The Loving Daylights

March 24, 2003
Comic and campy, this James Bond-meets-Austin Powers spoof from Sands (The Key, etc.) is the third in Love Spell's series of romances involving B.L.I.S.S., a crime-fighting organization run almost entirely by women. Gadget girl Jane Spyrus works in B.L.I.S.S.'s Creation and Development department, inventing such oddities as shrink wrap condoms and mini-missile launchers shaped like vibrators. Though trained in the martial arts, Jane, a techno-geek at heart, has never had a chance to put her skills to use. But when her friend Edie Andretti is kidnapped by a family bent on world domination, Jane and her zany, ex–secret agent grandmother jump into action. Edie's dashing brother, Abel, rounds out the team and strikes up a steamy, often side-splitting romance with Jane. Armed with knock-out lipstick, dart-shooting shoes and truth-serum perfume, the intrepid trio attempt to stop the villainous Ensecksi family from inflicting their mind control technology upon the world. Jane is no Bond: she stumbles rather than strides and can't lie to save her life. But as the adventure unfolds, she believably turns her shy, size 12 self into a seductive super spy. Abel and Jane complement each other nicely, and together they bring some sanity to this madcap escapade.