Series: The Portland Rebels #3
Published by Samhain Publishing on August 2, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Erotica, LGBTQ, Ménage, New Adult
Deviance is unacceptable. It’s taboo. And it’s the one thing he’s always wanted.
Painful shyness isn’t the only reason Mikey Pelletier is a twenty-five-year-old virgin. Between working for his parents and volunteering at his church, he neither has the time nor the inclination to admit his bisexuality to the world—or to himself.
A visit from Krissy Porter will hopefully fix everything. After three months of chatting with her, Mikey’s got one carefully planned week to win her heart and lose his V-card. He’s hoping he can pull it off, even with her roommate along for the ride.
Krissy has been drawn to Mikey for a while. He’s so easygoing, she thinks he could be the calm in her storm. But there’s an extra complication when she comes to visit: her friend-with-benefits, “hetero-flexible” roommate, Rafe.
During a week of revelations, intimacy, and kink, Krissy and Rafe become the angel and devil on Mikey’s shoulders, tempting him in different directions. And all three of them discover that a week of pure deviance can lead to the most uncontrollable emotion of all: love.
Warning: This book contains innocent board game-playing that takes a sexy turn, use of recreational substances, back-door action, and some smokin’ hot threesomes. Plus, scenes of inner-demon slaying. Fans and tissues advised.
Goodreads:
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1VQzmHfB&N
Nook: http://bit.ly/1RGnBgo
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Google Play: http://bit.ly/1LVgIvI
THERE'S A PLAYLIST!! And it's AMAZING! Go Listen! -
Received free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating - 4.5
I REALLY enjoyed this book, I can't say it's my favorite of the series - though I like the themes in this one perhaps a little more - because the other two books had more romance in them, but I still found this thoroughly enjoyable... and once again, I love that the story, like the first two, is built around a central scientific theme, a sociological theme to be exact... the Theory of Deviance, the act of nonconformity... being an individual, being true to one's self and the rejection of the uniform, traditional ideals of society. I think it's really cool and interesting how Allen weaves these scientific themes and methodologies into this series. It's really very fascinating and I come away from it with a bit more knowledge and an interest in learning more about them and how they relate so much to their story and it's characters, which is awesome!
~*~
While I did find it somewhat lacking in the romance department, the slow build, there were many, MANY aspects that I really enjoyed.
For one, I like that this was bisexual menage rather than a love triangle where I always feel like someone gets left out... I love this kind of menage because the love goes in all directions. I loved the diversity in the LGBT characters... Mikey and Rafe were at different points in their journey of self-acceptance, and though they had similar roots (the struggle and questioning of religion, the nonsupportive family), one far more extreme than the other, I like that they took different branching paths. I really like that as a bisexual woman, it made ME question and explore things I have gone through. I would like to see Allen write more LGBT and/or menage romance to see where she can take it, what new realities she can explore.
I loved the religious themes and struggles. While Rafe could not hold onto his faith AND find self-acceptance and love - as I couldn't - and that he had to let go of what was basically poison to him personally, Mikey fought to hold on to his faith, fought to find a way to balance them. And I like that it SEEMS that both characters are accepting of the other's choices... Mikey doesn't try to force Rafe into rediscovering his faith, and Rafe doesn't badger Mikey about his beyond that initial shock and struggle.
I liked that this book delved into mental health and what it's like living with Bipolar disorder, the way it takes over the mind and sometimes no amount of wishful thinking can stop an episode... it takes lots of support and strength to get a handle on. While I have mental health issues, I don't personally struggle with a bipolar disorder... but I have family members who do and I found Krissy's struggle to be quite similar to the experiences my family has talked about, the struggle you face when your own mind is your worst enemy. Honestly, it's quite similar to my own struggle with depression and anxiety. So I quite liked that Allen wasn't afraid to delve into this subject... and she did it without sort of romanticizing mental illness, which I think some people have a tendency to do.
