Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Undercover
SERIES: Vino & Veritas #4
AUTHOR: Eliot Grayson
PUBLISHER: Heart Eyes Press
LENGTH: 203 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2021
BLURB:
Gabe wants Alec between the sheets…too bad Alec’s undercover already…
Rich kid. Party boy. Gabe is tired of the labels. He’s a smart guy, but ever since he got kicked out of grad school, people are only interested in his no-limit credit card and his pierced ears…and other places.
Tall, dark and scowling Alec hates Vermont, with its artisanal-freaking-everything and its irritating people. To be fair, most people irritate Alec, including the FBI director who sent him here to investigate a smuggling scheme involving yoga mats.
When one of the cutest twinks Alec’s ever seen takes an interest, Alec knows there’s an ulterior motive. No one with multi-colored hair, piercings, and an ass like that would want boring, serious Alec. The kid must be up to no good. Either way, Alec can’t blow his cover. If only he could keep his hands off of Gabe long enough to find out what he’s up to…
Can they ignore their explosive chemistry long enough to foil a smuggling ring? Or will their budding relationship sink faster than a yacht full of contraband?
REVIEW:
International drug smuggling in … yoga mats? That’s the scenario FBI agent Alec Whatever-Last-Name-He’s-Using finds himself investigating in this heartwarming, feel-good story. He’s beyond frustrated that even with all his work experience and education, he’s been assigned to fucking Burlington, Vermont. With no other leads, he starts following a hot twink named Gabe who becomes his drug runner suspect. But he’s confounded by this 125-pound guy with purple hair, piercings, and skinny jeans. Alec gleans from an extensive background check that Gabe comes from a very wealthy family who owns a marine company on Lake Champlain – one he’s currently investigating for the crime because the feds believe smuggling is being done via boat to Canada. Gabe has a chemistry degree, easy access to boats, and the financial means to pull off a large-scale endeavor.
But instead of maintaining professionalism and focusing on the case, the serious and seriously sexy Alec can think of nothing other than pounding Gabe into oblivion. He’s definitely not Alec’s type but he’s oh-so cute. His attempts to flirt and appear normal while remaining undercover are completely ineffective and he makes a terrible first impression.
Gabe first notices Alec with his bad-boy persona loitering in the Vino & Veritas bookshop. He got kicked out of his PhD program, has no career, no boyfriend, and around Alec he has no game. Despite his overt efforts, he can’t get Alec to take him to bed. Alec, on the other hand, is in a quandary. He genuinely likes (and lusts after) Gabe but he can’t tell him the truth – he’s using Gabe to investigate his family while misrepresenting himself as a piecemeal construction worker. It’s becoming harder and harder (pun intended) to resist crossing the line to sexy times. Once they become a couple and the awkwardness subsides, Gabe and Alec are cute together.
Clearly, a big ol’ conflict is headed their way. I couldn’t predict how Alec was going to get out of his predicament unscathed. My interest was sustained by the intrigue over how the FBI case would resolve and when and how Alec would come clean with Gabe. In the end, the whodunit lacked surprise but the story was still very enjoyable.
This is only the second book I’ve read by the author but I intend for there to be more. I found the lightly humorous overtones very appealing. Undercover has one of the most gratifying epilogues I’ve read in ages. I loved Alex and his tear-inducing (mine) grand gestures. And awww, I adored the bonus epi (link provided). This had been my favorite of the Vino & Veritas series so far. I hope you enjoy it, too.
RATING: 
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