Resisting Ivy

by Carisse Lee

I shouldn't want my father's best friend, but I do, and to make matters worse, he's now my boss. My incredibly attractive and extremely off-limits, much older boss. And the man I've secretly lusted after since I was a teenager.
I see the way he looks at me when he thinks no one is looking, i see the war raging in his head. He wants me.
Even though I am his best-friends daughter, and that's why he keeps me at arm's length, but I see those walls crumbling, and it makes me... hot.
Will he be able to fight his desire for me, or will we both succumb, only for us to be ripped apart by the only person we both love and care for... My father.

Genres: Romance

226 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2025

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review for Resisting Ivy
4.5⭐️

Well this was a super fun and easy read. I was obsessed and finished in less than a day. Fast paced, low plot, high spice it was just what I needed!!

I’m all for a forbidden romance, throw in a 22 year age gap plus father’s best friend I was all in. Oh my god Ivy was such a brat I loved her so much full of sass that one but I know Levi wouldn’t have her any other way.
They had amazing chemistry Levi was so hot and damn does that man know how to grovel 🥵

It was so fun seeing Violet and her men make an appearance I just love hers and Ivy’s friendship. Also super excited for Delilah’s story but wow that’s going to be an interesting read I’m already so invested.

Thanks so much Car for the arc for Resisting Ivy I’m so appreciative and I’ve loved our chats. Can’t wait to see what else you have been working on 🖤

Tropes
💋Dad’s best-friend
💋Age gap (22 years)
💋Boss/Assistant
💋Low plot, High Spice
💋Novella
💋Possessive MMC
💋SASSY FMC
💋Submission
💋Grovelling
💋 Fun with toys

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review -
LEVI- “Where are you?” I say through clenched teeth, pacing my office.
“jeez, I’m literally standing out front of the building” her tone dripping with sass and sarcasm.
“Want to rethink that tone?”
“Nope” I can imagine her rolling her eyes.

My gosh! Ivy ☺️ Levi 🫡 The spicy 😮‍💨 The boundary pushing and Ivy’s sass through the whole book is just 🤌

[Michelle Ottey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh… okay this one sounded really good in theory. Unfortunately I DNFd at about 40%.
I loved the idea of the dads best friend trope that then becomes the fmcs boss. At first I felt it was lacking chemistry between the characters like there was a few almost oopies but not really a heated desire. I pushed through thinking that it’ll build up but it didn’t really and then the mmc becomes possessive which is usually good except he was more taking it out on her then guy that she was talking to. Which kind of put me off.
Then we start getting into the bdsm type stuff. Which I’m usually all for but with this one there was no discussion about whether this was something she wanted to engage in nor about what she was comfortable with or her limits. Nothing … which can be very dangerous for the submissive partner.
Which brings me to my next point. This was where I DNF unfortunately. Now I am completely fine when it comes to back door play but only when it’s done correctly and safely. In this case it wasn’t.
There was one line that finally put me into the DNF zone for this book and it was this,
“Brats don’t get lube,”
Lube is not a privilege when it comes to back door play. It’s a necessity. The back door is not self lubricating like a vagina and requires lubrication to be used to ensure that the receiving party isn’t injured let alone actually enjoy it.
The first time the mmc inserts the butt plug he uses a bit of his cum which would in no way be sufficient for insertion especially with her not being prepared or relaxed enough. The second time he puts it back in (because she took it out cause it wasn’t comfortable) he lets her suck the plug in her mouth using her saliva to reinsert it and uses that line when she says something about lube.
Let’s ignore that anal play wasn’t consented to by the fmc in any way but focus on that this would have been an extremely painful ordeal for her unlike what is described. Let alone her having to wear it all day. It wouldn’t have just been “uncomfortable with a burning sensation”. It would have been really painful.
Even with him being dominant and her being a brat. No dominant will do something that wasn’t consented to prior nor would they do something that could cause bodily harm to their submitable party.
I’m a big believer in researching certain topics when it comes to writing smut and I would recommend that this and any author if they want to include things within their books to do some research. Reach out to people online to talk to about the right way of doing it. There also lots of resources online that really could have helped these scenes.
Overall, this book sounded really interesting and had a ton of potential. Some people might be able to overlook these things or not really have an issue with them but unfortunately for me this one was just one that I didn’t enjoy.

[DaniReads12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resisting Ivy
By Carisse Lee
5⭐️


Carisse Lee.. this book should come with a warning, you’ll need an extra pair of panties while reading!! My OH my Levi and Ivy was EVERYTHING! Carisse’s writing has your emotions in her hands, she’s now your master while reading and she’ll let you know when she’s ready to give it to you! Bc when she gives it to you.. 🥵🌶️

Levi, trying to distract his hard on over Ivy’s picture after stalking her social, MIND YOU, his best friend Nate, ((cough cough, Ivy’s Dad)) is asking him if she can work for Levi.

Resisting Ivy.. perfect name for the book bc it doesn’t last long to resist Ivy, let me tell you. Levi unfolds at the sight of her.
Not a direct quote, but his inner thoughts when he said, “But I’ve now tasted her lips, and fuck me, she tastes like she’s mine” had me kicking my feet and screaming YESSSS!

The only plot in this story has to be that Ivy needed a job, but Levi had another job idea for her. To fuck the Brat out of her!!
And his nickname, Poison for her.. the heartbeat I have in my lady parts.. holy moly!!

