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Plot Twist #2
Three Part Harmony
Sometimes three is deliciously better than two
Raleigh McKean has borne witness to every conceivable way one person can take advantage of another. He sees it all the time in his job as a book publicist, especially working alongside his boss’s daughter. Everley Shannon would be amazing if she wasn’t such a pain in his ass.
All Raleigh wants is something real. But when the captivating stranger he agrees to go home with turns out to be Bruce Engle, the elusive rock star, it’s a harsh reminder that users are everywhere. Raleigh’s his route to a book deal, nothing more.
What Raleigh doesn’t realize is that the brooding musician is also searching for something real—and it’s possible he’s already found it in Everley’s arms. But is there room in those arms for one more?
With Everley’s own dream of getting out from under her father’s shadow crumbling into chaos, it feels like the perfect time to embrace something new. But when Raleigh’s insatiable attraction to both Everley and Bruce makes it impossible to keep his distance, there’s only one obvious solution…assuming they can learn how to share.
This book is approximately 75,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
Raleigh McKean has borne witness to every conceivable way one person can take advantage of another. He sees it all the time in his job as a book publicist, especially working alongside his boss’s daughter. Everley Shannon would be amazing if she wasn’t such a pain in his ass.
All Raleigh wants is something real. But when the captivating stranger he agrees to go home with turns out to be Bruce Engle, the elusive rock star, it’s a harsh reminder that users are everywhere. Raleigh’s his route to a book deal, nothing more.
What Raleigh doesn’t realize is that the brooding musician is also searching for something real—and it’s possible he’s already found it in Everley’s arms. But is there room in those arms for one more?
With Everley’s own dream of getting out from under her father’s shadow crumbling into chaos, it feels like the perfect time to embrace something new. But when Raleigh’s insatiable attraction to both Everley and Bruce makes it impossible to keep his distance, there’s only one obvious solution…assuming they can learn how to share.
This book is approximately 75,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2019
7 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Holley Trent
155 books302 followersHolley Trent is a romance author who spins campy yarns set in North Carolina. She has a wicked sense of humor and regularly puts her story characters into unexpected situations.
When she's not writing, she's reading or eating Twizzlers.
Her contemporary and fantasy romances have been published by Crimson Romance, Calliope Romance/Musa Publishing, and she has work due for release by Lyrical Press.
2013 brings a change of pace with her self-published series of paranormal novellas: Shrew and Company. Five women, five romances, one big bear of a problem. Check out boss-lady Dana's story in THE PROBLEM WITH PADDY, available now.
When she's not writing, she's reading or eating Twizzlers.
Her contemporary and fantasy romances have been published by Crimson Romance, Calliope Romance/Musa Publishing, and she has work due for release by Lyrical Press.
2013 brings a change of pace with her self-published series of paranormal novellas: Shrew and Company. Five women, five romances, one big bear of a problem. Check out boss-lady Dana's story in THE PROBLEM WITH PADDY, available now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 27, 2019
That was surprisingly emotional. I really enjoyed the characters and the fact that they do make most sense as a triad. I appreciate that I could absolutely see what they love about each other. I would have liked to see them interact more as a triad. I would also have enjoyed this more if it had been edited more; there were words missing and all.
August 19, 2019
I absolutely adore this book and pretty much read it in one sitting.
Basically you take three people who really don't have a lot of things in common or to do with each other and you throw them together in various circumstances that boggle your mind and at 30% of the book have you wondering how in the world the author is going to solve this tangled mess. And then you get your heart served to you on a silver platter.
At least that's what happened to me. I think what I loved most about all the characters is that without them realizing it they had so much in common. They all had to deal with the expectations and the scars their families have left them with, as well as with the expectations and judgment other people are trying to trap them in.
If anyone ever tells you romance is predictable and therefore boring? Please send them my way and will gladly use this an example and explain how you might predict some of the twists in this story, but you couldn't possibly be bored because the journey to this HEA is amazing and wonderful.
Read my full review on Small Queer, Big Opinions.
Basically you take three people who really don't have a lot of things in common or to do with each other and you throw them together in various circumstances that boggle your mind and at 30% of the book have you wondering how in the world the author is going to solve this tangled mess. And then you get your heart served to you on a silver platter.
At least that's what happened to me. I think what I loved most about all the characters is that without them realizing it they had so much in common. They all had to deal with the expectations and the scars their families have left them with, as well as with the expectations and judgment other people are trying to trap them in.
If anyone ever tells you romance is predictable and therefore boring? Please send them my way and will gladly use this an example and explain how you might predict some of the twists in this story, but you couldn't possibly be bored because the journey to this HEA is amazing and wonderful.
Read my full review on Small Queer, Big Opinions.
Read
August 17, 2019Will be more coherent later, add CWs and do an actual review but for now I want to say that I loved this a lot.
August 16, 2019
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked reads.
I completely fell in love with ‘Writing Her In’ earlier this year and this is a very worthy sequel. I think the characters might be more interesting in this second book but it doesn’t quite have the explosive sexual tension that the first book did. This is the story of Raleigh (Stacia’s editor) and the two people he finds himself reluctantly drawn to.
Everley is my favourite character in this story. We first see her through Raleigh’s eyes as a cold and ruthlessly ambitious woman whose career has been buoyed by blatant nepotism. And then we get her perspective. Everley is lonely, isolated and slowly dying inside as she attempts to live up to her father’s expectations. I love Everley’s journey and the growth in her character.
Bruce is fascinating and enigmatic but I struggle with him as a romantic lead. It’s because of Bruce that the triad relationship makes sense - while they love him, Raleigh and Everley both need more that Bruce can sometimes give. I love that the author has included a character who isn’t neurotypical and I love that neither Raleigh or Everley attempt to change him.
I found Raleigh extremely annoying in Stacia’s book but I loved him here. He isn’t quite as smooth, quite as pushy or quite as confident in his own book. I love that he’s human and raw at times and I love his difficult past.
I love all three characters but I didn’t engage as well with their relationships as I did with the first book. This feels like a lower heat read and the large gaps of time between characters connecting and reconnecting doesn’t do much to build or sustain sexual tension. The story feels slightly fractured in places as two of the three characters connect and the other is excluded. While there are a few too many long and slow passages in the middle of the book, the story races to the end. For me, things are wrapped up too neatly and too quickly.
I have really loved Holley Trent’s writing in both these books. Her use of language is beautiful and her characters feel wonderfully human. These are sexy stories that feel more like real life poly relationships than the titillating menage so common in erotic fiction writing. I can’t wait for more from this author.
I completely fell in love with ‘Writing Her In’ earlier this year and this is a very worthy sequel. I think the characters might be more interesting in this second book but it doesn’t quite have the explosive sexual tension that the first book did. This is the story of Raleigh (Stacia’s editor) and the two people he finds himself reluctantly drawn to.
Everley is my favourite character in this story. We first see her through Raleigh’s eyes as a cold and ruthlessly ambitious woman whose career has been buoyed by blatant nepotism. And then we get her perspective. Everley is lonely, isolated and slowly dying inside as she attempts to live up to her father’s expectations. I love Everley’s journey and the growth in her character.
Bruce is fascinating and enigmatic but I struggle with him as a romantic lead. It’s because of Bruce that the triad relationship makes sense - while they love him, Raleigh and Everley both need more that Bruce can sometimes give. I love that the author has included a character who isn’t neurotypical and I love that neither Raleigh or Everley attempt to change him.
I found Raleigh extremely annoying in Stacia’s book but I loved him here. He isn’t quite as smooth, quite as pushy or quite as confident in his own book. I love that he’s human and raw at times and I love his difficult past.
I love all three characters but I didn’t engage as well with their relationships as I did with the first book. This feels like a lower heat read and the large gaps of time between characters connecting and reconnecting doesn’t do much to build or sustain sexual tension. The story feels slightly fractured in places as two of the three characters connect and the other is excluded. While there are a few too many long and slow passages in the middle of the book, the story races to the end. For me, things are wrapped up too neatly and too quickly.
I have really loved Holley Trent’s writing in both these books. Her use of language is beautiful and her characters feel wonderfully human. These are sexy stories that feel more like real life poly relationships than the titillating menage so common in erotic fiction writing. I can’t wait for more from this author.
July 6, 2020
Initially, I thought I'd be into this book because of Bruce, called #messbae by author Holley Trent, so it was a wonderful surprise that I loved all three characters equally.
Raleigh is buttoned up and cautious (until he's not), Bruce is so full of love and just needs people to love him back (also he's super hot) and Everley is the round, ambitious but stuck woman of their (my) dreams. I loved how the two men treated her body and how they worked out their trust issues as a group. My only wish is that we'd had more time with them after they figured out their relationship. When the MCs come together at 93%, it's hard to get a feel for how they'll work together, even if there's an epilogue. I need the feels!
Content Warnings: manipulative parents (all of them!), past: mistreatment of MC due to neurodivergence
Raleigh is buttoned up and cautious (until he's not), Bruce is so full of love and just needs people to love him back (also he's super hot) and Everley is the round, ambitious but stuck woman of their (my) dreams. I loved how the two men treated her body and how they worked out their trust issues as a group. My only wish is that we'd had more time with them after they figured out their relationship. When the MCs come together at 93%, it's hard to get a feel for how they'll work together, even if there's an epilogue. I need the feels!
Content Warnings: manipulative parents (all of them!), past: mistreatment of MC due to neurodivergence
December 30, 2024
Actual rating is 3.7!
What I liked
The 3 MCs were fascinating individually AND together. Since the story was told from all 3 POVs, getting to know them (and thus understanding their behaviors) was easy-peasy. My fave was Bruce. Loved his personality. Everley was an interesting character that I did find myself rooting for from the second she showed up . It's not that I didn't like Raleigh, but he did tested my patience a lot of the time, LOL.
Another thing was that the book had a good balance between the romance and the plot (the latter specifically for the 3 MCs individually.) It was REFRESHING to see ppl working in between all the pining and lusting is all I'm saying. They had some rather mundane stresses (despite at least two of them being wealthy) that made them feel realer. Hell, I even liked Stacia (Raleigh's bestie)! Talk abt SHOCKING! I couldn't stand her in her own novel! Maybe not being in her head worked as a great buffer for me? IDk
Finally, given how much I complained abt this, I do have to give props to the author for the improvement in the writing this time around. I did find 7 typos and a handful of missing words, but compared to the first book, the writing was much smoother and coherent.
What I didn't like
This is gonna surprise a lot of folks cuz it's the opposite of what I whine abt in a lot of my reviews: this book would've benefited from having 50-100 extra pages. A good 70% of the book is abt the build up toward the endgame of Raleigh/Bruce/Everley. I appreciated it.
However, the book doesn't show them AS a throuple until the last 15% of the story. Meanwhile, there are several instances of Raleigh/Bruce, Bruce/Everley, and Raleigh/Everley. It's a shame that there wasn't enough space to show more of the throuple. They had a fun and wild chemistry and I so I felt a bit short-changed in that aspect.
Trigger/Content Warnings:
TL;DR: NO ONE is more surprised than me abt actually finishing AND liking this book, hahah. It's a quick read with characters who feel human (in that they're complicated but ultimately likable), the romance is solid, and the intimate scenes are hella tasty too. ;P
FTR, I won't be reading the third book after getting spoiled for the ending which includes something that some folks like but I don't (.) Even though I do own the third book, I doubt I'll pick it up.
Oh, and one odd (at least to me) thing was that Asperger's is used as one of Bruce's diagnoses which is odd in that the term itself was removed from DSM-5 abt 6 years before this novel was published. From what I know, the term was later absorbed into autism spectrum disorder abt a year before this novel dropped. Its mention in the book (which was in one scene, ftr) was noticeable enough for me go check this novel's publishing date.
Might feel like a small thing to some, but there we are. *hands*
I own this novel.
What I liked
The 3 MCs were fascinating individually AND together. Since the story was told from all 3 POVs, getting to know them (and thus understanding their behaviors) was easy-peasy. My fave was Bruce. Loved his personality. Everley was an interesting character that I did find myself rooting for from the second she showed up . It's not that I didn't like Raleigh, but he did tested my patience a lot of the time, LOL.
Another thing was that the book had a good balance between the romance and the plot (the latter specifically for the 3 MCs individually.) It was REFRESHING to see ppl working in between all the pining and lusting is all I'm saying. They had some rather mundane stresses (despite at least two of them being wealthy) that made them feel realer. Hell, I even liked Stacia (Raleigh's bestie)! Talk abt SHOCKING! I couldn't stand her in her own novel! Maybe not being in her head worked as a great buffer for me? IDk
Finally, given how much I complained abt this, I do have to give props to the author for the improvement in the writing this time around. I did find 7 typos and a handful of missing words, but compared to the first book, the writing was much smoother and coherent.
What I didn't like
This is gonna surprise a lot of folks cuz it's the opposite of what I whine abt in a lot of my reviews: this book would've benefited from having 50-100 extra pages. A good 70% of the book is abt the build up toward the endgame of Raleigh/Bruce/Everley. I appreciated it.
However, the book doesn't show them AS a throuple until the last 15% of the story. Meanwhile, there are several instances of Raleigh/Bruce, Bruce/Everley, and Raleigh/Everley. It's a shame that there wasn't enough space to show more of the throuple. They had a fun and wild chemistry and I so I felt a bit short-changed in that aspect.
Trigger/Content Warnings:
TL;DR: NO ONE is more surprised than me abt actually finishing AND liking this book, hahah. It's a quick read with characters who feel human (in that they're complicated but ultimately likable), the romance is solid, and the intimate scenes are hella tasty too. ;P
FTR, I won't be reading the third book after getting spoiled for the ending which includes something that some folks like but I don't (.) Even though I do own the third book, I doubt I'll pick it up.
Oh, and one odd (at least to me) thing was that Asperger's is used as one of Bruce's diagnoses which is odd in that the term itself was removed from DSM-5 abt 6 years before this novel was published. From what I know, the term was later absorbed into autism spectrum disorder abt a year before this novel dropped. Its mention in the book (which was in one scene, ftr) was noticeable enough for me go check this novel's publishing date.
Might feel like a small thing to some, but there we are. *hands*
I own this novel.
August 23, 2019
This wasall the best parts of the enemies to lovers from The Hating Game and the polyamory in Outside the Lines.
Just as I was promised, I finished this book in basically one sitting. For me, as soon as Everley and Bruce met each other, I was all in.
That's not to say that I didn't like the Bruce and Raleigh section right at the start. No no, I quite liked Raleigh, the curmudgeon from Writing Her In, and was super happy to see both his story and also a butt load of character growth within this tale.
But my heart definitely went out to Everley and Bruce, both gorgeous characters.
At the start, I'm not going to lie: Bruce was a little bit difficult to read because his behaviour and speech patterns hit too close to him and I found that I read that uncomfortably. But finding acceptance of him in these pages was hugely validating. A Girl Like Her has previously been my favourite novel depiction of autism rep, but I think I have a new one in mind now!
Just as I was promised, I finished this book in basically one sitting. For me, as soon as Everley and Bruce met each other, I was all in.
That's not to say that I didn't like the Bruce and Raleigh section right at the start. No no, I quite liked Raleigh, the curmudgeon from Writing Her In, and was super happy to see both his story and also a butt load of character growth within this tale.
But my heart definitely went out to Everley and Bruce, both gorgeous characters.
At the start, I'm not going to lie: Bruce was a little bit difficult to read because his behaviour and speech patterns hit too close to him and I found that I read that uncomfortably. But finding acceptance of him in these pages was hugely validating. A Girl Like Her has previously been my favourite novel depiction of autism rep, but I think I have a new one in mind now!
August 26, 2019
My first intentionally read triad. Was and was not what I expected. The enemy to friends (Bruce and Raleigh) for one of the pairs was a bit much as it went on a little long for me. I enjoyed the uniqueness of Bruce's character. His reflection on day-to-day life was interesting. I also liked Everley and her to the most extent direct approach to life. While reading, I kept waiting for something to happen and when it did, I was like huh, so what. Bottom line, I was bored but I did finish.
ARC provided by Carina Press via NetGalley.
ARC provided by Carina Press via NetGalley.
November 30, 2020
I am utterly wowed by this beautiful and absorbing story. Holley Trent is a storyteller and it’s even more impressive considering that she manages to give these three characters the depth and complexity that they have within a few pages of introducing them. I became attached to them immediately.
Bruce, Raleigh and Everly have found themselves disappointing the important people in their lives and have grown to become disappointed by other people. They’ve never been understood but have been used all their lives. I was struck by how lonely their existences were and yet somehow they were able to strike a unique connection with each other.
This is my second book by Holley Trent and the second in her Plot Twist series. What draws me to her is that she doesn’t make the intimate moments crude. The intimacy comes from the emotional and intellectual connection before their physical connection takes place. They each communicate differently but come together perfectly. This is a story to cherish.
Bruce, Raleigh and Everly have found themselves disappointing the important people in their lives and have grown to become disappointed by other people. They’ve never been understood but have been used all their lives. I was struck by how lonely their existences were and yet somehow they were able to strike a unique connection with each other.
This is my second book by Holley Trent and the second in her Plot Twist series. What draws me to her is that she doesn’t make the intimate moments crude. The intimacy comes from the emotional and intellectual connection before their physical connection takes place. They each communicate differently but come together perfectly. This is a story to cherish.
November 12, 2020
M/M/F. Trope-y contemporary poly queer romance. The three main characters couple up and de-couple in different configurations on their way to their hea. In a more traditional type romance it would have been a love triangle. I appreciated that they came up with a “both and” solution, although it took them longer than I thought it needed to.
It is very trope-y and having 3 pairings allows for max trope-yness. There’s a one night stand (with unknown work connection) that ends with a big misunderstanding, rivals to lovers (with obligatory hate sex) and a very sweet friends to lovers. There were a couple “just talk with each other FFS!” misunderstandings that tried my patience.
As I was reading it, my annoyance with the big-misunderstandings and general trope-yness kind of masked how great it was to read about queer men who owned their sexual fluidity. I did enjoy that quite a bit.
It is very trope-y and having 3 pairings allows for max trope-yness. There’s a one night stand (with unknown work connection) that ends with a big misunderstanding, rivals to lovers (with obligatory hate sex) and a very sweet friends to lovers. There were a couple “just talk with each other FFS!” misunderstandings that tried my patience.
As I was reading it, my annoyance with the big-misunderstandings and general trope-yness kind of masked how great it was to read about queer men who owned their sexual fluidity. I did enjoy that quite a bit.
March 1, 2020
This is an inventive, near-confounding triad polyamory love story, such that at the pivot point I may have whisper-shouted "YISSS!" and read the last few chapters in one go. I marvel at the lovely turn when it seemed hopeless, and how beautifully mental health is portrayed, and how kindly the victims of parental pressures and abuses are portrayed as well. I've read as many polyam romances as I can find, being polyamorous myself, and this one's one of the best. Loved it.
February 12, 2021
This one is probably a 3.5 for me— I felt like these three were kind of always at each other’s throats, and we don’t see them happy & together until the last few chapters
August 9, 2019
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
I absolutely loved this book - so much that as soon as I finished it, I got hold of Writing Her In (pt1) and read it straight through too ! You could read this as a standalone, as the characters involved are new, but we meet Raleigh, and mention of Everley in book 1.
All three characters in this book have one very important thing in common - they have pressures on them to perform in a way that satisfies others at a significant cost to themselves. Each of them have dealt with this differently, but in all cases their level of trust in someone engaging with them because they are attracted to them, not because they want something, is zero. Makes it difficult to have a relationship, that's for sure.
Everley thankfully breaks the cycle by being the very best friend to Bruce - but even that seems to have an expiration date ... oh three such betrayed people have a lot to cope with when opening up, dealing with each others foibles and having faith. I don't want to say more, as you need to have the goodness revealed as you read.
I cannot begin to tell you just how much I loved this story, and how I stayed up till very, very late, as I just got so involved with these trio of fascinating and deserving of love people. I also love that they are all open to what love can mean, and that gender is not a rational determinant of it.
I absolutely loved this book - so much that as soon as I finished it, I got hold of Writing Her In (pt1) and read it straight through too ! You could read this as a standalone, as the characters involved are new, but we meet Raleigh, and mention of Everley in book 1.
All three characters in this book have one very important thing in common - they have pressures on them to perform in a way that satisfies others at a significant cost to themselves. Each of them have dealt with this differently, but in all cases their level of trust in someone engaging with them because they are attracted to them, not because they want something, is zero. Makes it difficult to have a relationship, that's for sure.
Everley thankfully breaks the cycle by being the very best friend to Bruce - but even that seems to have an expiration date ... oh three such betrayed people have a lot to cope with when opening up, dealing with each others foibles and having faith. I don't want to say more, as you need to have the goodness revealed as you read.
I cannot begin to tell you just how much I loved this story, and how I stayed up till very, very late, as I just got so involved with these trio of fascinating and deserving of love people. I also love that they are all open to what love can mean, and that gender is not a rational determinant of it.
Read
January 28, 2021This was excellent. I liked the first book in the series well enough, but that didn't prepare me for just how much I'd love this one, with three engaging characters, complicated dynamics between all of them, and a real emotional elegance: each character always acted perfectly from within their perspectives and personality and history, and not once it feel like Trent was corralling them to fit any externally imposed genre narrative demands. It was just so satisfying! I also really appreciated the neurodiversity representation and the way the three all made space for each other in a way that never felt contrived or otherwise false or weak. They all learned how to care for each other on page, and in doing so, they grew into stronger versions of themselves.
This is one of my top recommendations for readers who want to experience what the romance genre is capable of doing.
This is one of my top recommendations for readers who want to experience what the romance genre is capable of doing.
September 1, 2019
Bruce is such a fascinating, compelling character and I would read a book about his entire life story. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same about Everley or Raleigh, who I felt were immature and spoiled (not to say that Bruce wasn't in his own way, but he was...more interesting about it?). That said, Holley Trent could write the damn phone book and make it art.
August 19, 2019
A good story but didn't quite live up to its promise for me.
Three Part Harmony is the second book in the Plot Twist series but it reads fairly well as a standalone. The first chapter or so had quite a bit with characters from the first book so it kind of got me up to speed. After that, though, the story was pretty strictly about Bruce, Everly and Raleigh.
I was really excited to read this book as it's been a while since I've read an MMF (male/male/female) ménage story. It turned out to be a good story but it took me way longer than it should have to finish reading it. (It's a longish book at 384 pages but I'm normally a really fast reader.)
The story had a lot of promise to be really hot but turned out to have only a few hot scenes, which was a bit disappointing. I really loved Bruce/Theo; he's a quirky character and I almost always enjoy them. Everly and Raleigh were pretty good, too but it took me much longer to connect with them.
For some reason the author's writing style in this story just didn't work really well for me. I found myself drifting a bit while reading and I often had to read portions again to grasp what was being said. I suspect that this had as much to do with me as the writing. Sometimes it's really better for me to put a book aside and come back to it later and I probably should have done that with this one.
If you're looking for a really hot ménage story, I don't think this will be what you're looking for. But, if you're looking for interesting characters, along with a good story, this should work quite nicely.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
Three Part Harmony is the second book in the Plot Twist series but it reads fairly well as a standalone. The first chapter or so had quite a bit with characters from the first book so it kind of got me up to speed. After that, though, the story was pretty strictly about Bruce, Everly and Raleigh.
I was really excited to read this book as it's been a while since I've read an MMF (male/male/female) ménage story. It turned out to be a good story but it took me way longer than it should have to finish reading it. (It's a longish book at 384 pages but I'm normally a really fast reader.)
The story had a lot of promise to be really hot but turned out to have only a few hot scenes, which was a bit disappointing. I really loved Bruce/Theo; he's a quirky character and I almost always enjoy them. Everly and Raleigh were pretty good, too but it took me much longer to connect with them.
For some reason the author's writing style in this story just didn't work really well for me. I found myself drifting a bit while reading and I often had to read portions again to grasp what was being said. I suspect that this had as much to do with me as the writing. Sometimes it's really better for me to put a book aside and come back to it later and I probably should have done that with this one.
If you're looking for a really hot ménage story, I don't think this will be what you're looking for. But, if you're looking for interesting characters, along with a good story, this should work quite nicely.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
December 18, 2020
Oh my gosh, I love this book. I love this book so much! I adore Bruce and his sweetness. I love how prickly Raleigh is. And Everley is amazing. And the ways in which they balance each other out and fulfill different needs for each other! I almost want more of them, especially as the three of them finally getting their shit together took so long, but the ending is still super satisfying and lovely. This is chock full of chosen family and friendship and finding the inner strength to do the hard things for yourself rather than constantly adhering to other’s expectations. So wonderful!!!!!
November 2, 2022
I never go in expecting too much from romances written by new to me authors, because I never know what I'm going to get, but I should have trusted the person whose review put me on to it, because this book was really lovely. (Though it does bother me that the dude on the cover does not resemble either male love interest.)
Our three characters are: Raleigh, a book publicist with trust issues; Everley, the daughter of Raleigh's boss, who everyone sees as having it easy just because she's the boss's daughter; and then there's Bruce, a reclusive rock star who is very lonely. The way that the author maneuvers these people together was completely believable, another thing I was worried about.
This is my first throuple romance that isn't a fanfic, and it really exceeded my expectations. I am more and more tired of romances that have smutty, emotionless sex scenes, and I was worried that this book would make their connection lurid or titillating, when what I wanted was a deep connection between all three people. These three people love each other and just like, want to nurture and care for each other, in addition to being sexy with each other.
Will definitely be reading more from this author.
Chipping Away at Mt. TBR, July 2022—Book 29/31
Our three characters are: Raleigh, a book publicist with trust issues; Everley, the daughter of Raleigh's boss, who everyone sees as having it easy just because she's the boss's daughter; and then there's Bruce, a reclusive rock star who is very lonely. The way that the author maneuvers these people together was completely believable, another thing I was worried about.
This is my first throuple romance that isn't a fanfic, and it really exceeded my expectations. I am more and more tired of romances that have smutty, emotionless sex scenes, and I was worried that this book would make their connection lurid or titillating, when what I wanted was a deep connection between all three people. These three people love each other and just like, want to nurture and care for each other, in addition to being sexy with each other.
Will definitely be reading more from this author.
Chipping Away at Mt. TBR, July 2022—Book 29/31
December 23, 2019
This book was amazing. I basically read it in one sitting. Bruce, Everley (whose name I will NOT spell wrong), Raleigh, each main character was so unique and different and likable, and you rooted for all of them--each trying to figure out how to exist after being hurt so many times (primarily by their parents, whose expectations none of them ever lived up to, even though they each took different coping tactics--i.e., fleeing, pleasing, fighting). Watching them come together and each be right for the others as a group was just wonderful. Also, bonus, ever moment of Stacia in the book was just fabulous--I loved getting to visit with her and Dara and Adrien again. Just so good. I am so glad I read this book!
August 22, 2019
It took me a bit to get into this one - I hadn’t read the first book and Raleigh is a bit of an acquired taste. But after about 40 pages, once the three MCs are squared the plot chugs right along. Interestingly, this is a rather medium-steamy ménage romance; there are some sex scenes but not intimately described (if you’re looking for HAWT threesomes by Chapter 2 this book is not for you). It’s mostly three people who manage to figure out by the end of the book that they love each other and function best as a unit (and that their families are all garbage; I would add a mild CW for references to past trouble with families who are not supportive of queer or neurodiverse people.) Good writing.
September 25, 2019
Reviewed for AudioGals.
https://www.audiogals.net/2019/09/thr...
https://www.audiogals.net/2019/09/thr...
September 1, 2019
Check out our Three Part Harmony post on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely loved this book – so much that as soon as I finished it, I got hold of Writing Her In (book #1) and read it straight through too! You could read this as a standalone, as the characters involved are new, but we meet Raleigh and mention of Everley in book one.
All three characters in this book have one very important thing in common – they have pressures on them to perform in a way that satisfies others at a significant cost to themselves. Each of them have dealt with this differently, but in all cases their level of trust in someone engaging with them because they are attracted to them, not because they want something, is zero. Makes it difficult to have a relationship, that's for sure.
Everley, thankfully, breaks the cycle by being the very best friend to Bruce – but even that seems to have an expiration date... oh, three such betrayed people have a lot to cope with when opening up, dealing with each other’s foibles, and having faith. I don't want to say more, as you need to have the goodness revealed as you read.
I cannot begin to tell you just how much I loved this story, and how I stayed up until very, very late, as I just got so involved with this trio of fascinating and deserving of love people. I also love that they are all open to what love can mean, and that gender is not a rational determinant of it.
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I completely fell in love with Writing Her In earlier this year and this is a very worthy sequel. I think the characters might be more interesting in this second book, but it doesn’t quite have the explosive sexual tension that the first book did. This is the story of Raleigh (Stacia’s editor) and the two people he finds himself reluctantly drawn to.
Everley is my favourite character in this story. We first see her through Raleigh’s eyes as a cold and ruthlessly ambitious woman whose career has been buoyed by blatant nepotism. And then we get her perspective. Everley is lonely, isolated, and slowly dying inside as she attempts to live up to her father’s expectations. I love Everley’s journey and the growth in her character.
Bruce is fascinating and enigmatic, but I struggle with him as a romantic lead. It’s because of Bruce that the triad relationship makes sense – while they love him, Raleigh and Everley both need more than Bruce can sometimes give. I love that the author has included a character who isn’t neurotypical and I love that neither Raleigh nor Everley attempt to change him.
I found Raleigh extremely annoying in Stacia’s book, but I loved him here. He isn’t quite as smooth, quite as pushy, or quite as confident in his own book. I love that he’s human and raw at times and I love his difficult past.
I love all three characters, but I didn’t engage as well with their relationships as I did with the first book. This feels like a lower heat read and the large gaps of time between characters connecting and reconnecting doesn’t do much to build or sustain sexual tension. The story feels slightly fractured in places as two of the three characters connect and the other is excluded. While there are a few too many long and slow passages in the middle of the book, the story races to the end. For me, things are wrapped up too neatly and too quickly.
I have really loved Holley Trent’s writing in both these books. Her use of language is beautiful, and her characters feel wonderfully human. These are sexy stories that feel more like real life poly relationships than the titillating ménage so common in erotic fiction writing. I can’t wait for more from this author.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
September 11, 2019
Rounded up. I liked this better than book one.
This poly romance has enemies-to-lovers, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, and just plain simple lovers. All three have lots of things in common, if they could only look past their own insecurities and past hurts. But those same past hurts is also what makes them see and understand each other. All three have things to offer each other, and it's clear that they would be better as three than as two, regardless of which two. It's more than just attraction. I usually don't like the misunderstanding-based estrangement in romance, but here it kind of makes sense. There are valid reasons for those misunderstandings.
Where Trent tends to fall short is in the "why" of her characters getting together. They generally start out with some sort of antagonism or disinclination toward each other, and are then forced into close proximity with each other, and then end up as lovers, but the process from one to the other tends to be a bit murky. Here, she does better than usual, but I'm still left just a little bit confused about how they got to the HEA part, despite all the internal monologuing the characters do. The changing motivations seem to come a bit out of the blue, for little obvious reason. Why does Raleigh suddenly decide to be nice to Everley after hating her guts? It just happens, but it doesn't quite make sense, and I wish it would, because it would make it so much better.
Also, I would have liked to see them get together as a throuple earlier than right at the end, to see how they actually worked all three together, not just separately. We get a little epilogue, but it doesn't say much about the dynamics of the relationship, and that was a little disappointing, because that's kind of what I want out of poly romances.
Still, this was a fairly good poly romance in which the process of forming a trio is a little more complex than most of the very common "we both fancy you and you think we're both hot, so let's hook up and let the really hot sex solve everything" ménage type of romances. There are still far too few poly romances out there that take the intricacies of polyamorous relationships seriously.
Could have benefitted from more stringent proofreading to avoid orphaned words and homophone spelling errors (like "illicit" for "elicit"), but they were few enough and I'm like a target-seeking missile for those, unlike most people.
This poly romance has enemies-to-lovers, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, and just plain simple lovers. All three have lots of things in common, if they could only look past their own insecurities and past hurts. But those same past hurts is also what makes them see and understand each other. All three have things to offer each other, and it's clear that they would be better as three than as two, regardless of which two. It's more than just attraction. I usually don't like the misunderstanding-based estrangement in romance, but here it kind of makes sense. There are valid reasons for those misunderstandings.
Where Trent tends to fall short is in the "why" of her characters getting together. They generally start out with some sort of antagonism or disinclination toward each other, and are then forced into close proximity with each other, and then end up as lovers, but the process from one to the other tends to be a bit murky. Here, she does better than usual, but I'm still left just a little bit confused about how they got to the HEA part, despite all the internal monologuing the characters do. The changing motivations seem to come a bit out of the blue, for little obvious reason. Why does Raleigh suddenly decide to be nice to Everley after hating her guts? It just happens, but it doesn't quite make sense, and I wish it would, because it would make it so much better.
Also, I would have liked to see them get together as a throuple earlier than right at the end, to see how they actually worked all three together, not just separately. We get a little epilogue, but it doesn't say much about the dynamics of the relationship, and that was a little disappointing, because that's kind of what I want out of poly romances.
Still, this was a fairly good poly romance in which the process of forming a trio is a little more complex than most of the very common "we both fancy you and you think we're both hot, so let's hook up and let the really hot sex solve everything" ménage type of romances. There are still far too few poly romances out there that take the intricacies of polyamorous relationships seriously.
Could have benefitted from more stringent proofreading to avoid orphaned words and homophone spelling errors (like "illicit" for "elicit"), but they were few enough and I'm like a target-seeking missile for those, unlike most people.
March 8, 2021
3.5 stars I have mixed feelings about this one. It was enjoyable overall but the pacing was off and I wasn’t sure where the plot was going, mostly because this is an MMF contemporary romance that doesn’t become MMF until after 90%. Instead, we have Raleigh hooking up with Bruce at the beginning, then running off when he thinks Bruce was just using him. Then Bruce and Everly getting together but never establishing they’re in a relationship before Bruce returns to South Africa to take care of business. Then Everly and Raleigh getting together, since Raleigh can finally get beyond his dislike of Everly due to her getting her job because of nepotism. Even then, the idea of a triad relationship doesn’t come to them immediately and I wasn’t completely sure it made sense for them, mostly because we have not seen any positive, healthy interactions between *all three* of them at any point in this book. I guess I could have bought them giving menage a try but immediately being all in on a triad relationship when they’ve only been together piecemeal before this? A big stretch and therefore I didn’t buy the declarations of love either.
That said, I do think they can work well together! I just needed to see more than the potential. It wrapped up way too quickly once they had their first MMF sex scene and the epilogue takes place not that long after. I liked all three characters, although being in Bruce’s POV often confused me. I’m curious what ownvoices reviewers make of his representation.
Character notes: Raleigh is a 38 year old white pansexual ginger book publicist. He’s very buttoned up. Bruce is a 33 year old mixed race (white Scottish mom, South African [Dutch, Indian, and possibly a few other things due to colonialism] father) vegetarian rock star who sometimes wears makeup. His diagnoses are ADHD, Asperger’s, and mood disorder. He’s either bisexual or pansexual. Everly is a white book publicist with scoliosis—I believe she’s around 27. This is set in NYC.
CW: main character with ADHD, Asperger’s, and mood disorder, toxic parents, anxiety, Bruce was mistreated by his family due to his diagnoses and raised by his Nan instead (Nan sounds great!), ableism (from family, manager, and former band), diet culture, alcohol, ableist language
That said, I do think they can work well together! I just needed to see more than the potential. It wrapped up way too quickly once they had their first MMF sex scene and the epilogue takes place not that long after. I liked all three characters, although being in Bruce’s POV often confused me. I’m curious what ownvoices reviewers make of his representation.
Character notes: Raleigh is a 38 year old white pansexual ginger book publicist. He’s very buttoned up. Bruce is a 33 year old mixed race (white Scottish mom, South African [Dutch, Indian, and possibly a few other things due to colonialism] father) vegetarian rock star who sometimes wears makeup. His diagnoses are ADHD, Asperger’s, and mood disorder. He’s either bisexual or pansexual. Everly is a white book publicist with scoliosis—I believe she’s around 27. This is set in NYC.
CW: main character with ADHD, Asperger’s, and mood disorder, toxic parents, anxiety, Bruce was mistreated by his family due to his diagnoses and raised by his Nan instead (Nan sounds great!), ableism (from family, manager, and former band), diet culture, alcohol, ableist language
August 20, 2019
I really enjoyed Three Part Harmony. Menage isn’t really my interest in romance. I have a hard enough time believing two people can make it work, anything beyond that strains credulity. Holley Trent really makes it work in this book. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The cover of this book is a lie. None of these characters are babies. They are each adults struggling with the stuff that adults struggle with – success, failure, motivation, and still trying to figure out their relationships with their families.
The threesome is Raleigh, Bruce and Everley. Raleigh and Everley work together, but Everley’s position as the boss’s daughter doesn’t endear her to Raleigh. Bruce is a rock star trying not to be a rock star who ends up in relationships with both Raleigh and Everley. I appreciated that the three each had separate relationships developed independently before they came together.
There are some difficult things that Holley Trent makes work in Three Part Harmony. Raleigh is a dick to Everley for a good portion of the book. He’s a dick to Bruce too, but that comes from an explainable misunderstanding. Bruce is used to not being understood, because he is neuroatypical. Instead of trying to correct the misunderstanding, Bruce lets it go and lets bad feelings simmer between them for most of the book. Trent has worked some kind of magic to keep me rooting for Raleigh to get past his shit and be the excellent boyfriend that Everley and Bruce deserve. Everley and Bruce are great together and yet Trent still manages to create this space in their relationship that you just know needs Raleigh to fill.
This is a slow, slow burn of a romance, and honestly, I could have done with more of the three of them together and not fighting. That said, this is a pretty perfect romance. I knew how the protagonists would fit together, and I was waiting for them to work through their issues to get to the place where they could be together.
The cover of this book is a lie. None of these characters are babies. They are each adults struggling with the stuff that adults struggle with – success, failure, motivation, and still trying to figure out their relationships with their families.
The threesome is Raleigh, Bruce and Everley. Raleigh and Everley work together, but Everley’s position as the boss’s daughter doesn’t endear her to Raleigh. Bruce is a rock star trying not to be a rock star who ends up in relationships with both Raleigh and Everley. I appreciated that the three each had separate relationships developed independently before they came together.
There are some difficult things that Holley Trent makes work in Three Part Harmony. Raleigh is a dick to Everley for a good portion of the book. He’s a dick to Bruce too, but that comes from an explainable misunderstanding. Bruce is used to not being understood, because he is neuroatypical. Instead of trying to correct the misunderstanding, Bruce lets it go and lets bad feelings simmer between them for most of the book. Trent has worked some kind of magic to keep me rooting for Raleigh to get past his shit and be the excellent boyfriend that Everley and Bruce deserve. Everley and Bruce are great together and yet Trent still manages to create this space in their relationship that you just know needs Raleigh to fill.
This is a slow, slow burn of a romance, and honestly, I could have done with more of the three of them together and not fighting. That said, this is a pretty perfect romance. I knew how the protagonists would fit together, and I was waiting for them to work through their issues to get to the place where they could be together.
August 21, 2019
4.5 - 5 stars...
I need to start this review with a couple of confessions… First, I didn’t read the book blurb before I made the request for the ARC. I don’t think that would have stopped me from picking it up, but it kind of threw me when I got to Everley’s POV in the book. Second, I didn’t read the first book in the series (Writing Her In) before I read this book. No worries on that one though, because I’m definitely back tracking to get to Dara, Adrien and Stacia’s story, especially after meeting Stacia in Three Part Harmony and getting a sneak peek at Writing Her In at the end of book 2.
Three Part Harmony not only took me by surprise, it drew me in so strongly that I finished it in less than 24 hours. The more I got to know these characters, the more I wanted to get to know them better. I fell in love with all of them, which doesn’t mean I didn’t get aggravated with them at times (especially Raleigh). Even then, they had good reasons for what they did and how they reacted. It was hard not to adore Bruce and want to love and protect him as much as Everley did. Honestly though, all three of these characters needed some type of love and protection because none of them had it easy. Which was just one of the many reasons why they were so perfect for each other.
The romance was great in Three Part Harmony, but honestly, what I think I loved most was the humor, wit and snarkiness that pretty much all the characters possessed. It definitely made me want to search out more books by Holley Trent – which I probably will. Even after I pick up Writing Her In. 😉
I received Three Part Harmony in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I need to start this review with a couple of confessions… First, I didn’t read the book blurb before I made the request for the ARC. I don’t think that would have stopped me from picking it up, but it kind of threw me when I got to Everley’s POV in the book. Second, I didn’t read the first book in the series (Writing Her In) before I read this book. No worries on that one though, because I’m definitely back tracking to get to Dara, Adrien and Stacia’s story, especially after meeting Stacia in Three Part Harmony and getting a sneak peek at Writing Her In at the end of book 2.
Three Part Harmony not only took me by surprise, it drew me in so strongly that I finished it in less than 24 hours. The more I got to know these characters, the more I wanted to get to know them better. I fell in love with all of them, which doesn’t mean I didn’t get aggravated with them at times (especially Raleigh). Even then, they had good reasons for what they did and how they reacted. It was hard not to adore Bruce and want to love and protect him as much as Everley did. Honestly though, all three of these characters needed some type of love and protection because none of them had it easy. Which was just one of the many reasons why they were so perfect for each other.
The romance was great in Three Part Harmony, but honestly, what I think I loved most was the humor, wit and snarkiness that pretty much all the characters possessed. It definitely made me want to search out more books by Holley Trent – which I probably will. Even after I pick up Writing Her In. 😉
I received Three Part Harmony in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 18, 2021
In regards to the trio this story focuses on, I liked Bruce the most, especially since he was an unusual character. Everley seemed a bit different than your typical romance book heroine, which I appreciated, and she was likable enough. But I wanted to slap Raleigh upside the head for being too narrow minded and judgmental. Raleigh making wrongful assumptions about both Bruce and Everley caused unnecessary drama, which I’m not a fan of in books, and also made parts of the plot drag. His behavior did get a bit better near the end, but I still found it hard to excuse his assholeism.
It also took way too long for them to become a ménage, and when they finally had a threesome, it lacked the heat and chemistry I’d been hoping for. We only got to see them hook up that way once, and it felt too rushed. There were earlier scenes that were just M/M or M/F and they worked better for me than the M/F/M one.
I appreciate how this book tried to be different, and that the characters weren’t cookie cutter. But unfortunately the story felt like it ran out of steam before the end. I still think this writer has talent though, and would consider reading her again in the future.
It also took way too long for them to become a ménage, and when they finally had a threesome, it lacked the heat and chemistry I’d been hoping for. We only got to see them hook up that way once, and it felt too rushed. There were earlier scenes that were just M/M or M/F and they worked better for me than the M/F/M one.
I appreciate how this book tried to be different, and that the characters weren’t cookie cutter. But unfortunately the story felt like it ran out of steam before the end. I still think this writer has talent though, and would consider reading her again in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2019
Having read the one before this I had to get into this one. It is nice when you can follow the next one in the reading with all there is out there to pick.
Since this will not be your normal path you quickly get caught up into Raleigh's path in life with all his ups and downs. Add into that Bruce and Everley to the equation and the level of reading goes up. You have been captured with these puzzles wanting to see how they will fit if at all. The emotions will build with us holding our breath and loving every minute.
Since this will not be your normal path you quickly get caught up into Raleigh's path in life with all his ups and downs. Add into that Bruce and Everley to the equation and the level of reading goes up. You have been captured with these puzzles wanting to see how they will fit if at all. The emotions will build with us holding our breath and loving every minute.
January 19, 2025
4.8
the CHEMISTRY in this, god DAMN. miss trent i was NOT familiar with your game holy crap. i like how there was a developed relationship between all three sides of the triangle, rather than just jumping in headfirst like a lot of polyam romances do. took them far too long to realize that everley has two hands tbh. both of her men were so???? good with words??? like every other chapter had me like
i'm probs gonna backtrack and read writing her in soon to <3 besos xoxo
the CHEMISTRY in this, god DAMN. miss trent i was NOT familiar with your game holy crap. i like how there was a developed relationship between all three sides of the triangle, rather than just jumping in headfirst like a lot of polyam romances do. took them far too long to realize that everley has two hands tbh. both of her men were so???? good with words??? like every other chapter had me like
i'm probs gonna backtrack and read writing her in soon to <3 besos xoxo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2019
Satisfying
I loved that this was so much about their feelings and how they got that they could connect to each other, and not just lots of tab a into slot b scenes. Although the sex scenes were hot. I especially liked that the heroine got reassurance that she was as desired and loved as the two males as it often seems the girl is an afterthought in mmf reads. I hope Lisa is the next to get her HEA.
I loved that this was so much about their feelings and how they got that they could connect to each other, and not just lots of tab a into slot b scenes. Although the sex scenes were hot. I especially liked that the heroine got reassurance that she was as desired and loved as the two males as it often seems the girl is an afterthought in mmf reads. I hope Lisa is the next to get her HEA.
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