not as easy as it looksRating: 4.75 stars
Buy Links: 
 Amazon | All Romance
Length: Novel


I’ve said it many times before in my reviews for m/m/m romances, but I’ll say it again: Writing a believable, intense, interesting m/m/m is extremely difficult. So when I find one that does it really well, I want to recommend it to everyone! Not As Easy as it Looks had me engaged from the first page to the last, intensely involved with the three main characters, and I really loved every page of it.

Griff and Don have been best friends since they were very young, so when Griff comes out in high school, Don wonders if he might have those same feelings. When older Howard asks him to test the waters, Don agrees. Not only does he realize that he is, indeed, gay, he’s also extremely attracted to Howe. Griff doesn’t much care for their new relationship, though, and both he and Don finally admit to the long held feelings they’ve had for one another. The problem is, the feelings for Howe don’t go away.

Howard’s not making it easy on either of the men. He’s had a very difficult life, but when things get rough, Don and Griff are there for him. They want him as part of their life together, but Howard’s not willing to come between them, even if they tell him over and over that they both have feelings for him. Don runs a ranch and calls on Howard for help to try to keep it afloat. The dynamics of a threesome is difficult, as jealousy is an issue from all sources, but it’s obvious that the three of them belong together, if they can just get Howard to see the light.

First of all, I think Samms did a wonderful job of creating complex yet likeable characters. All three are very different — they’re each flawed in their individual ways — but you see how they could bring out the best in each other and truly support each other. As a side note, there is a bit of BDSM going on in this book, mostly a power dynamic between Don and Griff. It’s nothing extreme, but, again, it’s interesting to see how the author makes it work between three characters. And it certainly makes for some hot bedroom scenes.

If you like a book that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is the book for you. Even though I want everything to work out within the first 20 pages of a book, it’s always so much more satisfying when we’re able to see the obstacles, the difficulties that are sure to arise in such a complicated situation, and spend the book trying to overcome them. I truly did not know what was going to happen throughout the book, and this is always exciting for me.

I would’ve like about 25 more pages on the end — a bit more of a happily ever after — but if the author could give me a sequel, I’d be happy with that as well. Don comes from the most beautiful, well-meaning family, and when the booked ended, I was not only sad to lose the main characters, but the supporting ones as well. This was a fun, intense, passionate read, and Samms has gone to the top of my must read authors list. I hope to see more m/m/m from her in the future.

A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.

amy signature