Bryce

Bound & Controlled #4

by Shaw Montgomery, Nela Banti (translator)

He’d watched them for so long it probably counted as stalking.

Bryce was confident when it came to work and his family, but hesitant when it involved relationships. He’d found subs that he pulled to him and Doms that could make his knees weak for a scene or two, but no one that tugged at his heart or who could understand what it was like to be both a Dom and a sub—until he’d seen Troy and Oliver—

They’d watched him for so long they decided to keep him.

Bryce hovered around them like a moth drawn to a flame. He circled and watched but never came closer, never approached them. Troy and Oliver were tired of waiting. They knew they needed a third to make them complete, and they knew they needed Bryce. But was he ready? They didn’t want a one-night stand or a casual fling. They wanted everything with the confused switch who’d caught their eye and possibly their hearts.

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, M M M, Romance, Menage, LGBT, Novella

186 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2017

About the author

Shaw Montgomery loves reading, traveling, and family. While not necessarily in that order, they all rank pretty close. Shaw has lived all over the United States and even Germany. While the coast of North Carolina is a favorite place Shaw currently lives in the Western United States. Current wish list places to travel to are Australia, Italy, and Scotland.

When Shaw wants to write about things that are a little more taboo (or sometimes a lot more taboo), Shaw writes under the name M.A.Innes.

Do you want to get sneak peeks at upcoming books? Personal updates? A chance at freebies and more? Click here to join Shaw Montgomery's Newsletter!

Reviews

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bryce no puede creer que la parja con la que se obsesiono en el club quiera tener una relacion con el, pero lo que mas le cuesta entender es cual seria su papel en esa relacion siendo un swich, como hara para balancear ambos lados de su personalidad en la vida real con una pareeja donde uno es Dom y el otro es un sub. Pero esa no es su unica preocupacion, sino tambien su trabajo, como afectaria a la compania si el tuviera una relacion abierta con esta pareja, perderian muchos clientes?
Troy y Oliver siempre han sabido que quieren una relacion poliamorosa cerrada, asi que han buscado y jugado con varias personas, pero ninguna les ha resultado tan atractiva como Bryce. Pero hacerle entender al hombre que es realmente lo que quieren va a ser mas dificil de lo que pensaban, ahora solo tienen que estar con el y hacerle sentir en cada momento lo importante que es para ambos, esperando que en algun momento caigan sus barreras y los deje entrar en su vida.

Este fue el libro mas corto y aburrido de toda la serie, esperaba ver mucho mas de la familia ahora que habia llegado la mama, pero el autor se enfoco en la relacion desde que se conocieron y de esa forma solo vemos muy poco de los hermanos o de sus parejas. Ademas, esperaba en que este libro mostraran por fin la tan esperada visita al club, pero hasta ese capitulo resulto tan soso que ni siquiera la escena erotica logro animarme.
En fin, esperaba otra cosa de esta serie, tal vez por eso estoy decepcionada, resultaron en historias muy cortas, algunas apresuradas otras con un poco mas de desarrollo, pero todas quedan mas como en el aire, como si faltara algo. Otra cosa que nunca entendi fue el porque del nombre de la serie, si realmente nunca o casi nunca se menciona el club, y hay pocas escenas que ocurren ahi.
Pero bueno, es una serie que se puede leer para pasar el rato, sino esperas mucho de la trama, ni un gran desarrollo, los personajes resultan interesantes pero siento que le falto un poco de desarrollo. No se si vuelva a leer de este autor pronto.

[SoCalBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was undoubtedly my favorite of the four books in this series. We get to see how each of the 4 brothers personal and work relationships develop in each of these 4 books, and its interesting to see how they all seem to make it work in their own ways, no matter how different they all are. And the Author definitely saved the best for last. Bryce not only finds one man who fits his "perfect" ideal, but he gets the best of both worlds, when he finds the Dom Troy and his Sub Oliver. After watching and lusting after each other for a long while the three men just need to figure out how they will all work and fit in together with Bryce as their Third and Dom/Sub Switch. This Polyamorous BDSM relationship is written perfectly. We get to see how they each interact individually as well as when all three of the men get together with some Light BDSM scenes thrown in. I also totally loved Oliver, I think he's my absolute favorite character in this entire series, he's just so bubbly and cute. My only complaint is that I just really want more...
Audio - Kenneth Obi is back, doing a great job finishing off this series with his narration of Bryce, Troy and Oliver. I really liked the distinction he made for all three of the characters, I'm sure its not easy when you throw a third voice into the mix. And his voice for Oliver especially, really made his personality and character stand out of the book, compared to the two others. I really liked listening to this one, also my favorite narration of this series as well.

