Stand-Alone Sunday Review: Tempted by Two by Portia Da Costa

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 26th May 2013
Ebook - 101 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating -  4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When executive woman Katie Warren arrives in the picturesque village of Little Marplethorpe for a country holiday, to reassess her life and her future, she doesn't bargain on ending up in a hot three way love affair with a man she's admired from afar... *and* his gorgeously handsome male partner.

Marcus Dane and Owen Foster are lovers, committed for a lifetime, but they both enjoy the company of women as friends and bedmates too. Encountering Katie at an exhibition of his work, Marcus knows she's just the kind of bold, daring, imaginative woman who'll relish erotic games shared with Owen and himself.

But what none of the trio expects is that their intense, steamy threesome will quickly deepen into a bond that's a lot more than just mind-bendingly fabulous sex.

My Thoughts - When I saw this novella up on NetGalley I have to admit that I was intrigued by the premise. I have read a couple of other ménage books in the past but they have really focused on the sexual side of things, and this one seemed to hold promise of bringing more to the table than just steamy sex. I was hopeful that Tempted by Two would give the reader a look at the emotions behind a relationship between three people, and I wasn't disappointed.

This story was incredibly hot, with threesome action as well as some man on man action, and my ereader was close to combusting with the heat. But, as well as it just being about the heat factor, the intimate scenes also showed a close bond between Katie, Marcus and Owen and were actually very romantic. It wasn't just about the sex for them, although there sure was a lot of it, there was also a genuine connection between the characters which I loved reading about.

But because it was a novella, I felt that there were some areas that were glossed over a little too much for my liking. Although I still felt that it was a complete story and didn't affect my enjoyment of the story overall or my connection with the characters. It was more that I enjoyed their story so much that I wanted more. I would have been happier if this had been a full length novel but I mean that as a compliment rather than a criticism. For example, a hint is given of Owen's tragic past, but I would have liked to know more about that. And they spend two weeks together and it's briefly mentioned that during that time they spent time doing some romantic things together as a trio that I would have enjoyed reading about. Also, at one point, it is mentioned that they have been playing with bondage and pain play but it could have been elaborated on much more than it was. Overall, these weren't huge things, but things I found myself curious about them anyway.

My one main criticism about this book was the large number of spelling and grammatical errors. I just find things like that very distracting when I am reading a novel and there were plenty in Tempted by Two.

Summary - A quick and easy to read novella, full of steamy sex and sweet romance. I enjoyed this one a great deal and would definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

Series Spotlight: Long Shots Series by Christine D'Abo

Series Spotlight is a new weekly feature here on Once Upon a Series, where I will be highlighting a series that I would either like to read if I get a chance to, or would like to finish reading at some point. Hopefully it will give you all some ideas for other series to read... or if you've read something similar that you think other fans of the series featured would like, then please do mention it in the comments.

Today I've chosen the Long Shots series by Christine D'Abo. A long time ago I read book four of the series, Calling the Shots, and I absolutely loved it. Yes, I know... I started at the end of the series which is a very backwards way of doing things, but I saw it available for review on NetGalley and I couldn't resist. Also, on a side note, my review for Calling the Shots is the most viewed post on Once Upon a Series by a long shot... See what I did there? By a long shot lol. Well, at least I crack myself up! But one day, I will go back and read the rest of this series, and this is a little reminder to myself that I need to do that.

1. Double Shot
Coffee shop owner Sadie Long has been lusting after her good friend Paul Williams for years. So she's more than a little intrigued when he invites her to a business meeting at Mavericks, the sex club where he works. While catering an event at the club is not quite the proposition she was hoping for, her business could use the boost. And she can't resist the chance to work closely with Paul in such a sexually charged atmosphere. Enter the club's hot owner, Josh, and suddenly Sadie's fantasizing about being part of a threesome.

Paul has always wanted Sadie, but never thought she'd see him as anything more than a friend. On the night of the party, he and Josh tempt Sadie to reveal her deepest desire--a desire both men are eager to help fulfil.

Giving in to her sensual side, Sadie enjoys a night of mind-blowing sex. But in the light of day, will she lose Paul as a friend, or gain him as a lover?

2. A Shot in the Dark
Carter is one of the hottest men ever to walk into Paige Long's coffee shop. The attraction is mutual, and when Carter reveals himself to be a Dom, the submissive in Paige is aroused. Yet she brushes him off—her last relationship was abusive and she's unwilling to get involved with another Dom.

But when Carter returns the next day—in his firefighter uniform—Paige's fantasies really heat up. She can't resist his offer to get to know him over a drink at Mavericks, a local sex club. Their conversation quickly escalates to a session in one of the private rooms, and Paige is both thoroughly satisfied by Carter's skills in domination, and impressed with his selflessness as a lover.

Paige is ready to move on with her life. But can she trust in herself and submit to happiness?

3. Pulled Long
For months, coffee shop owner Ian Long has fantasized about a customer he knows only as "Blue Eyes." Until he learns Blue Eyes is in the midst of a divorce—the last thing Ian wants is to be the rebound experiment of a straight guy. Giving in to lust, he invites the man into the cafe after hours and they indulge in a little exhibitionist play, but Ian is unwilling to get involved.

But when he’s forced to see Jeff again to return his briefcase, Ian finally agrees to go out on a date. Dinner quickly becomes an erotic encounter in a special room at the sex club Mavericks, and Ian realizes Jeff satisfies desires he didn’t even know he had. The more he gets to know Jeff as a person, the harder it is to resist falling for him.

Jeff makes it clear he’s interested in more than just sex. He wants to go public with their relationship in more ways than one. But can Ian open his heart, when he fears it will be broken?

4. Calling the Shots
He's had a wild ride, and now sex club owner Josh Scott is looking for a change of scene. But first, he's determined to bring two friends together, and he's willing to be a third wheel to move things along...


Beth Norris is eager to be set up with hot bartender Oliver Stephenson, but she's equally attracted to matchmaker Josh. Soon she's fantasizing about both men at once—and about being the one to call the shots in the encounter...

Ready to move on with his life post-divorce, Oliver is conflicted by the realization that he's attracted to women and men. Or more specifically, to Beth and Josh. He tries to keep his distance, but it's not long before the chemistry between the trio combusts in a night of mind-blowing sex.

In the light of day, it's clear something deeper than desire is growing between Josh, Beth and Oliver. But though Josh has helped others find love in unconventional relationships, is he willing to take a chance on one himself?
 

Review: Calling the Shots by Christine D'Abo (Long Shots #4)

Publisher - Carina Press
Publication Date - 8th October 2012
Genre - Erotic Romance/BDSM/Menage

Source - Received from publisher for review via NetGalley

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - He's had a wild ride, and now sex club owner Josh Scott is looking for a change of scene. But first, he's determined to bring two friends together, and he's willing to be a third wheel to move things along...

Beth Norris is eager to be set up with hot bartender Oliver Stephenson, but she's equally attracted to matchmaker Josh. Soon she's fantasizing about both men at once—and about being the one to call the shots in the encounter...

Ready to move on with his life post-divorce, Oliver is conflicted by the realization that he's attracted to women and men. Or more specifically, to Beth and Josh. He tries to keep his distance, but it's not long before the chemistry between the trio combusts in a night of mind-blowing sex.

In the light of day, it's clear something deeper than desire is growing between Josh, Beth and Oliver. But though Josh has helped others find love in unconventional relationships, is he willing to take a chance on one himself?

My Thoughts - Whilst browsing around NetGalley a few days ago the seriously hot cover of this book caught my eye straight away, so I was very happy when I got approved to review Calling the Shots. And luckily for me, I loved the book just as much as I loved the cover!

I loved the dynamics between the three main characters: Josh, Oliver and Beth. They have all been hurt in the past and have a few issues surrounding relationships and commitment, but when they get together it all just somehow works. They all complement each other so well and have grown so close working together over the last few months that they help each other to work past their issues. It is obvious right from the start that they all care about each other a great deal.

And when the three of them get into the bedroom the temperature increases dramatically! I must admit that I am fairly new to the erotic romance genre and this one was probably a bit more hardcore than any of the others I'd read before and I wasn't sure how I'd feel about some of the content, but it didn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I ended up loving it a lot more than some of the others I've read from the same genre.

There is a lot of interaction between Josh and Oliver and never having read any books before containing m/m sex scenes I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it. But the author wrote the scenes so well and, having Beth there with them, it all worked really well and I enjoyed the sex scenes a lot! Also, all the other BDSM books I've read in the past have had a male dominant/female submissive theme. But in Calling the Shots, both Josh and Beth are dominants and I loved watching how they both used this dominance to help each other realise their fantasies and to overcome some of their issues.

As well as the romance between the three characters in this book, there is also some suspense thrown in in the form of escalating vandalism in the sex club where they all work. This part was written very well and, without taking away from the romance elements, added real depth to the storyline. It was not at all obvious who was behind the vandalism and the twists in the storyline kept me turning the pages until late in the night.

Summary - I absolutely loved the characters and the romance between them.  Calling the Shots is the first book I've read by Christine D'Abo but it most definitely will not be my last.

Other books in the series:
1. Double Shot
2. A Shot in the Dark
3. Pulled Long
4. Calling the Shots