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Sapphire Cove #4.5

Party of Three

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C. Travis Rice’s Suite Secrets Novellas are steamy, standalone stories in the beloved universe of Sapphire Cove, a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast, where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their hearts' desires.

“Jealousy was your word, babe. Not mine.”

Buckley Mitchell lives to put people back together again. The charming, warmhearted EMT is exactly who you want holding your hand in the ambulance after you’ve broken a bone. And he’s just the boyfriend Mateo Cano needs to help him embrace his sexuality after years of repressing his true self. But Mateo hasn’t been entirely truthful about the complicated relationship between him and his best friend from his Marine Corps days, the accomplished crew chief who saved his life during a training accident gone wrong. Why did Master Sergeant Jeff Braxton vanish from Mateo’s life right after Mateo and Buckley got together?

When Buckley and Jeff meet for the first time at Sapphire Cove, a posh oceanfront resort in Southern California, a more complicated history is revealed. But Buckley isn’t jealous. In fact, he’s something else altogether. Something excited…and hungry. He’s spent the past year bringing Mateo’s fantasies to life. Now it’s his turn to have his fantasies realized. And to do it, Mateo will partner with the handsome older Marine who taught him everything he knows in the bedroom, turning their lavish villa at Sapphire Cove into a gateway that brings secret passions to life. Will their wild weekend be little more than a fling? Or will it change all three of their lives for the better?

Want more Sapphire Cove? Don’t miss the novels in the series.
Sapphire Sunset
Sapphire Spring
Sapphire Storm
Sapphire Dawn

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

47 people are currently reading
1387 people want to read

About the author

C. Travis Rice

5 books147 followers
C. Travis Rice is the pseudonym New York Times bestselling novelist Christopher Rice devotes to steamy tales of romance between men. Christopher has published multiple bestselling books in multiple genres and been the recipient of a Lambda Literary Award. With his mother, Anne Rice, he is an executive producer on the AMC Studios adaptations of her novels The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches. Together with his best friend and producing partner, New York Times bestselling novelist, Eric Shaw Quinn, he runs the production company Dinner Partners. Among other projects, they produce the podcast and video network, TDPS, which you can find at TheDinnerPartyShow.com.

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5 stars
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109 (44%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
Profile Image for Brooke.
832 reviews560 followers
April 28, 2025
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

“You’ve got a boyfriend. A good one. One who’s right for you. That’s what matters now.” “You’re right,” Mateo said, “and all night I’ve been thinking about you fucking him.”


If your boyfriend is in love with his mentor from his time in the Marines… you invite him to the birthday party, of course.

“You sure about this, Cano?”
“Of course I’m sure. Happy birthday to me.”


Party Of Three was a sexy steamy novella, with a sweet HEA for three lovely men.
Loved the characters, loved the spice, the dirty talk, the fantasies. There were also unexpected emotional moments, which added some depth to a mostly porny plot.

Suddenly he hoped desperately to be the first third they’d played with. Maybe even the last third they ever played with.


Didn’t love that they teased a kidnapping fantasy and then didn’t show it on page (so meannn). Still, very much enjoyed seeing these three find all the love.

“Are you ready to be ours?”


I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- PTSD
- Trauma from near-death experience (off page)
- Homophobia
- MMM (2 tops, 1 bottom)
- Role-play
- Mentions of CNC & sharing fantasies
- Praise kink
- Rimming
- Spit-roasting
- DP
- Coming hands-free
Profile Image for Jono Mitchell.
220 reviews890 followers
June 26, 2025
This book brought back the same feelings I used to get from those 90s-era erotica films you’d stumble across on late-night cable and I mean that in the most affectionate, non-derogatory way. There’s something deeply nostalgic about it. It captures the spirit of older romance and erotica in a way that feels both familiar and fresh, and I think that’s really special.
Profile Image for Vini.
794 reviews111 followers
June 24, 2025
3.5
this was a fun time! read it mostly bc i wanted to read something by christopher rice, and i love a novella! i think he managed to make the romance feel believable and have a proper and complete arc despite the shorter length, and despite two of the throuple already being an established couple. the smut was hot! the story structure was a bit weird to me, but i'm guessing it's there to connect with other books in the series?

also pretty sure this is tommy/buck/eddie from 911 fanfic. if it isn't. then those are a lot of similarities!
Profile Image for Jess.bookrecs.
618 reviews56 followers
March 29, 2025
I don’t necessarily vibe with the way this was written. Almost like I’m reading about a story being told in another story which just all the way confused me at first till I developed an intrigue for the characters that existed in the world of the storyteller.

