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The Threefold Tie
Everything was fine till Jack fell in love with his former lover’s wife.
Shy Civil War veteran Jack never expected to be involved in an affair du coeur. It seemed like a minor miracle when he and his comrade-in-arms Everett became lovers - and a painful return to reality when Everett married his sweetheart, Sophie. And the situation is only more complicated now that Jack has fallen in love with Sophie, too.
When Everett found himself in love with Sophie, the proper thing for him to do was to end his dalliance with Jack and marry her. But even though everyone says it’s impossible to be in love with two people at once, Everett has never really gotten over Jack.
Sophie’s unconventional family has shown her that love is not always simple. But she’s still startled to find herself responding to Jack’s very obvious crush - and to realize that Everett, too, still has feelings for Jack. How can they navigate nineteenth century romantic conventions and still find a satisfying arrangement?
Shy Civil War veteran Jack never expected to be involved in an affair du coeur. It seemed like a minor miracle when he and his comrade-in-arms Everett became lovers - and a painful return to reality when Everett married his sweetheart, Sophie. And the situation is only more complicated now that Jack has fallen in love with Sophie, too.
When Everett found himself in love with Sophie, the proper thing for him to do was to end his dalliance with Jack and marry her. But even though everyone says it’s impossible to be in love with two people at once, Everett has never really gotten over Jack.
Sophie’s unconventional family has shown her that love is not always simple. But she’s still startled to find herself responding to Jack’s very obvious crush - and to realize that Everett, too, still has feelings for Jack. How can they navigate nineteenth century romantic conventions and still find a satisfying arrangement?
101 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2020
8 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Aster Glenn Gray
17 books176 followersAster Glenn Gray writes fantasies with a romantic twist, or romances with a fantastic twist. (And maybe other things too. She is still a work in progress.) When she is not writing, she spends much of her time haunting libraries, taking long walks, and doing battle with the weeds that seek to topple her tomato plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 22, 2023
Quiet, interesting historical polyam romance novella set in New York just after the Civil War. Jack served in the U.S. army with Everett and they became lovers. After the war, though, Jack moved to the city to pursue art, while Everett took over a print shop in a small town... and then married his sweetheart Sophie. Hurt but not wanting to lose Everett completely, Jack manages to find a balance until he, too, falls for Sophie and things get complicated.
It's a story about people being human and making mistakes (none of which are cheating), but Jack, Everett, and Sophie all care for each other a great deal so they keep trying. They slowly untangle what it is they want, and how it can work. I quite enjoyed it.
It's a story about people being human and making mistakes (none of which are cheating), but Jack, Everett, and Sophie all care for each other a great deal so they keep trying. They slowly untangle what it is they want, and how it can work. I quite enjoyed it.
November 17, 2020
A lovely, very sweet novella about trying to make a three-way relationship work. Lots of domestic scenes and an emphasis on communication. Recommended if you want a short comfort read.
April 24, 2020
4.5 stars
I think I have fallen in love with Aster Glenn Gray’s voice. Her writing is, as Cleo has said, deceptively simple. I start out each of her works thinking it will be uncomplicated, but as I keep reading I realize that there are layers there, subtle cues and meanings, that make each novella more than one would generally expect that such a short work, written with such directness, is likely to be.
Her protagonists are often reflective, tentative and careful, her writing delicate, sensitive, and her stories touch me differently than most others. I feel as if she watches over her characters with tenderness. They have their flaws and foibles (though they are good people) but her perception of them is loving, and an invitation to the reader to be equally generous.
The Threefold Tie, her newest, is such a work. Unlike Briarley and The Wolf and the Girl, this one is not a fairy-tale retelling, but a historical novella, set in the post-Civil War era (around about 1872). It involves two men and one woman. It is a romance, and more. It is also the story of a friendship, as all Gray’s novellas are.
Johnathan aka Jack is an artist and illustrator living in New York City. He is friendly with a married couple, Sophie and Everett Kesson (Everett is a newspaper editor and printer), and the novella opens when he is visiting them in their home in Parkersburg.
Jack’s friendship with Everett goes back at least several years. They served in the Union army together during the Civil War. One night, they became separated from their regiment and had to huddle in a barn. Everett kissed Jack, and things moved on from there. By the time they mustered out of the army, Jack was thoroughly in love.
When Everett got engaged, Jack was hurt and angry. He didn’t expect to like Everett’s wife and initially he didn’t. But then, a few years into Everett and Sophie’s marriage, Jack fell in love with Sophie. Coveting Everett’s wife seems far worse to Jack than sleeping with a man, so he does his best to conceal his feelings. But everything changes when Everett, in a moment that comes after receiving joyous news, kisses Jack.
Jack is horrified—the illicit kiss is the worst possible thing that could have happened, and now Sophie, whom Jack adores, will be hurt. He’s not far off, either. Sophie appears in Everett’s printing office just as Jack ends the kiss by pushing Everett away, and she is devastated and then furious.
But it is not Jack with whom Sophie is angry. Her fury is directed at Everett, who, in a moment of carelessness, destroyed the delicate balance between the three of them. Jack runs back to the house, and when Sophie follows him there, he apologizes more than once, tells her he loves her and kisses her hands, and then flees back to New York. Sophie knows that it’s more than likely that she’ll never see Jack again.
I don’t want to spoil the surprises in a book that’s so short (148 pages), so I’ll only add that this is a story in which the characters gently question themselves and the others, reveal themselves to one another in an attempt to find out whether their relationship is a triangle, a friendship that’s been shattered, or whether it can be salvaged and reconfigured into something unexpected and a bit intimidating for three people in 1870s America: a threesome.
The Threefold Tie is written in third person and structured somewhat unusually. There are four chapters, each divided into numbered sections, and in the first chapter we get Jack’s POV, the second, Sophie’s, and the third, Everett’s. With each of these, we learn more about each of the players; their inner thoughts are only gradually unveiled. The fourth brings us back full circle, to Jack. Furthermore, the story ranges back and forth in time via the memories of the characters, but the flashbacks are not in a dual timeline. Rather, they are like puzzle pieces fitting into place.
The order in which the POVs appear in is exactly right. Jack is a shy and gentle soul, a good listener who rarely speaks. There’s a humility to him; he doesn’t expect much or demand anything from others, even when he has a right to. He is observant, though, and every moment in Sophie’s company is almost like a gift to him. His love for her torments him, because Everett is the last man he would ever wish to betray.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete review at Dear Author:
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/o...
I think I have fallen in love with Aster Glenn Gray’s voice. Her writing is, as Cleo has said, deceptively simple. I start out each of her works thinking it will be uncomplicated, but as I keep reading I realize that there are layers there, subtle cues and meanings, that make each novella more than one would generally expect that such a short work, written with such directness, is likely to be.
Her protagonists are often reflective, tentative and careful, her writing delicate, sensitive, and her stories touch me differently than most others. I feel as if she watches over her characters with tenderness. They have their flaws and foibles (though they are good people) but her perception of them is loving, and an invitation to the reader to be equally generous.
The Threefold Tie, her newest, is such a work. Unlike Briarley and The Wolf and the Girl, this one is not a fairy-tale retelling, but a historical novella, set in the post-Civil War era (around about 1872). It involves two men and one woman. It is a romance, and more. It is also the story of a friendship, as all Gray’s novellas are.
Johnathan aka Jack is an artist and illustrator living in New York City. He is friendly with a married couple, Sophie and Everett Kesson (Everett is a newspaper editor and printer), and the novella opens when he is visiting them in their home in Parkersburg.
Jack’s friendship with Everett goes back at least several years. They served in the Union army together during the Civil War. One night, they became separated from their regiment and had to huddle in a barn. Everett kissed Jack, and things moved on from there. By the time they mustered out of the army, Jack was thoroughly in love.
When Everett got engaged, Jack was hurt and angry. He didn’t expect to like Everett’s wife and initially he didn’t. But then, a few years into Everett and Sophie’s marriage, Jack fell in love with Sophie. Coveting Everett’s wife seems far worse to Jack than sleeping with a man, so he does his best to conceal his feelings. But everything changes when Everett, in a moment that comes after receiving joyous news, kisses Jack.
Jack is horrified—the illicit kiss is the worst possible thing that could have happened, and now Sophie, whom Jack adores, will be hurt. He’s not far off, either. Sophie appears in Everett’s printing office just as Jack ends the kiss by pushing Everett away, and she is devastated and then furious.
But it is not Jack with whom Sophie is angry. Her fury is directed at Everett, who, in a moment of carelessness, destroyed the delicate balance between the three of them. Jack runs back to the house, and when Sophie follows him there, he apologizes more than once, tells her he loves her and kisses her hands, and then flees back to New York. Sophie knows that it’s more than likely that she’ll never see Jack again.
I don’t want to spoil the surprises in a book that’s so short (148 pages), so I’ll only add that this is a story in which the characters gently question themselves and the others, reveal themselves to one another in an attempt to find out whether their relationship is a triangle, a friendship that’s been shattered, or whether it can be salvaged and reconfigured into something unexpected and a bit intimidating for three people in 1870s America: a threesome.
The Threefold Tie is written in third person and structured somewhat unusually. There are four chapters, each divided into numbered sections, and in the first chapter we get Jack’s POV, the second, Sophie’s, and the third, Everett’s. With each of these, we learn more about each of the players; their inner thoughts are only gradually unveiled. The fourth brings us back full circle, to Jack. Furthermore, the story ranges back and forth in time via the memories of the characters, but the flashbacks are not in a dual timeline. Rather, they are like puzzle pieces fitting into place.
The order in which the POVs appear in is exactly right. Jack is a shy and gentle soul, a good listener who rarely speaks. There’s a humility to him; he doesn’t expect much or demand anything from others, even when he has a right to. He is observant, though, and every moment in Sophie’s company is almost like a gift to him. His love for her torments him, because Everett is the last man he would ever wish to betray.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete review at Dear Author:
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/o...
April 8, 2024
Aster Glenn Gray is undoubtedly one of the most interesting historical romance authors out there. I love how different her books are, be it time period or type of relationship. Jack and Everett served together in the Union Army and became lovers during the Civil War. They continued in that vein after the war until Everett met and married Sophie. Now Jack visits once a year to continue the friendship, not wanting to admit he’s still in love with Everett and he’s developed feelings for Sophie. References to the Oneida Community and discussions of complex marriage ground the possibilities for the triad well before they contemplate such a possibility for themselves. I enjoyed all three characters, shy artist Jack especially, and seeing how everything evolved.
That said, the ending felt unfinished. I can’t say it’s really an HFN as it’s unclear whether Jack will only visit every June per usual or if he’ll visit more frequently now that they’ve all confessed feelings for one another. I hope it’s the latter, as it seems an ideal arrangement for them all.
Characters: Jack is a bisexual white artist and Union Army veteran. Everett is a disabled bisexual white print shop owner and Union Army veteran. Sophie is a bisexual white housewife. Everett and Sophie have been married almost three years. This is set in Parkersburg, NY and NYC.
Content notes: infidelity (Everett kisses Jack while he’s married to Sophie, Jack pushes him away right as Sophie witnesses it. Everett slept with Jack while engaged to Sophie but they consider that “sowing wild oats” and not infidelity.), past miscarriage, FMC’s cousin married a man with an STD from sex workers and who fathered a child, Everett uses a cane (shot in the foot), past war, hypothetical scenario about someone dying by suicide, past death of Jack’s mom (raised by relatives), past murder of FMC’s father (his abolitionist press was set on fire), on page sex, MMF menage, “manhood” as euphemism, gender essentialism, ableist language
That said, the ending felt unfinished. I can’t say it’s really an HFN as it’s unclear whether Jack will only visit every June per usual or if he’ll visit more frequently now that they’ve all confessed feelings for one another. I hope it’s the latter, as it seems an ideal arrangement for them all.
