Author Name: EM Lynley
Book Name: 24-Karat Conspiracy
Series: Precious Gems
Book: Four
Release
Date: June 12, 2015
Blurb:
Love is the only gold
Former Ranger turned FBI agent Reed Acton faces his biggest challenge yet: a Christmas visit from partner Trent Copeland’s parents. He’s less equipped to handle hugs and holidays than the Taliban or international art thieves. When he’s assigned to track down a set of gold Babylonian artifacts looted from the Iraqi National Museum after the fall of Baghdad, things start to look up.
This time, Trent’s part of the mission, which takes them to exotic Istanbul. The crowded streets and labyrinthine markets fascinate Trent, but soon murder is on their trail. The investigation continues as Reed goes undercover at a US Army base, with Trent masquerading as his spouse. Surprisingly, fastidious and ever-fashionable Trent fits into base life right away and soon takes one of the suspects’ wives under his wing when domestic abuse rears its head.
Their faux marriage leads Reed to appreciate Trent in ways he never expected, strengthening their bond—until Reed has to confront the worst demons from his past: his relationship with his estranged family.
Former Ranger turned FBI agent Reed Acton faces his biggest challenge yet: a Christmas visit from partner Trent Copeland’s parents. He’s less equipped to handle hugs and holidays than the Taliban or international art thieves. When he’s assigned to track down a set of gold Babylonian artifacts looted from the Iraqi National Museum after the fall of Baghdad, things start to look up.
This time, Trent’s part of the mission, which takes them to exotic Istanbul. The crowded streets and labyrinthine markets fascinate Trent, but soon murder is on their trail. The investigation continues as Reed goes undercover at a US Army base, with Trent masquerading as his spouse. Surprisingly, fastidious and ever-fashionable Trent fits into base life right away and soon takes one of the suspects’ wives under his wing when domestic abuse rears its head.
Their faux marriage leads Reed to appreciate Trent in ways he never expected, strengthening their bond—until Reed has to confront the worst demons from his past: his relationship with his estranged family.
Pages or Words: 240 pages, 72k words
Categories: Contemporary, Mystery,
Romance
Excerpt:
Trent was gnawing on
some toast while Reed poured him another cup of coffee. He looked askance when
Reed made the request. “You want me to accidentally run into her and suddenly
become her best friend?”
“That’s pretty much it.
They don’t have kids, so you won’t have to hang out at the school trying to
bump into her.”
“Good. I don’t need
‘sexual predator’ on my résumé.” Trent shook his head. “What does she do? And
what is her name?”
“Don’t worry about her
name. You haven’t met her yet, so don’t run the risk of actually using it.”
“Good point.”
“There is a reason the
Bureau has us do four months of new agent training…. And they don’t even teach
everything there.”
“Okay, so what does
Mrs. Bradshaw like to do? I can’t just stalk her.”
“Nope.” Reed pulled a
printout from a folder he had set on one of the kitchen chairs. “Okay, she
spends a lot of money at MAC. What’s that?”
“Makeup store.” Trent
took another sip of coffee.
“Yeah, next on the
list—”
“That’s not a bad idea,
Rex. Katie could use a makeover. That wouldn’t be tough to arrange.”
“She works out at the
base gym, and she signed up for several cooking classes at somewhere called
Cuisine-Art.”
Trent groaned. “I guess
I could take a cooking class.”
“Bring Katie. She
probably knows Bradshaw’s wife, and that could help ease your way into a
friendship.”
“Fine. Cuisine-Art it
is, today.”
“Thanks, Troy.” Reed
loved using their undercover names, even when they were alone. He stood up and
kissed Trent, then left for work.
Trent checked the
Cuisine-Art website to see what classes they were running that day. Only two.
Lunches of Love—“new techniques for making packed lunches a special treat for
hubby and kids” and Noodlicious—“making your own pasta has never been easier or
more fun!”
When they had to tell
you something was fun and use an exclamation point, it usually wasn’t. But Trent
was prepared to take both classes, for Reed. At least he could bring Katie, and
then it might actually be “fun!”
Lunches of Love started
at eleven, so Trent called Katie at nine to invite her along. She sounded
hesitant at first.
“I don’t really like cooking.
I used to, but lately I don’t.”
Trent remembered Reed’s
comment about all the expensive cooking equipment. Why had she stopped enjoying
it? Was it because of her husband? He didn’t exactly deserve any Lunches of
Love. “Well, then, you’re the perfect candidate. The classes sound like fun,
and even if you never make anything, it will get you out of the house.”
“That’s true. Anything
that isn’t shopping or coffee. I’ve had enough of both.”
Hallelujah.
Trent usually loved shopping and coffee, but the women at Fort Sam had turned
him off of both in the space of two short weeks. “So you’re in?”
“Yeah. And Paul is
doing something after work, so I don’t have to cook for him. We can have a
relaxing day, and I can still get home in time to finish cleaning up after last
night’s poker game before Paul gets home.”
“Oh, damn. I forgot
about that. Let me come over now and help.”
Which is how Trent
found himself with the perfect opportunity for more snooping. He felt a little
guilty poking around in Katie’s life, and rationalized it because Paul might be
breaking a law, and if he went to jail, maybe Katie would divorce him. Reed had
been right about all the fancy appliances and cookware. Katie even had a few
items Trent didn’t own back home.
Sales Links:
B&N
About the
author:
EM Lynley writes sizzling gay romance with a hint of mystery.
She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of
10. A Rainbow Award winner and EPIC finalist, EM has worked in high finance,
high tech, and in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot,
romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial
analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because
all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with
dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than
ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the
San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.
Where to find the author:
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/790672047651196/
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover
Artist: Anne Cain
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