Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: We Have Till Monday
AUTHOR: Cara Dee
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 272 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2021
BLURB:
When it seemed like everyone around Anthony Fender was reaching a goal or falling in love, he blamed an early midlife crisis for throwing him far outside of his comfort zone. Nashville was a long way from New York and his everyday life that’d lost all color lately.
Hopefully, this vacation would reenergize him, and maybe a cooking class with celebrity chef August King could end Anthony’s reign as the only Italian in Brooklyn who couldn’t boil water. But when he met August and his much younger husband Camden, every plan and all rational thought flew out the window. Their dynamic grabbed hold of Anthony and reeled him in before he even heard the magic word.
“Daddy.”
REVIEW:
Cara Dee’s We Have Till Monday is a direct follow-up to her book We Have Till Dawn. It’s (oddly) not listed as a series, but it is an interconnected standalone set in the same world. We Have Till Monday focuses on Nicky Fender’s (from WHTD) older brother Anthony finding his HEA, improbably, within a Daddy/Little triad.
The first thing to note here is that this book is not for everyone. As is usually the case with Ms. Dee’s stories, We Have Till Monday is extremely well-written, engaging and emotionally potent. Note though that this is not an M/M/M romance with some light Daddy kink. This is an in-depth exploration of an M/M/M triad and the emotional and physical needs of the members of it. The added layer here is that one of those members is a Little with strong needs to periodically regress.
We Have Till Monday tracks the development of the relationship between existing age gap couple August King (Daddy) and his husband, Camden Adair (Little), and Anthony, the new addition to the triad. The story opens with a prologue from Camden’s point of view. It’s an extremely effective introduction because it lays out the framework for what’s to come. It helps the reader understand why the events that bring Anthony to August and Camden’s Nashville ranch make sense. Without this level-set right at the outset, the story might come across as implausible. Ms. Dee cuts that off at the pass, immediately positioning the reader for an authentic, organic emotional journey with three complex men who find they work best together.
Much of the dynamic between August, Camden and Anthony is driven by Camden and his regressions. Before meeting Anthony, August and Camden are happy and in love, but recognize there’s something missing. When Camden regresses, he and August truly sink into their roles. This leaves August fully in caretaker/protector role to Camden. Camden needs to withdraw and have his space. He has his own child’s room with his own bed, toys, stuffies, etc. Camden will disappear into his room for lengthy periods of time, depending on how deeply he regresses. Consequently, during those times, August is lonely. He’s there for Camden 100%, but Camden can’t reciprocate the way August needs. August is left unfulfilled sexually and emotionally.
Camden sees the sacrifice August is making for him. He’s determined to fix it, to make things better for August. Camden sets out to find that missing piece for their relationship – a partner for August. August has been resistant to opening up their relationship, so Camden starts out simply hoping to find a third for their “playtime”. His hope is that it might prompt August to consider the possibility of someone to take that spot permanently. Camden sets his sights on Anthony and manufactures the circumstances to bring Anthony into their orbit. The instant attraction and chemistry between the three of them is what makes it work, even better than Camden ever expected.
There’s not a lot that happens in this book plot-wise beyond the relationship development. However, Ms. Dee has created three vivid, multi-faceted characters. They engage in careful, clever, incisive dialogue. The narrative is structured perfectly with just the right pacing. The relationship development feels real and natural, despite the insta-attraction/instalove aspect. You will find yourself utterly captivated.
The book is told almost entirely from Anthony’s point of view, the prologue being the notable exception. I generally prefer dual or multiple points of view because I feel it creates the complete picture of what’s happening in a story. Yet here, I didn’t feel like anything was missing. All three characters come to life and you “get” them. Their emotional struggles and journeys are clear and emotionally potent. Despite not hearing August and Camden firsthand, you can nevertheless step into their shoes.
We Have Till Monday presents an overall engaging story with a solid HEA. It will leave you feeling peaceful and happy for this triad of special men. You can absolutely read this without reading We Have Till Dawn (I did), but now I’m curious to go back and read Nicky’s story. Ms. Dee no doubt weaves that story with the same deft hand that she expertly wields here. Note the genre, and if you are on board with it or open to try something new, I highly recommend you give We Have Till Monday a read.
RATING: 
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