Ryder Jameson and Lucien Clarke have a complicated past: Ryder conserves art; Lucien steals it. Their love-hate relationship spans six years and two continents and has endured multiple heists. Hoping to restore his tarnished reputation, Ryder returns home to Cincinnati to accept a position at an acclaimed museum. When Lucien suddenly reappears in Ryder’s life, the treasure seeker hopes to nab a priceless Shang Dynasty artifact and recapture Ryder’s jilted heart.
Something more sinister than stolen art is stirring in the Queen City. Ryder and Lucien must join forces to untangle a web of secrets, lies, and treachery bigger than either of them expected. Trust won’t come easy, but they’ll need to rely on each other because pulling the wrong thread could have deadly consequences.
Is it fate that keeps bringing Ryder and Lucien together, or are they merely pawns in someone’s wicked games? Will they play for keeps this time or become collateral damage?
Wicked Games is a second-chance romance filled with passion, humor, and intrigue. It’s the second book in the Queen City Rogues series but can be read on its own. Wicked Games contains mature sexual content intended for readers 18 and older.
Queen City Rogues Series, Book 2
M/M Romance/Suspense
Release Date: 03.11.19
Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
Ryder said nothing else until we arrived at the hotel. “Really? You’re staying inside a museum? Talk about irony. Do you steal the towels and robes from the luxury hotels before you scurry out of town? Is your urbane polish nothing but a veneer?”
Ryder knew fully well the ways my inner beast and baser needs could make a person forget all about the polish that had initially caught their attention. I’d never felt bad about using my looks, charisma, or my body to get what I wanted until I met Ryder. Then each day became one regret after the other until my life was nothing more than a cold existence. I recognized the same loneliness when I looked into Ryder’s stunning blue eyes. I couldn’t remember a time when I hated myself more.
“Come on,” Ryder said irritably. “I have things I need to do this evening.”
Rage and lust were such a heady combination, and it was all I could do to keep from pushing Ryder up against the lift wall and giving him the reunion we both so badly wanted. I didn’t speak to him, and I kept my hands in my pockets to prevent myself from reaching for him until we arrived at my hotel room. Don’t cross the line again. You’ve caused him enough pain.
“Are we doing this or not?” Ryder challenged when my hesitance became obvious.
The title of this book immediately makes me start singing Chris Isaak in my head. And if you don’t know what I am talking about I wonder if you are old enough to read these smexy books. Hmmm?
Disclaimer that this book is part of a series, which is a spin off of a larger series. But this one is the most stand alone of all of them. But they are all fun reads.
Back to the book.
Ryder goes back to his hometown of Cincinnati with his tail between his legs a bit after being fired from two jobs after artwork goes missing. With his mother on the board and an opening available for an art restoration specialist, Ryder takes the job.
But he can’t stop thinking about Sebastian. The man he pretty much fell in love with and then disappeared. Twice. Coincidence? Probably not. But then- Lucien, FKA as Sebastian, shows his face again. And a piece of art goes missing. AGAIN!
We find out Lucien’s true purpose and why he does what he does. And you actually feel badly for the guy. The guy who lied to and left poor Ryder high and dry TWICE!
Enter Lucien’s associates, boss and nemesis. All of the side characters were super fun and great additions to the story. Most of them band together to figure out who done it and why.
Lucien and Ryder have great chemistry. Even when Ryder “hates” Lucien. They simply cannot resist each other. It’s kind of funny and cute when Ryder tries to.
This was a fun romp with some interesting twists and turns and one gut punch. I gasped out loud.
Even though the story line is more serious, it really isn’t angsty and Aimee Nicole Walker is always good at injecting a bit of humor at the right time.
4 pieces of eye candy
Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day. I’d love to hear from you.
