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Review

“Love is not always easy or as we expect it to be, but it is worth the struggle. Love is always worth a fight. Just because it’s a challenge doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

3.5 stars

This is the second book in the Exodus End series, but it is also a sequel to [book:Double Time|12710106]Double Time from the Sinners on Tour series. It’s the continuation of the intriguing, heart-warming and hot-as-f**k love story between Trey Mills, Reagan Elliot and Ethan Connor.

Trey is guitarist for rock band, Sinners, Reagan is the stand-in rhythm guitarist for metal band, Exodus End, and Ethan is Reagan’s bodyguard. They are madly in love and deeply committed to their menage relationship – which is well established in Double Time (and I would recommend reading that book before starting this one).

This book overlaps a little bit of the last book of this series, Insider, and we get to see the trio loved-up, sexed-up and happy, living their lives together. But knowing that the outside world would not understand their unconventional relationship, to the general public it’s just Reagan and Trey in the relationship, and Ethan is the bodyguard. But when rumours start to fly and the press take an interest in the relationship – mistakenly thinking that Reagan is cheating on Trey with Ethan – it’s going to put them to the test in ways they aren’t ready for.

Not only is there the issue of the enforced public secrecy of their relationship, but Reagan and Ethan are also hiding their lovers from their families. It’s a tense situation as they try to balance their happiness, the feelings of their partners and security of their relationship, with the fear of public opinion and backlash, and I could understand the concerns that each of them had.

And on top of that, Reagan is facing uncertainty in her future with Exodus End. She was only ever bought in as a temporary band member for their world tour, and though they guys treat her as one of their own, she still feels like an outsider. And then the band’s manager starts trying to use her unwanted publicity to push her as a sex symbol. It’s an uncomfortable situation for Reagan, who just wants to play music, and not be the focus of the relentless paparazzi and their devastating lies.

“I’d die for you.”
“Dying is easy … Living with who you are is the hard part.”

I really enjoyed catching up with these characters again. I’m always intrigued by the dynamics of a menage relationship, and I liked that we got to delve into that a bit more as they are now past all of the initial experimentation, wonderment and excitement of their relationship and are now settled into the no-less-intense phase of steady commitment. The love between them is beautifully written, and of course the sexy time is steaming! These three are insatiable, and we get to see that over and over again in all kinds of ways. But through all of the super hotness, there is a strong emotional connection that is absolutely gorgeous.

“Separately as individuals, together as a couple, the three of us united. You belong to each other and to me, and I belong to you.”

I have mad love for all things Trey Mills, he’s such a great character. Funny, sexy, and charmingly filthy, and he has the biggest heart! He’s open and loving with everybody in his life, and none more than Ethan and Reagan who mean the world to him.

Loving had always been one of the biggest parts of who he was, and now he was twice the lover. He finally felt whole and refused to change for anyone.

Ethan may be less demonstrative than his boyfriend, but I love his confidence in this relationship, and his strength in being the ‘outsider’ when it came to the press. He is happy to take the back seat in the public eye, but he has a controlling hand with Trey and Reagan, and his absolute certainty of his love for them is beautiful to see.

And Reagan….. I have to admit that she annoyed me in this one. Sure, there’s a lot going on with all of the drama that they’re going through, but she came off as selfish and whiny. It’s never in doubt that she loves her men, but her unwarranted insecurity and constant whining just annoyed me. I kinda felt that she wasn’t worthy of Trey and Ethan.

And through the drama-rama, my heart broke for Trey who just rode it all out with nothing but his two lovers in his mind and the need to make them happy and build a good life for the three of them.

“I love you. Even if no-one else in the world ever sees it, you need to see it. You need to believe it.”

There’s no doubt that they’re in a unique and difficult situation, but I enjoyed watching them work through it all to get the happy end together that they all so desperately want.

“Love is not always easy or as we expect it to be, but it is worth the struggle. Love is always worth a fight. Just because it’s a challenge doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

My other issue with this book is that it was just too long. There’s a lot of repetition with the drama, and other parts of the story are too drawn out. The same story could have been told in a lot less pages, and it started to drag a lot for me. But it ends well and though there was some slap-worthy behaviour there towards the end, I was happy with how it all finished up.

As always, I loved catching up with the boys of the band. The Sinners feature heavily in this one, and I loved seeing where each of the couples are at, as well as seeing some story progression for them. And I loved getting to know the Exodus End boys better. This is a great bunch of guys with a wonderful sense of camaraderie (brothers Trey and Dare just make my heart melt with their close relationship!). There are some interesting stories just begging to be told, and I’m so excited to get their books.

A sizzlingy steamy, heartfelt, enjoyable (if a little long) story. 3.5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.