Characters: Jack is a bisexual white artist and Union Army veteran. Everett is a disabled bisexual white print shop owner and Union Army veteran. Sophie is a bisexual white housewife. Everett and Sophie have been married almost three years. This is set in Parkersburg, NY and NYC.
Content notes: infidelity (Everett kisses Jack while he’s married to Sophie, Jack pushes him away right as Sophie witnesses it. Everett slept with Jack while engaged to Sophie but they consider that “sowing wild oats” and not infidelity.), past miscarriage, FMC’s cousin married a man with an STD from sex workers and who fathered a child, Everett uses a cane (shot in the foot), past war, hypothetical scenario about someone dying by suicide, past death of Jack’s mom (raised by relatives), past murder of FMC’s father (his abolitionist press was set on fire), on page sex, MMF menage, “manhood” as euphemism, gender essentialism, ableist language
November 21, 2020
Wonderful MMF short historical novel. Ms Gray's deceptively simple writing is a pleasure and her character development is flawless.
My advice would be not to read the reviews (how ironic is that ?!) have a look at the cover and the blurb: you know it's not going to be action-packed! Then spend a wonderful couple of hours in the 19th century.
My advice would be not to read the reviews (how ironic is that ?!) have a look at the cover and the blurb: you know it's not going to be action-packed! Then spend a wonderful couple of hours in the 19th century.
August 31, 2022
3 1/2 stars. An enjoyable read. I just felt the characters handled what would have been considered earth shattering revelations a little too easily to be believable. It almost read like a fairytale. That said, I really liked the characters and enjoyed the book.
April 20, 2020
Oh my, that was perfectly *lovely*. So sweet.
November 3, 2020
I have read a fair number of triad/polyamorous stories, but this one, set in the 1800s, is one of the most charming, and I recommend it without reservation to anyone who enjoys stories about good people making presumptions and mistakes, but working out how to correct the missteps even when what it promises to lead to is unusual and won't always be easy. The prose is clear, and vivid. Read this one.
December 6, 2020
Johnathan (aka Jack) and Everett were lovers, briefly and desperately, in innocent discovery, during the Civil War. But once the war was over, they went separate ways, Everett to his father's printing business in Parkersburg, Jack off to New York to work as a commercial artist. They managed to meet up occasionally, but it was an unsatisfying way to live, or love, and now Everett has fallen for, and married, a woman.
Sophie is lovely and sweet, and doesn't object when Everett invites his old friend to stay with them. But between Jack's lingering hurt at being an afterthought in Everett's life, and his unexpected realization that he's also attracted to his best friend's wife, a simple visit becomes a lot more complicated.
This author writes lovely people, with warmth and heart, with the intent to do the right thing, even when they fail. There is pain and loss, misunderstanding and failure here, but not cruelty, or retaliation, or pettiness. The historical setting is well done, but fairly lightweight in its role. This is a universal story of three people trying to figure out life.
Sophie is perhaps a bit perfect, without many human flaws that would have added more realistic tension. The book focuses more on the two men, who are both appealing characters with more depth. The backstory is introduced gradually and naturally, and the resolution is lovely.
Sophie is lovely and sweet, and doesn't object when Everett invites his old friend to stay with them. But between Jack's lingering hurt at being an afterthought in Everett's life, and his unexpected realization that he's also attracted to his best friend's wife, a simple visit becomes a lot more complicated.
This author writes lovely people, with warmth and heart, with the intent to do the right thing, even when they fail. There is pain and loss, misunderstanding and failure here, but not cruelty, or retaliation, or pettiness. The historical setting is well done, but fairly lightweight in its role. This is a universal story of three people trying to figure out life.
Sophie is perhaps a bit perfect, without many human flaws that would have added more realistic tension. The book focuses more on the two men, who are both appealing characters with more depth. The backstory is introduced gradually and naturally, and the resolution is lovely.
May 12, 2020
I loved these three characters; I loved how real and in-the-round they felt. We got a picture of their relationships, each with the other, their insecurities, and their confusion at their feelings. There's angst and misunderstanding, but absolutely no cruelty or scorn. These are three people trying to do their best for one another and gradually working their way to an unusual solution--unusual, but, as Aster Glenn Gray points out, not unthinkable, not now, but not then, either. People were as complicated in the 19th century as they are in the 21st, and experimentation has been going on since forever. Aster Glenn Gray knows her history, so she's able to make this persuasive and REAL.
There are all sorts of wonderful quotes in the book--to see some of the ones I liked, check out my reading notes.
There are all sorts of wonderful quotes in the book--to see some of the ones I liked, check out my reading notes.
October 19, 2020
The PINING *chef's kiss*
Someone who does not enjoy PINING as a trope as much as I do (extremely... extremely possible), will probably dismiss this as a lot of plotless, aimless talking. It's true that this is more character study than a plot-driven novella. I really enjoyed it, though, and pining aside, it's really hard to pull off fully realized characters or a satisfactory emotional arc in a story of this length, and I felt like this managed both. For the short amount of page space I was allowed to spend time with these characters, I really cared about them and was rooting for them to work out their relationship(s). (Aside, I guess, from that one bit where Everett and Sophie were talking about Jack, there was something... uncomfortable about that, that didn't quite work for me.)
Someone who does not enjoy PINING as a trope as much as I do (extremely... extremely possible), will probably dismiss this as a lot of plotless, aimless talking. It's true that this is more character study than a plot-driven novella. I really enjoyed it, though, and pining aside, it's really hard to pull off fully realized characters or a satisfactory emotional arc in a story of this length, and I felt like this managed both. For the short amount of page space I was allowed to spend time with these characters, I really cared about them and was rooting for them to work out their relationship(s). (Aside, I guess, from that one bit where Everett and Sophie were talking about Jack, there was something... uncomfortable about that, that didn't quite work for me.)
January 5, 2023
3.5 stars. This is AGG’s horniest work yet. Normally I think this author is very good at novellas, but this one felt unfinished. Really enjoyed what I read, but felt like there was more of a story to tell at the end.
April 12, 2020
Very sweet, cozy atmosphere and delicious food descriptions, with enough angst to make the resolution truly satisfying.
Also I would read several books about Sophie's aunts, just saying.
Also I would read several books about Sophie's aunts, just saying.
June 12, 2020
This short novel is perfect for anyone looking for a historical romance with lovely character development and interaction. I thoroughly enjoyed each of these characters, individually and together. The point-of-view switches and overlapping timelines show the perspective of each lead and their developing arcs to excellent effect.
This book is a quick read that doesn’t seem to have much substance at first glance. In retrospect, however, the story is exactly as long as it needs to be, with a flowing nonlinear narrative that works so well at allowing the reader to experience each perspective. Jack, Everett, and Sophie are characters ahead of their time, and their happily ever after is incredibly satisfying.
A lovely summer read for enjoying in the sun with a handful of fresh strawberries.
This book is a quick read that doesn’t seem to have much substance at first glance. In retrospect, however, the story is exactly as long as it needs to be, with a flowing nonlinear narrative that works so well at allowing the reader to experience each perspective. Jack, Everett, and Sophie are characters ahead of their time, and their happily ever after is incredibly satisfying.
A lovely summer read for enjoying in the sun with a handful of fresh strawberries.
Read
December 5, 2020So sweet and wholesome, read it with the biggest grin in one sitting
March 12, 2022
This was an absolute delight and I'm so mad I didn't read this earlier.
July 21, 2022
3 stars.
I so adored the idea of this, but it didn’t quite live up to my hopes. For only being about 100 pages long, it felt awfully repetitive. Like we would get stuck in the same thought circles of a character over and over again. And then we would get the same thought circle from the next narrator too. It felt like we got maybe 50 pages of plot and 50 pages of rumination.
The setting is great. The premise is great. The rough sketch of the characters is great! I just wanted to see a bit more happening.
Vague HFN (MF married couple, third/M returns to his home in the city with the idea they’ll hook up again the next summer)
Steam: 2 (scenes between MM and MF are FTB, one hands scene MMF shown)
I so adored the idea of this, but it didn’t quite live up to my hopes. For only being about 100 pages long, it felt awfully repetitive. Like we would get stuck in the same thought circles of a character over and over again. And then we would get the same thought circle from the next narrator too. It felt like we got maybe 50 pages of plot and 50 pages of rumination.
The setting is great. The premise is great. The rough sketch of the characters is great! I just wanted to see a bit more happening.
Vague HFN (MF married couple, third/M returns to his home in the city with the idea they’ll hook up again the next summer)
Steam: 2 (scenes between MM and MF are FTB, one hands scene MMF shown)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2025
Poly relationships in historical romance aren’t something I come across often, so this was especially lovely.
This book was adorable, heartfelt, and such a pleasant read. I love Aster Glenn Gray’s books, and this one is no exception. Absolutely recommend!
This book was adorable, heartfelt, and such a pleasant read. I love Aster Glenn Gray’s books, and this one is no exception. Absolutely recommend!
April 5, 2020
Oh, this was a lovely thing - well-written, sweetly sensual, and heartwarming, with vivid characterisation despite the short length. A perfect escapist read. Bonus: lots of delicious food descriptions.
Read
December 29, 2020I found this book delightful. It was a shorter read that didn't feel like it was leaving anything important out; on the contrary, the scenes it contained were beautifully detailed and gave so much insight into three very complex, distinct characters, each of whom were easy to love. Developing a relationship between two people, much less three, is a feat even in a full-length novel. But the author impressed me especially in this regard. Each of the character's individual relationships, as well as the triad, made perfect sense to me. I adore the author's voice and style, and found a historical, queer book that didn't make me despair of period-typical queerphobia to be refreshing. Highly recommend!
May 9, 2020
Lovely poly historical romance!
I've had difficulty focusing on fiction lately since *gestures vaguely about current events* , which is why I hadn't read this until now. This is a lovely romance! (I just wish it was longer - I wanted to spend more time with Jack and Everett and Sophie)
I've had difficulty focusing on fiction lately since *gestures vaguely about current events* , which is why I hadn't read this until now. This is a lovely romance! (I just wish it was longer - I wanted to spend more time with Jack and Everett and Sophie)
July 27, 2023
This was so soft and was the poly romance book I've been searching for. I can only hope there will be more like these in the future, because for now this was a wonderful unique find
Read
August 18, 2022Heat Factor: Scenes as couples are closed door, but they have one interlude at the end
Character Chemistry: I felt all their feelings very intensely
Plot: Three people who have all loved each other for some time are shocked into re-examining their relationship
Overall: What a great feelings book
The Threefold Tie is a short, historical, polyamorous romance. There are four chapters, and the POV (in 3rd) shifts from Jonathan/Jack to Sophie to Everett and back to Jack as they all process their feelings one summer in view of their past histories. Jack’s melancholy at being outside the marriage but filled with enough of his own love (even if he didn’t want to say so) to want to spend time with Sophie and Everett. Sophie’s fury and confusion and hope. Everett’s somewhat careless selfishness that masks his avoidance of having to address what he wants and that gets them in trouble but also creates opportunity. Set against the backdrop of 1870s rural New York, their relationship is so, so complicated. Until it isn’t. But how they untangle themselves and their relationships with each other seems so insurmountable, even if the solution is simple. They do have to figure out a way to get there, after all. The emotional journey of this book worked.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
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Character Chemistry: I felt all their feelings very intensely
Plot: Three people who have all loved each other for some time are shocked into re-examining their relationship
Overall: What a great feelings book
The Threefold Tie is a short, historical, polyamorous romance. There are four chapters, and the POV (in 3rd) shifts from Jonathan/Jack to Sophie to Everett and back to Jack as they all process their feelings one summer in view of their past histories. Jack’s melancholy at being outside the marriage but filled with enough of his own love (even if he didn’t want to say so) to want to spend time with Sophie and Everett. Sophie’s fury and confusion and hope. Everett’s somewhat careless selfishness that masks his avoidance of having to address what he wants and that gets them in trouble but also creates opportunity. Set against the backdrop of 1870s rural New York, their relationship is so, so complicated. Until it isn’t. But how they untangle themselves and their relationships with each other seems so insurmountable, even if the solution is simple. They do have to figure out a way to get there, after all. The emotional journey of this book worked.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
March 23, 2024
I just realllly adore Grays writing style, so even though this was not my favourite work of theirs, I still read this with a lot of enjoyment. Short and sweet, and the polyamorous relationship worked for me well enough too. At this point I will read anything Aster Glenn Gray writes.
Biggest rec: Honeytrap. That book has changed me and I swear my heart will always ache thinking of it. Thank (or curse) me later.
Biggest rec: Honeytrap. That book has changed me and I swear my heart will always ache thinking of it. Thank (or curse) me later.
Read
October 19, 2021A lovely short novel/novella set in post-Civil War New York. I recently started reading Aster Glenn Gray, and am impressed with how she navigates unconventional romantic relationships (in this case, MMF). Loved all three MCs, plus the food descriptions are A+ (I believe that romances are enhanced by food, which is one of the many reasons I love Alexis Hall).
June 10, 2020
This is a deceptively lovely story set in the US Post-Civil War era. For such a short novella (abt 101 pages?), there's a lot of plot, worldbuilding, and characterization packed in. And all of it works.
Jonathan (Jack), Everett, and Sophie were incredibly likable characters. Especially Sophie, whose backstory and personality are fascinating. It's easy to see why both men fell for her.
By giving a POV chapter to each character, readers can later on understand Jonathan, Everett, and Sophie's motivations and reactions. What they do and say makes a lot of sense--something that can be difficult to show. Particularly in a novella.
If I have any complaints, I'd say that the book would've benefited from an addition 50-100 pages. If only so readers could spend more time with this new relationship.
IMO, the heat level is v. low. As in there ARE some intimate scenes and a longer sex scene, but the focus of the story is less on the sexy times and more in the ways that three people figure out their feelings for each other and how they will work things out.
TL;DR: A solid M/M/F story with a really good female character. I did find the book to be a little too short. The price point is solid (and I also think it's available on KU).
Jonathan (Jack), Everett, and Sophie were incredibly likable characters. Especially Sophie, whose backstory and personality are fascinating. It's easy to see why both men fell for her.
By giving a POV chapter to each character, readers can later on understand Jonathan, Everett, and Sophie's motivations and reactions. What they do and say makes a lot of sense--something that can be difficult to show. Particularly in a novella.
If I have any complaints, I'd say that the book would've benefited from an addition 50-100 pages. If only so readers could spend more time with this new relationship.
IMO, the heat level is v. low. As in there ARE some intimate scenes and a longer sex scene, but the focus of the story is less on the sexy times and more in the ways that three people figure out their feelings for each other and how they will work things out.
TL;DR: A solid M/M/F story with a really good female character. I did find the book to be a little too short. The price point is solid (and I also think it's available on KU).
August 9, 2020
An adorable, beautifully-written male/male/female historical romance novella. The emotions and characters felt real, and the prose is well-crafted and full of poignant observations. I’ve read quite a few ebook-only romance novellas recently, and although there are some real gems out there, a lot of the books feel like they’re dashed off in a hurry. But this is one of the gems: it feels like the author has lingered and really taken care.
December 17, 2020
This was an absolutely joyous read. Thoughtful and absolutely bursting with love. The three characters are given equal weighting and through the use of flashbacks and the various perspectives, this novella manages to display great depth in its depictions and discussions of the types of love and relationships that can exist.
The ending particularly pleased me Spoiler
À beautiful story that I feel will reward future rereads.
The ending particularly pleased me Spoiler
À beautiful story that I feel will reward future rereads.
January 5, 2021
Sweet and touching and thoroughly delightful and I would love to see more in this setting if not these people.
April 14, 2020
Lovely, deceptively simple poly m/m/f historical romance. This is my third book by this author and I am so impressed with them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews