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A Secret Service

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Carter Owens, daughter of a Secret Service agent, is trained to disassemble any weapon, any situation, and anyone. Her biting sarcasm and razor-sharp mind make her impossible to beat in a word fight and when talking doesn’t work, she uses her fists. She attends Hamilton Prep, Washington D.C.’s most prestigious high school, where everyone is related to someone in power, except her. When Hamilton Prep receives a flood of new students, Carter’s role as social outcast changes when she makes two unexpected friends. Friends who are hiding a secret. As Carter uncovers the truth, she confronts challenges she is unequipped to handle and eventually finds herself in a dangerous situation. For a girl trained to see everything, Carter never saw this coming.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2020

39 people are currently reading
833 people want to read

About the author

Joy Jenkins

3 books253 followers
Psalm 121. Lover of ice cream. Toy poodle enthusiast. Sarcastic insomniac. Gray day admirer. New England dweller. Story idea addict. Avid writer.

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5 stars
1,346 (69%)
4 stars
425 (21%)
3 stars
130 (6%)
2 stars
28 (1%)
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5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
Profile Image for Joy Jenkins.
Author 3 books253 followers
November 5, 2021
I've read this book multiple times. That's mainly because I was editing it most of those times.

Yes, I wrote this book.

But you only gave it 4 stars! Why is that?

I'm glad you asked. Here's the thing, to give it 5 stars seems conceited to me. Does it deserve 5 stars? I don't know. I've dealt with it so much that at this point I've lost all perspective on it and can't tell if this book is good anymore.

Yeah, I know that's an amazing endorsement for you to read, but what can I say, I don't want to lie to you.

Here's what I can say.

I like this book (most days...when I'm not trying to edit it)

I like Carter! (when she isn't being mean...)

I love Link (when he's not being completely clueless)

Hey! I do like Donovan! There we go! That's something that I can say and not add an aside to it!

I will say I love the dynamic between Carter and her father. I think what they have is deep, heartwarming and inspiring.

But then again saying that I sound as if I'm boasting about my own work so I'm just going to stop there.

Alright here is my endorsement: this book has a plot. It has characters. It has dialogue.

😁 Yup, I think that pretty much sums it up.

Read the book if you want to read the book, if you don't then don't. That's all I got to say.
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,248 reviews718 followers
December 23, 2020
4,5 🤩🤩🤩❤️🌟🌟🌟🌟s❗️❗️❗️❗️

An amazing young adult read I couldn’t stop reading!!!
The main topics of the story were about bonds and relationships.

Carter was the daughter of a secret service agent, a tough girl and well trained by her father, observant, with a sharp tongue and sarcasm. But under her shield she was vulnerable and she didn’t let anyone in because she was afraid of being abandoned.
But when two new boys were transferred to her high school, Donovan and Link, all three of them bonded and became friends! Carter’s first friends.
I loved the friendly connection between Carter and Link, and the romance between Carter and Donovan was full of hidden sparks and it developed towards the end of the story.

The bond between Carter and her father was very strong, deep, beautiful, with heartwarming but also heartbreaking moments.

This story was very well written, had many layers, action and a little drama, and made a difference in the ya genre.

