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By Any Other Name #1
By Any Other Name by Tia Fielding
Dru and Thom have been together for three years, and despite Thom’s occasional bouts of insecurity and Dru’s fear of rejection, their relationship is rock solid. Then Dru’s long-lost friend, Skye, suddenly reappears, shocking them both. Skye suffered years of inconceivable abuse before escaping it, and while he’s back on track, he has nowhere else to go as he begins to rebuild his life. Dru, Thom, and Skye each want to belong somewhere, to belong with someone—or someones—with no fear of being hurt, set aside, or left behind. It’s a challenge with daunting odds, especially for Skye, who’s never loved before. He’s determined not to come between his two friends who so clearly belong together, and it will be up to Dru and Thom to conquer their fears and convince Skye to stay.
Mass Market Paperback
First published August 21, 2011
20 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Tia Fielding
67 books227 followersTia Fielding is a Finnish author who loves witty people, words, peppermint, sarcasm, autumn, and the tiny beautiful things in life.
Tia identifies as genderqueer but isn’t strict about pronouns. Why? Because luckily, in her native language there aren’t gender-specific pronouns.
These days, preferring to live in the middle of nowhere with her fur babies is as big of a part of her psyche as writing. Tia likes to recharge in nature and tends to watch where she’s going through her cell phone’s camera.
In 2013 Tia’s novel Falling Into Place was recognized by the industry’s Rainbow Awards in the Best LGBT Erotic Romance (Bobby Michaels Award) category.
In 2019, her novel Four (Love by Numbers #2) won a Rainbow Award in the Best Transgender Contemporary category.
Facebook Reader Group: facebook.com/groups/spoondrawer/
Twitter: @tiafielding
Email: tiafielding@gmail.com
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/tiafielding
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
August 28, 2011
***Some Spoilers***
I have a soft spot for m/m/m menage books, I don't know why. I won't ever write one, just because as a subject to write, it's not something I'm interested in. But to read? Love it. The caveat being, of course when they are done well. If it's bad... well, when it's bad, it can suck quite handily, especially since there is a third person involved.
That being said, I enjoyed By Any Other Name for the most part.
What worked for me:
The awkwardness and insecurity between Dru and Thom (the one's already in a relationship) when they both realized they had feelings for Skye was wonderfully written. Even though they both felt guilt behind it, it was almost immediatly out in the open and therefore able to be discussed.
Skye was abused brutally over the course of several years and I thought his neurosis was done well (the little tics that made him gun-shy to almost everything).
I like how the three MC's didn't immediately fall into bed. As a matter of fact, nothing really happens between the three characters until the end of the book, which was an unusual risk for the author to take, but one that I thought worked well.
What didn't work for me:
I wish the book had been longer. At just under 200 pages, I felt that there were several opportunities for further exploration of the characters(i.e. Skye's abuse, Thom and Dru's relationship before Sky) that weren't taken. But then, as someone who tends to have verbal diarrhea when he writes, I may not be the best judge of a book length.
The tertiary characters (Kara and Oscar) seemed to fall a little flat. I felt they could have been fleshed out a bit better. And for some reason, Kara rubbed me the wrong way. What were her motives, exactly, for asking Skye to move with her? It seemed... odd.
All in all, though, I enjoyed Ms. Fielding's novel. It's hard these days to find a menage book that's not all about sex. Recommended read.
I have a soft spot for m/m/m menage books, I don't know why. I won't ever write one, just because as a subject to write, it's not something I'm interested in. But to read? Love it. The caveat being, of course when they are done well. If it's bad... well, when it's bad, it can suck quite handily, especially since there is a third person involved.
That being said, I enjoyed By Any Other Name for the most part.
What worked for me:
The awkwardness and insecurity between Dru and Thom (the one's already in a relationship) when they both realized they had feelings for Skye was wonderfully written. Even though they both felt guilt behind it, it was almost immediatly out in the open and therefore able to be discussed.
Skye was abused brutally over the course of several years and I thought his neurosis was done well (the little tics that made him gun-shy to almost everything).
I like how the three MC's didn't immediately fall into bed. As a matter of fact, nothing really happens between the three characters until the end of the book, which was an unusual risk for the author to take, but one that I thought worked well.
What didn't work for me:
I wish the book had been longer. At just under 200 pages, I felt that there were several opportunities for further exploration of the characters(i.e. Skye's abuse, Thom and Dru's relationship before Sky) that weren't taken. But then, as someone who tends to have verbal diarrhea when he writes, I may not be the best judge of a book length.
The tertiary characters (Kara and Oscar) seemed to fall a little flat. I felt they could have been fleshed out a bit better. And for some reason, Kara rubbed me the wrong way. What were her motives, exactly, for asking Skye to move with her? It seemed... odd.
All in all, though, I enjoyed Ms. Fielding's novel. It's hard these days to find a menage book that's not all about sex. Recommended read.
February 25, 2015
I was sceptical of this at first due to the ménage, so not my ideal reading, but a friend recommended it and she hasn't really steered me wrong yet so I gave it a go. Needless to say she was not wrong lol.
What I really liked was the way it was told. So often in this type of story the abuse takes centre stage, we are given endless flash backs and/or detailed descriptions of the abuse, the more horrific the better for some authors, then days after freedom a quick jump into bed and everything’s OK , but this time I think Tia Fielding deserves high praise for getting it just right. Not really a spoiler, but just in case,
The whole story as well as reducing me to tears :p kept me captivated from start to finish so definitely worth the 4 stars.
What I really liked was the way it was told. So often in this type of story the abuse takes centre stage, we are given endless flash backs and/or detailed descriptions of the abuse, the more horrific the better for some authors, then days after freedom a quick jump into bed and everything’s OK , but this time I think Tia Fielding deserves high praise for getting it just right. Not really a spoiler, but just in case,
The whole story as well as reducing me to tears :p kept me captivated from start to finish so definitely worth the 4 stars.
August 24, 2011
I really liked it and I don't usually go for menage, interesting story very nicely written and the threesome worked.
