Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy - Ally Carter

Summary:  After staking out, obtaining, and then being forced to give up her first boyfriend, Josh, all Cammie Morgan wants is a peaceful semester.  But that's easier said than done when you're a CIA legacy and go to the Gallagher Academy, the premier school in the world...for spies.

Despite Cammie's best intentions to be a normal student, danger seems to follow her.  She and her friends learn that their school is going to play host to some mysterious guests--code name: Blackthorne.  Then she's blamed for a security breach that leaves the school's top secret status at risk.

Soon Cammie and her friends are crawling through walls and surveilling the school to learn the truth about Blackthorne and clear Cammie's name.  Even though they have confidence in their spy skills, this time the targets are tougher (and hotter), and the stakes for Cammie's heart--and her beloved school--are higher than ever.  (Summary from book -  Image from http://www.allycarter.com/)

My Review:  Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy continues the story of Cammie Morgan, spy in training at the oh-so-covert Gallagher Academy for Girls.  The author uses the same stylistic commentary that I grew to love in I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, and while the first few chapters were spent less than subtly summarizing the previous story, it didn't take long before the author shook things up with the addition of a few head-turning characters.  This book provides more than enough sass, humor,  mystery, and teenage dramatics to keep things light and interesting (like Cammie's strapless bra incident or a historic CODE BLACK). 

While I'd call the antics of Cammie and her friends, "fun" and "cute" right now, I know that I would have adored them as a teenager and stood in line to buy the next book in the series, Don't Judge a Girl By Her Cover.  Above all, I love that this book is both wholesome and entertaining, proving that you don't have to copy Gossip Girl to sell books.

My Rating: 4 Stars  (probably higher for a YA).  For the sensitive reader:  Besides a vague reference to swearing in Farsi and a slight wardrobe malfunction, the coast is clear.  Read on.

Sum it up:  An entertaining continuation to a promising YA series.