***4.5 Stars***

This time it gets personal...

... by any account.

After everything that happened in the previous books, you would think Andreas Ruffner and Darren Corliss deserved a bit downtime to get some rest and work on their relationship. Well, knowing these guys and their record for getting into trouble, you can be sure that this is wishful thinking.

Andreas, still not at the top of his game and not fit for active duty after the injury he sustained in Suspicious Behavior, has only one thing on his mind: facing his kids and come clear about his relationship with Darren and his health status. When their meeting goes terribly wrong and some of his kids are snatched from under his nose, it soon becomes apparent that somebody has it in for Andreas and tries to make him suffer in every possible way.

Even though former enemies suddenly become allies and surprisingly show a united front in an attempt to help them any way they can, their franctic search for the kids and all their inquiries lead to a dead end and time is not on their side, either.

When Darren -on top of it all- receives devastating news and tries to deal with it on his own, both men are forced to make some of the hardest decisions of their lives...

Okay, I guess it is time to come out with my deepest secret: I'm a toggler! I can't help it. As soon as a book appears on the website of this publisher my fingers start to twitch and I have to click the additional details and toggle them all. Maybe I was a cat in my past life and too curious for my own good, I don't know. This time I was glad I gave in to the twitching, so I was prepared for the heat wave to be non-existent, meaning no smexy times for the guys and I got a clue what to expect. But honestly, Andreas and Darren have barely time to sleep and get some rest, much less be more active between the sheets and they have more important things on their minds than sex. God, if I were in their spot, the sleep deprivation both men sustained in the few months they know each other would make me look like a zombie and guarantee myself a role in the next season of The Walking Dead without a casting first. ;-)

As a consequence, the romance took understandably once again a back seat, but their love for each other oozed from the pages with each tender moment, each gesture, touch and thought. Each and every kiss...

I had an inkling of who the culprit might be - yeah, I know... I'm a sucker for mystery/suspense novels, so maybe my lifelong career in book law enforcement helped a bit ;-) - and in the end I was proven right, but that did not lessen my enjoyment of the story. No, quite the contrary.

The tragic event that affected Darren was the hardest for me to take. Maybe I'm a wuss, maybe it was my mood or maybe it was the fact that I'm totally invested in the characters by now, but not only what happened itself, but also the way he dealt with it - or rather not dealt with it - made me feel deeply for him and that made it sometimes hard to read through the tears in my eyes.

The ending made a promise of what to expect in Romantic Behavior, the last novella in this series. Now you want to know if I toggled those details as well, right? What do you think? ;-)

Highly recommended!

RECKLESS BEHAVIOR was such an intense book, impossible to put it down. I loved it. This series is proving to be so much more than I expected and every installment gets better than the previous one. I really wasn't prepared for the level of action in this one.

Andreas is finally trying to spend some time with his sons and daughters and get them to meet his boyfriend, Darren. But a special family night became the worst night of his life, when his kids get abducted and now Andreas and Darren have to do the best they can to find them and get them back.

This was an amazing book. It was really fast paced. It has a high level of action that make it really hard to put down. There isn't a moment when there isn't something important going on or being revealed. Sometimes I even felt bad for these two, because they haven't got time to recover from one hit when the other was coming their way. It was remarkable.

One of the things I loved the most about it was the fact that while it might not be an overly romantic book, but the love was so present the whole time. The way Darren and Andreas support each other was endearing. They always seem to know what the other needed. There might not be much romantic scenes involved in this installment, but a soft kiss, a hug when needed or other affectionate gestures were enough to show us how much they care for each other.

The family issues were something I appreciate so much. It made them more human. The families were great. I loved every single family member. The authors might not take too much time introducing all of them to us, but the little interactions they shared with the main characters were enough to care for them. I was particularly heartbroken for Asher's situation, most of all because it seem painfully accurate.

Overall RECKLESS BEHAVIOR was an amazing book. Absolutely recommend it for readers who love action.

Book #3 in the Bad Behavior series sees Andreas Ruffner recovering from surgery on his broken ankle and hobbling around in a cast and on crutches, something he does throughout the entire book. He and his work and life partner, Darren Corliss, are nervous about meeting up with Andreas' other children - Ben and Casey - from his marriage to Marcy. Then there's four year old Emily from his time with ex girlfriend, Lisa. His oldest daughter, Erin, who works with Internal Affairs, knows about her father's bisexuality, his relationship with Darren, and his HIV+ status. Erin found out about her father through malicious gossip at the station and has convinced her father he needs to share things instead of family finding out the wrong way. That means talking to her brothers as well.

A casual get together at a local restaurant with Lisa, Andreas' children, and Darren has been organised so Darren can meet the boys and Andreas can also have a talk with them as Emily suggested. Andreas loves his kids but work has previously consumed him and he hasn't always been the most emotionally available dad. He's also a man of few words, particularly when those words are more feelings based. Ben takes the news well enough but Casey feels like his father hasn't trusted him with some significant details. It's also a lot to accept all at once. Everyone assures Andreas that Casey will come around with some time to think, but just after Andreas' reveal all hell breaks loose and a kidnapping goes down. Erin and Emily are snatched at the back of the restaurant and in a coordinated smash and grab, Ben and Casey are targeted in their car out the front. Darren manages to fire some shots allowing Ben to get away, but the others are all whisked off, leaving upset and shocked parents as well as Darren.

