Review: The Isthmus Alliance Series just keeps getting better
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 17, 2014
I'm a huge fan of Sloan Johnson's writing style. She has a way of effortlessly switching between points of view and interconnecting storylines, so there is never a dull moment in the text, and it seamlessly flows until the end. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when book two was about Tommy; I wanted Zeke's story. He played such a pivotal and active role in Tasha and Dylan's story, and he was the awesome sidekick for Dylan, taking care of Tasha when Dylan needed him to and doing everything he could to keep Tasha safe. I should have known, though, that Sloan had big plans for Zeke!Another aspect of Sloan's stories that works well is that they are character driven; there's still angst and hot sex scenes, but at the heart of her texts are the personal connections that are made and then the progression those relationships take. Book three in the Isthmus Alliance series focuses on Zeke, Mary, and Jeff. What starts off as strictly friends with benefits turns into so much more. After Mary gets injured in an accident due to Nick Romero's thirst for revenge, Zeke moves her into his apartment, and all three of them slowly start to figure out that their feelings are so much deeper than they thought. But new relationships can be tricky, especially one where three people are involved. This is a completely new experience for Zeke, and all three of them carry baggage from either their childhood or past relationships. There is going to be jealousy and missteps along the way, but ensuring one another's happiness is always at the forefront of Zeke, Mary, and Jeff's mind. All three of them are risking so much to be together: Zeke's mother is extremely religious, so he struggles with exposing their relationship not only to him but also to his best friends; Mary's past experience as a ménage couple left her heart shattered; Jeff's childhood was horrific, and he has a hard time telling Zeke and Mary about it, which almost tears them apart when similar circumstances arise. But, they are all willing to take the leap because they know that their relationship makes them whole...gives them so much more than they ever thought possible.The fact that the Isthmus Alliance gang keeps expanding only adds to the series. As a reader, I want to be able to catch up with the other couples from the previous books and see how they're doing. Witnessing Dylan and Tasha as well as Tommy and Holly grow as couples and form new bonds with the supporting characters as well as new ones is what makes this an amazing series. Unexpected Consequences is a perfect title for Zeke, Mary, and Jeff's story, but in their case, the consequences of their actions are actually life changing in a good way.Unexpected Consequences is a fantastic read that explores the ups and downs of making a triad relationship work. Readers witness the no strings relationship of Zeke, Mary, and Jeff turn into a committed connection that still involves hot sex but now it also allows for greater intimacy, and as their relationship grows, so do they, and it's a beautiful thing to witness.Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.4.5 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)