Devil's Kiss

Sunset Cove #2

by Ella Frank

What do you do when the one you least expect to matter…

Ends up mattering the most?

Derek Pearson likes to think he’s an easygoing guy. Uncomplicated, upfront, and unapologetic with what he wants. His what you see is what you get attitude is on prominent display for anyone who cares to look, and his foul mouth is right there to back it up should you miss the point.

However, what you see isn’t always what you get, and only a select few have ever glimpsed the real man under the brash exterior.

Among them? Professor Jordan Devaney. Complicated, high-maintenance, and vibrant, he’s Derek’s opposite in every way. From the moment they saw each other, a love-hate relationship began.


But what happens when one person wants more?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Abuse, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2016

About the author

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite Preslocke series. Her Prime Time series has been praised as “highly entertaining!” and “sexy as hell!”

A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.​Ella is represented by:

Kimberly Brower
Brower Literary & Management
​kimberly@browerliterary.com

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.




This is one of the first Authors who got me into M/M books and I've enjoyed everything I've read by her.I went into this one expecting to love it but ended up just liking it.




So Derek and Jordan were introduced in Finley and I was dying to know the dynamics of their relationship.

They meet on the first day of college.Jordan is the Professor.Derek is the student.Sparks fly immediately between them.
Derek has the whole broody bad boy thing going on.Jordan is flamboyant,arrogant and definitely a force to be reckoned with.I absolutely LOVED his character.....

The attraction between them is obvious.....Derek makes it very clear what he wants.Jordan is very aware of the whole Professor/Student thing and tries to stay professional.
They develop a friendship ......with Jordan wanting to help Derek without crossing that inevitable line.

Their sexual relationship doesn't start until Derek has graduated and this is where things started to wrong for me.
The constant push and pull between them had me exhausted.
I actually quite like time jumps and a story that spans over many years(that's actually one of my favourite things ).But it totally didn't work for me here.
Due to the time jumps I really wasn't invested in their relationship.I wanted to read about them both being desperate/pining for each other.....

And,I'm sorry to say,I wasn't feeling the sexual chemistry between them.Individually they were great characters but for me I only felt friendship between them.

Overall,an ok read for me....

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.25 Stars***

I hate to start a review of a book I actually enjoyed with something negative, but right off the bat I feel like I need to get this off my chest.

This book had some SERIOUS 5 star potential. I'm talking tug at your heartstrings, throw your panties across the room, glued to your kindle and forget about the real world potential. But alas, while I did enjoy Derek and Jordan's story, I'm left devastatingly disappointed.

Okay, now that that's taken care of, let's begin this review.

The people who stand out as special in your life are usually put in your path for a reason.

Derek comes from an unstable and abusive home. His father is an alcoholic and violent bastard, and unfortunately, Alan, his brother, grew up to be as worthless as their father...so, that left Derek to fend for himself.

Constant beatings and mental and emotional abuse are what Derek had to deal with on a frequent basis. His father saw him as nothing more than weak. He promised himself that he would bust his ass in school, get a degree, work as many jobs as necessary...but he would do everything he could to get away from his father.

On his first day of college, his first class of his freshman year he meets new professor, Jordan Devaney....and of course he's sporting one ugly black eye when that introduction happens. There's an instant spark between the two....attraction, respect, admiration, lust....determination.

Jordan will not get involved with a student, but he's drawn to the strong-willed Derek. Meanwhile, Derek is cocooned in the flurry of emotions he feels when he's around Jordan...the most prevalent being a sense of ease and peace. Jordan is unapologetic about who he is, and Derek respects and admires the hell out of that.

However, even with Jordan's hesitancy, he offers to help Derek when Derek admits he's hit an all time low....and later, one cruel and unforgettable night will change their dynamic forever.

"Thank you for picking up."

"You're welcome. But I haven't done anything."

"You answered. That's everything to someone with nothing."

And so begins years.....yes, you read that right....YEARS....of a cat and mouse game.

Derek's childhood and college years broke my heart. He scraped and clawed for everything that he had. He refused to be anything less than what he knew he was capable of....a successful man. He went to school, worked two jobs and pushed himself in every capacity. Besides his best friend, Daniel Finley (who he was slowly drifting away from - and if you've ready Finley, you know Finn was dealing with his own drama), Jordan was the only other person who knew what Derek was dealing with. Not the town gossip...but the real level of abuse that Derek endured.

The two men refused to start anything while Derek was still in school, but the growing affection and love was constantly bubbling below the surface. For Derek, the bond these two shared went beyond attraction....it was a lifeline.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, Derek. You called and I - "

"Answered."

"Always."

Derek and Jordan were drawn to each other, yet couldn't really find a way to stick. The cat and mouse game and running in circles got pretty damn frustrating. And all the time jumps only added to the frustration. Neither man would voice their needs and have a conversation about what they truly wanted.

What really broke the straw for me, was when they finally decide they're going to give it a try....after YEARS of on and off....we get a fucking time jump!! Not even the satisfaction of their first night together trying at some semblance of a relationship....nope! We get fade to black and "six months later..."



Ultimately, there was just too much back and forth here for my liking. For how much Derek wanted Jordan, I didn't understand his reasoning for running away the moment something didn't go his way. And I certainly didn't understand why he would stay away for as long as he did.

And Jordan? Well, he's still a mystery in my eyes. We don't really get much about his history, besides his resume and how smart he is. Why is he so hesitant with relationships? Why was he so scared to tell Derek how he felt? From some of the comments that he made, was there a reason why he was exclusively a top? I don't feel like his character was developed enough.

As the story progressed with all these time jumps and Derek and Jordan's on and off relationship status, Ella Frank slowly started to lose me. All the heartbreaking emotion that tugged at my heartstrings in the beginning of the book slowly faded into frustration.

Like I said, this book had the potential to be an epic 5 star read, but unfortunately, the execution of that epic tale fell flat. The time jumps were meant to convey the longevity of Jordan and Derek's obvious connection, but it ended up doing the opposite....it disconnected me from their romance.

So, although I did enjoy the story, this book falls short of its potential.

However, a new character was introduced here that I can't wait to read about....show me what you've got, Dylan.

-----------------------------------------
Derek & Jordan!

[Alba and Her Secrets..♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 'Always Answer' Stars!


Finally, I have some time to write this review! I really hate not being able to read and review more, but now I need most of my time to take care of my mother (she is doing very well, btw! :)). But leaving that aside, let's talk business. Ella Frank is the queen of emotional MM stories! With Devil's Kiss, she does it again and she made me love these two man so much!

Devil's Kiss is the second installment of the Sunset Cove series and it follows with the story of Derek Pearson (a man who has had a difficult life, growing up without mother and with a drunk father, and who now is fighting to have a good living) and Jordan Devaney (Derek's opposite: a man with a rich background, who is enjoying his professional and personal life but everything changes when he meets his new tattooed student).

The people who stand out as special in your life are usually put in your path for a reason.

“Oh, and Professor Devaney…” Derek’s voice had him slowly pivoting to see him standing at the door—all six foot whatever-he-was of him.
“Yes, Derek?”
“I just want you to know, I respect who you are, very much.”

Derek definitely "respects" Jordan, A LOT ;) These two together.. HOLY HELL. They are so hot, the sexual tension is almost palpable and when they act on it Derek and Jordan have off-the-charts chemistry. What I always enjoy of Frank's writing is that she is able to give you mind-blowing sex scenes and then the next a super-emotional moment. When the feelings got involved, this was, obviously, even better.

“You answered,” Derek said, and Jordan instantly sobered when Derek’s voice cracked. “That’s everything to someone with nothing.”

In that moment something between them shifted.
The landlord and tenant.
The professor and student.
They vanished.
And all that remained was one man who needed the other to survive.

I feel Devil's Kiss was even more thrilling than Finley. Derek goes through very tough moments (I really REALLY hate his dad..) and it was heartbreaking to read. Thank God for Jordan, who stole my heart with his humor and his ability to calm Derek. Both these men stole my heart, I ship them SO hard. There wasn't a moment I did not enjoy about this book and that says a lot: it was perfect for me. Again, having past and present moments with these two was so welcomed.

“I want to wake up with you,” Jordan said, as he traced his thumb across Derek’s lower lip. Then he gave a lecherous grin and said, “After I’ve taken you to dinner, brought you back to my place, kissed and licked every bit of ink on your delicious body, and had my wicked way with you, of course.”

“Want to know a secret?”
“Always.”
“You dared me.”

Maybe there was only one little thing that got to me: Jordan takes a lot of time to realize he loves Derek. He wants to think it's only sex, but it, obviously, isn't. Derek suffers because of that and I just really wanted to hug him because he had enough things to work on. Still, Ella Frank gave us, again, an amazing novel with great characters (it was great to catch up with Finn and the Professor!), very-emotional moments and a couple with lots of chemistry.

He was in heaven, being kissed by the devil himself, and, hell, there wasn’t one damn thing he would change.

Therefore, my rating for Devil's Kiss is 5 STARS because I loved every freaking second of reading this book. Derek and Jordan are just so perfect for each other! And I cannot wait for the next story (Dylan's) which Ella is co-writing with Brooke Blaine, YAY!! So, if you haven't read Ella's fabulous MM stories and you enjoy them, what are you waiting for? I highly recommend!

CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 80%


I actually quite loved the book. I even thought it was better than the first one in this series.

Why DNF?

I just thought it was too long. There, I said it. It couldn't keep my interest. I was pretty satisfied by the 80% mark so I quit.


But seeing how this is just me again I happily give this book 3 stars lol

[S.M. West · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Always STARS

Up front I must say, this is different than Finley and I'll admit, I did go in with the yearning for the same thing because Ella captured the longing, hurt and love between those two so well. I was seriously a puddle of goo after Finn and Brantley.



So, in the beginning this was an okay read. I'd had such high hopes for the lust-hate hinted at between Derek and Jordan, the best friends of the MCs in Finley, that when that was just one small part of them I was let down. But, a switch flipped for me at some point...



and I realized the error of my thinking. This wasn't Finn and his professor nor should I want the same old, same old! Derek and Jordan were similar to those two in that it was professor and student but that was it. These two were complex and complete opposites yet they fit.



And it was a slow burn but when Derek and Jordan collided, incendiary!



Ella does the tension, the feels, the love and the sex so well!!



There was such depth to their relationship, friends before lovers and each other's peace. And the banter between these two was funny. I loved how they could feel so much for each other and yet put each other in their place with humour. Their relationship was special, deep and the chemistry was sizzling!



And Ella, don't know if you have plans for more from Sunset Cove but if you're looking for suggestions...Dylan! Dylan! Dylan! He was Derek's roommate and this sexy, friendly and mysterious man had me wondered what his story was.

Before Reading:

I'm going back to Sunset Cove...


Derek, Jordan, here I come.


And while I'm there, I'm hoping to get a cameo or two of Finn and Brantley!


**ARC generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review.**

For more reviews and blog posts.

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars for the story
3 stars for the Audiobook



I am a BRELLA! And will always be! But this book! Damn! It was just Meh!

At some point I had to ask myself! Shile is it a must you keep going?
And my tiny brain answered: Yes, for Dylan and Priest.

So after reading Priest, I found out from the author’s note that we met Priest in Wedlocked. And in was like wait what?😮 I don’t remember. Then I decided to reread Preslocke series to see where Priest was originally introduced, then my tiny brain decided to remind me, that I skipped this book and Dylan was introduced in this one. I didn’t like Jordan in Finley so I decided to skip this but my stupid brain refused to let me rest by constantly reminding me that I read the books out of order. 😂 So i found myself here. 🤦♀️🤔

The good

Derek and Jordan got some chemistry, and my heart ached for Derek, I also loved him, despite his family situation he chose to rise above that and made something of himself.

Prof. Jordan’s flamboyant sassy personality. I liked him but for a genius he was at times the most clueless person.

Dylan my man. Finally, I got to see how he was introduced. *sigh* This one bugged me a lot, the not knowing. I Loooove him.

THE BAAAAAAD

Sooooo……Prof Jordan and Derek met on the first day of class. Jordan is a genius and a prodigy who earned his PHD at a young age and offered a position to teach at the University where Derek is studying. On the first day of class sparks fly, tension and all that jazz. And I was like Yay! We gonna get some smexy times 🤤🤤, Well I was wrong!!! From the first time these two meet we start a game of cat and mouse, UST, calls, missed opportunities, 6 months later, one year later, 2 months later, 3 years later, by this time I was already done. Well are you still with me! Ok, we continue to 3 months later, 2 weeks later, 1 month later,3 days later, PRESENT!!!!! 11 FREAKING YEARS LATER!!!!!!



They get their heads out of their asses after 11 years! Really! If I must wait 11 freaking years to be with the love of my life? Nope! I think I will pass.
But…..but.. I still kept going.



The sex was fade to black, and I started doubting if this was Ella’s book.

The running! Derek kept running every time they had an argument, instead of talking he practically ran and stopped talking to Jordan, one time he disappeared for 3 years and they live in the same small town.

Derek’s abusive father storyline, I don’t like how it was done, for fucks sake why didn’t they report him, get his ass thrown in jail, that would have at least teach him a lesson or even Derek should have taken a restraining order against him.

I will file this under, everyone has a bad day and this was Ella’s bad day.

Note: If you are planning to read this, my advise is, read Chapter 1 then just go straight to Chapter 18, that is where the story begins.

Now off to Aced.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Most days he was convinced that Jordan was the devil. A beautiful seduction put in his path to offer salvation at the cost of one thing- his soul.

If there's one thing that Miss Ella Frank can write, it's a smokin' hot MM romance. No truly. The woman may be a genre chameleon, but there's just something about her MM that hits me just right...in both ovaries. True story.

Ever since I read Finley, I've been itching to get my hands on Derek and Posh Spice aka Jordan's story. The hate lust vibes were strong with these two in the previous book. So much so, that you just knew something big must have happened between them to make it so. And I for one was ready to part with an ovary to find out what that something was. What? I never said patience was a virtue of mine.

For those of you that are used to mainstream MM, this will be a touch different. Jordan Devaney is an incredibly endearing character, but an 'alpha' alpha he is not. He's charismatic, a touch flamboyant, fun loving and just one of those characters that leaps off of the pages at you. I adored him. He's the perfect balance to Derek's uber brooding, tatted and tortured alpha ways. And boy are you in for a surprise when it comes to how things play out between them...in bed and out.

Derek's size and pissy attitude was like a bright neon warning sign flashing: Danger. Danger. And it was like a rush of blood to his head, and not the one on his shoulders.

The relationship between them is a slow burn and begins just around the time of Finn and Brantley's, when Derek is in college and Jordan happens to be his new professor; spanning 11 years. And while there's a touch of similarity there between the two books, that's where it also ends. Because while Finn and Brantley begin seeing each other then, Derek and Jordan do not. Their "relationship" may start then, but they don't give into the pull between them until Derek is graduated. This is also where the book began to lose me. The time jumps tend to be a hit or miss for me, and in the case here, it was a miss. They felt incomplete and almost...unfinished at times. A chapter would end and then it would jump to two years later and picks up there where the other chapter left off. While I can understand that Derek and Jordan could go 2 years without seeing or interacting with each other, I'm not sure if the time jumps worked to the advantage to build on their relationship. I felt like I was missing chunks of the story; left wondering what else took place during those years. Did they not see each other at all? Did they date other people? Did they think about each other? I would have rather if perhaps they just meet during Derek's college years and then start their relationship in present day. As it was, all the time jumps through the 11 years just did nothing for me aside from a little frustration at the two of them.

Thank you for picking up."
"You're welcome. But I haven't done anything."
"You answered. That's everything to someone with nothing."

I fell hard for Derek's character. It's impossible not to. Everything about the man worked for me. Alas, as much as I loved Jordan's humorous 180 to Derek's brooding, he was a source of frustration for me for a good chunk of the book. While Derek's character was extremely multi layered, I didn't feel that I had enough about Jordan to make me understand some of the decisions he made when it came to their relationship. He was the one that kept Derek at arm's length (romantically) for much of the book, and I felt like there was no good reason why for me to connect to it. When Derek was still in college, sure. But then later? It just fell flat for me. I don't want to say manufactured, because it certainly wasn't, but I needed a better reason especially after their first time together.

Between their constant back and forth, time jumps, and almost frustrating lack of communication at times, I began to lose a little of my connection to their romance. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. But it was just missing a certain something for me.

Ella Frank is a true talent and she can spin one hell of a story. I have a feeling that most will enjoy this wonderful romance. While it may not have been the 5 star that Finley was for me, it was still a highly enjoyable read. I did love these two characters even if they did frustrate me to the point of hair pulling at times. Ella has created a fantastic wold with her Sunset Cove series and I hope she'll continue with more books. There's a certain someone introduced in this book that I'm already craving a book for. Ultimately, Devil's Kiss was an enjoyable read that although didn't quite tick all of my boxes for me, I'd still enthusiastically recommend to any lovers of steamy MM romance.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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[Gigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I was really excited for Derek and Jordan's story after the wonderful sexual tension they had going in Finley (Sunset Cover #1). And there was sexual tension. LOTS of it. But like Finley, this one was just too much.

(I'm going to steal part of my own review of Finley because Devil's Kiss made me feel exactly the same.)

It was Just. Too. Much.

Too much sexual tension.

Too much flip-flopping of emotions.

Too much drooling over one another.



And the anger. These men were ruthless to one another. Fighting constantly. I know a lot of people like arguing and fighting in their books, but most of the book has these boys furious with one another.



To be perfectly honest, I skimmed the last 20% of the book until the epilogue (which was perfect). Jordan never redeemed himself in my eyes. He didn't deserve Derek and the small amount of groveling he did (very, very small) didn't work on me.

Plan and simple, this is not the type of book I normally enjoy. I need more affection between the characters, but I am quite sure this will be a WIN for many readers. It just wasn't for me.

This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED 1st book soooo much but I've enjoyed this one too. Derek & Jordan were really funny and sexy together. 😉

Ps. If you're okay with M/M books, I highly recommend this series to you. 😊😊😊

[Dia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

Well I ended up liking this book. The last 25% saved it for me.
While reading it I wanted to give up many times, because I honestly hate time lapses. It's just not for me.

I rolled my eyes a lot and wanted to shout stop being such babies and start acting like the intelligent men you are!

There were many things that didn't work for me, like Derek running away from Jordan because he was afraid his father would get to him. Well Jordan was wealthy enough to find a way to keep them both safe. But no, there had to be many time lapses and get me bored to death.
Oh and I also had a problem with Jordan's "epiphany". He accepted too easily Derek's decision to leave. Then he ran from him when he could have had him. And then ran some more, until he had that epiphany and realized how much he loved Derek AND wanted to date him. NO. Just no.

What I did like was all those smoking HOT scenes with these two. They were perfect together. And I really liked Jordan's arrogance and cheekiness. He was full of himself but it fitted him perfectly. Their dates were perfect and the ending was really sweet.

[Dee Montoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 You Found Me Stars****

(ARC kindly provided by author)

(BR with the lovely Mel)

One was broken, the other one was lost. They are flawed and yet, so perfect together. Always there for one another, never far, and always wanting something they can't have.

A beautiful love story...





Derek Pearson grew up in a bad home. His mom passed, and his dad and brother are not what a family should be, always hurtful and very dismissive towards him. Derek feels like a stranger inside his own home. Finn is his best friend and the only one Derek considers as family. Growing up without the love and approval of his own has made Derek bitter and very closed off.

Jordan Devaney has it all; money, looks, and brains. The guy is considered a genius, the youngest and maybe smartest in his faculty. He works as a college professor. He took the job as a way to make a difference in the world in sharing his knowledge with younger generations, but teaching is not really his passion. As a matter of fact, nothing has ever been a passion to Jordan. Everything has always been easy for him, so at this point in his life he is in desperate need of a challenge, and he's about to find it inside his own classroom. A dark, broody and sexy as hell man, Derek Pearson.



The attraction is instant for these two, but the timing's all wrong. Against all odds, Jordan and Derek become friends and even each other's lifelines. As closed off and untrusting as Derek is, every time he finds himself in trouble he only ever wants to call Jordan, and Professor Daveney always picks up the phone.

Derek and Jordan will play a very sexy and dangerous game throughout the years, a bit of cat and mouse deal. With them, the timing is never right, and the situation's always complicated. But as years go by and even when distances have grown, they always seem to find their way back to each other.

Like every other Ella Frank fan , when I read Finley I was very intrigued by both Derek and Jordan. When I heard they were getting their own book, I was sure I would do anything to get my hands on Devil's Kiss, and while I enjoyed it, I must admit I still liked Finn's book more. I got frustrated a lot with Derek and Jordan. It took them way too long to get their act together, but in the end, it was all worth it, because, in my eyes, nobody can write M/M better than Ella Frank.

My Devil's Kiss music playlist:
*Adventure Of A Lifetime by Coldplay
*Hello by Adele
*Alive by Sia
*Stay With Me by Sam Smith

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’ve got to admit I was a smidge skeptical about Devil’s Kiss. As much as I adore Ella Frank’s writing, Finley, the precursor to this book, missed the mark for me somewhat, but man oh man does she deliver the goods with this one. I absolutely loved it, but I do not recommend reading Devil’s Kiss without reading Finley first.

We’re introduced to Derek and Jordan in Finley. Derek is Finn’s tough, tatted best friend, and Jordon is Brantley’s posh, dramatic best friend. There was some serious animosity between the two men in the previous book, and I’ve been dying to know exactly what went down.

In their freshman year of college, Derek and Finn wind up in Professor Jordan Devaney’s History class. They are shocked to discover how young their teacher is, but this isn’t a love story about age differences. Jordan immediately singles out Derek on the first day of class. There’s a magnetic pull between them that is a bit antagonistic and very seductive. Derek makes his attraction well known, but Jordan is insistent on maintaining a strictly professional student-teacher relationship.

I have a thing for brawny, damaged heroes with kind hearts, so I completely fell for Derek. His muscles, tattoos, and I don’t give a crap attitude make him appear intimidating, but inside he’s deeply wounded and vulnerable. With his best friend wrapped up in a new relationship, he turns to an unlikely confidante: his professor. They say opposites attract, and you can’t get more opposite than these two. Whereas Derek had a difficult upbringing to say the least, Jordan grew up with doting parents and a silver spoon in his mouth. Why would a wealthy man who is flamboyant and arrogant want to be with a rough-around-the-edges, aggressive man who wears black nail polish? It’s an odd pairing but absolutely perfect.

Jordan and Derek don’t fall into bed immediately. In fact, the writer makes them work hard for happiness. It’s the crock pot kind of simmering, tension-filled romance where you begin to wonder when they’re going to get it together. It is frustrating at times, yet ultimately it makes their romance more gratifying. It isn’t just about sex for them. The story is about two men discovering what they want and coming to terms with what they’re willing to settle for. It’s about resiliency, confronting demons and fears, and letting love in. Ella Frank being Ella Frank, though, you can expect the sex to be sizzling, and it is.

The story spans about a decade, and there’s a great deal of overlap with events that occurred in Finley. It was fascinating to see how all the pieces fit together, and it made me enjoy this story even more. Finn and Brantley feature prominently, and I was reminded how much I’ve missed them.

Devil’s Kiss is a touching and absolutely wonderful romance.

Recommended for fans of:
M/M romance
Opposites attract love stories
Student-teacher romance
Slow burn

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Waffling Stars

I'm quite torn about this because really, this book makes no sense when it comes to love and what I, as a reader, would want for my protagonists. The die hard romantic in me wants all consuming passion, plausible angst, and sweeping intense love, and the set up here, did not quite exactly deliver on that front.

Derek and Jordan have been going at each other, running mostly hot (but at times, a lot cold) for 11 freaking, long years. Yes, you heard that right. It takes them over a decade to get their stoopid heads outta their asses, and that just doesn't sit well with me at all. What makes this so mind boggling is the unnecessary angst and the unbelievable self denial, because neither (well mostly Jordan) really has a good excuse for such ridiculous, self-inflicted pain. So if you hate delayed culmination and outrageous time jumps, this is not for you.

Having said that, this is still classic Ella Frank. It still has alternating POV's, it still is written fabulously, and the hot factor is still HOT! Jordan and Derek are complete opposites, and their push pull was done quite nicely as they meet, resist, flirt, resist, succumb, and resist each other over and over and over and over. Despite that, I still loved every time these two faced off - their snark, their attraction, their UST and longing, how they just fit each other, really made up for a lot.

So if you're ok with the slowest, protracted coming together ever, then you're well informed going in. These two men are illogical and beyond frustrating, but Frank can write, and for the most part it works. I just wish such delayed gratification for really no reason at all does not become a recurrent theme for the next book. Regardless, I'll be reading it anyways.

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
(BR with Dee)



Jordan Devaney aka Posh Spice is a history professor at a university in Sunset Cove, Florida. He's in his mid twenties & very young to be a professor. He's a genius who grew up privileged & spoiled, but is also extremely kind & generous. Jordan is known for being confident, bold, daring & high maintenance. He will be the first person to tell you how fabulous he is.

On Jordan's first day of class he locks eyes with a gorgeous tattooed student that screams bad boy. He's this he-man of a guy & looks like a total badass. He also has the whole pissed defiant attitude to go along with his sexy looks. This student is Derek Pearson.



Derek spots his new young hot professor & immediately is wanting the guy. He's so in lust with Professor Devaney he can hardly focus on anything he's saying. He can't look at him without thinking naughty thoughts. They are both very taken with each other, but won't cross that line that exists between student & teacher. They try to control the sexual tension & keep things professional, but when Derek's life implodes yet again, he needs someone to turn to, & he turns to his professor.



Over the years Jordan & Derek continue to tiptoe around their feelings & their connection continues to grow. Jordan is the person always there when Derek needs someone. Jordan becomes essential to Derek, his lifeline. They are complete opposites in every way, but they just click. Every time Derek's life is going well, something seems to always happen to pull him under. Jordan has been there through all the ups & downs & knows everything he's gone through. He picks up his broken pieces & helps put him back together. Suddenly they both begin to really mean something to one another, & real feelings get involved. This unlikely pair has to decide if they want to be more & build a future together.



-"Everything about you calls to me."

[Lyndy Ann ♫ · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Finley and getting to know Derek and Jordan a little through their individual friendships with Fin and Brantley. I wasn't sure how I would feel about Devil's Kiss because I did not really like Jordan he got on my nerves a bit.

I am happy to say I was WRONG with my first impression of Professor Jordan Devaney I absolutely fell in love with him the more I got to know him for everything he did for Derek, he has the biggest heart.

Derek Pearson is Daniel's best friend they grew up together but when they went to college they drifted apart and Derek started keeping secrets from Danny boy. Derek needed an escape from his bully of a father and he went to Jordan.

I loved the way this was written starting at the beginning of their relationship giving us everything they go through throughout the years, who would of thought all this was going on while Fin and Brantley was having their drama.

Their relationship was a slow burn no sex while they had a Professor/student relationship and then the timing was never right so it took them A LONG TIME to finally get together as a couple.

I don't want to go into the story too much as I don't want to give anything away all I can say is that I loved everything about this couple they are sexy Jordan is bossy in the bedroom who would have expected that, they are funny together all the teasing made me smile and the heart breaking moments when Derek needs Jordan and he is always there for him.

It was nice catching up with Fin and Brantley as well. I hope this series will include Dylan and August stories in the future. Ella Frank never disappoints me.

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 "Posh meets He-Man" Stars!




I've been looking forward to this book ever since I met the drama queen, aka Posh, Professor Jordan Devaney, in Finley. Devil's Kiss is the second book in the Sunset Cove series but can be read as a standalone. All I knew when I first met these two fellas is that there was serious history between them... A chemistry that on the surface looks like hatred but if you looked a bit closer, it was a balls-to-the-wall explosion of testosterone ready to combust.

A second-chance romance of sorts, Jordan Devaney and Derek Pearson have known each other since Derek was Jordan's brooding student in history class. Derek was always a bit of a mystery and never backed down to Professor Devaney, a challenge Jordan readily accepted.



Devil's Kiss starts out years in the past during those early college years and brings us full circle to the present day. We needed to get the history between these two in order to understand the animosity between them we observed in Finley. As I said, this can be read as a standalone but I'd highly recommend reading Finley for the backstory of all the characters we get to know here...

Devil's Kiss was one huge "can we ever get our sh*t together" trope. Seems the two of them never seemed to get their sh*t on the same page and at times my kindle was at risk of getting thrown across the room. For two grown adults, they let lots and lots of time pass where simple communication and less stubbornness would've prevented those years apart. But this is fiction and without that drama, what story would we have?



Jordan Devaney was everything campy diva I expected him to be. Couple him with a tall, muscular, tattooed guy like Derek Pearson and they seemed as ill-fitted as can be. But they just fit, each person bringing something to the table the other guy needed... And damn, Jordan seemed, on the outside, a bit flamboyant but stick him in the bedroom and he took over with his raw masculinity and control....





And if Derek called, Jordan always answered, no matter how many months or years passed. Speaking of months and years, this is my one issue with the book that rather impeded my ability to really attach to a love story between them. The infamous time jumps. The first half of the book (60%) is essentially jump after jump until we get to the present and I had a really hard time connecting to these guys when they spent years apart. Here's the example of chapter timeframes-

Ch 10- 1 year later
Ch 11- 3rd year of college (2 years later)
Ch 12- 1 week later
Ch 13- 1 year later
Ch 14-
Ch 15- 3 years later
Ch 16- 4 years later
Ch 17- 6 months later

So I'm reading and thinking Okay, so what's going on for that year...for those three years...four years? To expect them to be celibate or not dating others is not realistic and that brought a disconnect to them as a couple or love story for me. I wanted them pining away for each other and with such time jumps, I didn't see it likely. Lots of time wasted, for sure.

What saved the book for me is the present tense. Yes, still making stupid decisions that communication would've prevented this time apart, I attached to their love story much more in that last 40%.

I also couldn't wait to catch any glimpse of Brantley and Finn and their blooming romance within this book. And we got it. Some of the timeline runs parellel to Finley.

Ella Frank has found her niche in MM romance and I look forward to more male hotness in the Sunset Cove series...maybe a book with the beautiful male model Dylan...



Advanced copy received by author in exchange for my honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review



It’s no secret that I am a huge Ella Frank fan. I swear Ms. Frank can write about anything and make it so sexy, titillating, sinful, and captivating. And if there is one thing that Ms. Frank can deliver is that she writes one of the most sexy and breathtaking M/M romance novels out there. And in her newest release, Devil’s Kiss, Ms. Frank once again holds her readers hostage with her vibrant, sinful and raw prose.

I honestly don’t want to spoil anything for the readers but what I can tell you is that Ms. Frank will hold your heart in this beautiful heartwarming and raw love story between Derek and Jordan. Their love was so deep, gripping and consuming that readers like myself will feel their love to the core. So if you are looking for a story that will expose and weave layers of truth, understanding, vulnerability, and raw love then this book is for you. And trust me when I say that Ms. Frank will once again leave you begging for more of her poetic and gorgeous prose.



Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Ella Frank

[εllε · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!!!

I am so happy that I decided to continue the series. When I read the first book, I was disappointed. Finley left me unimpressed. I was so anxious about Jordan and Derek's book, whether it would be good or not.

IT Was GREAT!!

OMG! These two are so beautiful together and HOT! Their chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS. The feelings...I can't even.

This is a long journey, from the time Jordan met Derek, till the end. This journey is full of everything, things changing continuously, apart from one: Jordan is always there for Derek and Derek has always loved Jordan.

I am happy now. Their story is complete. I wish there'll be another book about them in the future. The ending was a bit rushed. I want more!

I don't know if there's gonna be another book in this series...Dylan maybe...? He sounded interesting! :)

[Katy Loves Romance ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars


Ella Frank is one of my all time favourite authors, I absolutely ADORE her writing style. She just grabs hold of you and pulls you in and as far as MM goes she has given us Logan & Tate. Also Finley.. And then here she has given us two sexy unlikely men which I have enjoyed, that being said this wasn't my favourite..

So super quick review..

I was really intrigued by Derek and Jordan's relationship since Finley, there was just something very manly and heartbreaking in that scene.. So I picked this one right up.. These two characters are very different. Derek is strong, built and an owner of a gym.. He also had a bad upbringing, a nasty ASS of a father who didn't deserve to have Derek as a son.. So he just needed someone who was kind of unlikely but at the same time kind of perfect for him.. So enter Jordan his professor and there became a friendship that blossomed into more at a later date..

This was HAWT, intriguing and kind of fun at times.. So why not 4/5 stars. I suppose I just didn't connect with the characters. I didn't feel love but more friendship. This story was BIG on their friendship, a slow burn that I usually love on the norm. But I don't know, I didn't feel their love and chemistry.. That said, I enjoyed the ending and everything kind of came together in the end and I love Ella's storytelling, her writing style was still as apparent as ever..

This may just be me, timing. I'm in a flunk recently, RL is busy so please don't let me deter you as 3.5 is still a good read to me, it just wasn't big on the love so I felt a little detached..

That. Is. All xoxo

ARC generously gifted in exchange for an honest review

For more reviews and blog posts

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Devil's Kiss is a much anticipated book since reading Finley. I'm a sucker for enemies turn lovers and from what I glimpse of Derek and his 'Posh Spice', there couldn't have been a better set up. But, I'm a little let down that this story is not actually a love-hate relationship.

Derek Pearson is Finley's best friend from Book 1, and the owner of a gym by the beach. He is one fine hunk man. We get to know more about Derek this time around, regarding his less than stellar childhood and his unique relationship with Professor Jordan Devaney.

Jordan Devaney is a young and flamboyant history professor who enjoy life at its fullest. A stuffy professor he is not. On his first day of teaching, Derek caught his interest, but of course, being a professional, Jordan wouldn't do anything beside lusting from afar.

When Derek was faced with some tough situation in his family, the last person he expect to help him unconditionally was Jordan. Together they formed a close platonic relationship while avoiding their obvious attraction to each other due to their status.

The thing that I would describe their relationship is too many miss opportunities, wrong timing and self denial.

I'm surprised that we spent more than half the book in the past, dwelling from Derek and Jordan's first meeting in school, Derek's family and the almost ten years gap before the present time. Actually I would rather focus on the present with them both being responsible adult rather than reading another student - teacher forbidden relationship.

The one problem I have is the too many time jumps that took place throughout this book from weeks, months to years. I felt like I'm missing a lot of information in between. What happened in their life during all these time gap? Did they meet someone else, did they miss each other? This lead to me having less time seeing them really being together as a couple.

The part where I like most of the last quarter, the present time. We get to catch up with Finley and Brantley, and Derek finally confronted Jordan about their future. Jordan has no choice but to man up and make a decision.

Overall, the plot and characterization of the story are very strong. I got really attached to all the characters and spending most of the time flipping pages wanting to know what will happen next to Derek and Jordan. If only we can shorten down the past, and spent more time on the present, it would have been a great read.

[Elsa Bravante · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Oh hados de la Literatura perdonadme porque sé que estoy pecando. Soy consciente de que la narración no es una maravillas y que hay fallos en la trama, por ejemplo temporales, pero venía de un libro deprimente y este me ha aportado el entretenimiento que buscaba. Objetivo cumplido. Me ha gustado, así que le pongo cuatro estrellas porque me apetece ;).

[Elle aka Leftie aka Shoebelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC received from author via Love Between the Sheets PR as part of blog tour*

4.5*

Before reading:

I'm ready!!!!!



After reading:

Was I? Was I really ready?... Hmmm...

This is the 2nd book in the series and is a complete standalone, if you know what I mean. However, because I’m an Ella fan and have read the 1st book as well, I don’t think I can help it if I make some references to the first one, not that I’d give away anything.

Derek and Jordan… this is their history in the making. It ran concurrently with that of Finn and Brantley’s. It’s a slow burn of a read that spanned more than a decade. Was that was I expecting? I’m not sure. Yes and no? All I knew is that I had to trust Ella with where she wants to take me.



Derek and Jordan met pretty much around the same time as Finn and Brantley. When I first met Derek, he was this literally this hunk of a man, thanks to his size, a bit gruff on the outside, complete with the bad boy image. When I first met Jordan, he came across as this self-indulgent brat who’s all sass but endearing nonetheless. When I’ve had glimpses of their less than congenial run-ins, I wondered where all the animosity was coming from.

Here I find out why, and much more, of course.

Derek surprised me quite frankly with his back story. It was more dark and painful than I anticipated. Everything he did, he did to make a better future for himself, away from his family. He carried more weight on his shoulders, more than I anticipated and it broke my heart. He wasn’t one to share his worries, but somehow, Jordan felt the right person to share it with.

Jordan led an easy life and that’s just his reality. It didn’t mean that he felt that the world should revolve around him. He did his best to be a productive member of society. And when Derek crossed his path, something about Derek just called to him.

They’re worlds apart in upbringing, in their personality, in their social standing, but none of that mattered. At the end of it all, what mattered is how they felt about each other and how right they are for each other. Along the way, it wasn’t an easy path. No smooth sailing for these 2 up until the end. It was frustrating on the one hand, these 2 never seeming to be on the same page, mentally or emotionally, whether by circumstance or choice. But on the other hand, I suppose it was understandable, experiencing what they went thru. After all, sh!t just happens sometimes. People lose touch sometimes… People reconnect, but sometimes, things still happen… People have to grow, people have to do what’s needed to be done, people have other priorities sometimes, and other times, people are not ready to acknowledge certain things. Like I said, sh!t happens.

The tension brought on by their undeniable attraction, the push-pull, the doubts… the angst, oh the angst… sigh… But then there’s the heat, oh boy the heat!



So what am I really saying? Expect a slow burn, for starter. And as you read thru, know that you might be frustrated at times, but if you just get lost in the story, allow Derek and Jordan’s story to unfold, you’ll get one heck of an emotional ride with a sweet ending. I think so, anyway. Or at least, I did.

Last but not least, I just want to say I LOVE the cover. For a change, I didn’t need to look any further for inspiration for the MC’s as Ella has done that homework for me already:D And I’m hoping that this series will continue, perhaps with Dylan next?… is he next, Ella? Pls say yes:D

[Sybil aka Lala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah! Right in the feels!

Now I met Derek and Jordan in Finley and I didn’t like them. So how did these two turn into my absolute favourite characters by Ella Frank? Rare magic, my friends. The kind Ella Frank has in spades that enables her to flesh out characters enough to make me care about them deeply. The ability she has to convey every single beautiful and painful emotion so that they become visceral. The way she had me eating up all the angst and delicious sexual tension she delivers right out of her hand (along with a big ole’ slice of humble pie because I was so wrong).



I adored Derek! He’s cocky attitude and sense of humour hides a lot of pain and my heart just bled for him. Yet, he is such a strong person and his wicked sense of humour and dirty mouth had me all a tingle. I loved Jordan’s unapologetic nature and kind heart. Their personalities couldn’t have been more opposite but together they were just perfect. Their push and pull was amazing.



I’m a sucker for angst and this book had it in spades. There are obvious reasons why these two can’t be together and watching them skirt around each other and trying to deny a powerful attraction was delicious! It didn’t make it any less frustrating and at times I felt as though I could just lock them in a room together (and listen at the door because holy shit these two were hot.) When things finally did fall into place they burned off the pages! Things always seemed to get in their way however and it kept this story fresh and exciting.



All in all, this entire book was perfect. It was an exciting and entertaining read with words so beautiful it had me shedding a tear. At other times their interactions had my toes curling with pleasure and have I mentioned how hot this is? It had everything – it was emotional, it was exciting, it was sweet, it was funny and it was hot. Definitely recommended.

(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We already met Derek and Jordan in Finley - Derek is best buddies with Finn and Jordan is friends with Brantley.

Their story starts eleven years ago. Just like Finn and Brantley's story did.
Jordan has his first day as a professor and Derek is his student.
And they are immediately attracted to each other. But of course a student - teacher thing can never happen.
But when Derek's home-life gets to painful and he has to leave, he ends up living with Jordan. Just as roommates and friends. Nothing more.

And as the years pass - the attraction does not.

But nothing ever happens between them, until one night...one night they finally can't stay away from each other anymore. But it will only ever be this one night. Because Jordan will be leaving for the summer the next day.

The timing was never right for those two...but one day... there has to come a day when both are free and all their other problems will be gone.... right??

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO DEREK & JORDAN???
WILL THERE BE A HEA FOR THOSE TWO ONE DAY???
OR WILL THERE BE A HORRIBLE CLIFFHANGER?



I'm not telling you that of course ☺



═════════════════════════════════





eeeeeeep ... finally another Ella Frank m/m romance ☺☺☺
I loved Logan & Tate's books and Finley sooo much.

And now we get Derek and Jordan's story! I already loved them in the first book!!

You just can't help loving Derek and Jordan from the very first lines of the story!
The adorably colorful and over-the-top-gay professor Jordan ...



...and the huge muscled hottie student.
They are sooo perfectly written.



I'm usually not a huge fan of the teacher-student romance. But this is not really such a thing. Jordan is a genius and therefore only a few tiny years older than Derek.

I LOVED those two. In and out of the classroom.
I was just so sad for them, that the time never seemed to be right for them to get together.
But this way they're slowly falling in love with the other. Even when their lives takes them this way and that... in the end - we just know they'll find their way to each other again.

And it's beautiful to read about the time it takes them to get their shit together ☺

We have sooo many adorable scenes in this book.
And moving scenes, funny scenes and romantic scenes, very sexy/erotic scenes....



I absolutely LOVED this book!
It had EVERYTHING a great romance needs!
Can't wait to read the next book - maybe model-hottie Dylan? ☺

DEVIL'S KISS was an amazingly beautiful & erotic & moving love story! Run to your nearest amazon and BUY THIS BOOK - You'll so fall in love with Derek & Jordan too!

♡ ♡
♡ ♡

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

woohoo :D :)

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ Devilicious Stars For this Fan-Freaking-Tastic Book

I was lucky enough to review this book prior to release and it took me days to come up with an adequate review that really lets others know what you can expect from this book and how much I loved it. Let me just start by saying, this book has a lot of moments in it where you just want to grab the two MC and bang their heads together. It is a book that may be frustrating to some only because we watch them over a course of ten years, as they transform as individuals and through their relationship waxing and waning -- so you have to expect that going into this book and realize it's going to have a lot of angst and drama-- which is perfect for a reader like myself who loves both!

So Derek and Jordan are the MC in this story. Each comes from TOTALLY different walks of life, each expects different things in life, and each relies on different people.. Yet, they ignite something In each other that once sparked never gets extinguished!

While many reviewers are stating that this couple is unstable and abusive, I personally didn't see it that way - which is the wonderful thing about books we each enjoy a book a little differentIy. I think that their relationship developed as it should, they were each not ready to be completely "in" a relationship early on, they both had growing to do, yet they always knew in the back of their mind that the other was out there and could always be counted on. Their love took many, many years to be solid - I think rushing it would have been wrong for this couple.

Now an aspect of this book that I instantly fell in love with was the roles. Ella Frank broke all gender roles and stereotypes in this book. Jordan, he is bossy and he knows it and he will neither bow down nor bend over to anyone, when he says "Strip" you best listen. This brings some amazing chemistry into the bedroom! Overall, Derek and Jordan are one scorchin' hot couple, combustible, and at times a little unstable but they complete each other - after reading this story you will see why I now have a Pavlovian response to the word Strip!

P.S. Did you see that Cover?!?! O.M.G. I must have this book in print, on my nightstand - TMI? Ha!


❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club

[~Kristin~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars
While this is a favorite author of mine, this series isn't really hitting home with me. There were things I liked and things I did not, that's where I am at, I think if this series continues I will have to take the wait and see approach.

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me while I gather my thoughts and my emotions, which are currently all over the place, courtesy of this fantastic book.

I just…I want to rant and rave, and just generally gush over Devil’s Kiss, because it was out of this world. Off the charts. So. Damn. Good. Right from the start, this book was unexpected—in the VERY best way. I thought I had a handle on Derek Pearson and Jordan Devaney, but umm… Nope. Not even close.

And therein lies one of the things I loved most about Devil’s Kiss. It wasn't cliché. It was surprising—from bedroom tendencies, to back stories, to shared history, nothing, nothing about Derek and Jordan was predictable. They had this way about them, a back and forth, a NEED that made them so unique, so captivating, so impossible to put down.

With enviable skill, Ella Frank took the breadcrumbs she laid out in Finley and created a fucking masterpiece. Maybe that's a little too fangirly, but I was so wowed by this book, I'm having a hard time reining in the flails. This was no quick and easy read—although I did read it crazy fast, because I couldn't stop—instead, it was a slow-building, love/hate, incredibly deep relationship—one which had much going on in the background.

Layers. So many layers. Like I said, nothing about these men was predictable or cliché. Just when you think you have a handle on them, their emotions and motivations, something changes. Time. Life. Circumstances. It was both hard and soft on my heart and my feels; moments of levity and lightness weaved among heartbreaking uncertainty. I wanted to cry. I wanted to cuss. I DID laugh and smile.

And I ached. Oh, Lordy, how I ached. These complicated and fascinating men needed each other SO much, I almost couldn't bear it. And when it didn't go right, when the timing was off, or words spoken and unspoken cut deep, I felt all over. Is it any wonder, in that case, that I'm all over the place? ~ Beth, 6 He-Man stars

~~~

I am in a book coma.

No, seriously… Devil’s Kiss has placed me into a book coma, and I don’t ever want to wake up. I fell in love with the snarky, brooding Derek Pearson and snarky, fun-loving Jordan Devaney in Finley and I couldn’t wait to read the full story of their relationship. And, whoa, Devil’s Kiss doesn’t disappoint.

Derek and Jordan have known each other for years and years. Until their love-hate relationship can’t be contained any longer. I loved the give and take of their relationship—started out as a friendship that grew and grew until neither knew where it would end up.

The twists and turns of the story, the emotions regarding their life circumstances, and holy hell, the smoking hot sex between Jordan and Derek kept me turning the pages until late into the night. Until I reached the final page, read the final word of their epic story. And it was well worth every minute of lost sleep because I sure did hit the pillow with big ol’ grin on my face. ~ Missy, 5 Amazing stars

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil’s Kiss (Sunset Cove #2) by Ella Frank
4 stars!!

“You answered…that’s everything to someone with something.”

One thing I can always count on from Ella Frank is a hot as sin MM read and Devil’s Kiss was no different. Ella Frank always manages to capture that intensity and that deep connection that only two rutting men can bring, add to that the emotional side of fighting fears and prejudices and you always get a beautiful story. While Derek and Devaney’s story is far from pretty at times, the undertones of their beginning and the significance of their ending only cemented them as characters that will stay with me for a very long time. The time in between however was fraught with fighting feelings, flip flopping emotions, pasts and insecurities and two stubborn as hell men that knew what they wanted but were too scared to admit it or act upon it.

“That first day. I wasn’t so sure teaching was for me. Then you stood up and removed your glasses and dared me to make a difference.”

Derek Pearson and Jordan Devaney were introduced in Finley, the first book in the Sunset Cove series. Their best friends, Finn and Brantley were lovers, a romance that started while they were still professor and student and while Devaney and Derek’s circumstances are the same, the way their relationship panned out was totally different. It is here, right at the beginning that all similarities end.

“Derek’s size and pissy attitude was like a bright neon warning sign flashing: Danger. Danger. And it was like a rush of blood to his head, and not the one on his shoulders.”

Professor Jordan Devaney was not your typical alpha man, while he only topped that was where his alpha tendencies ended, the bedroom. This man was your typical, cliché gay man, but he owned it in style. He was flamboyant, colourful, entertaining and totally endearing, you couldn’t help but love him. But underneath that colourful persona was a man that was extremely wealthy, who didn’t need to work, was extremely intelligent and had a heart of gold, a man that was a philanthropist and always wanted to give back, I adored him and he totally earned his nickname of “Posh Spice.”

“Good for you. He needs someone with a firm hand. And you sure have the muscles for it.” ~ Devaney’s mum
“Mother.”

Derek was a man that had an extremely hard time growing up and this is where the majority of his issues stem from. His mum left when he was young and left him at home with a homophobic father and brother. A father who was also an alcoholic and had no qualms about taking out his temper and frustrations on his pansy son. Everything Derek had wanted from life, he earned and with the help of his best friend, Finn, it was a miracle he had come out from his childhood unscathed, but he hadn’t…while the physical scars heal, the mental ones always remained. Derek was our tatted, deep, brooding, gym owner who had muscles on muscles, the total opposite to Posh, but everyone needs a He-Man in their life.

“How much can one person possibly take before they fucking lose it?”

Derek and Devaney’s story spans eleven years, eleven years of whip lash and a lot of time spent apart. But during the times they are together, the majority as friends and confidantes, Ella Frank really builds their foundations, piece by piece and it is this slow build that gives you that character connection and a greater understanding of the men behind the façades. These men have wanted and lusted after each other for years, many frustrating years, but I honestly believed that their time wasn’t right and it took them that time and their journeys to appreciate what they had and really get to the bottom of lust versus love. These two were soul mates in all their confusing ways and emotions and I felt that because their relationship was born from friendship first and foremost that they would stand the test of time. It just takes a while for them to realise it.

“Don’t lie to me. You have never lied to me. Not even when it fucking hurt.”

My only little criticism was the time jumps, in Jordan and Devaney’s story I felt crucial moments in their lives were left untold. I wanted to know what happened in their time apart, even if it was just small glimpses or flashbacks. While reading between the lines I knew that those feelings never subsided or waned, I wanted proof that I was right to believe in these two from the get go. Maybe it is me being greedy but I just wanted my blanks filled in. As usual though, Ella Frank delivered a fantastic epilogue and I am hoping that this is not the last we see of out Sunset Cove boys. In this book there is another character introduced, Dylan, who was Derek’s flatmate. Our surfer, model certainly seems to have an interesting story to tell and I am hoping it is one that Ella delivers.

“One of these days, we will get this right.”

www.theromancecover.com

[Wil Loves Books! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ella Frank’s books, and she can definitely write some great MM, so I really enjoyed Devil’s Kiss. Devil’s Kiss is book #2 in the Sunset Cove series, the first one being Finley. Actually, the events of Devil’s Kiss happen simultaneously to the events in Finley. If you read Finley, you know that the MC’s in this book are the best friends of the MC’s in Finley. When I was reading Finley, I was definitely intrigued about Jordan and Derek and their possible relationship. This story is slightly different than Finley though. While this is also a student-teacher kinda story, the romance in this book is really really slow burning. There’s tons of pushing and pulling and tons of angst.

Derek and Jordan start as student-teacher, then turn into roommates, friends and eventually lovers. I think the friendship between Derek and Jordan was probably my favorite thing. I love how they were unconditionally there for each other.

 

“And because one day of knowing that you might not call me at the end of it was one day too many. I know I missed all the signs, and I know the moment of perfection came and went before I even knew I’d missed it. But this is not how we end, Derek Pearson.”

 

The romance part was a little tamed for my liking but I guess it worked well on this book. The characters had amazing chemistry. The story spans over the course of 10 plus years so there’s a few time jumps. Although the writing was great and very beautiful at times, I felt like there was something missing. Or maybe it’s that I’m always trying to compare all of Ella’s MCs to Logan and Tate from the Temptation Series and that’s an impossible start.

 

Devil’s Kiss can be read as a standalone, but I recommend that you read Finley as well. The book is also written in third person POV. Overall, Devil’s Kiss is a good book and I totally recommend it.

 

“I love you,” Derek told him. “For always answering when I call, and for being the exact person I need at any given time. You found me. You made me better.” Jordan’s lids lowered as he moved his lips to Derek’s ear and whispered, “That’s because I love you.” “Always?” “Always.” Heaven, Derek thought, as Jordan brought his lips back to his and kissed him. He was in heaven, being kissed by the devil himself, and, hell, there wasn’t one damn thing he would change. The moment was perfection.



**An ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review**