REVIEW: 'Talking in Code' by Ariel Tachna
Title: Talking in Code
Author: Ariel Tachna
Published: March 6, 2017
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 256 Pages
Tags: Gay, M/M; M/M/M; Menage; Military; Wounded Warrior; Comfort/Hurt; CW: PTSD; CW: References to Torture
About Talking in Code
Some things crumble under pressure. Others are tempered by it instead. For three former soldiers, a tragedy might be the catalyst that binds them together—stronger than ever. Richard Horn and Timothy Davenport met in the SEALs twenty years ago and have been lovers ever since. Now running their own paramilitary organization, Strike Force Omega, they work in the shadows to protect their country and its people. When Tim falls for Eric Newton, a deadly sniper and strategist on their team, Richard accepts that Tim’s heart is big enough for two men. He respects, admires, and even desires Eric enough to accept him into their relationship—and their bed—but he’s never been fully a part of what Eric and Tim share. Then Eric is captured by terrorists and Tim is gravely injured in an op gone wrong, bringing Richard’s world crashing down around his ears. Even if he gets his men out alive, Eric must face the aftermath of months of physical and psychological torture—and without Tim to lean on, Eric’s PTSD is tearing him apart. Richard has to figure out the third leg of their triangle fast, or Tim won’t have a life to come back to.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW:
Talking in Code is a story about a polyamorous relationship and how it grows and changes when it is impacted by a catastrophic event. The characters are complex and Ariel Tachna explores the dynamic of these men as three individual couples as well as a threesome. The whole covert-ops being a very small part of the plot.
Richard and Tim have been together for 20 years and they have included Eric in their relationship for the past four. At the beginning of the story Eric is rescued after being held hostage for four months of intense torture. Richard has discovered Tim’s op was compromised and he is in surgery in critical condition with multiple injuries.
While Tim recovers in the hospital in a drug induced coma, Richard must help Eric overcome his severe PTSD. Their relationship is tenuous while they learn to relate without Tim. Told from Richard’s point of view I found this to be a lovely part of the story, as Richard has to really dig deep to find the caring and compassion Eric needs, and in so doing creates a new relationship between the two.
Ariel Tachna provides a great set-up and foundation at the first of the book which flows beautifully into the second half.
It’s clear that Richard and Tim have an established long term relationship and Eric has to find his place with each of them. As the story progresses the groundwork explains the gaps in the relationship and how the current changes are instrumental in establishing the new dynamic between the three men.
It is lovely to see Richard emerge as a loving and compassionate man, as he clearly needs to be more than just the strong ‘head of the family’. While the author does an amazing job dropping in memories of Eric’s past and swirling his story in with the other two MC’s, Eric undergoes a transformation as well by learning how to ask for what he needs, and then to accept it. Let’s not forget Tim; Tim just holds them all together and allows each man to be himself.
Talking in Code is a splendid story about three wounded, complex men who love each other and rewrite their relationship due to the events which changed their lives.
A copy of Talking in Code was provided to Kimmers Erotic Book Banter, by the Dreamspinner Press, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Meet the Author
Ariel Tachna lives outside of Houston with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. Before moving there, she traveled all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She’s bilingual with snippets of four other languages to her credit and is as in love with languages as she is with writing.
For more from Ariel be sure and visit her website.
