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Alex Kennedy #1
Tempted
I had everything a woman could want...
My husband, James. The house on the lake.
My life. Our perfect life.
And then Alex came to visit.
The first time I saw my husband's best friend, I didn't like him. Didn't like how James changed when he was around, didn't like how his penetrating eyes followed me everywhere.
But that didn't stop me from wanting him. And, surprisingly, James didn't seem to mind.
It was meant to be fun. Something the three of us shared for those hot summer weeks Alex stayed with us. Nobody was supposed to fall in or out of love. I didn't need another man, not even one who oozed sex like honey and knew all the secrets I didn't know, the secrets my husband hadn't shared. After all, we had a perfect life.
And I loved my husband.
But I wasn't the only one.
My husband, James. The house on the lake.
My life. Our perfect life.
And then Alex came to visit.
The first time I saw my husband's best friend, I didn't like him. Didn't like how James changed when he was around, didn't like how his penetrating eyes followed me everywhere.
But that didn't stop me from wanting him. And, surprisingly, James didn't seem to mind.
It was meant to be fun. Something the three of us shared for those hot summer weeks Alex stayed with us. Nobody was supposed to fall in or out of love. I didn't need another man, not even one who oozed sex like honey and knew all the secrets I didn't know, the secrets my husband hadn't shared. After all, we had a perfect life.
And I loved my husband.
But I wasn't the only one.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
216 people are currently reading
8287 people want to read
About the author
Megan Hart
265 books4,057 followersMegan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 708 reviews
June 8, 2013
Tempted is the first novel in the Alex Kennedy series. Tempted is good on so many stirring levels. Willing voyeurism, exhibitionism and ménage a trois, though it’s more about consequences, responsiveness, and enthralling ties.
Anne and James have what is a good marriage. James and Alex have been best friends since they were young. Alex and Anne have never met due to a falling out that Alex and James had in college and the fact that Alex has lived in Singapore all these years. Then on day, when Alex calls James, he invites him to stay for the summer. Then one night the three of them decide to take their relationship to the next level and give into the sexual tension that has been filling the air. The three of them take each other to bed, one night then turns into the whole summer. They choose to let fantasy become reality. But what is supposed to be a summer of mindless passion, no strings attached, gets complicated as emotions and hearts become involved and feelings change.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, it was very entertaining and I could not put it down, I stayed up late to read it, I just had to know what happened next! I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
-Ana @SoManyBooksSoLittleTime
Also Posted on So Many Books, So Little Time
Anne and James have what is a good marriage. James and Alex have been best friends since they were young. Alex and Anne have never met due to a falling out that Alex and James had in college and the fact that Alex has lived in Singapore all these years. Then on day, when Alex calls James, he invites him to stay for the summer. Then one night the three of them decide to take their relationship to the next level and give into the sexual tension that has been filling the air. The three of them take each other to bed, one night then turns into the whole summer. They choose to let fantasy become reality. But what is supposed to be a summer of mindless passion, no strings attached, gets complicated as emotions and hearts become involved and feelings change.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, it was very entertaining and I could not put it down, I stayed up late to read it, I just had to know what happened next! I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
-Ana @SoManyBooksSoLittleTime
Also Posted on So Many Books, So Little Time
January 22, 2010
I really enjoyed Ms. Hart’s “Dirty”, but this one was not a big hit with me. It may have been my mood at the time of reading—I am not sure. The story here is with a married couple, James and Anne, and a man named Alex. Alex is James’ childhood friend that has been absent for a number of years. He comes into their lives and becomes much than a regular houseguest for the summer.
We learn about Anne’s life bit by bit as it happens to her. She has a difficult relationship with her mother in law; she has three sisters that all have some sort of drama happening in their own lives, and their father is an alcoholic. Her childhood with her father was difficult, and if you are the child of an alcoholic, I am not sure if this book is for you.
She had thought her marriage to James was perfect, but over the summer she learns that she loves Alex too. She and Alex have an instant attraction that burns hotter than anything she’s ever known. They all thought they could have this fling and not have feeling involved. However, I think we all know that that is just impossible. At least I feel it is impossible in the real world.
I didn’t like her husband James much. I thought he was a liar and that he was selfish. I found Anne ‘ok’, but she seemed to be a big drag most of the time. As the story went on, I started to understand why she was this way, but it didn’t really make me like her more. I did like Alex, but I felt he got the shaft in the end. No pun intended. Also, James never owns up to his true feelings physically and emotionally for Alex. That was disappointing.
I enjoyed the references to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH, because I spent many summer days there as a kid. I still look forward to another Hart book. She has a way of writing that is very original. There’s not necessarily a ‘feel good’ story, and every thing is very emotional.
Final note: the cover is much hoter than the sex scenes.
We learn about Anne’s life bit by bit as it happens to her. She has a difficult relationship with her mother in law; she has three sisters that all have some sort of drama happening in their own lives, and their father is an alcoholic. Her childhood with her father was difficult, and if you are the child of an alcoholic, I am not sure if this book is for you.
She had thought her marriage to James was perfect, but over the summer she learns that she loves Alex too. She and Alex have an instant attraction that burns hotter than anything she’s ever known. They all thought they could have this fling and not have feeling involved. However, I think we all know that that is just impossible. At least I feel it is impossible in the real world.
I didn’t like her husband James much. I thought he was a liar and that he was selfish. I found Anne ‘ok’, but she seemed to be a big drag most of the time. As the story went on, I started to understand why she was this way, but it didn’t really make me like her more. I did like Alex, but I felt he got the shaft in the end. No pun intended. Also, James never owns up to his true feelings physically and emotionally for Alex. That was disappointing.
I enjoyed the references to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH, because I spent many summer days there as a kid. I still look forward to another Hart book. She has a way of writing that is very original. There’s not necessarily a ‘feel good’ story, and every thing is very emotional.
Final note: the cover is much hoter than the sex scenes.
July 28, 2010
Once again, Megan Hart brings a more likely dose of reality to an erotic romance. Although I love to get lost in fantasy land with hot stories of menage and elicit affairs, this story is yet another example of how feelings and emotions can get all jumbled up and confused--even with the best laid plans and a strict set of rules.
Obviously there are a lot of conflicting emotions in this story, otherwise this seemingly happy and loving young couple would have never allowed this man into their bed. This is exactly the situation I would fear from having a 3rd person enter my sexual and emotional relationship with my husband--this could be devastating. Sadly, we don't know if Anne and James ever really recover from Hurricane Alex. My guess is that some parts of their life returned to normal, but I'll bet that there is a big gaping hole in both their hearts where Alex managed to nestle in. I don't think their change was all bad...Anne came out of it more outspoken and Jamie came out of it more attentive and possibly even more supportive of Anne. Even with the mistakes they made, I think they are good together and I think James is a good guy--I think James just didn't want to be the one to deny anything to Alex simply b/c Alex grew up at a disadvantage surrounded by people who didn't believe in him or possibly even love him.
Alex seems like that person who is never really happy unless he is on the move-never really settling down. Someone who doesn't feel whole unless he is conquering that which belongs to others--just to prove to himself that he can.
I would have liked to have a little more closure to this story, but I have a feeling it would have been one that would have gone round and round in a viscous cycle.
EDIT:
Just discovered that I can get a little more closure to this story. There are 2 more books after this one that are not listed as related books in Goodreads or on the authors website. The order for maximum effect is:
Tempted
Everything Changes--the story from Tempted from Alex's P.O.V
Naked--Alex's romance
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!
Menage Readers
Erotic Enchants
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
Obviously there are a lot of conflicting emotions in this story, otherwise this seemingly happy and loving young couple would have never allowed this man into their bed. This is exactly the situation I would fear from having a 3rd person enter my sexual and emotional relationship with my husband--this could be devastating. Sadly, we don't know if Anne and James ever really recover from Hurricane Alex. My guess is that some parts of their life returned to normal, but I'll bet that there is a big gaping hole in both their hearts where Alex managed to nestle in. I don't think their change was all bad...Anne came out of it more outspoken and Jamie came out of it more attentive and possibly even more supportive of Anne. Even with the mistakes they made, I think they are good together and I think James is a good guy--I think James just didn't want to be the one to deny anything to Alex simply b/c Alex grew up at a disadvantage surrounded by people who didn't believe in him or possibly even love him.
Alex seems like that person who is never really happy unless he is on the move-never really settling down. Someone who doesn't feel whole unless he is conquering that which belongs to others--just to prove to himself that he can.
I would have liked to have a little more closure to this story, but I have a feeling it would have been one that would have gone round and round in a viscous cycle.
EDIT:
Just discovered that I can get a little more closure to this story. There are 2 more books after this one that are not listed as related books in Goodreads or on the authors website. The order for maximum effect is:
Tempted
Everything Changes--the story from Tempted from Alex's P.O.V
Naked--Alex's romance
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!
Menage Readers
Erotic Enchants
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
April 10, 2025
ETA: 4.9.2025
Upon my 2nd read of this book 15 yrs later, I decided to update my rating from 4 stars to 3. All that I've written below in my original review, I still feel the same about. I just found that this time around, Anne, really worked my nerves and just played a victim too much when she was the author of her own misery. She took way too long to grow up and take responsibility for her choices or even to see that all the extra weight she was carrying, wasn't even hers. It was others' that she chose to pick up. Her pain or that of her family's was not original. Hell, it wasn't even nearly as bad as many people's childhoods can be.. Though she acted as though her issues were original. As if she's the only person who has ever had to contend with a less than stellar upbringing. Therefore using it as an excuse or crutch, as to why she can't seem to grow TF up in her adult years.
To put it simply, she annoyed the ever loving phuck out of me..
Alex was the depth of the story. James was just the annoying, mama's boy side kick, that got the girl..
I wish James and Anne all the happiness in their dysfunctional Ever After, because they certainly deserve each other..
WOW!!! This book is beyond DEEP! Ms. Hart did a superb job with this one. The characters, issues, dialogue, etc.. Please do not let the cover fool you or cause you to stray away from this one. This book deals deeply with the all too real emotions & reality involved when allowing another/or others (third parties), into the sanctity of your marriage, home, bed, body, & heart. Passively or Aggressively allowing others to set or dictate the tone of your life and the person you have chosen to share your life with.
It deals with outside family issues on both the husband, the wife's, and the Lover's sides. If you pay attention you will see the parallels with James allowing his mother to interfere with he and Anne's marriage, as with him also allowing Alex in as well.
Highly emotional & slap you in the face heart wrenching. This one is about the ties that bind us to those in our lives. Whether they are physically present or not, how they still are very much in control of how we view ourselves. What we think we want as opposed to what we need and should be seeking. How easy it is to get caught up. Going into dangerous things based on the feelings of the moment rather than what lies beneath, with our EYES WIDE SHUT. Only to realize way too late how Blind, Deaf, and Dumb we really were.
This is about facing the truth and taking responsibility for your actions. Making the tough choices not based on fear or selfishness, but on what's right and lasting.
This one does not have the ending some may hope or expect. But I will say this, it's an ending far too realistic to brush off.
You will get the message I hope.
#ThoughtProvokingReads
Upon my 2nd read of this book 15 yrs later, I decided to update my rating from 4 stars to 3. All that I've written below in my original review, I still feel the same about. I just found that this time around, Anne, really worked my nerves and just played a victim too much when she was the author of her own misery. She took way too long to grow up and take responsibility for her choices or even to see that all the extra weight she was carrying, wasn't even hers. It was others' that she chose to pick up. Her pain or that of her family's was not original. Hell, it wasn't even nearly as bad as many people's childhoods can be.. Though she acted as though her issues were original. As if she's the only person who has ever had to contend with a less than stellar upbringing. Therefore using it as an excuse or crutch, as to why she can't seem to grow TF up in her adult years.
To put it simply, she annoyed the ever loving phuck out of me..
Alex was the depth of the story. James was just the annoying, mama's boy side kick, that got the girl..
I wish James and Anne all the happiness in their dysfunctional Ever After, because they certainly deserve each other..
WOW!!! This book is beyond DEEP! Ms. Hart did a superb job with this one. The characters, issues, dialogue, etc.. Please do not let the cover fool you or cause you to stray away from this one. This book deals deeply with the all too real emotions & reality involved when allowing another/or others (third parties), into the sanctity of your marriage, home, bed, body, & heart. Passively or Aggressively allowing others to set or dictate the tone of your life and the person you have chosen to share your life with.
It deals with outside family issues on both the husband, the wife's, and the Lover's sides. If you pay attention you will see the parallels with James allowing his mother to interfere with he and Anne's marriage, as with him also allowing Alex in as well.
Highly emotional & slap you in the face heart wrenching. This one is about the ties that bind us to those in our lives. Whether they are physically present or not, how they still are very much in control of how we view ourselves. What we think we want as opposed to what we need and should be seeking. How easy it is to get caught up. Going into dangerous things based on the feelings of the moment rather than what lies beneath, with our EYES WIDE SHUT. Only to realize way too late how Blind, Deaf, and Dumb we really were.
This is about facing the truth and taking responsibility for your actions. Making the tough choices not based on fear or selfishness, but on what's right and lasting.
This one does not have the ending some may hope or expect. But I will say this, it's an ending far too realistic to brush off.
You will get the message I hope.
#ThoughtProvokingReads
December 22, 2009
My 1st foray into MH’s realm (“A summer to remember” woulda been a more apt title), where vows are made to be broken, “No holes barred” is not the ménage policy, a dysfunctional family celebrates fake anniversary, closeted Bi-s have a co-dependecy problem & interact like juvenile delinquents, 1 sibling gets saddled w/ kids & a boatload of debts (> $ 70,000) thanx to a gambling addict aka her deadbeat loser hubby, another sibling - w/ a distinguished potty mouth – gets knocked up by a school principle jerkwad who doesn’t have the b@ll$ to admit he’s already married. In layman’s terms : what a big mess. I’ve never had a prob w/ 1st-person narration. My top 2 fav novels are concrete proof, but for some reason this book was a drag due to information overload. The heroine is traumatized by a childhood sailing incident, contributed to teenage pregnancy statistics, conveniently suffered a miscarriage, has endometriosis, isn’t ready to procreate but doesn’t have the guts to be honest w/ dear hubby & is terrorized by snoopy mom-in-law from hell. Daddy is a lifelong raging, depressive, suicidal alcoholic. Mommie took off w/ youngest daughter & had an affair w/ hubby’s friend 1 summer but decided to come back & had no clue that her abandonment had consequences. Summer just doesn’t click w/ the poor heroine. Menage addict that I am, my extra-long antennae perks up whenever the theme is w/in radius. I guess I got false signals ‘cuz the ménage gets relegated to the sideline. Family dwama takes precedence. I’m not even sure it’s officially a ménage ‘cuz the dear hubby sets the stupid rule, hand & blow jobs are ok, but breaching the pearly gates of heaven is a big no-no. Is this M/F/M or M/M/F ? Not really sure. James & Alex seem to be the live version of the SNL’s ambiguously gay duo, ‘cuz their sexual orientation is still up in the air. They keep denying they’re queer, but they sure do have strong feelings & sexual attraction towards 1 another. The heroine luvs her hubby but is emotionally stunted, so she’s not in luv w/ him. There’s plenty of luv scenes but they’re much ado ‘bout nuthin’. They don’t seem to know what they really want. I felt cheated, not just by the ménage teaser but also the WTF ending. Anne finally develops some spine towards the end, but her see-saw & pessimistic attitude annoyed the hell outta me. She doesn’t expect her marriage to last. Go figure. What a defeatist. I’m sure the facetious way James & Alex talk to each other is meant to be witty, but they sounded retarded. Do grown-up men act & yak like that ? Dunno & don’t give a hoot. All I know is, it makes Anne feel like an outsider looking in. Also, was it necessary to include luv scenes w/ Anne’s 1st lover ? Nope, it’s like a filler. I couldn’t really fathom why Anne & Alex fell for each other. Yeah they do lotsa flirting, bumping & grinding on the dance floor, but they don’t spend enuff time w/ each other ‘cuz the majority of the book is wasted on planning the anniversary party for Anne’s parents, her bottled-up irritation w/ shameless mom-in-law, dealing w/ 1 family crisis after another, in-between bouts of sweaty sex. Of course, the only time she & Alex bang the living daylights outta each other is saved for last, as a farewell gift. I had the feeling that Anne settled for James & realized belatedly that Alex’s the 1 she wants to hook up w/. Boy meets gal, fall into a content family life, boy sees a magz & thinks ménage is gal’s kinky fantasy, BFF comes to visit & turns it into reality. I was bored by the heroine’s long-winded contemplation of everything & everyone under the sun. The characters are all chickens or simply suffering from an incurable case of denial, it must be tiring to maintain a façade all the time, esp Anne, who has to constantly bite her tongue in the bitchy M-I-L’s presence, before she opens a can of whoop@$$ on her. The editor coulda been more alert & condensed the book into a 200-page saga, ‘cuz the lean plot is over-stretched & gets bogged down by silly eyeroll-inducing dialogues & lukewarm luv scenes. I didn’t expect a lightning speed pace, but I was bored outta my skull. Yeah I learned a lesson in human frailty & how to cope w/ a sucky family & in-laws, but do I want ‘em in a ménage book ? Nope. I wasn’t looking for a buffet of orgies (well, actually, I was. Hardy har har…) but by the end, I’ve had enuff of all the self-discovery claptrap & was glad the chronicles of Anne was FINALLY over. It's prolly my last MH =^P
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2011
Compelling, wonderful and oh so intense. Other reviewrs have given the outline of this story so I'll not repeat. What I will say is Megan Hart has once agin come up with an emotional hot bed of relationships, human interactions and the devistating consequences that can happen when we take our lives down and untrodden path, wow that woman can write!!
