Guest Review: From Temptation (Deliver Us, #2) by Lynn Kelling

Sequel to Deliver Us:

Kyle Roth is no longer safe–not from his lover, not from his friends and, especially, not from himself. Questioning the choices that led him to a life of submission to the potentially dangerous Dominant, Ben Knox, Kyle sees no other way out than through old vices. Just when Kyle assumes all hope is lost he is saved by the persistence of an old enemy, Gabriel Hunter. Worse yet, a secret past withheld from Darrek–Kyle's friend and Gabriel's partner–threatens to destroy them all! 


(M/M - For content labels and excerpt, see details on publisher's site.)





Reviewed by Vivian

Crazy Train, Part II

The second book in the series takes the reader on another ride of incredibly hot sex and insanely messed up characters. Having read DELIVER US I can’t say I’m surprised by the trajectory of the story. In this book, we get to see Kyle and Darrek lives implode.

Is there anyone in this book who is not completely fucking, batshit crazy?  I like how the couples do it together, taking each other down liking drowning rats.

Ben's borderline and teetering with rage
Kyle's snapped and you can only put Humpty Dumpty back together again so many times. 
Darrek slides into darkness
Gabriel keep flipping on and off like a switch

If you enjoy soap operas with incestuous bed hopping, wild behaviors, shocking reveals, and dramatics—then you’ve found yourself Grade A quality stuff. Personally, I found this less engaging as there are similarities between the characters demons in books one and two. I won’t say it is a reboot, but there are strong parallels and it is more of a twist of the kaleidoscope.

Additionally, the sex while copious is less startlingly physical and plays a great deal more with the psychological which I enjoyed, but combined with the blatantly bad idea fairy regarding the characters’ actions made it less enjoyable than just the voyeurism of the S&M—my preference, so reader satisfaction will vary.

The carousel wheel perspective of getting a scene from one of five characters is a bit much when combined with the POV shifts mid-paragraph. So prepare for disorientation. Again, not thrilled with BDSM being portrayed as something only practiced by those with serious mental conditions. Then again, I’m slightly disturbed by the book using horrific crimes for salacious purposes, too. Honestly, this book makes me contemplate why reading it?

I’m kinda torn between wanting to finish the third book because then the series is done—check mark. But the other part of me is already plotting out the last book, knowing there won’t be a ton of surprises since there’s been some foreshadowing this round regarding Micah. Hoping the series ends stronger since this was a bit of a lull even with all the machinations and shenanigans. What was shocking in DELIVER US doesn’t have the same punch; I blame it on desensitization.

Overall theme of the book can be summed up: 
I’m going to keep you safe—from your enemies, your friends, and yourself.



Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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