Second Wind by Aimee Nicole Walker

Title: Second Wind Word Count:236 pgs
Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb:Second wind: a new strength or energy to continue something that is an effort. After an amicable divorce, Lincoln Huxley is ready to embrace the sexuality he repressed for more than two decades. Rush Holden is no longer willing to settle for closeted men or those who don’t share his dreams of marriage and fatherhood. A chance encounter on a lakeside pier is the second wind they both need. Or will it just be a painful reminder of all they had lost?

Second chance: an opportunity to try something again that failed one time. Rush and Lincoln have shared a lot of firsts—friendship, young love, and heartbreak. Cruel reality forced the two men to choose paths that took their lives in different directions. Twenty-six years later, they get a second chance to fall in love with each all over again. Can it really be that simple, or will the same issues ruin their happiness a second time?

Happily ever after: to live happily for the rest of one’s life. Rush and Lincoln know that love and life can’t be defined by words alone. Patience, commitment, and the determination to do whatever it takes will be the only way the two men achieve their happily ever after.

Second Wind is a funny, sexy, and endearing standalone romance novel about love, loss, and rediscovery. It contains sexually explicit material and is intended for adults 18 and older.

My Review: This story has been told many times before, but this one really hit me in the ‘feels’ from the very beginning. We are introduced to two young boys who are inseparable from a very early age. They champion each other on the playground and make grand plans of what they want to be in the future. They start feeling the tingles during their preteen years, not really sure what it means. By the time they hit the teen years Rush Holden has pretty much figured out what it means for him. Rush Holden knows he’s totally and irrevocably in love with his best friend Lincoln Huxley. Linc has the same feelings but fear has him resisting the urge and he pulls away from Rush. Linc the jock is certainly afraid of the stigma that comes with liking a boy. He knows it hurts Rush , but he just can’t topple the social hierarchy of which he’s been made the king. Rush stays in the shadows alone with his camera, with only his passion of photography keeping him sane.

A glimmer of hope appears when Rush had to help tutor Linc for his classes. They regain some of their closeness, but their true relationship remains a secret. They share secret kisses and explore the physical side of their relationship with a few stolen moments. These special moments have been indelibly imprinted in both their minds. Rush and Linc lock these treasured moments in a vault that’s kept safely in their hearts. They part ways at the end of high school. On prom night, Rush and Linc enjoy one final heartbreaking dance in the confines of a photographer’s dark room. All their dreams for the future are left in the dark.

Fast forward 20 yrs in the future,here we have Rush stuck in a relationship that seems to go nowhere. It is clear to see that he has been shaped by his past. He’s with a man who doesn’t value him, he forgets their anniversary and tries to turn it around by blaming Rush. Everyone around him knows that Rush deserves better. When he finally gets a proposal Rush is ecstatic, but their is an underlying sadness he knows should not be there. On the morning of the wedding Rush is left standing at the altar, he’s devastated but sadly not overly surprised. His family and friends help him to pick up the pieces of his life.

In the meantime, somewhere in another place Lincoln is also picking up the pieces of his life. Becoming empty nesters has forced Linc’s wife to ask for a divorce. She knows that even though their life has been good, they are more best friends than lovers. They come to a mutually amicable agreement without any drama. For the first time in over 20 years, Linc admits to being gay.Linc cries in his ex wife’s arms for the love of the boy he lost. It is wonderful seeing the support that the ex couple give to each other for the sake of love.

It was certainly inevitable that these star crossed lovers would meet again. This becomes true when Linc goes to Chicago to reveal to his kids, his deepest darkest secret. Linc can’t believe his luck when he runs into the love that he thought he had lost. Their reunion is a joyous affair where everything fades in the background. Their passion is combustible and Rush and Linc realize that nothing has changed in the twenty years they have been apart. What they feel for each other is even more concentrated and pervasive than the puppy love that they felt in their teens.

They spend a blissful week together, making up for lost time, exploring each other’s bodies. They experience a brand new range of emotions like never before. After coming out to his children Linc decides to introduce the love of his life.Rush gets a warm reception from Linc’s kids who are grateful to the man that’s made their dad so happy. However, all good things must come to an end or just a pause.

In their case, they’ve both decided to pursue a long distance relationship for the time being. They do this for a few months with both of them visiting each other for a week here and there. Linc and Rush experience the glorious wonder of the internet, using Skype which affords them the opportunity for some kinky sexy fun. In the end, Linc makes a grand gesture by uprooting himself and moving in with Rush. They are both ecstatic to finally be together, enjoying all the little nuances of everyday life. It doesn’t take them long to take the plunge into married bliss. They decide to complete their family by adopting a beautiful baby girl. All their dreams are finally coming true. This is a love that was carved out throughout space and time for only these two incredible souls. I give this my ratings of 5- bring out the vibrators. This one is truly hottt!!!

P.S. This story has a bomb playlist. Each chapter is associated with the most perfect song. This definitely added to the feelings of the character in my opinion. Check it out.