Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Stand and Deliver
SERIES: RAVEN Securities
AUTHOR: Aimee Nicole Walker
PUBLISHER: Chasing Rainbows Press LLC
LENGTH: 303 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2026
BLURB:
A risk prevention specialist with a tight grip on his heart meets the prince of pandemonium who wants to set it free.
For Rayden James, love means devastating loss, so he focuses his energy on growing his private security business and avoiding romantic entanglements at all costs. His dedication pays off when his company lands its largest account yet. But the ink is barely dry on the contract when a chaotic charmer crashes through his defenses and makes Ray crave things he shouldn’t want.
Atticus Livengood is not living up to his name after a teeny-tiny mistake costs him his career, his home, and his dignity. With his self-esteem circling the drain, Atticus makes overhauling his life the top priority. A new job offers the perfect fresh start until a hopeless attraction to the head of security threatens to trip him up.
Sparks fly from the jump, and each new encounter fuels a physical and emotional connection that refuses to be ignored. But surrendering to their desire means making themselves vulnerable to one another and a fickle universe that takes just as quickly as it gives. Will Ray and Atticus stand and deliver for a chance at love or play it safe and walk away?
International best-selling author Aimee Nicole Walker is back with a brand-new series featuring heartbroken heroes and the men who make them whole again. Stand and Deliver is the first book in the RAVEN Securities series, which should be read in publication order. Pick up your copy or download today!
REVIEW:
Yea for a new series from Aimee Nicole Walker.
Atticus Livengood has had to move back into his childhood bedroom in his parents’ home. His life has imploded after his ex-boyfriend and ex-coworker cheated with their boss. Atticus perhaps didn’t respond in the best way and found himself not only unemployed but unemployable in his field due to being blackballed after blowing things up. Luckily he’s just getting ready to start a new gig at the Retirement community where his aunt lives. But before that, he wants to “get back on the horse” so to speak, so he gets on an app and makes a hookup date.
Ray has dealt with a lot on this life, but he’s ready to maybe take a first step in getting back out there. He agrees to a hookup from an app. At the last minute though, he chickens out and cancels. He knows he’s a coward but when he wants to apologize, the hookup has deleted his profile.
Fast forward to Atticus’s first day at the new job. Turns out it’s also Ray’s first day at a new client for this security company, RAVEN. And it’s at a retirement community. And who should he run into? The hookup he ghosted. Uh-oh. He knows he needs to apologize now for real. And then he learns just how much that rejection has hurt Atticus. He also confesses that he’s just not ready for anything beyond friendship. Uh-huh. Right. Let’s see how long that lasts 😉
Turns out it doesn’t last long and the first time they are “thrown together” there is a kiss 🙂 But they still try to keep it to friendship despite the white hot attraction. Eventually they can’t help but act on it. But Ray’s heart is still tender and the walls he’s built are not coming down easily. If anyone can get him to tear them down, it’s sweet Atticus – the adorable klutz who is not going anywhere 🙂
I loved this sweet rom-com story that has plenty of obstacles for these two to overcome. This is a lovely low angst story that doesn’t gloss over the traumas of the past (grief/loss, foster care, military service, cheating, low self-esteem, etc.). I adored the supporting characters – especially Atticus’s bestie Emma, his hilarious parents and of course Ray’s brothers in arms and business partners. I also was absolutely thrilled with a shout-out and recreating of a scene from one of my all time favorite movies 😉 There is just so much to love with this story and these characters. Atticus and Ray really fit together and as a couple, they face a lot of their fears and grow into the people they are meant to be because of the love and support they provide to each other. This author is a favorite and I am so happy we are getting these lighter stories in this new series. Given the state of the world, some heart and humor are much needed.
RATING: 
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