Room at the Top

I am super, duper picky when it comes to threesome books that I actually like, much less threesome books that I will rate 5 stars. This is definitely one of the good ones! I loved the dynamic between the two submissive MCs, already in love, looking for an extra piece to their sexual relationship, and the hard-ass, but lonely straight Dom who joins them for weekly BDSM play and eventually falls in love with them. A wonderful tale I can highly recommend to any and all who enjoy a good M/m/m/ menage romp.

And how fun is this? There is a sequel! [b:Room at the Edge|16247282|Room at the Edge (Room at the Top, #2)|Jane Davitt|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354708745s/16247282.jpg|22270889]. I am all over that bad boy.

4.5 stars.

This book was so much better than I expected. I'm not one to seek out BDSM, but this was done really well. I loved how well the authors developed the characters for the reader. The first 50 pages are a bit slow as the background is developed, but it is well worth it to understand the motivations of all parties. I loved how well these MCs suited each other; it was so clear and necessary by the end. Terrific writing.

I adored Austin and Jay's sweet romance, the way they were all wrapped up in each other.

But add in Liam, and beyond the BDSM scenes, I just didn't feel it. Due to the circumstances surrounding the first scene where there's sexual contact that includes Liam (Austin not being there; it being Jay's first ever session without Austin; Liam crossing the line they had previously set out that was equivalent to a hard limit, which you're not supposed to do as a Dom--or lose control for that matter) I felt uncomfortable throughout the whole scene, like it was cheating instead of acceptable play. Then Austin and Jay made it clear that they were both fine with it, so it stopped feeling like an issue for me. But soon, I got annoyed at Liam for not show more really being a good Dom by repeatedly leaving abruptly after a scene, pulling away from them emotionally, and leaving them guessing and sad. That breaks trust and security, and since those are two of the most fundamental parts of BDSM, it turned me off.

So while the BDSM scenes were great and Liam was awesome within those scenes--I prefer hardcore play, I would have liked to see even more, like the blood play they kept mentioning but never doing--the rest of the book didn't engage me or entertain me all that much. Besides the scenes with just Austin and Jay.

And, darn, because I really should have liked this book a lot more; all the separate elements in here are dear to my heart (BDSM, GFY, and menage is growing on me).

Note for the author: you need to capitalize Dom. All throughout the book I saw it lowercase, and it bugged me progressively more each time.

P.S. A point I forgot to mention in my original review: one thing I really did appreciate while reading was that each character had a distinct voice. We're not just told, for example, that Liam has a British accent and that's that, but his thoughts and speech are filled with the relevant diction and flavor relating to his age and experience and origin, creating chapters that are distinctly him in comparison to the others. That's not always so well done. show less

Well, after that I feel like I need a cigarette and a glass of something cool. O_O

Gorgeous writing with a similar style of D/s to [bc:Bound and Determined|7014637|Bound and Determined |Jane Davitt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256031031s/7014637.jpg|7260356] I found this to be just as entertaining with some of the rougher elements really floating my boat. The menage was nicely handled and I think how they authors ended the book was thoughtful and true to the characters. The building of tension was great and I just really, seriously liked this book loads. Get it. It's cool.

A pretty good BDSM story that was mostly pretty solid. I have a quirk with liking my menage couples being treated equally and fairly so a triad containing 1 Dom and 2 subs was going to be less than perfect, for moi. My triangles need to be equilateral, hunty! I'm just built that way. *shrug*

But I was satisfied with the story, overall it was pretty good.

The issues? Small, really. April, Austin's sister irked my last nerve and had my hand aching to reach through my Kindle to smack the ever living daylights out of her. She's disgusting and unrepentant. And mostly a brat. I don't feel enough was done to her.

And though these three ended with a HEA, something about the whole scheme left a little sour to the sweet ending. I don't know what it show more was but I'm not dying to pinpoint it.

Austin and Jay? Love 'em

Austin and Jay and Liam in BDSM scenes? Love 'em *clenches teeth* Gimme more!

Austin and Jay and Liam as a couple? I like it.

This author duo strikes again with a solid story and they are working their way into a possible automatic read category for me. show less

April really kind of killed this story for me. As soon as I read the first scene with her, I wanted to smash my kindle. I know she wasn't a big part of this story, but she was such an obnoxious brat and then her OMG I'm sorry, I'm just upset Austin moved out, and I don't like change excuse was crap to me. She wouldn't just change her tune like that aftr being the way she was for so long. And I also couldn't stand Austin allowing her to treat him that way. I do need to add a caveat... which was brought to my attention by my GR buddy Jodi. Yes I seriously picked the April thing out to harp on, and she did take away from the book for me. BUT I must admit it's because I have read a lot of bitchy, obnoxious, whiney, etc, etc women recently show more in my m-f reads. Had I not been having such bad experiences in the m-f genre recently, I'm sure I would have paid no mind to April. I do love the men in this book together. I think Liam makes Austin and Jay better, and I don't mean just because they needed a Dom, but I thought Austin and Jay were a little too lovey-dovey/sweet together, and I think Liam's stern attitude made the whole relationship dynamic better. show less

April really kind of killed this story for me. As soon as I read the first scene with her, I wanted to smash my kindle. I know she wasn't a big part of this story, but she was such an obnoxious brat and then her OMG I'm sorry, I'm just upset Austin moved out, and I don't like change excuse was crap to me. She wouldn't just change her tune like that aftr being the way she was for so long. And I also couldn't stand Austin allowing her to treat him that way. I do need to add a caveat... which was brought to my attention by my GR buddy Jodi. Yes I seriously picked the April thing out to harp on, and she did take away from the book for me. BUT I must admit it's because I have read a lot of bitchy, obnoxious, whiney, etc, etc women recently show more in my m-f reads. Had I not been having such bad experiences in the m-f genre recently, I'm sure I would have paid no mind to April. I do love the men in this book together. I think Liam makes Austin and Jay better, and I don't mean just because they needed a Dom, but I thought Austin and Jay were a little too lovey-dovey/sweet together, and I think Liam's stern attitude made the whole relationship dynamic better. show less