Respect for the author rating her work with 4 🌟s❗️❗️❗️❗️
Congratulations Joy Jenkins!! 🤩
It was a fantastic read!
Profile Image for Anupama.
7 reviews
May 18, 2021
When I began reading A Secret Service, I didn't carry around any of my expectations that I generally have with a suspense/thriller story. The setting of the plot is not the same as your average thriller and that's what impressed me. However, there is something else that I loved the most; and that's the lead character. When I was in school, I was nothing less than what has been written about Carter (the lead). In fact, whenever Carter did something which I must have done in school, it made me so happy to see that I wasn't alone!
Personal attachments aside, it was so refreshing to see a leading female independent and not begging for help from anyone else for her safety. The way the action scenes are written made me jump and duck from any blows... But on a serious note, it's everything I would wish to read on any given day, for any number of times!
Is it too much thriller, too little romance? Nope! Truth be told, you'll fall in love with the way the characters fall in love with each other! My mother always says, "A good thriller novel will always have the best romantic plot. When you find one, you'll know that the bar is quite high." And rightly so, when I completed reading A Secret Service, I realised that if any other novel was kept in front of me which screamed suspense, thriller AND romance , it would have to reach the level of A Secret Service, which in my opinion is quite tough.
By the time this review is posted, I'm sure that the dearest author must be busy with the publications and most of all, way too stressed about the book's reception, but I only have one thing to say to you Joy Jenkins: You are one of the most humble and wonderful human being I've seen and I wish I could meet you for real. Good things always happen to those who enjoy themselves and make others happy. And you make me happy.
Eagerly waiting for the book to be in my hands!
Profile Image for Dalia (book_o_creativity).
566 reviews72 followers
April 10, 2021
Meet Carter Owens, daughter of a secret service agent, trained by her father, extremely sarcastic with a badass mouth, razor sharp mind and an social outcast. She attends Hamilton Prep, Washington DC where everyone stands in powerful position in the social ladder except her. When Hamilton Prep receives flood of new students, she makes two unexpected friends, friends who are hiding a secret. As she uncovers the truth, life throws a curve ball at her taking her to a rollercoaster ride she didn't expect.

When you love a book so much it becomes hard to review it. I want to scream how much I loved reading this book. The book revolves around Carter and her two new friends at college, the challenges they face in their day to day life and how they overcome them. Writing style and quality of the author is very much commendable and I've become a fan of her writing.

Coming into the characters, I fell in love with the characters, they are so well developed, I've grown attached to them. When it comes to female characters I want their strong presence. Being the protagonist of this book Carter is such a dynamic character. I was trying to sketch her profile in my mind but failed each time. Then comes Donovan, like Carter we get to see a massive development in his character. A person completely changing from someone else to a different personality. This requires smooth transition in writing and author has done a great job doing it. Link is another interesting character, he sounds like a scared kid but inside he is a strong person. I want to read more of this trio😭 We can't miss Carter's father. The bond this father & daughter share is admirable, their understanding and affection touched me. They are more of friends than parent and child, holding each other preventing the other from falling back.

This is such a warm, light-hearted and humorous book. There are many instance when I was literally giggling and re-reading the lines. My back was aching 'cause I couldn't stop reading. A perfect Young Adult book for me.
Profile Image for Sushil Sanu.
3 reviews
January 3, 2021
I would put this as one of the best book I have read. I read it multiple times and the way the scenes are written it seems like I am seeing a movie. It gives you joy as well as as makes you cry. I think if a book can make me cry and feel for a character its just phenomenal. A must read book according to me. And Joy is one of the best author I have come across.
Profile Image for Chloe.
14 reviews8 followers
June 1, 2020

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!

As in badass girlpower, unclique romance, body gripping action, surprising humour topped off with a story line that causes tiredness because you simply can not stop reading long enough to sleep....

Yep that flipping amazing.

Our main character Carter is a strong, beautifully honest and loyal person, who has learnt to navigate life with only herself and her Secret Service Agent father to assist her. As you can imagine that gets pretty lonely sometimes.

Yet still, she hides herself from any and all people, believing that she doesn’t need friends to survive only her strength, skills of observation and sharp wit. After all you can never truely predict just how people may impact you. How different you could be if they leave you.

What she doesn’t expect however, is for her whole world to be challenged by no less then a boy with glasses and guy seemingly more secretive then her (and that’s saying something). Who knows, maybe people aren’t so bad after all.

_______________________________________________

Well if I haven’t shown it’s amazingness yet, you just might need to go and find out for yourself 😉
Profile Image for Alita Parke.
138 reviews
October 12, 2022
This is an amazing book by an amazing author! The story is compelling and not cliche, which is one of my favorite things about the story. The characters have some of the greatest character arch and development. The pace is perfect. It’s a story you will pick up and not be able to put down ❤️
Profile Image for Sowmya (bookishelflife).
558 reviews42 followers
April 10, 2021
Thanks to the author for sending me an ebook in exchange of an honest review.

I loved this book, I honestly went in blind like I usually do but I was pleasantly surprised when I read the book in almost one sitting. I love a good spy thriller movie, but I can't remember if I ever read a book that goes along those lines which itself is quite refreshing to me

Carter is an 18 year old senior at her school, an outcast because of her bluntness, sass and her whip of a tongue, I snorted so many times at her witty comebacks.Trained by her NAVY seal father, her idea of "fun" ranges from assembling a gun in few seconds to target practice, in other words whatever helps her to maintain her emotionally detached facade. With an estranged mother and a father who is always on the danger's front step because of his job, she struggles with allowing people come closer to her and her heart until she meets a couple of temporarily transferred students Donovan and Link. Carter who can analyze and dissect people as a hobby finds the duo as unreadable mystery, she persuades them to unravel it not knowing that she will end up finding friends who actually cares for her

The book is told in Carter's POV, the author did a fantastic job portraying her character and its growth, her character is so very refreshing because of her no-non sense attitude. Although the main plot revolves around the secret service, there is a lot of story that explores relationships and bonds. I thoroughly enjoyed the father-daughter dynamic and the friendships of course, I love how the author made her characters go through their turmoils without being super dramatic.

The romance in the book is totally my jam! Donovan and Carter's relationship is so precious, while they might not finish each other sentences they can totally have a complete conversation without actually saying a single word .It just shows their emotional maturity that came to them because of their respective situations, it was so fun seeing Carter slowly lower her barriers and find happiness. The book is a great blend of thriller, drama and romance, it is a fast paced book and I highly recommend it especially between heavier reads!
Profile Image for Ari.
3 reviews
May 30, 2020
Love this book so so much! I found this book when I was in a spy/action phase and would only read that type of book. A Secret Service is one of the best. The plot-line, the theme and the authors writing style are all so intoning that’s they convinced me to read all of this authors books.

Carter is the girl who everyone wants to be, however she isn’t perfect. Like every other human in the world she has problems, issues which define her every thought and action. That makes her perfect in my book. You rarely see any female protagonists who are not society’s version of “perfect” but Carter is just that and I love her for that.

Donovan and Link are amazing characters, they help drive the plot while entwining their own distinct personalities to the book. This makes the story so much better as EVERY character has so obviously been very thought out.

Overall, this book is one that you just cannot not read. Of course the fact that includes spies and badass females rates it higher in my mental list but even without these elements this is an amazing read :)
Profile Image for Eliana Chase.
1 review1 follower
May 29, 2020
I came across this book by chance but I ended up binge reading it! This book will break your stereotypes because the protagonist is no damsel in distress. The story is consistent with the plot and the characters development is so smooth that you will come to adore them all! I personally love the relationship dynamic between Link and Donovan. Solid action scenes, which aren't too much but, give you adrenaline rush, strong female lead, and description which leaves you in awe, perfect spell for a cosy weekend!
I highly recommend anyone to read this book!
1 review
May 29, 2020
This story is literally the perfect mix of everything. There is a bit of action, a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and just a whole lot of good writing and character development. Carter the female lead is one of the most unique female characters I’ve ever read about and it was honestly just so refreshing and I couldn’t put the book down. I’ve re-read it at least 4 times now.
Profile Image for Richel (letsreadshallwe).
111 reviews28 followers
May 8, 2021
Update | May 8, 2021

“We haven’t officially put labels on it.”
“He was kissing you. I’m putting a label on it. ‘Boyfriend’ will have to do since it can’t be ‘Deceased’.”


A Secret Service was so much fun to read! I snort laugh, I almost cried and most importantly, I swooned and got inspired to join the military. Is it too late for me? Most likely.

It’s refreshing to read something that has a great father-daughter dynamic because let’s be honest, most Dad’s in books are either non-existent or is the main reason of a terrible upbringing. Carter Owens and her father, Steve Owens relationship tugged at my heart especially with their term of endearment for each other. Literally broke me and left me vulnerable.

