Half Hearts

by Sherri Desbois

A promise broken
Losing her family at a young age, and then broken promises from the man she’d loved all her life, Charlie McCarty rarely allows anyone to get close to her. Resolved to live her life without love and determined to become a top-notch Veterinarian, she begins her residency in Redfield. Fate, however, has a way of stepping in to change even the most obstinate set plans and forces Charlie to face her past, push the boundaries of her control and her heart to the brink of destruction.

A passion fueled desire
It started out as a celebration, a chance for Charlie to let her hair down and just let go of her firm control for just one evening, but meeting a sexy as hell cowboy—and his familiar best friend—ambush everything. With relentless determination, both cowboys set out to show her that she is everything they want to complete their lives. Charlie begins to dream, once again, for the future she thought lost to her years ago.

A Journey of the Heart
When a terrifying figure from the past steps into their fragile romance, is their love enough to overcome the horror about to be unleashed or will it leave them with hearts broken in half?

Genres: Menage, Erotica, Westerns, Contemporary, Romance, M F M, Erotic Romance

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2011

About the author

Half Hearts is my first attempt at writing a novel. I was fortunate enough that someone looked past my type O's and run on sentences and saw the story beneath and it's potential. Half Hearts is slated to be released January 10, 2011 and my feet haven't touched the ground since I received the notification. I have a couple other WIP which I hope to submit soon. Most of my works are erotic in nature but all of them are character driven. If I can make you laugh, cry or threaten to throw the book at the wall, than I take that as the highest form of compliment.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very pleasant surprise. It is no secret, my love of menage, and cowboys, but this one was a bit different! Half Hearts had a little bit of everything, hot sexy cowboys, wounded, but strong heroine, a little romantic suspense, and of course smokin' hot sex. Even though I am a lover of menage, I need my menage to have love behind it to really love the story, the relationship between Charlie, Keagen and Trevor tugged at my heart through this whole book! I specifically enjoyed the love the author created between Trevor and Keagen. Without giving any story away, all I will say is if you like your menage with some substance, you will really enjoy this book!!

[I ♥ Bookie Nookie (bookienookiereviews.blogspot.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half Hearts has many of the elements that really light my fire.

✔ Cowboys
✔ Hunky, masculine men
✔ Spunky heroine
✔ SMART heroine
✔ Let's not forget menage
✔ Excellent chemistry between all 3 involved
✔ There was a good "chase"...heroine didn't immediately fall into bed w/ them.

I am very impressed with this author...hard to believe this is a first novel for her. The characters had great chemistry. The relationship between Charlie, Kegan and Trevor evolved in a manner that felt real, not forced or too quick -- many romance/erotic novels tend to fall in love over night and I hate that!

Good one Sherri...now get to work on the next installment ;-)

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

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[Mrs. Missive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. There is NO WAY this is this author's first book. I cry shenanigans. This was...amazing...captivating...insert high praise adjective here.

I have read some good books. I have read some great series. It has been a LONG time since a book has grabbed me this quickly. By 10% of this book, I knew it was over for me, and I settled in for the long day of nothing but reading.

Half Hearts is about an abandoned love that smacks our heroine in the face after 5 years. Charlie is all alone in the world after her Gram's died. She has shut down except for her friend Rae. Rae drags her ass to a Cowboy bar. Mmmmmm...cowboys.

She is instantly bought a beer and seduced by a cowboy...who likes to share. Ooooh yeah.

So lets give the yum-scale checklist a peek. Tortured Cowboys? Check! Menage? Check! Unrequited love back to deliciously torture our main characters? Hell yeah CHECK!

We are treated to the story of our trio coming to grips with what has happened in their past(nope not pretty), how to open up enough to share it with each other, and how to move forward and not let it rule their future.

There are some great one-liners and just enough smiles to get us through the really rough times. Through the jokes, the arguements, the dickhead parents all of our characters seemed cursed with, we get a vision of pure love.

I am more into slappy than sappy, but this book did it for me. Wow did this book do it for me.

I have two little gripes. Well one gripe and one that may be a gripe for others. First, there were quite a few typos and errors that pulled me from the story. A little more editing please. May have just been the kindle version conversion, but it could use a little re-vamp.

Second, the boys did touch...but only briefly...and through clothes. And damn did they seem excited about that contact! But they didn't really explore that part of their relationship very thoroughly, which may be a negative to the man-love fans out there. I think as the boys develop a little more in their permenant menage lifestyle, they may loosen up a little more. It seems the trio has some growing to do.

If you love cowboys, if you love menage, if you love sex, for goodness sakes read this book. 5 stars.

[ൠSinful · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story that I followed a bunch of my GR friends to reading. It isn't the longest but it was longer than I expected. Lots going on in this story of lost love found and new love forming.
Charlie (girl) was in love with older boy Kegan. When Charlie was 16 Kegan ran off saying he'd be back for her when she turned 18. He never showed and her heart broke. All her family members had died, he left, she had learned the hard way to steal her heart, everyone leaves.
Now as a new vet resident in a new town Charlie bumps into hot cowboy Trevor who sweeps her off her very prude, conservative feet and then drops the bomb that he wants her to have a drink with him and his buddy when he arrives... that they share.
The buddy turns out to be Kegan and she runs for the hills.
It's a small town and you can only run so far...

That's the set up.

This is a very loved/lust filled menage romance with an HEA. And the second half of the book has a big tension/suspence plot added in... all really yummy stuff.

I cried like a baby all too often.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FIRST book for this author and WOW was it packed with angst, action and deep feelings. I totally felt the pain of Charlie, Kegan and Trevor. I probably would've given this a 5 if Kegan and Trevor would have ended up acting on the feelings that I feel would've been natural in this situation, they'd both admitted that their love for each other had grown beyond friendship and it is alluded that both get turned on by the other...but they both denied being gay and we were left hanging. I am someone who only occasionally reads/likes m/m, however I strongly feel a complete m/m/f relationship would have been a beautiful, complete ending.

4/27/11 UPDATE
I have thought about it more and do give this 5 stars. I realized if I wouldn't have loved the characters so much I wouldn't have wanted more for them. Good news is Sherri has stated we will see more of them I'm Rae and Cade's book :-)

[Sassafrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally done for The Romance Reviews and can be found here:

http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/v...

This debut novel by Sherri Desbois absolutely knocked my socks off!!

There are things that I love in my novels. I love romance, I love alpha males who are ga-ga over their women, I love erotic loves scenes, and I love plots and characters that grab hold of you and won't leave you even after you finish reading the book. It's rare, but when I have all of those things together, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. And that's how I would describe the experience I had reading HALF HEARTS by Sherri Desbois...heavenly.

Charlie McCarty has had many disappointments in her life--she lost her parents at a young age, the grandmother who took her in after her parents' death died after a long battle with cancer. But the thing that has stayed with her the most is losing the love of her life.

Kegan walked out of her life with the promise that he'd be back when she was 18. After waiting for years, she realized he was never coming and that destroyed her. Now, she's 23, about start her residency as a veterinarian in a small town in South Dakota, and she's ready to let loose and have fun.

So, when she meets the sexy cowboy, Trevor, at a honky tonk, she's ready to accept the pleasure that he seems to be wanting to give. After getting cozy on the dance floor, Trevor asks Charlie if she'd like to hook up with him AND his friend who he was supposed to be meeting at the bar. She can't believe it because she's not acting like herself, but she accepts his offer. However, when she realizes who Trevor's friend is, her world is turned upside down.

The other cowboy is none other than Kegan, and he doesn't look pleased to see her. She runs away with the hopes of never seeing them again. However, fate has other plans. And, as they are thrown together, Trevor and Kegan decide that they are not letting Charlie go.

But Charlie isn't sure that she can lose her heart to Kegan again after he took most of it with him when he left. There is a lot of pain between them, and they are going to have to decide if they are willing to take a chance to have the half hearts become whole.

I'm not sure where to begin with all the wonderful things about this novel. It's excellent. The characters in this story, Charlie, Kegan and Trevor were so human and real that I felt like I was going through this journey with them. I felt their hurts, I reveled in their triumphs, and I hoped for their successes. Charlie has a lot of abandonment issues, many of which come from Kegan's departure from her life. Watching her work through that to give her heart again was so amazing. The way the author handled it was so realistic. She didn't just forget about it, it kept rearing its ugly head, just the way it would in real life, and sometimes at inopportune moments.

Kegan and Trevor weren't without their faults either. Sexy as sin and alpha with a capital "A", they were like dogs with a bone when it came to Charlie, but the love was there, that much was evident. They also had deep-seated issues with their families and upbringing. But what I loved the most was they way they all complemented each other. They just seemed to fit as the unit they became. It was natural.

The relationship between Kegan and Trevor was an interesting one. They loved each other, and not just as friends in my opinion, but there was nothing overtly sexual with them. I wondered how long it would be before they took their relationship to the next level after the book ended. It appeared that once they found Charlie, they were more comfortable with the feelings they have for each other as well.

Speaking of sex, this book had plenty. It was erotic, loving and sensual. They also didn't rush into the sexual aspect of the relationship, although I think they all wanted to. Life got in the way, and that made it more realistic. The three of them together were so extremely hot that I had to check to make sure my eyebrows hadn't been singed off!

The plot was gripping, with funny moments, sad ones, intense ones, scary ones and some infuriating ones. But I had a blast reading through all of them. The secondary characters, like Charlie's best friend Rae, and ranch foreman, Cade, added rounded out the story as well. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that HALF HEARTS is a five star read!

I can't believe this is the first novel by Sherri Desbois. This novel is so wonderfully written that I know this author is going to do great things. She's definitely on my short list of new authors to watch.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a lot of emotional turmoil rolled into it and I loved it. The characters were very lovable and made an excellent couple. I loved how she was able to show how much the men loved each other in the relationship too without having the sexual aspect between them (although that would have been hot too).

******
If you liked this book you may enjoy the following groups:
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[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie is having fun flirting with a cowboy in a bar. Being a veterinary resident doesn’t leave her much time for fun. Not having family, and only her best friend Rae around, she feels like doing something wild. When the cowboy, Trevor hints that she should go home with him and meet up with his other cowboy friend for a night of fun, Charlie is freaked out but ready. But when she gets a glimpse of Trevor’s friend Kegan, Charlie abruptly ends the evening.

Kegan and Charlie were best friends as teenagers. But due to Kegan’s abusive father, he left, promising her he would return. But he never did. Even when Charlie’s beloved grandmother died, he never showed up. Charlie is heartbroken over this and can’t move past it. She is shocked to see Kegan now in a bar, carefree. Shocked and hurt.

Life is going to throw these cowboys in her path again – when she heads to the Trev-Ke ranch to check on some animals, she realizes this is the ranch both Trevor and Kegan own. Trevor and Kegan are best friends, making a pact with each other when they were 18 that they would never sleep with a woman unless they were both present. They want to find a permanent girlfriend for their threesome, and Charlie just might be it.

Half Hearts has a nice start and I was impressed by the more erotic, dirty talk paired with no sex scenes for the first 30% of this book. Charlie doesn’t immediately dive into a ménage and we get a little drama with her past history with Kegan. Trevor comes across with a hot temper and I liked that side of him.

But the last two-thirds of the book I lost interest quickly. A few things come to mind. First, Trevor and Kegan on several occasions make reference to the fact that they are not gay, just committed to each other. Now, obviously there is some kind of intimate feelings going on – these are two men who have agreed to never have sex unless they are both present. I don’t understand why the gay issue has to be so black and white.

One of my biggest disappointments is Charlie. Again, I liked her at the beginning – willing to take a chance with a fling, and then her fear of getting involved with Kegan. But after she starts this relationship it felt like nothing was ever her fault. It is Kegan’s fault he never came back for her when she turned 18. Trevor is the one with the temper that has to apologize to her. It always felt like she was making the men apologize or make-up for their behavior. She is always cast in the perfect light. This became very annoying to me. The Charlie worshipping is too much to take.

On that same note, the passion or romance scenes were just too over the top for me. How many times can someone not breathe because of the lust they feel, or have earth shattering orgasms? I get it – you have great sex. It felt forced and not real life to me. It is after one of these amazing orgasms that Trevor realizes he needs both Kegan and Charlie permanently in his life:

As he floated back to his body, Trevor stared at Kegan and Charlie. He knew that at a deep emotional level, he’d been affected as nothing else in his life had ever accomplished.

He belonged to them. Body , mind and soul.

I have a hard time buying into this type of statement when you are coming off of an orgasm high.

I like the set-up in this one but not the execution. The romance and following relationships fall flat for me.

Rating: C-

[Miz Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie has loved Kegan for a long time, despite years stretching between the last time she saw him and now. She believed he had gone off and left her broken-hearted, uncaring as to what happened to her when he walked away. Nursing a broken heart and the feeling that her one chance at loving a man wholly had gone with Kegan, she strove to make something of herself in her job and focused her energies on that.


One night out changes her life forever. And I love that, don’t you? Those little twists and turns in life that take us on a completely different path, one we hadn’t even dreamed we would tread. Charlie had gone out with the intent to have some fun. Instead, life threw her a curveball, a dilemma, and unearthed a multitude of old emotions, making her head spin and her heart hurt all over again with memories she’d tried to bury.


She meets Trevor, a sexy cowboy who takes her breath away and gives her hope that she can put Kegan and her past behind her. But life doesn’t always work out the way we think, does it, and it’s no different for Charlie. Trevor tells her he and his friend would both love to bed her, and she’s surprised at how excited that makes her feel—until she finds out who his friend is.


*Plot spoiler alert* Kegan is Trevor’s friend. They have been buddies for a few years now and share everything, including women. Charlie has bowled Trevor over, and he knows he wants more from her than just a roll in the hay. He tells Kegan about her, and Kegan realises just who she is… Both men want her, both men have feelings for her, and both men are willing to share. The question is, can Charlie share too?


God, what a beautiful, lovely book. I enjoyed every moment and paused many times to think about the three-way relationship as I so often do when reading ménage. I’m fascinated by how it works, how jealousy doesn’t play a part, how they can share so easily without getting in one another’s way or on their nerves. You have to be pretty strong and secure in your three-way to keep your attention on the love and not the envy/green-eyed monster.


Half Hearts goes above and beyond to give a ménage with a caring, loving bent that had this reader misty-eyed several times. The past rears its ugly head, and the characters all have to deal with the aftermath. Seeing how they all pulled together to support, to love, to really and truly care, made me sigh.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book. I have to say, I think it's the best book I've read this year.

I loved Trevor, Kegan and Charlie. This was a picture of absolute true love. They just seemed so real and down to earth. Their pain became my pain and I was in tears off and on during the last 25% of the book. That doesn't happen often and it's quite the author that can do that.

I hope there is a sequel to this book. I would love to see a book for Rae and Cade.

Sherri Desbois is definitely going to be an author to keep an eye on.

[MimiFaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherri made me fall in love with her characters. She developed them so well, I felt that I knew them. Amazing job for her first book. Looking forward to Rae and Cade. (Characters in the book)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gem from a new author. I look forward to reading more from her.

[Deviant Divas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Desbois weaves a delightful story about a lonely girl sans family who meets two hot cowboys in a bar. While the setting for this story is common enough among the erotic literature, its Ms. Desbois's writing style which makes the difference. She adds depth to her story by captivating the reader with her developed characters who all carry baggage. She balances the angst and pain with scenes of mischief and sexual tension. Her odd humor injected in times of venting rage catches the reader off guard and causes laughter to burst forth. Ms. Desbois does a good job of portraying her characters as people who can overcome their past.

Charlie, Kegan and Trevor each have been dealt a raw hand. Each of them works through their past issues in different ways that bring them closer together. A story would not be complete without an evil villain. The vile person creates more havoc in an already tension filled and fragile relationship. It is questionable if the three can meet this new challenge and survive with their hearts and minds intact. There is no doubt in whether or not they can keep the sheets on fire with their bodies. Reviewed by Book Addict
3.5 Divas

I had the delight of reading *Half Hearts* by Sherri Desbois. The writer did a fantastic job of creating a plausible story line. It was refreshing having a country theme, not all glitzy and rock star. Instead, the main character, Charlie, was a veterinarian and lived in the country! She was spunky. We knew immediately, she was someone who could be like and trusted. She had beauty and brains. By chance, she met a cowboy who was best friends with someone from her past. They shared a passion unlike any other. As with many good stories, *Half Hearts* had some excitement in the story, both good, and bad. There was a rather dark part that got the heart racing with concern and worry, but thankfully, it ended well.

