Bad at making decisions or bad at love? Either way, Kendall Blakemore doesn’t trust his judgment. He falls too hard, too fast, and always for the wrong guy. Needing a major shakeup, Kendall moves into his own place for the first time and seizes a new career opportunity. But everything he thought he wanted turns out to be the last thing he needs. When loneliness threatens to derail Kendall’s good behavior, he decides to rent out his spare bedroom. What could go wrong? Try a tenant who’s temptation incarnate.
Bad at commitment or born to roam? Either way, US Deputy Marshal Kurt Dandridge feels trapped. Maybe staying in one place for too long is the source of his unhappiness, or maybe it’s because he’s engaged to the wrong person. Finding his fiancé in bed with another man takes care of one problem but creates another. Ridge needs a place to live. He’d leave Savannah altogether if not for his vow to apprehend an elusive fugitive. Renting a room from Kendall Blakemore seems like the perfect solution until Ridge finds himself falling for the alluring man. Would one kiss derail his course? And could he stop at just one?
Hurts so good. Chemistry burns between them—hot, consuming, and impossible to ignore. And why should they? Kendall and Ridge are consenting adults who know the score. Being bad has never felt so good, but it’s a slippery slope to navigate. One misstep could have disastrous consequences for both men.
Bad at Love is a standalone novel within the Sinister in Savannah universe where both characters first appeared. It is not necessary to read that series first. Bad at Love is a romantic suspense that’s heavier on the romance than the suspense.
I'm a wife and mother of three teenage kids. I've been married to the same wonderful man for twenty years. I've decided that if I can survive raising three kids then I can survive anything!! I haven't uttered the Mama's curse yet, but it could happen any day now. You know the one..."I hope you have a child just like you someday."
I'm an avid reader and lover of all things romance. I've spent my entire adult life waiting to follow my dreams of becoming a writer. One day this past summer, I decided to just do it. No more wishing and hoping. I haven't quit my day job, but that is my ultimate goal...make a living telling stories of love.
I write contemporary gay fiction. I hope you will love reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.
This is, hands down, one of my favourite books from Aimee. It flows beautifully, the relationship between Ridge and Kendall is so supportive and OMG do they burn the pages.
They are on fire when they get together but it's so much more than just chemistry, they click from the minute they meet and that itself is just a massive amount of fun.
The book has a couple of subplots which both worked very well for me and which I'm not going into as it would spoiler one of the major elements of the storyline.
Ridge is so my type, he's stoic and steady, supportive and secretly artistic and a gentle soul wrapped inside a giant teddy bear of a man. Kendall is one of life's characters who brings joy while inside they're dealing with plenty of hurt and insecurities. I love him so much.
From the first appearances of both these men in the Zero Hour/Sinister in Savannah series' I've wanted their stories and Aimee did not disappoint in any way.
I devoured this book in one sitting, it drew me in from the start and never let go. It's seriously sexy, it's sweet, Ridge has an awesome family that I loved in the very brief glimpses we get of them and there's a fab little guest appearance from Royce and Sawyer which had me smiling.
Asher also makes a brief appearance and the whole setting is brilliantly linked into the wider Savannah world without anyone needing to have read those books first - although seriously, read them, they're brilliant.
I'm not sure who else is getting a book in this spin-off series but I hope Aimee continues to write in this setting because I love everything about it.
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours in return for an honest and unbiased review
4.5 Stars!! ❤️😍Another win for ANW!! Loved Kendal and Ridge’s story in the same world as the “Sinister in Savannah” books. The plot was funnier, dialogues were wittier and the mystery interesting but not overwhelming. Kendal has had a supporting role in many of these Savannah books starting from the Zero Hour series, so it’s great to see him finally find his very own HEA after so many challenges and heartbreaks. Ridge is the perfect man for him, strong, lovable and protective. 💞 They make a hot and passionate couple although it’s a slow burn for them initially. Great story with a little revenge trope feel to it. All in all, loved it!! Can be read as a stand-alone but it’ll be better if you’ve read at least the Sinister in Savannah series. Highly Recommended!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
We met Kendal several books ago so it was so nice to have him finally get his HEA. The romance was good but the crime subplot was a bit meh. Overall enjoyed.
A slow burn romance between US Deputy Marshal Kurt “Ridge” Dandridge and Kendall aka “Sugar” Blakemore. The two have an immediate heated encounter, the chemistry is evident from that very encounter.
The beginning of the story caught my interest because the sexual tension between Ridge and Kendall was steamy, but it went downhill after that. I really wanted to like this story as it had potential and Kendall is a beloved character sweet as a button and wears his heart on his sleeve, but the plot was a snooze fest. I did not care for the Marshal drama or the many added characters. I skimmed most of it. The heart of the story was the romance between Ridge and Kendall. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between the two even if it was slow burn, but it was necessary to show how the bond between Ridge and Kendall grew from infatuation to a loving relationship.
