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Bluewater Bay #20
Three Player Game
The stories in the Bluewater Bay universe can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!
Vince’s life has improved immeasurably since he moved to Bluewater Bay two years ago. He’s gone from working for a man he hated, to helping found a company he believes in. And he and his boyfriend, Pete, have built a delicate balance of power between them that keeps them both grounded and thriving.
Almost, anyway.
Pete’s job on the set of Wolf’s Landing is demanding. He needs lots of downtime off set, and that’s where Vince’s firm but gentle control isn’t always enough. And for Vince, Pete’s constant high-energy needs are turning out to be more than he can handle alone.
It’s no surprise to either of them, then, that sparks fly when Vince’s coworker Lee enters the picture. Outwardly, Lee is tough and confident, but when a bad back confines him to Pete and Vince’s spare room, the cracks start to show and his desire for connection begins to peek through.
Pete and Vince both like what they see under Lee’s prickly outside, but now the three men must learn that love isn’t about beating the game — it’s about balance, trust, and letting each other in.
Word 70,400; page 284
Vince’s life has improved immeasurably since he moved to Bluewater Bay two years ago. He’s gone from working for a man he hated, to helping found a company he believes in. And he and his boyfriend, Pete, have built a delicate balance of power between them that keeps them both grounded and thriving.
Almost, anyway.
Pete’s job on the set of Wolf’s Landing is demanding. He needs lots of downtime off set, and that’s where Vince’s firm but gentle control isn’t always enough. And for Vince, Pete’s constant high-energy needs are turning out to be more than he can handle alone.
It’s no surprise to either of them, then, that sparks fly when Vince’s coworker Lee enters the picture. Outwardly, Lee is tough and confident, but when a bad back confines him to Pete and Vince’s spare room, the cracks start to show and his desire for connection begins to peek through.
Pete and Vince both like what they see under Lee’s prickly outside, but now the three men must learn that love isn’t about beating the game — it’s about balance, trust, and letting each other in.
Word 70,400; page 284
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
18 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Jaime Samms
96 books276 followersJaime Samms is a plaid-hearted Canadian who spends the too-long winters writing stories about love between men and the too-short summers digging in the garden. There are dust bunnies in the corners of her house—which she blames on a husky named Kai. There are dishes on the counter—which is clearly because teenagers! There is hot coffee in the pot and the occasional meal to keep her from starving—because her husband is remarkable and patient.
A multi-published author whose work has been translated into French, Italian, and German, Jaime delights in the intricate dance of words that leads her through tales of the lost and broken hearted men she writes about to the love stories that find and mend them.
And when the muse is being stubborn, she also makes pretty things with yarn and fabric scraps because in her world, no heart is too broken to love, and nothing is too worn or tired it can’t be upcycled into something beautiful. All it takes is determination and the ability to see life a little bit left of center.
A multi-published author whose work has been translated into French, Italian, and German, Jaime delights in the intricate dance of words that leads her through tales of the lost and broken hearted men she writes about to the love stories that find and mend them.
And when the muse is being stubborn, she also makes pretty things with yarn and fabric scraps because in her world, no heart is too broken to love, and nothing is too worn or tired it can’t be upcycled into something beautiful. All it takes is determination and the ability to see life a little bit left of center.
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August 19, 2017
Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference....
'Three Player Game' is a menage story that starts with an established couple who have always wanted a third person in their relationship and they've also known for a while who they wanted that third person to be...the problem here is that maybe he doesn't want to be that person or maybe he's just afraid to allow himself to be 'that person'.
Vince and Pete have been a couple for a while now and having a third person in their relationship has pretty much always been a part of their plan. Vince wants that third person to be Lee, a man he has a work history with and while Pete's not as sure as Vince initially that he wants it to be Lee, he's leaning towards 'yes' on the issue and definitely willing to give the man strong consideration. Lee's the holdout. He's given his trust before it left him hurt both physically and emotionally to the point where he's spent the ensuing years closing himself off from the world believing that he'll only be safe if he's on his own. Vince and Lee have some walls to break down if they plan on making their duo a trio permanently.
There's definitely some history here both between Vince and Pete as I said they come into the story as an established couple and between Vince and Lee on a working level only. As well both Vince and Lee have a connection to their boss, Blair Carruthers, whose story is told in Bluewater Bay #12 How the Cookie Crumbles. Which I admit I haven't read yet, however, I didn't have a problem parsing out the connections pre-Bluewater Bay as the author provides the background as the story goes along.
I didn't even really have a problem with the fact that this story has a menage grouping...my concern was with the fact that it was an established couple adding to their dynamic. This is probably one of my least favorite scenarios. So I have to admit I waffled on this one for a long time before I finally decided I was going to bite the bullet and read the book. Initially I was a little hesitant but things ultimately clicked into place for me and I ended up really enjoying this one.
There were a number of factors that helped to make it work...the first one being the author, I really like Jaime Samms. She's the author of one of my favorite menage books 'The Foster Family' and it's based on the same premise of an established couple adding a third to their relationship. So having already experienced this dynamic with her, I had faith. The fact that in general I've really enjoyed the Bluewater Bay books that I've read so far also added to my faith that this would work. Ultimately though it came down to the story and luckily for me there were a lot of little things that I liked about this one.
I was good with the fact that the story started with Vince and Pete already established as a couple since it would have probably made for an overly long story that would have lost my interest if it had gotten bogged down with their beginnings as well
For Vince and Pete adding Lee to the dynamics wasn't an easy feat to say the least. Lee was more than a little resistant and there were times that Vince and Pete had their reservations as well, which made sense...since the consequences of adding another person to your relationship is far more life altering than buying a new set of dishes especially when that person 'seems' to be resistant to the idea. I'd be doing a lot more soul searching and second guessing myself than they did if it was me...just sayin'.
I really liked all three of these men...Vince, whose work and home personas were essentially polar opposites. At work he was the gopher, that Lee bossed around, he was calm, efficient, organized and incredibly observant, taking orders without hesitation but at home he was the one giving the orders and while he was still all those other things they were expressed differently and utilized to provide the care that his partners needed.
Pete like Vince had polar opposite work and home personas only at work he was the one organizing and ordering people around, making sure things got done how and when they needed to be. But at home he was the one who wanted to give up control to let someone else be in charge and care for him but Pete was also a nurturer and caregiver. Pete was also high maintenance and while Vince loved him tremendously taking care of Pete's needs also drained him. A reality that was apparent to both Vince and Pete and one of the contributing factors to their desire to add a third person to the relationship.
While Lee was prickly and obstinate hiding his gentler more caring side and his need to give up control and trust someone else to provide him with what he needed and wanted. For Vince meeting Pete's needs was like dealing with a force of nature, Lee's needs meshed more with Vince's and allowed him to restore some of his own balance at the same time.
Sexually the dynamics were different between each of these men as a pair and somehow things came together to fill the missing spaces in Pete and Vince's relationship creating a place for each of them that was unique.
Making their relationship work turned out to be a learning experience for all three of these men. Vince had to learn to trust in himself when it came to Lee. That he would be able to make things work without Pete as their buffer. Pete had to learn to step back and allow Vince and Lee find their own way to each other and Lee...well, Lee had the most to learn. He had to learn to trust not just Vince and Pete but himself...that he could make choices that weren't always going to get him hurt and to trust that he was not only worth being loved and cared for but he deserved it.
There was a bit of a BDSM flavor to this one and I am admittedly not an expert on this lifestyle by any means based on other stories that I've read I'd say it was more like an appetizer than the entree which I have to admit works just fine for me.
This one worked for me and while I can't define one major reason. I would have to say that it was more a case of a bunch of little things coming together to take me back to Bluewater Bay for yet another enjoyable reading experience.
*******************
A copy of 'Three Player Game' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
'Three Player Game' is a menage story that starts with an established couple who have always wanted a third person in their relationship and they've also known for a while who they wanted that third person to be...the problem here is that maybe he doesn't want to be that person or maybe he's just afraid to allow himself to be 'that person'.
Vince and Pete have been a couple for a while now and having a third person in their relationship has pretty much always been a part of their plan. Vince wants that third person to be Lee, a man he has a work history with and while Pete's not as sure as Vince initially that he wants it to be Lee, he's leaning towards 'yes' on the issue and definitely willing to give the man strong consideration. Lee's the holdout. He's given his trust before it left him hurt both physically and emotionally to the point where he's spent the ensuing years closing himself off from the world believing that he'll only be safe if he's on his own. Vince and Lee have some walls to break down if they plan on making their duo a trio permanently.
There's definitely some history here both between Vince and Pete as I said they come into the story as an established couple and between Vince and Lee on a working level only. As well both Vince and Lee have a connection to their boss, Blair Carruthers, whose story is told in Bluewater Bay #12 How the Cookie Crumbles. Which I admit I haven't read yet, however, I didn't have a problem parsing out the connections pre-Bluewater Bay as the author provides the background as the story goes along.
I didn't even really have a problem with the fact that this story has a menage grouping...my concern was with the fact that it was an established couple adding to their dynamic. This is probably one of my least favorite scenarios. So I have to admit I waffled on this one for a long time before I finally decided I was going to bite the bullet and read the book. Initially I was a little hesitant but things ultimately clicked into place for me and I ended up really enjoying this one.
There were a number of factors that helped to make it work...the first one being the author, I really like Jaime Samms. She's the author of one of my favorite menage books 'The Foster Family' and it's based on the same premise of an established couple adding a third to their relationship. So having already experienced this dynamic with her, I had faith. The fact that in general I've really enjoyed the Bluewater Bay books that I've read so far also added to my faith that this would work. Ultimately though it came down to the story and luckily for me there were a lot of little things that I liked about this one.
I was good with the fact that the story started with Vince and Pete already established as a couple since it would have probably made for an overly long story that would have lost my interest if it had gotten bogged down with their beginnings as well
For Vince and Pete adding Lee to the dynamics wasn't an easy feat to say the least. Lee was more than a little resistant and there were times that Vince and Pete had their reservations as well, which made sense...since the consequences of adding another person to your relationship is far more life altering than buying a new set of dishes especially when that person 'seems' to be resistant to the idea. I'd be doing a lot more soul searching and second guessing myself than they did if it was me...just sayin'.
I really liked all three of these men...Vince, whose work and home personas were essentially polar opposites. At work he was the gopher, that Lee bossed around, he was calm, efficient, organized and incredibly observant, taking orders without hesitation but at home he was the one giving the orders and while he was still all those other things they were expressed differently and utilized to provide the care that his partners needed.
Pete like Vince had polar opposite work and home personas only at work he was the one organizing and ordering people around, making sure things got done how and when they needed to be. But at home he was the one who wanted to give up control to let someone else be in charge and care for him but Pete was also a nurturer and caregiver. Pete was also high maintenance and while Vince loved him tremendously taking care of Pete's needs also drained him. A reality that was apparent to both Vince and Pete and one of the contributing factors to their desire to add a third person to the relationship.
While Lee was prickly and obstinate hiding his gentler more caring side and his need to give up control and trust someone else to provide him with what he needed and wanted. For Vince meeting Pete's needs was like dealing with a force of nature, Lee's needs meshed more with Vince's and allowed him to restore some of his own balance at the same time.
Sexually the dynamics were different between each of these men as a pair and somehow things came together to fill the missing spaces in Pete and Vince's relationship creating a place for each of them that was unique.
Making their relationship work turned out to be a learning experience for all three of these men. Vince had to learn to trust in himself when it came to Lee. That he would be able to make things work without Pete as their buffer. Pete had to learn to step back and allow Vince and Lee find their own way to each other and Lee...well, Lee had the most to learn. He had to learn to trust not just Vince and Pete but himself...that he could make choices that weren't always going to get him hurt and to trust that he was not only worth being loved and cared for but he deserved it.
There was a bit of a BDSM flavor to this one and I am admittedly not an expert on this lifestyle by any means based on other stories that I've read I'd say it was more like an appetizer than the entree which I have to admit works just fine for me.
This one worked for me and while I can't define one major reason. I would have to say that it was more a case of a bunch of little things coming together to take me back to Bluewater Bay for yet another enjoyable reading experience.
*******************
A copy of 'Three Player Game' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
August 14, 2017DNF @ 50%; no rating
I had really high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it turned out just not to be for me.
From the beginning, it almost felt as if there were a few prologue chapters - maybe even an entire book - we didn't get. I understand that the author wrote a previous Bluewater Bay book in early 2016 - book 12 of the at-present 21 book collection (TPG is #20). I'm not sure if what happened in Cookie would clarify some of the confusion I had with Three Player, but, if there's anything I love about the Bluewater Bay books it's that you don't have to read one to understand the others. They're all complete standalones. This didn't feel like a standalone.
The story jumped right into each of the three POVs - Lee, Vince and Pete, and there was a history between them, not only Vince and Pete's relationship but Lee and Vince's work history and what felt like Vince and Pete's discussions on adding a third to their relationship, that we didn't get. And it was important backstory. I felt a little lost and confused as to where these things were coming from and had to make a lot of inferences that I shouldn't have had to make as a reader.
Also, for an established couple who has apparently discussed in the past that they may want to add a third to their relationship and that that third should be Lee, Vince and Pete waffled between completely convinced that they wanted Lee to almost upset with each other for doing something that they hadn't discussed yet. I kept stopping and going back thinking, "Wait, what? I thought they literally just talked about this." This might have been an instance when knowing the backstory that we didn't get might have helped.
Also, when it came to Lee, it was pretty awkward and uncomfortable how Vince and Pete were dead set on having Lee and how they'd apparently already talked about it, and were deciding how things would work, and basically forcing something onto Lee without actually talking to Lee. Now, I'm not well-versed in beginning a three-way relationship, and I admire Vince and Pete for knowing that discussion is key in making something like that work, but the fact that they completely left Lee out of the conversations - to the point where they didn't even know if Lee was even interested in them - was very weird and very awkward to read. Oh, and this little line made me v. uncomfortable: "Lee's determination to be independent set alarms off in Pete." Poor Lee, man. He really didn't have an option. Vince and Pete decided for him and he really just had to go along with it and get used to it as he went.
Also, for coworkers in a three-person office, Vince and Lee had this weird dynamic of at once knowing way too much and also way too little about each other. They were almost virtual strangers at times, but two pages later, Vince was thinking about how he just knows exactly what Lee needs in a personal manner. It was inconsistent.
Aside from all the confusion, inconsistency and awkwardness, I just didn't ever get into the book. There was a whole lot of telling rather than showing, and none of the characters ever felt like real people to me. They were just shells for the story the author was trying to make work. I ended up forcing my way through the chapters and they were not getting better as I progressed. I don't mean to sound harsh - others may absolutely love this book. It just wasn't for me.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
I had really high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it turned out just not to be for me.
From the beginning, it almost felt as if there were a few prologue chapters - maybe even an entire book - we didn't get. I understand that the author wrote a previous Bluewater Bay book in early 2016 - book 12 of the at-present 21 book collection (TPG is #20). I'm not sure if what happened in Cookie would clarify some of the confusion I had with Three Player, but, if there's anything I love about the Bluewater Bay books it's that you don't have to read one to understand the others. They're all complete standalones. This didn't feel like a standalone.
The story jumped right into each of the three POVs - Lee, Vince and Pete, and there was a history between them, not only Vince and Pete's relationship but Lee and Vince's work history and what felt like Vince and Pete's discussions on adding a third to their relationship, that we didn't get. And it was important backstory. I felt a little lost and confused as to where these things were coming from and had to make a lot of inferences that I shouldn't have had to make as a reader.
Also, for an established couple who has apparently discussed in the past that they may want to add a third to their relationship and that that third should be Lee, Vince and Pete waffled between completely convinced that they wanted Lee to almost upset with each other for doing something that they hadn't discussed yet. I kept stopping and going back thinking, "Wait, what? I thought they literally just talked about this." This might have been an instance when knowing the backstory that we didn't get might have helped.
Also, when it came to Lee, it was pretty awkward and uncomfortable how Vince and Pete were dead set on having Lee and how they'd apparently already talked about it, and were deciding how things would work, and basically forcing something onto Lee without actually talking to Lee. Now, I'm not well-versed in beginning a three-way relationship, and I admire Vince and Pete for knowing that discussion is key in making something like that work, but the fact that they completely left Lee out of the conversations - to the point where they didn't even know if Lee was even interested in them - was very weird and very awkward to read. Oh, and this little line made me v. uncomfortable: "Lee's determination to be independent set alarms off in Pete." Poor Lee, man. He really didn't have an option. Vince and Pete decided for him and he really just had to go along with it and get used to it as he went.
Also, for coworkers in a three-person office, Vince and Lee had this weird dynamic of at once knowing way too much and also way too little about each other. They were almost virtual strangers at times, but two pages later, Vince was thinking about how he just knows exactly what Lee needs in a personal manner. It was inconsistent.
Aside from all the confusion, inconsistency and awkwardness, I just didn't ever get into the book. There was a whole lot of telling rather than showing, and none of the characters ever felt like real people to me. They were just shells for the story the author was trying to make work. I ended up forcing my way through the chapters and they were not getting better as I progressed. I don't mean to sound harsh - others may absolutely love this book. It just wasn't for me.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
August 14, 2022
Creating a three-way relationship in a romance series could have been a tricky endeavor, but Jaime Samms did it effortlessly. The author takes three incredibly complex characters and works them into a realistic, believable relationship that is fraught with all sorts of interesting and often complex situations while ensuring that they each have a happy ending...and while remain together. I don't know that I would want this to be the theme of very many stories, but it worked well with this one. This book is a of part of the Bluewater Bay series that features M/M romances that are each written by a different author.
dnf
August 13, 2017Review also posted on From Top to Bottom Reviews.
*a copy was provided via NetGalley
DNF at 84 %; no rating.
One of the characters said best what bothered me with this story pretty much from the beginning: “You can’t just say there’s a relationship, and then there is one.“
I had a hard time to get into the story because Vince and Pete were already an established couple and they already knew Lee as well. Vince and Lee are coworkers and the whole getting to know each other happened off-page, before the book even started. That made it impossible for me to connect to the characters in any way. I dnf-ed How the Cookie Crumbles by the same author in this series. Since one of the main characters of How the Cookie Crumbles is the boss of Vince and Lee I assume that to really connect with the characters you have to read that before reading Three Player Game.
This is such a relationship-focused story that, because not a lot happens outside of the relationship, really drags. But there’s also not a lot happening in the relationship. There’s no built-up of attraction, no getting to know each other and I didn’t believe that the characters were falling for each other. At best this is a story about roommates who occasionally have sex.
What I missed the most was communication between each of them. You can’t just decide you’re in a relationship and Ta-Da! everyone is happy and in love. I find this hard to believe – especially in a poly relationship. Throughout the whole book – at least up until I read it – Vince and Pete say that they have to agree on what to do because it was their relationship first, and they don’t want to destroy what they have by bringing in a third. Their actions though are different. It’s always one of them deciding on their own and only afterwards telling the other about what they did. That just didn’t work for me.
Personally I really disliked how Pete and Vince try to run Lee’s life as if he is not capable of doing it alone. And the way they didn’t listen to what Lee wanted was really annoying. So all in all this really wasn’t the book I had hoped it would be. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series though.
If you’re looking for an awesome poly story check out Misfits by Garrett Leigh or The Art of Three by Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese.
*a copy was provided via NetGalley
DNF at 84 %; no rating.
One of the characters said best what bothered me with this story pretty much from the beginning: “You can’t just say there’s a relationship, and then there is one.“
I had a hard time to get into the story because Vince and Pete were already an established couple and they already knew Lee as well. Vince and Lee are coworkers and the whole getting to know each other happened off-page, before the book even started. That made it impossible for me to connect to the characters in any way. I dnf-ed How the Cookie Crumbles by the same author in this series. Since one of the main characters of How the Cookie Crumbles is the boss of Vince and Lee I assume that to really connect with the characters you have to read that before reading Three Player Game.
This is such a relationship-focused story that, because not a lot happens outside of the relationship, really drags. But there’s also not a lot happening in the relationship. There’s no built-up of attraction, no getting to know each other and I didn’t believe that the characters were falling for each other. At best this is a story about roommates who occasionally have sex.
What I missed the most was communication between each of them. You can’t just decide you’re in a relationship and Ta-Da! everyone is happy and in love. I find this hard to believe – especially in a poly relationship. Throughout the whole book – at least up until I read it – Vince and Pete say that they have to agree on what to do because it was their relationship first, and they don’t want to destroy what they have by bringing in a third. Their actions though are different. It’s always one of them deciding on their own and only afterwards telling the other about what they did. That just didn’t work for me.
Personally I really disliked how Pete and Vince try to run Lee’s life as if he is not capable of doing it alone. And the way they didn’t listen to what Lee wanted was really annoying. So all in all this really wasn’t the book I had hoped it would be. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series though.
If you’re looking for an awesome poly story check out Misfits by Garrett Leigh or The Art of Three by Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese.
September 23, 2017
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
From the minute I started reading this, I was confused. I felt like there was a relationship history—whether friends, lovers, or enemies—missing from the setup because we should know who they are and how they fit together. It didn’t help that each chapter was narrated by a different MC so three alternating POVs and two of them were already a couple. Should we have known this? I still don’t know. But even with giving that alternating POV, I wasn’t getting enough information on the men to actually care about them. I didn’t even know what they looked like, although there was one early mention of one of them having curls and another with Asian heritage. So I studied the cover photo and I studied the blurb and I went back twice to reread my review of the first Bluewater Bay story from this author, and there I was at chapter eight, and still clueless.
Somewhere in the middle, I realized that maybe the chef and the other ��money man” they were talking about was the same couple from the first book this author wrote for this series. I was right and discovered it was How the Cookie Crumbles, but considering I read that over eighteen months ago—which was over 500 books ago for me—and the author is using two minor secondary characters in this book, I think she would have been much better off assuming we knew nothing about these men at all, and maybe later in the story, showing us the connection. There wasn’t enough character-building to get me invested in this threesome. Pete and Vince were not presented as a strong couple. I got that they were together, but I didn’t feel emotion from Vince, and Pete came across as a sex kitten looking for someone to dominate him when he needs to be less hyperactive. Lee was rude and obnoxious throughout most of the book, so I honestly didn’t care at all what happened to him. I certainly couldn’t relate to him at all and simply wanted to move past him, whether it was his own POV chapter or one of the others.
Toward the end, I started to feel the connection between the threesome, and overall, by the conclusion of the story I was pleased with all of them, but I can’t honestly recommend this as a good example of a ménage book. To me, there needs to be a deep connection between all three men, and that didn’t come across as the case here. There were connections—like the old connect-the-dots games I played as a kid—but not enough to recommend this.
**2.5 stars**
From the minute I started reading this, I was confused. I felt like there was a relationship history—whether friends, lovers, or enemies—missing from the setup because we should know who they are and how they fit together. It didn’t help that each chapter was narrated by a different MC so three alternating POVs and two of them were already a couple. Should we have known this? I still don’t know. But even with giving that alternating POV, I wasn’t getting enough information on the men to actually care about them. I didn’t even know what they looked like, although there was one early mention of one of them having curls and another with Asian heritage. So I studied the cover photo and I studied the blurb and I went back twice to reread my review of the first Bluewater Bay story from this author, and there I was at chapter eight, and still clueless.
Somewhere in the middle, I realized that maybe the chef and the other ��money man” they were talking about was the same couple from the first book this author wrote for this series. I was right and discovered it was How the Cookie Crumbles, but considering I read that over eighteen months ago—which was over 500 books ago for me—and the author is using two minor secondary characters in this book, I think she would have been much better off assuming we knew nothing about these men at all, and maybe later in the story, showing us the connection. There wasn’t enough character-building to get me invested in this threesome. Pete and Vince were not presented as a strong couple. I got that they were together, but I didn’t feel emotion from Vince, and Pete came across as a sex kitten looking for someone to dominate him when he needs to be less hyperactive. Lee was rude and obnoxious throughout most of the book, so I honestly didn’t care at all what happened to him. I certainly couldn’t relate to him at all and simply wanted to move past him, whether it was his own POV chapter or one of the others.
Toward the end, I started to feel the connection between the threesome, and overall, by the conclusion of the story I was pleased with all of them, but I can’t honestly recommend this as a good example of a ménage book. To me, there needs to be a deep connection between all three men, and that didn’t come across as the case here. There were connections—like the old connect-the-dots games I played as a kid—but not enough to recommend this.
**2.5 stars**
October 14, 2017
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Vince brings work colleague Lee home after Lee has a fall and hurts his back. Both Pete and Vince and keen on Lee and would like him to join their relationship. But Lee is a very prickly customer and doesn't trust easily. Vince and Peter take care of Lee and are patient and affectionate even when he is being difficult. For me their warmth and affection is the highlight of the story.
Lee starts to connect well with Pete but is scared of what Vince makes him feel. So when Pete isn't around as a buffer, things don't go so well. But when things are going well and the three of them are in sync, it is beautiful and very sexy.
While I did struggle early on with this story, mostly because I found Lee unlikeable, I ultimately really enjoyed reading Three Player Game. It left me feeling warm and fuzzy.
Vince brings work colleague Lee home after Lee has a fall and hurts his back. Both Pete and Vince and keen on Lee and would like him to join their relationship. But Lee is a very prickly customer and doesn't trust easily. Vince and Peter take care of Lee and are patient and affectionate even when he is being difficult. For me their warmth and affection is the highlight of the story.
Lee starts to connect well with Pete but is scared of what Vince makes him feel. So when Pete isn't around as a buffer, things don't go so well. But when things are going well and the three of them are in sync, it is beautiful and very sexy.
While I did struggle early on with this story, mostly because I found Lee unlikeable, I ultimately really enjoyed reading Three Player Game. It left me feeling warm and fuzzy.
October 14, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Vince and Pete are an established couple who decide to add a third partner to their relationship. They are a persuasive duo and I’m still not sure if Lee ever really has a chance to say no to the arrangement.
This isn’t my favourite book in this series - or by this author. Some of my reservations are personal - I like my BDSM to stay in the bedroom or playroom and I struggle with lifestyle power exchange relationships. I found it impossible to reconcile the two sides of Pete in this story. At work, he’s a competent, confident director on a successful show. At home, he is almost infantilised with Vince struggling to care for his many ‘needs’.
There are also two sides to Vince. At work, he’s the office lackey. At home, he’s a controlling Dom. Again, the two sides of this character don’t quite match up. And while I was attempting to get my head around this Jekyll/Hyde couple, Lee was thrust into the mix. And I don’t feel like we ever learn much of anything about him, his past or even his desires for the future.
Ultimately, this didn’t feel much like a romance to me. Vince and Pete decide that Lee belongs with them. They tell him that he belongs with them. They chase him when he runs away and drag him back to them. There is a whole lotta angst between Vince and Pete as they discuss their hopes for Lee, but we see little emotional engagement between Vince/Pete and Lee himself. found it all a bit odd - especially as Vince and Lee are coworkers.
Vince and Pete are an established couple who decide to add a third partner to their relationship. They are a persuasive duo and I’m still not sure if Lee ever really has a chance to say no to the arrangement.
This isn’t my favourite book in this series - or by this author. Some of my reservations are personal - I like my BDSM to stay in the bedroom or playroom and I struggle with lifestyle power exchange relationships. I found it impossible to reconcile the two sides of Pete in this story. At work, he’s a competent, confident director on a successful show. At home, he is almost infantilised with Vince struggling to care for his many ‘needs’.
There are also two sides to Vince. At work, he’s the office lackey. At home, he’s a controlling Dom. Again, the two sides of this character don’t quite match up. And while I was attempting to get my head around this Jekyll/Hyde couple, Lee was thrust into the mix. And I don’t feel like we ever learn much of anything about him, his past or even his desires for the future.
Ultimately, this didn’t feel much like a romance to me. Vince and Pete decide that Lee belongs with them. They tell him that he belongs with them. They chase him when he runs away and drag him back to them. There is a whole lotta angst between Vince and Pete as they discuss their hopes for Lee, but we see little emotional engagement between Vince/Pete and Lee himself. found it all a bit odd - especially as Vince and Lee are coworkers.
September 18, 2017
Three Player Game (Bluewater Bay #20) by Jaime Samms
3 stars
M/M/M Romance
Triggers: hints at abusive BDSM relationship
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was a hard book for me to follow. There was so much going on in terms of the different relationship dynamics and the communication between the three characters was muddled a lot of the time.
Vince is used to Lee bossing him around in the office. Lee is trying to recover from a professional disappointment as well as a personal one. However, despite all of the hints about his personal issues, you are never truly given the lay out of what actually happened to make him so skittish.
Then you have the established relationship between Vince and Pete. Pete likes to serve Vince while at home. It's a dynamic that you wouldn't suspect given Vince's office job. However, it works for them.
Vince and Pete have toyed with the idea of adding a third, because both believe that they aren't enough for each other - they are both looking for more, but what they have now is all each other can give. That's where Lee fits in. He can balance the needs of both Pete and Vince.
I think this story fell short because Lee pushed too hard to not be in a relationship and we only had truncated snippets of the relationship communication between everyone.
3 stars
M/M/M Romance
Triggers: hints at abusive BDSM relationship
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was a hard book for me to follow. There was so much going on in terms of the different relationship dynamics and the communication between the three characters was muddled a lot of the time.
Vince is used to Lee bossing him around in the office. Lee is trying to recover from a professional disappointment as well as a personal one. However, despite all of the hints about his personal issues, you are never truly given the lay out of what actually happened to make him so skittish.
Then you have the established relationship between Vince and Pete. Pete likes to serve Vince while at home. It's a dynamic that you wouldn't suspect given Vince's office job. However, it works for them.
Vince and Pete have toyed with the idea of adding a third, because both believe that they aren't enough for each other - they are both looking for more, but what they have now is all each other can give. That's where Lee fits in. He can balance the needs of both Pete and Vince.
I think this story fell short because Lee pushed too hard to not be in a relationship and we only had truncated snippets of the relationship communication between everyone.
February 28, 2018
While creating a three-way relationship in a romance series, it would have been incredibly easy for this to devolve into straight-up erotica. Instead, the author takes three incredibly complex characters and builds a realistic relationship that includes all sorts of interesting stumbling blocks that grab the reader's attention (even if it does make you want to smack at least once of the men at any point during the reading).
Pete and Lee seem like they have a solid relationship on the outside, but adding Vince to their trio is no easy task. Each character has unique traits and flaws, such as Vince's understandable spikiness and Lee's backstory. Samms gives the reader just enough description for the history to be sympathetic rather than unnecessarily angsty.
For those of you reading about a nontraditional relationship because you do want the sexy bits, you won't be disappointed. The unique character creation makes for some incredibly unique situations. Some mild BDSM is throw in, but once again, that's due to the characters and not the entire basis of the relationship.
The tie-up at the ending was sheer perfection. I'm utterly convinced these guys will live happily ever after.
Pete and Lee seem like they have a solid relationship on the outside, but adding Vince to their trio is no easy task. Each character has unique traits and flaws, such as Vince's understandable spikiness and Lee's backstory. Samms gives the reader just enough description for the history to be sympathetic rather than unnecessarily angsty.
For those of you reading about a nontraditional relationship because you do want the sexy bits, you won't be disappointed. The unique character creation makes for some incredibly unique situations. Some mild BDSM is throw in, but once again, that's due to the characters and not the entire basis of the relationship.
The tie-up at the ending was sheer perfection. I'm utterly convinced these guys will live happily ever after.
October 18, 2017
Vince and Lee are co-workers for a newly-formed company that’s planning to make a videogame about Wolf’s Landing. The two of them came to work for Blaire Caruthers. Blaire’s father was an overbearing prick, and they are all glad to be rid of him. Plus, Vince is dating a director’s assistant on the set of Wolf’s Landing, Pete, who is willing to direct some scenes they can use in the rendering of the video game. It seems they have an inside track on this plan, and life is finally going well for Vince–and mostly Lee. Well, Lee suffers from a chronic back injury. He’s laid up in a Vancouver hotel with a flare-up, and being cared for by Vince when the book opens.
Vince has long thought Lee was attractive, but he’s with Pete, and that’s totally cool. In fact, it’s a great partnership. Pete has a stress-filled job on the TV show set, and he struggles to relax in his off hours. Vince’s firm hand and creative loving calm Pete’s manic beast. That said, it’s a lot of stress on Vince, and he’s getting a bit worn from caring for Pete’s emotional and sexual needs. They are fully aware of this, and have been considering asking another man to join them; both Pete and Vince are attracted to Lee, but nervous about approaching him. Lee’s need for care as he recovers from his back troubles seems a perfect fit for their cozy cottage–and lifestyle. One huge snag, Lee’s back was originally injured by a careless Dom, and he wants no more kink in his life.
However, the longer Lee spends with Pete and Vince, the more he comes to realize how very lonely he is in Bluewater Bay. And how bonding with VInce and Pete, only to have them someday move on and leave him behind, could be too crushing to manage.
I liked this one. I’m a fan of poly relationships in fiction, and this one had an interesting spin, for me. The purported triad wasn’t necessarily all about attraction. Vince and Pete had deep needs in their relationship that weren’t being completely met. They are really invested in one another, and want to satisfy the other, too, but there are strains. Pete is a health-mind-body type of guy, and needs a place for balance. When his schedule is thrown off, it can take Vince hours and hours to calm him, and get him to re-center. He knows this is a challenge most men wouldn’t take on, and he loves Vince for all his care, which is by turns tender and kinky. Expect some bondage and light BDSM.
Lee is afraid to engage in kink, to be that vulnerable again, but Pete and Vince are excellent at caring for him. It’s unsettling how cherished they make him feel. Yet, he struggles with Vince, who was the previous office lackey, being dominant at home. Lee’s conflicts in the work place become petty, and illustrate how immature Lee has acted in relationships during adulthood. It’s only once he walks out that he recognizes all he’s given up–and wants back. The sexytimes aren’t burn the sheets up steamy, but they are engaging nonetheless. The power plays and dynamics of navigating a kink-laced, three-way love fest are always tricky. That said, these scenes add a lot of tender moments to a story line already brimming with compassion and self-sacrifice. I read a review copy provided by NetGalley.
Vince has long thought Lee was attractive, but he’s with Pete, and that’s totally cool. In fact, it’s a great partnership. Pete has a stress-filled job on the TV show set, and he struggles to relax in his off hours. Vince’s firm hand and creative loving calm Pete’s manic beast. That said, it’s a lot of stress on Vince, and he’s getting a bit worn from caring for Pete’s emotional and sexual needs. They are fully aware of this, and have been considering asking another man to join them; both Pete and Vince are attracted to Lee, but nervous about approaching him. Lee’s need for care as he recovers from his back troubles seems a perfect fit for their cozy cottage–and lifestyle. One huge snag, Lee’s back was originally injured by a careless Dom, and he wants no more kink in his life.
However, the longer Lee spends with Pete and Vince, the more he comes to realize how very lonely he is in Bluewater Bay. And how bonding with VInce and Pete, only to have them someday move on and leave him behind, could be too crushing to manage.
I liked this one. I’m a fan of poly relationships in fiction, and this one had an interesting spin, for me. The purported triad wasn’t necessarily all about attraction. Vince and Pete had deep needs in their relationship that weren’t being completely met. They are really invested in one another, and want to satisfy the other, too, but there are strains. Pete is a health-mind-body type of guy, and needs a place for balance. When his schedule is thrown off, it can take Vince hours and hours to calm him, and get him to re-center. He knows this is a challenge most men wouldn’t take on, and he loves Vince for all his care, which is by turns tender and kinky. Expect some bondage and light BDSM.
Lee is afraid to engage in kink, to be that vulnerable again, but Pete and Vince are excellent at caring for him. It’s unsettling how cherished they make him feel. Yet, he struggles with Vince, who was the previous office lackey, being dominant at home. Lee’s conflicts in the work place become petty, and illustrate how immature Lee has acted in relationships during adulthood. It’s only once he walks out that he recognizes all he’s given up–and wants back. The sexytimes aren’t burn the sheets up steamy, but they are engaging nonetheless. The power plays and dynamics of navigating a kink-laced, three-way love fest are always tricky. That said, these scenes add a lot of tender moments to a story line already brimming with compassion and self-sacrifice. I read a review copy provided by NetGalley.
August 14, 2017
My Review:
3.5 stars
On the surface there is nothing wrong with this book, but for some reason I just had a hard time connecting to the story. And I even liked all three of the characters...but especially Lee. But something about the dynamic here just didn't work for me. There's a lot that's happening that's beneath the surface that's never truly discussed either in dialogue or even mentally for a lot of the story and the conflict and I think that was why it was so hard to make this relationship work in my mind.
BDSM at its simplest is a difficult dynamic to sometimes explain. Add in the emotions of three very different men who don't talk and that becomes even more complex. I guess I just didn't get that whole aspect of their relationship. I think this book would have worked better without that whole thing which a lot of the time in the story came across as manipulation.
Vince is the Dom. He does better with action. Pete is a sub. He's good with words. In the story, Lee is a sub who's unwilling to accept that part of himself because it's gotten him hurt in the past. That makes sense but not really the way the dynamic worked between the three of them. There was so much made in the book about that conflict between them that it made it hard to see the possibility of a forever for the trio. Something felt off in the dynamic.
So, not the most positive review, but the book was an easy read. I liked the way the point of view switched regularly between the three main characters and individually, I did like all three of those characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
3.5 stars
On the surface there is nothing wrong with this book, but for some reason I just had a hard time connecting to the story. And I even liked all three of the characters...but especially Lee. But something about the dynamic here just didn't work for me. There's a lot that's happening that's beneath the surface that's never truly discussed either in dialogue or even mentally for a lot of the story and the conflict and I think that was why it was so hard to make this relationship work in my mind.
BDSM at its simplest is a difficult dynamic to sometimes explain. Add in the emotions of three very different men who don't talk and that becomes even more complex. I guess I just didn't get that whole aspect of their relationship. I think this book would have worked better without that whole thing which a lot of the time in the story came across as manipulation.
Vince is the Dom. He does better with action. Pete is a sub. He's good with words. In the story, Lee is a sub who's unwilling to accept that part of himself because it's gotten him hurt in the past. That makes sense but not really the way the dynamic worked between the three of them. There was so much made in the book about that conflict between them that it made it hard to see the possibility of a forever for the trio. Something felt off in the dynamic.
So, not the most positive review, but the book was an easy read. I liked the way the point of view switched regularly between the three main characters and individually, I did like all three of those characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
August 23, 2017
3.5 stars
If you've been here before, you know that BDSM is not my go-to when it comes to contemporary romance. However, I haven't skipped a book in the Bluewater Bay series yet and I really liked the last book that Jaime Samms wrote in the series (How the Cookie Crumbles), so there was no reason to skip this one. As a matter of fact, I will probably go back and read that book again, because it was 8 books ago and I need a little bit of a refresher, especially since the main character in Three Player Game all got their start in How the Cookie Crumbles. ;)
As for Three Player Game? It's complicated. I really liked Pete, Vince and Lee individually... together? Let's just say that their dynamic bugged me a little. Oddly enough, it had nothing to do with the BDSM, mainly because it was mainly a mental Dom/Sub situation, not really physical. At least not on the page. The awkward part for me was the menage situation. Not in general. I've read quite a few books that centered around a menage relationship that worked... The relationship between Pete, Vince and Lee... I just didn't get, or at least I couldn't wrap my head around why it worked.
I think the main reason that I had issues with their relationship was the fact that Lee was broken and both Vince and Pete both sensed it. The issues that Lee had were barely touched on and to this reader, they were really important if they wanted to help Lee get to where he needed to be. Other than that, I think that Pete and Vince could be good for Lee... there was just something missing. *sigh*
I received Three Player Game in exchange for a fair and honest review.
If you've been here before, you know that BDSM is not my go-to when it comes to contemporary romance. However, I haven't skipped a book in the Bluewater Bay series yet and I really liked the last book that Jaime Samms wrote in the series (How the Cookie Crumbles), so there was no reason to skip this one. As a matter of fact, I will probably go back and read that book again, because it was 8 books ago and I need a little bit of a refresher, especially since the main character in Three Player Game all got their start in How the Cookie Crumbles. ;)
As for Three Player Game? It's complicated. I really liked Pete, Vince and Lee individually... together? Let's just say that their dynamic bugged me a little. Oddly enough, it had nothing to do with the BDSM, mainly because it was mainly a mental Dom/Sub situation, not really physical. At least not on the page. The awkward part for me was the menage situation. Not in general. I've read quite a few books that centered around a menage relationship that worked... The relationship between Pete, Vince and Lee... I just didn't get, or at least I couldn't wrap my head around why it worked.
I think the main reason that I had issues with their relationship was the fact that Lee was broken and both Vince and Pete both sensed it. The issues that Lee had were barely touched on and to this reader, they were really important if they wanted to help Lee get to where he needed to be. Other than that, I think that Pete and Vince could be good for Lee... there was just something missing. *sigh*
I received Three Player Game in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 3, 2017
3 heart review for Love Bytes Reviews.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
This is the story of how Vince and Pete, a committed couple, attempt to tame Lee, and bring him in to their relationship.
Vince and Lee are characters we first met in another book in this series called How the Cookie Crumbles. They were side characters, and honestly I don’t remember enough of that story to really understand what happened. Other than Blaire, half of the couple in that book, left his father’s company and opened his own company, and took Vince and Lee with him. They have settled in Bluewater Bay, and at the time of this book, are working on developing a video game based on Wolf’s Landing. Vince’s boyfriend Pete, works on the set, and is involved in their new game adventure. Vince and Pete are also involved romantically. There is a little BDSM in their relationship, Pete appears to be quite high-strung, and Vince uses some domination to calm him down.
While Vince and Lee are on a work trip to Vancouver, Lee re-injures his back, and Vince stays to care for him for a few days. Much to the annoyance of Lee, who is a stubborn asshole, and treats Vince like crap. Vince eventually gets Lee home, and takes him to the house he shares with Pete. Pete has met Lee before and found him attractive. Vince and Pete contemplate inviting Lee in to their relationship, but soon realize Lee has some deep-seated issues and will take lots of work. While this is going on, we get glimpses of the business venture, both from Vince and Lee’s side, and from Pete’s as well, as Pete begins to work with some of our favorite actors from past books, getting them started doing voice work for the game.
So I had a really hard time with this book. I didn’t like Lee at the beginning, I didn’t like Lee in the middle, and unfortunately I didn’t like Lee at the end. He spends the entire book trying to get away from Vince and Pete, and show them that he’s not interested. They spend the entire book trying to convince him they want him. I spent the entire book not giving a shit if they got him or not! It’s way late in the book before we find out what his past issues are, and by then I didn’t have much sympathy. Maybe if we had seen that part sooner, or had even been in his head when some of it was going down, I would have understood. Maybe it’s because I don’t remember much about the book we first met him and Vince in. I don’t know….. I just didn’t like him. I loved Pete and Vince, and their quirky relationship. I loved the TV show part of this story, and liked the video game business part. But way too much time was spent on Lee being an asshole.
There are several very nice sex scenes, one between Pete and Vince, and a couple with all three of the men. Those were great. When Lee wasn’t being a jerk, I liked the three of them together. I liked the emotional connection between Pete and Vince, and the way they worked out their issues. A little bondage, a little meditation, and all was well. I could see that a less-asshole-ish Lee could have fit in, and could have brought something to the relationship. But the way Lee was written was just too much for me. He needed some lightening up, a redemption moment earlier in the story, a way to get me to feel some sympathy and understanding.
I did like the book, mostly, but not liking one of the main characters makes it hard to give this one a higher rating! So three stars for liking Pete and Vince, and for getting to see other characters I like, and for another story in a world that I do like.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
This is the story of how Vince and Pete, a committed couple, attempt to tame Lee, and bring him in to their relationship.
Vince and Lee are characters we first met in another book in this series called How the Cookie Crumbles. They were side characters, and honestly I don’t remember enough of that story to really understand what happened. Other than Blaire, half of the couple in that book, left his father’s company and opened his own company, and took Vince and Lee with him. They have settled in Bluewater Bay, and at the time of this book, are working on developing a video game based on Wolf’s Landing. Vince’s boyfriend Pete, works on the set, and is involved in their new game adventure. Vince and Pete are also involved romantically. There is a little BDSM in their relationship, Pete appears to be quite high-strung, and Vince uses some domination to calm him down.
While Vince and Lee are on a work trip to Vancouver, Lee re-injures his back, and Vince stays to care for him for a few days. Much to the annoyance of Lee, who is a stubborn asshole, and treats Vince like crap. Vince eventually gets Lee home, and takes him to the house he shares with Pete. Pete has met Lee before and found him attractive. Vince and Pete contemplate inviting Lee in to their relationship, but soon realize Lee has some deep-seated issues and will take lots of work. While this is going on, we get glimpses of the business venture, both from Vince and Lee’s side, and from Pete’s as well, as Pete begins to work with some of our favorite actors from past books, getting them started doing voice work for the game.
So I had a really hard time with this book. I didn’t like Lee at the beginning, I didn’t like Lee in the middle, and unfortunately I didn’t like Lee at the end. He spends the entire book trying to get away from Vince and Pete, and show them that he’s not interested. They spend the entire book trying to convince him they want him. I spent the entire book not giving a shit if they got him or not! It’s way late in the book before we find out what his past issues are, and by then I didn’t have much sympathy. Maybe if we had seen that part sooner, or had even been in his head when some of it was going down, I would have understood. Maybe it’s because I don’t remember much about the book we first met him and Vince in. I don’t know….. I just didn’t like him. I loved Pete and Vince, and their quirky relationship. I loved the TV show part of this story, and liked the video game business part. But way too much time was spent on Lee being an asshole.
There are several very nice sex scenes, one between Pete and Vince, and a couple with all three of the men. Those were great. When Lee wasn’t being a jerk, I liked the three of them together. I liked the emotional connection between Pete and Vince, and the way they worked out their issues. A little bondage, a little meditation, and all was well. I could see that a less-asshole-ish Lee could have fit in, and could have brought something to the relationship. But the way Lee was written was just too much for me. He needed some lightening up, a redemption moment earlier in the story, a way to get me to feel some sympathy and understanding.
I did like the book, mostly, but not liking one of the main characters makes it hard to give this one a higher rating! So three stars for liking Pete and Vince, and for getting to see other characters I like, and for another story in a world that I do like.
August 24, 2017
This was not for me. It wasn't the bdsm or polyamory. It was the main character (Vince) who thought he knew best for both his lover and his secret crush (Lee) - even when Lee said otherwise. Ugh.
I also felt like I was missing some crucial character and plot development. When the story opens, Vince and Pete are an established couple - they're both kinky and poly. Lee is Vince's co-worker - he's apparently an asshole but Vince has a long time secret crush on him. And when Lee's back goes out on a business trip, Vince brings him home to Pete and they decide to "keep him." I still don't know what any of them saw in each other. I don't know when they fell for each other because it didn't happen on page.
All I know is that Vince and Pete felt they had a Lee shaped space in their relationship and they spent a lot of time trying to convince him they were perfect together without actually, IDK, asking him what HE wanted and listening to his answer.
Which brings me to the other thing I felt was missing - honest conversations between all 3 of them about expectations and boundaries in and out of bed.
I also felt like I was missing some crucial character and plot development. When the story opens, Vince and Pete are an established couple - they're both kinky and poly. Lee is Vince's co-worker - he's apparently an asshole but Vince has a long time secret crush on him. And when Lee's back goes out on a business trip, Vince brings him home to Pete and they decide to "keep him." I still don't know what any of them saw in each other. I don't know when they fell for each other because it didn't happen on page.
All I know is that Vince and Pete felt they had a Lee shaped space in their relationship and they spent a lot of time trying to convince him they were perfect together without actually, IDK, asking him what HE wanted and listening to his answer.
Which brings me to the other thing I felt was missing - honest conversations between all 3 of them about expectations and boundaries in and out of bed.
August 25, 2017
This book interested me due to the previous one in the series that I read. Not the same author, but set in the same town and scene.
This one is a MMM, with two main character's (Vince and Pete) being in a relationship, but seeking out more. They find that in Lee, the grumpy, stand offish Lee who needs some TLC after hurting his back and thinking he can take care of himself alone.
The tension in this book leading up to the culmination of the relationship was somewhat angsty. I was not the biggest fan of the two men being alone with Lee, outside of their relationship, as I was afraid that would take away from their relationship with each other. However, these two were secure enough in their relationship with each other that the extra attention to Lee and Lee to them did not break them apart.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read in this series.
This one is a MMM, with two main character's (Vince and Pete) being in a relationship, but seeking out more. They find that in Lee, the grumpy, stand offish Lee who needs some TLC after hurting his back and thinking he can take care of himself alone.
The tension in this book leading up to the culmination of the relationship was somewhat angsty. I was not the biggest fan of the two men being alone with Lee, outside of their relationship, as I was afraid that would take away from their relationship with each other. However, these two were secure enough in their relationship with each other that the extra attention to Lee and Lee to them did not break them apart.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read in this series.
December 27, 2017
I like a good m/m/m and it might have made slightly more sense if I hadn't read this one before some of the earlier books and one that I never did read, but I wasn't sure I REALLY got it. Lee was so crabby all the time and I wasn't quite sure how Vince and Pete meshed. It was a very different D/s dynamic and Lee kept worrying about being a sub and yet they never really explored that at all as he spent most of his time being vanilla with Vince or topping Pete and Vince didn't even get off on sex much, especially being the dom, he preferred vanilla. I don't know. I know relationships are complicated and this one definitely was. I didn't dislike it but I was just kind of thrown off by their dynamic and left scratching my head for much of it and got a bit weary of Lee's perpetual surliness. People that miserable 24/7 are not pleasant to be around or read about.
October 1, 2017
I was really looking forward to this book but ultimately it disappointed me. I felt confused as to what was happening constantly. The beginning was weird and threw me off. The switching POVs really, really turned me off as well. Threesomes are ambitious to write about, it’s hard to get them right, a lot of the time they come off as unbelievable. This book fell prey to that. It was not a good representation of a threesome, in my opinion.
I think there were good parts to this book if you can suspend your disbelief and ignore the lack of information and the switching POVs.
However, this book did not resonate with me at all. I appreciate realism and this was just not that.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I think there were good parts to this book if you can suspend your disbelief and ignore the lack of information and the switching POVs.
However, this book did not resonate with me at all. I appreciate realism and this was just not that.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 30, 2017
Pete and Vince have found a balance that mostly works for them, they both have tough jobs that are high stress. When Vince brings Lee home sparks start to fly, but Lee doesn't want any to feel anything, he also doesn't want to get between these two guys. It will take everything Vince and Pete have in them to make Lee realize that he is wanted not just with one of them but with both of them.
Another great book in the Bluewater Bay Series, I love being able to get flashes of character from other books and see how they are doing. I would love to see a book that is a check in of all the different couples, like a Christmas book.
Another great book in the Bluewater Bay Series, I love being able to get flashes of character from other books and see how they are doing. I would love to see a book that is a check in of all the different couples, like a Christmas book.
August 25, 2017
I enjoyed Three Player Game overall, but it took a really long time for me to warm to the characters. Had I not been reading this an an ARC and wanting to finish it to write a well put together review, I might not have gotten back into it. While it's good, I just couldn't find any kind of connection to the three men. If you aren't already invested int he Bluewater Bay series, I don't see much of a reason for anyone to pick this up unless they were specifically looking for a menage with some BDSM elements.
November 19, 2017
3.5
Menage isn't necessarily my genre, but I enjoyed this book. They each brought something to the potential/budding relationship.
There were several references to the characters' backstory that I didn't recognise, so I assume that the author has written an earlier book in this series which I've not read (despite my having read the majority of the Bluewater Bay books). But that wasn't a problem.
I'd be happy to try something else by this author.
Menage isn't necessarily my genre, but I enjoyed this book. They each brought something to the potential/budding relationship.
There were several references to the characters' backstory that I didn't recognise, so I assume that the author has written an earlier book in this series which I've not read (despite my having read the majority of the Bluewater Bay books). But that wasn't a problem.
I'd be happy to try something else by this author.
February 1, 2018
Overall it was a nice story but the dynamic of menage is always complex and I'm not sure that the author have explained very well all is going in the minds of Vince, Pete and Lee. For example Lee;he have a painful past of which we know very little,then he is almost "sequestered" by Vince and "throw" in a threesome without much explanation. This is been a bit odd. I liked the three and the chemistry was explosive but I think there was something missing in the plot.
March 5, 2018
Poly dom/sub relationship story about a couple finding their third.
All three characters have their own interests and areas of expertise, as well as blind spots. I enjoyed seeing their urge to protect and care for one another, and the slow melting of resistance as a guarded soul comes to care for two others.
All three characters have their own interests and areas of expertise, as well as blind spots. I enjoyed seeing their urge to protect and care for one another, and the slow melting of resistance as a guarded soul comes to care for two others.
August 20, 2017
Interesting dynamics. I can't say I understood everything that was happening as it was happening, interpersonally at least, but I did believe in Vince, Pete, and Lee by the end. This is a good addition to the Bluewater Bay series.
August 20, 2017
Eh. It was ok. Honestly I didn't connect with ANY of the MC's...maybe because I just don't get into that particular kink, at all. Idk. I just didn't really care about any of the three of them enough for it to matter to me whether they worked it out or not. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
April 22, 2019
Vince and Pete decided to “keep” Lee and make him a part of their family without any input from him. Lee had to feel like the lead character in a Stephen King novel. This aspect of the book just didn’t work.
May 1, 2020
For Bluewater Bay fans looking for something different.
June 6, 2019
In a word: Read the thing. No lie, I had a bit of a hard time connecting to this one, though I’m not entirely sure why. I did enjoy the story and the relationship between the three mains, though. Vince and Pete are lovers and living together. Lee is Vince’s co-worker who Vince and Pete would like to add to their relationship as their third. Lee is prickly and wary and it’s a challenge for Vince and Pete to convince him that they really want him. Somehow it all works out in the end. The parts of the story I really enjoyed were when Vince, Pete, and Lee spent time together being intimate, thought not necessarily sexual (either all three at once or in various pairings). Even when Lee was being his most difficult, it wasn’t hard to see the affection they all had for each other. The all have different needs and they all really care about whether everyone’s needs are being met. It’s all really sweet. There are some aspects of the story that I had a hard time with. One of them was that Vince and Pete, who are already together, aren’t entirely clear about their intentions with Lee. They discuss things between the two of them, as they should, but they don’t really have the same kinds of conversations with Lee, seeming to prefer to just start explaining things while in the middle of something, and not before something happens. The point-of-view alternates between the three men each chapter, and a lot of Lee’s chapters have him confused and not entirely sure what’s happening (along with him fighting whatever is going on because he’s stubborn and scared). The most obvious problem I had with the book is that it sort of feels like I should already know these characters. Or that I should already know Vince and Lee, at least, since it seems like they have a history. I’m assuming that history was explored more in this author’s previous book in the Bluewater Bay series, which I haven’t read yet. Aside from that, though, I enjoyed the relationships between Vince, Pete, and Lee. Also the hurt/comfort element was pretty good too, what with Lee having back issues for most of the story.
[read the full post at In A Word]
[read the full post at In A Word]
August 26, 2017
*´¨✫)3.5 stars
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶Wanting and needing are two seperate entities.
Reading the plot to this story I was beyond excited, especially as I had just completed the previous book. I held off for a while on requesting, but I kept being drawn back to it. When I started, I was in confusion land. I can take on characters who have history, but when a backstory completely eludes me and I am looking for answers, that is when I frown. Vince and Pete are a couple, who use mild BDSM to even each other out. They both have stressful jobs, but they both have pasts that make it difficult to relax. Vince and Lee are collegues, who apparently knew each other before coming to Bluewater Bay. Theirs was a relationship forged in something I could not quite understand.
VInce wanted Lee. Lee craved Pete, this was obvious in their interactions. And in order to have Pete, Lee had to follow Vince's rules. You see, in this Throuple, Vince wore the pants, regardless of Lee being the boss of him at work. Confusing? Yeah, maybe, really. What confused me is Vince's and Pete's talk of bringing in a third-Lee-then single handedly going outside of each other to get him. Frustration much. Especially Lee's attitude about Vince's and Pete's relationship. Then he was all up in their Kool-Aid and pulling away the next. Jeez-us lover of my soul, I screamed quite a bit throughout this book. At one point I almost DNF, but I was already invested so I trudged on.
I wanted, no I EXPECTED more from this tale. I have read and enjoyed a few works from the author but it will not deter me from seeking more stories.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Riptide Publishing.
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶Wanting and needing are two seperate entities.
Reading the plot to this story I was beyond excited, especially as I had just completed the previous book. I held off for a while on requesting, but I kept being drawn back to it. When I started, I was in confusion land. I can take on characters who have history, but when a backstory completely eludes me and I am looking for answers, that is when I frown. Vince and Pete are a couple, who use mild BDSM to even each other out. They both have stressful jobs, but they both have pasts that make it difficult to relax. Vince and Lee are collegues, who apparently knew each other before coming to Bluewater Bay. Theirs was a relationship forged in something I could not quite understand.
VInce wanted Lee. Lee craved Pete, this was obvious in their interactions. And in order to have Pete, Lee had to follow Vince's rules. You see, in this Throuple, Vince wore the pants, regardless of Lee being the boss of him at work. Confusing? Yeah, maybe, really. What confused me is Vince's and Pete's talk of bringing in a third-Lee-then single handedly going outside of each other to get him. Frustration much. Especially Lee's attitude about Vince's and Pete's relationship. Then he was all up in their Kool-Aid and pulling away the next. Jeez-us lover of my soul, I screamed quite a bit throughout this book. At one point I almost DNF, but I was already invested so I trudged on.
I wanted, no I EXPECTED more from this tale. I have read and enjoyed a few works from the author but it will not deter me from seeking more stories.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Riptide Publishing.
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
January 4, 2018
4.5 stars
“Three Player Game” by Jaime Samms is part of ‘Bluewater Bay’ series and follows the changing relationship between coworkers Lee and Vince as they deal with Lee’s back injury and the interest that both Vince and his partner Pete have in the prickly Lee. Exploring what they can be together will require patience and persistence and an ability to get past the defenses that keep the world at bay.
This adult contemporary m/m/m romance does a great job of gradually revealing the backgrounds of three very different men who find a way make the puzzle pieces of their emotions and egos fit together. It is a bit confusing at first, trying to parse out who is who and learn how they fit into Bluewater Bay, and I suspect there is a story involving these characters before this one, but background is eventually provided and one gets drawn into the struggle between these unique personalities who require very different elements to feel comfortable.
It is important to pay attention to the titles of the chapters, as action shifts from man to man, but this allows one to understand the motivations and complications of each person. Lee’s history is gradually revealed, allowing one to understand his honey badger personality and his determination to keep his walls up, while the contrast between Pete’s professional and private personas is succinctly portrayed and gives an insight into the give and take of his bond with Vince.
There are hints of the positives and negatives of BDSM in a relationship, and allusions to the complications of creating a spinoff game from a successful series, both of which elements would benefit from additional exposition, so I hope to see all of these characters in a subsequent story in the series. I enjoyed the beautiful imagery sprinkled through the story (e.g. “spiky because his soul is bruised” or ”fitting into his empty spaces like putty, bracing him where he was weakest,” and the exploration of a polyamorous relationship and I look forward to reading more stories by this author.
This title was provided to me for review, a version of which was submitted to Night Owl Reviews
“Three Player Game” by Jaime Samms is part of ‘Bluewater Bay’ series and follows the changing relationship between coworkers Lee and Vince as they deal with Lee’s back injury and the interest that both Vince and his partner Pete have in the prickly Lee. Exploring what they can be together will require patience and persistence and an ability to get past the defenses that keep the world at bay.
This adult contemporary m/m/m romance does a great job of gradually revealing the backgrounds of three very different men who find a way make the puzzle pieces of their emotions and egos fit together. It is a bit confusing at first, trying to parse out who is who and learn how they fit into Bluewater Bay, and I suspect there is a story involving these characters before this one, but background is eventually provided and one gets drawn into the struggle between these unique personalities who require very different elements to feel comfortable.
It is important to pay attention to the titles of the chapters, as action shifts from man to man, but this allows one to understand the motivations and complications of each person. Lee’s history is gradually revealed, allowing one to understand his honey badger personality and his determination to keep his walls up, while the contrast between Pete’s professional and private personas is succinctly portrayed and gives an insight into the give and take of his bond with Vince.
There are hints of the positives and negatives of BDSM in a relationship, and allusions to the complications of creating a spinoff game from a successful series, both of which elements would benefit from additional exposition, so I hope to see all of these characters in a subsequent story in the series. I enjoyed the beautiful imagery sprinkled through the story (e.g. “spiky because his soul is bruised” or ”fitting into his empty spaces like putty, bracing him where he was weakest,” and the exploration of a polyamorous relationship and I look forward to reading more stories by this author.
This title was provided to me for review, a version of which was submitted to Night Owl Reviews
October 1, 2019
Playing for keeps!
Communication is both the building blocks of love, and love's greatest strength. That doesn't mean we don't doubt ourselves or that struggling with our own issues automatically goes away. I'm passionate about honest representation of mental health in romance, and this book delivers! I delighted in watching Vince and Pete open their hearts and home to Lee, determined to offer compassion and connection that Lee so desperately needs. I love that the author didn't shy away from moments of uncertainty, doubt, or anxiety and shows the characters making choices to keep fighting for what they want. Fantastic read that honestly makes me want to set more from Bluewater Bay and Jamie Samms.
Communication is both the building blocks of love, and love's greatest strength. That doesn't mean we don't doubt ourselves or that struggling with our own issues automatically goes away. I'm passionate about honest representation of mental health in romance, and this book delivers! I delighted in watching Vince and Pete open their hearts and home to Lee, determined to offer compassion and connection that Lee so desperately needs. I love that the author didn't shy away from moments of uncertainty, doubt, or anxiety and shows the characters making choices to keep fighting for what they want. Fantastic read that honestly makes me want to set more from Bluewater Bay and Jamie Samms.
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