Review: Acceleration by Amelia Gormley

Acceleration


By Amelia Gormley


Book #2 in the Impulse series


Contemporary Romance, M/M romance


Gaining Momentum Gavin Hayes is everything Derrick could ask for in a lover. Gorgeous. Passionate. Great in bed. Derrick finds it very easy to just let himself go, to let Gavin guide him and teach him all the things he missed during a decade of celibacy. In the course of a single weekend, Derrick’s routine is transformed, his mornings and evenings filled with sex. Sweet, seductive, wild, or raunchy, Gavin offers Derrick all the pleasure he’s denied himself for so long. But learning how to be a lover in bed is one thing. Learning to be one out of bed is another. For Derrick, being alone has become habit. Sharing his confidences doesn’t come nearly as readily as sharing his bed. After so many losses, the last thing Derrick wants is to become dependent upon another person who might not always be there. And Gavin always being there is far from certain. With an ex-lover lurking in the background, and the question of Gavin’s future health still outstanding, neither Gavin nor Derrick feel capable of asking for anything more than right now. But Gavin won’t be kept on the fringes of Derrick’s life. Can Derrick let someone in before the opportunity passes him by?

Now that Derrick and Gavin have progressed beyond the magic of the start of a new romance, the real work of the relationship begins. While Derrick continues his sexual exploration (and he doesn't hold anything back), learning to shed his ingrained solitary behaviors of the past ten years isn't as easy to do. He's not accustomed to sharing his feelings with anyone and is conditioned to repress. Derrick also is unprepared for the realities of the world and it's attitudes towards homosexuality and he's somewhat in denial that some of his current relationships may change. Also, his inability to open up to Gavin threatens to end their relationship.

Meanwhile, Derrick has also awakened to other aspects of his sexual needs, specifically his preference to be dominated. He and Gavin pursue a dominant/submissive sexual relationship, which to some degree helps him deal with his repressive nature.

There was much more emphasis on the sexual exploration in this story as compared to the first book. However, we learn more about what drove Derrick underground and Gavin's background. Derrick is also beginning to take his first steps in fully participating in a committed relationship.

I'm still smitten by these characters and cannot wait for the next book. I really want their relationship to work and love Gavin's honesty in demanding more from Derrick. This is a wonderful romance.

(I was provided ARCs from the author)