Agent Colt: Classified Pride

by A.L. Wright

Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ASIN B01JFGNQM8 here.

A secret agent living a secret life.
Latesse Colt is a super spy with a gold track record, a womanizing pig for a partner, and a secret she had never told anyone until a wine filled conversation aboard a plane with a complete stranger named Vaneesa. When Vaneesa turns out to be the newest member of her team, Tess is afraid her secret won’t stay that way for very long. At their new home base in Italy Tess is put on the lead of their newest case, and she finds that working with Vaneesa both thrills her and terrifies her. And gives her the strength to shed her tough skin, finally facing her fears of coming out. But once she is no longer afraid of her own secret, she finds she hasn't been the only one hiding.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Adult

228 pages, ebook

Published August 26, 2016

About the author

Two time award winning author, A L Wright loves to write across a range of genres but most all of them include a good love story. From Fantasy and Magic to Paranormal to Spy fiction, characters drive her stories no matter the setting. Fast paced and unpredictable. Thoughtful and poetic. Energetic and inspiring. All of these have been used to describe her stories. Pick up a copy and see what you're missing!

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Agent Colt – Classified Pride (Colt Information Agency Book 1)” is narrated wonderfully by Natalie Duke. Remembering what my mom once told me (which all moms tell all their daughters, I think), that if you can’t say anything good, then don’t say anything at all…I should probably end my review here.

But, who takes all the advice given by their mom?

MC Latess (Tess) Colt is a successful career agent with the CIA, and is more deep in the closet than she is deep undercover. So, naturally, we begin the book with Tess baring her secrets to a stranger on a plane (MC Vaneesa)…who it turns out is the newest member of her spy team. Tess’ womanizing partner Isiah, who has a secret of his own, becomes angry with her for brushing off his sexual advances, because…you know, professionalism. Tess, of course, feels guilty that she’s the reason Isiah is now openly hostile to her in front of their superior, because…you know…he’s a guy and she’s a woman and it must be her fault if he can’t get what he wants when he wants it and from whom he wants it. She determines that she should explain things to Isiah and reveal her greatest secret…she’s a wannabe lesbian…because…you know…he’s such a great guy that she can trust her career with that info in his hands.

I’m sorry if I make any of these characters sound interesting or complex. They’re not.

The story involves trying to bring down a suspected arms dealer by teasing him and then sending him away with blue balls. As part of her covert cover the team plasters photos of Tess, undercover as a fabulously wealthy heiress, in a bikini on the front page of the local and international newspapers. So yeah, that next covert operation will go well.

The team also tries to entrap their suspect, whom they know needs money, with CIA money. Satchels (briefcases, actually, but I like the sound of satchel better!) of the green stuff. $500,000 of the green stuff. Because…that’s how you approach Children’s Hospital Charities…with satchels of cash to wow them with a new donation. This is such a clever ploy that the team gets a second satchel of $500,000 to give to their mark. Which Tess and Vaneesa keep after resigning the CIA to get married and become legal guardians for the daughter of their mark, who turns out to be a good guy, though misguided in working with a gangster. Happily, the CIA never thinks to look for the missing money. Happily, when they use the money to pay for the daughter’s needed operation, the CIA doesn’t put 2+2 together. I’m not Canadian, but I thought doctors in Canada provide universal health care. Do they really hold little kids hostage for cash? I suspect this was just a very clever plot twist…that no-one, just no-one, could ever have seen coming. Hahaha….little joke there.

Isiah ends up joining their civilian information agency, and their former boss calls to hire the team for a foreign assignment, because….you know, the CIA prefers to use corrupt civilian former agents for foreign spy work….they must’ve run out of real agents when Tess, Vaneesa and Isiah left the Agency.

Well, darn. In my zeal to explain why “Agent Colt” got a low rating from me, and why I have no intention of listening to any sequel, I seem to have given it all away. Oh…one more thing, all the sex is fade-to-black and lesbian virgin Tess and Vaneesa frequently kiss, then fall asleep or kiss and then slow things down, because….you know….who wants sex after a lifetime of frustration and finally being alone with the woman of your dreams?

There….now I have really given everything away….spoiler tag it is! 2*, on the strength of the terrific narration and the fact that the story is so ridiculous it’s mildly entertaining in a campy way than it is outright terrible.

[Purpleberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know the song from The Greatest Showman--never enough? That's what this book felt like.

Warning, there are BIG spoilers in this review.



The Setting
Very thin. I didn't feel they were in Italy except for an odd scene where they take a gondola somewhere. It was like the story called for an airplane scene so they go to...um, okay...Italy!

I don't want to give too much away, but Canada has universal healthcare. Even non-citizens get free medical care and hospitalization, especially for life-threatening conditions. Unless it's changed and I haven't realized it, or this is the lowest-key post-apocolyptic dystopian novel ever, then a HUGE plot point has just become moot.

The Romance
This book was written in 1st person so we should have been on edge with tension. Colt has lived her *entire life* in the closet. She states that she has never told a single person about her orientation (interestingly enough, the book never mentions the word "gay" or "lesbian") which means she has never had a relationship before in her life and she's just met the first person to change that, even though she feels she's risking her career, reputation, and privacy. However we get a weirdly abrupt kiss and then not much else. Apparently the MC has never struggled with her sexuality, she's "always known" and it seemed like her struggle was external and I didn't really feel any tension.

The Action
There was a *lot* of technical stuff, and I felt this was the best part of the novel. I liked how the team communicated with each other, even though a crucial scene relied on the MC forgetting an extremely important safety feature of a device she was JUST GIVEN. As well, the entire book builds up to a certain confrontation/discussion and this was done OFFSCREEN. I admit, I had to blink a lot and stare at the screen for a while after that like I'd accidentally hit fast-forward through the most interesting, pivotal scene of an action movie.

And...dun dun dunnn!

The Sex
None. Not even fade-to-black. There are a couple of vague make-out sessions that just kind of end. They actually kind of drift off and go to sleep at one point. Did I mention this is the MCs *first* experience? And she's not that young either, so she's had a long time for her inner Xena to fill up with longing and lust for her future Gabrielle--who she had just found and who is IN HER BED. She's not nervous, not frantically excited, not doubled over in blue-uterused agony (which I totally would be) but just a bit aroused (which is told, not shown) and apparently sleepy.

In the end it is implied that our two ladies are together but we don't get any on-screen action. The author doesn't seem to have any more lesbian-centred novels so maybe that's why? At least there seems to be a sequel coming out so we can hope!

I'm giving this 3 stars for decent writing, but still it just wasn't enough for me.

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a bookworm who reads exclusively lesfic short stories and novels since a bit more than two years and a half, I confess that even if it’s not as structured as what I’m used to read, I think that « Agent Colt: Classified Pride » (Colt Information Agency, #1) is really a fun and quick read (you can finish it in just a few hours). It’s light and I found it refreshing. Even if there’s a few typos and a bit confused epilogue, I really enjoyed my reading.

I confess that I’m curious to read Book2 when it will be released to know how Tess and Vaneesa will build their relationship as lovers, their joint foster motherhood & their agency.


I wanted to precise that I’ve been given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read

A fun read that finally got me out of my reading slump! I love love Tessa, Vaneesa and Isaiah but I adore sweet girl Sarah! I hope there a more books coming in this series.

[Delia Binder · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE GOOD: The story moves along reasonably well.

THE BAD: There is an awful lot of telling instead of showing on display; for a lesbian romance there's a lot of giggling in bed with out lesbian CIA Agent Vanessa while eating room service, and not much passion; while yes, we're told how coming out as a lesbian could ruin Latesse Colt(the MC)'s career as a Top CIA Field Agent which she constantly tells us is her whole life, when she and Vanessa are given custody of the sympathetic Not-Really-a-Villain they're chasing's chronically ill daughter , she and Vanessa resign from the CIA and start their own private security film without anything more than a harrumph from their new kind-of-an-asshole boss, Col. Lyon! (And here I thought the CIA was kind of like the Mafia - once you're in, you're in for life.)

Oh, and the "flirtatious teasing" that goes on between Tess and her partner Isiah? Is so heavy-handed and blatant on his part that it qualifies as Sexual Harassment to me, and his excuse that she needs to "lighten up"?


I ♥ Jessica Jones - She and Eve Dallas Should Go Out For Drinks Sometime!

There's only one reason Isiah's behavior might be (partially) understandable - and yeah, I figured it out by halfway in!

THE VERDICT: Okay but unspectacular Lesbian Romantic Suspense novel. If the next couple books are free or $0.99 on BookBub, I might pick them up.

[ana darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a nice CIA/spy novel where the protagonist hides who she really is fearing she won't be taken seriously anymore.
Set in Texas and Venice without a specific time but it's easy to see that it's nowadays.
Good plot and good script although there's an abrupt ending from my point of view. However, the ending is very sweet and I would like to read the following one and see more of Tess.
Really good that she's not the only one with a secret...

[Big Book Theory · Rating 4 out of 5]

CIA agent Latesse (Tess) Colt is a spy with a secret and she thinks that in a male dominated job she will be seen as not being able to do her job professionally if she revealed this secret. However, as romance blossoms between Tess and Vaneesa, she realises she can never be happy unless she reveals her secret. The romance grows as Tess grows more confident in her job as a CIA spy and I enjoyed the spy parts with all its gadgets. The ending is a feel good ending, which is always nice. This is my 2nd LGBT story, and although I prefer my romance stories to be between a girl and a boy, I did like this story. It is nicely paced with well-developed characters.

[Jan Harvey]

Well thought out lgbt romance

A lovely read to while away a wet afternoon, light lgbt romance with a spy theme.
Storyline is well structured and keeps your interest with a few surprises along the way no spoilers given.
Ideal for Ya learning to deal with their own sexuality showing acceptance of yourself.
Would recommend, excellent

[L.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agent Colt is an insightful story featuring CIA agent Latesse Colt, a spy with a secret. Her concerns over the impact this secret will have on her career become insurmountable, already affecting her friendship with her partner at the agency. As romance blossoms, it becomes apparent that her secret can no longer remain so and the story deals with her coming to terms with this against the backdrop of a super drama. Tackling the bad guys is one of her strengths, but keeping her most valued relationships intact is a lesson she has to learn during this mission.
This is a fun read, with plenty of twists and turns on the way. Her personal conflict runs in parallel with the mission, as she remains cool in the face of danger yet struggles with the consequences of revealing her true self.
An enjoyable story, nicely paced and with well-developed characters
.
I received a free copy as a beta reader in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Cathy McGough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Latesse Colt is a kick ass agent working for the CIA who has a secret which she fears will jeopardize her job. Hiding her true self makes her unhappy in her personal life but she is well respected and fearless in her job. Isaiah her partner has her back and she has his. In walks Vaneesa and everything changes. I don't want to give away any plot here, but let me just say the story is interesting, with intrigue and action - and gadgets. Once you start reading you won't be able to put it down. I'll be looking out for the next book!

[Jane Barcklow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

Fun, easy story that propels you through it. You can easily forget the world and read the entire thing straight through. I suggest you carve an afternoon out get your favorite drink, your comfy blanket and cozy place to sit and loose yourself.

[Eryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and light read if you need to kill a few hours and want a nice romance with a little spy intrigue thrown in the mix. Mind you, the romance is lesbian, so if you don't like that... The spy stuff is fun and not too heavy, the story moves at a good clip.

[moxieBK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Agent Colt: Classified Pride (Colt Information Agency Book 1) — A. Lynn Wright (26 chapters + Epilogue) April 16-22, 2019

Note: This story involves two consenting female adults in a sexual relationship. If that ain't your thang, move along little doggy.

The plot involved two women who meet accidentally, like each other and then go their separate ways only to find out that they work for the same organization. One is a government investigator and the other is a technician. The relationship between the two blossoms. However, the investigator is private about her sexual orientation and wants to keep their romance on the down-low. A third character is the investigator's partner, who seems to have a crush on her.

This story was a mixed bag for me. It started off a bit rough, but then got interesting. There were sexy bits in it, but they can be skipped over and the plot does not suffer. I read it fairly quickly until the last chapter. What happened: I put the book aside and didn’t pick it up again until the 22nd to finish it, then didn’t end up really finishing it until June 21! The plot was drawn out a bit and it could have read faster (or maybe I would’ve finished it sooner,) but I was bored by the end and ready to move onto something else. However, I will say that the action parts, especially in the last few regular chapters, were well written. I would have liked to have seen more of that throughout the entire book. Not bad for a beginning series book. I didn’t quite understand what was going on in the epilogue; the ending there was a little off. That might be explained in a later book?

Two stars.

[Karsyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty bad. Poor writing, a lot of telling rather than showing, awful characters. I guess we were supposed to like / root for Tess? I didn't, like at all. I found her to be all over the place, an emotional wreck, completely clueless, hostile in some parts and meek in others. I didn't hate her, but it was near. I never liked Vaneesa at all - I thought she had some agenda and it'd be some twist that she was the bad guy. She wasn't? Still feel like she was. Isiah was awful. There were no redeeming people in this book, at all. The story was boring and predictable. Only reason it's not a 1 is because I stuck with it to the end (for some unknown reason). I dunno but will not be reading more. Yikes. Oh and the sudden POV switch for the epilogue made zero sense.

Wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

[Kerstin Vollbrecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tess Colt is a secret agent for the CIA. And she has a secret. When she's assigned to a case in Venice, Italy, not only does she have to unravel a weapons dealer and his associations with an Italian crime organization, but also her secret is about to be known, if she's not very careful.
The story is light, but fast to read and entertaining. The plot and The characters are well developed. As the story is written in first person, we get to know the point is view only of our main character, her struggle to keep her secret save and how to feel accomplished not only on a professional level, but also in her private life, which till the moment has been completely neglected.

[Dannica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun f/f spy story. Smooth reading, pretty quick for me. I liked both female leads. My only issue is that the MC's partner Isaiah is constantly flirting with her to the point of sexual harassment but the story portrays this as him trying to get her to loosen up because she's too cold, and even implies that if she wasn't a lesbian this would all be perfectly acceptable. Ugh. A lot of his comments rubbed me the wrong way. But I still love Colt herself and her cute love interest Van, and the case was involved but fast paced.

[Sandy Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colt is a secret agent with a secret of her own (I'm not going to spoil the surprise here). It's a fun romance story wrapped in an action packed backdrop. A very enjoyable and lighthearted book which had me laughing at some parts especially at Colt's dry sense of humor and inner dialogue. I really enjoyed the funny dialogues, awkward moments and chemistry between the main characters. My only grouse is I wished the story is longer. Absolutely looking forward to book 2.

[Dig · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first femslash audiobook of sorts. I enjoyed it a lot. Not crazy about the narrator's voice but that's been my case whenenver I get a female-narrated audiobook. White girl much?

It was pretty solid, but I didn't love how the ending felt wicked rushed and I wish this wasn't just a "hook" to sink you into reading the series.

Probably not gonna go for it. Good effort though. I liked the little details of a female CIA agent, etc…

[Rural Sellers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of had to force myself to finish it. The secret agents were kind James Bond wanna be's, the CIA in this story seems both unbelievably lax and yet quite successful. Oddly, the handling of the heroine's sexuality is somewhat realistic and gentle. (Although the final wrap up to get to the happily-ever-after part is incredibly hurried and unsatisfying).

[DR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tess Colt's good at the work she does for the CIA; a well-trained 11-year agent. Vanessa's out and confident in her own skin. Tess, with all that she's accomplished, is not. There's just the right amount of danger and that keeps the book moving. If there is another installment I will read it. Effective tight writing.

[Abhishek Patil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agent Colt is an LGBT romance/spy novel featuring CIA agent Latesse Colt, a spy with a secret. The storyline is well structured.This is a fun and light read that you can finish in a few hours.
would recommend for YA and light thriller readers.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spy thriller

Fierce, competitive, intelligent, quick witted - ncessary qualities of a spy who expects to catch thebad guys and live to complete the next mission.

Add international intrigue, secrets, new love and you'll read all night to finish this exciting mystery.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were times when this story was quite light; overall an enjoyable book. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read

I think this was a good and fun read, especially having LGBTQ characters. I can't wait for the second book to come out so I can read it.