Overall, it was an alright story. Not for me but you may like it.
One of my pet peeves is introducing a bunch of characters all at once. In the first 10% of the book, like 20 characters were introduced. WAY too many. I thought this was mainly a story about 2 people, Ridge and Kendall. All the extra characters were just a distraction, meh and filler that I really did not care about.
Ridge and Kendall play hard to get to an almost annoying degree. The main plot point is a bit of a false narrative as well. Ridge is leaving Savannah for some reason AND he never divulged this reason. The conflict makes no sense.
The takedown of the fugitive was also very amateur hour letting him take a hostage when they had him WAY before that as he crossed the border. Ugh 😣. This book was NOT for me. Too many wtf moments and manufactured drama. Reminded me too much of the MF books I used to read.
Kendall was a sweetie and I know Ridge was his love interest but I was meh on their relationship. How the stepbrother storyline was tidied up was odd as well.
It felt like a rush ending. You get your HEA but it was not what I was looking for. I know people will love this book but I’m not one of them.
This is a spin off that gives us the story of Kendall who we met in the Zero Hour, Matrimony & Mayhem and Sinister in Savannah. I loved both the characters of Kendall and Kurt Danridge in this and the other books in the series. Who wouldn't love someone that had a big fat spoiled cat? Kendall doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. Kurt, (Ridge), is a U.S. Marshall and doesn't stay in one place for long. Kendall wants a forever guy, but Ridge just got out of a bad relationship. Despite the action in the story, things really do revolve around their relationship and growing feelings, making this a surprisingly sweet love story punctuated with select moments of heat. Also, what sounds like some pretty good chicken wings, with wind sauce. Kendell shares his wind sauce recipes and how he comes up with the names for them. It's just a fun, action packed book. I am a big fan of happy endings and this one has a 100% plus happy one.
3.5 - We first met Kendall in the Zero Hour series and I was intrigued about him from then as he played a pretty big role there and then we have had little snippets of him through the Sinister in Savannah series where we met Ridge. This is marked as a standalone and it easily is but I do think it would be better to read the others first so you know who the side characters are and had the chance to see Kendall through other peoples eyes.
I enjoyed the romance here but the crime plot fell a little flat with a few too many subplots that weakened the overall effect. Overall I still liked it and it was great to see Kendall get his HEA.
Sorry to my BR friend for the slow reading on this one 😆
This book is a standalone spin off from the Sinister in Savannah series and can be enjoyed on its own. It is a romance, with a dash of suspense, in contrast to the other books in the Sinister series. Ridge and Kendall have both been introduced in previous books, but they finally meet each other in this one. Their mutual friends are all lovingly partnered, and they want their good buddies to connect and find happiness. It’s a cute gimmick, and both characters are interesting and fun to read about. Their love story has a meandering path, as both men have a lot of backstory, and Kendall’s family implosion intersects with Ridge’s official duties.
In all, I liked the characters and the side characters—who were main characters in other books. I think people who have read the previous series will likely find this story a more satisfying read, because there are so many callbacks to the other characters and their continuing happiness. On its own, this book reads fine, but was complicated by coincidences that felt too strained. Expect a slow burn and a happy ending all around.
We first meet Kendall and Ridge in the Sinister In Savannah universe and I’m so thrilled that they get their story told in this standalone book.
Kendall hasn’t had any luck with the guys he has been with in the past and Ridge doesn’t like to stay in one place long enough to put down roots. Circumstances lead them to becoming roommates and the chemistry between them really starts to sizzle, so much so that they inevitably give into it which leads to lots of steamy moments. Both try not to get their heart involved so there’s a dash of angst but not enough to derail their well deserved HEA. Along the way Kendall discovers what his true calling in life is and it’s something that took me by surprise but so him!
I really loved both these characters and the supporting cast of side characters which made for a very interesting, enjoyable and engaging read. I was heart sore on Kendall’s behalf sometimes but this was balanced by the some of the antics of Ridge’s friends. This is a romantic suspense but as noted by the author, it is more weighted to the romance element and this doesn’t detract from the plot in any way.
Interest drawn because of the cover, but I don't get the link with the story. Writing wasn't bad, but I expected more of the story line and the author...
I’m pretty sure it’s me, and not the book. I didn’t really feel much of an emotional connection between the two MCs and because of this, my attention wandered whenever I picked it up to read it. I’m my opinion this author is an absolute queen of UST, but I didn’t really feel it in this book. There was too much time spent on people eating chicken wings like it was their job, which I found to be a turn off.