Finally, I like that there was a light amount of angst. Though I do find myself in the mood for angst at times, that's not what I wanted out of this book, so I'm glad that it was kept at a minimum... especially when each character was dealing with their own internal angst and struggles... the last thing it needed was a whole lot of relationship angst tacked on.
~*~
So, yeah, while I do wish there had been a bit more slow-burn romance, that Allen would have really delved into these characters getting to know one another, there were so many redeeming themes that I just loved! Honestly, this book could have been twice it's size and I would have still loved reading it! :)
Rebecca Grace Allen writes kinky new adult and hot contemporary BDSM romance. She holds a
Bachelor of Arts in English with a double concentration in Creative Writing and Literary Comparison, as well as a Master of Science in Elementary Education, both of which seemed like good ideas at the time. After stumbling through careers in entertainment, publishing, law and teaching, she's returned to her first love: writing. A self-admitted caffeine addict and gym rat, she currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, two parakeets, and a cat with a very unusual foot fetish.
Website: http://www.rebeccagraceallen.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RGraceAllen
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2aeNZC6
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aPcvcQ
More from the Portland Rebels Series
The Portland Rebels Book 1
Blurb:
Sometimes A + B = O. Yes. Oh, yes. Just like that.
Gabriella Evans’s life exists in terms of logic and definitions. She’s holed up in Portland, Maine, for the summer to work on her PhD thesis, but something is screwing up her concentration: the rumble of a motorcycle every time the embodiment of her rough-and-tumble fantasies rides down her street.
When her best friend talks her into a blind date, she finds herself out with the opposite of her fantasy. He’s polite and well-mannered, yet something behind his crisply tailored shirt doesn’t add up—a rebellious gleam in his eye that piques her curiosity.
Orphaned at fifteen, Connor Starks has finally put the years of failing grades, breaking laws and breaking hearts behind him. The only holdover? His penchant for getting down and dirty in public places. But Gabriella makes him want to prove he’s become a better man.
Nothing intrigues Gabriella more than a problem she can’t solve. But the more Connor tries to bury his past, the more determined she is to uncover it. And what she finds makes all her trusty logic begin to fail her…
Warning: This book contains a summer romance, dirty talk, dockside kissing, motorcycles and tattoos. Features a rebellious nerdy girl with an appetite for outdoor sex and light spanking, and a bad boy who’s turned good…or at least he’s trying.
Goodreads:
Buy Links:
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1LVhZmH
B&N Nook: http://bit.ly/1URPDMw
Kobo: http://bit.ly/21PWZPV
Apple: http://apple.co/1RGpaey
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1VQAvyG
The Hierarchy of Needs
Portland Rebels Book 2
Blurb:
Jamie Matthews is stuck in a rut. After hitting a wall with her dream career, she’s back in her hometown, living a life as monotonous as swimming laps in the neighborhood pool.
Being surrounded by her perfect brothers is a painful reminder of her failure to launch. The last bonfire of the summer is an ideal way to let off steam, especially when she runs into Dean Trescott, the playboy friend she had one hot-as-hell night with back in high school.
Since the day Dean met Jamie, he’s loved her beauty, talent, and smile that lit up the whole damn block. But dating isn’t an option. She has a bright future ahead of her, and he refuses to chain her to his—helping run the family business that’s barely staying afloat.
A “what-happens-in-Vegas” weekend was supposed to get their craving for each other out of their systems. But neither counted on the past repeating itself, drawing them together in even hotter and dirtier ways and dangling the possibility they might both be able to get exactly what they need…
Warning: A friends-to-lovers twice over story that contains some hot ’n’ heavy kissing in the waves, hair pulling, and a man who knows how to use his hands. It may also feature a few practical jokes—only the fun kind, of course.
Goodreads:
Buy Links:
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1qciHlq
B&N Nook: http://bit.ly/1RGpsSF
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1XZ8e7w
iTunes: http://apple.co/1LViuNp
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