Title: Diversion
Series: Diversion, Book 1
Author: Eden Winters
Genre: Romantic Suspense, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: March 18, 2012 by Amber Quill Press
Drug dealers aren't always on the streets; sometimes they sit in offices and board rooms, selling merchandise in official looking bottles instead of little cellophane bags.
When given a choice between eight more years in prison or using his "expertise" to assist the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau's Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, convicted drug trafficker Richmond "Lucky" Lucklighter takes the sentence with the illusion of freedom. Cynical and unwilling to admit he's begun to care about his job, he counts the days until his debt is paid. His sole obstacle to getting his life back is the rookie he's assigned to train before he leaves; a rookie who quotes pharmacy texts, hasn't paid his dues, and has the obnoxious tendency of seeing the good in everyone – including the target of their investigation.
Former Marine Bo Schollenberger dreamed of becoming a pharmacist and watched the dream turn into a nightmare of PTSD-fueled prescription drug abuse. Battling his demons daily, he wakes up every morning, wondering, "Will this be the day I give in?" To keep his license, he must now put his skills to use for a diversion control task force, deal with a crude partner with too much attitude and no brain-to-mouth filter, and take down a drug lord who reminds him of his favorite cooking show hostess.
The bad guys don't stand a chance -- if Lucky and Bo don't strangle each other first.
Reviewed By: J9
In a Nutshell: Excellent romantic suspense with two stellar leads and a fiery romance that I couldn’t put down. Readers who love series like Cut & Run will devour this as I did.
The Set Up: Lucky has paid for his criminal past by spending the past eight years in a diversion program with the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. His final assignment is to train his replacement, Bo. Bo is also in the diversion program because his military service spawned PTSD which he coped with by abusing prescription drugs. Bo and Lucky couldn’t be more opposite partners but as they spend time together, they give into their attraction.
Why I Read this Book: I love me some MM romantic suspense and have been on a hunt for them lately. This series has excellent ratings on Goodreads so I knew I had to read it.
What I Liked: I absolutely adore both these characters and how different they are. Lucky is foul-mouthed, cynical country boy who would just as soon hit someone as say hello. Bo is college educated, vegetarian and by the book. These two are fire and water but from the moment they met they somehow ignite. They make for great work partners as they help each other see things they may have missed initially but from a romance standpoint I could see how these two characters would be drawn to each other. For instance, Bo decides their undercover house needs some Christmas spirit so he buys a cactus instead of a tree and Lucky stealthily shops for presents, including some x-rated gifts. Bo offers a home and place of safety and refuge for Lucky and Lucky tempts Bo to give into his impulses sometimes.
The other amazing thing about this book is the way Bo opens himself emotionally to Lucky, even knowing Lucky’s habit of mocking life. As a reader I held my breath along with Bo to see how Lucky would react and I was never disappointed. The inner vulnerabilities of the men are slowly peeled away by each other and offered an incredible intimacy that I adore in well-written romance. I simply loved the emotional and sexual intensity of this stellar romance.
What I Also Liked: I’ve been looking for good MM romantic suspense lately and that’s what I got here. Bo and Lucky have an assignment to infiltrate a prescription drug ring that is massively over prescribing medicine. How this unfolds totally kept my attention and offered the perfect backdrop to the romance. The suspense plot served to create an intimacy between the men as they’d have intense moments of investigation followed by quiet times together over dinner. This couldn’t have been written better than it was.
Finally, as a life-long vegetarian, I have to comment on how well this was integrated into the story. Lucky is a traditional meat-and-potatoes guy and Bo’s vegetarian commitment offered moments of humor but also served to showcase the men’s growing relationship. I won’t ruin the fun other than to say I adored this component of the book.
What I Didn’t Like: You must read book 2 immediately following book 1 for the full relationship closure that Bo and Lucky need, especially Lucky’s emotional vulnerability.
IMO: Any MM fan should read this stellar book and send me thank you gift certificates at their earliest convenience. 
J9’s Rating:
This may be my favorite series: it's genius as a thriller, buddy comedy, and scorching m/m romance! I recommend it constantly...
ReplyDelete--Trix
Yep, stellar 2 book series that is on my highest recommend list too!
Deleteooh, off to go buy it now. smiles...
ReplyDeleteLMK whatcha think!
DeleteI did a mistake with this one. I started reading it right after I've read Cut & Run series and was a little disappointed. But really... what can compare with C&R? I read it again after a while and it was way better than the first time around, haha.
ReplyDeleteYep, you did screw up :P Not to be all Sinead O'Connor, but Nothing Compares 2 C&R. But I think on it's own merits this was an enjoyable romance. It's complicated which for me is one of the most important aspects of romance. This series doesn't have the humor that Ty brings to C&R but as other strong elements, like Bo's fight against addiction and Lucky's emotional intimacy issues.
DeleteYeah I totally screwed up, haha.
ReplyDelete"It's been 7 hours and 15 seconds, since I put the C&R away..."
There were just too many similarities. Zane struggles with his addiction (and so does Bo), Ty makes fun out of Zane in the beginning because he's so uptight (and so does Lucky), Lucky even makes fun out of Bo's clothes (just like Ty did). I mean, even the start is the same. Ty didn't want to have a partner and Lucky is also shocked that he's going to have a partner. Lucky doesn't respect Bo in the beginning, Ty made fun out of Zane every chance he got. And in both books there's this "huge job" both couples have to do and slowly they started trusting each other and liking each other. But even the "hot & heavy" stuff starts in the same way "it's just sex, it'll always be just sex". I don't know... I'm not saying it's a bad book, not at all, I liked it a lot (the second time around). But the first time around it sounded like a bad copy of C&R.