TEST
Something More is a menage romance. Not only that, but it is m/m/f, with a strong m/m element, so it goes without saying that this is not for all readers. However, while this isn’t one of those stories where everyone magically accepts the gay and menage relationships, I didn’t completely buy into the heroine. A heroine who wants to be part of a threesome should be more worldly, but Emma reminded me too much of traditional undersexed romance heroines with a tendency to fly off the handle at imagined insults. Also, some style issues took me out of the story – often right in the middle of love scenes, unfortunately.
Emma Taylor has a huge crush on her employer, Will O’Malley, the brother of her former fiance, even though Will is in a long-term relationship with Paul Argonaut. While Emma fantasizes about being part of a menage, she doesn’t realize that Will is also attracted to her. Neither of them realize that Paul would be interested in adding something new to their relationship. It’s Paul who makes the move, inviting Emma into their relationship. Worried about what could happen, Will runs hot and cold toward the idea, and there are some awkward scenes where Paul pretends to be drunk in a clumsy attempt to bring them together, but eventually the three start a relationship.
Of course, the course of true love never did run smooth, especially when the lovers are in a threesome. Emma has important news to share, but then a visitor from the past shows up, makes demands, and makes a pest of himself. This nearly destroys the relationship because Emma gets the wrong impression from what is said and runs off in one of those eye-rolling TSTL moments. This leads to yet another crisis. On the other hand, despite myself, the story became more compelling after that. Perhaps it needed the added conflict, but I wish the conflict hadn’t been plucked out of “romancelandia.” The eventual epilogue seemed rush to me, too, shoving important events into narrative instead of showing them to the reader.
Emma was the hardest character to buy into. I could imagine her having fantasies about menage relationships. In fact, I thought it was neat that she had recently started reading menage and m/m romances – too many romances act as if there are no other romances out there. But what made her strong enough to take part in a real menage? She felt too much like a placeholder for readers who had the same fantasy. Maybe that was the point? Will and Paul were easier to buy into as a couple, and I liked the little moments they shared as a couple, both in bed and outside of bed. Perhaps I believed in them because they were together longer and the story makes it clear that they are not entirely gay. Will considered himself straight before falling in love with Paul (a common m/m and m/m/f element some readers dislike), and Paul is bisexual, despite what most people in their small town think. Also, both were quite masculine. This wasn’t one of those stories where one of the men in a gay couple is set up as the “pretty one.” Nor is this a story where everyone accepts the “out of the “norm” relationships. Will’s parents disowned him because of it, and some people look down on them both.
While there was a lot of sex, and the details were very graphic, they didn’t add all that much to my read. Sure, the language was strong, and the lovemaking was hot, but they didn’t get under my skin. One of my problems was that the language too often pulled me out, with emphasis on body parts and not enough on feelings. Also, I needed to believe more in the characters. The awkward language didn’t help. First I wish writers would stop emphasizing the size of male genitalia. While some readers love it, that’s not hot to me. Give me a hero who does something erotic or romantic, and I’m there. Give me a hero who’s hung like a fire hose, and I don’t care. But that pales next to the description of Will’s penis jutting out of a wreath of pubic hair. All I could do was imagine his genitalia hanging from a door during Christmas season. If I fall into awkward laughter next December, it’s all Will’s fault. Even worse, Paul’s tongue is described as a “long prehensile tongue.” What? A prehensile organ is one that can pick up or hold things by wrapping around them. Just how long is that man’s tongue? It explains why he’s so popular with both men and women, though.
If you enjoy menage stories with strong m/m elements, you might very well like this one more than I did, writing issues aside. There was lots of hot sex, and Will and Paul make an adorable couple, both quite masculine. I can certainly understand Emma wanting to come along with the ride. However, too many awkward moments, in both plot and writing, kept me from accepting the fantasy this time around.
While I read this book in trade paperback format, it’s also available as an e-book from the LooseId site, as well as from on-line e-book retailers such as Fictionwise and All Romance Ebooks.
Grade: C-
Book Type: Erotic Romance
Sensuality: Burning
Review Date: 02/03/10
Publication Date: 2007
I buy too many books, too many weird heavy metal albums, and too many pulp novel reprints.
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.