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You Only Die Twice
Danger and desire collide in this romantic thrill ride—available exclusively in audio!
When high school English teacher Alice Thornton helps her dying Russian neighbor write a spy thriller, she thinks she’s just doing a good deed. But when a sexy mystery man shows up in her classroom, claiming to be the novel’s dashing antihero, Alice is swept into a lethal conspiracy.
Enigmatic former CIA operative Carter Beck warns her that the sensational murder plot wasn’t fiction. And because she knows too much, the killer wants her silenced—making Carter her only hope of survival.
Forced on the run, Alice and Carter must separate truth from fiction to unmask the murderer before they become the next victims. The danger is only too real—and so is their unexpected chemistry. In between motorcycle chases, dodging bullets and unraveling clues, the unlikely pair start to wonder if the secret to their survival might just be each other....
When high school English teacher Alice Thornton helps her dying Russian neighbor write a spy thriller, she thinks she’s just doing a good deed. But when a sexy mystery man shows up in her classroom, claiming to be the novel’s dashing antihero, Alice is swept into a lethal conspiracy.
Enigmatic former CIA operative Carter Beck warns her that the sensational murder plot wasn’t fiction. And because she knows too much, the killer wants her silenced—making Carter her only hope of survival.
Forced on the run, Alice and Carter must separate truth from fiction to unmask the murderer before they become the next victims. The danger is only too real—and so is their unexpected chemistry. In between motorcycle chases, dodging bullets and unraveling clues, the unlikely pair start to wonder if the secret to their survival might just be each other....
11 pages, Audible Audio
Published August 4, 2022
82 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
Brynn Kelly
9 books335 followersRITA-winner Brynn Kelly is a romantic suspense author, an award-winning journalist and copy editor, a soccer mom, and a theater nerd. She pens lighthearted romantic suspense audiobooks for Audible Originals, including YOU ONLY DIE TWICE, A MURDER TO REMEMBER, ONCE UPON A CRIME and SOME LIKE IT LETHAL, and is the author of the multiple award-winning DECEPTION ISLAND series of gritty romantic thrillers, available in ebook, print and audio. Find her on Instagram @writerbron or Facebook @brynnkellyauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
August 24, 2022
Overly complicated!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💚🖤💙
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😢🙃🙂
The heroine: Alice Thornton - She is a high school teacher and her day just went from bad to worse. It started out when she went to her car during a break between classes, only to find that it was the object of the senior prank and the students put it in a place she couldn’t drive it out of. Two minutes later she gets served by someone suing her for defamation for a character in the self published fiction novel she wrote along with a friend. To round out her awful day, she finds a heartthrob in her classroom who thinks he is the anti-hero, Anderson Holt, a CIA agent from her novel and he tells her she is in danger.
The Hero: Carter Beck - He is an ex-CIA agent and handler to a Russian agent who was feeding intel directly from the Kremlin. That agent was Nika, the same friend that Alice co-wrote her book with. The Russian woman was dying of cancer when she wrote the book and died before the book was complete.
The Story: Carter has been framed for the murder that was the plot in the book, because though much of the book was based on real people and facts, some of the story and the ending were completely made up by Alice when her friend got near death and could no longer give her input. Alice never thought the characters and storylines Nika gave her were real. Now it seems that the real killer is framing Carter based on the fact that Alice made him the killer in the book.
The book was told in dual points of view via dual narration. The narration was done by Alan Carson and Stasia Newcomb. They did a great job and both have very pleasing voices. I really liked the premise of this one and I liked the characters. I just thought that the plot was too overly complicated. I didn’t like all the flashbacks to Carter and Nika and their relationship and missions together. I think it would have been a lot better if the plot stuck to the danger Alice was in and that whole aspect of the plot.
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Blurb:
Danger and desire collide in this romantic thrill ride— available exclusively in audio!
When high school English teacher Alice Thornton helps her dying Russian neighbor write a spy thriller, she thinks she’s just doing a good deed. But when a sexy mystery man shows up in her classroom, claiming to be the novel’s dashing antihero, Alice is swept into a lethal conspiracy.
Enigmatic former CIA operative Carter Beck warns her that the sensational murder plot wasn’t fiction. And because she knows too much, the killer wants her silenced—making Carter her only hope of survival.
Forced on the run, Alice and Carter must separate truth from fiction to unmask the murderer before they become the next victims. The danger is only too real—and so is their unexpected chemistry. In between motorcycle chases, dodging bullets and unraveling clues, the unlikely pair start to wonder if the secret to their survival might just be each other…
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💚🖤💙
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😢🙃🙂
The heroine: Alice Thornton - She is a high school teacher and her day just went from bad to worse. It started out when she went to her car during a break between classes, only to find that it was the object of the senior prank and the students put it in a place she couldn’t drive it out of. Two minutes later she gets served by someone suing her for defamation for a character in the self published fiction novel she wrote along with a friend. To round out her awful day, she finds a heartthrob in her classroom who thinks he is the anti-hero, Anderson Holt, a CIA agent from her novel and he tells her she is in danger.
The Hero: Carter Beck - He is an ex-CIA agent and handler to a Russian agent who was feeding intel directly from the Kremlin. That agent was Nika, the same friend that Alice co-wrote her book with. The Russian woman was dying of cancer when she wrote the book and died before the book was complete.
The Story: Carter has been framed for the murder that was the plot in the book, because though much of the book was based on real people and facts, some of the story and the ending were completely made up by Alice when her friend got near death and could no longer give her input. Alice never thought the characters and storylines Nika gave her were real. Now it seems that the real killer is framing Carter based on the fact that Alice made him the killer in the book.
The book was told in dual points of view via dual narration. The narration was done by Alan Carson and Stasia Newcomb. They did a great job and both have very pleasing voices. I really liked the premise of this one and I liked the characters. I just thought that the plot was too overly complicated. I didn’t like all the flashbacks to Carter and Nika and their relationship and missions together. I think it would have been a lot better if the plot stuck to the danger Alice was in and that whole aspect of the plot.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
Blurb:
Danger and desire collide in this romantic thrill ride— available exclusively in audio!
When high school English teacher Alice Thornton helps her dying Russian neighbor write a spy thriller, she thinks she’s just doing a good deed. But when a sexy mystery man shows up in her classroom, claiming to be the novel’s dashing antihero, Alice is swept into a lethal conspiracy.
Enigmatic former CIA operative Carter Beck warns her that the sensational murder plot wasn’t fiction. And because she knows too much, the killer wants her silenced—making Carter her only hope of survival.
Forced on the run, Alice and Carter must separate truth from fiction to unmask the murderer before they become the next victims. The danger is only too real—and so is their unexpected chemistry. In between motorcycle chases, dodging bullets and unraveling clues, the unlikely pair start to wonder if the secret to their survival might just be each other…
September 30, 2022
When English Teacher Alice Thornton helped her dying friend write a spy novel, she didn't know it would lead to danger. Her friend, Nika, died of cancer before she could complete the book; so Alice finished the book for her. Now there is a sexy stranger standing in her classroom who looks just like the killer described in the book. Former CIA operative Carter Beck tells Alice that she is in danger. He used to work in Russia as a handler for Nika who was a Russian spy. The story she wrote is real, except for the fact that Carter didn't kill anybody. Alice added that fact after Nika died. The real killer know Nika had top secret information and they believe Alice must have it now. Carter is her only chance to get out of this alive.
I've enjoyed other books by this author, but this one didn't work for me. The pacing was all over the place. There was too much telling and not enough showing. It needed more action and less explaining. On the other hand, there were lots of fun James Bond references and a couple of interesting secondary characters, including Carter's mother who was also a former spy.
The Audible Original audiobook was narrated by Alan Carlson and Stacia Newcomb. Both did a fine job. My rating: 3 Stars.
I've enjoyed other books by this author, but this one didn't work for me. The pacing was all over the place. There was too much telling and not enough showing. It needed more action and less explaining. On the other hand, there were lots of fun James Bond references and a couple of interesting secondary characters, including Carter's mother who was also a former spy.
The Audible Original audiobook was narrated by Alan Carlson and Stacia Newcomb. Both did a fine job. My rating: 3 Stars.
December 20, 2025
I love adventure-comedy books/movies, so I'm very disappointed with this one. Not funny and just drags on
Nothing special about Audible background production in this one as well.
Maybe I'll read it again after years and see if I like slow-paced stories then.
Nothing special about Audible background production in this one as well.
Maybe I'll read it again after years and see if I like slow-paced stories then.
April 16, 2025
Story 4 stars. Narration 4.5 stars
No offense to the artist, but this cover really is off putting. This story is an a bit lighter romantic suspense and not some kind of cozy or funny mystery. There’s actual bullets flying at the couple and some characters actually die-and I’m not talking about the bad guys. So yes, this cover is a disservice to the author.
Alice is an English teacher just going about her day at school when her life is turned upside down by Carter. Carter takes her from the school and tells her quite the tale about Russian spies and CIA operatives. Turns out the book she wrote is not the fiction she thought it was and now she’s got all sorts of people after her. He just got there first. The best part? He is the exact twin of the book hero she wrote along with her now dead friend. The book boyfriend you would never actually meet. There’s lots of action and hiding out in various places and lots of different bad people. Alice is scared but determined to help even when her picture is plastered across television and newspapers.
This ended up being a fast listen and the first I had read(listened)to by this author. I already have another by her so I’ll be listening to that soon. I enjoyed my time with this couple and recommend this to lighter romantic suspense readers ages 14plus.
No offense to the artist, but this cover really is off putting. This story is an a bit lighter romantic suspense and not some kind of cozy or funny mystery. There’s actual bullets flying at the couple and some characters actually die-and I’m not talking about the bad guys. So yes, this cover is a disservice to the author.
Alice is an English teacher just going about her day at school when her life is turned upside down by Carter. Carter takes her from the school and tells her quite the tale about Russian spies and CIA operatives. Turns out the book she wrote is not the fiction she thought it was and now she’s got all sorts of people after her. He just got there first. The best part? He is the exact twin of the book hero she wrote along with her now dead friend. The book boyfriend you would never actually meet. There’s lots of action and hiding out in various places and lots of different bad people. Alice is scared but determined to help even when her picture is plastered across television and newspapers.
This ended up being a fast listen and the first I had read(listened)to by this author. I already have another by her so I’ll be listening to that soon. I enjoyed my time with this couple and recommend this to lighter romantic suspense readers ages 14plus.
February 16, 2023
2 hours into the audiobook and just met the FOURTH person with terminal illness.
I signed up for a fun, suspenseful romcom, not a freaking oncology ward.
Someone get this heroine a Geiger counter, cause I’m thinking she’s the issue.
I signed up for a fun, suspenseful romcom, not a freaking oncology ward.
Someone get this heroine a Geiger counter, cause I’m thinking she’s the issue.
November 3, 2023
I was really skeptical when I started this book and I couldn't have been more surprised. The concept sounded a little cheesy and hard to pull off but man did I underestimate it. The only thing I didn't love about it was that it was fade to black, but overall it was a funny, witty, poignant, and overall just a good book. The main character, Brynn, helped her tennant, Nika, who was dying of cancer write a novel about Russia and spies and general espionage with an unsolved murder mystery. Nika died before being able to finish the book and Brynn filled in the parts to tie it all up in a neat little bow. The book begins with Brynn finding out that it wasn't fiction and she had unknowingly accused a real guy of a real murder and what follows is an adventure of them trying to solve it and exonerate him. Overlaid with family drama and trauma from losing most of her family to cancer, and a re-discovery of how to love after loss, this book made me cry, laugh, and 'aww' enough that my dogs were definitley looking at me funny.
May 11, 2025
I actually loved this.
Now...if you go in expecting a thrilling spy story only you might be bothered by the thoughtful exploration of grief throughout...and also the-at least relatively-more realistic representation of espionage than you get in the movies. And by that I mean slow, our super spy isn't an analyst and has never had enough pieces of the puzzle to recognize what he has other than knowing he has something.
But, honestly, that just made the story more enjoyable to me.
Likable characters, surprisingly believable romance, good ending.
🌶🌶🌶
Now...if you go in expecting a thrilling spy story only you might be bothered by the thoughtful exploration of grief throughout...and also the-at least relatively-more realistic representation of espionage than you get in the movies. And by that I mean slow, our super spy isn't an analyst and has never had enough pieces of the puzzle to recognize what he has other than knowing he has something.
But, honestly, that just made the story more enjoyable to me.
Likable characters, surprisingly believable romance, good ending.
🌶🌶🌶
October 18, 2022
I really like this audiobook. The romance and the Espionage were good. I wished there were more romance scenes but that's my personal preference.
January 27, 2024
This was a cute popcorn mystery sprinkled with some romance, Russian espionage, CIA operatives, family drama and a dash of murder! A fun listen!
January 31, 2023
3.7-4 stars. This was definitely not what I expected but in a pleasant way. While it was fast paced and had a mystery to solve, it was also a very emotional read. While this seemed like a romantic, mystery book, there is also a heavy concentration on both main characters, Alice and Carter, dealing with loss and by meeting each other learning to work through grief even as Alice is in the process of losing her younger sister to cancer.
Alice is a teacher who wrote a book with her dying tenant. Carter is an ex-spy who shows up to let Alice know that much of the events in the book was in fact real, and some of the changes she inadvertently made, implicated him and another ex spy in a real murder.
With Russian spies, the FBI, CIA, and every shadow agency after them, Alice and Carter are on the run seeking evidence left behind by her neighbor, that would clear him. With the help of Carter’s mom and her “book club” they just have to stay one step ahead of a vast conspiracy before someone snuffs them out v
Alice is a teacher who wrote a book with her dying tenant. Carter is an ex-spy who shows up to let Alice know that much of the events in the book was in fact real, and some of the changes she inadvertently made, implicated him and another ex spy in a real murder.
With Russian spies, the FBI, CIA, and every shadow agency after them, Alice and Carter are on the run seeking evidence left behind by her neighbor, that would clear him. With the help of Carter’s mom and her “book club” they just have to stay one step ahead of a vast conspiracy before someone snuffs them out v
November 5, 2023
4.5 stars.
This is more of a spy thriller than a romance. It's a fun mystery adventure with a spunky and smart heroine who grows in her courage and a handsome ex-spy. Yes, they end up together... but it was more about her taking agency than about their romance.
He was kinda fun, but he's slept around quite a bit and we hear about it with one of the women who is pivotal to the story.
Fun times. Enjoyed the audiobook with dual narration.
There are some pretty heavy themes in her amidst the fun including death of family due to cancer, murder, missing loved ones, betrayal, and more. The heroine's family story was heartbreaking.
This is more of a spy thriller than a romance. It's a fun mystery adventure with a spunky and smart heroine who grows in her courage and a handsome ex-spy. Yes, they end up together... but it was more about her taking agency than about their romance.
He was kinda fun, but he's slept around quite a bit and we hear about it with one of the women who is pivotal to the story.
Fun times. Enjoyed the audiobook with dual narration.
There are some pretty heavy themes in her amidst the fun including death of family due to cancer, murder, missing loved ones, betrayal, and more. The heroine's family story was heartbreaking.
October 3, 2022
I think the main issue with this book is that it's trying to be too many things at once. It's a spy thriller, a romantic comedy, it tries to deal with cancer and loss and all of it at a quick pace. In the end, none of these themes are explored in depth and it all just becomes confusing and a bit of a mess. It does have some entertaining bits, but enough to save it.
April 30, 2025
Fiction turned reality. Murder. Espionage. Book boyfriend come to life. Attractive voice actors. 10/10.
August 25, 2025
It felt like I was watching a Russian/FBI/CSI action movie. This was really well written! Such a detailed and well thought out story. I really enjoyed it. FYI, this book is closed door.
February 15, 2023
I thought this would be a fun one to listen to while traveling.
November 12, 2022
I chose this for mindless entertainment in the car and while doing laundry, etc. It fit that purpose nicely! It also had a surprising number of plot twists that I didn't see coming. The narrators were great. Now if only one of MY book boyfriends would come waltzing into my classroom...
September 20, 2022
2.5 Stars
UPDATE: I skipped to the epilogue with 2.5 hours left, but I'm counting this as a complete read since I consumed at least 8 hours of this.
***************************************
I'm still listening to this and intend to finish, but here are some early thoughts.
This story is overlong. I still have more than four hours of the audiobook to go and I feel like there should only be another hour of story given the current action.
The romantic landscape in this book is overcrowded. I don't typically enjoy stories where one of the principals is a widow or widower because the narrative always, even if only slightly, pits the current romantic interest against the dead partner, which feels unfair to them both.
In this case, we not only have a widower male protagonist but one who also has a complicated, job-related history with the heroine's late friend and co-author. Too many on-page details about this second plot point keep me from investing in the romance at the center of this story. It just makes him seem capricious about romantic entanglements. I wouldn't trust this guy not to ultimately become involved with any woman he worked with. It makes him seem unscrupulous, unbelievable for a spy.
He and the heroine give in to their mutual attraction not even a full day after meeting and it is completely unearned, especially because she knows her friend loved this man and he didn't return those feelings--it should muddy the waters for her more than it does. In fact, they come together after agreeing that it can only happen because they both know it can't go beyond that. This heroine, with these stakes, would have better self-preservation instincts than to give in to that under these circumstances. I just don't believe that someone with that much grief in her life under as much duress as these characters wouldn't be wary or at least resist him longer.
The premise is interesting, but the execution isn't seamless.
UPDATE: I skipped to the epilogue with 2.5 hours left, but I'm counting this as a complete read since I consumed at least 8 hours of this.
***************************************
I'm still listening to this and intend to finish, but here are some early thoughts.
This story is overlong. I still have more than four hours of the audiobook to go and I feel like there should only be another hour of story given the current action.
The romantic landscape in this book is overcrowded. I don't typically enjoy stories where one of the principals is a widow or widower because the narrative always, even if only slightly, pits the current romantic interest against the dead partner, which feels unfair to them both.
