Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Making a Mark

SERIES:  The Triskelion Series Book 2

AUTHOR:  Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga

PUBLISHER:  Tygerseye Publishing, LLC

LENGTH:  315 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 5, 2021

BLURB:

When Troy and Saul became lovers, they worried about a lot of things. There was their age gap, their younger Dom-older sub relationship, and Troy’s health, which was made worse by job stress. They managed all that and more with a deep commitment, and with a lot of help from Troy’s longtime best friends, fellow Dom and sub couple Carter and Geoff.

In fact, Saul seems to be what all three of the other men need to see what’s been there all along, and to provide the balance they need to deepen their relationship in a very meaningful way. They’ve already made their marks on each other’s hearts. Now it’s time to start living the life they’ve all been dreaming of.

Nothing is ever perfect or easy, though, and they all have to shift their perceptions. Geoff has to come to terms with his need for submission and desire to dominate Troy, and Carter must redefine the two most important relationships in his life. Troy struggles to understand why Geoff and Carter want this with him now, after years of watching from the outside. And Saul has to create a whole new definition of family. Can they all break the rules again and become something more special than they can even imagine?

REVIEW:

It’s important to note that Making a Mark picks up on a storyline started in Breaking the Rules, the first book in The Triskelion Series from the writing duo of Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga.  As such, Making a Mark is not a standalone.  You must read the books in order.  Not doing so won’t cause you to experience spoilers per se.  However, the events and the emotional journeys depicted in Making a Mark won’t make much sense or leave the intended impression on you if you haven’t read Breaking the Rules.

Taking that a step further, what transpires in Making a Mark is very much more of the same, so everything I said in my review of Breaking the Rules applies here as well.  But that’s a good thing because the first book contained an impactful, highly diverting story filled with meaning, endearing characters, and a beautiful relationship between Troy and Saul.

Here, Troy and Saul’s journey takes a bit of an unexpected, yet unsurprising, turn as they open themselves to a polygamous relationship with Troy’s best friends, Carter and his husband Geoff.  The dynamic between these four is intricate and complex, particularly Troy’s struggle with Carter’s rejection for so many years, refusing to be Troy’s Dom, and choosing Geoff instead.  Now that Carter and Geoff want him, Troy can’t help but wonder, why.  Why now?  Why not before?

Yet all the while, Troy’s commitment to and need for Saul remains strong and solid.  Saul continues to provide Troy with the unwavering acceptance, dedication, and love he’s shown Troy from day one.  Saul chose Troy the minute he laid eyes on him. There’s never been any looking back.  Saul is truly the unifying factor for these men.  He makes the difference.

It’s hard not to empathize with Troy.  It’s also hard not to be irritated with Carter and Geoff.  But in the end, it’s hard not to see how these men all end up where they belong with the HEA they deserve.  This is what makes Making a Mark so fascinating.  Ms. Payne and Ms. Tortuga deliver a story of making four out of two while also conveying the meaning and import of the triskelia Geoff inks into Troy’s skin, and it turns out to be markedly different from book one.  But all the while it remains just as absorbing, impactful, and most importantly, enjoyable.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

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