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Willow Falls Murders #2
Love And Death
When Reyes Moreno is forced to come back to his childhood town after being exiled for twenty-one years, the last thing he’s expecting is to be dragged into a murder to clear his brother’s name. Much less is he expecting to have to solve it with his old high school friend-turned-enemy, Zachary Becker.
Determined to prove his brother’s innocence, Reyes tries to ignore the ghosts of his past that are determined to haunt him. More importantly, he’s trying to ignore that old flame that, even after two decades, still burns brightly for his arch enemy.
Can you solve an impossible string of murders in a town that hates you?
Can you try not to fall in love with the same guy twenty-one years later?
Anything is possible in Willow Falls.
Determined to prove his brother’s innocence, Reyes tries to ignore the ghosts of his past that are determined to haunt him. More importantly, he’s trying to ignore that old flame that, even after two decades, still burns brightly for his arch enemy.
Can you solve an impossible string of murders in a town that hates you?
Can you try not to fall in love with the same guy twenty-one years later?
Anything is possible in Willow Falls.
484 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2024
About the author
Laura Jordan
5 books89 followersLaura Jordan is a 6ft Libran and cat enthusiast from the countryside in Kent, England. She grew up in her family cottage with her parents, brother and grandad Len. She studied ballet and performing arts for the majority of her adolescent life, thinking she would make a career of it, before realising she could neither sing, act, nor dance.
Sensing her talents may lie elsewhere, Laura set off to study creative writing at the University of Greenwich where she scraped a bachelor’s degree. Laura then went on to put her degree to good use as a senior reporter and editor for a builder’s merchant’s magazine. However, she was fired after three months after likening her workplace to “riding a bike through Hell” on Twitter.
Then Laura tried her hand at teaching. She became a Special Educational Needs teaching assistant for secondary school children, and much to everyone’s surprise —not least her own— she found she was quite good at it. She kept to this line of work for three years until moving to Ireland to be with her boyfriend.
Living in Dublin with Derek, their golden retriever, and a small army of borderline feral cats, Laura spends her time co-hosting a podcast and writing books that she is still astounded that people want to read.
She is also very fond of pizza.
Sensing her talents may lie elsewhere, Laura set off to study creative writing at the University of Greenwich where she scraped a bachelor’s degree. Laura then went on to put her degree to good use as a senior reporter and editor for a builder’s merchant’s magazine. However, she was fired after three months after likening her workplace to “riding a bike through Hell” on Twitter.
Then Laura tried her hand at teaching. She became a Special Educational Needs teaching assistant for secondary school children, and much to everyone’s surprise —not least her own— she found she was quite good at it. She kept to this line of work for three years until moving to Ireland to be with her boyfriend.
Living in Dublin with Derek, their golden retriever, and a small army of borderline feral cats, Laura spends her time co-hosting a podcast and writing books that she is still astounded that people want to read.
She is also very fond of pizza.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 4, 2024
Love and Death by Laura Jordan is a romance-mystery set in the fictional town of Willow Falls, and it is the second book in Jordan’s Willow Falls Murders series. The book follows Reyes Moreno, a security contractor and self-defense instructor, who returns to his hometown to take care of his goddaughter. When his brother is arrested for murder, he finds himself forced to investigate a series of related killings—and, unfortunately, finds himself working with his high school crush-turned-enemy, physician Zach Baker.
Like Cold Cold Heart, the first book in the Willows Falls Murders series, Love and Death is a fantastic romance-mystery. Reyes and Zach’s troubled past, and their undeniable attraction to each other, generates a lot of heat. And the mystery storyline escalates nicely, with several heart-pounding scenes (including an unforgettable climax). As with Jordan’s other books, there’s plenty of humor, a love for the ’80s and ’90s, warmly nuanced relationships with secondary characters, and heartbreaking revelations about the main characters. And, as always, the author brings an attention to detail the enriches every level of the story.
Readers who have liked Jordan’s previous books, as well as readers of Josh Lanyon and C.S. Poe, will find a great deal to enjoy here.
November 30, 2024
Laura has once again written the most incredible book, she gets better with everything she writes. This book has it all, it’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s stressful, it’s made me laugh and cry and sit with bated breath, and very nearly made me throw the thing out of the window (which is the highest compliment I can give a book of this genre).
Every time I thought I had worked out who the murderer was I was very quickly proved wrong, and gasped aloud when it was revealed. The answer was right in front of my eyes the entire time and I completely missed it. Laura has written this book so incredibly well that you don’t want to ever put it down in desperate need of knowing what comes next.
Every character is well thought out and has so much complexity that even after finishing the book I just want to know more about them.
Reyes Moreno is grumpy and guarded and he has been through a lot, and yet he is thoughtful and caring and gentle, and I adore every thing about him. He is so stubborn I wanted to reach into the book and shake him by the shoulders and tell him to get it together, and even more often I wanted to reach into the book and wrap him in a big hug and promise him everything will be okay. The same is true for Zachary Becker, a doctor who is constantly putting on a brave face, charming everyone and just trying to be everybody’s best friend, but who has so much depth and trauma that it’s a relief to see him being taken care of (it’s the least he deserves) and yet he constantly puts on a mask in hopes of nobody ever knowing that sometime he isn’t okay, he seems to feel a constant pressure to be perfect that to ever appear otherwise is too much for him.
The supporting cast are equally wonderful, Adira, Zach’s stern yet supportive best friend, is a joy to read, with endless stories about her partner that have you grinning away.
Isla is the quintessential gen z teenager who you do not want to act ‘cringe’ in front of, because she will call you on it and roll her eyes. She has a mouth like a sailor and you can’t help but hope she gets everything good in life. She’s wildly independent and funny and has excellent music taste.
Seeing Milo and Linc make cameos also brought me nothing but joy, and they remain just as wonderful and loveable (and in Linc’s case, socially awkward), as they always have been.
Along side the mystery being insanely well written, the relationship between Zach and Reyes is wonderfully cultivated. There’s so much history behind them and Laura doesn’t shy away from that fact and allows their history to impact the characters in a very real way. The will-they-won’t-they throughout the book is perfectly done, every near miss is perfectly placed. The bizarre situation they’ve managed to get themselves into, combined with years of unresolved feelings (good and bad) has you really rooting for them as individuals and as a couple. I don’t think I’m ever going to stop thinking about either of them.
In summary, Laura has written another masterpiece and I can’t wait to have a physical copy sitting on my shelf ready to read a hundred times more. Laura has once again written some of my favourite ever fictional characters, especially in Reyes.
Every time I thought I had worked out who the murderer was I was very quickly proved wrong, and gasped aloud when it was revealed. The answer was right in front of my eyes the entire time and I completely missed it. Laura has written this book so incredibly well that you don’t want to ever put it down in desperate need of knowing what comes next.
Every character is well thought out and has so much complexity that even after finishing the book I just want to know more about them.
Reyes Moreno is grumpy and guarded and he has been through a lot, and yet he is thoughtful and caring and gentle, and I adore every thing about him. He is so stubborn I wanted to reach into the book and shake him by the shoulders and tell him to get it together, and even more often I wanted to reach into the book and wrap him in a big hug and promise him everything will be okay. The same is true for Zachary Becker, a doctor who is constantly putting on a brave face, charming everyone and just trying to be everybody’s best friend, but who has so much depth and trauma that it’s a relief to see him being taken care of (it’s the least he deserves) and yet he constantly puts on a mask in hopes of nobody ever knowing that sometime he isn’t okay, he seems to feel a constant pressure to be perfect that to ever appear otherwise is too much for him.
The supporting cast are equally wonderful, Adira, Zach’s stern yet supportive best friend, is a joy to read, with endless stories about her partner that have you grinning away.
Isla is the quintessential gen z teenager who you do not want to act ‘cringe’ in front of, because she will call you on it and roll her eyes. She has a mouth like a sailor and you can’t help but hope she gets everything good in life. She’s wildly independent and funny and has excellent music taste.
Seeing Milo and Linc make cameos also brought me nothing but joy, and they remain just as wonderful and loveable (and in Linc’s case, socially awkward), as they always have been.
Along side the mystery being insanely well written, the relationship between Zach and Reyes is wonderfully cultivated. There’s so much history behind them and Laura doesn’t shy away from that fact and allows their history to impact the characters in a very real way. The will-they-won’t-they throughout the book is perfectly done, every near miss is perfectly placed. The bizarre situation they’ve managed to get themselves into, combined with years of unresolved feelings (good and bad) has you really rooting for them as individuals and as a couple. I don’t think I’m ever going to stop thinking about either of them.
