This would normally have been a DNF, but I needed something simple to read on a road trip with other people chatting in the car. This was certainly simple. Aside from the interesting premise, it was entirely predictable. I realize Davy's in shock and grieving and that his dead partner was the boss in their relationship, but I didn't like the way he was written to be so helpless. He cries (enough that the tears drop on his bare feet), "clings like a limpet", and trembles. Kurt even hauls him into his lap after knowing him for only a few minutes. That's just weird. And Davy's supposed to be a 32-year old biochemist but he doesn't know how to handle his finances or to call 911 in a medical emergency?! No. I have no problem with men being vulnerable, or crying, or needing support, but this just made him seem like a child and not like a man that would be an equal partner for Kurt.Also, any women interested in Kurt came off as predatory man-hunters. One even has a smile that makes him think about a documentary on lions. Cute.So this was readable, but not my kind of book. ★★★½.This was a new plot for me in GFY but it worked well in my opinion. Detective Kurt O’Donnell was injured in an explosion that killed his work partner Ben. As a good partner, Kurt decided to extend himself to Ben's family but quickly realized that he didn't know anything about Ben's family. So Kurt went in search of Ben's family and this is when Kurt realized that Ben wasn't who he thought he was. First of all, Kurt had no idea that Ben was gay nor did he know about the partner Davy. Second, when he got to know Davy and how Ben treated Davy, Kurt felt guilty and tried to help Davy pick up the pieces of his devastated life. The mourning of Ben made Kurt and Davy get close and soon Kurt, who is straight, found himself having sexual fantasies about Davy. But Kurt couldn't act on them because he is catholic, plus the fact that he wasn't gay. Besides, after what Davy went through with Ben, a closeted detective was not something Davy wanted to experience again. Is being friends enough?I liked Kurt and I especially liked how close his family was. I loved Kurt's new work partner and that relationship was obviously more valuable and way more supportive than what he had with Ben. I liked how compassionate Ben was overall, especially considering that he sent texts for over 6 months with no reply. I am ambivalent about Davey. I just didn't feel like I got a good sense of who he was. He was just really weak but that was understandable since his partner for 6 years was just murdered, who wouldn't be feeling so low? He obviously had friends and a real life before because they all popped back in once the barrier (Ben) wasn't in the picture. So I know he must have been a great guy before his self-esteem was smashed. Maybe we will see more of him in the next book.
Do You like book Cop Out (2011)?
I enjoyed romances with a cop character and this one was pretty hot.
—beloved24
