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Living the Fantasy #2

Compelling Urges

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Successful business owner Ivy Chambers has no reason to doubt her love for her brilliant financier boyfriend Bodhi Monaghan—right up until the moment he disappears into the night.Crushed and abandoned, she falls into the arms of Bodhi’s handsome best friend and surfing buddy Cooper Houston—who is more than happy to keep her warm at night.A year later, Bodhi returns unexpectedly. He’s shocked to find Ivy and Cooper engaged, and he can’t handle it.Will Bodhi, Cooper, or Ivy come out on top (or middle...or bottom)?How far will they be compelled by their urges?Suitable for adult readers only. (Psst! There’s a lot of sex and some naughty language).

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2021

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About the author

Ariella Talix

24 books139 followers
Ariella Talix is a best-selling author from Indiana who writes spicy romance because she loves a great happy ending. Her books are all either MF or MMF (“swords” cross) stories for readers who share her belief that all love is beautiful.

Ariella’s novels are full of humor and suspense. She has written both historical and contemporary tales. Her “Hearts of Gold” series is a thrilling saga based on the 1849 California Gold Rush. This was inspired in part by family history and would make a fantastic miniseries (an author can dream). Her contemporary books are filled with adventure and people who can’t live without their dogs, cats, and horses. Her women are strong, and her men are swoon-worthy.

If you get a chance to attend a book signing event, she would love to meet you!

And, in case you were wondering, "Ariella Talix" is a Pun Name.

If you slip her a shot of tequila, she may act out a scene from one of her books. ;) For more information on her books, please visit www.AriellaTalix.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for tatisbookshelf .
276 reviews2 followers
August 14, 2021
This book this book utterly surprise me! I absolutely love this book. I read a little bit of the description (I didn’t read too much of it, so that way I can go in reading this book blind). With that being said, I thought this book was about a boss and two coworkers. Much to my surprise, to find it’s about two males roommates and a woman. That’s confusion on my part, if I would’ve read the description fully I would’ve saw that book is between roommates lol.

Now that we’re over my confusion lol let’s get into the gossip parts. I absolutely love this book. I would read it again 10 times more. The way this author conveyed the relationship really made me wanting a polyamorous relationship myself. I loved the writing style, really liked the aspect of different POV‘s. It was a little confusing at first because the POVs aren’t labeled by name but I feel like you kind of catch on sooner rather than later about who we’re reading from. & it doesn’t affect the book at all. Also I loved how everyone in this became very supportive of the polyamorous relationship. Absolutely loved Cooper, Ivy, and Brodi.

* really liked the twist with Blair. I just knew something was fishy about her. Spoiler BTWS*
868 reviews10 followers
July 30, 2021
Love Without Limits

No one sets out in life to challenge or smash the accepted views of society. But there are times that societal views need to be smashed. When the expression of love—how one loves or whom one loves—is questioned or challenged for simply existing in a form different from that dictated by society—is a time to react and even to reject—the expectations of that society—love is always to be protected and honored regardless of the form or shape in which it appears.

When, Cooper Houston, a lawyer, and his friend, best friend Bodhi Monaghan, a clever financial advisor, first met, their friendship was based on like interests—surfing and beach volleyball. The physically fit, attractive 20-something professionals connected intellectually and through shared sports. And, when beautiful Ivy Chambers, the owner of an important art gallery in Del Mar, with her straight ebony hair and brown eyes, met the blonde-haired financier with his surfer’s athletic body, golden blonde hair and hazel eyes, there was a power physical and intellectual attraction, and before too long Ivy had moved into the house owned by Bodhi, sharing his bedroom as lovers evolving into partners. And, while Ivy joyfully verbalized her love for Bodhi, and his actions certainly suggested love for Ivy, he never spoke the words. And when without warning, leaving only a note of brief explanation and goodbye to his best friend, Cooper, and girlfriend, Ivy, Bodhi left for a company relocation in London, two hearts were bruised. It was natural that the two broken hearted individuals who both loved Bodhi would turn to each other for comfort, and over time, for love.

Now, one year later, Bodhi has returned to find his girlfriend and his best friend are now lovers and engaged to marry. Just as Bodhi had fled California for London, his return is also a flight of escape. The London experience was a nightmare and his life has been turned upside-down both at work and in relationships. And, the two individuals who should welcome Bodhi’s return, have found each other, and while they both still love Bodhi, they now love each other. But, if the three friends—lovers and former lovers—are to survive the days ahead, they must fully understand that a triad is stronger than a couple.

Ariella Talix challenges her readers to open their minds and hearts to explore a more expansive vision of love and sexual relationships, inviting her readers to join her in the world of a trio of young, creative, engaging friends who are open to accepting and affirming the uniqueness of those around them.

Talix is a gifted storyteller who plots the evolution of the story and the engagements and actions of her characters. And so, the exploration of her “triad,” a MMF relationship is a respectful, natural and tastefully sensual awakening and joining of loving characters. She challenges her readers to open their minds and hearts to explore a more expansive vision of love and sexual relationships, inviting her readers to join her in the world of a trio of young, creative, engaging friends who are open to accepting and affirming the uniqueness of those around them. Talix always shares hot, sensual moments with her readers, but those moments are never gratuitous—sensual moments always progress naturally in the evolving relationships of the characters and are not artificially contrived and evolve from trust. While following the growing relationship of the Ivy, Cooper, and Bohdi, Talix weaves around the triad a tale of mystery, danger and jealousy with clear vision of the journey which she spins for her readers, inviting them to join her in exploring a more expansive vision of love.

I received a free ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review, but I will acquire the work from Kindle Unlimited to taste again in the future.
Profile Image for Denise .
932 reviews9 followers
July 16, 2021

“I can’t sit here and say I love two people at the same time, but you’re only allowed to love me. I can’t be that selfish.”


“Compelling Urges” by Ariella Talix is a story about three consenting adults who each feel compelled to love both of the others. It’s not about feeling compelled to engage in sexual activity, although there’s plenty of that in this book. The story focuses on two men and a woman who love one another and struggle to figure out how to make that type of non-traditional relationship work.

Bodhi is an expert in making decisions in the world of finance, but in his personal life he can’t handle his own feelings toward Ivy, his beautiful girlfriend and Cooper, his handsome best friend/roommate. So, he runs off to another continent with the excuse of a job change but he doesn’t even tell either of them in person. It’s a terrible thing to do and it left me totally disgusted by him. Ivy and Cooper, both feeling horribly betrayed, at first comfort one another platonically. Then as time goes on their relationship blossoms into much more. When Bodhi suddenly comes back after being gone for a year, his indignant outrage at learning that Ivy and Cooper are now engaged made me even more aggravated.

Bodhi, Cooper and Ivy each battle their own feelings, desires and hurts at different points in the story. There are multiple startling developments in the book, including an unexpected villainess and a very memorable road trip. I’m not going to give a bunch of spoilers about the plot because it’s an interesting one that kept me reading late into the night. The experience of discovering what the author has carefully created is something everybody should enjoy for themselves. I will tell you that Ariella Talix somehow managed to redeem Bodhi’s character. His behavior was so terrible I didn’t think she’d be able to do that, but I should have known better!

The serious discussions and exploration of feelings and emotions are nicely balanced by just enough humor and light-hearted moments. There are good secondary characters that include the villainess I mentioned, Bodhi’s parents, Ivy’s mother, and key characters from “Just Curious”, the author’s previous book about another triad relationship. (If you haven’t already read that, you really should check it out!) If you’re not so sure about reading a book about three people in a relationship, I encourage you to try this one anyway. You can always skip the steamy parts if you want to. In my opinion, this story is really more about how we handle overwhelming or confusing emotions, the complicated path to forgiveness when somebody hurts us, and the importance of honesty in all our relationships with the people in our lives … including ourselves.
Profile Image for Eclectic Review.
1,712 reviews5 followers
September 8, 2021
I've read my share of triad relationships and, unfortunately, most of them revolve around sex.  However, Ms. Talix has actually created a love story with actual substance (and, yes, there are a number of steamy sex scenes as well). 

