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Undercover Blues #1
Undercover Blues
Ryan is a police officer working undercover for the organized crime unit in an Australian city. His job is to get close to the mob boss' brother Jason, who might just lead him to bringing down the crime boss and all his cronies. Problem is, he doesn't count on the things Jason makes him feel. Jason knows Ryan is bad news for his family, but can't help falling for the hot cop. Things go bad in a big way when the investigation heats up, and Jason and Ryan have to deal with danger, coming out, and figuring out if their love is worth fighting for.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2006
122 people want to read
About the author
Laney Cairo
25 books45 followersLaney lives in a queer commune with three of her favourite people and two of her favourite dogs. When not writing, she teaches university students about apostrophes, scientific methodology and visual culture. In her spare time she photographs fjords and works on being kinder.
In her previous professional incarnations she has been a masseuse, owned a genre bookshop and dipped her toes in the civil service. In her long distant past Laney has undertaken nude modelling, been a fairy-for-hire, run murder mystery nights and been a breastfeeding educator; but not all at the same time.
Laney likes to tell stories about people who could be real, imagined into the future or an alternate reality.
Laney would rather curl up with a pot of tea and her laptop than speak to a group of people. Laney’s favourite word is ‘utterly’ and her long-suffering editor often has the task of restricting her to one per story. If you find an extra one she’d be utterly, utterly delighted to hear from you at laney [at] laneycairo [dot] com.
In her previous professional incarnations she has been a masseuse, owned a genre bookshop and dipped her toes in the civil service. In her long distant past Laney has undertaken nude modelling, been a fairy-for-hire, run murder mystery nights and been a breastfeeding educator; but not all at the same time.
Laney likes to tell stories about people who could be real, imagined into the future or an alternate reality.
Laney would rather curl up with a pot of tea and her laptop than speak to a group of people. Laney’s favourite word is ‘utterly’ and her long-suffering editor often has the task of restricting her to one per story. If you find an extra one she’d be utterly, utterly delighted to hear from you at laney [at] laneycairo [dot] com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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November 6, 2016Review soon.
January 3, 2011
This didn't turn out to be as bad as I feared but it's still on the low end of 3 stars. I never quite got a grip of what Ryan was really meant to achieve in his undercover job and I never took to Jason either. He is a nice guy, a good guy, but since this story revolves around cops, druglords (or whatever the baddies were) and undercover jobs, AND IS FICTION, I expected something with a little more pizzaz than just a nondescript policeman and his equally-insipid surfer-gopher-bum boyfriend. There's not even a strong suspense plot to make up for the two most unlikely romance protags. UB lacked the sparkle of Bad Case of Loving You and though, if I'm not mistaken, the two books were published in 2006, it felt like UB was written much earlier before the author got her writing legs.
There's also something I don't understand and likely to do with the Australian Police Force: towards the end of gthe book, Stretchyarse, Ryan's DS in the force, tells him they are letting him go because he can't continue in the force after his undercover stint; that they are giving him a medical discharge on account of his getting shot and Ryan isn't to discuss any of this with anyone as they do not want 'any sort of Royal Commission into the force'. So Ryan ends up losing his job (he still gets a pension, though) and I'm left wondering why. Are the Australian Police not allowed to go undercover and if so, why was Ryan told to by the higher-ups?
The last chapter was unnecessarily long and full of nothing. And that was topped off by an even more unnecessary epilogue. UB isn't bad the way some books I've read are downright bad. This was one that happens to fall in that no man's land of book reviews. I'm still going to check if Ms Cairo has written any other books, though. Despite my low rating for UB, I'm still optimistic of striking another good one with her, as I did with Bad Case of Loving You.
There's also something I don't understand and likely to do with the Australian Police Force: towards the end of gthe book, Stretchyarse, Ryan's DS in the force, tells him they are letting him go because he can't continue in the force after his undercover stint; that they are giving him a medical discharge on account of his getting shot and Ryan isn't to discuss any of this with anyone as they do not want 'any sort of Royal Commission into the force'. So Ryan ends up losing his job (he still gets a pension, though) and I'm left wondering why. Are the Australian Police not allowed to go undercover and if so, why was Ryan told to by the higher-ups?
The last chapter was unnecessarily long and full of nothing. And that was topped off by an even more unnecessary epilogue. UB isn't bad the way some books I've read are downright bad. This was one that happens to fall in that no man's land of book reviews. I'm still going to check if Ms Cairo has written any other books, though. Despite my low rating for UB, I'm still optimistic of striking another good one with her, as I did with Bad Case of Loving You.
April 15, 2011
I had read a short with two guys but it didn't mean much then Jen informed me that they were from this book. So I decided to check it out. Ryan is a young up and coming police officer working in organized crime. They have been trying to get the goods on a big crime boss, and have decided the way to do it is to get close to the man's brother. However since he's gay, they can't send their usual undercover female cop, so straight Ryan is tasked with the job. He's not thrilled to say the least, but that's work. Only something goes terribly wrong. He likes it. Ack! Jason knows all along that "Pete" is a cop but figures he'll have some fun with a straight guy and then cut him loose. Before long Ryan is in well over his head personally, as is Jason. There's an attack on the crime bosses family while Ryan is there by a rival gang that ends up with Ryan shot and injured and fired for getting too close to Jason. I really really liked this. I thought Ryan's progression from straight guy who never "got" girls, to hot for a man worked well, and some of the supporting characters were great, especially Jason's flamboyant rich mother Blue and even his humorously nicknamed boss. This is an older book, 2006, but definitely worth checking out and it's set in Australia (although Ryan is an ex-pat Brit and Jason grew up in the US) so there is some nice cultural references to enjoy. I'm going to go and find that short story again so I can enjoy it more this time knowing the whole backstory.
January 26, 2018
Bueno, arrancamos el año para abajo, con tan solo dos estrellas.
La historia si bien no era súper prometedora, me resultaba atractiva: un detective encubierto se enamora de un hombre, sin ser gay... bueno sí, la hice simple, pero básicamente se trata de eso. En fin... esperaba una trama simple, pero bella y lo único que me encontré es una historia bastante mal desarrollada. Personajes poco profundos y una narración dudosa. Ah, sin mencionar que no pasa absolutamente nada importante y que el final es de los peores sinsentidos que he leído. Termina muy de pronto, abruptamente y la historia en sí es muy poco consistente.
En fin, leeré el 2, pero con pocas ganas y cero expectativas.
La historia si bien no era súper prometedora, me resultaba atractiva: un detective encubierto se enamora de un hombre, sin ser gay... bueno sí, la hice simple, pero básicamente se trata de eso. En fin... esperaba una trama simple, pero bella y lo único que me encontré es una historia bastante mal desarrollada. Personajes poco profundos y una narración dudosa. Ah, sin mencionar que no pasa absolutamente nada importante y que el final es de los peores sinsentidos que he leído. Termina muy de pronto, abruptamente y la historia en sí es muy poco consistente.
En fin, leeré el 2, pero con pocas ganas y cero expectativas.
April 4, 2009
I haven't read a dudd Laney Cairo yet, and she is not a formulaic writer either.
It is a bit hard to review this without giving away the plot. However since Elaine has asked so nicely I will try!
We have Ryan who is a detective constable and Jason who is the brother of the head of a crime syndicate in Australia. In an attempt to get information on the crime syndicate it is decided to send Ryan (who is straight) in to try and strike up a relationship with Jason (who is Gay). Jason is not exactly a criminal himself, he is used as a gofer and obviously lives on his brother's money but we are led to believe he is a good guy nevertheless.
Ryan has to ask for help from a gay policeman who advises him to pretend he is exploring the gay scene out of curiosity for the first time. All goes to plan with the seduction, except that Jason sees through it immediately, however he is tempted so goes along with it. The chemistry between the two of them is great complicated by the fact that Ryan knows his colleagues are listening in! Crime syndicates and cops are always good for some tension - naturally! Plus they both have mothers whom one can only describe as eccentric who create the light relief in the story.
Just read it Elaine, you will enjoy it I am sure!
It is a bit hard to review this without giving away the plot. However since Elaine has asked so nicely I will try!
We have Ryan who is a detective constable and Jason who is the brother of the head of a crime syndicate in Australia. In an attempt to get information on the crime syndicate it is decided to send Ryan (who is straight) in to try and strike up a relationship with Jason (who is Gay). Jason is not exactly a criminal himself, he is used as a gofer and obviously lives on his brother's money but we are led to believe he is a good guy nevertheless.
Ryan has to ask for help from a gay policeman who advises him to pretend he is exploring the gay scene out of curiosity for the first time. All goes to plan with the seduction, except that Jason sees through it immediately, however he is tempted so goes along with it. The chemistry between the two of them is great complicated by the fact that Ryan knows his colleagues are listening in! Crime syndicates and cops are always good for some tension - naturally! Plus they both have mothers whom one can only describe as eccentric who create the light relief in the story.
Just read it Elaine, you will enjoy it I am sure!
May 10, 2017
4.5 stars
He's a terrible undercover guy. He should at least know how not to appear too anxious or eager no matter what it's about.
God the sex is hot.
Peril and a bedside vigil. I love this!
It's really good that there are real consequences for the police officer's inappropriate actions.
Ryan's very brave and self-aware.
The cops would have taken the sheets.
The dog is awesome and realistic.
I'm love that nurse.
Their relationship has mostly been sex so the intensity is hard to believe but they did spend an afternoon and a dinner together.
Loved this. Funny and dramatic with action and peril and a hospital bedside vigil.
He's a terrible undercover guy. He should at least know how not to appear too anxious or eager no matter what it's about.
God the sex is hot.
Peril and a bedside vigil. I love this!
It's really good that there are real consequences for the police officer's inappropriate actions.
Ryan's very brave and self-aware.
The cops would have taken the sheets.
The dog is awesome and realistic.
I'm love that nurse.
Their relationship has mostly been sex so the intensity is hard to believe but they did spend an afternoon and a dinner together.
Loved this. Funny and dramatic with action and peril and a hospital bedside vigil.
July 20, 2020
3 stars.
La historia es delirante, realmente espero que su idea fuera entretener o ser una sátira.
Todavía no comprendo como él no lloró por la muerte de su hermano o algo, simplemente fue a interogatorio y después a buscar a Ryan, COMO SI NADA.
3era vez que releo esta historia y me sigue encantando.
El humor se transmite en cada frase dicha por los personajes, la familia Cooper es encantadora, para ser unos criminales, y el romance tan real que hay entre Jason y Ryan es simplemente un AW enorme y en negrita.
La historia es delirante, realmente espero que su idea fuera entretener o ser una sátira.
Todavía no comprendo como él no lloró por la muerte de su hermano o algo, simplemente fue a interogatorio y después a buscar a Ryan, COMO SI NADA.
3era vez que releo esta historia y me sigue encantando.
El humor se transmite en cada frase dicha por los personajes, la familia Cooper es encantadora, para ser unos criminales, y el romance tan real que hay entre Jason y Ryan es simplemente un AW enorme y en negrita.
September 8, 2014
A fun story that takes place in Australia (so the lingo makes an interesting addition). Interesting characters - on the surface they would not appear to be very likeable but the author did a great job making them not only likeable but a good fit together. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
There is a short sequel "Unfinished Business" but it was not available on BN.com, I found it on Torquere Press - it was worth the read too.
There is a short sequel "Unfinished Business" but it was not available on BN.com, I found it on Torquere Press - it was worth the read too.
August 12, 2011
Cheesy, simplistic and full of cliche but I liked it. I'm surprise by that.
Jason deserved to go in jail.
A very secondary perso said to Ryan: "You can't learn to act gay". Ho, and here I through that it's was what actor (or an undercover cop in this case) was being about, learning to be someone else.
Jason deserved to go in jail.
A very secondary perso said to Ryan: "You can't learn to act gay". Ho, and here I through that it's was what actor (or an undercover cop in this case) was being about, learning to be someone else.
January 8, 2013
Being an Aussie, I loved the 'Aussie-ness' of this book - the speech patterns, the dialogue, the characters. Perfectly played. Blackie gets a star all of her own!
My only quibble is that I would have liked the undercover part to have played out for longer.
My only quibble is that I would have liked the undercover part to have played out for longer.
April 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this one. The relationship had the potential to be based on lies and mistrust, but the author didn't go that way, and this was much better. Very satisfying gay-for-you police story set in Australia.
April 16, 2011
Hmm. Whose bright idea was it to send the allegedly straight cop undercover to hook up with the crime lord’s brother? :) Nicely done, even if I had to guess what some of the Aussie slang meant.
January 24, 2010
I liked it quite a lot, the writing is smooth and some subtle humour. My only complaint is that the conflict, though valid and real, was not fleshed out enough.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews