Margins
Nikki Lanier book cover 1
Nikki Lanier book cover 2
Nikki Lanier book cover 3
Nikki Lanier
Series · 6 books · 2010-2017

Books in series

Bulletproof Mascara book cover
#1

Bulletproof Mascara

A Novel

2010

What do you get when you cross Avon Ladies with Charlie’s Angels? A world-class intelligence organization run by women who really know their foundation. When Nikki Lanier signs up as a cosmetics rep at Carrie Mae, it’s hardly her idea of a dream job. With a degree in linguistics and a hard-core workout regimen, the twenty-six-year-old redhead once had hopes for a real career. But unemployed and desperate to escape life at home with her nagging mother, she’ll try anything—even selling makeup to housewives. Soon, Nikki learns that the powder and lipstick are simply cover-up for the Carrie Mae a secret organization of international espionage and high-tech mascara founded for the purpose of “helping women everywhere.” Whisked off to Thailand with the legendary Carrie Mae agent Val Robinson, Nikki is soon in over her head. Between investigating the abduction of a human rights activist, tracking down a murderous arms dealer, keeping up with her wildly dangerous new partner, and occasionally trying to date a hunk who may or may not be CIA, Nikki has to use all the courage and cosmetic technology she’s got to bring down the bad guys and get out alive. With the support of the colorful Carrie Mae crew, Nikki will overcome even the most harrowing obstacles—including incessant phone calls from her mother—or die trying.
Compact with the Devil book cover
#2

Compact with the Devil

A Novel

2011

What do you get when you cross Avon Ladies with Charlie's Angels? A world-class intelligence organization run by women who really know their foundation. When Nikki Lanier signs up as a cosmetics rep at Carrie Mae, it's hardly her idea of a dream job. With a degree in linguistics and a hard-core workout regimen, the twenty-six-year-old redhead once had hopes for a real career. But unemployed and desperate to escape life at home with her nagging mother, she'll try anything; even selling makeup to housewives. Soon, Nikki learns that the powder and lipstick are simply cover-up for the Carrie Mae Foundation, a secret organization of international espionage and high-tech mascara founded for the purpose of helping women everywhere. Whisked off to Thailand with the legendary Carrie Mae agent Val Robinson, Nikki is soon in over her head. Between investigating the abduction of a human rights activist, tracking down a murderous arms dealer, keeping up with her wildly dangerous new partner, and occasionally trying to date a hunk who may or may not be CIA, Nikki has to use all the courage and cosmetic technology she's got to bring down the bad guys and get out alive. With the support of the colorful Carrie Mae crew, Nikki will overcome even the most harrowing obstacles;including incessant phone calls from her mother;or die trying.
Supporting the Girls book cover
#2.5

Supporting the Girls

2012

Carrie Mae is an international cosmetics company and Nikki Lanier is their top agent, only Nikki doesn't sell cosmetics. She and her covert team of Carrie Mae Ladies travel the world on top secret adventures helping women everywhere, but what happens when they're needed closer to home?
Power of Attorney book cover
#2.75

Power of Attorney

A Carrie Mae Mini-Mystery

2014

Top-level secret agent Nikki Lanier is filling in as the head of the West Coast Branch of Carrie Mae, when her boss' husband, Mr. Merrivel, has a heart attack. Despite facing a life-threatening operation, Mr. M refuses to follow doctor's orders to send for a next of kin. Instead he signs power of attorney over to Nikki. And as if matters couldn't get worse, Mr. M's son from his first marriage is snooping around and this long forgotten child is looking to exact his retribution on Mr. M for abandoning him and his mother. Can Nikki and the girls protect Mr. M, unravel his mysterious past, and keep the West Coast Branch up and running, all while looking fabulous? Nikki never thought that a week at home could be so dangerous.
High-Caliber Concealer book cover
#3

High-Caliber Concealer

2015

Carrie Mae might look like an organization of nice young ladies who sell make-up, but a few know the truth – they are an international espionage agency dedicated to helping women everywhere. And Nikki Lanier is a top level Carrie Mae agent with everything under control – except her life. Her relationship is on the rocks, her mother is pestering her to come home, and her teammates just made an unexpected blunder that put them all on suspension. Nikki takes the opportunity to visit her grandmother’s farm in rural Washington State, but her simple, easy vacation is complicated by dangerous drug smugglers, the childhood sweetheart who broke her heart, and the sudden arrival of not only her mother (who is obviously hiding something) and teammates, but also her current boyfriend, CIA Agent Z’ev Coralles. Now Nikki must discover what her family is hiding, whether or not she still has feelings for her ex, and how the smugglers are getting their drugs across the Canadian border, all while keeping her family – and Z’ev – in the dark about what she really does for a living. But soon Nikki must choose between doing what’s right and keeping her secret if she wants to keep her family alive. Nikki might be a high-caliber concealer, but this time it might not be enough.
Glossed Cause book cover
#4

Glossed Cause

2017

Sunscreen, waterproof mascara, and a silenced .38 will take a girl anywhere she wants to go in life. Top Carrie Mae agent Nikki Lanier’s nemesis and ex-partner Val Robinson has returned from the dead and she wants Nikki’s help. When Val said that Phillipe Lanier—Nikki’s long-absent father—had been kidnapped, Nikki dropped everything—friends, family, boyfriend, to fly to the rescue. But soon Nikki realizes that her father’s kidnapping may not be what it seems and she may have just tanked her life for one of his ridiculous schemes. As Nikki and Val arrive in Amsterdam, Nikki realizes that if wants to her life back, she’s going to have to not only stop an international arms dealer, but convince her boyfriend, CIA Agent Z’ev Coralles, that she’s not the bad guy and that Carrie Mae isn’t a terrorist organization. But with Philippe refusing to be rescued, and an INTERPOL agent gunning for Val and Nikki, as well as making moves on Z’ev, Nikki is starting to doubt her own abilities. Can she do it, or is it a Glossed Cause ?

Author

Bethany Maines
Bethany Maines
Author · 33 books

Bethany Maines, a native of Tacoma WA, is the award-winning author of action adventure tales that focus on women who know when to apply lipstick and when to apply a foot to someone’s hind end. When she’s not traveling to exotic lands, or kicking some serious butt with her black belt in karate, she can be found chasing after her daughter, or glued to the computer working on her next novel. FB: www.facebook.com/AuthorBethanyMaines INSTA: @AuthorBethanyMaines TWIT: @BethanyMaines WEB: www.bethanymaines.com

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