Title: Nine Dates
Series: Desert Ménage, #1
Author: Shanyn Hosier
Genre: MMF Ménage
Length: Novel (289 pages)
Publisher: Shanyn Hosier (January 6th, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Secretary Beth Mitchell has a problem. A 6’2″ gorgeous, blue-eyed problem. Office crushes universally suck, but she reckons hers truly takes the cake. For not only is sweet, charming John O’Brien her best friend at work, he’s also taken. Not that it would matter if he wasn’t, because to top it all off, John’s gay.
Or so Beth thought… until he asks her out on a date. And in the span of a few moments, all Beth’s preconceived notions about John come tumbling down when he asks, “You understand people come in more flavors than just gay or straight, don’t you?”
Being raised in a small Midwestern town by a single mother gave Beth a solid grounding in realism and a strong work ethic, but did nothing to temper her driving ambition or quell her sense of adventure. So when John proposes something she never dared to imagine, Beth leaps at the opportunity, however untraditional, to be with him.
Only John’s boyfriend, medical resident Paul Atwater, isn’t so sure. When Beth shows up at their apartment proposing they give nothing less than a triadic relationship a try, he thinks the whole thing’s a recipe for disaster. He argues, “There’s got to be more to a successful ménage à trois than a nine date plan!”
For that’s exactly the strategy Beth lays out. Nine Dates follows Beth, John, and Paul as they get to know each other. Tender romantic moments, steamy physical encounters, a strong dose of sarcasm, and brownies a la mode all feature heavily. Is it possible for a committed, monogamous relationship to welcome a new member, much less withstand the invasion? Is true love always the right path to follow? And just how complicated can things get?
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Dates-Desert-M%C3%A9nage-Shanyn-Hosier-ebook/dp/B00996JUWU
Reviewer: Portia
Review: One of my favorite genres is MMF. Unfortunately, it hard to find stories that have the dynamics that speak to me. Basically, stories where all partners are equal. I was tickled to death to find this new series.
John and Beth work together. John often stops by Beth’s desk and flirts. She’d thought to take it to another level…until she heard he was gay. When John finally ask her out to lunch, she is confused and maybe a bit angry, thinking he was trying to have his cake and eat it, too. I felt her pain, when she learned that not only was Paul full aware of Beth, but asking her out was his idea.
This is a fabulous beginning. There is no insta-love. There is plenty of snark, as Paul and Beth get to know each other, and figure out what they will be to John. Even the realistic portrayal of a surgical resident, worked for me.
Beth is smart and a grown ass woman. She’s not looking for a knight in shining armor, much less two. Nor is she apologizing for her unconventional relationship. John is a sweetie, and a tad ballsy. I love his explanation of how he can love more than one. But, Paul is my favorite. He’s got some serious issues and uses a smart mouth to hide his insecurities. Watching him and Beth develop their own relationship was fun.
Now, there is still room for this trio to grow. A lot of the sex scenes centered around Beth, and I hope that changes with the next couple of books. Emotionally, I found the voices to be distinct and realistic. I even liked the honest portrayal of a medical resident. Paul’s time is definitely not his own, and he feel left out…a lot.
Definitely recommend for fans of this genre.