A charming romp rich in intrigue, delicious sweets and a grandiose ballroom finale.

Simone's a precocious twelve-year-old daughter of a spy who fits secret missions in between walking the dog and taking her little sister to ballet. Her father runs a renowned chocolate shop, but things begin to go awry there just as Simone gets her first field mission. With several larger-than-life potential villains, readers will delight in finding out just why Simone and her family's chocolate business has attracted the attention of the world's most notorious art thief.

I adored these characters! Simone's voice leaps off the page, with her knack for noticing details that no one else does and finding the person or object that breaks the pattern. Her friend V, an extrovert who brings a whirlwind of energy wherever she goes, is an absolute delight. The Paris setting adds to the overall enchanting atmosphere, and the descriptions of the ball in the title are dreamy and decadent. I also loved Simone's high-tech spy gear, and the author set it up nicely for a series.

I highly recommend this book and would read any sequels featuring Simone and her secret missions. This is one of those books that you'll want to gift to any middle grade reader you know, as well as adults who read middle grade.

Thank you to the author for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )