Photo credits: DWilliams
Edited by Vaishali
Title: ‘Triple Team: A Military Reverse Harem Romance'
Author: Cassie Cole Series: Standalone Genre/Themes: New Adult, Reverse Harem Romance, Suspense, Military fiction, Erotica Publisher: Juicy Gems Publishing Year of Publication: 2019 Version: e-book kindle app ISBN: 1796217034 R E V I E W...
4 Triple Team stars! “It’s not as easy as you might think,” he said softly. “When you’re in combat, it’s different. You’re shooting at a speck of clothing in the distance. Someone who’s trying to kill you as hard as you’re trying to kill them. But if we get to JGB and I hold him down, then hand you a pistol to point at his forehead? That’s not just a speck in the distance anymore. That shit’s real. More personal. You have to look into the eyes you’re about to extinguish forever. Is your blood cold enough to pull the trigger?” “You think I can’t do it because I’m a woman?” “Shit no,” he said. “It’s tough for anyone, kiddo. Man or woman, rookie or veteran. Even when it’s the right thing to do. Even when the guy deserves it.”
Juliana Ellersby is a skilled, self-taught hacker and computer specialist , her expertise lying in all things tech, and working for a Cyber Security company she happens to be a connoisseur in what she does. Giving a presentation one day, she meets a vast expanse of man – Donovan – his looks alone set him apart from the kind of hackers and security examiners she is used to. This man who enters her life is a great conversationalist, handsome and actually takes an interest in Juliana’s life and history which is unusual for her, and they both hit it off on their fist meeting. After a night of absolute passion with this newcomer, Juliana soon finds out that he approached her for other hidden intentions, not just to claim her pleasure.
“And that’s a great metaphor for cyber security in general. Half of what the world sees is inaccurate, and none of what the world hears is correct".
After boldly and uncharacteristically initiating such intimacy with Donovan, her diffidence is brought forth when Juliana realises that she was led to his hotel room because she has the specialist skillset required to conduct a specific mission – a brief past in the military coupled with her proficient repertoire in the world of computer security…and breaching. Donovan belongs to an autonomous mercenary group, composed of he and his two best friends; Michael (an Israeli with a background in special/intelligence operations) and Gregor (ex-army who thrives in all things demolitionist and bomb disposal). They want Juliana to pass a test to deem her qualities suitable for this mission. Outraged, angry and hurt, Juliana fails this test, only to show these ex-servicemen what she is really made of.
‘It had been a while since I’d felt the rush that came from digital mischief. It was intoxicating. Addicting. More satisfying than even the most delirious meal after a prolonged fast.’
Juliana can’t refuse this unprecedented turn of events because a long dwelling grief finally has the chance to be put down, and put out. The target of this mission is a notorious Columbian drug lord – also the very man who took the most important one from her own life, burying Jules in years-long pain, and her retribution wants to play because it’s been collecting for four long years. A surreal opportunity pushed into her lap challenging her simple life, and a promising proposition to team up with three hunky ex-servicemen is an opportunity she can’t refuse because the outcome could mean an ending to her unanswered grief. Thrusting Jules into a dangerous division of a hacker’s revelry and a hacker’s fuel, this mission is more than just a hefty pay-out: it’s personal. “The point, kiddo, is that sometimes shit things happen in life, and sometimes nobody is to blame. It’s just the randomness of the universe, like cancer hitting a marathon runner but not a smoker. You think you need to kill JGB to feel better. I can’t blame you. But kiddo, sometimes you don’t really know what you need until you get it. Like my hospital apology. Don’t pour all your hopes into JGB. When it’s over, all you’re gonna be left with is an empty hole you don’t know how to fill."
In a matter of hours, Juliana goes from a verified Cyber Security analyst to rogue hacker on an emotionally encouraged mission. Emotions are brought out of her, but pleasurable ones too, because though Donovan is an obvious source of attraction, her sights extend much farther than him…to the two other members in his tightly-bound unit. Flying all over the world with her new partners in crime meeting the wealthy, dirty and corrupt in this business, Juliana finds, explores and touches on the uniquely diverse natures of these three diverse men in her life - all bound in a brotherhood - bringing her closer to them and wanting much more from them other than simple companionship.
‘And I was hopelessly, incredibly terrified. Because now I had something to lose.’
‘Triple Team’ by Cassie Cole is a light-hearted and heavy-hearted military reverse harem romance between three caring men who all fall for a woman like no other. This story is more than just a romance because it refers to notable and historic events which tie into real life, paying homage and saluting them, and to the army men who suffer post-service from PTSD. With politics and state of affairs, this story had added levels of believability because of they way it is told.
“Every morning when I wake up, there is a brief window of forgetfulness – a tiny momentary instant in which I do not remember. Then it comes back, and the pain is fresh every time.”
This book is fairly heavy on the tech side at times, and not being a tech savvy individual myself I often found myself attempting to follow the intricate tech talk as a novice with some struggle. I can’t place merit on the correctness of the technical terms/hacking rubrics in question, but it undeniably rings true and reads true, hence I was confident in the element of this story’s sense of believability and pragmatism, and the confident way in which Juliana talks about her profession. I didn’t feel that the complexity of the hacking system was difficult to grapple with, with just enough information to follow, but not too much for us to drown in dense jargon and ultimately cripple the plot with it.
“Fortune favours the prepared."
As Juliana works with these capable, adroit men, she collects their own backstories of loss and grief, of camaraderie and solidarity, different men with different experiences, but feeing the same one thing for all of them. Connections form, bonds are formed with shared experiences that bring them together, and Juliana builds something new with each of her friends and protectors.
‘When Donovan brought me up to his hotel room that night in Boston, all I saw were three military bros full of bravado and demands. It was easier to empathise with them knowing they’d experienced their own pain.’
Gregor is a swaggering, cigar-smoker who is nothing but a loyalist to his two best friends and teammates. Always looking for an excuse to blow anything to smithereens, he is flippant but devoted.
‘I loved mercenary work. It was like cutting out all the shitty parts of being in the Army and leaving just the excitement.’
Michael is a timely, mysterious man, focussed and stern with a past of sorrow and loss.
“You’re like an Israeli James Bond.”
A rare smile touched his lips. “Manischewitz and soda. Shaken, not stirred.” Donovan is a joker, eternally optimistic and caring, but equally commanding and charging. “It’s amusing seeing a big buff soldier dancing like nobody’s watching.” “I was born with no shame.”
Donovan is probably my favourite! Michael is a close-second and Greg is my least favourite but still a fun character.
The four main characters 'Triple Team' are involved in a polyamorous relationship, their sexual exploits feeling like something of a tryst for the simple fact that such distinctive relationships are taboo topics of the ‘not-discussed’ and misunderstood. The reading and examination of this relationship however, felt nothing but incredibly ordinary, authentic, and meaningful as that which formed singularly between each pairing seemed to unravel organically, and they accepted what was happening as something unforced and free, and nothing at all shameful. Each male’s relationship with the lead female felt foreseeable like they all had a place in her life as well as in this story. This story supports the exploration of sexual freedom and the shame that can often accompany hiding inner desires. It creates discourse around lifestyle choices that are not obligatory and also misjudged, but rather accepts them with an openness that’s both freeing and unburdening for the characters, especially the perceptions of a woman being in such a relationship and the titles she might have thrown at her for choosing it. There is representation including the relationship between mental health army life, PTSD and its effects – trauma is often long-term for soldiers especially after assimilating back into civilian life, and the healing they need post trauma is regarded and mentioned. Murder is addressed in this story throughout, questioning whether a justified killing is really ever a ‘justified killing’ - the unsavoury ways which grief can sometimes unknowingly be dealt with in the form of Juliana, the knowledge that her teammates know it never recedes, much less ends with revenge. “You are not the only one, Juliana, who has lost someone dear to them.”
Branching out is always exciting territory with books, I’ve never read anything military or reverse harem, but after reading this surprisingly vigorous taboo tale of dynamic romance and action adventure – the likes of which reminded me of the ‘Fast and Furious Saga’ and the ‘Die Hard’ film series, I feel more than confident picking up another novel by Cassie Cole!
“You can justify it however you want, but you’re a murderer.” “We are all murderers.” He smiled viciously.’
Energetically suspenseful, ‘Triple Team ’ is a romantic drama encircled by a fast-moving and healthy paced plot of running, tracking targets, explosions, espionage and digital intrusion, from travelling all over the world, first class service to the muddy pitches of the Amazon jungle as we get closer to this mission’s conclusion, and the truth finally comes out. Lively and convincing storytelling, we follow these four through near misses, highs of success, spells of hunger-filled desire and the anticipation of waiting for what is to come next. After being ‘dishonourably discharged’ from her time in service from an act driven by grief, we learn what revenge means for Juliana, and what it really means when she realises that revenge is just another side of grief’s coin.
“Michael got his chance at revenge,” I said. “I want mine.” “Oh, you’ll get it,” he said. “Just don’t expect it to make everything better.”
After going into this book with major thought but minimal conviction, I did not think 'Triple Team' would parallel four stars…but here I am, and my star rating is indeed a four star! Solid plot, brilliant pace, well-ordered events, enjoyable romances, teasing and sexual tension, ‘Triple Team’ raised levels of suspicion and expectancy as the story loosened, the four main characters inviting enough that I wished this weren’t solely a standalone, and found myself rooting for each one of them, and all of them at the same time. A thrilling book, a thrilling read, and a thrilling ride!
“It is not something a person can explain,” Michael said. “It is something you must learn for yourself. But it is a difficult reality to accept. That hole you feel in the pit of your stomach? The place where you have reserved all of your hate, your anger, your desire for revenge? Now it is empty. There is nothing to do. And the pain still remains. It will continue to remain as well. No matter how many people you kill, you cannot make the pain go away. Only time can diminish it. I gave this book 4 stars -
P O T E N T I A L C O N T E N T W A R N I N G: Taboo sex scenes/situations, MMFM relationships, menage sex and profanity.
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M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read ---------------------------------------
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R E L A T E D P O S T S : ● Book Review: 'Sealed with a Kiss' by Cassie Cole ● Book Review: 'All In' by Cassie Cole
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