Meanwhile, Darren is still trying to deal with the complexities and hurt of his older brother's Early Onset Dementia. Asher is now in a dedicated dementia facility and his moments of lucidity and connection are declining fairly rapidly. Some days he can hold some small talk but it's getting rarer. He occasionally asks for Darren who will drop things and visit his brother, but the kidnapping of Andreas' family suddenly has him stretched thin. I have to admit that while the kidnapping upset me, it was Asher's worsening condition that broke my heart. Darren also has EOD hanging over his own head. He's understandably terrified of having the genetic testing done - although being with Andreas makes him more inclined to know one way or another. He never wants to put Andreas through what he and his parents have gone through, are still going through. So Darren is dealing with losing a brother he loves dearly - Asher so young and being a shadow of himself - and he's scared he's looking at his own future every time he sees him. Andreas doesn't know what to say but he knows he's in love with Darren and it scares him as well.

He wants to die,” Darren murmured.
“What?”
He exhaled hard. “When he’s with it—as much as he can be anymore—he tells me he wishes this thing would just finish him off.”
I didn’t respond. What could I say?

***

Fuck. I’d only known him a few short months, but I’d been in love with him for most of that, and had been forced to think way too much about when and how he might die. Closing my eyes, I held him tighter.

I shut my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. I was so tired of coming up empty. So fucking tired of it, and yet that was all I was getting.

There are two very emotional arcs going on in Reckless Behavior. One is ongoing - Asher's dementia. The kidnapping is a new plot development in this book. Both have ties with the other books though. Andreas and Darren helped put away corrupt police and local officials, and with a few exceptions, their fellow officers hate them. Their colleagues have made sure they go out of their way to be spiteful and belligerent towards Ruffner and Corliss even though the cops were dirty. However, now that Ruffner's kids have been kidnapped the same colleagues who have been beyond difficult want to help out - you don't hurt cop's families. But can they be trusted? It's not easy to forget their previous bad behaviour.

As for the kidnapping, there is nothing concrete about the whys of it. Is it someone Ruffner has put away? Are they newly released, or could it be the ex cellmate doing the work of someone still in jail? Is it an official's or cop's family who wants revenge? Could it be something to do with loan shark Pitbull who they put the heavy on for Lisa in book #2? There are a lot of people who could be behind this kidnapping but with no clues - the job was well planned down to covering faces, wearing gloves and knowing exactly where Ruffner and his family were - and no ransom demand it's utterly perplexing.

“This just came.” I handed him the letter and photo. “They’re not asking for anything. Just . . . taunting us.” I swallowed. “Taunting me.”
The captain skimmed the brief letter, then eyed me grimly. “You know if they do make demands, the city doesn’t negotiate with terrorists.”

Reckless Behavior adds to what is already an outstanding series. There is action, nice procedural work, suspense, and, in this instalment, the progression and emotion surrounding the kidnapping case. There is more about family. I already think Darren's family are something special. Their love for each other is strong, genuine, practical and unconditional. This time it was nice to get to know Andreas' ex wife, Marcy, as well as snippets of Ben and Casey. It's so nice to read about family who aren't perfect but aren't annoying, meddling, sniping or jealous. All three of Andreas's older children support their considerably younger step-sister, Emily, and his ex wife and his ex girlfriend aren't at all bitter or petty.

“I’m glad he has you, Darren.” There was nothing but honesty in her face. “I can’t tell you how big a relief it is to know he’s got someone who loves him and is looking out for him. And who can legally tase him when he gets unbearable,” she added.

The authors juggled the several arcs perfectly - the kidnapping, Asher's decline, families coming together during a crisis, the reaction of the other cops in the precinct, the deepening of the relationship between Ruffner and Corliss. Just the reaction to children being kidnapped and held by someone. How helpless you would feel, how you would never want to sleep until you got them back. How you think the worst and live on sleep and food fumes until the case is solved. It is all totally believable.

What I loved and I appreciated in this book was the reality of two men deeply affected by life who simply do not have the time or emotional energy to have sex. Thank you to the LA Witt and Cari Z for being realistic. The MCs do, however, find the time to have a more meaningful and deeper connection because they are there for one another in desperate times and turmoil. That is true love. When the chips are down you see who people are and how they really feel. Someone being there for you when you need them most is often underrated as far as being romantic and loving. Having someone understand if you snap suddenly or are tense. Making sure you eat or sleep as much as possible. In this case making different personal choices; such as making Andreas' children the first priority. Darren wants Andreas to be his number one but he understands why his partner's children are so important. These are the little things that are big things in the overall picture of love. I want romance, that's why I mostly read in the romance genre, but I want what I read to feel like it all makes sense. For it to feel like an organic process, and so it is with the Bad Behavior series. I could feel the love bouncing off the page - from family, and definitely between the MCs.

“I need to know you’ll protect them first. Please.”
“Yes.” It was one word, one blistering ingot of a word, but it took some of the strain out of Andreas’s face.

For Darren to finally be able to share his feelings with Andreas because he realises he loves him, and it feels right and necessary and helps him feel better, is a big step too. He feels safe with Andreas now and with his own emotions - whatever the future may hold for him. For them.

I wasn’t telling him because I was worried about tomorrow, but because I had to say it. I had to let something out. My damn body wasn’t strong enough to keep all these emotions locked up, and love was the only one I had worth sharing.

Overall:

I think this is one of the best series in the "MM" genre at the moment. I really like Andreas and Darren - they're genuine men, dedicated to their work and each other, their love is believable and romantic, and they are both undeniably loyal to those who matter the most in their life. The procedural aspects are terrific, the action always on point with strong writing and a need to zoom through the pages to see what's going to happen next. Because some integral aspects of some plots intertwine within each book of the series, I recommend you start at the beginning with Risky Behavior.

How good the books are isn't particularly surprising because both of these authors are excellent individual writers. Together they work their talent to create a beautifully drawn, seamless tapestry of the joy of new love combined with life's difficulties and frustrations. Each book evokes strong emotion but is also hopeful. My favourite books are those where the characters involved have to work for what they get, and sometimes, if we're all really lucky, as in this series, the planets align wonderfully to make the reading experience even better. 5 Stars!

This series is smokin’! Action-packed, nail-biting, heartbreaking—this book has it all. Though there’s not a lot of overt romance to this one, and no sex scenes, there is love—a deep and lasting love that’s developing between Andreas and Darren as well as the love of family. In this one, Andreas’s children are kidnapped so the love of a father for his children is a primary focus of the book, but there’s also the familial love of a brother for another as Darren’s brother, Asher, falls deeper into his disease and the situation becomes critical. As an aside, and without spoilers, we finally find out if Darren has the gene that has caused Asher’s mind to fail at such an early age.

Andreas is still struggling with his healing ankle from the injury in the last book. He’s screwed it up and needed a second surgery—but hang on folks—he’s about to make it worse when his kids are kidnapped virtually right from under his nose. He and his work and life partner, Darren, along with their highly personable and dynamic friend Paula, a detective we met in the last book, explore any and all possible leads to get the kids back. Though their theories are sketchy at first, eventually, with the help of Andreas’s daughter Erin, who manages to get free of the kidnapers, the team is on the right track. A tragic event in Darren’s life sidetracks him temporarily but he’s right back on the job as well. He loves Andreas and his kids and will stop at nothing to help his lover get them back.

This story is very fast-paced, filled with plot twists and turns, excitement, and hair-raising scenarios. I loved every moment and literally couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this series to all those who enjoy law enforcement drama and romance, especially those, like me, who appreciate a writing team who can build excitement to fever pitch and yet give us a firm foundation to a wonderful pair of men whose love grows stronger with each story. I can’t wait to get my hands on book four!

Detective Andreas Ruffner and his partner (and boyfriend) Darren Corliss return for the third book of L.A. Witt and Cari Z's "Bad Behavior" series. And boy, these authors didn't pull any punches with the things they throw to these men's path!

Andreas' children were kidnapped, and Darren also received bad news in regards of his family member. With such a high stake, this one was a <i>tour-de-force</i> read.

I couldn't spoil much in terms of the storyline. One thing I was happy with, was that Andreas and Darren were solid throughout. There was a couple of arguments here and there when either one was being stubborn. However, as Andreas and Darren ran against time to get clues to the children's whereabouts while also finding out who was behind the kidnapping, they never faltered.

It was another good reading for me. Hopefully the next one, which is titled Romantic Behavior will definitely more romantic *laugh*

This was fast paced and entertaining from the beginning till the end. I hadn't read the blurb so I was surprised with the turn of events. Most of the story revolves around both guy's families and the things that are going on with them.

There was very little relationship development in this one which was my only complaint. I think I would have preferred it more had there have been some emotional moments between the two MC's.

Overall this was a good installment of this series and I'm really looking forward to the next one. I would not recommend this book as a standalone. You could follow the plot fine but you'd be majorly spoilering yourself for the previous two books.

Reckless behaviour is the third book concerning Detective Andreas Ruffner and his partner and boyfriend Det Darren Corliss.
As with the previous books this is another very good read, a definite thriller with lots of action.
Andreas has upset a lot of police personnel at his station by rooting out the corrupt and dangerous cops, some of them now serving prison sentences, so lots of obvious bad feelings of fellow cops head Andreas and Darren's way.
When Andreas invites his four children for a meal to get to know Darren the worst possible thing happens, the children are kidnapped, one manages to escape but it's obviously a professional job with no clues to who or why to start with.
So begins a nail biting time as they have to work against time and unhelpful colleagues to find his children.
Darren is also going through heartbreak as his elder brother who has early onset Alzheimer's is deteriorating rapidly.
A thoroughly enjoyable story, obviously the partnership of these two authors works extremely well.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly