Binding Their Hearts: Neighborly Affection Book 7
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5.0 • 6 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
Planning a wedding for three is the least of their problems.
Since nearly losing Jay, Henry is driven by an inescapable urge to collar his submissives. Jay's certain to be all in, but Alice has fled from commitment before. Negotiating their needs is a treacherous tightrope. Can he sketch a path to forever?
As Alice's career takes off, the new demands steal time from Henry and Jay. The stress is crushing when every decision hurts the ones she loves. She'll have to rig a solution before she cracks under the strain and takes her lovers down with her.
After years of resisting, Jay is learning big lessons in therapy. Loosening his family's stranglehold leaves him free to explore what—and who—he wants in his life. But with Alice at work all the time and a deadline looming for the trio to vacate their apartment, stability is hard to find.
Can Henry, Alice, and Jay hold themselves together when the world keeps pushing them apart?
New to USA Today bestselling author M.Q. Barber's Neighborly Affection series?
This mmf menage saga is best read in order. Start with Playing the Game or the prequel book Becoming His Master. For a different perspective on the events of Playing the Game, read it alongside Tuesdays with Jay and Other Stories.
"The three lovers define the ups and downs of a polyamorous triad and leave the ending open for future adventures. ... Barber frames a sexy, loving relationship that happens to be among three people. Libraries looking for more ménage works might consider purchasing all three [books in the series]." -- Library Journal on the Neighborly Affection series
Praise for the USA Today bestselling series starter
"The writing is quick, smart and witty. The character development, especially of the heroine, and plot progression work well with this trio." – Shelly, reviewer for Red Hot Books
"Ms. Barber delves into the culture of Dominance and submission with compelling grace, introducing us to Alice, Henry, and Jay and all of their delightful emotional and sexual complexities." – Sophia Jones, author of The Pharaoh and the Curator
"It's steamy and sexy enough, and doesn't hold back on the BDSM angle, but this erotic romance has so much more to offer than titillation or fantasy." – D.B. Sieders, author of Red Shoes for Lab Blues
"I will read this one again. The sex scenes were off the charts hot. The characters were amazing. Henry melted me." – Jessi Gage, author of Wishing for a Highlander
"Chapter after chapter, I was captivated by the very real process of a woman that discovers her submissive self and how a man tamed her, day after day, week after week, month after month. … It is the kind of book that make you think: yeah, that makes sense. If I was in her shoes, I would act like this." – Mary, reviewer for Mary's Menage Whispers
"The writer had a way to bring you in and make you feel soulful about what they were sharing. I felt like I was made to consider each decision they made about what they needed and why they needed it. This wasn't just a wham-bam book, it was a story of Alice's emotions surrounding this couple she had grown to care for." — Mistress L, reviewer for S&M's Book Obsessions
Customer Reviews
What a beautiful love!
This is an unconventional love story that is so beautiful that you can’t help but think so what! The Love between Henry, Jay,& Alice is what makes you think love will win the day. I have read every book and fallen in love with their story. M Q has written a masterpiece of a love story
My favorite thruple continues their journey, written to perfection
tale of my favorite thruple continues in M.Q. Barber’s “Binding Their Hearts.” Because the plot moves forward, it’s not for new readers, who I envy. After all, they get to start at the beginning and fall with Henry, Jay and Alice like I have.
Since the last installment was heart-wrenching. I couldn’t wait to tear the 7th Neighborly Affection novel. Could Ms. Barber continue to hold my attention in an established relationship, and if so, how? Oh, man, oh man, oh woman can she!
There is gentle, persistent tension throughout. Can Jay recover from his family’s abuse? Can Alice fully commit? How will the three handle Jay’s recovery, Henry’s new commissions and Alice’s promotion while house hunting and creating a marriage ceremony worthy of their relationship? Will Henry handle his submissives’ stress, or will he reach a breaking point?
Henry, Jay and Alice remain fully formed personalities, with relatable foibles and strengths, and they always react in a personality-consistent manner, even as they grow and encourage one another to develop. The novel gives them the chance and the challenge to settle into their better selves. Like Alice the engineer, our author has kept track of every detail to develop their personalities while tying up stray plotlines. Like Jay, she makes these individuals vibrant and playful. And like Henry, her artistry brings them into balance, again and again. Each novel is a mini-miracle to me.
I also look forward to an education in each new edition, whether facts about art or engineering. And this time, even a new word, “Polycule” meaning a poyamorous arrangement.
But the best part? Not just the emotional wisdom of the plot and personalities, though they are brilliant. No, it’s Ms. Barber’s choice of moments which showcase love, conflict and healing, plus the simple clear language she uses to convey these complicated concepts. Here’s an example.
Jay enters therapy thinking, “the therapist would drill into him and clean off all the gunk until he was shiny and new.” Except, “He hadn’t said the rules for the room or anything, gave no hints about how Jay should act or who he should be.” Until, much later “the ‘pick me’ voice in his head bedded down like a bar cat in straw, all cozy and stretching.” Jay is finally okay accepting love because he’s learned how to give it to himself.
“Binding Their Hearts” allows its characters to fight for and achieve their personal goals. And in doing so, M.Q Barber sated every hunger I have as a reader. Let’s see. Absorbing storyline? Check. Fascinating characters who deepen and thrive? Check. Scintillating interactions? Check. Picturesque language? Check. People I want to meet, know and follow into old age? ABSOLUTELY. Thank you for sharing your virtuosity, Ms. Barber.