[Sue bowdley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely my favourite of the series....I knew it was going to be because for one I love Bryce and two he get's two men..A Dom and a Sub...Oh boy what's not to love.....Troy was perfect with Oliver and with Bryce....The scenes between them were so damn hot....Even if your not keen on MMM you need to read this one.....Troy's Kitten and Tiger will just melt your heart x

[Valerie ❈M/M Romance Junkie❈]

A decent book ruined by pet names.

1/28/2020 I reread this only because I recognized their names in another book and even knew I’d read their book, but I couldn’t remember their story. Sadly, I’ll probably forget again. 😕

[Ed Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the least of all the books in this series. I just have a hard time relating to the characters. They remind me of soft porn movies where you see the guys naked but never with erections. I didn’t care much for Bryce because he was so indecisive. He just didn’t seem like a very good dom to me.

[Emily Seelye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Good job on the relationship, but I wish it was longer and included one more sex scene where Bryce was more of a submissive. Also, I wish he'd had a bit more one on one with each of the men.

[Thais · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying to read more MMM books to let go of my fear. I love 3ways and trios when comes to mated lovers and shifters, but not so much otherwise 'cause I'm scared one of them being left out. This is not the case here, no one is left out.

Although there is D/s dynamics here, I'm pleasant to say that it was well done. I'm not a fan of BDSM relationships outside the bedroom because I don't feel the connection between the couple, it's more like an arrangement than a serious relationship. I got the feeling all the important things a couple need to share and talk about it (in life in general), will be decided by the dom. And the sub will have to agree with whatever he was told or used the safeword and walk away. At least, it's like this in most books I've read. And it's not my kink. Anyway, I'm rambling lol

Here you can feel the relationship aspect as the BDSM aspect very well. It's sweet, cute and sooo romantic, I love it! <3 I was expecting more about the switch part of Bryce, but it wasn't very good explored, unfortunately. When they actually get to discuss the issue, it was done off scene, basically all their issues was talked off scene. That's where it felt short for me. I think if the book was longer, it would be waaay better, the author would have time to show and not tell us what happened.

Same thing happened in the beginning, we don't get to see they watching each other at the club, we didn't know about their psychical attraction, we didn't know they lust each other for months. Correction: we know because it was told, not shown. Because of this, the whole story was like a big insta-love for me, which I'm not really keen of.

But overall, it was cute as fuck! And I enjoy listening so much, specially Kenneth Obi narration, it was amazing, geez!

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up!

Books 1 and 3 are my favorites of this series, not to say that I didn't enjoy this one - it'd be my third favorite I guess?

I loved Oliver, and I loved his relationship with Troy. Bryce, I don't know...I felt like there was a lot, too much, internalizing of him being a switch, letting his inner Dom out, wondering if he should be a sub at that moment, that it slowed the story down for me.

Also, being in audio, I have to say that I love how the narrator spoke as Oliver. He and Wyatt were my favorite characters in the series, and I thought that the narrator did a great job for them. I did get a bit confused when it was all of the brothers together, especially with the deep voices, that kept throwing me off a bit.

I said for the overall review and I'll say it here - I think this is a great series for people getting into kink - it's nothing too hardcore, there's nothing too angsty, too extreme, and there's plenty of emotion and that connection between the characters.

Fun series and I thank the author for the review copy! I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Nora Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthy addition to this series. I liked the dynamics between the three guys. It was a smart choice from the author to let them get started right away, and not 'waste time' on introductions and slow burning stuff. Otherwise, we wouldn't have had enough time to get a sense for them. As I've mentioned with the previous books, I really think this whole series would've been better had the books been longer, so everything had been more fleshed out. With this book it bothered me less than with the other three. The sex is hot, the kink fun, and Oliver is adorable.
(I still have a hard time keeping all the names apart, since they're all so similar in sound...Carter, Grant, Garrett..drove me nuts trying to remember who was who!)

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryce is a switch & finds himself interested in Troy & Oliver, an established couple. I loved the introduction. I felt the connection between these three men right from the beginning. They all had a great dynamic together. I found myself looking forward to reading about how they come together to make it work. I really felt the love between Troy & Oliver. Both of them keen to add Bryce to their relationship. Bryce is has conflicting feelings, wanting these men with his heart but his head is not convinced...
I loved Oliver's sense of fun. I loved the kitten & tiger thing too. I have so much to say about this book but I don't want to add spoilers so I'll just say I think it's my favourite from the series. I happily recommend.

