Book Review: Corruption by Eden Winters

Title: Corruption
Series: Diversion, Book 3
Author: Eden Winters
Genre: Romantic Suspense, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by author
Published: October 1, 2013 by Rocky Ridge Books

Renegade biker. Drug runner. Recovering addict. Wanted by the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. But he isn’t a crook, he’s the law.

SNB Agent Bo Schollenberger’s solved his cases using his brains and not a gun, and with his partner, not alone. Now he’s handed a tough new case involving designer drugs that turn users violent. One false move could end his life as he immerses himself into a motorcycle gang to locate the source. His fate depends on how well he can impersonate someone else. Someone named Cyrus Cooper.

Cyrus is everything Bo Schollenberger isn’t, including the badass enforcer for a smuggling ring. He establishes pecking order with his fists and doesn’t take shit from anybody, not even the undercover agent who comes to help his case.

Simon “Lucky” Harrison’s always been the best, whichever side of the law he was on. Former trafficker turned SNB agent, he damned well ought to be undercover in this motorcycle gang, instead of hanging around the office going crazy with new policies, new people, and “inter-departmental cooperation” that sticks him in a classroom. Yet he’s passed over for the SNB’s biggest case in decades in favor of the rookie who shares his bed. A man Lucky thought he knew.

When survival depends on a web of tangled lies, lines blur, worlds collide, and a high stakes game turns friend to foe. Lucky knows the difference between Bo the agent and Cyrus the outlaw, but does Bo?

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: I had very high expectations of this novel after loving the previous two in the series and can honestly say this lived up to my expectations. I loved the believable relationship development within a strong suspense plot. (Don’t read this review if you haven’t read books 1 and 2 as this may contain spoilers for those books.)

The Set Up: Bo and Lucky are both working for the Narcotics Bureau and trying to find time to be a couple. But Bo wants to move their relationship forward and Lucky isn’t sure he’s ready for that. Before Lucky can make a decision, Bo is assigned as an undercover agent in a drug dealing motorcycle club.

Why I Read this Book: LOVED BOOKS 1 AND 2 AND HAD TO READ THIS!!!

What I Liked: In my personal opinion, a strong series’ couple must have believable relationship progression in each book and that’s what I got here. At the end of book two readers are left with Lucky admitting to himself and Bo that he’s got feelings for Bo. Readers know with as messed up as Lucky and Bo are that this can’t be their HEA and we are right. This book has the relationship progressing to “what next?” What happens when a conversation about condom use isn’t really about condoms? Will cautious Lucky ruin the relationship for both of them? How will Bo react when his needs don’t intersect with where Lucky is in life? All these questions and more are explored in a delectable tangle of emotional and erotic intimacy. I love how Bo asks Lucky to show his commitment and how the story circles back to it. I don’t want to ruin it for readers but whew! sit in front of a fan for these scenes!

What I Also Liked: This series has strong suspense plots, good humor and strong secondary characters and this book has the same elements. Bo is first taking undercover agent training and how Lucky responds had me laughing and cringing. Lucky’s responses to Bo’s teacher and fellow students showcase his sarcastic humor and views on life and I was in stitches. The suspense plot involves Bo being assigned to a drug dealing MC and this unfolds over time. Readers are kept in the dark along with Lucky until we’re suddenly thrust into the thick of the MC and get to see a side of Bo not seen before. Along with Lucky, readers will be morbidly attracted to the changes in Bo but the best is we get to see the cracks in Bo’s undercover persona as they take down the MC. Finally, I love the secondary characters here. I love Bo and Lucky’s long-suffering boss, Walt, irritating Keith and even the newcomers, Bo’s fellow undercover trainees. I love a community in my romances and I got that here.

What I Didn’t Like: Don’t even attempt to read this without reading the previous books in the series. The relationship intimacy needs to build to fully appreciate the junction these men are at in book three; you’ll rob yourself of full enjoyment if you don’t read how Bo and Lucky got to this point.

IMO: I devoured Corruption and have already re-read it. Series fans will be as surprised as I was that our extremely high expectations were exceeded in Bo and Lucky’s third installment. Now how long until book four is out?!

J9’s Rating:

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J9’s reviews for other books in this series:
Diversion, Book 1
Collusion, Book 2