A web of lust,love and deceit plus the stories of Annes family both imeadiate and extened make this a compelling read. I found the relationship between the three main players, Anne, her husband James and his BFF Alex both beautiful and at the same time disconcerting, I felt in the beginning both men played a game with Anne and each other, but once Alex relaized the implications of what was happening for Anne the dynamic changed. I liked him as a character. James was a different kettle of fish altogether, I still don't feel as tho' I sussed him completely and perhpes that's the idea, we're not meant to! I felt he was both loving and deceitful all in the same package like he wanted to be generous but at the same time didn't want things to be good. Annes character was the easiest to understand and I enjoyed following her path. The ending resolved much for me and I think here you really need to consider the wider story as well,still, I couldn't help but wonder how would it be if things had been different. The sort of story one perhapes need to read more than once to piece things together. Definately one to make you think, about life, love and how well we truely know those we think we love.
Spoiler.........this is on my polyamory shelf b/c it's not a menage !
A web of lust,love and deceit plus the stories of Annes family both imeadiate and extened make this a compelling read. I found the relationship between the three main players, Anne, her husband James and his BFF Alex both beautiful and at the same time disconcerting, I felt in the beginning both men played a game with Anne and each other, but once Alex relaized the implications of what was happening for Anne the dynamic changed. I liked him as a character. James was a different kettle of fish altogether, I still don't feel as tho' I sussed him completely and perhpes that's the idea, we're not meant to! I felt he was both loving and deceitful all in the same package like he wanted to be generous but at the same time didn't want things to be good. Annes character was the easiest to understand and I enjoyed following her path. The ending resolved much for me and I think here you really need to consider the wider story as well,still, I couldn't help but wonder how would it be if things had been different. The sort of story one perhapes need to read more than once to piece things together. Definately one to make you think, about life, love and how well we truely know those we think we love.
Spoiler.........this is on my polyamory shelf b/c it's not a menage !
February 25, 2018
2 Stars
This was a very well written book with great characterization, pacing, plot development and realism (mostly), but I didn’t enjoy reading it. Threesomes just aren’t my thing but I read Alex’s book, Naked, and wanted to understand his past relatioship with his best friend James and his wife, Anne. I liked Anne, adored Alex (honorary hero) and was disappointed with, and frankly, disgusted with Anne’s husband, James (hero). The ending was bittersweet for me. I was mostly glad Anne decided to work things out with her husband, even though he royally messed things up by trying to have his cake and eat it too. And, boy, did he mess up! His wife ended up falling in love with his best friend! At the same time, I was also a bit heartbroken Anne didn’t end up with Alex, though, I’m glad she didn’t because I adore his heroine, Olivia. Alex deserved someone as wonderful as her. So, if mixed emotions were the author’s goal, which I believe it was, she succeed beautifully.
This series ebooks are very expensive to buy. $7:99 on Amazon. Luckily I was able to find the ebooks at the Library. I would have never read them otherwise.
This was a very well written book with great characterization, pacing, plot development and realism (mostly), but I didn’t enjoy reading it. Threesomes just aren’t my thing but I read Alex’s book, Naked, and wanted to understand his past relatioship with his best friend James and his wife, Anne. I liked Anne, adored Alex (honorary hero) and was disappointed with, and frankly, disgusted with Anne’s husband, James (hero). The ending was bittersweet for me. I was mostly glad Anne decided to work things out with her husband, even though he royally messed things up by trying to have his cake and eat it too. And, boy, did he mess up! His wife ended up falling in love with his best friend! At the same time, I was also a bit heartbroken Anne didn’t end up with Alex, though, I’m glad she didn’t because I adore his heroine, Olivia. Alex deserved someone as wonderful as her. So, if mixed emotions were the author’s goal, which I believe it was, she succeed beautifully.
This series ebooks are very expensive to buy. $7:99 on Amazon. Luckily I was able to find the ebooks at the Library. I would have never read them otherwise.
March 9, 2008
This book was an emotional rollercoaster. The book is not so much about the menage but about the consequenses of bringing another person into the marriage bed. It's not lighthearted reading, it will actually make you think.
August 27, 2016
“I looked at the cards in my hand, the queen of hearts nestled between the king of clubs and the king of spades. No wonder she was smiling.”
When you look at the cover of this book, anyone who's not familiar with the work of this author will assume that this is probably just another erotic novel with lot of "ohhhh God & yesss":D in it.
But this book is more than that. There are some really hot & steamy scenes, but what really stands out in this books is the story itself and emotions again beautifully described by Megan Hart's amazing writing style.
I know I said this probably billion times already, but : boy does this woman know how to write!!! I just love her writing style- so honest and emotional and her ability to write about some really dark and taboo themes in such a beautiful way. I was a bit skeptic about this book at first, because I'm really not a fan of love triangles, squares etc. and all that annoying drama and jealousy, but I should have known that it can't be that bad, because M.Hart wrote it. Definitely one of my favorite authors.
“When everything changes we learn who we really are. What’s really important. What we want
most. We discover the truth in moments of disarray.”
I love how at the beginning of her stories everything seems so perfect- the characters, their life etc., but the more you read, the more the story is building up and you find out all these little clues and snippets and then BANG, you're like: "What? wtf did just happen?" Love the element of surprise and boy did this story surprised me a couple of times and just when I thought I got it all figured out.
I won't tell anything about the plot, the short summary on Goodreads is enough. It deals with lot of not that pretty "issues" and you'll probably not be happy with how some of the characters dealt with those issues. I know I wanted to scream and hit some of them a couple of times (I''m just gonna say JAMES- not a big fan of INDIFFERENT/ NO ATTITUDE people), because of the things they did or said or didn't do or say.
I have mixed feelings also about the main female character.
This is just one of those stories where IMO the supporting characters outshone the main (Alex & Claire in my case.)
I highly recommend it to everyone who isn't afraid of emotional, realistic, hot & steamy books dealing with some far from "prettified" issues. Actually, I highly recommend anything Megan Hart wrote, even if it's a cookbook.
"I had the chance for things to stay the same.
To choose perfection over change. I could've said no,
and we all would have laughed and gone to sleep in separate beds.
I could've saved us a lot of grief. But I wanted him, and unlike the absinthe,
I didn't put him aside."
When you look at the cover of this book, anyone who's not familiar with the work of this author will assume that this is probably just another erotic novel with lot of "ohhhh God & yesss":D in it.
But this book is more than that. There are some really hot & steamy scenes, but what really stands out in this books is the story itself and emotions again beautifully described by Megan Hart's amazing writing style.
I know I said this probably billion times already, but : boy does this woman know how to write!!! I just love her writing style- so honest and emotional and her ability to write about some really dark and taboo themes in such a beautiful way. I was a bit skeptic about this book at first, because I'm really not a fan of love triangles, squares etc. and all that annoying drama and jealousy, but I should have known that it can't be that bad, because M.Hart wrote it. Definitely one of my favorite authors.
“When everything changes we learn who we really are. What’s really important. What we want
most. We discover the truth in moments of disarray.”
I love how at the beginning of her stories everything seems so perfect- the characters, their life etc., but the more you read, the more the story is building up and you find out all these little clues and snippets and then BANG, you're like: "What? wtf did just happen?" Love the element of surprise and boy did this story surprised me a couple of times and just when I thought I got it all figured out.
I won't tell anything about the plot, the short summary on Goodreads is enough. It deals with lot of not that pretty "issues" and you'll probably not be happy with how some of the characters dealt with those issues. I know I wanted to scream and hit some of them a couple of times (I''m just gonna say JAMES- not a big fan of INDIFFERENT/ NO ATTITUDE people), because of the things they did or said or didn't do or say.
I have mixed feelings also about the main female character.
This is just one of those stories where IMO the supporting characters outshone the main (Alex & Claire in my case.)
I highly recommend it to everyone who isn't afraid of emotional, realistic, hot & steamy books dealing with some far from "prettified" issues. Actually, I highly recommend anything Megan Hart wrote, even if it's a cookbook.
"I had the chance for things to stay the same.
To choose perfection over change. I could've said no,
and we all would have laughed and gone to sleep in separate beds.
I could've saved us a lot of grief. But I wanted him, and unlike the absinthe,
I didn't put him aside."
July 12, 2008
Anne and James have what by all definitions is a good marriage. James and Alex have been best friends since boyhood. But Alex and Anne have never met due to a falling out that the men had in college and the fact that Alex has live overseas all these years. Anne is not familiar with all the elements that make up James and Alex's friendship and it's a mystery she has never cared to explore. Then Alex phones and James invites him to stay for the summer.
Alex takes Anne's breath away with his looks and wins her over with his personality. What starts as an easy friendship between Anne and Alex, turns into an innocent flirtation, then more. Then one night the three of them decide to take their relationship to the next level and give into the sexual tension that has been filling the air. The three of them take each other to bed, one night then turns into one summer.
A normally monogamous couple, Anne and James choose to give into their desires for a summer of sex. They choose to let fantasy become reality. But what is supposed to be a summer of mindless passion, no strings attached, gets complicated as emotions and hearts become involved and feelings change.
I liked Anne, James and Alex, I liked them separately and I liked the three of them together. I like Anne and James. I liked Anne and Alex. But I hated James and Alex. When it was just the two of them they reverted to adolescent behavior I couldn't stand. They were two different people together and though they enjoyed each other's company it was easy to see no one else would. I guess that's the whole point; how we are different things to different people, multifaceted creatures. The other point would be the fact that there is no such thing as 'no strings attached.'
Okay, I admit I was expecting just a bit of mindless porn on paper, of the highest quality of course, but I am really surprised at the depth of emotions that this book covered. It explores, confronts and dissects relationships between lovers, spouses, friends, sisters, in-laws and parents; the threads that create and make up relationships, their strengths and their fragilities.
This is a highly erotic and sensual tale. When these three people go to bed they worship every inch of each other's bodies and thoroughly. It's bold, graphic, explicit and delicious, but never tasteless. It's not for everyone, that's for sure, but had it not been for the ending, one I completely disagreed with, this well written tale would have easily been a 5 star book; I loved every page of it.
Cherise Everhard, April 2008
Alex takes Anne's breath away with his looks and wins her over with his personality. What starts as an easy friendship between Anne and Alex, turns into an innocent flirtation, then more. Then one night the three of them decide to take their relationship to the next level and give into the sexual tension that has been filling the air. The three of them take each other to bed, one night then turns into one summer.
A normally monogamous couple, Anne and James choose to give into their desires for a summer of sex. They choose to let fantasy become reality. But what is supposed to be a summer of mindless passion, no strings attached, gets complicated as emotions and hearts become involved and feelings change.
I liked Anne, James and Alex, I liked them separately and I liked the three of them together. I like Anne and James. I liked Anne and Alex. But I hated James and Alex. When it was just the two of them they reverted to adolescent behavior I couldn't stand. They were two different people together and though they enjoyed each other's company it was easy to see no one else would. I guess that's the whole point; how we are different things to different people, multifaceted creatures. The other point would be the fact that there is no such thing as 'no strings attached.'
Okay, I admit I was expecting just a bit of mindless porn on paper, of the highest quality of course, but I am really surprised at the depth of emotions that this book covered. It explores, confronts and dissects relationships between lovers, spouses, friends, sisters, in-laws and parents; the threads that create and make up relationships, their strengths and their fragilities.
This is a highly erotic and sensual tale. When these three people go to bed they worship every inch of each other's bodies and thoroughly. It's bold, graphic, explicit and delicious, but never tasteless. It's not for everyone, that's for sure, but had it not been for the ending, one I completely disagreed with, this well written tale would have easily been a 5 star book; I loved every page of it.
Cherise Everhard, April 2008
September 2, 2014
Others have summarized the plot so I'll just cover what worked and what didn't. The relationship between Alex and James was interesting. It wasn't healthy by any means, but it's definitely something that could have, and should have, been explored much further. The author dropped the ball on that big time, especially since it was the ONLY interesting part of the book. Anne was vapid and annoying and her accusing James of lying to her was laughable, considering she wasn't exactly a shining beacon of honesty herself. The other storylines (Anne's parents' anniversary party, the issues with her siblings, her childhood flashbacks) were all filler and uninteresting filler at that. The author tried to write an ensemble piece (novel) and it just didn't work. Outside of the threesome, I just.didn.t.care! I skimmed alot of the fluff, just wanting to get back to James and Alex. I'm sorry, but am I supposed to care about Anne shopping for garden furniture when her husband has just brought another man to their bed?? The sex scenes were so boring I actually skimmed those too. How is it possible that one has to skip sex scenes in a menage a trois novel??
The storyline was circular without actually going anywhere or coming to any kind of resolution. James and Alex never resolve their issues, Anne and James suddenly have a strange dynamic to their marriage that never gets dealt with, and Anne's attempt to 'find closure' with Alex feels desperate. In truth, Anne's whole purpose seemed to be to facilitate the lovemaking between Alex and James, who were too wary of ruining their friendship (and in James' case, too scared to admit he might be bi). Anne even admits this to her sister! At no point did it seem that Alex was truly in love with Anne, and that made the ending extremely ludicrous. The fact that the story was written in first person (Anne's POV) is the only reason we got to see Alex semi-professing love for Anne at the end. Alex, it's ok. We know you didn't mean it. If James had grown a pair, the guys could have kicked Anne out of bed and actually given me a story worth reading. As it is, I'm just glad I read this mess for free.
Because this is my first book by this author and I keep reading good things about 'Dirty' and other books by her, I'll give her another try but I have to say 'Tempted' did not a good first impression make.
The storyline was circular without actually going anywhere or coming to any kind of resolution. James and Alex never resolve their issues, Anne and James suddenly have a strange dynamic to their marriage that never gets dealt with, and Anne's attempt to 'find closure' with Alex feels desperate. In truth, Anne's whole purpose seemed to be to facilitate the lovemaking between Alex and James, who were too wary of ruining their friendship (and in James' case, too scared to admit he might be bi). Anne even admits this to her sister! At no point did it seem that Alex was truly in love with Anne, and that made the ending extremely ludicrous. The fact that the story was written in first person (Anne's POV) is the only reason we got to see Alex semi-professing love for Anne at the end. Alex, it's ok. We know you didn't mean it. If James had grown a pair, the guys could have kicked Anne out of bed and actually given me a story worth reading. As it is, I'm just glad I read this mess for free.
Because this is my first book by this author and I keep reading good things about 'Dirty' and other books by her, I'll give her another try but I have to say 'Tempted' did not a good first impression make.
July 4, 2012
A while ago I read my first Megan Hart book, Broken and it is one of the best books I’ve read. I then went on to read Dirty and Stranger (I must space her books out, they take so much out of me) and I enjoyed them. Dirty was really, really good. Stranger – I didn’t like Sam as much, but Jack completely stole my heart.
By chance, I had Tempted in print sitting on my bookshelf, I had found it at a used bookstore awhile ago. So I picked it up a few nights ago, intending to read the first chapter before bed. Ha! Three hours later, I was an emotional wreck and stayed up half the night with anxiety. See, somehow Megan Hart writes words that seem more powerful than other books I read. I can’t explain it. Her characters are flawed and realistic. Things are not always sunshine. In Tempted, James and Anne have been married a few years. They are happy. They have a good sex life. As always, her sex scenes are edgy and an integral part of her storylines. But as you read, Anne isn’t 100% head over heels in love with her husband. Oh she loves him, and respects him and has found friendship with him. But I think at one point she says something to the effect, she “chose” to fall in love with James. She didn’t free fall into love with him. In your standard romance book, this would never be the case. You would never look upon your spouse with any doubt. But Megan Hart writes gritty. And I thank her for that.
James’s best friend from college who he hasn’t seen for many years, comes home from overseas and needs a place to crash for a few weeks. James is ecstatic to reunite with his friend. Anne is not so sure. James and Alex have a very interesting past. It is hinted that Alex has fooled around with men. He comes off as a charming playboy. James can’t get enough of him. (as a friend)
All of a sudden, the three of them end up together in bed, with James’s permission, Alex is allowed to basically do anything he wants to Anne except have sex. But even without the sex, feelings become confused. And here is where Megan Hart shines. It’s probably the most realistic ménage I’ve read.
Until he gave me Alex, I hadn’t realized something was missing but until he gave me Alex I didn’t know I wasn’t the only one who missed it.
James misses and falls for Alex, just as much as Anne does. And it’s not necessarily sexual with James and Alex, although Megan Hart rides that fine line real hard. They stand too close sometimes. It’s always in the back of Anne’s head. Does her husband really want Alex? It’s not over done, but stressed just enough.
And Anne realizes, Alex instinctually knows Anne better after meeting her for a few days than her husband recognizes her needs after years of marriage. Confusion blooms. Doubts come to the forefront. Feelings of love and anger start to grow. It gets realllll messy.
At the end, there is peace, but as I like to say – it is a Megan Hart type peace. It’s not a perfect end – as in everyone is riding a unicorn and there will never be a bad day again. But it is a perfect end – as in, feelings have been hurt and now there is peace to rebuild a future.
I have one niggle. At the very end. I’ll put it under a spoiler tag
So Broken and Tempted devastated me (in an amazing way). Dirty and Scandal hurt me almost as much. I think I’ll try Naked next and I also want to read Pleasure and Purpose. Okay, I will eventually get through her entire back list. But I need time to recover!
By chance, I had Tempted in print sitting on my bookshelf, I had found it at a used bookstore awhile ago. So I picked it up a few nights ago, intending to read the first chapter before bed. Ha! Three hours later, I was an emotional wreck and stayed up half the night with anxiety. See, somehow Megan Hart writes words that seem more powerful than other books I read. I can’t explain it. Her characters are flawed and realistic. Things are not always sunshine. In Tempted, James and Anne have been married a few years. They are happy. They have a good sex life. As always, her sex scenes are edgy and an integral part of her storylines. But as you read, Anne isn’t 100% head over heels in love with her husband. Oh she loves him, and respects him and has found friendship with him. But I think at one point she says something to the effect, she “chose” to fall in love with James. She didn’t free fall into love with him. In your standard romance book, this would never be the case. You would never look upon your spouse with any doubt. But Megan Hart writes gritty. And I thank her for that.
