A Day in the Life of DEA Agent Christina Marquez by Diane Kelly

Hey, there. I’m Christina Marquez, a bad-ass agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Dallas, Texas. I go after drug dealers with a Glock in one hand, a mascara wand in the other. Who says you can’t look good when taking down bad guys?

You may remember me from earlier cases I worked with IRS Special Agent Tara Holloway. Because those who sell drugs rarely report their ill-gotten gains to Uncle Sam, the DEA and IRS often work hand-in-hand to go after drug dealers. If we can nail the bad guys for both drug crimes and tax evasion, we can keep them behind bars as long as possible and make the world safer for law-abiding citizens like you.

Together, Tara and I have taken down a drug-dealing ice cream man, a killer running a cross-border crime ring, and the owner of a strip club who was both a pimp and a drug distributor. With our lip gloss and painted fingernails, Tara and I might not look so tough. But make no mistake. We always get our man.

Right now, I’m going deep undercover with Nick Pratt, a senior special agent with the IRS who also just happens to be Tara’s boyfriend. I know it will be hard for Tara and Nick to be apart. The two are crazy for each other. But they’re dedicated law enforcement agents. Duty calls before booty calls.

Nick and I will be deep undercover and unable to communicate regularly with Tara or anyone else from our real lives. But what if we run into trouble? I have to admit, as brave as I try to be, infiltrating this cartel has me terrified. Especially since this branch is headed up by El Cuchillo–translation: The Knife. He’s slashed more throats than we can count.

What if El Cuchillo figures out we’re feds? I can only imagine what he’d do to us . . .

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You can read more about Christina and Nick’s undercover assignment in Death, Taxes, and Cheap Sunglasses, the 8th book in the “Tara Holloway” romantic mystery series, published by St. Martin’s Press. The first book in the series is Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 p.m. eastern on March 19 for the chance to win a copy of Death, Taxes, and Cheap Sunglasses. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Two lucky commenters will be randomly selected. Winners will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

About the author
A former Assistant Attorney General and tax advisor, Diane Kelly inadvertently worked with white-collar criminals. Lest she end up in jail, Diane decided self-employment was a good idea. Her fingers hit the keyboard and thus began her award-winning Death and Taxes romantic mystery series. A graduate of her hometown’s Citizen Police Academy, Diane Kelly also writes the hilarious K-9 cop Paw Enforcement series. Sign up for Diane’s newsletter at www.dianekelly.com. “Like” Diane on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.