Paradise Found by Vivian Arend

 

A vacation on the exotic Bandicoot Cove Island resort will be a fitting end to the erotic fun Paige and her Australian lovers, Trent and Mason, have been enjoying. They’ve fulfilled her every fantasy in this no-strings-attached relationship. But Paige has broken the rules and fallen in love with both of her men. It’s better to leave them both than be forced to choose. Trent and Mason want to take their paradise-perfect arrangement to the next level, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to convince Paige to stay

Island Idyll by Jess Dee

 

Sienna doesn’t expect to find an old crush at the exotic resort where she’s holidaying, and she certainly doesn’t expect her ex to show up, too. Josh wants Sienna just as much today as he did all those years ago, and there’s nothing to stop them getting together—except her ex. Ben is determined to win Sienna back, but he also sees the way she looks at Josh, so he makes a crazy, erotic offer... Sleeping with both men together in order to decide between them could be a recipe for disaster or the start of something unexpected.

Sunlit Surrender by Jess Dee

 

Bianca Rogers is ready to forget her worries for a while and celebrate her brother’s wedding at the exotic Bandicoot Cove resort. The last thing she expects is to be knocked off her feet—literally—by Brody Evans. The chemistry between Brody and Bianca is undeniable. She’s everything he wants in a woman. She’s sexy, warm, friendly…delicious, and overwhelming attraction quickly grows to full-blown lust. As desire transforms into love, it’s time to see if the past is going to get in the way of any happy-ever-after there could be in their future.

 

Moonlight Mirage by Sami Lee

 

Hayley Bryant’s travelled the world and is a grown woman who knows just how to get what she wants. It’s been two whole years since her boss’s rejection sent her running, so coming face-to-face with him shouldn’t affect her. Except it does. Pushing his young intern away was the right thing for Mitch Wood to do at the time, but he can’t deny the attraction to his little sister’s friend now. This time, he’ll have to come to Hayley, and her plus one might prove to be an obstacle. Fortunately, Mitch isn’t one to shy away from a little competition.

 

Sunset Heat by Lexxie Couper

 

Kennedy never expected to run into Luke, the hot Australian firefighter she had a mind-blowing one-night stand with on the tropical island, nor did she expect to be equally turned on by his hunky British cousin, Addison. Luke hasn’t been able to get the feisty, flirty American he met in a bar out of his head, so why is he now picturing sharing the woman of his dreams with his cousin? Always the player, Addison is at the sinfully hot Bandicoot resort looking for some fun. But how can he tell his cousin they’re interested in the same woman?

 

Tropical Sin by Lexxie Couper

 

Infamous Nick Blackthorn is no stranger to a hedonistic rock-star lifestyle, but he’s surprised to be so drawn to a sexy couple while on holiday. McKenzie Wood convinces her BFF to pose as her partner at the sinfully exotic Bandicoot Cove Resort as part of her cover. Luckily, Aiden is always up to any challenge. Firefighter Aiden hasn’t told his best friend he’s in love with her, but an island vacation with her seems to present the perfect opportunity. The island heat burns away inhibitions, but this threesome is rocked when secrets come out and hearts and truths are exposed.

 

Supposed to be a follow up to Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost. It starts out that way, at least. And then the middle section of the book is entirely taken over by what I presume to have been part of a big crossover event I'm not familiar with. Poor Jimenez did an admirable job of trying to get the reader up to speed, but honestly, I was lost. The death of Hippolyta was so narratively necessary (she'd been written into an unpleasant corner) that it hardly comes by a surprise, and I give Jimenez credit for writing it as well as he did. The actual Paradise Found story is somewhat less than compelling, since it's so... expected. The best part of the entire collection is probably the scene where Diana tells Julia what's become of her daughter. Unresolved, of course, but a very effective scene, told well and without undue melodrama.

There must be something in the air at Bandicoot Cove. Well, I guess this one didn't have anything to do with letting inhibitions go, because Paige has been carrying on with Mason and Trent for a year. But at Bandicoot Cove, she's going to give everything she has for her last weekend with them in Australia before she returns to Canada. She doesn't realize that Mason and Trent have turned a corner in their relationship just as she has... they've fallen in love, but each party thinks the other is just in it for fun. Mason and Trent plan to ask Paige to make things more permanent, but before they can, Paige learns something that makes her think they plan to just cast her aside.

So, while I enjoyed this story in a general sense, I think I didn't get a good enough feel for the characters' longing for each other. The fire, the passion. Sure, they all had sex together -- what's a menage story without that? I just didn't really feel much between the characters beyond that.

3.5 stars, it would have been better, but for me the epilogue was over the top. The whole story was rather far-fetched, with their one meeting and after six months one of them initiates another meeting, which results in his changing his whole life, but it's romance, right? Overall the writing was compelling enough for me to wanting to know what happens next and to finish the book:)

There aren’t many authors who write ménage stories that I find really enjoyable, however Vivian Arend is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Paradise Found introduces Aussie resort manager Kylie’s brother Trent, his best friend Mason and their lover of one year Paige, a Canadian. Paige, Trent and Mason have enjoyed a no strings attached sexual relationship but they are also adventurers and have taken many outdoor tours together, hiking, kayaking etc. Paige is a pastry chef and after spending 5 years in Australia she is sticking to her original plan to return to Canada. The problem is that she has developed very strong feelings for her lovers and it is going to break her heart to leave them.

Trent accepted an invitation from his sister to spend the weekend at Bandicoot Cove as part of the ‘trial guests’ for the soft opening of the resort. Trent has helped and supported Kylie in her stressful managerial position (he doesn’t know what is going on in his sister’s personal life - lol), when he asks for a room big enough for 3 she assigns him one of the penthouse suites which is just out of this world. The opening scene of this novella is good sexy fun because Paige surprises Trent and fulfills one of his long held sexual fantasies. Then Mason arrives and he also enjoys some private time with Paige.

One of the things I really liked about this story is that Ms. Arend crafts a plot that allows the guys to spend equal amounts of time with their lover. Trent and Mason haven’t seen Paige in a couple of weeks because they work and live in different areas so their relationship thus far has been a series of rendezvous for their travels and sexual exploration. Trent and Mason have been longtime friends and communicate well. They both care deeply for the free spirited Paige and want more than a sporadic sexual romp with her. In fact, they have big plans and a special surprise for Paige. Trent and Mason are however unsure about whether she will want to be in a permanent unconventional relationship with two men. I really liked all three of these characters and the author made me want them to be together.

The love scenes in Paradise Found are extremely sensual and sexually explicit. Vivian Arend always manages to instill some fun sexual kink in her stories and this one is no exception. I’ll hint that it involves a unique piece of furniture situated in the penthouse, which is especially made to accommodate a threesome. Interestingly enough it is one of Paige’s guys that advised Kylie in it’s design. ;)

Ms. Arend develops intriguing secondary characters who I’m sure will be making appearances in the second and third installments of the series. Most notable is a certain sexy musician who is hired to play for the soft opening. There is also Mason’s lovely sister McKenzie and a number of friends.

Paradise Found provides emotional moments and conflict as Paige's belief that her lovers don’t want her around for the long term is reinforced when the cat is let out of the bag about the guys plans to take leaves from work and travel for 6 months. Since Paige hasn’t been privy to their plans, which have obviously been in the works for some time, she makes an emotionally charged decision to cut the weekend short and leave the island. The guys don’t know where she has gone and panic. I really felt Paige’s heartbreak and Trent and Mason’s turmoil when they discover her missing.

Ms. Arend crafts a lovely HEA for this threesome who find do find their paradise, but it’s not on Bandicoot Cove (which certainly is a little piece of paradise IMHO). I thoroughly enjoyed Paradise Found and am always impressed with Ms. Arend’s ability to craft a sensual, solid story into a novella. If you enjoy a sexy ménage a trois tale you may like to give Paradise Found a try. I’m looking forward to reading the next two novellas in the series.

3.5/5 Stars