Exploring Limits by Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna

We could always share him…

After failing to capture the attention of their bicurious costar singlehandedly, Kit and Devon team up to seduce Jonathan, who plays King Arthur in the new miniseries Camelot.

The chemistry between the three actors is off the charts, and it brings out the adventurous side in all of them. Things heat up in the bedroom as the trio explores the pleasures of dominance, submission, bondage, toys, and anything else they can find to get the most out of their secret time together.

But a gay ménage presents problems without easy solutions—especially as they work closely together on set. For their threesome to survive and evolve into a true committed relationship, they’ll all have to test their physical and emotional limits.

This volume includes newly edited and expanded versions of the novellas: Exploring Limits, Stretching Limits, and Refining Limits.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆
I have been gradually getting into m/m/m books and most of them work for me. This one didn't really work for me. I didn't feel a connection to Jonathan, Devon, or Kit. Even with the story being told from all three points of view, I still didn't connect with any of them. This book was heavy on the sex, which normally I am all over, but I found myself getting bored. I am not sure if it was because I wasn't connected to any of the characters, because there wasn't really much of a plot, or because some of the sexual scenes were just a tad embellished. I am sure others will love this book and this series. I think I might have enjoyed this one more if it was shorter, which I never say, but I think that might have worked better for this book.

Growing up in Chicago, NICKI BENNETT spent every Saturday at the central library, losing herself in the world of books. A voracious reader, she eventually found it difficult to find enough of the kind of stories she liked to read and decided to start writing them herself.

Connect with Nicki

Facebook  ~  Goodreads


When ARIEL TACHNA was twelve years old, she discovered two things: the French language and romance novels. Those two loves have defined her ever since. By the time she finished high school, she’d written four novels, none of which anyone would want to read now, featuring a young woman who was—you guessed it—bilingual. That girl was everything Ariel wanted to be at age twelve and wasn’t.

She now lives on the outskirts of Houston with her husband (who also speaks French), her kids (who understand French even when they’re too lazy to speak it back), and their two dogs (who steadfastly refuse to answer any French commands).

Connect with Ariel

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Exploring Limits (Exploring Limits #1) by Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna to read and review.

Rebuild My Heart by Ariel Tachna

A love built to last.

When Derek Jackson is hired to renovate the LGBT bookstore that’s also Owen Hensley’s home, opposites attract. Derek is a big burly blue-collar guy, about ten years older than slight, sweet, and bookish Owen. As they spend time together, it becomes clear that each handsome outside leads to a beautiful interior. Far from the shy twink he appears, Owen has a rock-solid foundation that helped him put himself through college and start his own business. Behind Derek’s strong façade waits a tender heart that’s been battered by a rough family past—something Owen understands.

After Owen’s runaway nephew lands on his doorstep, it throws a wrench in their plans. Derek can’t ask Owen to choose, but he doesn’t think he can take second place with his lover the way he always has with his family. Can they find a way to keep their romance standing?

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Bookshop owner Owen and builder Derek are an unlikely match but as Derek spends months renovating Owen’s home and business, the two men slowly start to realise how much they do have in common.

Both Owen and Derek have a whole lot of hang-ups and baggage. Owen has been treated badly by his family and his romantic partners. Derek’s family is such a mess he doesn’t allow himself to have partners. The result is the slowest and most angst-filled courtship I can remember.

However, even though I found the relationship infuriating, the book worked for me because I fell hard for Owen and Derek immediately. I love the relationship Derek has with his friends and the way he mentors Thane’s teenage sons. I love Owen’s passion for his bookshop and the relationships he has with his staff and his customers.

This story didn’t quite work for me as a romance, but I loved it as a story about two men with rich lives, solid friendships, and interesting jobs. I don’t love kids in romances, but I really liked the older teenagers in this one. I always love Ariel Tachna’s prose and this story is beautifully written and full of thoughtful reflections.

Also Available in the Lexington Lovers Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our A Matchless Man post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Stage Two post.

When ARIEL TACHNA was twelve years old, she discovered two things: the French language and romance novels. Those two loves have defined her ever since. By the time she finished high school, she’d written four novels, none of which anyone would want to read now, featuring a young woman who was—you guessed it—bilingual. That girl was everything Ariel wanted to be at age twelve and wasn’t.

She now lives on the outskirts of Houston with her husband (who also speaks French), her kids (who understand French even when they’re too lazy to speak it back), and their two dogs (who steadfastly refuse to answer any French commands).

Connect with Ariel

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rebuild My Heart (Lexington Lovers #4) by Ariel Tachna to read and review.

Stage Two by Ariel Tachna

Love has a steep learning curve.

Assistant high school principal Blake Barnes has everything he wants—a chance to help troubled students and an outlet for his passion for theater. Well, almost everything—he still goes home to an empty apartment. Then his high school crush explodes back into his life, the unexpected guardian of two boys in Blake’s care.

Thane Dalton has always been a bad boy through and through. Not much has changed, including his mistrust of authority figures, and no amount of institutional bureaucracy will keep him from protecting his nephews from the bullies terrorizing them. If that means butting heads with Blake, so be it.

Blake and Thane have lessons to learn: that they both have the boys’ best interests at heart, that the tension between them isn’t just confrontational, and that sparks can fly when opposites come together.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

High school teacher Blake and construction boss Thane are thrown together when Thane’s nephews become the victims of bullies at Blake’s school. Sparks fly from the first meeting, but Blake and Thane don’t always agree on the best way to keep the boys safe.

Blake feels a little bland at the start of the story. He doesn’t really have a life beyond his job. It’s his interactions with students that give him colour and let us see his interests and enthusiasm. Thane is all colour and character but when he is given guardianship of his nephews, he finds himself having to grow up and be responsible for the first time ever.

Together, Blake and Thane balance each other. There is one exaggerated miscommunication that I found annoying but otherwise, their relationship is pretty grown up and their focus is Thane’s kids. However, my major reservation about this story is that the adult relationship is secondary to the men's care for the boys. This makes for a sweet story but it isn't terribly sexy.

It took me a while to understand Blake’s role at the high school. I think he’d be a Head of Year in the UK. Much of this story takes place at his school and the author captures the interactions between staff, students, and parents really well.

I’m not a massive fan of family style romances and I don’t often enjoy kids in romance writing. However, Thane’s boys are well developed characters and I really liked the almost young adult parts of this story. The kids do restrict the heat level in this story, but they also add personality and they bring Blake and Thane together.

Also Available in the Lexington Lovers Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our A Matchless Man post.

When ARIEL TACHNA was twelve years old, she discovered two things: the French language and romance novels. Those two loves have defined her ever since. By the time she finished high school, she’d written four novels, none of which anyone would want to read now, featuring a young woman who was—you guessed it—bilingual. That girl was everything Ariel wanted to be at age twelve and wasn’t.

She now lives on the outskirts of Houston with her husband (who also speaks French), her kids (who understand French even when they’re too lazy to speak it back), and their two dogs (who steadfastly refuse to answer any French commands).

Connect with Ariel

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Stage Two (Lexington Lovers #3) by Ariel Tachna to read and review.

Talking in Code by Ariel Tachna

Some things crumble under pressure. Others are tempered by it instead. For three former soldiers, a tragedy might be the catalyst that binds them together—stronger than ever.

Richard Horn and Timothy Davenport met in the SEALs twenty years ago and have been lovers ever since. Now running their own paramilitary organization, Strike Force Omega, they work in the shadows to protect their country and its people. When Tim falls for Eric Newton, a deadly sniper and strategist on their team, Richard accepts that Tim’s heart is big enough for two men. He respects, admires, and even desires Eric enough to accept him into their relationship—and their bed—but he’s never been fully a part of what Eric and Tim share.