In summary, Laura has written another masterpiece and I can’t wait to have a physical copy sitting on my shelf ready to read a hundred times more. Laura has once again written some of my favourite ever fictional characters, especially in Reyes.
September 6, 2025
I love a solid enemies to lovers trope 👌
November 30, 2024
Love and Death is an enemies to lovers, MLM romantic suspense and the second instalment of Laura Jordan's trilogy set within the (seemingly) quiet town of Willow Falls. A subversive setting for the archetypal murder mystery; and an LGBTQ friendly one at that. The 'Happiest Town in Texas' offers a breath of fresh (muggy) air to a genre largely associated with bleaker surroundings.
Nothing bad ever happens in Willow Falls...except of course, when it does, at which point the town's serene façade slips, like a hollow smile collapsing as it falls into the abyss. Nothing drives this home better than the opening scene, a preliminary chapter punctuated by a hook that beckons the reader forward into Love and Death with a healthy pace. It's the first of many vignettes spaced throughout the book that act as the subplot to the main narrative, together they work really well to convey this sense of everpresent danger stalking the town; Death looms in the shadows, cold, emotionless and lethal, waiting to eclipse the narrative of the books protagonists: Zachary Becker & Reyes Moreno.
Much like the town itself, Zach and Reyes - who had a background presence in the first book in the series 'Cold Cold Heart' - are imperfect, complex and haunted by their past, with a history together going all the way back to highschool, where a shared trauma destroyed their friendship and set them apart for 21 years until a chance reunion throws them back into each other's gravitational pull; but this is not a harmonious reuniting. Much like the formation of the moon their convergence is an embittered collision and it is out of that debris that Zach & Reyes must forge a path forward if they hope to overcome their past, and survive their present.
Laura knows how to write a scene, and Love and Death is full of those moments where you feel wholly immersed in the narrative, as always her writing is bewitchingly moreish and compelling; I often found myself saying "Ok just one more chapter" upon finishing the previous. The two main characters are written as such that you can't get enough of their interactions, much to their chagrin Zach & Reyes have that kind of rousing chemistry that is as thrilling as it is fraught, whether its resentful or lustful it's a friction they can't escape and it's always entertaining in equal measure. It's here that Laura's chapter format of choice, the tried and true dual point of view, really excels at leaving the reader desperate to digest both Zach & Reyes' thoughts and feelings on whatever event, interaction or consequence has just befallen them.
Throughout the book we're introduced to a range of colourful and diverse supporting cast, most notable of which are Adira and Isla who are incredibly endearing and witty; it's truly a delight whenever they're on the page.
Humour is a welcome comfort in Laura Jordan's books and with Love and Death Laura's wit is as sharp as ever, Zach & Reyes' lively dynamic lends itself to quips, insults and tasteful helpings of sarcasm, all of which had me audibly smirking, snickering and straight up laughing throughout the book with masterful frequency. These moments of relief are well placed and never undermine the plot's more serious moments, of which there are plenty.
Like its predecessor, Love and Death explores some dark themes and has a lengthy list of trigger warnings to show for it at the front of the book. Trauma, grief and emotional distress are very much a core factor throughout Love and Death, and this is to be expected from a town with scars as deep as Willow Falls, but Laura makes sure not to retread old ground, instead offering us a different perspective to the one readers experienced through the eyes of Linc & Milo in the first book; if theirs is the tale of a haunted heart, then Love and Death is the tale of a wounded one.
Unlike the grief of recent memory that is depicted in Cold Cold Heart, the focal point of Zach & Reyes' story is that of decades old trauma, unprocessed and festering in their hearts as it's shaped them through 21 long years into adulthood. Try as they might our protagonists are unable to escape their past, each of them attempting to hide from it in their own way, sweeping it under the rug or drowning it down with booze. Despite a longing desire to simply pick up where they left off in highschool, the pain of sins past commands a chasm between our would-be lovers, and decades of bitterness, self hatred and avoidance have all but sealed their fate as reluctant but dutiful enemies; or so they think.
When thinking of the regretful status quo Zach & Reyes find themselves resigned to, I'm reminded of something often spoken in therapy: “You're not healing to be able to handle the trauma. You are healing to be able to handle the joy.” I find this quote resonates perfectly with the narrative of Love and Death and speaks to the profoundness of Laura Jordan's storytelling. Zach & Reyes are two people who, deep down, want to move on but can't let go of their pain. At the start of the book we're meeting them after a lifetime of hiding from their trauma, and as the reader we have the privilege and the heartache of being a fly on the wall as they try to pick up the pieces and finally face their shattered friendship.
Fans of Cold Cold Heart will be pleased to know not only do Linc and Milo make an appearance but it's both well earned and gratifying. While other authors might be tempted to relegate past protagonists to a brief cameo for fan service, Laura manages to weave their wholesome melody into the mix perfectly without overshadowing the newfound rhythm we have in Zach & Reyes. The events of the previous book are excellently interwoven into the narrative of Love and Death, in such a way that not only rewards fans of Cold Cold Heart but also allows the new story to stand firmly on it's own merits; you could technically read this sequel without having read the previous in the series and the narrative would be perfectly functional, I do however highly recommend reading Cold Cold Heart first as it's plot points have repercussions that carry over into Love and Death, where said events are referenced and thus spoiled.
With each instalment the saga of Willow Falls evolves and with it so does our familiarity with the characters, when reading I'm left with the sense that these are real people with genuine ties and their dynamic is not only believable but complementary to each other, in a way that makes the world building of both books stronger in tandem. Despite the many horrors that plague Willow Falls, upon closing the book on Love and Death the reader begins to feel at home in this tangled town, and that's entirely by virtue of the authentic, pure hearted cast of characters Laura has cultivated to inhabit it; a significant achievement after only two books in.
Laura's ability to write relatable, complex and interesting characters is in full force here. Zach & Reyes are imperfect, faulty and damaged people and that makes them so human and so accessible to the reader. There's no doubt a great many people will be able to find something within the pages of Love and Death that rings true to life for them.
In Zach we see that few of us were who we wanted to be as teenagers, and it's tempting to spend our adulthood punishing ourselves for that, desperate to change our ways and grow, but all the while fixated on the past and unable to enjoy that growth when it finally blooms; believing innately that we don't deserve it.
With Reyes we find it can be incredibly hard to forgive those who have wronged us, to have wounds so deep they've long faded to scars, trauma we've never truly healed from despite our best efforts to move forward and forget. When the pain is too much to face we convince ourselves we can leave our enemies in the past, whilst under the surface our hearts have brought them with us; emotionally holding them hostage for their transgressions, never looking back but never letting go.
As someone who's personally wrestled with emotions such as these I've found reading Love and Death to be deeply impactful and cathartic. Ultimately it's a tale of forgiveness, not just for others but for ourselves too. Through Zach & Reyes, Laura beautifully demonstrates that we aren't our past, and we need to let ourselves grow beyond the grief we both cause and receive in turn, only then can we finally begin to heal.
Finishing this book I'm left gleaming with excitement for the series, my expectations have truly been exceeded and I cannot wait for whatever happens next.
Captivating, cathartic and suspenseful. A fantastic sequel that expands on the saga of Willow Falls whilst distinctly standing on its own two feet. I highly recommend Love and Death for lovers of mystery, romance, LGBTQ stories, and of course: lovers of all things Laura Jordan.
Nothing bad ever happens in Willow Falls...except of course, when it does, at which point the town's serene façade slips, like a hollow smile collapsing as it falls into the abyss. Nothing drives this home better than the opening scene, a preliminary chapter punctuated by a hook that beckons the reader forward into Love and Death with a healthy pace. It's the first of many vignettes spaced throughout the book that act as the subplot to the main narrative, together they work really well to convey this sense of everpresent danger stalking the town; Death looms in the shadows, cold, emotionless and lethal, waiting to eclipse the narrative of the books protagonists: Zachary Becker & Reyes Moreno.
Much like the town itself, Zach and Reyes - who had a background presence in the first book in the series 'Cold Cold Heart' - are imperfect, complex and haunted by their past, with a history together going all the way back to highschool, where a shared trauma destroyed their friendship and set them apart for 21 years until a chance reunion throws them back into each other's gravitational pull; but this is not a harmonious reuniting. Much like the formation of the moon their convergence is an embittered collision and it is out of that debris that Zach & Reyes must forge a path forward if they hope to overcome their past, and survive their present.
Laura knows how to write a scene, and Love and Death is full of those moments where you feel wholly immersed in the narrative, as always her writing is bewitchingly moreish and compelling; I often found myself saying "Ok just one more chapter" upon finishing the previous. The two main characters are written as such that you can't get enough of their interactions, much to their chagrin Zach & Reyes have that kind of rousing chemistry that is as thrilling as it is fraught, whether its resentful or lustful it's a friction they can't escape and it's always entertaining in equal measure. It's here that Laura's chapter format of choice, the tried and true dual point of view, really excels at leaving the reader desperate to digest both Zach & Reyes' thoughts and feelings on whatever event, interaction or consequence has just befallen them.
Throughout the book we're introduced to a range of colourful and diverse supporting cast, most notable of which are Adira and Isla who are incredibly endearing and witty; it's truly a delight whenever they're on the page.
Humour is a welcome comfort in Laura Jordan's books and with Love and Death Laura's wit is as sharp as ever, Zach & Reyes' lively dynamic lends itself to quips, insults and tasteful helpings of sarcasm, all of which had me audibly smirking, snickering and straight up laughing throughout the book with masterful frequency. These moments of relief are well placed and never undermine the plot's more serious moments, of which there are plenty.
Like its predecessor, Love and Death explores some dark themes and has a lengthy list of trigger warnings to show for it at the front of the book. Trauma, grief and emotional distress are very much a core factor throughout Love and Death, and this is to be expected from a town with scars as deep as Willow Falls, but Laura makes sure not to retread old ground, instead offering us a different perspective to the one readers experienced through the eyes of Linc & Milo in the first book; if theirs is the tale of a haunted heart, then Love and Death is the tale of a wounded one.
Unlike the grief of recent memory that is depicted in Cold Cold Heart, the focal point of Zach & Reyes' story is that of decades old trauma, unprocessed and festering in their hearts as it's shaped them through 21 long years into adulthood. Try as they might our protagonists are unable to escape their past, each of them attempting to hide from it in their own way, sweeping it under the rug or drowning it down with booze. Despite a longing desire to simply pick up where they left off in highschool, the pain of sins past commands a chasm between our would-be lovers, and decades of bitterness, self hatred and avoidance have all but sealed their fate as reluctant but dutiful enemies; or so they think.
When thinking of the regretful status quo Zach & Reyes find themselves resigned to, I'm reminded of something often spoken in therapy: “You're not healing to be able to handle the trauma. You are healing to be able to handle the joy.” I find this quote resonates perfectly with the narrative of Love and Death and speaks to the profoundness of Laura Jordan's storytelling. Zach & Reyes are two people who, deep down, want to move on but can't let go of their pain. At the start of the book we're meeting them after a lifetime of hiding from their trauma, and as the reader we have the privilege and the heartache of being a fly on the wall as they try to pick up the pieces and finally face their shattered friendship.
Fans of Cold Cold Heart will be pleased to know not only do Linc and Milo make an appearance but it's both well earned and gratifying. While other authors might be tempted to relegate past protagonists to a brief cameo for fan service, Laura manages to weave their wholesome melody into the mix perfectly without overshadowing the newfound rhythm we have in Zach & Reyes. The events of the previous book are excellently interwoven into the narrative of Love and Death, in such a way that not only rewards fans of Cold Cold Heart but also allows the new story to stand firmly on it's own merits; you could technically read this sequel without having read the previous in the series and the narrative would be perfectly functional, I do however highly recommend reading Cold Cold Heart first as it's plot points have repercussions that carry over into Love and Death, where said events are referenced and thus spoiled.
With each instalment the saga of Willow Falls evolves and with it so does our familiarity with the characters, when reading I'm left with the sense that these are real people with genuine ties and their dynamic is not only believable but complementary to each other, in a way that makes the world building of both books stronger in tandem. Despite the many horrors that plague Willow Falls, upon closing the book on Love and Death the reader begins to feel at home in this tangled town, and that's entirely by virtue of the authentic, pure hearted cast of characters Laura has cultivated to inhabit it; a significant achievement after only two books in.