December 8, 2011
This had the potential to be a really emotional, angsty read, but it wasn't. The story-telling style had just a little distance from the characters' feelings. The guys made a nice threesome. This was one of those books where I didn't feel like the original pair really had a lack that the third man would fill. Sometimes that's a downcheck on a m/m/m for me. But in this case the third man (Skye) had such need of them that it made sense for them to fit him in, and I thought the resolution was realistic as they came to a three-way love. Although the progression to becoming a trio was nicely slow, and the concerns of the characters were realistic, I wish the book had been even a little longer. There were some emotional landmines that I think deserved a deeper and more intense exploration. But still well worth the read.
September 18, 2011
3.75 stars
Ménages are the kind of stories I have the most problems with because I put a lot of expectations on them. The relationship needs to be believable and I want to feel like there's a connection between all three MCs. I want to know one MC isn't being left out from the other two and that's my biggest problem with ménages because I never feel like it's an equal relationship.
This book right from the start pulled me in. It had more to do with how damaged Skye was then anything else. If there's something I can't resist it's emotionally messed up guys. And that right there is Skye. In a way, it's also Thom and Dru, too. Each of these men have their own problems that made me fall in love with them all. Skye is physically and emotionally damaged because of what a relative did to him growing up, Dru has abandonment issues because of his cold parents and Skye leaving when he was younger, and Thom is so insecure thinking he's not good enough for much younger, more attractive Dru and Skye. It was all very heartbreaking for me and made it a story I fell right into.
The story is much more than just these three guys coming together and making a relationship work. It's about them all finding themselves and in Dru and Thom's case finding something in themselves they never knew was missing. It's about Skye healing from the hell he's been through, realizing he deserves what they can give him and the support he needs from Thom and Dru. It's about much more than that, too, but I think it'll depend on how you take this story if you'd agree with me on those or not. What I loved about this story, though, was how much I felt like each of them did love the other. Not just two loving each other more than the third but all as equals. I felt like they spent time all together but then in individual couples, too, so it felt like their love for each other was of the same amount and not just more for one than the other.
I honestly loved this story which is a complete shocker because I'm hard to sell on stories like these but I honestly believe I loved it so much because of how damaged these characters are. There were some things I didn't like that either annoyed the piss out of me or frustrated me. For one, while the friend, Kara, was sweet and nice, I hated her.
I felt like the story was going strong but then it started to lose some of it's steam towards the end. I think that has more to do with how it was played out. I wanted to see more of their new relationship
All in all, I loved the story. The characters and their problems fascinated me. I had some problems with it but in the end I was glad I read it. I think those readers who enjoy ménages will definitely like this one. Recommended.
Ménages are the kind of stories I have the most problems with because I put a lot of expectations on them. The relationship needs to be believable and I want to feel like there's a connection between all three MCs. I want to know one MC isn't being left out from the other two and that's my biggest problem with ménages because I never feel like it's an equal relationship.
This book right from the start pulled me in. It had more to do with how damaged Skye was then anything else. If there's something I can't resist it's emotionally messed up guys. And that right there is Skye. In a way, it's also Thom and Dru, too. Each of these men have their own problems that made me fall in love with them all. Skye is physically and emotionally damaged because of what a relative did to him growing up, Dru has abandonment issues because of his cold parents and Skye leaving when he was younger, and Thom is so insecure thinking he's not good enough for much younger, more attractive Dru and Skye. It was all very heartbreaking for me and made it a story I fell right into.
The story is much more than just these three guys coming together and making a relationship work. It's about them all finding themselves and in Dru and Thom's case finding something in themselves they never knew was missing. It's about Skye healing from the hell he's been through, realizing he deserves what they can give him and the support he needs from Thom and Dru. It's about much more than that, too, but I think it'll depend on how you take this story if you'd agree with me on those or not. What I loved about this story, though, was how much I felt like each of them did love the other. Not just two loving each other more than the third but all as equals. I felt like they spent time all together but then in individual couples, too, so it felt like their love for each other was of the same amount and not just more for one than the other.
I honestly loved this story which is a complete shocker because I'm hard to sell on stories like these but I honestly believe I loved it so much because of how damaged these characters are. There were some things I didn't like that either annoyed the piss out of me or frustrated me. For one, while the friend, Kara, was sweet and nice, I hated her.
I felt like the story was going strong but then it started to lose some of it's steam towards the end. I think that has more to do with how it was played out. I wanted to see more of their new relationship
All in all, I loved the story. The characters and their problems fascinated me. I had some problems with it but in the end I was glad I read it. I think those readers who enjoy ménages will definitely like this one. Recommended.
June 13, 2013
I really enjoyed this story of three men - Dru, Thom and Skye - who come to mean so much to each other. Unlike some menage books, this story has less focus on the sexual elements of the relationship and a huge focus on the emotional side.
One of the characters has been severely traumatised, spending years under the control of an abusive man, followed by two years in therapy. The way the story presents the character of Skye, who still has issues, seems very realistic and it is good to see that he is still undergoing therapy. He is a man who is aware of his problems and making a conscious effort to move forward and escape his past. I appreciated that, although Skye had never properly lived alone in the world, his character was still presented as a competent, strong man.
The situation means that Skye has to reluctantly move in with Dru and his lover of three years, Thom. Skye does not try to come between the two men and they both handle him beautifully, offering the right level of comfort and support to him.
Once again the development of the situation seemed realistic and not forced, as both Dru and Thom come to have feelings for Skye and he starts to mean something very special to both men. I think it was easier to understand Dru's initial feelings for Skye because he had never had proper closure from his initial boyhood feelings for his friend but the reasons for Thom's evolving emotions were also clear.
Although Dru knew Skye first, the relationship appeared balanced as each character shared something special with another, for example Thom and Skye shared their love of books.
Although I hugely appreciated the emotional journey of this book, getting the men to the point where they acknowledged their feelings for each other, it pretty much ended there. I would have liked to see more time with them actually starting the relationship and maybe just a bit more sex as I think they would be gorgeous together!
One of the characters has been severely traumatised, spending years under the control of an abusive man, followed by two years in therapy. The way the story presents the character of Skye, who still has issues, seems very realistic and it is good to see that he is still undergoing therapy. He is a man who is aware of his problems and making a conscious effort to move forward and escape his past. I appreciated that, although Skye had never properly lived alone in the world, his character was still presented as a competent, strong man.
The situation means that Skye has to reluctantly move in with Dru and his lover of three years, Thom. Skye does not try to come between the two men and they both handle him beautifully, offering the right level of comfort and support to him.
