It’s day one of Darren Corliss’s career as a detective, and not only has he been assigned a notoriously difficult partner, but the guy might also be a pill-popping dirty cop. Internal Affairs needs proof, and Darren gets to be their eyes and ears whether he wants to or not.
Detective Andreas Ruffner doesn’t play by the rules, and he doesn’t play well with others. With bodies piling up and a list of suspects who are way above his pay grade, the last thing he needs is a wet-behind-the-ears kid for a partner. Or babysitter. Not even if that partner is easy on the eyes.
As Darren gains Andreas’s hard-won trust, they both realize there’s more than just mutual suspicion simmering beneath the surface. But their investigation is heating up as quickly as their relationship, and Darren has no choice but to go along with Andreas’s unorthodox—and borderline unethical—methods. As IA puts the squeeze on Darren to give up the man he’s falling for, he has to wonder—is Andreas the only cop left in this town who isn’t dirty?
This is a great book but not such a great romance book. Though I very much enjoyed the slow dance between the two partners, it’s not the focus of spotlight. The heart of the story revolves around an investigation. A case in which two police officers are thrown into the heat of the fire. Burn or get burned. If you need romance to fill the pages, you won’t find that here. Instead, you’ll piece together the clues and look for impossible answers. I thought it was superbly done.
Andreas is a veteran police detective. He’s damn good at what he does and doesn’t hesitate to do whatever’s necessary to solve a case. If it means breaking a few rules, so be it. He doesn’t play fair and he doesn’t play nice. When he’s stuck with yet another partner, and a greenhorn to boot, he’s grumpier than ever. Color him surprised when he actually likes Darren. Their case rolls on and they pass the point of no return. Suddenly, Andreas finds himself in new territory. He needs backup. For once, he can’t do this alone. Will Darren put everything on the line to be the partner Andreas needs? Or save his own skin and career? Ohhh man! I love cops and we get ’em all; good cop, bad cop, a young cop and… a mature cop. I’m sure not gonna call Andreas old to his face!
I enjoy a good police investigation and this one completely sucked me in. I was curious and anxious to see how it could possibly all play out. I was not disappointed. Both MC’s were captivating (yes, I enjoyed Andreas as much as Darren) but I also enjoyed the secondary cast. I especially loved Darren’s family. His relationship with his brother tugged on my heartstrings. I always find it commendable when everything pulls together in the end, and this story gets a hardy hand of applause.
This collaboration was truly fantastic! I love me some L.A. Witt and Cari. Z. Put ’em together and you’ve got a marvelous concoction. They both bring their strengths to the table and it was a familiar yet fresh taste. The flow was smooth and engaging from the beginning. The characters clashed at first and then bang in a completely different manner. Yeah, total hotness. It was refreshing that it wasn’t all about them. Though I’m a huge sucker for a fiery romance, it’s a bit of a palate cleanser to have a story that doesn’t thrive from only a romantic connection. Andreas and Darren begin to trust each other. Attraction is always present but not a priority. They both know this is bigger than just the two of them. I was intrigued with their case as well as the possibility of them. It was highly entertaining.
Age gap…a grumpy older cop with a sassy youthful partner rumble and tumble. And it’s…hot stuff. And as I mentioned earlier, the romance is fairly low-key but I’m eager for what’s to come. So happy to see this is a series!
Mystery diehards will want to tackle this one. If you are a fan of either or both co-authors and like a mystery focused story, take a risk and get frisky with these two.
TITLE: Risky Behavior (Bad Behavior #1)
AUTHOR: L.A. Witt & Cari Z.
PUBLISHER: Riptide
LENGTH: 309 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 1st, 2017
BUY LINKS: Amazon, Riptide