I found myself only minimally invested in the Sheldon Harris sub plot. I haven’t yet read the other books with these two characters, and while this is described as a stand-alone book, I’m assuming the crime plot may be featured in other books (??).
All in all, it was an okay read. But just not enough substance to make me fall in love with the two MCs.
This one is so steamy and swoony and just so perfect without being OTT saccharine sweet. Kendall and Ridge have this insane chemistry that is just *chef’s kiss* perfection. Kendall is such a force. I could relate to his anxiety and his feelings and the way he just instantly fell. Ridge is the guy you can count on, and he’s the guy that Kendall has been waiting on forever. Ridge didn’t know he’d be meeting the love of his life when he finally met Kendall though, especially given the circumstances. While the romance and their HEA is the bulk of the story, the case that Ridge is working on is pretty essential too and makes the read so much better IMO by adding that dash of suspense and action.
This book was absolutely fantastic. There is a smile permanently affixed to my face right now because of how much I loved it. I don't typically gravitate towards books labeled as "romantic suspense", so this was a diversion for me that I'm glad I took a chance on. I've read so many great books this year, but this one ranks pretty high on my list of favorites right now.
First, can we talk about the cover? What a beautiful man. It's no wonder Ridge couldn't get him out of his head. I adored Kendall. He was a little lost in life. He had two jobs that paid the bills but didn't fulfill him. He lived with a couple who were in love and deserved their own space. And he was exhausted by his habit of falling in love between the sheets and consistently ending up alone. He had been through a lot, but was working through it and finally learning to put himself first. It was so gratifying to watch things come together for him in this story.
Ridge was a US Deputy Marshal with a promise to keep, which, after finding his boyfriend (ahem, fiance') in bed with another man, was the only thing keeping him in Savannah. I loved everything about Ridge. He was a good man, through and through. Every time Kendall would try to throw him for a loop, he did nothing but offer gentle encouragement without a trace of judgement. His mom and dad had raised him to be a gentleman and it was evident in the way he treated every person he interacted with.
I loved all of the little coincidences in this book. Kendall and Ridge lived very different lives, but the universe was insistent on having them overlap in every way possible before finally converging permanently. Every exchange, every kiss, every step forward had me cheesing like a maniac. I wanted these two people to be together so bad.
The side characters in this book were a lot of fun. The pranks and ribbing within Ridge's department were hilarious and I laughed out loud several times. Colt and Carey at The Cockpit added a nice level of ridiculousness with their constant bets about whether someone was straight or not. Even Travis and Chet had redeeming qualities that won me over (loved the shout out to The Trevor Project, an important organization doing amazing things for LGBTQ youth).
I don't know if there are plans to continue with stories in this friend/acquaintance group, but I really hope there are. There were definitely some bread crumbs left behind for more (I'm looking at you Emmett and Chet), but I guess we'll have to wait and see.
*4.5* I was drawn to both characters from the start. Kendall is determined to work on his own self worth and becoming more independent, and Ridge has a terrible start after finding his fiance in bed with his boss. He's actually not that broken up about it though which makes it so easy for the connection that builds between the two right from their first meeting. There's a real bond that grows and is easy to feel deepen through the story along with the tension that soon becomes too much for them both. There is drama that develops with Ridge's job as a US Marshall due to a current fugitive staying just out of his reach, that one man that he wants to catch. Then his personal life may cause problems with a new case that comes across his desk so it all keeps readers on their toes with a twist or two along the way. There is a character or two that are very easy to hate and friends that love and support both the MC's throughout. It's also heartwarming to read the progress that Kendall makes through this book in regards to his self esteem as he's had a few people knock him back but he still stands strong and is fighting forward for himself this time. I loved reading this new book from Aimee Nicole Walker. You're always guaranteed to have a really engaging story with a mix of heat, drama, action and emotion. Definitely a recommended read and I loved the cameos from Aimee's Sinister in Savannah series, though you don't have to have read them for this story. I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
This sassy and entertaining love story leaves you with so many good feelings. Ms. Walker creates MCs that just fit together perfectly, even if their lives are pretty imperfect. The story can be read as a stand-alone, but if you have read her other series, you will recognize a lot of cameo appearances. Ridge feels he is terrible at love considering what a loser his very recent ex was. Walking in on Todd entertaining in their bedroom gives Ridge the excuse he needed to end an awful relationship. This sets the tone for Ridge, and frankly, he can’t even entertain the idea of being with someone long-term again. Kendall has had a rough past. He fled home to break away from his toxic stepfather. Kendall went through a lot, which has had severe lingering effects that he fights to overcome to this day. He always falls for the wrong man. No one sees the real Kendall, and he also feels that love isn’t in the cards for him. He is hardworking and is full of hidden talents. He just needs someone to believe in him. Ridge is a U.S. Deputy Marshal and has a very demanding job. Needing a place to live, he rents a room from Kendall. Long story short, two guys who believe they are horrible at love have a lot to learn. Wild family dynamics, fugitives to apprehend, and delectable chicken wings to create intertwine these two stubborn men together. After reading this book, I bet you will be craving a spicy plate of wings and fries! Happy reading! So start reading, and be prepared to have a marvelous time as Ms. Walker does not disappoint. * * * Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement * * *
This felt like reading a first draft in some ways, the characters and minor conflict points strangely underdeveloped, whereas the cast of characters and main plot is overly bloated and weighs the narrative down. The first chapter introduces a huge cast of characters, a case with multiple suspects and a cartel, a cheating fiancé, a cat, and a whole slew of assorted co-workers and references. It felt very choppy and disjointed. I really loved the two main characters, and was really looking forward to getting to know them and how their different personalities and associated baggage and hang-ups come together…. except it felt strangely surface and undone. Don’t get me wrong, our guys get a great HEA, but we never really dig into their issues and see them overcome anything aside from the basic to be or not to be question. I guess it really just felt like a lost opportunity, and I wanted more. I wanted to see more how Kendall’s childhood affected him, more about how his eating disorder played out when he’s in a relationship and prioritizing someone else, more about his insecurities; I wanted to see Ridge (can we all agree this is the dumbest nickname ever and he should just use his given name which is way better?!), who is so stoic and strong on the outside but so soft and gooey on the inside. This book felt like watching a great concert from nosebleed seats, so far back that the finer points and details are all lost. Still good, still enjoyable, but ultimately lacking.
I love Aimee's Zero Hour and Sinister in Savannah series, so of course I was looking forward to reading this story.
I loved it!
All the elements brought to the page worked well together and were fully developed. Especially Ridge and Kendall's connection. I loved their camaraderie, their flirty banter and the connection they shared. I caught myself laughing out loud at their occurrences as well as sighing at the sweet, swoon-worthy moments. And of course, the chemistry between these two was off-the charts HOT! Their attraction to each other was immediate and it was always palpable whenever they were together. I enjoyed everything about their journey--the candid moments, the frustration and even the little bit of drama that surrounded them. It helped too that both Ridge and Kendall were interesting individuals. I enjoyed getting to know their individual story and eventually found myself invested in the outcome of their story. Hands-down one of my favorite couples!
I enjoyed seeing Ridge in his element and watching him navigate his newly-found emotions with the demands of his career and the situation he was facing at the moment. Although the story is not necessarily a suspense, the elements the author sprinkled throughout added to the overall story and were well executed.
We met Kendall in previous books and I really liked the character. We have here a time jump and he grew up. and is questioning his work and life choices. Kendall and Ridge are a great couple, again the author managed to write characters you like, who have flaws and problems and you still get a book without drama but. a. very satisfying relationship development. So, why the star deduction: well, I really found the last quarter /fifth of the book, when Ridge got into all Marshall mode too dragged out. I started skipping paragraphs as I felt it just took away too much from the story or better, didn't really bring anything to the story. Yes, the last case was a major part of the future of the couple but it could have been shorter.
Overall - I will read the book again. I love the way the author brings characters together, the story lines are believable and you get depth without drama.
A good start well not really for Ridge but it was only a matter of time anyway to happen with a cheating fiancee. A good first meeting for Ridge and Kendall and there's some interest for both. Scenes play out and Kendall has a job change which may or may put him in danger. Beautifully written that the story keeps flowing and the two characters slowly get to know each other. They end up housemates with a cat and their chemistry as friends sizzles even when their flirting with each other. I'd read this as a standalone as not having read the previous book there included in. Both pov's included.
DP Marshall Kurt aka Ridge 35 yrs was engaged but that all come to a halt, now he needed somewhere to live.. Kendall was a paralegal working two jobs, one job was finishing when his Sugar meets Ridge..
This was a more than enjoyable story. With adorable well-developed characters, with great characteristics. They had adorable personalities, you can only love them. From first sight both men clicked, there is chemistry Besides the main course, there are some good secondary stories. An enthralling and endearing narrative, fun, hurt, support, entertainment, action, hot sexiness, romance, all smoothly written. A winner!
This relationship between Ridge and Kendall was never dull. AIMEE NICOLE WALKER lets her wicked sense of humor weave through. I laughed out loud at the way Kendall couldn't help himself. Ridge was the more serious one but he saw Kendall for who he really was inside. I fell in love with both these characters and this story. I was glad it wasn't dark and angsty. No major drama or nail biting. It is sassy, fun and of course hot! Did I mention how much I laughed. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!