Playing the Game

Neighborly Affection #1

by M.Q. Barber

Don t miss M.Q. Barber s compelling "USA Today "bestselling debut!Neighborly Affection, #1

She expects dinner with neighbors, but gets sex with a side of safewords.

Mechanical engineer Alice still drools over her sexy neighbors a year after she s moved in. She can t decide whether they re roommates or partners, but either way, they spark a wanton desire in her that has her imagination--and vibrator--working overtime.

Henry, director of everything around him, studies human nature and applies philosophies to his paintings as well as his relationships. Quirky, polite to a fault, and formal, he follows his own code of honor even when it means denying himself.

Flirtatious and playful, Jay needs stability, guidance, and to please others. His antics counterbalance Henry s stuffy ways while he brings a level of vulnerability and fun to everything the trio does.

BDSM play with the enigmatic artist and flirtatious joker across the hall allows Alice to put aside the linear thought processes which have kept her unsatisfied and distant with other lovers. She must dismiss her preconception of love, sacrificing her independence, if she s to find a permanent place in their beds and hearts.

CONTENT WARNING: Explicit sex, graphic language, BDSM, bondage, spanking, M/M/F menage.

82,000 Words"

Genres: BDSM, Menage, Erotica, Romance, M M F, Erotic Romance, M M Romance

ebook

First published June 21, 2013

About the author

I am a former Midwestern gal who well knows the joy of flopping down in a field for an afternoon and composing stories about the shapes in the clouds. As it turns out, adulthood doesn't have to be so different from childhood.

Sharing those stories is a new thing for me. I hope readers will love the characters as much as I do.

Reviews

[Jaidee · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 "all the good stuff is on the cover" stars !!!

3rd Most Fun Review that I Wrote in 2017 Award


First of all this is not MMF erotica. This should not be advertised as such !!

There is so much that is just awful about this book. I am all about diverse and fluid sexualities !! However this author needs a crash course on bisexuality and in general male sexuality, and what it entails. This book is simply her own fantasy about her own vagina and what she would like done to it!!

First of all two very hot men in a primary relationship would not be so entranced by a particular vagina that their sole function would be to yearn for it and when it was not around spend countless hours doing so many things to it and with it that they would neglect each other and make their sole existence about pleasuring this said vagina to the exclusion of life itself. If it was an open relationship they would partake of a number of different vaginas as an adjunct to their own mutual pleasure. It is like straight man porn where bisexualiy in women is simply an entrance to tittilate them so that they can enter the scene and then fuck them silly. This is the housewife equivalent where this woman could easily enter this relationship with her magic vagina and with a sway of her hips get these men in a loving dyad to forget each other and concentrate solely on her vagina so that she gets at least eight orgasms per session !! Ummmm right !!

Secondly the dialogue is just awful particularly in Henry who is supposed to be a watered down dominant (who again worships this said particular vagina) and speaks like a transvestive madam in an upscale british whorehouse. So not hot !! He also feeds them apples with peanut butter and pineapple juice to replenish them after this said vagina gets more attention in an hour than all the vaginas in france get in a year !

Storyline -fail
Romance -fail
Bisexual friendly -epic fail

Clinical manual for straight men who are mystified by female genitalia -possibly
A masturbatory diary for the female author who needs education on both sexuality and writing....
now we are talking !!

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10 out of 5, I would. It is probably one of the most incredible romance novels I have ever gotten my hands on. And by romance, I mean erotica.

This novel is centered around Alice and her two handsome, hunky roommates Henry and Jay. But there's something different about them...they really enjoy having three in the bedroom.

The story follows Alice engaging in some fun time with her two roommates, and boy is it hot.

If you are looking for some hot, dramatic erotica with two super hot men this is for you! This book will definitely satisfy some females who are looking for a book that is all about taking care of the women in the bedroom and not the man!!! It is kind of like your BDSM 101 course, as it is slowly starting out with some of your basics in the genre.

Our one love interest is kind of a puppy dog and is very silly, while the other speaks professionally (which can either be very hot or seem very stupid depending on how you like your novels).

This novel isn't meant to win some crazy literary award or go for an Oscar, so don't expect it to woo you with her literary language and metaphors. It is a hot romance!! Keep that in mind!

Overall, I enjoyed it. The book is not meant to be a realistic take on your average bedroom play. But it does give your imagination some very happy thoughts.

Five out of five stars! I want like a thousand more books in this series please!

[Lea · Rating 1 out of 5]

04/25: I tried re-reading this because the cover is so pretty in black and white. Also I didn't remember what it was. Well, I have one word for you: sandals. No guy should be allowed to wear sandals, ever So DNF again.

Well, that's a DNF for me.

Not only does the love interest wear sandals, (that really disturbed me) the other love interest speaks like we're in fucking 1700. Kill me now.

This is just going to be a ranting, to be honest.

LI #1: He is a child in a grown man's body. Seriously, he's always jumping around and being happy. I hate happy people. (I'm hungry, don't mind me)
I had this image of an excited puppy in my head every time he was mentioned.

Actually, forget my comparison with a child. A puppy is what he is. Always bouncing aroud, thriving for attention, and leaving a mess behind.

Let's not forget he wears sandals.

LI #2: He thinks this is the godamned 18th century. I just can't stand his pretentious way of speaking.

“If I may prevail upon you to carry a tray, we’ll adjourn to the roof and start the grill while Jay washes up.”

WHO THE HELL SPEAKS LIKE THAT ? WHO ?

The dialogues felt forced and unnatural, and that's mainly his fault. Moving on.

Now, let's have fun and talk about the MC. Honestly, I don't know what to say about her, except that she seems to be a doormat. ApparentlyI'm not far enough into the story to have an opinion about her, which says a lot: if I already know I hate both LIs, while I can't figure out what kind of person the MC is, then there's a problem. And really, who would want a guy who wears sandals ? Crazy.

The sex. Oh, let me tell you about the sex.



NOT.

Here they are, in the kitchen, about to have dinner, when they suddenly decide tehy're waaaaaay to horny to eat. Instead, LI #2 takes charge, not even bothering to ask the MC if she wants to be dominated. He's just, "give me your wrists, please" (because he's always so polite.)

Meanwhile, LI#1 is being a good puppy and jerks off when LI #2 tells him to. Then we learn that he comes on the orange plate.

Drying lines and drops of ejaculate had liberally splattered the plate.

When Jay came, splashing white across the festive orange plate in front of him

A note to authors: There is such a thing as TMI. Really. I don't want to know if he painted the plate with his come.

I should've known as soon as I read about the sandals that this was going to be awful.

[♂♀♂ Mary's Menage Reviews ♂♂♀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

to read my full review: http://marymenage.wordpress.com/2013/...

Dammit! I just finished the book and I want more. I mean like right about now!

I started reading this story, thinking that I will read another D/s menage story. I had no preconceived idea, or maybe I had. I thought that it would be the usual submissive heroine meet Dom meet another Dom (or potentially another submissive if MMF).

Well. If I step back and give a superficial description, indeed it was. But oh dear, it was much more than that.

This is the complete journey of an independent woman that life pushed her to be, refusing to love and be loved, discovering her true self in the arms of a Dominant and his submissive.

Chapter after chapter, I was captivated by the very real process of a woman that discovers her submissive self and how a man tamed her, day after day, week after week, month after month.

Honestly? It is one of the best BDSM I ever read so far. Do not be fool because I gave only 3-stars for romance and equality. It is only because this book is part 1 and the book ends HFN. The romance is in process. The equality will be reached, but probably in book 2.

(...)

[Sophia Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hotness.

Holeeeeey. Hooooootnessss.

I live in the American Southwest, and we've been gripped by a heat wave this weekend. Temperatures pushed 120 degrees, making airports threaten to ground planes lest they fall from the sky at takeoff. Being the reasonable person that I am, I decided to stay indoors and kick back with a yummy new read. But man oh man, I found the pages on my Kindle to be just as hot, if not hotter, than the burning outdoors as I finished Ms. Barber's debut novel in a single afternoon. It's that good. The kind of read that keeps you clicking through until the end.

Reading Playing the Game was an education of sorts for me. I've always been an avid romance reader, and have embraced the various sub-genres from romantic suspense to paranormal. But I suppose it's possible to argue the majority of the books I've read have been of the vanilla variety. One man (or vampire, werewolf, etc.). One woman. A committed monogamous relationship. Usually a declaration of love by the end, blah, blah, blah. Call me old fashioned ... or boring, whatever works. ;o) Though I am happy to report my horizons expanding these last months, and now I can add Playing the Game to my list of eye-openers. Ms. Barber delves into the culture of Dominance and submission with compelling grace, introducing us to Alice, Henry, and Jay and all of their delightful emotional and sexual complexities. The psychology at work in this book is utterly captivating. Need an example?

"All right now, Alice? Feeling more yourself?"

She nodded. He was too polite to hint, but she was probably getting heavy. Monopolizing his chest. And his attention. How long had she been lying on him, cuddling up to him like he was her personal sleep aid? "Yes, Henry. My brain's working again. It wasn't for a while there."

"Did you enjoy that feeling? The silence in your mind?"

"I ... yeah." She wouldn't lie to Henry, but saying the words made her uncomfortable. There was something not right about wanting that. Wanting to not be herself. Her thoughts made her who she was. Made her a unique person, one in charge of her own life. Gave her control. A way to organize and categorize her life.

Why would she want to get away from that? And why would pain give her that? Why would it make her feel good?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and look forward to the sequel. I recommend Playing the Game to anyone with a sense of adventure who believes the brain is the number one erogenous zone. An intelligent, sexy, thought-provoking read!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Insight into D/s Relationships: Playing the Game by M.Q. Barber

ORIGINAL POST May 6, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...

