A Covert Affair

Librarian and the Spy Escapade #2

by Susan Mann

910.4 TRAVEL, adventurous
306.7 ROMANCE, secret
341.5 HOSTAGES, saving

A CIA librarian and her handsome spy boyfriend find themselves in the middle of an international incident when the Indian ambassador is kidnapped from a Library of Congress event.
Agent-in-training Quinn Ellington and James Bond Anderson travel to India, where the key to saving the ambassador is tangled up with a long-lost sacred library, a desecrated temple, and some very modern machinations. At least their cover as blissful newlyweds isn t too hard to pull off . . .
1. Spies sexy. 2. India intrigue. 3. Terrorism foiling. 4. Best friends weddings of. 5. Series The Librarian and the Spy.
I. Ellington, Quinn."

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult

314 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 29, 2017

About the author

Susan Mann was born in Modesto, California and is living the dream in Boulder, Colorado. She received her BA in History from UCLA and her Masters in Library Science from San Jose State University. Over the years, she's worked in public, academic, and special libraries. She loves books, libraries, dogs, and sports. And In-N-Out Burger.

She and her husband, Ken, have one college-aged daughter, Sarah, and a golden retriever named Lucy.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

The second book in the Librarian and the Spy Escapade, A COVERT AFFAIR by Susan Mann is just as much fun as the first! Quinn and James are wonderful together once again on their new adventure through India.

I really feel these books fill an interesting niche. They are action spy thrillers with romance, adventure and interesting, intelligent plots, but they are not as violent or strictly action driven as most in this genre. I like to call these books “cozy spy thrillers” and just what I am looking for to curl up with for an afternoon adventure.

Quinn Ellington has moved to D.C. and is now a reference librarian at the CIA. She will be training at The Farm to become an agent like her boyfriend, James Bond Anderson. Their relationship is progressing and it is because they are close and Quinn has a passionate love of books and knowledge that they are both sent on a mission as husband and wife to the Punjab district in India. To save a kidnapped ambassador’s life, they have to find and return a stolen Sikh library of historic and religious books.

Ms. Mann had me completely engrossed in the descriptions of India and especially the Punjab district. Her information on the Sikh culture and history displayed extensive research and it was well paced throughout the story without feeling like an info dump. The Indian characters were believable and empathetic.

Quinn is an empowered female heroine, who uses her intelligence as well as her physical prowess. James is her perfect hunky, spy hero who is also learning to not be overly protective and let Quinn investigate avenues on her own. Their banter is fun and entertaining. The sexual relationship is hot, but not overly explicit. This book can be read as a standalone, but Quinn and James’s relationship changes and grows in each book.

This is a series to follow!

Thanks very much to Kensington Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

A Covert Affair was a fantastic continuation of the Librarian and the Spy Escapades series with an intriguing mission and wonderful development in the characters' relationship.

Agent-in-training Quinn Ellington is currently working in the CIA library while she completes the rest of her training to become a covert operative. First and foremost a librarian, it's no hardship for Quinn to work in the secret library. While attending an event at the Library of Congress with her handsome spy boyfriend James Anderson, the Indian ambassador is kidnapped and some sacred Hindu manuscripts are stolen. With a long lost sacred library at the heart of the kidnapping, Quinn is tasked with assisting James in locating the library and the ambassador. The pair travel to India to begin their investigation and soon discover their mission may be more complicated than they originally thought.

Quinn is an absolute delight and my bookish heart connects with her in a wonderful way. Quinn loves books in a way most people never will and embraces the librarian side of herself. She's fantastic at viewing problems in a different way than most and puts her librarian skills to use to discover information quickly. Quinn still worries about how good of a job she can do on her missions considering she has not completed all of her training. She's slowly learning to embrace her natural instincts and is turning into a fantastic spy.

Building upon their success from the mission in The Librarian and the Spy, Quinn and James continue to work well together. James has complete faith in Quinn's abilities and encourages her to trust her instincts. I enjoy their pairing both professionally and personally. There's a lot of fun and banter in their relationship and the two help each other stay centered. They both worry about the other's well being, but for the most part trust each other to get the job done. There are a few hiccups in their working together but they actually communicate their problems and work through them easily enough.

The plot surrounding the missing library was completely fascinating. After finishing the book, I looked into the library and the history surrounding it was quite interesting. It seems the author stuck very close to the truth and I appreciated the level of research she clearly did. As most of the book takes place in India, I got to experience a new place I hadn't read a book set in before. The author goes into great detail about the culture and while I don't know if everything is 100% accurate seeing as it isn't my culture, it was fun experiencing something completely new to me. The book has made me want to find books written by people who live in India and read first hand accounts of life there.

A Covert Affair was such a fun read and I'm excited to see what Quinn and James get up to in future installments. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun romance series that follows the same couple in each book.

**I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Librarians solving mysteries and having adventures seems to be a new trend lately.. In addition this series, there's also a new cozy mystery with a librarian heroine, Blue Ridge Library Mysteries by Victoria Gilbert. I hope we'll see more librarian heroines. It's pretty cool to see them using their knowledge of books, and their computer and reference skills outside a library setting. Quinn Ellington, a reference librarian, has joined the CIA as librarian and is in training to be an agent. While still in training she and her boyfriend James are sent on assignment to India.

I was pretty happy so see that they were heading to India as I've always been fascinated by that country and few genre novels are set there, that I know of anyway. As I read the story and the historical events, I became curious if they had actually happened or if Mann invented them for the story; turns out they were real with a little artistic license taken. While I've never been to India, the details felt real, and I enjoyed seeing India though Quinn eyes. If I ever get to India, I want to go visit the Sikh Reference Library as it sounds amazing.

Quinn and James are cute together and really sweet. They're young, maybe mid 20s; in fact James seemed a little too young for his job and the missions he's supposedly been on. At times I felt like I was reading a slightly more grown up version of the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. If you are a serious suspense or action reader, this book probably won't meet your need. But if you like romance, humor, a little intrigue, and some action, you might like this book.

Some favorite quotes:

"It's part of the Kama Sutra written on palm leaves," he said and bent to get a closer look. "With illustrations, I see, although the pieces seem to be strategically places so we cant' see the, ah..." He stopped and tipped his head to one side. "Techniques."

"I could come here every day for weeks and not see everything. And that's not even counting if they let me in the book stacks." "They'd never be able to flush you out. I can hear the librarians now. 'We don't know where she hides exactly, but we put food out every night, and in the morning, it's gone."

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really loving this series that start with the book Librarian and the Spy. The second book A Covert Affair book started a bit slow and I was worried at the beginning that this would be a case of the second book not matching up to the first STRONG book.

I can happily say that I now do not find this to be the case. I love the two main characters, of which I honestly think are as strong characters as Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson in Elizabeth Peters wonderful series.

I also loved the history that was spread throughout A Covert Affair. One could argue that one does not like the ways that the author used this history, but for me it made the story wonderfully readable.

I have to admit that I do not really feel that the covers do not really fit with the story, but it will not stop me from ordering the next book An Uncommon Honeymoon--which is coming out soon!

[Vicki thevickivolumes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Probably my #1 guilty pleasure series. A librarian and a CIA spy being in love and going on operations together, it's great.

The history and setting in this installment was really intriguing, can't wait to see what adventures Quinn and James are heading for next.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second in the Librarian and the Spy series. It's a cute series, but it's somewhat marred by the clumsy delivery of information in the same way the Nancy Drew books are, as though the book is trying too hard to be educational. There's travel and suspense and the tracking down of terrorists. Nancy and Ned... no, sorry, Quinn and James... travel to India to locate a missing library and a kidnapped diplomat. After reading this second one, I think the dialogue doesn't really work for me. It tries for humor but I never agree that what the characters are saying to one another is amusing. I think I'm done with this series. Points for strong female protagonist and successful suspense.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun, light, and fluffy installment in this series. Quinn and James (especially James) still don't have a ton of personality, but the action is fun and I enjoyed learning about a piece of Sikh history that was a major plot point.

[Joy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sequel to The Librarian and the Spy, the first book in the series, which I haven't read, but Quinn Ellington is a librarian, and apparently she met her boyfriend, CIA agent James "Bond" Anderson, in that book; she's now an agent-in-training. Her grandfather is a CIA spy she recently learned, and the agency has been watching and waiting to recruit her, so now she's being trained and tested. And then her connections get her an invitation to an exhibition of rare Indian manuscripts at the Library of Congress, where she meets the ambassador of India to the United States.

Quinn actually does love books and manuscripts and is an expert on the subject; she appreciates the opportunities she's had to study and save them. But while enjoying the exhibition, Ambassador Sharma is kidnapped by the Falcon and the manuscripts stolen, so soon she and James are off to India to track them down and solve an old mystery of other missing manuscripts. The author has done her research on Indian history; I had never heard of Operation Blue Star, but I have always wondered why Mrs. Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards assassinated her. Now I know about that bloody piece of Indian history...

A Covert Affair has wit, romance, and adventure, and the reader will learn a lot about Indian culture and history along the way. Quinn has a lot to learn--and she frets about her relationship with James; I often thought she needed to focus more on the job and the potential danger.

Note: Some adult content. And there's a look at the next book in the series, An Uncommon Honeymoon, which intrigued me.

[Lonny Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in Susan Mann's trilogy (and perhaps to be more I hope), "A Covert Affair" takes our spy couple to The Punjab, a Sikh region of northern India. The glimpse into Indian and in particular Sikh culture elevates this book a cut above Ms. Mann's debut "The Librarian and the Spy" which was quite good in it's own right. Though I have rated both 4 stars this is 4.5 in truth. I will start the third book shortly to see if she can reach 5 stars. I look forward to it. Here she weaves an action/adventure tale around the cultural/religious differences between the Sikh and Hindu populations including excellent historical references to ground the book in the reality of tensions between the two. There is, of course, plenty of romance for our heroes James and Quinn. I spotted a couple of funny references to "Chuck" the TV series and to Ms. Mann's fan fiction. I am still a bit put off by this book being categorized as Romance or Women's Fiction. It is so much more than that and I worry there are some readers who would be put off by those labels. This is a really good book with healthy doses of humor, romance, action, and history. I think everyone would enjoy it. Highly recommended.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. I'd like to be a librarian in the CIA with a super-hot spy for a boyfriend. I mean, what's not to like about that?!

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! The unlikely partnership of Quinn, the reference librarian, and James, the very real spy, is delightful! In this book, Quinn is in training to become a spy herself, when she is called into action to partner with James on an investigation that has them traveling to India. I love the interactions between Quinn and James and especially love how passionate Quinn is about books. Additionally, the author has woven so much about India and its' history that, in addition to being fascinating, that it almost felt like a character itself.

Fans of the genre will love this book. While it is part of a series, this is a stand alone novel, however its so good that you really owe it to yourself to read them all.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Covert Affair by Susan Mann is the second book in her Librarian and the Spy Escapade series and was another fun and intriguing mystery.

Quinn is now at the CIA library but being trained as an agent, as well. She does love her work in the library but is over-the-moon about being trained as an operative. Her and James' relationship is growing and more of their characters is shown in this story. I also really enjoyed how much of the history of India and it's residents of all religions were described. I found this information to be vital to the overall plot as Quinn and James are assigned to hunt down a kidnapped ambassador and a lost treasure, the Sikh Reference Library. The facts regarding this part of Indian history was enlightening for me; and I appreciated the detail which Ms. Mann used to make this an integral part of the story.

A smoothly paced plot with facts, red herrings, and twists to keep me turning the pages to find out who was behind the kidnapping made an very enjoyable afternoon read.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Zebra Shout via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high expectations after the first in the series, but unfortunately just did not enjoy this one. I appreciated what I hope was extensive research into Sikh history, but I couldn’t tell what was real history and what was invented for the story. The brief acknowledgements didn’t provide any background. If you’re going to hang your book on this very detailed (and confusing) time in history in another culture, please include a few citations? Which gets to the crux of my disinterest in this book even though I finally finished it: this is a contemporary romance and...there’s not enough of the romance.

[May · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a really hard time with this book. For a good part of it, I was slogging through wondering if I was reading a cozy mystery instead. A little too much 'education' and perfunctory mystery to me. Just about no progress in relationship building, character building. But the end helped redeem it a little bit that I might read book three.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

It reads like a Hart to Hart/Remington Steele episode set in India. A bit too much descriptive prose for my taste, especially that Indian wedding scene just went on and on. I was worried she'd do the same with her friend Nicole's Korean wedding as well, but at least that was kept short.

All in all, an ok read and recommended for those who'd like to learn more about India.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn Ellington is working her way to becoming a fully-fledged agent with the CIA. So far, she's learnt a lot of skills that come in handy for her latest assignment alongside her handsome boyfriend, James, when an Indian ambassador is kidnapped during a Library of Congress event. Will Quinn and James be able to save the ambassador or will their cover be exposed and put them at risk?

