Monday, November 2, 2015

Review: Muscling In by Lily Harlem

Book coverMuscling In by Lily Harlem
Purchase link: Amazon

My rating: star star star star

Heat rating: Flame  Flame  Flame  Flame  Flame


My husband has a secret. Desires he’s kept locked away in a deep, dark place.

Determined to pry details of this forbidden longing, I had no idea how much this new side of him would turn me on. So when I met the object of his lust I couldn’t let it rest.

Edward Mooreland was a force to be reckoned with, a man who fought for his country and what he wanted. But did he want me and my husband? Would I ever experience his passion let loose or would I remain on the sidelines, watching, waiting, hoping?

One thing I knew, I wasn’t the type of girl to give in without a fight. I wanted to be part of the action too. More than part of it, I wanted to be in the goddamn middle of it with bells, whistles and fireworks when it all exploded. Yes…I wanted it all.


This book started off with a bang. The prologue was so hot, I think my Kindle melted.

You know you are getting sexy when you read a Lily Harlem book, but it's not just about the sexy. You get a ton of emotion and complexity as Lily delves into a strong, solid relationship and turns it on its head as she explores what it means to love more than one person.

Both Coben and Edward are super hunky in this instalment of Lily's menage erotic romance, how could they not be. However, as hot as they were, it was Sian who captured my attention. She was such an open-hearted, kind, and understanding wife and everything you'd want in a partner and a mature relationship. I could not do what she did. I'd have exploded with jealousy before I calmed down enough to consider the situation, if it ever happened to me. While she had her insecurities and her doubts at certain points, she dealt with them. I like that a lot. She made sure she had an adult relationship with Coben where they discussed things and they shared their feelings. It made them strong as a couple, and I guess it is that strength which allowed them to consider and accept Edward into their lives without it breaking them apart.

I liked how Lily made Coben the jealous one. There were moments when I felt "hey, this seems kinda one sided, she's the one doing all the giving and you are the jealous one?" but it worked out. I understood where Coben was coming from and I understood how special the relationship between him and Edward was. I also understood how past emotional ties can add weight to present decisions, change relationship dynamics and force a person to be selfish and giving at the same time.

I loved that Lily didn't make it easy for them either. Edward still did what he did and they had to figure out how that worked in the relationship. She delved very poignantly into the psyche of a loved one of someone who serves and handles the fear, anxiety and pain with great skill. She said it so well, when Edward says to Sian:

"I discovered that absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder. It just crustallizes it into quietly outraged loneliness and combined with fear that can become a living hell for a person".

Lily makes no excuses for who Edward is and what he does for a job. She brings Edward into a stable relationship and shows us how they work through the uncertainty to become a strong, committed threesome.

Well done Lily. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

View all my reviews


About the author
auLily Harlem lives in the UK and is an award-winning, multi-published author of contemporary erotic romance. She writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Xcite, Ellora’s Cave and Sweetmeats Press. Her Hot Ice series regularly receives high praise and industry nominations.

Before turning her hand to writing Lily Harlem worked as a trauma nurse and her latest HarperCollins release, Confessions of a Naughty Night Nurse, draws on her many experiences while nursing in London. Lily also self-publishes and The Silk Tie, The Glass Knot,  In Expert Hands and Scored have been blessed with many 5* reviews since their release.

Lily writes MF, MM and ménage a trois, her books regularly hit the #1 spot on Amazon Best Seller lists and Breathe You In was named a USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2014. Her latest MM novel is Dark Warrior.

Lily also co-authors with Natalie Dae and publishes under the name Harlem Dae - check out the Sexy as Hell Box Set available exclusively on Amazon - The Novice, The Player and The Vixen - and That Filthy Book which has been hailed as a novel 'every woman should read'.

One thing you can be sure of, whatever book you pick up by Ms Harlem, is it will be wildly romantic and down-and-dirty sexy. Enjoy!


Author links:

WebsiteBlogTwitterFacebookFacebook author pagePinterestRaw TalentBritBabesHockey RomanceNewsletter subscriptionHot IceGoogle+ 
Harlem DaeGoodreads



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2 comments:

  1. Thank you for such a thoughtful review of Muscling In, Deanna.

    Lily

    ReplyDelete