Secret Agent Boyfriend

The Adair Affairs #3

by Addison Fox

A pretend boyfriend, a murder and a lost heir—just another day for the Adair family…

What harm could there be pretending a sexy FBI agent is her boyfriend? Plenty, socialite Landry Adair discovers when she must work with Derek Winchester to locate the missing Adair heir. Pretend hugs, pretend kisses, and before she knows it, their sizzling attraction is dangerously real!

But as Landry and Derek race to uncover family secrets—possibly her father's murderer—more danger arises. Coming close to the truth draws out a killer desperate to get the two out of the way. Only then does Landry realize she's more warrior than society princess…and she'll fight tooth and nail for a real chance at love!

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Harlequin

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 20, 2015

About the author

Addison Fox can’t remember a time when words weren’t a part of her life. In addition to being an avid reader, she loves writing novels about strong-willed and exciting heroes and heroines – individuals who are meant for each other and who deserve their happy ever after. After she makes them work for it, of course!

First published in 2010, Addison has written across romance genres including paranormal, contemporary and romantic suspense. A romantic at heart, she’ll take her heroes any way she can get them – from ancient warriors to computer geeks to sexy cowboys. She’s not picky - but she is deeply grateful her readers are willing to come along for the ride.

Addison lives in New York. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor) and Twitter (@addisonfox).


The House of Steele series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense launches in July with THE PARIS ASSIGNMENT.

And two new stories in the Alaskan Nights series will be out - FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Penguin eNovella, July) and JUST IN TIME (Aug).

Addison lives in Dallas. She loves to get email from readers.

Reviews

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ongoing questions keep the lives of one family in turmoil, and the third book in The Adair Affairs continuity finally gives them some answers while other worries still remain a mystery. Addison Fox has created a very likable couple for her contribution to the miniseries, where unforeseen personal problems play a part in the future complications of the Adair family. Puzzling threats repeatedly happen, and no one is safe until those with malicious intent are finally exposed. The dangerous situations in SECRET AGENT BOYFRIEND are gripping, while unexpected romantic feelings add to the emotional confusion.

When FBI agent Derek Winchester comes to visit Landry Adair at her San Diego home, he thought having a fake relationship with her would just be a task done as a favor. There are several troubling predicaments going on in her family’s life that need to be resolved, so acting as if he is her boyfriend will let him investigate without giving away his identity. Her father has been murdered and then her mother suddenly left the country. There is also the matter of a kidnapped half-brother taken when he was young. Hopefully, Derek will have some success in helping the Adair family find answers to these dilemmas while he watches over her.

Though he would rather not follow her wishes for them to work as a team while looking for information, Derek agrees as he needs the cooperation of the strong-minded woman. Being around Landry lets him see her many different sides, and she soon notices things about him because of her perceptiveness. While searching for clues, they start to have genuine feelings for the other. But if they actually find the truth about past events, fears increase about who will be at risk.

With its especially compatible couple plus interesting way of revealing a number of continuing mysteries, the latest installment in The Adair Affairs is very entertaining at all times. Derek and Landry may have a disagreement from time to time, yet they are still able to talk about what is bothering them. Couples who constantly keep one another in the dark when they have a difference of opinion can become frustrating if it goes on and on. What I liked about these two was their intelligent way of handling any disputes. Both can be straightforward when they have something to say, but it did not keep them from becoming closer as days went by. How they came to understand each other just made their story even more enchanting, and I really liked how their relationship progressed from pretend to surprisingly real. The way in which they expressed their inner feelings was certainly believable, and sex between Landry and Derek was steamy yet tender.

There are some disturbing issues that worry Landry and her family, and clues about several them are scattered throughout the story and had me guessing at what would eventually be disclosed. Ms. Fox cleverly kept me uninformed about a few concerns while the reasons for other quandaries are given to the reader yet not the characters. This caused me to be anxious for Derek and Landry, as I feared for their safety. He is a competent FBI agent, but his past history has made him vulnerable. Landry is also deeply affected by her background, and I enjoyed watching these two try to overcome what could have kept them apart. Addison Fox made SECRET AGENT BOYFRIEND compelling with engaging characters and lots of intrigue.

Copy received from author for a CataRomance review - 4.5 Stars

[Shatarupa Dhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always wanted to do this!

https://sassyshaina.files.wordpress.c...

The Adair-Winston Family

Yes, make a family tree! And since neither of the ‘Adair’ series has one, I felt compelled to create one. Do let me know how it is, and whether it needs improvement (after reading all the books, of course)!

The reading order of the series is as follows:

“The Adair Legacy” (published 2014)

Her Secret, His Duty by Carla Cassidy
Executive Protection by Jennifer Morey
Special Ops Rendezvous by Karen Anders
Secret Service Rescue by Elle James
And then comes:

“The Adair Affairs” (published 2015)

Carrying His Secret by Marie Ferrarella
The Marine’s Temptation by Jennifer Morey
Secret Agent Boyfriend by Addison Fox
Heir to Murder by Elle James

Read the books in the above-mentioned order, and you are good to go!

Needless to say, as all the books in both the series come under the Mills & Boon imprint of ‘Romantic Suspense’, all of the above have tons of suspenseful action! Published a year apart, you can draw parallels between the books of the two series. There are many similarities in their storylines, and it surprised me a lot as nowhere it is given that there is any link between the two series, and I myself stumbled upon them almost a year apart! Thankfully, I had read ‘The Adair Legacy’ first; otherwise, it would have been a bit of a spoiler.

I love the way Kate’s character has been written and also how beautifully it has shaped up over the course of the 8 books. While all other characters are flitting in and out, she is the only constant. Even if briefly, she appears in all the books and makes her appearance count (always the ‘matchmaker’)! Also, being the former vice-president, you almost don’t expect the homey atmosphere of ‘Winston Estate’ which welcomes you to the books, especially in ‘The Adair Legacy’ series.

Both the series are the individual stories of three brothers and their sister, with the only exception being the sister’s daughter replacing her in ‘The Adair Legacy’ (which makes Kate a Grandma!)

Her Secret, His Duty (by Carla Cassidy)
(The Adair Legacy #1)
What I felt about this one is that it could have had a bit more romance. And the same goes for:
Carrying His Secret (by Marie Ferrarella)
(The Adair Affairs #5)
Appearing under the category of ‘Romantic Suspense’ these two appeared to have missed the romance a little.
Similarities: Both are classic M&B ‘secret’ pregnancy tropes with the eldest sons (Trey and Whit) heading their respective businesses while the female protagonists (Debra and Elizabeth) work for one of their parents (part office romance).

Executive Protection (by Jennifer Morey)
(The Adair Legacy #2)
And
The Marine’s Temptation (again, by Jennifer Morey)
(The Adair Affairs #6)
Similarities: The first one above has the lady convincing the man about falling in love while the second one is vice-versa. But of course, it is only if you narrow it down to that; otherwise, both the books are great to read.

Now’s where the order is getting a bit muddled, as far as similarities are concerned.
Special Ops Rendezvous (by Karen Anders)
(The Adair Legacy #3)
Secret Service Rescue (by Elle James)
(The Adair Legacy #4)
And
Secret Agent Boyfriend (Addison Fox)
(The Adair Affairs #7)
Heir to Murder (by Elle James)
(The Adair Affairs #8)
Similarities: While #4 and #7 have secret agents (Daniel and Derek) acting out as boyfriends to their respective female protagonists (Shelby and Landry) as a ruse for investigative purposes, #4 and #8 are all about long-lost identities (of Shelby and Jackson).

While the first series deals almost entirely with an ‘attempt to murder’, the second series deals with an ‘actual’ murder.

And one thing which is common to all of them is that ‘someone is always trying to kill someone’, so definitely suspenseful!

Special Mention: Be sure not to miss Elle James’ books as both of the titles will send you on a roller-coaster ride of nail-gripping action. (I am writing this while searching for more Elle James books. I have fallen in love with her writing!)

Boggled your brains? Well, read it out and then you will know!

Originally posted on:
https://sassyshaina.wordpress.com/201...

[Paula Legate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love The Adair Affairs series. With that being said, this series you have to read all the books in order. I made the mistake of reading Heir to Murder before I read this book, secret agent boyfriend. so you won't make the same mistake as I did, here is the list of books:

book 1 - Carrying His Secret , book 2 - The Marine's Temptation, book 3, Secret Agent Boyfriend book 4 Heir to Murder

I loved the romance, and suspense in the story. Derek was asked by Kate, the former vice president, to help find Jackson the missing son, and protect Landry. No one tells Kate no. Derrick moved in, and pretended to be Laundry's boyfriend. Neither had expected the chemistry to be real. They acted as partner's to solve the mystery, and the friendship and trust slowly built. Secrets, kidnapping, and murder has surrounded Laundry, and The Adair family. The strength, and closeness of this family is amazing. I love all the characters from the previous books.

My only complaint about the book, is I know from my husband working in law enforcement that he would NEVER, ever, take me on a sting mission. Reading, I have to take that part of the plot for what it is. A nice twist of fiction, to make the story more interesting. I'm ok with that.

[bombay_sapphire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give the book a 4.5. Thought it was really well written with enough action in between to keep an even pace and interesting.

I liked the relationship between Landry and Derek, even if it did start out as a cover. Landry never let Derek get away with his moodiness and shutting her out (I especially liked when she told him just because he's been hurt and dealing with issues is no excuse to act like a jerk). I liked that she wasn't only painted as some spoiled rich girl with daddy issues. There's was really all about loving and accepting a person as they are and being a true partner in every sense of the word. Also trying to find the missing Adair air and Derek's crazy partner thrown in the mix made for an interesting story.

[Barb Krater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. You must read all the books in order.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book, with excellent blend of romance and suspense. Derek Winchester, who was a secondary character in the Adair Legacy series, has been asked by his former boss to help her niece and nephews find their missing half-brother. After leaving the Secret Service, Derek became an FBI agent, working to find missing persons. In order to maintain a low profile for his investigation, Derek is supposed to pretend to be Landry's boyfriend.

Landry is known for being a wealthy socialite, but there's really much more to her. Right now she's dealing with grief over her father's murder and her mother's possible connection to it. There's also the possibility that the cousin she's known all her life may actually be her half-brother. When her aunt sends Derek to them to help get at the truth, Landry is determined to be there every step of the way and nothing he says is going to stop her.

While Derek would rather work alone, he agrees he's going to need Landry's help. As they work together to follow the trail to the truth, they begin to get to know each other. Derek sees that there are many sides to Landry, some that even her family doesn't seem to see. At the same time, Landry is impressed by Derek's passion for his work, but also senses that there is something about it that is troubling him. During the time that they spend together searching for clues and pretending to be a couple, their feelings being to change from pretend to real.

But it isn't all hearts and butterflies, as both Derek and Landry have issues that occasionally cause them to butt heads. Derek is a bit on the brooding side, especially when it comes to the last case he had been working on. It is still unresolved and it is eating at him. Because of it, he occasionally acts like a jerk to Landry. Fortunately, she isn't one to sit back and take it and has no trouble calling him on it. Equally as good, he can usually admit it when she does and they do a good job of talking things out. Landry has her own issues, brought on by the way she was treated by her mother. It has affected her confidence in many ways, but Derek's attentions go a long way toward repairing some of those issues. The chemistry between them is also quite hot, and their love scenes are both steamy and tender. I loved seeing the way that the relationship progressed and grew.

The suspense of the story was very good. There were three main issues running through the book. First is the murder of Landry's father, who did it and why. That question is there throughout, but not much progress is made on the answer. Second is the question of the missing Adair heir. In the previous book it had been suggested that Noah Scott, the man they believe is their cousin, is actually their missing brother. A great deal of the book is taken up with the search for clues that will prove it one way or another. Landry and her brothers don't want to believe that their aunt could be capable of doing such a thing, but as the investigation goes on, evidence is piling up. The conclusion isn't a surprise, but I enjoyed the search. The third, and most intense, is the missing person case that Derek had been working on. He blames himself that the girl hasn't been found, and even though he is supposedly on leave from it, he can't stop thinking about it. It's shown through the story that the fault actually isn't his, that he is being set up. The intensity increased as the real perp became more desperate, and the final confrontation was really good. I'm looking forward to the next book to see the murder finally solved. I have a suspicion about who did it, and I can't wait to see if I'm right.

[Janell Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is written by 4 different authors. Each book has it's own story line but there is one giant story arc that runs through each book. Basically each book is a companion novel. They each have their own hero & heroine. I personally like to read all the books in a series and I'm a stickler for reading them in order. Technically you could read each as a standalone but the larger story arc grows with each novel. This series hasn't thrilled me but I've enjoyed it. I like seeing previous characters carry through each book. It's fun to see the relationships continue beyond their novels. I liked Landry so it was fun having her book.

[Nibrock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight forward romance. A bit of mystery included. Didn't read the first two in the series (different authors) so I felt left out of some of the background information, but it really didn't detract from enjoying this story.

[Harlequin Books]

"A strong plot and distinctive characters with sizzling chemistry make this story a great read" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).

Miniseries: The Adair Affairs

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

off to find next in the series