Guest Review: Surrounded by Temptation – Mandy Harbin

When Krista needs Ariel’s biochemical expertise because her new boyfriend can turn into a mountain lion, Ariel thinks her sister has lost her mind. But the possibility of a major discovery like this is too much of a temptation to ignore. Create a drug to stop a shifter from forcing a mating? Only if she got to test his sexual limits herself.

Rob thinks Ariel is an angel in disguise, and he immediately knows she’s the one for him. But is he strong enough to resist his animal’s need to claim her once the temptation begins?

Series:  Woods Family #3
Release Date:  October 5, 2012
Publisher:  Amira Press
Source:  Book Monster Promotions
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Ariel is a biochemist that goes to the Woods’ family property at her sister’s request to help her new mountain shifter lover’s family to overcome their deadly desire to mate with any unmated female.  Ariel believes Krista needs psychological help and decides not to tell her that she is now divorced.

When Ariel announces she is divorced shortly after arriving all hell breaks lose and the two unmated brothers Jack and Rob go after each other.  I love how Ms Harbin jumps right into the action with no delay.  All of her books proceed at a rapid pace with no time for drawn out semantics or dialogue.

However, there were several parts of this story that were completely unbelievable.   Ariel decides to formulate a medication to keep them from being so sexually aggressive and decides she must sexually tempt one of them.  She selects Rob.  She brings just happens to have brought sexy night attire.  She masturbates, gets naked, and performs oral sex on Rob–all in the name of temptation?  I just couldn’t visualize any scientist deciding to masturbate with underwear on in the name of testing a medication.

Once she realizes that she develops feelings for Rob and the medication is working she hurts him by making him think that she believes he is subhuman and a beast.  Ms Harbin did an excellent job of portraying Rob’s emotions.  She also realistically portrayed Ariel’s fear of commitment and doubt that love exists.  I found myself angry with Ariel for not recognizing Rob’s true value and his love while at the same time understanding how difficult it would be to embark on another relationship so soon after being jilted.  Ariel and Rob come back together, and with the help of medication Rob is able to delay mating with Ariel until she is ready.

This is another short, hot read with enough plot twists to keep you glued to the book despite some of its far fetched dialogue.