Was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Past meets present as the main character balances a new flame with an old love, and possibly a third stranger in the mix? This book is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes moving, other times just completely smutty.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC!!

I had no clue that this was part of a series until the Acknowledgements (although could see in hindsight some hints at backstories that I didn’t have knowledge of), but could totally be read without either of the others.

This was definitely more of a dramatic fiction & romance than it was a romcom- lots of heavy backstories and although there was spice, the emphasis was definitely on their childhoods instead. It was a pretty fine read, and I sped through it given that I don’t have much time to read whilst at camp at the moment, but I just didn’t find myself caring as much as I would’ve liked about the three main characters and the plot was resolved very predictably. I’m sure that if someone has liked the previous books though, they’ll probably like this- well written and lots of cameos of what I assume are the previous couples :)

while i have always wanted people to find love, in whatever way they want it, i had never understood wanting to share your partner with another person. This book completely changed that for me (not that i wanna share my partner, hes definitely mine). i loved this story and these characters, and i really enjoyed learning about them, and actually feeling what they are feeling. this satisfied both my plotreader needs, and my spicy needs, so i definitely recommend!!

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for a chance to read this book

let me first start by saying that this was an entertaining read! with compelling emotional aspects to the book. this is a book i would recommend to my book friends!

about the only thing that i had any criticism on was that the second half felt a bit rushed and i wanted to see more of the three of them together

I was lucky enough to beta read this book back in February, and as a big fan of the first two books in the series, I was both honoured and so excited to read an early copy!

If you are a fan of rockstar romance, 80’s music, MFM romance, and lots of emotion and angst, read this book! You don’t have to read the first two books in order to read this one, but I also highly recommend them as well because they are so so good!

Have you ever read an MFM book? I have, but I think this one might be my fav! I love the way L.H told their story. Usually, the throuple gets together kinda early on in the book, and have lots of spicy time haha. This book is different in that it’s three POV (present day), and dual timeline ( we get Dusty and Key’s story from years ago). It’s very raw emotional getting the history, as both Key and Dusty didn’t have a good upbringing as they came from bad family backgrounds. But it’s these things that help shape the rest of the story and the band. When the three finally get together (in such an amazingly tense and “oh crap” moment, it’s also very 🔥🔥🥵🥵

Dusty, Key and Joel. They have my heart. Key and Dusty deserved way better. I loved the friendship between Key and Joel. I loved them in the first two books, so I knew the last book was also going to be MFM. In the present day, there’s a lot of drama going on with the band, and I loved how L.H blended the past and present into said drama, along with the band as well.

Honestly, how L.H Blake wove this story together, is very impressive and she did an amazing job! You will just have to go and read this book to understand!!

TROPES:
💜 80’s rockstar romance
💜 second chance
💜 secret identity
💜 childhood friends to lovers
💜 bad girl/good boy
💜 MFM/Poly
💜 dual timeline
💜 penpals
💜 golden retriever bass player
💜 dyslexic lead singer
💜 sex worker rep
💜 found family
💜 cat mom
💜 first love

this is not the first time i’ve read a book not realising it’s one of a series, but for this one particular, it didn’t seem to matter. you get a good grasp of the 3 main characters due to each one having their own pov and a dual timeline which allows depth and adds to their background. the story has high angst, before wrapping it all up in a warm and nice ending. i sped through this book with ease and would definitely recommend it.

Going in to this I had not read any of the other books in the series but I easily stepped into it and enjoyed the story.
The dual timelines gave more depth and background to the characters stories that I really appreciated. It was a spicy, sweet entertaining read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't get into it. This had all the right aspects for me, rockstar romance with a throuple, yes please. A second chance romance, a one-night encounter, lots of angst? It had everything I love reading. But it missed the spot for me in a lot of places. I didn't feel connected with any of the characters, the romance was lacklustre to me, and the writing wasn't something that I was enjoying. I did have a fun time reading it, but it just wasn't enjoyable enough for me to like it that much.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked that I got to see Dusty fall in love with each of her guys in dual timelines, and how it all came together in the end. No pun intended lol.

I also loved the strong bond between Joel and Key. I love a strong friendship where both men can be vulnerable.

Perfect way to end this wonderful series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up!

I hadn't read the previous books in this series, but the synopsis drew me in, and I felt like I was able to sink into the story regardless. I was surprised to find out it's set in the 1980s, as it's not anywhere else in the synopsis and I would recommend future marketing have that included. This story is told in two timelines (1980s and 1 character POV from 14-12 years earlier) which would be tricky to handle, but I though the author did a good job juggling it. I really liked the main characters (especially Joel) and felt like the main 3 characters had good chemistry. The writing itself was good, and easy to follow.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Well we may as well call our FMC a book for the way she opens up for these men every night :)

This is the third and final book in a trilogy, this book is MFM.

After meeting in a Vegas "dance" club, the connection between Dusty and Joel goes much deeper than just a night in Sin City. But they part ways and two years later, chance brings them together once again, in a new city. She's no longer a dancer but is now using her skill set to fulfill fantasies over the phone. Once again, she starts connecting with a client on a level much deeper than you'd expect to over the phone lines.

Multiple POV's, past and present timelines are interwoven in this book to create a high stakes, high stress but highly worthwhile book. Despite all that's going on, the characters are pretty funny, though trauma tends to do that and there's no shortage of trauma in this book either.

I’m 35, a functional adult (on most Tuesdays), and fully convinced that L.H. Blake has enchanted me with this book. A Ballad of Betrayal and Beauty is exactly what the title promises: lyrical, twisty, drop-dead gorgeous, and the emotional equivalent of being sucker-punched by a rose-scented ghost.

Let’s talk about that prose — it’s like sipping vintage red wine while watching the world burn in slow motion. Poetic without being pretentious, sharp without losing its softness. I highlighted so many lines I’m fairly certain my Kindle thought I was studying for a magical midterm.

The heroine? Utter chaos in a corset, and I adore her. She’s witty, wounded, and makes poor choices in a way that felt deeply relatable (looking at you, 2014 me). And the love interest? Smoldering. Broody. A touch unhinged. You know, the good stuff.

Oh, and the betrayal? Chef’s kiss. The drama had me gasping like I was watching a Regency-era telenovela with a dragon budget.

If you’re into morally gray characters, enemies-to-lovers energy that crackles like a cursed bonfire, and the kind of immersive world-building that makes you ignore texts for three days straight — this book is your new obsession. And if L.H. Blake ever releases a sequel, I’ll be camped outside their metaphorical door with snacks and a strongly worded love letter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m off to emotionally recover by staring into the middle distance and wondering if I, too, would choose vengeance over peace. (Spoiler: probably.)

This was a cute, emotional read. Getting to see both MMC’s stories with Dusty and how each one gets to know her in their way makes it all the better when it all comes together.

I enjoyed the dual timeline aspect that gave us more background and insights to the characters as well as watching them overcome their own personal demons.

This book encapsulates the beauty of love in so many forms and stages. I genuinely could not put this down once I started reading I kid you not that I didn’t move for three hours. This was a beautiful end to such a great series. I loved the lack of stigma in this book and the representation of polyamory.

This book was a spicy, emotional ride full of unexpected depth and connection. Fiery Dusty, Joel, and Key are all layered, flawed characters navigating love, trust, and second chances in a world full of secrets and rock 'n' roll. I especially appreciated how the story handled themes of identity and vulnerability—Dusty's journey from fantasy phone girl to someone willing to open her heart was touching

My only small critique is that with three strong storylines converging, the pacing occasionally lagged in places, and a few emotional beats could have used more room to breathe. But overall, it’s a bold and steamy story with real emotional payoff and an unconventional romance that works.

Would definitely recommend to fans of messy love, rockstar drama, and unconventional happy endings.

This book was hot hot hot!!!
It was spicy and sweet and everything I wanted!
I am really looking forward to reading more from this author!

I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the characters! The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I feel like at some points the insta-love was a little hard to believe, but overall I think that the backstory to the characters was so good.

This series is just amazing, an easy favorite of mine now! Definitely one of my comfort reads, I adore every single second!

This was such a fun read! This was the first one I read since I received an ARC, but I’d like to go back & read the first two! I enjoyed the dual POV/timeline! The end felt a little rushed but overall I enjoyed the book!

DNF at 28%

I have to start by saying anytime there's an "I'm not like other girls," statement, I put the book down and don't look back. That never translates well for me personally and always gives pick me or cringe. I decided to give this book another chance because it's an ARC.

I wanted to like this book. The premise sounded good, and the characters sounded interesting. I believe all work is valid work, and I was excited to watch Dusty grow into her confidence or perhaps decide for herself that she needed a change in her career and grow skills to do so. Whatever she picked, I wanted to watch her story bloom.

Then I got to the pool flashback, and... ew.

There are a million ways to express how the mmc found the fmc attractive when they were both young without bringing up the "dozen men, some even as old as my father" who are staring at the UNDERAGED fmc like "they've never seen a girl before." Excuse me? She is a literal CHILD.

And would a teenage boy who is obviously entranced by a girl his age even be "glancing around" to see these other ADULT men checking her out? I really don't think so. I felt this was unnecessary and threw off the entire vibe of the chapter. I could barely finish it.

Anything written about humans under the age of 18 is already a bit dodgy for me when a book is outside of the YA genre, especially if it is sexual in nature. This made me feel icky just for reading it.

If you're not bothered by these types of things, then maybe you could enjoy this. I personally cannot finish a book that has elements like these in it, especially about underaged children.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing the arc in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.