The past collides with the present in a dazzling story filled with pathos, heartbreak and the possibilities of truth and trust!
Eleanor Davidson, née Scott, is brilliant and successful. But it's never been easy. While she may've always been a genius, there are secrets buried in her past that she'd rather never see the light of day. A scholarship student to St. Hugh's, she thought her life was charmed when she became tutor, and best friend, to Iain Frazer-Lyons, future Duke of Erskine, and his best friend, Declan Stone. Then it all crumbled around her. She's never forgotten them. But Fraze and Dec are now famous, always in the spotlight, while Ellie's a researcher making important medical discoveries. But she's not in their league. Since their friendship imploded, they haven't seen each other once, have nothing in common left. All that changes as Ellie makes a fateful decision to take the train, rather than a plane, to Edinburgh. When Fraze and Dec turn up as her seatmates, it's far worse than she could have imagined. Not only do they not recognize her, they're even more charming and sexy than she remembers. Worse, Ellie's inadvertent slip, and Fraze and Declan's realization of exactly who she is, sends her crashing back to the day when she lost them. But does the universe have plans for these three? Fraze and Dec make no secret that the past means nothing, and the future holds infinite possibilities. As Ellie's eyes are opened to a world she never knew existed, she's enthralled. A true submissive, she takes to her two Doms in ways she could never have imagined. She soon finds herself falling for the two all over again. But is any of this truly feasible, the Duke of Erskine, a famous footballer, and a medical researcher? Then another secret, buried for decades, comes to light, threatening not just the relationship between Ellie and her Doms but the very fabric of the friendship between Fraze and Declan, their families, perhaps their very existence. None of this works without BOTH Fraze and Dec. Can Ellie even survive without them? As the threads holding Fraze and Declan together fray to the breaking point, will any of this endure? Or will the friendship of a lifetime, and the possibilities to which Declan and Fraze have introduced Ellie, explode in a blaze of anger, fear, and heartbreak? Can Dec and Fraze reach deep enough to remember the lessons they taught Ellie? Without honesty, faith, and most importantly, trust, everything is gone forever!
I love BDSM and ménage stories, and this book delivers on both fronts. Filled with the realism of both lifestyles, it's riveting in every aspect. I loved Fraze and Declan. These men are famous, constantly in the public eye, yet they're entirely genuine. They don't flaunt their sexuality or lifestyle choices, but they certainly aren't ashamed of who they are and what they need. Their openness and willingness to unquestioningly accept themselves for exactly who and what they are is captivating. I fell in love with both of them. Ellie's a delight. Shy, unsure, but brilliant, her initial shock and uncertainty about what Dec and Fraze propose is totally believable. That she embraces what they propose, learns and grows into needs she never knew existed despite her reservations, shows an open-mindedness that the world needs so much more of. There is nothing about these three that I didn't love. The conflicts between the three, both past and present, add elements of heartbreak that pull you, heart and soul, into this story. There were so many times when I was crying uncontrollably. I have to admit to a draw to this particular lifestyle on a very visceral level. I was hooked from the first page. I love Ashe Barker's books, regardless of genre. But this is my favorite so far. Congratulations, Ms. Barker! This book deserves far more than five stars. Thank you for a story that held me captive long after I finished it!
A final note. Be an informed reader! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and BDSM sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and Amazon. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!