The storyline revolves around the 3 characters (Bohdi, Ivy, and Cooper) as they discover their new relationship as a triad and deal with the many real-life challenges. Bodhi, a brilliant financier, has a carefree and dominant personality that took some getting used to considering he broke Ivy and Cooper's hearts the way he just up and left one day leaving a note. I felt he didn't apologize with enough remorse and zeal when he first came back, but he eventually redeemed himself in the end after all the turmoil and mess his life choices caused him. Ivy is a gallery owner who was devastated at Bodhi's departure and moved on with Cooper, an attorney and Bodhi's best friend. Ultimately, she was the one who had her head on straight and held back her feelings for Bodhi until he proved trustworthy.  Sweet Cooper was the one who expressed his true feelings first about being in a triad relationship and felt he forgave Bodhi a little too quickly. But love, right?  

As they settled down into their new life together, Bodhi had a visit from a psycho woman from hell who was stalking him and making his life miserable. I felt this part of the story was unnecessary, but it gave more depth to Bodhi. In fact, Bodhi received all kinds of karma for being a real dick at the beginning and he overcame it with the two people he loved.

I enjoyed this steamy love story among three people who truly wanted to make a go of it despite the odds. The characters are compelling and as I said, the plot had some real substance.

Thank you to Ms. Talix for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Profile Image for Jerrica (Mrsmar10Reads) Martin .
1,725 reviews10 followers
July 22, 2021
Bodhi, Cooper, and Ivy all shared something in common - L- O- V- E. The thing is, Bodhi was afraid of what love looked like because it wasn’t conventional. He couldn’t handle his feelings so he fled the entire country to escape. No warning, basically a Dear John letter to his best friend and his girlfriend saying Cheers! Whoa ho, ho, that’s harsh. Coop and Ivy are left to pick up the shattered pieces of their broken hearts together, and because they always had an unspoken attraction to each other it worked. Coop was the better man and he and Ivy got engaged. Well, Bodhi decides to come home just after their engagement and things get weird, but then the reality of why he left is revealed. He loves both his best friend and his ex, but wasn’t sure of how to address his feelings. Funny story, Coop feels the same, and while Ivy is still hurting from his rejection and swift exit she does as well. Can these 3 make a poly amorous relationship work? What does it mean for Ivy’s and Coops relationship and engagement? Wait…who is Blair and why is she saying these things about Brodhi?

This book was amazing. It was a book about forgiveness, living your truth, loving who you love according to your own standards and not what society deems appropriate. These 3 overcame a lot and didn’t let anyway sway their decisions. Their support system was actually stellar and I applaud the open-minds of their friends and family.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1,681 reviews15 followers
September 1, 2021
Intriguing polyamorous romance with lots of heat…
My favorite romance genre: MMF and much like the one before this one, JUST CURIOUS, I loved it. Mentions of characters from JUST CURIOUS was nice too. Two lovers and best friends live together: Bodhi Monaghan and Ivy Chambers are very passionate lovers which makes Bodhi’s BFF, Cooper Houston jealous. But not because he’s jealous of Bodhi’s relationship with Ivy but that he wants them both! When Bodhi runs off to London, what happens to Ivy and Cooper in the meantime? What happens when Bodhi decides to come home with less than a day’s notice? And then, trouble from London follows Bodhi home. Beyond that poor Bodhi can’t catch a break. See what I mean by reading this deliciously steamy MMF romance.
The title seems very appropriate because there are many instances of compelling urges which involve our triad, of course but also Blair, Tabitha, Coop before Ivy, our surfers catching the perfect wave and then when Bodhi comes home. WHOA! This is one bumpy ride to an HEA. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through BookSirens. If you like MMF romance, read this book. You will not be disappointed…fast-paced, page turner.
Profile Image for Caitlin Gray.
76 reviews
January 15, 2024
Cooper Houston. Lawyer, surfer, and questioning his sexuality thanks to his best friend Bohdi.

Ivy Chambers. Smart, artsy, Bohdi’s ex girlfriend, and Cooper’s current wife.

This novel is a fast pace MMF romance. Overall, it was a great storyline and plot, the writing I thought was lacking. It was by far one of my favorite reads. It was clunky in spots and didn’t exactly accurately portray a poly relationship. The jealousy was a big turn off. But, with that being said, it was still a good book overall and I would definitely read another by this author.

Things I did not like:
The use of the phrase “bodacious tatas” - this was such a mood killer.
A lot of the dialogue seems stiff. Like, it doesn’t have a natural flow.
I kind of wished there was more story between Cooper and Ivy falling in love.

I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley in return for an honest review. This review is based on my own thoughts and feelings.
Profile Image for Lynn Stifle.
3,858 reviews66 followers
August 19, 2021
Wow!! This is my first read by this author and it most certainly did not disappoint. Ivy’s life was turned upside down and she was left devastated when her boyfriend, Bodhi left her with only a note saying it was over. Cooper, is Bodhi’s roommate and best friend, and he’s also hurt by Bodhi leaving. Cooper and Ivy find comfort in each other and over time their relationship becomes real and they get engaged. Bodhi returns to find Ivy and Cooper engaged and then the reason he left is revealed. Will Ivy, Bodhi, and Cooper get their happily ever after? Read and find out for yourself, you won’t regret it. This story packed some serious heat and there’s never a dull moment. The characters are dynamic and engaging and you can’t help being drawn into their journey. I loved every single minute of this story and highly recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Katrina.
913 reviews17 followers
August 31, 2021
Gee this book was hot! I nearly had to get the ice out to cool down! It’s very sexy and features many steamy scenes. What else can you expect from a story about a threesome relationship? Well this one also has some tender moments and angsty ones too. Bodhi,ivy and cooper find themselves in quite the predicament when they realize they all love one another equally. It may not be a conventional relationship it these theee do their best to make it work.
When reading Compelling urges , go in with an open mind and no preconceptions on this very unorthodox throupling. It’s an entertaining read and one to think about long after you’ve finished reading
Profile Image for Blair Burns.
949 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2021
Whatever you think this book is… you're probably wrong. I was. This is about the hottest book I have read… my kindle melted a little. Whoooo. So hot. I loved the voice the book was written in. Really enjoyed the characters thoughts as they worked through everything. I was kept on my toes the entire time. Thought I knew what was coming, then it wasn't what I thought. Real mind bender with some of the scenarios played out. Rollercoaster for sure! Really liked the way it was brought all together and the ending was beautifully satisfying. I want to check out some more books by Ariella Talix.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Haz.
1,016 reviews8 followers
July 22, 2021
I really enjoyed everything about this story,the characters bodhi,Cooper and ivy,I love that when bodhi up and left ivy and Cooper when he returned they were willing to forgive him and start a fresh I liked Cooper and bodhi discovering their attraction and feelings towards one other and having this new experience they never had before ,I was fighting for all three of them to get together ,I'm defiantly going to read Jackson ,will a and Casey story Just curious ,if I know of the author first I would of read that one before this oneI received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for CheyB Reading.
23 reviews
August 2, 2021
Wow..... Damn.... I loved it 😍... Ariella can do some wonderful things with an MMF storyline. Not everyone can do it justice but she does it perfectly every damn time. I thought I was hooked with Just Curious (another book you will absolutely love), but Ivy, Cooper, and Bodhi have a special place in my book loving heart ❤. The drama, suspense, and some pieces I just wasn't expecting 😳. This Book Definitely needs to be read, I very highly recommend. This is a Must-Read list book for you 😘

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Aimee Lombardo.
737 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2021
Wow, Compelling Urges was the first book that I have read from this author and she didn't disappoint!!!

The characters where flawed and fantastic and I fell in love with them. The story gripped me immediately and kept me engrossed the entire time. I couldnt put this one down!


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
512 reviews4 followers
July 17, 2021
What I love about Ariella's books is the focus on the characters, sure there are things going on in the background, but the developing relationship is always the main focus. This was no exception. It was great seeing Willa, Jackson and Casey again too. Easy to read with a good writing style and some very HOT scenes.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Tammy.
9,120 reviews51 followers
September 1, 2021
Fast-paced MMF read with loads of drama and emotion. Great characters with intense chemistry and plenty of depth. Their story is fast-paced and really draws you in from beginning to end. Bodhi, Ivy and Cooper have so many ups and downs will they find a way to make it work between the three of them? I loved it!
243 reviews4 followers
October 1, 2021
This book was a really great MMF. Ivy, Cooper and Bodhi were all interesting individually (even if I wanted to slap Bodhi sometimes) but the most fascinating thing was their relationship. And this book is not just a succession of steamy scenes, there is a real story with a lot of things happening.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Breen.
1,573 reviews
November 1, 2021
“Wow! This story was absolutely epic and so HOT! Ivy, Bodhi and Cooper’s story was surely a rollercoaster ride. First thing I loved about this plot was the fast-paced of it. Slow burn romances are hot for all the angst but I’m more into insta-love/lust. Back to the story, the plot was fascinating. Second thing I loved the most was the relationship between them. Not gonna lie sometimes I wanted to punch… not telling but all the hurt, emotions and the confuse feelings were worth their for their romance. Third thing, the steamy scenes *cough cough* HOT!!!”
Profile Image for Ariella Talix.
Author 24 books139 followers
June 16, 2021
Surf's up in this wild ride with Bodhi, Cooper, and Ivy. It's another MMF story- this time with plenty of action and angst.

Compelling Urges is available for pre-order now from Amazon and will go live on September 1, 2021.
Grab your copy!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0976DRRDB USA
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0976DRRDB UK
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0976DRRDB Australia
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0976DRRDB Canada

It will be available in all formats- E-book, Paperback, and Hardcover.

Just how far will they be compelled by their urges?
Profile Image for Rachel.
741 reviews9 followers
July 21, 2021
Compelling Urges are just what has to be confronted and welcomed in this book.

Bodhi leaves, so his best friend, Cooper, and his girlfriend, Ivy, take up with each other and are happy. But he comes back, and the sparks fly in all directions. The story is all about how they sort out their feelings for each other and figure out what to do about it.

We feel the hurt and pain, as well as the love that flows between and among these three. Each has things to sort out, especially the men. An insane villain shows up, and many more problems ensue.

I loved how the author keeps all these balls in the air (sorry about that!), and the plot is understandable. The villain was unique and sad but very well-written.

We just have to love these three and their magnificently erotic sex life.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Teal Wolf.
3,414 reviews26 followers
August 31, 2021
Compelling Urges by Ariella Talix  is a fantastic tale of a triad finding their way. Heated and emotional. Loved it!
276 reviews2 followers
December 30, 2021
I tell ya.

I love,love love this book, I felt the emotion of what Bodhi, Cooper and ivy ,the heart aches , love, joy ,compassion they were experiencing n having understanding friends n parents Supporting them great story line ..
Profile Image for MN Book Lady.
2,393 reviews6 followers
September 4, 2021
I love a good MMF book and this one fits the bill!

Bodhi is dating Ivy while his best friend, Cooper, also lives with him. And Bodhi has feelings for Cooper as well but doesn’t want to admit it. So he flees in the middle of the night. Leaving Cooper and Ivy a chance to try a relationship. And they fall in love with each other.

But Bodhi returns and this throws them all into a spin. Especially because he walks in on them having sex. And they don’t stop while he watches. And this starts a tentative relationship between all three, as Ivy shares she’s okay with them being together if they want.

