Reckless Behavior by Amanda Young
The Blurb:
After six months with his lover, Cody yearns for monogamy. The threesomes he and Dante engage in are fun, but he needs more from the man he loves. Although Cody longs to tell Dante how he feels, he fears love and fidelity are two words missing from his older lover’s vocabulary.
The discovery of a naked man in Dante’s apartment confirms Cody’s worst fears. The cliché Dante uses as an excuse for his betrayal further clouds the issue at hand. Cody doesn’t know whether to trust the word of a man notorious for screwing around, or believe the worst and walk away from love he wants more than anything.
Review:
Cody is a nineteen year old virgin who met Dante at a costume party and happily had his virginity taken away by the sexy older man. Since Dante was certainly no stranger to sexual exploration he easily agreed to Cody spreading his wings, so to speak, with other men. The only provision was to enjoy the other men together. Now, six months have past of various threesomes and fun, hot sex with random men and both Cody and Dante are tiring of the wild sex. Unfortunately, they won’t simply sit down and express this to each other and thus perpetuate the “big misunderstanding” theme that is used within this short, mostly sex based sequel.
The majority of the story is comprised of sex scenes – which are certainly hot and ranging from double penetration to threesomes and morning sex. Unfortunately all these sex scenes are well over half the book leaving the actual characters with little definition, almost no progression, and the overall story a flat and empty excuse to have some really hot sex between two gorgeous gay guys. Part of the problem with this is the inherent issues with a sequel when the plot is rather thin. Here the actual tension and plot stems from both Cody and Dante wanting monogamy but prefer to believe the other man could never want the same thing. This refusal to actually talk is an annoying device, although likely realistic given the numerous communication problems between couples.
Unfortunately the insistence on using this theme of misunderstanding, miscommunication, lack of actual conversation, and outright lying leads the characters to be rather empty and their relationship to fall flat. Why Cody and Dante are in love is a mystery as their six month relationship seems to be heavily based on sex, with each other and other men, and very little actual connection. Several times the lack of knowledge about basic facts of each man, such as family, shows not only how little they know about each other, but they never think to ask. Furthermore, both express a great deal of enjoyment within the threesomes that contradicts their internal musings that they are tiring of the sexual antics. Neither Cody nor Dante actually seem to want to stop the threesomes, more so they want emotional reassurance that their feelings are returned.
This contradictory element is repeated throughout the story in the brief scenes of inner contemplation the characters have in between rampant sex and miscommunication. Dante muses that he wants Cody all to himself, yet hopes Cody doesn’t mind sharing Dante’s attention with the mystery Milo (whose identity is revealed but is somewhat of a mild spoiler so I won’t mention specifics). While this dichotomy is explained, it’s an example of the contradictions that were heavily used within the story. Additional factors are ignored such as the age difference with Cody being nineteen to Dante’s thirty-two that could have provided more depth to their relationship if explained or explored. Instead the author choose to stay with the yearning for monogamy in between rampant sex with a resolution to the misunderstanding as quick and easy leading to the one actual conversation these men have at the end of the book.
The writing wasn’t bad even with the editing errors as Young can definitely write a scorching hot sex scene in explicit detail while keeping each one different with a purpose for the book. From showing their glee in the sexual antics to their desire for each other and thankfully a focus on safe sex, none of the scenes are rote although they are clearly fantasy romance. Perhaps the characters are given more depth and definition in the initial book, but even if they had the reason for this sequel still reads thin to me. If you’re looking for an easy book without a lot of depth in the men or plot but super hot sex scenes – this may be it for you.
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three am 
Hi, Kassa! You said, “…refusal to actually talk is an annoying device.” Yes, I find it a total cliche. It may be a common thing in real-life as you’ve pointed out, but it certainly is a device that is run into the ground in m/m fiction.
You said, “Furthermore, both express a great deal of enjoyment within the threesomes that contradicts their internal musings that they are tiring of the sexual antics.”
I think you might be the only reviewer I know who points out the contradictions involved in a writer telling us that the characters want to go one way while their actions go a different way.
That always startles me (in a good way) when you do this in a review — it’s something that I should think about more often. Since I’ve noticed you doing it, it’s helped me to become a better reviewer, and it’s helped me with my own fiction.
In the past, I’ve fallen into that sort of contradictory mistake myself or I’ve failed to notice it in other people’s fiction. Very perceptive of you!
Hiya and thanks! I also found it annoying. It’s certainly true to life, but I think there is a thin edge that fiction (and especially romance) walks. Either it’s not realistic because it’s fiction and those little details like refusal to talk don’t apply. Or it IS realistic to life where other details are unrealistic. But that’s a whole ‘nother argument on realism in novels.
As for the contradictions, well thank you! I don’t read fiction critically. I read for enjoyment but I do get bothered when an author tells me something but has their characters do the opposite. For me, it’s not ok to get your point across by telling me but letting your characters do what they want. As complex and complicated they may be, there still has to be a basis.
Here I felt the author was trying to balance giving hot sex scenes where everyone was happy and furthering the plot of wanting monogamy. Unfortunately, it came across as only the author really wanted monogamy for the men IMO.
But then again, several people haven’t noticed that contradiction so perhaps I’m an anal witch that notices it *laughs*. Thanks for the compliment though 🙂 Much appreciated!
You’re welcome. I think it’s a unique strong point in your reviewing style.
We all have things we notice and things that just slide under our radar. Like this contradiction-thing sliding past me — and what could be more important than someone’s actions not lining up with their words?
Something I’ll notice as a reviewer that a lot of people don’t seem to find important is how recognizable the setting is in a story. That “generic city” thing drives me bananas and yet many readers don’t care if they don’t get those climate or landscape details. So I guess it’s all in what we each can’t help noticing!