Force of Nature by Skye Warren & Amelia Wilde

Force of Nature by Skye Warren and Amelia Wilde was certainly an unexpected departure from The Crash with the introduction of a new stranger on the island. I had my own reservations about this character, especially when it came to how his role and dynamic will affect Carter Morelli and June Porter. Unfortunately, I wasn't completely sold on the ménage relationship considering that it was mostly founded on lust and instant attraction. I was more interested in the budding relationship between June and Carter instead as they initially sought to take cover from those seeking them harm. As they travel further into the jungle, Carter is forced to contend with his identity and feelings for June as well as the sudden appearance of the mysterious man.

"It's as if he's memorizing me—the feel of me. The taste. As if he's taking the last kiss he'll ever have."

I was slightly disappointed by this story because I expected more from Carter and June. Even after finishing the book, I still couldn't grasp who they we’re as characters. Carter Morelli is haunted by his family's legacy and is adamant about being a sinner. But why? Carter has lived a good life while distancing himself from his family and hiding his double life from them. As for June, she is a struggling photographer with a difficult childhood. The mysterious man is even more of an enigma because of his religious upbringing and contradictory nature. They had nothing in common with each other. The addition of Theo only further complicated Carter and June's relationship.

"This woman is like the actual sun—cheerful like a giant burning star. She's burning me."

If you like the forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine tropes with the added bonus of MMF, then you won't be disappointed by Carter, June, and Theo's complicated relationship. There is no denying that the sex scenes were extremely erotic, filthy, and almost dreamlike in a way—this fits perfectly with the mood of this book because everything felt like a dream or hallucination. While this story is part of the Midnight Dynasty universe, it can be read as a standalone. I do have to say that the story was fast-paced and made for an entertaining read. At first, it was a survival story between Carter and June but then it transformed into an entirely different one with the introduction of Theo. The book does end with a twist of a cliffhanger that will make readers question everything.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★☆☆