Disorderly Conduct: The Academy (Academy, #1)

by Tessa Bailey

You don't know what you've got until it's gone...Police academy cadet Charlie Burns can't believe his luck when the gorgeous blonde he meets in a bar murmurs those magic words: "Nothing serious, 'kay?" Mind-blowing, no-strings sex with Ever Carmichael-it's the holy grail of hookups for a guy who's too busy following in his law enforcement family's footsteps to think about getting serious. Charlie's all about casual...that is, until Ever calls it quits and his world tilts on its axis. Ever knows that when you control the relationship game, you can't get played. But for the first time, she wants more than short-term satisfaction. Step one: end her fling with commitment-phobic Charlie. Step two: sacrifice herself to the ruthless NYC dating scene. Yet everywhere she turns, there's Charlie, being his ridiculously charming self. No online match or blind date compares to the criminally hot cop-in-training, but they're over. Aren't they? If love is a four-letter-word, why does the idea of Ever seeing someone else tie Charlie up in knots? Now he's desperate to win her back...and a little date sabotage never hurt anyone, right?

• ISBN10: 0062467085
• ISBN13: 9780062467089
• Publish Date: 5 October 2017 (first published 29 August 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 15 October 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Avon Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[thebookdisciple]

Disorderly Conduct pits 2 independent, one night stand type people against each other in a battle of wills! Will either of them admit that maybe a long term relationship is exactly what they want from the other? (I'm not so sure...these two are pretty stubborn!)

Ever's mom, grandma, and great grandma all taught her the Mistress rules. Ever doesn't sleep with married men like the other women in her family, but she still follows the rest of the rules because she fears getting attached and the heartbreak that comes with it. Charlie is a new recruit to the police academy and can't believe he is able to score a no strings, sex only relationship with Ever. Then, suddenly, she calls it off. He isn't okay with this and decides he isn't going to take it! Game on.

Honestly, I didn't really like either character. Ever's ridiculous mistress rules were degrading and offensive. Charlie is your classic, trite manwhore character that, frankly, I am over at this point. So, the book didn't start off so well in my opinion. Then her mother visits and, in Ever's words, gives her a glimpse of the 'ghost of mistresses future' and begs her to give relationships a shot. So, knowing Charlie doesn't want a relationship, she ends it.

I understand why both Charlie and Ever are so anti-relationship. Their entire lives have been a lesson in why it is bad. They are both still young in the story (early 20's), so their blind allegiance to the teachings is understandable. Frustrating? Yes. But, I reminded myself they are young and a product of their environment. I was happy to see Charlie begin to change his mind a bit. His little visions of life in a relationship with Ever made me see he was capable of change. My fear was that he would sabotage her dates so he could get her back as a fuck buddy which would have been so messed up. But, he does grow and change so I could root for him (even when I wanted to knock their heads together for being so stubborn! A simple conversation could have ended this whole charade!).

If immature characters get under your skin, you might want to skip Disorderly Conduct. I liked that both of them experienced character growth, and as long as I kept reminding myself they are young, their behavior and actions were 'more' understandable (I won't stay I understood them totally because I'm old, but if I think back to 21 year old me, I probably would have done some of this stupid shit too). You have to take this book with the same level of levity as you would a college romance. The characters are not perfect; they are young and make some dumb decisions. Once I kind of beat that into my head, I was able to enjoy the story. Its kind of funny to watch Charlie come up with ways to sabotage Ever's dates!

 

• POV: dual 1st


• Tears: no


• Trope: manwhore,


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: spoiler


• HEA: spoiler

How to Date a Douchebag by Sara Ney, Clam Jam by RC Boldt, ...then you will probably like Disorderly Conduct!

 

Disorderly Conduct

See full review on The Book Disciple

[leelu92]

I attempted to read a book that is releasing this week. I got about 10% in and I knew that while it was going to a very steamy book, I knew that the heart, the soul, the relationship was not going to be properly developed. Needless to say, I DNF’d and moved on.

Not long after that, I started Disorderly Orderly Conduct and I thought, “YES! This is how you do it!” And that reminded me once again, how good Bailey is at combining passion, sexy times and an actual relationship.

Ever and Charlie are in utter and complete denial as far as the status of their “relationship”. Neither one thinks they want a relationship or want to settle down and fall in love. Things do change for Ever and she goes on a hunt for a man to settle down with, which thank goodness, spurs Charlie into action. And let’s face it, he is a GONER for Ever. Oh, and did I mention that he calls her “Cutie” and she calls him “Big Man”? Good LAWD.

Not only does Bailey combine passion and relationship development, she’s so freaking funny. I found myself laughing out loud one minute and swooning the next. I know that I’m talking about how much I love this book, but I really do love it. If you’ve read Bailey, it reminds me of her first series, Line of Duty, which was EXCELLENT. Charlie is alpha and ridiculously sexy like the LoD men were. Plus, he is not afraid to pour his heart out to Ever.

You can read the rest here ---> http://bit.ly/Bailey_DC

*Copy for review provided by publisher.

[Linda]

Disorderly Conduct was a fun read, sweet romance, with protagonists who were sure they didn't want a real relationship.
FRC