Sugar Plum Spies by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS . . .

Most spies take a break for the holidays, but not me, Charlotte Locke. As an analyst for Section 47, a secret spy organization, I normally use my magical form of synesthesia to uncover lies and track paramortal bad guys from the comfort of my cubicle. But tonight I’m going out into the field, along with my partner, Desmond Percy, a powerful galvanist.

Instead of enjoying Christmastime in the city, I’m in a German castle, dressed like a toy soldier and masquerading as a waitress at a swanky Christmas Eve party. My mission? To gather information that will help Section 47 track down a dangerous enemy.

Despite the glitz and glamour, I can’t shake the sense that something is wrong—and that Desmond and I might not leave the party alive.

DANCES OF DEATH . . .

My name is Desmond Percy, although I’ve had many aliases during my years working as a cleaner for Section 47. But I’ve never had a real partner until Charlotte Locke.

My part of the mission is simple: pretend to be a guest and keep an eye on things at the party while Charlotte uses her synesthesia to track down the information we need. But what starts out as a sugar plum dream quickly turns into a holiday nightmare.

Forget the mission. All I want for Christmas is to keep Charlotte safe.

__________

Barb’s Review:
Sugar Plum Spies by Jennifer Estep is the 2^nd book in her Section 47 series.  I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, having enjoyed all her fantastic series.  After reading the first book in this series, I couldn’t wait to read this book.   Refresher: Secret 47 is a secret government agency that handles paranormal, terrorists, criminals, and have magical abilities.  Their job is to gather information to prevent attacks, casualties, as well as to protect the mortal world; especially against those who create dangerous weapons.

Our main heroes are Charlotte Locke and Desmond Percy; Charlotte is an analyst, with a magic of synesthesia to allow her to uncover lies and track bad guys; Desmond has powerful magical abilities, especially using energy.  They are sent as a team to a party at a German Castle, and have Charlotte sneak out later, when Desmond shuts the lights off, for her to find more information on their enemy. What turns out to be a simple assignment, turns into a nightmare, as all hell breaks loose. 

From start to finish, there was so much action with either Charlotte or Desmond fighting the enemies.  Desmond with help from Gabriel, managed to kill off the mercenaries in the ballroom, but he was worried about Charlotte. She found herself stuck in her plans to find information, and was caught, along with the lady in the house, as terrorist threatened their lives.  I really loved Charlotte, especially how she always managed to get out of death-defying situations.

Sugar Plum Spies was a fun, exciting story, that had constant danger and action, with some romance and witty banter.  The entire story revolved around one night, and lots of fun.  This was another wonderful intriguing urban fantasy that is very well written by Jennifer Estep.  I loved both Charlotte and Desmond, and look forward to more on them in future books.   I suggest you read Sugar Plum Spies, as I fully enjoyed it.

 

Sandy’s Reviews:

SUGAR PLUM SPIES is the second instalment in Jennifer Estep’s contemporary adult SECTION 47 paranormal, urban fantasy series focusing on paramortal analyst / diner waitress for Section 47 Charlotte Locke, and assassin/cleaner Desmond Percy. SUGAR PLUM SPIES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary

SOME BACKGROUND: Paramortals make up approximately one percent of the world’s population, and most have hidden their magic from the ‘mortal’ world. Section 47 is a paramortal spy organization whose mission was to gather intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks but found themselves tracking those who use magic to commit their crimes.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charlotte and Desmond) follows Section 47 agents Charlotte Locke and Desmond Percy on their latest assignment in Frankfurt Germany. Heiress Elsa Eisen moved her orphaned niece Lina to an historical castle in the wake of her parents’ murder. Hoping to give Lina a magical Christmas, Elsa sponsored a Christmas Eve Nutcracker fund raiser featuring a world famous ballerina and scenes from the play but all does not go according to plan when the reveal of the world-famous and multi-million dollar Nutcracker Ruby brings out an array of paramortal assassins, thieves, and Section 47 Agents. Hoping to learn the location of CEO and founder of Hyde Engineering Henrika Hyde, a chemist who has invented a powerful weapon in her war against the paramortal, Charlotte, Desmond and fellow agent Gabriel Chase finds themselves on the defensive when lives are threatened, and our couple face the prospect of losing one another.

The relationship between Charlotte and Desmond has been building since the first instalment, a relationship that is now passionate and intense. Desmond is desperate to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love, and Charlotte knows that Desmond is the man that calls to his heart. The $ex scenes are seductive.

The secondary and supporting characters included heiress Elsa Eisen and her niece Lina; ballerina Katarina Tanetsa, as well as the return of Section 47 Agent Gabriel Chase. The requisite evil has many faces.

SUGAR PLUM SPIES is a fast paced, action packed, violent story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, desperation and determination, magic and mystery. The premise is intriguing and exciting; the romance is impassioned; the characters are energetic and dynamic.

Jennifer is graciously offering a $10 Amazon Gift card to ONE (1) lucky commenters  at The Reading Cafe:

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8. Giveaway open Internationally

9. Giveaway runs from November 9 – 12, 2022