Category Archives: A Threefold Cord

A Threefold Cord

Blurb: Grae Edwards and his co–stars Chris Willoughby and Ben Clyde work together well. Maybe they even have a chemistry. Certainly they are friends and Grae is tempted to ask for more … After the beautiful tart Chris has the temerity to turn him down, Grae settles into a comfortable loving relationship with the more chivalrous Ben. But the idea of Chris never quite goes away – and when Chris finally suggests the three of them spend a night together, Grae glimpses a solution he hardly dares hope for.

Genre: male-male-male romance; contemporary; threesome; novel

Word count: 57,500

Click here for an excerpt of text, and here for the reviews.

Awards:

  • An Honourable Mention and a Finalist in the Gay Contemporary Romance category of the Rainbow Awards 2014.
  • Nomination and a Finalist in the M/M Romance Group Member’s Choice Awards 2014 on Goodreads, in the category Best Polyamorous (theme).

Available in ebook and paperback formats from:

Available in audiobook format, narrated by Christopher Preece, from:

Also available in French as “Nous” from MxM Bookmark:

Reader sites:

First published on 1 May 2014 by Manifold Press. Re-released by LIBRAtiger on 1 June 2018.

reviews: A Threefold Cord

Rainbow Gold Reviews: 10/10 points of gold from Erryn for the audiobook

Intro and conclusion: I loved this audiobook. I mean, three vibrant young British actors, those sexy British accents, and a ménage? What’s not to love? Except this book is so much more than just a few salacious romps in the sack. … this story was well-written and I enjoyed it. Christopher Preece was the perfect narrator as far as I am concerned, but I’ll be honest and say most foreign voices are sexy to me.

Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews: 4 stars from Mark for the audiobook

Excerpt: I found it fascinating to hear how they talked things out, laid the ground rules based on mutual respect and decided to make a go of it. So I loved the interactions on how this all worked out, it was intriguing and fascinating at the same time. … I was invested in the characters from the beginning and this stayed the whole way through the book. I can definitely recommend this book for any M/M/M virgins, like myself. … This was my first book narrated by Christopher Preece and it’s always a good sign that his narration style is easy on the ears and I was able to concentrate on the story very quickly without having to adjust to the narrators style.

Love Bytes LGBTQ Book Reviews: 3.5 hearts from Lisa for the audiobook

Excerpt: My favorite thing about this story is how supportive of each other the characters were. With the exception of Graeme’s lack of trust in Chris, I loved the way they made sure to let each other know they were loved and wanted. I also loved the way their families supported each other even though Ben’s sister sometimes seems less than enthusiastic in her support of Grae. Overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend it anyone who enjoys low angst and M/M/M stories. Christopher Preece is a new-to-me narrator. I enjoyed listening to him narrate the story, his pace was good, his voice was lovely to listen to.

Boy Meets Boy Reviews: 3 hearts from Optimist King’s Wench for the audiobook

Intro and conclusion: What is polite porn, you ask? Three British dudes who are hot for each other, like to shilly shally often and are exceedingly polite to one another whilst doing so. In short, polite porn is ‘A Threefold Cord’. … As far as the narration goes, Preece was energetic and really got into it which will always be a plus for me. … it was an easy listen with a generous amount of sexy times between three men who are hot for each other and aren’t overly dramatic. Recommend to ménage readers, Anglophiles and readers who like angst-free reads.

The Romance Reviews: 5 stars from KindleRomance

Excerpt and conclusion: I found this story fascinating. I love to feel like I’m in the middle of what’s happening in the minds of the characters, and this story did a great job of really pulling me into Grae’s head. … A magnificent and emotional reflection on the complexities of a relationship among three men.

The Novel Approach: 5 stars from Tina

Excerpt and conclusion: Julie Bozza has created a powerful and emotional novel about Grae, Ben and Chris, three men who have in common their love of theatre. Their chemistry as actors when they work together is undeniable. Their lives off stage and screen are not always so harmonious. … Ms. Bozza writes in a way that made their coming together feel very organic. … I don’t mean to imply that it was a smooth ride for our three guys. It felt real, sometimes painfully so. Every issue was faced head-on. … A Threefold Cord was beautiful, moving, and wonderful. I completely enjoyed it. The setting: the pure Britishness of it. The plot which had the theatre almost being a fourth member of the relationship between Ben, Grae and Chris. It is a beautiful and intensely emotional story.

Mrs Condit and Friends Read Books: 5 stars from Feliz

Excerpt: All three main characters are lovingly drawn, essentially ordinary people with mundane flaws that make them all the more human. And yet they’re able to go beyond themselves for love’s sake. They disregard conventions and overcome their own misgivings out of love. It’s beautiful, it’s amazing what people are able to do for love, and the reward makes it all worthwhile. This was the message I took from this story, and it made me close the book with a blissful sigh. Highly, highly recommended.

Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews: 5 stars from Tina

Excerpt: I loved the guys from the start. … Julie is a wonderful storyteller, a gifted writer, she is a genius at weaving magical, deeply moving stories.

Tina also interviewed me, and asked some particularly thoughtful and engaging questions, so I’d love it if you went to check out her review and the interview as well!

Boys in Our Books: 3.5 stars from Jenni

Excerpt: Just when I thought I knew myself: my likes, dislikes, things I will and won’t tolerate in a book. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Julie Bozza walks in with her book about a polyamorous love affair among three actors. … Has Bozza changed my mind about all ménage? Heck no. But if she’s writing about it, I’m reading it … and probably liking it lots.

Hearts on Fire Reviews: 5 stars from Mandy for the eBook

Excerpt: Julie just has such a unique way of telling her tale. Gentle, slow and patient. Her characters are adults and they act like it, they feel strong emotions but are mature and careful and considerate of the ones they love.

Hearts on Fire Reviews: 3.5 stars from Barb for the audiobook

Introduction: Very British. Very, very British. A UK author in a UK setting with a British narrator with a very proper dialect. If you don’t like all things UK, don’t bother to pick this up. If you do—you’re in for a treat.

Threefold on Goodreads:

  • Dianne gave it 5 stars, and said: Julie Bozza gets into the heart of her characters and puts them on full display – bruised, battered and bound back together by love – like no other. Astounding. Brilliant. Mesmerizing.
  • Pjm12 gave it 5 stars, and said: It all felt very organic. I loved the way Ben and Grae found each other. I loved the way Chris integrated into this couple, and I especially love the use of the stage plays to keep everything moving forward. I actually could rave on about this one. It felt so real, and no issue was dismissed or shoved to one side. They dealt with Grae’s jealousy and Ben’s protective nature and Chris’ vulnerabilities. And Grae’s mum was just a little bit awesome. Will definitely reread this.
  • Kat gave it 5 stars, and said: What I loved most about it was that it felt honest… it’s a book about three people in a relationship, Ben, Grae and Chris. After some minor ups and downs they come together and while I liked the book so far, I loved it then because it didn’t stop with them coming together, there was no HEA and that’s it, on the contrary, there was hard work for the three guys and that was brilliant.
  • Isabel gave it 5 stars, and said: This is my Julie Bozza debut, and what a marvelous experience that was! Her writing is amazing! The story is carefully written, the plot is slowly developed, and we can appreciate every word with calm and understanding! … One of the things that I love more about this kind of books, is to see how the author creates a menage that we can actually think that is doable… you know, something that could actually happen and be real. And the story of Grae, Ben and Chris, is just like that… it looks real!

Readers’ Responses

Shell said: I read A Threefold Cord in one sitting. It is a wonderful story about love, companionship, and acceptance. The slow burn relationship between the three main characters was a joy to read. Grae, Chris, and Ben are well written and fleshed out with fully formed personalities and traits.

Julie writes with a smooth and effortless style and gives just the right amount of detail for your imagination to create the rest. I never see the words within her stories they flow seamlessly.

Her experience in the Romance genre is clear.

excerpt: A Threefold Cord

The first scene of the novel. We meet Grae and his actor-colleagues Ben and Chris while they’re filming a TV show called The Justice of Godbolt.

A Threefold CordBen Clyde was playing the feudal lord Godbolt with quiet gravitas and a nobility that felt astonishingly natural. Graeme was Cassius, Godbolt’s loyal yet restlessly intelligent younger brother. Chris Willoughby was the contrary villager, Jackin.

“He’s woefully miscast,” Grae said one day to Ben, as the two of them waited through yet another change in lighting. They were sitting huddled into their modern-day coats, hands tucked deep into pockets. The medieval hall they were using on location hadn’t been designed with filming in mind, and if it had ever had clever underfloor heating, that had been out of whack for centuries. “He was just too ridiculously handsome to resist.”

“He certainly has charisma,” Ben agreed, giving Grae a warm glance and rueful smile. “The peasants, in this case, are not revolting.”

“He’s here to woo the audience,” Grae continued. “There aren’t many who’ll be swooning over either of us!” Grae watched as Chris effortlessly chatted up the grip, who was really experienced enough a crew member to know better than to sleep with the cast. Surely few would ever resist Chris’s roguishly dark good looks, though. A silence belatedly drew Grae’s attention back to Ben. “Not that you’re not worth swooning over,” Grae offered in a sincere tone.

Under Ben’s calm exterior, there was the merest hint of hurt, though he said with equal honesty, “Oh, I have no illusions.”

“It’s just the role. You don’t get to do your smoulder. I know for a fact that your smoulder would bring anyone to their knees.”

Continue reading excerpt: A Threefold Cord