Possible Triggers: Racism & Homophobia
All three of the books in this series thus far have had several themes in common...bigotry, racism, coming out, family drama, but also love and romance.
I've read K.C. Wells for a long, long time and I own most of her books in one form or another. I have to say that even though I have liked them all.... sometimes for different reasons and on different levels...I have NEVER been disappointed. I listened to the first book in this series on audio and John Solo did his usual excellent job. The first book Truth & Betrayal could easily stand alone, but if you read all three books, I recommend reading them in order as the characters from Pride & Protection book 2. and Desire & Denial, book 3, overlap. I really liked Del in the second novel, but his brother Jon was somewhat of a mystery. He was closed off and a bit grumpy. Jon’s story is quite moving, and we get all his details in this book, Desire & Denial. Jon’s partners Chaz and Kendis have good stories also, and the way these three men help and love one another is very well done. There’s overwhelming chemistry between each as a pair, and all three together. Jon had no idea how falling in love with these two young men would change his life. They also brought some big changes to this small Tennessee town. I found this part of the story a bit questionable. I was born and raised in the south, and I can tell you that their dynamic would not then, nor even now, be that easily overlooked or accepted. Times are changing but they aren't there yet...especially in the "deep south" where this novel was set. However, I agree that the messages that this trilogy includes about tolerance and acceptance are poignant, timeless, and necessary and simply can’t be repeated often enough. Still there will be some that are going to be offended, angry and upset about the topics portrayed in this book.... enough so that I went back and included possible triggers. I even considered not reviewing it at all...but this author's work deserves to be recognized and everyone can decide to read or not to read. ( )

This is a super sweet story about an unlikely throuple. While super sweet it does deal with a very unbalanced power dynamic that may make some uncomfortable - an 18-year-old, a 20-year-old and a 35-year-old. While it is a nice story, K.C. Wells once again starts a series and then leaves it (I assume it is left as this book was published three years ago. ) This is frustrating as it leaves so much unsaid but at least this time each story is complete in itself to a certain point. ( )