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Talking in Code #1
Talking in Code
Some things crumble under pressure. Others are tempered by it instead. For three former soldiers, a tragedy might be the catalyst that binds them together—stronger than ever. Richard Horn and Timothy Davenport met in the SEALs twenty years ago and have been lovers ever since. Now running their own paramilitary organization, Strike Force Omega, they work in the shadows to protect their country and its people. When Tim falls for Eric Newton, a deadly sniper and strategist on their team, Richard accepts that Tim’s heart is big enough for two men. He respects, admires, and even desires Eric enough to accept him into their relationship—and their bed—but he’s never been fully a part of what Eric and Tim share. Then Eric is captured by terrorists and Tim is gravely injured in an op gone wrong, bringing Richard’s world crashing down around his ears. Even if he gets his men out alive, Eric must face the aftermath of months of physical and psychological torture—and without Tim to lean on, Eric’s PTSD is tearing him apart. Richard has to figure out the third leg of their triangle fast, or Tim won’t have a life to come back to.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2010
7 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Ariel Tachna
125 books409 followersAriel Tachna lives outside of Houston with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. Before moving there, she traveled all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She’s bilingual with snippets of four other languages to her credit, and is as in love with languages as she is with writing.
Visit Ariel at her website http://www.arieltachna.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ArielTachna, or e-mail her at arieltachna@gmail.com.
Visit Ariel at her website http://www.arieltachna.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ArielTachna, or e-mail her at arieltachna@gmail.com.
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March 16, 2017DNF@ 66%
The concept of this book really drew me in but unfortunately the execution didn't work for me. It was unique in that this book starts with this poly relationship already established. Tim and Richard had been together 20 years and they had brought Eric in 4 years before the events of the book start. I think this was part of the problem for me. I had a hard time buying all the relationship issues between Eric and Richard considering they'd been together for 4 years. Seemed like all that would have been resolved or they would have had issues before.
Eric was my other issue. I didn't care for him. He was such a fragile flower. I just couldn't buy him being an ex Navy Seal sniper and now a private mercenary sniper and being so emotional and fragile. It just didn't make sense to me. I admit I don't know any snipers in real life so maybe they do cry over every little thing and get so emotionally upset they can't even shave themselves but........I'm guessing not. You've got to have serious control over yourself to sit in brush, desert, jungles, etc, sometimes for hours before you kill someone. Seems like a very controlled type of person to me. He was constantly running off and crying. I couldn't see how he could even do his job being like this.
The entire plot was unrealistic imo. The thing that super annoyed me and made me tap out and dnf was one MC has been seriously injured and is in the hospital. He's just been extubated. During the first conversation he's telling his partners he won't be up for sex for awhile but he wants to watch them together and he starts giving them instructions on what he wants them to do together. Really? You've been in a medically induced coma and the very first thing you do when they take the tube out of your throat is talk about sex and give instructions? I've got to call Bullshit on that. I have bronchitis right now and the only thing I want to get down with is Nyquil. I can't imagine how negative my libido would be AFTER 12 GUNSHOT WOUNDS!
(if you don't live in the US, Nyquil is the best cold medicine ever created)
The ultimate thing for me was I wasn't connected to any of the characters and I didn't really care what happened to any of them.
Great cover though. It fits the character's description really well.
The concept of this book really drew me in but unfortunately the execution didn't work for me. It was unique in that this book starts with this poly relationship already established. Tim and Richard had been together 20 years and they had brought Eric in 4 years before the events of the book start. I think this was part of the problem for me. I had a hard time buying all the relationship issues between Eric and Richard considering they'd been together for 4 years. Seemed like all that would have been resolved or they would have had issues before.
Eric was my other issue. I didn't care for him. He was such a fragile flower. I just couldn't buy him being an ex Navy Seal sniper and now a private mercenary sniper and being so emotional and fragile. It just didn't make sense to me. I admit I don't know any snipers in real life so maybe they do cry over every little thing and get so emotionally upset they can't even shave themselves but........I'm guessing not. You've got to have serious control over yourself to sit in brush, desert, jungles, etc, sometimes for hours before you kill someone. Seems like a very controlled type of person to me. He was constantly running off and crying. I couldn't see how he could even do his job being like this.
The entire plot was unrealistic imo. The thing that super annoyed me and made me tap out and dnf was one MC has been seriously injured and is in the hospital. He's just been extubated. During the first conversation he's telling his partners he won't be up for sex for awhile but he wants to watch them together and he starts giving them instructions on what he wants them to do together. Really? You've been in a medically induced coma and the very first thing you do when they take the tube out of your throat is talk about sex and give instructions? I've got to call Bullshit on that. I have bronchitis right now and the only thing I want to get down with is Nyquil. I can't imagine how negative my libido would be AFTER 12 GUNSHOT WOUNDS!
(if you don't live in the US, Nyquil is the best cold medicine ever created)
The ultimate thing for me was I wasn't connected to any of the characters and I didn't really care what happened to any of them.
Great cover though. It fits the character's description really well.
March 20, 2017
2.5 sad little stars rounded down to 2 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and because 'Talking in Code' just didn't translate well for me.
I have to say if you loved this book...
mine is probably not the review you'll want to read. I was really looking forward to this one I like Ariel Tachna and still do for that matter. It's just that this was not the book for me. It sounded good but once I got into it things just didn't work.
We have an established relationship here Richard Horn and Timothy Davenport have been together for nearly 20 years and 4 years ago they added a third to their relationship, Eric Newton. Initially it was Tim who wanted this young man but Eric quickly attracted Richards attention as well and neither Dav (as Tim is often called) nor Richard have looked back since. Unfortunately, Eric is a little less secure. Eric's not had an easy life and it's left him with a few issues add to that the fact that his exit from the military was less than amicable in spite of the fact that he's a top notch weapons expert and probably the best sniper that anyone's come across in a while and it's a recipe for PTSD and Eric's got it in spades. Unfortunately there are times when Peaches (yep, that's Eric's nickname) feels like more of a needy, whiny child than anything else.
This book opens up with a lot of things going on. When we first meet these characters Richard and Dav are in the middle of executing two missions one to be led by Dav, who nearly doesn't make it back from his mission alive. While at the same time a covert op is taking place to rescue Eric, who's been held hostage for the past 4 months by some pretty sadistic terrorist.
So here I was dropped into the middle of one pretty epic clusterf*ck. this all happened before the 20% mark (16% to be more accurate) and judging by the other reviews that I've seen out there I will freely admit I seem to be in the minority when I say 'I didn't really enjoy this.' It wasn't so much the fast pace as the fact that I just never felt a connection between any of these men. Initially Richard and Eric are left trying to muddle through things because Dav's always been the one to look after Eric when he comes back from a mission so Richard has no idea what he needs at this point and 4 months in a hostage situation with people who enjoyed torturing him, you can be pretty certain that Eric's going a little more screwed up than usual. Meantime Dav's no help because he's in the hospital in a medical induced coma recovering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Now I know it seems like I've given up the ghost here on this one but if you read the blurb I haven't really told you anything that isn't already out there. So while the first part of this story steamrollered right on over me the remainder floated past at a far more sedate pace and was taken up with Richard and Eric basically getting to know each other and finding their way in a menage relationship that effectively has been reduced to a couple and while some of this was good, I was a little hard pressed to buy into Eric's issues post-crisis being basically resolved by a bowl of stew, getting shaved by one his partners (Richard in this case) and some pretty good sex...yep, that was it a new twist on the 3 S's...Stew, Shave & Sex. Apparently it's a PTSD cure-all...no, I'm sorry. I couldn't suspend my belief enough to buy that if Eric was as tortured and abused as we are to understand that he was, this was all he needed to restore his balance...really?
What the hell are doctor's learning in medical school these days if they couldn't figure this one out sooner? I guess what bothers me is the idea that thousands of men and women are out there suffering from this condition and basically this story is saying 'suck it up buttercup, you just need a good shave, some stew and you're ass nailed to the mattress and you'll be fine.' I realize that these things are suppose to be symbolic of love and acceptance and home and safety, comfort and security all those good and positive things but realistically if that was all it took, don't you think we'd have fewer people suffering from PTSD than we do? Not every person who experiences this is without a loving support system and yet, many still suffer from it. Needless to say I was a little disappointed in how PTSD was dealt with in this story and that took a bit of the shine away from things for me.
Overall I found that if anything these characters were flat. There was a lot of stuff going on and yet somehow for these guys it always came back to sex. Eric's been held hostage for 4 months and comes home to find that Dav who really is his anchor is has been seriously injured and is an induced coma and it seems like his most prevalent thought is getting Richard to have sex with him, Dav's barely out of his coma and he's talking about how it's going to be a while before sex is possible for him but he's handing out directions like it's the set of a porn movie. I don't have a problem with sex in my stories and I do believe that a healthy sex life is very often indicative of a healthy relationship but I also believe in balance and with these guys it just felt more like the sex life was the relationship and not just a part of it. Maybe if I'd felt like any of the other stuff going on in their lives had even the same amount of relevance as the sex and there was some pretty life altering stuff happening, I wouldn't have felt like these characters were quite so flat. I have to admit I knew this wasn't going to end well when I realized that I was actually relieved that some of the sex scenes were off-page and/or fade to black which is what I feel like I need to do now as well...fade to black...
I loved this author's Lang Downs series, Overdrive was the first book that I read by her and I still think it's awesome, I've been enjoying her series 'At Your Service' as well, but this one just didn't work for me...hopefully I'll enjoy whatever comes next.
********************
An ARC of 'Talking In Code' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say if you loved this book...
mine is probably not the review you'll want to read. I was really looking forward to this one I like Ariel Tachna and still do for that matter. It's just that this was not the book for me. It sounded good but once I got into it things just didn't work.
We have an established relationship here Richard Horn and Timothy Davenport have been together for nearly 20 years and 4 years ago they added a third to their relationship, Eric Newton. Initially it was Tim who wanted this young man but Eric quickly attracted Richards attention as well and neither Dav (as Tim is often called) nor Richard have looked back since. Unfortunately, Eric is a little less secure. Eric's not had an easy life and it's left him with a few issues add to that the fact that his exit from the military was less than amicable in spite of the fact that he's a top notch weapons expert and probably the best sniper that anyone's come across in a while and it's a recipe for PTSD and Eric's got it in spades. Unfortunately there are times when Peaches (yep, that's Eric's nickname) feels like more of a needy, whiny child than anything else.
This book opens up with a lot of things going on. When we first meet these characters Richard and Dav are in the middle of executing two missions one to be led by Dav, who nearly doesn't make it back from his mission alive. While at the same time a covert op is taking place to rescue Eric, who's been held hostage for the past 4 months by some pretty sadistic terrorist.
So here I was dropped into the middle of one pretty epic clusterf*ck. this all happened before the 20% mark (16% to be more accurate) and judging by the other reviews that I've seen out there I will freely admit I seem to be in the minority when I say 'I didn't really enjoy this.' It wasn't so much the fast pace as the fact that I just never felt a connection between any of these men. Initially Richard and Eric are left trying to muddle through things because Dav's always been the one to look after Eric when he comes back from a mission so Richard has no idea what he needs at this point and 4 months in a hostage situation with people who enjoyed torturing him, you can be pretty certain that Eric's going a little more screwed up than usual. Meantime Dav's no help because he's in the hospital in a medical induced coma recovering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Now I know it seems like I've given up the ghost here on this one but if you read the blurb I haven't really told you anything that isn't already out there. So while the first part of this story steamrollered right on over me the remainder floated past at a far more sedate pace and was taken up with Richard and Eric basically getting to know each other and finding their way in a menage relationship that effectively has been reduced to a couple and while some of this was good, I was a little hard pressed to buy into Eric's issues post-crisis being basically resolved by a bowl of stew, getting shaved by one his partners (Richard in this case) and some pretty good sex...yep, that was it a new twist on the 3 S's...Stew, Shave & Sex. Apparently it's a PTSD cure-all...no, I'm sorry. I couldn't suspend my belief enough to buy that if Eric was as tortured and abused as we are to understand that he was, this was all he needed to restore his balance...really?
What the hell are doctor's learning in medical school these days if they couldn't figure this one out sooner? I guess what bothers me is the idea that thousands of men and women are out there suffering from this condition and basically this story is saying 'suck it up buttercup, you just need a good shave, some stew and you're ass nailed to the mattress and you'll be fine.' I realize that these things are suppose to be symbolic of love and acceptance and home and safety, comfort and security all those good and positive things but realistically if that was all it took, don't you think we'd have fewer people suffering from PTSD than we do? Not every person who experiences this is without a loving support system and yet, many still suffer from it. Needless to say I was a little disappointed in how PTSD was dealt with in this story and that took a bit of the shine away from things for me.
Overall I found that if anything these characters were flat. There was a lot of stuff going on and yet somehow for these guys it always came back to sex. Eric's been held hostage for 4 months and comes home to find that Dav who really is his anchor is has been seriously injured and is an induced coma and it seems like his most prevalent thought is getting Richard to have sex with him, Dav's barely out of his coma and he's talking about how it's going to be a while before sex is possible for him but he's handing out directions like it's the set of a porn movie. I don't have a problem with sex in my stories and I do believe that a healthy sex life is very often indicative of a healthy relationship but I also believe in balance and with these guys it just felt more like the sex life was the relationship and not just a part of it. Maybe if I'd felt like any of the other stuff going on in their lives had even the same amount of relevance as the sex and there was some pretty life altering stuff happening, I wouldn't have felt like these characters were quite so flat. I have to admit I knew this wasn't going to end well when I realized that I was actually relieved that some of the sex scenes were off-page and/or fade to black which is what I feel like I need to do now as well...fade to black...
I loved this author's Lang Downs series, Overdrive was the first book that I read by her and I still think it's awesome, I've been enjoying her series 'At Your Service' as well, but this one just didn't work for me...hopefully I'll enjoy whatever comes next.
********************
An ARC of 'Talking In Code' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2017
Talking in Code is a story about a polyamorous relationship and how it grows and changes when it is impacted by a catastrophic event. The characters are complex and Ariel Tachna explores the dynamic of these men as three individual couples as well as a threesome. The whole covert-ops being a very small part of the plot.
Richard and Tim have been together for 20 years and they have included Eric in their relationship for the past four. At the beginning of the story Eric is rescued after being held hostage for four months of intense torture. Richard has discovered Tim’s op was compromised and he is in surgery in critical condition with multiple injuries.
While Tim recovers in the hospital in a drug induced coma, Richard must help Eric overcome his severe PTSD. Their relationship is tenuous while they learn to relate without Tim. Told from Richard’s point of view I found this to be a lovely part of the story, as Richard has to really dig deep to find the caring and compassion Eric needs, and in so doing creates a new relationship between the two.
Ariel Tachna provides a great set-up and foundation at the first of the book which flows beautifully into the second half. It’s clear that Richard and Tim have an established long term relationship and Eric has to find his place with each of them. As the story progresses the groundwork explains the gaps in the relationship and how the current changes are instrumental in establishing the new dynamic between the three men.
It is lovely to see Richard emerge as a loving and compassionate man, as he clearly needs to be more than just the strong ‘head of the family’. While the author does an amazing job dropping in memories of Eric’s past and swirling his story in with the other two MC’s, Eric undergoes a transformation as well by learning how to ask for what he needs, and then to accept it. Let’s not forget Tim; Tim just holds them all together and allows each man to be himself.
Talking in Code is an interesting story about three wounded, complex men who love each other and rewrite their relationship due to the events which changed their lives.
Richard and Tim have been together for 20 years and they have included Eric in their relationship for the past four. At the beginning of the story Eric is rescued after being held hostage for four months of intense torture. Richard has discovered Tim’s op was compromised and he is in surgery in critical condition with multiple injuries.
While Tim recovers in the hospital in a drug induced coma, Richard must help Eric overcome his severe PTSD. Their relationship is tenuous while they learn to relate without Tim. Told from Richard’s point of view I found this to be a lovely part of the story, as Richard has to really dig deep to find the caring and compassion Eric needs, and in so doing creates a new relationship between the two.
Ariel Tachna provides a great set-up and foundation at the first of the book which flows beautifully into the second half. It’s clear that Richard and Tim have an established long term relationship and Eric has to find his place with each of them. As the story progresses the groundwork explains the gaps in the relationship and how the current changes are instrumental in establishing the new dynamic between the three men.
It is lovely to see Richard emerge as a loving and compassionate man, as he clearly needs to be more than just the strong ‘head of the family’. While the author does an amazing job dropping in memories of Eric’s past and swirling his story in with the other two MC’s, Eric undergoes a transformation as well by learning how to ask for what he needs, and then to accept it. Let’s not forget Tim; Tim just holds them all together and allows each man to be himself.
Talking in Code is an interesting story about three wounded, complex men who love each other and rewrite their relationship due to the events which changed their lives.
March 18, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This story really wasn’t what I was expecting from the blurb. I was expecting a black ops adventure and instead this was the story of three men renegotiating their relationship after two failed missions result in serious injuries, leaving them all emotionally fragile.
Ariel Tachna has been an autobuy ever since I fell in love with her Lang Downs series. Unfortunately and unusually, this story didn’t quite work for me. I felt like I had fallen into the fifth or sixth book in a series and I felt adrift without the worldbuilding or character development I needed to fully engage in the story.
This story takes place when Richard and Tim have been together for twenty years and Eric has been with them for four. We get bits of their stories at various points in the book, but I didn’t quite understand the nature of their Strike Force Omega organisation and none of the three men ever really quite came alive for me.
Most of this story takes place as Eric and Tim recover in a military hospital in Germany. Eric and Richard alternately stand vigil at Tim’s bedside and work to help Eric with his own recovery. The conflict in the story is Richard and Eric learning to love each other without Tim’s assistance. There are moments of intrigue and intelligence gathering, but this definitely isn’t the action story I was expecting. I also found the ending abrupt and a little bit confusing.
The sex in this book is hot. It takes a while before Eric and Richard get to bed but by the end of the story, this book is probably best classed as menage erotica. Where the characterisation, plot and world building isn’t what I expect from this author, the sex between the three men is much steamier than in many of her books.
This story really wasn’t what I was expecting from the blurb. I was expecting a black ops adventure and instead this was the story of three men renegotiating their relationship after two failed missions result in serious injuries, leaving them all emotionally fragile.
Ariel Tachna has been an autobuy ever since I fell in love with her Lang Downs series. Unfortunately and unusually, this story didn’t quite work for me. I felt like I had fallen into the fifth or sixth book in a series and I felt adrift without the worldbuilding or character development I needed to fully engage in the story.
This story takes place when Richard and Tim have been together for twenty years and Eric has been with them for four. We get bits of their stories at various points in the book, but I didn’t quite understand the nature of their Strike Force Omega organisation and none of the three men ever really quite came alive for me.
Most of this story takes place as Eric and Tim recover in a military hospital in Germany. Eric and Richard alternately stand vigil at Tim’s bedside and work to help Eric with his own recovery. The conflict in the story is Richard and Eric learning to love each other without Tim’s assistance. There are moments of intrigue and intelligence gathering, but this definitely isn’t the action story I was expecting. I also found the ending abrupt and a little bit confusing.
The sex in this book is hot. It takes a while before Eric and Richard get to bed but by the end of the story, this book is probably best classed as menage erotica. Where the characterisation, plot and world building isn’t what I expect from this author, the sex between the three men is much steamier than in many of her books.
May 19, 2017
3.7 Stars
This was a really hard book to rate.
Like others have mentioned, it did not feel like the story promised by the summary...but that didn't bother me so much since it focused on an established poly-relationship. (Two of my favorite tropes ever.) Unfortunately, by dropping us into an ongoing, 20+/4+ year romance we don't get the kind of detailed characterization I'm used to from AT.
If you look at the cover, I think the proportion of the images is quite interesting...because Richard is really the only MC that I feel was completely fleshed out. I can tell from his thought processes to his actions exactly what kind of man he is and why these two other guys would fall for him. I can't say that at all about the others - mainly because Tim was unconscious for the majority of the book and Eric was an emotional basketcase that constantly needed reassurance and attention.
I feel like the occasional mention of how Tim & Eric were partnered in the field, that they were continuously flirting until it became something more...the book would have greatly benefitted from that actually taking place, unfolding and culminating in the story. I have no idea why Richard loves the other two...
But I will say that despite the heavy-handed and ridiculous way it was handled (that boy is in desperate need of some CBT - NOT the pervy connotation of that abbreviation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy..."gotta run, gotta go"), I did like that there was some focus on how lop-sided the triad had become. With Richard running interference and taking on all of the work after a mission, Tim & Eric had their own rituals - rituals Eric desperately needed to ground him and keep him (basically) sane. Rituals that stopped when Tim ended up in the hospital because Eric didn't want to tell Richard what he needed (because that tainted the actions somehow) (?) so yeah.
Okay the specifics were a bit cringe-worthy...but the idea of how a triad copes with other, everyday issues has always fascinated me. I want to see what the characters struggle with, how they adapt, how they address any jealousy or hurt feelings. And we got some of that in this story...which is why I was able to round up the rating. I just wish there had been more.
(If AT ever decides to release the prequel with the backstory, I am ALL OVER THAT, though. Just sayin'.)
This was a really hard book to rate.
Like others have mentioned, it did not feel like the story promised by the summary...but that didn't bother me so much since it focused on an established poly-relationship. (Two of my favorite tropes ever.) Unfortunately, by dropping us into an ongoing, 20+/4+ year romance we don't get the kind of detailed characterization I'm used to from AT.
If you look at the cover, I think the proportion of the images is quite interesting...because Richard is really the only MC that I feel was completely fleshed out. I can tell from his thought processes to his actions exactly what kind of man he is and why these two other guys would fall for him. I can't say that at all about the others - mainly because Tim was unconscious for the majority of the book and Eric was an emotional basketcase that constantly needed reassurance and attention.
I feel like the occasional mention of how Tim & Eric were partnered in the field, that they were continuously flirting until it became something more...the book would have greatly benefitted from that actually taking place, unfolding and culminating in the story. I have no idea why Richard loves the other two...
But I will say that despite the heavy-handed and ridiculous way it was handled (that boy is in desperate need of some CBT - NOT the pervy connotation of that abbreviation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy..."gotta run, gotta go"), I did like that there was some focus on how lop-sided the triad had become. With Richard running interference and taking on all of the work after a mission, Tim & Eric had their own rituals - rituals Eric desperately needed to ground him and keep him (basically) sane. Rituals that stopped when Tim ended up in the hospital because Eric didn't want to tell Richard what he needed (because that tainted the actions somehow) (?) so yeah.
Okay the specifics were a bit cringe-worthy...but the idea of how a triad copes with other, everyday issues has always fascinated me. I want to see what the characters struggle with, how they adapt, how they address any jealousy or hurt feelings. And we got some of that in this story...which is why I was able to round up the rating. I just wish there had been more.
(If AT ever decides to release the prequel with the backstory, I am ALL OVER THAT, though. Just sayin'.)
November 17, 2018
Je rejoins les avis : il y a un manque de testostérone. Mais... MAIS !
Il est sublime. Vraiment réaliste. Vraiment prenant.
Lu en moins de 24h, j’ai adoré la psychologie de chaque personnage, la dynamique du trio, la manière de gérer les événements et de donner de l’importance à chacun. Il y a un juste dosage de tout qui donne à ce « tout » toute son importance !
Sérieusement, je lis rarement des trios ou je les repousse souvent par crainte d’un manque de crédibilité. Ce n’est pas le cas ici.
Je regrette d’avoir mis tant de temps a le lire mais je ne regrette pas de l’avoir acquis à sa sortie à Livre Paris en papier.
Je le recommande a toutes les personnes qui ne comprennent pas forcément l’équilibre d’un trio car les caractères sont vraiment en adéquation et en équilibre. « A trois nous pouvons tout vaincre, seuls nous n’arrivons à rien ». (Un extrait approximatif mais si révélateur)
Il est sublime. Vraiment réaliste. Vraiment prenant.
Lu en moins de 24h, j’ai adoré la psychologie de chaque personnage, la dynamique du trio, la manière de gérer les événements et de donner de l’importance à chacun. Il y a un juste dosage de tout qui donne à ce « tout » toute son importance !
Sérieusement, je lis rarement des trios ou je les repousse souvent par crainte d’un manque de crédibilité. Ce n’est pas le cas ici.
Je regrette d’avoir mis tant de temps a le lire mais je ne regrette pas de l’avoir acquis à sa sortie à Livre Paris en papier.
Je le recommande a toutes les personnes qui ne comprennent pas forcément l’équilibre d’un trio car les caractères sont vraiment en adéquation et en équilibre. « A trois nous pouvons tout vaincre, seuls nous n’arrivons à rien ». (Un extrait approximatif mais si révélateur)
June 18, 2017
´¸★*´¨) ¸.•*¨)4.5 stars
(¸.★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤"We didn't realize how weak our link was until it was tested."¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★
Richard Horn had two good things in his life. His hands and his eyes, he called them—Eric Newton and Timothy Davenport—his lovers, his sanity, his support, and his life.
Oh. Mi. Effing. Gawd. I totally forgot how well Ariel Tachna's writing could be and how frigging powerful her words could get. There was absolutely no talking in code during this book. Everything was laid out on the line once these guys realised how much they could lose in the blink of an eye. Code follows it's prequel, Talking In Code:Moments, a short seven part stories, that as the author wrote on her blog: Talking in Code starts in media res. Eric, Tim, and Richard are already well and truly involved with each other, but the story includes references to moments before the book begins, moments that are not fully explored in the novel itself.
I love me a good triad. And I love when something throws a wrench into the relationship, causing everyone to take a hard look at self and each other. "We are stronger together than we could ever be in any other combination."
Tim "Dav" Davenport may have been Commander Richard Horn's eyes, his lover of over twenty years, but he could not do without Eric. Something both he and Richard had been suffering through for the past six months. After four years together (I beg you to please read MOMENTS), Eric is captured and it is left for the team to bring him home. One day, news arrives and action is set. But in getting one of his loves back, Richard suffers yet again. How could one strong Alpha survive the torture repeatedly? And who was willing to destroy these men with a blink of an eye?
It takes willpower for Richard to prove his ability to care for Eric, something that he has always allowed Tim to do, while they both held vigil at Tim's bedside. This story paints a picture of the shoe being on the other foot and finding forgiveness and happiness in the simple things in life. A ménage is not one unless all parties are on the same page and actively involved. As Eric stated: "Maybe it's time we both stopped talking in code."
I enjoyed the angst, the thoughtlessness and thoughtfulness that each of these men went through. It made them stronger and more efficient. The mystery of the story was well handled and the team's role in all of this was hands on.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense. A read again on my list.
(¸.★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤"We didn't realize how weak our link was until it was tested."¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★
Richard Horn had two good things in his life. His hands and his eyes, he called them—Eric Newton and Timothy Davenport—his lovers, his sanity, his support, and his life.
Oh. Mi. Effing. Gawd. I totally forgot how well Ariel Tachna's writing could be and how frigging powerful her words could get. There was absolutely no talking in code during this book. Everything was laid out on the line once these guys realised how much they could lose in the blink of an eye. Code follows it's prequel, Talking In Code:Moments, a short seven part stories, that as the author wrote on her blog: Talking in Code starts in media res. Eric, Tim, and Richard are already well and truly involved with each other, but the story includes references to moments before the book begins, moments that are not fully explored in the novel itself.
I love me a good triad. And I love when something throws a wrench into the relationship, causing everyone to take a hard look at self and each other. "We are stronger together than we could ever be in any other combination."
Tim "Dav" Davenport may have been Commander Richard Horn's eyes, his lover of over twenty years, but he could not do without Eric. Something both he and Richard had been suffering through for the past six months. After four years together (I beg you to please read MOMENTS), Eric is captured and it is left for the team to bring him home. One day, news arrives and action is set. But in getting one of his loves back, Richard suffers yet again. How could one strong Alpha survive the torture repeatedly? And who was willing to destroy these men with a blink of an eye?
It takes willpower for Richard to prove his ability to care for Eric, something that he has always allowed Tim to do, while they both held vigil at Tim's bedside. This story paints a picture of the shoe being on the other foot and finding forgiveness and happiness in the simple things in life. A ménage is not one unless all parties are on the same page and actively involved. As Eric stated: "Maybe it's time we both stopped talking in code."
I enjoyed the angst, the thoughtlessness and thoughtfulness that each of these men went through. It made them stronger and more efficient. The mystery of the story was well handled and the team's role in all of this was hands on.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense. A read again on my list.
March 6, 2017
REVIEWED FOR LOVE BYTES
3.5 Stars
Talking in Code, in theory, introduces us to an established trio. Richard and Timothy, or Dav to his friends, have been together for twenty years but they were joined by Eric four years ago and for all intents and purposes things between the three of them ran well. Only when they are hit from all sides and really have to take stock of their relationship just to survive do they notice the cracks – noticing them is easy but fixing them proves to be much harder. Richard and Dav own a company called Strike Force Omega which runs Black Op’s and takes on the jobs the American Government can’t. With jobs not going as expected, Eric being captured and held prisoner for four months and Dav being seriously injured their lives are turned upside down and suddenly their future together doesn’t look as certain.
This is a bit different from your usual menage as for most of the book it involves only two of the men where any routine or intimacy is concerned. With Dav laid up in hospital it falls to Richard to help Eric establish some normalcy after everything he went through at the hands of his captors. I liked that they had rituals for when one of them needed grounding after any kind of trauma. There was a deep intimacy to their relationship even though it worked more between two than three. The starkness of just how little Richard knows Eric, of how poorly he manages to help him through his initial trauma after being rescued, is a shock and leaves him flailing for answers. Eric desperately needs Dav as he struggles to vocalise what he needs from Richard which leads him spiralling towards a breakdown.
The mystery part of the story was almost irrelevant to me as a reader and also to most of the story. This is about their healing but it’s also a story about three men navigating their roles in an unconventional relationship that has been hidden from their friends and peers. It’s about relearning what they need and what they can offer their partners and remembering that all three of them are necessary to their relationship. I would have liked a bit more story with all three men when Dav was recovering rather than just an epilogue that jumped forward six months and felt a bit rushed.
3.5 Stars
Talking in Code, in theory, introduces us to an established trio. Richard and Timothy, or Dav to his friends, have been together for twenty years but they were joined by Eric four years ago and for all intents and purposes things between the three of them ran well. Only when they are hit from all sides and really have to take stock of their relationship just to survive do they notice the cracks – noticing them is easy but fixing them proves to be much harder. Richard and Dav own a company called Strike Force Omega which runs Black Op’s and takes on the jobs the American Government can’t. With jobs not going as expected, Eric being captured and held prisoner for four months and Dav being seriously injured their lives are turned upside down and suddenly their future together doesn’t look as certain.
This is a bit different from your usual menage as for most of the book it involves only two of the men where any routine or intimacy is concerned. With Dav laid up in hospital it falls to Richard to help Eric establish some normalcy after everything he went through at the hands of his captors. I liked that they had rituals for when one of them needed grounding after any kind of trauma. There was a deep intimacy to their relationship even though it worked more between two than three. The starkness of just how little Richard knows Eric, of how poorly he manages to help him through his initial trauma after being rescued, is a shock and leaves him flailing for answers. Eric desperately needs Dav as he struggles to vocalise what he needs from Richard which leads him spiralling towards a breakdown.
The mystery part of the story was almost irrelevant to me as a reader and also to most of the story. This is about their healing but it’s also a story about three men navigating their roles in an unconventional relationship that has been hidden from their friends and peers. It’s about relearning what they need and what they can offer their partners and remembering that all three of them are necessary to their relationship. I would have liked a bit more story with all three men when Dav was recovering rather than just an epilogue that jumped forward six months and felt a bit rushed.
March 21, 2017
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is another book that i didn't even read the blurb before jumping in. I saw it was an Ariel Tachna book and I had to read it. I absolutely love Ariel Tachna's way of creating characters that are so true and real so much so that I can see them and feel like by the end of the story I know them as I would someone I sat down and had a long conversation with instead of a character that is one dimensional.
I absolutely loved the way this story played out. Sure, we jump into a threesome. One pair that has been together for a very long time while the third is relatively new to the relationship. However, that being said, we get to watch as the relationship changes, grows, adapts and becomes this wonderful, supportive union in ways that it wasn't when the book first started. We get to watch these two very strong men struggle when what they both considered to be the 'glue' in their relationship is out of commission.
Then there is the medical and PTSD things that are having to be dealt with on top of the blunders going on in their personal lives.
This is probably one of the best books I've read about a threesome. It shows that things aren't always smooth, things aren't always easy. Communication is essential in every relationship, but more so when there is three. This is a story truly about the interior workings of the relationship, more so than the jobs that the men have, but it is a really well written story that I enjoyed very much.
This is another book that i didn't even read the blurb before jumping in. I saw it was an Ariel Tachna book and I had to read it. I absolutely love Ariel Tachna's way of creating characters that are so true and real so much so that I can see them and feel like by the end of the story I know them as I would someone I sat down and had a long conversation with instead of a character that is one dimensional.
I absolutely loved the way this story played out. Sure, we jump into a threesome. One pair that has been together for a very long time while the third is relatively new to the relationship. However, that being said, we get to watch as the relationship changes, grows, adapts and becomes this wonderful, supportive union in ways that it wasn't when the book first started. We get to watch these two very strong men struggle when what they both considered to be the 'glue' in their relationship is out of commission.
Then there is the medical and PTSD things that are having to be dealt with on top of the blunders going on in their personal lives.
This is probably one of the best books I've read about a threesome. It shows that things aren't always smooth, things aren't always easy. Communication is essential in every relationship, but more so when there is three. This is a story truly about the interior workings of the relationship, more so than the jobs that the men have, but it is a really well written story that I enjoyed very much.
March 17, 2017
A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found here.
4.5 Stars out of 5
Richard and Tim aka Dav met in the SEALs and have been in a relationship for around twenty years. Now they run their own paramilitary organization, Strike Force Omega where they meet Eric who rounds up their threesome.
Four months ago, Eric gets captured leading to months of torture and imprisonment. In a twist of fate his rescue coincides with Tim getting gravely injured in the field. With Tim unconscious in an ICU, for the first time Richard has to step up in a role that has always been Tim’s and help ease Eric back to life as they know it.
What Richard soon discovers is that Richard and Eric have no idea what their relationship is like without Tim acting as the intermediary. With Eric’s PTSD rearing its ugly head, will Richard and Eric make it through with two lives on the line?
Before I start this review I must say two things – Firstly, read the official blurb it is the best introduction to this book and it is spot on. Secondly, I have no idea what to write in this review so far, this book is amazing but I am finding it very hard to articulate my feelings on paper. So, if my review ends up making no sense just know that I loved the book, it is amazing and if you like the blurb then read it because the book delivers on everything that the blurb promises.
First I am not a very prolific reader when it comes to MMM romances, but on the other hand I also love MMM romances that are riddled with angst and problems as three men try to navigate their way through life together. For one I find happy MMM romances unreal because unless the threesome has been together for a long time I don’t understand how three men can just fit in like they were moulded together. Every couple has an adjustment period, so it stands to logic that a threesome would have triple the adjustment period because there are three couples in the mix and one relationship. This also happens to be one of the facts that made me love this book because even though Richard, Tim and Eric have been together for four years, they are still discovering new things in their relationship, like the fact that Richard and Eric have always had Tim and thus, kind of neglected finding their own equation with each other. Richard & Tim know where they stand with each other courtesy of the fact that they have been together for a long time and Tim & Eric are completely in sync especially when it comes to settling Eric back into routine life after he comes back from an op. But then there is Eric & Richard who love each other but have never really tried to figure out who and what they are to the other. This made for an interesting premise and it translated very well into the book.
Also I fell in love with both Richard and Eric. These two were on fire. They shared such a sensual intimacy that every scene that they share together in this book, including the sex scenes, reads like the most important thing to the story. In a way I feel like in every story sex while important to a relationship and in some relationships it can be the defining feature of the relationship does little for story progression and I mean the actual sex scene, not what comes of it but in this story I just felt like the sex between these two was writing the story, making it an absolute delight to read this book.
The half star deduction is actually for Tim, all this focus on Richard and Eric has the unfortunate side effect that we just don’t know Tim well enough. As far as I can tell this book is going to be a first in a series and I hope this means that we still have time to get to know Tim and work out who these three are together. But the story is complete in itself, so I have no idea if the next in this series will feature these three, if a sequel is in fact in the works. But one thing that I really liked with regards to Tim was the fact that Richard refers to Tim as Dav while Eric refers to him as Tim which kind of makes me feel that it is Richard & Dav and Eric & Tim, which kind of highlights the different equations he has with the two but I could be reading into things that aren’t there because it might just be because of the fact that Richard has nicknames for both of them and his nickname for Tim is Dav.
This story is a romance through and through, despite the fact that the story is set in a military/para-military background. I read this book in a single setting, I just couldn’t stop. I simply adored the book.
While this book is a MMM and the fact that this relationship is a threesome is absolutely essential for the premise to work, the fact is we only get to see Eric, Richard and Tim together in a sex scene only twice. Personally this wasn’t a problem for me because we do get a fair idea of how these three function together in their relationship through their conversations with each other which were priceless to me.
After all is said and done, I would just like to say, I loved this book. It was an amazing and delightful read that had me turning pages one after the other and I am completely in love with Richard and Eric.
This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last by her.
Cover Art by Paul Richmond. I liked the cover.
4.5 Stars out of 5
Richard and Tim aka Dav met in the SEALs and have been in a relationship for around twenty years. Now they run their own paramilitary organization, Strike Force Omega where they meet Eric who rounds up their threesome.
Four months ago, Eric gets captured leading to months of torture and imprisonment. In a twist of fate his rescue coincides with Tim getting gravely injured in the field. With Tim unconscious in an ICU, for the first time Richard has to step up in a role that has always been Tim’s and help ease Eric back to life as they know it.
What Richard soon discovers is that Richard and Eric have no idea what their relationship is like without Tim acting as the intermediary. With Eric’s PTSD rearing its ugly head, will Richard and Eric make it through with two lives on the line?
Before I start this review I must say two things – Firstly, read the official blurb it is the best introduction to this book and it is spot on. Secondly, I have no idea what to write in this review so far, this book is amazing but I am finding it very hard to articulate my feelings on paper. So, if my review ends up making no sense just know that I loved the book, it is amazing and if you like the blurb then read it because the book delivers on everything that the blurb promises.
First I am not a very prolific reader when it comes to MMM romances, but on the other hand I also love MMM romances that are riddled with angst and problems as three men try to navigate their way through life together. For one I find happy MMM romances unreal because unless the threesome has been together for a long time I don’t understand how three men can just fit in like they were moulded together. Every couple has an adjustment period, so it stands to logic that a threesome would have triple the adjustment period because there are three couples in the mix and one relationship. This also happens to be one of the facts that made me love this book because even though Richard, Tim and Eric have been together for four years, they are still discovering new things in their relationship, like the fact that Richard and Eric have always had Tim and thus, kind of neglected finding their own equation with each other. Richard & Tim know where they stand with each other courtesy of the fact that they have been together for a long time and Tim & Eric are completely in sync especially when it comes to settling Eric back into routine life after he comes back from an op. But then there is Eric & Richard who love each other but have never really tried to figure out who and what they are to the other. This made for an interesting premise and it translated very well into the book.
Also I fell in love with both Richard and Eric. These two were on fire. They shared such a sensual intimacy that every scene that they share together in this book, including the sex scenes, reads like the most important thing to the story. In a way I feel like in every story sex while important to a relationship and in some relationships it can be the defining feature of the relationship does little for story progression and I mean the actual sex scene, not what comes of it but in this story I just felt like the sex between these two was writing the story, making it an absolute delight to read this book.
The half star deduction is actually for Tim, all this focus on Richard and Eric has the unfortunate side effect that we just don’t know Tim well enough. As far as I can tell this book is going to be a first in a series and I hope this means that we still have time to get to know Tim and work out who these three are together. But the story is complete in itself, so I have no idea if the next in this series will feature these three, if a sequel is in fact in the works. But one thing that I really liked with regards to Tim was the fact that Richard refers to Tim as Dav while Eric refers to him as Tim which kind of makes me feel that it is Richard & Dav and Eric & Tim, which kind of highlights the different equations he has with the two but I could be reading into things that aren’t there because it might just be because of the fact that Richard has nicknames for both of them and his nickname for Tim is Dav.
This story is a romance through and through, despite the fact that the story is set in a military/para-military background. I read this book in a single setting, I just couldn’t stop. I simply adored the book.
While this book is a MMM and the fact that this relationship is a threesome is absolutely essential for the premise to work, the fact is we only get to see Eric, Richard and Tim together in a sex scene only twice. Personally this wasn’t a problem for me because we do get a fair idea of how these three function together in their relationship through their conversations with each other which were priceless to me.
After all is said and done, I would just like to say, I loved this book. It was an amazing and delightful read that had me turning pages one after the other and I am completely in love with Richard and Eric.
This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last by her.
Cover Art by Paul Richmond. I liked the cover.
November 2, 2017
This wasn’t at all what I was expecting, but definitely not in a bad way.
I gathered, from the blurb, that this was going to be about three strong men who’d all had very rough lives learning to work with one another in a (relatively) new triad relationship and to a certain extent that it what this is about.
But… the story starts from a different perspective, a different point in their relationship and takes a different path than I’d expected.
Without giving any significant spoilers, I can say that Timothy is seriously hurt early on in the story and as a result he spends a lot of time unconscious. As a result most of the book is about Eric and Richard learning to be together without his presence.
I think that ménage is tricky to write well if the person writing it is going after anything other than kinky sex scenes. Whether the relationship starts as an established couple plus someone new or all three people coming together for the first time, in order to be compelling, a connection must be made that shows not only love for each partner but a necessity for the triad for the entire thing to work.
We start off at a distinct disadvantage in that the triad is already established, the main couple has been together for years, and we are only now seeing what’s behind all that – four years into the relationship.
Ariel Tachna is a gifted story teller and she manages to bridge that gap gracefully without giving us a lot of flashbacks or info dumps.
All three men are unique and have their own story to tell but they all felt fairly well-developed. I think the only thing missing was a better understanding of Timothy since he spent so much time out of the picture.
I loved how our two MCs had to learn new ways to be with one another without that crucial addition of Timothy as he’d been their glue all along. It wasn’t easy but it was always open and we didn’t spend a lot of time wishing they’d just talk. They did talk but sometimes that isn’t always enough.
There is plenty of hot sex here – though the triad sex is kept to a minimum unfortunately.
I was definitely compelled by this story and interested in following it all the way through, but I kept feeling like I was dropped in the middle of a bigger story. If there’s more, I’d love to see what happens next and I’d love to spend more time with our triad as a triad.
For fans of ménage, this might not satisfy but it is definitely compelling. For anyone looking for injured heroes leaning on one another and learning how to be together despite the odds, this is a great book for you!
4.25 (rounded to 4.5) of 5 stars
Merged review:
This wasn’t at all what I was expecting, but definitely not in a bad way.
I gathered, from the blurb, that this was going to be about three strong men who’d all had very rough lives learning to work with one another in a (relatively) new triad relationship and to a certain extent that it what this is about.
But… the story starts from a different perspective, a different point in their relationship and takes a different path than I’d expected.
Without giving any significant spoilers, I can say that Timothy is seriously hurt early on in the story and as a result he spends a lot of time unconscious. As a result most of the book is about Eric and Richard learning to be together without his presence.
I think that ménage is tricky to write well if the person writing it is going after anything other than kinky sex scenes. Whether the relationship starts as an established couple plus someone new or all three people coming together for the first time, in order to be compelling, a connection must be made that shows not only love for each partner but a necessity for the triad for the entire thing to work.
We start off at a distinct disadvantage in that the triad is already established, the main couple has been together for years, and we are only now seeing what’s behind all that – four years into the relationship.
Ariel Tachna is a gifted story teller and she manages to bridge that gap gracefully without giving us a lot of flashbacks or info dumps.
All three men are unique and have their own story to tell but they all felt fairly well-developed. I think the only thing missing was a better understanding of Timothy since he spent so much time out of the picture.
I loved how our two MCs had to learn new ways to be with one another without that crucial addition of Timothy as he’d been their glue all along. It wasn’t easy but it was always open and we didn’t spend a lot of time wishing they’d just talk. They did talk but sometimes that isn’t always enough.
There is plenty of hot sex here – though the triad sex is kept to a minimum unfortunately.
I was definitely compelled by this story and interested in following it all the way through, but I kept feeling like I was dropped in the middle of a bigger story. If there’s more, I’d love to see what happens next and I’d love to spend more time with our triad as a triad.
For fans of ménage, this might not satisfy but it is definitely compelling. For anyone looking for injured heroes leaning on one another and learning how to be together despite the odds, this is a great book for you!
4.25 (rounded to 4.5) of 5 stars
Audio
Scott R Smith is not my favorite narrators. He has some qualities I really like – I like the voices he chooses for characters and I think his tone is easy to listen to, but he has a way of “punctuating” sentences – verbally – that doesn’t sound right to my ears.
He gave everyone a unique voice and handled the female voices okay, but didn’t do a lot to improve on the story, neither did he detract.
Overall, I think this is a fair way to experience this great story.
4.5 of 5 stars
I gathered, from the blurb, that this was going to be about three strong men who’d all had very rough lives learning to work with one another in a (relatively) new triad relationship and to a certain extent that it what this is about.
But… the story starts from a different perspective, a different point in their relationship and takes a different path than I’d expected.
Without giving any significant spoilers, I can say that Timothy is seriously hurt early on in the story and as a result he spends a lot of time unconscious. As a result most of the book is about Eric and Richard learning to be together without his presence.
I think that ménage is tricky to write well if the person writing it is going after anything other than kinky sex scenes. Whether the relationship starts as an established couple plus someone new or all three people coming together for the first time, in order to be compelling, a connection must be made that shows not only love for each partner but a necessity for the triad for the entire thing to work.
We start off at a distinct disadvantage in that the triad is already established, the main couple has been together for years, and we are only now seeing what’s behind all that – four years into the relationship.
Ariel Tachna is a gifted story teller and she manages to bridge that gap gracefully without giving us a lot of flashbacks or info dumps.
All three men are unique and have their own story to tell but they all felt fairly well-developed. I think the only thing missing was a better understanding of Timothy since he spent so much time out of the picture.
I loved how our two MCs had to learn new ways to be with one another without that crucial addition of Timothy as he’d been their glue all along. It wasn’t easy but it was always open and we didn’t spend a lot of time wishing they’d just talk. They did talk but sometimes that isn’t always enough.
There is plenty of hot sex here – though the triad sex is kept to a minimum unfortunately.
I was definitely compelled by this story and interested in following it all the way through, but I kept feeling like I was dropped in the middle of a bigger story. If there’s more, I’d love to see what happens next and I’d love to spend more time with our triad as a triad.
For fans of ménage, this might not satisfy but it is definitely compelling. For anyone looking for injured heroes leaning on one another and learning how to be together despite the odds, this is a great book for you!
4.25 (rounded to 4.5) of 5 stars
Merged review:
This wasn’t at all what I was expecting, but definitely not in a bad way.
I gathered, from the blurb, that this was going to be about three strong men who’d all had very rough lives learning to work with one another in a (relatively) new triad relationship and to a certain extent that it what this is about.
But… the story starts from a different perspective, a different point in their relationship and takes a different path than I’d expected.
Without giving any significant spoilers, I can say that Timothy is seriously hurt early on in the story and as a result he spends a lot of time unconscious. As a result most of the book is about Eric and Richard learning to be together without his presence.
I think that ménage is tricky to write well if the person writing it is going after anything other than kinky sex scenes. Whether the relationship starts as an established couple plus someone new or all three people coming together for the first time, in order to be compelling, a connection must be made that shows not only love for each partner but a necessity for the triad for the entire thing to work.
We start off at a distinct disadvantage in that the triad is already established, the main couple has been together for years, and we are only now seeing what’s behind all that – four years into the relationship.
Ariel Tachna is a gifted story teller and she manages to bridge that gap gracefully without giving us a lot of flashbacks or info dumps.
All three men are unique and have their own story to tell but they all felt fairly well-developed. I think the only thing missing was a better understanding of Timothy since he spent so much time out of the picture.
I loved how our two MCs had to learn new ways to be with one another without that crucial addition of Timothy as he’d been their glue all along. It wasn’t easy but it was always open and we didn’t spend a lot of time wishing they’d just talk. They did talk but sometimes that isn’t always enough.
There is plenty of hot sex here – though the triad sex is kept to a minimum unfortunately.
I was definitely compelled by this story and interested in following it all the way through, but I kept feeling like I was dropped in the middle of a bigger story. If there’s more, I’d love to see what happens next and I’d love to spend more time with our triad as a triad.
For fans of ménage, this might not satisfy but it is definitely compelling. For anyone looking for injured heroes leaning on one another and learning how to be together despite the odds, this is a great book for you!
4.25 (rounded to 4.5) of 5 stars
Audio
Scott R Smith is not my favorite narrators. He has some qualities I really like – I like the voices he chooses for characters and I think his tone is easy to listen to, but he has a way of “punctuating” sentences – verbally – that doesn’t sound right to my ears.
He gave everyone a unique voice and handled the female voices okay, but didn’t do a lot to improve on the story, neither did he detract.
Overall, I think this is a fair way to experience this great story.
4.5 of 5 stars
March 15, 2017
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
I didn’t know what to expect when going into this book other than it was about a triad relationship. Sometimes books with triads work, sometimes they don’t, this one did and I was really pleased. Richard, Tim “Dav” and Eric have been together for four years and then tragedy strikes….twice. This story was well written and the characters were easy to connect with. The secondary characters were a nice addition as well and I think added to the story as well. There was a lot of miss communication going on and a lot of mixed feelings that were unnecessary but once Richard and Eric stopped talking in code everything went smoothly. The love these three mean had for each other and all that they endured was a test of true love and it was a great story.
Characters: well written and the reader could connect with the characters
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: not sure
Genre: M/M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
I didn’t know what to expect when going into this book other than it was about a triad relationship. Sometimes books with triads work, sometimes they don’t, this one did and I was really pleased. Richard, Tim “Dav” and Eric have been together for four years and then tragedy strikes….twice. This story was well written and the characters were easy to connect with. The secondary characters were a nice addition as well and I think added to the story as well. There was a lot of miss communication going on and a lot of mixed feelings that were unnecessary but once Richard and Eric stopped talking in code everything went smoothly. The love these three mean had for each other and all that they endured was a test of true love and it was a great story.
Characters: well written and the reader could connect with the characters
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: not sure
Genre: M/M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
March 6, 2017
We all have our favorite trope. The trope that is just a little bit more loved than all others. For me, that trope is menage. I love so much about it. The psychology of it is most vital, followed by communication, and then the heat. These three things together make a great menage. Talking in Code by Ariel Tachna had great parts and parts that I had some issues with. I recognize that it was a me thing. Something I was having a hard time dealing with.
I had a really hard time getting into this book I started and stopped quite a few times, even started over. It wasn't until I made it to the 65% mark that it grabbed me. Don't get me wrong, it was a fabulous 35%. Let me tell you everything I loved first.
The writing was brilliant. It had great flow and zero repetition. The concept is super creative and I loved the emotion behind each individual character. The secondary characters were vital and added great color to this tale.
Why didn't it grab me then? Individually, I loved the MC's. Eric, who was my most favorite, Richard, and Tim. Separate they were great. It was when they were together that I was having so many issues. When the book starts out these three are already in a relationship that has been going on for four years. Richard and Tim were together for twenty years before Eric joined the duo making it a trio. But for four years it was Tim holding them together. They had more a poly relationship than a menage. It isn't until something happens to Tim that Eric and Richard are forced to connect. For four years they only connected when it came to sex but not communication. They never seemed to fit.
It was here I was having a real hard time adjusting. I had so many thoughts and questions. When it ended, though sweet and happy, the disconnect was still there for me. I recognize this is a personal thing and may not be seen or felt by all those who read it.
It is a great story and like I said the concept is great. It was the connection I just never felt.
I had a really hard time getting into this book I started and stopped quite a few times, even started over. It wasn't until I made it to the 65% mark that it grabbed me. Don't get me wrong, it was a fabulous 35%. Let me tell you everything I loved first.
The writing was brilliant. It had great flow and zero repetition. The concept is super creative and I loved the emotion behind each individual character. The secondary characters were vital and added great color to this tale.
Why didn't it grab me then? Individually, I loved the MC's. Eric, who was my most favorite, Richard, and Tim. Separate they were great. It was when they were together that I was having so many issues. When the book starts out these three are already in a relationship that has been going on for four years. Richard and Tim were together for twenty years before Eric joined the duo making it a trio. But for four years it was Tim holding them together. They had more a poly relationship than a menage. It isn't until something happens to Tim that Eric and Richard are forced to connect. For four years they only connected when it came to sex but not communication. They never seemed to fit.
It was here I was having a real hard time adjusting. I had so many thoughts and questions. When it ended, though sweet and happy, the disconnect was still there for me. I recognize this is a personal thing and may not be seen or felt by all those who read it.
It is a great story and like I said the concept is great. It was the connection I just never felt.
March 30, 2018
Je n’ai pas du tout été convaincu par ce livre. D’une, le résumé du livre est plus un prologue qu’un résumé du livre. Deux, j’avoue avoir eu du mal à entrer dans l’histoire que j’ai trouvée trop superficielle. Les personnages le sont tout autant à mes yeux quand la quasi seule chose qui les fait tenir dans les coups durs n’est que le sexe. Pour finir, une fin trop rapide. Je m’attendais à un romantique suspense, du genre KGI en MMM mais au final, il n’y a aucune action, ce dont je peux me passer si l’histoire ne me semblait pas aussi creuse et les personnages si inintéressants. Au final, on ne les connaît pas car on apprend très peu de choses sur eux, surtout sur Richard que je n’ai pas du tout cerné. J’ai eu beaucoup de mal à aller au bout de ce livre.
August 23, 2017
Really struggled with this book. This is a story about a mature polyamory relationship that falls apart due to miscommunication. The storyline itself sounds very interesting and that's what pushed me to continue reading. However the characters are a mix of cold and needy that really didn't make me love them. Couldn't figure out whether the surrounding characters were friends or foes. Overall, made me want to read more about polyamory but pass on this one.
October 27, 2018
Je l'attendais avec impatience mais j'ai été très déçue. Des personnages trop indécis, pas assez de caractères. J'ai eu du mal à le finir
March 4, 2017
Sometimes the most horrible of situations can have something good come from it. And sometimes the people who you are supposed to trust turns out to be the enemy.
Richard, Eric, and Tim are all on the same team called Strike Force Omega. This is a group of men and women that have prior military, or government agencies experience but no longer are with hem whether from being retired or because they wanted something different. Strike Force Omega goes into situations that military cannot and takes care of what needs done then reports it back to Pentagon.
As of late, things seem to be going wrong on their missions. Richard believes that it is just bad luck then things get worse when Eric is captured on a mission and held prisoner. For four months Richard and Tim have been trying to do whatever they have to in order to get their lover back alive.
When thhe entail they have been trying to find comes in a group of people are sent in to retrieve Eric, At the same time this rescue mission is going on Tim has been sent to Syria on a mission also. This is when things go from bad to worse and now Richard is in the command center simultaneously watching both of his lovers in imminent danger and cannot do anything to help either of them. In the aftermath of both missions Eric has been rescued and in very bad shape and Tim has been ambushed and is in critical condition from being shot multiple times.
Richard immediately joins Eric and gets him stable enough to travel to where their other lover Tim is in the hospital in ICU. Richard knows that Eric has went through four months of hell but he feels all out of sorts on how to help ground Eric because he always made sure that when Eric needed grounding that Tim was around and able to do this since Richard believed that is who Eric wanted around.
But with Tim fighting for his life Richard is now left to wade through some rough waters and hope that he will be able to swim and not sink. Richard has to split his time between trying to help both of his lovers, Eric in the sense to needing to be grounded and making felt safe and Tim in the sense of giving him the love and support to keep getting better and to keep breathing.
This takes it toll on both Richard and Eric because both men are used to having Tim there to hold them all togther and now they are floundering with him in a coma and neither man willing to ask the other or tell the other what needs to be done. Or at least that is until Eric hits rock bottom with his emotions and has a bad panic attack. This is what changes the course of Eric, Tim, and Richards relationship forever and makes them a stronger truple couple. With Tim being in a coma Richard and Eric have to learn to navigate their part of their relationship alone without their buffer and figure out where both of them have gone wrong the past four years. Once this is done, things start to finally come together for these men and now they may have a fighting chance to figure out what happened to turn each of these missions so horribly wrong so fast and they may just come out on the other side of things stronger then ever.
This was a really good read that left me at times pretty upset with both Richard and Eric for their lack of communication with each other. It was pretty clear that they let Tim lead the relationship where Tim thought it was supposed to go so when he was not able to do so, things almost went belly up very quickly. I found myself wanting to knock all three men upside the head several times through out this read because it was clear that in the terms of the relationship Tim and Eric had the emotional connection and so did Richard and Tim but where Richard and Eric was concerned it was more of a sexual relationship and neither man really knew anything about the other. That is not the way to have a long term successful relationship.
But these two men figured out where they was going wrong and they was failing each of them and did what they had to do to rectify the situation. In the end this book was truly an amazing read. It was a very hard journey for all three of these men but when it mattered the most they came togther as a whole unit and made their relationship so much stronger. I really enjoyed taking this journey with these men. It was bumpy a lot but they made it out with their scars and their love for one another.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Richard, Eric, and Tim are all on the same team called Strike Force Omega. This is a group of men and women that have prior military, or government agencies experience but no longer are with hem whether from being retired or because they wanted something different. Strike Force Omega goes into situations that military cannot and takes care of what needs done then reports it back to Pentagon.
As of late, things seem to be going wrong on their missions. Richard believes that it is just bad luck then things get worse when Eric is captured on a mission and held prisoner. For four months Richard and Tim have been trying to do whatever they have to in order to get their lover back alive.
When thhe entail they have been trying to find comes in a group of people are sent in to retrieve Eric, At the same time this rescue mission is going on Tim has been sent to Syria on a mission also. This is when things go from bad to worse and now Richard is in the command center simultaneously watching both of his lovers in imminent danger and cannot do anything to help either of them. In the aftermath of both missions Eric has been rescued and in very bad shape and Tim has been ambushed and is in critical condition from being shot multiple times.
Richard immediately joins Eric and gets him stable enough to travel to where their other lover Tim is in the hospital in ICU. Richard knows that Eric has went through four months of hell but he feels all out of sorts on how to help ground Eric because he always made sure that when Eric needed grounding that Tim was around and able to do this since Richard believed that is who Eric wanted around.
But with Tim fighting for his life Richard is now left to wade through some rough waters and hope that he will be able to swim and not sink. Richard has to split his time between trying to help both of his lovers, Eric in the sense to needing to be grounded and making felt safe and Tim in the sense of giving him the love and support to keep getting better and to keep breathing.
This takes it toll on both Richard and Eric because both men are used to having Tim there to hold them all togther and now they are floundering with him in a coma and neither man willing to ask the other or tell the other what needs to be done. Or at least that is until Eric hits rock bottom with his emotions and has a bad panic attack. This is what changes the course of Eric, Tim, and Richards relationship forever and makes them a stronger truple couple. With Tim being in a coma Richard and Eric have to learn to navigate their part of their relationship alone without their buffer and figure out where both of them have gone wrong the past four years. Once this is done, things start to finally come together for these men and now they may have a fighting chance to figure out what happened to turn each of these missions so horribly wrong so fast and they may just come out on the other side of things stronger then ever.
This was a really good read that left me at times pretty upset with both Richard and Eric for their lack of communication with each other. It was pretty clear that they let Tim lead the relationship where Tim thought it was supposed to go so when he was not able to do so, things almost went belly up very quickly. I found myself wanting to knock all three men upside the head several times through out this read because it was clear that in the terms of the relationship Tim and Eric had the emotional connection and so did Richard and Tim but where Richard and Eric was concerned it was more of a sexual relationship and neither man really knew anything about the other. That is not the way to have a long term successful relationship.
But these two men figured out where they was going wrong and they was failing each of them and did what they had to do to rectify the situation. In the end this book was truly an amazing read. It was a very hard journey for all three of these men but when it mattered the most they came togther as a whole unit and made their relationship so much stronger. I really enjoyed taking this journey with these men. It was bumpy a lot but they made it out with their scars and their love for one another.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
March 6, 2017
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.
I'm jumping straight, because this book was NOT what I was expecting.
The blurb led me to believe I would be reading about how Tim, Richard and Eric came together, and what happens after Eric is rescued from hostage.
HOWEVER
We get how they came together only in dribs and drabs through out the story. And for about 80% of the book, Tim is unconscious, on a ventilator. So there is very little of the three of them together, and a lot of just Richard and Eric.
BUT!!!
Once I pulled my toys back into the pram and got over my strop, I really REALLY enjoyed this one!
Richard and Tim were already in a long term, committed relationship when they came across Eric. They each watched him from afar for several years and its not until Eric makes a pass at Tim, and Richard walks in on them, that they all decide to make a go of it.
Fast forward 4 years and an op goes wrong, Eric is captured and held hostage for months. Richard and Tim set about to rescue him, but Tim is gravely injured and its up to Richard to get Eric back up and running. But both Richard and Eric have relied heavily on Tim in the past, and Tim can't help now. Not when Eric's demons rear their ugly head.
Like I said, once I got over my "this is not what I wanted to read" strop, the book is quite gripping. Both Richard and Eric are struggling, with Eric's return, with Tim being so poorly, with each other. It makes for painful reading in places because we get all of Eric's panic attacks in their gory detail. I can't for the man, I really did. And I cheered when Richard and Eric were both made to see that what they were doing was making them both worse.
OH! I loved when they delivered the line that made the title make total and utter sense!
I loved that the first thing Tim sees on waking is Richard and Eric kissing.
I would still like to have read more of the beginning of their relationship. I think, though, it would have been too much HERE, if I'm honest. That is a whole nother story!
I wrote 3.5 stars at the top of the page when I sat down to write this review. I've upgraded it to 4.5, rounded down to 4 stars for Amazon and Goodreads. Its not often I changed that initial gut feeling, but some books, once I start to write their review, push and push and just make it known that actually, Debbie, we deserve a higher rating. This book pushed HARD!
First I can see that I've read of this author, I'd love to read more. I'd love to catch up with these guys too. When building this post, I noticed the Dreamspinner search billed this as the Talking In Code series. I hope I get the chance to read them!
So, because its a pushy book, and the review ran into 3 sides of file paper..
4.5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
I'm jumping straight, because this book was NOT what I was expecting.
The blurb led me to believe I would be reading about how Tim, Richard and Eric came together, and what happens after Eric is rescued from hostage.
HOWEVER
We get how they came together only in dribs and drabs through out the story. And for about 80% of the book, Tim is unconscious, on a ventilator. So there is very little of the three of them together, and a lot of just Richard and Eric.
BUT!!!
Once I pulled my toys back into the pram and got over my strop, I really REALLY enjoyed this one!
Richard and Tim were already in a long term, committed relationship when they came across Eric. They each watched him from afar for several years and its not until Eric makes a pass at Tim, and Richard walks in on them, that they all decide to make a go of it.
Fast forward 4 years and an op goes wrong, Eric is captured and held hostage for months. Richard and Tim set about to rescue him, but Tim is gravely injured and its up to Richard to get Eric back up and running. But both Richard and Eric have relied heavily on Tim in the past, and Tim can't help now. Not when Eric's demons rear their ugly head.
Like I said, once I got over my "this is not what I wanted to read" strop, the book is quite gripping. Both Richard and Eric are struggling, with Eric's return, with Tim being so poorly, with each other. It makes for painful reading in places because we get all of Eric's panic attacks in their gory detail. I can't for the man, I really did. And I cheered when Richard and Eric were both made to see that what they were doing was making them both worse.
OH! I loved when they delivered the line that made the title make total and utter sense!
I loved that the first thing Tim sees on waking is Richard and Eric kissing.
I would still like to have read more of the beginning of their relationship. I think, though, it would have been too much HERE, if I'm honest. That is a whole nother story!
I wrote 3.5 stars at the top of the page when I sat down to write this review. I've upgraded it to 4.5, rounded down to 4 stars for Amazon and Goodreads. Its not often I changed that initial gut feeling, but some books, once I start to write their review, push and push and just make it known that actually, Debbie, we deserve a higher rating. This book pushed HARD!
First I can see that I've read of this author, I'd love to read more. I'd love to catch up with these guys too. When building this post, I noticed the Dreamspinner search billed this as the Talking In Code series. I hope I get the chance to read them!
So, because its a pushy book, and the review ran into 3 sides of file paper..
4.5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
March 5, 2017
Review by The Blogger Girls.
Talking in Code is the story of an established relationship between three ex-military men who have been together for 4 years. Up to this point, their relationship has remained a secret.
Richard is the leader of Strike Force Omega. He and Timothy (Dav) have been together since basic training. Eric joined them a few years prior when feelings grew between he and Tim, but only after Richard was okay with the change in dynamics. When this story begins, Eric (the sniper) has been taken prisoner when his op went bad. He’s been held captive for 4 months and a team is just about to retrieve him. Unfortunately, Tim is sent to Syria with another team to complete another op which unfortunately also goes south critically injuring Tim in the process.
Much of this story is about Richard and Eric finding their way without Tim, as he is in a medically-induced coma until later on in the book. Unfortunately, Tim is the one who has always put Eric back together after his missions, has been the one who knows what to do and how to handle Eric and help him through each ordeal, his PTSD, etc. Now, Richard must be the one to do that, and he isn’t finding it very easy. So, Richard and Eric, through the help of Eric’s teammates, learn to help each other, find that they didn’t know as much about each other as they should have and attempt to remedy that, all the while they stick by Tim’s bedside.
I was pulled right into this story, loved seeing the dynamics of an established threesome with somewhat older men. They each have their concerns with trying to include both of the other partners, which I can imagine is pretty realistic in such a situation. Once Richard and Eric get past some lack of communication issues, they are able to rediscover and reestablish their roles in the relationship. And, while I found myself longing for Tim to wake up and join the party, I understood how important it was that those things take place in order for them to thrive as a triad once again.
This was very solidly written story that had some mystery to it as well as the guys tried to get to the bottom of what went wrong on their ops, who they could trust and what they would do when all was said and done. This was a wonderful menage story with realistic dynamics where the men were mature but dealing with insecurities, as well as lingering mental and physical trauma. I definitely recommend it and look forward to reading more from Ms. Tachna.
August 21, 2018
Though I enjoy reading MMM books, I often struggle if the dynamic between the 3 MCs is uneven. And sadly, I found that to be true in this book. Richard and Tim (Dav) were in a relationship for 20 years and then welcomed Eric. There is a lot going on in the beginning of the book - a mission gone wrong, members of the team injured or captured - but what is front and center is that Eric and Richard are struggling without Tim. Their 3rd, Tim, is not around and with Eric suffering from PTSD and countless other issues and Richard struggling with addressing where the mission went wrong, trying to launch another, both Richard and Eric are avoiding each other. They don't talk; their inner musings are based on misconceptions. Just GAH!!! Definitely a case where they should have communicated. I was frustrated beyond belief. Now couple that frustration with trying to untangle stuff related to the mission and the myriad other people in and out of Eric and Richard's lives (love Victoria and would read an F/F with her in a heartbeat!), and you get one muddled reader! I kept picking up the book and putting it down for days. I was so desperate to have them resolve their differences that I raced through pages so I could stop feeling so frustrated. Needless to say, that I didn't completely enjoy this read. Parts of it fell flat for me. The HEA was hard won but the beginning left me with such a negative impression, that I had a hard time enjoying it.
February 11, 2018
NOTE - do not read this book without first having read Revelations. It's free from Dreamspinner. It gives backstory to Richard, Tim and Eric that will greatly enhance the reading of this story.
Four years into a committed polyamorous relationship, no one in Strike Force Omega knows they ar a triad, until Eric is rescued and Richard opens his arms. They travel to Germany to be with the third of their committment - Tim, who was severely injured in another battle. When Richard discovers that perhaps both of his men had been put into a place to fail at their missions, ensues a mystery begging to be resolved.
I agree with some other reviewers on the aspect of Tim's unconsciousness for the majority of the story, although we are treated to many flashbacks, we just don't see him in the present tense. Personally, I'd love to see another story with these three, all alive and "kicking". Maybe taking on a new project or solving some other miltary mystery.
Four years into a committed polyamorous relationship, no one in Strike Force Omega knows they ar a triad, until Eric is rescued and Richard opens his arms. They travel to Germany to be with the third of their committment - Tim, who was severely injured in another battle. When Richard discovers that perhaps both of his men had been put into a place to fail at their missions, ensues a mystery begging to be resolved.
I agree with some other reviewers on the aspect of Tim's unconsciousness for the majority of the story, although we are treated to many flashbacks, we just don't see him in the present tense. Personally, I'd love to see another story with these three, all alive and "kicking". Maybe taking on a new project or solving some other miltary mystery.
March 6, 2017
Talking In Code by Ariel Tachna
4 Stars – Review by Dawn Honeycutt
Timothy Davenport and Richard Horn met in the SEALs and have been lovers for twenty years. When Timothy “Dav” met Eric, there was no denying the attraction, but he wouldn’t consider asking Eric to be a part of his life unless his partner Richard could accept Eric as well. The three build their lives together and work well with one another even though they are not out to most of their co-workers. Eric and Tim have always shared a special bond and Richard has been content to let them have that, but when Eric is captured by terrorists and Dav is seriously wounded on a mission, Richard has to step up to be there for both men as they usually are for each other.
Eric was held captive and tortured for months before being rescued by the special ops team that he works with. He’s been beaten, starved and tortured in so many ways that he is broken when he’s finally rescued. Dav is always the one there to help put him back together, but Dav’s been gravely injured so it’s just him and Richard.
Richard and Eric finally make it to the hospital where Dav is recovering and find him in a drug induced coma. He’s on a ventilator and the doctors need to keep him in a coma until they can remove the vent.
Richard and Eric are staying in a house on base and for the first several days they really mess up. They’re not used to not having Dav there. Dav knows that Eric needs shaved when he comes back from a mission, but Richard doesn’t. Thankfully, Eric’s team is around and his closest friend Victoria Amato sits both men down separately and tells them that they’re screwing up. I love Amato. She doesn’t hold any punches, she’s fiercely protective of Eric and completely accepting of the three men’s relationship. It’s a beautiful thing to read when Richard and Eric finally start opening up to one another. Although they’ve all been together for years, it was like watching them start a new relationship.
When Dav is finally brought out of the coma and awakes, he can tell that something is different between Richard and Eric. It takes him some time with both men to figure out what is different, but it is wonderful when he realizes that the two men he loves most in the world have finally found each other too.
I have a special fondness for stories with three men in a relationship. It’s one of my favorite genres, but it has to be written well to really make it feel real. Talking In Code is very well written. The ups and downs between the men feel real, the love between them is beautiful and I love that the author let us see the bond between Richard and Eric bloom. There’s some suspense thrown in that keeps the plot moving and it’s definitely enjoyable.
I’m going to be on the lookout for more books from this author.
4 Stars – Review by Dawn Honeycutt
Timothy Davenport and Richard Horn met in the SEALs and have been lovers for twenty years. When Timothy “Dav” met Eric, there was no denying the attraction, but he wouldn’t consider asking Eric to be a part of his life unless his partner Richard could accept Eric as well. The three build their lives together and work well with one another even though they are not out to most of their co-workers. Eric and Tim have always shared a special bond and Richard has been content to let them have that, but when Eric is captured by terrorists and Dav is seriously wounded on a mission, Richard has to step up to be there for both men as they usually are for each other.
Eric was held captive and tortured for months before being rescued by the special ops team that he works with. He’s been beaten, starved and tortured in so many ways that he is broken when he’s finally rescued. Dav is always the one there to help put him back together, but Dav’s been gravely injured so it’s just him and Richard.
Richard and Eric finally make it to the hospital where Dav is recovering and find him in a drug induced coma. He’s on a ventilator and the doctors need to keep him in a coma until they can remove the vent.
Richard and Eric are staying in a house on base and for the first several days they really mess up. They’re not used to not having Dav there. Dav knows that Eric needs shaved when he comes back from a mission, but Richard doesn’t. Thankfully, Eric’s team is around and his closest friend Victoria Amato sits both men down separately and tells them that they’re screwing up. I love Amato. She doesn’t hold any punches, she’s fiercely protective of Eric and completely accepting of the three men’s relationship. It’s a beautiful thing to read when Richard and Eric finally start opening up to one another. Although they’ve all been together for years, it was like watching them start a new relationship.
When Dav is finally brought out of the coma and awakes, he can tell that something is different between Richard and Eric. It takes him some time with both men to figure out what is different, but it is wonderful when he realizes that the two men he loves most in the world have finally found each other too.
I have a special fondness for stories with three men in a relationship. It’s one of my favorite genres, but it has to be written well to really make it feel real. Talking In Code is very well written. The ups and downs between the men feel real, the love between them is beautiful and I love that the author let us see the bond between Richard and Eric bloom. There’s some suspense thrown in that keeps the plot moving and it’s definitely enjoyable.
I’m going to be on the lookout for more books from this author.
September 16, 2021
The author does a wonderful job of creating a relatable dynamic centered around the three main characters. The story is really about their relationship with a dash of intrigue tossed into the mix.
The military setting built a decent background for the story, but required a little suspension of disbelief. The well constructed characters make up for an disparity between the reality of working for a paramilitary organization versus the fantasy constructed for this story. I definitely appreciated the kick butt and take names lady operatives tossed into the fray. The guys were lucky to have those ladies on their side.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen with a good performance by the narrator, Scott R Smith.
The military setting built a decent background for the story, but required a little suspension of disbelief. The well constructed characters make up for an disparity between the reality of working for a paramilitary organization versus the fantasy constructed for this story. I definitely appreciated the kick butt and take names lady operatives tossed into the fray. The guys were lucky to have those ladies on their side.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen with a good performance by the narrator, Scott R Smith.
April 1, 2023
J'ai vraiment apprécié ce livre : la psychologie des personnages, leurs faiblesses et les relations qui les unissent.
J'ai aimé voir l'entente "difficile" entre deux membres du trouple en l'absence du troisième évolué vers des relations plus sereines.
Fait marquant : pour une fois, nous ne voyons pas une histoire d'amour naissante mais trio déjà bien
installé qui doit faire face à plusieurs épreuves (prise d'otage, hospitalisation...) et s'adapter pour pouvoir espérer rester ensemble.
Je ne suis pas très à l'aise avec l'aspect commando d'élite ne dépendant pas de l'armée même si cela existe! Ce livre en parle puisque nos trois protagonistes travaillent pour une agence de ce type.
J'ai aimé voir l'entente "difficile" entre deux membres du trouple en l'absence du troisième évolué vers des relations plus sereines.
Fait marquant : pour une fois, nous ne voyons pas une histoire d'amour naissante mais trio déjà bien
installé qui doit faire face à plusieurs épreuves (prise d'otage, hospitalisation...) et s'adapter pour pouvoir espérer rester ensemble.
Je ne suis pas très à l'aise avec l'aspect commando d'élite ne dépendant pas de l'armée même si cela existe! Ce livre en parle puisque nos trois protagonistes travaillent pour une agence de ce type.
March 12, 2017
This was a good story. The plot was ok, but barely there and the characters were more or less likable. You can't really give this any kind of rating above a 2 or 3 stars anyone who has well, lots of differing opinions. For me, the whole bit of this, or an aspect I thought was critical to the story was the relationship between the three men. First, the story leaves out how they became a triad. It would make the story too long to explore Richard and Tim's relationship development (maybe as a 0.5 or so). So it stands to reason that the next step to warrant almost 300 pages would be to have Richard and Tim as an established couple, but not having met Eric yet. Talking Code should have been Richard and Tim meeting and courting Eric, and then the rest of the events so that not only were they working out the new relationship roles and dynamics, but they had to do that amidst a very stressful time and terrible life-events. That would have made a really good dramatic and suspenseful story, alas, it did not.
What we did get was for a good 50% or so of the story the established couple (Tim and Richard) wasn't in the picture. Tim got hurt early on in a rescue mission so we don't meet him at all until he wakes which is in the second half of the book. We get only Richard an Eric after Eric is recovered from being imprisoned and tortured by the enemy and that was very awkward because I got the impression that that aspect was relatively new, either Eric in general or Eric and Richard having to manage by themselves. I would have preferred that Tim had not gotten hurt, or had gotten hurt after Eric's return to the triad The story just wasn't set up very well. I wish I could say I liked this more, but there's just too much about the execution of this story that did not work. Triads are a difficult relationship dynamic not done often, and the ones that we do see, are decent enough, but not handled well enough for me to rate them more than maybe 3 or 4 stars. I'm very critical of menage because it's not often done in the M/M (M/M/M) Romance genre.
What we did get was for a good 50% or so of the story the established couple (Tim and Richard) wasn't in the picture. Tim got hurt early on in a rescue mission so we don't meet him at all until he wakes which is in the second half of the book. We get only Richard an Eric after Eric is recovered from being imprisoned and tortured by the enemy and that was very awkward because I got the impression that that aspect was relatively new, either Eric in general or Eric and Richard having to manage by themselves. I would have preferred that Tim had not gotten hurt, or had gotten hurt after Eric's return to the triad The story just wasn't set up very well. I wish I could say I liked this more, but there's just too much about the execution of this story that did not work. Triads are a difficult relationship dynamic not done often, and the ones that we do see, are decent enough, but not handled well enough for me to rate them more than maybe 3 or 4 stars. I'm very critical of menage because it's not often done in the M/M (M/M/M) Romance genre.
January 20, 2018
Heart-breakingly good.
Set in the spec ops community, this story focuses on the relationship between the men. There are super hot sex scenes and emotional moments. I was thoroughly invested in these guys and enjoyed watching them learn and reach their HEA. Read the free short story called Revelation first so you get the back story. Exciting and emotional, this was awesome and I can't wait to read more from this author.
October 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! Anxious to see if there is going to be more to come
July 1, 2018
chouette histoire sur une histoire d un trouble, sur les difficultés quand l un des piliers est manquant, le tout dans un mode de stress post traumatique.
February 9, 2019
Pfff merci mais non merci 88% et un mal de tête! Déçue.
March 6, 2017
4 Stars!
I am a fan of a really well-done polyamorous love story. The problem with this theme, however, is usually either believability or realism when it comes to successfully sustaining the relationship when there are more than two people involved in it. Let's face it, relationships are hard enough when it's only you and one other person. Throw in someone else and things can get very messy. Balance is very necessary but also very difficult to always maintain.
Talking in Code was a perfect example of a polyamorous relationship in which balance was skewed and it made things very difficult. Richard and Eric had no idea how to truly communicate with one another. Tim was obviously the glue in their relationship. Tim was wonderful with both men and individually he knew them both and how things worked. They could look to him to make things flow smoothly between them all. Tim was connected to both Eric and Richard. However, there was a connection outside of the bedroom that was missing between Richard and Eric. This had to be found and strengthened now that Tim couldn't be there with them and that took work, it was not at all easy for them.
Luckily, they find that connection and it helps the dynamic to be even stronger and in my opinion, sweeter. These three men worked so well as a unit and they had wonderful chemistry. By the end, it was easier to believe they would be able to make it, that their love was the real thing. They needed to know that if all else fails they wouldn't implode but could weather the storms they might face.
All in all, I enjoyed Talking in Code and would recommend it to fans of MMM. The story was full of emotion and I really liked the action as well. I wouldn't mind seeing these men again.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
I am a fan of a really well-done polyamorous love story. The problem with this theme, however, is usually either believability or realism when it comes to successfully sustaining the relationship when there are more than two people involved in it. Let's face it, relationships are hard enough when it's only you and one other person. Throw in someone else and things can get very messy. Balance is very necessary but also very difficult to always maintain.
Talking in Code was a perfect example of a polyamorous relationship in which balance was skewed and it made things very difficult. Richard and Eric had no idea how to truly communicate with one another. Tim was obviously the glue in their relationship. Tim was wonderful with both men and individually he knew them both and how things worked. They could look to him to make things flow smoothly between them all. Tim was connected to both Eric and Richard. However, there was a connection outside of the bedroom that was missing between Richard and Eric. This had to be found and strengthened now that Tim couldn't be there with them and that took work, it was not at all easy for them.
Luckily, they find that connection and it helps the dynamic to be even stronger and in my opinion, sweeter. These three men worked so well as a unit and they had wonderful chemistry. By the end, it was easier to believe they would be able to make it, that their love was the real thing. They needed to know that if all else fails they wouldn't implode but could weather the storms they might face.
All in all, I enjoyed Talking in Code and would recommend it to fans of MMM. The story was full of emotion and I really liked the action as well. I wouldn't mind seeing these men again.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
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