Review: 4.5 stars.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 11, 2012
Acceleration is the second installment in Amelia C. Gormley's absolutely fabulous Impulse series. Picking up right where Inertia leaves off, Gavin and Derrick are still in the early days of their romance. Both men bring more than their fair share of emotional baggage with them and sometimes their relationship is practically smothered by the weight of it. But as the title promises, there is forward motion as these two men work to overcome the residual damage and insecurities from their respective pasts.On the surface, everything seems to be working in Derrick and Gavin's relationship. But a deeper look shows that while Derrick is pulling Gavin closer with one hand, he is pushing him away with the other. Derrick continues to keep everything tightly locked up inside, and he is unable to confide in Gavin about both his past and his fears for the future. Derrick's attempts to protect himself are understandable, but his actions are triggering unpleasant memories from Gavin's previous abusive relationship.The one area where there are no problems for either men is the bedroom. There is a slight BDSM angle to the explosive sex between Gavin and Derrick. Gavin is the more dominant of the two and Derrick revels in submitting to his commands. The resulting sex is aggressive and rough with an edge of pain that Gavin and Derrick find completely satisfying.Throughout Acceleration, both men are gaining a better understanding of themselves. Lack of communication continues to plague the couple and threatens the future of their relationship. There is a particularly heartwarming and emotional scene where Derrick is finally able to reveal his past to Gavin. Following his revelation, Derrick must decide if he ready to risk his heart on an uncertain future.What I particularly like about the Impulse series is the unhurried pacing of the developing storylines. Gavin and Derrick have real problems that are not going to fixed overnight. Love does not magically make everything all right. True healing takes hard work and I love that Amelia C. Gormley is keeping this part of the plot so realistic. Is it frustrating at times? You better believe it! But that is what makes their progress so rewarding and believable and leaves readers anxiously awaiting Velocity, the final installment of Derrick and Gavin's turbulent romance.I received a complimentary copy for review.