Having really enjoyed the first book of this series, I was really looking forward to reading this second book, and I've got to say that it's just as good as book one in the way that it offers plenty of action and intrigue, took me by surprise when it came to the person responsible for the kidnapping, and kept me captivated from start to finish due to the wonderful main and secondary characters, especially the heroine because of her obsession with everything to do with libraries Seriously, she's a total nerd that loves books and helping people find information they need. The way this story started had me hooked, as Quinn and James make such a great couple and I always enjoy the way they tease each other. However, it's from the moment the kidnapping happens where things gets very interesting and intriguing in this story. Will Quinn and James be able to locate the kidnapped ambassador? Will they be able to take down the person responsible for the kidnapping?

As for the dialogue, it was well-written, intense due to what the hero and heroine uncover in their investigation and full of intrigue and action due to the kidnapping and when Quinn and James go up against the bad guys. Moreover, the heroine is strong, brave and I liked how determined she was to prove she has what it takes to make a great CIA agent. I also liked that she wasn't afraid to do things on her own, even if James believes it may be too dangerous for her and is likely to worry. Yet, what I liked most about the heroine is how resourceful she is in uncovering information they need in their investigation. Will it lead her to the bad guys? While the hero, he's confident, protective and I love how he teases the heroine about being too much of a nerd and her occupation as a librarian. Luckily, Quinn takes the teasing as a compliment and not a criticism.

Overall, Ms. Mann has penned an exciting and thrilling read in this book where the chemistry between this couple is intense; the romance wonderfully passionate with James determined to show Quinn how much she means to him; and the ending had me on the edge-of-my-seat due to what this couple face. Will they win against the bad guys? However, it was right at the end of this book that I loved, as James realizes that their relationship can't continue like it is, especially since they work for the CIA. Meaning lots of undercover assignments to different places around the world, which would keep them apart. Will they commit to each other or go their separate ways? I would recommend A Covert Affair by Susan Mann, if you enjoy romantic suspense or books by authors Katie Reus, Liliana Hart, Janie Crouch and Kat Martin.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quinn is now working for the CIA doing research and training as an agent.  She is loving the work, especially when she works with her spy boyfriend, James.  Since Quinn has relocated to the east coast, we see the progression of their relationship. Which I loved.  They are so into one another! 

While they are attending an Indian ancient manuscript exhibition, the Indian Ambassador Sharma is kidnapped along with many of the manuscripts.  Soon Quinn and James are off to India to track down the kidnappers and figure out why the manuscripts were taken.  The amount of Indian history learned in this book is astounding!!

The author has weaved a story around a true historical event and it works wonderfully! Susan Mann took the time to explain about the thoughts and feelings of all the religions of India and how they intertwine. James and Quinn are tasked with finding the ambassador and solving the mystery of the missing books of the Sikh Reference Library.  How they find each piece of information and slowly put it all together, I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what comes up next!!

A Covert Affair is book two in the Librarian and the Spy series but it is easily read as a standalone novel.  Quinn and James actually meet in book one but the secondary characters are unique to this book! I really like the mix of romantic humor, adventure, and history.  Quinn and James are great together and I can't wait for book three, An Uncommon Honeymoon!  I'm sure it's going to be just as intriguing as books one and two!

5 Stars/2.5 Flames

This book was gifted to me by the Jeep Diva for an voluntary review. The review and ratings are solely my opinions.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Spy loving Librarian is back! Quinn Ellington may be a librarian but she is also in training with the CIA to undertake covert operations. This will let her take missions under the tutelage of her boyfriend, and very own "James Bond", CIA Agent James Anderson. She may have fallen into the spy game accidentally but she comes from a strong spy background, care of her doting Grandfather.

When Quinn and James take an invitation to a new exhibit of rare manuscripts, they end up in the middle of a heist and a kidnapping! They are right in the thick of things and end up embroiled in an international rescue attempt involving an Ambassador, rare manuscripts and a deep and divisive history between the Sikh and Hindi faiths.

What follows is a really well researched and well constructed delve into Sikh/Hindi relations all contained within a spy story with a heavy dollop of romance. James is as compelling as ever and Quinn...well what she lacks in experience she makes up for in pluck and Librarian know how! She truly is a Ninja Librarian!

I loved how James and Quinn dealt with the struggles in their relationship and how they overcome forced separations due to missions, etc. I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Matilda Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to this book ever since I read the first one. I love the premise of this series. It’s seriously like my own spy/librarian fantasies come true. Add to that a super hot spy boyfriend and I just can’t even stop reading this book! Just like the first book, this one is unique and you can totally tell the author’s ideas were heard and left in the book. To top it off, it was a bit of historical fiction woven into this romance/suspense genre. There really is nothing else to compare it to that I’ve read in contemporary romance. The setting is uniquely set in India, tracking down historical clues (that will eventually lead to missing library books….my inner dork sings). I find that most HEA romance books will not take place in India, exploring a sensitive topic. This is Mann working her super-librarian skills into her writing.

This is truly a must read for every librarian out there looking for a reading adventure and a book boyfriend. While not explicit, the sex is hot and the chemistry between Quinn and James remains off the charts. *fans self*

This series has been my guilty pleasure escape and I will recommend it to anyone who listens!

[Rebecca Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Mann's A Covert Affair is a truly delicious follow up to The Librarian and the Spy. (Be sure to check out chapter 17 to see just how delicious it gets.)

In this second romantic spy escapade, both our main heroes have grown deeper - deeper into spy life, deeper in love with each other, and more deeply developed by the expert hand of their author. James and Quinn continue to remain grounded characters that I would love to meet in real life. Their banter is witty and geeky, and they make intelligence super sexy.

Mann also successfully builds this latest adventure around a lesser-known piece of history without it feeling like a bait and switch. As we get swept up in James and Quinn's relationship, so do we also get enthralled with the rich and colorful culture of the Sikh people. I've already left room on my bookshelf for the final book in this intelligent romance trilogy.

[Sue Heraper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second novel in the Librarian and the Spy Escapade series continues the adventures of resourceful librarian Quinn and her secret agent boyfriend James. (I recommend reading the series opener first to find out how their relationship begins, and how Quinn comes to be an agent-in-training with the CIA.)

I this novel, Quinn used her research skills to find a kidnapped ambassador and manuscript stolen during a formal event she and James attended at the Library of Congress. They travel to India, where the culture and setting are exquisitely rendered.

The novel successfully blends action, suspense, romance, and humor. A smart, strong, sexy protagonist who is passionate about books and uses her library skills so deftly is a treat.

[Suzannah Hoppe-washburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Covert Affair by Susan Mann is the second book in A Librarian and the Spy Escapade series. It is definitely a romance book, but one with more plot than the garden variety romance book. If you are just looking for hot and steamy, look somewhere else. The reason I find this book interesting is because of the spy adventures that the couple has. I am more likely to skim over the heated parts to read more of the plot. Ms. Mann has good character development and an enjoyable quick read. There is a third book in the series as well, which I look forward to reading. I would love to see Ms. Mann branch out away from the romance and delve into a full-blown spy adventure.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the Librarian ad the Spy Escapade series is even better than the first. Lots of character development, action, and a surprise ending. When Quinn and James travel to India on a mission to recover a stolen library, they encounter danger and many clues that lead them off the trail but ultimately to the answers, like a good reference query but a bit more physically challenging. As a librarian, I really love the idea of this series and am looking forward to many more of Quinn and James' adventures.

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excitement, adventure, and culture, all wrapped up with a nice bow of humour and romance.

Quinn and James are off to India, of all places, going after a lost cache of library books and finding out who kidnapped an Indian ambassador.

So much interesting history and religious background, but not conveyed in a tedious way. Quinn’s cleverness leads her and James to clues that help them get the job done, with help from friend and fellow agent Ravi.

Throughout, the fun of the romance in their relationship is not lost, and they work well together.

Love this intelligent series.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't a traditional romantic suspense, in that the characters were already romantically linked, but the relationship between the hero and heroine was believable. The setting was sometimes overwhelming, but it did add to the overall storyline. The premise was interesting and fun and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooh, a kidnapped library as well as a kidnapped ambassador! Librarian Quinn is on the trail of both with her CIA agent boyfriend, this time in the Punjab region of India. Learning about the Sikh history was just as fascinating as the adventures Quinn and James have in tracking down the missing library. Quinn the Librarian rocks!

[Leslie Ferrari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beach read. More of a mystery/thriller than a romance novel, in my opinion. As I am much more into mysteries than romances, I consider that to be a good thing. The only thing I had difficulty with is that Quinn is working at the CIA library and even going on ops without a security clearance. That would never, ever happen.

[Katherine Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quinn and James are back at it again. This time they are off to India and undercover as a couple. Good plot and excellent characters make for quite an enjoyable read.
As a fellow librarian, I think it would be awesome to be a part of the spy world. Librarian and spy is a very cool combination.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series! Librarians can be really useful trying to solve a crime - who knew how much info they would know how to find and have access to! And I'm loving the teasing between Quinn and James

[Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this one better than the first. The spy story was interesting enough to keep me interested, but what I really liked was the insight into Sikh and Hindu relations in India and the Sikh faith. I can't wait to see what's next in this series.