Tag Team, Guards of Folsom: Book Two by SJD Peterson

Tag Team, Guards of Folsom: Book Two by SJD Peterson
Stars: 3/5

Length: 220 pages
Blurb
Following the death of their sub, the former owners of the Guards of Folsom, Robert “Bobby” Alcott and Rig Beckworth, were left to pick up the pieces as best they could. After seven years, these two Doms are ready to move on and find the boy who will complete them. Their painful past comes crashing back when they meet Mason Howard, a submissive who just weeks ago lost his Doms in a car accident.

Reeling from overwhelming grief that’s complicated by a severe social anxiety disorder, Mason can barely leave his home. When Rig and Bobby find him, he’s hit rock bottom, believing life is no longer worth living. Bobby and Rig set out to prove the younger man wrong. Fate has brought the three men together, but they’ll have to face the pain of fear and loss head-on before they can all truly live again.

Overall
Despite an interesting plot and characters, I found the story to be slow-moving at times and it just didn’t grab me.

Review
I enjoyed Mason’s struggles and the care and tenderness that Rig and Bobby show him. That said, I found myself skipping over large chunks of text on my second read, as it didn’t move the story forward. This is a personal preference, but the verbosity seemed to bog down the storytelling.

But, keeping that in mind, I still want to get the next in the series. The reading isn’t painful, it’s just not to my liking, and I enjoy the characters and their stories enough to be curious about the men on the side who get mentioned. So even though this story didn’t blow me away, I enjoyed it enough to want to continue.

One of the best things for me was seeing two doms who were very different and who were changed by the sub they were dealing with (rather than the sub who is always the changed one). In addition, at least one of them has a judgmental thought about the previous doms and later rescinds it in his own mind as he comes to understand why it would happen. He still think it was wrong, but he reaches an understanding.

I love that we see the growth of each of these characters and not just the sub. It makes the growth feel real and, in turn, makes the characters feel real (you know, aside from money never being an issue).

It took me a while to write this review, one because I didn’t have much to say, and then because I needed to reread it for a proper review. But even then, this book didn’t scream at me what to write about it. So sorry for a mediocre review that you had to wait for. I think my overall review would be: If you liked the first in the series, you’ll probably like this one at least a little. If you didn’t read the first in the series...then you should start with that one!

More by Sloan Parker

More by Sloan Parker
Stars: 2.5/5

Length: 245 pages
Blurb
For fifteen years Luke Moore has lived by three rules: stay off his father's radar, never spend more than a single night with any man, and never fall in love again. But one night of explosive sex and two men whom he can't get out of his head have Luke breaking them all. Richard and Matthew push him past all his boundaries--both sexually and personally--and now he's no longer hiding from his senator father; he's taking him on. And he isn't just falling for one man; he's falling for two. If you're going to break the rules, might as well break them big.

But Luke's father has his reasons for hating how his son lives, and he'll do whatever he can and use all his power to keep Luke away from Richard and Matthew.

Can this threesome find a way to make their unconventional relationship last with the world around them trying to pull them apart? And will Luke be able to keep breaking his rules for Richard and Matthew, or will he head back to his familiar way of life just when his new lovers want to bind him tighter?

Overall
An interesting story with a sexy threesome that dragged out the plot with too many sex scenes and a somewhat unbelievable set of circumstances.

Review
This is a long novel, which isn't a bad thing--at least not completely. The pacing is fairly steady in regards to the actual plot. However, the length at times felt due to the author not focusing on the flow of the story, or maybe focusing too much on too many different parts of the relationship.

The main conflict (Luke versus his father) was always an underlying threat as these men came together, but while it worked as a motivating factor for Luke, I found it difficult to believe. (From the beginning, Luke came across more as paranoid than cautious, which made it hard to suspend my disbelief.) Obviously people often behave irrationally, but I found it hard to believe that Luke, who has been tormented by his father for years, never actually takes any action to protect himself besides hiding.

On the other hand, unless Luke's father is insane (which his final scene would indicate he's not), I found his obsession with his son kind of extreme. He's always talking about how Luke will affect his career, but he keeps pushing Luke in ways that would make any rational person draw as much attention as possible so that people knew what a crazy asshat the father was. Why would a man who wants his son to keep quiet keep doing that?

To some degree I give leeway because obviously people react differently in different situations, but I just couldn't buy both of these men making such idiotic choices at the same time.

On the other hand, I love how Luke's father screws with Richard and Matthew, and I particularly like the small dramas that these men bring to the table as well and how they work together in the relationship and help Luke handle things.

The relationship between the three men was handled well, and while at times it was hard to see what the other two saw in Luke, I think it worked--mainly because it was from Luke's perspective and he found it difficult to understand what they saw in him too. There are glimpses where he is the perfect fit for one or both of them, and that made the relationship work. I also liked that all three men came together at once instead of a pair taking on a third. This seems to be the way a threesome would work best, although it's obviously the hardest to conjure. Parker did it well here.

I found the sex scenes to be kind of repetitious after a while, and also too many (which kind of go hand in hand). Anytime they have an argument, a bad day, or eat food, sex happens. While not all of the scenes are detailed, I still found myself rolling my eyes and saying, "Another sex scene." Also, although it is pointed out once, they tended to use sex to solve problems, or at least as a Band-Aid. I think if it wouldn't have happened so often, I probably wouldn't have minded, but the continuous "Disagreement-Fight-Sexy" pattern wore me out.

Finally, although I couldn't buy the conflict between father and son, I thought the final confrontation between them was very enjoyable. Not completely surprising, but I liked seeing a different part of the father and the resolution, along with the conversation Luke has with his mother after.

There are definitely positive parts of this book, but I found the overwhelming amount of supposedly mind-blowing sex weighed down the flow of the story, and I had a difficult time believing some of the actions of the antagonist and protagonist.

Bookended by Heidi Belleau

Bookended by Heidi Belleau
Stars: 3.5/5

Length: 32 pages
Blurb
Ad exec Fletcher Williams has the ideal personal assistant. Julian is hardworking, totally in tune with his boss’s needs, capable of enviable attention to detail... and completely willing to apply all those skills to their mutually gratifying sexual relationship. Fletcher doesn’t realize the extent to which he’s wrapped around Julian’s finger—until Julian invites Ogden, a bi-curious young artist they meet in a bookshop, to come home with them. After adding Ogden to their sex life, will Fletcher and Julian be able to return to business as usual?

Overall
A sexy little short that left me wanting more, dammit!

Review
This was enjoyable, but left me with a serious case of emotional blue balls. As a slice of life, this works great, showing Fletcher and Julian in their standard turn of affairs, picking up guys and taking them home for the night. However, the opening and closing scenes, in addition to moments sprinkled throughout, hint at so much more.

And it's this more that my brain is obsessing over. Is what I'm implying actually true to the story, or is it just what I want so badly that I'm imagining it? I think leaving this couple where we are left/abandoned is a good spot to leave them and is fitting with both them and the story--because any resolution would be rather far down the road, I imagine--but it doesn't make it any less difficult to be left there.

That said, if you can go in with the warning that the question asked at the end of the blurb never really gets answered--insert sigh here--then this will be a fun little threesome. If you're more like me--insert second sigh here--you'll still enjoy these three men getting hot and heavy, but you may be pulling at your hair and plotting how to make Belleau tell you it IS a happy ever after.

Either way, enjoy!

The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles

The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles
Stars: 5/5

Length: 233 pages
Blurb
Two plus one equals scorching hot fun.

Dumped by his boyfriend and reduced to living in a grotty bedsit, Josh Carpenter has gotten used to expecting the worst. Now he lives only for his job as a glassblower…and occasional glimpses of his sexy downstairs neighbors, Rai Nakamura and Evan Truman.

Every time he overhears the diminutive academic and the hunky plumber having loud and obviously kinky sex, Josh is overwhelmed with lust…and a longing for a fraction of what they have.

To his amazement, Rai and Evan find his embarrassing tendency to blush utterly charming, and the three men grow closer over the course of the long, hot summer. Despite Rai’s charming flirtation and Evan’s smoldering gaze, Josh is determined never to break his new friends’ loving bonds.

On the night a naked Josh falls—quite literally—into the middle of one of Rai and Evan’s marathon sex sessions, the force of their mutual attraction takes control. But just as Josh dares to hope, he senses a change. Leaving him to wonder if the winds of love are about to blow his way at last…or if history is about to repeat itself.

Overall
Y-U-M.

Followers of my reviews know that sex in stories is usually my least favorite part. This is an exception to the rule. A perfect mix of hot, steamy sex, a slow build of romance and drama, and a terrified narrator, who I associated with perhaps a bit too much. A perfect mix for a steamy romance that is just as delicious as the cover.

Review
Considering the smoking-hot cover and the steamy sex scenes later, the beginning of the book starts slow as the characters meet and become friends. It worked, and it helped lay the foundation that cemented their relationship.

The first-person narrator is a bit of a spazz and jumpy. I connected with him immediately. He worries about his job when he has no need, he can't imagine people wanting him, and he has a string of crap luck (or good luck, maybe), to get things to where they go. Despite his poor self-image, he's not overly dramatic about it, although his kicked-puppy personality is the motivation for most of his actions.

I think what worked best for this story (aside from the yummy sex scenes) was the fact that the characters didn't seem like they went together at all, but Myles made it work for just that reason. The three men are all so different, but in that way they complement one another and break up stereotypes (mostly). Even beyond the main three men, there is a great cast of everyday folk who are just like coworkers, neighbors, and flirty friends that you've probably met in real life.

I do have to admit, a little bit, that when the threesome first gets together the scene feels like something out of a porn, but for some reason it works, and I didn't even think about it until my second read through.

Finally, I just really enjoyed the story, the character dynamic, and the sex. The end is a little expected, but not so much that it's silly, and it felt completely appropriate and alluded to throughout. This story can be summed up with a few visuals: schoolboy role play with creative use of ties, bathtubs in bathtubs, '70s decor and owls, and giant glass dildos.

Enjoy!

Out of Focus by LA Witt

Out of Focus by LA Witt
Stars: 3.5/5

Length: 244 pages
Blurb
He’ll bend for them. But they may break over him.

For twelve years, Dom lovers Ryan “Angel” Morgan and Dante James have run a successful photography business, and satisfied their need for a submissive with the occasional sizzling three-way. On a wedding job, they both zero in on the bride’s beautiful brother, but as professionals, they keep their attraction on the down-low—for now.

Jordan Steele has no trouble establishing mastery over his stallions. When he hires Angel and Dante to shoot promotional photos for his stable, though, there’s something about them that calls to his inner submissive. After a little flirtation and a photo session that gets almost too hot to handle, Angel and Dante are happy to show him the ropes. And the whip.

Once they break the ice, their sexual chemistry burns hotter than a macro flash. Everyone gets what they need…until emotions come into play. Their power could develop into something permanent, throw everything off balance—leaving one of them the odd man out.

Overall
A good showing of a threesome with hot sex scenes and believable resolutions that was a touch heavy on the number of sex scenes and didn't completely enthrall me. Enjoyable, sexy and well done.

Strengths
The triad in this story was well handled, from the coming together (*cough*) to the difficulties they face when having three, especially when two are an established couple. The characters all think things through and come up with good solutions, making this a believable scenario.

Also, the sex scenes with all three are delicious, a great dynamic between characters and playing with some medium-light BDSM. Although there were too many sex scenes for my liking, most of the ones in it as very enjoyable. If you're looking for something with a nice amount of steamy, sex to balance out the plot, this will be good for it.

The cover is eye-catching and artistic, which is fitting since two of the main characters are expert photographers. The cover seems to go right in line with the type of work they do on the side. It's symbolic, powerful and erotic in it's struggle. Very nice.

Weaknesses
There was too much sex for me. Not mind-numbingly too much, but any time there was a scene that didn't involve all three, I tended to skim. This might not be a problem for everyone, and if you're looking for a book with a fair amount of sex, this is your gig. The sex doesn't outweigh the story, and most the sex scenes are important to overall development, but still, a bit much sex.

The ending wasn't bad, but it was just...OK. While resolutions are often obvious in the romance genre, (and that's not my complaint), this one didn't evoke a strong emotional response where, even knowing how things would end up, I still get emotionally invested in the characters and the situation. While I liked the characters, wanted them happy, and liked the ending, I wasn't on pins and needles waiting for the resolution.

By Any Other Name by Tia Fielding

By Any Other Name by Tia Fielding
Stars: 3.5/5

Length: 200 pages
Blurb
Dru and Thom have been together for three years, and despite Thom’s occasional bouts of insecurity and Dru’s fear of rejection, their relationship is rock solid. Then Dru’s long-lost friend, Skye, suddenly reappears, shocking them both. Skye suffered years of inconceivable abuse before escaping it, and while he’s back on track, he has nowhere else to go as he begins to rebuild his life.

Dru, Thom, and Skye each want to belong somewhere, to belong with someone—or someones—with no fear of being hurt, set aside, or left behind. It’s a challenge with daunting odds, especially for Skye, who’s never loved before. He’s determined not to come between his two friends who so clearly belong together, and it will be up to Dru and Thom to conquer their fears and convince Skye to stay.

Overall
Although a well-done threesome is something I love to read, I'm always hesitant to read one, because well-done threesomes happen so rarely. However, I liked the dynamic the blurb hinted at, so I gave it a chance. After reading the first few chapters, I wasn't incredibly taken with the writing. It was okay, but a little stiff overall and the flow was sometimes unnatural. However, the story and the characters kept me going and as the three men struggle to find balance in their lives, I wanted to know how everything ended up--even if the genre gave me a good idea of how it would be.

In a strange way, even though I wasn't in love with this novel, I really enjoyed it. It was a tad slow moving in order to provide adequate character development, the writing was so-so, but the characters are all highly enjoyable, including minor/side characters. I'd definitely recommend this to people who like reading about threesomes. There are a lot of psychological and emotional issues mentioned in this book, and they all play a pivotal role, however, because there is so much and three characters (instead of two), the psychological elements don't get as much development as I like. They still are important, and are well utilized, but the story doesn't focus too heavily on the psychological issues.

Strengths
The way the author handled/created the threesome worked wonderfully. Obviously this is something that is easy to screw up, but it was handled in a reasonable way that felt natural for the people involved. I also appreciated that the author recognized the challenges having a threesome relationship could potentially cause in society, but didn't let that distract from the main focus of the story.

The characters are all sweet and wonderful, despite their weaknesses and failings. Sometimes they seem to get along too well (because we all know how often arguments happen in a two-person couple), but it's easily forgiven since so many other obstacles stand in their way. Despite some of the grim topics, this is a happy book with overall happy characters who want to help one another, not hurt one another, and find their happiness.

There is an adorable epilogue that I wasn't expecting and, honestly, it comes out of the blue a little, but it's cute, funny and a nice way to end the book (and almost pushed the score to 4).

Weaknesses
The writing was the weakest part of the novel, and even that wasn't unbearable, just slightly stiff. However, that, in combination with an overall placid plot, left me mostly uninvolved with the story. It was enjoyable but not captivating, and sadly kept the story from earning a higher score.

There was a slight jump in Skye's capability to perform sexually, which, while it made for a pretty hot scene, didn't feel realistic.

Requested this book for review.

Paradise Found by Hunter Raines

Paradise Found by Hunter Raines
Stars: 4.5/5

Overall
Triads tend to be very good or very bad, as it's difficult enough to balance out one relationship, and adding another person just complicates things further. Raines impressed me by pulling together a very good threesome both in and out of bed, taking three different character types and exploring the challenges of their relationship all together and in pairs. The writing was steady, the story development was strong, and the characters were enjoyable. A pleasurable read that I look forward to re-visiting in the future.

Strengths
Handling of BDSM topics. Raines' approach to telling the reader about, and having the characters learn about, BDSM was unique and I enjoyed it. We see the scene from a Dom's perspective, then we see it from someone who knows nothing and is informed by someone outside the relationship about it while learning about himself. Also, while understanding the lifestyle is important, the author also takes the time to make little jokes between characters that lighten the mood at just the right moment. The scenes felt good and everyone was happy with their level of involvement, which helped the dynamic.

Handling of threesome. Raines handled the complexities of a threesome admirably by recognizing the difficulties both internally and externally (although the latter is only mentioned in passing). The spark that initially brings the three together burns through out the book, even as the characters go their separate ways. The emotional ramifications of being in a triad (jealousy, favoritism, 'there first' attitude, and being replaced) are all addressed and looked at seriously, getting to the important elements that make this particular relationship work.

Characters/development. I think I fell in love with these characters almost immediately. They are all good men who have minor faults (most of which includes being embarrassed about something and lack of communication), and by the end of the second or third chapter I wanted them happy (and preferably in a big pile of naked...which is related to them being happy). While some of the head skipping was confusing (it may be my copy, but there was no indication sometimes when we went from Philip's head to Cameron's, etc), it wasn't confusing enough to disrupt the flow of story. Fun characters to spend the afternoon with.

Weaknesses
Financial believability. There was a bit too much money floating around at times, which worked for the plot, but left me wondering where it came from. Philip obviously came from/had loads of money, but Mark and Cameron weren't in high-paying jobs (necessarily), and at one point they seemed to get a week's vacation without much notice, unless I missed a time skip. This is a minor snit, but too many stories depend on magic money that it feels necessary to mention. However, it doesn't distract from the overall story and the issue only arises once.

Note: I requested a copy to review.