Laura's ability to write relatable, complex and interesting characters is in full force here. Zach & Reyes are imperfect, faulty and damaged people and that makes them so human and so accessible to the reader. There's no doubt a great many people will be able to find something within the pages of Love and Death that rings true to life for them.
In Zach we see that few of us were who we wanted to be as teenagers, and it's tempting to spend our adulthood punishing ourselves for that, desperate to change our ways and grow, but all the while fixated on the past and unable to enjoy that growth when it finally blooms; believing innately that we don't deserve it.
With Reyes we find it can be incredibly hard to forgive those who have wronged us, to have wounds so deep they've long faded to scars, trauma we've never truly healed from despite our best efforts to move forward and forget. When the pain is too much to face we convince ourselves we can leave our enemies in the past, whilst under the surface our hearts have brought them with us; emotionally holding them hostage for their transgressions, never looking back but never letting go.
As someone who's personally wrestled with emotions such as these I've found reading Love and Death to be deeply impactful and cathartic. Ultimately it's a tale of forgiveness, not just for others but for ourselves too. Through Zach & Reyes, Laura beautifully demonstrates that we aren't our past, and we need to let ourselves grow beyond the grief we both cause and receive in turn, only then can we finally begin to heal.
Finishing this book I'm left gleaming with excitement for the series, my expectations have truly been exceeded and I cannot wait for whatever happens next.
Captivating, cathartic and suspenseful. A fantastic sequel that expands on the saga of Willow Falls whilst distinctly standing on its own two feet. I highly recommend Love and Death for lovers of mystery, romance, LGBTQ stories, and of course: lovers of all things Laura Jordan.
December 20, 2024
I don’t know if this was such a let down because I had such high expectations going into this after the first book, but this read like a first draft. Firstly, the copy and line editing was very bad. In some cases characters names were spelt wrong and there were spelling and grammar mistakes on almost every page. Outside of that, which I could overlook if the story and characters were well developed, every character in this book was like a caricature. They made very little sense. Their personalities for almost 80% of the book were entirely 2D and inconsistent. We had a man who did two tours in Afghanistan and going through immense loss and grief from loss of best friends be solely fixated on an incident that happened 21 years ago, with no introspection or discussion on how two decades in military shaped him as a man. I will also say that we were reminded of “21 years ago” over 20 times in this book. I was so frustrated by reading that term over and over again, I actually searched it in the book and that was the results. Not to mention the entire murder mystery was extremely unbelievable, especially the ending when the culprit, depicted as a deranged nefarious villain, just pled guilty and refused a lawyer. Her motivation made NO sense. This needed a few more rounds of developmental edits before being published IMO. There were a lot of points where I wanted to DNF, but I stuck with it because 1. Milo and Linc had some appearances and 2. There was some potential here.
July 19, 2025
3 ⭐️s
No... I didn't like this one as much as I did the first one.
It was bad enough that one of the MCs slept with a random woman at the start of the book, but 50% in and this same MC has made and gone on a date with someone else. Someone he'd been drooling over in the prior chapter. And that kinda turned me off.
Then again, I read the reviews, and Gregory Ashe highly recommended this book, and his books are famous for the MCs sleeping with other people. So I should have known better than to trust his recommendation.
Also, you expect me to believe that these 2 MCs will eventually fall in love when 50% in, Reyes still hasn't forgiven Zach nor has he acknowledged Zach's grief. It's like he doesn't even see Zach, let alone being attracted to him, despite their shared history.
Furthermore, Zach is supposed to be a doctor, and he's barely done any work. He's running around with Reyes, and I'm like, what's the point? It's not like Reyes is softening towards him.
I don't know. I just felt the effort was very one-sided.
Zach allowed Reyes to move into his house, his personal, private space, where he had to hide and grieve. And Reyes was still being an asshole to him. I just wanted to give Zach a hug.
Yes, he "ruined" Reyes' life. Although, if you asked me, I'd say Reyes' parents did that. But regardless, Zach has met his karma, if that's the case. His kid died for Christ’s sake. And Reyes is still over here pretending like he's the only one who's hurt, and I genuinely hated him for that.
And while it all worked out in the end, there were still some unanswered questions.
Like, who was the man who attacked them in the real estate office? When Reyes was describing him, he said the figure was big, bigger than him. And if this attacker is supposed to be the killer, we know that's not true because the killer's body type was described very differently. Also, why did he ask Georgie to delete the footage other than send it to him so they could analyze it for clues on who their attacker was?
Also, what happened with the relationship between Reyes and his mother, did they try to reconcile? Or his brother for that matter, who he was literally running around trying to prove he was innocent. Did his brother say thank you? Are they working on their relationship going forward?
Did Zach eventually tell the police what his ex-wife did?
I still loved the writing and the banter, it was really good.
I loved Zach high on pain meds. That part made me actually lol'ed.
The narrators did an EXCELLENT job.
Overall, not a bad read. I just wish it was a little less drama and more nonstop action like book 1.
No... I didn't like this one as much as I did the first one.
It was bad enough that one of the MCs slept with a random woman at the start of the book, but 50% in and this same MC has made and gone on a date with someone else. Someone he'd been drooling over in the prior chapter. And that kinda turned me off.
Then again, I read the reviews, and Gregory Ashe highly recommended this book, and his books are famous for the MCs sleeping with other people. So I should have known better than to trust his recommendation.
Also, you expect me to believe that these 2 MCs will eventually fall in love when 50% in, Reyes still hasn't forgiven Zach nor has he acknowledged Zach's grief. It's like he doesn't even see Zach, let alone being attracted to him, despite their shared history.
Furthermore, Zach is supposed to be a doctor, and he's barely done any work. He's running around with Reyes, and I'm like, what's the point? It's not like Reyes is softening towards him.
I don't know. I just felt the effort was very one-sided.
Zach allowed Reyes to move into his house, his personal, private space, where he had to hide and grieve. And Reyes was still being an asshole to him. I just wanted to give Zach a hug.
Yes, he "ruined" Reyes' life. Although, if you asked me, I'd say Reyes' parents did that. But regardless, Zach has met his karma, if that's the case. His kid died for Christ’s sake. And Reyes is still over here pretending like he's the only one who's hurt, and I genuinely hated him for that.
And while it all worked out in the end, there were still some unanswered questions.
Like, who was the man who attacked them in the real estate office? When Reyes was describing him, he said the figure was big, bigger than him. And if this attacker is supposed to be the killer, we know that's not true because the killer's body type was described very differently. Also, why did he ask Georgie to delete the footage other than send it to him so they could analyze it for clues on who their attacker was?
Also, what happened with the relationship between Reyes and his mother, did they try to reconcile? Or his brother for that matter, who he was literally running around trying to prove he was innocent. Did his brother say thank you? Are they working on their relationship going forward?
Did Zach eventually tell the police what his ex-wife did?
I still loved the writing and the banter, it was really good.
I loved Zach high on pain meds. That part made me actually lol'ed.
The narrators did an EXCELLENT job.
Overall, not a bad read. I just wish it was a little less drama and more nonstop action like book 1.
November 30, 2024
Epic! Gay! Mystery!!!
What a beautiful book. I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to make sense of my thoughts around it. Without any spoilers, here's my attempt at expressing.y love for this. Truly, I can barely comprehend how incredible this was.
Laura has a gift when it comes to storytelling and it's abundantly clear in this book. The snippets of other perspectives we see are such a fun way of offering readers a broader view of the story unfolding. And speaking of perspectives, the dual POV between the two main characters is such a treat to read! I loved knowing the way each of them were feeling, especially given the fact that these two are going from friends to enemies to... Well, you'll just have to read it and find out just what.
But oh these characters! It was impossible not to fall in love with them. To me, perfect characters are not perfect. Zachary and Reyes are not perfect, which is what makes them both such beautiful characters. They both accept their flaws and have the strength to admit them, which makes it almost impossible not to like them both almost immediately.
One of my favourite things about Laura's books is how beautifully she describes everything. Something I love when reading is hearing the author's voice come through. Laura's often does, while still maintaining unique perspectives from each of the characters. This book achieves this perfectly.
If you've read Laura's previous novel Cold, Cold Heart then you'll be familiar with Willow Falls. If you're anything like me, you'll love each mention that connects back to the previous book. When we first see Milo and Linc - the leads of Cold, Cold Heart - I nearly lost my mind.
Willow Falls has become familiar to the readers and, for me at least, returning to this town and these characters felt like a long awaited reunion. Despite the crimes clouding the little town, it feels warm and comforting.
This book made me smile, laugh, cry. I couldn't put it down but I hated when it was over. I didn't want it to end.
There are a thousand things I could say, but I'd fall short of explaining just how great this book is. The best thing I could say is to read it and experience it yourself.
What a beautiful book. I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to make sense of my thoughts around it. Without any spoilers, here's my attempt at expressing.y love for this. Truly, I can barely comprehend how incredible this was.
Laura has a gift when it comes to storytelling and it's abundantly clear in this book. The snippets of other perspectives we see are such a fun way of offering readers a broader view of the story unfolding. And speaking of perspectives, the dual POV between the two main characters is such a treat to read! I loved knowing the way each of them were feeling, especially given the fact that these two are going from friends to enemies to... Well, you'll just have to read it and find out just what.
But oh these characters! It was impossible not to fall in love with them. To me, perfect characters are not perfect. Zachary and Reyes are not perfect, which is what makes them both such beautiful characters. They both accept their flaws and have the strength to admit them, which makes it almost impossible not to like them both almost immediately.
One of my favourite things about Laura's books is how beautifully she describes everything. Something I love when reading is hearing the author's voice come through. Laura's often does, while still maintaining unique perspectives from each of the characters. This book achieves this perfectly.
If you've read Laura's previous novel Cold, Cold Heart then you'll be familiar with Willow Falls. If you're anything like me, you'll love each mention that connects back to the previous book. When we first see Milo and Linc - the leads of Cold, Cold Heart - I nearly lost my mind.
Willow Falls has become familiar to the readers and, for me at least, returning to this town and these characters felt like a long awaited reunion. Despite the crimes clouding the little town, it feels warm and comforting.
This book made me smile, laugh, cry. I couldn't put it down but I hated when it was over. I didn't want it to end.
There are a thousand things I could say, but I'd fall short of explaining just how great this book is. The best thing I could say is to read it and experience it yourself.
January 17, 2025
A blonde flirty sunshine guy with a swimmer’s body does something awful out of fear to the guy he fancies at school, who then leaves. He marries and divorces a woman and goes into a public service job to help people. Earlier guy comes back and they live together for reasons. Did this start as John Henry Somerset fan fiction?
I enjoyed this but I’m a bit confused about the missing 21 years and how they missed birthdays, funerals, photos etc to not know their relation in common. And yet Reyes did return enough to date at least one local for a while?
I enjoyed this but I’m a bit confused about the missing 21 years and how they missed birthdays, funerals, photos etc to not know their relation in common. And yet Reyes did return enough to date at least one local for a while?
December 3, 2024
I love Laura Jordans books! This one doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed meeting Ryes and Zach and watching their story unfold. I also really enjoyed seeing Linc & Milo again.
There were many scenes that really made me feel for the characters.
The end was really climatic & vaguely nauseating 😬 👀 I'd say more but I don't wanna spoil a thing.
Would recommend to anyone looking for a good queer read or a good suspense mystery.
There were many scenes that really made me feel for the characters.
The end was really climatic & vaguely nauseating 😬 👀 I'd say more but I don't wanna spoil a thing.
Would recommend to anyone looking for a good queer read or a good suspense mystery.
January 3, 2025
Loved this follow up to ‘Cold, Cold Heart’. Well written, well rounded MC’s and interesting murder mystery. Funny, entertaining and threatening in turn. I hope there is a follow up featuring the cops, Snow and Arden. Great book.
December 5, 2024
I am crawling on my hands and knees begging for book 3 to be finished
July 9, 2025
Was okay. Couldn't really get behind the redemption arc.
It also deals with too many topics. Adoption, child death, coming out, family, and on top an unbelievable crime solving.
The book refers to too many other books or media, which is very annoying. One chapter even has a very detailed FM sex scene from an audiobook the character listens to. Why is that there?!
It also deals with too many topics. Adoption, child death, coming out, family, and on top an unbelievable crime solving.
The book refers to too many other books or media, which is very annoying. One chapter even has a very detailed FM sex scene from an audiobook the character listens to. Why is that there?!
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