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Second Chance Sam
LGBT
Tristan and Cory have been together forever and thought they always would be--until Sam comes into their lives.
In a fit of jealousy, Tristan commits an inexcusable act of anger. Unable to trust his own temper, he leaves Cory although it breaks both of their hearts. Even if Cory can forgive him, Tristan can never forgive himself. Cory is determined to prove that Tristan has nothing to fear and that, together, they can find a way to put the past behind them. Then an old guilt of his own arises to weaken his resolve.
Somehow in this morass of jealousy, remorse and grief, Sam must find a way to reunite the couple he inadvertently tore apart. But the ghosts of Tristan's difficult childhood threaten to keep them separated despite Sam's best efforts. Now Sam must be more than a friend to the two if he is going to bring them back together. He'll do whatever is necessary, and if his plan happens to lead to a bit of fun for all three of them... surely no one can blame him for enjoying it just a little.
But if Sam succeeds, will it mean the end of his own chance for happiness?
This book contains explicit sexual content and graphic language.
Tristan and Cory have been together forever and thought they always would be--until Sam comes into their lives.
In a fit of jealousy, Tristan commits an inexcusable act of anger. Unable to trust his own temper, he leaves Cory although it breaks both of their hearts. Even if Cory can forgive him, Tristan can never forgive himself. Cory is determined to prove that Tristan has nothing to fear and that, together, they can find a way to put the past behind them. Then an old guilt of his own arises to weaken his resolve.
Somehow in this morass of jealousy, remorse and grief, Sam must find a way to reunite the couple he inadvertently tore apart. But the ghosts of Tristan's difficult childhood threaten to keep them separated despite Sam's best efforts. Now Sam must be more than a friend to the two if he is going to bring them back together. He'll do whatever is necessary, and if his plan happens to lead to a bit of fun for all three of them... surely no one can blame him for enjoying it just a little.
But if Sam succeeds, will it mean the end of his own chance for happiness?
This book contains explicit sexual content and graphic language.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2013
1 person is currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Bren Christopher
9 books29 followersBren Christopher has been an avid reader since she was a kid, but it wasn’t until she discovered erotic romance that the characters who had been content to reside in her imagination started insisting they needed a wider audience. Matt and Jamie of Friday Night Jamie were the first, but others followed in rapid succession. She’s had a lot of fun helping her folks come to life, and hopes you have just as much fun getting to know them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 25, 2014
I'm doing my first ever m/m group challenge. I chose the Zodiac challenge and I'm going to read books that I've had on my TBR pile for a while that fit the criteria.
This book is my choice for Aquarius (21 January-19 February)
* I am the the Zodiac Challenge whisperer, LOL Ami, Debra and Shakisha are in too *
Ok, I loved parts of this story and wasn't thrilled with other parts of it.
The friendship, love and absolute devotion between Cory and Tristan is amazing and heartbreaking.
The couple was actually separated and with little or no contact through most of the book, yet I never doubled they belonged together.
“They were so devoted to each other that each would have sacrificed his own happiness to make sure the other felt secure and content.”
Tristan has a traumatic history, his father was an abuser and it really messed him up, without Cory and his mother he would have been lost.
After a physical disagreement Tristan leaves him, thinking it's the very best thing for Cory, and that's really all Tristan want? The best for Cory.
Sam is a great guy, he likes both of these young men and steps in to rescue Tristan when he lands in a bad spot after leaving Cory.
Now, I LOVE ménage stories, like really love them but this isn't quite that.
Sam is more a catalyst and the glue to try and get the boys back together and to take care of them when they couldn't take care of each other.
“The sensation of Cory reaching out through Sam to take care of him had been almost palpable”
Even though the couple was hardly ever on page together they were still constantly in each other's thoughts:
“Cory felt a little lightening of the worry he’d been carrying around. If Cory couldn’t be there for Tristan, then at least Sam could watch out for him.”
Sam plays a major role in this book, and I loved him for it:
“Sam shook his head in slow realization. “You’d do just about anything for him, wouldn’t you? Anything to make sure he’s happy and safe.”
I really loved Sam and actually wished this story had ended differently, oh, everyone gets their HEA but it wasn't how I would have chosen for them...
All in all a very sweet story about two boys that have been inseparable and in love since they were six years old and will overcome all life is going to throw at them.
Now, the domestic abuse issue wasn't handled quite like I would have liked, some things bothered me about that.
This book is my choice for Aquarius (21 January-19 February)
* I am the the Zodiac Challenge whisperer, LOL Ami, Debra and Shakisha are in too *
Ok, I loved parts of this story and wasn't thrilled with other parts of it.
The friendship, love and absolute devotion between Cory and Tristan is amazing and heartbreaking.
The couple was actually separated and with little or no contact through most of the book, yet I never doubled they belonged together.
