Annabelle Calhoun has always been too strong to break, but now she’s going to have to bend if she wants to keep the love that’s unexpectedly come into her life.
Annabelle Calhoun had always been proud of her independence. She didn’t need a man in her life for any longer than a night, and even then, it was her way or the highway. Seeing her brother Rory in a loving monogamous relationship didn’t sway her, neither did the love between her bunkhouse mates, Max and Bo. She didn’t want anything other than a good time from a man.
But two men—she’s been there, done that, but these two men, Justin and Evan, want something more than one night. Together, they just might be enough to make Annabelle bend.
Reader Advisory: This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone title.
I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.
And it's really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I'll just let y'all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there's something specific you'd like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio:D
I adore strong women who can take care of themselves, who don't need someone else to make them happy, who know their strengths and their weaknesses, and can be vulnerable when they love. I knew Annabelle and I would have been best friends in real life from the moment she popped on to the pages of Bailey Bradford's 'Love in Xxchange' series. Annabelle doesn't take crap from anyone, she curses like a sailor, and she holds her own against the men in the completely male dominated world that she's grown up in. I wonder if Ms. Bradford has met me and I just didn't realize it, because, I swear, Annabelle could be me! *grins*
When Annabelle gets thrown from a horse, her visit to the doctors office nets her a new best friend in Josh, or Joshie, as only Annabelle is allowed to call him. Josh is new to the area and he needs a friend as badly as Annabelle does. These two hit it off and life is wonderful for Annabelle, albeit a little envious of the happy couples around her, until she comes to pick up Josh one night and interrupts a heated argument going on where she is convinced someone is hurting her Josh. Unfortunately, it turns out the gorgeous guy, Justin, is Josh's brother, and his partner, Evan, and he, just came to make sure Josh was okay and try to convince him to move to a safer place. Turns out Annabelle and Justin are a little too alike in some respects. You could've knocked Annabelle over with a feather, though, when Josh informs her that Justin and Evan are looking for a woman to complete them and someone to have a long term relationship with both of them. Josh, of course, is hotly against it and there seems to be some baggage there, but Annabelle will make up her own mind.
Justin and Evan have been together for a long time. They are both bisexual and acknowledged long ago that they need that certain woman to complete them. Not that they aren't madly in love with each other, but they want a woman to fulfill the needs they both have. Unfortunately, the last time they attempted this, Evan got his feelings hurt pretty badly by the woman they trusted, so Evan is a little wary of what a threesome relationship with Annabelle will bring. Naturally, Annabelle is not in her comfort zone of being in control, either, and she doesn't know what Justin and Evan want from her or, even, what she wants from them. I can say, though, their ménage is one of the hottest I've ever read. *wink* Annabelle freaks out after the best sex of her life, though, and runs away leaving Justin angry and Evan hurt.
As the three of them are beginning to work on their relationship and admitting what they all feel, sorrow hits when Annabelle and her brother, Rory, discover their dad died over a month ago and left the Mossy Glenn Ranch to a half brother they never knew of. It takes Annabelle and Rory having a little argument over his fear that she'll get hurt in a ménage that enables Annabelle to admit to what she feels.
This was a great addition to the series and it set up the love story between Josh and Nick very well. I loved getting glimpses of Chance, Rory, Max, and Bo, also, and look forward to watching Annabelle, Justin, and Evan in future installments.
NOTE: This book was provided by Total E-Bound for the purpose of a review
I was curious to see how things would work out for Annabelle, and I'm glad I read this one because it is a bridge to the next story. However, I'm not sure exactly why Annabelle, Justin, and Evan wound up together. It didn't feel like we could really see the relationship growing.
Although I like the characters of hot tempered Justin, sweet Evan and spitfire Annabelle, I'm just not fond of threesomes. But if it had to be a threesome, these three are uber sexy together.
Falling in love isn't always convenient. In fact, it often strikes out of the blue, completely disrupting our lives. Sometimes, we can't stubbornly cling to our preconceived notion of things; we have to adjust our expectations. Annabelle Calhoun in 'Bend' by Bailey Bradford needs to learn this lesson. Being independent is one thing; being stubborn just for the sake of it is another. In Annabelle's quest to prove that she is capable of doing everything a man can do, she is unnecessarily rude and abrasive at times. Annabelle needs to learn that being independent does not mean she has to be tough all the time. Real independence comes with knowing when to be soft as well.
The way Annabelle treats her brother Rory made me want to smack her, especially when he's just trying to help her. The only thing that saves her, in my mind, is that she didn't mean most of what she said, especially to him, and couldn't stay mad at him for any length of time: “I can’t help worrying about you. You’re the only sibling I have, the only family…” Rory’s eyes grew damp and his lower lip trembled. Well, crap. That always kills my mad.” She knows she's controlling and that she can't express her feelings properly. She knows she's faking it most of the time, but doesn't know how to stop. “On more than one occasion, Annabelle had wished she was more like her brother. Sure, they looked as alike as siblings who were of opposite sex could, but Rory truly had the personality to match his angelic face. Whereas she…didn’t.”
Annabelle's relationship with Josh or 'Joshie' as she's determined to call him, is a pleasant surprise. Josh is adorable, but can be tough and stand up for himself as well. He has a special ability to see through Annabelle's defenses and call her on it. At the same time, it was amusing when he deferred to her, like when he let her dress him up as if he was her doll. She definitely needs a friend and Josh is right there, ready to let her do whatever she wants. However, when it does matter, he stands up to her and she listens. Through her friendship with Josh, Annabelle begins to see herself as she could be—strong, but gentle at the same time.
It didn't surprise me that Annabelle is willing and able to handle two men in bed, but the emotional response that Evan and Justin evoked in her did. Even though she resists, when she first meets them, a fire is lit in her heart, as well as in her loins. It takes her a while to realize just how important Justin and Evan are to her, but Justin and Evan feel the strength of their connection and realize almost right away that Annabelle is the woman who can complete them. However, they are also wise enough to know that if they don't give her time to sort it out, there is no hope of success for their triad.
'Bend' is a complex love story which examines the themes of sexuality, pain, forgiveness, and acceptance. Mostly, it's a sexual romp between Annabelle, Evan and Josh as they navigate the ropes necessary to form a lasting emotional and physical relationship. Its complicated plot has many emotional twists and turns which clarify and solidify various relationships in the book. As in Bailey's other stories, it introduces the characters who'll be featured in her next book in the Xxchange series. If you like books which have a plethora of lustful, sexually diverse scenes, while exploring the emotional dynamics involved, you may like 'Bend.'
NOTE: This book was provided byTotal-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
This is just not working for me. Not just because it has girl bits in the middle of an M-M series (Annabelle is not that bad, considering), or because we have an established male-male couple that’s been looking for a woman from the start of their relationship (propagating the idea that bi means having to have one of each rather than whoever the special person turns out to be; in fact to read this without becoming annoyed I just assume the author intends this to apply only to these two guys, not to bisexuals as such). The simple fact of the matter is that none of the main characters appeal to me. Especially when they interact among each other I don’t like them much. Annabelle’s rough but okay with people like Josh so she makes for a reasonably interesting main character here (and that’s what she is; she hogs most of the viewpoint), but I dislike her with Evan and Justin. And so forth. Well, when Annabelle and her guys interact – or even just the guys with each other – it’s almost exclusively sex, anyway. This entire “romance” is mostly sex, from what I can tell.
On the bright side we get Josh viewpoint fairly soon, despite this not even being his book. It’s funny how in a gay series female bits have to be balanced by a parallel gay development. It reminds me of those big hetero series that began to experiment with a gay storyline here and there. Only in the sidelines at first. Even when Suzanne Brockmann managed to smuggle an all-out gay romance into her mainstream series, it had to share the book (on equal terms, tough) with a het one. At the time I cheered since it was such progress.
What’s funny is that I still prefer my male-male romance to be just that – as much as I appreciate the presence of other constellations and couples since it seems only realistic and fair. Ah, double standards. I’m a true hypocrite. Well, in my (flimsy) defense, there are some words for the female anatomy that simply put me off like nobody’s business. And those tend to not show up in mainstream romance, but are smack dab on the level of most of the gay stuff. So there.
Alas, I don’t think reading Josh and Nick’s story would work without this one – they even both get viewpoint and a little bit of character development. (Plus plenty of setup for both in terms of issues to overcome, both personally and regarding each other.) I guess it is a sacrifice I can make. This book is not that much of a hardship. I don’t recall how I did it last time, but I definitely did not skip anything this time around. Well, I may have rushed through some of the sex. Really not my thing.
Anyway, I think even the author recognized that this book was merely a long prologue for the next volume, since even the conclusion for the triad is relegated to the epilogue here.
As for me, I’m just glad I am done with it now and can move on to what really interests me.
2011 Review:
Mm. So. I don’t regret reading this. It’s part of a series and I really liked book one and two, except this one was a triad with a woman. And we all know how that turns out with authors of gay romance. And it did.
But it’s good I decided to read it rather than skip it after all because the protagonists for the next (gay) book both had significant interaction and even viewpoint. The whole back-story in this series really is closely knitted. Not one of those series where you can easily skip ahead.
Oh well. Done now. On to the book(s) I really wanted to read!
I have been looking forward to this book since we met Annabelle in book 1, she was so feisty, stubborn and brave that I really wanted to know more about her and if I am honest I did wonder how she would fit into a M/M romance series. So I expected hot steamy sex and yes we got that and as this is bailey Bradford I expected to be taken on emotional journey and I got that too but what took me by surprise was the beauty in this book. I thought this was just going to be a bit of a sex fest, now don't get me wrong I like a sex fest, but this went beyond that it tapped into the emotional heart of everyone in the story and we got to see side of characters I love that were hidden. I also have to say this book was the most erotic book of the series so far, Bailey Bradford's no holds barred approach bring something to the table that it just addictive and real, it takes hold of your heart and wont let go. This is a frank an honest look at an unconventional relationship saying loud and clear that love works differently for us all and should be celebrated when it is found even when it does not fit with what we see as a traditional format, when all the participants are consenting adults who are we to judge. Best of all the authors does all this with out preaching and gives us a story that will stay with us for a very long time!!
FiveStars i am still new to reading menage, but oh my was this book great!! The plot had me gripped right away. The characters are so well written and well described that i fell in love with them all.Belle is such a strong willed, self suffecient woman. and i was so happy she decided to relenquish a little bit of her controll and give her men a chance to love her. I would love to read more on their story! I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads. Crissy
FourStars
I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I felt like we got enough from this book that I didn't need to read them to know what was going on.
I really liked the way the story played out with Evan and Justin being together before and looking for a new third to work in their relationship. However, at times I just didn't think they all fit together. They were all a bit whiny at times and that annoyed me.
The whole situation with Rory and their father sort of disappointed me after all they'd been through between siblings and as a family.
Altogether, another great book by Bailey Bradford who is fast becoming one of my favorite authors who never lets me down. Hot sex, well developed characters with a great plot to boot. I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
This is my favorite release in the series and I really liked Annabelle and her always in control vulnerability. She's tired of being alone and still can't give up the control she need to feel safe and even seeing how happy her brother is with his partner doesn't break through the rigid wall she's build around her heart.
That changes on meeting the brother and partner of her best friend. Justin and Evan turn her world upside down and make her think of things like never before. Ms. Bradford has given his dynamic woman plenty of attitude and enough personal issues that initially I doubted she could get her and her men together.
The plot is smooth, the personalities well developed, and the secondary characters interesting. I can't wait to see what happens to her friend Josh in the next one.
I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I felt like we got enough from this book that I didn't need to read them to know what was going on.
I really liked the way the story played out with Evan and Justin being together before and looking for a new third to work in their relationship. However, at times I just didn't think they all fit together. They were all a bit whiny at times and that annoyed me.
The whole situation with Rory and their father sort of disappointed me after all they'd been through between siblings and as a family.
Altogether, another great book by Bailey Bradford who is fast becoming one of my favorite authors who never lets me down. Hot sex, well developed characters with a great plot to boot.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Didn't enjoy this one near as much as the first two books, possibly because of the menage theme which admittedly is not my thing, but also because if it's possible too much sex? I just know somethings wrong when I read a book and the thought that runs through my brain several times is "Oh god, they're at it again." I've read other books with lots of sex scenes and it hasn't bothered me because it just seemed to somehow work into the story better for me, but when all is said and done it's Bailey Bradford and as a rule for me her stories are very enjoyable...especially when there are cowboys involved and male nurses who love hot pink & penguins, who knew that would be a turn on. Can't wait to get to the next books which is Joshie's story.
Probably not my favorite of the series...I used to like reading m/f/m books, but now I find them difficult to get through. I do like that Justin and Evan were a couple before Annabelle, and I like Annabelle's spunk and strength, but their story felt unresolved at the end and I was expecting more. Honestly, I mostly read this so I could keep up with the overall series, and I'm glad I did because Josh totally stole the book for me. Love him, and I'm starting #4 right now to read more about him!
i am still new to reading menage, but oh my was this book great!! The plot had me gripped right away. The characters are so well written and well described that i fell in love with them all.Belle is such a strong willed, self suffecient woman. and i was so happy she decided to relenquish a little bit of her controll and give her men a chance to love her. I would love ot read more on their story!