* I received an ARC from the author.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

The last book of the series. I had for it to be over. Bryce, Troy and Oliver are great together even though the insecure feeling Bryce was having. I was unsure why he felt that way. He family is crazy. They just want their siblings to be loved and happy.

Great series!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this wasn't quite as good as I hoped it would be but I enjoyed a lot more than the last couple in the series.

[GingerSpice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating is for audiobook

[Mishca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt really disappointed by this book especially because it seemed like all my favorites wrapped into one Gay BDSM and Threesomes. What's not to love?

An analogy I would use if this book was a jigsaw puzzle. You've put together enough pieces to get a good idea what the picture will be, but you are still missing some of the "pieces" or details to make it truly complete. This story had the foundations to make it something incredible but it felt several chapters too short to really flush out the story or the characters and make me develop any sort of attachment to them.

------ Spoilers Below ------

There was lots of great potential to this story. Bryce was already struggling with his identity as a switch in the D/S lifestyle. To add more stress for him he develops interest in a committed couple that he has seen at the club many times before. Troy is opening up his relationship to a third and learning how to incorporate someone who is a switch into their relationship and Oliver has to learn to submit to another man. Or so it seems. Honestly, I don't know how Oliver and Troy really felt about the whole thing other then they were on board with bringing Bryce into the relationship. This feels to me like it should be a big step for them but it's hardly even talked about. Bryce's struggle with how he can fit his personality into a relationship especially with two people is resolved in a couple sentences without the reader ever actually experiencing it. All the conflict is just non-existent. The characters end up feeling so one dimensional due to lack of development or time spent actually experiencing the story with them rather then having brief scenes that got cut off too soon or were rushed through.

I think what made this so hard to get into or even feel interested in was the fact that very crucial character development scenes were either skipped over or presented in the wrong point of view:

Example: Bryce and Oliver's date. The whole date was just skipped! We don't get to see any of the interactions between just Bryce and Oliver let alone Bryce and Troy. Heck even Troy and Oliver barely show up, just small minutes before they go get Bryce. To top this off, the story then cuts to Troy coming home. The following scene is Bryce's first time letting Troy top him and fully submitting to Troy. . . and it is all in Troy's point of view. We don't get to know what exactly lead to his decision, why now? Heck we don't even get to experience how Bryce felt submitting to Troy. It just kinda happens and next thing on the list, lets go, the book needs to finish!

Sadly for me the sex in this book wasn't even that great. I know Shaw can write a really good sex scene. The first book in Beautiful Shame...like wow! The steam rolls off the pages for me on that one. Here I just can't feel it at all.

I could go on, but I don't feel I need to.

------ End of Spoilers ------

Had this book been given the time and pages that it needed to explore the characters, developing feelings and truly experience the story this would have been fantastic. Unfortunately I have been left feeling like I read a summary of the book rather then the book itself.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

No!!! I don’t want it to be done. This series is so good. The guys, the links to other stories, just so much to love. The Stalking will now begin as I wait for new stuff.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my favourite of the series, but honestly, they all fell flat for me. I give this one 3.3 stars

[Gabbi Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Switches are fun too (an audio review)

Life as a switch can be challenging.  I know several and they speak a lot about ‘hats’.  Which ‘hat’ are they wearing that day?  There is a different headspace for each role, and it can be delicate. Add polyamory to the mix, and it can create a chaotic mind.

Shaw Montgomery’s character, Bryce, is battling that chaos.  In binary BDSM relationships, unless both partners are switches, each partner usually has an assigned and negotiated role.  I have seen couples evolve over the years and even reverse these roles, but usually each person, who is being true to himself, chooses and enjoys their role.

Bryce has fought with this dichotomy his entire life.  He is a take-charge guy at work, having to stand up to his brothers who are also his business partners. In the BDSM club he attends, he has been observing a couple with growing hunger.  The opening scene of the book is the aftercare of the submissive Oliver by his Dominant Troy.  Troy has just been using sounds on Oliver. (I’ll leave it up to you whether or not you’re going to investigate sounding if you’re not already familiar with it.)  Troy is holding Oliver, who is still flying.  Bryce is watching, as unobtrusively as possible, but his longing is plain to Troy, who invites the outsider to join the embrace.  Whether in an actual scene or in aftercare, only those explicitly invited to join are allowed to enter that sacred space.  Bryce understands the monumental nature of this invitation and he treasures the physical and emotional contact with the two men.

This story is told from each of the three men’s point-of-view, so, as a listener, I was able to see the relationship from the perspective of each member of the triad as they manoeuvre their way through this.  Troy and Oliver have known for a long time that they want a third.  But until they met Bryce, the structure of that new relationship wasn’t clear.  As Oliver points out, you can’t just custom-order a switch or pick one up at the supermarket.  That Bryce is a switch works for this trio.  But Bryce still has difficulty.  Sure, he enjoys topping or co-topping Oliver with Troy.  And he loves being one of Troy’s two ‘boys’, bottoming and submitting to the Dominant man, but he finds it difficult to change headspace.

Add his meddling mother and bossy brothers to the mix and it’s almost too much for the private man.  At one point, he’s ready to lose it.  Also, he’s a respected businessman in a conservative industry.  How would it look if he’s dating (and eventually loving) two men?

Sometimes it takes a pair to convince a switch that his true self is welcome.  And, speaking of true selves – Carter, Grant’s submissive, is becoming increasingly comfortable in his own skin, including wearing make-up and effeminate clothes.  Wyatt and Garrett are preparing to take their relationship to the next level.

This book is the perfect end to the stories of the four brothers who are all gay and all into BDSM.  And who all get their happy ending.

Kenneth Obi’s narration of the series has been enjoyable.  It can be a challenge to create and maintain nine distinct male voices, but he’s done a commendable job.  These are fun, light and entertaining listens.

[Nese's reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening scene in this book is so hot it gave me shivers.

Troy, level headed, stern and sultry , together with his sub Oliver
are looking for a third, to enrich their lives and feed their kinks.
They have both set their eyes on Bryce, and have been watching him and just waiting.

Bryce is a switch, but he has so many conflicting emotions,
he feels like he has 2 personalities waiting to come out.
He has been watching Troy and Oliver too ,
each time with sexual tension so high it leaves him desperate.
However, Bryce is scared of a Menage relationship, and all that entails.

Oliver, the sub is so cute, with soulful eyes and pouty lips, he commands attention everywhere he is.
He is every Dom's wet dream, Oliver is also very observant and cunning,
analysing every nuance of Bryce and Troy,
trying to manipulate a situation to get Bryce to acknowledge his needs and wishes.

Troy has his hands full, eventually when he gets his boy and man together
he has to work out how to keep them all happy, and he starts by tying them all together.

l loved everything about this book, the characters were portraid so well,
the situations very well thought out,
as for the sex scenes , OMG....
Thoroughly enjoyable, can't wait for more.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Bound & Controlled series, and it is a great addition. Bryce, Troy, and Oliver are perfect together. Their personalities are all different, yet they complement each other. Troy is stoic, protective, and dominant. Oliver is submissive, funny, and loving. Bryce is a switch and is torn between wanting a relationship with the other two and worrying about what that relationship would mean. The tale of the men finding their happy ending is quite enjoyable, sweet and sexy, funny and serious. It is also great to get more moments with the couples from the previous books. I adore Wyatt!
We finally get to meet the mother who strikes both respect and fear into Garrett, Brent, Grant, and Bryce; and she is something else. A mix of dominance, love, and maternal frustration just oozes from her. She is the perfect matriarch to the wonderful group of brothers and their partners. I would love to see more of this family, maybe a holiday story or day in the life type of thing. (Hint, hint, dear author!) In case it isn't obvious, I love this series!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryce is a switch who enjoys playing with various people, but he's never made a more permanent connection to anyone. Lately, he's noticed Dom Troy and sub Oliver at the BDSM club and they seem to be noticing him, too. As the three begin to play together, Troy and Oliver make it clear that they are very interested in Bryce and that they are hoping for a serious, long-term relationship. Can these three deepen their relationship while finding a way for Bryce to satisfy his dominant and submissive needs?

Bryce's story is a great end to the "Bound & Controlled" series. The quality of writing is maintained through all four books and also the characters in the previous books in the series are incorporated, so the reader can keep up with their lives, too. This book also gives insights into how these three men make a menage work for them. Good ending!

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryce was a switch and had only found subs or doms that did it for him for 1 or 2 scenes before it stopped working for him. But seeing Troy and his sub Oliver he was mesmerised and could not stop watching them. They had discussed him and decided to keep him - they just knew they needed a third to complete them and he was it - but was he ready to make a full commitment to them?

I enjoyed this story where Bryce got a chance at happiness with the two men he had been fixated with. I loved the method that Troy used to force discussion and wonder if others can use this in real life. I loved that there was plenty of love to go around and that Bryce's family were as supportive of him and his men as he was of them. Easy to read, feel and understand. There is mature content in this MMM story about a BSDM-like D/D/s relationship containing spanking and restraints.

[Sissy Spain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryce is the 4th book in the Bound and Controlled series. I have read them all and Bryce is, by far, my favorite. The character development is fantastic. I absolutely fell in love with Oliver, the oh so adorable bottom, also known as "kitten". I so loved the interactions between him, Bryce, and Troy. This is a one handed read all the way through. Smoking HOT! I like how the other couples are a part of this book. Although it is part of a series, you will not be lost if you haven't read the others. I do feel the book ended kind of abruptly but I think that's only because I didn't want it to end.

I was given this book as an ARC for an honest review.

[Esther Alayeto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story, unfortunately it's the last one in this series. I love this whole series and I hate to see it end! Bryce, Troy, and Oliver are so perfect together; their chemistry is off the charts. I love how they interact with each other and that even though Troy and Oliver have been together for a while, Bryce doesn't feel like a third wheel, he fits in perfectly with them. It takes a bit to figure things out, but it's exciting and hot to watch it all unfold.
Kenneth Obi did a great job on this one as with all of the others. He's really good at differentiating the characters and bringing life to this spectacular story.

[Stephanie Carvalho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me really intrigued I just couldn't imagine this kind of dinamics working, not without someone feeling 'left out' or 'neglected'. But Shaw managed to write not only a beautiful book, but one where we see that It's not just about sex and dominance/submission. Is more about let go of what holds one person and go after whats makes it happy. The trio complete each other in different ways, and It was very good to read their path in this discovery (Bryce's most of all).
Just wished for more scenes with Bryce as a sub...
Will definately read more book from the author.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with this book. After reading Houston from the Leashes and Lace series, I had this idea about how the author would write those amazing steamy scenes. I love reading books where one of the partners is a switch, Dom or sub depending on the situation. Nothing more exciting to read about a character submitting to one partner but dominating another. It’s so freakin’ hot. However, this book was way toned down. I wanted more edging, more pain, more of Bryce’s submission to Troy. I wanted just more. It’s still a great book, but I was hoping for more.

[T. CH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series!

I enjoyed the variant pathways to love of the Ryder brothers and their respective partners. Each journey was filled with passionate sex, love with laughter thrown in with the crazy antics of the brothers (the ribbing, the insane raiding of one another’s homes for sweets and post work gatherings). The Ryder’s were a loving family who supported one another in their family’s insurance business and life. All books in the Controlled and Bound series by Shaw Montgomery were great reads!

[Samantha Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing fantastic

Loved loved loved. I love ménages and this was just fantastic. A quick sweet and sexy read. I loved Oliver so funny and naughty and the whole dynamic between the 3 that didn't come completely easily but took a little work. Bryce, Troy and Oliver were sweet funny and holy smokes so hot together. So freaking hot. I didn't want the story to end. I wish there was more from the absolutely delightfully crazy family.

[Teal Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryce is the fourth book in the Bound & Controlled series by Shaw Montgomery. This is a story about an established couple, beautiful sub Oliver and strong and sexy Dom Troy, who welcomes the perfect third into their relationship, switch Bryce. Together these characters create so much heat and sweetness, I fell in love. Definitely a great conclusion to the series.

I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely understood Bryce's hesitancy when from the outside, Troy and Oliver already seem to have the perfect relationship. I didn't quite get why exactly they were looking for a third, but Bryce's inclusion does take things to the next level. Bonus point in this book for the emphasis on communication in any relationship. As an added bonus, this novella also includes a bit of a dark moment to fully adhere to the romance plot arc, which made the ending much more satisfying to me.

[Jonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the dynamics of the three main characters especially with how the story started. There were some places that the story dragged, but it was still a quick read. I didn't read any of the other books in this series so maybe I would have understood Bryce's mother and brothers better if I had. I would have enjoyed this book more had his family been left out of the story. I saw no purpose in the epilogue and thought it could have been eliminated.