There are three things you need to know about Shane P.I. 1) P.I. is not her last name, it’s her job title, 2) Her specialty is catching cheaters, and 3) she’s a superhuman – kind of.Gabriel is a security expert for Cipher Security, and a former UN Peacekeeper with a fierce protective streak that finds its focus on the beautiful P.I.Their attraction is like an elephant in a room full of breakable … breakable things, and figuring out how to trust each other with their hearts, and maybe their lives, is the most fragile thing of all.
‘Code of Conduct’ is book#1 in the Cipher Office series, is a full-length romantic suspense novel, and can be read as a standalone.
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Code of Conduct (Cipher Security Book 1) by April White is a contemporary, slow burn, romantic suspense told in first person, dual POV.
Amputee, Shane, is a private investigator who specializes in catching cheaters. She meets Cipher Security agent, Gabriel, because her latest mark is one of their clients. While the two seemingly start out in opposition, they are soon working side by side on a case full of secrets and conspiracy.
I loved Shane and Gabriel’s story! As characters, they were both interesting, diverse, well-developed, and likeable. The story was full of intrigue, witty humor, and simmering tension. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I loved this book so much!! I have loved all the Smarty Pants Romance books so far, but there was something extra, extra special about the characters in this one. TALK ABOUT SWOON! I loved Shane immediately from the first scene when she’s undercover on a fake date with a douche canoe and puts him in his place so fantastically I could just read the scene over and over again! She’s such a badass! She’s also so lonely, but she denies it.
And Gabriel, well it’s like he’s hit in the chest with HOLY COW love the first time he sees her and he doesn’t know what to do with it.
Both of these characters have serious wounds from their pasts and are so vulnerable it hurts, but another thing I loved about them was that they acted like adults! They were honest and kind and smart and funny and cared for each other with tenderness and passion. LOVED this book!!!
Absolutely love this book in the Smartypants Romance universe by April White! Everyone knows I love April’s Immortal Descendants series, and this is super different, but the same sharp writing, layered characters, and wonderful tension flow through this book, along with a super-swoon-worthy hero and a kick ass heroine I just love. Buy it! You won’t be sorry.
Penny Reid handed her a world and Ms. White ran with it making the story and characters come alive within and made it uniquely hers.
I am loving this whole Smartypants series ! I am finding so many new authors to me to enjoy. I have not had the pleasure of reading April’s work till now and I must say that I am certainly a fangirl.
Shane and Gabriel on their own are fabulous characters but combine them and they are a powerhouse.
Shane is not your run of the mill cookie cutter leading lady. She not only has beauty and brains but lets add in a dash of clever, wittiness, sass and so ballsy ! Loved her !
Gabriel is our ex-military man that has good looks, he is daring, caring and brilliant. They each are carrying so much emotional baggage put them together and anything is possible. Get ready for a thrilling ride filled with so much adventure and off the charts romance !!!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
When Smartypants Romance stated that it was going to feature different authors writing in the Penny Reid Universe aka Pennyverse, I could not contain my excitement. I adored Penny Reid from the very first book of hers I’ve read which happened to be Neanderthal Seeks Human. The Knitting in the City world had the most fantastic female characters ever written and of course the men that complemented these women were also spectacular. So when Code of Conduct was touted to be the first in Cipher Security Series, in the KitC world then I was all in to reading this one. I have never read anything of Ms. April White, what I do know is Ms. Reid has always praised her writing prowess and the Overlord has never led me astray with her recommendations before. Readers I am a convert of Ms. White and will be reading more of her works from now on!
Code of Conduct, from the first paragraph, has totally won me over, all because of Shane, P.I extraordinaire and could totally be Jane Bond, the California edition. I mean she’s badass, confident and tall, way tall. Therefore, she needed someone as Bondish as well! Enter Gabriel Eze, British, gorgeous, former UN peacekeeper and newest Cipher Security Specialist. And yes he feels like a Bond. They even have their own Q! From the very first moment they met, and that one will go on the list for iconic meet cute, Shane and Gabriel will capture your heart, they are vibrantly alive on these pages and they are really fully fleshed out characters that you can sink your teeth into. The plot seems straightforward but then gets twisty you don’t really know whats going on until the very end. The romance is perfectly paced, because these two characters might appear all put together but they have their secrets and their own personal anguish that they reveal slowly to each other. Making the declaration of I love you’s quite realistic. Slow burn it might be but the sizzle is no less hot than a bonfire for these two. I love that beloved characters from KitC makes special cameos and new ones also makes appearances that makes me hopeful that Ms. White will continue writing of this world.
Code of Conduct is coming, be prepared for Shane and Gabriel….. and Oscar!
Extraordinary, stunning, and brilliant, a must read for KitC fans
“You could never be normal. Extraordinary is not normal. Stunning is not normal. Brilliant is. Not. Normal.” – Gabriel Eze
Extraordinary, stunning, and brilliant are all appropriate adjectives to describe this addition to the Penny Reid Book Universe. Book 1 in the Cipher Security series, part of the Knitting in the City world, while you don’t have to have read the KitC books to enjoy this, series fans will be delighted by appearances from several series favorites—Quinn, Dan, Alex, Sandra, and Fiona all have notable parts to play.
Shane, I just loved her. Clever, strong, and wow, the lady balls on her! Gabriel, with his own strength (ex-military, yum!), and so caring and intelligent; I can neither confirm nor deny there was some drooling involved. Both Shane and Gabriel are carrying emotional wounds, though Shane is the one who is doing her best to keep everyone at arms length—probably because Gabriel, with a sister, mother and nephew he’s extremely close to, doesn’t have that luxury. The two of them work so well together, I’m in awe of the author’s ability to craft such layered and complex characters. Gabriel’s story about the Boko Haram will break your heart…I knew about them already, but to hear a story told like that, well, just have tissues ready because you’ll need them. I don’t usually do the book boyfriend thing, but I’d be willing to make an exception for Gabriel: “Your scars are beautiful because they mean you’re alive, and when I kiss them it’ll be in reverence for what you’ve survived and who you’ve become because of them.” Sigh.
I loved seeing some of my favorite KitC characters through Shane’s eyes, Sandra and Alex in particular, because they’re probably my favorite couple, and I completely agree with Shane’s assessment: “I left the office thinking that the hacker might not actually be the dangerous one in the Greene family.” It was funny and heartwarming to see Shane be won over in spite of herself: “It was bad enough to discover I actually liked Sandra and Kat, but to find the hacker tolerable too? That was going too far.”
There are several wonderful new secondary characters in addition to the KitC crew; besides Gabriel’s family (and Shane’s dog, lol) Sparky and Jorge both added to the story. Jorge in particular is an intriguing secondary character that I hope we’ll see a lot more from. The quotes that made up the chapter headings were funny and/or thought provoking and were a clever way for the author to add insight into a number of characters. As for the story itself, I had to pause from time to time to remind myself that this wasn’t actually written by Penny Reid herself, and that’s about the highest praise I can give. I found myself taking my time to read it, not because there wasn’t plenty of action (there was), but because I was enjoying it so much, I knew I was going to be sorry when I got to the end.
To say I was blown away by this new-to-me author is an understatement. This is simply one of the best books I’ve read this year, and while “must read” isn’t a phrase I use lightly, I’m using it here: this is a must read for KitC fans, and anyone who is a fan of wit, humor and emotion in their romances. All the stars, every single one.
B2B Kelly
**Please note, I was given an ARC for each of these books for an honest review of them. These reviews are my own thoughts and feelings and I have had no financial compensation to provide these reviews to you**
Okay, so as a reminder all the Smarty Pants books are set in the Pennyverse, as created by Penny Reid. This means that you will see some of her characters make special appearances in the books that Smarty Pants publishes. FOr this book it was Sandra and Alex.
Right, onwards. So, we have Shane, a relocated PI who was just trying to do her job and get paid. Yeah, she has some stuff in her past that she needs to work on, but it’s so much easier to just not feel, right? I absolutely ADORE that April made Shane such a kick hind quarters heroine. No simpering shy violet with this chica! She’s kicking and taking names. The wealth of knowledge that April has imparted on Shane is fantastic! She knows cyber stuff, how to pick a lock and all other sorts of skills, but she can still interact with society, sorta. She’s a bit standoffish, but that’s because she just doesn’t want to get hurt.
Then er jsbr Gabriel. Sweet, sweet, sexy Gabriel, with the British Accent and built body and sexy brain. Just yummy! He simply wants to get to know Shane. And love her. While dealing with is own demons working as a UN Peacekeeper (and trust me, one of those demons is a doozy!)
April nicely balance the heavy stuff, (racism, misogyny and disability) with an awesome counter point of humor in either pop culture (references super heroes a lot) along with an OLD favorite of my from the 3 Stooges (Cheatem and Howe. I actually gasped when I read that!). Pair this with a prosthetic maker who is just nerdy and cute and makes some great devices for Shane, an over exuberant Bernese Mountain dog, and other great friends…yeah..this is an awesome book!
Love, Love, LOVE this book!! Code of Conduct reads a bit like a suspenseful urban action adventure with lots of slow burn romance mixed in.
Shane, P.I. is a fierce, extraordinary superhero of a heroine. She hides anything that might be considered a weakness and her character really drives this story. Gabriel has to stay on his toes to keep up and there is no way he can fight the incendiary attraction.
“Liquid heat. That’s all I was–the sum total of my being. I was on fire and melting from the inside out. Gabriel’s hands burned my face where he held me, his lips singed and his tongue teased mine.”
How to explain my FAVORITE thing about this story…?
Both the H & h have something in their past that is haunting them and getting in the way of relationships, etc. but while the author reveals the details through the story, she never HARPS on these events. We KNOW and can see the effects of their pasts play out without it being mentioned 800 TIMES!!!
“We are full of landmines, you and me. I keep stepping on yours, and mine seem to have hair triggers that explode when I least expect them to.”
I’m absolutely IN LOVE with this story, these characters, this author!! Code of Conduct is my first book by this author and I was immediately smitten. The story is truly enmeshed in the Penny Reid universe, seemingly effortlessly incorporating her characters.
-5+Stars!-
Wow, just wow! I absolutely loved this book. Shane and Gabriel are wonderful characters with interesting and heart breaking back stories. I wish I was as awesome as Shane and am in love with Gabriel!
This is a perfect addition into Penny Reid’s book world. I was happy with the inclusion of characters I love from her books, and am now loving even more characters.
I look forward to reading more #smartypantsromance books and more books by April White!
This is my first April White book (I still plan on getting to her time travel series sooooon) and seriously she has done her research for this book. I love how the female character Shane was totally out of the norm heroine (you’ll see why). April describes the scenes very well, that especially the first meet happened between the Shane and Gabriel I felt like I was there! This was a good read if you like mystery, espionage and action. I love we got some snippets with the characters from KITC world, enough that they didn’t overshadow April’s story, it was the perfect amount.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This was the first book I’ve read by April White and I liked it. The romantic suspense within the book and how everything played out was great.
While the book didn’t blow me away, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and supporting characters. Shane, the main heroine, is not the “norm” in the book world…and I loved this so much (as similar to Baking Me Crazy). Gabriel, the main hero, is a great guy. He’s tough but shows his gentle side a lot.
The first half of the book was not really doing much for me. The interactions between Shane & Gabriel felt a bit stilted at times and moved extremely slow. The last half of the book, specifically the last 20ish percent, really held my attention and I became more invested in the story and characters.
Initially, Shane was very closed off from all but 1 or 2 people in her life, but once she & Gabriel crossed paths and she allowed herself to open up more and more each time, she really blossomed with love and support of an expanded group of friends. This is the biggest thing I took away from this story and my favorite aspect as well.
*arc provided for honest review*
to me this book had great depth to it’s story line. we all at times ler our baggage get in the way of the present. to understand and let go is another story. well written i enjoyed plus learned from this story
Well written, fun, clever plot. Loved the main characters! If you love Penny Reid you will enjoy this book!
Stealth, Suspense, and Strength
Code of Conduct was an intriguing and witty story. The characters were complex, captivating, and diverse. Both Shane and Gabriel wore armor and used observation to navigate the world. They are characters that have faced difficult loss and persevered. Their vulnerability with one another is painstakingly and meticulously cultivated. Their mutual chemistry and admiration leads to friendship, then partnership, and eventually love. All the while they are tracking down criminals and avoiding an unsavory client. This read had intillect and action. I loved the research and knowledge the characters shared. This love story teemed with possibility and is a reminder that love supports our strengths and embraces our flaws without judgment.
Code of Conduct by April White is the third book in the Smartypants Romance series – a set of interconnected standalones set in the Penny Reid multiverse of awesome romance – and is the first book in the Cipher Security series.
A story of a wonderfully independent private investigator known as Shane PI and the security guy who is determined to partner with her in more than just the workplace. Set in Chicago on the Security side of Cipher Systems, the romance of Gabe and Shane will have you swooning at his sweetness and honesty and pumping your fist at Shane’s straight up feminine awesomeness! The setting for Cipher Systems was fantastic and I’m super excited to see what happens next in the world we first met with Quinn and Janie from the Knitting in the City Series. Loved it! Enjoy!
Adored this fun, sexy and engaging opposites attract pair, their journey is filled with mystery, danger, witty banter and intriguing charters not to mention a passion that will not be ignored….. a thrilling read from beginning to end. Really enjoyed this exciting adventure!
There are some shallow reasons why I was inclined to like this book from the start. The heroine is tall and has canoe size feet – like me! The heroine has an array of prosthetic legs that multi-task in a variety of inspector Gadget-ish ways. Not like me, but how cool! The British hero is described as an Idris Elba look-alike who reads Ben Aaronovitch books and enjoys show tunes. Hey, what’s not to like about that?
And above all that, the book is good because we get to meet some new characters, including the odd eccentric, as well as visiting with some old favourites in the Penny Reid Knitting in the City world. CODE OF CONDUCT is the first April White book I have read. I’ve only heard good things but she writes fantasy and I don’t read fantasy.
Shane P.I hates a cheater. She hates them so much, her professional life is all about exposing cheating spouses. One of her targets just so happens to be a Cipher Security client, and when she weaves her special kind of voodoo on said client, she comes to their attention; and especially to the attention of Gabriel Eze.
Gabriel was such a great hero. He was truly fascinated by the ever-so-prickly heroine. He did his utmost to get to know her, to engage her, to make her feel comfortable and to get her to trust him. And let me tell you, that is not an easy task. Shane not only has so many walls built up, she’s surrounded by a figurative moat in addition to having the draw-bridge firmly up.
He slowly chips away at her fortifications, but before he gets to the very heart of her, these two have a merry (for us) and frustrating (for them) time playing cat-and-mouse games with each other. I enjoyed the slow burn of attraction between them. Sure, it was physical, but the witty banter and sense of humour they both displayed made for a fun read.
The suspense element had me interested, and it played out well, but it never overtook the romance and focus between Shane and Gabriel.
I really enjoyed April’s style of writing. The latter part of the book moved at a much faster speed than the first half, but overall, I enjoyed the pacing. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books in the Cipher Security series.
Code of Conduct was my first April White book and my second from Smartypants Romance. I’m a big fan of both. I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense. Whenever I do I always question why I don’t make it a point to read more. Thankfully I have every intention of following the Cipher Security series, so I’ll be getting a good dose here soon.
There was so much to love about Code of Conduct, I’m honestly not even sure where to start. The characters made this book. Both Shane and Gabriel were absolutely wonderful. Shane was a badass. Since romantic suspense isn’t a go-to subgenre for me, I don’t often read about heroines with super cool jobs like hers. Not only was she strong and smart, but she was also an inspiration. Gabriel was all the things I want in a hero: sexy, thoughtful, kind, and quite the badass himself. And boy could he turn a phrase. I highlighted so many of his words because they made me quite literally swoon. He was all in for Shane and I couldn’t get enough of them together.
With the Cipher Security side of things comes cameos from two of my favorite of Penny Reid’s characters, Quinn and Dan. Dan especially. Oh, how I’ve missed him! The suspense portion of the book had me on the edge of my seat more than once. My heart was pounding, y’all. But to be fair, some of the sexy scenes had my heart pounding, too. I’m two for two with the Smartypants Romance books and I can’t wait to dive into my third. I can’t get enough of Penny’s world and I’m thrilled to discover new authors who are writing in it. It’s a win-win for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Favorite Quotes:
“A word only has the power you give it. Truth is just five letters unless the promise of it is honored, and trust–those five letters are meaningless without a whole lifetime of evidence to back it up.”
I was smitten. More than smitten, actually. Probably something closer to besotted, with a side of lustful thoughts for added intrigue.
“Flying kisses are the ones that make your insides feel like you’re accelerating to reach altitude, and the moment you begin to soar, your chest can fill with air again, and your body floats free.”
“I taste you in my dreams. I think about kissing you ten, fifty, a hundred times a day.”
“You could never be normal. Extraordinary is not normal. Stunning is not normal. Brilliant is. Not. Normal.”
“You can be afraid and still strong, still fearless and indomitable. You can be afraid, and you can trust, and then when you’re ready, you can let go of the fear. Fear muffles you. Let it go, and then you can live out loud again like you’re meant to.”
“I am so fucking hungry for you…”
I’d give Code of Conduct six stars if I could! I couldn’t put this book down, even going to the lengths of sitting in my car after I got home from work, just to finish the scene I was reading. With the perfect combination of romance, humor and suspense – this book is a must-read, and I’ll definitely be adding it to my bookshelf. I’m loving this series so far and am overwhelmed with my need for more!!