What do you think?
Rate this book
Thai Triangle
She loved them both -- in entirely different ways
Romney wanted to bridge the gulf between Kit and Justin Faulkner before it was too late. The bitter hostility of the two brothers' reunion in Thailand was threatening to destroy them all.
To Kit, she was the guardian angel who made his life bearable. While to Justin, she was a torment-infinitely desirable, except in her devotion to his brother's petulant whims. In fact, Romney was only human ....
She belonged to Justin. Yet she couldn't break her promise to Kit--not even to free herself from a brutal passion born of anger and mistrust.
Romney wanted to bridge the gulf between Kit and Justin Faulkner before it was too late. The bitter hostility of the two brothers' reunion in Thailand was threatening to destroy them all.
To Kit, she was the guardian angel who made his life bearable. While to Justin, she was a torment-infinitely desirable, except in her devotion to his brother's petulant whims. In fact, Romney was only human ....
She belonged to Justin. Yet she couldn't break her promise to Kit--not even to free herself from a brutal passion born of anger and mistrust.
- GenresHarlequin Presents
192 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 1986
1 person is currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Bauling
58 books71 followersJayne was born in England but grew up in South Africa. After many years in Johannesburg and 17 women's fiction novels published in the UK, a move to White River, Mbombela in Mpumalanga, coincided with an exploration of new writing directions - youth fiction, short stories and poetry. Her YA novel E Eights won the 2009 Macmillan Writer's Prize for Africa, Stepping Solo was awarded the 2011 Maskew Miller Longman literature award for novels in English, and Dreaming of Light won the 2012 Gold Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature and was chosen for the 2014 IBBY Honour List. Her youth short story Dineo 658 MP won the 2009 MML silver medal, while This Ubuntu Thing was shortlisted for the inaugural Golden Baobab award and The Saturday Dress was shortlisted for the same award in 2014. In 2011 she also won the inaugural African Writing flash fiction prize for Settling. She has twice been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Another youth novel Our Side of the Wall was shortlisted for the Sanlam Prize. Her adult short stories have appeared in The Bed Book of Short Stories (Modjaji Books), The Edge of Things (Dye Hard Press), African Pens 2011 (Jacana), Feast, Famine & Potluck (Short Story Day Africa), the e-anthology Behind the Shadows, and (the stories An Inappropriate Woman and Witch and Bitch)in the People Opposing Women Abuse Breaking the Silence annual anthologies (Jacana). Rage and Misfortune, her retelling of the OT Samson story was published online by Ludic Press. Poetry: Symbiosis won SAFM's Express Yourself prize, Fist was placed 3rd in the 2008 POWA Women's Writing Project and published in Murmurs of the Girl in Me, while Unschooled was published in POWA's 2010 anthology Stories of the Othere(ed) Woman and The Ladies Take Tea in POWA's 2012 anthology Sisterhood. More poetry in ouroboros review, Markings, poetandgeek, Ons Klyntji, Litnet and the Lowvelder.
Her latest novel is Soccer Secrets (Cover2Cover Books).
Visit her Facebook page Jayne Bauling Writer or follow her on Twitter @JayneBauling
Her latest novel is Soccer Secrets (Cover2Cover Books).
Visit her Facebook page Jayne Bauling Writer or follow her on Twitter @JayneBauling
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 7, 2016
Re Thai Triangle- if the couple from Legacy were just visiting HPlandia, these characters should probably have their own Commonwealth - or maybe a subcontinent. This book is 185 pages of deep angst and if you can buy into the idea of a 19 year old h being so moved by compassion for a wild young man doomed to die that she gives up college to follow him around the world, then you are in for an angstfest galore and some new vocabulary words.
I love this book and I hate it. I love it mainly cause the story is very well done (for the most part). I hate it 'cause every time I pick this one up I cry, and I usually only cry at baby animals on National Geographic channel having bad things happen, (but we aren't talking about that.)
The story starts with the H's POV interestingly. JB gives us three separate POV's in this one, the H, the h and Wild Boy, whom the h is accompanying in his fruitless search for a cure. The H sees the h and WB walking towards him on the beach in Thailand. He is very obviously cynical and yet he harbors a lot of regret too. The WB is his younger brother, when WB was born, his mum died and his father utterly rejected him cause he holds WB responsible for losing the love of his life.
