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I’ve been clinically diagnosed with sociopathy,’ I said. ‘Do you know what that means?’
‘It means you’re a freak,’ he said.
‘It means that you’re about as important to me as a carboard box,’ I said. ‘You’re just a thing – a piece of garbage that no one’s thrown away yet. Is that what you want me to say?’
‘Shut up,’ said Rob. He was still acting tough, but I could see his bluster was starting to fail. He didn’t know what to say.
‘The thing about boxes,’ I said, ‘is that you can open them up. Even though they’re completely boring on the outside, there might be something interesting inside. So while you’re saying all of these stupid, boring things I’m imagining what it would be like to cut you open and see what you’ve got in there.Dan Wells -
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEiOiEdn2-8?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]
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Houkago Guitar – Yumeka Sumomo
A oneshot about two teens hiding who they are from the rest of society, one perceived as a genius and the other perceived as a delinquent, and how their true selves come together and change their perception of the trivial everyday.
Beautiful!
Is it OK if I fall in love with you?
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REVIEW: Risky Behavior by L.A. Witt & Cari Z
Bad Behavior: Risky Behavior – L.A. Witt & Cari Z
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?
Declaring this week Bad Behavior Week because Andreas and Darren happened…
I didn’t expect to like Risky Behavior as much as I did. This is also my first listen to Michael Ferraiuolo and boy, did he knock it out of the park!
Majority of crime stories are solving serial killings, which I enjoy but then again, just how many serial killers are there in the US? On a refreshing note, Risky Behavior is about busting a drug gang whose connections go all the way to the top. Detective Andreas Ruffner thought himself a lone wolf out to take down this corruption. He was saddled with Darren Corliss, a rookie partner aka babysitter because Internal Affairs thinks he has something to hide.
Andreas is an asshole to most people. He trusts no-one. He has his reasons. Darren knows he has to earn that trust and though he was the younger of the two, he wasn’t a doormat. He was up for the challenge. The two didn’t get along at first. Both found the other attractive despite being at odds with each other on their first meeting but I love how L.A. WItt & Cari Z handled the development of their relationship. They had both characters playing it cool and most importantly, keeping it professional. Until they noticed the other one noticed. And then it slowly evolved into trust and a partnership, in both sense of the word, in a very convincing manner. It was so good I’m not even bothered by the almost 20 year age-gap.
The rest of the cast were great characters. Not all of them were likable but the combination of the authors characterization and Michael Ferraiuolo’s delivery made all the characters stand out. It reminded me of the cop shows I used to watch. I could imagine Bad Behavior as a drama series and the supporting cast would be those characters actors who always look familiar but you don’t know the names of.
Jamie Bamber as Detective Andreas Ruffner
Dean Geyer as Detective Darren Corliss
The case is one hell of a hook, keeping me glued to the story for hours. For this part alone, I would recommend the book to mystery/crime fiction lovers who might or might not be into MM. The case was complicated and challenging with widespread repercussions for the entire city. No wonder Andreas was willing to do everything to crack the case. Darren earned his stripes by quickly learning to play the game and sticking his neck out. The two men go against Internal Affairs and government authorities, and make unholy alliances with unlikely individuals. Riveting stuff!
Risky Behavior is a very well-written police procedural story with great characters and cunning twists and turns. Add to that the brilliant narration by Michael Ferraiuolo and you got yourself a winner!
P.S.
Review of L.A. Witt books here.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away
Soundtrack: Honest Town
Artist: Simple Minds
Album: Big Music(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33411778-risky-behavior)
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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pax-oSrfniQ?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]
Soundtrack to Bad Behavior: Risky Behavior by L.A. Witt & Cari Z
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Does trust have to be earned. Or is it simply a matter of faith?
Nicolas Sparks -
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBQOGf9cdr4?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]
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Amakute Tsumetai – Fuyuno Ikuya
Amakute, Tsumetai ? Sweet, yet Cold ? ?????????
Beautiful college student, Yonomori, is secretly enamored by his underclassman,
Hinohara. He’s a really cocky junior, but sometimes, Hinohara touches him as if he were a precious jewel and makes his days full of heart-wrenching hope. And on one of those days, he is shocked to learn that Hinohara has a person he likes. Even while being plagued with hesitation, Yonomori goes to Hinohara to inquire about the identity of that person. But in exchange for an answer, Yonomori is to become…?Seme is a “mega S bastard”.
Uke is dense.
Sensei needs his own story.
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Candy Man: Tart and Sweet – Amy Lane
In the Army, Robbie Chambers turned on his lover out of fear—and he hasn’t been able to live with himself since. Now he’s out of the Army but still trapped in the closet that brought on his most cowardly moment, and he starts to think he’ll never be able to fight his way free.
Until he sees Cy McVeigh. Beautiful and uninhibited, Cy is dancing on the boardwalk at Old Sac for no other reason than the moment called for it. Robbie not only joins in the dance but is smitten from the very beginning.
However, Robbie still has old business to clear up, and when he helps out a kid in need and comes face-to-face with the man he betrayed, he’s forced to come clean with himself. He can’t redeem his mistake if he’s still locked into his old patterns, and he won’t ever be worthy of Cy if he can’t earn Adam’s forgiveness. He’s going to need all the help he can get from the people at Candy Heaven in order to make things right with his past so he can have a future with Cy.
Uh-oh, Robbie Chambers, Adam’s ex and the guy who betrayed him, is in town! What would Adam do? How would Finn react?
Robbie is beating himself up at what he did and he is seeking redemption. Luckily, the psychic tag team of Darrin and Ezra is on the case. They made him take the candy test and he willingly went along with whatever advice they gave. That’s a good start, Robbie.
Random male model as Robbie Chambers
Walking around Sacramento with his girlfriend, Robbie met Cy McVeigh, a dance teacher busking in the streets who asked them to dance with him. As the trio danced, Robbie felt himself strongly drawn to Cy.
Model with magnificent hair as Cy McVeigh
Cy is a free-spirited bisexual who isn’t afraid to shop in the women’s department. He is the opposite of Robbie, who is still in the closet and has to tip-toe around his bigoted parents. Cy was what Robbie needed. He became Robbie’s support while Robbie learned to forgive himself. Amy Lane did a great job bringing the two together.
One of the best things about this book is that Ezra really came into his own. He’s more confident and happy and his gift was strong. Even Darrin was impressed. Ezra was the designated peacekeeper who effectively kept shit from exploding because the meeting of Adam and Robbie was all sorts of awkward. And Finn, well, let’s just say he wasn’t taking things quietly.
Tart and Sweet brings the Candy Man series full circle. There were a lot of Finn and Adam and Ezra and Miguel but Rico and Derek barely made an appearance which was kind of disappointing because they’re my second favorite couple. Adam and Finn is definitely number 1.
That epilogue! I love it!
The book ended on a satisfied note. Our dear candy fairy, Darrin knew his job is done and that he can leave Candy Heaven in good hands. With the boys happy and dreaming big dreams, he does what needs to be done, he goes on a vacation.
P.S.
To get the full Candy Man experience, I recommend reading the books in order. There are a lot of backstories, characters and references from the previous books.
Reviews of Candy Man books here.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Soundtrack: Sorry
Artist: Nothing but Thieves
Album: Broken Machine(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31370835-tart-and-sweet)
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[spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A6rAXHPd18PZ6W8m9EectzH&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]Soundtrack to Candy Man: Tart and Sweet by Amy Lane
