For three gay men in love, opening the closet door could be a risky move.Sheriff Casey Barlow has a slick, media-savvy challenger out to beat him in the upcoming election. Casey’s damned good at his job, but he hasn’t kissed the right asses, and early polls suggest voters like his opponent’s style. Coming out now, let alone revealing his relationship with two men, could sink any hope of keeping … of keeping his badge.
Scott Edison has a real shot at the NHL. He’s playing the best hockey of his life. Whenever he can, he travels home to his gruff sheriff and their laid-back cowboy, but there are no out gay players in the NHL. As a rookie working his ass off to be called up, he can’t afford to make waves.
Will Rice always figured he’d live alone, managing Graham and Annmarie Slater’s cattle ranch, but a hot, young hockey player and a compact, muscled lawman rearranged his plans. Even though he’s older and lanky and ordinary, he’s been sharing their lives and their beds. He doesn’t need to be out— isn’t sure he ever wants the Slaters to know about him. Life’s good the way things are.
Then Graham and Annmarie are killed in a hit and run that may not be an accident. As Will grieves, and Casey investigates, the coming changes will shake all their lives.
** this is a re-edit and expansion of the story in the “Hunting Under Covers” anthology
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I would rate this 4.25 stars.
This is an expanded edition of a short story being turned into a series. The relationship dynamic between the three lead characters is clear from the first scene, which is a phone call about a fatal car crash. The alternating of all three points of view throughout the story is vital to help piece together the different personalities, as well as softening the reader’s perception of what are three strong masculine characters. There are moments of insecurity and jealousy on Scott’s end, but it was Scott who decided they needed a third–someone nearby for Casey while he was on the road during hockey season, to be there for him with the horrors of his job as Sheriff. After adding Will, they have all been together three years. The author does a great job of capturing the tensions of the triad needing each other, but not being out–of not being able to touch each other in public, of everything happening behind locked doors, of living in fear of discovery. This relationship works really well because Scott is the glue that holds it all together–I knew it, but it was good to hear the guys say it too, that they know. These characters feel real. There is intimacy in everything they do, so while the sex is satisfying, it’s not the reason for the book; it’s well integrated into their relationship and the plot.
Due to them being closeted, there is a bubble they live in. Other characters are mentioned, but they don’t let anyone else into their lives. Casey’s family is cringeworthy. People can disagree on the politics of war, but they are very disrespectful towards Casey’s military service and job as a sherrif. Past hurts and pride are too much for Casey to overcome at one point, but that is as much a part of his character as anything else. Casey’s job takes center stage when it looks like the Slaters’ death wasn’t an accident. The Slaters were really Will’s only friends/family so with them dead, the ranch becomes the character that shows the most about who Will is as he struggles with his self worth, grief, and his place in the world. Even though he’s the oldest and in charge of the ranch, he rarely takes the lead in his personal life. Scott’s family is highlighted, but not focused on in this book. I like that the reader gets to see Scott’s POV when he is out of town in Canada, so that his profession isn’t given less weight as this plot mostly revolves around the ranch and Casey trying to solve the crime right before the election.
Even though I knew it was coming, parts of this are sad and disheartening. Kudos to the author for getting me so invested in these characters and their happiness, in what they wanted for themselves, that I forgot that sometimes when things don’t work out the way you want them to, things are actually better in the end. I liked all three characters enough to root for them as they make difficult choices. Life changes for each of them and they choose to grow together, using their relationship as a touchstone when all their careers are in transition. I would have rated this higher, but I wanted all the characters to feel as real as the triad. I wanted the epilogue to have been more nuanced rather than such a big splash. Still, those are small things since this is a book I can read enjoyably over and over.
This is my first time reading Kaje Harper and not only am I jumping right into book 2, but I’m definitely going to be picking up more of her work.
What I loved about this MMM is it that it is about an established relationship. So very little of the tension is created through interpersonal drama. It’s related to being exposed as gay &/or as a non-traditional relationship, it’s the mystery/suspense of solving a murder, it’s about people understanding who they are when huge changes happen in their lives. Harper does a phenomenal job of creating 3 unique and distinct men who bring their own strengths and weaknesses to the relationship – yet it still works. Yes, there are several steamy scenes – but it doesn’t dominate the book nor is the reader left believing that sex is all that holds this poly relationship together.
While a duet, Changes Coming Down is a complete and fulfilling story on it’s own. It does not end on a cliffhanger, more that the reader is left wanting to know what more life holds for Casey, Will, & Scott. I’m already diving into Changes Going On.
Another great story from one of my favorite authors.
Kaje Harper’s stories always feel a bit more real than a typical romance. The characters have well developed personalities who feel like real people, and the relationship amongst the three main characters was steamy and believable.
There was a perpetual bit of tension that kept me engaged without making a dreadfully unrealistic plot that I notice in so many mysteries.
Can’t wait to read the next one!
Kaje Harper has a way of delving deep inside her characters, and when I reach for one of her novels, I know I’m going to get something very special.
In Changes Coming Down Ms. Harper explores three very different men whose unique personalities form the foundation of the story. We learn what motivates each of them, their likes and dislikes, how they react to stress, and what makes them soar.
Since the story starts with the three men in a firmly established triad, I appreciate all the scenes of the men interacting one-on-one. Getting to see the dynamic within each couple makes it so much more compelling when they’re all together as a threesome.
The characters in Changes Coming Down are each facing major life changing events. Centered around each man’s decision to come out, we see how it impacts their career, their friends and families, plus their relationships with each other. As the story flows through everything these guys are facing, Kaje Harper also builds a clever mystery, plus she treats us to some glorious love scenes… and (bonus) this author writes a mean hockey scene!
As a devoted fan of polyamorous romances, it’s no surprise to me that Kaje Harper would do this genre justice. The sequel to Changes Coming Down is due out spring of 2020, and I can’t wait to see where these guys go from here!