The H was only 9 at the time and he treated WB badly too, until he matured and figured out that life happens. He tried to make amends but Wild Boy went wild, and drove him away. The sad part is that WB really adores his older 32 yr old brother, but they cannot communicate AT ALL without it turning into WWIII.
So the H is there to try and get WB back to a real job and give up his (what he assumes) lotus eating, drifting lifestyle. WB is not on board with that and the H is rapidly making assumptions about the h. There is a lot of set up with the tensions between the H, h and WB both as a triad and between each individual. JB knows how to switch POV and work the language so that with every scene the tension and drama ratchet up a notch.
The outcome of all this is that the H and h are overwhelmed with desire for each other. The h is hopelessly in love, when you read her character, you understand why and accept it. This h is practically a living saint and a really, really compassionate person.
She is with WB because he literally has no one else. She freely admits she did not like him when she first knew him. There wasn't anything there to like and WB still acts horribly most of the time, but she has a strong nurturing instinct and he is so utterly lost (like a bewildered little kid,) that the h felt she had to step in and promised to stay with him no matter what.
Honestly an older woman wouldn't have gotten herself into this situation, the h has to be an idealistic 19 year old for this story to work, but the effects of being the only support for a 23yr old who really doesn't want to die and is terrified, gives the h a maturity far beyond her years and that combination of innocent beauty -- she doesn't sleep with WB - they have a platonic relationship--but inner wisdom and strength draw the H like a magnet and he is OBSESSED with taking her away from his undeserving little WB brother.
The h is pretty enthralled by the H's physicality and is begging him not to make a bad situation worse, but the H thinks she is foolish and the h has promised not to reveal the WB's terminal diagnosis, so she can't explain why her and the H are a really bad idear.
WB is quick to capitalize on the sexual tension between the H and h, he wants revenge on his brother by denying the H something he wants but can't have. WB almost rapes the h, but is diverted when the H shows up for a sailing engagement. WB set the scenario up. The h figures out the ploy and is pretty angry, but WB plays the death card and the h lets her anger go.
This manipulation by both WB and the H of the h continues on for most of the book and it really heightens the drama. Then WB, now that the hook is set, tells the H that the virginal h is a nympho and the H bitterly berates her for her lascivious concupiscence (new vocab word here, it means strong sexual desire or lust - the implication is it is the low porno kind.) Then WB drags the h off to a Thai sex show and the h is really horrified, she keeps her eyes closed but the whole sorry tawdriness of it makes her feel violated.
The H sees them leaving the show and corners the h and really berates her, he accuses her of being a vampire and harming his brother. Now he HAS to take her away from WB - to save WB from her victimization. The h is shocked and still traumatized. The H marches off in a huff and treats the h pretty contemptuously for the next few weeks, while the h is dying of unrequited love and real concern that WB is getting worse and fearing the end is near.
The H actually has an old lover there as well, and the OW is really nice and the h likes her, but she is another thorn in the h's crown and the OW seems pretty resigned to everyone being in love with the H, but him being incapable of love. The H continues to torment the h and lets her know how much he despises her and himself, cause he still wants her badly.
The h promised WB she wouldn't do anything with the H and the constant worry over this concern about a spoilt baby's revenge scheme does start to pall after a page or six. Especially when WB goes out of his way to insult the h in an effort to antagonize the H. It is the most unlikable part of the story, but WB's behavior makes sense in a weird kinda way. This also plays into the end of WB and his acceptance of the H and h shows how much he had grown through the book.
Finally the tension just cracks and the H has angry, violent sex with the h that turns into the best ever. Then he finds out she was a virgin and the H is in total nuclear meltdown at that point - until the h stops him from confronting WB by telling the H about the terminal situation.
The H is really horrified and starts trying to find a cure, there isn't one and the last bit is a sad process of saying goodbye, but WB has learned somethings and the brother's forgive each other and WB finds some spiritual peace.
The h is now in angst cause the H is going to be too guilty over the whole thing to ever really see her as apart from WB and they go out of their way to avoid each other. Then WB falls into his last coma and after he passes, the H does the best JB begging ever. It is short but really sincere and he loves her and is soo sorry for how he and WB have abused her, he wants to marry her even if it is platonic, just to have a small part of her life.
The h is happy, no platonicacy is necessary, cause the girl is really good with the bed thing - it was the closest thing to heaven on Earth, even if it did start kinda violent. True love is avowed forever with eventually some laughter to come and WB is sadly gone, but finally at peace and JB's HPlandia land allotment just got expanded by a sub-continent.
I love this book and I hate it. I love it mainly cause the story is very well done (for the most part). I hate it 'cause every time I pick this one up I cry, and I usually only cry at baby animals on National Geographic channel having bad things happen, (but we aren't talking about that.)
The story starts with the H's POV interestingly. JB gives us three separate POV's in this one, the H, the h and Wild Boy, whom the h is accompanying in his fruitless search for a cure. The H sees the h and WB walking towards him on the beach in Thailand. He is very obviously cynical and yet he harbors a lot of regret too. The WB is his younger brother, when WB was born, his mum died and his father utterly rejected him cause he holds WB responsible for losing the love of his life.
The H was only 9 at the time and he treated WB badly too, until he matured and figured out that life happens. He tried to make amends but Wild Boy went wild, and drove him away. The sad part is that WB really adores his older 32 yr old brother, but they cannot communicate AT ALL without it turning into WWIII.
So the H is there to try and get WB back to a real job and give up his (what he assumes) lotus eating, drifting lifestyle. WB is not on board with that and the H is rapidly making assumptions about the h. There is a lot of set up with the tensions between the H, h and WB both as a triad and between each individual. JB knows how to switch POV and work the language so that with every scene the tension and drama ratchet up a notch.
The outcome of all this is that the H and h are overwhelmed with desire for each other. The h is hopelessly in love, when you read her character, you understand why and accept it. This h is practically a living saint and a really, really compassionate person.
She is with WB because he literally has no one else. She freely admits she did not like him when she first knew him. There wasn't anything there to like and WB still acts horribly most of the time, but she has a strong nurturing instinct and he is so utterly lost (like a bewildered little kid,) that the h felt she had to step in and promised to stay with him no matter what.
Honestly an older woman wouldn't have gotten herself into this situation, the h has to be an idealistic 19 year old for this story to work, but the effects of being the only support for a 23yr old who really doesn't want to die and is terrified, gives the h a maturity far beyond her years and that combination of innocent beauty -- she doesn't sleep with WB - they have a platonic relationship--but inner wisdom and strength draw the H like a magnet and he is OBSESSED with taking her away from his undeserving little WB brother.
The h is pretty enthralled by the H's physicality and is begging him not to make a bad situation worse, but the H thinks she is foolish and the h has promised not to reveal the WB's terminal diagnosis, so she can't explain why her and the H are a really bad idear.
WB is quick to capitalize on the sexual tension between the H and h, he wants revenge on his brother by denying the H something he wants but can't have. WB almost rapes the h, but is diverted when the H shows up for a sailing engagement. WB set the scenario up. The h figures out the ploy and is pretty angry, but WB plays the death card and the h lets her anger go.
This manipulation by both WB and the H of the h continues on for most of the book and it really heightens the drama. Then WB, now that the hook is set, tells the H that the virginal h is a nympho and the H bitterly berates her for her lascivious concupiscence (new vocab word here, it means strong sexual desire or lust - the implication is it is the low porno kind.) Then WB drags the h off to a Thai sex show and the h is really horrified, she keeps her eyes closed but the whole sorry tawdriness of it makes her feel violated.
The H sees them leaving the show and corners the h and really berates her, he accuses her of being a vampire and harming his brother. Now he HAS to take her away from WB - to save WB from her victimization. The h is shocked and still traumatized. The H marches off in a huff and treats the h pretty contemptuously for the next few weeks, while the h is dying of unrequited love and real concern that WB is getting worse and fearing the end is near.
The H actually has an old lover there as well, and the OW is really nice and the h likes her, but she is another thorn in the h's crown and the OW seems pretty resigned to everyone being in love with the H, but him being incapable of love. The H continues to torment the h and lets her know how much he despises her and himself, cause he still wants her badly.
The h promised WB she wouldn't do anything with the H and the constant worry over this concern about a spoilt baby's revenge scheme does start to pall after a page or six. Especially when WB goes out of his way to insult the h in an effort to antagonize the H. It is the most unlikable part of the story, but WB's behavior makes sense in a weird kinda way. This also plays into the end of WB and his acceptance of the H and h shows how much he had grown through the book.
Finally the tension just cracks and the H has angry, violent sex with the h that turns into the best ever. Then he finds out she was a virgin and the H is in total nuclear meltdown at that point - until the h stops him from confronting WB by telling the H about the terminal situation.
