Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Just Say When

AUTHOR:  Aimee Nicole Walker

PUBLISHER:  Chasing Rainbows Press LLC

LENGTH:  204 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 20, 2022

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.

REVIEW: 

Just Say When is my first foray into the fiction of Aimee Nicole Walker and based on this read, I will definitely be back for more. Walker’s writing prowess is evident, and she ably develops complex, colorful, endearing characters and nuanced relationships, as shown by Just Say When’s absorbing plot and magnetic leading men. In this suspense romance, fellow ex-military-turned-law enforcement longtime (~ 30 years) best friends Abe and Emilio (“Lio”) negotiate the strong pull to be more than friends without jeopardizing the friendship that now serves as a steady underpinning to their lives.  It’s not something either want to risk, but not giving in to their non-platonic attraction and love for each other is proving impossible.

Walker keeps us on our toes. This story does not play out as expected, and I don’t mean that about the perpetrator’s identity. That is not particularly hard to puzzle out. I predicted (incorrectly) that Walker would give us the typical story of two best friends who have pined for each other forever, but one or both don’t know the other’s feelings for them.  Instead, Walker gives us a much different and more compelling story – one showing two men who have been through everything together for most of their lives and have long realized they not only love each other, but are in love with each other.  Their mutual feelings aren’t a secret. The roadblock is baggage that each carries, particularly Abe, whose fear of being left behind has caused him to steer clear of any romantic entanglements.  Abe and Lio want to be together and belong together. Still, Lio will keep Abe at arm’s length romantically until Abe can commit to making his relationship with Lio different from all those that came (and went) before.

Just Say When is a book you’ll want to digest in one sitting. The plot and characters are engaging, and the flow of the story seamlessly carries you along. However, given the novel is teed up in the blurb as romantic suspense, the plot felt unbalanced to me. Too little time is spent on the suspense aspect and too much on laying the groundwork and watching Lio and Abe orbit around each other while trying to resist the gravitational pull of their attraction. Once the suspense turns to danger, though, the story becomes unputdownable, so it’s a shame Walker didn’t create that momentum earlier in the story.

Just Say When has many great things going for it, but the highlight is the relationship dynamic between Lio and his ex-wife Alyssa, their son Alex, Alyssa’s new husband Russ, and Abe.  They operate as a family unit, loving and supporting each other.  I also applaud Walker for showcasing so many women in positions of power and esteem throughout this story. 

Overall, in Just Say When, Walker delivers a compelling story with characters you’ll want to get to know.  While I wish it had more suspense, that doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the overarching story.  Recommended.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

Amazon