“They were so devoted to each other that each would have sacrificed his own happiness to make sure the other felt secure and content.”
Tristan has a traumatic history, his father was an abuser and it really messed him up, without Cory and his mother he would have been lost.
After a physical disagreement Tristan leaves him, thinking it's the very best thing for Cory, and that's really all Tristan want? The best for Cory.
Sam is a great guy, he likes both of these young men and steps in to rescue Tristan when he lands in a bad spot after leaving Cory.
Now, I LOVE ménage stories, like really love them but this isn't quite that.
Sam is more a catalyst and the glue to try and get the boys back together and to take care of them when they couldn't take care of each other.
“The sensation of Cory reaching out through Sam to take care of him had been almost palpable”
Even though the couple was hardly ever on page together they were still constantly in each other's thoughts:
“Cory felt a little lightening of the worry he’d been carrying around. If Cory couldn’t be there for Tristan, then at least Sam could watch out for him.”
Sam plays a major role in this book, and I loved him for it:
“Sam shook his head in slow realization. “You’d do just about anything for him, wouldn’t you? Anything to make sure he’s happy and safe.”
I really loved Sam and actually wished this story had ended differently, oh, everyone gets their HEA but it wasn't how I would have chosen for them...
All in all a very sweet story about two boys that have been inseparable and in love since they were six years old and will overcome all life is going to throw at them.
Now, the domestic abuse issue wasn't handled quite like I would have liked, some things bothered me about that.
January 18, 2013
So many things come to mind when I sit to write this review that I don’t really know where to start. I loved this story. It grabbed me right from the beginning when the boys first met as kindergartners.
Cory and Tristan are the sweetest couple. They have been friends since that first meeting and, as they got older, became lovers as well. They have only ever been with each other, and it is easy to feel how much they are genuinely smitten with each other. There are numerous issues each have faced together while growing up. Cory’s father was gone most of his life, Tristan’s was an abusive SOB who took it out on Tristan and his mom until finally murdering her in front of Tristan. These issues form the basis for Cory and Tristan’s current problems. The boys have been there for each other for so long and know each other so well, it is hard to imagine them not being together.
Then Sam comes into the picture. He quickly becomes friends with the boys. After initially hitting on Cory and finding out he was in a relationship, he stepped back and kept things on a friend level. Even though Cory only spends time with Sam when Tristan is not around due to his lengthy hours spent in medical school, Tristan cannot help but be jealous. After losing his temper and an accidental trip causes Cory a trip to the hospital, Tristan is convinced it isn’t safe for him to be with Cory and that he will turn into his father. He then pushes for Sam to take care of Cory, though this backfires. Poor Sam is pushed out, then brought back into the middle. At this point, Cory is pushing Sam to take care of Tristan. It all sounds a bit confusing, but it was beautifully written and very emotionally charged. Sam continues to do the right thing for these guys, over and over. My heart was breaking right along with Sam’s as Cory and Tristan put themselves through the wringer while just wanting to do what was best for the other.
This is not, by any means, the typical ménage. While the three do spend some intimate time together, there are underlying reasons that just make sense. Even when things aren’t quite back to normal, Cory and Tristan together are still the same amazing loving couple they were in the first opening scene. This story moves along at a good pace and reads very quickly. I just about read it in one sitting. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
Cory and Tristan are the sweetest couple. They have been friends since that first meeting and, as they got older, became lovers as well. They have only ever been with each other, and it is easy to feel how much they are genuinely smitten with each other. There are numerous issues each have faced together while growing up. Cory’s father was gone most of his life, Tristan’s was an abusive SOB who took it out on Tristan and his mom until finally murdering her in front of Tristan. These issues form the basis for Cory and Tristan’s current problems. The boys have been there for each other for so long and know each other so well, it is hard to imagine them not being together.
Then Sam comes into the picture. He quickly becomes friends with the boys. After initially hitting on Cory and finding out he was in a relationship, he stepped back and kept things on a friend level. Even though Cory only spends time with Sam when Tristan is not around due to his lengthy hours spent in medical school, Tristan cannot help but be jealous. After losing his temper and an accidental trip causes Cory a trip to the hospital, Tristan is convinced it isn’t safe for him to be with Cory and that he will turn into his father. He then pushes for Sam to take care of Cory, though this backfires. Poor Sam is pushed out, then brought back into the middle. At this point, Cory is pushing Sam to take care of Tristan. It all sounds a bit confusing, but it was beautifully written and very emotionally charged. Sam continues to do the right thing for these guys, over and over. My heart was breaking right along with Sam’s as Cory and Tristan put themselves through the wringer while just wanting to do what was best for the other.
