Gravity

Hammer #12

by Sean Michael

It's never easy to run into an ex-lover, especially when the break-up was a bad one. That's exactly what happens to Hunter Barrister one evening at the Hammer, though, and he's more upset over seeing the amazingly beautiful Forrest Greune again than he ever thought he could be. When he finds out that Forrest is not only back in town for good, but wants to join the Hammer Club, board member Hunter balks and refuses to give his consenting vote.

Forrest, a now retired model, isn't the same flighty young thing he was when he and Hunter were together, and he wishes Hunter could just move on. When that doesn't happen, he finds himself amusing himself, elsewhere with disastrous results. Broken and injured, Forrest is surprised to find Hunter the one at his bedside, the one who sticks with him and offers support through everything.

Can Forrest and Hunter put their history behind them and be what they need for each other, or will guilt, fear and the past put an end to the relationship neither of them seem to be able to abandon?

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Erotica, Contemporary, Romance, Gay, Abuse

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 14, 2011

About the author

Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Reviews

[Emma Sea · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the Sean Michael universe it is most definitely safest not to be a sub. Subs draw bad luck, medical conditions, and sexual assault to them like flies to sweet subby honey.

In evidence (spoilers for a number of Sean Michael novels follow):

Michaelverse Doms are, overall, well-balanced and healthy. Kenny (Spoken) beat testicular cancer; Oliver (Hammer series) had a brain tumour that made him act out of character and slap someone else’s sub; Billy (Snared) was shot in the chest by a drug dealer; Doc Manning (Spoken) didn’t look after his diabetes and has a brief hospital stay. Marcus (Bent) trips down some stairs and has to rest up for an afternoon.Otherwise they’re all pretty hunky-dory.

There are also a few perfectly happy and unscathed subs: Jamie (Little Jamie), Les (Hammer series), Issak (Raw Need), Jason (Better Than Friends). I’m not sure Jeren (Boiling Point) is completely mentally healthy, but at least nothing bad happens to him, and he has a job he loves. Mal (Velvet Glove series) is also happy and healthy, although he’s a switch, and so is covered by Dom good-luck magic.

In contrast, my friends, I offer you a summation of Michaelverse subs:

Jack (Hammer series) has mild PTSD on occasion, when he returns from his trips to war zones as a documentary photographer. Marshall (Burn) has more acute PTSD, from his work as a fireman. Isaac (Bent) cuts himself when stressed. Giles (Drawn) also cuts himself (clearly it’s an artist thing), has panic attacks, and some art critics are mean to him. Xan (Christmas Auction et al) was admitted to a psych ward after being found painting with his own blood.

Kenny (Spoken) contracts methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Dragonne (Velvet Dragon) a) has to go through life called Dragonne, and b) is a deposed Crown Prince whose entire family is dead, and who has to now spend his whole existance in a sex club on another planet, never setting foot outside.

Tanny (Found et al) believes he killed his sister in a motorbike crash in which he also sustained massive scarring across his body, lost his promising and much-loved motorsport career, was disowned by his family, and then spent years as a homeless junkie.

Jim (Bent et al) was falsely accused of rape (including by his own Christian-fundamentalist family), causing his partner to leave him, had his house burned to the ground, lost his hard-won career, was harassed by vindictive sorority girls, and spent years on anti-depressants. He also burnt out his vocal cords screaming.

Adam (Sold) is beaten half-to-death by an abusive Dom who ignores Adam’s safeword (and Adam still turns up to sub at a sex club that evening, despite needing extensive medical attention).

Jeremy (Forged et al) is dragged behind a car until his legs are abraded off (!!) and is left with stumps.

Devin (Baked) is slowly poisoned over many months by his employer until his twin Darius (also Baked) is kidnapped and sexually assaulted in his place.

Gregory (Solitary) broke his back while working as a stuntman. While this did mean he met the Dom of his dreams, who was working as an EMT, his dream Dom was then shot and killed in a robbery.

Frank (Push) found his own unborn child cut out from its mother's uterus (!!) by a serial killer. He then had to watch the mother die with her innards hanging out, and he couldn't even tell anyone because no-one knew he was the father. (He also nearly dies from meningitis, loses his hearing, and is later hit by a car.)

Dent (Velvet Need) is kidnapped by space-pirates, abused, bitten, infested with bugs, drugged, burned, shocked, and held captive for over a month.

Tybalt (Velvet Blade) is co-incidentally also a member of a deposed royal family (different planet though), and although he’s allowed to set foot outside the sex club, that results in him being attacked by terrorists, blown up by a bomb, and medically killed (killed!!), then brought back to life, in order to fool said terrorists, and who then has to spend his entire life confined to a small tropical island (!).

And the one that has prompted my little rant, Forrest from Gravity, who is drugged at a club, kidnapped, anally raped with a beer bottle, leaving him with extensive rectal tearing, has his hands held over a cinder block while a man pounds them to mush with a hammer, stabbed, left with a broken ankle, a broken tailbone, a broken arm, a ruptured spleen, a torn throat, slashed face, wounds that need “hundreds of stitches”, loses enough blood to cause organ failure, and is left for dead in an alley.

Dear Sean Michael, I get that you are master of the hurt-comfort BDSM genre. I am totally your fan base. I love hurt-comfort. I love abuse. But I’m asking, please, stop now. Please. Before another fragile, fluttery sub gets hurt. I’m ready to move on to something else. I thought Gravity would be it. I thought the book would be about Forrest and Hunter developing their relationship and learning to move past their trust issues. God help me, I thought we might have some plot. I want to buy your books, but I am at the point now where I cannot stomach the continuing escalation of violence.

I read m/m BDSM because I cannot stand to read about m/f power imbalance; as an albeit fictional representation of real world m/f power relations I am unable enjoy the violence and pain. I have this feeling sneaking up on me that the male subs in your books, dear Sean Michaels, are just female characters in disguise (big surprise there!) and I fear that the endless onslaught of abuse from a exterior dangerous world is misogyny.

As an alternative, I’d really like you to amp up the BDSM within the healthy, consensual D/s relationship. I want much harder scenes. I want more ménages (actually that was totally the best bit of Gravity; thank you for the hotness!). I want group sex at Oliver’s parties. I want subs we know and love performing publicly at the Hammer (even when they really don't want to, as long as they haven't safeworded).

But please no more big bad world coming down on happy subs like a ton of bricks.

[L-D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hunter and Forrest? *snicker* Okay sorry - I just had to get that out of my system...but I'm good now.

Hunter and Forrest *snicker* (omg, there it is again, sorry) have an unhappy past. As a former D/s pair, Hunter and Forrest were in love until Hunter accuses Forrest of cheating. Years later, Forrest returns after retiring from modeling. Hunter is still bitter about the break-up and doesn't welcome Forrest back. Knowing he's not wanted, Forrest goes to a different club where he is brutally injured.

This is my first and only Sean Michael read, and this story started off pretty interestingly for me, but it kind of went downhill from there. First of all, the only other Forrest I know is Forrest Gump and I'm SORRY but I could NOT stop playing Forrest Gump quotes in my head! So distracting.

There are a few reasons I gave this story 2 stars
1) Lots of sex but minimal plot. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about sex in books, but not on every page. Try to squeeze some story in between the anal fingering, please.
2) I didn't love the writing style. While in the throes of passion if you will, which if you read item #1 above is EVERY page, Hunter and Forrest *chuckle* become basically monosyllabic. This becomes tremendously annoying.
"Love. Love. Hunter. Love."
"Yes. Forrest. God. Mine. All mine. All mine."
"Yours. Yes. Yours. Master, please."
"Yes, mine"
"Yours. And you're mine. My love. My master. My Hunter."
"Yes. My husband. My partner. My Hunter."
"Your master, your lover, your man."
"Mine."
"Forever."
Okay, so you get the point. I could write about 140 pages of that, because that's how long my eBook was. But I think you get the point.

The good stuff? Hunter was smoking hot. The name Hunter is also hot. The name Forrest....um, not so much. Run, Forrest, Run!

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the words of the inimitable Manny Rayner:
"I have not read the book, but we saw the movie at a local cinema, using the free gift card that I received as an unexpected bonus with [a few hundred dollars worth of groceries]"

Sandra Bullock was phenomenal, and even George Clooney was pretty good. Of course, they were both typecast.

I mentioned to my wife, as we left, that "of course, the physics was pretty much off", and she pointed out: "but you can watch Star Trek". She has a point. So, as an SF-Fantasy, it was pretty amazing.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the scariest experiences for anyone is to see a loved one hurt. It is worse when they almost die, and you know they will have permanent scars. Imagine what it feels like if you also have to believe that you played a part in causing the situation.

That is what Hunter faces when he realizes his lack of trust in Forrest years ago led to the current situation where Forrest goes to another club because Hunter vetoes his club membership at the Hammer. He ends up almost dying, Hunter finally finds out what really happened years ago (the cause for his distrust) and he can start making amends. The rest of the book deals with not only Forrest’s recovery, but Hunter’s penance, in a way. Hunter has to learn to trust Forrest, and needs to find out how to make things right between them. Not an easy task, and thank God Hunter is a stubborn enough man and Dom to be able to deal.

Forrest has a lot to deal with, He knows he didn’t cheat, but feels guilty for being flighty and unreliable. His self-confidence is further damaged when his membership application at the Hammer, something he needed because he feels at home there, is declined. It also takes him a while to (emotionally) understand he didn’t cause the beating. Then he has the physical damage to deal with – it is more than enough to make a normal man give up. Forrest is amazing, strong and has more courage than he understands himself.

This is not a ‘sweet and easy’ book with a bit of BDSM play. This is a story about serious emotional issues and how BDSM and a strong Master/boy relationship can support the recovery. It is also a story about love and patience and standing by your partner no matter what. Even if recognizing that he is your partner takes a pretty serious threat to his life.

If you’re interested in stories that deal with gay bashing and the emotional recovery as much as the physical, if you can imagine that the trust required for a Master/boy relationship might help that recovery, and if you’re a fan of Sean Michael’s work, you will most probably like this book.




NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I needed. Abused/Damaged character, redemption and reclaiming a life after a horrific tragedy. Enjoyed it - all of it. Characters and story made me think. A lot of "I can't do it" "Yes you can" but I loved how Hunter handled things pragmatically. The only thing I am kind of iffy on is the fact I think IRL Hunter would also have needed therapy. Every once in a while I need this type of story. Totally satisfying - overcome all odds and become whole again.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure where this book came from. Maybe I'm just suffering from Moonsickness. Maybe I'm overly emotional. I don't know and I don't care. I liked this one a lot. I actually cried at the end. The struggle that Forrest goes through is heartbreaking. At first, I didn't see the connection between Forrest and Hunter, but the progression moves smoothly and I fell in love with the strength of both of them. Surprised me, that's for sure.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The story line was well done and it lacked an overabundance of sex scenes, which is usually typical of Sean Michael. I was rooting for the two protagonists, especially in the last few pages, which made me smile. The bdsm seemed very light also. One of the better Hammer novels, imho.

[Charly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as much sex as other Hammer stories, and more of an emotional struggle

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 8/10

PROS:
- Michael portrays the (sometimes) thin line between anger and attraction quite well. Hunter and Forrest’s initial interactions are half derision and half raw need. They can snarl at each other with one thought and then be thinking about undressing with the next.
- I love reading romances in which the main characters aren’t perfect or gorgeous or wonderful all the time. Forrest has scars and crippled hands and other permanent damage from having been physically assaulted, and Hunter thinks he’s as beautiful as ever.
- The process of moving Forrest past the abuse he suffers at the beginning of the book is long and drawn out, filled with small victories as well as numerous defeats. But in spite of the difficult moments, I never found the story too hard to read. All the setbacks are tempered by moments of love and quiet triumph.
- The first sex scene occurs almost halfway through the story, which is a nice change from this author’s usual sex-heavy formula.

CON:
- As is the case with the majority of Michael’s Hammer stories, this one gets repetitive. The characters here will seem very familiar to readers who have read other books in the series, and Hunter and Forrest have a tendency to say and do the same things over and over again.

Overall comments: I like enemies-to-lovers stories, and there’s an added angle to this one in that the men used to be together. So this one’s actually lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers. It’s not my favorite of the Hammer books, but I did like reading a story that has some sex scenes but focuses foremost on the emotional healing of one of the characters.

[Becky Condit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sean Michael’s Gravity puts issues of trust and truth on the front burner. I’ve enjoyed the Hammer series, some books more than others, and lately each episode seems to be getting better and better, more like the spirit of the first books in the series. While damaged subs is a continuing theme in the series, Gravity allows the Dom to take responsibility for not only what happened to his sub but also for his recovery.
Hunter made assumptions about Forrest that were not only untrue but led to Forrest’s life-threatening injuries. Hunter has held onto these beliefs when the truth was right there for the taking, if he would only have asked rather than taking for granted that Forrest cheated on him. I cried when Forrest’s explanation came out because he loved Hunter so much that he didn’t want to disappoint him and then Hunter accused him of cheating. That part of the story was extremely emotional. I wanted to throttle Oliver, who knew the truth and IMO should have told Hunter. I found Oliver’s code of honor very frustrating.
Jack’s support of his friend and fellow-sub Forrest was sweet and made the story even better. Everyone needs support in times of trouble and Jack stood by Forrest through everything. This is a character-driven story. It is light on the BDSM and light on sex scenes, which is unusual for a Hammer story and for any Sean Michael book, and this book was even better for it. The focus was on Hunter’s personality and guilt and how by helping Forrest recover not only from his physical injuries but also recover his soul helped Hunter to recover from his guilt. Gravity is one of the best Hammer stories and I really enjoyed it.

[Sammy Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are moments in a reader's life when they stumble across a book that simply and profoundly makes them shake their head in wonder at the very rightness of it all. The right characters: Hunter, a caring and loving Dom, Forrest, his fragile yet remarkably strong Submissive. The right story: Hunter cast asides Forrest years before the story begins, thinking his boy Forrest had cheated on him when in reality he had merely been late for their appointment due to losing a ring he wanted to give to Hunter. Years later they meet again when Forrest applies for membership to the Hammer club. Hunter refuses to agree to the vote, causing Forrest to be denied. After a night of dancing Forrest is accosted by three men, brutally raped, beaten to within an inch of his life and left to die, only barely managing to drag himself to the very club that had denied him membership. The rest of the story dwells on the incredible journey of recovery and freshly discovered love between Hunter and Forrest. And finally, the right ending: the ring is restored to it's rightful owner.

This story was hauntingly beautiful--so incredibly gentle and loving yet never shying away from the gut wrenching after effects of rape and it's destructive powers over the victim. This was truly a powerful novel--just breathtaking.

I would caution anyone who has been a victim of rap to consider wisely before reading this novel. While Ms. Michael does not go into graphic detail, there is no doubt that glimpses of the act are evident throughout the story. But again, handled with love and the utmost care by this incredible author.

[Leann Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gravity presents the story of Dom Hunter Barrister and Sub Forrest Greune, years before they had been in a good loving relationship but due to way too much stupid pride on both sides. They broke up badly with Forrest wandering all over the world and Hunter staying around the Hammer. When Forrest finally comes back to the Hammer both are bitter and lonely and still very much in love with each other. It looks like they will never be able to get together but then Forrest is attack. This rape is most cruel brutal vicious attack that I read so far. (But don't worry the rape is not shown full bloody detail) As they deal with aftermath of the attack they also put aside bitterness and hurt of their past becoming a strong loving supportive D/S couple. Forrest isn’t magically cured in this book. The healing is a process happens over time. Forrest is still healing at the end of the story but know that Hunter will be there for him and they will deal with all together. Okay I’m in a sappy mood.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.25
If you have read and enjoyed other books in the Hammer series, you will probably like this book as well. For me, this was one of the better books in the series. This might be, in part, because I felt there was more of an emotional connection between the characters. It could also be that the lovers to enemies to lovers theme was well done. Poor Forrest! The journey he took to heal after his horrific assault was difficult but with Hunter by his side he finds the strength to grieve, rage, heal, and live again. I thought this was well done, especially for an erotica novel. Oh and the play scene with Oliver and Jack was hot and very intense! The Hammer books are a guilty pleasure for me and I look forward to more in the series.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Forrest and Hunter (and am I the only one who found that funny?) were once an item but they broke-up and went their separate ways for many years. Forrest is back now and Hunter can't deal with it which results in Forrest being brutally attacked. It wasn't really Hunter's fault but of course he feels badly about it and still has feelings for Forrest so takes over the care of his "boy". I enjoyed the story as Hunter, along with some of their friends from the Hammer Club help poor Forrest through the aftermath of the attack. I just wish there weren't so many repetitive sex scenes although the scene at the beach house was pretty hot.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I think one of the 4 stars I gave might have been on account of the great reviews here on GW! I figure if the text sparks great reviews, the text should get some of the credit for them. :)

Also, I know this wasn't the point, and there was some closure provided, but I really really needed a lot more revenge in the ending!

Still, I rather liked this simple story of misunderstanding/disaster/coming together.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally the hammer series is back on track. They have always been at their best when the stories and long and involve characters with depth and a story of substance. A bit of dama and wounded souls seem to go a long way in Making a Hammer book a sucsess.

I loved this one,

[Mountie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good, solid hammer novel dealing with a tough tough subject, no one, man, woman or child should ever have to go through. Sean pulled it off with his usual style.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love the Hammer Stories. Sean Michael is great. I love to read this authors books.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable book, loosely based at the Hammer club

I really enjoyed this story. It isn't easy hearing about Forrest's experiences, but Hunter, his one time lover and Dom, won't let him allow his experiences to stop him and keeps loving him and pushing him for more.
It is also lovely to see a little more of Jack and Oliver.

[Mary Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tragic beginning a sad middle with a hAppy ending

It is sad that what happens in this book still happens in the real world That it takes a brave man fight ain adversity and remain same ..This book shows that tragedy can be overcame

[Colleen Cremen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional, hard but lovely story.

I am terrible at reviews. I enjoyed this story. One of the MC's ( Forrest) is beaten/assaulted and the story of love between the two MC's and the healing of Forrest really touched my heart.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is rather typical of the Hammer series, although with less sex than usual, which is a good thing. Hunter is still hurting ten or so years later, because his soon-to-be-permanent sub Forrest, a model, cheated on him the night they were going to sign a contract. Out of the blue, Forrest shows up at the Hammer club applying for membership. Hunter vetoes it, because he’s certain Forrest is just a flighty feckless jerk. However soon after Forrest is attacked by three men and badly injured, nearly dying. He is suffering from numerous stab wounds and his face is cut badly, along with rectal and throat tearing and his hands were smashed with hammer and are broken. Hunter realizes it was his fault because if he’d not banned Forrest from the club, he would have been there rather than out somewhere else he could get targeted, and finally admits he still loves him and intends to take care of Forrest and help him recover.

I said there was less sex than usual, because if Hunter had had the amazing healing cock, I would have been really annoyed. Forrest is deeply depressed and wishes he’d died in the attack. He was a model, although he’d just retired, and hates the scarring he now has, and has nightmares and emotional trauma he has to deal with daily. However Hunter continues to help gently push him back into the world. I don’t think there is any sexual interaction between them for nearly 6 months or something close to that and Forrest is natural afraid he can never be sexual again and has many of the irrational fears that I think a victim of that type of attack would have.

I did find the middle dragged a bit, because not much happens. Forrest apologises a lot and Hunter says don’t. Forrest freaks out asking for reassurance and Hunter gives it, over and over and over. While I think that’s realistic, it does get a bit repetitive for a reader to see it play out over and over. There is no miracle cure. Forrest’s hands will never work properly again, he has trouble holding a wine glass or opening buttons, he’ll always have emotional issues probably, but I think that fit rather than just “whee, now you’re okay”.

For those who like Jack and Oliver, Jack is Forrest’s friend and they spend some kinky time at the beach house toward the end of the book. So it’s certainly not sex-free, but it makes sense in the context of what happened. The description of his attack is really awful and it comes up in bits and pieces as Forrest reveals more and you find out there was more to the whole cheating incident than Hunter knew all those years ago, leading to a big ugly mess at the end. But on the whole I thought it was some of the more realistic portrayals of someone who has been attacked. Totally realistic? I can’t say, I’ve never known anyone who endure that, nor thankfully had to myself, so perhaps not perfect, but there was no magical cure. Also unlike some Hammer books where the crime plot is rather ignored, this one does come to a head at the end when Forrest has to face his abusers, so it wasn’t just brushed under the rug in favour of the relationship.

One of the better Hammer stories I’ve read lately (if a bit repetitive at times), but if the whole attack thing makes you uneasy, while it’s not described in detail, it doesn’t really pull any punches and his emotional reaction is quite visceral on the page so it may be a factor for some readers.

[Tamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of Sean Michael lately as I had picked up a bunch of his books over the past couple months and finally got time to do some reading.

I'm finding that the fact that the characters in most of the stories and this one included cannot hold an intelligent conversation once they get an erection and hit the sheets (or the sub) gets more annoying with each story.

I've always been a huge Sean Michael fan, but that's because he has so many good characters in the Hammer series and especially the Velvet Glove series. But lately the character's story has gone by the wayside and the main focus has been on the sex. When I find myself skimming these scenes then I know I haven't been engaged in the story or the characters. This is sad because I know that this was not always true.

Okay, this story was good at the beginning. Because of Forrest's injuries, sex was at a minimum, but there still wasn't much actual conversation going on between the two MC's. They never really explored the difficulites they had previously, just acknowledged that there were problems and then ignored them.

It's a fair story and if you're a fan you'll enjoy, but though it had potential, it's not one of the best.

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this installment in the Hammer series. Former lovers, Hunter and Forrest, broke up due to their inability to communicate – Hunter thought that Forrest cheated on him and Forrest never spoke up to correct the error. Years later, Hunter is still bitter and rejects Forrest’s application to join the Hammer which leads to Forrest being at the wrong place at the wrong time where an unspeakable act of violence leaves him near death, but back in Hunter’s arms.

These two have a lot of self-blame to deal with in order to move forward with healing and a second chance at a relationship. Some parts were totally sweet and some parts were a little repetitive. I thoroughly enjoyed all the interaction with Master Oliver and his boy Jack during this story as Hunter and Forrest worked through their own issues.

[Page Crusherz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

I really enjoyed this novel, as I have all of the Hammer novels. It was hard to read about Forrest's struggles, but it was a book I wanted to keep reading. I really love seeing old, familiar characters pop in. I don't know if I liked Hunter as much as I wished I did. I get that they were both young, but something still felt unresolved to me in their old relationship. I felt like they kept repeating how hurt Forrest was, but it didn't get to the heart of the issue. I needed a little more to really feel like I got their evolution and that they got it too. Why was Hunter so untrusting? Why was it so important to Forrest that he didn't explain himself? It felt too simplistic in the face of their declared love.

Despite those niggles, it was still a great read, as I always can depend on from Sean Michael.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forrest and Hunter had a terrible parting in the past and Hunter seems totally unforgiving. This unforgivingness leads to even more bitterness and a terrible tragic assault. Hunter decides in to care for Forrest and in the course of this care a lot of truths are revealed. I was struck first that in this Hammer story the focus is really more on the emotions and personalities and less on the physical. Forrest also strikes me as being a pretty strong guy under it all to survive his attack and to be willing to even take a chance on a relationship with anyone again especially someone who caused him emotional hurt years ago.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read series. I'm a rare bird because if it's a series I  look at each book as a episode more then separate books. No one is better or worse, it's one continuous thing for me,  I'm a nut that way. I enjoy Sean Michael's Hammer series, I love the characters and the premise. I just finished GRAVITY and I think it's the high, the complete story, the one I've waited for Michael to write all along. He had to take his time and didn't allow sex to tell the story like he usually does. He had to let the character's relationship develop over time. Wonderful! 

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this Hammer installment. It had a lot of potential, but the one word back and forth conversations drove me nuts. I totally felt for Forrest and what he had to endure, but I kept waiting for some semblence of an explanation as to why a couple of gay guys would drug and brutally attack another gay guy they met at a gay club. I stuck with this mainly to see Forrest through some healing and getting back to his life.

[Connie Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise was interesting. I was looking forward to reading it. But the writing wasn't so good. Sorry...

Edited: I'm changing my mind. I decided to keep reading. I'm at 50% now and I'm drawn in. Maybe I got accustomed to the writing style but I'm loving the relationship between Hunter and Forrest. Hunter is fabulous.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this one. For the majority, all of the Hammer stories have been good, but a few touched something in me as I read. The 1st one was Forged, which is Simon and Jeremy's story. Gravity is the 2nd one that drove me to tears one minute and laughing the next. I'm definitely adding this to my favorites list!

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was more like 3.5 stars. Might be that I wasn't in the right mood for this book, but it didn't grip me like some other books in the series. Time will tell, whether Forrest and Hunter will stick to me:)