Once again the development of the situation seemed realistic and not forced, as both Dru and Thom come to have feelings for Skye and he starts to mean something very special to both men. I think it was easier to understand Dru's initial feelings for Skye because he had never had proper closure from his initial boyhood feelings for his friend but the reasons for Thom's evolving emotions were also clear.
Although Dru knew Skye first, the relationship appeared balanced as each character shared something special with another, for example Thom and Skye shared their love of books.
Although I hugely appreciated the emotional journey of this book, getting the men to the point where they acknowledged their feelings for each other, it pretty much ended there. I would have liked to see more time with them actually starting the relationship and maybe just a bit more sex as I think they would be gorgeous together!
August 26, 2011
Torn between three stars and four stars, but I'll be giving this four because this had me staying up late last night. (Good thing I didn't have work today.) Also, watch out for some spoilers I might have written into this review.
I took interest in this story because it had a recovering character. What is unique about By Any Other Name is the fact that we get to know the character through his final stages of recovery - which is, in this case, Skye's incorporation and integration into the modern world - which wipes out the prospect of unnecessary drama. Too often I encounter books where so much happens, both internally and externally, that the drama just seems forced. (In fact, there was a discussion about too much angst in a review site a week ago.) Thankfully, Tia Fielding's first novel is a "quiet" one - no major angst that seems contrived, just a couple of moments where we are reminded of what Skye has been through.
To be honest, the abuse seemed a bit too much at first. When I read all about Skye's past, the combination of it plus the abuse he underwent seemed a bit too tragic, even for an unlucky person. Yet it wasn't really highlighted; while it did cast its own shadows in the lives of our three protagonists, it didn't overtake the story and, like I said before, didn't cause any melodrama. The conflict here is purely internal, and there's really no room for poorly characterized villains that are flat and very much reminiscent of mad scientists. I appreciated that. I don't particularly like antagonists that are just so crazy and unbelievable.
I do have a couple of niggles though, ones that made me falter between three stars and four. First, at times it seemed like the affection was concentrated on Dru. Sure, more often than not he is described as a high maintenance lover, but I think Thom and Skye's love for him overshadowed the growing affection among the three of them at times. I'll admit that I was looking forward to Thom and Skye's interaction with each other more than anything, but to me their feelings for each other fell a bit flat. Of course, that might just be me setting the bar a bit high for them both, but it still disappointed me a bit. Kara was... I don't know how to describe her. I got the feeling that the author wanted her to be seen as a supportive person, and I did feel that, but some of her actions ticked me off a bit. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't feel any warm and fuzzy feelings for her either.
However, setting aside these qualms, I liked this book. Again, it's a quiet novel with no big and tragic scenes that run rampant in a lot of books. I'll probably be reading something by Tia Fielding again.
This review can also be found here.
I took interest in this story because it had a recovering character. What is unique about By Any Other Name is the fact that we get to know the character through his final stages of recovery - which is, in this case, Skye's incorporation and integration into the modern world - which wipes out the prospect of unnecessary drama. Too often I encounter books where so much happens, both internally and externally, that the drama just seems forced. (In fact, there was a discussion about too much angst in a review site a week ago.) Thankfully, Tia Fielding's first novel is a "quiet" one - no major angst that seems contrived, just a couple of moments where we are reminded of what Skye has been through.
To be honest, the abuse seemed a bit too much at first. When I read all about Skye's past, the combination of it plus the abuse he underwent seemed a bit too tragic, even for an unlucky person. Yet it wasn't really highlighted; while it did cast its own shadows in the lives of our three protagonists, it didn't overtake the story and, like I said before, didn't cause any melodrama. The conflict here is purely internal, and there's really no room for poorly characterized villains that are flat and very much reminiscent of mad scientists. I appreciated that. I don't particularly like antagonists that are just so crazy and unbelievable.
I do have a couple of niggles though, ones that made me falter between three stars and four. First, at times it seemed like the affection was concentrated on Dru. Sure, more often than not he is described as a high maintenance lover, but I think Thom and Skye's love for him overshadowed the growing affection among the three of them at times. I'll admit that I was looking forward to Thom and Skye's interaction with each other more than anything, but to me their feelings for each other fell a bit flat. Of course, that might just be me setting the bar a bit high for them both, but it still disappointed me a bit. Kara was... I don't know how to describe her. I got the feeling that the author wanted her to be seen as a supportive person, and I did feel that, but some of her actions ticked me off a bit. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't feel any warm and fuzzy feelings for her either.
However, setting aside these qualms, I liked this book. Again, it's a quiet novel with no big and tragic scenes that run rampant in a lot of books. I'll probably be reading something by Tia Fielding again.
This review can also be found here.
February 14, 2012
This review was originally written for Hearts on Fire Reviews and can also be found there.
Menages are something I truly enjoy reading about, but those are also some of the stories that are most difficult to write. How do you make it work three-way without giving the impression of distancing one of the characters? Some authors are brilliant when it comes to creating unbreakable emotional ties and making the sexual aspect of their relationship a side thing. I more than found what I was looking for with this book.
The story starts off with Dru and Thom's relationship. Even once Skye comes into the picture, the focus stays mostly on the love between the first two. It was a necessary step, in my opinion, to show just how strong their bond is before accepting the third, Skye, into their folds. I think I easily liked Thom the most, and on that point, I missed more details about him and the insecurity he lived with daily. That imperfection made him special for me.
The attention paid to Skye's past and his growth from a damaged, almost boy, to an even stronger man was exquisite, and that was also my favorite part of the book.
Glitches started toward the end, where the only female character in the book began to get a somewhat bigger role. Her way of approaching things mostly made me angry and I thought of her as a jealous, insecure woman who didn't care about friendship even half as much as she said she did. So even though I suspect she was supposed to be a positive character, all I got from her was an extremely negative vibe.
Overall I consider the first half of the book to be much better than the rest which was muted in it's intensity by unwelcome time jumps and badly handled dramas. With that, all that's left to say is how despite the few flaws, this is a wonderful menage with great character development, intense emotional situations and delicate but few sexual moments. I do recommend it.
Menages are something I truly enjoy reading about, but those are also some of the stories that are most difficult to write. How do you make it work three-way without giving the impression of distancing one of the characters? Some authors are brilliant when it comes to creating unbreakable emotional ties and making the sexual aspect of their relationship a side thing. I more than found what I was looking for with this book.
