I've had this book for some time, and I finally got around to reading it. Excellent writing. The details were on point. Hard to nail as a solo author. I suppose even more challenging to execute co-writing. Andreas and Darren are fully fleshed-out characters. I did, at times, feel the romantic aspects of their relationship were overshadowed by the case. Overall, I give this story 3.75 stars.

Risky Behavior is the first book in L.A. Witt and Cari Z’s Bad Behavior series. If the suspense is as riveting in the rest of the series, I can’t wait to read more! At first, I was worried Andreas and Darren were stereotypes of detective partners—Andreas, the lone wolf, cranky veteran, and Darren the brand-new baby detective with so much to learn. To a certain extent they are, but there’s so much more depth to them and this story. I really liked both men, and found them both surprising me time and again. The plot takes a number of twists and turns, and I was enthralled by their case, and with their evolving relationship. I got so caught up in the story, I stayed up way too late and had to force myself to turn off my Kindle and go to sleep. I was feeling it the next day, but I wasn’t even a little sorry about it. Risky Behavior is heavy on police work, but the romance and their relationship still gets the attention it deserves. I love mysteries and police procedurals, and m/m romance, so this book ticked off a lot of boxes for me. Risky Behavior is tense, dramatic, well-paced, and very suspenseful, but still romantic, and at times, quite sweet. I hope we continue to see more of Andreas and Darren in future books, as I feel their relationship and partnership is just getting started.

A lot of the times duo authors make my head spin.
Most of the time im wondering who wrote which section more than following the progression of the story.

that so happened with this book.

Detective Andreas Ruffner’s job is on the line. He’s being investigated by Internal Affairs. He doesn’t need or want a partner. He doesn’t do things by the book, and he has a good reason not to. Whispering and intolerant co-workers, don’t help either. He doesn’t need someone snitching on him and apprising his superiors of his actions. Andreas knows one thing for sure—he has to be careful who to trust.

Detective Darren Corliss is more than enthusiastic to start his new career. Darrin comes from a good family; he has a supportive stepfather who is a retired police commissioner. Being a beat cop for seven years, Darrin’s paid his dues. He hoped for more experience as a detective, after he passed the exam, but instead, he gets recruited by none other than Internal Affairs. He has no idea what he’s walking into with his new partner, Andreas Ruffner.

Darren finds the older Ruffner to be set in his ways. He doesn’t share, he’s stubborn and evasive, which certainly makes the job more difficult, but Ruffner finds out that Darren is not what he thinks. Darren is smart, tough, and can be a little instigator at times, but he’s not just another cop. As they get to know each other, they start to trust one another.

But then, things go haywire, and Ruffner is suspended, and Darren goes into action to prove that he is trustworthy and loyal.

Risky Behavior is a very good collaboration by L.A. Witt and Cari Z. Andreas and Darren are two opposite characters, but I liked their chemistry and how they interacted with each other. With Darren, there is a very warm and supportive family vibe to the plot.

I like that there is a solid story surrounding police procedures and investigation. The authors created a drama with danger, corruption, political intrigue, and intolerance. Two important issues also addressed are HIV and Alzheimer’s. This is a really great start to a series, and I’m so glad L.A. Witt and Cari Z. got together for this. I’m looking forward to book two in the Bad Behavior series.

Risky Behavior is well written, with 2 realistic, likable leads. It's got some action, a little intrigue, and a little steam. I could see it made into a movie with Tom Hardy as Detective Andreas Ruffner and Ryan Gosling as Detective Darren Corliss. Andreas has been assigned a young babysitter to be his new partner. Andreas is anything but pleased, he doesn't want yet another partner to come in and try to report back about his actions. Darren is everything Andreas is not: young(er), charismatic, enthusiastic and with beautiful puppy dog eyes that Andreas can't seem to resist.

Andreas is a difficult man to work with, as Darren soon finds out. He's gruff, cynical, untrusting, and just may be a dirty cop. It's Darren's job to find out if he is indeed a dirty cop, and to report his findings to Thibedeau, an IA officer. Andreas came into their partnership fully expecting yet another partner to bail on him within a few days or weeks, as his previous partners had done. But, Darren surprises him, in more ways than one. Soon, they're working on their case together, one that wreaks of corruption within the city government and the police force. Along the way, Darren becomes more than just his professional partner, they fall into bed together where Darren is surprisingly aggressive and lights Andreas on fire.

But, can Andreas trust Darren with his big, highly personal secret? Can he trust him to truly have his back, to not turn on him and report him to IA? Can he trust him in bed and in their working life?

I really ended up liking Risky Behavior. It's fast paced for the most part, with two great leads, and a cast of great supporting characters, from their Captain Hamilton, to Darren's parents and brother, Paula (a fellow cop), and even Andreas' daughter. It's not super steamy, as I had been expecting, but the action and interesting case make up for the lack of lots of steam. It's not particularly romantic, but then I wasn't expecting it to be. There aren't any grand romantic gestures or displays of deep feelings, but the feelings are there, roiling around under the surface. I'm really looking forward to more from this world, hopefully more featuring Andreas and Darren.

Favorite Quote: “…I sort of felt like I was working less with a detective, and more with an undercover superhero or something. The dark, gritty, complete asshole kind of superhero. “

Detective Andreas Ruffner is a veteran cop whose unorthodox methods and suspicious behavior has garnered him a reputation in the department. A reputation that has IA breathing down his neck, looking for anything to bring him down. Having already gone through more partners than you can shake a stick at, he is not surprised when his Captain tells him he has a new victim lined up.

I was so sick and tired of Captain Hamilton assigning me partners under the guise of mentorship, making my investigations more efficient or whatever other excuse he came up with on any given day.

Newly minted Detective Darren Corliss comes from law enforcement family from his brother-a former DA, to his stepfather a newly retired police commissioner. Fresh off the street, being approached by IA to be their informant puts him on edge; especially after his first day of work with his new partner ends with a questionable bust.

“I answered his questions already. Now I want you to answer mine.”

Corliss and Ruffner soon find a middle ground and Ruffner lets Corliss in on his current assignment. As Corliss and Ruffner investigate a series of deaths that all seem to lead back to their case, a tense and unwelcome sexual attraction begins to bloom between them. Can Corliss and Ruffner keep things professional between them? Or will the heat between them get a little too hot to contain?

I picked up Risky Business after I read the blurb for book two and wanted to read it. I’m a sucker for police dramas; especially when there is an unwanted attraction and questionable behavior. Risky Business has all that and more. A strong police procedural with tantalizing hints of mystery, intrigue, and romance. Witt and Z. choosing to make the romance a pleasant side feature gives readers more time to appreciate the intricate nature of the storyline and the characters themselves. The first half starts out slow as our boys get to know one another but once they find their groove, the pacing and energy picks up considerably.

Witt and Z do an excellent job of characterizing Ruffner and Corliss, personally and professionally. Ruffner is an older cop; mid-40s, bi-sexual, currently single and the father to a passel of kids ranging from ages 24 to 4. He has been accused of being dirty and using drugs. A shite-stirrer of epic proportions, Ruffner has bad boy written all over him. Corliss is the direct opposite. In his 20s, gay, clean cut, and single, he is just starting to make his mark in the police department. Extremely close to his family. A bit of a rule follower; while he’s not one to tattle, he won’t hesitate to ask questions and demand answers. A bit impulsive at times, Corliss’s heart is in the right place. Though you definitely get the “good cop/bad cop” vibe from this setup…this is a partnership and Corliss makes sure Ruffner understands that.

“If we are going to be partners, we might as well be on a first name basis…”

Engaging dialogue, a personable auxiliary cast, and the dual narrative take readers directly into the heart of the story. I enjoyed getting down and dirty with the investigation and the sexual heat generated by these men only adds to its edgy appeal. Ruffner suspects almost everyone around him and plays things pretty close to the vest. Taking down a crime syndicate isn’t easy, especially when it appears to have its tentacles in every aspect of the city’s structure from the lowest street dealer to the highest political offices. Things aren’t what they seem though and the Machiavellian style plotting is genius. The highs and lows keep you firmly in its grip. A series of secondary plotlines spread out from the main arc to assure us this isn’t the last we have seen of this couple.

Though the romance isn’t a main building block of the story, it certainly adds a spiciness to the mix. I enjoyed the slow steady burn of Ruffner and Corliss’s attraction to one another. I was worried the May/December aspect of their age would become an issue but it doesn’t. They are both intelligent, hardworking adults and the organic nature of the situation made me far more comfortable with this relationship evolving.

We had rocketed right past hot and heavy into this hospital bed ain’t gonna survive what we’re about to do.

The ending leaves us comfortable with both Corliss and Ruffner’s professional and personal relationship. The HFN seems solid and mystery fans will love trying to solve this one before Ruffner and Corliss do.

Grade: B

Post goes live 26 JUNE

I never thought about the reasons someone in the police department might not follow the rules. Always thinking that the cop must be dirty. However this book made me realize that there could be other reasons for such things. As I was soon to learn wanting a bit of privacy can make you look guilty for a number of reasons.

Andreas is a jerk, no way around it. Hard on partners and everyone in general. He is a good cop working for the benefit of the public. He comes across as rude, impatient, and a smart alec. He is exactly that, yet he works tirelessly to get the scum off the street before someone ends up dead.

Darren is a newly minted detective, but not new to police work. He comes from a family that helps the public in different roles. So when he is matched up with Andreas he is determined to work both professional and respectfully with this man. Never in his mind did he think he could be attracted to the man.

So when things heat up between the new partners they are slow to step into a relationship off hours as well as partners on the job. The co-dependency begins to mature off course something must go wrong. As our main characters learn how to work with each other, fate must through in more obstacles to overcome. I was surprised that this story was as detailed and realistic as it is. Two strong-willed men, must work together or they might not live to see their commitments through. A strong story with equally strong characters, this book will keep you twisting trying to figure out the ending.

I've read several books by Cari Z and even more by L.A. Witt. Whenever I see a book written by either one of them I'm intrigued. Having them join creative forces? Needless to say, I didn't hesitate to pick up Risky Behavior.

I love well developed 'broken' characters and Andrea definitely fell into that category. He had everyone convinced that he it was safer to keep their distance and he worked hard at keeping it that way. He also had a secret that he worked even harder to keep hidden.

Even though Darren wasn't necessarily broken, he still had his own secrets. He also had a sense of honor and loyalty that kept him from jumping to conclusions before he had the whole story. It didn't take him long to figure out there was a lot more to Andrea than what was on the surface.

This book had everything I love in a new series. Plenty of heat between the good guys, suspense, action and characters that were easy to fall for. I can't wait to see what this talented duo has in store for Andrea and Darren as the Bad Behavior series continues.

A delicious dark new series featuring a cranky cop and his rookie sidekick. Recommended.

RIsky Behaviour is a great book, I have previously read a few of L A Witts books, mainly the US navy based ones and thoroughly enjoyed them, and this was no exception. One reviewer has said there was less 'hot' sexual scenes in this book and whilst that is true I think we had a much better depth to the book because of that.
A great detective story, with so many baddies you didn't know who was 'clean' or who was 'dirty'.
The two detectives are great characters, Andreas the older more experienced detective, often on a short fuse and thought to be 'dirty' and Darren a newly appointed detective assigned to be his new partner, much to Andreas's disgust.
As their professional and personal relationship develops, and the plot and action thickens we have a great page turning story. Exciting and thoroughly readable!
Thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book for an honest opinion

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
What a fantastic detective story! I am currently completely hooked on the BBC’s Line of Duty right now and this story of corrupt cops and Internal Affairs investigations offers the same thrills as we watch powerful characters abuse their power for personal gain. I loved the moral ambiguity that shadows each of the characters as Darren and Andreas’ investigations are thwarted and the attacks become personal.

The pairing of these two detectives is brilliant. Andreas is an experienced cop and a miserable, jaded loner with complicated secrets. We know from the first scene that he’s not exactly squeaky clean, but we don’t fully know the extent of his guilt or innocence until the very end. In contrast, Darren is an ambitious young detective whose stepdad happens to be the retired chief of police. And he is tasked with supervising Andreas for Internal Affairs. Even as they reluctantly agree to work together, it takes a long time for trust to build between these two.

The pacing of this story works really well. The investigation is slow. Hints and clues are as likely to be misleading as they are to be helpful and as a reader, I found it difficult to trust anyone in this book. I loved the slow untangling of fact from misconception and I loved the tangled webs of corruption that are revealed by the investigation.

This is very different to anything else I’ve read by either of these authors and I really loved it.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Brand new detective Darren is partnered with experienced but unpopular detective Andreas, who is suspected of being dirty cop and a drug addict.

Darren has IA pressuring him to provide dirt on Andreas, but Darren just wants to do his job and be a good partner. Andreas doesn't always follow the rules and we see this fairly early on as Darren has to decide quick smart if he is going to cover for his partner or hang him out to dry.

Andreas made me nervous. His rule breaking worried me. I didn't trust him and I kept expecting him to push things too far and it had me on edge. But there are other things ramping up the tension. Their investigation into drug trafficking in the city implicates police, judges, and the mayor, and people connected to the case are turning up dead. There is also plenty of sexual tension, which adds and extra dimension to the partnership.

Risky Behavior is cop drama heavy with a good amount of love story woven through. The action and tension are perfectly paced and there were times it felt like my heart was racing a mile a minute. Risky Behavior is a great crime solving/romance novel and I look forward to reading more of this series and spending more time with Darren and Andreas.


Angie – ☆☆☆
This book missed the mark for me. Way too wordy, too much build up, and then the case was wrapped up too fast. I wanted more Darren and Andreas and there wasn't enough of that. There was so much hush hush about what was wrong with Andreas and then when it came out what it was, nothing else was really said about it. No action happened between the main characters until after the 50% mark and by that time, I just wanted the book to end.

Start with a little murder, add some mayhem & mystery and stir in some heat...

it'll all make for some 'Risky Behavior and one hella' good read.

Andreas is a cop, a police detective...he just doesn't always play by the rules because sometimes the rules just get in the way of a good man doing his job. Andreas also works alone, he can't afford to trust a partner. Unfortunately we don't always get to decide those things. When Andreas boss decides he needs a partner someone to watch his back. Andreas is determined to see how quick he can get rid of him.

Darren's work hard to get his detective's shield and he's determined to do his job and do it well and if that means getting along with a partner who's got a rep and not a good one...well than that was just what would need to happen.

The plot for this story had so many smaller pieces scattered throughout but each piece came together to connect the bigger story. I loved reading this and gathering each of those pieces and putting them together to form the larger picture, just like a jigsaw puzzle.

While the romance is more of a secondary factor in this story that doesn't mean it's not hot and important...really, really hot and a strong part of the overall story.

'Risky Behavior' is a police procedural story with a strong romance unfolding in the background and this story was beyond awesome for me. I love mysteries/procedurals they're like the best kind of candy all tasty and yummy and good to the very last bite add in some well done romance and things become deliciously good...good enough to make me want more.

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!

What's to Like:
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.

What's to Love:
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.

Beware of:
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!

This Book is For:
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.

http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/risky-behavior-l-a-witt-and-cari-z/
or
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1949045812?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
or
https://au.pinterest.com/obookreviews/l-a-witt-cari-z-risky-behavior/

What a great start to this dynamic duo of Detectives Dareen Corliss and Andreas Ruffner. Poor Darren, he has so many obstacles to overcome; his youthful appearance, his stepfather’s shadow, and Internal Affairs warns him that his new partner is under investigation and Darren is their new eyes and ears. Not exactly how he wanted to start his first day as a detective, and definitely not how you win friends with the notoriously difficult Detective Ruffner.

Darren reminded me of a playful puppy. He wanted his new partner to like and trust him and play ball with him, but he wasn’t sure how to get past the rough exterior…and that very good looking shell. Andreas was older and hot as sin. Darren was a goner from day one. Andreas is in deep, he’s got secrets but he’s not a totally bad cop. Yes, he breaks a couple rules, but those rules prohibit the catching and convicting of some really bad criminals. In his mind, the ends justifies the means. And having a partner just makes his job harder.

Andreas has piled up enemies inside the force and on the streets. He can’t trust anyone else because what he knows could get them or him killed. This is where I started loving the story; once Darren and Andreas had all the cards on the table and were working as a team. It didn’t hurt that the steam factor between them was a little off the charts. I loved that this story wasn’t about men coming out the closet but more two men working together to forge a relationship while trying to stay alive.

Great beginning to this series and I am looking forward to seeing where our boys go from here in the next installment. They went through a lot in this book and I can only imagine the wringer they get put through coming up. Highly recommended.

For the first half of the book, I wasn’t really feeling it. But once the story picked up, I ended up quite liking ‘Risky Behavior.’

The two very different men clash from the beginning. But the physical attraction between them is almost immediate. It’s an opposites-attract situation, with an undertone of enemies-to-lovers.

However, the romance takes the backseat for most of the book. This book is, first and foremost, a crime mystery. For the first half, there’s a lot of police procedural and background info.

The gist of the mystery is that Andreas suspects that some of the city’s highest officials are involved in a crime syndicate. Given the nature of his investigation, he’s wary of Darren. Those good looks could be hiding something sinister!

As the investigation heats up, Darren proves himself reliable, and Andreas slowly begins trusting him. Their relationship develops parallel to the mystery - as the stakes get more dangerous, Darren and Andreas find themselves falling for each other.

The crime mystery was fairly interesting. It wasn’t exactly unique material, but it kept me entertained.

The ending is a solid HFN. If I didn’t know there were sequels, I wouldn’t worry about Andreas and Darren making it in the long run. As it is, I’m looking forward to seeing where these two go next.

If you don’t mind your MM being more focused on the plot than on the romance, give ‘Risky Behavior’ a try.

Risky Behavior is the beginning of a new series by the prolific L.A. Witt and Cari Z. And from what I saw on Riptide's website, book 2 in the series is a continuation of the story of Darren and Andreas. Thank goodness!!! Because I feel like I only got a small taste of what their relationship will be like.

These two men did not come together easily or quickly. It was a slow burn. Trust was not easily earned for Darren with Andreas. Andreas was an a-hole (which I think the character readily admits). He's never had a partner who wouldn't put up with his lack of information or difficulty in getting along. Darren, however, didn't let it go. He would ask questions, again and again, if needed, to get the full information. And that would be the only type of person Andreas would trust, not only with his back as a partner, but with a potential relationship. Darren stepped right up, pushing right back at Andreas, the perfect foil.

The action and suspense in this book was non-stop, lots of twists and turns, as they tried to take down a huge drug cartel in town, which involves people at all levels. I always enjoy books that have more than just a romance in them. Intrigue, suspense, and the occasional shooting does not go awry, if there is romance and an HEA or HFN on the last page, and this book did not disappoint.

Risky Behavior ends on an HFN note, with much more to come in Book 2, as we see these two men continue to team up to take down the bad guys, as well as team up in the bedroom. (Which, btw, Darren surprises everyone, including Andreas in the bedroom. :) )

This was well done, with seamless co-authoring, which isn't always easy to do. I can't wait to see what is ahead for these guys.

4.5 pieces of eye candy.

I know there are a few people out there who won't be too crazy about Risky Behavior. They'll say there's too much cop drama and not enough romance. I for one say thank goodness! I prefer a romance that has a bit more than just kiss-kiss swoon to it. It's nice and all but, how many people do you know that meet, fall in love and get an HEA without living their lives? Yup...nobody. Which is why I loved this book.

Detective Andreas Ruffner is like Oscar the Grouch. Not the messy part, but the abrasive, doesn't like anybody, leave me alone kind of guy. I just loved him. You can't help it when you find out not only what his motives are but what his *GASP* secret is. Pill-popping dirty cop he is not. Well, there are some pills but they definitely are not what you think. Darren Corliss, first day on the job and he gets assigned to Andreas. The poor guy is he in for the ride of his life. Stuck between IA wanting him to rat out Andreas at the same time working hard to gain his trust. All this is going on while both begin to have feelings for each other. Oh yeah!

I loved this story. Action packed, lots of surprises, great characters, really it had it all. I had an instant connection to Andreas and Darren. The story is told from alternating POVs so you really get to learn their thoughts and feelings. Now besides the romance, there is a crime to solve and Andreas has been working on it for a while. I thoroughly enjoyed waiting to see what would happen next. There's a nice slow build to it and along the way, our guys encounter some rather interesting characters to go along with the surprising situations. And that ending! Edge of your seat action with an ending that had left me happy and wanting more.

I've had the pleasure of reading both L.A. Witt and Cari Z. before and could not wait to see what they would come up with together. What that have her in Risky Behavior is a killer read. The romance portions and the police story worked perfectly hand in hand to give me a read that I could not put down. Knowing that this is a series, I'm really hoping the next book brings us more adventures with Andreas and Darren and not a new couple. Really, either way, I'll be patiently waiting for its release. Risky Behavior in my book is well worth the read.

reviewed by Jac