James’s best friend from college who he hasn’t seen for many years, comes home from overseas and needs a place to crash for a few weeks. James is ecstatic to reunite with his friend. Anne is not so sure. James and Alex have a very interesting past. It is hinted that Alex has fooled around with men. He comes off as a charming playboy. James can’t get enough of him. (as a friend)
All of a sudden, the three of them end up together in bed, with James’s permission, Alex is allowed to basically do anything he wants to Anne except have sex. But even without the sex, feelings become confused. And here is where Megan Hart shines. It’s probably the most realistic ménage I’ve read.
Until he gave me Alex, I hadn’t realized something was missing but until he gave me Alex I didn’t know I wasn’t the only one who missed it.
James misses and falls for Alex, just as much as Anne does. And it’s not necessarily sexual with James and Alex, although Megan Hart rides that fine line real hard. They stand too close sometimes. It’s always in the back of Anne’s head. Does her husband really want Alex? It’s not over done, but stressed just enough.
And Anne realizes, Alex instinctually knows Anne better after meeting her for a few days than her husband recognizes her needs after years of marriage. Confusion blooms. Doubts come to the forefront. Feelings of love and anger start to grow. It gets realllll messy.
At the end, there is peace, but as I like to say – it is a Megan Hart type peace. It’s not a perfect end – as in everyone is riding a unicorn and there will never be a bad day again. But it is a perfect end – as in, feelings have been hurt and now there is peace to rebuild a future.
I have one niggle. At the very end. I’ll put it under a spoiler tag
So Broken and Tempted devastated me (in an amazing way). Dirty and Scandal hurt me almost as much. I think I’ll try Naked next and I also want to read Pleasure and Purpose. Okay, I will eventually get through her entire back list. But I need time to recover!
March 24, 2018
Rant/Spoilers ahead. If you want to read this story, avoid my review. Just letting you know in advance that I DID NOT like it, not even a little bit (and lets take into consideration that Im a sucker for MMF romances) but this is just my opinion.
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If you are familiar with my bookshelves, you'd know I love MMF romances. Why? Beats me. Lets blame it on the kinky in me.
This book, however, is NOT a triad romance, it isnt even in the vicinity of it.
Yes, it has a buch of threeway sex, but the story can be sumarized like this:
Once upon a time there was a woman who was truly and deeply inlove with her husband. Such husband had a male best friend which came to spend some time with them. The best friend is also truly and deeply inlove with the woman's husband. The woman's husband is either a closeted gay or bisexual, and has strong deep feelings for his best friend, but cant (or won't) face them or his sexuallity.
What happens then?
The husband uses the excuse of the threesomes to have some sort of sexual contact with his best friend, and even though both men never even touch each other, the mind/feelings kind of cheating is soooo obvious, that it came to a point that I wanted to bitch slap the woman so she would divorce the guy who was only using her as second best, because he is utterly and cowardly unable to face himself and the fact that he is and always has been inlove with his best friend Alex.
I hated them. All of them. And the book.
Sorry, Megan Hart. Never again.
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If you are familiar with my bookshelves, you'd know I love MMF romances. Why? Beats me. Lets blame it on the kinky in me.
This book, however, is NOT a triad romance, it isnt even in the vicinity of it.
Yes, it has a buch of threeway sex, but the story can be sumarized like this:
Once upon a time there was a woman who was truly and deeply inlove with her husband. Such husband had a male best friend which came to spend some time with them. The best friend is also truly and deeply inlove with the woman's husband. The woman's husband is either a closeted gay or bisexual, and has strong deep feelings for his best friend, but cant (or won't) face them or his sexuallity.
What happens then?
The husband uses the excuse of the threesomes to have some sort of sexual contact with his best friend, and even though both men never even touch each other, the mind/feelings kind of cheating is soooo obvious, that it came to a point that I wanted to bitch slap the woman so she would divorce the guy who was only using her as second best, because he is utterly and cowardly unable to face himself and the fact that he is and always has been inlove with his best friend Alex.
I hated them. All of them. And the book.
Sorry, Megan Hart. Never again.
January 1, 2014
I have to say unfortunately the characters here didn't grab me at all, I found myself skimming quite a bit. They all seemed a bit cold and detached or something. I just couldn't get lost in the story.
I must admit though that this author sure knows how to write a hot sex scene and I think if possible used every sexual term available in them :)
I must admit though that this author sure knows how to write a hot sex scene and I think if possible used every sexual term available in them :)
August 24, 2012
Here's the thing about this story...I keep telling everybody to read it bc I need someone to discuss the ending with. Now that I've had a long time to process it (and get over it), I think I'm okay with the way things stayed. I always root for the underdog. In this story I guess all three characters can be considered underdogs, but there's one that I had a soft spot for. If you know the male leads I like, you'll know which one I chose. So the ending kind of killed me. I want to say it was a "realistic" ending, but a husband sharing his wife with his best friend is NOT realistic, so let's not talk about realistic endings. Read it so we can vent about this damn ending together. Oh yeah, the book is pretty smutty (hello, cover?!).
June 20, 2010
This has to be without a doubt the best sexy book I have ever read. There are several (lots) of sex scenes with a husband and wife and then a third party- they are all different and all hot. She does not overuse phrases or words to describe the couplings. It is just plain sexual.
Now that is out of the way the real review...
Fabulous book about a husband and wife and their respective families (though mainly hers) and their relationships. The introduction of an old friend (his) adds the angst to this story.
This book makes me wish I had a sister(s) instead of a brother. I feel I have missed out on that special relationship.
Like Megan Harts other books it is emotional and sad and funny. You feel like you are listening to real conversations.
The months of planning for the parents party is just how a party of mine progressed.
I would have liked to know a bit more about the ones sister (probable) lesbian relationship as this was a very secondary story whereas the sister with the financial problems was very prominent, but I guess it had to be due to the resolution.
Not the ending I was hoping for- but because it IS realistic it is the logical ending.
I don't want to say too much as it would be spoilt. If you liked her other books, you'll love this.
Now that is out of the way the real review...
Fabulous book about a husband and wife and their respective families (though mainly hers) and their relationships. The introduction of an old friend (his) adds the angst to this story.
This book makes me wish I had a sister(s) instead of a brother. I feel I have missed out on that special relationship.
Like Megan Harts other books it is emotional and sad and funny. You feel like you are listening to real conversations.
The months of planning for the parents party is just how a party of mine progressed.
I would have liked to know a bit more about the ones sister (probable) lesbian relationship as this was a very secondary story whereas the sister with the financial problems was very prominent, but I guess it had to be due to the resolution.
Not the ending I was hoping for- but because it IS realistic it is the logical ending.
I don't want to say too much as it would be spoilt. If you liked her other books, you'll love this.
April 10, 2025
I read this as part of the book of the month group read in my group Midnight's Embrace
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I really enjoyed this book Ann is mostly great but some of the decisions she maid in the book saddened me , her sisters are great for a while Patricia got on my nerves but the more that I got to know her the more I liked her , omg what she went through ! Sean deserves to be turned in to cat litter , I really like Claire , I love her journey through out the book . James 🙄 I wasn't a fan of him at all . Alex is amazing I just wish with what he said to Anne that she made another choice
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I really enjoyed this book Ann is mostly great but some of the decisions she maid in the book saddened me , her sisters are great for a while Patricia got on my nerves but the more that I got to know her the more I liked her , omg what she went through ! Sean deserves to be turned in to cat litter , I really like Claire , I love her journey through out the book . James 🙄 I wasn't a fan of him at all . Alex is amazing I just wish with what he said to Anne that she made another choice
June 20, 2019
June, 2019
There have been a lot of books I read and thought I would be rereading them sometime in the future. Sometimes it was because I read them too quickly and wanted to read them more slowly another time so I don't miss any little thing. Other times it was because some other things were occupying my mind when I read them and I wanted to read them again when they'd have my full attention. At times it was because I thought I was missing something and wanted to read them when I'm older. Or it was some other reason. In all the cases those were books I liked and wanted to repeat the experience of reading them. With Tempted I knew I had to reread it as soon as I started reading Naked. The reason that time was that all the time I was reading Tempted, I thought the story of Anne, James, and Alex would continue in Naked, that the three of them would make it in that book. I don't know what rose-colored glasses I was wearing at the time to think that was a possibility. To be fair, it was only my third time reading Megan Hart. I was young and foolish. Not this time.
Tempted is Anne's story. We learn about her present in which she tried to keep everything perfect and shiny, while dealing with her in-laws, parents, sisters, her husband, and his best friend Alex from many years ago, then the important parts of her past that affected her present, and perhaps we get a glimpse of her future. I'd forgotten a lot from her story. I remembered her mother-in-law; such a difficult woman is hard to forget. I remembered the party for her parents' anniversary, that they had it, not what happened at it. I remembered her husband James, for better or worse. I remembered her sister Mary because she was also in Broken. I remembered how the book ended. What I forgot were her other two sisters and their troubles, her parents and their troubles. I forgot how sad the tone of this book was, and I forgot how little Alex Kennedy is in this book. Alex Kennedy I remembered.
In Megan Hart's books the heroines are the stars. The heroes tend to be less memorable. Not Alex Kennedy. It's no wonder the author returned to his character a few times after this book. I'll have to get around to (re)reading those soon.
This is a sad book, but I am happy I still love it after all these years.
December, 2013
I'm starting this review from the end.
I feel misled. Misled to a point I want to go back to the beginning of the book, and read it all over again. It was the fact that it says this book is a part of a series Alex Kennedy that made me expect some things from this book that I had no place expecting. Yes, Alex Kennedy is one of the main characters, but not enough to put this book under his name. Many times during reading I was waiting for Alex to appear, to do something, say something, play a more active role, when I should have been completely focusing on Anne, who is the main character - this is her book.
There is a short story told from Alex's point of view that takes place at same time as Tempted. That could be marked as his story, but not this one. And since there is a book two in this so called series, I honestly believed that it would be a continuation of Tempted with all the same characters and that this time around
But, except for my misplaced expectations, this was another wonderful book by Megan Hart. She is truly a master of her art. The themes she picks, the characters she creates, the stories she weaves, and the style of her writing - they are all magnificent. She really has a way with words.
And Anne was tempted...
“I’ve got a pair of kings.”
Alex buffed his nails on his bare chest. “You certainly do.”
I looked at the cards in my hand, the queen of hearts nestled between the king of clubs and the king of spades. No wonder she was smiling.
Yes, Anne had a pair of kings, and she was their queen, and they lived happily in their little kingdom... Until it got complicated. Until emotions grew. Until secrets came to the surface. Until things became more than they were supposed to be. Until it all fell apart.
In all that situation, I understand Anne's motives, even Alex's, but it's James that confuses me. What were his motives? What did he hope to gain? Just why? I don't understand him.
That ending (now that I know it's really the end) is realistic, and therefore, not one I would've preferred. To be honest, I'm always afraid to read the last chapter of Hart's books. You never know which way the story will go. Perhaps that's part of their charm. It's also nerve-wrecking. But, I love it.
September 14, 2016
It's good on oh so many stirring levels. It is about willing voyeurism, exhibitionism and ménage a trois, but it's more about consequences, more about responsiveness, more about enthralling and absorbing ties. It's a really wonderful book and not many people have heard about Megan Hart. But this whole genre is so underestimated. I mean genre, she writes erotic stories but her writing is so poignant. If you had read this book without knowing 'where it belongs', without seeing this luscious cover, you would have devour it. Because it is so real and so emotionally cathartic.
She is not writing about high brow socio-economical issues, obviously quite the contrary; Hart has this unbelievable voice that she uses to talk about matters that live within four walls of your intimate life. That you would at first only admit or say to yourself - sometimes whispering, sometimes blushing, but still thinking. Hart talks about relationship between people who are regular you and me. Not some distant adults who like to have their derriere whiped because even their childhood nanny didn't like them.
I'm not saying that Hart's writing is the pinnacle of greatness but it certainly lifts some curtains up.
She writes about down to earth things, but how they are firstly solved in a physical/sexual way, what triggers what sexual urge. And then she upscales this craving and you get a combination between social awareness: illnesses, violence, worshipping, pariahs, parenthood, alcohol, abusiveness - and sexually.emotional. reaction.
The feedback is endless because outcomes are more mangling and shattering.
Yes, she is using words like pussy, cunt, lick, dick, suck me and go down on me, now!, but those words are not highlight of this book. I would seriously advise people who want to try involving a third person into their bed to read this story. Secondly, this book deals with all sorts of intimate prejudices but so smoothly and elegantly finds perfect soothing words.
It’s not so OMG! situation as it maybe appears and it’s not light-hearted at all because people in this book are not college idiots on a spring break who 'find' themselves with a double cock in their mouth. Hart gave this perfect perfect psychological analysis of one beautiful ménage a trois relationship which actually wasn't that at all. And there was nothing hardcore or sick or filthy or shameless about it.
There was so much morality because the actual sexual passion and lust were so strong, but those intense emotions which led them to bed and reactions after were greater and bigger and more rewarding, more darker, vulnerable. It gives you a complete view into a fantasy relationship, but this books proves that those fantasies have sides. Puritans would say with a condensing tone that of course there are two sides, just even those two sides of a coin are not easy to describe because ménage a trois is more a mental freedom than physical. Sure, you reach climaxes but when you get off the adrenaline and serotonin, you have daylight. And ménage in this book wasn't a one night stand, it wasn’t a filthy game but a really sharply webbed and aching liaison between two men and a woman and then people around them.
Don’t read this book if you need an easy turn-on, because you won’t find that clean and fun relaxation here. You will find undercurrent heaviness and a lot of baggage because it's easy to put yourself into their shoes. And by admitting this, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to cheat or that you have these intimate secrets, but it’s easier to understand many whys and hows.
She is not writing about high brow socio-economical issues, obviously quite the contrary; Hart has this unbelievable voice that she uses to talk about matters that live within four walls of your intimate life. That you would at first only admit or say to yourself - sometimes whispering, sometimes blushing, but still thinking. Hart talks about relationship between people who are regular you and me. Not some distant adults who like to have their derriere whiped because even their childhood nanny didn't like them.
I'm not saying that Hart's writing is the pinnacle of greatness but it certainly lifts some curtains up.
She writes about down to earth things, but how they are firstly solved in a physical/sexual way, what triggers what sexual urge. And then she upscales this craving and you get a combination between social awareness: illnesses, violence, worshipping, pariahs, parenthood, alcohol, abusiveness - and sexually.emotional. reaction.
The feedback is endless because outcomes are more mangling and shattering.
Yes, she is using words like pussy, cunt, lick, dick, suck me and go down on me, now!, but those words are not highlight of this book. I would seriously advise people who want to try involving a third person into their bed to read this story. Secondly, this book deals with all sorts of intimate prejudices but so smoothly and elegantly finds perfect soothing words.
It’s not so OMG! situation as it maybe appears and it’s not light-hearted at all because people in this book are not college idiots on a spring break who 'find' themselves with a double cock in their mouth. Hart gave this perfect perfect psychological analysis of one beautiful ménage a trois relationship which actually wasn't that at all. And there was nothing hardcore or sick or filthy or shameless about it.
There was so much morality because the actual sexual passion and lust were so strong, but those intense emotions which led them to bed and reactions after were greater and bigger and more rewarding, more darker, vulnerable. It gives you a complete view into a fantasy relationship, but this books proves that those fantasies have sides. Puritans would say with a condensing tone that of course there are two sides, just even those two sides of a coin are not easy to describe because ménage a trois is more a mental freedom than physical. Sure, you reach climaxes but when you get off the adrenaline and serotonin, you have daylight. And ménage in this book wasn't a one night stand, it wasn’t a filthy game but a really sharply webbed and aching liaison between two men and a woman and then people around them.
Don’t read this book if you need an easy turn-on, because you won’t find that clean and fun relaxation here. You will find undercurrent heaviness and a lot of baggage because it's easy to put yourself into their shoes. And by admitting this, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to cheat or that you have these intimate secrets, but it’s easier to understand many whys and hows.
February 28, 2015
*For those who read my status this book was a currently reading book but I didn't shelve it.*
My thoughts right now : "What the f*ck did I just read!?!"
So I ask a friend to recommend a book that's got romance, deep feels and a different and not cliché storyline.
This book gave me the different aspect but it was a whole lot of f*cked up for my liking. Most of the book I was confused with who was in love with who, then I was hopeful with who would end up with who then I was back to f*cking square one and mind f*cked so bad I felt like puking. I didn't enjoy this book but I didn't hate it either.
There were parts where I would be like 'Aw' and have a ray light moment where I'd understand the characters better and where their heads are at but overall...i didn't like the ending.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who doesn't like complicated, menage, marriage affairs or f*cked up situations.
My thoughts right now : "What the f*ck did I just read!?!"
So I ask a friend to recommend a book that's got romance, deep feels and a different and not cliché storyline.
This book gave me the different aspect but it was a whole lot of f*cked up for my liking. Most of the book I was confused with who was in love with who, then I was hopeful with who would end up with who then I was back to f*cking square one and mind f*cked so bad I felt like puking. I didn't enjoy this book but I didn't hate it either.
There were parts where I would be like 'Aw' and have a ray light moment where I'd understand the characters better and where their heads are at but overall...i didn't like the ending.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who doesn't like complicated, menage, marriage affairs or f*cked up situations.
June 1, 2013
Once again, Megan Hart has wrapped me into her world of complex characters where I feel like I have just been on an emotional roller coaster. This book is a mix of love, sorrow, LUST, deceit, heartbreak, humor, etc, etc, and my poor mind cannot take it anymore!!! I always have to follow up her books with something much more lighthearted so I don't feel like my brain will go into shock.
Do not judge this book by it's cover, because although yes, it is sexy, the story of what happens between these three people takes precedence over any type of sexual relationship. This story is not necessarily about three people, but more so about Anne. Anne is a complex character who, I have to be honest, annoyed the hell out of me and sometimes I just felt like I wanted to slap her. Here is a woman who comes from a troubled pastshe yes, but, has everything she could ever want and still, it's not enough. When she meets Alex Kennedy she wants him, but then again, everyone does, including myself. It aggravated me that she would want to even consider doing something that would put unnecessary stress on her marriage with her husband. That being said, I totally understood why she wanted Alex. Megan Hart, in my opinion, writes some of the sexiest men I have ever read or imagined about and Alex Kennedy is the cream of the crop. I am anxious to read his story in Naked.
Overall this book was very good, but not my favorite of hers. It's VERY heavy, yet very erotic and sexy. I will say I would've like it better had I liked the ending better, which I hated, because of the choices Anne made. I would love to read a follow up of these characters in a short especially about Anne and James. Very good read by Ms. Hart.
Do not judge this book by it's cover, because although yes, it is sexy, the story of what happens between these three people takes precedence over any type of sexual relationship. This story is not necessarily about three people, but more so about Anne. Anne is a complex character who, I have to be honest, annoyed the hell out of me and sometimes I just felt like I wanted to slap her. Here is a woman who comes from a troubled pastshe yes, but, has everything she could ever want and still, it's not enough. When she meets Alex Kennedy she wants him, but then again, everyone does, including myself. It aggravated me that she would want to even consider doing something that would put unnecessary stress on her marriage with her husband. That being said, I totally understood why she wanted Alex. Megan Hart, in my opinion, writes some of the sexiest men I have ever read or imagined about and Alex Kennedy is the cream of the crop. I am anxious to read his story in Naked.
Overall this book was very good, but not my favorite of hers. It's VERY heavy, yet very erotic and sexy. I will say I would've like it better had I liked the ending better, which I hated, because of the choices Anne made. I would love to read a follow up of these characters in a short especially about Anne and James. Very good read by Ms. Hart.
June 20, 2012
I think Megan Hart is the reason I have "erotica" and "erotic romance" as one shelf; that way I don't have to make myself crazy trying to categorize. This was such a well-written and compelling but ultimately unsatisfying book. In the narrator Anne and her sisters, we see four adult children of an alcoholic who have unwittingly found themselves continuing the pattern of secrets and lies they grew up with, and I didn't feel that was addressed enough for Anne. And the book ended on a very jarring note. I was left feeling that all three characters cut themselves off from what they really wanted, when they all could have been happy.
June 13, 2013
I thought this would be some regular cum-dripping threesome novel, which is fine with me!
But....
This novel changed my life in so so so many ways, I can't even sit here and take the time to state them all.
I love Megan Hart's writing. She has a way of incorporating theme, life lesson, impeccable character development all into one huge mega Orgasmic Adventure!
She takes the erotic romance novel serious!
I WANT TO BE MEGAN HART!
But....
This novel changed my life in so so so many ways, I can't even sit here and take the time to state them all.
I love Megan Hart's writing. She has a way of incorporating theme, life lesson, impeccable character development all into one huge mega Orgasmic Adventure!
She takes the erotic romance novel serious!
I WANT TO BE MEGAN HART!
February 11, 2018
TEMPTED was a chemistry-laden adventure of marriage, friendships and family. The family elements, I didn’t care for and seemed an unnecessary diversion. The marriage and friendships, however, were riveting reading. Messing with the solid marriage dynamic seems a risky endeavour and reading the journey of emotions was fascinating and absorbing. I enjoyed the writing. I can’t help myself but read on with the novella and consecutive books.
July 17, 2014
3 stars
I'm not sure what to think about this book. I liked the characters, both the main and the side ones. But at some point it just started taking a direction I didn't like.
Basically, the story is this: James and Anne have had a happy life and a great marriage. Sure, they had problems with their families, and their pasts, but they handled it. Then came Alex. Alex is James's best friend and it's also obvious they have this thing between them. The story develops we see James's relationship with Alex, and the developing something between Anne and Alex. Eventually they all start having a fling or something.
I was ok with that. What bugged me is it turned into a hurt-circle. They all got to care too much and there was jealousy and pain all over the place. And at the ending, I'm not sure what was the point. Nothing was resolved, they ended up being less happy and good friendships may have been broken. I was just plain sad. I am somewhat mollified
I did like Anne's sisters and their closeness, though.
And some quotes...
"Love is some messed up shit."
"He could be an infuriating pain in the ass, but I loved him anyway."
"I didn’t fall in love with James. Falling sounds like an accident. Falling hurts. I’d fallen in love with Michael, fallen hard like slipping off a cliff and hitting the rocks below. Falling in love was something I’d vowed never to do again.
I chose to love James."
"When everything changes we learn who we really are. What’s really important. What we want most. We discover the truth in moments of disarray."
I'm not sure what to think about this book. I liked the characters, both the main and the side ones. But at some point it just started taking a direction I didn't like.
Basically, the story is this: James and Anne have had a happy life and a great marriage. Sure, they had problems with their families, and their pasts, but they handled it. Then came Alex. Alex is James's best friend and it's also obvious they have this thing between them. The story develops we see James's relationship with Alex, and the developing something between Anne and Alex. Eventually they all start having a fling or something.
I was ok with that. What bugged me is it turned into a hurt-circle. They all got to care too much and there was jealousy and pain all over the place. And at the ending, I'm not sure what was the point. Nothing was resolved, they ended up being less happy and good friendships may have been broken. I was just plain sad. I am somewhat mollified
I did like Anne's sisters and their closeness, though.
And some quotes...
"Love is some messed up shit."
"He could be an infuriating pain in the ass, but I loved him anyway."
"I didn’t fall in love with James. Falling sounds like an accident. Falling hurts. I’d fallen in love with Michael, fallen hard like slipping off a cliff and hitting the rocks below. Falling in love was something I’d vowed never to do again.
I chose to love James."
"When everything changes we learn who we really are. What’s really important. What we want most. We discover the truth in moments of disarray."
July 10, 2008
I enjoyed the realness of this story. I know that inviting a 3rd into the bedroom is not common, but the feelings that transpired seemed real to me. The ending irritated me a little, but not enough for me to not like the book.
February 28, 2011
::: ***::: SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!:::***:::
I love Megan Hart. She does things to your mind – makes you think that something that you have forever been morally against, somehow isn’t that bad after all – but then she makes reality hit and you realize you were right all along.
We are introduced to a loving married couple. These two are super cute. They are the teenagers who never grew out of the ‘can’t keep my hands of each other’ stage. They laugh; the play and they have awesome wild sex. They are quite simply - perfect.
When James friend Alex comes to stay, they take a chance and invite him into their bed. Anna wanted him, Alex wanted James and James...well, who the fuck knew who he really wanted. Eventually of course lines a drawn and then the lines are crossed when more than sex becomes involved.
There were a lot of family dramas going on in the background of this book, and at times it really just got too much for me. Countless times we hear about Anna almost drowning while sailing with her drunken father – this was a traumatic time for her, but I didn’t see how it related to the story at hand.
******:::::SPOILERS:::::*******
I don’t know what I thought about James. He seemed off to me. At the end of the book he was grovelling at Anne’s feet for her to not leave him. But he acted like a complete jerk off when Alex was around, drinking, smoking and doing drugs. I firmly believe that you should never have to change yourself for someone. And that is exactly what James was doing. He never actually touched Alex, but the impression was always given that if he could, he would.
Alex was in my mind the epitome of sex. He could ooze the shit. But at the same time was a sleaze. He flirted with everything that had legs or a cock.
Anne made a bad mistake at the end of this book that just ruined it for me. She had to let one of them go. She made the right choice in letting Alex go. But it was the way she went about it. She should have just ceased contact, had nothing to do with the man. Instead she tramps on over to his hotel room with or without her husband approval I will never know and fucks him. WTF????? Pray tell , how was this meant to purge him from her system. That my friend was cheating. It wasn’t the little bargain that she had going on with all three of them – NO – she took it upon herself to give into temptation. And it pissed me off. Then she happily went home to make happy house with the man that loved her beyond belief.
This book had a lot of depth and covered a lot of emotions. But I have come to expect no less from Ms. Hart. Her books are always slightly controversial and while you reading them I can tell I have a look of ‘I just stepped in dog shit’ on my face – because I know what I’m reading is wrong – but damn it if I can put the book down. This is not for everyone. But all the same I still enjoyed it.
I love Megan Hart. She does things to your mind – makes you think that something that you have forever been morally against, somehow isn’t that bad after all – but then she makes reality hit and you realize you were right all along.
We are introduced to a loving married couple. These two are super cute. They are the teenagers who never grew out of the ‘can’t keep my hands of each other’ stage. They laugh; the play and they have awesome wild sex. They are quite simply - perfect.
When James friend Alex comes to stay, they take a chance and invite him into their bed. Anna wanted him, Alex wanted James and James...well, who the fuck knew who he really wanted. Eventually of course lines a drawn and then the lines are crossed when more than sex becomes involved.
There were a lot of family dramas going on in the background of this book, and at times it really just got too much for me. Countless times we hear about Anna almost drowning while sailing with her drunken father – this was a traumatic time for her, but I didn’t see how it related to the story at hand.
******:::::SPOILERS:::::*******
I don’t know what I thought about James. He seemed off to me. At the end of the book he was grovelling at Anne’s feet for her to not leave him. But he acted like a complete jerk off when Alex was around, drinking, smoking and doing drugs. I firmly believe that you should never have to change yourself for someone. And that is exactly what James was doing. He never actually touched Alex, but the impression was always given that if he could, he would.
Alex was in my mind the epitome of sex. He could ooze the shit. But at the same time was a sleaze. He flirted with everything that had legs or a cock.
Anne made a bad mistake at the end of this book that just ruined it for me. She had to let one of them go. She made the right choice in letting Alex go. But it was the way she went about it. She should have just ceased contact, had nothing to do with the man. Instead she tramps on over to his hotel room with or without her husband approval I will never know and fucks him. WTF????? Pray tell , how was this meant to purge him from her system. That my friend was cheating. It wasn’t the little bargain that she had going on with all three of them – NO – she took it upon herself to give into temptation. And it pissed me off. Then she happily went home to make happy house with the man that loved her beyond belief.
This book had a lot of depth and covered a lot of emotions. But I have come to expect no less from Ms. Hart. Her books are always slightly controversial and while you reading them I can tell I have a look of ‘I just stepped in dog shit’ on my face – because I know what I’m reading is wrong – but damn it if I can put the book down. This is not for everyone. But all the same I still enjoyed it.
December 4, 2009
I loved this book, but for completely unexpected reasons.
I read the premise of this book and thought: "ooooo, threesome, titillating!" But I should've known better than to expect something so simple from a Megan Hart book.
If you're looking for fantasy erotic romance...this probably won't do it for you. It's a little too real, a little too "let's dig up every last bit of emotional baggage and bring it to the surface" to be true escapist reading.
But this is why I love Megan Hart. She can take characters and situations that really have nothing to do with my life and who and I am and make it feel as if I know these people. I understand them, and I hurt for them.
There necessarily would be a lot of subtext tied up with a threesome involving one's husband and his childhood best friend. There's no way that could be clean, fun, quick, and then: "thank you, I had a good time."
I am disappointed with the ending though. Megan Hart never cleans things up prettily, but she usually resolves things better than this.
James (the husband) never, ever confronted his feelings about Alex (his childhood friend). There is clearly more than simple friendship going on there, and that bit is not explored at all.
Anne never gets to the root of her problems with James. Sure, she brings much of them to the surface, but I'm not seeing that he ever really GETS it. He doesn't really see her truly, and I'm not sure he ever will. This disturbs me.
Nevertheless, I loved the book. Megan Hart writes what I call in my head "close" books. To me this just means that they are true to the thoughts and feelings of the main character. They dig out issues and deal with them. I can eat up some "close" books.
I read the premise of this book and thought: "ooooo, threesome, titillating!" But I should've known better than to expect something so simple from a Megan Hart book.
If you're looking for fantasy erotic romance...this probably won't do it for you. It's a little too real, a little too "let's dig up every last bit of emotional baggage and bring it to the surface" to be true escapist reading.
But this is why I love Megan Hart. She can take characters and situations that really have nothing to do with my life and who and I am and make it feel as if I know these people. I understand them, and I hurt for them.
There necessarily would be a lot of subtext tied up with a threesome involving one's husband and his childhood best friend. There's no way that could be clean, fun, quick, and then: "thank you, I had a good time."
I am disappointed with the ending though. Megan Hart never cleans things up prettily, but she usually resolves things better than this.
James (the husband) never, ever confronted his feelings about Alex (his childhood friend). There is clearly more than simple friendship going on there, and that bit is not explored at all.
Anne never gets to the root of her problems with James. Sure, she brings much of them to the surface, but I'm not seeing that he ever really GETS it. He doesn't really see her truly, and I'm not sure he ever will. This disturbs me.
Nevertheless, I loved the book. Megan Hart writes what I call in my head "close" books. To me this just means that they are true to the thoughts and feelings of the main character. They dig out issues and deal with them. I can eat up some "close" books.
August 23, 2011
So I have to say the blurb for this book and it's sequel, Naked, which I read via Netgalley and will be reviewing soon, are both kinda off the mark. When I read this novel I didn't get the feeling that Anne didn't like Alex the first time she saw him, yes she appeared uncomfortable about this long lost friend of her husband's that she knew so little about and with the way James changed around him. But I NEVER got the impression she didn't like Alex, in fact I thought she was pretty much immediately attracted to him. Anyway, that's my little quibble with the blurb.
Tempted is my first foray into erotica. I was a little apprehensive, I wasn't sure what to expect or how I would like it. It was afraid it would be a literary version of porn: all sex, no plot. I've read some reviews of Hart's other books and was intrigued. They sounded like really gripping, intense reads. When I saw Naked available on NetGalley I wanted to read it but knew this book came first and had Alex in it. It's not necessary to read Tempted first to enjoy Naked but Tempted really gives you a background on what happened between Alex, James and Anne and helps the reader understand Alex better in Naked. So I would highly recommend picking this up before reading Naked.
I'm really glad I gave Tempted a chance. It's hot, it's sexually and emotionally intense. It's sweet and sad all at the same time. It's not a light read, which, I gather, not many of Hart's books are. However, I'm now a bona fide Hart fangirl and have also picked up Deeper and Stranger and intend to get her entire backlist! Yay for trying something out of my comfort zone and finding an amazing new-to-me author!
Disclosure: I checked this book out from the library. I did not receive any compensation for this review.
Tempted is my first foray into erotica. I was a little apprehensive, I wasn't sure what to expect or how I would like it. It was afraid it would be a literary version of porn: all sex, no plot. I've read some reviews of Hart's other books and was intrigued. They sounded like really gripping, intense reads. When I saw Naked available on NetGalley I wanted to read it but knew this book came first and had Alex in it. It's not necessary to read Tempted first to enjoy Naked but Tempted really gives you a background on what happened between Alex, James and Anne and helps the reader understand Alex better in Naked. So I would highly recommend picking this up before reading Naked.
I'm really glad I gave Tempted a chance. It's hot, it's sexually and emotionally intense. It's sweet and sad all at the same time. It's not a light read, which, I gather, not many of Hart's books are. However, I'm now a bona fide Hart fangirl and have also picked up Deeper and Stranger and intend to get her entire backlist! Yay for trying something out of my comfort zone and finding an amazing new-to-me author!
Disclosure: I checked this book out from the library. I did not receive any compensation for this review.
July 22, 2010
3.5 stars. Tempted is told in first person from Anne's point of view. She's married to James whom she loves fondly. It's not an earth-shattering love but a calm, solid one. Then Alex comes into their lives. James and Alex have a history together and Anne immediately feels attracted to Alex. Soon they all three end up in bed together, which makes for some pretty hot sex scenes. Always straight m/f/m scenes, not a hint of m/m action though. Of course things become complicated when emotions get involved.
To be honest, I didn't like Anne that much. This feeling grew stronger and stronger in the second half of the book and her last scene with Alex sealed the deal for me - no chance left for her to redeem herself. The fact that the story is only told from her POV and we never learn about James' or Alex's feelings doesn't help. Eventually I even found the secondary storylines about Anne and her family taking too much pages. My worries for Alex (and James) kept me from enjoying them.
I usually can appreciate a flawed character, really, but Anne's idea of an (unprotected) solution just goes beyond flawed imo. In the end it's hard for me to love a book when I find the heroine selfish and unpleasant, even though I can see that it's written very well with great skill. I still look forward to reading Alex's story in Naked, because of Megan Hart's beautiful and compelling style of writing. Let's just hope I like the heroine in that story better...
http://erotromreader.blogspot.com/201...
To be honest, I didn't like Anne that much. This feeling grew stronger and stronger in the second half of the book and her last scene with Alex sealed the deal for me - no chance left for her to redeem herself. The fact that the story is only told from her POV and we never learn about James' or Alex's feelings doesn't help. Eventually I even found the secondary storylines about Anne and her family taking too much pages. My worries for Alex (and James) kept me from enjoying them.
I usually can appreciate a flawed character, really, but Anne's idea of an (unprotected) solution just goes beyond flawed imo. In the end it's hard for me to love a book when I find the heroine selfish and unpleasant, even though I can see that it's written very well with great skill. I still look forward to reading Alex's story in Naked, because of Megan Hart's beautiful and compelling style of writing. Let's just hope I like the heroine in that story better...
http://erotromreader.blogspot.com/201...
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