REVIEWED by Jen B.

TITLE: Here For Us

SERIES: Us #1

AUTHOR: A.M. Arthur

PUBLISHER: Briggs-King Books

LENGTH:   332 Pages

RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2017

BLURB:  Cris Sable doesn’t walk into popular gay bar Big Dick’s expecting to find more than a casual hookup, so he’s surprised by his instant attraction and intense chemistry with go-go dancer Jake. Jake’s sexy as hell and a firecracker in bed. The sparks between them are undeniable, and what starts as a hookup evolves into something deeper, possibly permanent—until Jake dumps Cris flat on his ass for no good reason.

Angry and confused, Cris finds comfort with his longtime friend and employer Charles “Chet” Greenwood. Cris’s emotional state stirs up Charles’s long-buried feelings for Cris. Feelings he’s denied for eight years, because Cris is his employee and therefore off limits—not to mention two decades younger than Charles. Cris admits he has feelings for Charles, too, but he’s still getting over Jake and both men agree nothing can happen between them while Charles is still Cris’s boss.

Jake Bowden knows he doesn’t have anything to offer a guy. He’s a go-go dancer with no degree and no real career aspirations. He’s also used to everyone who loves him leaving, so it makes sense to cut Cris loose before things get too serious. Cris is kind, passionate and totally deserves a guy like Charles—wealthy, owns a home, successful businessman. Jake can’t compete so why bother? They’re better off together. But when Jake has a serious personal crisis, Cris and Charles unite to pull him back together, and the three men discover it’s possible—maybe even inevitable—to fall in love with more than one person at a time.

This turned out to be a bit of a pleasant surprise for me.  I was expecting a hot and heavy threesome, but this was enjoyably much more than that.  It starts out as looking like a drama-filled love triangle, but the characters’ actions are what really give this more depth and enable it to become a threesome relationship.  However, it isn’t until near the end that the guys see that possibility and decide to make a go of it.

Cris meets Jake, and they hit it off, but Jake has some issues and ends up putting Cris off and pushing him away.  Cris has worked and been friends with Chet for years.  They both have feelings for each other, but the employee/employer relationship has kept them from pursuing anything.  It isn’t until Cris takes a hiatus (to recover from a kidney donation he anonymously gave to save Chet’s nephew) that their feelings are brought out into the open.

Cris is sort of the middle man here.  He has feelings for and amazing chemistry with Chet, but he also has them for/with Jake.  To confuse things, Jake steps away so that Cris can be with Chet, thinking he is better for Cris.  But, Chet has done the same thing to allow Cris to pursue a relationship with Jake.  See?  Bit of a love triangle here.  LOL

This was a rather slow moving story which felt a little drawn out at times, but as it appears their story will continue in the next installment (as opposed to being about different characters), it made more sense.  And, given the issues Jake was facing, the timing and pacing felt proper.  To rush into a relationship when dealing with his illness would have struck a bad note, at least to me.  And, even after they decide to give a threesome a go, Jake doesn’t jump right into bed with Chet.  He has feelings for him, but is not quite comfortable yet with being physical, which also felt believable.

All in all, I really enjoyed how this all played out.  The characters were interesting, and while I longed to see the three of them in all their sexual glory, I loved how the emotional aspects of their new relationship took precedence.  And, while I am definitely curious to see more of some of the side characters, I was thrilled to see that this story will continue in the next book and can’t wait to read it!