Emily Abbott, coffee barista and accidental spy, is asked to fill in for an injured ICS agent. Intelligence suggests a guerrilla group is plotting to assassinate the president of a small South American country while he and his family are visiting the U.S., and that the assassin may actually be one of his protection detail.
Undercover as nanny to the four young Gonzalez children, Emily will be perfectly positioned to keep an eye on things and report back to ICS, the spy organization Brent Peterson works for. Emily and Brent–who is undercover as the children’s tutor–must navigate long-division, spit-up, arguments over toys, and suspicious guards to discover a plot that’s far more complicated and time-sensitive than they realized.
"The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott" is a series of clean spy-comedies set in Phoenix, Arizona. 1. Red Rover, Red Rover - May 6, 2019 2. Plan to Fail - May 13, 2019 3. Bad Things, Small Packages - May 27, 2019 4. Tutor, Nanny, Spit-up, Spy - June 17, 2019 5. A-Spying We Will Go - July 15, 2019 6. Once Upon a Dime - August 12, 2019
Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick lives in an undisclosed location outside of Phoenix where she and her husband chase their four little boys and an escape-artist dog. They don't chase their cats, however, because cats hate that. She is the author of "The Kitten Files" mysteries, "The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott" spy series, and multiple short stories.
In addition to her writing, Perry enjoys graphic design, playing a number of musical instruments, and watching movies that make her laugh.
This one was a bit longer than the rest of the series, which I really enjoyed because it felt more like an actual book than just a novella. There was even a teeny, tiny (minuscule, really) bit of flirting/romance between Brent and Emily which made me very excited, hahaha. I really liked this fourth book, I think I would say this one is my favorite of the series so far. :)
5+ stars (8/10 hearts). I was so excited for this book and I wasn’t disappointed. It was, of course, very humorous and VERY exciting—in a way that none of the Emily Abbott books have been so far!
I loved seeing Emily & Brent with the kids… Emily is a great nanny and Brent is a coolio teacher. ;) And their banter and platonic friendship is still epic. The Gonzalez were such a sweet family, and the guards were so interesting… everyone was so real and well done!
Plotwise, this was just so cool. The book really made me realize Brent’s job as I had never understood it before, and the suspense is just rising… I still haven’t had my answers for the questions raised in book 3, and this book ended with a new twist. I’m so, so very eager for the next book. AHH! These books are just so awesome!
Content: Brent sneaks into Emily’s room when she is asleep; later on, she changes her clothes under her nightclothes… girl-fashion. Perfectly clean but I wasn’t comfortable with him just sitting there looking at her.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: A generic ring-tone shrilled from Brent’s apron pocket. He pulled out his burner phone and frowned at it. “How many people have your new number?” Emily asked[.] “You. And—well, Santa, obviously.” “I’m completely sure it’s not him calling[.]” “Why’s that?” Brent asked, still staring suspiciously at the ringing phone in his hand. “Because he just walked into the coffee shop[.]” “Oh.” Brent seemed to come to a decision and punched the button to accept the call. He put it to his ear and ... listened.... After a long, anxious moment, [he] ended the call. “Who was it?” Emily whispered. “A robotic voice very interested in helping me fix a computer I don’t even own.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
Continuing to reread this series. I needed this light-hearted fun.
** Age Appropriate For: All Ages Best for Ages: 13 and up
This book was so much fun! And thank you once again, Perry, for not doing what I’ve seen in so many books. This one involves kids and a young woman who doesn’t know what to do with kids. The children are neither demons nor angels, they are just…well… kids. Emily has a lot to learn but also has some basic mothering instincts.
This story was fun because it brings in different cultures, quite a bit of action, and a search for a traitor. I personally love it in spy books when you are looking to figure out who is the bad guy because they aren’t obvious.
I also really love how these books build on each other. While each one wraps up in a way, yet they are also continuing a story. You see a bigger story emerging from the smaller ones. Isn’t that cool? I highly recommend this series is for anyone who likes spy stories, squeaky clean books, and realistic characters.
Maybe not my favorite of the series thus far, but some great “movie stuff.” The kids were cute, and I love seeing Brent go into actual spy mode. The Romeo storyline was cute, too. I still don’t quite buy that they’d send Emily in with no training whatsoever (really, North Pole?!), but such is the way of the series. And for the record, it is next month. Maybe it hasn’t been a full month, but at least I waited until February. Book #5 in March if I can hold out that long…
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Confession time: this book was actually the first Emily Abbott book I read. I had been planning to wait until all the books were out before starting the series, but the reports of early readers broke me and I gave in. XD It stood alone pretty well, but I enjoyed it more the second time when I read it after the first three books.
To say this book was the cutest in the series so far would be a severe understatement. ;) #youhavebeenwarned
Brent and Emily were fantastic as literally always and the added factor of their tutor and nanny roles made things even more fun. I seriously loved the kids. They were closeknit, accurately had their ups and downs, and were generally adorable. And the codenames Brent gave them were the cutest. Speaking of codenames… a certain mix-up had me in giggles. XD
The spy tech in this was great, and Emily and Brent’s little mission was hilarious and super cool. Emily needs to get herself some less formal black clothes though. :P Boy, were the stakes raised in this one! The evil organization really showed what they’re capable of in a freaky, super smart way. (And Brent had me scared a bit too.) I can’t wait to see where this goes...
Just a note, there was some peril including children in close proximity to gunfire.
Best quotes: Brent chuckled. “That’s movie stuff, Emily.” “Yeah, so what if it is… you’re still doing it!” “You got me,” he sighed dramatically in defeat.
“Give it a minute more,” Brent whispered just above her. “It’s best if he’s back to sleep.” “Was he ever awake, though?” “Emily!” Brent made a hissing, strangling sound and she could tell he was trying to hold in a laugh. She bit her lip to keep herself from laughing at his bottled-up mirth.
Brent called out when she stepped through the doorway. “Watch out for Pluto’s orbit!”
Altogether, this book was a delightful read that further proved the amazingness of the series (and the shippableness of the characters :P).
Series stats so far... Codenames: ten Car crashes: still two Awesomeness level: 104%
2024 Reread Loved them all over again. I wanted to come play with the kids and see what else Brent teaches that might not be in everyone's normal school lessons. And yes, I'm raising my rating.
2023 Just as much fun. Made me smile again.
2021 Fun to pick up this story and reread the excitement and danger, the moments that made me smile, and the times when danger seemed to threaten. Perfect for taking me away from my own stresses. Book 5 is waiting for me now. :)
2019 Just as good the 2nd time through.
The thought of Emily as a nanny and Brent as a tutor had me already smiling before I even started reading. This story, like the others, had me smiling and concerned, chuckling and sitting on the edge of my seat reading as quickly as I could. (As though that would help the characters.) This story was different from the first three books as it doesn’t involve car chases or Emily being at home. But it was quite fun, and I can’t wait to read the next book!
I read this in one sitting, just like the previous books in the series. :D But now I have to wait almost a month until the next one comes out! (Perry has spoiled us with so close release dates with the last few. XD)
Brent and Emily are just adorable. I love their friendship and personalities and banter. How Brent protects Emily, not just physically, but from other things as well. How they both adjust so well to any situation. How Emily blunders through everything. (But isn't completely helpless.) And of course, the nicknames. There was a particularly funny mix up about one in this one. :D
I don't have much to say that I didn't say in my reviews of the other ones. I really like how this series is so fun but also extremely clean, even if it's a little unbelievable. :D I think that's part of why I like it, it's real but unbelievable. I also appreciate it being set in my home state, only a few hours from where I live.
And I'm not much of a shipper... but yeah, I ship it. XD
Another lovely book in this series and definitely a page-turner. The kind you stay up late to finish reading, and then when your kindle freezes up, you go and get your sibling’s kindle to continue reading.
I especially loved the children in this family and the way the family was so close and cared for each other. I would have enjoyed seeing even more of the children and was a little sad when the book ended.
At times, I got the guards mixed up, but losing the overview of the character cast is something that happens to me frequently.
In total, a book that reminded me once again why I love reading: it pulls you into a new world, which both you and the author know doesn’t exist, but pretend that is only a minor detail.
Favourite quotes:
“He stood with his back towards the wall and his arms crossed over his chest, looking generally intimidating. ‘Definitely a suspect,’ Emily thought. She mentally chastised herself. ‘What else should a guard look like? Intimidating is kind of his job.’”
“Emily tried to give him an “I-told-you-so” look, but it was too dark for it to be really effective.”
This book helped the last book to be slightly better as it kept some hints of a thread going that I’m expecting to build up to be the finale in book six.
Because there were kids involved, this one had some extra cute elements.
Brent and Emily are starting to be more of a couple with sideways comments so this will be interesting to see how romance goes.
Again, I didn’t detect any Christian theme in this book. A reference to a Christian school was about the gist of it. It was squeaky clean, just not boldly Christian.
Ok, these just keep getting better and better!! I love all the cuteness with the kiddos, and just the fact that Brent has nerd glasses made me smile every time they were mentioned! Definitely going on me re-read list. ;)
I keep saying the exact thing when I review these books! Haha! I really do like them, I just don't know how to put my review in to words! This one was brilliant! Nannying can be quite a job, even worse if you were Emily! *winks*
P.S. Does anyone else want Emily and Brent to become a thing??? There were several hints of it in this book! :D
They're baaaack!!! <3<3<3 Okay, so Brent and Emily are cute enough to bring a big, goofy grin to my face on their own, but Brent and Emily plus kids? Even cuter! Brent made a super-fun tutor, and Emily did a great job as a nanny, despite her lack of experience. She did a great job on the spy mission, too, despite her lack of training. And I really liked the healthy, normal family dynamic, even if the parents were busy enough to need the services of a nanny.
This mission felt a little more serious than the others, as they're racing to thwart an assassination attempt, so there are some pretty tense scenes. But I loved the way that the banter and general loveliness between Emily and Brent balanced the serious scenes with some much appreciated levity. I really think these two would entertain me by watching paint dry at this point; I'm sure they'd find some way to make it hilarious... XD
Now, do I really have to wait a whole month for the next book? Yes, this series has spoiled me dreadfully. Rereads, anyone? :D
I received a free copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Content--mentions of assassination plots; gunplay ; a man sneaks into a woman's bedroom (innocent); a woman changes clothes with a man in the room while remaining fully clothed the entire time; veiled references to movie actresses who could learn from her technique
This story was delightful. I loved seeing Emily in a nanny position, especially since I'm a babysitter myself. Brent's codenames and teasing in Spanish were just perfect. The mystery in this one was slightly tenser than the last book, but still would be good for younger kids. These books are just about perfect. I can't wait for the next one!
The fourth book of the series, and my favorite of them all! Emily goes undercover to be the live-in nanny for the president of a South American country's four small children, who were sweet in their own ways. And, of course, Brett is their tutor.
And one of the guards might be trying to assasinate the president.
It was just so fun seeing Emily and Brett working together and communicating while trying to give the guise of not actually knowing each other very well. And the daughter of the family was shipping them so hard.
Me too, girl. Me too. Maybe someday Emily will see it, too...
Another fun installment in the Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott! While the characters were just as enjoyable as in past novellas, I wasn’t as enthralled by the plot for some reason. I’m sure I’ll like the future books in the series more, though.
Just the fast quickie book I need to read today. I don't think I even read it to figure out who the bad guy is. I just enjoy it.
Looking for a fun quick (and I mean really fast, quick) read to escape with? This is the book for you. Just a few hours depending on your reading speed but over before you know it and wanting more.
Even though you could read this story just for itself Again I will say that you need to read the books in order because each one starts where the last one left off. No cliffhangers. The references, who Santa is, and the interaction between Emily and Brent are better understood by reading previous books.
I missed the oldies references in this book - unless I missed it. I personally feel that this book is not as funny as the others, it was more serious. I still love it though so read it and the series.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
The best one yet! With the kids, Romeo, nicknames, Dots, and sneaking in windows, tuxes, and a buby, oh my is this a great novella. I just wish that this one has been longer, a lot longer. Emily and Brent’s cases are so much fun to follow along with and I just love them so much, and the cover for Tutor, Nanny, Spit-Up, Spy is so cute and perfect for the story. I highly recommend this as a family read though younger children may not enjoy this series as much as older kids.
Another fun adventure! I took my time and didn't rush through it like the other three. The plot was neat. Brent and Emily (I don't know why but I always want to call her Emma) fit well in their cover ups. If the spy biz ever falls through, Brent would make an awesome tutor. The stakes were slightly higher but not so much that I worried too much about the safety of my people. (yes, I called them my people). I liked that there were a lot of suspects-made it more intriguing. The kids were cute. Their different personalities made them easy to tell them apart. The guards...not so much. Aside from Romeo (lol) I had trouble keeping up with who was who.
My only qualms were the abrupt ending that caught me off guard and the lack of Christian themes. This was still a super clean read, I just would have liked to see more faith expressed, if that makes sense.
I already purchased and started the next book. I'm so excited to see what's in store!
This book was definitely the best so far! It was so clever and humorous all at once, and the solution to the mystery was brilliant and took me completely by surprise, as And I was so glad that this time, even though Brent and Emily are working undercover, they pretty much managed not to tell almost any lies, even when the situation was really awkward. Of all the books, I think I was most looking forward to this one, and I am glad to say I was not disappointed!
Another fun "Accidental Spy" story! This was the best one yet...the stakes go up and the hint of romance shows itself a little bit more (in a hilarious way, of course :D). And the best part? There are still three more books left in the series!!! Content: More intense than before...more suspense and guns. Still nothing that would turn most readers away, though! Personally, I loved the extra intensity. As usual, no gore or bad language or inappropriate parts. Thank you, Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick, for writing such great books and keeping them squeaky clean!
This was another adorable story with Brent and Emily. Loved the kiddos and their code names. So many cute little moments and I love how Emily thinks outside the box. Super cute!
This might have been one of my favorites. Because what's not to love about having to undercover as a nanny to four small children with superagent along as the "tutor". And kudos to the kids for calling out the secret jokes and glances and Emily be more observant! lol! Can I have a Brent? :P
Spying while babysitting...and I thought babysitting was hard enough! I loved seeing a bit more of Brent and Emily's casual interactions while undercover. This is a highly entertaining and suspenseful continuation of a fantastic series!!
Yep, I just read this book entirely today. Should I have been cleaning my house? Probably. But hey, I kept my laundry going at the same time! 😂 And did I just sign up for kindle unlimited so I could read the rest? Maybe…😉 Perry never disappoints with these books! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book I’ve read so far and can’t wait to begin book 5 (probably tonight when I can’t sleep. 😉)
I think I just found the perfect nanny for my grandkids. Who but Emily Abbot could make having an assassin out to get your father… fun? Well… for the reader it is.
In this next “accidental case,” Tutor, Nanny, Spit-Up, Spy , there was much to love, hate, laugh, and cry over… and much to recommend.
I loved how she didn’t know everything but managed to fumble her way through anyway, and I loved that I got a glimpse more of Brent’s background. I hated the same thing I always do—the fact that it had to end. (Psst… side note. I found out you can join some Patreon thing and get to read her next ones before anyone else! EEEP!)
I laughed at all the inside jokes… and can’t tell you what they were because you’ll either get it, or you won’t! And, I cried inside (it’s as close as I come to tears, folks) when betrayal happened. It’s always an ugly thing.
Recommended for people who think that Madeline and the Bad Hat would have been so much more fun with spies.
Okay, and for people who just can’t wait to read the next and then the next of a really fun series.
Case in point? I finished this one and promptly read the next despite needing to get my own work done. Ahem.
Characters: Emily was so funny trying to do the face French accent, and it was just hilarious! I loved all the interaction with the kids, and it was soooo good! Brent is literally the sweetest and so funny! Gah, I love his character so much!
Language: N/A
Romance: Hints I tell you, hints and I can't wait for the day it's actually there...lol...Emily and Brent are so perfect for each other!
Overall: Man, I'm enjoying this series so much! They are so fun to read and just very refreshing! And I know I say this every time, but I just love it when a Brent says, "movie stuff, Emily, movie stuff." Lol....it's so good every time!