This is not, by any means, the typical ménage. While the three do spend some intimate time together, there are underlying reasons that just make sense. Even when things aren’t quite back to normal, Cory and Tristan together are still the same amazing loving couple they were in the first opening scene. This story moves along at a good pace and reads very quickly. I just about read it in one sitting. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
September 21, 2013
4.5 stars. This was a well-written, fast read, with a very nice little twist at the end. The three characters here were a study in contrasts working together.
Cory is a computer technician and motor-cycle enthusiast. Ever since Tristan befriended him in first grade, he's loved Tristan and tried to be there for him. Cory is sensible, sweet, a bit quiet, and unaware of his own qualities. Just turned 21, he's smart in a very practical way, and only has eyes for Tristan.
Tristan is blond, pretty, verbal and emotional, and in the midst of applying to med school with all the stresses that go with it. His childhood with an abusive father and a down-trodden mother, and the associated violence, has left its mark in ways large and small. He has a temper, and his deepest fear is becoming like his own father. His love for Cory is deep, but always tinged by a hint of anxiety from years spent watching a really bad marriage dissolve in bloodshed.
Sam is ten years older, and the owner of a motorcycle store. He's a steady man, bisexual, and just beginning to think about dating after the departure of the woman he thought he would marry two years earlier. He meets Cory and Tristan separately, and gently hits on both of them without success. He becomes friends with both of the young men and wouldn't think of coming between them, although his attraction lingers. But when Cory and Tristan are separated by a fight, and the lingering fears and scars both of them carry from Tristan's youth keep them estranged, Sam yearns to care for both of them. Unfortunately Cory is keeping his distance, while Tristan has a crisis, and suddenly needs Sam's help...
This was sweet but not too saccharine, emotional but not angsty, and a fun read.
Cory is a computer technician and motor-cycle enthusiast. Ever since Tristan befriended him in first grade, he's loved Tristan and tried to be there for him. Cory is sensible, sweet, a bit quiet, and unaware of his own qualities. Just turned 21, he's smart in a very practical way, and only has eyes for Tristan.
Tristan is blond, pretty, verbal and emotional, and in the midst of applying to med school with all the stresses that go with it. His childhood with an abusive father and a down-trodden mother, and the associated violence, has left its mark in ways large and small. He has a temper, and his deepest fear is becoming like his own father. His love for Cory is deep, but always tinged by a hint of anxiety from years spent watching a really bad marriage dissolve in bloodshed.
Sam is ten years older, and the owner of a motorcycle store. He's a steady man, bisexual, and just beginning to think about dating after the departure of the woman he thought he would marry two years earlier. He meets Cory and Tristan separately, and gently hits on both of them without success. He becomes friends with both of the young men and wouldn't think of coming between them, although his attraction lingers. But when Cory and Tristan are separated by a fight, and the lingering fears and scars both of them carry from Tristan's youth keep them estranged, Sam yearns to care for both of them. Unfortunately Cory is keeping his distance, while Tristan has a crisis, and suddenly needs Sam's help...
This was sweet but not too saccharine, emotional but not angsty, and a fun read.
January 19, 2013
Omg, I wanted to beat Tristan upside his stubborn head over and over and over again. His dad f'ed him up so badly and as much as he annoyed me, i still want to protect him. Cory was a saint. At first I wanted him to walk away but quickly realized that they needed help
. They would only be happy together, but what can you do when you don't trust yourself?
I was really hurting for Sam. He deserved happiness more than most and sacrificed his own for Tristan and Cory. I wasn't on board with the menage at first...even though it was pretty hot, but when it was just a short term deal with end result being a HEA for Tristan and Cory...and Sam getting his...I was happy too.
. They would only be happy together, but what can you do when you don't trust yourself?
I was really hurting for Sam. He deserved happiness more than most and sacrificed his own for Tristan and Cory. I wasn't on board with the menage at first...even though it was pretty hot, but when it was just a short term deal with end result being a HEA for Tristan and Cory...and Sam getting his...I was happy too.
November 6, 2014
This story was very different than I expected and really kept me wondering how things would work out right until the end, and even though it may not have ended the way I wanted it to, it was ultimately satisfying.
The domestic abuse that was portrayed made me very uncomfortable and angry, and Tristan's actions afterward made me even more upset. While it is clear that Cory and Tristan love each other and are meant to be together, the men have not really dealt with Tristan's past and the way it is affecting his relationship with Cory.
I really don't want to give away what happens in the story, so I'll just say I enjoyed this different take on the m/m/m story and would definitely read more from this author in the future.
The domestic abuse that was portrayed made me very uncomfortable and angry, and Tristan's actions afterward made me even more upset. While it is clear that Cory and Tristan love each other and are meant to be together, the men have not really dealt with Tristan's past and the way it is affecting his relationship with Cory.
I really don't want to give away what happens in the story, so I'll just say I enjoyed this different take on the m/m/m story and would definitely read more from this author in the future.
