Reviewed by Susan65
Title: What He Left Behind
Author: L.A. Witt
Heroes: Josh/Ian/Michael
Genre: MMM Contemporary
Length: 275 Pages
Publisher: L.A. Witt
Release Date: March 14, 2017
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Josh Carver would do anything for Michael Adair, his childhood best friend. In the five years since Michael finally left his abusive ex-partner, Josh and his husband Ian have helped him leave that horrific past behind him. Michael seems to have adjusted well enough…until he admits he’s afraid to date because the abuse has left him terrified of physical intimacy.
Josh is stunned again when Ian proposes a solution—Josh can help Michael learn to enjoy sex again. It isn’t like it would be the first time. After all, Josh and Michael lost their virginity to each other years ago.
Michael hesitates, but then takes him up on the idea. It isn’t long before Ian’s getting involved too… and it’s all fine and dandy until emotions come into play that threaten their friendship, as well as Josh and Ian’s marriage.
Warning: Contains three guys who will do anything for each other, a hot tub that’s always the right temperature, and a cat with an attitude problem.
Review: Jen reviewed this here previously, but I thought it was worth another posting.
What an intense story. I was in a reading slump and went back through my piles of books I had to read and grabbed What He Left Behind hoping it would be the elixir I needed, and wow, I could not have chosen better if I’d tried. This is a story of amazing courage, love, friendship, and open-mindedness. I know there are a few bits of jealousy involved but it was not, in my opinion, of the green-eyed variety, but more of the, this is not of societal norm and I should conform. Fortunately, that is such a small aspect of this story and in reality, made it all the more real for me.
I like menage, but I don’t read very many. Not for any particular reason, just that they don’t always call to me. Why I left this to sit so long is a mystery, but better late than never, and I do believe I am now officially out of my reading slump. Thank you Mrs. Witt.
Josh and Ian have the type of marriage that everyone envies. They are good together, both in and out of the bedroom. Ian is also a saint. He understands Josh’s need to provide safety and security for his suffering and abused best friend, Michael, and is even the instigator in *crossing the line* to assist Michael in learning to trust and be touched again. Your heart breaks for Michael, but another part of your heart lands in your stomach when you see the chemistry between Michael and Josh in the bedroom. A part of you, a big part, wonders how Ian will fit. But, remember what I said above, Ian is a saint.
Josh had the most to lose in this scenario. His husband, Ian, is everything to him, but, his best friend is also everything to him. He is the most on edge because he can’t view his life without either to them. I had no doubt that if Ian and Michael didn’t fit then Josh would have chosen Ian…at least I think he would. Fortunately, that never came to pass…even though a small part of me hoped that Michael and Dr. Hottie hit it off.
This was quite the whirlwind. It was definitely a sex-fest, but considering the topic was Michael getting back into accepting touch and sex in his life, it made sense. There are also some heavy topics that are hard to read. Domestic abuse, rape, and battery are not just against women. Seeing the damage it caused Michael is heartbreaking and even though you don’t want trouble in Ian and Josh’s marriage, a part of you sees that this is a case where no one would be better for Michael than Josh and Ian. We don’t have to understand it or approve, it worked for them and that’s all that counts.
Overall Impression: I loved it!
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
The Blogger Girls 