A safeword won’t save her from love.
After six months of cavorting in her neighbors’ bed, Alice admits signing the contract to be Henry’s sexual submissive is the best decision she’s ever made. He delivers on his promise to give her sexual satisfaction. But submitting to his dominance alongside his long-term lover shows her the sharp line between sex and love. Henry loves goofy, eager-to-please … eager-to-please Jay. Neither man has promised to love her.
Hiding her feelings grows harder every night she spends with them. As they struggle with wounds old and new, her emotional turmoil threatens to shred their arrangement. Is it time to bow out before they show her the door? Or can a triangle be the shape of true love?
CONTENT WARNING: Explicit sex, graphic language, BDSM, bondage, spanking, M/M/F ménage, M/F sex, M/M sex.
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I dove right into and plowed through this book after reading book 1. I needed to read more about our little poly group. Alice still frustrated me by not saying what was on her mind, closing herself of to the love and nurturing that Henry and Jay could give her. It broke my heart when Jay hurting and I was upset when Henry let things go. I was soo rooting for them to make it. I had to read on, willing them to return to each other and be the triad they could be. Extremely happy with the outcome. So enamored with them. Alice, Henry and especially Jay are in my heart… onto book 3.
This is a BDSM romance series but it is NOT twisted, it is sweet and romantic and healthy. Should read in order.
This is my second read-through of the Neighborly Affection series, and I love it as much this time as I did the first time! M.Q. Barber has created a wonderful little world for Alice, Henry, and Jay. Their story currently spans five novels and one collection of shorts, with more on the way. The books need to be read in order, so if you haven’t read “Playing the Game” you should go do that now.
“Crossing the Lines” is the second book in the series, taking place right after “Playing the Game” left off. Alice and Henry are still dancing around what they want, causing tension and some really uncomfortable situations. These do get resolved mid-way through the book or so, which is nice. We get more of a glimpse into Jay and Henry’s world, even though the book is told from Alice’s point of view. We also get to hear about Jay’s backstory and take our first trip to the sex club Henry enjoys. It’s a nice continuation of the first book, setting us up for a deeper storyline of these three characters.
There’s still a lot of steamy sex scenes, and they delve more into the world of BDSM. The overall plot arch of the story begins to take more shape in this book and goes further with each subsequent book. Each book ends with a HFN, with the promise of a HEA. I really do recommend checking this series out. These characters have wormed their way into my brain and I can’t wait to see what awaits them in the future (PS-you do get a brief glimpse into their future in a short you can find in “Tuesdays with Jay”.)
Crossing the Lines by M.Q. Barber is one of my to go books when I#m feeling blue, or when I don’t know what to read next.
Alice, Henry and Jay never disappoint.
Crossing the Lines is book two in the author’s Neighborly Affection series and is not a standalone. You must read the books in order. Reading order: Playing the Game; Crossing the Lines; Healing the Wounds; Becoming His Master; Finding Their Balance.
M.Q. Barber is a masterfully crafted a feel good story with twists and turns that kept me at the edge of my seat from the beginning till the last word. I was glued to the pages and I can’t get enough of the characters and their way through the jungle of emotions. While Henry is the seemingly fearless leader, Alice and Jay are eaten by selfdoubts, rooted in ther pasts.
I highly recommend the book and the series and wish I could give more than 5 stars.
Loved the whole series! Amazing