Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
If I Told You, I'd Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel, Annie Mare, Ruthie Knox Published by St. Martin's Press on June 7, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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A few rules for the international
(1) Never blow your cover.
(2) Never accept the first plan.
(3) Never fall for anyone at the agency. Especially if she’s your ex-girlfriend.Second-generation spy Yardley Whitmer, code name “the Unicorn,” can do no wrong. With her combination of debutante-style charm and expert spycraft, she’s become an instant legend in the field. If only finally moving out of her girlfriend’s home were as easy as rappelling off the Eiffel Tower. But living a full-time cover story has slowly eroded her relationship with KC until there’s nothing left but lies.
KC “Tabasco” Nolan, hacker extraordinaire, can crack anything—except the code that would tell her the right moment to confess her secret job to Yardley. Now it’s too late, and she’s in danger of losing the best chance at love she’s ever had.
When an undercover shakedown goes wrong, Yardley and KC discover the unbelievable truth—that they are Unicorn and Tabasco, and they’ve both been working with the agency for years. To salvage the mission, they’re compelled to partner up and fly across oceans, race through winding European streets, and give in to inconvenient passion while hiding in an ambassador’s linen closet. But can they throw away their Plan A and fight through the betrayal and secrets to fall in love with each other’s true selves?
I’m a long time fan of this author for their exceptional wordcraft. The word choices evoke senses and emotions. It’s a sensory feast to read their stories.
If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You is a F/F romance. It is a stand alone in a group of standalones in this genre. The descriptions of each woman about the other is so brilliant and caring. They see each other’s best selves even if they aren’t getting along. They have to work to allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other.
Yardley and KC are both in the CIA but unable to tell anyone, including each other. They’ve worked together remotely from each other. But now they are thrown together at a point when their personal relationship is struggling because they can’t share so much about work. They have lived together for three years. Luckily, they are both excellent at their work. They also have amazing co-workers who are gay and/or supportive.
KC has been kept isolated, working on hacker computer things, but now he is missing. A project she made with a friend from her teen years is now being looked at as a weapon. Her handler has been missing since an op in Toronto was used to weaponize her code.
Yardley and the rest of the team work with her to find her friend and get the coding back. It’s exciting and dangerous. As they face new challenges while being worried for each other. They find an ability to speak honestly as they haven’t been able to do in the past.
About Annie Mare
Annie Mare (she/they) writes queer contemporary mystery and romance. If you enjoy their books, check out the books they co-author with Ruthie Knox, including both queer romances (as Mae Marvel) and mysteries (as Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare). Annie’s romances have been critically recognized and bestselling. Annie lives with her wife, two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
Also published as Mary Ann Rivers.
About Ruthie Knox
New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox writes contemporary romance that’s sexy, witty, and angsty—sometimes all three at once. After training to be a British historian, she became an academic editor instead. Then she got really deeply into knitting, as one does, followed by motherhood and romance novel writing.
Her debut novel, Ride with Me, is probably the only existing cross-country bicycling love story. She followed it up with About Last Night, a London-set romance whose hero has the unlikely name of Neville, and then Room at the Inn, a Christmas novella—both of which were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Her four-book series about the Clark family of Camelot, Ohio, has won accolades for its fresh, funny portrayal of small-town Midwestern life.
Ruthie moonlights as a mother and bakes a mean focaccia. She writes both mystery and romance, usually with co-author Annie Mare. You can find Ruthie’s books under the pen names Ruthie Knox (mystery and het romance), Mae Marvel (queer romance), and Robin York (New Adult romance). Ruthie and Annie are married and live with two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, two glorious cats, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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I haven’t heard of this author before I don’t think. I’m not a big spy story reader, but this one does sound like a good one. I do like the cover too! Great review!
I’ve long liked Ruthie Knox. I used to ride on RAGBRAI in Iowa with her cousins.
Excellent review, Anne💜 I hadn’t heard of this one.
I love Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare’s writing. The earlier stuff was all M/F and now they are doing some F/F. They wrote separately and now together.
I have not tried this author and need to rectify that.
I really love this author. I’ve read her for about 15 years. I did go on RAGBRAI with her cousins in Iowa.
Sounds like an interesting (and frustrating) premise – to be in a relationship and working for the same place, but not be able to talk about it.
yes the not communicating was the government BS. They were lovely people.
This looks like it could be a fun read. I do love a good spy story – or a story about spies I guess I should say. I haven’t read this author before but I’ll have to look at it.
I love this author. They define characters so well. I like their mystery series even more. I’m reviewing that next Saturday.
This looks adorable
It is and has a high emotional impact.