Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Aiden Inspired
SERIES: Transitions Series (Book 1)
AUTHOR: Blake Allwood
PUBLISHER: Blake Allwood Publishing
LENGTH: 368 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2019
BLURB:
Aiden’s art is his passion, but he’s lost inspiration. When he meets the gruff but sexy rancher Devin, his life is changed forever.
Aiden Fisher does well as a New York artist. In fact, he’s known among the art elite for being the man to watch. That doesn’t keep his critics from arguing that his work lacks personality or emotion. Of course, his life doesn’t have much of that either.
While perusing a dating site that connects urban gay men to their rural counterparts, Aiden comes across a profile of a Washington state rancher. The silhouetted picture and matter-of-fact language trigger his inspiration and spin him into a creative journey that ends with a collection that surpasses perfection. After his collection sells to a prestigious buyer, Aiden feels he has no choice but to meet and thank his muse. Little does he know the journey to the rugged mountains of Southeast Washington could change his life forever.
Devin Pearce is tall, built and remarkably handsome, all of which is accentuated with the personality of an angry bear. When he first comes upon Aiden, he can’t see past his anger — this stranger is here because his nosy housekeeper set up that damned profile. But Aiden isn’t a typical stranger, not only does this man have the looks but he has a work ethic Devin has seldom seen in another man. Sure, Devin wants love, but experience has taught him to be leery. Can he trust his instinct that Aiden is an extraordinary person, or will he let the tragedy of past relationships get in his way?
The fire between them burns hot, but they are truly opposites. Only the fates know if they are brave enough to overcome their differences and build the relationship they both dream of.
REVIEW:
In honor of the 4th Anniversary of it’s release I had the honor of getting to read and review this simply amazing story of true, hard fought love!
Another show/another review criticizing Aiden’s lack of bringing his personality and emotion into his pieces. What the heck? Not to be conceited or anything but Aiden knows he is an accepted and to be watched artist in the New York art scene. And he knows that a lot of that has to do with Jace and her support at her gallery that had made it all possible. So, possibly, as even his crazy and loving sister Suzie had pointed out, he needs to do more than coupe himself up in his tiny apartment and paint and clean! When Aiden discovers that his never to settle down ex not only seems to be hanging up his playboy life but found what appears to be his one on a dating site he contemplates what if? When he decides that if Clay can find happiness via the web why not look at least? What he never expected was to be truly and completely inspired so grandly just by a cowboy’s profile that he literally created the art everyone was seeking. Now, with his sudden new fame and recognition, he decides he has to go personally thank the Eastern Washington rancher who inspired his creative juices wide open and full of possibilities. What he doesn’t expect is car woes, sudden flash flooding and a surly cowboy that didn’t realize that he was coming…or even knew of him because of his meddlesome, matchmaker housekeeper has been keeping secrets!
Wow, if Aiden and Devin don’t reel you in then I don’t know who will! These two complex and well written characters simply become alive on the pages of this amazing story. And talk about opposites attracting you can’t get anymore opposite than a successful New York artist and a small town country rancher in the isolated eastern side of Washington State. You do eventually discover that they had more in common that they initially thought but it took awhile. Obviously they were instantly attracted to each other…I mean seriously Hot, Built Cowboy with a drool worthy six-pack…yes please! And when each man managed to drop his thick protective shell for a bit they really did mesh well together. If that darn shell would just fall away but, alas, that’s easier said than done when you’ve been seriously burned before.
This is a truly poignant and touching story of two men who belong together but don’t trust their inner selves because of the speed they ignited together. And I got that. They both had previous baggage and society has expectations on how long before it can be true love. But when you meet the right one you really need to learn to trust your gut even if it’s inconvenient. And let’s face it Eastern Washington State and New York City is a major inconvenience. But deep down, if they let themselves really examine what they had in such a short but intense time, they would have seen that it was all right there. It just needed to percolate a bit.
I still can’t believe this was author Blake Allwood’s first book published. Simply put…it was so deep and touching that the characters became alive. I know this area well. My hubby was born there. And the way he portrayed the countryside almost as another living character to enhance the story really got to me. And each of the characters were so real and believable. Also, one can only hope you have someone like Devin’s Claire in your court because that woman was something fierce and you don’t mess with those that are hers.
So, as you can tell, I am simply over the moon with this thoughtful and amazing story. I hope you enjoy Aiden and Devin’s journey as much as I did because I love this little treasure so much.
RATING: 
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