Title: Code of Matrimony
Author: April White, SmartyPants Romance
Series: Cipher Security #2.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2021

It’s been a long time since I read Code of Honor, and I kept meaning to pick up this novella. I mean, it’s a wedding between Anna and Darius (giving them the ultimate happily ever after). But it’s also about her twin finding her own partner and fairy tale ending. It might have taken me a little while to get to this, but now that I’ve dived back into the SmartyPants Romance world, and Cipher Security, I’m trying to remember why I left in the first place.

So far in my readings of April White and the Cipher Security series, I’ve liked that the point of view is from between the two main leads. Yet, since this novella deals with two couples, it has three different points of view. It was fun to read the same storyline and flicker between the different perspectives. It was also nice to see that each of the characters have ulterior motives for throwing a party. Yet, all three (Darius, Anna and Colette) are motives which are inspired by their love for one another.

Although I loved finding out that Colette gets her own happily ever after moment, my favourite aspect of this was the wedding of Anna and Darius. Namely, the gift that they are given from all of their loved ones. It literally bought a tear to my eye, the idea of everyone sharing something from their lives and themselves. And then sharing these stories. It has got to be the single coolest gift and idea that I’ve read in a long while.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Code of Conduct
Author: April White, SmartyPants Romance
Series: Cipher Security #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Year: 2019

Sadly, it’s rare that I have the pleasure of reading a book about someone with a prosthetic. Actually, I think that this is the first ever book I’ve read that HAS someone with a prosthetic in it. So of course, Shane is a total badass from that very first moment. I mean, she literally has different legs for her different activities. I may have also fallen totally in love with her engineer friend who BUILT and designed these limbs…

But I digress, I could completely write this review about how amazing and wonderful Shane is. But she’s not the only lead in this. And Gabe is just as phenomenal. Not to mention the show stealing dog. I mean, a Bernese Mountain Dog is pretty amazing straight off the bat. But the way he is so adorable floofy and loyal? At least in my head. Total show stealer. I also love that it’s a jog late at night and a bicycle accident instigated by the pup which causes that first meeting.

Gabe is a great match for Shane. He is also a minority, which is absolutely brilliant for representation. But honestly, my favourite thing about picturing him in my minds eye was the accent. Big, buff, dark, British man. Yum, yum, yum. I do love how White is able to highlight the racist challenges that Gabe experiences though. I can’t imagine having to deal with the sheer fullers that both these leads go through, but White does a great job of providing some insight.

Alongside the amazing characters (dog included) and sweet as all romance, there’s a great amount of action. In fact, this novel has had the MOST action of any of the SmartyPants Romance stories. I definitely felt my heart rate accelerate a few times throughout reading this, accelerations which had nothing to do with the steamy, yummy romance.

Image source: Amazon