Then Eric is captured by terrorists and Tim is gravely injured in an op gone wrong, bringing Richard’s world crashing down around his ears. Even if he gets his men out alive, Eric must face the aftermath of months of physical and psychological torture—and without Tim to lean on, Eric’s PTSD is tearing him apart. Richard has to figure out the third leg of their triangle fast, or Tim won’t have a life to come back to.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I didn’t know what to expect when going into this book other than it was about a triad relationship. Sometimes books with triads work, sometimes they don’t, this one did and I was really pleased. Richard, Tim “Dav,” and Eric have been together for four years and then tragedy strikes… twice. This story was well written and the characters were easy to connect with. The secondary characters were a nice addition as well and I think added to the story as well. There was a lot of miscommunication going on and a lot of mixed feelings that were unnecessary, but once Richard and Eric stopped talking in code, everything went smoothly. The love these three men had for each other and all that they endured was a test of true love and it was a great story.

Characters: Well written and the reader could connect with the characters
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Not sure
Genre: M/M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Sarah – ☆☆☆
This story really wasn’t what I was expecting from the blurb. I was expecting a black ops adventure and instead this was the story of three men renegotiating their relationship after two failed missions result in serious injuries, leaving them all emotionally fragile.

Ariel Tachna has been an auto-buy ever since I fell in love with her Lang Downs series. Unfortunately and unusually, this story didn’t quite work for me. I felt like I had fallen into the fifth or sixth book in a series and I felt adrift without the worldbuilding or character development I needed to fully engage in the story.

This story takes place when Richard and Tim have been together for twenty years and Eric has been with them for four. We get bits of their stories at various points in the book, but I didn’t quite understand the nature of their Strike Force Omega organisation and none of the three men ever really quite came alive for me.

Most of this story takes place as Eric and Tim recover in a military hospital in Germany. Eric and Richard alternately stand vigil at Tim’s bedside and work to help Eric with his own recovery. The conflict in the story is Richard and Eric learning to love each other without Tim’s assistance. There are moments of intrigue and intelligence gathering, but this definitely isn’t the action story I was expecting. I also found the ending abrupt and a little bit confusing.

The sex in this book is hot. It takes a while before Eric and Richard get to bed but by the end of the story, this book is probably best classed as ménage erotica. Where the characterisation, plot, and world building isn’t what I expect from this author, the sex between the three men is much steamier than in many of her books.


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is another book that I didn't even read the blurb before jumping in. I saw it was an Ariel Tachna book and I had to read it. I absolutely love Ariel Tachna's way of creating characters that are so true and real, so much so that I can see them and feel like, by the end of the story, I know them as I would someone I sat down and had a long conversation with instead of a character that is one dimensional.

I absolutely loved the way this story played out. Sure, we jump into a threesome. One pair that has been together for a very long time while the third is relatively new to the relationship. However, that being said, we get to watch as the relationship changes, grows, adapts, and becomes this wonderful, supportive union in ways that it wasn't when the book first started. We get to watch these two very strong men struggle when what they both considered to be the 'glue' in their relationship is out of commission.

Then there are the medical and PTSD things that are having to be dealt with on top of the blunders going on in their personal lives.

This is probably one of the best books I've read about a threesome. It shows that things aren't always smooth, things aren't always easy. Communication is essential in every relationship, but more so when there are three. This is a story truly about the interior workings of the relationship, more so than the jobs that the men have, but it is a really well written story that I enjoyed very much.

When ARIEL TACHNA was twelve years old, she discovered two things: the French language and romance novels. Those two loves have defined her ever since. By the time she finished high school, she’d written four novels, none of which anyone would want to read now, featuring a young woman who was—you guessed it—bilingual. That girl was everything Ariel wanted to be at age twelve and wasn’t.

She now lives on the outskirts of Houston with her husband (who also speaks French), her kids (who understand French even when they’re too lazy to speak it back), and their two dogs (who steadfastly refuse to answer any French commands).

Connect with Ariel

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Talking in Code by Ariel Tachna to read and review.

Service with a Smirk by Ariel Tachna

Pascal Larocque, a waiter at a high-end Montréal restaurant, knows what it means to love—and he knows what it means to lose. He buried the man he expected to spend his life with years ago. He’s perfectly happy with his solitude, or so he tells his friends. But a chance encounter in a neighborhood bar followed by a run-in at his apartment building turns his world upside down.

Mathias Perras is twenty-four, newly arrived in Montréal, and works two jobs so he can live on rue Sainte-Catherine in the heart of the gay district. During the day, he’s on a fast track to management at the Banque de Montréal. At night, he waits tables at a gay bar down the street. He’s burning the candle at both ends, but it will be worth it when his career takes off and he has the life he’s always dreamed of. When he meets Pascal, one more piece of that dream slots into place. Pascal is everything he wants in a lover: older, self-assured, established in his life and his career. But Pascal doesn’t look at him twice. What’s a boy have to do to get a little action?

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆
I really wanted to like this book. I like the age difference between Mathias and Pascal, but I just couldn’t connect with either of the characters. I didn’t feel any passion between them. I just felt like I was reading about two friends who kind of liked each other. The only scene that had any feeling for me was the phone sex scene. I was hoping after that part it would get better, but it really didn’t. I am sure others will enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me.

Characters: Couldn’t connect with them
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Not sure
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet, slow May to December romance between two very different men. Mathias is ambitious, driven, and focused. He knows what he wants in all areas of his life and he is willing to nearly kill himself to realise his dreams. When Mathias decides he wants the much older Pascal, he won’t stop until he gets the man he wants.

At 48, Pascal is settled in a comfortable life. His work as a waiter in a high end restaurant pays him enough to enjoy good food and exotic travel. After burying his life partner, he doesn’t anticipate another romance and he is happy enough on his own. Until he meets Mathias and feels pulled towards the much younger man. Pascal is a difficult character. I enjoyed his friendships and the peaceful life he created for himself, but I found his brooding and overthinking a little tiresome at times.

I enjoyed Mathias more. His drive to get ahead in his career contrasts well with Pascal’s contentment. I loved the way his initial excitement at the attention from bar customers was tempered as he reflected more on the nature of his job and the boundaries he wanted to set up. I’m not sure I fully understand his desire for an older partner, but I liked that it was Mathias pursuing the older Pascal in this story.

The May to December theme is very clear in this story. Mathias definitely reads like a 24-year-old. I loved his impetuousness, his energy, and his quick certainty. In contrast, Pascal is guarded and cautious, slow to trust and slower to invest in a relationship. His caution makes for a story that is very slow and more romantic than sexy.

Montreal is a great choice for setting – Ariel Tachna is the queen of exciting and unusual settings and she manages to capture the elegant, liberal feel of North America’s most European city. I loved the way her characters switched easily between languages and the way her Montreal is so distinct from her Paris in the last story.

When ARIEL TACHNA was twelve years old, she discovered two things: the French language and romance novels. Those two loves have defined her ever since. By the time she finished high school, she’d written four novels, none of which anyone would want to read now, featuring a young woman who was—you guessed it—bilingual. That girl was everything Ariel wanted to be at age twelve and wasn’t.

She now lives on the outskirts of Houston with her husband (who also speaks French), her kids (who understand French even when they’re too lazy to speak it back), and their two dogs (who steadfastly refuse to answer any French commands).

Connect with Ariel

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Service with a Smirk (At Your Service #2) by Ariel Tachna to read and review.

A Matchless Man by Ariel Tachna

None of the matches caught his eye as much as the matchmaker himself.

Growing up poorer than poor didn’t leave Navashen Bhattathiri many options for life outside of school. All of his concentration was on keeping his scholarships. Sixteen years later, he’s fulfilled his dream and become a doctor. Now he’s returning home to Lexington and is ready to prove himself to the world. In doing so, he reconnects with Brent Carpenter—high school classmate, real estate agent, all-around great guy… and closet matchmaker.

Brent makes it his mission to help Navashen develop a social life and meet available, interesting men. Unfortunately Navashen’s schedule is unpredictable, and few of those available, interesting men value his dedication like Brent does. Brent’s unfailing friendship and support convince Navashen he’s the one, but can he capture Brent’s heart when the matchmaker is focused on finding Navashen another man?

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M Romance
Triggers: Cultural differences

I did not read the first book in this series. However, I never thought that I was missing out on anything.

The main characters in this book have a friendship. I wouldn't really categorize this story as a "romance" in the sense, but more of a friends turned to lovers.

Brent is a successful realtor who helps his old school rival, Navashen, to find a house when Navashen relocates to be closer to his family. Brent is the center of the party and has a lot of friends that he's helped find happiness. However, because of his own past, he's reluctant to take the plunge himself.

Navashen is a sheltered, immature character, which is somewhat true of medical students. They have no time for outside relationships because they are spending all of their spare time studying and learning. He is head of the NICU department and he is learning how to be an adult and live outside of his family's shadow. There is no real depth to him.

Then you have Akshat. This is Navashen's younger brother. It is hinted that he has a delay of some kind, but we are never really given a clear picture. He defends his older brother with every fiber of his being and loves with his entire self. I really enjoyed this character.

Then you have Navashen's parents. They are old fashioned and, especially his mom, are somewhat judgmental about Navashen's sexual orientation.

Overall, this was a slightly stunted story. No real drama, no real heat, and it was more ho-hum regarding all of the secondary characters too.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a very sweet friends to lovers romance. When Navashen, an introverted doctor, returns to his hometown to run the NICU, his realtor, an extroverted high school friend, takes him under his wing. Work and family commitments make it difficult for Navashen to socialise, but he and Brent quickly form a strong friendship that has the possibility to become something more.

I enjoyed Navashen's alternative approach to relationships. He doesn’t want a relationship arranged by his parents, but he also rejects the importance Western culture places on physical attractiveness. His desire for a man who can be a true life partner is an interesting blend of his Eastern traditions and his Western realities.

The author’s research into Navashen’s job, his training, and his education is refreshingly thorough. I’m married to a doctor and I am constantly annoyed by the plethora of dashing, sociable, charming 35 year old heads of medicine or surgery that seem to dominate romance fiction. I love that Navashen’s job makes a social life almost impossible. I love him as a quiet, cautious introvert. He feels real to the point that he is more than a tiny bit...boring. Or maybe just sweetly human.

Navashen’s relationship with his family is also realistic. The family’s struggle to treat Akshat, Navashen’s disabled brother, as an adult is complicated and Navashen and Akshat’s relationship has been delicately written. The conflict between Navashen and his parents when he starts to date a white man is also written sensitively and without any drama.

And finally… Brent. He is a solid friend, he accepts and includes Akshat in his social activities and he genuinely cares for Navashen in so many practical ways. He is the true life partner Navashen has been looking for and I love the gentle, steady commitment between these two.

This isn’t a steamy romance by any means; it is the story of a solid connection between two quite ordinary men. This is a gentle book with very little drama or angst. It is a different style and pace for Ariel Tachna, but I really enjoyed it.

When ARIEL TACHNA was twelve years old, she discovered two things: the French language and romance novels. Those two loves have defined her ever since. By the time she finished high school, she’d written four novels, none of which anyone would want to read now, featuring a young woman who was—you guessed it—bilingual. That girl was everything Ariel wanted to be at age twelve and wasn’t.

She now lives on the outskirts of Houston with her husband (who also speaks French), her kids (who understand French even when they’re too lazy to speak it back), and their two dogs (who steadfastly refuse to answer any French commands).

Connect with Ariel

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A Matchless Man (Lexington Lovers #2) by Ariel Tachna to read and review.