If you’re into a spicy age gap… this is your read!! So have your toys ready and get to reading bc the spice be spicing !!! 🥵🌶️

[darkromancexo · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Levi & Ivy

This is the second book I’ve read by Carisse and it’s so good. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. Age gap, dad’s best friend all check marks for me I devoured this book. I couldn’t wouldn’t put it down it was too good and the spice was definitely spicing 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨
Ivy working for Levi as his secretary was everything. Every scene together was so good. And when Ivy’s dad catches them in a mid compromising scene 😮😮 I was on the edge of my seat.
I was so happy when Violet and her three men made some appearances ☺️☺️
Can’t wait for the next book

[MrsBrown & HerBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I devoured this read! I found myself reading at such a fast pace trying to keep up with them.
This definitely gives taboo Dads best friend and Forbidden Love! If these tick your boxes, don’t hesitate to jump right in, there is plenty to share.

If you loved Court of the Vampire Queen then this book is for you! 70% smut and 30% story. It got hot and heavy quickly but the plot be plotting and the story isn’t completely lost by all the smut! 💋

I was surprisingly happy with this book! And do recommend for a quick platelet cleansing if u need between books 😉😘

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resisting Ivy
By Carisse Lee
4 🌟 5 🌶
Another panty drenching story from Carisse Lee. But the book title is wrong... there was no resisting Ivy. And no resisting Levi either. Their unashamed passion for each other is electric. And the things they do in the bedroom (and on the office desk) .... hot hot hot.

[Ev · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Resisting Ivy
@carisselee_author
228 pages

I really need to work on my poker face when reading in public. 😂

I really enjoyed Ivy and Levi.. I mean Sir.
You don’t have to read Charming Violet first (would be a good idea though) but I do recommend reading it!

The spice is amazing. There is a plot but lots of spice!

Definitely a great first read of 2025!

[Rachel Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️ 3/5🌶️

This was so good!

The character development was good. The plot was solid. The spice was spicy 🌶️

We fist met Ivy in Charming Violet (book 1) she’s Violet’s best friend. This book briefly answers the cliff hanger from book one & then gives a short and spicy age gap romance.

[Annabelle Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s talk about this gem, shall we? Holy. Hot. Daddy. Best friend? Check. Boss? Check. Possessive Dom? Double check. This was 200 pages of pure, unfiltered lust, and let me tell you—I was here for it.

Plot? Eh, who needs it when the chemistry is this electric? This wasn’t about intricate storylines or world-building. This was about raw, unapologetic heat. The kind of heat that had me flipping through pages faster than Ivy could sass Levi (which, by the way, was a delight to witness).

Ivy was a bratty little firecracker, and watching her push every one of Levi’s buttons was chef’s ki— (ugh, scratch that)—a work of art. Levi, for all his dominant swagger, was completely gone for her from the start, and don’t even try to convince me otherwise. That man was whipped, and we all loved it.

This was my first taste of this author, and when I realized there’s already a book about Ivy’s friend Violet and her three boyfriends? Consider me officially signed up for the smut parade.

If you’re in the mood for a quick, steamy escape that will leave you feeling all kinds of ways (ahem), this one’s for you. Minimal angst, maximum satisfaction. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a backlist to binge.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Dad’s best friend, Boss, age gap, forbidden in your wheel house? If so yes, you need to read this! It’s a quick read with good spice and lots of BDSM elements. If you’re a fan of the above mentioned tropes and a little brat tamer energy give this a try!

[Brooklyn L. Wolves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it was beautifully written and the character were amazing.

[Dee | myliteraryera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super fun novella to read from Carisse again!
RTC ❤️‍🔥

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

"After kissing her, there is a special place in hell reserved just for me"

It's normal to miss characters after you've finished reading a book, right? Because with the hot and steamy scenes between Levi and Ivy, the fight for dominance and the taming of a brat that tries to brat a little too close to the sun, I was absolutely hooked on this fast from start to finish! Low plot, high spice and fast paced is just what you need sometimes and Carisse has hit the mark twice now, first with her debut Charming Violet. I grew to love the characters in that story too, which spill so well into Resisting Ivy, the little nods and interconnection are perfect.

The non-stop chemistry between the characters is tense and HOT, I cannot get enough of Ivy's sassy attitude, but then there's Levi's dirty mouth! The way this author writes men is something you do not want to miss! Carisse Lee is a top-of-the-list Author for me, and it will always be an instant, "Yes, Sir," for her men!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Forbidden Lust series, Resisting Ivy is a steamy, fast-paced romance packed with taboo themes like age gap, dad’s best friend, and BDSM. Ivy’s bratty, sassy attitude collides perfectly with the dominant male lead, creating sizzling chemistry and plenty of tension. The “but Daddy, I love him” trope adds a playful, forbidden edge, while the BDSM dynamic is well-executed, enhancing their fiery connection. Carisse Lee keeps the story tight and easy to devour in one sitting. Perfect for fans of kinky, forbidden romances that deliver all the spice.

[Brit.Readz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of spicy books. I have not read a lot of GOOD age gap spicy books.

This one is so well done! I loved it! Levi is just yummy, Ivy is so sassy but like it makes it so fun.

The spice was 🥵.
This book was a quick and easy one but so well worth it! Absolutely loved it! Highly recommend!

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Format: 📱 eBook 📱 (ARC)

This was another fun, fast paced, spicy, easy to read novella from Lee that was easily read in a couple of hours, and provided that little break from reality.

Combining some fun, taboo tropes - age gap, dad's best friend, boss/employee - and featuring the polycule from Lee's first novella, this low plot, high spice novella has an FMC full of sass, and an MMC that just wants to tame it.

I loved his nickname for her - Poison is so unique.

Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.