This is more erotica than romance. In the spicy scenes tho, we do get an insight into character depth, development and perspective which I think is the overall idea here.

The execution is unamusing but the pacing is steady enough to keep you engaged and wanting more. I like that the connection between the 3 main characters although developed on one person being the center grew and changed into a beautiful connection between all 3. The author also did well to write the characters as individuals with different thinking patterns, characteristics and nurture before showing us what they look like as a unit.

Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box press for the arc.
Profile Image for Stacktheforest - Natalie.
227 reviews22 followers
July 23, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Foray into polyamory with a hint of jealously and an epic second chance? The way these men are FIGHTING for their lives to deny their desires is crazy. The premise is Buckley and Mateo are in a happy relationship but Mateo is trying to heal from trauma. Buckley reaches out to Mateo’s old Master Sergeant. Little does he know, Jeff is actually an old flame. The good news for Jeff and Mateo, Buckley has plenty of k!nky fantasies that involve being *shared*.

- Exhibitionism/Voyeurism
- Second Chance
- Toys

Buckle in for a very spicy novella that pucks an emotional punch and has genuinely loveable characters.

Thank-you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Ben.
46 reviews15 followers
June 10, 2025
Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I will confess: there was something about the cover of this book that appealed to me after a few beers! Do not drink and Netgalley, folks.
This was the first erotica I've tried so I'm coming into this with the perspective of someone who is sex-positive, very gay, but otherwise a newbie for this genre. Party of Three is about EMT Buckley Mitchell is helping his boyfriend Mateo Cano embrace his sexuality, but things get complicated when Mateo's former Marine mentor and past lover, Jeff Braxton, unexpectedly re-enters his life. When all three men meet at a luxury resort, hidden desires surface, leading to a passionate weekend that could either be a one-time escape or the start of something deeper.
The story is a multi-POV novella told from the perspectives of the three men. To get to it, if you are looking for a book that contains a lot of steamy romps around an emerging throuple - you will have a good time. Outside of that, this fell a little flat for me. The characters feel largely interchangeable and had the same voice (such as the late-40s army major calling someone 'dude') despite their backgrounds and little motivations we are given painting them as very different people. We get into the hot stuff too quickly for me, and as a result the intimacy doesn't feel earned or deserved in the characters. To its credit, the book paints a modern style relationship in a positive light, and while it's idealistic it at least attempts to explore to nuances and difficulties a throuple can face. I also appreciated the author's attempts to add some complexity to the characters, especially Mateo's PTSD connected to his past. That being said, it felt a little red flag that ultimately the trauma just resulted in another plotline to get the three back into bed.
Overall, what it sets out to do by telling a hot and steamy story about three burly dudes it executes well. It just doesn't elevate anything beyond that.
Profile Image for Mich.elles_booknook.
147 reviews7 followers
June 30, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Party of Three by C. Travis Rice is a scorching MMM novella that brings the heat fast and doesn’t let up. Buckley and Mateo are already a solid couple, but when Jeff—Mateo’s longtime friend and Buckley’s not-so-secret crush—joins them for a weekend in Sapphire Cove? Let’s just say things get very interesting. 😏

What follows is a weekend of slow-burn tension giving way to explosive chemistry and emotional vulnerability. It’s about deepening connection, opening up to unexpected possibilities, and choosing something new—together. For such a short story, it delivers on both spice and sincerity.

💦 Tropes & vibes:
🔥 MMM triad
🏖️ Vacation heat
💘 Mutual attraction & emotional intimacy
💪 Broody ex-Marine
💉 Sweet, grounded EMT
💬 Big feelings + even bigger heat

If you’re in the mood for something fast, filthy, and full of emotional payoff—this one’s got you covered.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read for an honest review!

Profile Image for Greyson Blackwood.
16 reviews15 followers
September 9, 2025
I found this book VERY spicy and intriguing. I really thought the story line was really great and I found that Mateo and Buckley had such a beautiful relationship but sometimes your past can haunt your future. If you are looking for a book that is going to have spicy fantasies along with a long lost love that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions then this is the perfect book for you. Sapphire Cove is a beautiful place to explore your wants and desires without feeling that you can't be yourself.
Profile Image for Angela L.
214 reviews12 followers
July 3, 2025
It's a fun, short spicy read. It's a novella of a series, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It didn't let me down, though, and made me want to pick up more of the series.
We join the couple, Buckley and Mateo, and Jeff, Mateo's former friend from his time in the marines as they spend a very 🥵 hot weekend together exploring their fantasies.
If you're into a MMM erotic story with some plot as well, then this one's for you.
Profile Image for Krista.
176 reviews
July 14, 2025
This was fun, I enjoyed it.
I waffled on the rating, settling on three stars, because it has pretty good character development for a short. I would have liked a little more depth, though.
Profile Image for Colleen (colleenreads40).
418 reviews18 followers
July 5, 2025
Party of Three is a standalone Sapphire Cove Suit Secrets novella. You do not have to have read any Sapphire Cove books to enjoy Party of Three. Here's what you can expect from Buckley, Mateo, and Jeff:

🔷 MMM contemporary romance
🔷 Third person triple point of view
🔷 Guaranteed happily ever after
🔷 Open door spice
🔷 Roleplaying
🔷 PTSD representation

This was very steamy, with a good balance of heart! I like that Christopher's started these novellas, as they're a way to revisit Sapphire Cove and meet new characters. I also think it's cool how the book started and ended with Logan and Connor, the heart of the Sapphire Cove resort. Party of Three takes place over Mateo's birthday weekend. His loving boyfriend Buckley invites his former Marine colleague, Jeff, to attend. There's a history there, but instead of jealously, Buckley realizes he's been repressing some fantasies of his own.

I liked how we first get a chance to know Buckley and Mateo separately, before Jeff joins them. When we first meet them, they're having fun with one of Mateo's roleplaying fantasies. We get to dive right into the spice when they end up in their laundry room together. As we transition to Mateo's birthday weekend at Sapphire Cove, we add Jeff to the mix. Even though Jeff and Mateo have an interesting history, there's a spark between Jeff and Buckley too. It leads to an absolutely sizzling weekend that I was as reluctant to let end as the characters were! Although this book has more spice than the original Sapphire Cove series books, it still has Christopher's storytelling and emotions that I've found in the other four books. We also see Mateo continue to heal from his PTSD, with the help of Jeff and Buckley. I really loved Buckley's character, but Jeff took a little longer to warm up to. There were also some instances in the book where I was definitely not happy with him at all.

Regardless, this was a fun book with great spice and meaningful characters with the beautiful backdrop of Sapphire Cove resort. On the books' website, there's character art for the original four (which I absolutely love) and I'm hoping eventually we'll get some Jeff, Buckley, and Mateo art. Polyamorous relationships are difficult to write, but I think Christopher did a great job at balancing everything here.
Profile Image for José Orlando.
139 reviews65 followers
June 16, 2025
“Party of Three” by C. Travis Rice (aka Christopher Rice) was FUCKING HOT. I’m talking filthy, dirty, and still full of heart. The spicy scenes are so well written, they feel real, intense, and emotional. I didn’t expect a book about a couple inviting a third person into their relationship to be so sweet and moving, but it really was. Buckley is funny and bold, Mateo is gentle and caring, and Jeff… Jeff is pure Daddy energy. Their chemistry is amazing, and I couldn’t stop reading.

