Party of Three by C. Travis Rice is a hot and steamy novella about three guys figuring out love, desire, and past baggage while staying at a fancy resort in California. It’s got plenty of explicit scenes, but also some moments that dig into the characters’ feelings, especially Mateo’s struggles with his past and embracing who he really is. The characters sometimes sound a bit the same and the story moves quick, but it’s an enjoyable, sexy read with a sweet, happy ending for the trio. If you’re into queer romance with plenty of spice and a bit of heart, this one’s worth a go.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This book was full of spice. It was an easy read. The character development wasn’t quite what I wanted. But the love between the characters was good. The trust they have in each other and accountability they held for each other. Buckley was hilarious and I loved his character the most!!

I'm not normally a huge novella person, but for as short as this is, it still felt like we got to know the MCs. It was a fun and spicy read, and now I want to read other books in this world.

It's a fun, short spicy read. It's a novella of a series, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It didn't let me down, though, and made me want to pick up more of the series.
We join the couple, Buckley and Mateo, and Jeff, Mateo's former friend from his time in the marines as they spend a very 🥵 hot weekend together exploring their fantasies.
If you're into a MMM erotic story with some plot as well, then this one's for you.

This was a fun and spicy novella. It follows a couple, Buckley and Mateo, and their journey on adding a third man, Jeff (an old friend and colleague of Mateo) to their relationship. The characters were fun and lovely, and the spice was spicey.

The relationship itself didn't feel super realistic and to be honest, everything was solved so easily. I mean, it is a novella, so it should be solved easily, but it just felt too easy. And now I'm rambling. I also felt that the additional bits (prolouge and epiloge) where we meet Logan and Connor, from the main story of Sapphire Cove, felt a bit out of place, especially for me that haven't read the other books in the series.

But overall this was a fun read and I definitely recommend it if you want something short and spicy.

Party of Three is a deeply emotional, beautifully written romance that captured my heart from the very first page. C. Travis Rice has crafted a story that’s both bold and tender, exploring the complexities of love, trust, and vulnerability through the lens of a polyamorous relationship.

The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, but what truly stands out is the emotional connection they build. Each character is distinct and fully realized, with their own struggles, hopes, and fears. Their journey doesn’t feel rushed or idealized—it’s raw, messy, and incredibly human. Rice handles the dynamics of a triad relationship with sensitivity and authenticity, showing both the joys and the challenges that come with choosing a path outside the norm.

I appreciated how the story balanced steamy romance with meaningful emotional growth. It wasn’t just about attraction—it was about learning to open up, to communicate honestly, and to find strength in vulnerability. The writing is smooth and engaging, pulling you into the world and making you care deeply about the outcome.

Party of Three is more than just a love story—it’s about acceptance, identity, and the courage to live your truth. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romance that’s passionate, heartfelt, and refreshingly different. A solid 5 stars.

I absolutely love this series, and this book was no exception . It was spicey from the very beginning, I loved how open and communicative Buckley and Mateo were, and Jeff being so observant just fit in with them. I loved their story, it was too short. And I loved that we briefly get to connect with the original pair that started this series.

Party of Three by C. Travis Rice is a lot more lighthearted than I thought it was going to be from the description, and I enjoyed it very much. Buckley is a terrific, fun character who brings two alpha males together through his own unrelenting positivity and joy. There are some serious issues being dealt with (PTSD, family estrangement, fear of abandonment) but they are all dealt with sympathetically and even humorously. The threesome sex is hot, and the fantasies titillating. I enjoyed this novella a lot!

ARC courtesy of NetGalley, opinions my own.

I had a really hard time reading this book, and I wasn't able to finish. I liked the characters and where the book was heading, but I was very confused by the writing style. I think this could've benefited from being written in first person with different chapters from the three characters POVs. I really wanted to stick it out, but I just couldn't make it work. Thank you for the opportunity!

Party of Three by C. Travis Rice is a scorching MMM novella that brings the heat fast and doesn’t let up. Buckley and Mateo are already a solid couple, but when Jeff—Mateo’s longtime friend and Buckley’s not-so-secret crush—joins them for a weekend in Sapphire Cove? Let’s just say things get very interesting. 😏

What follows is a weekend of slow-burn tension giving way to explosive chemistry and emotional vulnerability. It’s about deepening connection, opening up to unexpected possibilities, and choosing something new—together. For such a short story, it delivers on both spice and sincerity.

💦 Tropes & vibes:
🔥 MMM triad
🏖️ Vacation heat
💘 Mutual attraction & emotional intimacy
💪 Broody ex-Marine
💉 Sweet, grounded EMT
💬 Big feelings + even bigger heat

If you’re in the mood for something fast, filthy, and full of emotional payoff—this one’s got you covered.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read for an honest review!

Party of Three by C. Travis Rice
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

Let me start by saying: the concept? Loved it. A sweet, charming EMT, a slightly repressed ex-Marine trying to live his truth, and a mysterious, emotionally complicated best friend with history? That setup had so much potential—and yes, it delivered on the steam. The tension, the buildup, the emotions… all there. And Sapphire Cove as the setting? Perfection. It was giving oceanfront drama with just the right touch of fantasy.

Buckley is basically sunshine in uniform, Mateo is trying to figure himself out, and Jeff is that emotionally guarded alpha type you just know has a soft heart buried under all the control. So yeah, the characters worked, especially when you see them circling around each other, trying to make sense of their very complicated dynamic.

That said… the book wasn’t perfect.

Some parts felt forced—like the emotional beats didn’t always match the moment, or like things were happening just because the plot needed them to. There were definitely missed chances to dig deeper into the emotional side of things. I wanted more inner conflict, more vulnerability, more mess. There was also a little confusion here and there—some parts felt a bit rushed or like I was supposed to connect dots that weren’t fully drawn.

Still, the core of the story? Hot, emotional, and surprisingly sweet. There’s something really satisfying about seeing three people not only explore their desires but also learn to communicate and trust each other through it.

Final thoughts?
A spicy, romantic read with a unique setup and characters you want to root for. It could’ve been tighter and gone a bit deeper emotionally, but overall it was an enjoyable ride. If you’re into MMF stories with history, heart, and a whole lot of heat—this one’s worth checking out.

Buckley, a caring EMT has been a source of support for his boyfriend Mateo, a veteran who survived a traumatic training accident. But Mateo has a history with the man who saved his life during that accident, his former superior Jeff. When Buckley convinces Jeff to show up to Mateo's party at Sapphire Cove, a dazzling resort, the truth about why Jeff disappeared from Mateo's life is revealed. What follows is the three men unlocking previously undiscovered fantasies and getting to know each other all over again.

This book was absolutely spicy and steamy, but it had a pretty significant helping of plot too. Seeing the relationship unfold from each different POV was more heartfelt that I was initially expecting. Jeff, Buckley, and Mateo all have their various insecurities that come to light as they get closer, and the relationship development felt so satisfying. Even in a short period of time this book tackled themes of PTSD, loneliness, and abandonment. I definitely felt the spicy scenes were well written too. Even though this is a novella which is part of a larger series, it is quite self contained so I didn't feel confused not having read the other books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Party of Three by C. Travis Rice is as hot as the heat wave we are currently having in Boston at the moment. Seriously if your looking for a HOT MMM erotica to spice up your summer than look no further! A novella where a couple invites a third and filled with off the charts steam ( Buckley's praise kink was delicious) , role play, truth or dare, sex toys and more. A well rounded novella because besides all the hot as hell sex scenes, these characters bring emotion and a tangible connection between the three of them. This is so much more than a threesome for fun but start of a wonderful poly relationship.

Oh yeah, this is the mostly-lighthearted smutty read I needed after a deep Juneteenth book experience. Just what the literature doctor ordered. Party of Three is fun, it’s sexy, and it’s kind of raw in a way. Yes, there’s a lot of sex. But there are some big and real emotions woven throughout the story.

I love the way this book was written! The Connor and Logan bookends are perfect; it’s like experiencing the story with them but having full insight into the details. I agree with Logan too, more role playing in the bedroom please and thank you.

To still accept your partner’s current feelings after finding out the mentor was a mentor in more ways than one isn’t just poly behavior, it’s open-minded and understanding. Mateo is clearly still in love, and it’s definitely possible to love multiple people simultaneously.

Respect to Buckley for not taking back the birthday invite after finding out Jeff and Mateo had history. That takes a lot of maturity and security in your relationship.

Bottom line, I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review. 4.25 stars. I’m definitely going back to read the other books in the series.

4 stars

Overall, this was a fun, spicy, and somehow heartfelt read. The spice was giving off the same vibes as that late night soft-core p*rn from the 90s/00s that you would sneak watch out of curiosity after your parents went to bed. Somewhat cheesy, but still pleasantly spicy and also somewhat nostalgic because of all that. Rice handles the emotions and conversations around this polyamorous relationship rather well for such a short and quick read. Despite being in the Sapphire Cove universe with cameos of known characters, this novella feels like a slight departure from the others in both the story and writing style, but in a good way. If you want something simple, fun, sexy, and gay then this is for you.

I had to DNF this one! It just was not for me and I unfortunately do not have the time to read books that I cannot get into! I hope others like this little novella!

Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

his was a fun time! read it mostly bc i wanted to read something by christopher rice, and i love a novella! i think he managed to make the romance feel believable and have a proper and complete arc despite the shorter length, and despite two of the throuple already being an established couple. the smut was hot! the story structure was a bit weird to me, but i'm guessing it's there to connect with other books in the series?

also pretty sure this is tommy/buck/eddie fanfic. if it isn't. then those are a lot of similarities!

MMM romance isn’t a usual genre for me but every year for pride month I’m trying something a bit different, and Party of Three was great! This steamy standalone novella sure packed a punch. I’m feeling this might be the beginning of my descent into binge reading all of the Sapphire Cove series!

A weekend away at Sapphire Cove for Buckley Mitchell and his boyfriend Mateo Cano takes a surprising turn. There for Mateo’s birthday party, Mateo’s old friend (and one time lover) Jeff Braxton turns up. Jeff and Buckley have never met, but upon meeting they both realise there’s a connection and an attraction there - it’s not only their shared love for Mateo that brings them together. It’s a weekend of feeding and feasting off each other while discovering their polyamorous side. It’s a weekend that will either break something between them all or build something entirely new.

This was a fun, short and sweet steamy read about a loving couple who make room in their relationship for a third man. The lengths Buckley goes through to track down his boyfriend's former Marine Master Sergeant showed his devotion to his partner and lack of jealousy. Somehow despite the past baggage and age differences the three make perfect sense together. Based on the cover I expected pretty much just smut but the military PTSD aspects made it more emotional than expected. It was great seeing Mateo overcome his fears and deal with his trauma with the help of his boyfriends. Overall a sexy, heartfelt story that made me want to read more of the Sapphire Cove series.

I LOVE BUCKLEY!!!! Seriously, he may have gone about things the wrong way, but you can see how Mateo means everything to him. Add Jeff into the mix, and you get the perfect balance between the three. This short and sweet novella his you in the feels as you watch the guys help Mateo through his past issues. I didn't feel lost having not read the rest of the series.