The Marquess and Marchioness of Egerton (Elliot and Merritt) have spent ten happy years together. Elliot understands Merritt perfectly and sees to her every need, helping her explore her sexuality to the point that they're perfectly in sync. But for her birthday, he's going to take a week to satisfy her greatest fantasy--being in bed with him and another man. And the other man isn't just anyone: it's Peter Reid, the playwright Merritt was in love with before her father separated them and forced her to marry Elliot. And Elliot? Just happens to be Peter's patron, having known for years--unbeknownst to Merritt or Peter--that the man was his wife's first love.

This was just... a lot. Yes, it's a quick read, and yes, there is a lot of sex--but I don't think Jess Michaels ever sacrificed character development. The sex is character development here. The plot is--are we a love triangle, or can we all love each other together?

The dynamics are fascinating. Peter and Merritt were separated before they could consummate their relationship, while Elliot and Merritt know each other's appetites perfectly. Peter and Merritt are in many ways better-suited for each other, both of them open and expressive both physically and verbally, while Elliot is more dominant and emotionally withholding, expressing his feelings through actions rather than words. And that's really... the conflict. Elliot is feeling a lot of things throughout this novel--jealousy, desire, loneliness. But he can't fucking say it. He hasn't even told Merritt he loves her in a decade of happy marriage.

It's compelling stuff, and I think it takes the book a lot deeper. This does have hot mmf sex scenes, yes... But it's also about the emotional complexities that can and do come with a triad, especially when the triad has the kind of complex history that Elliott, Merritt, and Peter do.

Quick Takes:
--The sex... is really hot. And varied. It's explorative! It's a part of how these three people express their love for each other. Just. A+.

--Elliot.... Look man, Peter and Merritt are great and I really enjoyed them, but Elliot is the emotional centerpiece of this book for me. A marquess who's clearly traumatized by his rigid (homophobic) upbringing and, even after he comes to terms with his bisexuality, does not! Know! How to tell both the man he's recently fallen for and the wife he's loved for years that he loves them! Ugh, my heart. He's also a bit aggressive, and that... works. A lot.

--The climax (ha ha ha) of the novel reminds me a lot of the big final gesture in Professor Marsten and the Wonder Women. If you've seen that movie, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't--trust me, that's a good thing.

--In fact, the entire, like VIBE of the conflict between the three is a lot like a gender-flipped version of that movie. Elliot is, more than coming to terms with his sexuality, coming to terms with not only sharing Merritt, but sharing her with someone who accesses a part of her that isn't really connected to him... and sharing her with someone he is also falling in love with, who accesses a part of him that Merritt can't really connect to. It's delicious.

--I do think the whole thing could've been a bit longer, largely because I love these characters and would like to see them explored more (especially Merritt and Peter) but this totally works at the length it is.

If you're looking for a menage historical romance that actually delves into some of the complexities that surround a triad relationship, this is the one for you. I'm excited to see what Jess Michaels does next with this concept.

Thanks to Jess Michaels and Netgalley for providing me this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

What does the marchioness who has everything get for her birthday? A week long sex vacation with her husband and her long ago first love.

I mean... it's an mmf erotic historical. The historical bit is just set dressing, though, not truly integral. And none of the characters are particularly well developed for me. It's a bit more than pure erotica, but only just a bit.

It's fine. It's readable. But for a book that I should have really enjoyed, it's just meh. Obviously YMMV.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Received a copy for review.*.
It is hard to find a really sexy historical MMF, but Jess Michaels delivers.
This book is super sexy and full of longing that finally pays off.
It’s a house party for three with the servants dismissed for the Marchionesses birthday. Her husband surprises her with her first love. He was driven from her life because he was of a lower station and her father was a terrible person.