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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
2.5-3 stars. This was kind of a strange read for me. This is Sebastian (Seb), Griff and Moira's book. Seb and Moira are happily married. Griff is Seb's best friend. He catches his wife cheating on him and gets depressed because he is once again a third wheel in Seb's happy relationship. He realizes he is actually in love with Moira and very jealous of Seb, so he decides he is going to give up the business he owns with Seb and move away. To keep him from doing that, Seb decides to ask Moira to be shared with Griff. Moira is so in love with Seb that she is very unsure, never actually having felt attracted to Griff. But she blindly does whatever Seb wants so she agrees. Griff gets drawn into their relationship and they become a MFM trio. There is a lot of jealousy, drama and angst between them all, too.
This book wasn't at all what I was expecting. I thought this would be a sexy, instalove type, low angst, easy read. But that is pretty much the opposite of what I read. I thought the main idea was interesting and I did like parts of it, but parts were so odd for me, too. I was definitely conflicted. I liked Moira and Griff. I just didn't love Seb. We were supposed to believe that he platonicly loves his best friend, Griff, so much that he doesn't want to lose his friendship so he will share his wife with him. But I never felt the love between him and Griff. Seb was pretty much a jerk to him. This didn't support the whole premise of the book. Seb often said some rude things about Moira too, such as how he is powerful over her and that she is his dutiful wife who does whatever he wants. Of course, she is so loyal and obsessed with Seb that she didn't care. It made me not like her as much because she was such a bad judge of character for loving Seb.
The act that Seb commits was so out of nowhere and cast a weird pall over the rest of the book. It was just such a strange thing that I didn't think fit with the rest of the book and made me question whether I liked any of the characters by the end of the book. Seb came off like a psychopath.
I really thought the book was going to end on a cliffhanger because there was so much drama and emotion happening. It all gets wrapped up on the last two pages. I just didn't believe in a HEA for this threesome. I kind of wanted Seb to be out of the picture. He treated Moira and Griff poorly, while Griff adored Moira. Overall, I don't think I really enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure! This was my first read by this author and I'm not sure I'll try her again either.
This book wasn't at all what I was expecting. I thought this would be a sexy, instalove type, low angst, easy read. But that is pretty much the opposite of what I read. I thought the main idea was interesting and I did like parts of it, but parts were so odd for me, too. I was definitely conflicted. I liked Moira and Griff. I just didn't love Seb. We were supposed to believe that he platonicly loves his best friend, Griff, so much that he doesn't want to lose his friendship so he will share his wife with him. But I never felt the love between him and Griff. Seb was pretty much a jerk to him. This didn't support the whole premise of the book. Seb often said some rude things about Moira too, such as how he is powerful over her and that she is his dutiful wife who does whatever he wants. Of course, she is so loyal and obsessed with Seb that she didn't care. It made me not like her as much because she was such a bad judge of character for loving Seb.
The act that Seb commits was so out of nowhere and cast a weird pall over the rest of the book.
Spoiler
Seb hires a hitman to kill Griff's ex to keep her from taking all of his money, spreading rumors and causing trouble. Griff was very upset that his ex died, even though he no longer loved her, and was even more upset when he found out what Seb had done. He did eventually forgive him, but Seb was not sorry or asking for forgiveness. Moira was pretty much fine the whole thing.I really thought the book was going to end on a cliffhanger because there was so much drama and emotion happening. It all gets wrapped up on the last two pages. I just didn't believe in a HEA for this threesome. I kind of wanted Seb to be out of the picture. He treated Moira and Griff poorly, while Griff adored Moira. Overall, I don't think I really enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure! This was my first read by this author and I'm not sure I'll try her again either.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the first book I have read by this author and I am impressed. It is not just a menage book. It is polyamory at its finest. The camaraderie, the background, the unconditional love, the childhood trauma, this book really gets you involved with the characters. And Sebastian, holy dominant, smex on a stick, lol.
I love mfm romances but this felt so dead to me. I also like dark romances with the mc being dark, feels only emotions for fmc, will kill anyone who’s in the way. But Sebastian truly felt like a hollow dead person. Griff was the only redeeming person in this. And Moira was basically nonexistent. I love it when there are POV of the mcs but we barely had any connection with Moira. Also everyone was too cool abt the murder and it swept under the rug as if they were fighting over what to eat for dinner.
Yet again Sam Mariano blows me away with another addictive, psychologically intriguing, and unexpected genre twister. She takes the MFM romance genre and brings fresh and new eyes to it.
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore Sam fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspect about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships that exist while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chess board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentle, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, too. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariano books- I wish we had a whole other book!
Merged review:
Yet again Sam Mariano blows me away with another addictive, psychologically intriguing, and unexpected genre twister. She takes the MFM romance genre and brings fresh and new eyes to it.
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore same fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspects about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chest board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentled, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, oo. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariono books- I wish we had a whole other book!
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore Sam fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspect about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships that exist while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chess board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentle, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, too. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariano books- I wish we had a whole other book!
Merged review:
Yet again Sam Mariano blows me away with another addictive, psychologically intriguing, and unexpected genre twister. She takes the MFM romance genre and brings fresh and new eyes to it.
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore same fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspects about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chest board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentled, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, oo. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariono books- I wish we had a whole other book!
An okay book to read in the ménage genre. Not spectacular, not entirely bad.
The characters are more or less 3D—as in, they aren’t sorely lacking depth—and mostly well-defined, though I was almost sure throughout the whole book that it was written by a man. Especially Moira’s character, who—among all of them—is the least human being-like.
Some things I didn’t like:
- All the characters have just one way of having sex, and they all have the same kinks.
- Moira is only there for sex. No other purpose, really. Or maybe to offer emotional support, but that’s quite a sexist way of thinking about women; personally, I like ‘traditional’ roles and stories, but I still think that women are more than physical and emotional servants for men. (Maybe I’m wrong, who knows.)
- Nobody can convince me—nobody—that Moira is on the pill, as she states, and she still has the multiple-times-a-day degree of sex drive. And spontaneous desire (which, if you’re interested, you can read more about here). There’s simply no way. A now huge—and growing—body of research supports the fact that the pill, and hormonal birth control, is literally bad for a woman’s body and healthy cycle. Among other symptoms, it lowers libido and sex drive. This was the point where the story got totally discredited in my mind.
- Loosely linking to the previous point, Moira is never on her period. (But okay, I can accept the possibility that she’s just not on her period during the time this story is told.)
- They have some very untalented cops in Philly… The way the ending is written is absurdly unrealistic. But this is a big spoiler, so only read this section if you want to spoil the ending for yourself or you’ve read the book already.
- Somewhat toxic portrayal of opening up/non-monogamy. I say somewhat because Moira keeps confirming that she’s fine with the relationship dynamic she and Seb share, in fact she loves it (and him), but even taking her word for it, the way the decision to involve Griff is made is… not so healthy. Without spoiling it—there is a conversation, but there are high stakes, big expectations and a lot of pressure on Moira, which all makes the whole thing dance on the line of consensual/non-consensual. (Just to reaffirm and assure everybody though, later on Moira is definitely enjoying what’s happening, and gets behind it happily. It’s just the beginning that’s wacky.)
- And speaking of toxicity and consent—Moira is very young. Especially when her relationship started. It’s legal, yes, but I know from experience that being a young adult with certain family patterns, you’re quite easily influenced to please men (and them being older can be especially appealing). The way the relationship between Moira and Seb is described and portrayed, I had a sour taste in my mouth throughout the book. It is consensual, but again, Moira was very young when she got into a kinky relationship with a significantly older Dom. Do with that information what you will.
Some things I did like:
- The sex scenes are quite creative and mostly very hot. After all, that’s why we’ve all started reading this book, right? If you don’t care very much about the story, and you’re just here for the spicy scenes, this book has quite a few good ones of that.
- There is mention of contraception (though quite shallow and, as mentioned above, not very consistent, so to say).
- The first two thirds of the book just takes you with it; I really enjoyed reading it, got into the flow, read it all in one sitting. (Or was it two? Anyway; fast.)
- I’m a sucker for scenes where non-conventional relationship dynamics are revealed to ‘traditional’ people. There are quite a few of those in this book.
The characters are more or less 3D—as in, they aren’t sorely lacking depth—and mostly well-defined, though I was almost sure throughout the whole book that it was written by a man. Especially Moira’s character, who—among all of them—is the least human being-like.
Some things I didn’t like:
- All the characters have just one way of having sex, and they all have the same kinks.
- Moira is only there for sex. No other purpose, really. Or maybe to offer emotional support, but that’s quite a sexist way of thinking about women; personally, I like ‘traditional’ roles and stories, but I still think that women are more than physical and emotional servants for men. (Maybe I’m wrong, who knows.)
- Nobody can convince me—nobody—that Moira is on the pill, as she states, and she still has the multiple-times-a-day degree of sex drive. And spontaneous desire (which, if you’re interested, you can read more about here). There’s simply no way. A now huge—and growing—body of research supports the fact that the pill, and hormonal birth control, is literally bad for a woman’s body and healthy cycle. Among other symptoms, it lowers libido and sex drive. This was the point where the story got totally discredited in my mind.
- Loosely linking to the previous point, Moira is never on her period. (But okay, I can accept the possibility that she’s just not on her period during the time this story is told.)
- They have some very untalented cops in Philly… The way the ending is written is absurdly unrealistic. But this is a big spoiler, so only read this section if you want to spoil the ending for yourself or you’ve read the book already.
Spoiler
Really? They all get away with murder? Just like that? Even though it’s plain to see (Griff easily recognizes it in ONLY A FEW MINUTES) that there’s no way she would’ve ended her life in the first place, especially that things were looking up for her at that point, but even if so, she never would’ve done it like that. The writer could’ve easily made it so that it was an obvious non-violent crime, with no clues pointing to murder, or even if there were some clues pointing to that, the quick work of the not-so-interested cops would prove it otherwise, and our ‘heroes’ could walk free realistically. The way it’s actually written, there are not even any cops mentioned. There’s nobody looking into the supposed—but very transparent—suicide. I don’t know, maybe I’m just being too nitpicky, or I’ve read too many crime novels, or perhaps it’s the fact that I have studied criminology—but this detail just really pisses me off. It’s lazy work. Involving a short mention of the police procedure wouldn’t make the whole story a crime novel, and researching a little bit about how suicides can be verified by the police is not very hard to do.- Somewhat toxic portrayal of opening up/non-monogamy. I say somewhat because Moira keeps confirming that she’s fine with the relationship dynamic she and Seb share, in fact she loves it (and him), but even taking her word for it, the way the decision to involve Griff is made is… not so healthy. Without spoiling it—there is a conversation, but there are high stakes, big expectations and a lot of pressure on Moira, which all makes the whole thing dance on the line of consensual/non-consensual. (Just to reaffirm and assure everybody though, later on Moira is definitely enjoying what’s happening, and gets behind it happily. It’s just the beginning that’s wacky.)
- And speaking of toxicity and consent—Moira is very young. Especially when her relationship started. It’s legal, yes, but I know from experience that being a young adult with certain family patterns, you’re quite easily influenced to please men (and them being older can be especially appealing). The way the relationship between Moira and Seb is described and portrayed, I had a sour taste in my mouth throughout the book. It is consensual, but again, Moira was very young when she got into a kinky relationship with a significantly older Dom. Do with that information what you will.
Some things I did like:
- The sex scenes are quite creative and mostly very hot. After all, that’s why we’ve all started reading this book, right? If you don’t care very much about the story, and you’re just here for the spicy scenes, this book has quite a few good ones of that.
- There is mention of contraception (though quite shallow and, as mentioned above, not very consistent, so to say).
- The first two thirds of the book just takes you with it; I really enjoyed reading it, got into the flow, read it all in one sitting. (Or was it two? Anyway; fast.)
- I’m a sucker for scenes where non-conventional relationship dynamics are revealed to ‘traditional’ people. There are quite a few of those in this book.
No. Just no. Absolutely not for me. Seb loved his friend more than his wife and his wife was just pathetic. Griff was pathetic as well. I just want to pretend I never read this book because Sam is one of my top 3 romance writers and I just do not want to face the reality that this book was written by her.
Oh Sam, you little devil!! You did it again! Such a scorching tale for Griff, Moira and Seb. The way you write these men, gaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! Sister Gwen is right, where do we sign up for our own!?
Ménage isn’t my favorite trope, but I loved this book. I love the idea of adding another to a marriage. Sebastian was my favorite man, because I love a man that would do anything for his woman.