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Impulse #1
Inertia
AN OBJECT AT REST
Quiet, down-to-earth Detroit handyman Derrick Chance has had enough loss for a lifetime and he has no intention of ever risking his heart again. Living alone in the old house his grandparents left him, with only his dog and a few close friends for companionship, he has written off the possibility of romance or even sex. He refuses to consider himself lonely, or wonder what he might be missing. His life is organized, predictable, and, best of all, risk-free.
Until the day he installs shelves for accountant Gavin Hayes. With his contradictory combination of confidence and self-doubt, Gavin draws Derrick in with an intensity he's never known. As undeniable as gravity, Derrick finds himself falling for Gavin in defiance of all his usual slow and methodical ways. But Gavin carries wounds of his own. Fresh from an emotionally abusive relationship that ended with a dangerous betrayal, his future is far from certain. Can Derrick choose passion over safety, and let himself believe that Gavin is worth the risk?
Quiet, down-to-earth Detroit handyman Derrick Chance has had enough loss for a lifetime and he has no intention of ever risking his heart again. Living alone in the old house his grandparents left him, with only his dog and a few close friends for companionship, he has written off the possibility of romance or even sex. He refuses to consider himself lonely, or wonder what he might be missing. His life is organized, predictable, and, best of all, risk-free.
Until the day he installs shelves for accountant Gavin Hayes. With his contradictory combination of confidence and self-doubt, Gavin draws Derrick in with an intensity he's never known. As undeniable as gravity, Derrick finds himself falling for Gavin in defiance of all his usual slow and methodical ways. But Gavin carries wounds of his own. Fresh from an emotionally abusive relationship that ended with a dangerous betrayal, his future is far from certain. Can Derrick choose passion over safety, and let himself believe that Gavin is worth the risk?
182 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2012
25 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Amelia C. Gormley
25 books227 followersAmelia C. Gormley published her first short story in the school newspaper in the 4th grade, and since then has suffered the persistent delusion that enabling other people to hear the voices in her head might be a worthwhile endeavor. She’s even convinced her hapless spouse that it could be a lucrative one as well, especially when coupled with her real-life interest in angst, kink, social justice issues, and pretty men.
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
July 17, 2014
This earns itself the full marks not just for the lovely writing and enchanting characters, but also for its considerable amount of grit, daring and pluck with regard to its realistic treatment
I loved this and will read the sequel! Recommended for all who like a realistic take on things.
I loved this and will read the sequel! Recommended for all who like a realistic take on things.
July 29, 2012
Quick review:
Cover: Nice
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess: Hot
Thumbs Up: 4.5
Overall: Well written, well timed love story
Characters: Well done
Plot: A very believable tale of love between two people.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Derrick
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
I’ve read so much “insta love” lately that this book was a welcome change. The love story is slow brewed but not in a frustrating way. And again, a sigh of relief, that the conflict wasn’t based on misunderstanding. So it’s no wonder I found myself enthralled with this one.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
http://mmromancebookreviews.blogspot....
Cover: Nice
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess: Hot
Thumbs Up: 4.5
Overall: Well written, well timed love story
Characters: Well done
Plot: A very believable tale of love between two people.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Derrick
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
I’ve read so much “insta love” lately that this book was a welcome change. The love story is slow brewed but not in a frustrating way. And again, a sigh of relief, that the conflict wasn’t based on misunderstanding. So it’s no wonder I found myself enthralled with this one.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
http://mmromancebookreviews.blogspot....
September 15, 2014
My handyman kink began with this:
It later developed into this:
Then returned to this:
What can I say, I'm a traditionalist.
That's the funny part. Or at least partway funny, it's hard to judge 'cause I find myself HILARIOUS.
Ahem.
I really, really wanted to love this book. Maybe that's the problem; I put too much pressure on our relationship and it collapsed. And now it's an "it's not you, it's me" situation.
Normally I love books that concentrate on character development over plot. I do! Really! But this book made me want to rent a Bruce Willis movie just so I could watch shit blow up and listen to some rather stupid, yet AWESOME, dialogue.
I got tired of the endless exposition. I'm not fan of exposition, or too much of it anyway; I prefer it when authors either keep it short or smoothly introduce information without the reader even noticing, while some sort of action takes place. And by action I don't mean making sweet, sweet love (i.e. fucking) or shit blowing up, but just, for instance, conversation between the MCs. Conversation with other characters about something other than why one MC is so hesitant to start a relationship. Some sort of SUBPLOT. Or chapters from the other MC’s POV. SOMETHING, I don’t care!
Derrick's constant self-doubt exhausted me as well.
"...Gavin wet his lips with his tongue.Dude, he just looked at you and wet his lips. People don’t do that unless they want you to shove your tongue down their throats. Or perhaps something more subtle, but attaching YOUR LIPS to his WOULD BE MORE THAN FINE.
Derrick caught a nervous breath, torn between the impulse to act and that tiny, nagging hint of uncertainty that maybe Gavin wasn't ready for that yet.
I mean REALLY, people.
Ok, having said that…There is a good story here. I did like the main characters, Gavin & Derrick (the handyman, by the way, thus the above gifs). They have several excellent reasons for being tentative. But by the time the characters opened up and started communicating, I no longer cared. I was ready to move on to the next book.
Perhaps my impatience and, basically, boredom, was due to the fact that this is 3 part story - it's not meant to be read on its own. So perhaps if I had bought the version that has all 3 stories bundled together I wouldn't have felt so testy. 'Cause as it was, I kept eyeing the percentage on my Kindle, going "50 FUCKING PERCENT! Is anything ACTUALLY going to HAPPEN?" In the bundled version I would've been only, I don't know, 20% in and I would not have felt so restless. Maybe. I don't know. And maybe I'm in the wrong mood and I want something that has INSTANT GRATIFICATION.
Or maybe I'm just really, REALLY shallow.
YIPPEE-KI-YAY, MOTHERFUCKER.
P.S. I'd actually be interested in reading the next book in the series. Or at least skimming it. This book involved A LOT of set up and I think maybe the payoff only comes in the 2nd and 3rd books. But I'm going to wait until some nice person on Lendle loans it to me because, you know, I MAY HATE IT.
November 11, 2012
A sensual story of lust, trust and letting go.
Derrick, a 31-year old handyman, has kept to himself for 10 years. No relationships, no casual hook ups - nothing. Just his work, his dog and his trustful hands. Gavin, on the other hand, is a 28-year old auditor who just ended a relationship and is reluctant to start a new one. But when they meet, their chemistry can't be denied. Their getting together was slow in coming, since both were reluctant to try it, but they talked and decided to take it a step at a time.
It would be nice of me to tell you that once they got together everything was honky dory. But that's not true. Not even done with their first date and their first hurdle is thrown at them. I won't go into details since it is a pretty big part of the story. But I am glad they came out of that together.
I was weary of Derrick in the start. I couldn't find a connection with him no matter how hard I tried. He kept to himself so much that there was nothing there for me to relate to. But I think that's mainly the point of all this. To see him let go and be a witness to his growth. To discover and explore his passionate side. To see him live. And once he did, it was beautiful. I thank the author, Amelia C. Gormley, for that. She put his emotions on the page in a way that truly touched me. I understood his hesitancy to continue this 'thing' he started with Gavin and felt his lust-fueled desperation about being with him physically. I was as overwhelmed as he was with all these conflicting emotions - insecurity, lust, happiness, protectiveness. In the end, I was cheering him on and curious as hell to see how it all played out.
Gavin, on the other hand, won me with his flirting and easy manner from the start. And then he broke my heart and carved a place in it with his dreadful confession. He was so conflicted and honest with Derrick. How could I not feel for him when his pain was laid out there for me to see? He was sweet and considerate with a dominant edge that was hot as hell and melted me each and every time. I could picture him so clearly in my mind - his grin, his eyes and that suit! Uff!
As you can imagine, their chemistry was pretty awesome. Filled with desperation, lust and a need so great that I was tapping the hell out of my tablet so I could get more. It was THAT good. Their dialog was honest and real, which helped me a great deal in believing this connection could happen. I appreciated how the author went about bringing them together sexually. Although there was no penetration, their sex scenes were not lacking in the least. Au contraire mon ami, it made their getting together even more sensual, more important, more desperate. It was awesomeness wrapped in pretty bow!
As for the writing, it was very good. The story is told from Derrick's point of view, which I usually don't like, but I adjusted nonetheless. Of course, it would have been great to get inside Gavin's mind. But I think that will come soon enough. The emotions that were brought and the connection the characters established felt real. And I got to truly see Derrick grow, which I always appreciate in a character. My only complain was the ending. Why, why, why did she leave me hangin' when I was primed and ready to go?!
That aside, I am so looking forward to the next book in the series. I can't wait to see how these two continue on their journey of lust and self discovery.
Derrick, a 31-year old handyman, has kept to himself for 10 years. No relationships, no casual hook ups - nothing. Just his work, his dog and his trustful hands. Gavin, on the other hand, is a 28-year old auditor who just ended a relationship and is reluctant to start a new one. But when they meet, their chemistry can't be denied. Their getting together was slow in coming, since both were reluctant to try it, but they talked and decided to take it a step at a time.
It would be nice of me to tell you that once they got together everything was honky dory. But that's not true. Not even done with their first date and their first hurdle is thrown at them. I won't go into details since it is a pretty big part of the story. But I am glad they came out of that together.
I was weary of Derrick in the start. I couldn't find a connection with him no matter how hard I tried. He kept to himself so much that there was nothing there for me to relate to. But I think that's mainly the point of all this. To see him let go and be a witness to his growth. To discover and explore his passionate side. To see him live. And once he did, it was beautiful. I thank the author, Amelia C. Gormley, for that. She put his emotions on the page in a way that truly touched me. I understood his hesitancy to continue this 'thing' he started with Gavin and felt his lust-fueled desperation about being with him physically. I was as overwhelmed as he was with all these conflicting emotions - insecurity, lust, happiness, protectiveness. In the end, I was cheering him on and curious as hell to see how it all played out.
Gavin, on the other hand, won me with his flirting and easy manner from the start. And then he broke my heart and carved a place in it with his dreadful confession. He was so conflicted and honest with Derrick. How could I not feel for him when his pain was laid out there for me to see? He was sweet and considerate with a dominant edge that was hot as hell and melted me each and every time. I could picture him so clearly in my mind - his grin, his eyes and that suit! Uff!
As you can imagine, their chemistry was pretty awesome. Filled with desperation, lust and a need so great that I was tapping the hell out of my tablet so I could get more. It was THAT good. Their dialog was honest and real, which helped me a great deal in believing this connection could happen. I appreciated how the author went about bringing them together sexually. Although there was no penetration, their sex scenes were not lacking in the least. Au contraire mon ami, it made their getting together even more sensual, more important, more desperate. It was awesomeness wrapped in pretty bow!
As for the writing, it was very good. The story is told from Derrick's point of view, which I usually don't like, but I adjusted nonetheless. Of course, it would have been great to get inside Gavin's mind. But I think that will come soon enough. The emotions that were brought and the connection the characters established felt real. And I got to truly see Derrick grow, which I always appreciate in a character. My only complain was the ending. Why, why, why did she leave me hangin' when I was primed and ready to go?!
That aside, I am so looking forward to the next book in the series. I can't wait to see how these two continue on their journey of lust and self discovery.
October 4, 2013
DNF @ 68% and after many months of loitering on my "currently-reading" shelf.
Boring. Terribly so.
Features: long and tedious info-dumping exposition, flat and uninteresting characters, a tiresome storyline and very uninspired writing. Even massive amounts of skimming coculd not help this. DOA.
Boring. Terribly so.
Features: long and tedious info-dumping exposition, flat and uninteresting characters, a tiresome storyline and very uninspired writing. Even massive amounts of skimming coculd not help this. DOA.
March 22, 2013
2.5 stars
It's hard to explain my feelings on this one. There's nothing overtly wrong about it. It just feels like not much happens within the story beyond some unnecessary angst and lack of communication but I can't deny that there was potential to the story and that I did find pockets of the book that held me captivated.
It was hard for me to connect with the characters. I didn't mind that Derrick held a lot of inner monologue. He's a loner so I can understand why he over analyzes and over-thinks everything. Gavin was an interesting character but I couldn't connect with him either. He's emotionally damaged but I didn't feel that from him. Considering that most of his interactions with Derrick involved flirting, it was hard for me to connect that character with the one that was supposedly still traumatized over a past relationship. IMO, I didn't feel like the characters were fleshed out enough to make them really intriguing.
I'm going to freely admit that I've been in a funk so maybe the reason why I didn't enjoy this story as much as I could have was because of that but I found myself unable to connect with either characters. In fact, they annoyed me at times. Derek's inability to talk about his past and the fact that Gavin was ashamed of smoking but still made no effort to quit got me frustrated. More than that, the story doesn't have any big climax that makes itself noticeable so by the time they start their relationship, the story ends rather abruptly. Although, given that this is more of a serial than an actual series, IMO at least, I can understand why it ends at that moment but it doesn't stop the fact that I felt irritated by the unanswered questions and unresolved storyline. I also didn't like how the ending had so many sex scenes clustered together.
Overall, this wasn't necessarily a bad story but it was hard for me to enjoy it to its full potential. It dragged for me because it didn't feel like anything monumental was happening and I honestly think if this was one big story, it might have been better for me but I don't have the heart to move onto book two right now considering this was a lackluster read for me. Others might feel differently but if you don't like a lot of inner monologue then this story might not be for you.
It's hard to explain my feelings on this one. There's nothing overtly wrong about it. It just feels like not much happens within the story beyond some unnecessary angst and lack of communication but I can't deny that there was potential to the story and that I did find pockets of the book that held me captivated.
It was hard for me to connect with the characters. I didn't mind that Derrick held a lot of inner monologue. He's a loner so I can understand why he over analyzes and over-thinks everything. Gavin was an interesting character but I couldn't connect with him either. He's emotionally damaged but I didn't feel that from him. Considering that most of his interactions with Derrick involved flirting, it was hard for me to connect that character with the one that was supposedly still traumatized over a past relationship. IMO, I didn't feel like the characters were fleshed out enough to make them really intriguing.
I'm going to freely admit that I've been in a funk so maybe the reason why I didn't enjoy this story as much as I could have was because of that but I found myself unable to connect with either characters. In fact, they annoyed me at times. Derek's inability to talk about his past and the fact that Gavin was ashamed of smoking but still made no effort to quit got me frustrated. More than that, the story doesn't have any big climax that makes itself noticeable so by the time they start their relationship, the story ends rather abruptly. Although, given that this is more of a serial than an actual series, IMO at least, I can understand why it ends at that moment but it doesn't stop the fact that I felt irritated by the unanswered questions and unresolved storyline. I also didn't like how the ending had so many sex scenes clustered together.
Overall, this wasn't necessarily a bad story but it was hard for me to enjoy it to its full potential. It dragged for me because it didn't feel like anything monumental was happening and I honestly think if this was one big story, it might have been better for me but I don't have the heart to move onto book two right now considering this was a lackluster read for me. Others might feel differently but if you don't like a lot of inner monologue then this story might not be for you.
August 6, 2012
3.5
I enjoyed this book, it also held a few surprises for me. I liked the build up of the romance there's some sweet flirty action between Derrick and Gavin.
Derrick is a handyman that Gavin hires to build some shelves and the attraction is pretty instant on both parts but things go very slow. I've always been a fan of slow burn romance.
We learn quite a bit about Derrick, who he is, his background, as well as his motivations. I found Gavin more of mystery. There's a slow unravelling of his past which lead to some things I guessed correctly about his past and another that surprised me.
Major plot point reveal here:
I did really enjoy this story. It did end pretty abruptly but there's a nice excerpt at the end that goes into what we can expect in book two. There are definitely a few open ended questions that I need answers for so I'm on the hook and looking forward to seeing what happens next. It was an interesting and provocative read. I went in expecting one thing and was surprised by another. I like books that do that.
I enjoyed this book, it also held a few surprises for me. I liked the build up of the romance there's some sweet flirty action between Derrick and Gavin.
Derrick is a handyman that Gavin hires to build some shelves and the attraction is pretty instant on both parts but things go very slow. I've always been a fan of slow burn romance.
We learn quite a bit about Derrick, who he is, his background, as well as his motivations. I found Gavin more of mystery. There's a slow unravelling of his past which lead to some things I guessed correctly about his past and another that surprised me.
Major plot point reveal here:
I did really enjoy this story. It did end pretty abruptly but there's a nice excerpt at the end that goes into what we can expect in book two. There are definitely a few open ended questions that I need answers for so I'm on the hook and looking forward to seeing what happens next. It was an interesting and provocative read. I went in expecting one thing and was surprised by another. I like books that do that.
August 10, 2012
3.5 stars. Good m/m romance about an isolated handyman who hasn't been with anyone since he was a teenager and started taking care of his sick grandparents. Then he's hired to install some shelves by a sexy and strangely skittish accountant who might be flirting with him... While I enjoyed how things developed between the two men, the story seemed to bog down a bit during the last third. And I was a bit surprised when the story ended - it left me with the feeling that this might develop into a serial. :(
August 21, 2012
Handyman Derrick Chance has lived a lonely life, by choice. By the age of 21, he lost many beloved family members, and now ten years later, lives in the house his grandparents gave him. Although he is gay, he has never had a gay relationship. He experimented with a woman years ago, but with the loss of his grandparents he is too scared to become attached to anyone. He feels like a relationship is so much work, he’d rather be by himself. But then he meets Gavin.
Gavin is an accountant and hires Derrick to install shelves in his apartment. Gavin blatantly flirts with Derrick, which totally throws him off stride. Derrick has never had anyone do that before, and Derrick isn’t a charmer so it isn’t natural for him to come back with witty banter, although he wants to. Gavin confuses him, yet he can’t deny the lust building between them. Gavin is coming out of a mentally abusive relationship, and still has some insecurities to deal with. As Gavin comes up with more ‘jobs’ for Derrick to do around his house, these two finally get past the flirting stage and make a move for one another.
Inertia is the first book in what I assume is going to be a series about these two guys, as this book ends quite abruptly. I actually cheered though, because there is no forced I love you, or fake feelings rushed at the end. It ends with them having dated for a few days, and it looks like the next book will venture into Derrick learning how not to be alone like he has the past ten years. But back to this book! What really stands out for me is Derrick. He is a little on the shy side, and just a really warm, nice character. I don’t think he has a bad bone in his body. His awkwardness and uncertainty about how to proceed in a relationship comes across really well. Although he has chosen to be alone for years, rather than start something just to face another depressing loss in his life, he is still lonely. Ten years is a long time to not have anyone in his life, even close friends, and I’m not sure I completely buy that he would be alone for that long.
When we first meet Gavin, he rubbed me the wrong way. He was obviously flirty but comes across as kind of too much of a charmer. I even thought him a little sleazy at first. I didn’t like his over the top seduction of Derrick. As this story is told in Derrick’s point of view, we don’t get to know Gavin very well at first. But by the second half of the book, I feel like his character settled down, and I could understand why Derrick would be attracted to him. Gavin had lived with a very controlling man, and whether more of that insecurity will come out in book two is up in the air. Right now they are in their honeymoon stage, and I’m interested to see how their relationship plays out once real life intrudes.
Since Derrick is a little clumsy with the physical aspect of the relationship, to me that just makes their bedroom scenes that much hotter. I loved how Derrick slowly gains confidence and Gavin is very patient and lets him learn. Very sexy.
Looking forward to the continuation of this story.
Rating: B-
Gavin is an accountant and hires Derrick to install shelves in his apartment. Gavin blatantly flirts with Derrick, which totally throws him off stride. Derrick has never had anyone do that before, and Derrick isn’t a charmer so it isn’t natural for him to come back with witty banter, although he wants to. Gavin confuses him, yet he can’t deny the lust building between them. Gavin is coming out of a mentally abusive relationship, and still has some insecurities to deal with. As Gavin comes up with more ‘jobs’ for Derrick to do around his house, these two finally get past the flirting stage and make a move for one another.
Inertia is the first book in what I assume is going to be a series about these two guys, as this book ends quite abruptly. I actually cheered though, because there is no forced I love you, or fake feelings rushed at the end. It ends with them having dated for a few days, and it looks like the next book will venture into Derrick learning how not to be alone like he has the past ten years. But back to this book! What really stands out for me is Derrick. He is a little on the shy side, and just a really warm, nice character. I don’t think he has a bad bone in his body. His awkwardness and uncertainty about how to proceed in a relationship comes across really well. Although he has chosen to be alone for years, rather than start something just to face another depressing loss in his life, he is still lonely. Ten years is a long time to not have anyone in his life, even close friends, and I’m not sure I completely buy that he would be alone for that long.
When we first meet Gavin, he rubbed me the wrong way. He was obviously flirty but comes across as kind of too much of a charmer. I even thought him a little sleazy at first. I didn’t like his over the top seduction of Derrick. As this story is told in Derrick’s point of view, we don’t get to know Gavin very well at first. But by the second half of the book, I feel like his character settled down, and I could understand why Derrick would be attracted to him. Gavin had lived with a very controlling man, and whether more of that insecurity will come out in book two is up in the air. Right now they are in their honeymoon stage, and I’m interested to see how their relationship plays out once real life intrudes.
Since Derrick is a little clumsy with the physical aspect of the relationship, to me that just makes their bedroom scenes that much hotter. I loved how Derrick slowly gains confidence and Gavin is very patient and lets him learn. Very sexy.
Looking forward to the continuation of this story.
Rating: B-
December 20, 2012
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
This is the first book I've read by Amelia Gormley, and I found the writing and construction of the novel was done very well, but overall, I found the story to be somewhat no to my liking. This is mostly because of my reading preferences, and I still enjoyed the story. But, I found reading it to be somewhat tedious. There's no real story outside of the relationship between Derrick and Gavin, and I tend to not like very insular relationships in contemporary romance. Unless I find the characters much more engaging that what I normally read, or for some reason the relationship catches me in a way that rarely happens, I just find them a bit boring. Sadly, this happened for me here. It is by no means a reflection of the story, but it is how I felt about my reading experience.
Derrick is very isolated from life and relationships following a breakup with his long-time girlfriend and best friend and from watching the slow decline of his grandparents. He's a somewhat stable and reserved man anyway, he's simple and likes a slow and easy life without complication. That changes when he is commissioned to build a set of shelves for Gavin, who is getting over a breakup with an emotionally and physically abusive man. They circle around each other quite a bit and their friendship and relationship starts and moves slowly. I suppose the reason I found this most tedious was how slowly everything happened. Actually, that's somewhat of a misrepresentation of my feelings, because I do appreciate slow romances. What was less to my taste was the way that Derrick narrated the story, very limited in life because of his fear and his tendency to overanalyze every situation. It's not unrealistic in anyway, but once again, it wasn't to my taste. And last, I felt as if there was no climax. I was waiting for something to happen to wrap up the story and instead it ended, feeling more like part one of a story than book one of a series. And it is a series, so there's no doubt more to come, but I had wished that more had happened in the story, and less internal debate that to me seemed repetitive.
I'd welcome reading more of Amelia Gormley's work because I think she has a lot of talent, but this story wasn't for me, and I probably won't read the second book or any further installments. If you read a cross section of reviews for this book you'll find that many readers agree with me and many more disagree. Many people love this book, probably for the reasons that it didn't appeal to me. So I'd recommend this book to readers that really love contemporary with a central relationship, and with characters that really like to talk and consider their emotions.
This is the first book I've read by Amelia Gormley, and I found the writing and construction of the novel was done very well, but overall, I found the story to be somewhat no to my liking. This is mostly because of my reading preferences, and I still enjoyed the story. But, I found reading it to be somewhat tedious. There's no real story outside of the relationship between Derrick and Gavin, and I tend to not like very insular relationships in contemporary romance. Unless I find the characters much more engaging that what I normally read, or for some reason the relationship catches me in a way that rarely happens, I just find them a bit boring. Sadly, this happened for me here. It is by no means a reflection of the story, but it is how I felt about my reading experience.
Derrick is very isolated from life and relationships following a breakup with his long-time girlfriend and best friend and from watching the slow decline of his grandparents. He's a somewhat stable and reserved man anyway, he's simple and likes a slow and easy life without complication. That changes when he is commissioned to build a set of shelves for Gavin, who is getting over a breakup with an emotionally and physically abusive man. They circle around each other quite a bit and their friendship and relationship starts and moves slowly. I suppose the reason I found this most tedious was how slowly everything happened. Actually, that's somewhat of a misrepresentation of my feelings, because I do appreciate slow romances. What was less to my taste was the way that Derrick narrated the story, very limited in life because of his fear and his tendency to overanalyze every situation. It's not unrealistic in anyway, but once again, it wasn't to my taste. And last, I felt as if there was no climax. I was waiting for something to happen to wrap up the story and instead it ended, feeling more like part one of a story than book one of a series. And it is a series, so there's no doubt more to come, but I had wished that more had happened in the story, and less internal debate that to me seemed repetitive.
I'd welcome reading more of Amelia Gormley's work because I think she has a lot of talent, but this story wasn't for me, and I probably won't read the second book or any further installments. If you read a cross section of reviews for this book you'll find that many readers agree with me and many more disagree. Many people love this book, probably for the reasons that it didn't appeal to me. So I'd recommend this book to readers that really love contemporary with a central relationship, and with characters that really like to talk and consider their emotions.
January 24, 2013
This is an unusual love story in so much as both men have underlying issues that are more unusual than the norm. In Derricks case, he is a 28 yr old man who's one and only relationship (with a woman) started when he was just 14 and ended 4 yrs later, not only because he realised he was attracted to men but also because his life changed when he had to become the main carer for his grandparents for three years until they passed very close to each other! a hard and upsetting time for him. He had also lost both his parents at an early age and a brother in the military so this man knows loss Up close and personal. From then on he shies away from relationships and stays celibate for the next ten years, never getting to indulge in his preference for men. His life revolves around his work, his dog and his few close friends.Gavin is a slightly different kettle of fish, openly gay, his problems evolve from an abusive relationship in which he was not physically abused as such ( although his ex had a temper ) but was battered and abused emotionally by his ex, who also left him with an awful revelation hanging over him that could have a very serious effect not only on his future partnerships, but also his life. On the surface he appears confident but underneath he's also a mess of insecurities!The attraction is instant when Derrick and Gavin meet and they spend a lot of time flirting but when it comes to taking that one step further and actually trying for a relationship, they both get frightened and back away. However the attraction is too strong to ignore and so they begin a tenuous romance.What made this special, was seeing Derrick navigating his first relationship after 10 years of celibacy and having just himself to care about. Out of his depth with all the protocols involved in dating, he is endearingly naive and constantly over-thinking everything, but his sexual awakening is a revelation, and in bed their passion explodes as they explore their new found feelings. Gavin is ' the teacher ' but he also worries about making it work. Amelia really captures the " newness " and raw passion that they generate together,and makes it feel raw and realistic.Even though this oozes emotion, its not miserable or gloomy, I found it believable, tender and poignant. A new author that I will definitely following from now on. Great debut novel - I've found the sequel and downloaded it ASAP!
November 26, 2013
Rating Clarification: 4.5 stars
This was a pleasant surprise. I had Inertia on my TBR list for some time. I was looking for something to read, something that most of my friends hadn’t so I could go into it with a fresh mind, a new experience without the normal posts via Goodreads. As I scrolled through my library, the cover caught me with the gut feeling just like it did the first time I saw it. Having read the author before and enjoyed her voice, I was ready to meet and take these boys on.
Derrick Chance is a solitary man. He has lived alone for the last ten years in the house he shared with his late grandparents. The bachelor life of a handyman is fine for him; he sets his own hours, takes his weekends to play with his dog Chelsea in the park and though he has friends to spend quality time with…he is missing something. The something that Derrick is missing comes along when he gets a job to install custom shelves for one Gavin Hayes.
Upon their first meeting the attraction is evident between the men. The flirting was instant and I was blushing right along with Derrick…oh Derrick. I so got this man. I loved being in his head; each time he over analyzed the hell out of every little detail, I got him. His thought process is a lot like mine. I over think everything, wonder if I should have done that. What would happen if I did this or if didn’t do that. I feel regrets when I know I could have done something different than I did. I worry about the future and not live in the now…yeah, I totally got Derrick.
Gavin…I am a sucker for fair hair and freckles, but that is not the only attraction to this man. His past intrigues me. What he let happen, what he inadvertently gave into and the possible repercussions it can have on his future just hurt my heart. I love seeing him through Derrick’s eyes and the intimate bits that he gives to us. He is a complicated man, one who has been mistreated in one of the worst ways and the way it is handled by the author was amazing. I don’t think I have seen/read such an honest portrayal of what has happened and is happening to Gavin since watching Queer as Folk. With romance we get the fantasy but it can’t always be perfect and this shows us that is not, but that doesn’t mean things can’t be good. Gavin has had rough times that have brought him to a very low point yet he is still willing to try again and what better man to try with than Derrick?
What got me the most with this book was the connection I got with the MC’s. This is character driven; you have to get to know the men to get their story and we get them with a perfect pace, deeply felt emotions and breathtaking intimacy. There are elements of their work and their life outside each other but this is about them. About two normal men and oh how I loved their normalcy. Sure, it’s fun to read the cops, FBI Agents, Fireme, the men who have high profile jobs etc. but there is a calm serenity in reading about the everyday person; the one who you can relate to because it is the everyday, the normalcy about them that makes them special. With Derrick and Gavin this is the case. This is their story; I needed to have this time with them.
Inertia was so intriguing that before I finished it I bought the second and third installments to the series. I have to know where these two end up. How they get there and I want to be there with them every step of the way. I want to be there when they are with their friends and I so want Miss Ingrid to meet Gavin…everyone should have someone in their life like that wise woman. I wish I had one myself. I want to be there as their relationship develops and if it loses its way, how they make it work. More. I just want more.
This was a pleasant surprise. I had Inertia on my TBR list for some time. I was looking for something to read, something that most of my friends hadn’t so I could go into it with a fresh mind, a new experience without the normal posts via Goodreads. As I scrolled through my library, the cover caught me with the gut feeling just like it did the first time I saw it. Having read the author before and enjoyed her voice, I was ready to meet and take these boys on.
All love carries a risk.
Derrick Chance is a solitary man. He has lived alone for the last ten years in the house he shared with his late grandparents. The bachelor life of a handyman is fine for him; he sets his own hours, takes his weekends to play with his dog Chelsea in the park and though he has friends to spend quality time with…he is missing something. The something that Derrick is missing comes along when he gets a job to install custom shelves for one Gavin Hayes.
It had been ten years since he’d let himself feel attraction for anyone. He had cut off that part of himself and set it aside.
Upon their first meeting the attraction is evident between the men. The flirting was instant and I was blushing right along with Derrick…oh Derrick. I so got this man. I loved being in his head; each time he over analyzed the hell out of every little detail, I got him. His thought process is a lot like mine. I over think everything, wonder if I should have done that. What would happen if I did this or if didn’t do that. I feel regrets when I know I could have done something different than I did. I worry about the future and not live in the now…yeah, I totally got Derrick.
He liked his peace, his calm, his stability. But now it felt lacking; a sense of discontent had been growing inside him since he’d let himself notice Gavin.
Gavin…I am a sucker for fair hair and freckles, but that is not the only attraction to this man. His past intrigues me. What he let happen, what he inadvertently gave into and the possible repercussions it can have on his future just hurt my heart. I love seeing him through Derrick’s eyes and the intimate bits that he gives to us. He is a complicated man, one who has been mistreated in one of the worst ways and the way it is handled by the author was amazing. I don’t think I have seen/read such an honest portrayal of what has happened and is happening to Gavin since watching Queer as Folk. With romance we get the fantasy but it can’t always be perfect and this shows us that is not, but that doesn’t mean things can’t be good. Gavin has had rough times that have brought him to a very low point yet he is still willing to try again and what better man to try with than Derrick?
Love – even the sort of love that makes others raise their eyebrows – is not a modern invention.
What got me the most with this book was the connection I got with the MC’s. This is character driven; you have to get to know the men to get their story and we get them with a perfect pace, deeply felt emotions and breathtaking intimacy. There are elements of their work and their life outside each other but this is about them. About two normal men and oh how I loved their normalcy. Sure, it’s fun to read the cops, FBI Agents, Fireme, the men who have high profile jobs etc. but there is a calm serenity in reading about the everyday person; the one who you can relate to because it is the everyday, the normalcy about them that makes them special. With Derrick and Gavin this is the case. This is their story; I needed to have this time with them.
“Teach me.” Derrick whispered. “Help me learn you.”
Inertia was so intriguing that before I finished it I bought the second and third installments to the series. I have to know where these two end up. How they get there and I want to be there with them every step of the way. I want to be there when they are with their friends and I so want Miss Ingrid to meet Gavin…everyone should have someone in their life like that wise woman. I wish I had one myself. I want to be there as their relationship develops and if it loses its way, how they make it work. More. I just want more.
March 10, 2013
What...the...who ends a book on "Smiling, somehow feeling lighter about the prospect of the day apart and the evening to come, Derrick turned and made his way to his truck." I didn't pay 6 frickin' dollars for a fraction of the story! For $6 I expect War and Peace or at least a finished frickin' book...I HATE IT WHEN AUTHORS TRY TO SQUEEZE MORE MONEY OUT OF A READER BY SELLING THEIR NOVEL (SINGULAR) IN PIECES!!! Do you think the reader won't notice? It is expected by a reader, unless the author packages their book as an on-going serial, that they will get a complete story when they purchase a novel. I want my money back. I don't care how good the book was (I was leaning toward ★★★★☆) I'm now so pissed off that I will actively NOT recommend this book until it's price reflects it's incompleteness. Had I been charged $2 with a CLEAR warning that this is written as a serial where I must read all the books to get a complete & satisfactory resolution, then I probably would have rated it a lot higher. Argh.
September 10, 2012
Inertia by Amelia C. Gormley is the story of Derrick, a man in his early thirties, who has cut himself off from risk, adventure, and relationships after an unfortunate series of circumstances that led him to losing everyone he loved by the time he was twenty-one. Unwilling to experience the crushing pain of loss again, he’s drifted through a pleasant if boring decade of the same old, same old. Until he meets Gavin and suddenly the possibility for something more appears on his radar. Will he be brave enough to accept the inherent risk that goes along with daring to feel something new?
I worry that what I will say next will somehow come across as a backhanded compliment, when it is definitely not intended as such. It’s just a straight up compliment. So, please keep that in mind. Amelia writes Derrick with an attention to detail that in another person’s hands could become tedious. Instead, however, this detail shows us a fully fleshed out picture of a man who takes his time in everything, who tries to mitigate even the smallest loss, or unexpected outcome, by concentrating entirely on the steps of each part of his day and job. Every time I’d start to think something like, “Did we really need to know about how Derrick took his time sanding that bit of shelving?” I’d realize that, yes, we did need to know that–because Derrick’s inability to deal with unexpected outcomes, and his extreme caution in the face of everything is the crux and crisis of this book.
Derrick is a kind man, and given how slow and thorough he is, I never found myself annoyed with him for that trait. I did find his reaction to one of Gavin’s revelations sufficiently appalling (and thus incredibly realistic and human) that I had a hard time forgiving him for a little while, and frankly had a harder time forgiving him than Gavin did. In addition to Derrick’s initial reaction to Gavin’s story, I also had a hard time with the fact that Derrick, knowing what he ends up knowing about Gavin, keeps the specifics of his own issues to himself and doesn’t share them with Gavin. He uses a somewhat believable excuse that he doesn’t want to make Gavin’s problems all about him. But the way Gavin’s problems intersect with his own are the crisis of the book and the relationship, and I felt that remained unresolved because Derrick never actually shared the most damaged part of himself with Gavin.
That bothered me because Gavin laid it bare, made himself vulnerable in a really intense way, Derrick reacted horribly to it, and then, in my opinion, didn’t make up for it by providing Gavin with an equal vulnerability. That left a bit of sour taste in my mouth, because it gave Derrick a power position over Gavin, whether he intends to use it or not.
But here’s the thing–I was glad for these problems with the character. This is a very psychological book. There’s not a lot of external adventure. It’s not got a lot of vibrant world building, or evil villains, or anything outside of two people’s very realistic hang-ups about sex, love, and life as the problem that needs to be resolved to reach a HFN or HEA ending. Had Derrick handled things beautifully, there would have been no book, because it would’ve been boring as hell, and completely unrealistic. So, while I did find myself annoyed with Derrick at times, I was also incredibly happy to feel that way, because it meant I was emotionally invested and I cared about both men.
The book ends in a place without any cliff-hangers, but it’s a good thing there is another book (two, actually) coming, because I felt like if this was all that had been offered, I would have been somewhat annoyed. In fact, looking at the reviews of Amelia’s book, I’ve wondered if she would not have been possibly better off combining books one and two, because I think she would’ve gotten higher ratings had people been able to see what happens next. For the record, I know a little of what happens next because I’ve communicated with Amelia about it, and I’m very curious to see how Derrick and Gavin go from this relationship to that relationship.
If I had stars ratings, I’d give this a solid 5 stars because I was turning the pages like crazy and felt really invested in the outcome of these characters. I wanted more from them, and kind of wished the book had another 20 pages in it so that I could just revel in how cute they could be together a bit longer. I’m not sure the 20 pages I wanted would’ve added to the story in any way, though, so I am not saying this is a flaw of the book, but am saying that the book and characters left me wishing for more, more, more.
The sex in the book was very hot (yay!), but ended up being secondary for me. I was much more interested in how Gavin got to where he is now, and in how Derrick was going to open up. Was he really going to dare and risk and make himself vulnerable? Was he going to step up to the same level as Gavin in terms of putting himself out there? I wanted to know!
I thought this was a wonderful fall read. It definitely lent itself to curling up in my comfy covers while the autumn light drifted in. I can’t wait for the second book and I highly recommend this one to all who enjoy a slow burn romance with the promise for more!
I worry that what I will say next will somehow come across as a backhanded compliment, when it is definitely not intended as such. It’s just a straight up compliment. So, please keep that in mind. Amelia writes Derrick with an attention to detail that in another person’s hands could become tedious. Instead, however, this detail shows us a fully fleshed out picture of a man who takes his time in everything, who tries to mitigate even the smallest loss, or unexpected outcome, by concentrating entirely on the steps of each part of his day and job. Every time I’d start to think something like, “Did we really need to know about how Derrick took his time sanding that bit of shelving?” I’d realize that, yes, we did need to know that–because Derrick’s inability to deal with unexpected outcomes, and his extreme caution in the face of everything is the crux and crisis of this book.
Derrick is a kind man, and given how slow and thorough he is, I never found myself annoyed with him for that trait. I did find his reaction to one of Gavin’s revelations sufficiently appalling (and thus incredibly realistic and human) that I had a hard time forgiving him for a little while, and frankly had a harder time forgiving him than Gavin did. In addition to Derrick’s initial reaction to Gavin’s story, I also had a hard time with the fact that Derrick, knowing what he ends up knowing about Gavin, keeps the specifics of his own issues to himself and doesn’t share them with Gavin. He uses a somewhat believable excuse that he doesn’t want to make Gavin’s problems all about him. But the way Gavin’s problems intersect with his own are the crisis of the book and the relationship, and I felt that remained unresolved because Derrick never actually shared the most damaged part of himself with Gavin.
That bothered me because Gavin laid it bare, made himself vulnerable in a really intense way, Derrick reacted horribly to it, and then, in my opinion, didn’t make up for it by providing Gavin with an equal vulnerability. That left a bit of sour taste in my mouth, because it gave Derrick a power position over Gavin, whether he intends to use it or not.
But here’s the thing–I was glad for these problems with the character. This is a very psychological book. There’s not a lot of external adventure. It’s not got a lot of vibrant world building, or evil villains, or anything outside of two people’s very realistic hang-ups about sex, love, and life as the problem that needs to be resolved to reach a HFN or HEA ending. Had Derrick handled things beautifully, there would have been no book, because it would’ve been boring as hell, and completely unrealistic. So, while I did find myself annoyed with Derrick at times, I was also incredibly happy to feel that way, because it meant I was emotionally invested and I cared about both men.
The book ends in a place without any cliff-hangers, but it’s a good thing there is another book (two, actually) coming, because I felt like if this was all that had been offered, I would have been somewhat annoyed. In fact, looking at the reviews of Amelia’s book, I’ve wondered if she would not have been possibly better off combining books one and two, because I think she would’ve gotten higher ratings had people been able to see what happens next. For the record, I know a little of what happens next because I’ve communicated with Amelia about it, and I’m very curious to see how Derrick and Gavin go from this relationship to that relationship.
If I had stars ratings, I’d give this a solid 5 stars because I was turning the pages like crazy and felt really invested in the outcome of these characters. I wanted more from them, and kind of wished the book had another 20 pages in it so that I could just revel in how cute they could be together a bit longer. I’m not sure the 20 pages I wanted would’ve added to the story in any way, though, so I am not saying this is a flaw of the book, but am saying that the book and characters left me wishing for more, more, more.
The sex in the book was very hot (yay!), but ended up being secondary for me. I was much more interested in how Gavin got to where he is now, and in how Derrick was going to open up. Was he really going to dare and risk and make himself vulnerable? Was he going to step up to the same level as Gavin in terms of putting himself out there? I wanted to know!
I thought this was a wonderful fall read. It definitely lent itself to curling up in my comfy covers while the autumn light drifted in. I can’t wait for the second book and I highly recommend this one to all who enjoy a slow burn romance with the promise for more!
Read
August 31, 2012MMSJFDEURFSJHKHDGJMNGH!!! Why? Why? High and dry doesn't begin to describe it. Waiting anxiously for #2 even if I am afraid the last quarter of the book lacked a bit of the great tension of the previous part.
Derrick, the third person narrator of the book, is a 31-year-old handyman who's been living a quiet and unremarkable life. I think he's one of the unluckiest guys on earth for a number of reasons. He lost his parents when he was 14 and then went to live with his grandparents, who both fell ill and he had to take care of them, losing the best years of his life. Since their death, ten years before, instead of taking the opportunity to catch up with his youth and finally live, he retired from life, settling in his routine, with few friends and no lovers. If you look at this from a distance, it sounds sort of pathetic, but Derrick was captivating. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down.
When he's hired to build some shelves, Derrick meets Gavin, a sexy accountant that can't help flirting shamelessly with him. There's something a little off in Gavin, and Derrick can't put his finger on it. Derrick is also so set in his ways, that he is not able to take a risk and respond to the flirting or act on his interest and ask Gavin out. The sexual tension between the two men builds and builds, until one night, when they're finally beginning to do something, Gavin reveals something that chills Derrick and makes him run. I think this is the 40% of the book.
This is not a book of fireworks and sparks, it's a book of a stream of water changing its course. The many problems afflicting Derrick made me roll my eyes a bit, but I really felt for him and rooted for him since the beginning. He is inexperienced, but he doesn't pretend to be strong. Gavin, on the other hand, is much more experienced, but in his past he has an abusive lover who can't seem to live him alone and has put him in a very bad situation. The couple works, but the dynamics is not always predictable. Derrick is finally discovering a personal romantic interaction, from dating to sex, he's terrified, he missteps, he's clumsy, but there was something so basically ordinary that someone might found boring or even pathetic, as I said before, but personally, I loved it. I liked especially the pre-sex part, when there was a lot of anticipation. Sex became too prominent in the second part of the book, but I guess it's understandable after ten years of celibacy.
The story doesn't end with the end of the book. As the title says, it deals with Inertia, An Object At Rest. The next one, of which there's an excerpt at the end of the book, will be Acceleration, Gaining Momentum. I want it now.
Derrick, the third person narrator of the book, is a 31-year-old handyman who's been living a quiet and unremarkable life. I think he's one of the unluckiest guys on earth for a number of reasons. He lost his parents when he was 14 and then went to live with his grandparents, who both fell ill and he had to take care of them, losing the best years of his life. Since their death, ten years before, instead of taking the opportunity to catch up with his youth and finally live, he retired from life, settling in his routine, with few friends and no lovers. If you look at this from a distance, it sounds sort of pathetic, but Derrick was captivating. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down.
When he's hired to build some shelves, Derrick meets Gavin, a sexy accountant that can't help flirting shamelessly with him. There's something a little off in Gavin, and Derrick can't put his finger on it. Derrick is also so set in his ways, that he is not able to take a risk and respond to the flirting or act on his interest and ask Gavin out. The sexual tension between the two men builds and builds, until one night, when they're finally beginning to do something, Gavin reveals something that chills Derrick and makes him run. I think this is the 40% of the book.
This is not a book of fireworks and sparks, it's a book of a stream of water changing its course. The many problems afflicting Derrick made me roll my eyes a bit, but I really felt for him and rooted for him since the beginning. He is inexperienced, but he doesn't pretend to be strong. Gavin, on the other hand, is much more experienced, but in his past he has an abusive lover who can't seem to live him alone and has put him in a very bad situation. The couple works, but the dynamics is not always predictable. Derrick is finally discovering a personal romantic interaction, from dating to sex, he's terrified, he missteps, he's clumsy, but there was something so basically ordinary that someone might found boring or even pathetic, as I said before, but personally, I loved it. I liked especially the pre-sex part, when there was a lot of anticipation. Sex became too prominent in the second part of the book, but I guess it's understandable after ten years of celibacy.
The story doesn't end with the end of the book. As the title says, it deals with Inertia, An Object At Rest. The next one, of which there's an excerpt at the end of the book, will be Acceleration, Gaining Momentum. I want it now.
August 2, 2012
A beautifully measured tale of two men with very different reasons for being wary of embarking on a relationship. The attraction is there from the start, but will they have the courage to explore it?
Derrick, having lost several people he loved in quick succession, has decided that being on his own is the safest way to be. There is the sense that he is dissatisfied with his life, that it is lonely and sterile. Almost in spite of himself, he is intrigued when Gavin flirts with him. Derrick has been guarding his heart for so long, he's no longer sure how to behave in a relationship. I found his lack of confidence very touching.
Gavin's reasons are very different. He's emerging from an abusive relationship. He's attracted to Derrick and can't resist flirting with him, but he's lost confidence in his own judgement.
Both men take tentative steps towards each other, and it's a case of two steps forwards and one step back for both of them. When Gavin reveals his past in more detail to Derrick, it forces Derrick to confront his deepest fear.
I really enjoyed this story. The pace felt very natural, not rushed at all, and all the more credible for it.
Derrick, having lost several people he loved in quick succession, has decided that being on his own is the safest way to be. There is the sense that he is dissatisfied with his life, that it is lonely and sterile. Almost in spite of himself, he is intrigued when Gavin flirts with him. Derrick has been guarding his heart for so long, he's no longer sure how to behave in a relationship. I found his lack of confidence very touching.
Gavin's reasons are very different. He's emerging from an abusive relationship. He's attracted to Derrick and can't resist flirting with him, but he's lost confidence in his own judgement.
Both men take tentative steps towards each other, and it's a case of two steps forwards and one step back for both of them. When Gavin reveals his past in more detail to Derrick, it forces Derrick to confront his deepest fear.
I really enjoyed this story. The pace felt very natural, not rushed at all, and all the more credible for it.
December 3, 2012
Review soon!
August 8, 2018
3/5
For some reason I thought this would be a bdsm book. Maybe It's the cover. But anyway, i was quick to learn, and dissapoint, that it wasnt.
Expectation aside, it was nice book albiet too slow for my taste.
For some reason I thought this would be a bdsm book. Maybe It's the cover. But anyway, i was quick to learn, and dissapoint, that it wasnt.
Expectation aside, it was nice book albiet too slow for my taste.
February 14, 2018
3.5
Derrick suffered a lot at a very young age. He lost his parents at 14, and at eighteen, he had to drop college to take care of his ailing grandparents, a job that was both overwhelming and left him no room for anything else. So after so suffering so much loss it comes as no surprise when Derrick cuts himself off from life. The only time he interacts with people is through work, and now and again, he spends a little time with a friend.
When he is faced with sexy businessman Gavin, his senses go on overload. Though he is not one to mix business with pleasure, Gavin’s constant flirting is making him aware of his body and feeling he's long suppressed to remain safe. Gavin keeps finding things for Derrick to fix, but he doesn’t mind because after 10 years, he wants to be close to someone, and it’s both scary and exhilarating. Derrick is coming to realize that there is more to Gavin underneath his sexy exterior and maybe he is just not equipped to handle it all.
The relationship between the men progress at a very good pace, which makes the story believable, it's not an insta love and both men have some growing to do, to achieve their HEA. Derrick struggles with his anxiety and feeling in sharing a life with someone after so long, and Gavin has a past and it wasn’t a happy one. Yes, they are attracted to each other and can find sexual release, they still walk on eggshells when it comes to an actual connection. They both are aware of their struggles, and they accept that it is a work in progress. I believe that is the most enjoyable part of the book for me, that slow progression into a relationship.
It’s not a long story, but it felt long. There was too much going on with Derrick, his fears are represented clearly but after awhile they became too exaggerated. The men were sexy together, and I enjoyed the awkward fumbling of Derrick. The tension created between the men amplified the loving when they finally came together. Though, there is no actual full on sex (penetration), it still was hot and I enjoyed it.
The book was really surprising and far surpassed what I expected. The ending left me in 'huh' mode I would still be happy if that was the way, it was going to end. I am excited for book 2.
Derrick suffered a lot at a very young age. He lost his parents at 14, and at eighteen, he had to drop college to take care of his ailing grandparents, a job that was both overwhelming and left him no room for anything else. So after so suffering so much loss it comes as no surprise when Derrick cuts himself off from life. The only time he interacts with people is through work, and now and again, he spends a little time with a friend.
When he is faced with sexy businessman Gavin, his senses go on overload. Though he is not one to mix business with pleasure, Gavin’s constant flirting is making him aware of his body and feeling he's long suppressed to remain safe. Gavin keeps finding things for Derrick to fix, but he doesn’t mind because after 10 years, he wants to be close to someone, and it’s both scary and exhilarating. Derrick is coming to realize that there is more to Gavin underneath his sexy exterior and maybe he is just not equipped to handle it all.
The relationship between the men progress at a very good pace, which makes the story believable, it's not an insta love and both men have some growing to do, to achieve their HEA. Derrick struggles with his anxiety and feeling in sharing a life with someone after so long, and Gavin has a past and it wasn’t a happy one. Yes, they are attracted to each other and can find sexual release, they still walk on eggshells when it comes to an actual connection. They both are aware of their struggles, and they accept that it is a work in progress. I believe that is the most enjoyable part of the book for me, that slow progression into a relationship.
It’s not a long story, but it felt long. There was too much going on with Derrick, his fears are represented clearly but after awhile they became too exaggerated. The men were sexy together, and I enjoyed the awkward fumbling of Derrick. The tension created between the men amplified the loving when they finally came together. Though, there is no actual full on sex (penetration), it still was hot and I enjoyed it.
The book was really surprising and far surpassed what I expected. The ending left me in 'huh' mode I would still be happy if that was the way, it was going to end. I am excited for book 2.
January 26, 2013
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.
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.
November 17, 2012
The novel, Inertia, by Amelia C. Gormley was supplied for review by the author. While it should be obvious to say, this is a honest review and I was not influenced by any action of the author.
Inertia is the first novel by Amelia C. Gormley in which I have read. There is always a level of excitement when I discover a new author; I never know what the writing quality and style will be. In this case, I was very pleased with the results.
Basic Plot:
Derrick Chance is a handy man whose life is in a rut after a period of caring for his ailing family members. Now on his own, Derrick focuses on his growing business. After taking a job, Derrick finds his new customer, Gavin attractive and marvels at his flirtation. But there seems to be a shadow surrounding Gavin and Derrick wonders if the man is serious regarding his intentions. As their relationship unfolds, can their differences be overcome and a relationship built?
This was the first book that I read by Amelia Gormley, but certainly it will not be the last. The story was relationship focused, so no big action scenes. The suspense came as we discover the secrets of Gavin and then the blossoming relationship. I debated on if I should give this a 4 or 5 star review. It is very hard for me to give a book a 5 star, usually there is something that I find distracting. But in Inertia, I found nothing that I would have improved. It was a simple love story with a complex relationship.
If you are looking for a story that has heart, heat, and humor then try Inertia by Amelia Gormley. I have put this author on my auto-buy list and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Acceleration.
Full review on my blog!
Inertia is the first novel by Amelia C. Gormley in which I have read. There is always a level of excitement when I discover a new author; I never know what the writing quality and style will be. In this case, I was very pleased with the results.
Basic Plot:
Derrick Chance is a handy man whose life is in a rut after a period of caring for his ailing family members. Now on his own, Derrick focuses on his growing business. After taking a job, Derrick finds his new customer, Gavin attractive and marvels at his flirtation. But there seems to be a shadow surrounding Gavin and Derrick wonders if the man is serious regarding his intentions. As their relationship unfolds, can their differences be overcome and a relationship built?
This was the first book that I read by Amelia Gormley, but certainly it will not be the last. The story was relationship focused, so no big action scenes. The suspense came as we discover the secrets of Gavin and then the blossoming relationship. I debated on if I should give this a 4 or 5 star review. It is very hard for me to give a book a 5 star, usually there is something that I find distracting. But in Inertia, I found nothing that I would have improved. It was a simple love story with a complex relationship.
If you are looking for a story that has heart, heat, and humor then try Inertia by Amelia Gormley. I have put this author on my auto-buy list and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Acceleration.
Full review on my blog!
November 26, 2012
4.5 of 5 stars
It didn't take me long to be totally absorbed by Amelia C. Gormley's Inertia, the first book in her Impulse trilogy. The story is sweetly sexy—and I mean that in all the best ways. One of the things I enjoyed about it is that, even with nothing overt, it is a book that resonated with me. The main characters, Derrick and Gavin, are both gun-shy when it comes to relationships but for very different reasons. And exploring those reasons, getting to know the two men, is a very rewarding experience.
Even with the story in Derrick's POV, the author does an excellent job bringing to life the other characters' personalities. With Derrick we are front and center with his introspection and the subsequent growing self-awareness he undergoes. His ultimate acceptance that his life prior to meeting Gavin was nothing to write home about rings true. There's no one magic moment, it's a process and one I felt deep within—it's certainly something that I could relate to.
I fully enjoyed Derrick and Gavin's developing relationship, so much so that I found myself going back for a second helping. Now I intend to dive headlong into the second book in Ms Gormely's Impulse trilogy—Acceleration. In fact I'm very impatient to do so and I don't intend to come up for air anytime soon.
Reviewed at Yin and Yang Reviews
It didn't take me long to be totally absorbed by Amelia C. Gormley's Inertia, the first book in her Impulse trilogy. The story is sweetly sexy—and I mean that in all the best ways. One of the things I enjoyed about it is that, even with nothing overt, it is a book that resonated with me. The main characters, Derrick and Gavin, are both gun-shy when it comes to relationships but for very different reasons. And exploring those reasons, getting to know the two men, is a very rewarding experience.
Even with the story in Derrick's POV, the author does an excellent job bringing to life the other characters' personalities. With Derrick we are front and center with his introspection and the subsequent growing self-awareness he undergoes. His ultimate acceptance that his life prior to meeting Gavin was nothing to write home about rings true. There's no one magic moment, it's a process and one I felt deep within—it's certainly something that I could relate to.
I fully enjoyed Derrick and Gavin's developing relationship, so much so that I found myself going back for a second helping. Now I intend to dive headlong into the second book in Ms Gormely's Impulse trilogy—Acceleration. In fact I'm very impatient to do so and I don't intend to come up for air anytime soon.
Reviewed at Yin and Yang Reviews
December 5, 2012
Inertia is a wonderfully written tale and first book in the Impulse Series by Amelia Gormley. I found the book appropriately named as inertia is defined as a body resisting motion; thus our characters Derrick and Gavin.
Derrick and Gavin are opposites yet subtly alike. Gavin is out-going and flirtatious, Derrick, the handyman, is shy, reserved and very set in his ways. Both men battle issues that add to the dynamics of their desired feeling s for each other and the story. Gavin is dealing with a past abusive relationship and Derrick, grief; thus making him relationship challenged. Ms. Gormley’s tale of the two men is brilliant and endearing.
She takes the reader through the trials & tribulations and the vulnerabilities of a new relationship, where life issues occur and insecurities abode. The characters are compelling in their everyday lives, real men seeking change and love. They were neither fake nor made-up problems and lives.
Inertia was whimsical and appealing, leaving a smile on my face. The sexual encounters were well developed; timid yet alluring as both men cautiously approach their union and desire to move to the next level. I look forward to reading and reviewing the second book in the series and watching their relationship develop and unfold. If Inertia is a body resisting motion then I can only imagine what the Acceleration of the body will bring.
reviewed by zafira
Derrick and Gavin are opposites yet subtly alike. Gavin is out-going and flirtatious, Derrick, the handyman, is shy, reserved and very set in his ways. Both men battle issues that add to the dynamics of their desired feeling s for each other and the story. Gavin is dealing with a past abusive relationship and Derrick, grief; thus making him relationship challenged. Ms. Gormley’s tale of the two men is brilliant and endearing.
She takes the reader through the trials & tribulations and the vulnerabilities of a new relationship, where life issues occur and insecurities abode. The characters are compelling in their everyday lives, real men seeking change and love. They were neither fake nor made-up problems and lives.
Inertia was whimsical and appealing, leaving a smile on my face. The sexual encounters were well developed; timid yet alluring as both men cautiously approach their union and desire to move to the next level. I look forward to reading and reviewing the second book in the series and watching their relationship develop and unfold. If Inertia is a body resisting motion then I can only imagine what the Acceleration of the body will bring.
reviewed by zafira
September 7, 2014
Okay, I have to say my rating of this book is tainted by the fact it is not a complete story. It's not even a cliffhanger - it just stops.
So let's pretend you are an author and you are going to write a story. Your story has a beginning, a middle and an ending. Sometimes you may continue the idea in more stories, and those stories will have a beginning, a middle and an ending. (Unless of course it's The NeverEnding Story and then you just have a giant dog thing flying around.)
But not this story. It has a beginning and a middle and then it stops. You get to a page where it says..."The following is an excerpt from ACCELERATION Impulse, Book Two"
really? REALLY?!?!?
The other thing I found interesting is the fact that the font in this book is HUGE - I mean I didn't even need my reading glasses. So that was kinda cool because I usually am squinting at my Kindle. It's like the large print edition. But the good news is WOW! I just read a "182 page" book in under an hour - I am an incredibly fast reader! WTF!
I know this was published as book one - but I don't think it's fair to call it a book one - more like book .50
So let's pretend you are an author and you are going to write a story. Your story has a beginning, a middle and an ending. Sometimes you may continue the idea in more stories, and those stories will have a beginning, a middle and an ending. (Unless of course it's The NeverEnding Story and then you just have a giant dog thing flying around.)
But not this story. It has a beginning and a middle and then it stops. You get to a page where it says..."The following is an excerpt from ACCELERATION Impulse, Book Two"
really? REALLY?!?!?
The other thing I found interesting is the fact that the font in this book is HUGE - I mean I didn't even need my reading glasses. So that was kinda cool because I usually am squinting at my Kindle. It's like the large print edition. But the good news is WOW! I just read a "182 page" book in under an hour - I am an incredibly fast reader! WTF!
I know this was published as book one - but I don't think it's fair to call it a book one - more like book .50
November 16, 2013
4.5 Stars
Inertia is a lovely read. Beautifully written with excellent characterisations, both primary and secondary. There is nothing outlandish here. The telling of a story that does not mock a serious issue, yet it is sexy, sensible and has hope. There is no insta-love, rather a building of a potentially strong and loving relationship between really genuine and likeable characters - who are not without personal demons, for understandable reasons. Highly recommended reading. Full review, with some spoilers, at http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
January 21, 2015
I seem to be in the minority here but I really, really liked this book. All the sexual tension and something about how Derrick and Gavin are both moving beyond their comfort zones and making themselves vulnerable again.
Of course, this book was all new discoveries and the start of a possible long term relationship, and there was a lot of sex...thinking about it and having it! It was hot so there certainly aren't any complaints from me! I have a feeling Derrick is about to be awakened to things he never knew he wanted.
Both guys were pretty crappy at communicating so I'm hoping to see more openness and sharing in the next book along with their furthering sexual explorations.
Of course, this book was all new discoveries and the start of a possible long term relationship, and there was a lot of sex...thinking about it and having it! It was hot so there certainly aren't any complaints from me! I have a feeling Derrick is about to be awakened to things he never knew he wanted.
Both guys were pretty crappy at communicating so I'm hoping to see more openness and sharing in the next book along with their furthering sexual explorations.
September 6, 2012
Sexy, well-paced, as the review I read before buying noted, it doesn't end on a cliff hanger, but I liked the characters and writing style enough to be interested in looking at Book Two. Definitely enjoyed and might re-read on a rainy day.
January 11, 2013
Three and three-quarter stars. I can't put my finger on it (so it's probably a 'me' thing), but...IDK...I wanted less sex (not that there was much) and more...them. And I second what everyone said, this doesn't have an ending per say - it feels like Part 1 :)
May 13, 2014
Sweet and uncomplicated story of one guy's attempt at getting back in the game. Filled with good amount of sexual tension, steaminess, and tenderness. Cute and non taxing read, but ends rather abruptly for part two.
April 20, 2018
Poor Derrick is very isolated and tries to control everything. When Gavin starts flirting with him he has no idea how to react. Gavin's pull is irresistible so Derrick finally let's him in.
Extremely steamy, but getting Derrick to open up is like prying open a clam.
Extremely steamy, but getting Derrick to open up is like prying open a clam.
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