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Halcyon Division #1
Integrity
It's an ordinary workday when intelligence analyst Lexie Martin learns about a horrific chemical weapon attack abroad. Just an ordinary day...until a stranger breaks into her house and warns her to forget what she saw and heard, setting off a chain of events Lexie thought only happened in movies. Falsely accused of stealing intelligence and unsure of who to trust, Lexie quickly realizes the significance of the intel, and that she must do everything she can to keep it safe. And as she runs--maybe for her life--Lexie knows she needs something, or someone, to help her.
There's a place for truths and lies, and sometimes you need both to get what you want. Lexie convinces the woman she's only just started dating to "go on vacation" with her, hoping a constant companion and witness will keep Them at a distance, and the intel safe. But when she develops feelings for the beautiful and sweet Sophia Flores, she wonders if a relationship built on a foundation of secrets can ever work. That might not even matter, because when Lexie uncovers the truth, the price of it could be her freedom.
There's a place for truths and lies, and sometimes you need both to get what you want. Lexie convinces the woman she's only just started dating to "go on vacation" with her, hoping a constant companion and witness will keep Them at a distance, and the intel safe. But when she develops feelings for the beautiful and sweet Sophia Flores, she wonders if a relationship built on a foundation of secrets can ever work. That might not even matter, because when Lexie uncovers the truth, the price of it could be her freedom.
10 pages, Audible Audio
Published May 23, 2023
92 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Noyes
19 books1,976 followersE. J. Noyes is an Australian transplanted to New Zealand, which may be the awesomest thing to happen to her. She lives in the South Island with her wife and the world’s best and neediest cat, and is enjoying the change of temperature from her hot, humid homeland.
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
April 3, 2025
**'Think this about some writers, that they might not be considered sacred but their style of writing and wording are..'
Good read!
Well, a thrilling way to kick off this 'Halcyon Division' series with this 1st book -- which interweave a romance, espionage, political elements/aspects etc. etc. etc.
Recommended book!
Good read!
Well, a thrilling way to kick off this 'Halcyon Division' series with this 1st book -- which interweave a romance, espionage, political elements/aspects etc. etc. etc.
Recommended book!
May 5, 2023
Dating by app is new to Lexie Martin, however on her first swipe she finds the beautiful, interesting and intelligent Sophia Flores. One day shy of their third date, Lexie, an intelligence analyst, is sent evidence of a chemical weapons attack on civilians overseas. Diligence and integrity are the mainstays of Lexie’s personality which drives her to analyze the intelligence no matter the horror she has to witness. Unable to suss out many facts, Lexie passes her information and report on to her boss. In the wee hours of the next morning Lexie’s home is infiltrated by a stranger ordering her to forget what she saw in the intelligence briefing or else. Lexie isn’t easily intimidated and wants to expose the truth once she can figure out what it is. Inviting Sophia, under the guise of a working vacation, they head to Florida so that Lexie can hook up with a computer hacker.
Integrity is book one in Noyes’ Halcyon Division series and has me wrapped around its every word. The story starts off in a sprint establishing the main characters and the circumstances that place Lexie on the run with Sophia as her innocent companion. It then slows to a walk to hold space for the romance to bloom and develop between the two. The action accelerates in the final stages to give us an exciting big blockbuster finish.
The novel is written from Lexie’s point of view. Her analytical mind is on full display and gives the narrative a distinctive tone and cadence. The plot is so realistic that it had me looking back through last year’s news stories to see if it had really happened.
I both love and hate reading a series in real time. I appreciate them for the extra time spent with characters I love but hate waiting for the next book to come out. And I really cannot wait to see where Noyes takes Lexie and Sophia next.
I received a free advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Integrity is book one in Noyes’ Halcyon Division series and has me wrapped around its every word. The story starts off in a sprint establishing the main characters and the circumstances that place Lexie on the run with Sophia as her innocent companion. It then slows to a walk to hold space for the romance to bloom and develop between the two. The action accelerates in the final stages to give us an exciting big blockbuster finish.
The novel is written from Lexie’s point of view. Her analytical mind is on full display and gives the narrative a distinctive tone and cadence. The plot is so realistic that it had me looking back through last year’s news stories to see if it had really happened.
I both love and hate reading a series in real time. I appreciate them for the extra time spent with characters I love but hate waiting for the next book to come out. And I really cannot wait to see where Noyes takes Lexie and Sophia next.
I received a free advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 5, 2023
Lexie Martin isn’t a spy but you’d be forgiven for thinking she is. She’s an intelligence analyst, and to be honest, I think real spies are probably the only ones who care about the difference. Because not being a spy doesn’t protect her from getting mixed up in some very spy-y trouble after one of her assets from when she was a field agent alerts her to the use of an unknown chemical weapon against civilians. When a man breaks into her house and threatens her, she manages to flee and comes up with a plan that involves driving to Florida and bringing along the woman she just started dating as a deterrent for whoever is after her. Lexie then finds herself trying to get out of the mess she’s been thrown into and simultaneously falling in love with the delightful Sophia Flores.
Both funny and tragic, Integrity reminds me of the Ask, Tell books in that it deals with very serious matters but the tone is closer to that of Reaping the Benefits. The interactions between Lexie and Sophia are delicious. If she hadn’t got caught in a very complex and terrifying situation, Lexie would be a lot of fun and her relationship with Sophia reflects that. Noyes manages the tour de force of blending a horrible war crime and a hot and sweet meant-to-be romance arc, neither taking more space than is needed nor feeling like an afterthought in the other’s story (I’m not sure the chapter titles add anything, though). While the premise is very different, it brought to mind the movie Mr and Mrs Smith, I think more for the tone and mood than the repeated fighting and shooting. The falling-in-love-in-unusual-situations and the constant-but-necessary lies and the impossible question of whether a relationship can be built in these circumstances.
To be fair, however, while she nails the sexy aspects, I wish Noyes had given more space to the romantic element to bloom. There’s obvious chemistry, which makes the physical part completely plausible but the falling-in-love side could have been fleshed out more. And since the story is told in first person (Noyes is excellent at first person POV) from Lexie’s point of view, Sophia remains very much a mystery. Hopefully, we’ll get to know her better and see more of the MCs together, building the relationship beyond lust (though please give us that as well) in book 2, Leverage, out in November 2023.
The espionage/thriller arc is well-paced, mind-scrambling, exciting yet with an ending that, while temporarily satisfying, promises many more twists and surprises. In a blog post on her publisher’s website, the author shares her love-hate relationship with writing these books and planning a series as a pantser. She also mentions the help she got in making sure the story, despite being fiction (as the very short author note at the beginning reminds the reader), is plausible.
Saying Abby Craden’s narration is excellent is beginning to be repetitive. It feels a bit sacrilegious to write but I sometimes struggle a bit if I listen to two of her narrations back to back because she uses two main voices for sapphic MCs. It’s in the range of her secondary characters’ voices that I find she really shines. I love her MC voices too, obviously, but they can sound similar from one book to the other. In this book though, I felt there was more nuance, maybe because the characters aren’t as radically different as we’re used to. They have very distinct personalities but they’re both easygoing, sweet, and with a good sense of humour (again, that’s how I feel Lexie would be in normal circumstances). Yet Craden manages to make them sound perfectly distinguishable from each other. And her voices for the male characters blow me away as usual.
E. J. Noyes is one of my favourite authors and I was really excited about this novel. It delivered and I wish I didn’t have to wait for another six months to get my hands (or ears, since I’ll probably listen) on the next book in the series. 4.5⭐️
May 11, 2023
On the run.
This is a romance thriller that combines elements of espionage and love against the backdrop of looming danger. The story follows Lexie, a government intelligence analyst who stumbles upon some crucial information about a chemical attack and unexpectedly finds herself on the run while trying to uncover the truth. She uses Sophia, an innocent and unsuspecting civilian whom she is casually dating, as a decoy while on the run but her feelings for Sophia deepen by the end of it.
While the romance is a tad unrealistic in the face of the massive trouble that Lexie was in, I thought this story still had its entertainment value. The action was generally exciting and I appreciate that E.J. Noyes tried to balance the intense action scenes with tender moments. I also like the characters. Lexie was resilient and determined and I like her sense of duty to protect her country. Sophia, on the other hand, was a compassionate and caring individual who was completely oblivious to the dangerous situation they were in and their contrasting personalities created an interesting dynamic that fueled the story.
However, two aspects bothered me a bit. The first is the inconsistency of the writing style. The story was fast-paced at times but got dull at some point before picking up speed again. The second is related to the romance. Even though the characters had some tender moments together, there was no space for them to develop their relationship and take it to the next level. As I really like the characters, I hope this can be worked on in the next book.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a romance thriller that combines elements of espionage and love against the backdrop of looming danger. The story follows Lexie, a government intelligence analyst who stumbles upon some crucial information about a chemical attack and unexpectedly finds herself on the run while trying to uncover the truth. She uses Sophia, an innocent and unsuspecting civilian whom she is casually dating, as a decoy while on the run but her feelings for Sophia deepen by the end of it.
While the romance is a tad unrealistic in the face of the massive trouble that Lexie was in, I thought this story still had its entertainment value. The action was generally exciting and I appreciate that E.J. Noyes tried to balance the intense action scenes with tender moments. I also like the characters. Lexie was resilient and determined and I like her sense of duty to protect her country. Sophia, on the other hand, was a compassionate and caring individual who was completely oblivious to the dangerous situation they were in and their contrasting personalities created an interesting dynamic that fueled the story.
However, two aspects bothered me a bit. The first is the inconsistency of the writing style. The story was fast-paced at times but got dull at some point before picking up speed again. The second is related to the romance. Even though the characters had some tender moments together, there was no space for them to develop their relationship and take it to the next level. As I really like the characters, I hope this can be worked on in the next book.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2023
I don’t know how I’m going to recover from Integrity or wait for the rest of the series. This book had the perfect balance of action, suspense and romance.
The action and suspense had me reading at warp speed as I had to know what was happening next. That last 3rd of the book had me at the edge of my seat, or bed, but same difference. And that ending, perfection.
When it came to the romance, I cannot recall a book I’ve read recently where you get such a full insight into the first stages of a relationship. It was really nice getting to see that in such detail and I look forward to what’s to come for them.
Thank you to Bella Books and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The action and suspense had me reading at warp speed as I had to know what was happening next. That last 3rd of the book had me at the edge of my seat, or bed, but same difference. And that ending, perfection.