The H is really horrified and starts trying to find a cure, there isn't one and the last bit is a sad process of saying goodbye, but WB has learned somethings and the brother's forgive each other and WB finds some spiritual peace.
The h is now in angst cause the H is going to be too guilty over the whole thing to ever really see her as apart from WB and they go out of their way to avoid each other. Then WB falls into his last coma and after he passes, the H does the best JB begging ever. It is short but really sincere and he loves her and is soo sorry for how he and WB have abused her, he wants to marry her even if it is platonic, just to have a small part of her life.
The h is happy, no platonicacy is necessary, cause the girl is really good with the bed thing - it was the closest thing to heaven on Earth, even if it did start kinda violent. True love is avowed forever with eventually some laughter to come and WB is sadly gone, but finally at peace and JB's HPlandia land allotment just got expanded by a sub-continent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2017
This is one of those HPs you'll never forget. The title is absolutely accurate - it's set in Thailand and the 19 year-old heroine is the point on the triangle between two brothers. What sets this apart is that the younger brother is dying and the heroine has followed him around the world as his guardian angel. She has promised not to reveal that he is dying of ? brain tumor? and has promised to stay with him until he dies. She keeps their relationship strictly platonic. The hero, the older brother, shows up to convince the younger brother to resume his studies or get a job. The brothers love each other but cannot communicate.
To make matters worse, the hero is instantly attracted to the heroine and vows to take her away from his younger brother. First, because he can and later, because he thinks the heroine is a bad influence on his younger brother.
The heroine falls for the hero as well, but she is bound by her promises and even sticks by the younger brother when he's being a jerk (which is all the time). She endures the hero's insults and punishing kisses while quietly eating her heart out.
When they do finally fall into bed together, the gig is up and the heroine finally tells the truth. But there's no chance for romance - the falling action is the brothers finally making peace, the younger brother slipping into a coma and finally dying. This is not a light read.
Both of the brothers behave badly towards the heroine and cause her a lot of grief. I hated both of them at different times. The setting is almost another character - the beautiful and tawdry are mingled together and make a superb backdrop to the heroine's innocence and the black emotions of both brothers.
To make matters worse, the hero is instantly attracted to the heroine and vows to take her away from his younger brother. First, because he can and later, because he thinks the heroine is a bad influence on his younger brother.
The heroine falls for the hero as well, but she is bound by her promises and even sticks by the younger brother when he's being a jerk (which is all the time). She endures the hero's insults and punishing kisses while quietly eating her heart out.
When they do finally fall into bed together, the gig is up and the heroine finally tells the truth. But there's no chance for romance - the falling action is the brothers finally making peace, the younger brother slipping into a coma and finally dying. This is not a light read.
Both of the brothers behave badly towards the heroine and cause her a lot of grief. I hated both of them at different times. The setting is almost another character - the beautiful and tawdry are mingled together and make a superb backdrop to the heroine's innocence and the black emotions of both brothers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2019
Tsunami of tackiness is too mild an expression to describe this sordid, opposite-of-romance story of two brothers aggressively in lust with the same nubile teenager, who willingly lets herself be used and abused by both FOR ABSOLUTELY NO VALID REASON other than she is a true masochist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2020
I'm not sure which one was more masochist, heroine or me? Lol
August 5, 2022
"Thai Triangle" is the story of Romney and Justin.
God awful- both men!
If you want a pair of selfish and slutshaming brothers to bully the spineless and forgiving heroine for 192 pages- here you go!
Heroine is best friends with the hero's brother. Enter the hero. Hero and his brother are estranged. When attraction flares between the hero and heroine, she becomes a pawn between them. The best friend emotionally abuses the heroine, tries to force himself on her, uses her sympathy to his benefit and spreads lies about their relationship. The hero also slut shames the heroine and takes every opportunity to belittle her. The heroine, our great martyr takes it in stride. There is a nice OW, loads of drama, angst- a sex scene and a not so shocking ending.
Bonkers BUT the ride kept me hooked!
SWE
2.5/5
God awful- both men!
If you want a pair of selfish and slutshaming brothers to bully the spineless and forgiving heroine for 192 pages- here you go!
Heroine is best friends with the hero's brother. Enter the hero. Hero and his brother are estranged. When attraction flares between the hero and heroine, she becomes a pawn between them. The best friend emotionally abuses the heroine, tries to force himself on her, uses her sympathy to his benefit and spreads lies about their relationship. The hero also slut shames the heroine and takes every opportunity to belittle her. The heroine, our great martyr takes it in stride. There is a nice OW, loads of drama, angst- a sex scene and a not so shocking ending.
Bonkers BUT the ride kept me hooked!
SWE
2.5/5
October 3, 2014
This author seem's to really love her female leads going crazy in lust with the male leads whenever they are near them apart from that the storyline is quite good.
November 20, 2020
This was the epitome of my favorite trope — male sibling rivalry. The story is undoubtedly tragic, but very angsty and jealousy-ridden and emotional and enjoyable.
April 21, 2019
She loved them both -- in entirely different ways
Romney wanted to bridge the gulf between Kit and Justin Faulkner before it was too late. The bitter hostility of the two brothers' reunion in Thailand was threatening to destroy them all.
To Kit, she was the guardian angel who made his life bearable. While to Justin, she was a torment-infinitely desirable, except in her devotion to his brother's petulant whims. In fact, Romney was only human ....
She belonged to Justin. Yet she couldn't break her promise to Kit--not even to free herself from a brutal passion born of anger and mistrust.
Romney wanted to bridge the gulf between Kit and Justin Faulkner before it was too late. The bitter hostility of the two brothers' reunion in Thailand was threatening to destroy them all.
To Kit, she was the guardian angel who made his life bearable. While to Justin, she was a torment-infinitely desirable, except in her devotion to his brother's petulant whims. In fact, Romney was only human ....
She belonged to Justin. Yet she couldn't break her promise to Kit--not even to free herself from a brutal passion born of anger and mistrust.
February 8, 2018
Very emotional book. The H was a jerk from the start, but you could see he was fighting a powerful attraction. However this doesn't excuse him. The heroine was only 19 years old, he, the hero should have been more understanding despite being misled by his brother. I bumped it up to 4 stars since the end was very emotional.
April 18, 2021
This book was pretty emotional! Both StMargarets and Boogenhagen’s reviews are spot on. The writing in this book was very good and I learned a few things about Thailand and a few new vocabulary words. If you don’t like the idea of brothers sharing, no need to worry.
The h 19 (Romney) in the story was a saint. She loved both brothers, but in very different ways. Pretty much her and the H (Justin)32 fell in love/lust upon first sight. The other brother(OM) Kit(23) relies on the h much like a son would. Without going into too much plot detail, Kit can be very selfishly cruel to our h but when you know his story it is difficult to feel anything but sympathy for him. Our hero is so insanely in want of the h that his jealousy and misinformation makes him cruel to the h as well. The cover of the book and the description of the h makes me picture her as Snow White with light radiating from her! There is an ow in the story who is very beautiful, honest, and likable(WHAT???IKR?)
In parting, the H in the story reminds me of the 🎵 Mr. Brightside by The Killers....
..... Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
And I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside......
There is so much angst in the way this song is sung that it’s like the angst between our protagonists!
The h 19 (Romney) in the story was a saint. She loved both brothers, but in very different ways. Pretty much her and the H (Justin)32 fell in love/lust upon first sight. The other brother(OM) Kit(23) relies on the h much like a son would. Without going into too much plot detail, Kit can be very selfishly cruel to our h but when you know his story it is difficult to feel anything but sympathy for him. Our hero is so insanely in want of the h that his jealousy and misinformation makes him cruel to the h as well. The cover of the book and the description of the h makes me picture her as Snow White with light radiating from her! There is an ow in the story who is very beautiful, honest, and likable(WHAT???IKR?)
In parting, the H in the story reminds me of the 🎵 Mr. Brightside by The Killers....
..... Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
And I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside......
There is so much angst in the way this song is sung that it’s like the angst between our protagonists!
November 4, 2023
Holy cow this was intense. And intensely squeamish. Think of what Thailand makes you think of. Think of one woman and two brothers. Yes it absolutely goes there, although she only has sex with one of them. Up until the deflowering though, big brother Justin really believes that 19 year old virginal siren, Romney is sleeping with his brattish younger brother Kit. If you don't like reading about terminal illness (am not sure who does but clearly some must) then this might be upsetting. Otherwise, man do these two have the forbidden hots for each other. And he's a thoroughgoing bastard 😂
March 2, 2019
Very dramatic and well written.
July 30, 2019
Ερωτικό τρίγωνο...
Read
March 30, 2024Não gostei, história maluca, h doida. Ou eu que sou doida por ter lido até o fim essa coisa?! Afff
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews