Sandy M’s review of At Love’s Command (Brothers in Arms, Book 4) by Samantha Kane
Erotic historical ebook published by Ellora’s Cave 12 Dec 07

This is the first book I’ve read in this series and if the other books are this stirring, this emotional, this erotic, and this damned good, I sure as hell have been missing out. Normally ménage is not one of my favorite reads because most authors just cannot write those scenes to amount to anything. Not so in this case. And while those were some of the best scenes in the book, those love scenes between Ian and Derek are even better.

Why? The emotion. Whether it’s anger, love, desire, humor, lust, it doesn’t matter.  You feel every miniscule feeling between these two men with every word uttered, every touch, every look, every act of love. This is the kind of emotion I wish every author could call forth and give to their characters to pull us so completely into a story. I guess, however, if every author did that we wouldn’t have reason to rejoice over those who do. The interaction and love between Ian and Derek is real and as deep as their souls. They are both honorable men, both scarred from war, and both in need of something more than themselves to give them a viable future together. Ian is the only one who knows this and he decides to act on it the only way he knows how.

Marrying Sophie is what Ian knows both he and Derek need to survive their past, to find peace with that past, and then to move into their future happy and whole. Derek stubbornly refuses to see Ian’s logic and to accept his decision. They’ve been doing fine on their own as far as he’s concerned, but meeting Sophie changes both of their lives. Ian realizes immediately the kind of horrific childhood his bride-to-be has suffered and promises her she will be safe and will be loved as his wife. Knowing Ian has a male lover, Sophie doesn’t care as long as she’s out of her father’s and brother’s grasps and can live without fear around every corner.

Sophie’s character is by far the one that grows the most, although Derek is not far behind. She is a frightened and abused young woman, wanting only for someone to love her. It is with Ian and Derek that she finds her true self, the one stolen from her by her family so long ago. She is a delightful and sensuous woman who is awakened in these men’s hands. It’s wonderful to watch her fear recede and see love take over her life and her spunk to evolve to put Ian and Derek in their place when needed.

It’s hard to decide if liked Ian or Derek best, so I opted for both. Ian is the sensitive one, the one who takes care of everything, who makes everything all right. Derek is the demanding lover, the one who still reels from his war experience and needs the love and caring that only Ian can give him when his life spirals out of control. Until Sophie comes along. Sophie is the shining light needed to bring happiness into their lives and she accepts them both, loves them both as they are. But Sophie also receives the same from Ian and Derek, the love she’s always wanted and needed and she receives much more from them than she ever dreamed.

I’m in love with Samantha Kane’s writing and characters. I can’t wait to start at the beginning of this series and get to know very intimately the rest of her cast.

Grade: A+

Summary:

      A child when they were betrothed, Sophia Middleton has been waiting twelve years for Ian Witherspoon to return and marry her. Preyed upon by her vicious father and older brother, Sophie longs for Ian to rescue her.

     Ian Witherspoon and Derek Knightly became best friends during the Peninsular War, and returned as lovers. Two more years pass before the desire for a wife and children prompts Ian to recall his little fiancée. Ian is determined to make a marriage work between the three of them. Derek opposes the marriage despite Ian’s determination, but how long will he be able to resist love’s command?

     Sophie’s vulnerability hides a core of strength and the combination enthralls and seduces both men. An apt pupil, Sophie learns trust and passion from Ian, and Derek tutors her in the ecstasy of surrender. Love will conquer their fears as they fight those who would tear them apart.

     Read an excerpt.

See Bev’s review here.

Other books in the series: