Review: Whirlpool by Vivian Arend

Whirlpool: Forces of Nature, Book 2
by Vivian Arend
e-Book
Samhain
August 10th 2010
Paranormal Romance
Book received from: Author

Braden can’t deny he’s always wanted Chelsea, but getting involved wouldn’t be fair. She has college and big dreams ahead of her—he has no desire to leave Jaffrey’s Cove. Plus, there’s the fact merfolk women often take more than one lover. Share her? Not in this lifetime.

When Chelsea’s plans for the future fall apart, the only bright spot remaining is Sheriff Braden Marley. She’s been angling for a shot at the gentle giant’s heart—and the rest of him—for a long time. Except he not only holds her at a maddening arm’s length, he somehow manages to keep other men away, too.

Enter Jamie Powell, a human marine archeologist who’s in town for a cataloging project. His instant chemistry with Chelsea inspires her to try a sexy new tactic: make Braden jealous enough to stop dragging his feet and start leaving his shoes under her bed.

The ensuing storm generates a boatload of complications none of them saw coming. A forbidden attraction no amount of merfolk magic can erase. And the danger that their secrets could be exposed to the outside world…

Reviewed by: Fiction Vixen

I’m going to be honest and admit I might have giggled a little bit when I realized the shifters in Whirlpool were merfolk.  Visions of the little mermaid flooded my brain and yes, I laughed.  But then I got a look at the cover and the little mermaid disintegrated into a cloud of mist as I took in that sexy cover and what it implied.  From that point on I didn’t care who had flippers, I wanted to know what Mr. Sexy in the middle was thinking about as he gazed upon Mr. Sexy on the left.  So away I went happily humming to the tune of Under The Sea.

The merfolk are a matriarchal society and live in pods.  The Jaffrey’s Cove pod are temporarily missing their matriarch since she is on a honeymoon of sorts with her two lovers.  In the matriarchs absence, Braden who is merfolk and also the town sheriff is in charge.  He’s tall, bald and drop dead sexy.  He’s also deeply attracted to Chelsea (merfolk), a young woman he is convinced he cannot have.

Chelsea’s plans to leave for college have fallen through due to financial trouble so she is stuck in Jaffrey’s Cove pining after Braden who resists her every attempt at seduction.  The merfolk are a very sensual people and the merfolk women are known to take more than one lover.  Although Braden tries to keep his distance from Chelsea, the thought of her with another man, merfolk or not is enough to drive him insane.

Jamie Powell, unsuspecting human and marine archeologist has been called in to catalog marine artifacts for the matriarch while she is away.  When he arrives he is immediately attracted to Chelsea and she to him.  Braden puts a stop to it right away but then later decides since Chelsea has time on her hands and Jamie is attracted to her, perhaps it’s the perfect way for Chelsea to take the edge off.  But Jamie and Braden have more than an attraction to Chelsea in common, they also happen to be attracted to each other. *waggles eyebrows*

Whirlpool is a sexually charged story of three people who find themselves thrown together by circumstances.  The sexual chemistry between this threesome is apparent from the very beginning and the characters were interesting enough to draw me in right away and make me want to know more about them.  I would have liked to know more about merfolk magic and world but this is the second book in the series and I did not read the first book so it’s likely more information about merfolk society was given in Tidal Wave. Merfolk are not the first thing I think of when I think sexy shifter.  But I have to admit, Vivian Arend made it work.  These shifters can shift into dolphin form.  Since this was a new angle in what I’ve come to expect from a shifter story, I would have liked to spent more time in the water so to speak.

I really enjoyed how the romance developed.  There was already a great deal of sexual tension between Braden and Chelsea as Braden did his best to fight the feeling. There is a very nice build up to their first encounter filled with some jealously, and lots of sexual tension. Tossed in the middle of their developing relationship is the slightly nerdy but very sexy Jamie who is kicks up the tension a notch by tempting not only Chelsea but Braden too.  Although he does not set out to seduce either Braden or Chelsea, there is just something about him that tempts them both. The ease into the three way romance was quite natural and believable.  Jamie has some erotic dreams that are smoking hot!  But don’t worry, the three-way action eventually moves from the dream realm to the bedroom.

Among the brewing three-way romance is a little mystery in Jaffrey’s Cove and I was disappointed in the outcome.  It seems Jaffrey’s Cove is normally a sleepy tourist driven town with no real crime to speak of.  However there has been a rash of odd behavior by residents and tourists, vandalism and miscellaneous mischief has become a big problem.  The mystery was solved, not in a way that I expected and that’s not necessarily a bad thing but I expected more.  Since the vandalism was brought up throughout the story I thought it was a building up to the big mystery but the resolution fell short.

Whirlpool is an enjoyable, very sexy ménage love story that is certainly worth checking out.  Vivian Arend put a different spin on your average shifter romance and I found myself drawn into the world and romance from the very beginning.  Who says shifters have to growl and have four legs?

Favorite Quote:

“I want to taste you.” Braden paused, and Jamie’s heart leapt to his throat. Slowly, inch by inch, Braden approached. He gave ample time to retreat, but Jamie wanted this. Wanted it as much as he wanted the woman lying under him.

Purchase a copy of Whirlpool: Forces of Nature, Book 2

Other books in the series:

Tidal Wave Forces of Nature 1

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