reviews_and_ramblings | Best Gay Contemporary Romance (1° place): More by Sloan Parker

More is a new intake on the ménages a trois story. The previous versions I have seen were about a couple that, for a reason or the other, opened to a third man; in this way the need to balance was between old habits and the new element, the new man. The previous couple would react in a good or bad way, but in any case they had their past experience together to help them. Here instead all three men are new to this experience, and all of them have their baggage of issues.

Luke is the one who is telling the story, and the mainstay around which all the story turn: around 30 years old, he is the disowned son of a conservative politician who doesn’t like his son’s lifestyle; thank to his power, the father managed to ruin his son’s life till now, and Luke fears any type of commitment, he resorts to anonymous sex to avoid any trouble. But one night he meets the perfect pair, two men who fulfil any and each of his desires and letting them go is not easy.

Richard is more 40 than 30 years old, and he is just coming out from a long lasting relationship ended badly; he is not used to play the field no more, and sincerely, he doesn’t want to. He is all for commitment as soon as possible, and where he is for sure a steady and balanced man, maybe he is pushing a bit too fast Luke in doing something he is not ready to do. And even if he is good to the man, nevertheless Richard has a strong and stubborn personality, which will give him a lot of work to match with Luke, the one in the ménages a trois that is more near to him for experience and age.

Matthew is a 22 years old guy, working small jobs since he left college before his graduation; he has apparently a good life, but he is obviously searching in the private club where he meets Richard and Luke, for the happily ever after he so desperately want; he feels sure inside the private club, but he is like a man picking a taste of each flavour to decide what it suits him better. Matthew is young and enthusiast, but he is also easily to get hurt. A bad past experience left him with some self-esteem issues, but he is basically a good boy, and he likes his life simple and ordinary, if in the routine there is a lot of sex.

As you will understand these three men are as different as they could be and only one thing link them, they all have bad experiences behind the shoulders, but they didn’t loose the hope for an happily ever after, even if, like Luke, they are not willing to admit it. Their relationship starts from the sex, and there is a lot of it, to develop in something more; the sex helps to accelerate things, so maybe someone will wonder on the balance they will reach, I think it will need some adjustments, but there is good chance of success.

This was my first experience with Sloan Parker, and it was a good one; I usually don’t like too much ménages, it’s difficult to build them for me to believe in their lasting, but in this case, right since the author chose a different approach, I think it made sense: it’s not the case of a third wheel which ruined a perfect balance, it’s more like a puzzle at its beginning, with all still to build in front.