I loved Carter from the first chapter! Who doesn’t like a badass main character with no-nonsense attitude? She can dissect people like nothing, quick-witted who can deliver a killing blow with just words but if words didn’t work, let’s just say she has a punching bag right in her bedroom. It is rare that we get to see a strong main character from the get go but that fact also made me wonder if Carter would have enough character development. But Joy Jenkins proved that a character, however strong, can always grow.

“So… you two… kissing… and …”
“Are you sure this is wise? I hate to think about what happens if it ends. Someone is likely to die.”


The arrival of new students at Hamilton Prep shook Carter’s life as she tries to manage these new emotions that are all too new for her. The relationship that was built between Carter, Donovan and Link was one for the books! There’s a bit of innocence, angst, tension, flirting and the dialogue? Chef’s kiss!

For a military inspired story, I definitely anticipated a major action scene which was provided although the buildup was quite long - I didn’t mind it one bit because the pacing and writing was smooth.

If you are looking for a story that has the following, then this one’s for you! I highly recommend!
- School setting
- Father-daughter dynamic
- Military inspiration
- Badass MC (you won’t get a damsel in distress here)
- Banter
- Fake Dating
- Slow burn, friends to lovers

A Secret Service covers some topics that can be triggering to some:
- Family Issues
- Divorce
- Trauma (caused by divorce)
- Bullying

Thank you so much to Joy Jenkins for providing me a digital copy of A Secret Service in exchange for an honest review.



May 2, 2021

Is it too much to ask for a sequel? Pretty please?🥺
Profile Image for Refa Putri Ramadhani.
1 review1 follower
May 30, 2020
The best book ever!!!
This book is addictive, makes me want to read it again and again and again. I've read it 5 or 6 times (I lost count 😅)
Even the writing is sooo good. English is not my mother language, so this book helps me to know more word in english 👏🏼
I wish I have the copy in my hand as soon as possible. Thank you, Joy!! For making this story 😍🍨🍦
Profile Image for Maddy.
78 reviews59 followers
April 10, 2021
A Secret Service is a really fun, quick-paced, light read that i really enjoyed.

Carter, the main character, is very witty and sarcastic (and, ya know, slightly derogatory at the same time). Since her father is a Secret Service agent, she’s very confident in herself and strong both mentally and physically. She kind of reminds me of Erica Hale from the Spy School books (middle grade spy books i used to love). Very much the whole spunky, independent woman vibes.

Donovan and Link are the other two main characters. I love the friendship they develop with Carter (also.... maybe more than friendship for one of them 👀). They have a very cute dynamic and that amazing kind of friendship where they support each other no matter what.

One thing I didn’t love about this book was the plot, at times i felt it was a bit slow-paced or just that there wasn’t much of a plot altogether. However, i liked the exploration of friendship and personal growth enough that this wasn’t a huge issue for me. Overall, I’d say that A Secret Service was a solid 3.75 stars. Would definitely recommend!
Profile Image for vi.
69 reviews12 followers
June 7, 2024
This is one of the best books I've ever read and definitely the best book in wattpad !!!! . I loved all the characters but my favourite was definitely Carter. I also loved the bond between her and her father, it was so heartwarming 🥹🥹.

This is just one of the books that'll stay with you for a long time.. I still reread this every now and then. I would rate this book a thousand stars if I could ♥️♥️
Profile Image for Jood Alawi.
88 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2021
TW: PTSD, violence, weapons.

This book was nice! I loved Carter’s relationship with her dad. It was sweet and pure💖 I also liked the dialogue and I think it was written well! The friendship between Carter, Link, and Donovan was genuine and I especially loved Donovan, he was my favorite! I didn't like Carter’s personality much though. I found her to be annoying and childish at times. She's supposed to be 18 but her way of reacting to certain situations makes her look like a 15-year-old.

The plot was not executed in the best way in my opinion and it made the book slow at first but it picked up towards the end. The mystery didn’t feel like the main focus instead it was getting to know the characters and the relationships. I felt like the romance was a bit rushed at the end too. Also, I had a hard time picturing scenes and places.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. We don't always like the same books and that's okay!☺️
Profile Image for Hayden (bookish.hayden).
563 reviews130 followers
April 24, 2021
Joy Jenkins sent his to me to review and wow is this ever an incredible read. I went in expecting to enjoy it, but what I wasn't expecting was to be absolutely and completely consumed to the point of not being able to put it down. That's how good this book is.

Carter is the daughter of a Secret Service Agent, more comfortable with target practice and disassembling weapons than the average 18 year old girl. She attends Washington D.C.’s most prestigious high school, Hamilton Prep, where she is the only one who isn't related to someone powerful. When her school gets some new students, Carter's usually frigid and friendless life is flipped upside down by two newcomers. Link and Donovan have their own secrets though, and when Carter uncovers the truth, she faces challenges and dangers that she never could have foreseen.

Carter was an incredible main character and I thoroughly enjoyed reading from her. Carter is tough, having been raised by a Navy SEAL, and a mother who walked out when she was 14, her walls are sky high. She's such a badass character, though her emotional side is more complicated. The relationships in this book were established very early on, and I loved watching them grow and change throughout the book. Carter's dad was an interesting and multi-dimensional character, which is fun to see for an adult in YA. Link was a sweet little cinamon roll and I loved him, again there was a lot going on behind his sweet exterior, including tough parental relationships and a tendency to fade into the background. Donovan was a great character, with a complicated life, and very real emotions. If it's not clear at this point, all of these characters are incredibly well written, well rounded, and interesting to read.

The thing I loved most about this book was the portrayal of relationships. Carter and her dad's relationship in particular truly felt like the shining star of this book. Though there's great friendship as well, and different types of friendship at that, including that between a teen and adult. There also are romantic relationships, and I felt like they were well balanced and didn't take over the story at all.

The plot of this is different from a lot of other academia based YA stories, and that really made it stand out. The setting of this felt interesting and new, and the book naturally built into the climax which I really enjoyed. It had mystery that wasn't predictable and felt well handled. The political elements of this really worked for me. There was really never a dull moment when reading this, I loved the action, the downtime, and everything in between.

This was very well written, fast paced and easy to get into. I'm not exaggerating or lying when I say that I read this book in two sittings and could not put it down once I got past the 100 page mark. This book was incredible and I really feel lucky to have read it. I totally recommend adding this to your list, because you will not regret it.
Profile Image for MacKenzie.
114 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2021
Thank you Joy Jenkins for sending me an ebook copy in exchange of an honest review!

This book was good. It was fun and had likable characters, plus SECRET SERVICE. Now the only question is whether you want my bad news or the good news... okay bad news it is.

This book definitely had some issues.
-Carter did not feel eighteen. For some parts she felt closer to fifteen and some (closer to the end) she felt at most sixteen or seventeen but I never believed that she was eighteen
-Some spots has what I think of as "excessive punctuation" an example is: ?!/!?. I saw this multiple times throughout the book and while it's rather nitpicky it does bother me slightly when I see stuff like that.
-Going along with the last one, here's another nitpicky issue. In some spots instead of 'pounds' the author used 'lbs' which is not a big deal but just something I noticed.
-Some of the sentences were slightly redundant, like they were there just to add length to the novel.
-And I was expecting more I don't know? Mystery? I guess. (But that's probably just me.)
-Pacing Drags in some spots and relies to much on dialogue (I love the characters but please just a little less dialogue.)
-I felt Carter was a little too aggressive and it annoyed me but she got a LOT better as the book when on.