The story starts off with Dru and Thom's relationship. Even once Skye comes into the picture, the focus stays mostly on the love between the first two. It was a necessary step, in my opinion, to show just how strong their bond is before accepting the third, Skye, into their folds. I think I easily liked Thom the most, and on that point, I missed more details about him and the insecurity he lived with daily. That imperfection made him special for me.
The attention paid to Skye's past and his growth from a damaged, almost boy, to an even stronger man was exquisite, and that was also my favorite part of the book.
Glitches started toward the end, where the only female character in the book began to get a somewhat bigger role. Her way of approaching things mostly made me angry and I thought of her as a jealous, insecure woman who didn't care about friendship even half as much as she said she did. So even though I suspect she was supposed to be a positive character, all I got from her was an extremely negative vibe.
Overall I consider the first half of the book to be much better than the rest which was muted in it's intensity by unwelcome time jumps and badly handled dramas. With that, all that's left to say is how despite the few flaws, this is a wonderful menage with great character development, intense emotional situations and delicate but few sexual moments. I do recommend it.
September 15, 2011
Blurb from Dreamspinner Press:
Dru and Thom have been together for three years, and despite Thom’s occasional bouts of insecurity and Dru’s fear of rejection, their relationship is rock solid. Then Dru’s long-lost friend, Skye, suddenly reappears, shocking them both. Skye suffered years of inconceivable abuse before escaping it, and while he’s back on track, he has nowhere else to go as he begins to rebuild his life.
Dru, Thom, and Skye each want to belong somewhere, to belong with someone—or someones—with no fear of being hurt, set aside, or left behind. It’s a challenge with daunting odds, especially for Skye, who’s never loved before. He’s determined not to come between his two friends who so clearly belong together, and it will be up to Dru and Thom to conquer their fears and convince Skye to stay.
Genre/Word Count: Contemporary Romance (M/M/M) 200 pages
My Take:
The book opens introducing Thom and Dru in a cute scene about muffin making. You are quickly introduced to Thom's insecurities regarding the age difference between him and Dru. You are also quickly introduced to Kara, their neighbor and good friend.
Skye is introduced by page six, and is debuted by page eighteen, so all the characters are ready to come out and play rather quickly. I do enjoy that. However, the reason Skye is coming to join this happy couple is not happy at all. He and Dru had been best friends (and Dru had a secret crush on him) when they were younger. That all changed when Skye's parents died when he was 17 and he was forced to live with a relative who held him captive and did awful things to him.
To Dru, it was like his best friend abandoned him. To Skye, he was living a nightmare. When he escaped, he was sent to a home to deal with his issues (and he has a lot). Skye has no other family, and when he's set to be released, the only person he has to call is Dru.
And therein lays the problem. Dru and Thom are committed to each other and then Skye, Dru's past crush, joins the party with a slew of emotional issues.
The idea for this story is BRILLIANT! Brilliant, I say. There were a lot of curves and twists the author could have taken and played with. There were a lot of different ways she could have taken us from beginning to end. Lots of different layers to play with. I was excited to read it.
But that's where my excitement ends.
Instead of this story being character driven, it's plot driven, which in turn, makes a lot of the characters actions/emotions/etc seemed forced and faked. This is sad because this plot has the means to make a MEAN character driven story.
Telling. Telling. Telling. This author told us everything instead of showing us. I mean everything. Since there is so much telling going on, the story is wordy. Unnecessarily so. This book could be tightened up substantially. I found myself skipping large sections so I didn't have to read about the play-by-play of dinner cooking. And at the same time you are missing the opportunity to give the reader a true glimpse of the characters and their surroundings.
And this author did something I have never seen done before. She actually referred to the characters as "the blond one", "the man", "the woman" "the younger man", "the dark brown haired one". It was off putting. Why not just say the character's name? I realize that sometimes it's difficult to deal with a lot of people in one scene, but really? Those things are so generic. The generic descriptions continue throughout the rest of the story, with the author describing the the home as nothing more than a "large, modern house".
The characters themselves are also very bland and two dimensional. The only exception is Skye, who you get to "see" a little more of because of his emotional problems. But not NEAR enough. Dru is an emotional crybaby (which I was not expecting) and Thom sounds like a forty year old man most of the time taking care of his young children. Kara, while funny, it obviously just a character thrown in the mix in order to shake up the relationship aspect of the story. Skye was really the only one I cared about and even then, I didn't get enough of what I needed from him. Character development was not near what it could have been for a story of this length and depth.
And on a final note, these are the most smiling characters I have ever seen. I swear, one of them is smiling every other sentence. And most of the book is not very smiley worthy. Note to the author: get a thesaurus and learn how to convey that your character is smiling with different words ... or by SHOWING us they are happy about something. No more telling!
I was just expecting a great deal more from this plot and I was disappointed all the way around.
My Rating:
* * Two Mews
Dru and Thom have been together for three years, and despite Thom’s occasional bouts of insecurity and Dru’s fear of rejection, their relationship is rock solid. Then Dru’s long-lost friend, Skye, suddenly reappears, shocking them both. Skye suffered years of inconceivable abuse before escaping it, and while he’s back on track, he has nowhere else to go as he begins to rebuild his life.
Dru, Thom, and Skye each want to belong somewhere, to belong with someone—or someones—with no fear of being hurt, set aside, or left behind. It’s a challenge with daunting odds, especially for Skye, who’s never loved before. He’s determined not to come between his two friends who so clearly belong together, and it will be up to Dru and Thom to conquer their fears and convince Skye to stay.
Genre/Word Count: Contemporary Romance (M/M/M) 200 pages
My Take:
The book opens introducing Thom and Dru in a cute scene about muffin making. You are quickly introduced to Thom's insecurities regarding the age difference between him and Dru. You are also quickly introduced to Kara, their neighbor and good friend.
Skye is introduced by page six, and is debuted by page eighteen, so all the characters are ready to come out and play rather quickly. I do enjoy that. However, the reason Skye is coming to join this happy couple is not happy at all. He and Dru had been best friends (and Dru had a secret crush on him) when they were younger. That all changed when Skye's parents died when he was 17 and he was forced to live with a relative who held him captive and did awful things to him.