In this case, we not only have a widower male protagonist but one who also has a complicated, job-related history with the heroine's late friend and co-author. Too many on-page details about this second plot point keep me from investing in the romance at the center of this story. It just makes him seem capricious about romantic entanglements. I wouldn't trust this guy not to ultimately become involved with any woman he worked with. It makes him seem unscrupulous, unbelievable for a spy.
He and the heroine give in to their mutual attraction not even a full day after meeting and it is completely unearned, especially because she knows her friend loved this man and he didn't return those feelings--it should muddy the waters for her more than it does. In fact, they come together after agreeing that it can only happen because they both know it can't go beyond that. This heroine, with these stakes, would have better self-preservation instincts than to give in to that under these circumstances. I just don't believe that someone with that much grief in her life under as much duress as these characters wouldn't be wary or at least resist him longer.
The premise is interesting, but the execution isn't seamless.
August 30, 2023
This was a great mystery. It kept me engaged and I really wanted to find out who did it! I thought I knew but I was wrong and I loved that. The readers did a great job of changing it up with the characters and I liked that I felt like I knew each of the characters, even the ones that were only there for a little bit. Great book for a long drive or if you’re into a non-scary mystery.
July 14, 2023
Honestly this was a shockingly average book. I have no complaints but also nothing that stood out. The storyline was interesting and new. I liked that I’d never read a similar plot. Usually romance books are very similar, so this was a nice change.
June 11, 2024
Entertaining, ultra-light listen, perfect for diversion during household tasks.
December 29, 2024
idk y’all 10/10 vibes - sexy, romantic espionage adventures with relatively low stakes (read: minimal stress for lena) is my jam. more plz!!
March 9, 2024
There’s a shortage of spy romance stories out there, so when I saw this one on Audible, I couldn’t wait to listen to it even though I have quite an Audible backlog right now. This was so fun! I really liked both the narrators. I actually think I liked the male narrator more which doesn’t usually happen for me. He did a really good job with the accents and with the female voices (which I never say!). The story was cute and fun but I was expecting it to be lighter than it was based on that cover. It’s actually a pretty sad story in parts. Still, it was exciting and adventurous and cute and I enjoyed it.
June 21, 2024
5/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️ 5/5🎧
——• 🖤
I LOVEEEEDDDD THIS ONE and I think it’s crazy that a lot of people don’t because the whole mystery/suspense romance has never been my thing but this one was reallll good!
The story had me from the start, the plot and the twists to get there had me gripping and the characters were just brilliant! But the fact you did Yuri dirty kills me though😭
The actual narration was perfection, these two worked so well together!! I don’t think I’ve listen to Alan Carlson before and his voice is👌🏼🫠🤤
——• 🖤
I LOVEEEEDDDD THIS ONE and I think it’s crazy that a lot of people don’t because the whole mystery/suspense romance has never been my thing but this one was reallll good!
The story had me from the start, the plot and the twists to get there had me gripping and the characters were just brilliant! But the fact you did Yuri dirty kills me though😭
The actual narration was perfection, these two worked so well together!! I don’t think I’ve listen to Alan Carlson before and his voice is👌🏼🫠🤤
April 2, 2025
Another cute read. This one had more intrigue than the first one I read. A little more action and not just sexy times but thriller vibes. I really liked once again the author didn’t need to throw in the I Love Yous after only meeting a few days and didn’t sacrifice on the readers investment in the couple. Very believable on the love front. Certainly shipping the pair. Overall, I really enjoyed. I’m fast becoming a fan.
Narrators were excellent.
Narrators were excellent.
September 24, 2022
This was cute for what it was and had good voice actors for the narrations (switching off almost every chapter).
A little bit of steam in once scene but overall we watch the spy and teacher become Allie’s then lovers while they trust each other to solve the mystery she wrote about unknowingly.
A little bit of steam in once scene but overall we watch the spy and teacher become Allie’s then lovers while they trust each other to solve the mystery she wrote about unknowingly.
August 9, 2023
Liked it way more than I thought I would. It kept me guessing what was going to happen and was action packed, but fade to black. There was some humor but a lot of tragedy too as they deal with grief (specially our h who has suffered through the death of pretty much her entire family).
Really good romantic suspense that kept me hooked.
Great narration too.
Really good romantic suspense that kept me hooked.
Great narration too.
March 13, 2025
I really loved this book! Super fun and cute, although the time jumping was a bit confusing at times and it was somewhat hard going back and forth, but overall the story was so good and her books are cute.
May 25, 2023
I loved the concept!!!! Super fun!!
June 18, 2024
atrociously painful tbh
Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews