Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Psychologist Victor Mascari and his partner, spa-owner Derek Jameson, have been together eight years, but their relationship is still evolving. Derek distrusts monogamy because of his parents’ messy divorce, but as marriage equality advances, Victor’s doubts about their open relationship are growing. He doesn’t necessarily want a legal union, but he’s increasingly concerned about how others view them.

When Victor comes home to find Derek with another new conquest, he’s annoyed… at first. As he gets to know Antonio, Victor discovers the young man is intelligent, self-assured, and charming. This time, it’s Victor who is intrigued by someone else and Derek who thinks Victor’s interest is crossing the lines they’ve agreed on. If Victor wants to keep Derek, he’ll have to let Antonio go.

But Antonio is in real trouble and has nowhere to turn. Victor and Derek take him in, and it soon becomes clear how well he fits into their lives and how strong the bonds between all of them are growing. A committed relationship between three men—all very different in age and background—is enough of a challenge, and then the horrifying secrets of Antonio’s abusive past emerge.

 

Book Review

Relationships are hard work, and some of them require more attention than others. Couples who have an open relationship, like psychologist Victor (who made a short appearance in book one) and spa-owner Derek, face quite a few additional pitfalls. In this case, Derek is a man opposed to monogamy for many reasons that make sense to him, but not necessarily to Victor. Victor likes to play, but he is ready to settle down and would not mind revising their agreement. The key to the problem is their different way of defining intimacy, and when Antonio enters their lives – via Derek’s bed – it all comes to a head. Ironically it is Victor’s interest in Antonio’s well-being that causes several “explosions” from Derek. The struggle these three men go through is full of drama, scary revelations, and a past that won’t stop haunting Antonio no matter how hard he tries to forget it all.

Victor loves Derek to distraction and has so far dealt well with Derek’s need to play with other men – both on his own and with all three of them present. From the very start, Antonio is different and Victor struggles with his need to protect the younger man. Victor worries about how others see him, stemming mostly from issues with his father and his own past.

Derek is all about keeping their relationship open; anything to avoid tying himself down only to find out he “has to” cheat – like his father did. But seeing Victor so worried about a stranger makes Derek lose it. “Just sex” is okay with him, mostly when he initiates it, but seeing something that might be an emotional involvement develop between Victor and Antonio makes Derek feel totally insecure.

While both Victor and Derek are falling in love with Antonio, neither wants to admit it and both struggle with the implications. The situation brings up a whole range of problems with their relationship, and they end up so upset that they can’t even talk about it, causing even more issues.

Antonio has his own problems, and finding out what they are as the story unfolds was heartbreaking. Antonio needs all the support and love he can get, and he quickly falls for both Victor and Derek – except he doesn’t want to come between them. He has a way of looking at things that manages to bring all three of them closer together, but none of that matters if his past catches up and destroys everything Antonio has worked so hard for.

If you like stories about complicated characters with tons of issues, if three men struggling to figure out how they fit is your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that doesn’t shy away from real problems and looks at romance and love from an unbiased and somewhat unusual perspective, then you will probably like this novel.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 224 pages/81481 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	12-August-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/expanded-hearts-by-logan-meredith-7351-b