Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary police M/M romance from Julie Lynn Hayes. BAD DOGS & DRAG QUEENS is a romp of a book, with thieving pooches, fast-talking Feds and an assailant beating down drag queens.

About the book:
Vinnie Delarosa and Ethan Thorne are partners—on and off the clock. Federal undercover detectives, they’re part of a covert task force designed to promote goodwill between the feds and local authorities. They lend an unobtrusive helping hand wherever it’s needed. No credit required.

Vinnie and Ethan work primarily in the Southeast region of the United States and live together in Richmond, Virginia. A mugger problem brings them to Roanoke, where Vinnie is thrown out as bait to catch the man who’s been snatching purses in a city park, but they end up with more than they bargained for. Why is Vinnie always the one who has to wear the dress? Ethan says it’s because Vinnie looks much prettier in a skirt. How can he argue with that?

Expecting to return to Richmond afterward, Vinnie and Ethan find themselves assigned a new case instead. They are to go undercover at The Stroll, one of the biggest gay nightclubs in Roanoke. Someone is terrorizing both the customers and the performers. Could they be dealing with a hate crime? Someone has to protect the drag queens of Roanoke, so it’s Vinnie and Ethan to the rescue!

The author is donating 10% of the royalties from this book to No Kid Hungry. Visit nokidhungry.org for more information about this organization.

My Review:
Federal Agents Vinnie Delarosa and Ethan Thorne wrap up investigating a purse snatcher in Roanoke, Virginia when they get assigned to a new case: hate-crimes against the performers and customers at a drag club. Vinnie’s the guy putting on all the gear, while Ethan keeps a close watch. And, at night, he gets to unwrap his sexy man. It seems Ethan has a real love for his lover, Vinnie, in drag.

They work undercover, and Vinnie has to assume a cover as Boom-Boom Sanchez, a classy gal on the drag stage. Ethan’s a bartender in the club, and they scope out the suspects together. The mystery is rather fun, and quickly resolved, with Ethan and Vinnie setting down some roots in Roanoke–even adopting a formerly-criminal dog, Bennie. Vinnie tells the tale, and while I didn’t find the premise terribly plausible (two Federal detectives that get assigned to assist local law enforcement on such low-stakes cases) it was still entertaining. Vinnie acts more like a class clown, than a detective, to me, though I liked his scathing tongue. The book is short, and it’s a breeze to read. Ethan’s a dear heart, always up for helping Vinnie out of his clothes–or into a tender embrace. They have a very sweet dynamic, even if their out relationship seemed as unlikely as their assignments. (Even het couples aren’t partners on the police force…)

Interested? You can find BAD DOGS AND DRAG QUEENS on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.

About the Author:
Julie Lynn Hayes first began publishing short stories and poetry in the 1990’s, when it was a different ballgame altogether, and Ebooks hadn’t been dreamed of yet. That changed in 2010 with the acceptance of her first romance novel. She’s come a long way since that first book appeared, and is finding the journey a very educational one.

She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and her cat Ramesses. She often writes of two men finding true love and happiness in one another’s arms, and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She likes to write in different genres, to stretch herself in order to see what is possible. Her great challenge is to be told something can’t be done—she feels compelled to do it.

When she isn’t writing, she enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, needlepoint and knitting, and she loves to cook, spending time watching the Food Network. Her favorite chef is Geoffrey Zakarian. Her family thinks she’s a bit off, but she doesn’t mind. Marching to the beat of one’s own drummer is a good thing, after all. Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, eXtasy Books, and Wayward Ink Press.

Catch up with Julie on her blog, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!