M/M Review: Velocity by Amelia Gormley

Velocity 

by Amelia Gormley 

Book #3 in the Impulse series 

REACHING OPTIMUM SPEED For Detroit handyman Derrick Chance and his lover, Gavin Hayes, the holiday season is filled with the promise of new beginnings. Gavin’s officially moving in, and after the New Year, they’ll begin house hunting. But they both know all the talk of gift exchange, whose holiday ornaments go where, and what repairs and remodels will be needed to put Derrick’s house on the market is only a smoke screen.

Before the month is over, Gavin will have the final verdict on whether or not his dangerously delusional ex, Lukas, infected him with HIV. No matter how good Gavin’s chances appear with the three-month hurdle already passed, neither he nor Derrick knows what the future holds for them.

The holidays have always been a time of loss and mourning for Derrick, but now he has to stay strong as Gavin’s own fears and doubts assail him relentlessly. And when Lukas returns, unexpectedly penitent amid troubling revelations, Gavin has to ask himself whether he can offer Derrick the future he deserves, or whether these first few months of happiness are the best they will ever get.

In this final book of the series, Derrick and Gavin become more comfortable in their relationship, especially Derrick. Gavin’s inner turmoil about his pending HIV status brings the best out of Derrick, allowing him to express his commitment in ways important to both of them. There’s a bit of role reversal at play as Derrick becomes the more confident one in the relationship while Gavin’s insecurities become heightened. It was lovely to see Derrick blossom and thrive in his new life and have Gavin allow him to be the person to be leaned on for a change.

This was an intense exploration of the issues confronting gay partners, not just related to HIV but the social aspects of same-sex relationships. While it was enlightening, it was also heartwarming to see how Derrick and Gavin worked through them, both experience a level of commitment that neither had ever had the opportunity to achieve. As with the first two books, the sex scenes were intense and an expression of both of their feelings. They were sensual, explicit and off the steam meter charts!

I love this series and these characters. They were smartly drawn, flawed individuals who I became invested in pretty quickly. The writing is extraordinary writing and I pretty much will be reading anything Amelia Gormley chooses to create going forward. If you’re interesting in exploring m/m romance with a strong storyline and finely developed characters, I highly recommend this series.

   

Check out reviews in the series by clicking on the covers.

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)

Review: Inertia by Amelia Gormley

Inertia
 

By Amelia Gormley


Book #1 in the Impulse series


Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance


By the age of 21, down-to-earth Detroit handyman Derrick Chance had lost everyone he'd ever loved. Too worn-out and wounded to play the dating game, he wrote off the possibility of relationships, or even just sex. Living alone in the old house his grandparents had left him, with only his dog and a few close friends for companionship, he refused to consider himself lonely, or let himself wonder what he might be missing. He knew who he was and where he was headed. His life was comfortable, organized, predictable, and best of all, risk-free. He was content.



Until the day he installed some shelves for accountant Gavin Hayes. A contradictory combination of confidence and uncertainty, Gavin’s shameless flirtations drew him in with an intensity Derrick had never known he longed for. As undeniable as the force of gravity, he abandoned ten years of self-imposed solitude and found himself falling rapidly for Gavin in defiance of all his usual slow and methodical ways.



But Gavin carried wounds of his own. Fresh from an emotionally abusive relationship that ended with a potentially dangerous betrayal, his future was far from certain. Derrick would have to decide if his rediscovered passion was worth taking the chance of another loss.



REVIEW: 


Derrick Chance lives a contented life in the outskirts of Detroit as a handyman. He has few friends and lives alone with his dog, Chelsea, in his grandmother's house, left to him following her death. His last relationship was almost ten years ago and it was with his high school girlfriend, before his realization that his preference was for men. Derrick had suffered so much loss by the time he reached the age of 21 he was unwilling to risk his heart anymore for any kind of relationship. But then he installed some bookshelves at the home of Gavin Hayes and his days of loneliness and solitude were over. 



Where Derrick is introverted and quiet, Gavin is living full out and is pretty comfortable in his skin and lifestyle. He flirts shamelessly with Derrick who has no idea how to respond but is very interested and can't stop thinking about him. What follows next is the romancing of Derrick and his metamorphosis. Gavin intrigues Derrick and stirs life into him, even though Gavin bears some scars from his last abusive relationship. Their romance was wonderful and Derrick is pretty special in his own right. He has a huge heart and the few people in his life are determined that he find happiness. 



Gavin also introduces Derrick to the joys of sex and his inventiveness is remarkable. There are a few scenes that bust the thermometer and are highly erotic! Be prepared for some of the best intimate moments you're ever going to read. Yes, I'm a heterosexual female and the sex in this story was a huge turn on. 



The next story promises to be even more exciting. This is Derrick's awakening and we'll learn what that means in the full spectrum of his and Gavin's life. I loved this story, full of romance and steam, with two very appealing characters. It's a very well written story and I'm in lust with both Derrick and Gavin.