Book Review: Collusion by Eden Winters

Title: Collusion
Series: Diversion, Book 2
Author: Eden Winters
Genre: Romantic Suspense, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: February 24, 2013 by Amber Quill Press

Former drug trafficker Richmond “Lucky” Lucklighter “died” in the line of duty while working off a ten-year sentence in service to the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau, only to be reborn as Simon “Lucky” Harrison. The newbie he trained, former Marine Bo Schollenberger, is now his partner on (and maybe off) the job. It’s hard to tell when Lucky doesn’t understand relationships or have a clue what any sane human is doing in his bed. Bo’s nice to have around, sure, but there’s none of that picking-out-china-together crap for Lucky.

While fighting PTSD, memories of a horrid childhood, and a prescription drug addiction, Bo is paying for his mistakes. Using his pharmacy license for the good guys provides the sort of education he never got in school. Undercover with his hard-headed partner, Bo learns that not everything is as it seems in the world of pharmaceuticals.

When a prescription drug shortage jeopardizes the patients at Rosario Children’s Cancer Center, it not only pits Bo and Lucky against predatory opportunists, but also each other. How can they tell who the villains are? The bad guys don’t wear black hats, but they might wear white coats.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Even better than book 1 in the series and offers the PERFECT ending to a stellar romance.

The Set Up: Lucky thought he was done with the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau but he’s still there with his partner, Bo. Lucky has no clue how to handle his relationship with Bo who is fighting his own demons. Bo is having trouble with their latest assignment of investigating a prescription drug shortage at a children’s cancer hospital and Lucky doesn’t know if he’s helping or hurting Bo, both professionally and personally.

Why I Read this Book: I loved book 1 (my review) and started this book the moment I finished book 1.

What I Liked: I needed Lucky’s vulnerability in this book. Book 1 showcased Bo’s emotional commitment to the relationship but didn’t offer Lucky’s that I needed as a romance reader. But boy does that change here! This book is about Lucky figuring how his relationship with Bo (yes, in true Lucky-fashion even calling it a relationship takes 30% of the book!). The author successfully keeps Bo and Lucky true to their characters from book 1 but moves their relationship commitment forward in utterly delicious ways. The men’s sexual intimacy was intense in book 1 but here it’s amped up even more and wowsa did I need a fan! But this only worked for me because the emotional connection deepens as well. Lucky finally sees all that Bo does for him and what Bo means to him—and then takes the rest of the book to say it! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this emotional and erotic journey.

What I Also Liked: The plot is again perfectly balanced with the romance. Bo and Lucky have to find a prescription drug shortage at a children’s cancer hospital and how the two men react to this sadness perfectly fits their characters: Bo jumping in immediately with his heart and Lucky attempting to stand-off only to be sucked in. This plot offers Bo and Lucky plenty of opportunities to take care of each other both in a professional sense and a personal/emotional one.

Bo and Lucky’s boss, Walter, is a stellar secondary character. He is so well written and included in the plot that I could almost see him. His role in the men’s professional and by extension personal relationship is brilliantly written and totally heartwarming.

What I Didn’t Like: I got the relationship closure I desperately wanted from Bo and Lucky but will miss these two stellar characters and their intense relationship.

IMO: Total re-read and one of my 2013 top picks.

 

J9’s Rating: