Inertia (Impulse, #1)

Nov 11, 2012 Shirley Frances rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, mm-read, mm-series, read-2-review

A sensual story of lust, trust and letting go.

Derrick, a 31-year old handyman, has kept to himself for 10 years. No relationships, no casual hook ups - nothing. Just his work, his dog and his trustful hands. Gavin, on the other hand, is a 28-year old auditor who just ended a relationship and is reluctant to start a new one. But when they meet, their chemistry can't be denied. Their getting together was slow in coming, since both were reluctant to try it, but they talked and decided to take it a...more A sensual story of lust, trust and letting go.

Derrick, a 31-year old handyman, has kept to himself for 10 years. No relationships, no casual hook ups - nothing. Just his work, his dog and his trustful hands. Gavin, on the other hand, is a 28-year old auditor who just ended a relationship and is reluctant to start a new one. But when they meet, their chemistry can't be denied. Their getting together was slow in coming, since both were reluctant to try it, but they talked and decided to take it a step at a time.

It would be nice of me to tell you that once they got together everything was honky dory. But that's not true. Not even done with their first date and their first hurdle is thrown at them. I won't go into details since it is a pretty big part of the story. But I am glad they came out of that together.

I was weary of Derrick in the start. I couldn't find a connection with him no matter how hard I tried. He kept to himself so much that there was nothing there for me to relate to. But I think that's mainly the point of all this. To see him let go and be a witness to his growth. To discover and explore his passionate side. To see him live. And once he did, it was beautiful. I thank the author, Amelia C. Gormley, for that. She put his emotions on the page in a way that truly touched me. I understood his hesitancy to continue this 'thing' he started with Gavin and felt his lust-fueled desperation about being with him physically. I was as overwhelmed as he was with all these conflicting emotions - insecurity, lust, happiness, protectiveness. In the end, I was cheering him on and curious as hell to see how it all played out.

Gavin, on the other hand, won me with his flirting and easy manner from the start. And then he broke my heart and carved a place in it with his dreadful confession. He was so conflicted and honest with Derrick. How could I not feel for him when his pain was laid out there for me to see? He was sweet and considerate with a dominant edge that was hot as hell and melted me each and every time. I could picture him so clearly in my mind - his grin, his eyes and that suit! Uff!

As you can imagine, their chemistry was pretty awesome. Filled with desperation, lust and a need so great that I was tapping the hell out of my tablet so I could get more. It was THAT good. Their dialog was honest and real, which helped me a great deal in believing this connection could happen. I appreciated how the author went about bringing them together sexually. Although there was no penetration, their sex scenes were not lacking in the least. Au contraire mon ami, it made their getting together even more sensual, more important, more desperate. It was awesomeness wrapped in pretty bow!

As for the writing, it was very good. The story is told from Derrick's point of view, which I usually don't like, but I adjusted nonetheless. Of course, it would have been great to get inside Gavin's mind. But I think that will come soon enough. The emotions that were brought and the connection the characters established felt real. And I got to truly see Derrick grow, which I always appreciate in a character. My only complain was the ending. Why, why, why did she leave me hangin' when I was primed and ready to go?!

That aside, I am so looking forward to the next book in the series. I can't wait to see how these two continue on their journey of lust and self discovery.(less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Heller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, friends-to-lovers

3.5

I enjoyed this book, it also held a few surprises for me. I liked the build up of the romance there's some sweet flirty action between Derrick and Gavin.

Derrick is a handyman that Gavin hires to build some shelves and the attraction is pretty instant on both parts but things go very slow. I've always been a fan of slow burn romance.

We learn quite a bit about Derrick, who he is, his background, as well as his motivations. I found Gavin more of mystery. There's a slow unravelling of his past w...more 3.5

I enjoyed this book, it also held a few surprises for me. I liked the build up of the romance there's some sweet flirty action between Derrick and Gavin.

Derrick is a handyman that Gavin hires to build some shelves and the attraction is pretty instant on both parts but things go very slow. I've always been a fan of slow burn romance.

We learn quite a bit about Derrick, who he is, his background, as well as his motivations. I found Gavin more of mystery. There's a slow unravelling of his past which lead to some things I guessed correctly about his past and another that surprised me.

Major plot point reveal here: (view spoiler)

I did really enjoy this story. It did end pretty abruptly but there's a nice excerpt at the end that goes into what we can expect in book two. There are definitely a few open ended questions that I need answers for so I'm on the hook and looking forward to seeing what happens next. It was an interesting and provocative read. I went in expecting one thing and was surprised by another. I like books that do that.

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Aug 21, 2012 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Handyman Derrick Chance has lived a lonely life, by choice. By the age of 21, he lost many beloved family members, and now ten years later, lives in the house his grandparents gave him. Although he is gay, he has never had a gay relationship. He experimented with a woman years ago, but with the loss of his grandparents he is too scared to become attached to anyone. He feels like a relationship is so much work, he’d rather be by himself. But then he meets Gavin.

Gavin is an accountant and hires De...more Handyman Derrick Chance has lived a lonely life, by choice. By the age of 21, he lost many beloved family members, and now ten years later, lives in the house his grandparents gave him. Although he is gay, he has never had a gay relationship. He experimented with a woman years ago, but with the loss of his grandparents he is too scared to become attached to anyone. He feels like a relationship is so much work, he’d rather be by himself. But then he meets Gavin.

Gavin is an accountant and hires Derrick to install shelves in his apartment. Gavin blatantly flirts with Derrick, which totally throws him off stride. Derrick has never had anyone do that before, and Derrick isn’t a charmer so it isn’t natural for him to come back with witty banter, although he wants to. Gavin confuses him, yet he can’t deny the lust building between them. Gavin is coming out of a mentally abusive relationship, and still has some insecurities to deal with. As Gavin comes up with more ‘jobs’ for Derrick to do around his house, these two finally get past the flirting stage and make a move for one another.

Inertia is the first book in what I assume is going to be a series about these two guys, as this book ends quite abruptly. I actually cheered though, because there is no forced I love you, or fake feelings rushed at the end. It ends with them having dated for a few days, and it looks like the next book will venture into Derrick learning how not to be alone like he has the past ten years. But back to this book! What really stands out for me is Derrick. He is a little on the shy side, and just a really warm, nice character. I don’t think he has a bad bone in his body. His awkwardness and uncertainty about how to proceed in a relationship comes across really well. Although he has chosen to be alone for years, rather than start something just to face another depressing loss in his life, he is still lonely. Ten years is a long time to not have anyone in his life, even close friends, and I’m not sure I completely buy that he would be alone for that long.

When we first meet Gavin, he rubbed me the wrong way. He was obviously flirty but comes across as kind of too much of a charmer. I even thought him a little sleazy at first. I didn’t like his over the top seduction of Derrick. As this story is told in Derrick’s point of view, we don’t get to know Gavin very well at first. But by the second half of the book, I feel like his character settled down, and I could understand why Derrick would be attracted to him. Gavin had lived with a very controlling man, and whether more of that insecurity will come out in book two is up in the air. Right now they are in their honeymoon stage, and I’m interested to see how their relationship plays out once real life intrudes.

Since Derrick is a little clumsy with the physical aspect of the relationship, to me that just makes their bedroom scenes that much hotter. I loved how Derrick slowly gains confidence and Gavin is very patient and lets him learn. Very sexy.

Looking forward to the continuation of this story.

Rating: B-
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Sep 08, 2012 Lena Grey rated it 4 of 5 stars

“There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that lost by not trying.”~ Sir Francis Bacon

Derrick Chance has convinced himself that the only way to avoid the pain of losing a loved one is to stay away from emotional entanglements of any kind. The problem is, he's had to put his entire life on hold and avoiding the very thing that will help him move on.

Derrick is a great guy. He's quiet, steady, trustworthy, reliable, a little shy and very handsome. Even his manner of...more “There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that lost by not trying.”~ Sir Francis Bacon

Derrick Chance has convinced himself that the only way to avoid the pain of losing a loved one is to stay away from emotional entanglements of any kind. The problem is, he's had to put his entire life on hold and avoiding the very thing that will help him move on.

Derrick is a great guy. He's quiet, steady, trustworthy, reliable, a little shy and very handsome. Even his manner of speech, with his slow, smooth pace makes him desirable. Derrick is afraid of trying to move on with his life because he's so terrified of experiencing loss again, he refuses to try. When he meets Gavin and is taken in by his flirty moves and desirability and realizes how nice it is to be with someone, not just for the sex, but for the level of comfort one can obtain from simply being together. He faces the fact that his solitary life leaves a lot to be desired; he's willing to try, to take a chance on being with someone. Another thing I admired about Derrick is that he's willing to admit when he's made a mistake and isn't too stubborn to do something about it, no matter how much humble pie he has to eat to make things right.

Gavin is a complex character, but I like him. He's handsome, charming, and flirty with a hint of reticence. His method of seduction is indirect to the point of being amusing. Derrick, willing to play along, quickly realizes that Gavin is indirectly asking him to come over more. His actions show a side of Gavin which seems to be directly opposed to the forward, outwardly seductive man Derrick first meets. There's a lot more behind his smooth facade than most people see. I love his patience with Derrick's inexperience and his desire to nurture him through the process. His ability to forgive says a lot about his character and also shows what a good match he and Derrick are.

The leisurely pace of this well-written story gives us time to understand Derrick and be even more sympathetic to his feelings as he goes through his transition from loner to lover. It also helps us understand why Gavin would be so attracted to his reliability and honesty. Even though things are incredibly hot when they get there, I appreciated the fact that they didn't rush straight to the bedroom, but they flirted for a bit and thought it through for a while. In fact, although very passionate, their lovemaking was unbelievably sensual at the same time. I didn't want the story to end as abruptly as it did, just as it was getting good, but there's obviously a sequel in the works. I'd recommend this book to everyone who wants to read a love story which is exciting and passionate, well thought out and covers serious issues while not letting that dominate the story. Thank you, Amelia, for a love story showing great promise, while whetting my appetite for more.

NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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Jul 27, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

As hot as the sex is in this story--and it is oh so hot--it was still the characters that captured me the most. Withdrawn, steady Derrick discovering desires he never thought he had, and cocky, mysterious Gavin slowly revealing more of himself as we get to know him. This is a work that doesn't flinch from hard themes like domestic abuse, HIV and self-imposed loneliness, but still manages to entertain. For me, it was a perfect mix of plot and porn. I can highly recommend it!

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Mar 13, 2013 Elisa Ramblings added it · review of another edition

It’s true than more than a book in a series, this is a first part of a serial, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that, while the story between Derrick and Gavin is far from being complete, in book 1 we have a good development of their relationship, and in the end, you would probably consider to read book 2 but nevertheless you have an idea of them as a couple and of their previous life.

Derrick is practically a virgin to love: he had one girlfriend, from 14 to 21 years old and then, once...more It’s true than more than a book in a series, this is a first part of a serial, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that, while the story between Derrick and Gavin is far from being complete, in book 1 we have a good development of their relationship, and in the end, you would probably consider to read book 2 but nevertheless you have an idea of them as a couple and of their previous life.

Derrick is practically a virgin to love: he had one girlfriend, from 14 to 21 years old and then, once she broke with him, he remained alone. While he was still with his girlfriend, Derrick was honest enough, with her and with himself, to admit he was attracted by men, but when he had the chance to experiment on that attraction, he decided the “scene” was not “his” scene. And so here we are, 10 years later, with a Derrick that is almost a monk, living a life of work and home, home and work, and only his dog as constant companionship.

Then he meets Gavin, who is unashamedly flirting, finding always a new reason for Derrick, and handyman, to come and repair something, when what he should really consider to repair is Gavin’s heart. Just out from an abusive relationship, I don’t exclude Derrick is a bit of a rebound lover for him, or at least that is what he was at first. I think Gavin was so pushing since he was thinking to have something uncomplicated, something easy and fast to forget his ex. But when he realized that Derrick is indeed as fragile as him, Gavin changes attitude.

There is a definitive turn in the story, more or less 2/3; in a way I think that is the time when the author is preparing the reader to the next book; this current one is “Inertia”, and I think she is referring to both Derrick’s life than Gavin’s bad decision regarding his ex; the following one will be “Acceleration” and that is what I experienced in the novel, a strong acceleration in the pacing. Acceleration that was also reflected in their physical relationship, sex seemed like a fuel for them.

This is an interesting debut, the plot, while not “wide” was well planned and the two main characters, despite being ordinary men, sounded original and true.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479351180/?...(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Macky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is an unusual love story in so much as both men have underlying issues that are more unusual than the norm. In Derricks case, he is a 28 yr old man who's one and only relationship (with a woman) started when he was just 14 and ended 4 yrs later, not only because he realised he was attracted to men but also because his life changed when he had to become the main carer for his grandparents for three years until they passed very close to each other! a hard and upsetting time for him. He had al...more This is an unusual love story in so much as both men have underlying issues that are more unusual than the norm. In Derricks case, he is a 28 yr old man who's one and only relationship (with a woman) started when he was just 14 and ended 4 yrs later, not only because he realised he was attracted to men but also because his life changed when he had to become the main carer for his grandparents for three years until they passed very close to each other! a hard and upsetting time for him. He had also lost both his parents at an early age and a brother in the military so this man knows loss Up close and personal. From then on he shies away from relationships and stays celibate for the next ten years, never getting to indulge in his preference for men. His life revolves around his work, his dog and his few close friends.Gavin is a slightly different kettle of fish, openly gay, his problems evolve from an abusive relationship in which he was not physically abused as such ( although his ex had a temper ) but was battered and abused emotionally by his ex, who also left him with an awful revelation hanging over him that could have a very serious effect not only on his future partnerships, but also his life. On the surface he appears confident but underneath he's also a mess of insecurities!The attraction is instant when Derrick and Gavin meet and they spend a lot of time flirting but when it comes to taking that one step further and actually trying for a relationship, they both get frightened and back away. However the attraction is too strong to ignore and so they begin a tenuous romance.What made this special, was seeing Derrick navigating his first relationship after 10 years of celibacy and having just himself to care about. Out of his depth with all the protocols involved in dating, he is endearingly naive and constantly over-thinking everything, but his sexual awakening is a revelation, and in bed their passion explodes as they explore their new found feelings. Gavin is ' the teacher ' but he also worries about making it work. Amelia really captures the " newness " and raw passion that they generate together,and makes it feel raw and realistic.Even though this oozes emotion, its not miserable or gloomy, I found it believable, tender and poignant. A new author that I will definitely following from now on. Great debut novel - I've found the sequel and downloaded it ASAP!(less)

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Jan 15, 2013 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-twolipsrevies-com

Derrick Chance is a quiet, down to earth handyman. He has just had his heart broken and he is not looking for it to happen again. He takes every precaution against it. He lives alone with his dog, and has only a few select close friends. It’s a risk free life so he doesn’t get hurt again.

Derrick thinks he is content with his life, that is, until he meets Gavin Hayes. Gavin Hayes hires Derrick to install shelving in his home. The chemistry between them is instantaneous and Derrick finds himself...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Tam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m

I think the description is pretty much self-explanatory. Derrick’s life is safe and predictable and since his childhood girlfriend dumped him and his grandparents died 10 years ago, he’s focused on his work and a few close friends. He hasn’t wanted to be bothered with a relationship, in part because he was exhausted after his grandparents deaths (he cared for them) and in part because he didn’t want to risk loving someone and having them leave/die on him too. Plus admitting he was gay didn’t hel...more I think the description is pretty much self-explanatory. Derrick’s life is safe and predictable and since his childhood girlfriend dumped him and his grandparents died 10 years ago, he’s focused on his work and a few close friends. He hasn’t wanted to be bothered with a relationship, in part because he was exhausted after his grandparents deaths (he cared for them) and in part because he didn’t want to risk loving someone and having them leave/die on him too. Plus admitting he was gay didn’t help.

He’s called to install some shelves at an apartment and is surprised the guy is flirting with him. And even more surprised that he’s responding rather than just ignoring it as in the past. Before long he’s being called back to “repair” things and he knows the guy is purposely damaging them to get him there and the guy knows he knows, you know how it proceeds. Finally Derrick confides in his friends what is going on and they encourage him to just ask the guy out. Which rather backfires when the guy sort of freaks out, but eventually they work through it and it seems the guy is just over a bad break-up (his ex is still in the picture slightly) and he’s got some issues, but before long they are getting hot and heavy when Gavin has a big confession about his health, Derrick runs.

Finally he gets his head together and they decide to give it a try. While some people might say a 21 year old man who shuts himself off from sex for 10 years is unrealistic, I could see it happening. His parents died at 14 and he moved in with his Grandparents and at 18 when they fell ill he was working and trying to take care of them and basically had a total meltdown when they died 3 years later. I can see just wanting to shut off the world, go about your business and not deal with anything emotional, good or bad. He still has panic attacks years later.

I liked that they got to know each other a bit over time, they knew each other through his work before they finally hooked up and while Derrick was a virgin in gay sex, he wasn’t completely without knowledge and there was a hint of D/s maybe, with Derrick finding Gavin being in control worked for him. Perhaps that will be developed in the next book. The flirting and innuendo while he worked was fun as well. Also Derrick has an elderly neighbor who was a friend of his grandmother’s who he helps out, and she was a nice parent/substitute figure in the book. Even his ex is a nice girl who wants him to move on and find a guy despite his insistence he’s happy. Gavin’s ex, not so much.

Now for the less positive, and it’s not huge, but this is self-published and the lack of editing did jump out now and then. A few times I found places where a word was missing (small thing) or it was obvious a sentence had been changed but a word was left in and once Derrick turned into Garrick for a sentence, but despite these few little things — which may or may not make you crazy (it’s not rampant, but it was enough I picked them up) — I really enjoyed the story itself and the two characters and even so far the characters surrounding them. I’m sure I’ll dislike Gavin’s ex, but I think he makes more of a showing in the sequel.

So I’m definitely going to pick up the next book when it is available and if you like a very relationship driven story that is more about personal growth than too much external drama you might want to consider giving this one a try. It definitely caught me from the start and I read it pretty much all in one go.(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Jenre rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, romance

Derrick is a handyman who for the last ten years has closed himself off to everyone except a few close friends. Too much loss in his late teens and early twenties made him believe that it was much safer not to get close to people and so he's been living a calm and sedate life, content but not happy. This all changes when he meets Gavin who employs Derrick to put up some shelves. Gavin flirts with Derrick, who finds the attention a mix of flattering, confusing and embarrassing. After a month of o...more Derrick is a handyman who for the last ten years has closed himself off to everyone except a few close friends. Too much loss in his late teens and early twenties made him believe that it was much safer not to get close to people and so he's been living a calm and sedate life, content but not happy. This all changes when he meets Gavin who employs Derrick to put up some shelves. Gavin flirts with Derrick, who finds the attention a mix of flattering, confusing and embarrassing. After a month of odd jobs and more flirting, Derrick finally gets the courage to ask Gavin on a date only to find that things are not as simple as he first thought.

This book grabbed me quickly, partly because it has one of my favourite types of hero: The slightly shy man. Derrick has good reasons for cutting himself off and living what he considers a safe life and one of my favourite parts of this book was seeing Derrick come to realisation of how lonely he actually is, and how he is missing out on something potentially wonderful by holding back. The scene where Derrick talks to his elderly neighbor and she offers advice was wonderful and like that it proved a turning point for Derrick. The narrative focuses only on Derrick so it is his character who develops most in the story. I thought he was a lovely, kind man who is faced with a new and slightly scary situation. He makes mistakes but is secure enough to admit to them and that made him very admirable in my eyes.

Gavin is a little less rounded, although a good job is made in showing a man who is recovering from past mistakes. The theme of partner abuse is explored here and I liked the way that this was sensitively handled. Gavin is a victim, but he's also strong and self aware. I'm hoping that we get to see more of Gavin in the next book.

This book follows the two men through their month of flirting and then into an intensive three days. After that the book just stops. This was my main gripe about the story. Firstly, because I was enjoying it so much that I didn't want it to end, but also because nothing is really resolved by that point. Perhaps the men are starting to move into a new part of their relationship but everything is still very open ended with important plot points left hanging. Whilst I can see that from Derrick's point of view he's reached a point of completion, I can't help but think that the story may have been better put together with book two to make one longer book rather than two shorter length books (this book is 50,000 words). That would certainly have led to less frustration on my part. Fortunately for me I already have book two in my TBR pile and I'll be getting to it very soon.

Overall, this was a very gripping and highly romantic book. I liked both characters and enjoyed the intensity of their interactions. The writing is excellent and draws you in quickly with the very sympathetic character of Derrick. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet romance with a touch of angst, but I'd recommend you have book 2 on hand to read straight after you've finished this one!(less)

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Dec 05, 2012 Vanessa theJeepDiva rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, erotic, m-m, romance, request

Inertia is a wonderfully written tale and first book in the Impulse Series by Amelia Gormley. I found the book appropriately named as inertia is defined as a body resisting motion; thus our characters Derrick and Gavin.

Derrick and Gavin are opposites yet subtly alike. Gavin is out-going and flirtatious, Derrick, the handyman, is shy, reserved and very set in his ways. Both men battle issues that add to the dynamics of their desired feeling s for each other and the story. Gavin is dealing with a...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Gaylistbookreviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review originally posted at Gay List Book Reviews

I love a strong, silent type, and who could embody that more than Derrick Chance? A handyman who has been single for 10 years who doesn’t even recognize if someone’s flirting with him, let alone know how to flirt back, well… That just melts my butter. *channeling Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias* His ineptitude with returning Gavin’s playful innuendos is cute, as is his shyness, but also his insistence on giving the banter a shot makes him intriguin...more Review originally posted at Gay List Book Reviews

I love a strong, silent type, and who could embody that more than Derrick Chance? A handyman who has been single for 10 years who doesn’t even recognize if someone’s flirting with him, let alone know how to flirt back, well… That just melts my butter. *channeling Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias* His ineptitude with returning Gavin’s playful innuendos is cute, as is his shyness, but also his insistence on giving the banter a shot makes him intriguing from the beginning. For someone who is so hell-bent on staying alone, he can’t seem to help himself. The inevitability of it all made me grin knowingly a few times. Don’t fight it, Derrick. You’ll lose. And yet win at the same time. Score!

The confident, cocky type doesn’t really do much for me, and at first Gavin Hayes seems like that. But while Derrick may be inept at attraction and everything after it, he’s bright enough to recognize bravado when he sees it and Gavin has a certain vulnerability that kept his cockiness from rubbing me completely wrong. Brazen and aggressive in some moments, unsure and concerned at making Derrick uncomfortable in others, Gavin is more difficult to grasp at first, but as the story unfolds, we find out why. And oh, it’s a big why. I wanted to hug Gavin, but was happy when Derrick decided to do it for me.

Both of these men would be happy to flirt and leave it at that but for the spark of chemistry that keeps them thinking of each other. I’m not one to mind first person narrative even if it keeps me confined to only one character’s head, but this story pulled it off better than most. Derrick is an observant guy. He sees things, notices Gavin’s confidence, his surety in his own skin, and that glimpse of occasional insecurity that makes him human, but Derrick never seems omniscient like some first-person narrators I’ve read, and I liked discovering Gavin through Derrick’s eyes, even as I was cheering Derrick on as he debated stepping outside his comfort zone. While Derrick’s past has kept him inert (thus the title) in almost all areas of his life, that doesn’t translate to dead. Given his past, the grief he shoved down after losing his parents and caring for his grandparents in their convalescence, it’s no wonder he’s afraid to get close to anyone. They all leave.

I’ve had moments like that, where I want to hold out my arms, lock my elbows, and declare at least a five foot radius of personal space. No one’s gettin’ past these walls. Trouble is, life doesn’t work that way. Sure, there are dickheads in the world (namely Gavin’s ex, because dude is a douchebag and a half) but most people are inherently good.

This is true of Gavin and Derrick. While they’re flawed, as evidenced by a communication problem on Derrick’s end and a rush to judgment on Gavin’s, they’re human, and drawn to each other like a tornado to a trailer park. The characterization makes sense, the writing is descriptive and editing is not an issue at all (go self-published author getting decent editing!). The cover is beautiful and I liked the formatting that put a snippet of the picture at the top of every chapter.

There are a couple quibbles, however. First, the buildup to the relationship between Derrick and Gavin was wholly believable and intricately woven, but once they sleep together, all that emotion is swept away in sex scenes. There’s A LOT of sex in the last part of the book. I’m all for the nookie, and let’s face it, readin’ it’s the only way I’m gettin’ close to it these days, ahem. But, and maybe this is just ‘cuz I’m a girl and can’t get into a guy’s head so don’t know any better, but it seemed that once the sex happened, it’s all they wanted. The connection Gormley painstakingly constructed in the beginning gets swept away by the need to get their rocks off as often as possible in the last third.

The other quibble I have is the abrupt ending. I realize this book is the first of a trilogy, so the story is not yet complete. I tend to like my series to have two facets to them– 1.) the individual books tell a complete story, and 2.) the overall series has a bigger story that encompasses each book within it. Think Harry Potter. Each book tells it’s own smaller tale while still constructing the pieces of the overall arc of the series, i.e. Harry and Voldemort will battle and one will remain standing. Inertia, while most definitely building into the whole series arc, didn’t have much in the way of a story wrap beyond Derrick and Gavin getting together. Truthfully, while there was some measure of conflict, it centered around the baggage the two men have and none of that baggage gets resolved, merely put on hold with the start of their relationship. I finished the book feeling like it was merely a setup book, and that the ending, while certainly pleasant, didn’t resolve much of anything. As a standalone book, it could have used more conflict and therefore resolution. As the first of a series, it did its job setting up the players, layering in their pasts, and positioning them for the next installment. But this vaguely unsatisfied feeling I got as I realized the end was upon me is the reason this didn’t get a solid B rating.

I did look forward to Acceleration (book 2, which I’ve read and will review this weekend) and the final book of the series, which I have a feeling will surprise me. Overall, a very readable, enjoyable story that has the potential to be even better as the rest of the trilogy is released.(less)

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Nov 25, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, keeper, m-m, romance, review, gormley-amelia-c

4.5 of 5 stars

It didn't take me long to be totally absorbed by Amelia C. Gormley's Inertia, the first book in her Impulse trilogy. The story is sweetly sexy—and I mean that in all the best ways. One of the things I enjoyed about it is that, even with nothing overt, it is a book that resonated with me. The main characters, Derrick and Gavin, are both gun-shy when it comes to relationships but for very different reasons. And exploring those reasons, getting to know the two men, is a very rewarding...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Gabbi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, amelia-c-gormley

Inertia is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Gormley and it definitely won’t be my last! Between her descriptive way of telling a story as well as her ability to get to the heart and soul to her characters, she’s definitely going to be one of those must read authors for me. I loved every moment I spent reading this book and I can’t wait to read the next story in the series, and more from this author.

For the past ten years, life has been one big routine for Derrick Chance. Since the death of his gr...more Inertia is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Gormley and it definitely won’t be my last! Between her descriptive way of telling a story as well as her ability to get to the heart and soul to her characters, she’s definitely going to be one of those must read authors for me. I loved every moment I spent reading this book and I can’t wait to read the next story in the series, and more from this author.

For the past ten years, life has been one big routine for Derrick Chance. Since the death of his grandparents and the break-up with his high school girlfriend, Derrick has guarded his heart by keeping others at arm’s length so he may not experience such a loss again. Although Derrick is comfortable with his life, he starts second guessing himself when he is confronted about his life by his ex-girlfriend and this causes him to take a long, hard look at himself and his life.

When he is asked to build some shelves for handsome and flirtatious Gavin, Derrick immediately finds himself out of his element. Derrick is very attracted to Gavin and he’s shocked that the friendly, sexy man seems to be attracted to him. When things continuously start breaking down under suspicious circumstances at Gavin’s house, Derrick finally begins to understand that Gavin might be intentionally doing things to befriend Derrick and really get his attention.

When Gavin is confronted by an abusive ex-lover, this brings Derrick and Gavin closer and both men must face their fears if they want to build anything special between them. Will Derrick be able to push his fear of losing someone he loves aside, so he may have that once in a lifetime love he’s always secretly desired?

I loved this book! I thought both Derrick and Gavin were well-written, interesting heroes that I immediately liked. Both men have their own baggage from the past they must deal with in order to truly have something special between them. I liked how even though they seem to be total opposites at first, they soon discover there is each man can give into their relationship to make it a loving, stable one.

I also liked how the two heroes really seemed to fit together. Not only did they like one another, the chemistry between them practically steamed up my computer screen as their relationship progressed throughout the story. I think the author did a great job at building their relationship in a realistic manner without rushing the relationship between them. Both men really seem to understand one another and I enjoyed watching them start to build something special between them. Although there is a definite HEA to the story, I’m anxious to read more about this couple and see how they really fit each other into their lives. Highly Recommended!(less)

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Nov 03, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/

Inertia is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Gormley and it definitely won’t be my last! Between her descriptive way of telling a story as well as her ability to get to the heart and soul to her characters, she’s definitely going to be one of those must read authors for me. I loved every moment I spent reading this book and I can’t wait to read the next story in the series, and more from this author.

For the past ten years, life has been one big routine for De...more http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/

Inertia is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Gormley and it definitely won’t be my last! Between her descriptive way of telling a story as well as her ability to get to the heart and soul to her characters, she’s definitely going to be one of those must read authors for me. I loved every moment I spent reading this book and I can’t wait to read the next story in the series, and more from this author.

For the past ten years, life has been one big routine for Derrick Chance. Since the death of his grandparents and the break-up with his high school girlfriend, Derrick has guarded his heart by keeping others at arm’s length so he may not experience such a loss again. Although Derrick is comfortable with his life, he starts second guessing himself when he is confronted about his life by his ex-girlfriend and this causes him to take a long, hard look at himself and his life.

When he is asked to build some shelves for handsome and flirtatious Gavin, Derrick immediately finds himself out of his element. Derrick is very attracted to Gavin and he’s shocked that the friendly, sexy man seems to be attracted to him. When things continuously start breaking down under suspicious circumstances at Gavin’s house, Derrick finally begins to understand that Gavin might be intentionally doing things to befriend Derrick and really get his attention.

When Gavin is confronted by an abusive ex-lover, this brings Derrick and Gavin closer and both men must face their fears if they want to build anything special between them. Will Derrick be able to push his fear of losing someone he loves aside, so he may have that once in a lifetime love he’s always secretly desired?

I loved this book! I thought both Derrick and Gavin were well-written, interesting heroes that I immediately liked. Both men have their own baggage from the past they must deal with in order to truly have something special between them. I liked how even though they seem to be total opposites at first, they soon discover there is each man can give into their relationship to make it a loving, stable one.

I also liked how the two heroes really seemed to fit together. Not only did they like one another, the chemistry between them practically steamed up my computer screen as their relationship progressed throughout the story. I think the author did a great job at building their relationship in a realistic manner without rushing the relationship between them. Both men really seem to understand one another and I enjoyed watching them start to build something special between them. Although there is a definite HEA to the story, I’m anxious to read more about this couple and see how they really fit each other into their lives. Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi(less)

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Sep 18, 2012 Becky Mrs Condit Reads Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amelia Gormley’s INERTIA is one of the most perfectly titled books I’ve read, because that is exactly what is affecting both main characters but most especially Derrick.
Derrick is single and other than his own right hand has been celebate since… forever. Gavin has a terrible, terrifying secret which keeps him from forming relationships. At the end Derrick is still questioning, questioning, questioning. He overthinks everything, and I mean every little thing, including asking for a toothbrush. Ga...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Cole Riann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, m-m-abuse-physical-sexual, m-m-contemporary

Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

This is the first book I've read by Amelia Gormley, and I found the writing and construction of the novel was done very well, but overall, I found the story to be somewhat no to my liking. This is mostly because of my reading preferences, and I still enjoyed the story. But, I found reading it to be somewhat tedious. There's no real story outside of the relationship between Derrick and Gavin, and I tend to not like very insular relationships in contemporary ro...more Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

This is the first book I've read by Amelia Gormley, and I found the writing and construction of the novel was done very well, but overall, I found the story to be somewhat no to my liking. This is mostly because of my reading preferences, and I still enjoyed the story. But, I found reading it to be somewhat tedious. There's no real story outside of the relationship between Derrick and Gavin, and I tend to not like very insular relationships in contemporary romance. Unless I find the characters much more engaging that what I normally read, or for some reason the relationship catches me in a way that rarely happens, I just find them a bit boring. Sadly, this happened for me here. It is by no means a reflection of the story, but it is how I felt about my reading experience.

Derrick is very isolated from life and relationships following a breakup with his long-time girlfriend and best friend and from watching the slow decline of his grandparents. He's a somewhat stable and reserved man anyway, he's simple and likes a slow and easy life without complication. That changes when he is commissioned to build a set of shelves for Gavin, who is getting over a breakup with an emotionally and physically abusive man. They circle around each other quite a bit and their friendship and relationship starts and moves slowly. I suppose the reason I found this most tedious was how slowly everything happened. Actually, that's somewhat of a misrepresentation of my feelings, because I do appreciate slow romances. What was less to my taste was the way that Derrick narrated the story, very limited in life because of his fear and his tendency to overanalyze every situation. It's not unrealistic in anyway, but once again, it wasn't to my taste. And last, I felt as if there was no climax. I was waiting for something to happen to wrap up the story and instead it ended, feeling more like part one of a story than book one of a series. And it is a series, so there's no doubt more to come, but I had wished that more had happened in the story, and less internal debate that to me seemed repetitive.

I'd welcome reading more of Amelia Gormley's work because I think she has a lot of talent, but this story wasn't for me, and I probably won't read the second book or any further installments. If you read a cross section of reviews for this book you'll find that many readers agree with me and many more disagree. Many people love this book, probably for the reasons that it didn't appeal to me. So I'd recommend this book to readers that really love contemporary with a central relationship, and with characters that really like to talk and consider their emotions.(less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Kelly_Instalove rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: era-contemporary, genre-romance, theme-beta-hero, theme-abuse-addiction, theme-glbtq

Review coming soon....

NOTE: I read an advance review copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Nov 19, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, drama, glbt, m-m-romance, series

4.5 Stars

“I have ever since seemed to myself … a kind of solitary wanderer in the wild of life.” – Samuel Johnson

Derrick Chance has been alone for ten years, ten years during which he has lived a half-life of working and taking care of the needs of others, all while ignoring the fact that his own risk-free and insular existence is adding up to little more than a pole to pole exercise in denial; denying himself the right to love and to be loved in return, to feel all the beautiful fears of fallin...more 4.5 Stars

“I have ever since seemed to myself … a kind of solitary wanderer in the wild of life.” – Samuel Johnson

Derrick Chance has been alone for ten years, ten years during which he has lived a half-life of working and taking care of the needs of others, all while ignoring the fact that his own risk-free and insular existence is adding up to little more than a pole to pole exercise in denial; denying himself the right to love and to be loved in return, to feel all the beautiful fears of falling, and instead being paralyzed by the risk that comes with trying to weave your life into the tapestry of another’s, the needing of that intimacy and the sharing of all the uncontrollable and unpredictable good, bad, ugly, and indifferent that fate sometimes throws your way just to make sure you’re paying attention.

And Derrick was fine with it, or at least resigned to it; not that he was unaware there was a different way to live, but he was content with his life, as monotone as it was—until he was hired by Gavin Hayes to do a small home-improvement job; then suddenly he saw someone who made him want things, need things, things he knew were missing but were absent from his life by his choice rather than by his fault. And then there was fear, because losing his heart and letting someone in meant leaving himself open to the pain of losing…again. And it’s more than he’s willing to forfeit…for at least a short while, until a pair of whiskey-colored eyes brought an intensity of feeling to his life, and he found he couldn’t look away.

Inertia, book one in the Impulse series is an exploration of the tenuous beginning of a relationship between two men whose pasts have very much influenced who they are and what they’re willing to compromise in order to see where their attraction to each other could go. Potentially devastating truths nearly undo them before they even have a chance to explore their potential—truths that for Gavin could be life altering, truths that for Derrick could be too much to overcome because they signal the possibility of a repeat of his painful past.

Amelia C. Gormley has treated me to something that, as a reader, I love more than just about anything: a character driven story that’s allowed me the chance to become invested in the lives and trials of the people she’s created, and the promise of what will be an emotional journey, for sure, as Derrick and Gavin continue to navigate their way into a relationship that seems destined for both hope and hardship.

Inertia offers no quick resolutions or easy answers for these two characters—there’s still too much for them to work through and too far yet to go, but there’s progress and promise and that’s all I need to keep me coming back for more.

(less)

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Aug 31, 2012 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ added it

Shelves: rainbow-gay, glbt, contemporary, romance

MMSJFDEURFSJHKHDGJMNGH!!! Why? Why? High and dry doesn't begin to describe it. Waiting anxiously for #2 even if I am afraid the last quarter of the book lacked a bit of the great tension of the previous part.

Derrick, the third person narrator of the book, is a 31-year-old handyman who's been living a quiet and unremarkable life. I think he's one of the unluckiest guys on earth for a number of reasons. He lost his parents when he was 14 and then went to live with his grandparents, who both fell i...more MMSJFDEURFSJHKHDGJMNGH!!! Why? Why? High and dry doesn't begin to describe it. Waiting anxiously for #2 even if I am afraid the last quarter of the book lacked a bit of the great tension of the previous part.

Derrick, the third person narrator of the book, is a 31-year-old handyman who's been living a quiet and unremarkable life. I think he's one of the unluckiest guys on earth for a number of reasons. He lost his parents when he was 14 and then went to live with his grandparents, who both fell ill and he had to take care of them, losing the best years of his life. Since their death, ten years before, instead of taking the opportunity to catch up with his youth and finally live, he retired from life, settling in his routine, with few friends and no lovers. If you look at this from a distance, it sounds sort of pathetic, but Derrick was captivating. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down.

When he's hired to build some shelves, Derrick meets Gavin, a sexy accountant that can't help flirting shamelessly with him. There's something a little off in Gavin, and Derrick can't put his finger on it. Derrick is also so set in his ways, that he is not able to take a risk and respond to the flirting or act on his interest and ask Gavin out. The sexual tension between the two men builds and builds, until one night, when they're finally beginning to do something, Gavin reveals something that chills Derrick and makes him run. I think this is the 40% of the book.

This is not a book of fireworks and sparks, it's a book of a stream of water changing its course. The many problems afflicting Derrick made me roll my eyes a bit, but I really felt for him and rooted for him since the beginning. He is inexperienced, but he doesn't pretend to be strong. Gavin, on the other hand, is much more experienced, but in his past he has an abusive lover who can't seem to live him alone and has put him in a very bad situation. The couple works, but the dynamics is not always predictable. Derrick is finally discovering a personal romantic interaction, from dating to sex, he's terrified, he missteps, he's clumsy, but there was something so basically ordinary that someone might found boring or even pathetic, as I said before, but personally, I loved it. I liked especially the pre-sex part, when there was a lot of anticipation. Sex became too prominent in the second part of the book, but I guess it's understandable after ten years of celibacy.

The story doesn't end with the end of the book. As the title says, it deals with Inertia, An Object At Rest. The next one, of which there's an excerpt at the end of the book, will be Acceleration, Gaining Momentum. I want it now.(less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Leta Blake rated it 5 of 5 stars

Inertia by Amelia C. Gormley is the story of Derrick, a man in his early thirties, who has cut himself off from risk, adventure, and relationships after an unfortunate series of circumstances that led him to losing everyone he loved by the time he was twenty-one. Unwilling to experience the crushing pain of loss again, he’s drifted through a pleasant if boring decade of the same old, same old. Until he meets Gavin and suddenly the possibility for something more appears on his radar. Will he be b...more Inertia by Amelia C. Gormley is the story of Derrick, a man in his early thirties, who has cut himself off from risk, adventure, and relationships after an unfortunate series of circumstances that led him to losing everyone he loved by the time he was twenty-one. Unwilling to experience the crushing pain of loss again, he’s drifted through a pleasant if boring decade of the same old, same old. Until he meets Gavin and suddenly the possibility for something more appears on his radar. Will he be brave enough to accept the inherent risk that goes along with daring to feel something new?

I worry that what I will say next will somehow come across as a backhanded compliment, when it is definitely not intended as such. It’s just a straight up compliment. So, please keep that in mind. Amelia writes Derrick with an attention to detail that in another person’s hands could become tedious. Instead, however, this detail shows us a fully fleshed out picture of a man who takes his time in everything, who tries to mitigate even the smallest loss, or unexpected outcome, by concentrating entirely on the steps of each part of his day and job. Every time I’d start to think something like, “Did we really need to know about how Derrick took his time sanding that bit of shelving?” I’d realize that, yes, we did need to know that–because Derrick’s inability to deal with unexpected outcomes, and his extreme caution in the face of everything is the crux and crisis of this book.

Derrick is a kind man, and given how slow and thorough he is, I never found myself annoyed with him for that trait. I did find his reaction to one of Gavin’s revelations sufficiently appalling (and thus incredibly realistic and human) that I had a hard time forgiving him for a little while, and frankly had a harder time forgiving him than Gavin did. In addition to Derrick’s initial reaction to Gavin’s story, I also had a hard time with the fact that Derrick, knowing what he ends up knowing about Gavin, keeps the specifics of his own issues to himself and doesn’t share them with Gavin. He uses a somewhat believable excuse that he doesn’t want to make Gavin’s problems all about him. But the way Gavin’s problems intersect with his own are the crisis of the book and the relationship, and I felt that remained unresolved because Derrick never actually shared the most damaged part of himself with Gavin.

That bothered me because Gavin laid it bare, made himself vulnerable in a really intense way, Derrick reacted horribly to it, and then, in my opinion, didn’t make up for it by providing Gavin with an equal vulnerability. That left a bit of sour taste in my mouth, because it gave Derrick a power position over Gavin, whether he intends to use it or not.

But here’s the thing–I was glad for these problems with the character. This is a very psychological book. There’s not a lot of external adventure. It’s not got a lot of vibrant world building, or evil villains, or anything outside of two people’s very realistic hang-ups about sex, love, and life as the problem that needs to be resolved to reach a HFN or HEA ending. Had Derrick handled things beautifully, there would have been no book, because it would’ve been boring as hell, and completely unrealistic. So, while I did find myself annoyed with Derrick at times, I was also incredibly happy to feel that way, because it meant I was emotionally invested and I cared about both men.

The book ends in a place without any cliff-hangers, but it’s a good thing there is another book (two, actually) coming, because I felt like if this was all that had been offered, I would have been somewhat annoyed. In fact, looking at the reviews of Amelia’s book, I’ve wondered if she would not have been possibly better off combining books one and two, because I think she would’ve gotten higher ratings had people been able to see what happens next. For the record, I know a little of what happens next because I’ve communicated with Amelia about it, and I’m very curious to see how Derrick and Gavin go from this relationship to that relationship.

If I had stars ratings, I’d give this a solid 5 stars because I was turning the pages like crazy and felt really invested in the outcome of these characters. I wanted more from them, and kind of wished the book had another 20 pages in it so that I could just revel in how cute they could be together a bit longer. I’m not sure the 20 pages I wanted would’ve added to the story in any way, though, so I am not saying this is a flaw of the book, but am saying that the book and characters left me wishing for more, more, more.

The sex in the book was very hot (yay!), but ended up being secondary for me. I was much more interested in how Gavin got to where he is now, and in how Derrick was going to open up. Was he really going to dare and risk and make himself vulnerable? Was he going to step up to the same level as Gavin in terms of putting himself out there? I wanted to know!

I thought this was a wonderful fall read. It definitely lent itself to curling up in my comfy covers while the autumn light drifted in. I can’t wait for the second book and I highly recommend this one to all who enjoy a slow burn romance with the promise for more!(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Paulette Mahurin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amelia Gormley’s Inertia: Impulse, Book One at first seems to be about
a gay erotica relationship where a man named Derrick gets a job as a carpenter at Gavin’s apartment, to discover an unrelenting attraction, that plays with Derrick’s sensibilities: should he verses shouldn’t he. When he finally does make a move, things change and the meaning of the story takes a turn, to a deeper theme that brings us back to what Gay men struggled with in the aftermath of the HIV scare,that a decade or two ea...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Nithu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A beautifully measured tale of two men with very different reasons for being wary of embarking on a relationship. The attraction is there from the start, but will they have the courage to explore it?

Derrick, having lost several people he loved in quick succession, has decided that being on his own is the safest way to be. There is the sense that he is dissatisfied with his life, that it is lonely and sterile. Almost in spite of himself, he is intrigued when Gavin flirts with him. Derrick has bee...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Bea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: male-male, beautiful-cover, blogpost, goodreads-review, arc

The novel, Inertia, by Amelia C. Gormley was supplied for review by the author. While it should be obvious to say, this is a honest review and I was not influenced by any action of the author.

Inertia is the first novel by Amelia C. Gormley in which I have read. There is always a level of excitement when I discover a new author; I never know what the writing quality and style will be. In this case, I was very pleased with the results.

Basic Plot:

Derrick Chance is a handy man whose life is in a rut...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Jonetta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-review-request, contemporary-romance, m-m-romance

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

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Aug 15, 2012 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

For the past 10 years, Derrick has lived a quiet and lonely life. He spent the first part of his young adult years losing almost everyone who mattered to him. He tended his grandparents for three years as illness slowly claimed their lives. His girlfriend moved away for college and they drifted apart. His brother died in service. After so much loss, it seemed easier to close himself off to emotion, to relationships, and to the possibility of heartache.

But something long asleep inside him starts...more For the past 10 years, Derrick has lived a quiet and lonely life. He spent the first part of his young adult years losing almost everyone who mattered to him. He tended his grandparents for three years as illness slowly claimed their lives. His girlfriend moved away for college and they drifted apart. His brother died in service. After so much loss, it seemed easier to close himself off to emotion, to relationships, and to the possibility of heartache.

But something long asleep inside him starts to spark back to life when he meets Gavin. The sexy businessman hires him for a job and starts flirting from the moment Derrick shows up to install some bookshelves. Though the attraction is obvious and mutual right away, it takes a while for the two of them to act on their feelings. They've both got a lot of baggage and it interferes as they try to make a go of things. But eventually, they try to put their issues aside to see where that attraction can take them.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a little tough to buy that Derrick would spend 10 whole years without so much as a one night stand or make-out session along the line. But if you can put that aside, I found the rest of the novella has a realistic emotional feel. The urgency and fear that drives Derrick's encounters with Gavin are palpable. And Gavin's shame and embarrassment over his past abusive relationship ring just as true.

What starts as flirting ends up this almost desperate, consuming fire between these two men. And I liked it. Their sexual encounters never quite escalate to full penetration. However, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Especially after so much tension, I thought the love scenes were great. I especially liked watching Derrick make his first forays into an intimate relationship with another man.

Another big plus: no instant-love. Both these men are skittish about giving their hearts and what we end up with is a great beginning between the two of them. I am very satisfied with that. And I am really looking forward to seeing where their story goes next in book two, Acceleration. I've got high hopes.

Rating: B

*Book provided by author for review(less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Cryselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-25

4.25

I first encountered this author when she submitted a hot little ficlet for a prompt picture, and after reading that, I was delighted to find out there’d be more. A lot more. Inertia is the first of three stories with Gavin and Derrick, and I’m looking forward to the next one already.

Derrick’s a loner, huddling in on himself to prevent any more hurt coming his way: at a young age he’s already had more heartbreak and loss than many people coming up on retirement. It’s easier not to take risks...more 4.25

I first encountered this author when she submitted a hot little ficlet for a prompt picture, and after reading that, I was delighted to find out there’d be more. A lot more. Inertia is the first of three stories with Gavin and Derrick, and I’m looking forward to the next one already.

Derrick’s a loner, huddling in on himself to prevent any more hurt coming his way: at a young age he’s already had more heartbreak and loss than many people coming up on retirement. It’s easier not to take risks or get involved, a dog and some good friends ought to be enough. But Gavin does a come-closer-maybe that Derrick finds intriguing, and in spite of himself, he gradually does get involved.

Gavin comes with plenty of baggage, which unfolds slowly. Maybe he’s not really relationship material for Derrick, maybe he’s a bad idea even for a weekend’s amusement. Or maybe, he’s worth it.

Gavin has issues guaranteed to poke Derrick’s “no way” button, but his combination of flirting, honesty, and a bit of vulnerability make him extremely alluring, and Derrick comes closer in spite of his best intentions. A scene where Derrick goes out on what he tells himself will be an aimless drive “just to clear his mind” swings him like a pendulum between “not in this lifetime” and “right now.” Very nicely done, and just lovely when he finally arrives at Gavin’s door.

This story does have a number of serious issues to address, and takes none of them lightly, but it never devolves into an angst-fest. Instead, we have two grown men making themselves a tiny bit vulnerable with each revelation, and each understands that the other could bolt at a moment’s notice. Derrick’s the man most likely to disappear from inability to deal, and tells himself that he daren’t come to care for someone who could put him through the wringer and then be gone.

An atrocious ex with no face time hangs like smog over the couple, and several issues relating to him get explored, though not resolved. It smells like sequel bait, which is fine with me; I want to know how they play out. For the moment it’s enough to see Derrick and Gavin come together in spite of the obstacles.

A few things bothered me: I wasn’t entirely convinced that Derrick could sleepwalk through his twenties quite as completely as he was portrayed, and I was also concerned about Gavin’s stability, since he hadn’t been ex’ed from his ex all that long. A friend from the past popped in from Central Casting long enough to make some cogent points and then disappeared; she didn’t have much to say that couldn’t have been handled by another friend with a more ongoing role in the story, but perhaps I’m being too picky here.

This is Amelia Gormley’s first book, and in spite of a couple niggles, I think it’s a strong and entertaining piece (I accidentally took a long lunch at work because I was engrossed). The writing is very fluid and the sex scenes very hot, and when the heck is Book Two out?

Copy provided (less)

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Jul 29, 2012 Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Quick review:

Cover: Nice
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess: Hot
Thumbs Up: 4.5
Overall: Well written, well timed love story
Characters: Well done
Plot: A very believable tale of love between two people.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Derrick

SUMMARY (50 words or less)

I’ve read so much “insta love” lately that this book was a welcome change. The love story is slow brewed but not in a frustrating way. And again, a sigh of relief, that the conflict wasn’t based on misundersta...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Debra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m

4.5 stars for the series

I really enjoyed this series and came to love both Derrick and Gavin. Bear in mind that this is one story told through all three books and none of the storylines are completed until the third book.

Each book builds on the growing relationship between Gavin, who is just out of a bad relationship, and Derrick, who has spent the past 10 years alone and celibate. Both men have a lot baggage that will directly impact their relationship. This is a character driven book that seem...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:
It's interesting the way that the author is setting up this series. This is a trilogy following the story of two men, Derrick and Gavin, through Derrick's eyes. At the time of writing this review, I haven't yet read the other two installments, but it seems to me that the author is setting up the books to show the stages of dating for this couple. I like that idea. As the first in the series, this book is showing how Derrick and Gavin come to be in a relationship. That isn't as straight...more My Review:
It's interesting the way that the author is setting up this series. This is a trilogy following the story of two men, Derrick and Gavin, through Derrick's eyes. At the time of writing this review, I haven't yet read the other two installments, but it seems to me that the author is setting up the books to show the stages of dating for this couple. I like that idea. As the first in the series, this book is showing how Derrick and Gavin come to be in a relationship. That isn't as straight-forward as you would think. Gavin still has some lingering issues from his former boyfriend. We just see glimpses of this in this book, but I have a feeling that is going to come more into play in books #2 and #3.

For Derrick, this is a relationship that he never saw coming. For seven years (through high school and college) he dated the same girl. They grew apart, broke up, but still remained friends. That break-up was ten years ago. She knew he was attracted to boys when they broke up and now she's urging him to get out there and "live"...because he's never done that. When they broke up, he was the primary caregiver to his grandparents who raised him. He basically spent three years watching them die. As a result, he just never felt the urge to try for another relationship. He had a HUGE physical blow to his psyche with her break-up and their death and he just doesn't want to open his heart to a possibility of pain like that again.

And the thing is...Derrick is such a nice guy, but completely clueless when it comes to a relationship. He doesn't know the protocol for even the most basic of dating rituals...flirting, asking someone out, first kiss, etc. You can't help but fall in love with and hurt for his character. He is so far out of his element here...with dating in general, much less dating a guy which he has NEVER done. While reading you want to just give him a hug and then a shove towards Gavin.

To me, Gavin is more your typical gay guy. He's very put together and usually self-confident, but there are cracks. You don't get any of the story from his POV, but you get to where you can spot that all isn't quite as it seems. Something has happened to him to fracture his self-confidence. There are lingering things going on here which makes him reluctant to get involved with Derrick, even though he obviously wants to become involved.

This book was a great start to the series and I can't wait to see where this couple goes from here, because things have definitely just begun and it's obviously not going to be all smooth sailing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
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