The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants
The number 3 is unique in its meaning through time and across cultures. In physics, 3 is the fewest supports needed to provide stability and balance. And, when establishing an argument, 3 ideas are considered necessary to prove validity. Author Ariella Talix explores the concept of 3 as a number of completeness in a relationship—challenging the concepts of a couple, consisting of a male and a female, as the only option for a happy, fulfilling sexual relationship.
From their young adolescent years, Tanner Lassiter and Zoë Deliban, were known as the sweethearts of Honeybee Hollow, Kentucky. Both Tanner and Zoë were beautiful young adults who seemed to naturally look “right” together. Part of their natural connection was Madison, Tanner’s younger sister by 3 years, and Zoë’s best friend. And over time, as Tanner and Zoë evolved as sweethearts, they became each other’s “firsts”—first kiss, first fondling, and ultimately, first lover.
But, a three year’s difference in age meant that Zoë was left behind when Tanner departed for Princeton. She had shared all of Tanner’s high school milestones, including senior prom, but she was at home alone, dateless, for her senior prom because Tanner, who had observed his sister’s heartache of trying to sustain a relationship with a guy in college while she was still in high school, wanted to “free” Zoë to experience all of the high school experiences without the strings of a long-distance relationship. And so, when he left, he “broke up” with Zoë, and he broke her heart. And, she went to college following her own dreams of teaching children, and with a heart that was not as trusting as it had been.
While Tanner’s breaking up was hurtful for Zoë, Tanner was right to understand that he needed to be “free” to experience college without strings, emotionally pulling him back to Honeybee Hollow. His break from home began almost immediately his freshman year after meeting his wealthy, well-connected, sophisticated and physically beautiful roommate, Elison Whittaker, the Third. The two seemed to connect immediately, and Eli opened Tan’s eyes to a broader vision of love than the sweet male/female relationship Tan had experienced in the arms of Zoë. But, Tanner’s dream had always been to enter the world of politics—a world that would require Tanner to follow a more traditional vision of love if he were to achieve his life dreams. And so, as he returns to Honeybee Hollow, he must try to undo his ill-considered break up of the past, and to turn his back on the new vision of love that has allowed Tanner to grow in his understanding of the nature of love and the ability of the human heart to grow, rather than to be diminished, by a non-traditional vision of love.
Ariella Talix invites her readers to join her in the world of a group of young, creative, engaging friends and family who are open to accepting and affirming the uniqueness of those around them. Talix always shares hot, sensual moments with her readers, but those moments are never gratuitous—sensual moments always progress naturally in the evolving relationships of the characters and are not artificially contrived. Talix is a gifted storyteller who plots the evolution of the story and the engagements and actions of her characters. And so, the exploration of a “throuple,” a MMF relationship is a respectful, natural and tastefully sensual awakening and joining of loving characters. And, the author teases her reader, suggesting that the romances of authors, such as “Dolly Gunn,” or even herself, allow the reader to explore new visions of the nature of human love and interactions in a safe, “non-judgmental” setting.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review, but I will acquire the work from Kindle Unlimited to taste again in the future.