"This is the third book in the Men in Love series but can be read as a stand-alone novel."
Gabe Whitlock finally has a home to call his own, but still yearns for the one thing missing in his life-a family. All long legs and lean muscles, Rex Cotton offers a temptation Gabe finds hard to resist. With no rain in sight, Gabe and Rex are forced to come up with an idea to save the ranch and the cattle. When they hire a geology student to help look for oil, they're both surprised at their reaction to the tall, blond Boone Fowler. Once this threesome of Alpha males comes together, Gabe's whole world changes.
This book is pretty much a pure sex romp. Which isn't always a bad thing, but in this case, I got kinda bored at times and skim read more than one sex scene.
Open to Possibilities is the 3rd book in Carol Lynne's Men in Love series about men who fall in love, whether it be with a woman, a man, or more than one person.
In this book, Gabe Whitlock, former SEAL and a friend to characters in the previous books, bought the Double B Ranch, which was once owned by Jake's (horrible) father (Jake was one of the heroes in the first book). One of the conditions of buying the ranch was that Rex Cotton had to remain foreman. Gabe is instantly attracted to Rex, and Rex to him. After a few months, the two realize the desire is mutual and that real feelings exist. They're settling in and planning a future together when geologist Boone Fowler arrives on the scene. Both Rex and Gabe are surprised at the feelings he inspires in them But they decide to go with the flow and invite Boone into their bed.
Like I said, this book is mostly sex. There's some stuff about their plans for the ranch and how to fulfill their dreams (and kudos to part about turning the ranch into a place for the handicapped to ride horses...I liked that), but the guys pretty much can't keep their hands off each other so every time you blink, they're going at it again. The scenes were hot, but with it being so constant, I got bored. I started skimming scenes as the book progressed. I love a good sex scene, but I don't want to read all sex.
The characters were pretty good though. I liked Boone a lot, and there were some very sweet moments between the threesome. But one of the reasons this book in general bored me a little was because there's no build-up to the relationship(s), no emotional battles. The story starts and before you can blink, Gabe and Rex discover their attraction, and before you can blink again, they are in love and planning their future. The same thing happens when Boone arrives. I think he's there for a day when they invite him to join in with every intention of keeping him. It just takes out all sense of anticipation. I missed the emotional battle that usually exists between an H/H (or in this case, H/H/H) in a romance novel. I just would have like at least a little bit of angst or turmoil about the relationship.
And I still find it really bizarre how in this series, there's an excessive openness among the characters about their sex lives. None of the characters have any issue telling others what they're doing sexually. And whenever one of them blurts out something, I can't help but shake my head because it's just weird. Plus, like I've said in other reviews of Lynne's book, her writing style doesn't do much for me.
So yeah, this book is a weak 3 stars for me, more like a 2.5 probably. The characters were cool and the sex hot, but I didn't find it to be a very fulfilling story. It was a little too basic and lacking in some substance to give it some bite. If you want to read a mostly happy, mostly fluffy story about three men together, though, then you might want to give this one a try.
As for whether I plan to continue reading this series...I'm undecided. I know what happens (in general) in the next book and I don't like the sounds of it. So I may not continue on, or I may skip the next book. Don't know yet.
WARNING, this book contains: explicit sex, explicit language, m/m sex, m/m/m sex, m/m/m menage HEA, anal sex (obviously) and ass play
In Open to Possibilities we have the first story in the series in which there is no stalker, no-one looking to do evil. It's just three men finding their way to an HEA while taking the chance and building dreams. It's about letting past hurts go, or at least accepting them and moving on. And it's very much a sexy and very steamy romance. I enjoyed getting to know Gabe and the men he falls in love with; Rex and Boone are hot, loving and sexy. I also really enjoy how Carol Lynne keeps the characters from the first two books alive and involved; their story may be over, but there are little extras that we get to enjoy and small re-visits. Nicely done.
I had a couple of problems with this story. First the insta-love between the threesome and second that even for a tolerant person I felt Maggie's reaction to it was just too easygoing and cool. One day your son brings the man he's just fallen in love with to meet you and then just a few days later brings another man that they've both just fallen in love with. No questions or hesitation at all? Just seemed a bit implausible in my opinion.
Contemporary M/M(/M) Western romance where an ex-SEAL Gabe Whitlock is looking for a home and perhaps a family because he has never had anything other then a cold foster childhood. Gabe buys the ranch from Jack, one of his SEAL family and the ranch comes with a smoking hot foreman, Rex Cotton which is a good thing because Gabe doesn't know much about ranching. This year is a hot dry one and they have to find a way to keep the ranch a float so they plan to sell off some of the cattle and find out it there is any oil on the land. So they invite a geology student from a nearby Tulsa university for the summer to help them find out it there is oil without paying for an expensive private company.They are not expecting the handsome blond student, Boone Fowler. So hi-jinks ensue. With a fire, a wedding and some other random events mixed with sex, sex and more sex. I had a hard time reading this because there wasn't enough 'romance' for me, but if you're looking for M/M/M erotica then this might be for you. The story is told to the reader, which can drag the flow of the evolution of these tough lonely men. 168 pages and large-sized paperback 2 stars
This read was a bit rough around the edges and the dialog was pretty cheesy, especially at the beginning. And don't even get get me started on the dirty talk! It all felt a little cheap and awkward...
But...the MC's did manage to capture my heart by the end of the story. While I enjoyed the over-the-top sexual chemistry between Rex & Gabe, it was only when Boone was brought into the story that it felt more polished and sophisticated...and infinitely sexier! Just like Boone was the needed element that ultimately made the sexy trio work, it seemed the same could be said about his role in this book .
It wasn't until the end of the book, however, when Rex and Gabe made a gesture to Boone that was so poignant, insightful and heart-felt, that I realized I was a goner for all three of them...
I tried to read this series to give me a little background for the Bodyguards in love series, but for some reason, I cannot get into this. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it was the dialogue and the interactions between the MCs. It was just a little too much cheese. After the first two MCs ended up in bed and in love nearly right away, I found myself skimming through the rest of the book. I have read a lot of Carol Lynne's books and have liked quite a few of them. I can only think that maybe her earlier books just didn't have as nice of a writing style maybe?
Additionally, I admit I have trouble wrapping my head around a menage, but this free-for-all love fest just wasn't for me.
Ok the corny factor is off the charts with this one. To be honest I was happy with just Gabe and Rex even though they were moving a bit fast it was clear it was meant to be. However Boone was worked into the mix really well and Maggie the mother is a sweetie. The story of his brother had me tearing up everytime. The only reason why I am giving it 2 stars instead of 3 is because to be honest their sex was just while no matter which way you put it 3 men going at it is hott, was just plain corny too corny at times. In my opinion the issue being not chemistry but writing. It's still a good read though and worth readig
If half of the sex scenes were cut from this book, there would still be an abundance of man-on-man-on-man lovin'. It just got to be repetitive and boring - not what I want in my books. I also must confess to fits of giggles at some of the porn-movie dialogue. The last quarter of the book seemed to be invaded by many, many characters from the previous 2 books that I had absolutely no interest in since I don't do books with girlie-bits.
I'm giving this 2 1/2 stars. I just didn't connect to the characters even though I wanted to. They were lovely men and the threesome relationships was very sweet. I just felt it was rushed and overwrought with sex. Will definitely keep reading the series though.
Third in the Men in Love series. Again Ms. Lynne's characters are engaging and she gives them qualities that make us care about them. This is a gay romance, with the introduction of a third to the relationship, and Ms. Lynne makes this work so that each gets their HEA.