The story takes place at Sapphire Cove, a beautiful beach resort in California, and it reads like a sexy late-night movie with heart. Buckley is an EMT who helps his boyfriend Mateo feel safe and open after years of hiding who he is. Things change when Mateo’s old Marine friend Jeff shows up, the man who once saved his life and taught him everything he knows in bed. Instead of getting jealous, Buckley gets curious. The three of them spend one wild weekend bringing their fantasies to life, but it turns into something much deeper. This book is spicy, sweet, and so satisfying.
Profile Image for 369Pages.
698 reviews30 followers
July 13, 2025
3.75⭐️
Under 200 pages of a couple that’s mad into role play finally coming together with a third in their relationship. Mateo and Buckley are happily together, but it doesn’t stop either man from fantasizing about Jeff, an older officer from Mateo’s military past. When Mateo (alongside Buckley) encounters Jeff again, their joining is very emotional and very 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

You can expect:
-MMM romance with an established couple turned throuple
-ex military / PTSD (surprisingly emotional!)
-a lot of adventurous and fantasy-fulfilling 🌶️
-Romance that moves FAST

This book was definitely steamy, but also had some quite emotional components as well. The writing style is actually really nice, good quality in terms of descriptions etc! I enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Hanh T.
50 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2025
Shoutout to Lori from GetRedPR she knew I love me some spice and the spice was spicing !! I love when the men come through with how he’s really feeling then it explodes and gets all intense . The cover was what drew me in its hot asss fuxk. 🥵It’s a short and fun read. I loved the quotes “their story is their story. And ours is ours and they’re both beautiful stories. I loved how it mentioned about how their upbringing was about who they were . I was intrigued and of course it was a page turner . It was fun watching everything develop . The ending was super sweet as well !
Profile Image for Ashley ♡ ❀ ♡ ❀.
176 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book. From the synopsis it seemed like this book was going to be super spicy and smutty however I do not think it was a great story. One thing I wished this book had was POV of each MMC. If there was I think it would have been more easier to follow along with the story. There was more plot than smut which is fine but I would’ve liked to see more sexy time moments. If I were asked tomorrow or a week from now what this book was about I wouldn’t be able to tell you. There wasn’t anything in this book that would’ve made me remember the story. 1 star is my rating.
Profile Image for Susan Lowe.
452 reviews24 followers
June 26, 2025
“A world without you in it is not a world I want to live in.”

This is a short and steamy novella featuring three men. Yes, three. The couple explores their fantasies and brings in another man. This is not a plot heavy book but it does have some discussion about PTSD. I would have liked this book a bit more if it had the POV of all characters. This book is good for a quick hot read when you just need to unwind.

This book is written by Christopher Rice writing as C. Travis Rice.
Profile Image for Lyb.
257 reviews5 followers
July 14, 2025
*4.25 stars*
This book had no reason being this fucking hot.

“You’ve got a boyfriend. A good one. One who’s right for you. That’s what matters now.” “You’re right,” Mateo said, “and all night I’ve been thinking about you fucking him.”

Pure yearning was infused in this book. Their whole situation was so interesting, the tension and level of horniness was fucking insane!!!
90% of this novella is smut/sexual tension, but their love for each other made so much sense, and the story still felt super compelling.
I couldn't put it down!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Profile Image for Litbyzuls.
131 reviews28 followers
June 17, 2025
Short, quick and to the point with some emotional ptsd baggage backstory which I really enjoyed.

Truly a short, spicy MMM read which had me blushing, great recommendation if you feel yourself falling into a slump.

Thank you Get Red PR for the arc in exchange for honest review (:
Profile Image for alex (winter break!).
113 reviews12 followers
Read
August 31, 2025
DAMN THOSE MEN ARE HOT
also the threesome with the old man is kinda wild but lowkey that’s hot tho lmao
(i haven’t read this i just like saying stuff like this on spicy books lol)
Profile Image for Wallie Martinez-Vega.
44 reviews4 followers
July 8, 2025
Party of Three is a standalone novella from the Sapphire Cove universe that serves as a both preview of C. Travis Rice's writing and will motivate you to learn more from his universe. It is mature, gay and super steamy, sensual and truly passionate erotism all with three MMCs that try to figure out their dynamic as they come to realize that there are several layers of attraction between all three and learning how to squash assumptions and engage in clear cut communication. And it all starts with Buckley, an EMT who loves to please his boyfriend Mateo and make him as happy as he can be. Mateo is an ex-Marine with religious and family trauma, riddled with PTSD and who has history and learned all his elite skills from his sergeant. Jeff saved Mateo in more ways than one, but he opted to leave given that he realized he could provide ALL that he wanted, and instead of communicating, he ran. AND IT'S ALL STEAMYYYYY.
Profile Image for Jamie Beth.
113 reviews
July 12, 2025
I LOVE BUCKLEY!!!! Seriously, he may have gone about things the wrong way, but you can see how Mateo means everything to him. Add Jeff into the mix, and you get the perfect balance between the three. This short and sweet novella hits you in the feels as you watch the guys help Mateo through his past issues. I didn't feel lost having not read the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Profile Image for Jacques Coulardeau.
Author 31 books44 followers
September 14, 2025
GAY TRIAD, QUEER TRIO, AND MUSICAL TRIPLET IN A QUEEN-SIZED BED

Three men fall in love, and they decide to experiment with a throuple sexual come-together. They are gay, one is an exclusive bottom, and the other two are exclusive tops, and they find the situation particularly attractive, exciting, and sexually enticing. But the story is told from the outside by one member of a gay couple who do not want to get into that sort of experimentation. That definitely limits the range of the story itself since it is de facto marginalized by the indirect telling, and from a narrator who is definitely not ready to experiment. Hence, this indirect and standard gay married intermediary weakens the story to an exotic trek in gay land.

One top, the oldest participant in the triad, is a marine officer. The second top was a marine under this marine officer, but he got out of it. The bottom is quite younger, and he is from nowhere in particular. He does not have any social dimension, apart from being the bottom of the other two. That marginalizes them in their experiment. The older top is the only one who has a real social position, but it is practically absent from the story. For the Marine Corps, whose officer he is, he is straight, normal, banal, without any gayness at all. In other words, he is socially incognito, unknown, unseen. The other two are some sort of gay individuals who do not have to have a social position, a job, an income, etc. This is a cliché gay situation. That does not really exist, except if you are making a living with your sexuality.

The younger top is the son of a very conservative preacher of some unclear affiliation, and his wife, and both expelled him from the family, and the preacher is discovered, or simply asserted, since there is no real prosecution, as first, having a femme entretenue mistress somewhere in town, and second, being a regular thief of the very funds of his religious institution. Liar, hypocrite, and fornicator, all three (another triad) in one man. And when he is discovered as such, he changes his tone about their son and decides to reestablish some normal relationship. The three gay men are invited for Christmas, and they clearly say they will go. Yet the last scene of these three gay men is a Christmas party in which the two tops become two Father Christmases and they celebrate Christmas with a sex party, the two tops having sex with the bottom, burying their sex spears together in the back alcove of the bottom. I guess, though it is not specified, the father and mother of the younger top are the audience. Not clarified in the text.

Since those three individuals only share sex for our enjoyment, the novella turns into some erotic trek in explicit porn literature that depicts and supports a promiscuous situation. These three men do not do anything else in life, at least two of them don't, and the oldest one is always available, any time, any day, any night. So, I came out of the story rather disappointed, and I remembered the erotic novels of Anne Rice under the name of A.N. Roquelaure, The Sleeping Beauty Quartet. That too was explicit, but the young men and women were the daughters and sons of top people in society, and they were spending some time in this special sexual reservation to get broken in their straightness, normalcy, and condescension, if not arrogance. It's true that being a young male from a top family and spending 24 hours chained naked to the wall, anally impaled onto some kind of long protruding knob, and being the toy of all the adult members of the club, coming there only to play with these young people, take advantage of them, is quite more open with that kind of back and front open access for boys and girls. Anne Rice is better because she did not segregate the boys from the girls, the men from the women, and all sorts of connections were possible. No gender discrimination, which is not the case with C. Travis Rice.

