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Deliver Us #2
From Temptation
Novel (110,000 words)
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, BDSM, Drama, Erotica, Gay
Kyle Roth is no longer safe–not from his lover, not from his friends and, especially, not from himself. Questioning the choices that led him to a life of submission to the potentially dangerous Dominant, Ben Knox, Kyle sees no other way out than through old vices. Just when Kyle assumes all hope is lost he is saved by the persistence of an old enemy, Gabriel Hunter. Worse yet, a secret past withheld from Darrek–Kyle's friend and Gabriel's partner–threatens to destroy them all! (M/M - For content labels and excerpt, see details on publisher's site.)
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, BDSM, Drama, Erotica, Gay
Kyle Roth is no longer safe–not from his lover, not from his friends and, especially, not from himself. Questioning the choices that led him to a life of submission to the potentially dangerous Dominant, Ben Knox, Kyle sees no other way out than through old vices. Just when Kyle assumes all hope is lost he is saved by the persistence of an old enemy, Gabriel Hunter. Worse yet, a secret past withheld from Darrek–Kyle's friend and Gabriel's partner–threatens to destroy them all! (M/M - For content labels and excerpt, see details on publisher's site.)
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2012
9 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Kelling
29 books391 followersLynn Kelling began writing in order to tell stories that aren’t afraid of the dark, don’t hold anything back and always strive to be memorable, forging lasting attachments between character and reader. Her inspiration comes from taking a closer look at behaviors and ideas lurking at the fringes of life—basically anything that people may hesitate to speak of in mixed company, but everyone wonders about anyway. Her work is driven by the taboo in order to expose the humanity within it. Lynn is an artist, designer and lover of any form of creative self-expression that comes from a place of honesty and emotion, whether it's body art or opera. She has had multiple novels published, has written over fifty works of erotic fiction of varying lengths, and always has several novels in progress.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 21, 2014
ALL ABOARD!
Crazy Train, Part II
The second book in the series takes the reader on another ride of incredibly hot sex and insanely messed up characters. Having read DELIVER US I can’t say I’m surprised by the trajectory of the story. In this book, we get to see Kyle and Darrek lives implode.
Is there anyone in this book who is not completely fucking, batshit crazy? I like how the couples do it together, taking each other down liking drowning rats.
Ben's borderline and teetering with rage
Kyle's snapped and you can only put Humpty Dumpty back together again so many times.
Darrek slides into darkness
Gabriel keep flipping on and off like a switch
If you enjoy soap operas with incestuous bed hopping, wild behaviors, shocking reveals, and dramatics—then you’ve found yourself Grade A quality stuff. Personally, I found this less engaging as there are similarities between the characters demons in books one and two. I won’t say it is a reboot, but there are strong parallels and it is more of a twist of the kaleidoscope.
Additionally, the sex while copious is less startlingly physical and plays a great deal more with the psychological which I enjoyed, but combined with the blatantly bad idea fairy regarding the characters’ actions made it less enjoyable than just the voyeurism of the S&M—my preference, so reader satisfaction will vary.
The carousel wheel perspective of getting a scene from one of five characters is a bit much when combined with the POV shifts mid-paragraph. So prepare for disorientation. Again, not thrilled with BDSM being portrayed as something only practiced by those with serious mental conditions. Then again, I’m slightly disturbed by the book using horrific crimes for salacious purposes, too. Honestly, this book makes me contemplate why reading it?
I’m kinda torn between wanting to finish the third book because then the series is done—check mark. But the other part of me is already plotting out the last book, knowing there won’t be a ton of surprises since there’s been some foreshadowing this round regarding Micah. Hoping the series ends stronger since this was a bit of a lull even with all the machinations and shenanigans. What was shocking in DELIVER US doesn’t have the same punch; I blame it on desensitization.
Overall theme of the book can be summed up:
I’m going to keep you safe—from your enemies, your friends, and yourself.
2.5 Stars
November 26, 2013
3.5 Stars
I said I wasn’t going to read this and I meant it. But then the force of need-to-know got the better of me plus I had this little voice of evil temptation whispering, cajoling, tempting and coercing me to read further. You know who you are and yes, you better still be hiding!
This book made me SO MAD!
From start to finish it is a sickening mess of emotions for me. The most dominant one being rage then frustration and then comes sadness. Never, not once did I feel hope for this fucked up foursome.
It’s all too much. The dynamic between them all has become a sickness in my opinion.
