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Showing posts with label m.q. barber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label m.q. barber. Show all posts

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Novel Review: Finding Their Balance (Neighborly Affection, #5) by M.Q.Barber



Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance, Erotica, BDSM, M/M/F
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Spoilers?: Light.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Three’s the naughtiest kind of crowd.

Getting to the one-year mark is hard enough in a relationship between two lovers. For three, just getting through the day can be half the battle. Between Alice’s headstrong insistence on pushing her sexual limits and Jay’s need to confront an abusive former lover, Henry has his hands full keeping both his partners safe and happy. But despite all the challenges—and unexpected dangers that lurk in their hedonistic world—the three have formed a union that brings each of them to the edge of something new—something they may not be able to hold onto...

The Cover:

I actually really like this cover. I think that the positioning of the three looks pretty and more natural than normal, and that their poses work for the character they're supposed to be. I like the coloring and the fonts. I think it's pretty.

Review:

Another fantastic book in this series. I have eaten up each book so far, and still re-read them. This one will be added to the list.
We continue where the third book left off, and the group confronts quite a few issues.
The main one is Cal, thankfully. The threat of him has hurt Jay to a large extent, and invaded their relationship in the previous book. He’s a major hazard, and now that the three are going to the club again, he’s starting to be dealt with for real. I definitely like the way that that plot line gets handled in this book.
Now that the three of them are going to the club again, we see a new side of Jay. We meet a few new subs and Doms, and it’s nice to see them making new friends, to see Jay opening up and growing. He’s needed this for a while. It’s also clear that Henry likes teaching, and the scenes where he’s teaching at the club are fun and helpful to a lot of people.
Jay’s family causes a big distraction in the middle, and that’s hard. I’m still waiting for him to stand up to his sister, but we haven’t officially met her yet. I’m hoping we’ll get more of that soon, especially since Alice is made aware what his relationship really is with his family. How he hides from them, and how it hurts both Alice and Henry. I just feel sad and frustrated with Jay’s family here, and am waiting for something big to happen there. Alice’s sister, on the other hand, should be showing up in the next book, and I’m excited for that. Alice also makes friends, mostly, with Emma, which is nice and should lead to good things.
I loved this book. I honestly can’t get enough of Barber’s writing and characters, especially these three. I want to see more of Leah and her Master, and I really want to see Santa Will get his happy ending. And I just want more of the threesome. They make me happy.


A review copy was provided by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. Thank you!

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Wishlist Thursday[147]: Finding Their Balance (Neighborly Affections, #5) by M.Q. Barber



Finding Their Balance (Neighborly Affections, #5) by M.Q. Barber

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance, Erotica, M/M/F

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: March 1, 2016


                                    

Goodreads Synopsis:



Three’s the naughtiest kind of crowd.

Getting to the one-year mark is hard enough in a relationship between two lovers. For three, just getting through the day can be half the battle. Between Alice’s headstrong insistence on pushing her sexual limits and Jay’s need to confront an abusive former lover, Henry has his hands full keeping both his partners safe and happy. But despite all the challenges—and unexpected dangers that lurk in their hedonistic world—the three have formed a union that brings each of them to the edge of something new—something they may not be able to hold onto...



Why?:

I have so far read everything by Barber, and this series is one of my absolute favorites. I’ve re-read the previous books several times, and am in love with the writing and the characters. This is a threesome erotic romance, but it’s beautiful and so sweet, and very hot. If you like this kind of thing, I would definitely recommend giving it a try. And I cannot wait for more.

What’s on your list?

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Novel Review: Becoming His Master (Neighborly Affection, #4) by M.Q. Barber



Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5
Genre: Erotica/Adult Contemporary Romance; MMF/MM
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: March 17, 2015
Spoilers?: No.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Goodreads Synopsis:


 From rescue to romance…

Teach a wounded submissive the value of his service. The task ought to be an easy one for an experienced dominant like Henry Webb.

But novice Jay Kress challenges his teacher like no other. Still bearing the bruises of an encounter outside the bounds of safe consensual play, Jay is desperate to submit to the man who saved him—and shamed by his desires.

Henry recognizes the dangers of a relationship built on hero worship. He’ll teach Jay how to stay safe, that’s all. He won’t take advantage of the younger man’s trust. He won’t share his fantasies about his dark-haired, athletic student. He’ll never claim this submissive for his own...


The Cover:

I actually really like this cover. Sometimes these ebook covers are so bad, but I think this one's kind of pretty. The way it's drawn just makes it look artistic and pretty to look at, plus I think that the position of the guy works well for the characters. This could have very easily shown two males half-naked on the cover, and I'm glad that it went this route instead.

Review:

I have read the previous books in this series and absolutely loved them. When I heard this was up on Natgalley, I immediately went to request it. I didn’t actually think I would be approved, but started it immediately when I was.
I started this series a while ago, just came upon it on Goodreads I think. It sounded good, the writing seemed nice. I read the first one. And then proceeded to gobble up the next two in days; I couldn’t put my phone down, they were so good.
When I first heard of this one, I thought it was going to be a continuation with Alice, not a prequel for Henry and Jay. I was even a little hesitant, though interested of course. I should have just jumped on it, because this book was amazing.
This book is all in Henry’s point of view, and that helps worlds to understanding him. He’s always seemed a bit too god-like, too restrained and unemotional, even when making mistakes. But there’s so much more to him. Now I understand that he likes resisting, prolonging what he wants. Now I see how Jay really does affect him, and how good of a Dom and a person he is. I immediately re-read the previous books when finishing this one, and I saw him better than I did before.
The relationship between Jay and Henry is complicated at first. Henry doesn’t want to commit, doesn’t want Jay to hero-worship him or fall back into his harmful patterns. He just wants Jay to be better.
And Jay is so wounded. So hurt from past relationships, from his family; needy and wanting and afraid. I ache for him. There were some moments in this book where I just wanted to hug Jay so hard, and I think that Henry does a good job helping him and taking care of him. Building him up to be healthy and safe and smart.
The love between them is beautiful. It makes me so happy and giggly, I just love it. I will probably be re-reading this book, and the others in the series, over and over again.
The sex is very nice, and while there is quite a bit of it, there’s a lot of reason and taking it slow, slow progress at a perfect pace for them.
The writing is gorgeous. The descriptions, the words that Barber uses, just flow and sound so pretty. I just found myself noticing several times, her variety and smart choices with words. 
I absolutely loved this book. I will be re-reading it often, I’m sure. And I will definitely be reading everything she releases from now on. 



A review copy was provided by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. Thank you!