October 14, 2013
this book had the potential to be soooo good but ultimately ended up pissing me off too much for me to give it the 4 star rating it could have deserved. Probably only dropping one star is pretty generous, actually.
I will rant about what made me mad, between spoiler tags, later when I'm at a computer with a keyboard.
Below be spoilers. But I think if you're friends with me, you'll probably have a similar reaction so you may want to read it anyway. Okay, go.
I will rant about what made me mad, between spoiler tags, later when I'm at a computer with a keyboard.
Below be spoilers. But I think if you're friends with me, you'll probably have a similar reaction so you may want to read it anyway. Okay, go.
February 25, 2013
Cory and Tristan have been together forever - such a wonderful couple and their total devotion to each other really comes through in the writing. But things don't go smoothly as there has been trouble in their past and Tristan makes a decision based on this past and his overwhelming desire to protect Cory. This decision to leave Cory is heart-breaking for both of them (this is not a spoiler as it is in the blurb).
The story involves a growing friendship with Sam who runs a local motorcycle shop. He feels responsible for the breakup as Tristan was jealous of his friendship with Cory. He becomes a friend to both men, offering them support as he tries to get them back together.
I expected the plot to be slightly formulaic so was pleasantly surprised to find it veered somewhat from my expectations and the HEA ending was a nice change from the expected (not sure it was the most satisfying ending but good all the same).
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be reading more.
Continuity - a small point but for some reason it stood out.
The story involves a growing friendship with Sam who runs a local motorcycle shop. He feels responsible for the breakup as Tristan was jealous of his friendship with Cory. He becomes a friend to both men, offering them support as he tries to get them back together.
I expected the plot to be slightly formulaic so was pleasantly surprised to find it veered somewhat from my expectations and the HEA ending was a nice change from the expected (not sure it was the most satisfying ending but good all the same).
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be reading more.
Continuity - a small point but for some reason it stood out.
December 16, 2015
Three very likeable main characters that you actually wanted to root for. Good story line. And the whole 3-way scene was hot with a capital "H". Whew. : )
June 10, 2013
Wonderfully refreshing book about a mènage but, not-mènage. I haven't read any books like this where the third wheel helps bring the protagonists together.
I loved the initial pairing of Cory and Tristan. The love, the care that they show didn't need describing. When Tristan is aghast at something that he did, their relationship takes a serious hit.
Enter Sam. He considers himself as the reason why Cory and Tristan had the fight in the first place so he takes it upon himself to bring them back together. There was some background about Sam's past and that played well with people around them.
Like in real life, every little thing conspires to bring things/people together, similarly all the background characters played a key role. This gave us an inside peek into the others life and their effect on Sam, Tristan and Cory. I loved Sam because even in the mènage, he realized that he doesn't have a place in Cory and Tristan's life. Sam was self-less but also a bit selfish. He knew that he can never come between the love of these two boys but at the same time wanted to have some part in their joint beauty. Mainly, there is SOMETHING unexplainable (for me, at least) in the story which made it sweet, heart-breaking and achingly beautiful.
I loved the initial pairing of Cory and Tristan. The love, the care that they show didn't need describing. When Tristan is aghast at something that he did, their relationship takes a serious hit.
Enter Sam. He considers himself as the reason why Cory and Tristan had the fight in the first place so he takes it upon himself to bring them back together. There was some background about Sam's past and that played well with people around them.
Like in real life, every little thing conspires to bring things/people together, similarly all the background characters played a key role. This gave us an inside peek into the others life and their effect on Sam, Tristan and Cory. I loved Sam because even in the mènage, he realized that he doesn't have a place in Cory and Tristan's life. Sam was self-less but also a bit selfish. He knew that he can never come between the love of these two boys but at the same time wanted to have some part in their joint beauty. Mainly, there is SOMETHING unexplainable (for me, at least) in the story which made it sweet, heart-breaking and achingly beautiful.
December 19, 2015
I wouldn't go so far as to say the blurb is misleading, but I wish there had been a content warning or whatever that made it clear the MCs don't end up in a menage relationship. Because not everybody is gonna appreciate that 'little twist' at the end. I certainly didn't.
Good book. Just not good enough for me to still give it the 4 star rating I would have given it if it wasn't for the ending. The ending was just a giant downer and to be honest somewhat ruined my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
Good book. Just not good enough for me to still give it the 4 star rating I would have given it if it wasn't for the ending. The ending was just a giant downer and to be honest somewhat ruined my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
September 6, 2017
Didn't really love this. I don't like the message I feel like I got which was that if you just love someone and are "big & strong" enough, well then their domestic violence isn't really that bad. Tristan does eventually go to a shrink to work out his issues but it's so off page that it doesn't really do much to negate the bad behavior. I really liked Cody. I am left feeling like he deserves better. Also hate what happens with Sam. The drama all starts because he's into Cody, then when they all hook up, they don't even have sex. Annoying. Then he ends up married to a woman! Bleh.
July 4, 2015
Ummm... Welllll.... Hm. I'm not quite sure how to review this. It wasn't terrible, but the ending made me feel like I'd been jerked around for no real reason. I won't give it away, but I will warn other fans of menage romance; if what you're looking for is an emotionally meaningful and sweet threesome tale, stay away from this book.
September 21, 2018
2.5- 3/5
Writing wise, this book was alright. I appreciated that the author try to address domestic violence, but I feel like the way she's carrying out her message come off wrong and off putting. Rant aside, I finded the decision to incoporate a menage into the story seemed odd, and purely base on fan service. (Sadly a fan service that fail to deliver.)
Writing wise, this book was alright. I appreciated that the author try to address domestic violence, but I feel like the way she's carrying out her message come off wrong and off putting. Rant aside, I finded the decision to incoporate a menage into the story seemed odd, and purely base on fan service. (Sadly a fan service that fail to deliver.)
February 18, 2013
3.25 Stars.
Review originally published here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2013/02/review...
Throughout my entire reading of Second Chance Sam, my thought was a pervasive, “Poor Sam.” If this is his second chance, his first chance must’ve been really bad! Sam is a big hulk of a man who owns his own motorcycle shop so, in other words, he’s the epitome of bad-ass hotness. Instead of being able to bask in his awesome Harley Davidson-ness, however, Sam is a compromising pushover who rarely gets what he wants in this supposed tale of his second chance.
Before we’re introduced to Sam, we meet Tristan and Cory, who have been friends since they were six and a couple for as long as they can remember. It shows. They are in sync on every level. Tristan is studying hard for his medical entrance exam and works himself to the bone with his studying. Cory is the nurturing one, putting snacks in Tristan’s backpack, instinctively knowing he won’t eat otherwise. He makes sure Tristan sleeps and has breakfast and looks after him, and the two of them are adorable together.
On a call as a computer tech, Cory ends up in a motorcycle shop one day and meets the owner, Sam. Cory is a motorcycle lover himself and their chatting turns into a discussion of Cory’s Ducati and then an invitation from Sam to bring it to the shop so they can work on it together. Sam is bisexual, and while he broke up with a girlfriend that he really loved a couple of years earlier, he’s attracted to Cory. He keeps it strictly professional, though, only sneaking a look at his ass on occasion.
Tristan has ghosts in his past that he has a hard time escaping. When one night Cory comes home from the shop on the back of Sam’s motorcycle, Tristan loses his temper and Cory gets hurt. Tristan decides it’s better if he leaves now, rather than turn into the same kind of monster he’s been trying to escape from all of his life. When Tristan moves out and Cory is devastated, it’s up to Sam to step in and try to make things right. It doesn’t help that Sam is attracted to both of them, and that each of them has been an almost irresistible temptation to him along the way. Sam needs to figure out how to reunite this couple that he’s growing to love but knows belongs together.
I’ve already mentioned one of my favorite parts of this book — Sam. He’s kind and sweet, while at the same time being that guy on the big tough motorcycle whom you’ve fantasized about your whole life. I liked Tristan and Cory too, though the decisions they made seemed a bit far-fetched and ridiculous. I’d be lying, however, if I said that two twinks and a biker dude in leather isn’t the stuff of my fantasies. It is. And in that regard, this book delivered. There were a couple of steamy scenes between the three men, while each was trying to sort out who and what they wanted.
My main complaint here is that this book didn’t go the way I would’ve liked. Tristan makes a rash decision due to an illogical assumption about his temperament, and the readers have to suffer as he tries to find his way back to Cory. Sam deserves to be in a relationship with people who love him, rather than act as a buffer for Tristan and Cory as they try to be together without consequence. They are both attracted to Sam, and they’d have to be insane not to be, but emotionally, they only have eyes for each other. It’s a sweet, life-affirming relationship between the two boys, but poor Sam gets the shaft (and not in a good way). Since he’s the namesake of the book, I expected better for him.
Okay, I’m a tiny bit in love with Sam. And as luck would have it, he’s bisexual, so my fantasy relationship with a fictional character is so much more likely to occur. That’s also a warning to anyone who shies away from bisexual relationships. While we’re not privy to any of his relationships with women, it definitely comes into play in the unexpected and fairly maddening ending. I want Sam to love women because I want him to love me, but anything else is unacceptable. Needless to say, I was disappointed in the ending and would much rather have seen it end in the direction I thought it was heading all along.
This book is well-written and entertaining, but suffers from an illogical plot and a frustrating conclusion. If you’re into menage and you want to read some steamy sex, it won’t disappoint, but understand that it lacks the emotional connection that you hope to see between three people. My beautiful Sam becomes, instead, a third-wheel. Sam needs to move onto his third chance and pray that it ends up better than this one.
Review originally published here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2013/02/review...
Throughout my entire reading of Second Chance Sam, my thought was a pervasive, “Poor Sam.” If this is his second chance, his first chance must’ve been really bad! Sam is a big hulk of a man who owns his own motorcycle shop so, in other words, he’s the epitome of bad-ass hotness. Instead of being able to bask in his awesome Harley Davidson-ness, however, Sam is a compromising pushover who rarely gets what he wants in this supposed tale of his second chance.
Before we’re introduced to Sam, we meet Tristan and Cory, who have been friends since they were six and a couple for as long as they can remember. It shows. They are in sync on every level. Tristan is studying hard for his medical entrance exam and works himself to the bone with his studying. Cory is the nurturing one, putting snacks in Tristan’s backpack, instinctively knowing he won’t eat otherwise. He makes sure Tristan sleeps and has breakfast and looks after him, and the two of them are adorable together.
On a call as a computer tech, Cory ends up in a motorcycle shop one day and meets the owner, Sam. Cory is a motorcycle lover himself and their chatting turns into a discussion of Cory’s Ducati and then an invitation from Sam to bring it to the shop so they can work on it together. Sam is bisexual, and while he broke up with a girlfriend that he really loved a couple of years earlier, he’s attracted to Cory. He keeps it strictly professional, though, only sneaking a look at his ass on occasion.
Tristan has ghosts in his past that he has a hard time escaping. When one night Cory comes home from the shop on the back of Sam’s motorcycle, Tristan loses his temper and Cory gets hurt. Tristan decides it’s better if he leaves now, rather than turn into the same kind of monster he’s been trying to escape from all of his life. When Tristan moves out and Cory is devastated, it’s up to Sam to step in and try to make things right. It doesn’t help that Sam is attracted to both of them, and that each of them has been an almost irresistible temptation to him along the way. Sam needs to figure out how to reunite this couple that he’s growing to love but knows belongs together.
I’ve already mentioned one of my favorite parts of this book — Sam. He’s kind and sweet, while at the same time being that guy on the big tough motorcycle whom you’ve fantasized about your whole life. I liked Tristan and Cory too, though the decisions they made seemed a bit far-fetched and ridiculous. I’d be lying, however, if I said that two twinks and a biker dude in leather isn’t the stuff of my fantasies. It is. And in that regard, this book delivered. There were a couple of steamy scenes between the three men, while each was trying to sort out who and what they wanted.
My main complaint here is that this book didn’t go the way I would’ve liked. Tristan makes a rash decision due to an illogical assumption about his temperament, and the readers have to suffer as he tries to find his way back to Cory. Sam deserves to be in a relationship with people who love him, rather than act as a buffer for Tristan and Cory as they try to be together without consequence. They are both attracted to Sam, and they’d have to be insane not to be, but emotionally, they only have eyes for each other. It’s a sweet, life-affirming relationship between the two boys, but poor Sam gets the shaft (and not in a good way). Since he’s the namesake of the book, I expected better for him.
Okay, I’m a tiny bit in love with Sam. And as luck would have it, he’s bisexual, so my fantasy relationship with a fictional character is so much more likely to occur. That’s also a warning to anyone who shies away from bisexual relationships. While we’re not privy to any of his relationships with women, it definitely comes into play in the unexpected and fairly maddening ending. I want Sam to love women because I want him to love me, but anything else is unacceptable. Needless to say, I was disappointed in the ending and would much rather have seen it end in the direction I thought it was heading all along.
This book is well-written and entertaining, but suffers from an illogical plot and a frustrating conclusion. If you’re into menage and you want to read some steamy sex, it won’t disappoint, but understand that it lacks the emotional connection that you hope to see between three people. My beautiful Sam becomes, instead, a third-wheel. Sam needs to move onto his third chance and pray that it ends up better than this one.
January 19, 2013
I have read other stories by this writer and I liked those a lot - as you can see I bought this book without waiting for any reviews, something I rarely do these days.
I really liked Tristan and Cory and Sam together and separately. Blurb says all of this, so it is not like I will be revealing any spoilers, but Tristan and Cory had been together forever means exactly that - they at least had been friends since childhood. That may jerk me out of the story and badly at that, but here I bought their love. I thought both Tris and Cory were fleshed out well enough - and while Tris' issues are likely to need a lot of work, it is not stated that they are done working over those at the end, so it worked for me okay. I guess I could see what happened as a good start?
Now with Sam the story surely went somewhat off the beaten path in MM and I liked that, do not get me wrong, and I cannot say how off the beaten path it was, at the same time I found his characterization to have much less depth than Cory or Tris. He is, well a nice guy, that is all I know about him (and something else that would be spoilers, but I still feel it was not enough).
I really like the writing - very engaging and I could easily relate to the characters, the author established emotional connection well IMO.
I really liked Tristan and Cory and Sam together and separately. Blurb says all of this, so it is not like I will be revealing any spoilers, but Tristan and Cory had been together forever means exactly that - they at least had been friends since childhood. That may jerk me out of the story and badly at that, but here I bought their love. I thought both Tris and Cory were fleshed out well enough - and while Tris' issues are likely to need a lot of work, it is not stated that they are done working over those at the end, so it worked for me okay. I guess I could see what happened as a good start?
Now with Sam the story surely went somewhat off the beaten path in MM and I liked that, do not get me wrong, and I cannot say how off the beaten path it was, at the same time I found his characterization to have much less depth than Cory or Tris. He is, well a nice guy, that is all I know about him (and something else that would be spoilers, but I still feel it was not enough).
I really like the writing - very engaging and I could easily relate to the characters, the author established emotional connection well IMO.
April 19, 2016
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started this story, but what I got was a very pleasant surprise. Second Chance Sam dealt with some very challenging issues abuse, PTSD, guilt and the dynamics of how those things can affect a long term relationship. Sounds depressing, right? While it had it's heartbreaking, gut wrenching moments at the end of it all it was a beautiful story about love, faith, commitment and trust and the power of the the human heart to overcome whatever life throws at it while fighting to keep those we love. Cory & Tristan were so sweet together and so right for each other you couldn't help but invest yourself in them and as much as I thought I wasn't going to like Sam because I thought I knew his role in their story I was thrilled to be wrong and in the end I adored him and all he did for his friends. This was my first Bren Christopher read, definitely not my last.
August 11, 2016
This book was a good read but two things stopped me from giving it 5 stars.
1) Sam's character was underdeveloped. He lacked depth and his backstory was vague raising more questions rather than providing insight in regards to who Sam is and what makes him tic.
2) I didn't like the ending. It made no sense to me. If Sam's backstory was as developed as Tristan and Corey's then I would have perhaps had a deeper understanding of his actions and choices.
How the story ended made me question if Tristan, Corey and Sam were all on the same page in regards to what they each expected out of their relationship. If this point had been clarified prior to certain events that takes place in the story, then perhaps I would have accepted how the story ended.
1) Sam's character was underdeveloped. He lacked depth and his backstory was vague raising more questions rather than providing insight in regards to who Sam is and what makes him tic.
2) I didn't like the ending. It made no sense to me. If Sam's backstory was as developed as Tristan and Corey's then I would have perhaps had a deeper understanding of his actions and choices.
How the story ended made me question if Tristan, Corey and Sam were all on the same page in regards to what they each expected out of their relationship. If this point had been clarified prior to certain events that takes place in the story, then perhaps I would have accepted how the story ended.
January 23, 2013
Lovely! I really enjoyed that the Sam component of the story wasn't just the traditional "and then they became a triad and lived happily ever after" trope. The characters were complex, real, flawed,and so very human. Definitely a new must read author for me!
January 26, 2013
This was so close to being fantastic - the ending, oh the ending.
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Why couldn't they all be together? They worked well as a threesome. I liked it but was disappointed by the conventional ending.
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Why couldn't they all be together? They worked well as a threesome. I liked it but was disappointed by the conventional ending.
January 21, 2013
The relationship between the three guys really developed over the course of the book. I enjoyed it a lot and the ending was perfect.
January 24, 2013
Read it all in one sitting. Sadly the ending didn't work for me personally, although I can see what the author tried to do with it.
A good book nevertheless.
A good book nevertheless.
November 1, 2015
2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
September 8, 2019
I can't quite remember how I found the book, but it was on my triangle list, so I was a bit disappointed when it did not deliver. There is some threesome sex in there, but it's not really about a triad relationship. Instead it's about a breakup and a getting back together with the help of the titular Sam.
In general I did enjoy the book. I liked the characters and the interactions, even when they where not together anymore. But I thought the breakup was really badly handled, but it was one of those instances where I blame the author, not the character. Tristan did some pretty mean things in the book, but I never got the feeling it was in his character, if that makes sense. It mostly felt like plot-driven decisions.
The whole issue leading to the breakup get resolved in the end in no time at all with minimal action and fuss and that kinda negated the whole book for me. Tristan has issues, sure, but what's the point of a 6 month separation (or was it 4 month, the timeline is a bit vague), if it could have been resolved with a bit of pushiness and one doctor's appointment?
While the book was not unenjoyable to read I just didn't felt it really came together for me.
In general I did enjoy the book. I liked the characters and the interactions, even when they where not together anymore. But I thought the breakup was really badly handled, but it was one of those instances where I blame the author, not the character. Tristan did some pretty mean things in the book, but I never got the feeling it was in his character, if that makes sense. It mostly felt like plot-driven decisions.
The whole issue leading to the breakup get resolved in the end in no time at all with minimal action and fuss and that kinda negated the whole book for me. Tristan has issues, sure, but what's the point of a 6 month separation (or was it 4 month, the timeline is a bit vague), if it could have been resolved with a bit of pushiness and one doctor's appointment?
While the book was not unenjoyable to read I just didn't felt it really came together for me.
January 15, 2017
This story is definitely different from your usual three-way. I liked all three MCs quite well. There was a good amount of tension, but no over-the-top angst. And although the ending wasn't ideal, IMO, it worked well for this story. The sex was also very hot.
September 1, 2021
That is... an unusual romance.
An established couple who are not only close, life-long friends but who are also deeply in love and instensely sexual, have a sleeping but active volcano beneath them. They both repress certain unresolved emotions, and these emotions threaten the very foundation of their relationship. When critical mass happens, Sam is the third party who is their Second Chance Sam--he helps them in a way they can't help themselves or each other.
I would have liked to see a little more about Sam's "second chance" woven into the story, perhaps more deep scenes instead of summary scenes, but this is a minor grump.
I'm giving it a 5--it was just so insightful and fresh. I loved the psychology--people make mistakes and grow, everybody deserves a new chance. I was somewhat disappointed with the ending, but I thought a lot about the characters' emotions after I closed the book, and the more I thought, the more I realized how complicated and... believable this riveting story is. And the more I felt content and complete with the entire journey.
And holy hot hotness with the heart-clenching intimacy scenes.
An established couple who are not only close, life-long friends but who are also deeply in love and instensely sexual, have a sleeping but active volcano beneath them. They both repress certain unresolved emotions, and these emotions threaten the very foundation of their relationship. When critical mass happens, Sam is the third party who is their Second Chance Sam--he helps them in a way they can't help themselves or each other.
I would have liked to see a little more about Sam's "second chance" woven into the story, perhaps more deep scenes instead of summary scenes, but this is a minor grump.
I'm giving it a 5--it was just so insightful and fresh. I loved the psychology--people make mistakes and grow, everybody deserves a new chance. I was somewhat disappointed with the ending, but I thought a lot about the characters' emotions after I closed the book, and the more I thought, the more I realized how complicated and... believable this riveting story is. And the more I felt content and complete with the entire journey.
And holy hot hotness with the heart-clenching intimacy scenes.
July 24, 2016
I'm a little baffled by the 3.5 star rating as I absolutely loved it and easily thought it deserved my 5 star rating. Sure, some parts were hard to read as they were a bit upsetting, but I feel that they just added depth to the story and complexity to the well developed characters.
I loved Cory, Sam and Tristan. I was taken in with the scene at the start if the book from the moment Tristan and Cory first meet at the age of six. I loved these two together so much that I was a little wary about how Sam was going to be justifiably thrown into the mix. I was pleasantly surprised. The evolution from a two some to a threesome was one of the most credible and natural transitions I've seen with this theme.
Highly recommended for fans of M/M and M/M/M romance...though based on it's mediocre overall rating, I guess it's not everybody's cup of tea.
I loved Cory, Sam and Tristan. I was taken in with the scene at the start if the book from the moment Tristan and Cory first meet at the age of six. I loved these two together so much that I was a little wary about how Sam was going to be justifiably thrown into the mix. I was pleasantly surprised. The evolution from a two some to a threesome was one of the most credible and natural transitions I've seen with this theme.
Highly recommended for fans of M/M and M/M/M romance...though based on it's mediocre overall rating, I guess it's not everybody's cup of tea.
August 4, 2014
I liked it, a lot. In fact a lot more than I thought as it was waiting on my kindle for quite some time and I even tried to start reading several times without being able to get into it. But now it worked out. There was a lovely relationship between Tristan and Cory. There was drama that kept them apart, but it wasn't too drawn out. I liked how Sam became not only Cory's friend, but Tristan's as well. There was a very nice ending for all of them, not necessarily together :) and there was an epilogue rounding up the whole thing in a very satisfying way. Well, after writing all this and thinking about the story again, I'll change my 4 stars into 5 stars. That's how good it was.
January 17, 2013
I really enjoyed this story and with the way the author wrote it, you didn't have a clue about the guys staying together or not. I was on the fence with whether I wanted to have Sam stay with guys and I'm really happy with the ending. Maybe there will be a sequel so we can see everyone some years down the road.
March 9, 2013
Closer to 3.5 Stars. I loved the MC and the intensity of the love between Tristan & Corey. But somehow the menage between the 3 MC left me feeling kind of empty. Yes, the menage brought Corey & Tristan back together, but...maybe the therapy would have done that too. I guess I just wanted the 3 of them to become a family together rather than a family of friends. Meh.
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