Starts With A Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker
Length: 55,000 words
Series: standalone (in the Redemption Ridge universe)
Prior Reading: not required
Genre: contemporary
Tropes: Best friend's brother, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine, fake dating
Trigger/Content Warnings: n/a
The best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new.
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.
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.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! Did I mention that I absolutely loved this book? Dom and Sven are wonderful together, and I loved the way they came together and everything after. The stuff they had to deal with no couple should, but it makes them stronger in the end. Brilliant writing, wonderful story, amazing characters...it is the perfect combination for a story you don't want to put down. 5 stars.
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.