Purchased by Blogger. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own except as noted.

This was a really great read that offered me a possible glimpse into the mindset of a gentle, part-time D/s m/m/f relationship. While the parameters of the original m/m relationship aren’t spelled out, I found that intriguing, and another reminder that relationships come in as many flavors as ice cream.

A lot of thought about who the characters are and how the relationship and submissive “training” would be revealed to the reader. I also liked the character development; especially Alice whose view is being third-party narrated. She’s gotten hard as a busy engineer who hasn’t found any relationship satisfying. They say a Doms role is to determine the subs needs and Henry does that perfectly. He makes her slow down and appreciate, and care about Henry and Jay.

Henry is an elusive character. If Alice is the girl who fell down the rabbit hole then it’s possible Henry is the Cheshire Cat, only human, infinitely hotter and not as cryptic. The only secretive part to him is what is happening to their hearts.

I read a lot of erotica and erotic romance and this is really well done. I have really been getting bored lately as book after book has to throw at least a little power exchange. This one did not bore me at all, in fact I read the whole thing in one evening. The description of the sexual activity is so natural that it really is erotica and not just a description of people fucking. Instead it is the story of a relationship with sex as a large component , but as a means of self discovery and not just instant gratification The only weird thing is that there was no male on male penetration; it’s all about Alice and her pleasure and that she gets in abundance.

This is a fab piece of erotica; possibly destined to become regarded as a classic. While it may simplify the D/s relationship it also made it accessible and comprehensible through internal processing and dialogue. As soon as I get a spare minute I plan to read her next book in the series. Mt friend Jessi Gage recommended this and I thank her. Now I HIGHLY RECOMMEND PLAYING THE GAME, especiallyto readers who want to read about D/s relationships and menage but need an easy intro.

[D.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's steamy and sexy enough, and doesn't hold back on the BDSM angle, but this erotic romance has so much more to offer than titillation or fantasy.

One of the things I appreciate in any sort of fiction is a strong heroine. It's a fine line - keeping a submissive female character strong and sure, not to mention keeping an alpha male alpha without making him an alphole, but MQ manages it beautifully! It kept me intrigued enough to follow Alice along on her journey to discovery and growth because she kept her strength. She doesn't shy away from her sexuality nor does she become Henry's sub out of repression or shame or past abuse - she plays the game in order to find fulfillment and satisfaction. Her uncertainty and vulnerability come from the growing intimacy she finds with Henry and Jay, something she's never experienced or wanted before but finds herself needing.

Her struggle with the intimacy and how she fits in to Henry and Jay's relationship (already established before she enters the game) makes for compelling internal conflict.

Jay was a great foil for Alice, and quite adorable. I half dread half anticipate finding out what happened in his past in the sequel.

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good kink.

Good smex.

Needs more mansex.

The whole thing is told through Alice 3 yrs into Henry and Jay's relationship. After starting with Book 4, I've got to say I missed being inside Henry and Jay's head. And the possibility of their manlove.

I wanted some manlove dammit! All I got was one unsatisfactory oral scene.



It is very BDSM 101 but the descriptiveness saved it for me. Alice is very articulate and she is very turned on by their games as are both Henry and Jay.

As a sidenote, I'm surprised that Henry and Jay haven't made more progress on his trauma after 3 yrs. Not saying trauma has a time limit but Henry is very competent. I was... surprised that's all.

That ending, though... I'm not sure it can even be called an ending. It's not a cliff; it's just fade to black, so now I feel like I've got to read the next one.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read more than my fair share of ménage books but this one will stand out as one of my favorites. This author has created characters that are relatable, funny and more than one dimension. Both of the men in this story know what they're doing. There is plenty of hot sex scenes but the book is not just dependent on that. The characters and their spirits make this book. I'm so excited to read the next installment (if the author continues the series)!
Don't hesitate to pick up this book, you WILL enjoy it ;)

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.Q. Barber has just become one of my favorite erotica authors.

I love erotica and ménage, but I dislike BDSM in most cases. I don't like a hero with something to prove and the way he proves it is by dominating a woman with no spine in a way that humiliates her while giving her scraps of arousal to keep her coming back for more. This is SO not that kind of story.

Alice is strong. She's analytical. She enters a contractual, safe, mutually beneficial arrangement with her gaybors (gay neighbors), and they treat her like a QUEEN! She is the most pampered, cared for sub I've ever seen. Gawd, I envy her, LOL!

But things aren't perfect. As Henry and Jay help her explore and expand her limits with the GOAL OF GIVING HER PLEASURE, she questions how their arrangement will affect the year-long friendship she had with them before they ever became sexual with each other. She feels insecure about inserting herself into their obviously loving relationship. Henry encourages her to voice her desires and never hold back, and she does just that physically. Not mentally. She won't reveal her insecurities and doubts, afraid they will bring the contract to a close, and the contract is definitely the best thing to ever happen to her.

I loved Alice. Loved her internal debates with herself. Loved her abandon. Loved how she submitted to Henry out of trust and genuine affection for him because she has learned that Henry gets so much out of being in control. He's never mean in his domination. Never humiliates her or Jay. I got the sense that he does what he does out of love.

I will read this one again. The sex scenes were off the charts hot. The characters were amazing. Henry melted me. MELTED! He's this proper British guy who paints and loves to cook. Everything he says is cultured and sensitive and kind. And then he'll whisper something so dirty in Alice's ear in that proper British voice of his, and Alice isn't the only one with a wet panty problem.

Jay is wonderful too. He's the exuberant puppy dog to Henry's controlled proper British butler. Seeing them work as a team to disarm and charm Alice was a hoot. And hot. Very very hot.

M.Q. Barber gets 5 stars from me. I was so pleased to reach the end of this book and realize Alice, Henry, and Jay's story doesn't end. I'll be autobuying everything from M.Q. and cannot WAIT for this story of neighborly affection to continue.

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: between 3 and 3.5*



What did you think about the emotional development especially of Alice, but also of Henry and Jay?
Aly: I think Alice advanced the most. She was more open about herself and her feeling then at the start. I liked how we could see the changes in them when comparing them to the start of the book.
Claudia: hm, for me she got more insecure with the book – not regarding her sexual preferences but regarding her feelings on the whole. Jay was the most open with his feelings, but Henry showed more possessiveness in the end

How did you feel about Henrys word choice of "performing"?
Aly: It seemed he didn’t see what they did as real, can’t say I liked that.
Claudia: me neither – it made what they had together seem a bit cheap

How would you describe the flow of this book?
Aly: At times it felt it dragged a bit, I can’t choose a specific moment when. All in all I think the author did well.
Claudia: I think it started out slow and there was a longer period before it really got somewhere, than in the second half it started slowing down again ... all in all I liked it

I liked Henry's idea with starting every night with the role-playing. What did you think of it? Did it enhance the experience?
Aly: For me it did, it gave the experience a surreal feeling. I think it also helped Alice relax.
Claudia: I think it showed how much effort Henry put into their relationship with Alice. I liked most of the set-ups and some were definitely enhancing the experience. I loved the Park-scene and the birthday present - I think these two were my favorite


Who was your favourite: Jay or Henry? Why?
Aly: I can’t choose either of them, maybe a combination of both *grin* I liked Jay’s playfulness and Henry’s confidence.
Claudia: Jay is a sweet character, but very much a boy. Henry, although sometimes a bit stodgy or stiff, was a more intense character for me


Describe each character in 3 words :D
Aly: Alice driven, confident, realistic; Jay fun, sweet, co-dependent; Henry smart, refined, stuffy.
Claudia: Jay: sweet, loveable, boy
Alice: vulnerable, curios, sexy
Henry: sexy, great voice, dominant


What did you think of Alice's need of relaying only on herself?
Aly: I think she took it to the extreme. I have a feeling it relates to her family, this need of hers on depending only on herself. At times it drove me nuts.
Claudia: I think this showed her vulnerable side. for me she started out as a very strong character but somehow the whole experience made her appear more touchy. she is not weak, but at the beginning she tries to hide her insecurities even from herself. during the relationship these insecurities start to show up
I do understand why it drove you nuts … I did not care for it as well, especially in the second half of the book

What did you like most in the book?
Aly: I liked that they were open with their sexual desires, that they didn’t feel the need to hide.
Claudia: that it made it very clear that there is no right or wrong - no matter if it relates to sexual matter, partners, relationships or anything else. the only important thing is that you are true to yourself


I would have appreciate it if Alice would have found her strength, but maybe that is the reason there are more books in this series. and I would have loved it if the ending was not so abrupt

What would you change?
Aly: I’d change Henry’s formal way of speaking, it drove me INSANE! I’d also make Jay a bit more sure of himself, I understand he is a submissive but it doesn’t translate to weak. I feel the author took this sexual desire to submit of Jay’s to the extreme.
Claudia: yes, definitely – Jay was a bit too much submissive for me … but ok
the second half was a bit slower ... I would have appreciate it if Alice would have found her strength, but maybe that is the reason there are more books in this series. and I would have loved it if the ending was not so abrupt

Favourite quote:
Aly:“All will be well, dearest.”[Henry]
Claudia: sure about that ... I think I have to go over it again for a favorite quote :)

[❃**✿【Yasmine】✿**❃ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Well, that was unexpected...

Genre: MMF erotica.
Cover: 7/10
Writing style: 8/10
Heroine: 7/10
Hero/s: 7/10
Amount of humor: 2/10
Amount of jealousy: 1/10
Hotness: 8/10
Romance: 3/10
Ending: 2/10
Extra book Details: Book #2 out in March '14.

BLURB: When Alice moves to her new apartment, she's greeted by two lovely and exceptionally different neighbors. Jay and Henry befriend her quickly and intimately. But they also have a main feature in her fantasies for the next year, until one night, at dinner, Henry asks her if she wants to 'play'.

