystery, lots of action, and a spunky heroine who makes a living by illustrating kids books about a roach.
The mystery throughout the story was surprisingly good. I had most of it figured out, but there were still several twist and surprises that caught me off guard, which was satisfying. I caught several the clues early on, but wasn't able to put it all together until the end.
The romance between Isbella and Kel--who was the perfect blue eyed, boy-next-door dangerous spy--was well done; not too fast, despite the attraction between the two. It built well, and ended well, especially with all her other guy encounters throughout the story. I really appreciated how there was heat between the characters, but the romance still remained clean and sweet. And it was fun seeing her interact the with the other male-potential candidates as well.
I would certainly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun, clean spy romance with a great mystery, lots of action, and a spunky heroine who makes a living by illustrating kids books about a roach.
March 23, 2016
This is a most entertaining tale about a woman who has little going for herself except that she is the caricaturist of a children 19s book. She does not appreciate this success however, especially since her twin sister is married and has teen kids to account for.
Her life changes dramatically when a bleeding man drops in her lap from the open sunroof in her sister 19s car and she has to flee or take a shot herself. This man brought with him a stirring in her heart and confusion to her mind. Her peaceful existence was torn apart and her life changed forever.
This book had me glued to the pages with the witty ways the author tells her tale. I finished it in two days. The protagonist finds herself in many situations that not only turn her blood cold but make her heart and cheeks hot. The use of the English language is superb and you can share the feelings the characters are having in a very real way. Not many authors can convey to their readers these feelings, but Pauline did a superb job in this book. I recommend The Spy Who Kissed Me to anyone over eighteen and to all who want to have a warm fuzzy feeling while reading.
Her life changes dramatically when a bleeding man drops in her lap from the open sunroof in her sister 19s car and she has to flee or take a shot herself. This man brought with him a stirring in her heart and confusion to her mind. Her peaceful existence was torn apart and her life changed forever.
This book had me glued to the pages with the witty ways the author tells her tale. I finished it in two days. The protagonist finds herself in many situations that not only turn her blood cold but make her heart and cheeks hot. The use of the English language is superb and you can share the feelings the characters are having in a very real way. Not many authors can convey to their readers these feelings, but Pauline did a superb job in this book. I recommend The Spy Who Kissed Me to anyone over eighteen and to all who want to have a warm fuzzy feeling while reading.
September 4, 2015
I am a fan of Ms. Jones' writing style, especially her humor. The Spy Who Kissed Me is funny, smart and quite the adventure. Plus, it has an historical setting. Well, maybe not all that historical, because the setting occurred in my lifetime. But that was the fun of it. If you are old enough to remember watching the first Gulf War on TV, taking a typing class, rewinding an answering machine tape, and not having a phone in your pocket, you will appreciate the culture in The Spy Who Kissed Me. Plus, there is romance, mystery, adventure, danger and a musically talented writer heroine. That is about all you need in a good romantic suspense!
5 stars for the story of The Spy Who Kissed Me. I wasn't crazy about the narration on the audiobook, but the story made it worth listening to.
5 stars for the story of The Spy Who Kissed Me. I wasn't crazy about the narration on the audiobook, but the story made it worth listening to.
March 9, 2018
Funniest book I've read in a long time. I can't believe I haven't found this book before. Hilarious, slapstick comedy. Talk about a meet-cute. He dives through the sunroof of her sister's car and says GO. That's how Isabel "Stan" Stanley meets Kel. What do you do with a wounded spy? You take him to your vet and have his wounds sewn up. Neither Stan nor Kel realize what a hornet's nest they stir up. More people want her dead than him. And she writes kiddie lit! A fun book that I had a hard time putting down. I mean, 2 a.m. is way past lights out.
March 5, 2018
Good Read
This was a really cute story with an adorable leading lady. There were several proofreading errors though. The CIA does not work within US borders unless directed by the president or if terrorism is involved. The president would not be involved with a retired teacher's murder. While it might be okay for Kel to look into it at his mother's request, the story had the CIA working on the case before it was known to have terrorist connection. While this is a work of fiction, that error could have and should have been corrected with a slight change before releasing this book.
This was a really cute story with an adorable leading lady. There were several proofreading errors though. The CIA does not work within US borders unless directed by the president or if terrorism is involved. The president would not be involved with a retired teacher's murder. While it might be okay for Kel to look into it at his mother's request, the story had the CIA working on the case before it was known to have terrorist connection. While this is a work of fiction, that error could have and should have been corrected with a slight change before releasing this book.
June 24, 2017
The book was very funny, the conflict was interesting and well-developed. The characters were likable, the language was clean and the romance was clean. I was hesitant to continue the book after Stan (aka Isabella, aka Bel) and Kel met, because it sounded like it was not going to be, but other than references to Stan lusting after Kel, it was clean.
The author has quite a sense of humor and a way with words that made reading this story quite enjoyable.
The author has quite a sense of humor and a way with words that made reading this story quite enjoyable.
April 4, 2018
Quite enjoyed this book:)
February 24, 2009
Ok so I'm a little biased on this one. Pauline is my mom's cousin. But she is hilarious in this book I just LOVED reading it. It was a fast read. For those of you that worry about it there is some language in it, no F Bombs. And nothing that would keep me from entering her realm of humor again... which I plan to as soon as I get my hands on another one!
May 21, 2010
If Janet Evanovich wrote straight romance, this would be it. I had some issues with the main character's constant mentioning of her religious background, but this was the writer's first book, which makes me more forgiving. Also, she had this weird thing about hating Congress, which I totally didn't get. Oh, well. I still thought it was an incredibly fun and enjoyable book.
September 25, 2008
I enjoyed the suspense part of this book and the interaction between the heroine, her family, and the hero. The mystery was a bit convoluted and the heroine's interactions with the guys in her band was a bit odd.
March 25, 2010
I loved this book, it was so funny. I laughed through the whole thing. It was right up there with Janet's "Stephanie" books.
June 25, 2011
This was innocent chicklit- very light and silly. I was hoping it would develop more charm, but it stayed the same to the end. Virginal 30 year olds and typewriters in 2000?
Want to read
October 30, 2011hmmm. NOT James Bond?
March 26, 2018
What a comedy of errors...I love it! Quirky and cute...without much plot...cheesy romance at its finest!
March 1, 2024
What a surprise this one was, I never expected it to be SO GOOD! This is a truly funny spy romp with great quirky plot and really likeable characters. "Stan" aka Isabel Stanley is a childrens romance writer, a baptist and a good girl. Her mother is trying to marry her off, her twin sister (and children) is divorced from a real douche so they all live on the same property.
Stan happens to be coming home from Choir practice when a guy with a gun falls thru the sunroof and it's happening!
If you liked Riley Thorn series, The Blonde Identity or any light, funny, romantic spy/secret agent this one's for you. Stick with it as the first few chapters are the set up and it gets better after that!
Stan happens to be coming home from Choir practice when a guy with a gun falls thru the sunroof and it's happening!
If you liked Riley Thorn series, The Blonde Identity or any light, funny, romantic spy/secret agent this one's for you. Stick with it as the first few chapters are the set up and it gets better after that!
February 22, 2020
Mixed feelings
I think the reader of this novel needs to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. Apparently, I wasn't. It was too over the top for me and a bit repetitive when it came to the reaction she had kissing or being near her spy. While parts were somewhat amusing, I don't remember laughing or even smiling at any of them. The author wrote several awkward sentences that I had to read twice to figure out what she meant. It just seemed like the author tried awfully hard to make it a fun, entertaining book but it just didn't work for me.
I think the reader of this novel needs to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. Apparently, I wasn't. It was too over the top for me and a bit repetitive when it came to the reaction she had kissing or being near her spy. While parts were somewhat amusing, I don't remember laughing or even smiling at any of them. The author wrote several awkward sentences that I had to read twice to figure out what she meant. It just seemed like the author tried awfully hard to make it a fun, entertaining book but it just didn't work for me.
January 15, 2023
That's romance!
This is romance; all those explicit & instant hop into porn books can never be as fun to read and satisfying to read as this is. Great snarky dialogue, danger and slow burn relatively clean romance. I love the writing, the book was well edited. The narrator needs to look up pronunciations she's not sure of. But since the writer had me laughing it was easy to laugh at her pronunciation right along with the other fun. This book is a keeper. I'll listen to it again and again.
This is romance; all those explicit & instant hop into porn books can never be as fun to read and satisfying to read as this is. Great snarky dialogue, danger and slow burn relatively clean romance. I love the writing, the book was well edited. The narrator needs to look up pronunciations she's not sure of. But since the writer had me laughing it was easy to laugh at her pronunciation right along with the other fun. This book is a keeper. I'll listen to it again and again.
June 28, 2023
Isabel Stanley, children's book author and illustrator using a cockroach as her main character has given up her New Orleans apartment and moved to Arlington, VA to help out her twin sister, Rosemary with her 4 children after her divorce. The offer came with a rent free apartment over the garage. Isabel is also musical and keyboardist for a teen band and sub organist at the church. Driving home after practice one evening she hears gunfire and sees a man jump through a window. He ends up sliding through her sunroof. This is Kelvin Kapone, CIA agent. Isabel is now in the middle of a spy caper that makes her a target. This was zany, funny and historically dated. It is set during the Gulf War and the politics and old technology take you back to that era. What a ride!
August 8, 2023
What a fantastic book!! Absolutely hilarious with a kooky lead character who makes you giggle to yourself the whole way through the story.
Isabell Stanley a.k.a. "Stan" leads us through her story of being thrust into the action packed mission of a spy. Kel, aforementioned spy, is charming in a bad boy sort of way and becomes enamored with Stan.
This book is full of giggle worthy lines, action, clean romance, espionage, and adventure. Completely worth reading. It's enjoyable and light-hearted.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Isabell Stanley a.k.a. "Stan" leads us through her story of being thrust into the action packed mission of a spy. Kel, aforementioned spy, is charming in a bad boy sort of way and becomes enamored with Stan.
This book is full of giggle worthy lines, action, clean romance, espionage, and adventure. Completely worth reading. It's enjoyable and light-hearted.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
June 1, 2019This was an entertaining read, not too heavy and well plotted. Read it for a dose of escapism.
February 18, 2020
Turn the page!
This is a funny romance with intrigue and danger. A definite "chick" book. Oh, and it's even funnier if you're Baptist!
This is a funny romance with intrigue and danger. A definite "chick" book. Oh, and it's even funnier if you're Baptist!
September 26, 2020
Its great. Its funny. Light, easy to read, funny. Happy ending. There you go, read it. One of my favourite books.
August 15, 2023
This is a super fun spy/romantic comedy! I really loved it! It is cute and clever, romantic and wonderful..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews