I already wasn't a big fan of the first book but had the second one on my to-be-read-pile already, so I decided to give the series another chance.

Unfortunately the second book was neither my cup of tea. Mainly I couldn't connect with the story and it characters.
I felt no chemistry between Sawyer and Ash and everything felt to be based on sex.

I won't continue reading the series.

After reading the first book in this series, I was looking forward to The Deeper He Hurts. I had some issues with the characters in the previous book, but I liked the world that Lynda Aicher had created and I was loving the idea of some kinky gay ex-Marine Doms!

The Deeper He Hurts focused on the resident nerd and tech guru, Asher. I never really got the nerdy vibe off of him, but rather that of a guy who was introverted and intense. It showed in his work and how he liked to play. His kink was pain, and he enjoyed watching it, giving it, and dissecting the after-effects it had in his partners. This makes it sound as if Asher was a serial killer, but he wasn’t. He was an interesting character, a good man, but he liked to explore his sadistic tendencies with a willing partner. He was careful and caring, but living a double existence as he felt that his family would not understand either his needs or the fact that he was gay.

Sawyer was the perfect match to Asher. As a man with no family and a tragic past, he freely explored his needs without fear. He was a masochist to the core, using it as his way of coping with the wounds of his loss, and he and Asher gave one another what they needed most. They both feared getting too close to someone and caring for them, and were blindsided when their corresponding kinks turned into something much deeper.

What I found extremely interesting about these two is that they didn’t play into stereotypes. There wasn’t a Dom/sub aspect in their relationship but rather one who gave and one who took. But the roles that each assumed in their play were not the same ones that evolved in their romance. While Asher was a sadist who enjoyed giving pain, he was not a Dom, or even a top. In their intimate relationships, Sawyer took on the more aggressive role. But even as the recipient of the pain that Asher doled out, Sawyer was never meek or subservient. Rather he was taunting and strong, egging Asher on to give him what he needed. I found this fascinating and appreciated that it allowed their relationship to transcend any labels. This was a new take on an old kink and I loved it.

While I did really enjoy this story, I did have a few issues with it. First, I never fully understood why Sawyer came to Kick to work. Was it strictly for the job? Was it because he knew of their acceptance of his lifestyle? Or was it specifically to seek out Asher?

And while Asher and Sawyer’s kinks meshed perfectly together, I felt as if these two had more issues than could be resolved by some S&M scenes and a romance. I think they both needed some major therapy!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to meeting more of the guys from Kick. They are dominant and rugged and kinky as hell!

Sawyer Stevens has come for the summer to work at Adrenaline Kick Adventures as a white water river guide. Sawyer is also looking for something, or someone, who can fill his need for pain and that something missing he can’t quite name.

Asher Ruggerio is a partner at Adrenaline Kick who manages the business end of things. He knows better than to play with one of his employees, but Sawyer’s need for extreme pain fits so perfectly with Asher’s sadistic side. The two find that their kinks are perfectly aligned and their encounters are incendiary for both of them.

Sawyer has suffered tragedy in his past that makes him wary of a connection with anyone. He doesn’t intend to let things with Asher progress beyond impersonal encounters, but Asher would like more. As the two continue to spend time together, they find emotions are getting involved and the men begin falling for one another. But Sawyer is set to return home at the end of the summer, and he still isn’t emotionally prepared to accept the idea of a relationship that is emotional rather than just physical. Their hearts are now involved and Sawyer must decide if he can put aside his fears so they can be together.

The Deeper He Hurts is the second book in Lynda Aicher’s Kick series featuring the crew from Adrenaine Kick Adventures. The guys who run the company are all gay, mostly Doms, and mostly former military. So maybe a bit implausible, but it makes for a fun foundation to the series.

This second story explores the relationship between two men who are used to keeping things casual emotionally, but who also have extreme needs for giving and receiving pain, beyond that which they can find with the average partner. I think Aicher does a nice job exploring their needs and how these guys fit together. In Sawyer’s case, he isn’t a sub and is not interested in the typical D/s relationship, nor is Asher really a typical Dom. So these guys are a great fit together, but both are wary of the emotional end, particularly Sawyer.

I will admit that at times I found the kink side of things a bit intense here. I am probably one of the most pain averse folks out there so this isn’t something I can easily relate to anyway. But Sawyer doesn’t get off on the pain sexually, nor does he get an adrenaline high from it either. He enjoys the physical pain purely as a way to help him deal with his emotional pain. He has a fairly reckless disregard for his own safety, one that leaves Asher worried on his behalf. But I also think Aicher does a nice job exploring these issues and really delves into the feelings of both these men.

Although things start off as merely an exchange of pain, it isn’t long before there is a sexual connection as well. Asher is definitely looking for more, while Sawyer is more wary, but the connection between the men develops into something more than just the kink. I did find that this transition from play partners to having feelings for one another seemed a little abrupt to me. I had trouble seeing where this change happened and, as a result, I didn’t always feel the connection between them as strongly as I would have liked. But I did enjoy seeing these men find their happiness together from what at first seemed like only a casual connection.

I am enjoying this series and am particularly excited for the third book featuring a character we met in the first story, The Harder He Falls. I think there is a lot of potential here to explore this world and I am looking forward to seeing where Aicher takes things.

Amazing series. I forgot to review these back when I read them but I still remember that as I read them I was highly entertained. Would enjoy reading more from this author.

This is a moving love story about love and forgiveness. It's not for everyone, there are some disturbing actions aspects to the storyline, but it is a captivating and romantic story. Asher is a nerdy sadist who is getting bored with life, and is tired of hiding who he is. Sawyer is a masochist who feels guilty about being alive when his whole family is dead. Sawyer takes a job to be close to Asher, and the sparks fly immediately. While Asher tries to resist Sawyer, Sawyer is determined to have Asher give him what he needs. As they slowly open up to each other, they are helping themselves and each other. It's a heartwarming and intriguing story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

*****Free copy provided thru NetGalley for honest review*****
Book #2 in the Kick series introduces us to Asher and Sawyer, a sadist and a pain 'slut."I really enjoyed the development of the story although the relationship started very fast. For me the story had slot of questions that were not answered until the end. What happened to Sawyer's family? What is Asher afraid of? How will their relationship evolve? Grady and Micah make an appearance from book #1, I like when their is continuity of characters. I did not understand Sawyer's need for pain as that is not something I would understand in the real world anyway. I look forward to reading more about the guys especially Finn and Rig. A good series so far.

When I first read it back in September, this was the first sentence I wrote in my review notes immediately after closing the book: “Whoa. I’m still catching my breath from this one, guys. Seriously intense, gripping, and emotional—Lynda Aicher pulled out all the stops in The Deeper He Hurts.” After just finishing a reread of the book almost five months later, that sentence is still accurate. This book grabbed me from the initial introductions of both Sawyer and Ash, and had me for the entire ride. I’d love to just lay down about half of the sixty-seven passages I highlighted—I know…I may have highlighting issues—but, that might be a wee bit excessive. Hopefully, I can get my point across without resorting to that. 😉

As you guys know I hate to rehash plot, or parrot the blurb…so, as usual, I’m not going to do that. We do know from the blurb that Ash is afraid of sharing his true self with his family, and that he is immediately intrigued by Sawyer. We quickly learn that Sawyer came to work at Kick specifically because he was intrigued by Ash. He knew who Ash was, and a bit about his secret cravings. And, we also know that the loss of Sawyer’s family was tragic and affected him deeply, and that he hasn’t always been safe and sane in his methods of dealing with that loss. The blurb gives you a good overview of the storyline, and I never want to risk potential spoilers, so instead, I like to focus on how the author executed the story, how much I liked or disliked the characters and the story flow, and how all of the above made me feel while reading.

Usually in a book, I have a pretty clear-cut ‘favorite’ MC; that is not the case here. I love these guys equally. In fact, it was a very well-balanced book in general. There was such a good balance between sex, and scenes, and story. So much emotion on every page. Ash and Sawyer are both very intense characters; they each brought tons of passion and fire into both their work, and their personal relationship. Their backstories were both well-told and compelling, and I loved how well they meshed together and filled the gaps in each other’s lives. Their needs and personalities complimented each other’s perfectly—Ash’s sadist being able to give Sawyer’s pain slut exactly what he needed.

The fact that Sawyer is a pain slut is obviously a huge component of the story. And, one I must admit I was a little worried about before reading the book. I’ve read my share of BDSM books, some more well done than others, but haven’t read anything with such extensive pain play. While the scenes were absolutely intense, my worry was needless. There was nothing I couldn’t stomach; and, as I said above, Aicher did a fantastic job balancing the scenes with all of the couple’s other interactions. And, I was so happy that she took the time to explain that sadist doesn’t equal dickhead. I think it’s easy for people to misconstrue what a sadist really is.

Asher sat back, voice levelling out. “Inflicting pain on others and analyzing how they respond is layered so deeply within who I am it’s impossible to separate it out. But it doesn’t change who I am. It doesn’t make me a monster or evil or a sociopath. Just like wanting a guy doesn’t make me a pedophile or a sinner.”
I really did love Asher so much.

Another thing I’ve enjoyed about this series, this book included, is the adventure sports business itself. I’m sure Kick is modeled after a business that actually exists, but, not being an extreme sports person myself, I’m not familiar with one that encompasses everything together in one adrenaline-junkie package. The idea behind the company, and the partners, and what they’re trying to do is just very cool. A fun premise, for sure.

The Deeper He Hurts is many things. It will punch you in the feels—I teared up during an emotional scene between Asher and his mom—as well as make you think. The characters are intelligent and insightful, and you will absolutely be enthralled by their power exchange, and their dynamics during scenes. This book isn’t only fascinating with regard to the BDSM aspects, however. It’s also an interesting character study in guilt, grief, and loss, as well as a truly gorgeous love story.

I enjoyed Asher and Sawyer's story. Their kinks are a perfect match. The author went to great lengths to explain the dynamic between the sadist and the pain seeker.

Im a fan of Lynda Aicher but this book just wasnt for me. I read it last year when it was an ARC copy and just finished a re-read and I can honestly say, it just didnt get any better for me. There's too much of the sadistic side for me to handle. If this is something a reader enjoys, they will probably love this book because Lynda Aicher is an awesome, descriptive writer.

I've never read a book about a homosexual couple, so wasn't quite sure what to expect. I'm so glad I decided to read this book. This is a brilliantly written love story between two very messed up men; Asher, a preppy business owner and Sawyer, an outdoor, athletic loner. Both characters come with baggage; Asher's large Italian family does not know he's gay, and Sawyer has never talked about the pain of losing his entire family to a fire and the guilt that he survived. The sexual tension between them is electric, but the love story that follows is even more so. I didn't like the BDSM stuff, but in this case, it completed the story. Would definitely recommend.

Loved this book and story, these characters will stay with me forever.

I still have a hangover from this book, and telling you guys that I loved it almost doesn't seem like an adequate enough way to describe my reaction to The Deeper He Hurts. First off, I'm a huge Lynda Aicher fan for many reasons, but I am most of all because she is quite simply an outstanding writer. As I've come to expect from her, the tangled emotions between the characters take the forefront in this book meanwhile the acts they engage in only seem to enhance their connection instead of being the primary focus of their relationship. I don't know how Aicher accomplishes this so flawlessly, but I appreciate it more than she will ever know.

"Pain given and received equally in an exchange of need more than power. The connection was alluring and terrifying at once. And potentially filled with more pain than he could handle."

So let's talk more about The Deeper He Hurts...we saw Asher a bit in the first book of this series and I knew he was going to be a captivating Sadist right from the start. I don't know why, but there was just something about him. I was, however, surprised to find just how exceedingly complex of a character he was and with so much depth him, too. On the flip side our masochist, Sawyer, took complex to a whole new level. His past is clouded in so much pain that I could completely understand his no-holds-barred approach to the lifestyle. I'm just glad he found someone like Asher with an intense moral and ethical code, because at the rate Sawyer was going he was going to be joining his family sooner rather than later. He was on a very dangerous path of self-destruction and his pain almost takes your breath away the further you dive into the book. I had tears streaking down my face more than once as I read as a result.

"Their connection sunk deep and solid. So balanced and mutual he was blinded by its power."

Asher and Sawyer's kinks matched in a way I've never seen between two characters on this intense of a level. To say they had chemistry would be a gross understatement, but it was the way their kinks wove into the deeper emotions they shared that really made this book special. Sawyer's need to live in pain perfectly matched Asher's need to inflict it, but their relationship went so much deeper than just the BDSM elements and I think Aicher did an impeccable job showing us that.

"It was the hottest thing Ash had seen in a very long time-if ever. The suffering was evident, but the power behind the pain was intoxicating.

Overall, I still can't get over how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was emotional and powerful and moving and just so incredibly good. Please take my word for it that The Deeper He Hurts was exceptionally great book, and I can't suggest it to you highly enough. And Lynda, you set the bar pretty high with this one, but I'm still eager to read Finn's book next!