To Dru, it was like his best friend abandoned him. To Skye, he was living a nightmare. When he escaped, he was sent to a home to deal with his issues (and he has a lot). Skye has no other family, and when he's set to be released, the only person he has to call is Dru.
And therein lays the problem. Dru and Thom are committed to each other and then Skye, Dru's past crush, joins the party with a slew of emotional issues.
The idea for this story is BRILLIANT! Brilliant, I say. There were a lot of curves and twists the author could have taken and played with. There were a lot of different ways she could have taken us from beginning to end. Lots of different layers to play with. I was excited to read it.
But that's where my excitement ends.
Instead of this story being character driven, it's plot driven, which in turn, makes a lot of the characters actions/emotions/etc seemed forced and faked. This is sad because this plot has the means to make a MEAN character driven story.
Telling. Telling. Telling. This author told us everything instead of showing us. I mean everything. Since there is so much telling going on, the story is wordy. Unnecessarily so. This book could be tightened up substantially. I found myself skipping large sections so I didn't have to read about the play-by-play of dinner cooking. And at the same time you are missing the opportunity to give the reader a true glimpse of the characters and their surroundings.
And this author did something I have never seen done before. She actually referred to the characters as "the blond one", "the man", "the woman" "the younger man", "the dark brown haired one". It was off putting. Why not just say the character's name? I realize that sometimes it's difficult to deal with a lot of people in one scene, but really? Those things are so generic. The generic descriptions continue throughout the rest of the story, with the author describing the the home as nothing more than a "large, modern house".
The characters themselves are also very bland and two dimensional. The only exception is Skye, who you get to "see" a little more of because of his emotional problems. But not NEAR enough. Dru is an emotional crybaby (which I was not expecting) and Thom sounds like a forty year old man most of the time taking care of his young children. Kara, while funny, it obviously just a character thrown in the mix in order to shake up the relationship aspect of the story. Skye was really the only one I cared about and even then, I didn't get enough of what I needed from him. Character development was not near what it could have been for a story of this length and depth.
And on a final note, these are the most smiling characters I have ever seen. I swear, one of them is smiling every other sentence. And most of the book is not very smiley worthy. Note to the author: get a thesaurus and learn how to convey that your character is smiling with different words ... or by SHOWING us they are happy about something. No more telling!
I was just expecting a great deal more from this plot and I was disappointed all the way around.
My Rating:
* * Two Mews
August 25, 2011
2,5-3 stars
By Any Other Name is a gentle and laid back m-m-m romance,but I couldn`t imagine how the relationship between the three men could possibly work out.
Dru and Thom definitely are not the perfect match for a man like Skye who is suffering from past abuse and relying on psychotherapy and heavy medication.He needs a stronger and more reliable security net than the insecure Thom and the erratic and overly emotional Dru can provide.Too many mixed signals here,IMHO.
I know the hurt-comfort theme is a popular and beloved romance thingy,but sometimes love is NOT enough...
The writing was good - smooth and easy to read - but the author tried to avoid being repetitive
by using terms like "the older man,the younger man,the smaller man,the blond,the brunet" and so on.It was confusing at best.Three MC`s,three POV`s...just the names,please...
By Any Other Name is a gentle and laid back m-m-m romance,but I couldn`t imagine how the relationship between the three men could possibly work out.
Dru and Thom definitely are not the perfect match for a man like Skye who is suffering from past abuse and relying on psychotherapy and heavy medication.He needs a stronger and more reliable security net than the insecure Thom and the erratic and overly emotional Dru can provide.Too many mixed signals here,IMHO.
I know the hurt-comfort theme is a popular and beloved romance thingy,but sometimes love is NOT enough...
The writing was good - smooth and easy to read - but the author tried to avoid being repetitive
by using terms like "the older man,the younger man,the smaller man,the blond,the brunet" and so on.It was confusing at best.Three MC`s,three POV`s...just the names,please...
June 18, 2015
I loved Thom’s character the most because it has the most depth. Skye and Dru are almost similar (perhaps because of their age?). Their friend Karen was an annoying bitch - her character was totally unnecessary – not entirely buying her “helping” Skye, bitch please. It could’ve finish with a stronger ending though.
3 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 stars
Read
January 10, 2017Sadly, I DNFed this one. I wanted to like it, but the author's use of the word "lover", and "other man" to describe the men so often pulled me out of things. As such, I won't be leaving a rating, just a reminder to myself why I DNFed it.
November 19, 2022
Kindle-Sort-ReRead
Not the smoothest writing but the book gains stars for avoiding the sex heals all quick fix route. This is fairly slow build, non-gratuitous.
I had issue with 'the blond' 'the older man' it reads odd, just use their names! Especially as the abuser was referred to as 'the man' following that with 'the blond' gave an uncomfortable vibe.
I liked Thom, though he often read as a lot older than his years and among kids. He's a good supportive figure.
Dru though. Lazy, selfish, high-maintenance. Him acknowledging his flaws didn't endear me, he wasn't the best friend too have - wtf was with the night club? This could have been written without him.
Not the smoothest writing but the book gains stars for avoiding the sex heals all quick fix route. This is fairly slow build, non-gratuitous.
I had issue with 'the blond' 'the older man' it reads odd, just use their names! Especially as the abuser was referred to as 'the man' following that with 'the blond' gave an uncomfortable vibe.
I liked Thom, though he often read as a lot older than his years and among kids. He's a good supportive figure.
Dru though. Lazy, selfish, high-maintenance. Him acknowledging his flaws didn't endear me, he wasn't the best friend too have - wtf was with the night club? This could have been written without him.
November 3, 2014
I really enjoyed this story. It's not about sex, so if that is what you need in an m/m/m novel, you're not going to find it here. Dru and Thom are a solid couple and not looking for a third. When Dru's long lost childhood best friend resurfaces after he disappeared at 17 the men immediately agree to take him in and help him re-establish a life that was brutally taken away from him.
There are a lot of layers to the story as Skye has been horribly abused and spent the last few years of his life institutionalized and healing from the emotional, physical and sexual abuse he suffered. He never forgot his childhood friend, who is the only person he has left from before he was taken. As Skye is integrated into the household, all three men begin to grow to love each other. Skye is struggling not just to overcome what happened, but to find himself. He doesn't even know if he is attracted to men or women, or just what his feelings toward Dru were then or are now. Dru is struggling to accept that he loved and wanted Skye as a teen and without diminishing his love for Thom, he is falling for Skye all over again. Thom has also formed a bond with Skye, different from the one he has with Dru. As Thom and Dru try hard not to push or influence Skye, the bonds grow stronger, but communication is difficult.