I give this story a Five Diva rating. I thought perhaps I should save that standard for a "really good story". Well, this one really ranks up there as a really good story! The book captivated me from the beginning. The characters well thought out and the plot was incredible. I would love for a part two to *Half Hearts* to see how the relationship between the main characters grows and matures over the years. You know a story is good when you are left wondering about the characters and wanting know how they've gotten on with life....

Dare I admit that this book was a huge turn on? I found myself returning those scenes a few times, just to get my pulse racing, again! Yes, it gets the Blaze rating from me. Ultimate orgasms achieved in reading this book.
Reviewed by Ginger Lily
5 Divas

A choice between a new desire and old crush. The feelings between two friends, an erotic trip down a path of what to do and a painful journey back to the past. Can the memories of the past weigh down future happiness, are they strong enough to over come all that has happened, finally find peace. I love the way that Sherri Desbois developed the characters. As they grow into the relationship, they find among themselves and the sweet erotic romance between them.
Reviewed by Jordan Honey
4 Divas

You want to ride a cowboy then damn these guys will do it for you.

They are the modern day cowboys, of which one spots this gorgeous chick and decides he must have her. She is very interested after one dance but then gets thrown a curve ball. There is not one but two of them, damn all you fantasies at once. You get to ride not one but two cowboys… phew…

But there’s a catch which Charlie is about to find out. The other cowboy relates to her past, and then the fun begins. Can Charlie forgive Kegan before she risks loosing what would be her ultimate fantasy.

This book is awesome, thrilling, exciting, makes you want to get all the toys out of your chest not just the one favorite.

I loved it. It turned me on so much reading the by play between the three characters and though there were problems the writer did not make light of it. She worked the problems and got them sorted in a very erotic way. I love the forceful cowboy and these two did it for me completely.

Keep an eye out for this authors books because they are a must addition to your erotic library. Reviewed by Noushie
4 Divas

Half Hearts by Sherri Desbois is a slowly built romance that if you have the time to enjoy, is well worth the read! It starts a bit sad with Charlie McCarty standing on her front porch, begging for rain the moment after her dear grandmother died. She is cursing the lack of a certain someone in her life who makes a sudden and startling appearance in the next chapter.

Fast forward five years and Charlie is out with her friend celebrating graduation from veterinary school. When she is approached by Trevor, a rough and ready cowboy. Who proposes a threesome with Kegan, the Cowboy-Who-Got-Away. We are then taken from a three point view of the situation, Charlie’s, Trevor’s, and Kegan’s, while the “situation” becomes a bit clearer. Kegan was Charlie’s first love and Trevor’s current.

If you like serious angst with your cowboy romance, you will definitely enjoy this read! It’s hot in the right places and ends with a blast, though the build is slow It is well worth the wait.
Reviewed by Spitefully Sane
4 Divas

DIVA RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: Flame

Link:http://www.deviantdivaseroticbookrevi...

[Dahlia (yadkny) · Rating 3 out of 5]

They fell for each other out on the dance floor in a honkytonk bar. One look and that was enough for anything to seem possible. A proposition is made and she accepts without full knowledge as to the identity of the other player involved. She thought it would be fun and relieve her of some of the loneliness she's felt for so long... at least for one night. He couldn't let her get away without at least possessing her body and she makes him feel things that no other woman has made him feel before, but the past and fate have a way of intervening at the worst possible time. As a teenage crush enters the scene, an old flame is reignited with the possibility of burning brighter than ever before as long as the pain of rejection, of not being good enough, and unsupportive families don’t get in the way.

Battles for control, trust issues, feelings admission, and communication are a few of the major challenges this newly created ménage relationship faces. The story takes full scale emotional twists and turns of both discovery and rediscovery and although this book isn't labeled as an m/m or m/m/f romance, the author does let both our leading men live a little vicariously through Charlie by verbalizing and positioning during a couple of the sexual encounters. The feelings between the men are never fully physically explored nor are they explained, as the characters themselves are a little confused and refuse to examine or label those feelings, it’s just simply a different kind of love. It definitely makes for some interesting reading. However, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the ending and felt it was fairly anticlimactic and moved a little too quickly after such a dramatic buildup. Still an enjoyable story for any fan of reading ménage.

Review also posted @ Happily Ever After Reviews:
http://www.hea-reviews.blogspot.com/

[LynnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yadkny's Review

They fell for each other out on the dance floor in a honkytonk bar. One look and that was enough for anything to seem possible. A proposition is made and she accepts without full knowledge as to the identity of the other player involved. She thought it would be fun and relieve her of some of the loneliness she's felt for so long... at least for one night. He couldn't let her get away without at least possessing her body and she makes him feel things that no other woman has made him feel before, but the past and fate have a way of intervening at the worst possible time. As a teenage crush enters the scene, an old flame is reignited with the possibility of burning brighter than ever before as long as the pain of rejection, of not being good enough, and unsupportive families don’t get in the way.

Battles for control, trust issues, feelings admission, and communication are a few of the major challenges this newly created ménage relationship faces. The story takes full scale emotional twists and turns of both discovery and rediscovery and although this book isn't labeled as an m/m or m/m/f romance, the author does let both our leading men live a little vicariously through Charlie by verbalizing and positioning during a couple of the sexual encounters. The feelings between the men are never fully physically explored nor are they explained, as the characters themselves are a little confused and refuse to examine or label those feelings, it’s just simply a different kind of love. It definitely makes for some interesting reading. However, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the ending and felt it was fairly anticlimactic and moved a little too quickly after such a dramatic buildup. Still an enjoyable story for any fan of reading ménage.


3 ½ Tea Cups!

[Sherri Desbois]

A promise broken
Losing her family at a young age, and then broken promises from the man she�d loved all her life, Charlie McCarty rarely allows anyone to get close to her. Resolved to live her life without love and determined to become a top-notch Veterinarian, she begins her residency in Redfield. Fate, however, has a way of stepping in to change even the most obstinate set plans and forces Charlie to face her past, push the boundaries of her control and her heart to the brink of destruction.

A passion fueled desire
It started out as a celebration, a chance for Charlie to let her hair down and just let go of her firm control for just one evening, but meeting a sexy as hell cowboy�and his familiar best friend�ambush everything. With relentless determination, both cowboys set out to show her that she is everything they want to complete their lives. Charlie begins to dream, once again, for the future she thought lost to her years ago.

A Journey of the Heart
When a terrifying figure from the past steps into their fragile romance, is their love enough to overcome the horror about to be unleashed or will it leave them with hearts broken in half?

Contains: Multiple partners (M/F/M), anal play, light bondage
Warning: Violence, some brutality and near rape at the hands of a madman.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I'd really like to give it a 3.5 star since it was better than a 3, but not quite a 4. Ms. Desbois's humour shows up in odd places. This was an image that caused me to chortle with great mirth. "Hope was like frogs praying for wings so they didn’t bump their asses when they hopped. But there weren’t any flying fucking frogs!"

The story line is not to different than any other menages involving a female and two males. There is one person who is afraid to trust. One person has issues with unloving parents and a neglected. The last person had an abusive father. These predictable characters alone would cause the story to fall flat. Fortunately, Ms. Desbois sense of humour and ability to build sexual tension draws the reader into her web. This is a fun read to help get the engine started.

[♥Lynn ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Charlie, Trevor, and Kegan were amazing to get to know. There were some editing issues that pulled me from the story, but it is worth the read. I am glad the characters didn't just jump into the sack and call it a day. When I read a menage, I want to feel like each of the participants are needed and cared for. I felt that with this story. The menage was not to about the bedroom, but about the people.


This story was well written, however the ending felt a little rushed to me. I think Kegan had a lot of explaining to do. He had to come clean and talk things out before reminding this relationship. I needed more in order to give it a 5 star rating. I will be looking for more works by Sherri Desbois!

[Heather in FL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great debut story! I was drawn in by the characters and their stories from the get-go. I could feel Charlie's heart break upon seeing Kegan at the bar after so many years. Someone else mentioned editing issues, and I'll have to agree. It's a really bad pet peeve that I seem to have no control over... I just notice the errors, and it pulls me out of the story briefly. Thankfully the story was so great that it sucked me right back in. I would love to see if Kegan and Trevor explore their love further. Charlie obviously doesn't have a problem with their feelings for each other, so hopefully they can figure it out. I would look forward to reading more from this author.

[Cordykitten]

Publisher's Note: Fractured Hearts by SJD Peterson has previously been released elsewhere (= Half Hearts by Sherri Desbois @ SLB see both summaries!). It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Totally Bound Publishing. General Release Date: 23rd February 2016

[Kimberlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book a 3.4 to 4 stars. I really liked the storyline but had a hard time with the character of Charlie. Her self doubts drove me crazy. I found Trevor and Keagen, very true to life and even though Keagen had to over come so mush child abuse you could a least understand where he came from. But all in all it was a good book.

[Among The Muses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 3.5 on the blog.

Debut author, Sherri Desbois, gives readers a story of love, angst, and whole lot of sexiness found on a ranch between the trio of two possessive cowboys and their ranch veterinarian on residency.

Twenty-three year old, Charlie McCarty, was just granted her Veterinarian residency in a small town named Redfield. To celebrate the event, she and her college friend Rae, head to the local bar to have a little fun and maybe break Charlie's long stretch of celibacy. She's instantly attracted to the man who attempts to seduce her, and is held captive by his dark and handsome features and yet overwhelmed by his natural dominate tendencies and smooth talking, seductive words. By the end of the night Trevor has asked Charlie to meet his male friend too, which she agrees to do without knowing who the other guy is. However, when she gets a glimpse of the sexy blond-haired cowboy, she hightails it out of that bar. For that blond hair belongs to her childhood best friend, Kegan.

But, fate, as always, has something different in mind for Charlie. She soon finds herself a resident on a well-established ranch owned and operated by none other than her overbearing, handsome cowboys, Kegan and Trevor. Both the guys know that Charlie is the one woman that would be perfect to complete their own relationship (and no, it's not what you think. These two are just friends, but do tend to blur the line. Just not physically.), but Charlie's not so sure.

Charlie's still (five years later) dealing with serious abandonment issues, and Kegan plays a major role in them! Trevor tends to be very overbearing in his dominant ways, which Charlie both loves and has a hard time dealing with. However, she can't help but feel the immediate pull towards him, and the feelings she's harbored for Kegan have never gone away.

It's a rocky road for the trio learning to be together, trust one another, while at the same time overcoming painful pasts that threatened to shatter their developing relationships. Especially when the past literally comes back to destroy and hurt them.

Ms. Desbois created a story that truly unfolds with each turn of the page. I felt like I had more and more questions popping up in my inquisitive mind as I flipped through the first handful of chapters. However, I soon realized that with each passing chapter, a little more light was shone on the plot and character dynamics that I felt were initially missing, which proves that there wasn't a lot of wasted slow time with back stories at the beginning, leaving me appreciating the fact that thought was put into the reveal and unraveling of events.

Each one of the main characters come from some sort of pained past and experiences, which like I said, makes for conflict and a journey towards a resolution as each learns to lean on the other for support and finding trust when it is so rarely given -- and so hard to achieve.

This is another one of those stories that grew on me. At first, I wasn't thrilled with the self-imposed-celibate, overly emotional heroine, Charlie; nor her overly possessive cowboy hero, Trevor. They were twenty-something successful adults, yet were acting like they were going through hormone unbalances. However, by the end of the story, I had a much better appreciation for them. Ms. Desbois kept the characters moving along in their development.

The trio takes on a slightly different twist in the fact that the heroine, Charlie McCarty, already had a prior 'relationship' with one of her hero's, Kegan Colburn, from being childhood best friends. Their childhood dynamics, and painful pasts, make for a lot of the conflict in the story, as well as the journey towards a resolution.

Trevor Kingsington is the third hero in this story, and is also the most dominate of the three. He's the character that is the initiator, usually the problem-solver, and the character that readers need to act as the dominate in order to make the trio more dynamic. I think one of the most interesting dynamics between the three characters is between the two hero's. Both love each other -- more than a best friend brotherly feeling, but neither act -- or apparently not want to act on -- anything sexual. However, that doesn't stop them from the occasionally feel or brush-by touch, which at first made me think that the author just wanted to shy away from writing any m/m interaction. But, the further into the book I got, I started to realize the importance of their positions and what each truly meant to the other and how their feelings could surpass typical best friend feelings without breaching the sexual boundaries. I, personally enjoyed that because it brought a little something different, and not often found in the m/f/m reading world.

And speaking of sex, Sherri Desbois knows how to write some very hot sex and sexual tension! :) I liked the fact that even though this is an erotica novel, the characters didn't just jump in to bed together. There was a development of feelings and connection between the three of them first (even though there was some love between different pairings before hand) before they moved their relationship to the next level.

Overall, I have to say that I liked the ease of the authors writing style. I think readers who tend to enjoy Maya Banks', Colters Legacy series, will find a slight similarity in Half Hearts -- at least I did. There were a few bumps here and there such as the magical appearance of a condom in the shower (even though I'm glad to see the characters practicing safe sex! *g*), and a quirky way of the hero's getting their heroine at the end of the story (it felt rushed), but still worked.

I would definitely read more books from Sherri Desbois!! She did a great job with creating the world and characters -- especially for a debut book!

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why don't they just talk and wow, that was violent... nothing rose to the top

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book got 3 stars because I'm not sure how to rate it. The emotion and angst at the beginning deserves a solid 4 and the ending was 5 star worthy. Unfortunately, everything between that needs a 2 and in some cases 1 star rating.

The middle dragged, was painfully slow, and that's where the 2 stars come in. My big problems are spoilers and are below.

The heroes were idiots. After Charlie is kidnapped, they do not tell the cops where they think she may be. Instead, the two heroes that have no law enforcement background rush off to rescue her. Even though one of them admits to being a horrible shot and "can't hit the broad side of a barn."

At the hospital, the doctor discusses the results of the rape kit with the heroes while sitting in the waiting room of the ER. No. NO NO NO. Ever heard of HIPAA?

This really feels like it should have been a m/m/f instead of a m/f/m. The heroes admit to being in love, their erections pressing against each other is the hottest thing they've ever felt, yet it is repeated ad nauseum that they don't have sexual feelings for each other. It didn't feel true.

[ValerieC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This was another one I had on the Kindle for a while and hadn't read (go figure). I loved it...

* Romantic menage
* Not 'perfect' characters
* People who can learn from their actions
* Really scary, evil happenings
* Smex! All kinds, really... but sweet and well described :-)
* Will probably make you cry at least some
* 'Cowboys'
* Good lead for another book (hope this turns into a series)


Downside: Editing. It was fairly bad, although not the worst I have read (from some big writers, too). However, it's bad enough at times to make you lose your pace and have to re-read to make it clear.

I loved this story, but the editing brought it down a little, and I almost never give 5's, so this is almost as good as it gets from me.

[Jenny Cover · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Sunny☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I started to read, I remembered that I had read the book a while ago. It is about a resident Veterinarian, with two more years to go to Vet status. She bumps into a knock out guy Trevor who finally gets the heart moving after mourning the disappearance of her childhood sweetheart Keagan. Guess who Trevor wants her to meet for a threesome?
The story is well written, memorable and hot. The three of people grow in a good way and Charlie soon fits in perfectly.

[luv2reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I'm in the minority. I've read better and I've read worse, it was just OK for me.I will say it's a sticking point for me in menage books when the guys are adamant about making sure everyone knows they're not gay. If it's going to be strictly mfm not mmf just let it be, no need to announce it like there is something wrong with two guys touching each other. Anyway that's just me.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great menage romance that I truly enjoyed ..

My only complaint is that it needs to be a series ..

Seriously it needs a second book where it's a MMF romance that shows the triad's life and I'd love to see Trevor and Keagen's relationship develops .. and maybe some kids??

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good moments and not so good moments. Liked the overall storyline but Kegan's attitude wore on me for most of the book.