Review: Good writing, but too short to explore both menage and BDSM in a satisfying way
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 6, 2011
Philip is a young man from a rich family who has just graduated. He's spending a vacation on Anguilla before going to work for his father. In order to be accepted in his family and in his family's law firm, he hides his homosexuality.On Anguilla Philip meets Cameron and Mark. The two have been together for quite some time, but their relationship is not what it used to be - or it's never been what it was meant to be. They are spending their vacation on an exotic island to find a way to revive their cold sexual life. They think that adding a third man for one night might give it a much needed spark, a fresh new start.Philip reluctantly accepts the proposal of the two men. It's his last chance to enjoy sex with men before living the life of deceit his family has set for him. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the threesome is not as careless as it was meant to be. There's something in Philip that enthralls the two other men, who spend the night around him instead of using him to re-connect. Philip stirs in Cameron his dominant nature, surprising Mark, who didn't know about the more bossy side of Cameron. This revelation, instead of bringing something positive in their life, brings them further apart. After that night, Philip goes back to his life of lies, longing for what he cannot have with the two men; Mark realizes he would like to submit to Cameron, to have Cameron dominate him, but Cameron denies him; Cameron has to face the demons of his past BDSM lifestyle. There's a big amount of dissatisfaction that the three of them have to work over to be able to satisfy their most intimate needs and desires.The story is interesting and it reads quickly, because it's well written. My biggest problem was that the story was coherent, but I had to chase the information I needed to really be interested in it for a while, so for a long time I had the impression that I was told more than shown what was happening.At the beginning we are told that Cameron and Mark feel that the sex between them is not passionate enough, but they really love each other. In the first sex scene with Philip, Mark briefly shows how possessive he is toward Cameron, because he realizes that Cameron and Philip are sharing a very special connection. I would have loved that the author had spent more time on the display of those feelings, even if I know it wasn't possible because in that moment we had Philip's point-of-view. Since Mark seemed the one who had more to lose in inviting a third man into their bed, I wish we had known more about what he was thinking, even before the actual invitation. The attraction to Philip, that he didn't want to reveal to Cameron, and then the frustration for that special connection, that he would have wanted for himself, could have provided an interesting conflict.On another occasion, when Mark misunderstood Cameron's request to start to pack his suitcases for the ending of their relationship, I was expecting a stronger reaction from Cameron. I mean: WTF? I tell you something and the first thing you think of is that I'm sending you away? It was a strong sign of dissatisfaction and it would hurt anyone on the receiving end of this.I think that Philip's dismay for not being included in Cameron and Mark's cuddling after their reunion was instead very well done and since I love angst, I would have liked to stay with Philip in those moments a little longer. I realize I am practically saying that I wanted to read the situations that the author chose not to include in her story. If an editor is responsible for that, I'd love to kick them where the sun doesn't shine.Of the three main characters, I think Mark was the more interesting and the one who really worked and changed to make things work with Cameron. As I said before, he was the one who had more to lose in my opinion and maybe the one who had more insecurities. Once he found out that Cameron was a Dom, he tried to understand what BDSM was about and he was trying to make Cameron aware of the fact that he wanted his man to let that part of him free. I think - seeing Philip's natural submissive nature - that he risked of being left out in the menage, because Cameron didn't want to fully include him in it.Philip had also to change. I really liked to see his confidence built on the success in his profession, even if it wasn't really what he wanted. He was the one who set things in motion to achieve their reunion. There are hints to the fact that he liked to take directions in court, but I didn't really see where his submission came from. I can accept that it might be a suit you find yourself slipping in when you are in the right situation, but I would have expected further explanations about it.Cameron was the character I had more problems with. First of all, I don't think he really changed, unless you consider a change his going back to his Dom status. Maybe it's also because I am more attracted to Doms who are more interested in the psychological aspect of power exchange than in simply inflicting pain, but I wasn't able to make myself be interested in him and be sorry for him and like him. I think that the BDSM element of the story was the less satisfying because I wasn't able to perceive the intensity of the feelings of the people involved in it. The menage part of the story, instead, was told in all its aspect, especially Mark's and Philip's side and their doubts about being left out.The main secondary characters were Philip's homophobic father, who was rather predictable, and Philip's PI friend, who I really liked, with his tousled appearance and keen mind. The owner of one of the BDSM clubs Mark visited was also very intriguing.I feel there were some aspects that could have been explored deeper. The premise of the story is interesting and somewhat original, but probably the story is too short to combine menage and BDSM, therefore I think it doesn't hit either targets completely.Galley received via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.