Aimee Nicole Walker

Rory Snyder come to Redemption Ridge with his brother who is an FBI agent and friend of Cash’s, the owner. Rory needs to lay low for a while. He’s an influencer who is being hounded by the press about events of his past that are causing his father issues with a political campaign. He wants to be seen as just another guy, not a wealthy pampered social media guy. He says, "Treat me just like anybody else on the ranch". Ivan, who we met in the first book, is the leader on the ranch. He’s not sure what to make of Rory. They are polar opposites in so many ways, but it’s clear that Rory is interested in him and attracted to him. Ivan isn’t ready to trust anyone and that includes Rory even though their chemistry is off the charts, and it doesn’t take long for them to begin to explore a relationship. They start out as "friends with benefits", but the more time they spend together, the more find they have in common. Ivan is really a softie, and he’s a beekeeper and he loves his cats also. Soon he figures out that he loves Rory also. They both have baggage, and they each had had difficult relationships in the past that ended badly. Ivan’s issue led directly to his incarceration and a long estrangement with his family. It takes some time for them to be honest with each other about how these things have affected them. The ranch family supported them, and while they have obstacles to overcome, they were working toward something that could be lasting – even if it takes a little convincing. I really enjoyed this story. I will say the pacing was a bit off for me. Like the last book, it took a while to get this story moving...then it was a bit of a rush to the end. Lance West did a fantastic job of presenting the story.… (mehr)

Kieran Sullivan is being released after 20 months in prison. For a crime he didn’t commit. Cash, an ex-con himself who runs Redemption Ranch where he tries to give back, picks him up. Kieran worked with Cash’s dog rescue and training program in prison, and he has a way with animals, so Cash offered him a place at the ranch. Kieran meets Finley Ashe at the ranch and learns that he’ll be working with him in the equestrian program. Kieran hasn’t been around horses before, so he has a lot to learn. He also cannot believe how gorgeous Finley is and finds that it’s difficult to ignore the gorgeous guy. Finely has had a breakup with a man who then joined a religious homophobic cult, so Finley hasn't wanted to get involved again with anyone...but he has a "thing" for bad boys... he’s a MAGNET for them. Kieran is a gorgeous bad boy if ever he saw one...but it seems the guy has a lot going on below the surface. He absolutely refuses to discuss anything about his past. It takes a while, but Kieran finally lets Finley in...and the walls come tumbling down. Turns out that he was set up to take the rap for a stolen car racket by a guy he thought loved him, but it turns out that there is MUCH more going on with the perpetrator than meets the eye. This sting operation results in more damage than good. I have liked almost everything that Aimee Nicole Walker has written and was happy to see this new series. I’m hoping this is a "stage setter" for a visit to a larger world with the guys of Redemption Ranch. Being the first book in the series. there was a lot of character introduction going on that slowed the story down a bit. The twist was good although it was a very long wait to get any information. I liked Finley and his family right away. His mother is so funny. I hope we get to see more of her and Finley’s sister in future stories. Cash, Reuben, Ivan and the rest of the ranch crew proved to be an interesting bunch, and of course "Mama Kitty" and her little ones. Obviously, there are lots of opportunity for more stories with them all. Lance West as a great narrator with an easy to listen to voice. Hope to hear more from him also.… (mehr)

We met Jimmy Alsop, the aspiring, but insecure journalist that Felix took on as an intern, then put him into a sort of "Felix boot camp" to build up his self-image and ability to become a better reporter, in a previous Sinister in Savanna story, and yes, we fell in love with sweet, blushing Jimmy then. I was happy to see that it carried over into this, Jimmy's romance story. Jimmy has now become a much stronger reporter and individual...a bit more able to stand up for himself and his ideas than the younger Jimmy that we originally met. The stories Jimmy is wanting to do for his newspaper is the perfect format for the author to show the character’s interactions with others, and it’s Jimmy’s humanity that shine out on every occasion. Now we have Nova, the astronomer, whose mother is part of Jimmy’s series of stories. Nova, (I love his name), is equally fascinating. He’s divorced, a single dad, with issues he’s dealing with, and an overwhelming attraction to our innocent Jimmy, the journalist is the last thing he expects or thinks he needs. I really liked how the title The Invisible Strings, showed that these unseen strings are what connects people whether we see them or feel them at first. It’s those strings that just keep pulling people back together, time after time. Fate, stars… whatever you want to call it. In Jimmy and Nova case it was a list that Jimmy made up of all the "adventures" he wanted to accomplish over a two-week period. Things like "swim in the ocean", go for a long bicycle ride"...fall in love wasn't on the list... but should have been. This is a wonderful love story, made so much better by those characters that surround the two men and support them with their love. It’s family, co- workers, and friends... We get to know them all. It meant so much to see how Nova and his ex-husband shared their daughter, and how Nova's ex and his boyfriend supported Nova and Jimmy's new and fragile relationship with not a cross or bad word spoken between them. My only slight issue was with the small amount of drama at the end. It felt to be forced when given the two men and how well they communicated...but it was short lived and easily resolved. Overall, I adored Jimmy and Nova’s romance. It was a winner all the way around. Tristan James once again, does a fantastic job with the narration and "giving life" to Nova and Jimmy.… (mehr)