Tart (Delicious, #2)

by Lauren Dane

[Cocktails and Books]

Lauren Dane sure does know who to write a good menage story. Her couples are more about feelings and how they related to each other, rather than just a bunch of sex thrown in for sex sake. That formula was perfect for Jules, Cal and Gideon in Tart.

Jules has live on Bainbridge Island her entire life. While her parents marriage may have imploded and left her on the island by herself, she's surrounded herself with a group of friends that have become her family. If you read Never Enough (Brown Sibling #4 by Lauren Dane), you'll recognize many of the people she has surrounded herself with, including Adrian Brown and his family and friends. But what Jules longs for is a man to give her what she's missing in her life.

Gideon Carter moves back to Bainbridge Island to help his grandfather run his farm. When he runs into Jules, he's instantly attracted to her and reminded of all the times as kids he used to run around with her on his visit. Gideon may have been had bad luck when it came to his first marriage, but he sees something in Jules that he refused to ignore and plans on grabbing with both hands.

Cal Whaley has been in Jules' life for many, many years. As the oldest brother of her best friends, Mary, Cal's watched Jules grow from little girl to the beautiful woman he loves. Cal's denied his feelings for Jules for years, instead trying to lose himself in the men and women he dates. But when he discovers his good friend Gideon is back and he's staking a claim in his woman, Cal decides it's time to step up to the plate.

The relationship between Jules, Gideon and Cal was interesting. While I was expecting a lot of sex, what we got was the development of the emotional connection between the three of them. Jules and Cal has a lot of "stuff" to work through to get their end of the triad on solid ground, but that also spilled over into how Jules and Cal built their relationship with Gideon. While they did hot have some hot sex, as a threesome and separately as couples, I enjoyed 'watching' them build their triad (especially since the dynamics between them were so different from Erin, Todd and Ben's).

I really enjoyed this story. Not only having this new relationship grow, but to also see what was happening with some old friends. Adrian and Gillian's wedding was perfect and being able to visit with the Browns and Copelands is always a plus.

I can't wait for the next book to see what is going to happen with Mary.