Review - Reckless Endangerment by Crystal D. Budy
Reckless Endangerment
My rating: 
Heat level: 
Volume 1 of Chains
Posted in Book Reviews on 2 September, 2026
Kip is taking a heavy load of classes during the summer session, trying to make up for several failed exams the previous term, when he almost fell into the clutches of a human trafficking ring. It’s hard, since the young man lacks discipline. His biggest wish is to find a Dom that will keep him in line, but his track record with men is pretty dismal. Kip is quite surprised when one of his professors has been replaced by a man he knows as police detective Baxter Griffin, using a different name. Griffin is working undercover, trying to gather evidence on another professor that may be dealing drugs. When that teacher is murdered in front of Kip, it puts the young man in danger, so Griffin is determined to keep him safe. The problem is, Griffin turns out to be just the kind of dominant Kip needs.
Although this is the start of a new series, it’s really a sequel to the author’s Polaris Mysteries. The main characters in this book appeared in the previous stories, and many of the other characters from the previous series appear in this book. There are a number of references to Kip’s experiences with a cult and its human trafficking ring from the original series, so you’d be more informed if you’ve read those books before starting this series. This story is a lot more kink-focused than anything in the prior series, with the developing dominant / submissive relationship between Kip and Griffin taking center stage.
Kip was a recurring character in the Polaris Mysteries series, where it turned out the man he thought was his boyfriend was actually grooming him to be taken by a human trafficking ring. Oh, and a previous boyfriend was murdered. It’s clear Kip hasn’t had many people who really believed in him, resulting in low self-esteem. That’s led him to make bad choices when it comes to relationships, which further lowers his opinion of himself when those affairs end badly.
Griffin can’t deny his attraction to Kip. The young sub pushes all Griffin’s dominant buttons, even when – especially when – Kip is at his brattiest. But there’s a significant age gap, and Kip has been through a lot. Griffin doesn’t want to risk hurting him any more. It takes a while for Kip to completely wear Griffin down. Along the way we learn Griffin’s life hasn’t been easy.
“Reckless Endangerment” is available from Smashwords or from independent booksellers through Bookshop.org.