So yes it looks like quite a few issues but they're all very small issues so collectively i did not have many problems with this book! 👍🏼

Now what you all have been waiting for THE STUFF I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK!
- The writing was actually really good. It kept me hooked for most of the book and I had a whole bunch of fun while I was reading it!
- It reminded me of some books like Ally Carter's books (specifically Not If I Save You First.) As well as The middle grade series Spy School by Stuart Gibbs and The Naturals Series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
- My favorite thing about this book though was for sure the characters. They were so much fun. Joy Jenkins really has an excellent skill for creating likable, and fun characters that you want to succeed.
- And while there was a bit more dialogue than I would like, the dialogue was still really well done. Nothing felt to overly out of place and most of the conversations felt like they fit in the book, which is an A+ in my book!
-Also Carter and her dad are dad and daughter goals honestly.

Overall this book had some small issues but the pros definitely outway the cons. This is a solid 3.5⭐ stars. Maybe a 3.75⭐ I might have to think on that a bit more. Thank you thank you thank you Joy for sending me this. Now I'll just have to find a way to get my hands on a physical copy!😂
Profile Image for Siqahiqa.
593 reviews106 followers
April 19, 2021
I didn’t expect to love this book so much—a solid five-star from me 💛

A Secret Service follows Carter Owens, who is a daughter of a Secret Service agent. She is brilliant, unique, independent, sarcastic, witty, and a badass female character who can fight so well. She attends a most prestigious high school where everyone is related to someone in power except her. She is a social outcast in her school, and the title changed when she makes friends with two unexpected people.

The story is told in Carter’s POV, and I must say that the author did a great job portraying her character development. Her character is seriously cool. Not only her, but I also liked other characters such as Donovan and Link. All three are fantastic characters, and I was glad when Carter did not force away friendship and keep a distance. The chemistry between the characters was amazing.

I truly loved Donovan and Carter relationship. Their relationship is so precious, and I loved to see their relationship grows. I could not help myself from smiling silly whenever I read their scenes. Their first kiss deserved five stars from me ❤️

The main story revolves around the secret service, but many other stories have been explored in this book, such as the father-daughter relationship and friendship. I loved the relationship between Carter and her father. Like father like daughter.

A Secret Service is an enjoyable and amazing read. Interesting storyline, different theme, a fast-paced story, strong, lovely, and unique characters, action-packed with a sweet little romance, and the great author’s writing style.

I highly recommend it, especially for those who like to read young adults with the perfect mix of everything (action, mystery, drama, and romance).

Thank you to the author for sending me an eBook in exchange for an honest review ☺️

instagram.com/siriusiqa
Profile Image for Rosie Amber.
Author 1 book82 followers
May 11, 2021
4.5 stars

A Secret Service is a contemporary young adult story set in Washington DC.


Eighteen-year-old Carter is the daughter of a Secret Service Agent. Left to bring up his daughter alone when his wife walked out, Steve Owens fell back on what he knew; he brought her up to defend herself using his Navy SEAL training.

Forced to attend a prestigious high school, Carter is a social outcast, not helped when she stands up to the bullies. She meets Link and Donovan when their own school is closed for an emergency; they are an odd duo, but Carter befriends them and they aren’t put off by her straight-talking and forward attitude.

Carter is excellent at reading people and she soon sniffs out the truth about Link and Donovan. The trio remain friends, helping each other out, particularly when Link and Carter both have some serious emotional setbacks.

I did enjoy this book, the writing flowed easily and I was engrossed in Carter’s world from page one. I loved how Carter called her dad Captain and he in turn called her Sarge as they negotiated the ups and downs of a father/ daughter relationship. Carter was a fun character, with a whole arsenal of verbal weapons and physical abilities to tackle any foe. The author also made Link and Donovan likeable characters and I could easily picture them all in my mind. I loved the ending but I won’t give away any spoilers.


I’m always happy to dip into a good young adult story and this one I can recommend. I shall look forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Geeky_Girl1.
1 review
May 29, 2020
This book is truly amazing! And I’ve go to congratulate the author for this achievement, you deserve it Joy❤️
-mermaid_19
Profile Image for Trisha Carter.
1 review3 followers
December 18, 2020
Not just for Young Adults, Carter is every woman's secret wish come to life

I first read A Secret Service on the Wattpad platform and quickly fell in love with the characters, the quick witted dialogue, and fascinating intrigue of the plot. Every chapter has action and it is well-balanced between physical, emotional, and mental. While reading, I felt myself learning lessons with the main character, Carter, and through the manner of writing felt like I was alongside her and her friends, Link and Donovan, throughout each chapter.

While the book is intended for Young Adult audiences I heartily recommend it to broader, older audiences. The lessons Carter learns and the life experience she earns, are applicable across many age groups. Furthermore ,the content is itself rich in well crafted writing not too mature (nor inclusive of malevolent violence, sexual scenes, or foul language) for younger readers. All around an engaging and enjoyable read.

This was one of those books you cannot put down and race to read to the end. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Karina.
169 reviews32 followers
March 5, 2021
Actual rating: 4.3!

Synopsis
A Secret Service follows the story of Carter Owens whose father is a Secret Service agent. Since it has been only the two of them for years, Carter grows up being trained to disassemble weapons and fight. Attending the most prestigious school in Washington D.C. called Hamilton Prep full of the children of people in power, being quick-witted, brilliant, and fearless turn out not enough. Carter always considers herself as a social pariah and thankfully she doesn't care.

Everything changes though when some new students come to attend their school. Carter unexpectedly makes friends with the sweet but a little shy Link Evans and his mysterious yet moody friend named Donovan Keller. For once, Carter fails to scare them both away. She doesn't know why they choose to be stuck with her, but she knows for sure that the two are hiding something important which she can't quite put her fingers on.

Review
As expected, A Secret Service was such a light and fun read to go through. Each chapter was rather short but the pace was still steady enough to follow (even the ending didn't feel rushed). The main characters might seem to be too clever for their age but I honestly didn't have any problem with that. Considering their background, it's hard not to root for them to be as badass as possible.

Carter, especially, was so badass and intelligent and I adored her so much for that. For a short period of time in the beginning chapters though, I had admittedly feared that she's going to come out too perfect and clever. Thankfully, that's not the case. I appreciated how the author managed to twist her brilliance and showed vulnerability. It's encouraging to see a badass main character going through a step back but learn a lot from it. Also, I loved her sarcasm and wits! Had a frequent good laugh because of them—thanks, Carter!

With not that many characters around, it's actually pretty easy to spot the bad guys, but don't worry, the action scenes were still very interesting regardless. The friendship, as well as the family bond, was very adorable also. Donovan and Link managed to push past Carter's invisible barrier and their dynamic relationship was actually very heartwarming. Even though I didn't think how each of them technically forced the other to talk about their problem was right, I still thought that it played a very important part in regards to Carter's development and thus quite necessary.

In my opinion, A Secret Service would be a good choice if you want to read something light that also covered the topic of secret agents. Badass, funny, and entertaining: it's a contemporary book with a slight mystery to it and a slow-burnt romance as a bonus. Last but not least, I want to thank the author for providing me an e-book of her book—I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.
Profile Image for Lily.
181 reviews4 followers
November 24, 2022
I read this book awhile ago and I would pick it up when I was feeling sad to make myself feel better. Still a super good comfort read especially for Carter's snarky comments and her relationships with everyone
Profile Image for Alicia.
1,000 reviews17 followers
February 1, 2021
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


4.5/5 stars


This was an incredibly fun book to read! Carter is a witty, snarky, and clever character, and I thought she was hilarious and awesome. She is strong and smart, and she doesn’t take shit from anyone. Her relationship with her dad, whom she calls “Captain,” was one of my favourite parts of this book. Their relationship had its ups and downs, but it was one that was built out of love, and I liked how they had such a strong bond.

The story picks up one day when Carter meets a couple of new students at her school, Link and Donovan, and there’s something about them that doesn’t quite make sense to her. Carter soon discovers that she’s stuck with them as friends, and then she learns their secret. Carter has to balance her fears about her dad’s job as an agent in the Secret Service protecting the president, and learning how to handle friendship. She also has to navigate secrets, and confront her emotions.

This was definitely a character-driven book, but when the action picks up towards the end it really picked up! There are clues throughout the book to lead to the climax of the story, and it was fun to put them together. Carter and Donovan both have such cool observations, and it was pretty funny to see people reacted to them.

Link and Donovan were good characters to balance and support Carter. I loved seeing Carter’s relationships with both of them grow and change.
I felt like the pacing was really good in this book, and it was really easy to read. Carter was an entertaining character, and I really liked seeing her and Donovan compete with each other.

I’d recommend this one to fans of Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls or Heist Society series, as it gave me some similar vibes. I’d also recommend it to anyone who likes to read about strong female characters who can kick ass and save the day!
Profile Image for Nidhi.
249 reviews34 followers
June 3, 2021
Do you like reading thriller books? Here is a perfect gift for you. This book revolves around Carter, a witty, smart, beautiful, and strong girl. She is a daughter of a secret service agent. Her father trains her to become strong and intellectual.

The same thing makes her sniff everything which is going wrong. That's probably the reason she doesn't let anyone come closer to her or become her friend for that matter.

But during her high school, two amazing boys enter her life, Donovan, and Link. These two later become her best friends and first friends as well. Link is the one whose friendly connection with Carter. Whereas Donovan and Carter develop a hiding romance between them. That's cute to see and imagine. Later on, Carter realizes that the two boys are hiding something As Carter tries to expose this truth, she faces some dangerous challenges she never imagined.

The book is great and the way characters are developed is commendable. Twists and turns will keep you hooked till the end. Though the real twist starts with Carter's skills, the way she handles situations. Her character will make you fall in love with the story and the book. The high school and the feelings are so relatable that I could remember my high school time.

I loved this book. It was a unique read for me and full of learning. All the characters, and events, have been described so realistic.
The author perfectly described the character of a woman and put me in deep thinking. The narration is smooth.

I don't have enough words to express the beauty of this book and the writing style of the author. The whole time while reading the book my mouth was open due to suspense.

It's a must-read one!!
30 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2021
"Secret Service" is a book written by Joy Jenkins. The author introduced Carter as a main character of a novel , Carter is a strong,witty and intelligent girl. Personally I like such type of novels which represents female characters very strongly. Book is full of action with various dialogues. Storyline is amazing. Character development and the growth of the characters was really awesome. Story is written in full pace and the pace was maintained throughout the novel. Author's work is tremendous. Carter's relationship with her father remarkable. I also loved the relationship between Carter, Donovan and Link. This trio was amazing. I really enjoyed reading this novel while I reading I really got connected with the characters and started imagining myself as a part of this novel. I am going to read this novel again. Highly recommended to everyone.
Profile Image for Becca (Horners_book_corner).
181 reviews36 followers
April 4, 2021
Thanks to the author for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5, almost 4 stars but not quite.

This was a fun YA thriller/spy book with a strong female protagonist. I enjoyed the plot but gave it 3.5stars as I personally found some of back and forth repetitive. Although this was not quite a 4 star read for me, I did appreciate the plot twist(s) and did not necessarily see them all coming. I liked the themes around bonds and relationships and it felt realistic, if improbable (like all good young spy books!). I would certainly read the next one. 👍
Profile Image for Nadia Chaudhary.
1 review
May 30, 2020
This is an extraordinary book Joy is honestly so talented, this book is filled with so much passion, reading it feels like a breath of fresh air, not only do you get action but humor, romance, friendship, and mystery in it, it’s filled with characters one falls in love with, this book has genuinely become a part of my life and I love it so much I’m waiting for the day it gets published I will be sad when Joy become an author because of the fact that she will no longer be on wattpad but I will also be so happy for her, because she deserves it this book proves that she has a way with words one can not describe but rather just read and and fall in trance with how amazing it is along with so many books she has written, each and every character has a lot of individuality and real personality that hold flaws along with strengths that they feel real, your doing awesome Joy and just so you know who this is......@Nya_1D
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