Alice: 28 year old mechanical engineer, not many friends, rarely sees her family, unsatisfied with her sex life, doesn't believe in love.

Jay: 26/27 years old, over-eager, happy go lucky, in need of lots of praise & guidance, loves to please, flirty, very energetic.

Henry: 37 years old, dark horse, dominant, articulate, intelligent, artistic and philosophical.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I went into this thinking it was a stand alone, so at the end, I was pretty peeved, ha.

Modern MMF books can be pretty standard, the sex acts are always similar, there's usually an ex somewhere, ends in the 'acceptance' of their unusual relationship and declarations of love.

This was quite a bit different to others. I've enjoyed the male dom/male sub & female sub kind. My fave was Charlotte Stein's 'Make Me'. This erotica is not crude, no heavy BDSM, it's slow building, with interesting dynamics, it's casual, the sex was totally different. Each encounter gives you a glimpse of the things that make both Henry and Jay tick, but I was still left wondering at the end.

3.5 star rating is because: I felt it was too long, I would have preferred a stand alone and I would have liked some more fun and answers. I liked the lead female, the book is different, Jay & Henry were lovely.

[Jennifer Hajdics · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horribly Boring!

Wow. I need to wake up. That's how boring this book was. First off, it was infuriatingly annoying to have Henry speak like an 18th century English aristocrat throughout the entire damn book. It sounded absolutely ridiculous. The characters live in Boston in modern times. Jay was cute and funny, but we learned nothing about him throughout the book. He was like Henry's prop rather than his partner. And Alice was just plain boring. And the plot sucked. They get together every Friday and play a game. It wasn't interesting, it was repetitive. The sex wasn't exciting and the characters were so detached from each other. There was no connection, no emotion. Big waste of time.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick review:

Cover: Hit, but I think the age of the men are to close to represent The actual characters.
Title: perfect
Rating: Adult, M/M, MMF, BDSM
Thumbs Up: 4
Overall: there was just something missing for me.
Characters: Henry, Jay, Alice
Plot: Single girl, moving into her first apartment alone meets boys next door. Henry is the Domiant, Jay is playful.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Henry and Jay
Overall: this is my first time reading this author. I really like the story line. Of course who wouldn't want such fun neighbors. But something about how Henry spoke outside of the bedroom just drove me crazy. The bedroom scenes were hot, and I am thinking the next book will be even hotter.

[Deb M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing the Game (Neighborly Affection Book 1) is definitely not for everyone. That said, I loved each and every beautifully written word of this book. It is not action-packed, nor is it one sex scene after another. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for action and sex, sex, sex in the books I read. However, I also adore stories that explore the psychology of what makes people tick. More precisely, people and relationships in the complex and often misunderstood world of BDSM. Let me just say, M.Q. Barber blew me away with this compelling story about Henry, Alice, and Jay. Characters whose past experiences bleed into, and color every nook and cranny of their lives.

Alice has never been in love. As far as she is concerned, romantic love doesn't exist. That kind of reckless behavior not only opens the door for all kinds of hurt, it scares the bejeezus out of her. According to Alice, life is a series of challenges for which one must find the most logical solution. However, all of her beliefs about love and relationships are blown apart when she moves across the hall from Henry and Jay. I love Alice’s inner monologues; her fear of misconstruing Henry’s and Jay’s intentions, her desire for more as she surrenders to her sexuality, and her confusion about all these feelings!

Henry and Jay are not always what they seem. Henry, whose formal language and manner hark back to a bygone era, is the accomplished artist and experienced Dom. Once I got to know Henry, I couldn't picture him any other way. His character is like no other I have come across, and for that I applaud Ms. Barber.
Jay is adorable, silly, fun, and sexy. Child-like in his innocence and, at times, his behavior, his love and respect for Henry is unquestionable. Jay may appear to be carefree and untroubled, but as Alice comes to know both men, it is clear their relationship is much more than Dom/sub or mere lovers.

Playing the Game is well-written, elegant, and absolutely beautiful. It is also so sensual it will make your head spin. Ms. Barber’s writing made me feel as if I were Alice, immersed in the world of Henry and Jay. Wanting everything they offer yet afraid it will all suddenly vanish. Henry, Alice, and Jay are memorable characters who each teach us invaluable lessons about life and love. I never want their story to end.
****Reviewed for Xtreme Delusions****

[Angela Goodrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THAT is how you write a menage!

The MFM is one of my favorite erotica subjects to read; throw in a little BDSM and a bit (or a lot) of MM play and you have the recipe for a potentially great read. And while the last few ménages I've read have been good reads, Ms. Barber combined all of my favorite ingredients and produced a stellar read, at least for me it was.

I did not connect with the characters in Playing the Game, I fell in love with them. Henry, our professorial dominant, is not described as having the physically overwhelming presence of the alpha males I've come to associate with a Dom, yet I found him to be just as affecting and maybe even more so as he uses his voice, experience, and commanding presence to dominate his partners; do not interpret my use of the term professorial to mean that Henry is lacking physically because the man is clearly hot, it is used rather to illustrate his personality. Then we have the delightfully entertaining Jay, a compulsive flirt that every girl should be lucky enough have in her life if only the world were truly fair (thank goodness we have books to rectify that). Finally, we have Alice ... Alice you lucky, lucky girl.

These characters came to life for me and I was so invested in their relationship and interactions that I was suddenly at the end of the book and, BAM, it was over. And this is my only complaint about Playing the Game. There was no winding down of the story, no indication that the end was near, but rather I turned the page expecting the start of a new chapter and instead found that the book had ended and done so rather abruptly. Had I not picked this book up in order to read & review its sequel, I would have been quite upset as there is no indication that there is more to this trio's story. Would this have changed my rating? Probably not, as Playing the Game has been added to my reread list ... the characters are wonderfully written, the book is mesmerizing, and the sex is HAWT!

This is a VERY well written ménage and I am looking forward to the sequel, as well as reading more by this author. Thank you Ms. Barber for writing a book that I can add to my "go to" list when I need a ménage read.

[Jordhana Rempel · Rating 1 out of 5]

What was the plot of this again? Other than a boring sexfest, there was no conflict, no issues, and no internal change for any of the characters. Just...more boring sex.

If you want a kink fantasy without having any knowledge or experience of kink (or relationships in general), then go for it. But this is a painful disappointment to everyone else.

Every character is one-dimensional. Alice is dismissive of a loving, long-term relationship and easily gives up all aspects of her autonomy and personality because she believes that's what a proper sub should do. Jay is only ever described as a puppy, and his vague past trauma is breezed over immediately after being introduced. And Henry? Sounds like this:

"Is your distaste for intimacy at this time a function of your own discomfort with the idea or something imposed upon you by your former partners?"

The writer clearly was trying to hit a word count for this.

[JMV · Rating 4 out of 5]

** ARC****. Just a few words to describe this book.... hot & sexy. This is one of those books that you need to read under your covers with a flashlight. I enjoyed it a little to much. To be fair, I was warned that this book had a strong BDSM and it did not disappoint. I am sure I will read the next one..... With a flashlight....under my cover, again! (Can't wait!)

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up when I was in the mood for a steamy read and while it definitely delivered on that front I did find myself wishing there was more about the characters to really make me feel invested.

Playing the game is told from Alice's point of view after living in her new apartment complex for a year and getting to know her neighbors Jay and Henry they invite her to join them for the sexy games they play. Alice signs the contract and become Henry's submissive.

After a brief scene in the current time, there is a weird flashback type chapter were the reader gets told how much these 3 spend time together and know each other already before that fateful dinner were they invite Alice to join their games. I almost DNF'd the book right there and then as the flashback was way too long, but also was in a very stated way just telling what has happened the last year and how close these three are. I would've fine without that flashback as I think the depth of their connection could be shown differently. Once Alice joins them for the dinner were they invite her to play their games I felt like the book really starts.

I rarely read books that are this steamy and it took a while to get used to it as there is very little story outside of the sexy times. Luckily I am always reading multiple books so I could switch to other books if I wanted more plot. I am impressed with the variety in the steamy scenes, each scene was different from the last and despite there being so many of them it didn't feel repetitive. There also is a lot of variety in the steamy content and this does make it so that some of them worked better for me than others.

I liked the whole set up with Alice and her two neighbors. They each have enough of a distinct personality to easily remember who is who and give them their own vibes during their encounters, but I just wanted more. I wanted to get to know them more and have them talk things through more There is this set-up for some conflict/ drama with Alice growing fonder and maybe wanting some romance too, but not speaking up about it. This kinda slowly builds throughout the book and never actually gets resolved. I am assuming there will be more of this in future books, but I am not sure if I want to continue this series. This was not a short book and there was just so little about the characters themselves that it made it hard for me to be fully invested. I still don't know what type of work Alice does and only about 60% in the book there is a mention of her having a sister. I feel like this series has potential, but I am just not sure if I want to continue it to see if gets better for me. From the blurb it does sound like future books will deal with more of their personal struggles. I also have read books like Ember Blaze's her books that I feel do the balance between romance and steam better and that made it hard not to compare this one to those books.

To summarize: This is a great book to pick up if you want a steamy read with lots of steam and variety in the sexy scenes. I was impressed with the variety in the sex scenes and I thought they were well written. Some of the scenes worked better for me than others, but that makes sense with this many steamy scenes. What I struggled with is that there is very little to the book outside of the sex. I don't really read very steamy books like this often. I want to get to know the characters and have some romance too and that was very minimal in this book and those scenes always felt a bit off or rushed. I don't feel like I really got to know the characters very well despite them all having a distinct personality, I just wanted more depth and more to really feel their connection. There is some slight conflict/ drama that isn't brought to resolution yet despite slowly building throughout this book. I think future books might delve more into the characters personalities and struggles, but I am not yet sure if I want to continue the series.

[Annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hallelujah, the Neighborly Affection series by M.Q. Barber came as one hell of a hot surprise to me.

To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much when I picked up this book. I am a huge sucker for ménage romance, but let's face it, for the most part, this subgenre doesn't have a lot more to offer than mindless smut. Which is alright with me since I don't read erotica for its challenging content.
All the more surprising how very much I enjoyed reading this little gem.

Granted, there isn't much of a plot here.
Alice, a twenty-something engineer, has the hots for her two neighbors and friends, Henry and Jay, who may or may not be a couple. She doesn't be believe in love, but sex? She could totally do that. Too bad that, apart from Jay's constant but harmless flirting, neither of them has ever made a serious move on her - until their one-year anniversary as neighbors, that is. It doesn't take long until Alice finds out that not only Henry and Jay have been lovers for years, but also that they live in a D/s relationship - and they want Alice to be part of it, at least casually. So yeah, that's pretty all there is to tell. The three of them meet up every other Friday and Henry introduces her to his world of dominance and submission.



And what can I say... Alice's journey into uncharted waters was smoking! Ms. Barber has a talent for writing highly sensual and erotic sex scenes with some kink and relatively mild, but no less sexy, dirty talk.
Another thing that really stood out in this book, though, was the characters. Although everything is told from only Alice's POV, each character is very well-developed.

Alice is a wonderful narrator. She is very mature und confident, yet sweet and curious. In real life, we'd be besties for sure.

"Love's fake. The convenient excuse people give for making stupid decisions. I have a strict no-love policy."

Henry... Oh.My.God! Henry is my personal prime example of a perfect dom. Respectful, affectionate, responsible, yet with that calm air of authority. Yeah, I'd totally do him. The way he talks? Some reviewers called him an 18th century English Lord. I think it's downright sexy. Controlled, polite. Dayum.

"I am in the dominant role, directing the action, yes, but the goal is not to fulfill my desires at the expense of yours or Jay's. Rather the opposite, in fact. My primary goal is to ensure that your experience is exciting and memorable, meeting your needs and testing your boundaries without causing physical or emotional harm not expressly requested in your contract."

And then there's our cute 'puppy', Jay - there really is no better word to describe his demeanor. Always eager to please and for praise. And what a flirt.

"Nice meeting you, though."
"Of course." He grinned and winked. "It's always nice meeting me. People tell me that all the time."
-------------------------
"See you around."
"Yep, I'm sure you will. I'm hard to miss."

This story was fun and sweet and light and sexy and a ton of other positive things. I loved it as much as I loved the rest of the series.
Definite recommendation!

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how this book incorporated two submissive characters. They were different in many ways. The interaction of them with the dominant really made for an enjoyable read. I recommend you try this book. I found it refreshing and not cliche at all.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having sexy neighbors can be very distracting and Alice finds herself dreaming about Henry and Jay. Even after a year of friendship Alice still can’t decide if Henry and Jay are more than just roommates but that doesn’t stop her wild fantasies when she’s alone at night. What would it be like to be with Henry? What would it be like to be with Jay? Heck what would it be like to be with both of them together? Alice is trying to keep her mind off of her wayward thoughts when the sexy duo invites her over to celebrate her one year anniversary since moving into the building. Alice is excited and anxious to except their dinner offer. What she wasn’t expecting though was the game that they were asking her to play with them. Can Alice let and trust these guys enough to let them into her life?

I thought this book was very well written. I loved the plot of the book and the characters. I have read many mfm erotica’s but this one stands above them. Some erotica’s tend to lose the story line because there is so much focus around the sex scenes but that doesn’t hold true with this one. M.Q. Barber not only manages to keep the story strong but also keeps Alice’s character strong and independent even though she is technically a submissive. I read this book quickly because I couldn’t put it down. If you enjoy erotica’s then you should definitely give this one a try. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the continuation of Alice, Henry and Jay.

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

[Heather Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooo different than I thought it would be. This is definitely erotica. But more like erotica as an art form.

It's not stuffy or pretentious, though. What it is is goddamn amazing.

Alice is independent, sweet...and very curious about her neighbors, Henry and Jay. The relationship between the two men is impossible to pin down and Alice's speculations are all in good fun, until they invite her over for a special dinner one night. Dinner gets cold, but everything else gets HOT.

Smoking hot.




It was easy to fall in love with all three characters. Jay is a energetic ball of playful sexiness, sweet and maybe a little damaged. Alice gains depth as the story rolls on, I really identified with her trying to be strong all the time, to keep her distance and her fear of getting hurt, not sexually, but emotionally.

Henry was the most interesting dom I have ever encountered in fiction. He's like the sexiest professor you ever had in college, but totally and completely sure of himself in a way that is not at all arrogant, but giving and strong and fascinating.

This is the first in a series and I so soo SO hooked!!

Yep.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice moves into a new neighborhood, in a much better area. On her first day she meets her neighbors; Henry and Jay. They have a friendly and easy relationship. Until they boys suggest something else, the suggest playing with Alice and the author doesn't mean board games.

We find out that Jay and Henry has a contract. Jay is a submissive, Henry the dominant. Alice to be another submissive. Alice, Jay and Henry enjoy their alternate Friday nights together. She learns things about herself, what she enjoys, what she doesn't, to be honest with her lovers, to be free and just enjoy!! She learns things about each man and what they enjoy. She is more to them just a lover and sex object, she is a friend, a valued friend.

The sex scenes were intense and well written. I was always left gasping for more. Wondering what would happen the next time they were together. The ante was always upped and well deserved.

However, the ending left me confused and lonely! I expect closure. Maybe something like Alice moved in with the men. Or her having more of a relationship with one more than the other. Something. But the way it ended, just seemed unfinished to me.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was a lovely BDSM-lite menage that needed just a touch more passion. Henry and Jay are a couple and invite Alice, their neighbor, to join in on their play time. Alice struck me as rather dour. Too much inner musings. Now Henry! He shot this book to a 4 for me. That calm, sexy, never over the top Dom voice. You just shiver when he says "please come here, dearest one." OOOOO, what a sexy beast. Really liked Jay and could just imagine his almost puppy like eagerness while in bed. I loved the matter of fact way that the BDSM elements were laid out - the contract, the bondage, the spanking. Not over the top - just a way of life for these two guys who REALLY want Alice. I just needed more passion in my interactions. I suppose that is why I read romance - looking for the romantic parts that were sometimes lost in the almost clinical way lovemaking was approached. There are scenes with Alice and Jay and Alice and Henry, but when all three are involved, grab a glass of ice water!! Hotter than hot. But I really enjoyed it and have already downloaded parts 2 and 3.

[Delphina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be honest. This book completely surprised me. I guess I expected a book filled with fluffy characters in a bunch of hot scenes. I was good with that. I like those books. This book, however was so much more than that. The characters were deep and so likable, even in their flaws. The connections they made were felt before the heat even began and the BDSM was not for “shock” value and was not your typical BDSM. It made the story fresh and different. There were a couple of time where the POV seemed a bit off in the beginning, but overall, once I was sucked into the story I was completely emerged. While the story does not end with a cliffhanger, it is clear that there is more left to tell. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out. If you like hot reads with non traditional relationships, intelligent characters, and a bit of BDSM, this story is probably right up your alley.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by thanking M.Q. Barber for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. What a treat!

Holy Hotness this was an awesome book! Henry....oh Henry, I want a Henry of my own. He just oozed hotness. Jay was more fun loving and easy going but oozed hotness as well. Generally I am not a huge fan of the female MC in ménage interactions. Alice was the exception. I appreciated that she was not winey as so many of them are.

Now for the downside....it came to an end and now I am left waiting for the sequel.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I loved this book! Couldn't put it down! 2 in the morning and my eyes are closing but I'm debating on reading another chapter! I loved everything from the simple story, the sexy characters to the sex! The SEX was awesome! And there was so much of it too! This was a perfect book for a smut-nut like me :) i loved when jay and henry were making out while pleasuring alice too! I loved everything! :) 5+ dominating-stars! ***********etc.

[Nina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried. I really did. But I just can't. Every single review that gave it one star reflects what I think about this book. Horrible.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting story of 2 neighbors befriending their new female neighbor. Alice is a strong, independent sort who doesn't believe in love. Henry and Jay are her two sexy neighbors who are helpful and lovely people with opposite personalities. Jay is very exuberant and childlike especially in his devotion to Henry while Henry is very proper, New Hampshire upper-crust in his demeanor. The two are an odd pair to Alice but as she gets to know them over the first year of them being neighbors, she starts to desire both men in a way other than the friendship that she is bound by. Jay, being a constant flirt would seemingly entertain the idea of something more with Alice, but out of respect for Henry, she keeps her lust for them to the confines of her bedroom with her trusty handheld massager. :) On their one year anniversary, Henry invites Alice over to his and Jay's apartment where their friendship, turns into something more of an arrangement of games. The games are D/s related and before anything starts Henry makes sure that Alice is aware of the arrangement and that she has consented to play. During that time, their friendship grows into something a bit more, but Alice refuses to acknowledge it and she only wants to keep things logical between them.

The story itself is everything I love about a good story about it having characters that I can see and imagine and it has a really good story line, but there is something that is missing that has me emotionally invested. I'm not sure what it is, but by the end of the story I was thinking that I should have loved the story more than I did because it is what I like as far as there being multiple people cultivating a relationship amongst one another, but it didn't quite come together for me, but like I said, it was a good story line and plot. I have started the next book, so it's good enough for me to keep reading and hopefully; I will feel a closer connection to these characters or maybe it's just Alice where I feel the disconnect. I don't know, we shall see........