Okay, I’m mad but not mad enough to not give credit when it is due. Lynn Kelling’s talent shines in this book. The writing is so much better than the last book. She knows these men inside out, each of them. She weaves a complex mix of emotions that trip me up constantly. Nothing is predictable, nothing is lost, and it’s all here: she gives and gives and gives until you can’t swallow another thing. I sense the emotional sadist is at play and whooping it up big time. Kudos Lynn Kelling you did a great job delivering this one.
I said I wasn’t going to read this and I meant it. But then the force of need-to-know got the better of me plus I had this little voice of evil temptation whispering, cajoling, tempting and coercing me to read further. You know who you are and yes, you better still be hiding!
This book made me SO MAD!
From start to finish it is a sickening mess of emotions for me. The most dominant one being rage then frustration and then comes sadness. Never, not once did I feel hope for this fucked up foursome.
It’s all too much. The dynamic between them all has become a sickness in my opinion.
Okay, I’m mad but not mad enough to not give credit when it is due. Lynn Kelling’s talent shines in this book. The writing is so much better than the last book. She knows these men inside out, each of them. She weaves a complex mix of emotions that trip me up constantly. Nothing is predictable, nothing is lost, and it’s all here: she gives and gives and gives until you can’t swallow another thing. I sense the emotional sadist is at play and whooping it up big time. Kudos Lynn Kelling you did a great job delivering this one.
Read
April 23, 2013“Sometimes I want to do the wrong thing.”
Dark.
Intense.
Beautiful.
This novel, where the hell do I start? It took my heart and soul, threaded it so intricately through a tiny needle, and used everything that I am to spell out oh, so, very, slowly:
The one bad place, the only one “BAD place”— is your mind.
Deliver Us. From Temptation. It’s not hard to make the connection between Kelling’s first novel, and her sequel. What is hard hitting is everything that comes between covers and back pages.
So, where the hell to start? It has to be Kyle. Kyle. Oh my sweet, sexy sub, someone who just purrs his way over the pages and curls up for petting in just the right way. He’s a clever sub, a manipulative sub, one who manages to bring his Dom to his knees every time—and boy does his Dom know it—and let him. Hard as nails Ben Knox, who only ever wanted a body to break, has fallen head and heart for his sub. But Kyle holds a secret, one that’s making Kyle scurry into the darkness of his own mind, forcing Ben to cry frustration and chase right in there after him in the only way he knows how: Dominance, pain and a submission from Kyle, which only breaks Kyle down further.
“Sometimes I want to do the wrong thing.”
Darrek. Oh Darrek. What the hell happened to you, baby? From the last book to this one? My lovable giant, Gabe’s lover, Gabe’s protector despite Gabe being your Dom—best friend to Kyle, yet light opposition to Ben Knox. Darrek’s usually so sweetly wrapped up in his feelings for Gabe, nothing matters but the peace and security of the people around him. Only Kyle’s acting strange, and it’s starting to get to Darrek. Kyle’s there, broken, huddled in the corner, hiding from the world, yet at the same time—he’s scurrying, itching at the inside of Darrek’s mind, stirring bad things—and dark, dark… places.
“Sometimes I want to do the wrong thing.”
Caught in the middle? Gabe. Oh babydoll, you don’t know what the hell you’ve set in motion, do you? Cautious in heart, all scars open—a hard Dom who only ever touched, never allowed to touch, until Darrek takes his mind, body, and soul and keeps it held so gently in those giant hands of his. Knowing Ben’s terrorised Kyle to breaking, Gabe steps in with the cool but sensitive hand to take care of Kyle, as Kyle’s Dom. Only he’s missing the secret—all the signs. Completely unaware of the psychological pressure that’s building from so close to home, through his need to protect and care for Kyle, he’s unwittingly threatening his relationship, his safety—and every part of his own sanity.
“Sometimes I want to do the wrong thing.”
And back to Ben Knox. The surprise: one of the hardest Doms—the LAST one to step back and offer a reprieve. Christ. By the end of all this? I friggin loved him. All his:
My love, my soul—my ability to try and make you all whole: fucking test it, Kyle. I’m staying here right by you.
***
This book, this book dragged me to dark, dark places. One person’s actions acted like a bowling pin to everyone else, and their actions helped define all the characters around him. Even when in Gabe’s life, this was about Kyle, this was about Darrek, this was about Ben, this was about Trace, this was about Micah. Everything was just intricately interwoven, all tied together by a secret—one that tears open the mind and exposes all dark faults, dark needs, and darkest desires. And all just to help glimpse how people try and stay sane as they stagger away from, or back into, their darkest impulses.
Does it make you crumple? Yes. Does it make you want to hide from what’s happening on page, even though you can’t look away? Yes. But in a way that goes to explaining part of the novel: you’re compelled to follow and not to let go, and that’s the gut-wrencher. You understand Kyle’s relationship with Dare on a deep level, how compelled he is to follow, to “love”, how his own psychology has conditioned him to seek out Dare’s own darkness and ignite it. And how Dare then, in turn, ignites Gabe’s.
I read this in just over twenty-four hours; it gripped me that much. It’s so complex — so heartbreakingly complex — yet there’s a lot of strength and recognition of loving souls for what they are. It makes you want to jump into the page and grab everyone into a hold, or hit certain people, at times. I’m still up in the air with how I feel about Dare, about how safe Gabe is. Just so many emotions that I need resolved. Like — now. *Coughs loud enough hopefully for Ms. Kelling to hear, then grins* “You got the “now” bit, right?”
But overall, just such a stunning a read.
(Disclaimer: I have a shared-world project Ms. Kelling in our next novels. But as it stands, I have had no input into this story or its characters. I'm not officially rating this novel as our relationship for these projects is now underway.)
March 8, 2017
I'm not a fan of BDSM but this series of Lynn Kellings (Deliver Us) and Jack L. Pyke's series (Don't) are a combined project and they are just fucking AMAZING. I have been pushed to my limit with these books and have felt WAY out of my comfort zone at times but there is a much deeper meaning behind these books which is fascinating and helped me push on through. Almost every **Trigger Warning** known to man is also in these books too so be forewarned but for once I approached this with an open mind. I've found Lynn series darker so far overall but Jack's are just as dark too but slightly different.
July 3, 2016
★★★★☆
I'm giving this 4 stars, while I can't say that I 'really liked' it (GR's 4-star explanation) it was well-written and kept me on the edge through this harrowing tale. I didn't read book 1
and if it's anything like book #2, I probably wouldn't have gotten to book #2. There are situations and characters from Deliver Us that I'm missing the story on but I got the gist of DU.
I'm going to have think and ruminate about this book for a bit before I come to a conclusion. I think the couples that are meant and suited to be together are, however, I wouldn't characterize this as an hea. At least for a while, it's going to be one day at a time. Pretty much every character is majorly and horrifying . I know I'm rambling but wow, I'm affected. I'll be reading more from this author, I just hope they're not all as dark as this one.
I'm giving this 4 stars, while I can't say that I 'really liked' it (GR's 4-star explanation) it was well-written and kept me on the edge through this harrowing tale. I didn't read book 1
and if it's anything like book #2, I probably wouldn't have gotten to book #2. There are situations and characters from Deliver Us that I'm missing the story on but I got the gist of DU. I'm going to have think and ruminate about this book for a bit before I come to a conclusion. I think the couples that are meant and suited to be together are, however, I wouldn't characterize this as an hea. At least for a while, it's going to be one day at a time. Pretty much every character is majorly and horrifying . I know I'm rambling but wow, I'm affected. I'll be reading more from this author, I just hope they're not all as dark as this one.
January 26, 2016
This is basically a continuation of Delvier Us and really cannot be read as a standalone. As dark as the first installment was, this one is even more so.
Going into this I had no idea what to expect, but was hoping to see a continuation of Darrek and Gabe building their relationship and working through Gabe's horrific past and it's effect on them as a couple. That being said, this book just devastated me. What comes out between the two main couples, D & G and Ben and Kyle, is even more horrifying than what came out in the first. We know from Deliver Us that Kyle is deeply troubled. Here we find out why and it affects not only his relationship with Ben, but with Gabe and best friend Darrek, and it turns everything they were trying to work out in the first book upside down.
This book is dark and not for the faint of heart (especially if you are sensitive to themes of child abuse). There is no HEA and there will be a 3rd book coming.
Going into this I had no idea what to expect, but was hoping to see a continuation of Darrek and Gabe building their relationship and working through Gabe's horrific past and it's effect on them as a couple. That being said, this book just devastated me. What comes out between the two main couples, D & G and Ben and Kyle, is even more horrifying than what came out in the first. We know from Deliver Us that Kyle is deeply troubled. Here we find out why and it affects not only his relationship with Ben, but with Gabe and best friend Darrek, and it turns everything they were trying to work out in the first book upside down.
This book is dark and not for the faint of heart (especially if you are sensitive to themes of child abuse). There is no HEA and there will be a 3rd book coming.
September 1, 2013
Review to come. Wow im torn confused hurt angry. This book did me in. Cried so many tears. Broken all of them in one way or another.
September 29, 2015
This installment seemed to be darker than the first book, even though the content was similar.
This is mostly about Kyle's journey, and the secrets that are causing him harm.
There is so much in here, it is hard for me to write a detailed review.
This is not a romance. It is hard and dark. There is love, but it is twisted and causes pain. The men in this book are severely damaged and in the middle of self realisations.
If HEA is a requirement for you, this is not the book for you.
Trigger warnings:
This is mostly about Kyle's journey, and the secrets that are causing him harm.
There is so much in here, it is hard for me to write a detailed review.
This is not a romance. It is hard and dark. There is love, but it is twisted and causes pain. The men in this book are severely damaged and in the middle of self realisations.
If HEA is a requirement for you, this is not the book for you.
Trigger warnings:
May 13, 2017
This series is amazing. So great to read the second in the series and actually like it better than the first. Such great characters, and they are developed so beautifully throughout these two books. Kyle absolutely broke my heart. While I didn't like or trust Gabriel in the first book he becomes even more unlikable and untrustworthy in the second book - really well written character. Pacing is amazing, the way the author moves from different POVs is incredibly well done. Absolutely loved it & I downloaded Forgive Us before I had even finished this one.
October 23, 2016
I will do a more detailed review at a later date as Amazon and goodreads deleted my last review....I love Lynns books and she gave me my number one BB...Gabriel....Gabe is a complicated Dom but when he's needed he is there as Kyle needs him in this.....The relationship between them changes and Gabe comes to Kyles rescue.....Darrek (Gabe's sub/lover) broke me in this one but they all come together as the family that they are......Ben does his best with Kyle and although this is a hard read the way it is written is perfect and just keeps you guessing as to what will happen next....cannot wait to read the next one Forgive Us which I've put of for long enough x
July 6, 2016
This is going to be another of those, 'where the hell do I even start?' reviews.
I totally and utterly devoured this book, having met these men in the first book, I dove right into this one and literally couldn't put it down.
There were secrets to be revealed, and my god once you opened that particular can of worms they went everywhere.
Kyle is struggling with his own demons, to battle the secrets from not only his past, but also that of his best friend, Dare. On the surface everything seems okay. but deep down he is fighting so hard to remain calm. It's almost like he wants someone to wave a magic wand and make all the hurt and pain go away, but we all know that won't happen, and if it did, well, we wouldn't have such an awesome book to read, and where would be the fun in that?
I felt for him, the emotions and fear he was struggling to balance in line with his place as a submissive to Ben. Now Ben, *sighs*, he stole my heart totally. That man is just perfect, he would do anything and I mean anything to protect the man he loves heart and soul. That is proved when Kyle lashes out and tells him he hates him. Most men would fight back, not accepting it, but I for me those words hurt, they cut deeper than anything else, but they are also so closely linked to the fact you love someone with all your heart. If you don't love someone, how can you hate them?
The issues that these two go through to me shows the strength of their love, neither ever gives up on the other, even though they might not be together physically, that emotional bond will tie them together forever.
Gabe of course comes into his own, showing that he not only has the ability to care for his own submissive, but to care and show affection and genuine concern for another troubled soul, in who he see's so much of himself.
The way the story was told was well handled given the subject matter covered. Nothing was done for thrills or for effect in my eyes, it was very well thought out and sensitively handled. My heart ached for them all, every last one of the fabulous four men who's stories were so wonderfully intertwined. I wanted to reach out and hug them, especially Dare when is past came crashing down into his present.
I loved the writing style, and can very happily say I am a fan of Lynn Kelling's work and the world she has created and weaves these characters into.
A wonderfully captivating read as you can tell from the fact it too me about 2 days to read.
I totally and utterly devoured this book, having met these men in the first book, I dove right into this one and literally couldn't put it down.
There were secrets to be revealed, and my god once you opened that particular can of worms they went everywhere.
Kyle is struggling with his own demons, to battle the secrets from not only his past, but also that of his best friend, Dare. On the surface everything seems okay. but deep down he is fighting so hard to remain calm. It's almost like he wants someone to wave a magic wand and make all the hurt and pain go away, but we all know that won't happen, and if it did, well, we wouldn't have such an awesome book to read, and where would be the fun in that?
I felt for him, the emotions and fear he was struggling to balance in line with his place as a submissive to Ben. Now Ben, *sighs*, he stole my heart totally. That man is just perfect, he would do anything and I mean anything to protect the man he loves heart and soul. That is proved when Kyle lashes out and tells him he hates him. Most men would fight back, not accepting it, but I for me those words hurt, they cut deeper than anything else, but they are also so closely linked to the fact you love someone with all your heart. If you don't love someone, how can you hate them?
The issues that these two go through to me shows the strength of their love, neither ever gives up on the other, even though they might not be together physically, that emotional bond will tie them together forever.
Gabe of course comes into his own, showing that he not only has the ability to care for his own submissive, but to care and show affection and genuine concern for another troubled soul, in who he see's so much of himself.
The way the story was told was well handled given the subject matter covered. Nothing was done for thrills or for effect in my eyes, it was very well thought out and sensitively handled. My heart ached for them all, every last one of the fabulous four men who's stories were so wonderfully intertwined. I wanted to reach out and hug them, especially Dare when is past came crashing down into his present.
I loved the writing style, and can very happily say I am a fan of Lynn Kelling's work and the world she has created and weaves these characters into.
A wonderfully captivating read as you can tell from the fact it too me about 2 days to read.
May 19, 2013
My Review:
This book could easily be renamed Fifty Shades of Messed Up. Wow...I had no idea. And you know, as I sit down to write this review, it occurs to me that there's virtually nothing I can say that isn't a spoiler.
This book is truly Kyle's book. He's on a serious downward spiral, but no one knows why. They just know that he's a danger to himself. As the book unfolds though, it becomes apparent that Kyle is hiding way too many secrets and he is not a guy who can do that. It's literally killing him.
This series is about a group of six basic friends...and I love that dynamic which is what made this book so incredibly hard to read because as the book transpires, those friendships truly become toxic to all of the parties involved. Honestly, it's painful to read. This book hurt.
But just by the mere fact of how much it hurt me to read it, tells you what an amazing tale Lynn Kelling is weaving here. I am attached to her characters and what happens to them...every single one of them. And at the 46% place in this book, everything about their world blew apart.
But what hurts me as a reader is that it never got better. There was no repairing the damage done and I think I needed that. Now that the book is finished, I'm kind of wishing now that I'd never read it...at the same time that I'm dying for the next book. It's almost like the same kind of toxic relationships these guys all have with each other. *sigh* Every one makes it to the end, but I'm not so sure any of them are in a better place. Maybe Kyle, simply because he finally has the honesty so that he can live with himself again. I can't imagine where Lynn Kelling will take the series from here.
And I know...this was a lousy review. The book was riveting... like watching a car wreck. I literally did not put the book down all day, but it definitely was not a book that made me feel better for having read it.
This book could easily be renamed Fifty Shades of Messed Up. Wow...I had no idea. And you know, as I sit down to write this review, it occurs to me that there's virtually nothing I can say that isn't a spoiler.
This book is truly Kyle's book. He's on a serious downward spiral, but no one knows why. They just know that he's a danger to himself. As the book unfolds though, it becomes apparent that Kyle is hiding way too many secrets and he is not a guy who can do that. It's literally killing him.
This series is about a group of six basic friends...and I love that dynamic which is what made this book so incredibly hard to read because as the book transpires, those friendships truly become toxic to all of the parties involved. Honestly, it's painful to read. This book hurt.
But just by the mere fact of how much it hurt me to read it, tells you what an amazing tale Lynn Kelling is weaving here. I am attached to her characters and what happens to them...every single one of them. And at the 46% place in this book, everything about their world blew apart.
But what hurts me as a reader is that it never got better. There was no repairing the damage done and I think I needed that. Now that the book is finished, I'm kind of wishing now that I'd never read it...at the same time that I'm dying for the next book. It's almost like the same kind of toxic relationships these guys all have with each other. *sigh* Every one makes it to the end, but I'm not so sure any of them are in a better place. Maybe Kyle, simply because he finally has the honesty so that he can live with himself again. I can't imagine where Lynn Kelling will take the series from here.
And I know...this was a lousy review. The book was riveting... like watching a car wreck. I literally did not put the book down all day, but it definitely was not a book that made me feel better for having read it.
February 20, 2016
Kyle and Ben, Dare and Gabriel, oh these poor souls. Kyle and Dare have quite the past, and it comes to a head in this story. They struggle to get past the issues, while, at the same time, Kyle is dealing with the aftermath of his previous Dom. Ben and Gabriel try their best to do what's best for their respective partners, but it sure isn't easy.
This story is a bit darker, what with Kyle and Dare's past coming to light and the aftermath when Dare finally remembers it all. Poor Kyle has held a lot on his shoulders for a long time, and it just doesn't seem to get any easier for him once the truth is out.
It was great getting to know these characters a little better and how they all fit together and are there for each other. This is an interesting series that has a lot going on, but it will keep you turning pages and wanting more.
January 18, 2013
The boys are back and the drama is thick. Lynn Kelling altered her characters's personalities to continue the series. Kyle who was fun and a man who knew who he was and what he wanted...Ben and delicious pain. So now he's afraid of Ben, what-the-what? Trance and Gabriel kept most of their integrity but overall it was a train wreck but I could not not finish it. There was a sad ending in my opinion and that was a bummer. They all found love but with best friends who can't see each other because one might rape the other one is kooky!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2013
This is such a sad story. I don't have the words to describe how I'm feeling. I do know that I'm just really sad.
June 1, 2014
Broke my heart reading this. Kyle and Darrek really deserve their HEA's and a lot of peace.
March 31, 2017
So much agony
I really wish I could hate these books. I hate the horrible things that I had to read about. It is now so difficult to figure out who I should feel the worst for and who I should be really upset with. The interactions of the characters are depraved and bizarre, and even though there a lot less BDSM, there's still major kink. And somehow this author makes it all work so that it's okay! I just have to remember that this is fiction and fantasy BDSM. No reality is ever implied.
I have to disagree with reviewers who said they were using BDSM as a cure for everyone's issues. Some also said the author implies that only emotionally damaged people are Doms. It was repeated several times that Gabe was taken to therapy when Trace and Ben found him. Kyle was in therapy for a long time. After what happened with Darreck and Kyle, Ben reiterated that Gabe should get therapy for Darreck and himself. The problem was that it didn't seem to help anyone and they still ended up going through all the crap. For the rest, they enjoyed the kink and again, this a mythical group of practitioners, not real-world. So enjoy the nasty, dirty parts, that's what they're there for!
Oh, kudos to the first author I've read in this genre, who used "pique" correctly, instead of the incorrect word "peak". That alone made it worthwhile to me!
I really wish I could hate these books. I hate the horrible things that I had to read about. It is now so difficult to figure out who I should feel the worst for and who I should be really upset with. The interactions of the characters are depraved and bizarre, and even though there a lot less BDSM, there's still major kink. And somehow this author makes it all work so that it's okay! I just have to remember that this is fiction and fantasy BDSM. No reality is ever implied.
I have to disagree with reviewers who said they were using BDSM as a cure for everyone's issues. Some also said the author implies that only emotionally damaged people are Doms. It was repeated several times that Gabe was taken to therapy when Trace and Ben found him. Kyle was in therapy for a long time. After what happened with Darreck and Kyle, Ben reiterated that Gabe should get therapy for Darreck and himself. The problem was that it didn't seem to help anyone and they still ended up going through all the crap. For the rest, they enjoyed the kink and again, this a mythical group of practitioners, not real-world. So enjoy the nasty, dirty parts, that's what they're there for!
Oh, kudos to the first author I've read in this genre, who used "pique" correctly, instead of the incorrect word "peak". That alone made it worthwhile to me!
October 22, 2014
I really agonized over this book. I found it very harrowing. Several times, I nearly stopped reading. At certain points I found myself crying and shaking my head at the characters. The four of them Gabe, Dare, Ben and Kyle are so f***** up, its unbelievable.
I am not into the BDSM lifestyle and so have only the concept of it as it is written in books, however, these people seem to believe it is ok to have sex with whomever they want. At one point Gabe needs to submit to Ben and Trace, it of course ends with sex. To me that feels so much like cheating, it was hard to read.
At one point Dare tells Gabe he feels as if he isnot enough for him because he has to go to Ben and Trace. However, when Gabe says he will not have sex with Ben and Trace, Dare tells him its ok. I am sorry but I cant understand that, knowing that your partner is going to have sex with somebody else.
Parts of this book I really hated and some I liked. I thought this book was going to be more about Ben and Kyle but there was a lot of Gabe and Dare.
Wow!
I am not into the BDSM lifestyle and so have only the concept of it as it is written in books, however, these people seem to believe it is ok to have sex with whomever they want. At one point Gabe needs to submit to Ben and Trace, it of course ends with sex. To me that feels so much like cheating, it was hard to read.
At one point Dare tells Gabe he feels as if he isnot enough for him because he has to go to Ben and Trace. However, when Gabe says he will not have sex with Ben and Trace, Dare tells him its ok. I am sorry but I cant understand that, knowing that your partner is going to have sex with somebody else.
Parts of this book I really hated and some I liked. I thought this book was going to be more about Ben and Kyle but there was a lot of Gabe and Dare.
Wow!
December 30, 2012
I liked it. I hated it. This one was more emotion and angst than BDSM! And, it was a whole lot of WTF!!!
May 30, 2014
Re-read in preparation for Book 3. Still brilliant!!
July 29, 2014
all I can say is wow.
July 27, 2019
I rarely get as angry on a book as I did with this one, because I'm damn near shaking.
I loved the first book, it was intense and heavy and dark, filled with messed up needs and troubled pasts.
This one was just full on messed up. I'm sure to make things easier, they should all just have had a damn gangbang and be done with it. It would leave out the need for excuses to sleep with someone.
There was so much sympathy for Kyle but less for Darrek, though they were both forced to do what they did when they were kids. It didn't feel like anyone worked hard to help him, compared to Kyle and that in itself made me angry.
But not as angry as Gabriel's blatant disregard of his own sub and partner. Ignoring Darrek's obvious distress over being left in charge of Kyle, leading to the situation escalating.
The hypocrisy in this book is outstanding. Gabriel can have a threesome in the name of healing and fuck in the field while "talking" but Darrek was punished severely in the first book for even thinking it.
Kyle's need to submit to anyone that looks at him the right way irked me to no end. Ben would need to have him on a leash, literally.
In my head, Darrek don't fit in to the weird family dynamic they have here. He's too soft and too damaged after his father to deal with Gabriel's crap. And Gabriel got way too easily off for everything he pulled this book.
Darrek have a need to dominate along with his submission, it would be natural to think that other Doms would see that need and have him explore it. But of course they were too busy getting in to Gabriels pants. Something that Darrek had helped him achive and was suppose to be just between them.
Gabriels need to submit and work through his trauma seemed more like the need to get it from his "Daddy" Trace.
There needed to be more focus on the aftermath of Darrek and Kyle's past and less about where Gabriel wanted to be stuffed.
I'm so angry at this whole book!
I loved the first book, it was intense and heavy and dark, filled with messed up needs and troubled pasts.
This one was just full on messed up. I'm sure to make things easier, they should all just have had a damn gangbang and be done with it. It would leave out the need for excuses to sleep with someone.
There was so much sympathy for Kyle but less for Darrek, though they were both forced to do what they did when they were kids. It didn't feel like anyone worked hard to help him, compared to Kyle and that in itself made me angry.
But not as angry as Gabriel's blatant disregard of his own sub and partner. Ignoring Darrek's obvious distress over being left in charge of Kyle, leading to the situation escalating.
The hypocrisy in this book is outstanding. Gabriel can have a threesome in the name of healing and fuck in the field while "talking" but Darrek was punished severely in the first book for even thinking it.
Kyle's need to submit to anyone that looks at him the right way irked me to no end. Ben would need to have him on a leash, literally.
In my head, Darrek don't fit in to the weird family dynamic they have here. He's too soft and too damaged after his father to deal with Gabriel's crap. And Gabriel got way too easily off for everything he pulled this book.
Darrek have a need to dominate along with his submission, it would be natural to think that other Doms would see that need and have him explore it. But of course they were too busy getting in to Gabriels pants. Something that Darrek had helped him achive and was suppose to be just between them.
Gabriels need to submit and work through his trauma seemed more like the need to get it from his "Daddy" Trace.
There needed to be more focus on the aftermath of Darrek and Kyle's past and less about where Gabriel wanted to be stuffed.
I'm so angry at this whole book!
October 13, 2023
And here we go. A book that hits in a way I’m not sure I could even attempt to write a review to express myself.
A review of this book written by Jack L Pyke hits the nail on the head. Want my review? Go read hers because I could never articulate myself about what this book made me feel better than her.
And then this from Lynn Kelling in the acknowledgements: “My wish is for you to be inspired to take from it the diligence to question who may be presenting to you a self-made mirage that doubles as a shield to keep the dangers of the world at bay, the courage to believe in yourself, the trust to accept the love that is given to you, the fortitude needed to never give up the fight, and the knowledge that it does get better.”
The wish is granted. What a compelling, dark and complex book. Bravo to the author.
A review of this book written by Jack L Pyke hits the nail on the head. Want my review? Go read hers because I could never articulate myself about what this book made me feel better than her.
And then this from Lynn Kelling in the acknowledgements: “My wish is for you to be inspired to take from it the diligence to question who may be presenting to you a self-made mirage that doubles as a shield to keep the dangers of the world at bay, the courage to believe in yourself, the trust to accept the love that is given to you, the fortitude needed to never give up the fight, and the knowledge that it does get better.”
The wish is granted. What a compelling, dark and complex book. Bravo to the author.
August 31, 2020
Compelling reading
From Temptation had me captured from the first paragraph. The story continues on from Deliver Us so needs to be read in order.
The book shows how the characters have both dark and light sides, and how they crave to feed that darkness, but fight it.
It delves into the childhood trauma that moulded the characters personalities and influence decisions and desires they feel now.
It was at times uncomfortable reading, but left you hoping that love is enough to conquer the demons.
From Temptation had me captured from the first paragraph. The story continues on from Deliver Us so needs to be read in order.
The book shows how the characters have both dark and light sides, and how they crave to feed that darkness, but fight it.
It delves into the childhood trauma that moulded the characters personalities and influence decisions and desires they feel now.
It was at times uncomfortable reading, but left you hoping that love is enough to conquer the demons.
March 4, 2019
I wanted SO MUCH to like this book but the thread through it that if you've ever done anything wrong (even if you were a child forced to do a wrong thing by a parent/guardian and hurt in the process) you are irredeemably tainted and bad and can't ever come back from it to be a decent person is just TOO MUCH. one star for being an edgelord and having bad opinions and being an overall fucking bummer.
March 6, 2020
4.25 stars
August 13, 2013
As much as I loved the kink and the characters in the first book, From Temptation was an upsetting disappointment. This is the problem with "sequels" - in books or in movies - there are places the author takes the story and the characters that, as much as I wanted to read more about them, I didn't enjoy or see coming. Whether that's because the author didn't plot this out when writing the first or because I liked the leads as monogamous, I'm not sure.
For example, I just didn't buy that Gabe
As a result, I wish I hadn't read this book. It spoiled my enjoyment of the first book, and I loved those characters. Now when I reread it, I just feel wistful for them.
For example, I just didn't buy that Gabe
As a result, I wish I hadn't read this book. It spoiled my enjoyment of the first book, and I loved those characters. Now when I reread it, I just feel wistful for them.
March 26, 2013
4-5 stars I have a hard time rating this one TBH. The first installment in this series was fantastic so I was expecting great things. Fact is, this book was equally riveting and had me completely engaged the entire time. However, the subject matter in this book was extremely hard for me to read. Not so much the content alone but the way it related to and affected the character involved - some connections were revealed others were established and I had a hard time with that. I'm hoping there are more in the series so maybe there can be more resolution and I can feel better about the whole thing. Still, all-in-all a well written page turner. This second book I feel is a little darker than the first and deals with so many very heavy issues - and you will find yourself hating then loving, then hating again, the same characters throughout the book. Not for the faint of heart. If you're looking for a m/m romance - this is not that book, but definitely recommended for fans of the dark side of the genre.
July 21, 2016
Oh. My. Stars. I’m not even certain where to start. I wasn’t certain where things were going to go this time, but I thought I had a clue. However, even I couldn’t have predicted what actually happened. This is a stunner of a tale, and I vacillated between abject sadness and raging fury over the course of the book. This is a dark tale, raw and gritty, and you’ll either love it or hate it. I’m definitely in the camp of the former. It doesn’t end in an HEA, and it doesn’t particularly end in an HFN, but it is incredible. With luck Forgive Us will wrap things up with a bow.
February 12, 2014
This was a confusing mess. I wish I could say it was a mess I enjoyed, but it wasn't. It took nearly 60% of the book to even get the storyline down in my head. The four main characters were never anything they were supposed to be. They wavered back and forth between who they were supposed to be and what they actually were. To me, they just seemed like a bunch of oversexed men that had zero self control. I'm usually the first person that when someone says, "More sex," and I say, "Yes, please." This just seemed to be wall to wall sex scenes with no real advancement to the story happening as a result. There were editing errors abound and I seriously expected more care from this author. Sorry.
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