Love Comes After by Kate Hawthorne

Title: Love Comes After
Author: Kate Hawthorne
Length: approx 71k words
Genre: contemporary, menage, second chance
Series: part of the Lonely Hearts series, can standalone

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Bennet James's world is imploding.
His relationship with his best-friend, lover, and longtime partner, Aiden, is falling apart because Bennet is no longer enough for him in bed. Their differences are getting the better of them and, for the first time in eight years, Bennet doesn't see a path toward the future he's always hoped for.

Aiden Hennessy is devastated.
The night Bennet breaks off their relationship, Aiden's world crumbles at his feet. He's never envisioned a life that doesn't involve Bennet, and he doesn't know how to mend the divide between them until the day he comes home early and walks in on something he thinks could be the answer to their problems.

Chris Wheeler doesn't do emotions.
Three years after an unexpected and catastrophic loss, Chris has mastered the art of keeping men at arm's length. Casual flings and one-night stands have become his standard. But one night everything changes when he's propositioned in a parking lot by a copper-haired bartender and his dejected lover.

Aiden, Chris, and Bennet tumble into a complicated mess of strings-free sex that leads them right into more heartbreak and tragedy. Admitting their feelings and finding a way to heal their wounds together is the only way for them to see if love can still come after all they’ve survived.

REVIEW:

Wow.  What a gripping story.  It definitely gave me all the feels.

Bennet and Aidan have been together since they were young.  They truly love each other.  But, after all these years, they come to the agreement that their relationship just isn't working anymore.  They cannot give each other what the other needs sexually.   They decide to part ways.  Aidan is devastated but figures out a potential solution to their problem.  

Enter Chris.   Aidan wants Chris to be with him and Bennet, sexually only.   He knows that Chris can give both men what they sexually need.  It would be a way for Aidan and Bennet to still be together, while remaining sexual with Chris's help.   Chris agrees to help them, as he likes sex but doesn't want to be in a relationship.

When they start to explore their sexual desires with Chris, they find that Chris can in fact give both men what they need.   But things start to get complicated and the lines start to blur for Chris.

I loved all three men.  The initial couple of Bennet and Aidan are just so loving.  The depth of their love was so beautiful!  When I discovered the depth of Bennet's sacrifices over the years, it was just unbearable.   It was tough to witness Aidan's reaction when he learns of everything Bennet has sacrificed for him.  He is hurt.  He is pained.  And Bennet is devastated that Aidan still can't make sacrifices for him.  They had spent years living with neglect and closeted unhappiness.   

And Chris.  Wow.  Just so surprising to learn the depth of his pain.  Losing his former lover left him crippled emotionally. He always felt that moving on was like cheating.  Seeing how much he could change, grow, and rediscover himself through helping Bennet and Aidan was just incredible.  His personal change and growth was just fascinating.  

The three of them together was truly beautiful. Each of them at one point struggles with their arrangement and calls it off. And each of them fights for their relationship at one point.  That in itself, was wonderful.  They each knew the depth of their love for the others and set out to show the others.

The whole journey of these three men was an extremely emotional and equally enjoyable journey.  I highly recommend this book.