Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings

Guys Like Him by Aimee Nicole Walker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fabulous opener to Aimee’s new series and I loved everything about it.

It’s a departure from her usual hyper-focused romantic suspense sub-genre, although there is still a bit of a mystery/criminal investigation aspect to this narrative too which works beautifully alongside the romance.

Kieran’s been let down his whole life, by his parents, the foster system and the justice system, so when he’s released from prison after a 20 month sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, he’s got a plan – find out who’s behind the car thefts that got him locked up.

What he doesn’t expect to find at Redemption Ranch is Finley Ashe, the horse trainer with a magic touch who just can’t resist broken boys with sad eyes and Kieran might just be the saddest of the lot.

This is an angsty read in so much as Kieran’s got a lot of built up distrust to overcome, as well as his driving need to find out why his boyfriend set him up to take the fall for car theft and he’s got a feeling he’ll find answers at the Ranch, which is owned by a former convict called Cash Sweeney.

No spoilers here, so you’ll have to pick up this excellent book to find out just what is going on but the relationship between Kieran and Finley doesn’t disappoint at all.

In fact, it’s a beautiful slow burn exploration of how taking the time to be there with an open ear and no judgement is one of the kindest and most effective things anyone can do for someone who’s hurting.

I can’t put my finger on exactly what made this book so special for me, it just was. I read it all in one go, the pacing is excellent and the story switches between earnest scenes involving Kieran’s work with the horses and funny moments with Fin’s mother, sister and the rest of the hands at the ranch.

It’s a gentle sort of a relationship too, as Fin makes no secret of his attraction for Kieran but also puts no pressure on him to do anything about it. Leaving Kieran in charge works well, it lets him feel like he has some control over his life.

Of course, there are complications, again no spoilers here, but I very much liked the twisty turns Aimee takes before we find out just what was going on with the carjacking.

With potential pairings not shovelled in with a trowel but quietly introduced at the very end of the book, this is a series that leaves you wanting to come back for more.

#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours in return for an honest and unbiased review

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