Just a last note on this erotic writer. His “Travis” middle name is in fact the middle name of his father, Stanley Travis Rice Jr., and probably that of his grandfather. This reveals an emotional deficit in his relationship with his father, who died in 2002.

If you do not like fornication, having sex for the very sake of sex itself, you don’t need to get into the book, be you gay, straight, bipolar, bi, or whatever in the LGBTQIA+ planet.

Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU
Profile Image for MJLovestoRead.
2,270 reviews58 followers
June 20, 2025
My first from Christopher Rice writing as C. Travis Rice and I loved every word. Rice's prose is lovely as he explores what is deep in the hearts of 3 men whose lives are about to change forever. Buckley Mitchell and Mateo Cano have a wonderful relationship but there's a hurt deep within Mateo at being ignored by his former Master Sergeant Jeff Braxton after they shared a passionate night. With many attempts for months to connect again just to say thank you once more for saving Mateo's life, it's Buckley who finally gets through to the stoic Marine and organizes a surprise for both men.

Rice tackles PTSD in a very delicate way as Mateo refuses to seek help for what happened in the ocean while he was still a Marine. Jeff also has abandonment issues from his childhood and it was very interesting to watch as both men started to heal as Buckley became the bridge, both literally and figuratively, for them to feel whole. Not truly knowing if Jeff was ever interested in Mateo romantically, these sexy guys dance around each other with Buckley being the one to conquer the at times gruff master sergeant with a few dance floor moves of his own.

Soon, all bets are off and what all 3 realize is how in sync they are with one another both in and out of the bedroom. This throuple comes as a surprise to all of them yet they can't seem to take their eyes off one another as their bodies become rabid for simply a touch. And when Mateo, Jeff and Buckley finally succumb to their desires, it's electric. Rice gives us just enough steamy trysts to counter the intensity with which Mateo and Jeff have mentally suffered. And it's not like Buckley hasn't had his own issues with family drama but somehow his humor, his devotion and his huge heart are all these 3 need to be the best they can be.

Rice treats these men with the respect they deserve, not shying away from the harshness of their pasts. I loved that because of the intense connection they all have with one another, that Mateo can now trust that he will get past the effects of his PTSD and be able to be the man Buckley and Jeff know he has always been. In addition, the way Rice used fantasies together with a friendly game of Truth or Dare to intensify the tether that will forever bind this throuple was wonderful. It was clever and real and allowed these men to feel vulnerable enough to finally declare their truths.

Now that I know Rice writes these kinds of storylines, I am beyond anxious to explore his work as C. Travis Rice a bit more since the writing is just so clean and addictive and easy to devour. I am so happy to have picked up this well-written book and I happily give Party of Three a big 5 stars!
Profile Image for Tammy.
640 reviews5 followers
November 11, 2025
📚Party of Three
✍🏻C. Travis Rice
Blurb:
C. Travis Rice’s Suite Secrets Novellas are steamy, standalone stories in the beloved universe of Sapphire Cove, a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast, where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their hearts' desires.

“Jealousy was your word, babe. Not mine.”

Buckley Mitchell lives to put people back together again. The charming, warmhearted EMT is exactly who you want holding your hand in the ambulance after you’ve broken a bone. And he’s just the boyfriend Mateo Cano needs to help him embrace his sexuality after years of repressing his true self. But Mateo hasn’t been entirely truthful about the complicated relationship between him and his best friend from his Marine Corps days, the accomplished crew chief who saved his life during a training accident gone wrong. Why did Master Sergeant Jeff Braxton vanish from Mateo’s life right after Mateo and Buckley got together?