But of course, they can’t have a happy ending. Part of Bodhi’s life in Longhorn n comes back and then he gets hurt and doesn’t get it treated.

Bodhi, Cooper, and Ivy get their happy ending in this stand-alone book in a series. Well, sort of series.

It was great to see the couple from Just Curious help these three along. And it seemed that these three just fell into this relationship easily. One thing that seemed off was there was just a bit too much drama with Bodhi’s past and lasted way too long. And for as strong as Ivy seemed, her insecure outbursts seemed a bit off.

I received an advanced review copy for free from Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
16 reviews
February 20, 2022
Saucy, Sexy, Sentimental…Sizzling

Well developed love story set in my adopted home town. Ms. Talix does a brilliant job in developing her triad and keeps it exciting with quirky and crazy secondary characters. The sex is amazing but not the crux of their arc, it’s figuring out their balance & how to trust each other with their hearts.

I am eager to read more of Ms. Talix’s MMF stories!!!
122 reviews3 followers
August 20, 2021
In Compelling Urges Ariella Talix brings together 3 dynamic characters. Ivy and Cooper's worlds are torn apart when her lover Bodhi, who is also his best friend, ups and moves out of the country on the two of them. In their shock and grief, Ivy and Cooper fall in love in the absence of Bodhi, and while there is something wonderful about their relationship, it is clear, something is also missing. Bodhi's return throws the newly engaged couples newly built world on end, and from there, the action really starts.

Talix does a great job of creating three very unique characters to bring into a triad. While Cooper and Bodhi are certified sex gods, and Ivy is the perfect vixen for the group, each one has a clear motivation, characterization, and dynamic in the book. Seeing these three characters develop throughout the book and into a team is interesting and kept me reading.

AND, the sex. Whoo-hoo. If you are a fan of the creative, the complex, and the steamy, this book has it ALL and more. I loved all the different ways Talix brought this triad together in the bedroom, to support their relationships out of the bedroom.

I struggled as a reader with the degrees of conflict. It seemed that the group couldn't really ever get on stable ground, and the conflicts became more outlandish as the story progressed. If the rest of the book would have had this over-the-top surrealism, it would have fit, but the two major building conflicts are beyond believable which detracts from the story of this triad coming together.

To strengthen the book , I would have loved to see a bit more consistency with the narration. Since Talix jumps between the three characters--which I love--it seems the personalities could be more consistent when not in dialogue. One instance really stood out as just an odd thought for the character to think, and super odd through a narrative lens.

I'm curious to read more of Talix's writing. Count me in to be looking for more books in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
3,553 reviews51 followers
July 18, 2021
Ivy is devastated when she finds her boyfriend Bodhi has left her in the middle of the night and only left a note saying it is over. She finds comfort with Bodhi’s roommate and best friend Cooper. Cooper is also devastated by Bodhi’s departure but tries to comfort Ivy as best he could. Over time, these two become closer and enters a relationship and get engaged. Then Bodhi returns back to town and the house. Bodhi is devastated to find out that Cooper and Ivy are engaged and together. However, the chemistry between them all flares up, and Ivy must decide whether to forgive Bodhi and accept his return, and Cooper and Bodhi must figure out if they want to be with each other.

I found this romance entertaining. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I really liked Bodhi because of his earlier actions but found that he really was a good guy as time goes on. This story had some twists that I didn’t expect but made the story more interesting. What I really enjoyed was how the author intertwined glimpses of the triad from Just Curious which allowed me to see how their relationship was going. Note this is a standalone novel and you do not have to read Just Curious first as these stories are totally separate.

