Playing the Ace

A new Tamara Allen book is rare enough to be cause for celebration, and Playing the Ace is no exception. It comes with a warning, however: unless you've read [b:The Road to Silver Plume 24531764 The Road to Silver Plume (Secret Service #1) Tamara Allen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421436300l/24531764.SY75.jpg 44132295], the first book in the series, you will likely be confused or frustrated, as this book's action starts almost immediately after the conclusion of Plume, and no synopsis is provided. Considering that the first book was released almost seven years ago, that's a lot to ask of a reader, even a fan like me. Once I went back and skimmed over Silver Plume, I was in a better position to appreciate Playing the Ace. Aspiring Secret Services field agent Emlyn Strickland and paroled counterfeiter Darrow Gardiner have thwarted a scheme to flood the market with counterfeit silver, and Gardiner has agreed to serve as a part-time informant for the Service. But there are members of the counterfeit ring still at large, and they're not happy about a federal proposal to repeal the silver standard. In fact, they're not above threatening the life of the bill's supporters, including President Grover Cleveland himself. While this is going on, Emlyn and Darrow are tentatively mapping out their new relationship. Emlyn is starting to think it is more than just a physical fling, while Darrow believes that's all it can be, given the differences in their lives. Emlyn is a government employee who is on the fast track, while Darrow is an ex-con whose efforts to go straight are complicated by his former accomplices' promise of riches if he comes back to their side.Allen gently but steadily portrays the progression of Emlyn and Darrow's relationship. Although Darrow initially insists theirs is a temporary affair, he is never cruel to Emlyn, who catches feelings early on. Both men face dangerous situations, and the prospect of losing each other makes them realize how much they mean to each other. Emlyn's trust as Darrow's former associates try to lure him back to the dark side inspires the ex-con to be a better person, even when he is treated with disdain by Emlyn's annoying new partner and dismissed by Emlyn's superiors when he suggests Darrow could be a potentially useful permanent member of the Service. There are many more sexytimes scenes in this book than in Plume, but there are plenty of action scenes as well and lots of opportunities for our MCs to risk life and limb to save the day. This leads to several swoon-worthy hospital vigils and deathbed confessionals. I still wish Allen had included more backstory from Silver Plume; it's really not fair to expect readers to remember the details of a seven year old book. But given her flair for creating Gilded Age historical romances that feel true to their time, I really can't complain.