When Buckley and Jeff meet for the first time at Sapphire Cove, a posh oceanfront resort in Southern California, a more complicated history is revealed. But Buckley isn’t jealous. In fact, he’s something else altogether. Something excited…and hungry. He’s spent the past year bringing Mateo’s fantasies to life. Now it’s his turn to have his fantasies realized. And to do it, Mateo will partner with the handsome older Marine who taught him everything he knows in the bedroom, turning their lavish villa at Sapphire Cove into a gateway that brings secret passions to life. Will their wild weekend be little more than a fling? Or will it change all three of their lives for the better?
My Thoughts:
During a joyous celebration of a milestone birthday, a devoted couple receives a surprise visitor. An old flame and former Marine who once shared a deep, unforgettable connection with one of them. As memories stir and old emotions rise to the surface, the evening takes an unexpected turn. What could have caused distance instead becomes a revelation: the bond they once had never truly broke. In that moment, past and present converge, and the three are faced with a truth that’s been quietly waiting. Love, when real, defies time and convention. And some hearts were never meant to let go.
I found this book VERY spicy and intriguing 🌶️🌶️
Thanks NetGalley,,Blue Box Press and Author C. Travis Rice for the complimentary copy Of "Party of Three" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#BlueBoxPress
#PartyofThree
#C.TravisRice
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings:Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Religious bigotry
Profile Image for Ari Reads.
453 reviews5 followers
September 1, 2025
Party Of Three is my first polyamorous MMM romance, and also my first Travis Rice book and it definitely won’t be my last 📖💫.
This novella was a fast-paced, wild, kinky, sexy 🔥, and fun ride 😋. The plot pulled me in quickly, and the characters were both deliciously written and easy to connect with. I really enjoyed the blend of three distinct personalities, balancing spicy heat 🌶 with emotional depth 💖. I also appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from heavier themes like military PTSD and estranged family relationships.
Of course, being a novella means there’s less room for development, but I still found myself wishing for a little more content. At times, something felt a bit uneven or missing. Even so, it’s absolutely a worthy read—perfect if you want to take your mind off things and just enjoy. Go give it a try 👋
3 stars 🌟
Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box press for arc of the book.
💏💙✨
"But they did sleep that night, all three of them, and peacefully, knowing they'd passed another milestone in the journey that had begun during one wild weekend at a place called Sapphire Cove."
💏💙✨
𝚂𝚈𝙽𝙾𝙿𝚂𝙸𝚂 :
𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙴𝙼𝚃 𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎’𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚢𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚘 𝙲𝚊𝚗𝚘 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚛𝚙𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚎𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚍𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐. 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝙹𝚎𝚏𝚏 𝙱𝚛𝚊𝚡𝚝𝚘𝚗 𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚘’𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛? 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙹𝚎𝚏𝚏 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚂𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚊 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚑 𝚘𝚌𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚊, 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚍. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚓𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜. 𝙸𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝, 𝚑𝚎’𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍…𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚛𝚢. 𝙷𝚎’𝚜 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚘’𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎. 𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚝, 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖, 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚟𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚊𝚝 𝚂𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎. 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚊 𝚏𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝙾𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛?
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,456 reviews103 followers
June 24, 2025
[I received a copy for an honest review]

Party of Three
by C. Travis Rice is as hot as the heat wave we are currently having in Boston at the moment. Seriously if your looking for a HOT MMM erotica to spice up your summer than look no further! A novella where a couple invites a third and filled with off the charts steam ( Buckley's praise kink was delicious) , role play, truth or dare, sex toys and more. A well rounded novella because besides all the hot as hell sex scenes, these characters bring emotion and a tangible connection between the three of them. This is so much more than a threesome for fun but start of a wonderful poly relationship.

[PTSD rep]

Favorite Quotes:

His kink was being Mateo’s kink.

Deep down, he thought, we all want to be desired by someone willing to break the rules for us.

“I belong to you.”
“Well, I love you.”
“Same thing,” Buckley whispered into his ear.

The instant connection between both men terrified him at first. Then it washed over him, drawing him closer as they met in a fierce hug. Less of a threat and more of an invitation.

“I love him more than anyone I’ve ever known, and his life isn’t complete without you. So I want you in it. Regardless of the risks.”

It’s like we’re connected. You’re the center of my desire, and when you get fed, I get fed.”

“Aw, God. Millennials and their feelings,” Jeff growled. “Yeah, running from yours went great, Boomer.” Jeff’s eyes blazed. “I’m Gen X, smart mouth.”

Fantasies of serving, performing, and taking direction. Of being watched and directed and guided. And shared.

the two men he loved desperately were both naked and under his control.

The look in Jeff’s eyes, the need in Buckley’s voice— these two men owned him now and probably forever.

“Paint him. Paint our boy.”

It was the same confusion he always felt when Mateo made him feel truly seen and loved. Now it was coming at him from two men, instead of one.

“You and me, trying to make his life better. Together. I like it as much as everything else we’ve been doing.”

“But the other thing is this, and this is important. Fantasies are just fantasies, babe. A fantasy can never be wrong. Only actions can be wrong.

Profile Image for Mal.
542 reviews45 followers
June 1, 2025
2.5⭐️

When I read the blurb for this one, I knew I had to read so my expectations were quite high. It’s a shortish novella, featuring a MMM pairing with an established couple and fantasy at play with an old experienced flame. That sounds extremely hot to me so I expected a ton of smut and spice with some relationship dynamics to move the plot along.

To be fair to the book it does deliver on exactly that. Buckley and Mateo are on Sapphire Cove celebrating Mateo’s birthday. Exploring kinks and fantasies that appeal to Mateo is Buckley’s kink and boy does he like to deliver. Mateo’s been estranged from Jeff and is butt hurt he won’t reconnect so Buckley takes it upon himself to tell a lie and build a scenario where Jeff has to come to Mateo’s party.

Through a series of coincidences Mateo thinks the surprise is a threesome with Jeff and Buckley. Buckley having been turned on massively by Jeff and Mateo’s past exploits lends credibility to this assumption. However when all is revealed they do still progress to a raunchy intimate connection with a load of sharing and spice. I think Buckley was my favourite character- I just loved his take no prisoners and no bs attitude, o liked soft hearted Mateo who is kinkier than he believes but I think I was almost disappointed by Jeff.

These three, while they has a decent physical dynamic had no real chemistry and the banter was honestly forced and stilted whenever Jeff entered the picture. I also did not connect with the writing style at all. It is tipping into the mundane and speeds up only when it comes to the spicier scenes but again I felt very little chemistry between the protagonists expect Buckley - all the stars I’m giving are for Buckley. I also didn’t enjoy the story in story concept since I have no idea who the protagonists are since I havnt read the rest of the series and considering this is platformed as a standalone that pulled me up a bit.

If you’re looking for a token plot (which in my opinion could have been explored more) and some smut with a dash of role play and kink with a MMM pairing you might want to check this out.
Profile Image for Janette.
876 reviews22 followers
June 17, 2025
This is a hot, steamy fun little trip to Sapphire Cove! Written in the same style as the series, this story is reminiscent of the classic 80s and 90s prime-time television dramas with their tantalizing and scandalous storylines. This resort is the perfect little bubble where the outside world ceases to exist, everyone reaches a pivotal crossroads, and everything’s just a tad bit over the top. It’s honestly the perfect setting for Buckley, Mateo, and Jeff to confront their feelings and explore what’s unfolding between them.

I’m generally not one who feels an intense satisfaction reading polyamorous romance, not because I can’t wrap my head around loving multiple people, but rather many of the stories I’ve read have felt unbalanced in some way. But I have to hand it to C. Travis Rice - this might be one of the few times when I feel the sense of completion and rightness the MCs share. The way they work together, the past feelings reignited between Mateo & Jeff, and all the other challenges they tackle and work through…it’s intense. And I felt it in a way that made me want what they want - the three of them, together - because their connection is beautiful and makes all the sense in the world.

One thing I wish I’d enjoyed more was Jeff’s character. He’s a bit of a coward, and I get it - he’s scared, and for someone who struggles to relinquish control, that must be difficult. I often struggle to embrace the brusk, military type MC’s, so maybe it’s a little bit that, but it also just felt a little hypocritical for him to hold Buckley to a higher moral standard when he couldn’t quite measure up himself.

All in all, this is a really satisfying, super hot - read: scorching - story. If you love the Sapphire Cove series, definitely don’t miss this one! Although this is billed as a standalone, if you’re new to the series, I highly recommend picking up the first book in addition to this novella to get to know Connor and Logan. It’s a great way to better understand them, their connection and to get familiar with Sapphire Cove.

*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*
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