When it came to the romance, I cannot recall a book I’ve read recently where you get such a full insight into the first stages of a relationship. It was really nice getting to see that in such detail and I look forward to what’s to come for them.
Thank you to Bella Books and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2023
Integrity by E.J. Noyes is an action/romance that had me hooked from start to finish. The story revolves around Alexandra "Lexie" Martin, an brilliant Intelligence Analyst, and Sophia Lopez, a talented website designer. I was entertained by the interesting plot and the amazing chemistry between the two leads.
What really stood out to me was the author's attention to detail and their commitment to creating a realistic spy and security environment. It was obvious that Noyes had done her research, and the scenarios depicted in the book felt believable and exciting.
Now, let's talk about Lexie and Sophia's romance. I couldn't help but root for them from the very beginning. The author's ability to build such a strong connection between the characters is truly commendable. Especially with the circumstances they were facing. Noyes did a good job convincing me of Sophia’s acceptance of the situation once the truth started to come out.
However, I do have one small nitpick. There's a plot point where Lexie has to manually search through a database, line by line, to find specific names containing a particular three-letter string. It seemed a bit far-fetched to me that she spent an entire day on this task when she could have easily reached out to Bink, the hacker introduced in the story, to run a quick search and get it done in minutes. It was a minor issue for me, but still kinda odd.
On a positive note, the introduction of supporting characters like Bink added an extra layer of excitement to the story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series, as I'm eager to delve deeper into the world of Halcyon and discover more about Bink's own romantic journey (I hope!).
In summary, Integrity is an exceptional action/romance novel that blends some espionage shenanigans with a captivating love story. E.J. Noyes' meticulous research, realistic scenarios, and excellent chemistry between the main characters make this book an enjoyable read. Despite a small plot point that had me scratching my head, I was thoroughly entertained and eagerly await the next installment in the series.
What really stood out to me was the author's attention to detail and their commitment to creating a realistic spy and security environment. It was obvious that Noyes had done her research, and the scenarios depicted in the book felt believable and exciting.
Now, let's talk about Lexie and Sophia's romance. I couldn't help but root for them from the very beginning. The author's ability to build such a strong connection between the characters is truly commendable. Especially with the circumstances they were facing. Noyes did a good job convincing me of Sophia’s acceptance of the situation once the truth started to come out.
However, I do have one small nitpick. There's a plot point where Lexie has to manually search through a database, line by line, to find specific names containing a particular three-letter string. It seemed a bit far-fetched to me that she spent an entire day on this task when she could have easily reached out to Bink, the hacker introduced in the story, to run a quick search and get it done in minutes. It was a minor issue for me, but still kinda odd.
On a positive note, the introduction of supporting characters like Bink added an extra layer of excitement to the story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series, as I'm eager to delve deeper into the world of Halcyon and discover more about Bink's own romantic journey (I hope!).
In summary, Integrity is an exceptional action/romance novel that blends some espionage shenanigans with a captivating love story. E.J. Noyes' meticulous research, realistic scenarios, and excellent chemistry between the main characters make this book an enjoyable read. Despite a small plot point that had me scratching my head, I was thoroughly entertained and eagerly await the next installment in the series.
May 4, 2023
This is a story about intelligence analyst Lexie Martin. Lexie is contacted by an old source that she has worked with back when she was a field agent. This source sends a video showing a recent chemical warfare attack that implicates a US Army officer as the person responsible for the attack. Lexie goes on a mission to find this officer and uncover who’s ultimately responsible. To do this research she must leave her office and go rogue to have the safety and security from prying eyes.
Lexie has had a few coffee dates with Sophia Flores and decides bring her with her as a decoy to cover her secret investigation. Sophia is told that Lexie is on a training exercise. And since she wants more time to get to know Lexie she agrees to take this road trip with her. Soon enough the bad guys come looking and the action picks up speed.
I lied both characters, especially Lexie. I think Sophie’s character needed more development. Their relationship was quick to develop and perhaps unrealistic, but in an intense and threatening environment it could be possible. Both characters acknowledged that their relationship developed fast but since both were in their 40s I think they were mature enough to recognize their feelings for each other were real.
The book started out great but then drug in the middle for quite some length. However the ending was great and made up for the slow parts Overall it was an enjoyable read and Noyes fans will enjoy it. Since this is part 1 of a new series I expect the next book(s) to have deeper feelings/meanings and more angst.
ARC revived from Bella Books through NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
Lexie has had a few coffee dates with Sophia Flores and decides bring her with her as a decoy to cover her secret investigation. Sophia is told that Lexie is on a training exercise. And since she wants more time to get to know Lexie she agrees to take this road trip with her. Soon enough the bad guys come looking and the action picks up speed.
I lied both characters, especially Lexie. I think Sophie’s character needed more development. Their relationship was quick to develop and perhaps unrealistic, but in an intense and threatening environment it could be possible. Both characters acknowledged that their relationship developed fast but since both were in their 40s I think they were mature enough to recognize their feelings for each other were real.
The book started out great but then drug in the middle for quite some length. However the ending was great and made up for the slow parts Overall it was an enjoyable read and Noyes fans will enjoy it. Since this is part 1 of a new series I expect the next book(s) to have deeper feelings/meanings and more angst.
ARC revived from Bella Books through NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
May 28, 2023
Ahhhhh..... This audiobook is so good. The plot, the conundrum, the characters, the pacing... The never-quite-knowing who is trustworthy and who is not. The romance, the humor - even if the story is anything but. The absolutely brilliant chapter headings! This is one of those books that I feel is better to go in blind without knowing much. I was in from the author's note at the outset. You can't help but get sucked in and take this wonderful journey, growing to care so much for the characters and the outcome. I loved how it wrapped up too - especially knowing more is on the way.
Absolutely terrific! Loved it. Noyes in top form. Abby Craden proves yet again why she is the perfect narrator for EJ's work. She just gets it and delivers in a poignant, beautiful way. Put this at the top of your listen to list. You'll be so happy you did!
Absolutely terrific! Loved it. Noyes in top form. Abby Craden proves yet again why she is the perfect narrator for EJ's work. She just gets it and delivers in a poignant, beautiful way. Put this at the top of your listen to list. You'll be so happy you did!
June 7, 2024
3.5 stars. Started this as the final book in the series has been released now. Not the best book by Noyes, it was a bit slow at some points, but I liked the characters and the storyline was interesting. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
December 27, 2023
Integrity is the first book in the Halcyon Division series. It’s a spy thriller/political intrigue romance that left me wanting to immediately dive into the next book.
Lexie is an intelligence analyst when she gets a call from a source that will change everything. She’s forced to go on the run and decides to take Sophie, the woman she’s been talking to, with her as cover.
This was a fun and engaging read, which isn’t a surprise since it’s E J Noyes. It starts off with some action pretty early on and then slows down quite a bit. Lexie and Sophia are on a road trip and are hotel hopping for the middle. It slows the action down but allows the relationship to grow. This was interesting as they had already started seeing one another before the start of the book. They had about a month or two of flirting that we don’t get. So, while this isn’t quite instalove, it’s pretty fast. I wasn’t sure I 100% bought into the romance, especially with what Sophia was thrown into. Luckily, there’s no big declaration or anything, more like I really like you and wanna see where these goes. Which I was very happy with. The action picks up again towards the end for those that like all those action scenes.
The main issue I had was that we don’t get Sophia’s point of view. There’s a lot that goes on in a very short amount of time. She’s having to process it all quickly as things are very time sensitive. I would have loved to be in her head when some of the revelations start coming out and I was disappointed we didn’t get that.
There wasn’t much of a cliff hanger, as I would’ve been totally okay with this if it wasn’t a series. But I’m so glad to know that this isn’t the end of the story. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lexie is an intelligence analyst when she gets a call from a source that will change everything. She’s forced to go on the run and decides to take Sophie, the woman she’s been talking to, with her as cover.
This was a fun and engaging read, which isn’t a surprise since it’s E J Noyes. It starts off with some action pretty early on and then slows down quite a bit. Lexie and Sophia are on a road trip and are hotel hopping for the middle. It slows the action down but allows the relationship to grow. This was interesting as they had already started seeing one another before the start of the book. They had about a month or two of flirting that we don’t get. So, while this isn’t quite instalove, it’s pretty fast. I wasn’t sure I 100% bought into the romance, especially with what Sophia was thrown into. Luckily, there’s no big declaration or anything, more like I really like you and wanna see where these goes. Which I was very happy with. The action picks up again towards the end for those that like all those action scenes.
The main issue I had was that we don’t get Sophia’s point of view. There’s a lot that goes on in a very short amount of time. She’s having to process it all quickly as things are very time sensitive. I would have loved to be in her head when some of the revelations start coming out and I was disappointed we didn’t get that.
There wasn’t much of a cliff hanger, as I would’ve been totally okay with this if it wasn’t a series. But I’m so glad to know that this isn’t the end of the story. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2024
there is a lot to like abt this one.
a looooot of ppl love e.j. noyes books and initally... i was saddened not to be in that camp. i def enjoyed the first few books by her that i initally read (actually, listened to, i've listened to all of her books, solid life choice on my part if i do say so myself) but i didn't LOVE them in the way loads of other ppl seemed to. so, when i finally started getting into some of hers that i rlly loved, i was delighted. she is now a must read, for me, but there are still a lot of hit or miss ones (well, no, that's not fair. hit, or mostly enjoyed, but didn't love; i've never hated anything she's written). i rlly like and appreciate how often her books are such different scenarios than the previous ones. she's happy to take a big swing and try something wildly different, and that's super exciting. however, she's also very into single, first person pov writting and that's... not my personal preference for romance books. i RLLY like getting both (or more, if we're going poly) povs of the ppl involved in the romance. i don't mind first person, but i generally like to get both perspectives. and the books where she does that tend to be more my favs, tho she doesn't do it very often. in this one, we're in lexie's head and i enjoyed it, but i felt like we lost sophia a little bit. like... girl is thrust into an EXTREME situation and we don't rlly get to see her process it and i RLLY hope since this is gonna be a series, we get some of her pov soon too.
(i'll also... okay my one pet peeve wrt first person is when the main character is like... talking to the reader for no in world explination. lexie does that a few times in the novel. like, "i don't want you to think that i'm.. x" and i'm over here going... girl, who are you talking to? is this a confession later that comes up? a diary entry? spoiler, no. unless i missed smth. so, i didn't love that, but it didn't happen too many times, so i got over it. just, making a note that that's part of why i don't always like first person.)
overall, this was a fun thriller/romance. i love road trip/on the run stories bc a lot happens in close, constant proximety that might not otherwise and so in a lot of ways, the development of their romance and attatchment to each other made sense. (it wasn't just a week, we missed their first two dates and a month of flirty texting etc. so it was kiiiiiind of an established relationship from the jump) which is good, bc generally instalove is NOT my fav, but overall (for the most part, again, i wish we'd had some of sophia's pov) it worked for me. my main thing of enjoying both mcs and rooting for them happened, i'm a character reader above all, but the mystery and plot also def held my attention and i'm excited to see what happens next in the series.
abby craden was as wonderful as she always is, which i feel like is a broken record that i always say, but i nearly always have an improved reading experiecne when i listen to her tell me a romance story. so, it was a damn good time, and i'm happy to put this solidly in the "enjoyed" colum of noyes's books, for me.
hope the next one comes out soon! hope we get sophia's pov!
a looooot of ppl love e.j. noyes books and initally... i was saddened not to be in that camp. i def enjoyed the first few books by her that i initally read (actually, listened to, i've listened to all of her books, solid life choice on my part if i do say so myself) but i didn't LOVE them in the way loads of other ppl seemed to. so, when i finally started getting into some of hers that i rlly loved, i was delighted. she is now a must read, for me, but there are still a lot of hit or miss ones (well, no, that's not fair. hit, or mostly enjoyed, but didn't love; i've never hated anything she's written). i rlly like and appreciate how often her books are such different scenarios than the previous ones. she's happy to take a big swing and try something wildly different, and that's super exciting. however, she's also very into single, first person pov writting and that's... not my personal preference for romance books. i RLLY like getting both (or more, if we're going poly) povs of the ppl involved in the romance. i don't mind first person, but i generally like to get both perspectives. and the books where she does that tend to be more my favs, tho she doesn't do it very often. in this one, we're in lexie's head and i enjoyed it, but i felt like we lost sophia a little bit. like... girl is thrust into an EXTREME situation and we don't rlly get to see her process it and i RLLY hope since this is gonna be a series, we get some of her pov soon too.
(i'll also... okay my one pet peeve wrt first person is when the main character is like... talking to the reader for no in world explination. lexie does that a few times in the novel. like, "i don't want you to think that i'm.. x" and i'm over here going... girl, who are you talking to? is this a confession later that comes up? a diary entry? spoiler, no. unless i missed smth. so, i didn't love that, but it didn't happen too many times, so i got over it. just, making a note that that's part of why i don't always like first person.)
overall, this was a fun thriller/romance. i love road trip/on the run stories bc a lot happens in close, constant proximety that might not otherwise and so in a lot of ways, the development of their romance and attatchment to each other made sense. (it wasn't just a week, we missed their first two dates and a month of flirty texting etc. so it was kiiiiiind of an established relationship from the jump) which is good, bc generally instalove is NOT my fav, but overall (for the most part, again, i wish we'd had some of sophia's pov) it worked for me. my main thing of enjoying both mcs and rooting for them happened, i'm a character reader above all, but the mystery and plot also def held my attention and i'm excited to see what happens next in the series.
abby craden was as wonderful as she always is, which i feel like is a broken record that i always say, but i nearly always have an improved reading experiecne when i listen to her tell me a romance story. so, it was a damn good time, and i'm happy to put this solidly in the "enjoyed" colum of noyes's books, for me.
hope the next one comes out soon! hope we get sophia's pov!
June 6, 2023
Wasn’t for me for sure!
May 30, 2023
Great opening novel in this series featuring Lexie Martin and her love interest Sophia Flores. When an informant sends her video of an atrocity committed overseas, Lexie (not a spy) informs her next in command of this new bit of intelligence which may or may not point to American involvement. It's not long before she is threatened by a stranger to hand over everything she has gathered of the incident. Her government clearance disappears before her eyes and Lexie finds herself on the run from friendly or not so friendly agents trying to quash the info she has received. Lexie's only option is to run.
This is a good setup novel for this series. We are introduced to tech savvy Lexie and her beard while on the run, Sophia, a woman she had met on a dating app. There is not a lot of action but the suspense is there and the action central ending points to more danger ahead in the books to come. Lexie and Sophia have a natural chemistry and the attraction between them is apparent.
As always, Abby Craden breaths life into these characters and makes the book better with her narration.
This is a good setup novel for this series. We are introduced to tech savvy Lexie and her beard while on the run, Sophia, a woman she had met on a dating app. There is not a lot of action but the suspense is there and the action central ending points to more danger ahead in the books to come. Lexie and Sophia have a natural chemistry and the attraction between them is apparent.
As always, Abby Craden breaths life into these characters and makes the book better with her narration.
June 11, 2023
How E.J. Noyes can describe so well psychological states of minds and roll out action as if I'm the one living it, it's beyond amazing.
I felt the paranoia, I felt the adrenaline, I felt the sense of integrity, the loss of hope, the lust inside my veins, the anger at corruption.
I felt all that was physical and all that was emotional.
I trusted no one.
I don't trust myself having to wait till November to read book two.
I will unfold my thoughts better in autumn.
No one writes first person novels as good as E.J. Noyes.
I felt the paranoia, I felt the adrenaline, I felt the sense of integrity, the loss of hope, the lust inside my veins, the anger at corruption.
I felt all that was physical and all that was emotional.
I trusted no one.
I don't trust myself having to wait till November to read book two.
I will unfold my thoughts better in autumn.
No one writes first person novels as good as E.J. Noyes.
June 3, 2023
I really love E.J. Noyes books and was interested to see how her spy thriller would turn out. There are some moments that are action packed but they were also mixed in with a few tender moments between Lexie and Sophia. Lexie is an intriguing character as she has a huge sense of responsibility for humankind but then is more than happy to manipulate Sophia to protect herself as well. She was a great character to follow. I will admit though that Sophia didn't completely win me over - maybe because she felt a little too perfect and understanding. I'm mindful that this could all change though in book two!
There was a chunk of this novel that dragged a bit so I found myself skipping over a few pages but thankfully it picked up again shortly after. The conclusion of the novel was great -it both resolved Lexie's currently predicament but then kept her future intriguing. I'm looking forward to reading book two!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
There was a chunk of this novel that dragged a bit so I found myself skipping over a few pages but thankfully it picked up again shortly after. The conclusion of the novel was great -it both resolved Lexie's currently predicament but then kept her future intriguing. I'm looking forward to reading book two!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2023
4.5☆
Looking forward to the next book. Loved it.
Looking forward to the next book. Loved it.
May 4, 2023
I was so excited to see that EJ Noyes was writing an action romance, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. Maybe I set the bar high, which is certainly possible since her books are exceptional. I enjoyed the read, but the plot fizzled out in the end without a clear understanding of outcomes. The romance was sweet, but the connection between the characters felt a bit weak. All in all, it was good, It just felt unfinished.
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May 10, 20233.5 stars
Noyes is one of my favorite authors. I have loved all of her previous novels. She writes unusually sensitive content. She always really makes me FEEL every detail. Love, hate, betrayal, excitement, fear, pain etc. Unfortunately what I felt, in this story, was boredom. I was trapped with the 2 main characters, in a hotel room for 8 days going over and over the same storyline. It wasn't until the 90% spot that the story got interesting again. But even that was hard for me to believe. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Too neat of a wrap up for this complicated plot.
Sadly, I can't recommend this one.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Noyes is one of my favorite authors. I have loved all of her previous novels. She writes unusually sensitive content. She always really makes me FEEL every detail. Love, hate, betrayal, excitement, fear, pain etc. Unfortunately what I felt, in this story, was boredom. I was trapped with the 2 main characters, in a hotel room for 8 days going over and over the same storyline. It wasn't until the 90% spot that the story got interesting again. But even that was hard for me to believe. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Too neat of a wrap up for this complicated plot.
Sadly, I can't recommend this one.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2023
Romance, thriller, mystery, crime, it could be any of these, all of these.
I always like Noyes’s writing and this is no exception. The downside of this first person POV novel is that I feel like I’m really missing Sophia’s POV, Lexie is fun and funny, a tad crazy perhaps, but we miss why Sophia wants to stay. It’s all super crazy and they both just connect and are ok with staying? I need both POVs.
I enjoyed the writing and the mystery. I could have done with a bit more suspense and a little less inner turmoil. Another good read by Noyes and I am ready for the second part in the series.
I always like Noyes’s writing and this is no exception. The downside of this first person POV novel is that I feel like I’m really missing Sophia’s POV, Lexie is fun and funny, a tad crazy perhaps, but we miss why Sophia wants to stay. It’s all super crazy and they both just connect and are ok with staying? I need both POVs.
I enjoyed the writing and the mystery. I could have done with a bit more suspense and a little less inner turmoil. Another good read by Noyes and I am ready for the second part in the series.
June 6, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever been so disengaged with an EJ Noyes novel, and that includes Reaping the Benefits, which is her only other novel I’ve given 2 stars. I was just so uninvested in the plot and the romance. I’m pretty sure this is a 3-part series, and I’m not sure I will be reading the rest.
May 22, 2023
Lexie Martin, who works as an Intelligence Analyst for the US Government, got some information of a biological/chemical weapon that had caused a massacre. Before she could work out what this meant, a stranger in the night broke into her house and warned her to forget about what she knew. And Lexie is now on the run. She convinced Sophia Flores, the women that she just started dating, to run away with her for an inpromtu road trip/vacation. On the run, Lexie tried to work out the mystery whilst getting to know Sophia more and more. So who can she trust?
This book is a thriller with a side of romance. It was exciting and engaging from the start and literally kept me on edge the whole time. I loved both main characters. The book is from Lexie’s point of view. She was very real, and you can really feel her struggles. Sophia was really sweet and she was just who Lexie needed. And the mystery was very intriguing.
This book was very well written. Never a dull moment. Really glad that it is a series as I was not ready to say goodbye to the characters. Can’t wait for book two! Would definitely recommend.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a thriller with a side of romance. It was exciting and engaging from the start and literally kept me on edge the whole time. I loved both main characters. The book is from Lexie’s point of view. She was very real, and you can really feel her struggles. Sophia was really sweet and she was just who Lexie needed. And the mystery was very intriguing.
This book was very well written. Never a dull moment. Really glad that it is a series as I was not ready to say goodbye to the characters. Can’t wait for book two! Would definitely recommend.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2023
I loved the authors note, highlighting to the reader, this is fiction. This reminded me to sit comfortably and just enjoy the ride!
I was gripped!
Pacing fell off a wee bit around 45%. There wasn't much action on the romance or intrigue plot at that point. It picked up again around the 65% mark and I was once more intrigued.
My attention was then held to the end.
The, for me, loss of pace in the middle, knocked this down to a 3. Points were definitely a 4, but overall a solid 3.
I was gripped!
Pacing fell off a wee bit around 45%. There wasn't much action on the romance or intrigue plot at that point. It picked up again around the 65% mark and I was once more intrigued.
My attention was then held to the end.
The, for me, loss of pace in the middle, knocked this down to a 3. Points were definitely a 4, but overall a solid 3.
June 4, 2023
Lexie is an intelligent analyst who is given some disturbing information. Due to a break in at her apartment she has to go on the run to investigate this information. But before she does, she goes on a late breakfast date with Sophia. Lexie tells her that she'll be gone for a couple of weeks and asks her if she'd like to come with her. Sophia says yes. Then the mystery behind the information is poked into. This is a great page turner! You won't be sorry you've read it! Definitely 5 stars!!
June 25, 2023
Pure brilliance.
A fantastic thriller that keeps you captivated from beginning to end!
4.6 stars.
A fantastic thriller that keeps you captivated from beginning to end!
4.6 stars.
January 6, 2025
EJ Noyes is one of my favourite authors. But I find this book to be a bit different from her previous ones. I like the concept, but find parts of the book to drag a little bit. Overall though, since this is book #1 of a series, I can understand that the author needs to let us know who the characters are.
May 15, 2023
Fast paced political intrigue with f/f romance
Lexie, an analyst for an unnamed US intelligence agency, stumbles about a highly illegal crime - a chemical weapon attack. Suddenly she is wanted and hunted and on the run. Fortunately she is a bad ass with field experience. And her integrity (hence the title) does not allow her to give up on understanding what is really going on. To shield herself she persuades Sophia whom she has just started to date to come with her on her short „vacation trip“, cough.
I loved the intrigue and the unravelling of the mystery surrounding the crime information and there were parts of the running away that left me breathless and crossing my fingers for Lexie - I think I saw some holes in her escaping but the story was so entertaining that a waved my overcritical brain away and just enjoyed the show. Noyes really has a knack for vivid descriptions and detailed insights into characters which are a joy to read.
Sophia is a counterpoint to all those spy-non spy sequences. The attraction adds another angle to the book, although there was for my liking a pinch too much bed room-activity.
The end, well there are two more books coming … so it is not the end-end, but satisfying though baffling. Enough to keep me waiting for the next installment - hopefully very soon.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
Lexie, an analyst for an unnamed US intelligence agency, stumbles about a highly illegal crime - a chemical weapon attack. Suddenly she is wanted and hunted and on the run. Fortunately she is a bad ass with field experience. And her integrity (hence the title) does not allow her to give up on understanding what is really going on. To shield herself she persuades Sophia whom she has just started to date to come with her on her short „vacation trip“, cough.
I loved the intrigue and the unravelling of the mystery surrounding the crime information and there were parts of the running away that left me breathless and crossing my fingers for Lexie - I think I saw some holes in her escaping but the story was so entertaining that a waved my overcritical brain away and just enjoyed the show. Noyes really has a knack for vivid descriptions and detailed insights into characters which are a joy to read.
Sophia is a counterpoint to all those spy-non spy sequences. The attraction adds another angle to the book, although there was for my liking a pinch too much bed room-activity.
The end, well there are two more books coming … so it is not the end-end, but satisfying though baffling. Enough to keep me waiting for the next installment - hopefully very soon.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
November 30, 2023
4.5 stars. Ughh I love EJ Noyes’ complex characters and self-deprecating writing style. I always connect to her books and this one was no exception! Onto book 2!!
May 23, 2023
I know I’m not the only reader of sapphic fiction who gets a rush of anticipation when E.J. Noyes has new books on the horizon. Integrity, Book One in the Halcyon Division is the newest release that had me hooked from page one. And then I chose to sacrifice sleep because I couldn’t put it down. Just. One. More. Chapter…and brilliantly titled chapters, I might add!
Lexie, an intelligence agent, receives some intel which she can’t ignore – even after she is advised to. Going on the run couldn’t come at a worse time as she had begun dating Sophia, the first woman she had clicked with in years. Deciding on the two birds/one-stone approaches, she convinces Sofia to go on a road trip with her, which soon turns into a heart-warming love/action/mystery story.
It’s true, Integrity has it all. Despite traversing several US states, Noyes manages to unveil much of the story within hotel rooms. The romance between Lexie and Sophia evolves organically as they get to know each other inside and outside the bedroom. Despite needing to unravel a horrifying mystery without deceiving Sofia too much, the couple cohabitates almost successfully.
Sophia is patient and understanding, while Lexie is guarded and evasive, but somehow, they mould together and make a beautiful couple who are supportive and only want the best for each other.
The mystery of Halcyon and the consequences of Lexie’s actions keep the story thrilling and fast-paced. E.J. Noyes has written a brilliant first book in what promises to be an epic new series.
I received an ARC from Bella books via NetGalley for my honest review.
Lexie, an intelligence agent, receives some intel which she can’t ignore – even after she is advised to. Going on the run couldn’t come at a worse time as she had begun dating Sophia, the first woman she had clicked with in years. Deciding on the two birds/one-stone approaches, she convinces Sofia to go on a road trip with her, which soon turns into a heart-warming love/action/mystery story.
It’s true, Integrity has it all. Despite traversing several US states, Noyes manages to unveil much of the story within hotel rooms. The romance between Lexie and Sophia evolves organically as they get to know each other inside and outside the bedroom. Despite needing to unravel a horrifying mystery without deceiving Sofia too much, the couple cohabitates almost successfully.
Sophia is patient and understanding, while Lexie is guarded and evasive, but somehow, they mould together and make a beautiful couple who are supportive and only want the best for each other.
The mystery of Halcyon and the consequences of Lexie’s actions keep the story thrilling and fast-paced. E.J. Noyes has written a brilliant first book in what promises to be an epic new series.
I received an ARC from Bella books via NetGalley for my honest review.
May 29, 2023
Noyes never fails to impress me with her talent. She is fearless in her storytelling, never hesitating to flesh it out and let the story take her where it will. Because she does, it feels organic to the reader. Scenes don’t feel forced. They work. Furthermore, they advance the plot. It all works to prove Noyes is a master at producing stories that are pure, indulgent escapism. Readers get so caught up in the narrative that it’s over before they know it and they’re a little disappointed that it has. However, a true Noyes fan always knows that the reread is going to be just as good, if not better than the first time through.
Such is the case with Integrity. Integrity is the first book in Noyes’s new Halcyon Division Series, and it is some top-shelf stuff. It’s a lovely romance infused with a fast-paced mystery, and it all makes for one hair-pulling ride. The romance plays a central role in the fabric of this story, and Noyes weaves it into the framework quite beautifully. Readers will love Lexie and Sophia’s chemistry. They are strong, independent women and perfect for each other. Moreover, they are perfect for this series.
When I first cracked open the pages of this story, I wasn’t sure how Lexie and Sophia’s relationship was going to fit into the big scheme of things. However, Noyes surprised me; she’s quite clever with her romance plotting in Integrity. I thought the story was going to be all espionage/government cover-up/crooked politics. I kept wondering how the romance would matter to the storytelling as a whole. I shouldn’t have questioned Noyes’s intentions though. I should have known she’d reveal all in due time; she’s sneaky that way. In a delightful turn, Noyes uses the romance to strengthen the plot, and it plays out superbly. Readers are hooked by the spy action as much as they are the bedroom eyes being tossed about on the page. It’s lovely, and it’s engaging, and it leaves one wanting more.
Final remarks…
Readers can always count on Noyes for a first rate story and Integrity does not disappoint! Book one of the Halcyon Division Series is a fantastic beginning; I have no doubt readers are going to enjoy this journey and sign up for more. This is heart-pumping, non-stop page-flipping fun, and one heck of a ride! My recommendation: don’t miss out!
Strengths…
Well-developed plot
Thrilling storyline
Likable characters
Exciting and fast paced
Engaging romance
Leaves one wanting more
Such is the case with Integrity. Integrity is the first book in Noyes’s new Halcyon Division Series, and it is some top-shelf stuff. It’s a lovely romance infused with a fast-paced mystery, and it all makes for one hair-pulling ride. The romance plays a central role in the fabric of this story, and Noyes weaves it into the framework quite beautifully. Readers will love Lexie and Sophia’s chemistry. They are strong, independent women and perfect for each other. Moreover, they are perfect for this series.
When I first cracked open the pages of this story, I wasn’t sure how Lexie and Sophia’s relationship was going to fit into the big scheme of things. However, Noyes surprised me; she’s quite clever with her romance plotting in Integrity. I thought the story was going to be all espionage/government cover-up/crooked politics. I kept wondering how the romance would matter to the storytelling as a whole. I shouldn’t have questioned Noyes’s intentions though. I should have known she’d reveal all in due time; she’s sneaky that way. In a delightful turn, Noyes uses the romance to strengthen the plot, and it plays out superbly. Readers are hooked by the spy action as much as they are the bedroom eyes being tossed about on the page. It’s lovely, and it’s engaging, and it leaves one wanting more.
Final remarks…
Readers can always count on Noyes for a first rate story and Integrity does not disappoint! Book one of the Halcyon Division Series is a fantastic beginning; I have no doubt readers are going to enjoy this journey and sign up for more. This is heart-pumping, non-stop page-flipping fun, and one heck of a ride! My recommendation: don’t miss out!
Strengths…
Well-developed plot
Thrilling storyline
Likable characters
Exciting and fast paced
Engaging romance
Leaves one wanting more
April 29, 2025
Lexie works for an intelligence agency for the government when she comes across information about a chemical weapons attack, information that she shouldn’t know, she is forced to go on the run! We are also introduced to her love interest who tags along not knowing the danger she and Lexi are in, and I was really interested to discover how everything was going to work out when certain things were revealed.
This book combines sapphic romance with espionage and I loved it, to top it all off it’s book one of a 3 book series and I’m excited to see how it continues.
This book combines sapphic romance with espionage and I loved it, to top it all off it’s book one of a 3 book series and I’m excited to see how it continues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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