Reviewed by Cheryl K

TITLE: Starts With a Bang

SERIES: A Redemption Ridge Novel

AUTHOR: Aimee Nicole Walker

PUBLISHER: Chasing Rainbows Press LLC

LENGTH: 213 pages

RELEASE DATE: February 16, 2025

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.

REVIEW:

I admit I have been waiting for this storyline for awhile now…  I was hoping Sven would get his own HEA.  This story is part of the Redemption Ridge universe but can be read as a stand-alone.  But why would you want to do that, when you can read the 6 books in that series and then get this cozy fun romance to boot.  Sven and Dom do have the odds stacked against them in this story though, so brace yourselves.

Aimee is so great at worldbuilding, and this story is no exception.  What I really liked in this story was how she was able to create the previous two years of courtship between Sven and Dom – in a very unique way. I really enjoyed how she incorporated the past and the present into the storyline.  Plus, we get to see other parts of Colorado in this one, as the MC’s travel for a holiday trip.

Aimee is just brilliant at character development.  I’ve noticed along the way that she loves to introduce the brilliant and sometimes feisty side characters and evolve them into a main character in a future book.  By creating these wonderfully deep characters, it’s easy to fall in love with them.  In this book we get to explore the burgeoning relationship of Sven and Dom.  Just for kicks, we find that Sven is Kerry’s brother, and Dom is Kerry’s best friend.  If that doesn’t lead to a small amount of fireworks.  As we delve deeper into their relationship, we meet some fun, sassy, troubled side characters along the way.  A few of my favorites are Nana and Aunt Janet.

The prose is top notch in this story as well, not that this is a shock to this reviewer.  With Aimee’s words we are drawn into not only the sexy times of Sven and Dom but found family and redemption for several family members. She is extraordinarily good at painting a canvas with her words.

With all that being said, what I enjoy most about this book is how she balances all the important elements of storytelling and incorporates them into a brilliant and colorful picture.

If you want to know more about Nana and Aunt Janet, go buy the book.  If you want to see if Sven and Dom, get their HEA, go buy the book.  If you want to know if Kerry accepts these two together, go buy the book.  Cause seriously people, I’m not going to reveal these plot details for you.

If you haven’t figured out by now, I highly recommend this addition to the Redemption Ridge universe.  Do yourself a favor and run to your favorite eBook purchasing site and scoop up this fantastic story.

Till next time.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon