Colton Davidson knew what his life was supposed to be like. Sports after school, Church on Sundays, meet a nice girl someday, get married, have children. He knew that his attraction to the other boys was nothing more than God testing him. He knew that if he just kept to his faith, he’d overcome the temptation of sin. If only he were stronger… him, Colton knew his only chance for survival was to run. He didn’t know where the streets would take him, and he certainly didn’t think he’d end up at a place like Ted House, where boys like him were nurtured and cared for. Colton never thought he would amount to much, but Sage and Derek Osbourne never let him believe otherwise. And it was with a place he could call home that Colton let himself believe he had a future. If only that future involved the ridiculously attractive, much older man who just breezed into Fairfield. At nineteen, Colton knows he’s young, and he knows his life isn’t easy, but he also knows what he wants. If only Marcel would trust him to make those decisions. He’s ready to be with someone, to lose his virginity, to fall in love. He just needs that someone to trust him.
Marcel Tremblay’s life has been a strange juxtaposition of privilege and struggle. His wealthy parents in their nomadic lifestyle ensured that Marcel and his twin brother would want for nothing. But being born legally blind also meant that Marcel was under pressure from both his parents and society to perform far above average to prove his worth.
Marcel has never wanted anything more than average. A husband, a simple job, a house with a picket fence, and maybe a dog. All of that seems so far out of his reach, though, when in spite of how hard he works, he’s rarely given a chance to be just like everyone else. Marcel resigned himself to his part-time job as a yoga instructor, and his inattentive boyfriend in their relationship which has a very clear expiration date. But when Brad suggests relocating a thousand miles away in Fairfield, Colorado, Marcel sees it as a chance for something new. What he doesn’t expect is for his entire life to blow up in a matter of weeks. Marcel goes out for a drink to forget, and walks away with an attachment to a younger man who has no business wanting to be with someone as messy as Marcel. Colton insists he knows what he’s getting into, but Marcel likes him far too much to subject him to all the ways Marcel’s life will hurt him—whether he wants it to or not.
Will the two men find a way to come together, or will Marcel let his assumptions of what will be eclipse the joy and bliss of what could?
Temptation is the second book in the Breaking the Rules series, an Irons and Works spin-off. This book contains no cheating with an HEA.
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If you’re looking for a fluffy, light read this isn’t your book. From the very first chapter, my heart hurt for Colton and everything he dealt with growing up. Colton’s parents want to preserve the image of a perfect, religious family in public while privately shaming and criticizing him and his brothers. As someone who grew up with a parent like this, a parent who I could never please and who always looked for reasons to criticize my behavior, I relate to this childhood experience and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. On top of that, Colton is struggling with his sexual identity. “I want to be him. I want to be like him. I want him.” When his parents find out, they ship him off to “summer camp”. Please pay attention to Elaine’s trigger warnings. While we (thankfully) don’t see most of what happens to Colton at the camp, the scars left behind on his body and memories of his trauma are difficult to read about. Eventually, Colton escapes and through a mix of hitch-hiking and bus rides ends up in Fairfield. He meets Amit (who I can already tell is going to be an amazing psychiatrist when he graduates) , gets accepted into Ted House, and starts to figure out his place in the world.
Meanwhile, Marcel has been going through his own personal struggles. He was born with glaucoma and has limited vision, but his parents still expected him to do the same activities as his unimpaired twin. He has a carefree childhood, never wanting to be more than an average kid, until he graduates from high school. He and his twin, who have similar performance in school, both apply to college. Marcel is rejected from every school, while his brother is easily accepted. The reason he’s given is that it would be too difficult to accommodate him in the field he wants to study. His family doesn’t understand why he won’t fight harder to be accepted. “It would be overcoming disability and adversity to reach my goals, and I was tired of being someone else’s inspiration.” Instead, Marcel moves to San Francisco with his brother and teaches yoga. He meets Brad through one of his classes, and the two date for several months before moving to Fairfield. All Marcel really wants is to have a house and a husband and a dog, what he calls “an average dream”. But Brad betrays him, and just as Marcel is left reeling he meets Colton.
What starts as a one-night stand turns into a cautious friendship. Marcel doesn’t think he’s ready to give Colton what he needs, and Colton is still full of doubts about himself so he doesn’t push it. I really hated the way Colton kept talking so negatively about himself, but I get it. It’s really hard to erase the messages you’ve been told since you were little. Colton and Marcel are so awkward and sweet as they become friends and try to navigate the tricky balance between wanting each other and not wanting to lose their closeness because of it. I loved the tiny hints of Colton’s dominant nature that kept coming out around Marcel. “Trust me when I say, it’s better if you obey me. Sometimes I actually do know best.” When these two finally stopped resisting each other, their physical connection was explosive.
There’s so much more I could say about this book: we get so many awesome cameos from characters from Irons and Works; Brad is an absolute menace and I can’t believe how relentless he was; I love how adorable Colton is with his stray animals and how Marcel can’t say no to him every time he brings one home. There’s one line that stuck with me from this book and I think it sums up Colton and Marcel’s relationship perfectly: “You’re careful with me but you don’t treat me like I’m fragile, like I’m broken, like I can’t take it.”
**I received an ARC through Patreon. I am not obligated to review, and all opinions are my own.
Amazingly emotional book!
I loved everything about Colton and Marcel, but the latter’s ferocity was so inspiring! I like how despite the recurring themes each book is unique and brings so many new emotions to the table.
A brilliant addition to the Fairfield family saga!
The wonderful thing about this book is that E.M. Lindsey made it so that I felt like Colton and Marcel grew up under my eyes, from when they were kids to present day. Neither had it easy, particularly Colton, his story almost braking my heart to pieces. I appreciated the insights, because it helped in better understanding their mindframes when they became part of each other’s lives.
I loved the fact that they kept growing together, that they insisted on making it by themselves, not choosing the easiest way of becoming each other’s crutches. They took the time to know each other at their best, and loved one another at their worst. I’m in awe with their courage, their resilience in the face of adversities. Incredibly strong as individuals but undoubtedly beautiful together.
So, pick up and get ready to meet fighters, people who have been punched by life time and time again, and always found the strength to fight back. And I’m not talking only about Colton and Marcel, but also about their friends, the amazing group that are always there to offer support, always having each other’s backs.