Book Title: Specimen
Author: C. Quince
Publisher: Ninestar Press
Cover Artist: HolBat
Release Date: March 11, 2024
Tense/POV: third person/past tense/alternating POV
Genre: MM paranormal/alien/sci-fi romance
Themes: Enemies to lovers, mystery, thriller, action adventure, spies, frenemies, forced proximity, colleagues
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 105 000 words/ 300 pages
It is the first book of a series.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger as the mysteries are ongoing,
but the couple are solidly together.
Buy Links
NineStar Press | Universal Link
A former US Marine and a British M16 Intelligence agent find more in common than attraction.
Blurb
David Cortez, a decorated US Marine, is now on the run from his own government after escaping a top-secret CIA lab when an experimental medical procedure turned sour.
While lying low in Mexico, an assassin sent from British Intelligence tracks him down. However, Sonny from MI6, a British-Iranian with a cockney accent, offers David a choice: join his team, or be killed.
David chooses to work with Sonny, not only because he wants his life back, but because he feels a kinship with the man.
They’re also both in the unique position of being the only living test subjects with alien DNA in their blood. Could that explain the strong attraction between them?
Sonny walked across the tarmac to lurk around the side of the building. He had a call to make.
With the time difference, it would be nearly eight in the morning for Guv.
Sonny called him, and he answered after three rings.
“Yes?” Guv said.
“Guv, it’s Sonny. On our merry way home as we speak. Job is a wrap.”
“Good,” Guv said. “And the package?”
“On board,” Sonny confirmed. “You were right. He was eager to flip.”
“Good,” Guv repeated. “Keep me up to speed after you land. You may inform the rest of the team they’ve earned a short rest period. I’ll be in touch.”
“Er, right,” Sonny said. He was confused. “Sorry, er, where am I dropping the new recruit after we land?”
“The package is in your charge, Sonny,” Guv said. “Roll out the red carpet. Shepherd’s orders.”
“Er, oh,” Sonny said. “Right.”
“And keep me in the loop,” Guv said, then ended the call.
Sonny immediately selected Shepherd’s contact, then called her next. He was starting to think there had been a breakdown of communication somewhere.
She answered on the second ring. “This better be important, I’m busy,” she said, her tone ice cold. Sonny pictured her either getting her hair done by stylists or sitting at the head of a MI6 conference table, busting balls and intimidating the stuffy old men of British Intelligence. Maybe both things were happening at once. They were in Sonny’s mind, anyway.
“Sorry, ma’am,” Sonny said. “Wanted to be clear on something…” He purposefully trailed off to annoy her.
“Go on,” she said.
“You have your new recruit,” Sonny said. “So, after we get in, what am I doing with him? Drop him off at HQ, or…?”
“No, no,” Shepherd said. “That’s too much shop at once, especially for someone who’s come in from the cold. Ease him in with a softly, softly approach. Just a couple of days or so.”
“Okay,” Sonny said. “And where am I easing him in?” He couldn’t help making the pun.
“I don’t care, Sonny,” Shepherd bit out. “Use some initiative, would you? Book him a hotel room. Take him to your place. Make him feel welcome. Roll out the red carpet.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sonny said. “Quick question. If I was to use a hotel, can I pop it on expenses? And what about food? Wining and dining an’ the like. Travel don’t come cheap neither. Maybe you can slip me a tidy bonus for all these extra expenses?”
“Don’t push it, Sonny,” she said firmly.
“One bonus would be easier than all these receipts I’m going to claim on expenses,” Sonny told her. He smirked because they weren’t on a video call and she couldn’t see him.
There was a beat of silence, and then he heard Shepherd exhale softly.
“All right,” she agreed. “I’ll send you one sum to your account today for all your expenses. Anything over that, you can pay for yourself.”
Sonny raised his fist in a silent gesture of victory. “Thank you, ma’am,” he said. “Much obliged.”
“He’s in your charge, Sonny,” Shepherd said. “If you lose him, or if anything goes wrong, I’ll be holding you accountable.”
“Understood, ma’am,” he replied. “There shouldn’t be any problems.”
“There better not be,” she said, and ended the call.
Quince is a MENA-British author who lives in England, enjoys sci-fi and fantasy, history, and Halloween.
Social Media Links
Website | Facebook | BlueSky | Instagram
