Listening Length: 24 hours and 29 minutes. This volume contains Diversion, Collusion, and Corruption of the Diversion series.
Diversion: There are good guys, bad guys, and then there’s Lucky.
Former drug trafficker Richmond “Lucky” Lucklighter flaunts his past like a badge of honor. He speaks his mind, doesn’t play nice, and flirts with disaster while working off his sentence with the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. If he can keep out of trouble a while longer he’ll be a free man–after he trains his replacement.
Textbook-quoting, by the book Bo Schollenberger is everything Lucky isn’t. Lucky slurps coffee, Bo lives caffeine free. Lucky worships bacon, Bo eats tofu. Lucky trusts no one, Bo calls suspects by first name. Yet when the chips are down on their shared case of breaking up a drug diversion ring, they may have more in common than they believe.
Two men. Close quarters. Friction results in heat. But Lucky scoffs at partnerships, no matter how thrilling the roller-coaster. Bo has two months to break down Lucky’s defenses… and seconds are ticking by.
Collusion:
Dead men can’t love.
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.
Corruption:
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.
You will know Eden Winters by her distinctive white plumage and exuberant cry of “Hey, y’all!” in a Southern US drawl so thick it renders even the simplest of words unrecognizable. Watch out, she hugs!
Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.
She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures, she has written over thirty gay romance novels, lost count of novellas and short stories, has won Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.
When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s cosplaying for children's charities or hanging out at the farm being a mother, grandmother, and vegetarian.
Her natural habitats are hardware stores and on the backs of motorcycles.
Let me tell you one thing first. The only issue I had with this book set was that it was told from single POV, that of Richmond "Lucky" Lucklighter. His thoughts ranged from angry and snarky, naughty and s*exy to insecure and vulnerable. As a criminal involuntarily turned agent Lucky had a unique perspective and experience from both worlds which he successfully used in his undercover jobs.
The first book Diversion introduces Lucky and his rookie partner Bo Schollenberger. While Lucky considers Bo a nuisance and begrudgingly agrees to mentor him while being undercover, Bo surprises him by getting under his skin and being more than meets the eye. Both caught with their hand in a cookie jar, Lucky and Bo sort of pay a debt to society by putting a stop to illegal activities perpetuated in pharmaceutical industry. Who knew how cutthroat the business was! The seemingly innocuous ladies running fraud operations! Companies thoroughly undercutting their competitors and creating shortage that results in deaths... you name it! Despite a bit slower pace of the case, the thrill of not getting caught kept me focused on the story. While Bo is in, Lucky acts as his outside contact, and even without Bo's POV, I know what's going on. Their relationship is no hearts and flowers at first. It starts more like a beneficial mutual stress relief. When it's time to make decisions, Lucky hesitates as to what to be after gaining his "freedom" but Bo knows what he wants, and it's surly cynical slob by the name of Lucky.
The second book Collusion shows Bo and Lucky settling into professional relationship while keeping personal involvement on the down low due to no fraternization policy. Bo is rubbing off on Lucky with his neatness and healthy food choices. While everything seems easy between them, their case proves anything but. The competition between medical suppliers opens opportunity for smugglers and gray market inflated prices causing shortages of life saving medications. This time when Bo goes undercover, Lucky sees that it's hard for him to detach from the case. And while that might be bad for Bo's mental well being, his dedication lets him blend in. Bo and Lucky share more about their pasts, what brought them to this point in life. By the end of the book the situation is slightly better but with Bo's ground breaking discoveries, the other agents have a better chance to help and turn things around.
Third book Corruption is a bit more challenging than the first two. Here Lucky questions his skills as an agent and his ability to be the man Bo needs and deserves. Both Bo and Lucky attend classes on undercover work, where it becomes evident just how talented Bo is. And while Lucky gives him professional credit when it's due, personally he withdraws when there is even a hint of domesticity. Bo is no fool, he knows Lucky and puts his cards on the table. He is willing to wait but not forever. While Lucky struggles with his own worth and his measure as a man, Bo is sent undercover into a motorcycle club to find the key suppliers of the new dangerous street drug Corruption. Through a chain of events, Lucky is brought in as a back up. Thus starts a dangerous game of pretense. Bo as Cyrus Cooper is astonishing in his authenticity, and Lucky is trying to see how much of Cy is in Bo, if what he sees now is just another faucet of personality of the man he loves. When the s***t hits the fan, Bo and Lucky have to rely on their acting skills and each other until the cavalry arrives. But Lucky gets an unpleasant surprise of his life. It's impossible, isn't it? But the niggle of doubt and his suspicions put both Bo and Lucky in danger. Now the waiting is on.
I honestly loved the characters, the work the did and how Lucky emotionally matured through these three books. He has ways to go but he is on the right track. I can't wait to read the others. They promise to be as suspenseful, steamy and emotional as these are or maybe even more! I highly recommend this box set!
I try not to buy compiled books set in volumes. Yes, it can be cheaper but if you dont like one of the set it could throw off your review. Not so much in this case. Whats wrong with one book is basically wrong with all of them.
I like Lucky's character. He's strong willed, determined, & very emotionally stunted after betraying a past lover. Its the running theme through the whole book. He's in love with Bo but has real commitment issues. Unfortunately, he whines poetic about how he loves Bo all through the books..
Bo is an onion, too many layers & some are rotted or becoming rotted. They are good books for the price paid.
Diversion I started this on audiobook because I had heard so many great things about it, but I just couldn't get into the narration. I was enjoying the story more or less so I decided to switch to e-book, and I am so glad I did! I really enjoyed Lucky's journey through the end of his working with Walter and his meeting of Bo. Lucky and Bo had great chemistry, even though they seemed like they had nothing in common. Lucky's shift was gradual, and I loved seeing him come a bit more at peace with himself. I definitely want to read more of this series!
Collusion OMG this is soooo good. I am so glad I gave this series another shot by reading it after trying the audio. Lucky and Bo are so great together, but seeing their hearts on display was awesome. Bo has always been transparent with feelings, but Lucky is a bit harder and doesn't let things affect him. Watching him war with emotions and morals was fantastic. I can't wait to read more of this series.
Corruption I am absolutely loving Lucky and Bo. They are so completely different, yet alike in many other ways. Bo is ready to move things along with his relationship with Lucky, but Lucky is so stuck in fear. They are still working through things here, but these two are meant to be together, and I am loving their journey. This book is setting things up for me to be so nervous and anxious for them in the future. They are doing more undercover work, and it is going to take its toll on them. This book, though, had a great story line, and we see Lucky starting to mature a bit. I really want to go read the next one now.
Oh My Gosh! This book or shall I say three books were absolutely amazing. It grabbed me from the beginning and kept mesmerized. I thought three was the end but was shocked and pleasantly happy to find out there is more.! Lucky is an ex-con and serving time in a special task force. he is about to be freed and has to train his replacement Beau. Sparks fly and soon they end up as more than partners in the field but will Lucky give up his chance at freedom and stay in the team? Each of these books has a different plot but all are connected in the scheme of things. You do need to read in order. I listened to this in audio and darcy Stark was absolutely amazing. He gave each man a distinctive voice and accent and I loved Walter's voice. It was the perfect boss's voice and made me think of the old TV show Charlie's Angels. The actions are well-acted and the emotion shows through. Perfect! If you can get this on audio I highly suggest you do! If you like bad boys, undercover agents, drug task forces, co-worker romance, suspense and I just can't name it all.... you will love this!
Absolutely loved this three volume beginning set of a series about undercover cops, drug smuggling, pharmacy shortages and the crooks that deal in the dirty drug underworld and the cops that try to catch them. I was blown away about how much I liked this, especially our MC's, Lucky and Bo.
Lucky is a hardened felon, plucked from prison because of his knowledge of the underworld drug scene. Lucky is an asshole and fairly unlikeable as the book starts but then he meets Bo, a newbie in the undercover cop world, recruited while on probation because of drug problems, a reformed addict (caused by PTSD during a stint in Afghanistan with the Marines) caught in a drug deal for a friend. Lucky takes Bo under his wing to teach him about being undercover and they both find that the other fills up a hole inside them and together they make quite a team.
But, there's nothing but bumps in their road, mostly caused by Lucky's fear of commitment and general assholery. But just a great story that I couldn't put down. There are several more books to be read and I intend to read them all.
Nice story series. I liked watching Bo throughout the book show Lucky he could do the job and maybe better than Lucky. Lucky, poor Lucky is just way too burned. He distrusts everyone and everything. It became crazy how he fought against every step of his relationship with Bo.
I really enjoyed the story overall. I did get sick of Lucky's attitude. I know it had its part in the storyline but sometimes I felt that it was too much. I almost figured Bo would walk away and just prove, for once, that Lucky was right and he didn't deserve Bo. Looking forward to the next book.
Eden Winters is a new to me author, and I'm so happy I found her. This series is based on real life cases. I am amazed at the details, the facts that are real, and how gritty the characters are. There is humor, pain, love, and action. Steamy times are superb. I can't wait to find out more from Bo and Lucky. It's going to be one heck of a ride!
I really enjoyed the audio version, also. The narrator did a great job with Lucky's voice and his personality really came thru. The other voices were very distinct and there was no confusion.
I loved everything about this book. Book 5 was a journey that had me on the edge of my seat while in Mexico. The way Lucky took care of Bo, while fighting his own demons, made me fall in love with him more.