There is a good flow to the story and the relationship is not rushed. It is emotional and dramatic without becoming angsty. It is an emotional journey for the men to finally come together and the story did leave me wanting to see how the men wind up functioning in a three way relationship.
There are a lot of layers to the story as Skye has been horribly abused and spent the last few years of his life institutionalized and healing from the emotional, physical and sexual abuse he suffered. He never forgot his childhood friend, who is the only person he has left from before he was taken. As Skye is integrated into the household, all three men begin to grow to love each other. Skye is struggling not just to overcome what happened, but to find himself. He doesn't even know if he is attracted to men or women, or just what his feelings toward Dru were then or are now. Dru is struggling to accept that he loved and wanted Skye as a teen and without diminishing his love for Thom, he is falling for Skye all over again. Thom has also formed a bond with Skye, different from the one he has with Dru. As Thom and Dru try hard not to push or influence Skye, the bonds grow stronger, but communication is difficult.
There is a good flow to the story and the relationship is not rushed. It is emotional and dramatic without becoming angsty. It is an emotional journey for the men to finally come together and the story did leave me wanting to see how the men wind up functioning in a three way relationship.
February 19, 2015
Dru and Thom, an established couple, agree to help Skye, a young man who was once Dru's best friend. They're shocked to learn that he was held captive and sexually and physically abused for five years and has spent the past two years in a mental health rehab facility. Ready to get out and face the world, he has no where else to go-- no living relatives and only a memory of his friendship with Dru.
During the time he lives with the two men, feelings deeper than friendship develop, not only between him and Dru, but also between him and the older man, Thom. It's evident to both Thom and Dru, who love each other unconditionally, that Skye would complete them in a way they had never dreamed of. But Skye is still trying to overcome his past sexual abuse and very concerned that he might come between the men and harm their relationship.
This ménage story was more about the buildup to the ménage than the ménage itself. The men didn't get together until after the 90% mark in the story, though when they did, the scene was perfect. In hindsight, I think I enjoyed it more because it was about the characters and their feelings than it was about the sex. So many ménages are just one sex scene after another and that is definitely not the case here.
I would recommend this one to those who enjoy M/M romances which focus on the characters, their emotions, their history and on what makes a lasting and loving relationship.
During the time he lives with the two men, feelings deeper than friendship develop, not only between him and Dru, but also between him and the older man, Thom. It's evident to both Thom and Dru, who love each other unconditionally, that Skye would complete them in a way they had never dreamed of. But Skye is still trying to overcome his past sexual abuse and very concerned that he might come between the men and harm their relationship.
This ménage story was more about the buildup to the ménage than the ménage itself. The men didn't get together until after the 90% mark in the story, though when they did, the scene was perfect. In hindsight, I think I enjoyed it more because it was about the characters and their feelings than it was about the sex. So many ménages are just one sex scene after another and that is definitely not the case here.
I would recommend this one to those who enjoy M/M romances which focus on the characters, their emotions, their history and on what makes a lasting and loving relationship.
September 3, 2011
3.5
I liked this story overall. There were parts that dragged a little, but not enough to keep me from enjoying it. My main complaint is that I wish that we would have been able to see more of the guys' relationship after they first all got together. After Skye decided to stay, it seemed like several weeks were skipped that were essential to them learning how to be a threesome, and after the author told us what happened (ugh, telling instead of showing us), another few weeks were skipped until the final chapter.
I also had mixed feelings about Kara. I think the author tried to write a positive female character, and she was supportive of all of the guys. But she also rubbed me the wrong way. She came off as extremely desperate and lacking in self-respect; I mean, who continually offers themselves up to someone they know is gay? After the first time, it got really annoying, and even then she still kept coming on to him!
I liked this story overall. There were parts that dragged a little, but not enough to keep me from enjoying it. My main complaint is that I wish that we would have been able to see more of the guys' relationship after they first all got together. After Skye decided to stay, it seemed like several weeks were skipped that were essential to them learning how to be a threesome, and after the author told us what happened (ugh, telling instead of showing us), another few weeks were skipped until the final chapter.
I also had mixed feelings about Kara. I think the author tried to write a positive female character, and she was supportive of all of the guys. But she also rubbed me the wrong way. She came off as extremely desperate and lacking in self-respect; I mean, who continually offers themselves up to someone they know is gay? After the first time, it got really annoying, and even then she still kept coming on to him!
August 25, 2011
For me, this book was all about possibilities. The 'what if's', the 'dare I's', and the 'what would people think of me then's'. I was held captive not only by the characters' inner turmoil, but by the myriad of messages written between the lines by this wonderful author. The message that came through the loudest while I was reading this was... Love knows no boudaries!
So many people say that, and yet they scorn the types of relationships which they can't understand, but in which, there is clearly love to be found. The details of this storyline are hardly orginal issues, but I think the author did an excellent job of bringing them back to light while including the hindrances of sexual abuse. Very well done, Tia :)
So many people say that, and yet they scorn the types of relationships which they can't understand, but in which, there is clearly love to be found. The details of this storyline are hardly orginal issues, but I think the author did an excellent job of bringing them back to light while including the hindrances of sexual abuse. Very well done, Tia :)
December 1, 2011
This book had me from the beginning and made me cry early on in the book and throughout it. The things that happened to Skye was just heartbreaking and you wondered how he could come back from the abuse he endured. I loved how he came to live with Dru and Thom and how they helped him heal so he could find his way to them. He was like that missing puzzle piece, they just all fit and it worked. It was beautiful to see them together. It moved me. I wouldn't mind visiting them again and seeing what they're up to.
August 24, 2011
It started good, a few awkward dialogues, but good. As the book progressed it went downhill little by little. I didn't like Kara, the conflict with Skye felt forced and characters appear out of the blue. The ending was good, but the eplilogue as truly horrible, introducing a character that hasn't been there during the book as the main speaker and adding nothing to the story. Despite it's flaws, pretty good.
