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An Invitation To Love
When Dominick has to attend a six-day dragon mating ceremony, he wants to avoid speaking to anyone for fear his severe stutter will send possible suitors running.
However, Lysander and Zachary, both from different cultures with a thing for redheads, refuse to let him hide. Worse, they actively pursue him, even after Dominick mucks up their first encounter.
Against the backdrop of a ceremony that takes testing endurance, strength, and acoustics to new heights, differences between languages, customs, and expectations create an obstacle course where any misstep could send the men home… alone.
___________________________
wordcount: 15,500
This is the second re-edited edition of An Invitation To Love.
However, Lysander and Zachary, both from different cultures with a thing for redheads, refuse to let him hide. Worse, they actively pursue him, even after Dominick mucks up their first encounter.
Against the backdrop of a ceremony that takes testing endurance, strength, and acoustics to new heights, differences between languages, customs, and expectations create an obstacle course where any misstep could send the men home… alone.
___________________________
wordcount: 15,500
This is the second re-edited edition of An Invitation To Love.
Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2013
About the author
Blaine D. Arden
27 books141 followersBlaine D. Arden is an EPIC Award-winning author of Romantic Speculative Fiction and Suspense who sings her way through life in platform boots.
For most of her sheltered youth, Blaine read, daydreamed, and made up stories. As she grew up, she slowly transitioned from telling them to her favourite doll and acting them out with her Barbies, to putting pen to paper. Her motto is Our difference is our strength, and her stories are often set in worlds where gender fluidity and sexual diversity are accepted as is.
When not writing or reading, Blaine has singing lessons and hopes to be in a band someday.
Non-Binary / Asexual
she/her | ey/em/eir | Mx.
For most of her sheltered youth, Blaine read, daydreamed, and made up stories. As she grew up, she slowly transitioned from telling them to her favourite doll and acting them out with her Barbies, to putting pen to paper. Her motto is Our difference is our strength, and her stories are often set in worlds where gender fluidity and sexual diversity are accepted as is.
When not writing or reading, Blaine has singing lessons and hopes to be in a band someday.
Non-Binary / Asexual
she/her | ey/em/eir | Mx.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 20, 2013
2,5* upgrade because it was free.
This short story contains a very complex world and I was lost a few times.
In my eyes the story is to concentrated, and the relationship of the three men a little numb.
This short story contains a very complex world and I was lost a few times.
In my eyes the story is to concentrated, and the relationship of the three men a little numb.
February 24, 2020
Interspecies relationships can be complicated enough due to different customs and/or expectations, but add a severe speech impediment, different languages, and a variation of ideas about mating and you have a true challenge. I love the fact that all these factors were what made the three men struggle how to relate to each other, not the fact they were gay or trying to be a permanent triad. It all highlighted the fact this fantasy world is definitely very different from our current reality!
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
May 10, 2020
2.5/5
I know this meant to be just a novella, but the story just felt inconclusive and the ending is more of a HFN.
I know this meant to be just a novella, but the story just felt inconclusive and the ending is more of a HFN.
May 20, 2013
4.5 stars.
Dominick is one of the winged Phae race who suffers with a severe stutter. At his friend's wedding, he meets Lysander and Zachary, two foreigners who are instantly attracted to him and allow him to communicate with the Drachus sign language to remain at ease. Believing their affair is just a casual arrangement. Dominick fears their leaving, but Zachary has a surprise for both Dominick and Lysander that could bring them together forever or drive the trio apart.
I haven't tried M/M/M romance since my fanfiction days, where I dabbled in reading some and decided it simply wasn't for me. I may have been a little hasty in that decision, though. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm older and can appreciate the idea of three people in a relationship, or perhaps I was just searching for the right kind of story to convert me. Either way, after reading this story I'm definitely interested in reading more.
Dominick, Lysander and Zachary have a definite chemistry. The trio really feels incomplete without any one of them, which is something I thought I would never say. In M/M/M romances I've read, I always felt that two of the characters had a greater connection, leaving a third in the cold, but all three felt evenly important to the relationship even though Lysander and Zachary met first. Dominick never feels like the third wheel.
I liked the world that Arden builds here as well. The wedding ceremony is a great backdrop for this meeting, and Dominick's friend Buttercup is very supportive of her friend's happiness, never being judgmental in any way. We get to learn about the rituals of a Drachus wedding while Dominick sorts out his feelings and builds his self-confidence enough to approach Lysander and Zachary. They, in turn, are patient and never push him beyond the limits of what he finds comfortable, whether it be sexually or vocally. The level of patience and understanding they give each other really speaks of love more than any grandiose declaration of feeling.
