UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES
(Isthmus Alliance #3)
by Sloan Johnson
Released: March 12, 2014
Zeke Reed lives his life by his rules, the biggest one being that he refuses to settle down. Through the years, it has become a running joke amongst his circle of friends that his condo would be well served by the installation of a revolving door.
That’s what makes his friendship with Mary and Jeff work. All three of them are looking for some no-strings-attached fun. Until fate steps in, making them all take a look at what’s been developing while they’ve been busy fooling around.
Unfortunately, every decision in life has consequences. When you choose to openly share your life with more than one person, things get complicated. Will Zeke, Jeff and Mary be able to stand together as the world tries to pull them apart?
(Isthmus Alliance #3)
by Sloan Johnson
ARC Review
Release: March 18, 2014
My rating: 4.5 of 5 ⭐️
After an accident shook up what seemed an easy and fun, occasional three-way hook up, Zeke discovered how invested he had become in both Mary and Jeff. His involvement with Jeff is still new, and certainly not known to anyone around him, but he is finding it something he has come to need in his life, as much as his connection with Mary.
Having been relegated to the role of patient, Mary is not really complaining. Not when she is cared for by two very hot and attentive men. Her only frustration is, she can't be as active a participant as she would like. But being forced into this day to day interaction has shown her the beautiful possibilities of their unconventional relationship.
Not one to jump into things blindly, Jeff is all to aware of the potential pitfalls that are ahead. They all have a tremendous amount to lose if this should not work. And even if they decide they are ready to face the outside world, it may not be ready to accept them. In fact, between employers, family and friends, they may simply be torn apart....
******
Fabulous writing, well-thought through subject matter and amazing characters!!!
This is not an easy review to write, simply because I don't want to give too much away and so much of this story plays on an emotional level. What that means, though, I that the character development for all three main characters, Zeke, Mary and Jeff, is tremendous in my opinion. This story for them is not just about discovering each other, but about discovering themselves.
And in no one is that more clearly than in Zeke, who has been everyone's best friend and buddy, party man extra-ordinaire for so long, that he himself didn't spend much time thinking beyond that. In terms of settling down, starting a relationship. He certainly never saw himself in a relationship with a man, although he had wondered. Zeke is the most vulnerable of the three in the sense that he stands to lose the most in terms of friends and family. Not really trusting their reaction - when really he is not really trusting himself yet.
Mary, who is a little more used to an unconventional relationship, is the more pragmatic one. She approaches things in an almost organizational manner, to try and keep a healthy balance. Of course, with a background and family as hers, the need for some predictability and balance is understandable. She seems to spend a lot of time mediating. Although initially she appeared the most unaffected by their playful threesome, since the accident she has become its centre.
And finally Jeff, with the painfully clear vision, who almost sabotages his own happiness by being cautious. The baggage he carries has been carefully stowed away in the attic, where no one can get at it. But Jeff knows its there and the possible implications it has. He seems hesitant to fully give himself, afraid something might open up the attic door. And in doing creates a situation that is almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
A compelling story of three completely different personalities, drawn to each other to form a cohesive unit. Sloan Johnson's telling of this struggle to completion is incredibly insightful and refreshingly real. Her use of some mild domination and submission illustrates beautifully the dynamics in this triad relationship and her writing is fantastic!
✨Complex, revealing and luscious juggle for balance.✨
**Copy provided in return for an honest review.**
Jeff:
I run my fingers down the length of her arm, silently vowing to do whatever I can to make sure nothing like this happens again. I’m not talking about the accident. As much as I will go out of my way to protect her, I know things happen in life and it’s impossible to plan for every scenario. I’m not foolish enough to think that I’m in love with her, but there’s definitely something deeper than friendship between us. Between all of us. And we need to make sure we’re on the same page in the future.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I whisper into her ear. “Zeke’s going to stay with you. If you wake up and need anything, tell him.” She may not consciously hear me, but I hope my words register with her on some level. I brush the hair away from her forehead, resting my lips there for a moment before turning to leave.
Zeke falls in line behind me as I move toward the door, his fingers laced with mine. “Hurry back,” he says, tilting his head up to kiss me. I lean against the door, effectively barring anyone from entering.
I tug at his t-shirt so I can run my hands along the firm ridges of his abs. Zeke moans when I flick his nipple ring. If we had more time and I had more energy, I’d do the same with my tongue, freeing my hands for further exploration, preferably inside his jeans. There are so many other things I need to be focused on, but Zeke is the one person capable of giving me the physical release that will serve as a reminder to not get carried away with my own thoughts.
When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.
Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?
Now, Sloan is a tattooed, purple haired mom of two kids, one of which was a thank you present to her husband for letting her get a Staffordshire Terrier with more anxiety issues than Sloan has, which is saying something. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself in a good book and forget that she has somewhere to be.
Isthmus Alliance Page
Purchase UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES :
Other books in the Isthmus Alliance Series:
~ Unexpected Angel #1 ~
~ Unexpected Protector #2 ~
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