SOMEONE TO CALL MY OWN
Road to Blissville Series, Book 2
AIMEE NICOLE WALKER
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 09.05.17
COVER ARTIST: Jay Aheer/Simply Defined Art
BLURB
Psychic Emory Jackson and former black ops specialist Jonathon Silver are men from two completely different worlds with one thing in common: heartbreak. Emory still mourns the loss of his husband five years prior, and Jon is reeling with grief from the recent death of his twin brother.
Sparks fly when mutual friends introduce them, but it’s so much more than basic attraction. There’s an undeniable awareness and a sense of belonging that neither man can deny. Despite Emory’s premonition of a future with Jon, he has vowed never to love again. Jon is convinced that his tainted soul is the reason he will never have someone to call his own. What if they’re both wrong?
Maybe these broken men with their jagged edges could somehow align perfectly to form something whole and beautiful. But will that realization come too late for them?
EXCERPT
“I think we need to clear the air,” Jonathon said in a calm, rational voice.
“There’s nothing to clear,” I countered. “I’m nothing to you; you’re nothing to me.”
“You think it’s that simple?” Jonathon took two steps toward me. I took three steps back. Jon jerked to a stop when he saw my reaction. “Emory…” He broke off and ran both his hands through his hair. “I know you felt it the night we met. I saw your eyes widen in surprise when the electricity shot through our bodies.”
“So.” Denying it existed wasn’t working. It was time to change tactics. “That doesn’t mean I want or will act on it.” I ran my hand over the infinity tattoo I had inked over my heart. It felt like River’s name was burning my skin like he knew the truth and was calling me a liar. Or, maybe it was anxiety that gripped my heart in its tight fist. Whatever the reason, I felt lightheaded and dizzy. Suddenly, my body felt cold and hot at the same time, and tiny little needles pricked my skin from head to toe. I licked my lips that had suddenly gone dry and numb.
“Emory?” I heard Jonathon’s voice, but it sounded like he was calling to me at the end of a very long tunnel instead of five feet away. He walked toward me, but I kept backing away. I hoped he would stop, but I saw the determination in his eyes. “Emory, I just want to help you.”
“Then leave,” I wheezed between gasps.
“I’d never leave anyone alone in this condition,” Jonathon said angrily. “Now be quiet and let me help you.” He gripped my bicep firmly, but not painfully, and guided me to a kitchen chair. He gently set me in the chair then placed his hand on my stomach beneath the center of my ribs and the other on my chest. I burned beneath his touch. I wrapped my hands around his thick wrists and tried to push his hands off of me. “Stop it, Emory,” he said firmly. “You’re hyperventilating, and I can help you. I. Will. Not. Hurt. You.”
Hot tears of humiliation flowed freely down my face. No one had ever seen me in the midst of a panic attack and I’d always been able to pull myself out of them on my own. That one was different, and I knew I needed help.
“Ignore my hands on your body, but look into my eyes and listen to me.” His demanding, deep voice was nearly hypnotic. “Inhale deeply through your nose, Emory. Hold it for a count of three and release it slowly. When you do, you’ll feel my hands moving up and down with your lungs, and your brain will recognize you’re breathing even before the fresh oxygen pushes the carbon dioxide out of your body. Do it with me, Emory.”
I breathed in slowly, held it for three seconds, and released it. I focused on the way his hands moved up and down with my breathing and pretended that I expelled all the bad energy with every exhale. I repeated the process ten or twelve times before I was completely calm again.
Jonathon pulled his hands off of me and balled them into fists. He didn’t look angry or like he wanted to hit me. It looked like he needed to do something with his hands but wasn’t sure what. He lowered himself into a chair beside me.
“What caused your panic attack?”
“You,” I replied sullenly.
“Emory, I haven’t done anything to you so why would the sight of me cause you to panic?” Jonathon sounded truly baffled and a little insulted.
I knew it would take drastic measures to push him away, so I let him have it with both barrels. “I had a psychic vision about you—well. Us.”
5 Stars
This is book 2 in The Road to Blissville series and Aimee Nicole Walker has given us another heartbreakingly beautiful story.
Emory lost his everything when his husband was killed in a car accident. Waking up after the accident, Emory finds he has gained psychic abilities. After a vision of an address, he packs up and moves to Blissville.
Jonathan finds himself alone. After a deathbed confession from his mother that he had a twin brother, Jon has just a few short months with his brother before Nate is murdered. While working to help solve his brother's murder, Jon meets the Blissville crew and their newest friend Emory. Sparks fly as they meet for the first time, but Emory refuses to open his heart to love again, no matter what his visions show him and Jon believes that because of his past sins he will never be good enough for anyone, let alone a wonderful person like Emory.
Em and Jon made my heart ache! In the middle of crying for the 3rd time, I realized I was only 25% into their story and knew it was going to be one that would stick with me for days! Em fights to hold onto River and the love of his past so hard. He never wants to have the pain of losing his heart again. He fights Jon and his visions at every turn, hoping to change his future. Jon is determined to be a better person for Emory, but how hard should he fight when he is being rejected constantly? As Jon is falling in love, Em will barely admit to being in lust. I love how sweet and gentle Emory is. Even with his heart being shattered, he still found it within himself to help others. While Jon comes across as self-assured and crass, I felt that may just be a cover for his loneliness. Both Em and Jon deserve a chance at true happiness together, if they can let go of their pasts to embrace it.
Visiting with all the amazing Blissville characters again is always enjoyable. Gabe, Josh, Chaz, Kyle and Mere make such a welcoming family I wish they were mine! We meet a few new people who I hope will be in upcoming Blissville books, because I need more from all the characters I've grown to love!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I'm a girly tomboy
who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees.
I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever-after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.
GIVEAWAY
How can I make a decision like that! I would be very pleased to see any couple of yours in a novella just don't ask me to choose!
ReplyDeleteYou probably know my answer by now... but just in case, JJ and Miller!!! <3
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of Aimee's books yet so I'm unfamiliar with her characters.
ReplyDelete