October 30, 2014
Liked it. It was good but not great. And not bad either. It's just good.
*full review to follow
*full review to follow
September 9, 2011
This story clicks onto a couple of my fave themes. It's m/m/m and it's a hurt/comfort story. Dru and Thom have been together for 3 years although Thom still has attacks of insecurity as Dru is about 10 years younger. Out of the blue they are contacted by a mental hospital that says Dru's first love and childhood friend who disappeared Skye is being released and has nowhere to go. Seems the "uncle" who took Skye after his family abandoned him, enslaved him and abused him in anyway possible, including sexually. They both agree, despite being nervous, to take Skye in. Eventually Thom realizes that Skye and Dru are in love, but so is he. However Skye is in no place to have any kind of a normal relationship, certainly not sexual and it gets pretty complicated. I liked that there was no magic dick here. In fact Skye wasn't even sure he was gay, or was it only because he was raped and brainwashed. It took time, a lot of time and little things like being afraid to be touched in any way, panic attacks, I thought it was all well done, along with therapy sessions. I wasn't sure I liked their female friend who wanted Skye for herself, but in the end seemed to be scheming to keep them apart, but on the whole I liked how this went and I liked that each character got to tell their story so you knew why they were acting as they were and how they felt. I really enjoyed this. Oh I should add if you're looking for rampant m/m/m sex here, it's not there. Yes, eventually they all do have sex, but it's not like some where it's nothing but variations of the threesome positions through the book, which in this case would have been totally inappropriate and I would have been annoyed if that had shown up.
July 22, 2012
I have had this book for a while - bought it right when it came out, but then I was apprehensive about reading it due to the abuse that Skye suffers. I'm happy to say that while the terrible effects of the abuse are readily apparent in Skye's behavior and body, the abuse happens off page and we are not beaten over the head with it.
I really enjoyed how the author took time with the story and relationship between the three men. This is not something that they "jumped into" because of only physical attraction. The strong connection between Skye and Dru was something that they built on from their childhood friendship. Thom's insecurities were very well written too and explained and believable given how he had come to understand his own sexuality. The thing that struck me the most was that all the characters worked on being honest with the others. They all grew into realizing that this relationship was more than friendship and each processed that differently and in their own time.
I also liked Kara a great deal. She was a very good friend to all parties and I was sorry to see her leave. Maybe she'll make a guest appearance in the next book. The one character that I felt we didn't get to know was Oscar. I hope in the next book we get to know him a bit better because I have to say my reaction to him was mixed.
It's hard to write a good and believable menage with three men. The other series that I have read that does it really well is the Dark Horse series by Kate Sherwood. I really look forward to reading more about these three and how they move forward.
I really enjoyed how the author took time with the story and relationship between the three men. This is not something that they "jumped into" because of only physical attraction. The strong connection between Skye and Dru was something that they built on from their childhood friendship. Thom's insecurities were very well written too and explained and believable given how he had come to understand his own sexuality. The thing that struck me the most was that all the characters worked on being honest with the others. They all grew into realizing that this relationship was more than friendship and each processed that differently and in their own time.
I also liked Kara a great deal. She was a very good friend to all parties and I was sorry to see her leave. Maybe she'll make a guest appearance in the next book. The one character that I felt we didn't get to know was Oscar. I hope in the next book we get to know him a bit better because I have to say my reaction to him was mixed.
It's hard to write a good and believable menage with three men. The other series that I have read that does it really well is the Dark Horse series by Kate Sherwood. I really look forward to reading more about these three and how they move forward.
February 17, 2014
I consider myself a widely read individual with an extensive m/m interest and taste, but for some reason I haven't ventured much into the menage genre yet. I didn't know what to expect when I started By Any Other Name as it's the first book of Tia Fielding I've read, but I was entranced in how the dynamics of a three-person couple could work.
I was afraid I would be disappointed by a shallow story, not having known much about the author, but I was so pleasantly surprised. I finished this book in two days' time, not because it was an easy read necessarily, but because I got so engrossed in the story of the characters and the plot.
Tia Fielding did a great job. Her narrative voice is compelling, the pacing is brilliant, her characters real. I enjoyed how she relayed the trauma of one of the main characters without going into detail about the trauma. There were obvious peeves that I had, like wanting to experience Skye's first btming experience, or wanting his first intimate act to be with Dru (who is one of the most intriguing characters in the book by far) but I also understood why the author didn't make it happen.
You get drawn into Tia's narrative because of her effortless gift for writing and I feel emotionally exhausted after the journey, but I feel spent in a good way. I'm only sorry she didn't continue the story of these three interesting characters, but I also know when a story's finished, it's done. And she ended it perfectly with a bonus holiday sort to boot.
What more can you ask for? Well deserved 5 stars!
I was afraid I would be disappointed by a shallow story, not having known much about the author, but I was so pleasantly surprised. I finished this book in two days' time, not because it was an easy read necessarily, but because I got so engrossed in the story of the characters and the plot.
Tia Fielding did a great job. Her narrative voice is compelling, the pacing is brilliant, her characters real. I enjoyed how she relayed the trauma of one of the main characters without going into detail about the trauma. There were obvious peeves that I had, like wanting to experience Skye's first btming experience, or wanting his first intimate act to be with Dru (who is one of the most intriguing characters in the book by far) but I also understood why the author didn't make it happen.
You get drawn into Tia's narrative because of her effortless gift for writing and I feel emotionally exhausted after the journey, but I feel spent in a good way. I'm only sorry she didn't continue the story of these three interesting characters, but I also know when a story's finished, it's done. And she ended it perfectly with a bonus holiday sort to boot.
What more can you ask for? Well deserved 5 stars!
July 25, 2016
Okay, after DNF'ing another book in the M/M/M-genre I gave this a go, and I'm really glad I did.
I thought the story was well-thought-out, I loved the characters and their differences and it was definitely a slow-burn which suited the theme (and Skye's story) VERY well.
Skye was WAY damaged and it was awesome that this was not a case of: 'love heals all!'.
I freaking LOVED Thom, he had his insecurities, yes, but he was stable, sensible, reasonable, adorable and plain AWESOME.
Dru was a nice character too, though somewhat selfish, but he complemented Thom really well.
The reason this is not a 4-star read, is that Dru and Thom were pretty 'perfect' together, it was mentioned more than once that they were insanely in love, and it was mentioned more than once that they were 'perfect' together.
