Cuddly Behavior (Bad Behavior #6) by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

I'll start by saying I'm NOT a fan of cats. AT ALL. Though I did thought at a certain point I'll have a Maine Coon (probably at least partly the breed of Mark's cat). What I AM a fan of? Andreas and Darren. ~sigh~ After everything these two have gone through together seeing them in such a domestic relationship was simply heart warming. When the big decisions in life is where to order takeout from or if to fall asleep on the couch with the cat on you or keep on working on your paperwork. I couldn't have asked for more from these two so adding the cat into the mix (even with my general dislike of the spices) was still cute and fun.

While reading this novella without reading the previous installment of Mark and Ryan IS possible I think it's a silly idea considering who GREAT it was. So I'm asking you here - don't make short cuts! But generally speaking all you probably need to know is after Mark is injured on the job he could have Harley (his cat) in the house with him while recovering considering her disregard to him having stitches all over his stomach. Darren who have been feeding her while Mark was in the hospital suggested he and Andreas take her for a week or two till Mark gets better.

Protective Behavior (Bad Behavior #5) [Mark & Ryan] by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

Our surprise has arrived and it was perfectly timed! It was also something I REALLY wanted or rather hoped Cari and L.A. would write - Mark's story! YAY! I LOVED this book. The story of Mark and Ryan was beautiful and heartfelt and exactly what I needed to read. Their romance was so tender and sweet even with the chaos and uncertainty around them.

Remember Detective Mark Thibedeau from the Internal Affairs Bureau? The guy who doesn't know how to have fun? Well, now that Erin Ruffner (Andreas' daughter) is working for him and more than that have really came to care for him she decides to find him a date! With a bit of help from her boyfriend an Orthopedic doctor she sets Mark up with his co-worker Ryan. 

Mark isn't sure what he thinks of the idea of a date, a BLIND date. Who goes to those these days? But from the little texting he did with Ryan he seemed like a nice guy so why not? But when Ryan's smile literally fills Mark's world when he first sees him he knows he is a goner. Too bad the date is cut short due to a situation at the hospital where Ryan works. Sadly this seems to happen too many times to count, making it very hard for them to actually find a time for even the second date. Mark knows what it's like being a cop himself, even if his job now is mostly a desk job. But it sure gets frustrating!

Romantic Behavior (Bad Behavior #4) by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

~sigh~ This was the PERFECT ending to the series. Though a wedding, a big one, and mostly the planning isn't my thing, quite like how Darren and Andreas see it - getting married in the end, the VOWS! the whole thing was simply BEAUTIFUL. I loved that with everything that was going on around them, in the end they were true to themselves and made the wedding their own.

While Andreas had the whole marriage proposal planned for a while, when the day finally came he was SO nerves. It was endearing. While Darren saying yes was a given, what happens next was and wasn't.. I didn't think about it before but actually we didn't know ANYTHING about Andreas' family. I didn't know he even HAS living parents.. There's a reason for that.. While his father is actually a nice guy his mother is the DEVIL. He knew what would happen once she hears about the marriage and her general attitude is going to be, so poor Darren for not realizing what he's going to deal with not only on the wedding day but on a dinner before that, the lunch at HIS parents, the reversal... yep.. it's going to be HELL.

Reckless Behavior (Bad Behavior #3) by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

Another EXCELLENT installment, I can't believe Andreas and Darren's journey is coming to an end. But I guess they are entitled to their HEA sooner rather than later even if I'm VERY reluctant to let them go. This was quite an emotional ride, unlike the previous two books were things WERE at times personal, in this one it's ALL about Andreas being personally punished for his past actions. I knew and believed in our HEA ending, but the ride was bumpy and painful to everyone, yet through it, we could see these two not only protect and be there for their families, but also becoming a family together.

Andreas' older kids are FINALLY in town and they plan on meeting together with Lisa (Andreas' ex girlfriend) and Emily (their mutual 4 years old daughter). While Erin (Andreas' oldest) has been in town for a while now, and she is updated on everything, Ben and Casey (his younger sons) don't know about him having HIV (for the past 4+ years), being bi and seriously dating Darren. It's time to come clean and it's time to put family in a more prominent place in his life. He still plans on running around criminals but he misses his family and wants to have a bigger part in their lives.

Their dinner together was awkward. While Ben was more accepting, it was a bigger shock for Casey who wasn't sure how to accept all these secrets and truths he didn't know about his father. When dinner is over and they are about to part ways Emily and Erin are abducted together with Casey (while Ben got away with Darren's help). Andreas is left barely standing on the sidewalk not having a clue what just happened and how he is going to find his kids. Who would harm them? As a police officer he has obtained many enemies, and still, going after his family? Now all of a sudden? It makes no sense and so it leaves him unable to process or even DO anything helpful to find them.

Suspicious Behavior (Bad Behavior #2) by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

I am LOVING this series, I'm already bummed that there's just a whole novel and a novella and that's IT. Darren and Andreas are BEAUTIFUL together. I SO enjoy seeing them care for one another, think about each other and try to do their best even without saying actual words. You know, though I love reading about "tough guys" I mostly have to swallow the extremely bitter pill of their HUGE ego. It shows even more in their attitude towards one another as they get to know each other and especially when they are afraid they have already fallen (against their "will"). It doesn't happen here AT ALL. Once Darren and Andreas starts seeing eye to eye, understanding each other's motives and way of thinking (even when not agreeing) this sort of "ego" falls away. We see two guys working TOGETHER and then the relationship comes naturally. It was just PERFECT.

Before I actually start my review I have something to say I forgot mentioning in my review of the first installment and that's Asher. Asher is Darren's older brother (35 to Darren's 28) and though he doesn't have a huge role in the story he is always there in the back of Darren's mind and it shows, more so in this one. Asher was diagnosed with an early-onset Alzheimer. That's HORRIFIC. Early onset means genetic and it also means the disease progresses much quicker than the "regular" prognosis. Asher have been a  successful lawyer, working in the DA's office, he was happily married and his life was looking up when everything crashed down when he became ill. He got divorced, moved back home and his step-dad Vic retired a bit early to be able to help his wife take care of Asher. In this book Asher's state deteriorates even more which makes Darren even more anxious about Asher and about the possibility of him being in Asher's shoes soon enough. The whole situation was more than heart breaking especially with Andreas always in the background and the big question of what's going to happen to THEM when/if Asher becomes starts showing symptoms..

Risky Behavior (Bad Behavior #1) by Cari Z.& L A. Witt

I LOVED this one! What a ride! I really enjoyed the way the relationship between Darren and Andreas progressed, and generally, seeing these two together, working or else... There are SO many books out there telling us of two cops/detectives being assigned together with no desire to be partnered at all or to one another, and yet this was still different and special, shouldn't expect less from Cari (also I've read another collaboration she had with Witt I enjoyed). I really can't wait to start the next one and get another fix of these two.

Everyone thinks Detective Andreas Ruffner  is a dirty cop and an junky. Though there is no proof of the matter, and though he is known for his unorthodox ways, he is also known for closing too many cases to be JUST a dirty cop. The only proof that CAN be found is of him being an a-hole especially when he is partnered. Those he doesn't seem to keep for long. It's not his fault they can't be trusted!