Don’t mind me, just getting into the holiday spirit a bit early this year.
Though I tend to read multi-book series I am also a mood reader and wasn’t read to commit to one right now. I needed a little something to read but no strings attached kind of book.
This one has been sitting on my TBR for well over a year and as I updated my list to the blog it gave me a chance to reflect on some of the books.
I could see my reading goals and interests changed since I started tracking my TBR back in 2022. Some books I just removed, knowing that I wouldn’t enjoy the story anymore. For others, I put them higher up on the list!
I don’t read holiday romance very often, maybe one other book comes to mind. But I love Katee Robert!
When I looked this book up it was actually the second in the series of A Touch of Taboo, which gave me pause. However the description specifically says you do not need to read the books in order, and they are each written as their own story.
And I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything!
The story jumps right into the holiday cabin vacation with Emma, her husband, and his childhood best friend.
Emma is a reader – of course! And tells her husband about a particularly relevant story she’s reading about a husband, wife, and their best friend. It’s obvious but lays the groundwork of the short story.
She’s already a rather promiscuous FMC. She loves pretending to be strangers and getting picked up at the bar and taken in the alleyway, or the car, and lucky if they make it all the way back home.
And the sexy tension she shares with the best friend is delicious. Of course only in a fantasy setting because if my husband looked at my best friend the way Emma looked at Derek we would have words.
Being only a 4 hour read the plot was the spice in this story. Two nights, snowed in, no rules.
Being the little mink that she is Emma even goes so far as to get pre-permission from her husband to seduce Derek and pretend like its a secret.
SO. F*CKING. HOT.
The two act out a sinful sordid affair in the living room, just one wall away from Greyson as he pretends to look the other way.
Just as they’re getting to the good part Greyson walks in on them. He is dedicated to his character and acts the part of angry husband just before making them continue under his watchful eye.
DELICIOUS.
As a well-appreciated predictable turn of events the men are in love with each other. Though the timing never worked out for them. They went to different colleges, were in relationships at different times, and when the stars did align, Greyson met Emma and they fell in love.
It takes a little coaxing from Emma to get the two men to admit what they want from this little arrangement but eventually they come around.
The couch, the counters, the bedroom, the hot tub. Nothing is safe between the three of them.
But two nights can only last so long and before we know it, it’s time to return home and put an end to this little fantasy.
But no author wants the story to end there.
Emma and Greyson are in full agreement that this can’t end. That they’ve found their missing piece.
But Derek is not quite so sure. Being the third wheel in a marriage doesn’t make him feel secure. Sure he has been their unspoken third wheel for the last seven years, but this is different.
He pushes them away and returns home on his own.
They go the next week stumbling through the motions of the holidays. Ignoring the conversation, the hurt they still feel.
Until Derek knocks on their door New Years Eve.
A quick, messy conversation about how this would play out, and what other people will say plays out. But each of them agrees, fuck other people.
And they choose each other, they choose love, they choose to do that thing from the second night again.
Giving us, dear readers, a HEA like we always wanted.
Overall ⭐⭐⭐.5
| 📚 Glad I Read It
| ⚫ R – Restricted / Adult-Only (Ages 21+)
Worldbuilding🗺️🗺️
Ick Factor 😐
Fangirl Moments 💖💖💖
Spice🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Errors/Plot Holes ❗
Tropes: Throuple, Childhood friends, MM, MFM, LGBT, Friends to Lovers, Erotica, Novella, Christmas, Menage, Smut
Title: Gifting Me to His Best Friend
Author: Katee Robert
Genre: Romance
Series: A Touch of Taboo
Format: Audiobook
Length: 4 hours 6 mins
Published: June 21, 2021 by Trinkets and Tales LLC
