Party of Three is sexy erotica novella, about Mateo, Buckley and Jeff. Mateo and Buckley are already in a serious relationship. Jeff and Mateo had known each other when Mateo was in the Marines with Jeff before a serious accident, since he left Mateo and Jeff haven’t talked.
But for Mateos birthday, Buckley decides to surprise Mateo with Jeff, and let’s just say the rest of the weekend extremely busy.

I expected the novella to be spicy but I wasn’t expecting how there was emotional moments, which was nice considering the whole book was basically just spice (definitely not complaining)
The three men finding out who they are as a throuple as well as who they are as themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

This is a multi POV MMM erotica novella and a decent one at that. Whilst it is short it packs a decent amount within the covers. Did I wish there was more depth in the characters? Sure. But this is a novella and you are never going to get that level of depth. The thing the author does well in this is create good character arcs and that touch on numerous different topics. Think kinks/fantasies, PTSD, second chances, age gaps and finding yourself.

It's a fun book that feels purposeful overall but didn't rock my world.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to this ARC. I don’t know if it was supposed to be funny, but I laughed a lot. It reads like explicit fanfic and that’s fine by me. A quick, spicy read

3.5 ⭐️
Foray into polyamory with a hint of jealously and an epic second chance? The way these men are FIGHTING for their lives to deny their desires is crazy. The premise is Buckley and Mateo are in a happy relationship but Mateo is trying to heal from trauma. Buckley reaches out to Mateo’s old Master Sergeant. Little does he know, Jeff is actually an old flame. The good news for Jeff and Mateo, Buckley has plenty of k!nky fantasies that involve being *shared*.

- Exhibitionism/Voyeurism
- Second Chance
- Toys

Buckle in for a very spicy novella that pucks an emotional punch and has genuinely loveable characters.

This book was super hot, not much of a plot but this was a novella, so I wasn’t expecting it, but yeah quite spicy.

3/5 ⭐️
Goodreads review posted: 07/21/2025

Mateo, Buckley and Jeff’s story was a short erotic read that was perfect for some feel-good emotions. I loved the backstory for Mateo and Jeff in the Marines which I think helped elevate their characters. Especially when talking about their quirks and PTSD that both men face while Buckley wants to just help everyone in whatever way he can.

I didn’t love the idea of having the story “re-told” based off of the writing in the first and last chapter. This isn’t usually my style/genre and didn’t feel that it made a lot of sense for the story itself. It could be that I read this book first though and it’s part of a series!

This was a NetGalley Arc read so thank you to NetGalley and C. Travis Rice! backstory for Mateo and Jeff in the Marines which I think helped elevate their characters. Especially when talking about their quirks and PTSD that both men face while Buckley wants to just help everyone in whatever way he can.

In this short story we get to know Buckley and his boyfriend Mateo. Mateo's birthday is coming up, and Buckley is trying his best to get Jeff, Mateo's old friend, to come to the party. What follows is a sensitive, erotic tale of reunion, getting to know each other and the exciting dynamic between the three men. Fantasies and hopes blur with reality and create an atmosphere full of possibilities.

A central theme of the novella focuses on sexual fantasies, how partners deal with them, how they support each other in discovering them or living them out, and the realisation that some desires may simply remain fantasies and do not have to be lived out. What is particularly interesting is that this development unfolds not just between two, but between three people. The story is open, courageous and at the same time very compassionately told, full of heart, spice and relevant themes around love, lust, openness and trust in relationships.

My favourite quote:
„He changed the font again. From Times New Roman to Optima this time, wondering if a less rounded typeface might make the whole thing feel less like word salad tossed by a fear-addled mind.“

I enjoyed this! Fairly predictable based on the blurb. I liked how the author effectively showed the relationship between each pair in the triangle in addition to the relationship among all three. There's enough plot and character development to help thread the plot between the definitely very hot hook-ups among these three men. I haven't ready any of the other books in this series and it definitely works as a standalone.

This novella was short, sweet & steamy! I loved the connection that was formed in such a short story! Most novellas fail to capture the depth of emotions experienced by the MCs but this wasn’t the case with this one. It was so good!

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook novella. This was a short very spicy poly romance novella. 3 people trying to learn love within themselves and each other and learning from the past.
It’s Mateo birthday and his boyfriend decided to lie and get his old army buddy to show up for his birthday party. Mateo thought that his boyfriend set up a 3 and as his gift, and while that wasn’t the intention that was the gift he got.

This book had no reason being this fucking hot.

“You’ve got a boyfriend. A good one. One who’s right for you. That’s what matters now.” “You’re right,” Mateo said, “and all night I’ve been thinking about you fucking him.”

Pure yearning was infused in this book. Their whole situation was so interesting, the tension and level of horniness was fucking insane!!!
90% of this novella is smut/sexual tension, but their love for each other made so much sense, and the story still felt super compelling.
I couldn't put it down!

Hot, though the constant thought of sex in these guys' minds was a bit over the top (well, it's an erotic novella, after all), but in the end it was a joyful hot reading.

This book was a stunning portrayal of a healthy poly dynamic between three men. The sex, while a large part of the story, didn’t overwhelm the plot, it was just a key point in it.
This is going to be the book where I point to other authors of gay throuples and say, ‘look, see how this one did it? This is how you write a multitude of threesomes without continuously regurgitating the same positions over and over.’
Aside from the sex, the plot was good. There was a driving force that united the three main characters to work towards a common goal.
It’s a longer novella, but it’s necessary to fit everything and tie it up nicely at the end.

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.