Review: Two men, one woman, eluding an assassin
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 20, 2011
Part of Siren Publishing's "The Lost Collection" - menage love stories, by various authors, set in The Wild West. While each book stands alone, and could be read out of sequence, Book 13 of the collection,Love Under Two Lawmen, is also written by Cara Covington and can be read as a sequel to "Love Under Two Gunslingers".Plot:Caleb and Joshua are sent by Sarah's new husband to transport Sarah to her new home in Waco, Texas. When someone seems to be trying to kill Sarah, questions about her new husband, her own dreams and hopes, and how difficult it is to do a threesome on bedrolls arise.Comments:- 4092 kindle locations, 58,110 words- m/f/m - explicit, generous, plentiful. Joshua and Caleb are (non identical) twin brothers aiming for a committed threesome with Sarah. There's also a committed m/m relationship involving integral sub-characters, including explicit sex.- Strong sub plot of characters Lawman Adam Kendall and Lawyer Warren Jessop in a loving m/m relationship. Their story is picked up in "Love Under Two Lawmen".- Covington does a great job of placing the reader in The Time. When they get off the train we have street names, discussion of the discomforts of travel, talk of the laws of the time and how they affect the people. Lots of research. Heavy on Wild West/Indian history. Even Bat Masterson makes an appearance. I enjoyed it, found it interesting, but you may feel it takes away from the "romance", the sex scenes, and the "who's trying to get Sarah" plot. For me, Covington got the balance right.- Historical references include: Great Chicago Fire, 1871. The Trail of Tears, 1830s. American Civil War, 1860s. Bat Masterson, 1853-1921.Opinion:This is a historical romance. It is a nice long story with a well-considered plot and explicit sex scenes. Covington has done well to create an enjoyable plot which places us well in the time and gives us a lovely HEA.I enjoy the fact that our heroes don't exist in isolation - they have relationships with the people around them, they need help from the people they meet, and they have a past. Yes, you need to be willing to go the m/m route (which comes even more into play in "Love Under Two Lawmen"); the relationship between Adam and Warren is heavily explored. While I felt it added a nice contrast to the story, giving a very strong sub plot, it could be seen as taking away from our primary heroes. We don't spend all our time focussed on Sarah and her men and the Bad Guys. But I didn't mind that, and it made sense.I like that Covington did her research and worked to include it in the book. I didn't feel it was forced, or "lecturing", but rather included to add flavour to the story.  Okay, if you are well versed in American History from the late 1800s, this may be quite tiring. And possibly the author has taken some liberty with dates. But I don't mind, and I enjoyed it.Ultimately, this is an excellent example of the genre. The threesome was believable, the finale satisfactory, and the journey enjoyable. Recommended.Aside:The Lost Collection by Siren Publishing. Note that a number of authors (including Covington!) are writing under pseudonyms and all are menage. I haven't read all of these but, if "Love Under Two Gunslingers" satisfied you, these may suit as well.1: Beaumonts' Brand by Lana Dare2: Kat Rides the Iron Men by Christine Michaels3: Annie Gets Her Gunmen by Larissa Stone4: Ella's Desire by Brandi Maxwell5: Love Under Two Gunslingers by Cara Covington6: The Gold Digger by Josie Hunter7: Her Vigilante Passion by Bonnie Parker8: Sarasota Steam by Tessa Monroe9: Anna Rides the Desperados by Christine Michaels10: The Railroad Baroness by Jayne Douglas11: Amanda's Texas Rangers by Lana Dare12: The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty by Jessica Frost13: Love Under Two Lawmen by Cara Covington14: Colleen's Desire by Brandi Maxwell-CR-