I know there's no such thing as perfect, but it seemed weird that this awesome, really well-put-together couple all of a sudden finds a 'missing' piece!?!
Also it was quite blurred how/when they decided that Skye would be a part of it. It honestly didn't read like Dru and Thom had talked about it. Or it read like they talked 'past each other'. I don't know, the 'jump' from 'perfect' couple to M/M/M was weird.
This was a nice book, with a slowburn and well-written characters.
I thought the story was well-thought-out, I loved the characters and their differences and it was definitely a slow-burn which suited the theme (and Skye's story) VERY well.
Skye was WAY damaged and it was awesome that this was not a case of: 'love heals all!'.
I freaking LOVED Thom, he had his insecurities, yes, but he was stable, sensible, reasonable, adorable and plain AWESOME.
Dru was a nice character too, though somewhat selfish, but he complemented Thom really well.
The reason this is not a 4-star read, is that Dru and Thom were pretty 'perfect' together, it was mentioned more than once that they were insanely in love, and it was mentioned more than once that they were 'perfect' together.
I know there's no such thing as perfect, but it seemed weird that this awesome, really well-put-together couple all of a sudden finds a 'missing' piece!?!
Also it was quite blurred how/when they decided that Skye would be a part of it. It honestly didn't read like Dru and Thom had talked about it. Or it read like they talked 'past each other'. I don't know, the 'jump' from 'perfect' couple to M/M/M was weird.
This was a nice book, with a slowburn and well-written characters.
April 26, 2014
A beautiful story of love, patience and compassion.
We get to see the perspectives of each of the main characters in this story which is a gamble when trying to juggle three point of views in one short book. It works.
With the focus of the book being solely on the three men, the side characters get a short shrift and do not contribute much to the story beyond being story devices to take the relationship to the next level.
The emphasis on therapy and patience is clear in the book. I'm glad to see that Skye isn't miraculously cured overnight by the love of two men. Since this IS a romance, the story is told from a rosier spectrum of trauma. Their relationship works beautifully for me.
I wish this book had been longer to focus more on Skye's healing with Thom and Dru working out this evolved form of their relationship. It was a wonderful but much too short read.
We get to see the perspectives of each of the main characters in this story which is a gamble when trying to juggle three point of views in one short book. It works.
With the focus of the book being solely on the three men, the side characters get a short shrift and do not contribute much to the story beyond being story devices to take the relationship to the next level.
The emphasis on therapy and patience is clear in the book. I'm glad to see that Skye isn't miraculously cured overnight by the love of two men. Since this IS a romance, the story is told from a rosier spectrum of trauma. Their relationship works beautifully for me.
I wish this book had been longer to focus more on Skye's healing with Thom and Dru working out this evolved form of their relationship. It was a wonderful but much too short read.
July 16, 2017
3.5 stars!
I read it in less than a day, which is rare for me, I'm a very slow reader.
What I liked:
- The writing flowed nicely, before I knew it I was 50% into the book
- I loved the characters and I couldn't wait to see where the story will go. It's been a while since I felt that kind of anticipation while reading a book
- The writer gave Skye enough time to heal - no magical dicks, no simple solutions
What I didn't like:
- Where did Dru's sudden "I'm too proud to ask you to stay" personality come from? It seemed so out of character for him. That whole part of the story was too melodramatic imho
- The story dragged a bit at the last 30%
- The expressions like "the blonde" "the brunette" were used too often (and got pretty annoying after a time)
I read it in less than a day, which is rare for me, I'm a very slow reader.
What I liked:
- The writing flowed nicely, before I knew it I was 50% into the book
- I loved the characters and I couldn't wait to see where the story will go. It's been a while since I felt that kind of anticipation while reading a book
- The writer gave Skye enough time to heal - no magical dicks, no simple solutions
What I didn't like:
- Where did Dru's sudden "I'm too proud to ask you to stay" personality come from? It seemed so out of character for him. That whole part of the story was too melodramatic imho
- The story dragged a bit at the last 30%
- The expressions like "the blonde" "the brunette" were used too often (and got pretty annoying after a time)
October 22, 2016
This spans quite a lot of time, relatively. It gave the story a kind of long feel for it's short length. I wish we'd of gotten more details on Skye's background - like others the fact it's alluded too by scars and such means you don't connect with it. Though Skye is in therapy there isn't really anything you feel deeply for him (well, for me anyway). I'm a show'er - so you have to show me to get me emotionally invested. I thought the trio was believable and the person I most fell in love with was Thom. I enjoyed this one. 3.5 stars rounded up because it was a nice break from instalust-insta-fall-into-bed which is so common nowadays.
January 10, 2014
Okay. So here's a book that totally handles rape and abuse in a realistic way. I liked the characters and their interactions and for these two reasons it gets 4 stars.
I didn't care at all for the authors writing skill. It was at best rambling and confusing. At worst juvenile in parts. Not juvenile in the sense of the characters actions or dialogue, as I said it handled the subject matter very well, but in the way the writing was executed.
Rating it was very controversial for me but I liked the story more than I disliked the writing.
I didn't care at all for the authors writing skill. It was at best rambling and confusing. At worst juvenile in parts. Not juvenile in the sense of the characters actions or dialogue, as I said it handled the subject matter very well, but in the way the writing was executed.
Rating it was very controversial for me but I liked the story more than I disliked the writing.
November 19, 2016
OMFG!!! So I thought no other Ménage à Trois could get to me like "More" and that there was no way an author could get it right. Tia Fielding GOT it!!! Angst, laughter and love, who could want better than that in HEA? And the fact that there WAS a storyline that I could actually believe!!!! I was rooting for the three all the way.
So, I can take my view back from a voting I did and say, it can work in a former twosome as long as all parties are willing to make it work.
So, I can take my view back from a voting I did and say, it can work in a former twosome as long as all parties are willing to make it work.
June 24, 2013
By Any Other Name was the first book in a long time I read straight through. I cracked it open and right away was intrigued with the characters and plot line and thought it was well written. Definitely wish it were longer only because I'd like to visit these characters more. The only complaint I am coming up with is the secondary characters. I didn't think Oscar did anything for the story, we needed more of him I think; and Kara...let's not get started on Kara -_-.
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