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest opinion.
Profile Image for hermionegrangerlifegoals.
114 reviews16 followers
August 13, 2021
I chose to read this book for the plotline, hoping that the story would be well-thought out and the characters would grow together and love one another slowly and progressively. The pacing was so fast throughout the book. The character development didn't even happen at a consistent pace as I don't think they grew from who they were in the beginning. There were scene of extreme jealousy and extreme insecurity followed by scenes of extreme high emotion of love and affection. It was a headache to get through and none of it felt authentic or genuine. I was ready for the book to be over 40% into the story. There was a lot happening with the most insane characters. There was no consistency regarding characters, relationships, or even the plot. The lies just kept piling up, and the use of the word 'triad' got really really annoying. I highly doubt people in polyamorous relationships call themselves a triad as many times as was used in the book.
Overall, I feel like it was a beach read book, easily skipped over and not memorable at all. Average book with average vocabulary. This book seemed fit to be published in 2001 and not 2021.
Two stars for a potentionally great storyline, but that's about it.

*Thank you to the publisher; Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, the author; Ariella Talix, and Netgalley for my free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Profile Image for Jill Anna  Freeman.
549 reviews10 followers
July 8, 2021
” Compelling Urges” by Ariella Talix is a MMF tale of one Ivy Chambers...a successful art gallery owner...Bodhi Monaghan her one-time brilliant financier boyfriend and his best friend ...surfer buddy ...lawyer ...Cooper Houston. Surprised and shocked when after months of dating Bodhi ..up and leaves Ivy for a lucrative job opportunity in London ...and unknown at the time to Ivy ...also abandoning Cooper as well. And with only a tersely written goodbye note and a few sparse texts sent to Cooper over the course of a year from the elusive Bodhi ...Ivy & Cooper find commiseration in each other’s arms....and after a years time fall in love ...so when Bodhi returns and a nasty bit of baggage follows him home to Del Mar from London ...all manner of surprises ensue!!! Is a HEA in the cards for Ivy ...Cooper AND Bodhi ?!? Don’t miss this exciting loose spin-off of “Just Curious”....a previous MMF tale also the talented pen of Ariella Talix. Lead Characters from that work ...Willa ...Jackson and
Casey make special guest appearances in “Compelling Urges”. Read and see. Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Michelle  Brown.
731 reviews6 followers
July 29, 2021
Have now read a few books by Ariella and I have to say I really do enjoy her writing style, especially these triad stories....

Bodhi, Ivy and Cooper's story was very enjoyable and oh so very steamy.

They seemed to come together a bit too quickly for me I have to say. All ways forgive way to easily and it seemed all because their attraction was pretty extreme and over took everything. I mean, how could it not really with these three and the sexual chemistry.

It was simply hot and they explored really well and I loved how them all came together.

The Blair part was a bit out there and from left field even though I was expecting something to drive Bodhi back to the States. Blair's story was sad but strange as well.

I seriously loved the epilogue and this families journey just seemed so amazingly good and enjoyable and so fulfilling.

Overall, it was a nice easy quick read and a very hot and steamy read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Julie.
21 reviews
July 5, 2021
I don't mind saying, this is a hot one. If you're familiar with books by Ariella Talix, you'll find this one a little different. These characters aren't always as sweet and nice as in her previous books. Did I like that? You betcha! Bodhi, especially, is a guy who is floundering with his personal life, despite his overall success. The other two- Cooper and Ivy certainly have their moments as well.

Don't get me started on Blair. Holy cow! She's a piece of work.

I'm not about to give away the plot in this one, but it's kind of an emotional trainwreck a lot of the time. It all comes together in a satisfying way, however.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes some steam with their reading.

I received an advance copy from the author, and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Anika.
700 reviews6 followers
February 24, 2026
I enjoyed "Compelling Urges" by Ariella Talix. It’s a fast, dramatic romance that leans into messy emotions, complicated relationships, and a lot of tension between the three main characters. Ivy’s situation—moving on with Cooper after Bodhi disappears, only for Bodhi to suddenly return—creates a love triangle (or maybe something more complicated) that keeps the story entertaining and unpredictable.

What stood out to me most was how the book mixes emotional fallout with playful, steamy energy. The characters feel larger-than-life, and the story doesn’t shy away from bold choices or provocative moments. If you like romance that’s dramatic, a bit scandalous, and very upfront about its adult themes, this one is definitely a fun read.
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