Collusion

by Kim Davis

English professor Brian Daly is finally able to live openly with the love of his life, local weatherman Jay Tanner. Jay has ended his sham marriage and come out of the closet, and he and Brian now share a condo in the city.

But there’s trouble in paradise. Brian’s best friend Olivia can’t seem to get along with Jay. The two bicker whenever they’re together. In addition to trying to broker peace between his friends, Brian is busy fending off Sean, an infatuated student who wants Brian to be his first lover. When Brian spurns his advances, he threatens to accuse the professor of sexual harassment if the two don’t sleep together.

Just when things seem like they can’t get any worse, Brian discovers Jay has been cheating on him with a woman. And not just any woman -- Olivia, who is now pregnant with Jay’s child.

Brian’s world crumbles as his relationship with Jay falls apart and his friendship with Olivia is destroyed. While he works to try and put his life back together, Brian is relentlessly pursued by Sean. But this time Brian doesn’t turn him away, and the two begin a relationship that helps Brian get over some of the heartache he’s suffered.

After a while, Brian also reunites with Olivia, and becomes a kind of surrogate father to her newborn daughter. The baby helps him hold onto Jay in some small way. Even though he and Jay are no longer a couple, Brian still longs for his former partner.

But when Jay reappears in Brian’s life, Brian discovers he isn’t quite ready to forgive and forget. While he still loves Jay, will he ever be able to trust the man again?

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary

186 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

About the author

Kim Davis is a writer, an editor, and an occasional adjunct English instructor. Her first novel, Clean Hands, was published in 2012 and her last two novels, Collusion and Daddy Issues, were published by JMS Books. Her work has also been published in the Detroit Free Press and the Metro Times. Born and raised in Detroit and a former resident of Philadelphia and Brooklyn, she currently lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Reviews

[SheReadsALot]

*sniffs*

You smell that? This book sounds like hotmess.org! I'm all over it, babes. I have a magnet for this type of load.

But damn...this blurb tells a lot of the story, huh?

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay. So this book kept me awake the whole night. But, seriously, I'm not gonna say it was worth it (Please don't get me wrong, I am in no way, and in no position to discourage people from reading this. I just have to let this rant out my system).

After reading this book I had a hard time really, really grasping what it was trying to tell me. I was hoping, as I went through every page, that Brian's life would get better (which, in the end, it did) and he'd be happier for a change (but not by being pathetic and idiotic). At first I sympathized with his situation. The people closest to him did him wrong but he tried to hold on to those relationships. However, those people who did him wrong (being Jay, his partner, and Olivia, his best friend) had the "decency" to pull away and hide like the cowards they were. But what's worse is the fact that whenever Brian gets to socialize with them after what happened, they act like it was Brian who was at fault that everything came crushing down. In simpler terms, they acted like total "jerks" towards him, after what they did!

Being cheated on and hurt to a multitude, Brian, I should somehow commend, seems like the most forgiving guy ever. When your best friend tells you why she cheated on you with your partner and they say:

Olivia: Because he came on to me and I liked it. Because I was lonely. Because I was jealous.
Brian: Jealous of what?
Olivia: Your relationship with him.
Brian: So you wanted to destroy it?
Olivia: No. I just wanted to mess with it a little.

I'd say you're out of your mind to rekindle a relationship with them.

And when your partner hurts you by dumping you and marrying a woman as a cover-up, or calling your best friend's name in bed instead, or acts like a total jerk when he's hurt you and cheated on you multiple of times, you DO NOT get back with him or her. It's an absolute no-no



When I reflected on Jay's and Olivia's actions I was like



They didn't look (or at least, from the way I read and digested it) the least bit guilty of doing it behind Brian's back. Like they did not even try to redeem themselves. It was always Brian running after them? Why? Where was Brian's self-worth, pride or even his dignity?

But then I realized, maybe it wasn't them who had a problem, it was Brian after all. And this rant goes back to Brian himself.

As I've mentioned, Brian sure is the most forgiving character I have ever read about. I don't even know if this kind of people exists nowadays. He's an angel sent from heaven forgiving and forgetting immediately and as easily. He's almost in his 40's yet he acts like a love-struck puppy dog following his owner around. What solace does he see in that? Is he really that lonely to grasp and hold on to the people who did him so much wrong? I mean, he had Sean all over him, willing to give all the love he has for Brian, but Brian overlooked that and keeps on pining for Jay instead, after everything.

And don't get me started about Mitchell Valleau.

I also don't think that Jay's side was explained thoroughly well. After the break up, he keeps on instilling in Brian to

and


Then after almost 2 years, he gets this big realization that he wants Brian back? What happened? What changed his lifestyle? Telling Brian he loves him and he wants him back isn't enough. If he really wanted Brian back, he would have worked for it, if not immediately, after things cooled down. Instead, he flees. I'm beginning to speculate that Jay's attempt with relationships when he was in Sacramento didn't work out and those few dates of his actually realize how much of a jerk he really is. Then Jay himself begins to realize how much of a fool he is to let go of the only willing "lap dog" he had. Or maybe I misread? Maybe Jay really had a reasonable excuse? I don't know as of now.

And Brian actually thinks with his "down there" instead of his head. When he's supposed to be evaluating whether or not he's going back with Jay, he jumps into bed with him instead. Very rational (note sarcasm).

I suppose if this is the type of relationship that both Jay and Brian are bound to have, then so be it. If Brian's that much of a loner to embrace Jay's actions and if Jay's that much of a selfish, self-centered person, then the relationship works mutually: One is willing to be the user, the other one is willing to be used.

The blurb really made me expect much from this book. And it was disappointing.

Now for the GOOD:
I suppose the only things that kept me from rating this a "1 star" were the following:
1. The fact that I was so hooked with this book and I was actually hoping to see a better ending for Brian. The words, Brian's voice, kept me reading all night, and I know I should give credit to that.
2. A happy ending. At least, whatever happened, Brian had his HEA regardless of the risks.
3. It did not end as an MFM. God knows it's the only thing missing in this one. And I wouldn't like it if it did.

Don't get me wrong. I like books on reconciliation, books with the "chase game" theme, but this one just did not do it for me.

(There. Now I feel better.)

[jules0623 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was like a car crash: horrifying yet I couldn't look away. I think I kept reading to see if Brian ever found his balls but I think Jay and Olivia were wearing them as earrings by the end. Pathetic MC, cheating, spiteful, self-centered lover and best friend, blackmailing student/lover... not a likeable character in the bunch. The only sensible characters were Brian's family who were the 'villains' warning Brian against going back to Jay.

[Susan-marie Stasiak cast]

The author description of the book told the whole story front to cover so why would I bother reading it? Stop at the part of him getting a woman pregnant but not just any woman. I might read it then. Sorry, just trying to help.