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Saints & Spies #1
Saints & Spies
Molly will do anything to save her new priest from the parish mob. Unfortunately, that's exactly what Father Tim doesn't want. Evil returns to the evil doer. — Old Irish Proverb When she finds her priest murdered, Molly Malone, secretary of their Catholic parish, vows to never let it happen again. She’ll use the full force of her Irish will, and her previous stint on the Irish police force, to protect the new priest from the congregation’s rumors of criminal activity. Falling in love wasn’t part of her plan. However, young, handsome and—dare she even think it?—flirtatious, Father Tim O’Rourke is nothing she expected. But Father Tim is also nothing like he seems to he’s Special Agent Zach Saint, an LDS FBI agent undercover to root out the mob that’s hiding in the parish. And Molly isn’t every time Zach gets close to the mob, Molly manages to get in the way. Falling for her is the last thing he needs. Now Zach must find the murderer and catch the mobsters before his feelings for Molly blow his cover and add another murder or two to the mobsters’ docket. A new clean romantic suspense series from award-winning author Jordan McCollum! Read the full Saints & Spies series! 1. Saints & Spies 2. Saints & Suspects 3. Saints & Sinners (coming 2018) Other clean romantic suspense books by Jordan McCollum The Spy Another Day clean romantic suspense prequel trilogy series (also available as a box set) 1. Spy Noon (novella) 2. Mr. Nice Spy (novella) 3. Spy by Night (full-length novel & Whitney Award finalist) Also available as a box set! Don't miss the complete Spy Another Day clean romantic suspense series featuring love, lies, secrets and spies! Every book was named a finalist for the Whitney Award for mystery/suspense! (Also available as a box set) 1. I, Spy 2. Spy for a Spy 3. Tomorrow We Spy Plus get a free book from the Spy Another Day series inside this one!
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2015
88 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Jordan McCollum
22 books94 followersAn award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can't resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don't want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most--she's a mom.
Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.
Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 1, 2016
Molly Malone is the secretary of her Catholic parish. She already found one priest murdered. Now she is determined to keep the new priest, Father O’Rourke, away from the mob elements of the parish. Can she also protect her heart from the handsome, kind, and even flirtatious priest?
After Father Patrick’s death, the FBI sends in LDS agent Zach Saint to go undercover as Father Tim O’Rourke. He has two months to get evidence against the mob. Time is running out, and Molly keeps getting in the way. Can he get the evidence in time? And can he keep his cover as he loses his heart to Molly?
I started this book and just couldn’t stop reading! I loved the characters! Molly and Zach were both strong, real characters. I felt like I knew them. And they were people I would want to know. I loved Molly’s surprise as Zach kept showing his familiarity with Irish customs and sayings. I loved Lucy! She had such a big heart. I just kept waiting for her and Father Tim to meet. The story is full of suspense with plenty of twists. The religious discussions make sense and flow with the events of the story. The romance is sweet. The struggles Molly and Zach go through because of an impossible love are well written. I enjoyed every aspect of this book! I loved the mystery and suspense! I loved the romance! I loved the book!!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
After Father Patrick’s death, the FBI sends in LDS agent Zach Saint to go undercover as Father Tim O’Rourke. He has two months to get evidence against the mob. Time is running out, and Molly keeps getting in the way. Can he get the evidence in time? And can he keep his cover as he loses his heart to Molly?
I started this book and just couldn’t stop reading! I loved the characters! Molly and Zach were both strong, real characters. I felt like I knew them. And they were people I would want to know. I loved Molly’s surprise as Zach kept showing his familiarity with Irish customs and sayings. I loved Lucy! She had such a big heart. I just kept waiting for her and Father Tim to meet. The story is full of suspense with plenty of twists. The religious discussions make sense and flow with the events of the story. The romance is sweet. The struggles Molly and Zach go through because of an impossible love are well written. I enjoyed every aspect of this book! I loved the mystery and suspense! I loved the romance! I loved the book!!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2015
Sometimes I do delightfully foolish things, like staying up until 4am two nights in a row reading this book. Sure I'm tired, but I can't regret my decision. McCollum's characters are so charmingly real that I am eager for them to have more adventures RIGHT NOW! Please please say this is the start of a new series! The ex-Guarda and the FBI agent make a beautiful crime-solving pair. :) 4.5 stars
February 25, 2019
Saints and Spies focuses around Zachary Smith, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who goes undercover in a catholic church to bust a mob rink. The Parish’s secretary, Molly, begins as a suspect who eventually helps find information against the mob. Over time, Zach, a.k.a. ‘Father Tim’, falls in love with Molly and is forced to ignore his attraction unless he wants the whole case to fall apart. Molly and Zach work together and gather enough evidence to arrest the mob members, but Molly is torn when she discovers that Zach isn’t really a catholic father. They spend lots of time apart before accidently meeting up on Christmas Eve and talking over the case. The book ends on a cliffhanger as Zach and Molly start to rebuild their relationship.
The main characters, Zach and Molly, act like real people and have normal interactions. Their characters help to make the romance believable because they respond to situations like an average person would, which helps to suspend disbelief throughout the book. I appreciate the effort that was put into making their romance cute and normal, instead of over-the-top dramatic.
I enjoyed the book’s main plot because it was funny and interesting. However, Molly, who is Irish, has a somewhat annoying accent written into the dialogue. It took awhile for me to get used to reading her unusual accent, and I would have prefered that it wasn’t included. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I loved reading all of the stereotypes about our beliefs. The book wasn’t inappropriate or offensive at all, and I enjoyed reading it.
The main characters, Zach and Molly, act like real people and have normal interactions. Their characters help to make the romance believable because they respond to situations like an average person would, which helps to suspend disbelief throughout the book. I appreciate the effort that was put into making their romance cute and normal, instead of over-the-top dramatic.
I enjoyed the book’s main plot because it was funny and interesting. However, Molly, who is Irish, has a somewhat annoying accent written into the dialogue. It took awhile for me to get used to reading her unusual accent, and I would have prefered that it wasn’t included. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I loved reading all of the stereotypes about our beliefs. The book wasn’t inappropriate or offensive at all, and I enjoyed reading it.
November 26, 2025
Zach Saint is a returned LDS missionary and now an undercover FBI agent sent to root out the Irish mob from a Catholic parish. Molly Malone is the parish secretary and a former Guarda. Determined to protect her new priest from the fate of the last one, she unknowingly works to hinder his investigation.
I liked the storyline in this novel; however, I felt it fell victim to one of my main pet peeves with Christian novels. I do not mind Christian characters or even when faith is a main part of their story, but I really dislike it when I feel like the author is trying to convert me from the pages.
The author pretty much wrote the first three missionary discussions into the novel. I happen to share the same religion as the main character, but reading it felt cringy. And honestly, it wasn't necessary for the progression of the story.
I'm fairly ambivalent about reading the next two in the series, so on one hand, this book can be read as a standalone, and you won't feel like you are missing something.
I liked the storyline in this novel; however, I felt it fell victim to one of my main pet peeves with Christian novels. I do not mind Christian characters or even when faith is a main part of their story, but I really dislike it when I feel like the author is trying to convert me from the pages.
The author pretty much wrote the first three missionary discussions into the novel. I happen to share the same religion as the main character, but reading it felt cringy. And honestly, it wasn't necessary for the progression of the story.
I'm fairly ambivalent about reading the next two in the series, so on one hand, this book can be read as a standalone, and you won't feel like you are missing something.
February 28, 2019
This book took me a while to get through. The writing was a little clunky, and at times, I’d get confused with characters or their thought processes, because they didn’t seem to flow well with the plot. It is an intriguing plot line. The characters were okay, but they didn’t latch onto my heart like some other books have. At times, the scenarios or thought-processes felt forced and fake to me. But if you like suspense romance, this has its strengths. It is well thought out. Mostly, it was the flow that kept tripping me up in this book. Otherwise, it was decent. An FBI undercover agent goes into a Catholic church pretending to be a priest to catch some mafia members that are using the church to launder money. There is another murder of a priest before he is sent in, and the mystery he needs to figure out is: who is helping the bad guys. He hopes it isn’t the pretty church secretary that he’s sort of falling for.
October 10, 2022
This was a kindle unlimited book. It had a Mormon twist to it and the idea of the book was good but it was just poorly written. It was a little hard to follow at times and to know who was talking or thinking. Zach is undercover as a Catholic priest, molly is from Ireland and runs the office. There is murder, mob threatenings, and Mormon missionaries.
December 13, 2016
An Avid Jordan McCollum reader, I really enjoyed this novel. I've read her Spy Another Day series and this was very different. The voice was different, and the characters felt real. Good plot and dialogue. Well done!
September 14, 2020
This was a good one!
The book was good from the first clear to the last! The author kept my attention with her talented writing. Thank you!
The book was good from the first clear to the last! The author kept my attention with her talented writing. Thank you!
July 1, 2023
I enjoyed this, though it’s heavy on religion and a bit cheesy. If you like LDS fiction and romance, you’ll enjoy it.
March 15, 2017
A truly fun mob/spy novel with an Irish/Catholic/Mormon flair. A tad bit of religion, but nothing preachy.
October 18, 2015
Saints & Spies follows the escapades of Agent Zachary Saint as he goes undercover as a Catholic priest. He has only two months to bring down the mob they've been trying to nab for years. The delightfully Irish Molly Malone, the unexpected arrival of his sister, and other well-meaning people continually threaten his cover. There is a great mixture of Irish culture , Catholic practices, and FBI cloak and dagger games. It offers romance, tense moments, near misses, and dangers at every turn. The revelations and moments that make you hold your breath made this a read you can't put down.
I loved the banter and flirting between Molly and Zachary (aka Father Tim). Their struggle to deny their "impossible" feelings for various reason lead to some awkward and sometimes sad moments. A very LDS Zach attempts to navigate the ropes of an unfamiliar religion and play the members of the mob against each other the pace moving quickly. When his sister entered the scene, I kept waiting for the inevitable collision. McCollum did an excellent job of setting up great tense moments when I was sure they were about to see each other, but something saved them at the last second. The actual meet-up was from disappointing. A great spy novel with lots of misdirection, hidden identities, secrets, romance, and some great surprise twists I didn't see coming. The only thing I didn't like was how often the viewpoint changed between Zach and Molly. I really enjoyed seeing both perspectives, though Molly's attempts to "help" Father Tim didn't help much. It would have been nice to stay with one or the other for a little longer on some of the jumps, but the overall story was excellent.
Enjoy!
I loved the banter and flirting between Molly and Zachary (aka Father Tim). Their struggle to deny their "impossible" feelings for various reason lead to some awkward and sometimes sad moments. A very LDS Zach attempts to navigate the ropes of an unfamiliar religion and play the members of the mob against each other the pace moving quickly. When his sister entered the scene, I kept waiting for the inevitable collision. McCollum did an excellent job of setting up great tense moments when I was sure they were about to see each other, but something saved them at the last second. The actual meet-up was from disappointing. A great spy novel with lots of misdirection, hidden identities, secrets, romance, and some great surprise twists I didn't see coming. The only thing I didn't like was how often the viewpoint changed between Zach and Molly. I really enjoyed seeing both perspectives, though Molly's attempts to "help" Father Tim didn't help much. It would have been nice to stay with one or the other for a little longer on some of the jumps, but the overall story was excellent.
Enjoy!
October 23, 2015
4.5 Stars
SAINTS & SPIES was a consistently building suspense as it worked up to its climatic end. With characters who struggle through what they should or should not do, danger lurking among the mob, and romance brewing, it was engaging and allowed the reader to really get invested in these characters and story. Definitely a new series from this author worth reading. Recommended for readers who enjoy LDS romantic suspense.
My favorite aspect of the story were the moments between Zach, AKA Father Tim, and Molly. They had an immediate connection, a chemistry that only grew stronger the more they interacted, and an attraction that was strong from the beginning. Beyond that there were these moments when they just got each other or saw each other and no one else. They had several almost-kisses. Definitely swoon worthy.
Add to the characters and the romance all this growing tension as Zach tries to play his role, get the bad guys, figure out who he can trust, try to keep Molly and others safe, Molly trying to keep him safe... The plot just thickened and thickened. There were inspirational moments as well, which was a little different from McCollum's Spy Another Day series. It felt genuine for someone investigating another religion. There wasn't much action until the end and then it was fairly brief and intense. I enjoyed seeing where the story would lead and how it would end.
Overall, SAINTS & SPIES was a very enjoyable read with an intense and also very sweet ending. I'm excited to see what comes next!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complementary copy from the author, but also purchased and read my own copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
SAINTS & SPIES was a consistently building suspense as it worked up to its climatic end. With characters who struggle through what they should or should not do, danger lurking among the mob, and romance brewing, it was engaging and allowed the reader to really get invested in these characters and story. Definitely a new series from this author worth reading. Recommended for readers who enjoy LDS romantic suspense.
My favorite aspect of the story were the moments between Zach, AKA Father Tim, and Molly. They had an immediate connection, a chemistry that only grew stronger the more they interacted, and an attraction that was strong from the beginning. Beyond that there were these moments when they just got each other or saw each other and no one else. They had several almost-kisses. Definitely swoon worthy.
Add to the characters and the romance all this growing tension as Zach tries to play his role, get the bad guys, figure out who he can trust, try to keep Molly and others safe, Molly trying to keep him safe... The plot just thickened and thickened. There were inspirational moments as well, which was a little different from McCollum's Spy Another Day series. It felt genuine for someone investigating another religion. There wasn't much action until the end and then it was fairly brief and intense. I enjoyed seeing where the story would lead and how it would end.
Overall, SAINTS & SPIES was a very enjoyable read with an intense and also very sweet ending. I'm excited to see what comes next!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complementary copy from the author, but also purchased and read my own copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
January 29, 2016
4 stars
This has flirting, churches, mob, good characters, interesting plot and is a clean read. Mentions LDS and Catholic beliefs a little.
Special Agent Zach Saint, an LDS FBI agent undercover as a Catholic Priest. He is sent in to find out who killed the last Father, and get the mob who is using the church.
Molly Malone used to be a police officer in Ireland. Now she is a church secretary. She found the priests body. She is determined to save Father Tim from meeting the mobsters.
It has some twists that I saw and some I did not see coming.
I enjoyed reading Jordan McCollum's stories and will keep looking for more.
This has flirting, churches, mob, good characters, interesting plot and is a clean read. Mentions LDS and Catholic beliefs a little.
Special Agent Zach Saint, an LDS FBI agent undercover as a Catholic Priest. He is sent in to find out who killed the last Father, and get the mob who is using the church.
Molly Malone used to be a police officer in Ireland. Now she is a church secretary. She found the priests body. She is determined to save Father Tim from meeting the mobsters.
It has some twists that I saw and some I did not see coming.
I enjoyed reading Jordan McCollum's stories and will keep looking for more.
December 6, 2015
This is a great story, with great characters, and a mystery situation that will keep you guessing until the end. Between the mistaken identities, the mob, and the "challenging work environment", it's a book to keep you laughing, wondering, cheering, and biting your nails. For a book taking place mainly in a church, it's anything but serene....
It helps if you are LDS, or at least have friends who are, in order to get all the humor, but it's not necessary to enjoy the story and characters.
It helps if you are LDS, or at least have friends who are, in order to get all the humor, but it's not necessary to enjoy the story and characters.
March 1, 2016
4 1/2 stars.
An LDS FBI under cover agent posing as a Catholic priest? What's not to like? As a former Catholic (but not Irish), this was a really fun read. Lots of intrigue as well.
And, of course, an impossible love story with a sweet resolution.
An LDS FBI under cover agent posing as a Catholic priest? What's not to like? As a former Catholic (but not Irish), this was a really fun read. Lots of intrigue as well.
And, of course, an impossible love story with a sweet resolution.
November 11, 2015
A clean read. It did get a little confusing at times with the minor characters, but I enjoyed the twist at the end and the ending.
October 22, 2015
This was so AWESOME! I loved this LDS fiction story and I would give it six stars if I could. Plus, I would read this again! My highest praise!
November 28, 2015
Loved it!
I enjoyed every part of this book! I had a hard time putting it down. Thank you Ms McCollum for a riveting read that was full of intrigue and wonderfully clean romance.
I enjoyed every part of this book! I had a hard time putting it down. Thank you Ms McCollum for a riveting read that was full of intrigue and wonderfully clean romance.
November 28, 2015
Surprised that it ended so quickly! I look forward to more.
January 14, 2016
Enjoyed it!!!
Had a few twists. Kept me interested until the very end. I look forward to reading more books from Jordan McCullum.
Had a few twists. Kept me interested until the very end. I look forward to reading more books from Jordan McCullum.
January 21, 2016
I little slow in areas, but it was good.
January 28, 2016
Loved it!
I loved this book. The characters felt real. The sibling rivalry felt real. All in all it was a great read.
I loved this book. The characters felt real. The sibling rivalry felt real. All in all it was a great read.
June 2, 2017
It took a little bit for me to get into the book. I thought my mom read it first, so I would tell her where I was at in the book, until we both realized that she did not read it. Sigh....gave her spoilers without knowing it.
Who really did the deed of murdering the priest was somewhat of a surprise. I mean Fitzgerald, had to be involved somehow but all this time I really thought he was involved with the Mob.....nope he just takes the vows seriously, and gets caught up in lies.
The characters are different and the mystery of who killed the Priest almost impossible to solve.
The character I really hated was the undercover agent's superior. Good thing you don't see him a lot, but still he had communications problem.
Who really did the deed of murdering the priest was somewhat of a surprise. I mean Fitzgerald, had to be involved somehow but all this time I really thought he was involved with the Mob.....nope he just takes the vows seriously, and gets caught up in lies.
The characters are different and the mystery of who killed the Priest almost impossible to solve.
The character I really hated was the undercover agent's superior. Good thing you don't see him a lot, but still he had communications problem.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews