Conduct Unbecoming

By: L.A. Witt

Narrated by: Greg Boudreaux

First class petty officer Eric Randall is less than thrilled about taking orders to Okinawa. Three long, lonely years on a crappy island that's thousands of miles from his daughter? Oh. Yeah. Sign him up. But as long as he's stuck here, he might as well make the best of it, so he discreetly checks out the local gay scene, where he meets Shane Connelly.

What starts as a one night stand leaves both of them wanting more, but then Eric finds out Shane doesn't just outrank him, he's an officer. DADT may be repealed, but an enlisted man getting involved with an officer falls under conduct unbecoming a gentleman and could cost both men their careers. They both have kids to take care of, future civilian careers to consider, and retirements on the line.

Still, they can't resist each other. They discreetly spend nights together, and their mutual desire to explore the beautiful island of Okinawa is a perfect excuse to spend days together. As long as no one asks and they don't tell, there's no reason anyone has to find out.

But secrets like this tend to make themselves known...

This 95,000 word novel was previously published.

©2017 Lori Witt/L.A. Witt (P)2017 Lori Witt/L.A. Witt

..

Where does Conduct Unbecoming rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top tier for certain. The story is so well written, the descriptives of scenery and Okinawa are so vivid and detailed. Add to that brilliant narration to bring the characters to life and this is a book I'll likely listen to again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I do so love Shane and Eric both, they're both favorites. They compliment each other quite well. Like two halves of a whole that only fits seamlessly when they are together.

What does Greg Boudreaux bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He gives the characters a voice. Witt's writing as I said above is detailed, descriptive and vivid, but you can only breath so much life into a character on paper. Boudreaux's narration made them three dimensional.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Both trips to the castle were so emotional and intense. It's almost like they actually definitively decided to start their relationship at the castle, and it's where they returned when every thing went to hell in a hand basket. So the place has special meaning for them.

Any additional comments?

E-book review from January 2013

The backdrop of this story is the beautifully written Okinawa, brought to life superbly in the words Witt uses as descriptives. I was literally transported by her descriptions of the land, islands and castles. I would close my eyes between paragraphs and I was there at Katsuren Castle with Eric and Shane!

Eric is new to the island and not even remotely excited with his latest tour, having left behind his teenage daughter in the states with his ex wife for the next three years. He is a career military, enlisted MP and he's gay. Not necessarily openly gay, but he's not touring Okinawa waving his rainbow flag either. It doesn't take him long to begin his search for something, or someone, to help him pass the time.

The first thing Eric see's when he walks into Palace Habu is the sexy, stranger at the end of the bar. Shane almost drops his drink when he lay's eyes on Eric. The attraction is overwhelming, immediate and mutual. And what should be a one night stand leaves both men wanting, no aching, for more. Okinawa is not the largest island on the planet, but it takes weeks before these two happen upon each other again. Sparks are soon flying again as these two trip over each other on there way back to the bedroom, quickly agreeing this should become a habit. Then Shane drops the bomb that he's an Officer. DADT has been removed, but the long standing rules against Officer's and Enlisted in a relationship still stands. This is one rule not likely to change, not even for this Officer and his gentleman.

Not only do these guys have to deal with being gay in the military and all the side ways glances and hushed whispers that come from their narrowminded fellow soldiers; but Witt delved even deeper by including the forbidden Officer dating Enlisted taboo. Eric and Shane still manage to skirt the boundries of what they should and shouldn't do, neither one willing to admit just how emotionally attached they've become to one another. As they learn ways around the rules and explore the wonder that is Okinawa, as well as each other, they skirt dangerously close to breaking a rule that could have devastating consequences for both of them.

I'm not certain what I liked more about this story. Watching the slow building love story between Eric and Shane as lust and fire become want and need; or the enthralling backdrop of Okinawa and the picture of perfection Witt was able to capture in this novel. This was the first book by L.A.Witt that I had the pleasure of reading, and have since read 4 more, I intend to eventually read all her books. She has an ability to pay as much attention to the background of her story as she does to the characters, but not taking any of the interest away from the characters. The exquisite background just made me that much more eager to turn each page.

I give this one 5/5, but that's just my two cents!

a great listen

The story was amazing, well written, and well read. My only complaint was that the audio skipped big sections and I was forced to constantly go back until it would read.

Love the narration!

Theirs was a forbidden love. One that has the power to destroy them both and everything they have been working for if word of it ever got out.

First class petty officer Eric Randall (and isn’t that a mouthful?) is not happy when he is transferred to Okinawa, a Japanese island so far from his daughter he doesn’t even want to think about it. But for better or worse he’s stuck on the island for the next three years. To make his stay a little less lonely he ventures out to the local gay bar.

Shane Connelly has been on Okinawa for six months. He’s not a stranger to the island or the gay community, or population is more like it, there. When Eric walks into the bar Shane takes instant notice. The attraction between them is immediate, but neither expects anything more than one night of fun. After the initial meet, neither can get the other out of their heads and when they run into each other again they have to admit defeat. And so they start spending time together, exploring the island and each other. But they have to do it in secret, because if they are caught the consequences will be severe.

I’m not at all familiar with the military world or how the ranking works (other than what I’ve read in my romances). I hate that being open with your love is still so stigmatised and forbidden. In this case the “wrongness” of Eric and Shane’s relationship is twofold; they are both men and one outrank the other, a lot. It’s not fair that things like that should matter. That the consequences if they are found out are so harsh, no leeway whatsoever. I mean you can’t help who you fall for. And yet, they stand to lose everything.

Some my favourite parts were when Eric’s daughter Marie came to visit and the three of them spent time together. During the times the three of them spent together, there was no outside lurking, no threat of discharges. It was a genuinely happy times filled with a lot of banter and laughter.

I’m a huge fan of Greg Boudreaux, he is a fantastic narrator and has a beautiful voice. I’ve listened to a bunch of his books and have loved them all. I think I might have said that I’d listen to anything he might say. That said, I do think this might be my least favourite narration of his. I have come to expect so much from him and I know I’ve probably (absolutely) been spoiled by his flawless narrations in the past. That’s why it came as such as a surprise when I had a hard time differentiate between Eric and Shane. Their voices were so similar they might as well have been the same and I often found myself wondering who was narrating, whose head was I in. On the plus side, the emotion and passion was still there in his voice and he brought the story and island to life.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

so good

I'm not the best at writing reviews, but this book was so good. The emotions were palpable. the main characters were *chefs kiss* very well written. Almost like I knew them.

So glad I bought this audio book!

This is one of the first MM books I read years ago and I had lots track of it. I had loved the romance between Erik and Shane and the vivid descriptions of Japan. Greg Boudreaux really brought this story and this couple to life. I feel like I’ve found an old friend and will listen to this again and again.