Review – Starts With A Bang

03 Monday Mar 2025

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Aimee Nicole Walker, Book Review, Redemption Ridge series, Starts with a Bang

Starts With A Bang

A Redemption Ridge Novel

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Tropes: Best friend’s brother, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine, fake dating

Blurb:

The best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new.

Dominic isn’t looking for love or salvation at the Thirsty Cowboy. He needs a temporary escape from the drudgery his life has become, and the universe provides him with the sexiest distraction he’s ever seen. Sven is a sucker for sad eyes, thick thighs, and a Royal Cosmopolitan. He scores the trifecta of trouble when a broody hunk buys him a drink. Sparks fly, passions flare, and a simple kiss becomes a four-alarm blaze until an untimely interruption douses the men with an icy reality, pitting loyalty against lust.

They shouldn’t… They couldn’t… Spoiler alert: they do!

It was supposed to be one and done but memories of their shared encounter won’t let go. A single text triggers two years of conversations, healing, and an endearing friendship that could blossom into something precious if Dom and Sven were brave enough to take a chance.

An unexpected invitation could provide the nudge their scarred hearts need. Exploring their reignited passion for two weeks in Vail would be a heavenly hideaway if not for a hellish houseguest’s resolve to cause trouble. Family rifts and uncomfortable confrontations abound, and embracing a future with Sven means Dom must face his past. Is their love strong enough to withstand the fire, or will they go down in flames?

Starts With a Bang is a standalone novel within the Redemption Ridge universe. It contains mature content and is intended for adults.

AVAILABLE NOW

*****

Excerpt:

Reaching into my pocket, I removed my key fob and unlocked the vehicle. The headlights flashed on, but instead of going to the driver’s door, I detoured around to the passenger side. I turned to face Stevie. No. Not Stevie. Sven. Maybe if I repeated it often enough, I could forget he was Kerry’s little brother. Sven had stopped several feet away, and my headlights illuminated his perfect body. I hadn’t been able to get him out of my mind all night. Other guys had flirted with me, but they weren’t him. Sven.

What I was about to do was wrong, but I could worry about it later. I grabbed the handle on the minivan’s rear door and slid it open. Sven was right. We were consenting adults and didn’t need Kerry’s permission. What had he meant about Sven not learning his lesson from past mistakes? It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I noticed Sven hadn’t budged from his spot. I forced my gaze up to his face and registered his hesitant expression.

“Why a minivan?” Sven asked.

I saw our interaction in a new light and admired Sven’s self-preservation. I was a virtual stranger who wanted to lure him into the back of my sketchy vehicle in a dark parking lot. “It’s convenient for my work.”

Sven took a few tentative steps closer. “So, no car seats or soccer ball hazards I need to be concerned about?”

“No kids,” I said.

“Good to know.” Sven edged a little closer. “What about tarps, duct tape, and rope?”

I laughed for what seemed like the first time in months. “I’m not a serial killer either.”

“Phew.” Sven strode forward until he reached the open door. He squinted his cobalt-blue eyes and scrutinized the minivan’s dark interior. “No lights?”

“I disabled them.” Realizing how bad that sounded, I added, “I’m a private detective.” I gestured to the white van. “It’s nondescript, fits in everywhere, and lets me blend in during surveillance. Dome lights will make me stand out like a sore thumb during nighttime stakeouts.”

Sven pursed his lips and nodded. “Makes sense.” He reached inside the van and rested his hand on a captain’s chair. “How far back do these seats recline?”

“Climb on in and let’s find out.”

“Said the spider to the fly.” And Sven walked into my web.

*****

Review:

Dom & Sven’s romance felt lighter than the previous books in the Redemption Ridge series (it can be read as a stand alone) but it was no less enjoyable. The beginning of the book takes us thru their first meeting and the months that follow as they slowly get to know each other better & Dom takes the time to get to a more stable place emotionally. I appreciate that they had that opportunity and didn’t just jump into any kind of relationship.

When Dom has to face his past, Sven comes along to provide moral support and a buffer. Bringing with him all his larger than life personality and confidence. And a chance to take their friendship to something more. It’s been a long, slow courtship for them. And for us 🙂

Dom’s family is a hoot and Sven fits right in. By the end of the book, I wanted to enjoy one of their holidays. While I do wish we’d gotten a few more Christmassy shenanigans, overall I was satisfied as I turned that final page.

I’ve loved every book in the Redemption Ridge and while I’m sad to see it end the fact that we finish with Sven is perfect. He’s been such a high point in the last couple of books – supportive, sassy, and fun. I’m looking forward to seeing what Walker has in mind next.

*****

Author Info:

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she makes a living by telling stories to others. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and grandma are just a few. Love inspires everything she does, podcasts keep her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Review – The Beautiful Mess

30 Saturday Nov 2024

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The Beautiful Mess

Redemption Ridge Book Six

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

A heroic, sworn bachelor risks his neck to save lives, but his heart needs a daring rescue.

Kerry likes his beer cold, his coffee hot, and sex without strings. Running an emergency response crew takes up most of his time, and he reserves the rest for his family. Besides, he’s experienced enough heartache for two lifetimes and isn’t looking for more misery. Kerry’s carefully crafted peace shatters when he meets Keegan, a hazel-eyed hottie and his brother’s new friend.

Falling for Kerry is a collision waiting to happen, but Keegan can’t resist the heroic hunk’s charm. Smoldering eyes and wicked grins tempt Keegan to go flat-out, even when he’s barreling toward a dead end. Rejection is the last thing his newfound confidence needs, but the crash might be worth the risk if Kerry’s there to give him mouth-to-mouth.

A crowded bar. A slow song. Months of mutual pining reach a fever pitch, and the invitation is out of Kerry’s mouth before he can stop it. Three minutes. Two battered hearts. One dance that changes everything.

Brick by brick, Kerry and Keegan dismantle the walls around their hearts to build something beautiful together. But old habits die hard, and traumas are slow to heal. Their love will either be the most beautiful gift or the messiest mistake.

The Beautiful Mess is book six in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Beautiful Mess contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

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*****

Review:

While it really isn’t necessary to read any of the other books in the series to enjoy this one, returning readers are going to love how far Keegan has come and that he gets to explore his attraction to Kerry. He’s finally at the point in his recovery that he’s starting to embrace himself fully, not without some self-doubt and thanks to the support of those that love, but he’s getting there. He’s worked so hard for this and been thru so much that it makes this story so much sweeter.

Kerry has also been struggling after his sister’s murder and the death of his father. He’s never quite worked thru them and it’s colored all of his relationships in the decades since. He’s a stand up guy but one that isn’t willing to open himself up to others … until Keegan. He doesn’t handle things well once his heart starts getting involved but that’s to be expected. And when he steps up he goes all in!

Every time I think I’ve found my favorite of Walker’s couples a new book comes along and I fall all over again. Once we get over the back and forth of Kerry struggling with his feelings, these two are adorable together. Unfortunately we only get snippets (like their first date) but I’m only upset because they are so sweet and how come we can’t have more of that? Unlike some of the previous stories we don’t get a lot of a suspense element, but I didn’t really miss it and just enjoyed the more intimate look of two guys trying to find their footing together.

(There’s an end of the year novella coming soon and I’m ready to get my hands on it. The sooner the better because Sven is going to be ah-some!)

Spotlight – The Beautiful Mess

11 Monday Nov 2024

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The Beautiful Mess

Redemption Ridge Series

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

A heroic, sworn bachelor risks his neck to save lives, but his heart needs a daring rescue.

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*****

Excerpt:

“Oh! What about him?” Sven gestured to a tall, dark-haired guy approaching the bar. A pale blue Henley stretched across an impressive chest, and dark-wash jeans hugged a nice ass. “He has a gorgeous smile, and look at those dimples. Bet he has a matching set just above that fine ass.” Sven mimicked an alarm going off. “And I’m picking up big dick energy, even from this distance.” Keegan wasn’t sure what range Sven got with his big-dick detector, but he wasn’t about to question the master’s verdict. Sven waggled his brows at him and said, “I know you have a thing for dark-haired, brawny men.”

It was the closest his friend had come to calling out Keegan’s crush on Kerry, who also happened to be Sven’s stepbrother. Lately, Keegan detected a little push in Kerry’s direction from Sven and the rest of the Hart clan. The idea was ridiculous, especially since Sven had once cautioned him against falling for Kerry. Keegan would neither confirm nor deny his friend’s suspicions. He tilted his head and considered the hot guy who leaned against the bar while waiting for the bartender. The man was fit and fine, for sure. He wore his dark hair short and neat, but the gelled strands didn’t invite someone to touch them. Kerry was a few months past due for a haircut, but the longer curls framing his face were sexy and tempted Keegan to test their softness. Keegan usually loathed beards or facial hair, which should’ve been a point in the stranger’s favor since he rocked a clean-shaven look. But Kerry’s thick bristles made him look more like a plush-mouthed pirate and didn’t remind Keegan of the bearded Salvation Anew members who’d wielded crushing slurs as painful as physical blows.

“Ahh. Have we found a winner?” Sven asked.

He hummed as if considering the question. The guy turned and scanned the room, and Keegan saw that his eyes were light, not black as pitch. Miriam—he’d stopped thinking of her as his mother—had warned him about black-eyed demons and the chaos they could cause during her fanatical religious teachings. He’d grown up looking for soul-snatching beasts around every corner, but it had taken Keegan twenty-three years of abuse and nearly two years of intense therapy to recognize the real monster had given birth to him. Keegan had since witnessed the visual representation of the black-eyed demons Miriam mentioned while watching reruns of Supernatural. Kerry’s eyes weren’t anything like those portrayed on the show, but Keegan was sure the man was on a first-name basis with chaos.

“Well?” Sven prompted.

“He’s cute.”

Sven growled and briefly hung his head before meeting Keegan’s gaze. “Cute? Baby, no. We don’t throw that word around unless we want to insult someone. Cute is for kittens and puppies. Cute is the kiss of death for a romantic endeavor.”

“Oh.” Keegan mentally added that to the list of things he didn’t know or understand. Who the hell made up these dating rules, anyway? “Sorry.”

*****

Author Info:

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she makes a living by telling stories to others. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and grandma are just a few. Love inspires everything she does, podcasts keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach me at:

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aimee-nicole-walker

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AimeeNWalker

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/aimeenicole.walker

Instagram – http://instagram.com/aimeenicolewalker

Blog – AimeeNicoleWalker.blogspot.com

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYjMy favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimee’s Dye Hards? We’d love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/

Connect with Aimee:
https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of The Beautiful Mess, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

Spotlight – The Keeper

17 Wednesday Jul 2024

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The Keeper

Redemption Ridge, Book 5

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

Sabotaged brakes didn’t kill Rueben Sanchez, but waiting for his assailants’ trial to start just might. A potential witness for the prosecution can’t explore his lusty feelings for the hunky sheriff who saved him, but that doesn’t stop his imagination from running wild. Rueben has already shaped his traumatic mountainside meet cute with Seth Burke into a happily ever after to tell their future grandkids. When the delay threatens to stretch on for years, Rueben feels his dreams slipping out of reach. Should he surrender gracefully or fight for his man?

Pressure and scrutiny are nothing new to Seth, but shouldering his duties has never felt like a burden until they keep him from the man he wants most. Cracking an unsolved murder, safeguarding a high-profile trial, and winning re-election should be enough to keep him busy. But he can’t stop thinking about the perfect weekend he shared with Rueben before everything careened off course. Are they as good together as Seth remembers, or is his memory swayed by the allure of the forbidden? And does he dare to find out?

Late-night phone calls and shared secrets lead to stolen kisses and a lakeside cabin rendezvous. But one encounter isn’t enough, and the two men will risk everything to explore their deepening bond. When a series of chilling events rock the county, Rueben and Seth must put more than their hearts on the line because one misstep could prove fatal.

The Keeper is book five in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Keeper contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

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*****

Excerpt:

Seth scanned the hallway again, and his gaze landed on the stockroom. “In here.” He curled his fingers into fists to avoid doing something stupid like reaching for Rueben’s hand. Seth opened the door and turned on the light. The space wasn’t huge to start with, and rows of tall metal storage shelves aligned both walls, leaving only a narrow aisle between them. Seth shut the door and gave in to the urge to take Rue’s hand, guiding him past stacks of toilet paper, napkins, and nonperishable food items. They stopped by a section of table condiments toward the back of the room. The aisle was barely big enough for one person, let alone two, and Seth ended up crowding Rueben against the metal shelving. Body heat drew him in, or maybe Rueben gave Seth’s heartstrings a little tug. Either way, it was nearly impossible not to react to the energy pulsing between them. “I want to apologize.”

Rueben’s gorgeous mouth curved into a wicked smile. “I can’t fault your style.”

Seth almost laughed and replied with a snappy comeback, but they didn’t have much time. He went for a direct approach instead, though he didn’t step back to put distance between them. How could he when Rueben smelled so damn delicious? Seth tried not to be too obvious when he inhaled a little deeper on his next breath. Mmmm. Sunshine and clean clothes. “And clear the air,” he added.

“I’m trying to decide if your growing erection is making things clearer or if it’s muddying the water,” Rueben said.

Seth’s exhale came out sounding more like a needy whimper than the heavy sigh he’d intended. Rueben’s warm chuckle was such a small sound, but it rippled over him like a seductive caress. Seth needed to take a step back, screw his head on right, and put things in proper perspective, but he settled his hands at Rueben’s hips and held on for dear life. Being together was so wrong but felt so fucking right.

“Not that I’m complaining, but I’m getting mixed signals from you today,” Rueben said. “You iced me out at the prosecutor’s office and wouldn’t even look at me. And now, you’re a few heartbeats away from rubbing one out against me.” Seth hadn’t moved his hips so much as an inch, but grinding against Rueben’s answering hard-on was the only thing on his mind. “Use your words, Burke. I don’t have enough emotional spoons left in the drawer to guess where your head is.” He raised his hand and caressed Seth’s jaw with two fingers. “This one, I mean. The other head’s desires are pretty self-explanatory.”

*****

Author Info:

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach me at:
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aimee-nicole-walker
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AimeeNWalker
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/aimeenicole.walker
Instagram – http://instagram.com/aimeenicolewalker
Blog – AimeeNicoleWalker.blogspot.com

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimee’s Dye Hards? We’d love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/

https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of The Fortunate Son, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

Join us for Book 1 in the Redemption Ridge Series with:

Guys Like Him

Redemption Ridge, Book 1

Kieran Sullivan is broken when he arrives at Redemption Ridge. A wrongful conviction and twenty months in lockup will do that to a man. The ranch is a place for second chances and fresh starts, but for him, it’s an opportunity to discover who set him up. Get in, get answers, and get out. The plan sounds easy enough until Kieran meets an equine specialist whose sunny smile could warm the coldest heart.

Finley Ashe is a sucker for bruised spirits and sad eyes. The horse whisperer and broken-boy magnet is six months into a hiatus from love when Kieran, the king of emotionally unavailable men, gets assigned to work under his supervision. Mutual attraction is gasoline on proximity’s flame, testing Finley’s resistance in new ways.

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

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Guys Like Him is book one in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Guys Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

*****

Review – Friends Like Them

12 Friday Apr 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Friends Like Them

Redemption Ridge #4

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

Owen Doyle’s rough beginnings taught him not to form attachments, yet he’s drawn to Tyler Booth like a magnet. Their relationship has blossomed from strangers to best friends, with each twist in the journey weaving their connection tighter. But Owen has a six-year secret that’s become unbearably painful to keep. As the seams of his resistance fray, Owen will lean into a new mentoring opportunity to keep from ruining the best thing in his life.

Tyler will never regret going to jail and getting sober because meeting Owen saved his life and taught him how to trust again. Their inseparable bond has earned much teasing over the years, but Tyler doesn’t recognize himself without Owen. When he senses a yawning chasm between them, he’ll turn to mutual friends for help. Their well-meaning advice opens Tyler’s eyes to unexplored possibilities and will snap missing puzzle pieces into place.

Some hopes are too big to stifle, and some truths are too big to ignore. A photo booth, smoking-hot kisses, and honest revelations will take Owen and Tyler’s intimacy to a whole new level. But before they can achieve their happily ever after, they must unload the baggage from their pasts. Will the road to discovery guide them to the necessary healing, or are the guys destined for the highway to heartache?

Friends Like Them is book four in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Friends Like Them contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

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*****

Excerpt:

“Ty, I want to get pictures with you in the booth.” Owen’s voice was soft, but his suggestion landed like a bomb. That tiny, cramped space wasn’t big enough. One would have to practically sit on the other’s lap. Tyler’s mind didn’t need additional encouragement to replay the earlier fantasy.

“Ty.” Owen’s voice was more urgent as he stepped beside him. “Are you okay?”

No, he wasn’t, but an honest answer would only invite additional questions he wanted to avoid. Tyler forced a smile and said, “Yeah. I’m great. Let’s go take pictures.”

Owen responded with an excited whoop before he bounded out of the kitchen. Tyler dried his hands and trailed behind him at a more sedate space so he could coach his body and brain into remaining calm. It felt like every pair of eyes was on them as they made their way toward the booth, which looked even smaller up close. Owen reached for the door just as it swung open. Finley and Kieran stumbled out with mussed hair, swollen lips, and strips of photos in their hands. Clearly, the couples used the cramped space to suck face instead of smiling for the camera. Tyler’s heart skipped a beat before galloping like a racehorse.

“It’s all yours, fellas,” Fin said with a sweeping gesture.

Kieran winked at them as they passed by, and Tyler reexperienced the sensation he was the last to figure things out.

*****

Review:

Owen and Tyler have been inseparable since they met in prison. They’ve pretty much been two halves of a whole and we’ve just been waiting for them to finally realize that they were meant to be something more. They’ve always been supportive of each other so it’s a pretty easy transition to a loving, romantic relationship. While there wasn’t a lot of drama in the change, I loved this opportunity to understand their histories and how they got to this point.

I don’t know how Walker keeps giving us such great couples. I saw a few reviews that complained that not much happened or that there wasn’t a lot of angst. Maybe it’s because there was a lot of expectation about what would happen because it’s been hinted at in the previous stories. What we get is a smooth shift from friends to lovers and I’m all for it – I absolutely loved these two together.

*****

Author Info:

I’d love to hear from you.

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

Connect with Aimee: https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Friends Like Them, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

Catch up on the rest of Redemption Ridge with Book 1: Guys Like Him

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

*****

Review – Saints Like Him

08 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Saints Like Him

Redemption Ridge, Book Three

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

From ex-con to self-made millionaire, there’s no challenge too tough for Cash Sweeney to conquer. So why has he spent twelve years pining for his best friend instead of doing something about it? Because losing Nick would be like existing with half of his heart. Is it better to settle for what he can have or battle for what he wants?

Banged up and burned out, FBI Agent Nick Scott arrives at Redemption Ridge with a trunkful of luggage and a yearning heart. Cash is easy to love but hard to read, and Nick fears his epiphany has come too late. Does he tuck his tail and run or fight for the man who’s become his home?

Tender gestures and heartfelt conversations lead to thrilling revelations neither man can ignore. No more what-ifs or maybes. Cash and Nick are all in. And they’ll need each other more than ever when a devious enemy emerges from the shadows to put their promising future at risk. With the stakes so high, will the guys double down or fold to pressure?

Saints Like Him is book three in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Saints Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

Content Warning: homophobia, abuse, and conversion therapy are briefly discussed in this book, though no graphic descriptions are used.

Universal Link

Check out the Series on Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

Cash pursed his lips while studying the chip selection at the grocery store in Last Chance Creek. What snack was most suitable for a forty-nine-year-old man while bingeing the newest season of Heartstopper? Cash wasn’t one to use his age as a reason to avoid many things, but he wasn’t proud of his obsession with the series about queer teenagers and their first loves. Their vitality and innocence sometimes made him feel older than dirt, but mostly it made him grateful that a new generation could see themselves in the characters.

It was unlikely Cash’s life would’ve turned out differently if he’d had positive representation as a teen. He’d lost his mom to poverty and drugs and had gone to live with strangers at a time when he was figuring things out about himself. Cash hadn’t felt comfortable coming out, or letting others in, until he was thirty. He’d rebuilt his life from the ashes of his past and had been tired of living a lie. The penniless dirt track racer had to pretend, but the successful technology inventor did not. Cash had thought his newly gained wealth would insulate him from scrutiny and scorn, but it only perpetuated the narrative that he was an outsider who didn’t belong. But those closed doors and snubs didn’t deter him; they fueled the perpetual fire in his soul and made him richer.

He couldn’t think of a single hard knock he’d change because they’d all led him to this point. Well, maybe not to standing in a grocery store staring at the same bag of Fritos for a solid ten minutes. He meant his ranch, his people, and the journey he’d taken to have them in his life. Contentment didn’t negate his few regrets or warm his bed, but the one man who could fix both problems was across the country. Who the hell was he kidding? It wouldn’t have mattered if Nick was at Quantico, on Mars, or standing beside Cash. He was off-limits. Cash just needed to convince his foolish heart of that fact—a feat he hadn’t accomplished in twelve years. But had he really tried that hard?

A warm, masculine chuckle invaded his thoughts, and Cash jerked his head to find Seth Burke approaching him. He bit back a snort. Burke didn’t approach; he swaggered with big dick energy. The sheriff was a good five inches taller, a few years younger, and had the persistence of a bloodhound when it came to Cash. Burke’s uniform consisted of a pressed khaki shirt, dark denim jeans, boots, and a white Stetson hat. Cash wasn’t sure what shone brighter in the store’s overhead lights—the shiny sheriff star pinned to Burke’s shirt or his white, toothy grin. Damn, but the man was fine as hell with jet-black hair, gray eyes, and sun-kissed skin. No matter the time of day, that superhero square jaw was clean-shaven to show off his magnificent bone structure. Why the hell couldn’t Cash return the man’s interest? He could trade heartache for the kind of twinges and stings that left a man smiling instead of moping.

“What’d that bag of chips do to you?” Burke asked when he reached Cash. His voice was jovial, pure good ole boy, but the tension around Burke’s mouth betrayed him.

Cash snorted and faced his friend. “I was just lost in thought.” He glanced down and saw Burke had already placed several items in his basket. “I didn’t see your truck in the parking lot.”

A dark brow arched. “Or you would’ve kept driving?”

Cash sighed. “Of course not. I was just making conversation.”

“The inane kind you make when you’ve been avoiding your friend?” Burke pressed.

Were they friends? They met for lunch regularly at the diner and texted often, so definitely more friendly than acquaintances.

*****

Review:

This series has not been stand alone stories and the latest is no different. Someone else mentioned it felt like an extended epilogue and I think I can agree with that. We find out why Salvation Anew has been causing trouble for Redemption Ridge and get to see Cash & Nick finally decide to stop dancing around each other. It’s satisfying from an overall story perspective but may leave some readers wanting for something more robust.

I love Cash – how level headed, caring, and strong he is. He obviously cares about his guys and his community, willing to do just about anything to help them and to right any wrongs he can. We’ve known since the beginning that there was something going on between him and Nick but we didn’t know exactly what. And we finally find out. I can’t decide how I feel about Cash with Nick though. For someone who has come across as so put together for so long, it’s a bit of a disconnect to see him so unsure and vulnerable. On one hand it’s reassuring to know that he has a weakness for someone so important to him but it’s also a little discomforting. Kinda like life.

We also find out a lot more about Nick & his feelings about Cash and we get small glimpses of their time together. The connection they have is strong enough to survive 12 years of separation and the hardships that life gave them. But those long years of only being friends also means that when they finally decide to chance their friendship for what their hearts have been craving they slide right into being a couple. There’s very little drama but a whole lot of sweetness as they show each other how much they care with special gestures, small and large.

I don’t know if this is another of those times when the fact that I’m a straight female means that I ask “is that sexy” or “do people really say that” more than once. I don’t think I did that in the first two stories (and I didn’t mention it in either review) but I did notice it in an unrelated book I read by this author. It may be the way Walker writes or it may just be me 🙂

Steamy and emotional, Walker brings her readers the resolution to this couple that they have been waiting for. And sets up future stories wonderfully – I can’t wait to see what trouble Rue can cause or what makes Owen & Tyler finally get their act together. Looking forward to more of the men from Redemption Ridge.

*****

Author Info:

I’d love to hear from you.

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

Connect with Aimee:
https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Saints Like Him, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

Review – The Fortunate Son

23 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Aimee Nicole Walker, Book Review, Redemption Ridge series, The Fortunate Son

The Fortunate Son

Redemption Ridge Book Two

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

Ivan Gallagher’s first and only attempt at love nearly cost him everything—his reputation, family, and even his freedom. Needing an outlet for his pent-up passion, the gruff foreman turns his beekeeping hobby into a successful business. Just when he’s on the verge of taking his liquid gold to the next level, a granted favor transforms his orderly life into a sticky mess.

Rory Snyder was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but wealth couldn’t spare him from loss and heartache. Finding himself at the center of a dangerous media storm, the social media influencer seeks refuge at Redemption Ridge. Too bad the Viking-sized Ivan seems impervious to Rory’s charms because he could use a sexy distraction from the chaos threatening to ruin his life.

Predawn collisions in the hallway lead to revelations, explorations, and something far sweeter than honey. Soon, living in the moment becomes living for the moment. But for how long? A future seems impossible for the humble foreman and the fortunate son until a common nemesis makes Ivan and Rory realize what they truly stand to lose.

The Fortunate Son is book two in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Fortunate Son contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

Content Warning: homophobia, underage alcohol addiction, and intentional overdosing are briefly discussed in this book, though no graphic descriptions are used.

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*****

Excerpt:

The big mountain of muscle doth protest too loudly, even if it was presented as stomping away from the conversation. Rory wasn’t really into the whole daddy thing, but it was sure fun as hell to rile people up. His brother had cringed when he’d applied the label to Cash when the silver fox had headed in their direction, but Rory suspected Ivan’s reaction had nothing to do with disgust. The guy reminded him of a Viking with his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and thick thighs. He wore his auburn hair in a fade with closely shorn sides and longer strands on top. The Viking’s beard was a darker red, and Rory wanted to know what the rest of his body hair looked like. He’d bet the hunk was furry in all the right places too. Christ, the man was even sexier up close. Amber eyes the color of expensive whiskey assessed him in a way that made Rory feel vulnerable. He couldn’t have that and decided to regain the upper hand with outrageous flirting.

Ivan. His name, build, and dark scowl belonged to a conqueror as he’d said, but his soft voice belonged to someone gentler like a scholar. Would his touch be rough and firm or soft and teasing? A Viking-sexual such as he could hope for both. Fascinated by the dichotomy, Rory was eager to follow the man who held his fate at the ranch in the palm of his enormous hand, but first he turned his attention to the dark-haired hottie who’d entered the kitchen in time to overhear Ivan shouting his displeasure about having Rory foisted on him to settle a debt between Cash and Nick.

Dark brown eyes had studied Rory with unabashed curiosity. “Who are you?”

“I’m the favor.”

*****

Review:

I’ve chosen a lot of low angst stories lately, which just means that they are meant for a certain reader (or at least a reader in a certain mood). But readers who read Guys Like Him won’t be surprised and, like the first book, there’s a lot more than just the mains involved. There are some complaints about that in reviews and I think that maybe we get used to connected but stand alone series, which this isn’t. Instead these are interconnected stories that focus on particular people in each book, but don’t end on a cliffhanger for the main two characters. Like the fact that there isn’t a lot of drama, I think that this means it won’t appeal to everyone. Personally, I loved getting attached to all the characters, not just the mains – I want all of them to be happy and content and finding the HEA they need. I’m look forward to seeing more of them, even if they have to share a book.

Here, though, we focus on Ivan (who I think pretty much everyone wanted to get to know better), a strong but silent type that just begs to be ruffled and whose secrets need to be exposed. His history just tugged at the heart strings and made him even more likable as a character. He’s obviously a nurturer who cares deeply but who’s also been hurt badly, and we see that even more so here.

Rory is the opposite of Ivan and the perfect match for him. He’s more in your face, sassy and vibrant. From the moment they meet, and Rory challenges him with his cheek, you just know they are going to be a hoot together. And he doesn’t disappoint.

Funny and steamy and emotional and fun, The Fortunate Son is an entertaining read. From the way Rory and Ivan make amends with their families to their obviously going to fail attempt at keeping things short-term, I adored their story. They have their struggles but when together they are so open, caring, and just absolutely loving that it made my heart melt. And I can’t forget the rest of the characters – I loved seeing more of the others on the ranch (especially Dylan and Harry), but as always Hope stole the show and a little more of my heart. I can’t wait to see what is coming in book 3 because there are more guys that need their story told.

*****

Series Info:

Join us for Book 1 in the Redemption Ridge Series with Guys Like Him

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

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*****

Author Info:

I’d love to hear from you.

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

Connect with Aimee:
https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of The Fortunate Son, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

Review – Guys Like Him

17 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Aimee Nicole Walker, Book Review, Guys Like Him, Redemption Ridge series

Guys Like Him

Redemption Ridge, Book 1

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

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Add to Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

Thick gray clouds hovered overhead, rolling like the anger churning inside him. For the past year, he’d expressed his eagerness to put the past behind him and start fresh. That’s what the prison counselors and the people with power over him wanted to hear, so that was the bullshit he fed them. But privately, Kieran tended to his bitterness like a stew on the stove. He knew when to adjust the heat and which ingredients to add to the pot to keep his resentment sharp. And the fucking drab sky and clouds only antagonized him more.

For twenty months, his entire existence had been gray—the floors and walls, the food, and the pallor of the inmates’ skin. The only break in the monotony were the prison scrubs. He would happily go the rest of his life without seeing the color orange again. Kieran had foolishly allowed himself to daydream about the vibrancy he’d see on release day, but he’d just gotten more of the same. Everything around him was wet and shiny from the rain, but it was more of a piss on his parade than a refreshing, clean slate. Kieran’s olfactory senses zeroed in on the motor oil brought to the asphalt’s surface by the shower. It was a scent he knew all too well, and it became a match to his pilot light. Rainwater splashed up on his feet and shins as he walked, but his wrath made him impervious to the chill. Kieran reached inside the padded envelope, removed the wallet, and stuffed it into his back pocket. Then he tossed the envelope with the cell phone into the trash bin. The device was dead, the contract canceled, and there was no one on the contact list he wanted to speak to anymore.

A slight breeze stirred the air, and Kieran closed his eyes and tipped his head back. Yeah, he’d enjoyed fresh air during breaks in the yard, but they never lasted long enough and were controlled by someone else. He’d lived long enough like a marionette, and there was no better time to embrace free will. The weather wasn’t what he’d hoped for, but he got to enjoy it outside the fences, and that was a victory he’d stop and embrace.

A rumbling engine caught his attention, and he opened his eyes in time to see a black king cab truck with a silver Redemption Ridge logo stop in front of the facility. The guy behind the wheel wasn’t a chauffeur, but he was there for Kieran just the same. A year ago, he set a plan into motion, and Cash Sweeney’s presence proved it had worked.

Kieran’s good behavior had gained him access to the K9 programs at Arrowhead, where he’d met Cash and his dogs from Redemption Ridge. The front passenger window rolled down, and a familiar black-and-white head poked out. Patsy, a border collie, was the first dog he’d met during the program, and it had been love at first sight for them. It turned out Kieran had a sixth sense when working with animals, especially the shyest ones. His talents had captured Cash’s notice, and he’d offered Kieran employment and housing on his ranch, where he rehabilitated horses and dogs. Kieran’s participation in the program and the subsequent employment opportunity hadn’t been divine intervention or luck; it was all part of his carefully orchestrated plan.

*****

Review:

This one is a slow burn, low angst romance and while it’s a complete romance it’s also an introduction to a larger storyline that will go over a couple more books at least. I think knowing that helps because some of it feels unnecessary and other parts are kinda left hanging. Definitely a standalone-but-not kind of situation 🙂

Kieran, just out of prison, has one thing on his mind when he gets to Redemption Ranch – get revenge on the people who send him to jail for something he didn’t do. And then he meets Finley. The draw is undeniable, but Kieran tries so hard to keep in mind why he’s really there.

Finley has always been drawn to men who are not good for him – the broken ones – and no one fits that bill more than Kieran. But past relationships have left Finley with a bruised heart and he’s not too anxious to do that again. If only he can resist his new ranch hand.

There’s a lot of fighting their feelings, inner dialogue moments in the early parts of the story so it takes a while for these two to finally give in to their attraction but it’s worth it when they do. (It also gives readers a chance to get to know a little bit about the ranch and everyone who lives there.) **Slight spoiler ahead but just a teeny, hint of one** Part of that includes the two of them trying to get more info on what happened with Kieran’s past. But a lot of the resolution of it happens offscreen, which I think some readers were frustrated with. I’m going to give the author the benefit of the doubt and hope that it comes into play more in a later story.

This is only the second of this author’s books that I’ve read and I’m looking forward to more. Her mains are likeable, interacting well together with a good combination of humor & heat, and she does well at giving us intriguing secondary characters. Finley’s mother, stepfather, and sister are a hoot, but the love between them is there for everyone to see. And the others at the ranch all seem like good guys, with pasts that could be a hotbed for complications & depth, and I’m so ready for more about them. Bring it on Ms. Walker!

*****

Author Info:

I’d love to hear from you.

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

Connect with Aimee:
https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Guy Like Him, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

Review – Just Say When

09 Monday Jan 2023

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Aimee Nicole Walker, Book Review, Just Say When

Just Say When

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

Someone wants Police Chief Emilio Mendoza dead. And if his unknown assailant doesn’t kill him, pining for Sheriff Abraham Beecham just might.

Abe and Lio’s thirty-year journey has taken them from heated rivals to best friends with countless labels and pit stops along the way. Romance is the only avenue left unexplored but not from lack of love or desire.

Abe pushes people away before they can get too close, and Lio doesn’t engage in situations he can’t control. They’ve reached an impasse, and neither are willing to risk their friendship until fate intervenes, forcing them to reassess their priorities.

But when an unhinged enemy targets Lio, will their gamble be too little too late, or will their love truly conquer all?

Just Say When is a standalone romantic suspense novel within the author’s Savannah universe. This book contains mature content and is attended for adults.

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*****

Excerpt:

“Alex clearly doesn’t get his sportsmanship from his father,” Abe quipped.

“Kiss my ass, Beecham,” I said softly in deference to the kids around us.

Abe leaned in until his hot breath ghosted over my ear. “Gladly.”

I turned my head and looked at my best friend. His expression held a carnal promise that made me swallow hard. If I gave him the word, Abe would take me home, yank down my pants, and bury his face between my ass cheeks. I could practically feel his hot breath against my quivering pucker. His tongue would swirl and tease the rim before pushing in. Lust gripped my balls and squeezed. God, I wanted him so bad.

“Now I really need to hear this story,” Russ quipped, jerking me back to reality and saving me from breaking my own heart. I blinked away the fantasy, and Abe’s lips curled into a proud, wolfish smile. Unaware of the tension arcing between Abe and me, Russ continued chatting. “I knew you and Beecham went way back, Lio, but it sounds like there’s more to it than I realized.”Few people knew the full story because I was stingy when it came to Abe. Our relationship had been fueled by variations of hate and love for three decades, but there had never been a right time to explore whether those feelings could develop into something more profound. My heart wanted to say until now, but my brain knew better than to get my hopes up. Abe and I had both drawn lines in the sand, and neither showed signs of relenting.

*****

Review:

There’s a few complaints that this one really doesn’t stand on its own but I didn’t have any issues. Yes, we start the book with the main characters on the bring of moving from friends to a romantic relationship but the main block to their HEA still needs to be resolved – Abe’s issues with abandonment. His mom left him as a kid at the mercy of his abusive father, his grandmother died, and now he’s afraid that anyone he loves will also leave him. Lio knows all about Abe’s issues and is willing to wait for him, but he needs him to be open to addressing it before he will take their relationship any further. It’ll take some time and patience but Lio knows their future is worth it. I enjoyed how Abe & Lio worked their way to the new aspect of their relationship. It felt like they were willing to make sure that it was on a solid footing. But then someone puts that future in peril.

**potential minor spoilers ahead**

My understanding is that Walker is great at crafting a good mystery and I can see it. I didn’t guess where things were going until she revealed the threat. I do have to agree with some reviewers that the motive is potentially problematic and while I feel for what the main characters went through, given the who and why, I would have liked more compassion given to the person and their reasons. But if this is any indication of the kind of suspense element brought by the author I’m open to more.

I’ll admit I’m a pretty vanilla kinda girl and while I enjoy a spicier read, it’s not something I would be comfortable with in my own life so I tend to be a bit … unsure of how these scenes come across for others. To me, Wilson delivered the heat & then some, and I’m not really seeing anyone else complain, so if steamy and explicit m/m scenes are your jam, then read away!

A satisfying blend of tension, eroticism, and affection, Lio and Abe’s story was a good introduction to a new to me author and has me interested in what else she has to offer 🙂

*****

Author Info:

I’d love to hear from you.

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

Connect with Aimee:
https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of About Last Night, Aimee is giving away a $10 Amazon Voucher and an e-copy of Just Say When!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57609/

*****