Dangerous Boys and Their Toy [Paperback]

When written well, ménage can be an incredibly hot way to join disparate characters together. Unfortunately, I think ménage is becoming the `flavor of the month', so to speak, for erotic romance writers.

It seems as if more and more ménage books are being published all of a sudden. A good thing, right? Not so much, as it turns out, because many (most?) of the writers in this subgenre cheat the reader out of the wild mess of twisty emotions and sexuality that are always a part of a committed threesome.

Let me be clear: `Dangerous Boys and Their Toy' is definitely _NOT_ in the pale-imitation, cheating-in-terms-of-a-full-relationship category.

With a great story and wonderful characters, this is definitely a way-above-average ménage subgenre book. All the main characters struggle uneasily and for differing lengths of time with the conception and consequences of becoming a functional and committed threesome. From a sexual, emotional and in a real-world-sense, they're struggling to determine who they'll be to each other for the rest of their lives. Each has his or her own private fears to deal with as well as the more obvious head shifts necessary to become a fully-integrated MFM triad.

Rare, in my reading experience, is an author brave enough to allow a fully expressed ménage to form between all of the protagonists in the story. A truly satisfying ménage is, in my mind, a relationship between three people which satisfies the sexual and emotional needs of each without allowing homophobic prejudices to hamper the evolution of the sexuality or their ability to offer and accept real love to and from each other. Stories that *do not* quash the full expression of all nuances of love are surpassingly rare and I highly value those few I've come across. This is one of them.

Let me put it plainly: I am already growing impatient and dissatisfied with ménage books wherein the ending looms with the guys having learned to share the woman as if they weren't all naked in the same bed together. In other words, homophobia is out and rampant and keeps the guys from touching in any but the most basic ways. Such storytelling cheapens the whole ménage concept and such books are almost always sickeningly formulaic. They're NOT hot and they ARE disappointing.

'Dangerous Boys and Their Toy' is a stimulating and intriguing book, one of the very best in this sub-genre, in my opinion. It is thrilling in large part because Shayla allowed these characters--ALL of them--to pursue all the sexual and emotional limits of what could be between each member of their union. It is truly a love union between three people, all of them brave enough to become fully invested in each other in every way by the books' end.

Great job, Shayla Black. You've made a forever fan of me.

Trading orgasms for information isn't their usual way of doing business, but when a missing criminal-turned-star-witness and fifty grand are on the line, bounty hunter R. A. Thorn and Detective Cameron Martinez are prepared to put their bodies to the task and give gorgeous Brenna Sheridan everything she needs.

An exchange they never anticipated becomes an experience none can forget -- or walk away from. Sexual hunger sizzles the threesome, but the stakes and danger rise as a mafia bad-ass stalks Brenna. Soon, their "deal" is no longer about information -- or sex. Emotions bind Brenna, Cam and Thorn together more tightly than they ever imagined as the men protect -- and serve -- the beloved woman neither can live without.

Reader advisory: Book contains some scenes of same-gender sex.

I would loved to have been a fly on the wall when Shayla Black was pitching the idea for this story to her publisher. Wow. Ms. Black took her idea and ran with it in this unbelievably spicy story. I can't fault her for sticking to her guns but damn. This was funny. I'm sorry. I don't believe in an orgasm deficiency because the cure has been out since the seventies. Its called the Hitachi Magic Stick. Plug that baby into the power grid and Let'Er Rip. Ten minutes alone with that baby and you can kiss your deficiency good bye. Twice.

Man, I don't know what to think after reading this book. I guess I really liked it. I read this hoping my headache would go away, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it all, and for the priceless reactions to the m/m moments. And I couldn't get my mouse to work. No, that's not a metaphor for something else. I literally couldn't get my mouse to work. I was reading this on my computer and I spent most of the time banging my mouse around trying to get it to scroll.

The three of them were pretty good together. The dynamic of two strong alpha male men getting together was hot. I was a little surprised by who was on the receiving end, but what do I know. *laughs hysterically* Man, this was so funny. "Stop banging her like a drum. This is sex, not a heavy metal concert." I was LOLing all over the place. This was like an awesomely bad porn movie that was so bad it was great. I spent a big portion of this story with my hand over my mouth in awe over the sexual shenanigans and trying to figure out the Twister formations. You know, who was in what, where and how. LOL. I definitely have to try some more m/m stuff. For some reason its starting to get me hot. I don't know why. F/F doesn't seem to do it for me, which is weird, because normally I would say I would rather look at a naked woman than at a naked man. Huh. I guess I got a few more kinks left inside me waiting to be explored.

So in that regard I tip my hat to Shayla Black for a job well done. :D

Now that this story is over I have got to go see my husband about fixing my mouse. Because it's still broken. I swear. That's what all the banging and yelling was coming from inside my room. Me trying to fix my mouse.

Nicely turned phrases, well told story, the male characters were sturdy, thoughtful, and, most importantly believable - men we might actually know or have met at some point. The sex was hot - REALLY hot. Bring a fan and don't get in a rush, you'll want to savor this book. I don't read a lot of erotic novels and I rarely read any romance at all, but I always read Shayla Black - she never disappoints.

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