I went into this book not really looking for a plot, which is perfect because this was purely just erotica.

The flirting between both couples started subtly from the very beginning and the discussions/length of time it took for anything to happen between the friends was realistic and more importantly consensual, in a way that everyone felt safe to test their boundaries.

This was definitely hot and steamy🥵 it was a quick and easy read and I liked where the book left off to be continued in the next book. We also get a sneak peek of the next book which I enjoyed, because seriously after this holiday, who could just leave it there?😅

The one and only thing that annoyed me is how much the main couple said "love you" to each other, to the point it felt meaningless. Their foundation already seems strong and secure and they had honest, reassuring discussions so I just feel it wasn't necessary but it didn't take away from the book overall. I'd definitely be interested in continuing this series.

4⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Tangled Heart Books and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Breaking Boundaries was a quick, fun, steamy read! It was tagged as a romance, but it definitely felt more like straight-up erotica. It was interesting to see these two couples explore their boundaries and question what that means for their future. I'm interested to see what sexy situations they get into in future books!

When married couple Rebecca and Rafe take a vacation with their long-time friends and couple Darcy and Alec, they don't expect for things to take the turn they do. But finally being away from their children, days at the beach in swimwear that leaves little to the imagination, and walls so thin they let each couple hear everything from the others' room... well, boundaries are made to be broken.

A few writer friends of mine recommended this book, and, despite it not being my typical fare, I couldn't resist it after hearing their praises and seeing the premise. And all I can say is 🥵🥵🥵. It's a bit short for a full-length novel, but brings both the heat and emotional development necessary for the relationships to make sense. The characters have essentially no personality outside of their relationships to the others, be it their partner or friends, but let's be real--that's not why we're reading. Any you can see the love and friendship between everyone, which is what is most important. Overall, I love the concept that this will be one puzzle piece in what I assume to be a four book collection. I certainly will keep my eye out for the rest...

Thanks to the author for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Thank you to NetGalley and Tangled Heart Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: Consensual non-monogamy; Voyeurism (dub-con and consensual); Exhibitionism (dub-con and consensual); Mild internalized biphobia (addressed by the characters); Cis-centric discussions about sex between characters

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-erotica
-friends to swingers
-vacation fling
-close proximity
-bi exploration
-hoooorny
-the horniest game of Twister ever

This was a reread for me and it was just as steamy as the first time I read it. I adore this story. No angst, just a lot of horniness and softness. I adore Bex. Confident in her marriage and who she is, but looking to reconnect with her husband and her best friend. She's always harbored a crush on Darcy. I adored Bee and Rafe's marriage, how there they were for each other, full of acceptance, still hot for each other after so many years, and just the softness as they both dealt with their own internal hangups on coming to terms with their sexual identity.

Rafe is such a my wife guy and I adore him so much. Cheering Bex on and wanting era to have whatever she wants including Darcy, but also his own struggles as he accepts his attraction to Alec. This book is entirely about consent, and horniness as these two couples skirt around each other but want each other. The sex scenes are just hot and I cannot wait to see where this series go. If you're looking for high steam, low angst books that is the perfect summer read I couldn't recommend this more.

Steam: 5

Breaking Boundaries is an erotic story about two couples who go on vacation together, sharing a house rental. It's incredibly steamy, while also doing a good job at handling sensitive topics and consent very well. Swingers isn't usually my type of romance, but I enjoyed this story and it was quick to binge.

This one is out 30th June - Thanks to NetGalley and XpressoReads for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Tender, fun, romantic, thoughtful, and SO DAMN HOT! Gemma Blythe weaves magic here. This story is just utterly, completely, totally sexy in every possible way--dirty talk, exciting exploration, huge showers, thin walls--but is also so safe, so realistic, and so very tender. We see friends explore new relationships with extreme trust and amazing communication and consent, and it all works to make the sex even hotter and the feelings even more butterfly-y.

Great for readers who enjoy voyeurism, exhibitionism, "just while we're on vacation", bi-discovery, consent, clear communication, love between friends, dirty talk, teasing, "come for me", curiosity about polyamory, and just great writing.

3.5/5 stars

Summary:

Bex and her husband Rafe go on a couple's getaway with Bex's best friend Darcy and her husband Alec. Their bedroom walls are connected, and what starts as voyeurism on both ends slowly turns into something more along with their growing attraction for one another...

My review:

This is erotica but I'd say it's a beach read kinda erotica (and not just because the book is actually set on the beach lol). The tone is relaxed even while Bex is stressing over being sexually attracted to her best friend and Rafe realizing he's bi at the age of 38, there's some light banter, and the sex, while there's plenty of it, never gets super intense. Basically, the vibe is very swingers.

That being said, because it is erotica, the sex is primarily driving the plot. There's a slow build up: First it's just voyeurism, then some purposeful exhibitionism, and it take a little bit (and a lot of communicating) for the couples to get to a place where they want each someone from the other couple, and even that is pretty incremental.

Apart from the sex, I appreciate the discussion they have about bisexuality, especially coming out at a later stage in life and the people around you being supportive about it. There's also a reiterated message on affirming one's bisexuality even if they've never experienced a same-sex relationship or they married a member of the opposite sex. Limits were also discussed: Would the wife want to have penetrative sex with another man? Or would she want to do everything shy of that? Should the husband want to watch his wife and another woman or is that "pervy" and intruding on a private moment?

The sex:

It's rare to read two women together even in erotica, compared to the scores of readily available m/m romance novels/erotica, and even novels with threesomes that almost invariably have one woman and two men. It's probably because of romance novels and erotica often catering to female readers. So the variety in this book and how everyone was attracted to everyone is appreciated.

Here's what worked for me:

There's a moment where Bex has an orgasm in the shower thinking about Darcy and when she opens her eyes Rafe is on his knees going like "were you thinking about her?" and when she basically says yes, he's smilingly like "this one's from me" which I thought was hot of them.
I've said this before but I'll say it again: I love a good sex backstory. So when Rafe is like, "you always liked giving them an orientation, didn't you" when they're fantasizing about Darcy?? Good stuff.
The Bex/Darcy sex scenes were done really well; they felt easier in a sense because Bex and Darcy have been friends since college. The Rafe/Alec scenes are initially teensy bit more fraught (but barely) only because they aren't super close friends the way Bex/Darcy are, and also Rafe is just coming out. But the good thing was, you could really see that transition to something more comfortabl between them as time went on.
There's a greeeeat moment where Alec is blowing Rafe and Bex can tell he's feeling *guilty* for getting off with someone who isn't his wife, so Bex is tenderly stroking his hair and tells him "I want your eyes on him when you come".
Overall:

The interesting thing about this book is that it ended in a place that technically feels "realistic", but the payoff I was expecting wasn't there. Obviously, I wasn't expecting the two couples to confess their love and fidelity to each other, but neither was I expecting this.

That being said, overall, I had fun reading Breaking Boundaries and would recommend it to anyone looking to get into erotica, or even looking for a sex-forward beach read.

Thank you to Tangled Heart Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.