The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles
M/M/M Contemporary Romance
Released: September 25, 2012
Samhain

Reviewed by Helyce

Josh Carpenter is still getting over his last boyfriend. Since their break up, he’s had to move into a nearly windowless attic studio apartment. It’s stuffy and hot, and the only thing that makes living there somewhat bearable is that his friend Denise lives downstairs and he can hang out at her much larger flat. Then there is Rai and Evan. Josh has a huge crush on both of them and he loves being in Denise’s flat because when Rai and Evan go at it, it’s loud and clear in Denise’s apartment.

By day, Josh is a glass blower. Something he kind of fell into, but is very good at. He loves his job and the people who he works with. He has some self confidence issues both at work and personally especially since his last boyfriend told him he wasn’t good in bed. Understandably, this has caused him some distress so he hasn’t really put himself out into the dating scene.

When an accident in his apartment results in Josh needing a place to stay, he’s completely surprised when Rai and Evan invite him to stay with them until his place is fixed and livable again. He’s even more surprised when Rai and Evan approach him because they are interested in him on a more personal level. Josh may be shy, but he’s not stupid and he easily agrees and jumps into a menage relationship with Rai and Evan. What he didn’t count on was falling in love with both men.

I really enjoyed this story. Everything I’ve read from Ms. Myles so far has taken me completely by surprise. This story was no exception. I’m not big on multiple partners in my romances. There are few authors that have won me over with this theme, and I admit I was worried about an m/m/m love story. But this one worked for me.

First off, Josh won me over with his personality. He just seemed so clueless, but in a completely adorable way and I loved him. He’s coming off a bad relationship with a guy who made him feel inadequate in the bedroom, which unfortunately he believes since he got dumped. Sadly, it affects him in other areas and his self confidence is very low at this time. I found Josh’s profession very unique. He’s a glass blower. He’s pretty good, but of course he doesn’t think so. He works with a married couple who are actually quite hilarious and bring some very humorous moments to this story.

Josh isn’t really looking for a relationship, so he’s completely unprepared and shocked when Rai and Evan approach him with the whole menage idea. He’s secretly had the hots for these two for a while and certainly never expected he had a chance with them. Rai and Evan are a couple and have been for a while. While they have a confident and strongly committed relationship, they’ve noticed Josh and when he literally falls into their apartment they use that to their advantage.

This is where the ménage theme won me over. Evan and Rai are a strong couple, but they’ve done the threesome thing before. It works for them and inviting Josh to be a third is for them just something that they do to spice of the sex. But it changes with Josh. It’s clear that they are all drawn to each other and it becomes much more than just a sex thing very quickly. I think that is why this worked for me in this story. Even though it happens fairly quickly, I believed that it was possible. Josh continues to second guess everything of course, and it was heartbreaking at times watching him struggle with this insecurities. It was also very real in this sort of situation.

I’ve come to expect an interesting experience when reading a book by Ms. Myles. She always chooses very unique occupations for her characters and the relationship which seems unexpected actually works. In the case of Josh, Evan and Rai what these three go through, including jealousy, discussing past relationships and of course the future were really realistic in every way. In Josh we watch a young man with a damaged ego heal and move on with two people who are sincere and are a big part of that healing process. He also learns some new things about himself which actually compliment the threesome even more.

This story has quite a bit of humor and I admit to laughing out loud several times. Great secondary characters provide a wonderful back drop to round out this quirky but satisfying story.

Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Joyfully Jay – 4.5/5
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