RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Misconduct' by Samantha Kane
Title: Misconduct
Series: Birmingham Rebels #4
Author: Samantha Kane
Published: July 25, 2017
Genre: Erotic Romance; Contemporary Romance
Length: 241 Pages
Tags: Menage; M/F/M; M/M; M/F; Bisexual, Comfort/Hurt; Wounded Warrior, First Time; Friends to Lovers; Athlete/Sport: Football; Interracial; HEA; Disability: Traumatic Brain Injury; CW: Historical Rape
About Misconduct
The Birmingham Rebels play both sides of the field, proving that the hottest action isn’t always in the arena.
Rookie running back Tom Kelly loves the perks of football stardom. Men, women—there’s no shortage of companionship for a pro athlete who’s hot, young, and willing, and Tom is definitely willing. But deep down he wants a committed three-way relationship, especially if the female in the middle is Carmina de la Cruz. The undeniably sexy Army veteran may not say much, but her body speaks loud and clear.
After a traumatic tour in Afghanistan, Carmina is struggling to regain her speech and rebuild her life. More than anything, she wants to feel like a woman again. Tom may be a wholesome All-American, but he knows just how she needs to be touched—and he’s not the only Rebel who arouses her interest. With his scorching intensity, Tom’s best friend leaves her wondering if two players might be better than one.
Danny Smith is no stranger to his team’s kinky reputation. He gave in to temptation once, but he’s not going down that road again. Sure, Carmina’s curves promise pleasure, but her eyes guarantee it comes with baggage—and Danny has enough of his own. Still, giving up control can feel so good. And when it comes to everything Danny craves, Carmina and Tom make the perfect team.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW:
Samantha Kanes’ Misconduct forwards the Birmingham Rebels saga, advancing the triads readers have already met, while telling Carmine, Tom and Danny’s story. You’d miss a lot buying this as a standalone. But as a continuing edition, it’s thoroughly satisfying.
Carmina de la Cruz, whose Army tour ended with an ambush and traumatic brain injury, suffers inattentiveness, speech difficulties and anorgasmia. Her best friend, Sam, who was also in the ambush, plays for the Rebels. Camina is tired of trying to get her life under control; she wants it back to normal. Her normal. Deciding she’s ready to overcome her sexual issues, she looks towards Sam’s teammates to find a suitable candidate.
Tom Kelly, once a wholesome Midwestern, one-woman man, lost the gal, who didn’t want the bright lights of an NBA girlfriend. To compensate, he’s become a party animal, enjoying men and women. But he’s been attracted to Carmine, who he sees as tough, independent, sexy and loyal. He gladly steps up to help her achieve her desires.
Tom’s Rebel roommate, Danny Smith, has been furious since college when he broke up an attempted gang rape on his famous college coach’s daughter, Marion, Unfortunately, the coach defended his players, at Marion and Danny’s expense. Marion, is now a Rebels assistant coach, while the almost-rapist plays on a team the Rebels face in the finals.
Danny is also attracted to Carmina, but defers to Tom, because he’s too confused to be ready for a relationship. After all, Tom’s good-hearted, optimistic trustworthiness has helped him do well with the Rebels. And it is just Carmina he’s attracted to, not Tom. Or is he?
Polyandry isn’t socially acceptable.
In each book, Kane’s characters deal with the cost of their atypical desires – not just to their reputations, but also with each other.
“‘That’s a huge responsibility taking care of someone’s love,’” Camina tells Tom. And how much more responsibility is two people’s love?
Readers will respect Carmina, who refuses to let her disability define her, pushes past her speech impediment, and seeks employment. Kane’s women may be vulnerable and insecure, like most people, but they are self-sufficient. And they sure enough of their own desirability to enjoy men who love one another. As Carmina thinks, “Two men…exploring their own boundaries- it was exhilarating, mind-blowing.”
Tom is wholesome and may prefer action to analysis, but he’s honest, caring and sticks to his values. Even Danny, in some ways portrayed as the most fragile member of the trio, has the self-respect to mature, to accept his defects and to try not to inflict them on others.
Again, with care and skill Kane pens full, mature personalities, allowing Carmina, Tom and Danny to merge from individuals into an intuitive whole.
Triads allow Kane to explore the true nature of love:
“It isn’t something to be scared of. There are no expectations or responsibilities…It just is. … Ultimately, it’s about me, and not you. I love you whether you love me back or not.”
“It is selfish. It makes me feel good.”
“You couldn’t have room for love when bitterness filled your heart.”
Research shows two men are women’s number one fantasy. But the realities of dealing with two personalities would require a great deal of maturity. As always, Kane’s relationships seem intuitive and three-dimensional, despite the individuals’ unique difficulties and quirks.
Kudos to Samantha Kane for consistently creating credible polyandrous relationships, ones that demand growth, ones even a psychologist (which I am in my other life) can believe in. Misconduct is another well done book!
A copy of Misconduct was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Penguin Random House, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Meet the Author
Reviewers have called Samantha Kane “an absolute marvel to read,” and “one of historical romance’s most erotic and sensuous authors.” Her books have been called “sinful,” “sensuous,” and “sizzling.” She is published in several romance genres including historical, contemporary and science fiction. Her erotic Regency-set historical romances have won awards, including Best Historical from RWA's erotic romance chapter Passionate Ink, and the Historical CAPA (best book) award from The Romance Studio. She has a master's degree in American History, and taught high school social studies for ten years before becoming a full time writer. Samantha Kane lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children.