I love the way this story ended, too. It was happy for all of the characters involved and never pushed any of them to change their personalities or ways of life. I really believe their relationship will last while giving each of them the space to be themselves. I found this realistic approach to be more romantic than some of the more stifling happily-ever-after endings I've seen.
This is a free read from Storm Moon Press and I absolutely recommend it, even if you're usually shy of M/M/M pairings. This is a great introduction to this kind of relationship as each character is patient with the others and there's a real emotional bond between the three that never feels like it should be just M/M and never feels abusive or pushy. All three of these men clearly want this relationship and it shows. A great read.
Dominick is one of the winged Phae race who suffers with a severe stutter. At his friend's wedding, he meets Lysander and Zachary, two foreigners who are instantly attracted to him and allow him to communicate with the Drachus sign language to remain at ease. Believing their affair is just a casual arrangement. Dominick fears their leaving, but Zachary has a surprise for both Dominick and Lysander that could bring them together forever or drive the trio apart.
I haven't tried M/M/M romance since my fanfiction days, where I dabbled in reading some and decided it simply wasn't for me. I may have been a little hasty in that decision, though. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm older and can appreciate the idea of three people in a relationship, or perhaps I was just searching for the right kind of story to convert me. Either way, after reading this story I'm definitely interested in reading more.
Dominick, Lysander and Zachary have a definite chemistry. The trio really feels incomplete without any one of them, which is something I thought I would never say. In M/M/M romances I've read, I always felt that two of the characters had a greater connection, leaving a third in the cold, but all three felt evenly important to the relationship even though Lysander and Zachary met first. Dominick never feels like the third wheel.
I liked the world that Arden builds here as well. The wedding ceremony is a great backdrop for this meeting, and Dominick's friend Buttercup is very supportive of her friend's happiness, never being judgmental in any way. We get to learn about the rituals of a Drachus wedding while Dominick sorts out his feelings and builds his self-confidence enough to approach Lysander and Zachary. They, in turn, are patient and never push him beyond the limits of what he finds comfortable, whether it be sexually or vocally. The level of patience and understanding they give each other really speaks of love more than any grandiose declaration of feeling.
I love the way this story ended, too. It was happy for all of the characters involved and never pushed any of them to change their personalities or ways of life. I really believe their relationship will last while giving each of them the space to be themselves. I found this realistic approach to be more romantic than some of the more stifling happily-ever-after endings I've seen.
This is a free read from Storm Moon Press and I absolutely recommend it, even if you're usually shy of M/M/M pairings. This is a great introduction to this kind of relationship as each character is patient with the others and there's a real emotional bond between the three that never feels like it should be just M/M and never feels abusive or pushy. All three of these men clearly want this relationship and it shows. A great read.
February 24, 2020
Interspecies relationships can be complicated enough due to different customs and/or expectations, but add a severe speech impediment, different languages, and a variation of ideas about mating and you have a true challenge. I love the fact that all these factors were what made the three men struggle how to relate to each other, not the fact they were gay or trying to be a permanent triad. It all highlighted the fact this fantasy world is definitely very different from our current reality!
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 30, 2020
An Invitation to Love
MMy Thoughts and Review:
This was a really sweet and original fantasy MMM romance novella. My first read by this author I found myself lost in a realm where different races and tribes of people have found themselves at peace with each other as well as with dragon kind. The hero and top MC of the story, Dominick, is best friends with the dragon, Buttercup who is the reason so many races of people have gathered in one place. Buttercup is marrying Thumper, another Dragon, and their mating ceremony is a festivity that lasts for six days in their world.
Even though Buttercup is the Bride to be, she is doing all she can to push Dom out of the proverbial nest, so he too can find love and happiness. Dominick however, has learned to live vicariously through others because he knows as soon as he speaks and people hear his speech impediment, they will run for the hills. After all, it has been done before, so why should things be different now?
Except, for the first time, even after speaking, embarrassing himself to a very intriguing and attractive man, Dominick has caught the eye of not one but two gentlemen. And these two gentlemen are only running in one direction…straight to Dominick.
This was a very endearing poly romance and even showed how a throuple can work when all three people within the relationship communicate, and believe in what they have, and are willing to find compromises for what they want in their futures both as individuals and as committed people within an established relationship.
I would love to see this world and the people within it expand to include more of the tribes and Drachus, as well as watching Thumper and Buttercup’s family grow.
Sharonica’s Logic: 4.00 dragon-tales-and-fairy-dust-stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Queer Romance Ink to read and review. 🌈📖🌈
MMy Thoughts and Review:
This was a really sweet and original fantasy MMM romance novella. My first read by this author I found myself lost in a realm where different races and tribes of people have found themselves at peace with each other as well as with dragon kind. The hero and top MC of the story, Dominick, is best friends with the dragon, Buttercup who is the reason so many races of people have gathered in one place. Buttercup is marrying Thumper, another Dragon, and their mating ceremony is a festivity that lasts for six days in their world.
Even though Buttercup is the Bride to be, she is doing all she can to push Dom out of the proverbial nest, so he too can find love and happiness. Dominick however, has learned to live vicariously through others because he knows as soon as he speaks and people hear his speech impediment, they will run for the hills. After all, it has been done before, so why should things be different now?
Except, for the first time, even after speaking, embarrassing himself to a very intriguing and attractive man, Dominick has caught the eye of not one but two gentlemen. And these two gentlemen are only running in one direction…straight to Dominick.
This was a very endearing poly romance and even showed how a throuple can work when all three people within the relationship communicate, and believe in what they have, and are willing to find compromises for what they want in their futures both as individuals and as committed people within an established relationship.
I would love to see this world and the people within it expand to include more of the tribes and Drachus, as well as watching Thumper and Buttercup’s family grow.
Sharonica’s Logic: 4.00 dragon-tales-and-fairy-dust-stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Queer Romance Ink to read and review. 🌈📖🌈
December 25, 2020
I liked the story and the concept of interracial couples trying to blend language barriers with allowing each individual to be comfortable in the relationship. I also really liked the concept of having to do something as seemingly ordinary as look for housing before the couple starts living together. It was a nice blend of fantasy with aspects of the modern world showing through.
August 3, 2021
Omg
I loved reading about this trio and I fell in love with their personalities. When the book was over, I felt so sad to leave their world. The customs of each race. The descriptions the author put in. Each detail created a beautiful image in my head . I felt like I was the one visiting this mating. Sigh, but it's over now. Blaine Arden...you have gained a reader.
I loved reading about this trio and I fell in love with their personalities. When the book was over, I felt so sad to leave their world. The customs of each race. The descriptions the author put in. Each detail created a beautiful image in my head . I felt like I was the one visiting this mating. Sigh, but it's over now. Blaine Arden...you have gained a reader.
September 23, 2020
Short and Sweet
This was such a sweet short novella. I thought the world sounded interesting, and I could see it being part of a fantasy series.
This was such a sweet short novella. I thought the world sounded interesting, and I could see it being part of a fantasy series.
January 7, 2021
DNF at 51%. The novella was a hot mess. I've kept wondering if I'd missed a prequel with all the necessary background because I had no clue what's going on. Apparently the author expected us to juggle between deciphering an unfamiliar fantasy setting from offhand remarks and following the evolving relationship. Needless to say, it worked poorly. You don't have time and volume for a proper fantasy world building in a novella. The least you can do is to avoid throwing around random fantasy names without explaining them and keep all the information on the MCs crystal clear. The need for the latter becomes painfully obvious when you get to a sex scene without a clear idea about the narrator's physiology and species.
August 10, 2016
Dominick knows he can't turn down the honor of standing with his work partner during her mating ceremony. He is reluctant as he doesn't like to speak in front of people, but is thankful that it will be acceptable for him to use sign language during the event. But things change when he spies a dancer, Lysander, who grabs his attention and then is quickly introduced to Lysander's new friend Zachary. The attraction and chemistry between them is undeniable and is so much that Dominick finds himself almost frightened by it. But since they're unlikely to see each other again after the ceremony, he wonders if maybe he should just give it a shot.
I really enjoyed this book. It's on the shorter side, but is definitely a complete story with a well-defined world. If you're at all interested in fantasy, romance, m/m, or all three at once - this is likely a pick for you. Personally, I want to know what happens next, but this sadly doesn't look to be part of a series.
I really enjoyed this book. It's on the shorter side, but is definitely a complete story with a well-defined world. If you're at all interested in fantasy, romance, m/m, or all three at once - this is likely a pick for you. Personally, I want to know what happens next, but this sadly doesn't look to be part of a series.
Shelved as 'owned-to-read'
January 1, 2014*free on ARE
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews