Title: Thornhill’s Dilemma by Brita Addams
Sapphire Club Series Book Three
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Historical, Erotic, Romance, M/M, Menage M/F/M
Word Count: 82,250
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author
Summary:
A love as intense as it is forbidden…
Staid Phillip Allard, the Duke of Thornhill, has hidden his true nature behind his ducal mien since his earliest memory. An heir, mired in honor and duty from birth, he approaches every aspect of his life with unemotional logic. Alexander Chilton is a man of voracious sexual tastes, but more, he desires a relationship with someone who will fill the chasm in his life.
They meet at the Sapphire Club, and find in each other a balance neither had ever found before…until a young debutante inadvertently involves Phillip in her defiant quest.
Lady Hope is curious and accepting, but although Phillip cares for her, he can never love her as she wishes. When tragedy occurs, guilt leaves Phillip lost and numb.
Will he find his way back to Alex, or has he burned the one bridge that matters most?
This book contains a couple of menage scenes, M/F/M. It also contains spanking, voyeurism, and sexual activity between two men.
The Review:
Thornhill’s Dilemma is my favorite of the three novels in Brita Addams’ erotic historical Sapphire Club series. The longer length provides the opportunity for a better balance between the scorching hot love scenes and the development of the story’s romance. But it is the delightful cast of characters and surprising storyline that really makes this love story stand out from the others in the series.
Phillip Allard knows he must marry and produce an heir, but his attraction to men has made it easy to set aside this less than appealing duty. Introduced to Alex Chilton through the Sapphire Club, they have become more than occasional lovers, but both know a future together is risky. When Phillip is caught in a compromising situation and blackmailed into asking for Lady Hope Linden’s hand in marriage, he is very surprised by Hope’s easy acceptance of Alex in their lives. When the unthinkable occurs, Phillip’s guilt jeopardizes his chance at happiness.
Hope is young, but she has a strong personality and a very open mind. She is genuinely remorseful about her role in forcing Phillip into marriage, but she is determined to make theirs a successful match. She is eager to explore her sensual side and actively seeks to satisfy her curiosity. Hope goes after what she wants with little regard for the possible consequences but this is what makes her such a perfect match for Phillip and Alex.
Phillip is a proper noblemen which means he can be a little stuffy and too focused on duty. He has no intention of giving up his relationship with Alex after his marriage so it is very fortuitous that Hope is so open minded. Like Hope, he is resigned to their fate, but he truly cares for her and takes care to ensure her satisfaction in all areas of their life. Phillip is open to the three entering into a ménage relationship but only if Alex and Hope agree to the arrangement as well.
Alex has less experience with women than Phillip so he is a little less sure of joining Phillip and Hope in a ménage. But once he is certain that Hope is in full agreement, he becomes agreeable to the idea. He is initially less emotionally invested in Hope but as events unfold, he comes to deeply love her as well. Alex is more pragmatic and realistic once tragedy strikes and this common sense leads to the best solution to an increasingly untenable situation.
It is sometimes a bit tricky when adding a woman to an established m/m relationship, but Ms. Addams is definitely up to the task in Thornhill’s Dilemma. A ménage is truly the perfect solution to keep Alex and Phillip together, so this part of the storyline feels quite natural. It also helps that no one forces Hope to accept the idea. It instead occurs as a direct response to transpiring events. What is surprising is the eventual source of conflict in the novel, but again, the reactions are realistic and in keeping with the characters’ personalities and places in society.
Thornhill’s Dilemma is a marvelously written love story that is very emotional. The characters are quite appealing and superbly developed with believable flaws and imperfections. The sex scenes are exquisitely detailed and smoking hot. The storyline is brilliantly executed and Brita Addams throws in some twists and turns are very unexpected. Fans of erotic historical romances do not want to miss this third installment in the terrific Sapphire Club series.
