Scan barcode
A review by vrstal
Gutter Mind: Smoke Valley MC by K.A. Merikan
5.0
4.5/5.
Gutter Mind by K.A. Merikan is a crazy, surprisingly saccharine, explosive romance between 37-year-old Mike and 18-year-old Arden. Arden is femme, unapologetic, vulnerable, and icy due to his past experiences. Mike is a playboy who’s life has been decided for him in his plot for penance and revenge, and decidedly very straight. When they come together, glitter and lace flies.
The lust and attraction were instant but the actual relationship - the feelings, the way these two dug under each other’s skin - was slow. At first it was a passing challenge and joke for Mike, but it became more when he realized the fear Arden had of an ex and stepped in to protect him, with a fake relationship. Vulnerabilities were shown, fun was had, and Arden was stalwart in his means to not get into another relationship and get hurt again. Mike respected it but also teased at the edges until he learned the truth, all while trying to figure out his own sexual identity.
Merikan does a great job creating this gritty atmosphere of this outlaw biker lifestyle. Some of them are queer, but you can tell there’s still some old-fashioned attitudes that even Mike found himself guilty of, and how it comes to impact exploring his relationship with Arden at first. I found the roughness and harshness believable, but the authors also don’t just let you lie in some sort of offensive-toeing GFY. These labels are questioned and explored, identity and gender are wrestled with, and while there might not be an apt label for Mike, Arden is not ever seen as ‘well I can pretend he’s a girl’. He is revered and loved for his confidence, for all aspects of himself, and for being who he wants to be.
The way Arden and Mike are written together, we peel the layers back of Mike and his own vulnerabilities, but also his sweetness. He is a fierce protector and holds a lot of room for Arden in his heart. Consent is always key to their sex, and there are all too many sweet moments just to prove how important Arden is to him. Arden is also there to give him comfort and open his arms for him. To hold him when he needs to cry, and to also bring fun into his life that him isn’t just random sex. There are doubts, of course, but this relationship was hard won with every crazy plot that came at them. Arden at one point rightfully calls out Mike for something he did totally wrong - and it is explosive in that fight. Blood is spilled, bottles broken, tears shed. I feared for them, but it was also a catalyst for dealing with their reality. I also like how Merikan handled the past sexual abuse Arden suffered under and how that impacted their relationship, without it being a ‘magic dick’ moment at all.
Their love is not perfect and their love is all-consuming of one another. Yet, it is beautiful and radiant like the glitter and shimmer Arden dearly loves. The way this ragtag family surrounds them all with support and the ribbing involved, even the epilogue was entirely amazing and fitting for them -- that which is claimed by fingernail polish is important.
“Arden’s kiss was a match, and Mike—a pool of gasoline. The moment their mouths clashed again, the flames scorched everything they touched.”
Gutter Mind by K.A. Merikan is a crazy, surprisingly saccharine, explosive romance between 37-year-old Mike and 18-year-old Arden. Arden is femme, unapologetic, vulnerable, and icy due to his past experiences. Mike is a playboy who’s life has been decided for him in his plot for penance and revenge, and decidedly very straight. When they come together, glitter and lace flies.
The lust and attraction were instant but the actual relationship - the feelings, the way these two dug under each other’s skin - was slow. At first it was a passing challenge and joke for Mike, but it became more when he realized the fear Arden had of an ex and stepped in to protect him, with a fake relationship. Vulnerabilities were shown, fun was had, and Arden was stalwart in his means to not get into another relationship and get hurt again. Mike respected it but also teased at the edges until he learned the truth, all while trying to figure out his own sexual identity.
Merikan does a great job creating this gritty atmosphere of this outlaw biker lifestyle. Some of them are queer, but you can tell there’s still some old-fashioned attitudes that even Mike found himself guilty of, and how it comes to impact exploring his relationship with Arden at first. I found the roughness and harshness believable, but the authors also don’t just let you lie in some sort of offensive-toeing GFY. These labels are questioned and explored, identity and gender are wrestled with, and while there might not be an apt label for Mike, Arden is not ever seen as ‘well I can pretend he’s a girl’. He is revered and loved for his confidence, for all aspects of himself, and for being who he wants to be.
The way Arden and Mike are written together, we peel the layers back of Mike and his own vulnerabilities, but also his sweetness. He is a fierce protector and holds a lot of room for Arden in his heart. Consent is always key to their sex, and there are all too many sweet moments just to prove how important Arden is to him. Arden is also there to give him comfort and open his arms for him. To hold him when he needs to cry, and to also bring fun into his life that him isn’t just random sex. There are doubts, of course, but this relationship was hard won with every crazy plot that came at them. Arden at one point rightfully calls out Mike for something he did totally wrong - and it is explosive in that fight. Blood is spilled, bottles broken, tears shed. I feared for them, but it was also a catalyst for dealing with their reality. I also like how Merikan handled the past sexual abuse Arden suffered under and how that impacted their relationship, without it being a ‘magic dick’ moment at all.
Their love is not perfect and their love is all-consuming of one another. Yet, it is beautiful and radiant like the glitter and shimmer Arden dearly loves. The way this ragtag family surrounds them all with support and the ribbing involved, even the epilogue was entirely amazing and fitting for them -- that which is claimed by fingernail polish is important.