The Face of My Killer

From Sea and Skye #1

by Jordan Victoria

A breakup followed by a blackout.

After his boyfriend dumped him and a night of terror, Theo left England without looking back. He tries to ignore the nightmares that have plagued him for twelve years, pushing everything down, pretending he’s okay. All he wants is a quiet life in his little village on the Isle of Skye.

But then the last person he would have expected turns up to his cousin’s wedding. Bailey is suddenly back in his life, acting as though he doesn’t remember the night that left a permanent scar on Theo.
~
Theo is not the same boy Bailey fell in love with. He’s full of anger and resentment that seems to have come from nowhere. However much he tries, Bailey can’t remember the night Theo ran away. Now that they’re stuck in close proximity for a month, Bailey pushes Theo to tell him what happened. But when Theo finally fills in the gaps, Bailey’s whole world shatters.
~
This is an angsty second chance MM romance that is book 1 in the From Sea and Skye series. The book is a standalone in an interconnected series, and ends with a HEA. (The book is written in 1st person present tense)

Genres: M M Romance, Dark Romance, Second Chance, Romance, Dark, Friends To Lovers, Found Family

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2026

About the author

Jordan Victoria is an English queer author who loves to write passionate queer romance that explores mental health and tackling trauma.

Reviews

[patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Face of My Killer [From Sea and Skye #1] by Jordan Victoria
MC: Theo & Bailey
4.4⭐


🖤Hurt x Comfort
🖤Second Chance
🖤Best Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
🖤Trauma and Healing
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Dark Themes
🖤English MC x Scottish MC
🖤Dual POV
🖤Dual timeline

I chose to read this because I requested Book 2 as an ARC and wanted to meet these characters first... and because that cover. 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 Honestly, it's one of my favourite covers ever, and thankfully the story ended up doing it justice.

Before I say anything else, please check the content warnings. This is a heavy read centred around trauma and abuse. Both Theo and Bailey endure deeply traumatic experiences that leave lasting psychological scars, leading to panic attacks, flashbacks, and countless triggers throughout the story. It's an emotional journey, but one I felt was handled with care and compassion.

I love it when I spend 50% of a book plotting to murder my past self for picking it up... and then the second half comes along and completely humbles me.

Wow.

Jordan Victoria somehow managed to turn so many of my frustrations into strengths. She made me (almost) forget every rant I'd been mentally composing, and I absolutely loved watching the story unfold.

There's something incredibly special about Teddy and Bailey. And yes, Teddy is just for Bay🫠🫠🫠🫠

He kisses my forehead and says, “Darling,” with a deep Scottish burr.
Then a kiss to my cheek. “Honey.”
On my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “Love.”[…]
“I think … mo leannan,” he whispers.[…]
“What does that mean?” I pant, looking into his eyes.[…]
“It means ‘my sweetheart.’

This is a deeply emotional second-chance romance about two men carrying unimaginable trauma, and watching them slowly find their way back to each other was everything I wanted it to be. Their relationship felt gentle, patient and, above all, safe. After everything they'd endured, seeing them become the place where the other could finally breathe made every painful moment worth it.

I also loved how healing was portrayed. Love isn't presented as a magical cure, and I appreciated that both Theo and Bailey end the story still in therapy. Their relationship gives them hope and a reason to keep moving forward, but it doesn't erase years of trauma. That felt honest and incredibly refreshing.

The plot kept me invested from beginning to end. Even though I predicted several of the major reveals, it never lessened my enjoyment. Every new layer simply added more emotional depth, especially Bailey's heartbreaking realization that the monster he'd believed lived inside himself had actually been the person living beside him all those years. That reveal hit me hard.

Their intimacy is so beautiful and incredibly intimate... but don't worry, your smutty needs will be well taken care of too. 😏🔥

“I want you to say it again.”
“Say what?” I huff, trying to take over, grinding my hips and gasping as his cock brushes over my prostate. He lets go of my hair and grips my hips, forcing me to sit still.
“Say you’re good again.” He starts stroking my cock, far too loosely to do anything except keep me on the edge.
“Why?”
“Because you deserve to believe it, mo ghráidh.”

I also appreciated how their years apart were handled. Teddy largely avoided dating because he realised he needed a genuine emotional connection before intimacy ever felt meaningful. Bailey had only a handful of hookups before antidepressants and the weight of his trauma extinguished what little interest he had left. Neither of them found what they were searching for, and both spent years essentially alone. Their reunion becomes the first time in over a decade that either of them truly feels safe, understood and wanted again, making their second chance feel completely earned.

I do still stand by some of my earlier criticisms. I wanted to spend more time experiencing Theo and Bailey's friendship before everything fell apart because I wanted to fully understand how that bond became so consuming. Some supporting characters could have been developed further, I wished the stunning Isle of Skye had been woven more vividly into the story, and I wanted more context surrounding the twelve years they spent apart and the people who entered their lives during that time. Those missing details occasionally made the world feel less immersive than it could have been.

Och aye, that's exactly what I wanted! More kilts, more Scottish burr, more "aye, laddie!" moments, and more cheesy Scottish stereotypes, please! 😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Is it perfect? No.

Can I still find flaws? Absolutely.

But for a debut?

I stand and applaud Jordan Victoria. 👏👏👏👏

More than anything, I'm just so happy I got to meet Teddy and Bailey.

“This is not the face of my killer. This is the face of the boy I left behind. The boy I loved, and the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. There’s nothing of Shane in you, Bay.”
A strangled noise comes from him as he shakes his head.
“Yes.” I run my thumb over his bottom lip, wet from both our tears. “Stay with me, mo ghráidh. I’ll show you every day who you are.”
He kisses me gently and breathes against my lips for a moment before he whispers, “I never want to leave."

⚠️Author Content Warnings
Explicit sexual content for mature audiences only (18+)
Undiagnosed PTSD
Diagnosed cPTSD
Flashbacks/nightmares
Depression
Panic attacks
Anxiety
Blackouts
Gaslighting
Situational mutism
Self-harm (hot teaspoon to skin and knife pricking finger)
Kidnapping
Murder (on-page, detailed)
Physical violence (a couple of incidents between the MCs)
Rage incidents caused by emotional dysregulation (both MCs)
Physical abuse (detailed on page, not between MCs)
Sexual abuse (lead-up is detailed but fades to black, not between MCs)
Grooming (does not go into detail)
Emotional abuse (not between MCs)
Psychological manipulation (not between MCs)
Arson
Dead animals (details of rotting carcasses)
Death of a parent (on-page memory in detail)

❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama: No real other person drama—only brief, emotionless hookups before the reunion.
Third-Act Breakup: Yes 12 years
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Series for different couple
Ending: HFN
Angst Level: High
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Heavy miscommunication
Pining: Mutual

[Taylor Priem · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SH*TBALLS!!!


5⭐️

✨BUCKLE UP B!TCH THIS ONE COMES IN FAST AND HARD… SOOOOO GOOD, 100% a MUST READ!!!!✨

OHHH GIRL IM IN A CHOKEHOLD… JUST KEEP DRAGGING ME FARTHER I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK LIKE WHAT THE F^CK IS HAPPENING (respectfully like its so good but like im so anxious and nervous but i love every second of it)

The cover for the face of my killer really drew me in and I knew I was gonna get myself into some spooky fun but lord it was way more of twisting your mind and I loved the psychological aspects it had and the wild ride it made me go on cause I for sure felt like I was getting psychologically unstable with reading and I loved it even if it was subtle at times like it still got you thinking crazy in a way.

Bay my baby this man has gone through so much with being apart of an unstable household that really messed with him mentally and emotionally really bad and it caused so much and his brother …. Really messed him up. And bay just wanted to be with Teddy his person, his home but Shane never wanted to share bay and that broke my heart. And how we saw bay grow and fall hard it broke my heart no matter what he just needed a safe space and I’m glad he finally got that even though he had it all along but he just needed a clearer mindset.

Teddy omgggg the way he fell hard for bay it really was so cute I loved it but then we saw pieces of their relationship and then what happened why that 12 year break happened and all the miss interpretations of what happened and hearing both sides it broke my heart. My babies really loved each other but in the mindset of someone being there to mess your life up it tore them apart and when we found out everything I sobbed like my poor babies they really loved each other and would’ve been each others person sooner but someone got in the way.


“I think if I were given a choice to do that again, I’d run after you every single time” FUCKKK MY HEART LIKE OMGGGGG

“I’m finally home” “you are my home” - these quotes really broke my Soul I sobbed so hard because how much I loved Bailey and Theo like I love my babies so much and they were so each others person even from afar they were always connected in some sort of way and the way they still got thrown together and how their lives clashed again and memories fluttered in like a raging waterfall like after that they were never going to not be together they just needed to find themselves within each other and they did and my soul feels complete knowing they are okay in some sort of way they have each other.

I really didn’t want this story to End I was so emotionally invested with both baileys and Theo’s story but just the whole plot and aspects of suspense/thriller it very felt like I was on the edge of my seat I was so anxious cause I needed to know what tf was gonna happen next and BOY DID I FIND OUT LIKE GIRLL THIS IS STRAIGHT UP A FREAKING MASTERPIECE LIKE I NEED MORE !!!

I’m so excited for the world to see and read Bailey and theo’s story and fall in love and more with them like I did and enjoy this wild, beautiful, emotional, and so many more, ride BUCKLE UP THIS WAS A WILD RIDE AND I LOVED IT CALL ME OBSESSED.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like these new book releases just aren't doing it for me 😩 This was one of those books I was really looking forward to, but sadly it ended up being a bit of a letdown.

I’m not saying that the book is bad, and especially for a debut it’s good. Also the story, characters and plot are interesting and different. Because of that, I ended up giving 3⭐️, but the overall execution just didn't quite work for me personally.

My biggest issues were the predictability, the fact that the events and characters frustrated me, and the lack of chemistry or connection between the main couple -an attempt was there to build it through flashbacks, but I just couldn't feel it.

With some books, if the story and the writing pulls me in, I can just go with the vibes and ignore any inconsistencies, but with this one, I had a hard time buying into it.

So yeah, it’s not hard to guess right from the start what’s going on with Shane and Bailey. As soon as his twin brother is mentioned and we learn a little about Bailey, it’s clear what’s going on in the background. But I was like whatever, it's still interesting, let's continue.

But then, around the 50% mark, I started getting really frustrated, and usually if that happens, the book loses me.

I just can't get over the fact that Bailey never even considered the possibility that he didn't do those things himself. Yeah, he’s clearly (and understandably) extremely traumatized, and this started when they were 10(?), but still. Especially since Shane treated him so badly from the beginning and a lot of the things just didn’t make any sense. Didn’t he ever doubt, wonder, or consider that, hmm, could there be some other explanation for this? And then the fact that he just constantly accepts the punishments and that he needs to be “fixed” by being hurt by Shane. The way all of this was written, it didn't convince me.

And then there’s also the fact that Bailey just moved in with Theo’s parents for two years, and nobody questioned that either—that too just happened. A lot of things in this book just happen. So they lived together for two years and were very close, and Theo didn’t notice or suspect anything at any point? He didn’t question B's family life or home situation? Yeah, they were young, but I’d think that by age 18, for example, you’d have some common sense—and didn’t the parents notice or question anything at all either?

And precisely because they were so close and knew each other so well, didn't Theo even consider that it might have been Shane (since he knew about the twin brother and how he behaved) or never question what happened in the shed? Yeah, he was drugged at the moment, but he still seemed to remember what happened and what it looked like pretty well, and at any point over the years? 🤨

And even later on, Bailey is already (if I understood correctly) 30 years old and he’s been in therapy for years, so hasn’t he still questioned his past or his and Shane’s role in all this? I just couldn’t buy this story, and it and the characters frustrated me too much!😂

Yeah there was this:
”Once I moved in with you, I started to see things a little clearer, and when my mum found animals in the treehouse, I knew I hadn’t done it. But I’ve never been able to trust myself, not when Shane was always so quick to defend me, or tell me he was hurting me for my own good.”
BUT this sentence too just doesn’t make any sense to me!?

Another thing that frustrated me was how they interacted when they started sorting things out. Theo knows at this point that it was Shane, and he tells Bailey the story, so why does he let him assume it was still B??! Why doesn't he just say right away, "Hey, this is what happened, but it was actually Shane"? Of course, because he doesn't make it clear, B then has a meltdown and runs away. Somehow there’s this unnecessary dramatic arc thrown in here again. Then after that, they just keep arguing and blaming each other for the past and for leaving each other.

I didn't like the way their relationship processed at this point.

And did I somehow miss why they had to go back to Cumbria—yeah, because of B's work, but what was the point? Couldn’t this scene have just happened there in Skye? Then they just went back to Skye right away anyway?

Then there was this somewhat random chain of events where they leave the wedding and head to Theo’s place; things escalate physically, but then B has a traumatic reaction, and gets mad at Theo and blames him for the past, then suddenly they’d taken a 3-hour nap while everyone else was at the wedding, and when they wake up they go out for a moment to look at the cows until they come back inside and end up having sex. (??)

And then... THAT IG PHOTO. First of all, why would one of Theo’s random past dates take a photo of them for her own IG and then tag him? And it’s as if we don’t know right away what’s going to happen next? Was this done on purpose to be so easily predictable?🤔 It could have been written in a more sneaky way/revealed later.

Then there’s suddenly this pile of smut scenes, which I actually skipped entirely because I hadn’t found any chemistry between these characters yet, so I just couldn't be bothered.

However, the ending was good and interesting because Shane tells his side of the story—the reason why he started bullying Bailey—and the action scene was pretty good. And I do want to give the next one a chance!

[Shelby | Spicy.booknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very emotional second chance romance that had a lot going for it and I definitely recommend for those that love hurt/comfort stories, and broken MCs.

This story starts out with Theo absolutely hating Bailey. Thankfully we have a dual timeline that allows you to feel the young love blooming between these two, and eventually the events that tear them apart.

Not gonna lie, it’s pretty dark and has abuse on page that just breaks your heart, so check the TW. You absolutely feel for these characters and want the best for them and their healing is immensely satisfying. We do get lots of interactions from their family and friends, so parts are a little lighthearted to break up all the angst. Can’t wait to continue the series to see more of these characters.

Contemporary MM
Suspense/Thriller
Dual Timeline
Second Chance
Hurt / Comfort
Traumatized MC
Found Family
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥

[labibliofille · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Face of My Killer started out a tad confusing and iffy for me, but DANG did it pick up and suck me in quick! I'm obsessed with these boys and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I did call exactly what was going on at all the turns, which is why this is getting 4 instead of 5 stars, but I still had a great time reading this book.

[Andrew Smith-Mebust · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid 4.5 stars for me!

This story is like a snowball that starts at the top of the mountain, very tiny, but as it rolls down and picks up the pace, it grows into something gigantic and horrifying. That’s how I’d describe this book 😂

It started off insanely slow for me, but once I locked in at around 20% where we started getting into the meat of the story, I couldn’t put it down!

The love story is ::chefs kiss::

The plot itself. Insane.

I really enjoyed it and look forward to more from this author!

Thank you for an ARC from Jordan Victoria and their team in exchange for an honest review!

[GiveMeBooksOrGiveMeDeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional Damage 5 🌟

This is the first book in the From Sea And Skye series. Available May 4, 2026

When I started this book, I didn’t know what to expect. I was so drawn into the story and the characters. Theo and Bailey’s story was heartbreaking as it was heartwarming. The emotions conveyed in the story really came through and I felt all the hurt and happiness that the characters were feeling while I was reading it. This is a dark romance, emphasis on the dark, so I would advise reading the trigger warnings beforehand. That being said it was like watching a horror movie and I couldn’t look away, once I started reading I didn’t want to stop because I absolutely had to know what happened next. Surprisingly to me there were some unexpected events that I did not predict which I was very happy about because I usually guess ahead of time. Despite the horrors, our boys do get a hard earned happy ending. This was an excellently written story with well developed characters and emotional depth. My compliments to the author and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

[anita]

arc review

The Face of My Killer was a solid debut from Jordan Victoria. I enjoyed this overall and found the premise really interesting. The writing was good, and there were definitely moments that kept me stuck to my kindle. That said, it took me longer than expected to finish because some chapters started to feel repetitive, and the pacing felt a bit drawn out for my personal taste.

Give this one a chance if you're up to:
🖤Hurt x Comfort
🖤Second Chance
🖤Best Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
🖤Trauma and Healing
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Dark Themes
🖤English MC x Scottish MC
🖤Dual POV
🖤Dual timeline

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I really enjoyed this one.

This is a suspense/mystery wrapped in a second chance romance.
Theo is just trying to get through life with his job and meddling friends and family in his romantic life. When his cousin reminds him that he agreed to let her finances family stay at Theo’s farm before her wedding, he comes face to face with someone he’s tried to forget for over 10 years.
When Bailey arrives as his friend’s fiancés family farm to help prep their barn for the wedding, he has no idea that the man who left him years ago is the owner of the cottage he’s staying in. As he’s fixing things around the barn Theo approaches him with such violent hostility and punches him square in the face. This anger comes as a shock to Bailey because the last time they saw each other it was nothing that should have spiked these feelings in Theo. Now he’s worried about what he might have done. Did he make a mistake during a blackout? What did he do to deserve to have the man who he once loved hate him so much.
As the days go on and details don’t add up, Theo questions everything he thought he true. He is in search of the truth in hopes of making everything right again but not before the past comes to try and wreck everything both men have worked so hard for.


This story was paced so well and I think the transitions from past to present to explain the story and what happened were nicely spaced out. I was rooting for these guys the moment I realized what actually happened! I will say that it was sort of obvious from early on what the truth was to you as the reader. I didn’t necessarily guess all the details though. That didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story because I don’t think it was meant to be a full on mystery. I think you were meant to suspect what was wrong all along.

The spice was mild and more toward the second half of the book. It was still good and was filled with passion and devotion and caretaking. 3/5 🌶️

Please read the TW because there are a lot of things that could be triggering for some. There is SA (nothing on page but the lead up is), abuse (mental, physical, and emotional), and a good chunk of violence especially toward the climax of the book. Your mental health is more important than any book!

I can’t wait for the next book because I’m so curious 👀 of some side characters stories.

Thank you to the author for the ARC! all thoughts are my own.

[Ayla Shoulders · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars. Perfection. Bay & Teddy 😭😭😭😭 This book had me clinging to the edge of my seat the entire time. Just when you think you’re about to find out the truth, BAM, it’s flashback time! I loved the dual timeline. It kept the suspense going. My anxiety was through the fucking roof! The suspense was killer - (pun intended 😂). My jaw hurt by the time I finished reading from gritting my teeth through the entire book.

⚠️Read at your own risk beyond this point - possible spoilers

The Face Of My Killer is dark. It’s gut wrenching. And it’s so heavy.
Sweet little Bay’s story broke something in me. Just thinking about all the years he and Teddy lost is heartbreaking. And all the pain he endured his entire life… it was painful to read. And Teddy…. how awful having to live with the torment and anguish of thinking your soulmate tried to kill you. And after finding the truth, having to live with knowing you could have tried to save him. Ugh, these two fucked me up good.

This is a second chance love story about two boys who find each other when it’s needed most and are faced with trauma beyond your wildest imagination. The way the author writes their healing journey was so real and raw and emotional. And I love that Teddy and Bay aren’t really “fixed” in the end. They are still struggling every day, they aren’t just magically okay in the end and that makes this story so believable and beautiful.

From the moment Teddy helped Bay in the woods in the very beginning, I was hooked on their love story. Teddy letting him know it’s okay if he can’t talk right now without truly understanding why was so beautiful.

And before I end this, can we please talk about that COVER!!! Gah. So gorgeous. So much is expressed through Bailey’s eyes… 😭😭😭 In my top 10 favorite book covers of all time.

PS : CAN WE PLEASE NORMALIZE MMC’s WEARING KILTS, because goddamn that was sexy as hell. When Bay told him to leave the kilt on, I was like 🫠 thank you baby Jesus!

I’m obsessed. I can’t wait for more from this series. The side characters were *chefs kiss*!!

[BookshelfKisses · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book on IG and something just told me I had to pick it up immediately. I’m SO glad I listened because I absolutely loved it. ‘Teddy and Bay’ completely stole my heart. I felt so much for both of them throughout the entire book, and their story genuinely touched me. Second chance romances always hit differently for me, and the flashbacks? They broke my heart 🥺

I love books that make me feel and this one definitely did. The story was a little predictable at times, which is the main reason it wasn’t a full five stars for me, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every second of it. If you’re looking for an emotional second chance MM romance, I definitely recommend this one!

⭐️4

[Tare · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

This one is hard for me to rate because I found the plot points utterly fascinating (even if it was a biiit too OTT at the end). Check the TW though because this had a looooot and both of these MCs are not okay (to varying degrees).

And while I appreciated the whole wtffffff aspect of Bailey's brother, and my heart broke for both of them in their younger years I just did not feel any chemistry between the two. So that is where this book lost me.

Side note - I would've loved to listen to this on audio because one MC is Scottish and I tried to imagine his accent and it would be sooooo sexy if done well in an audio 😩

[T.R. Oriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Bailey, he was so sweet and went through so much... That book was a ride. A dark one. I love hurt/comfort, so I loved it.

I also really enjoyed the scene with Teddy in the kilt. :)

[Zarlina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin. This story pulled me in before I had even started it. I was so debating whether to sign up for the ARC or not because honestly, I didn't have time for another one. But I wanted to read this one so badly, so I signed up anyway. And yeah, I ended up late with my review. Life got in the way and I couldn't read it as fast as I wanted to, but oh was it worth the wait.

I loved it from the first chapter. I instantly fell for Theo and when Bailey first showed up again in his life my first wish was for him to leave again so Theo didn't have to face him.

But. Then we started to get to know Bailey, and soon I knew I'd die for him.

Precious, sweet, Bailey. Who thought he was so bad. Who couldn't believe there was anything good in him. Who had gone through so much pain and fear and ugh. I love him so much. And I love how soft Theo was with him, and how we got to follow both timelines to find out what had really happened.

I usually don't enjoy dual timeline books, but this one did it so well. It was the perfect way to tell the story, and each chapter telling us more about their past had my heart aching even more.

This whole book was brilliant. So painful, so sweet, so deliciously stunning. I've cried so many tears and cursed the author so, so many times. The way the characters found their way back together was beautiful, and even though it was a rough ride and all I wished for was their happy ending, I'm really sad the book is over.

I already miss them. They will stay with me for a long time. And I hope we'll get to see more of them in the rest of the series, even if it'll be about other characters.

Absolutely fantastic read. If you're still thinking of picking it up, I highly recommend you do so!

[|Stephanie| · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Even knowing what I know now, I think if I were given a choice to do that again, I’d run after you every single time.”

3.5 stars!

Highlights
-First loves to enemies to lovers again
-Hurt/comfort
-Forced proximity
-Dual POV
-Past/present timeline

TW:
Sexual assault on page
Torture on page

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Face of My Killer - Jordan Victoria
🌟 4.25/5 🌟

* SPOILERS *

When I started this book, I completely went in blind. I didn’t even know what it was about. I feel like those are the best books that really capture you because man, this book alone surprised me at every turn that I was not expecting.

I will say to please read the trigger warnings because your mental health is very important. Even though some parts weren’t too much, I still recommend taking care of yourself.

Theo and Bailey had my heart from beginning to end. What Bailey went through was rough and I knew without a doubt this man was stronger than he let on. The things that he went through just made me want to coddle him so nothing harmful could ever touch him.

I don’t want to give too much away but man, Bailey’s home was so toxic that I’m surprised how strong he came on top. When Shane finds him, I was crawling in my skin because all I could think of was “not again, hasn’t he been through enough?” I never knew I needed a HEA until these two got what they deserved.

When Theo found out what happened, ugh, my heart broke for him because he had no idea! Jesus…. My god. My heart broke for these two so much, especially their time apart. If anyone deserves a life full of joy and happiness, it’s these two.

If you want a story that keeps you on your toes and surprises you with every turn of the page, read this book because wow… just wow! I cannot wait to read the next book because yep, I’m all in for this series.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Julia Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book not really sure of what to expect but I was hooked from the start! Bailey and Theo's story is full of suspense, friendship, love and some secrets.
They become best friends and then lovers and after a horrible night they lose touch for 12 years. The trauma they both went through broke my heart! It was heartbreaking reading those chapters. Yet, these two are survivors and them finding each other again was what they needed. It was great seeing them patch things up and revisit what they had. Their love is so beautiful and strong and it was a joy to watch them be happy and in love again. I loved the caretaking and protectiveness in this book and it was great to see the longevity of their feelings for each other.

This book is definitely one you need to read. Expect trauma, suspense, Highland cows, nosey friends and a beautiful love story.

[Adam Broome · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Face of My Killer by Jordan Victoria had me hooked from the start and honestly a little (A LOT) stressed the entire time and binged the entire book in one day!

Second chance romance mixed with trauma, memory loss, and unresolved pain? Yeah… this one pulls you in quick. Page turning, chapter endings when you don’t want them to but then getting pulled in another direction when you least expect them to.

Theo’s character hit hard. You can feel the anger, the hurt, and everything he’s been carrying for years. The way he shut himself off and tried to just survive instead of actually live made so much sense, even when it hurt to watch.

And then Bailey, oh my sweet, sweet Bailey, comes back into his life like nothing happened… not remembering the one thing that changed everything. That alone had me on edge the whole time. The tension between them was constant. You could feel how much history was there, even when it wasn’t fully said out loud.

Watching everything slowly unravel and the truth come out was intense. When it finally does, it hits. HARD. The kind of moment where everything shifts and you just sit there processing it. And you just… Can. Not. Put. The. Book. Down.

What I really liked was how emotional this story felt without losing that suspense. You’re not just reading for the romance, you’re trying to piece everything together right along with them.

Heavy, emotional, and definitely one that keeps you
thinking.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was bloody brilliant.
It was very intense and a lot more psychological than I usually feel comfortable with—but it was very worth it.

What made this book great wasn't necessarily its uniqueness—since the bad twin trope isn't something new and the twists and turns were not extremely surprising. What made this book great was HOW it was written. How it grew, how the dual timeline solidified the relationship between Bay and Teddy organically. How their past and falling in love for the first time built a foundation making them able to find their way back to each other.

I love that this book has emotional and physical intimacy instead of spice. Don't get me wrong—I love spice. And some of the things happening between them can be classified as spice. But it always has purpose. It's not heat for spice's sake. It's intimacy that drives the plot, that deepens the connection, and that is a way of communication for them.

This book is heavy in PTSD and abuse.
Please check your triggers.

BUT if you love broken boys, EARNED intimacy, facing trauma TOGETHER, and healing STEP BY STEP—this is for you.

📖 The Face Of My Killer by Jordan Victoria
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#reading #bookstagram #review #thefaceofmykiller #jordanvictoriaauthor

[Brit ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg, this was such a good book and so well written! I love a good mystery/suspense romance. Theo and Bailey’s relationship starts so freaking soft and sweet. It was painful to see how they started after seeing where they are at now. Tensions are so incredibly high and rightfully so because both boys have immense trauma from the same situation. Except both of them have wildly different stories of the same thing. Getting to see the flashbacks of both of their sides was so emotionally heavy and my heart just hurt for them. The fact that everything Bailey went through altered his whole life and perspective, I just couldn’t imagine. I loved that unlike other books within the romance genre, when Theo and Bailey figure out what happened, things don’t just magically get better. They have to work for it and its hard and painful but oh so worth it! I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!!

[Sam Vautier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This was such an interesting story! Heartbreaking, gut wrenching but still beautiful to see Theo and Bailey finding each other and their sweet connection. The way they were and are together is so lovely.

My gosh, these two get really put through so much, just the more you learn the more you just feel so bad for them (especially Bailey, my god!).

Has a lot of heavy themes though so make sure to check ya TW/CWs! Definitely worth a read though!

[Anne Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a high-octane very angsty 2nd chance romance which I absolutely loved. Both Theo & Bailey have terrible things in their histories that they need to overcome to be together, and Bailey has a particularly difficult & violent family background which has left him very fragile indeed. I loved seeing the viewpoints of both men and was seriously invested in both their journeys. Which are very much two steps forward and one back until they can learn to trust each other again. The moments of high drama are excellently portrayed and the romantic ending is very hard-won. I loved it. Highly recommended.

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc

[Queenbeereads_sugarandspice · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did take me a few chapters to get into this one, but once I did, I zoomed through it. This second chance romance wasn’t what I was expecting, but I did become fully committed in the truly painful story of Bailey and Theo/Teddy.

Pre-warning, this is dark, so make sure you read the TWs before you start. 

I was pretty much ready to go to war for Bailey! Jeez, the cruelty that man had to endure *sobs* There’s so much I want to say about Bailey and how much emotion I felt for him, but to avoid spoilers, I won’t. I’ll just say that Bailey had my whole heart and then some. I hurt so badly for him.

These broken boys are both recovering from traumatic experiences, and the pain, anger and heartbreak that came with it. I so wish the universe hadn’t made them wait quite so many years before they were reunited. But maybe they needed that time to begin to heal in their own ways before they came back together and faced things that they’d rather forget, confronting their past in the most heart-wrenching of ways.

The dual timelines were done so well to ensure that we felt every bit of what happened to these boys. There were some good twists along the way, and while I did guess most of what was to come, it didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book. I certainly felt the suspense of where the book’s taking us.

----

Some of my favourite quotes

“Yeah, I’ll go wherever you go, Teddy.” 

“You need to have more faith in us, Bay. More faith in yourself. Because I do. I think you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and I want you to stay.” 

“I know you can’t get your words out right now, but I’m ready to listen whenever you can.” 

“Just you and me, we’ll go somewhere. I’ll make sure you’re safe, and you’ll never have to worry again. You belong with me, Bailey.” 

“But I’m not going anywhere. You have to believe me, mo leannan, I’m not leaving you again.”

“It took a long time, but you found me, and I never needed to be free of you. I don’t want to be free of you, ever.” 

“Your home is with me. It has been from the moment I met you, and I never should have let you go.”

“I’ve always loved you, Teddy. Even when I couldn’t say it out loud.” “You never left my heart, mo ghráidh,” 

“Stay with me, mo ghráidh. I’ll show you every day who you are.” 

[Ashley | adhdandread · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Face of My Killer by Jordan Victoria
From Sea and Skye Book 1
Length: 290 pages
Source: Author-direct
Publication date: May 4, 2026

5 ⭐⁣⁣⁣
2.5 🌶️⁣⁣⁣

WHAT TO EXPECT
MM dark romance
Hurt/comfort
Second chance
Best friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Mental-health rep
MC with situational mutism
Emotional and angsty

AUTHOR'S BLURB
A breakup followed by a blackout.

Bailey wakes up to find that Theo has moved to Scotland without him, when the plan had always been to leave together. He tries to remember the night before, but there’s just darkness. Twelve years later, they find one another again on the Isle of Skye. Theo isn’t the boy Bailey remembers—he’s full of anger and resentment. When Bailey pushes for answers, Theo tells him what he remembers about the night he ran away, and Bailey’s world shatters. As the past catches up with them, Bailey and Theo need to trust one another again as they discover the whole truth of what happened that night.

MY THOUGHTS
This is a debut! A debut?! Yes, a debut! And I loved it. One of my most anticipated reads of the year!

The danger, confusion, and angst are visceral. The dual timeline: past & present converge on the MCs like a train wreck that can’t be stopped. I found myself anxious and panicky reading along with both Bailey and Theo, even though I knew they were going to end up together. There were so many questions about how we were going to get from where the book starts to an HEA, and Jordan keeps you wondering for most of the book. Just be prepared: they have not had easy childhoods, easy lives.

BOTTOM LINE
Yes! Going on my must-read author list. I already can't wait for book 2.

CONTENT WARNINGS
(Some of these may be spoilers; full list in the front of the book) Include PTSD and cPTSD, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, blackouts, parental abuse, on-page violence, on-page murder, sexual abuse and grooming (not by MCs), emotional abuse (not between MCs), arson, dead animals (details on-page), explicit sexual content

–A🩷

Thanks to Jordan Victoria for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, and Fable.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m suddenly eighteen again. Teddy’s lips are on mine, and they’re hauntingly familiar— soft as they move slowly against mine. It feels like no time has passed.

I am honored to have received an ARC for this book because I could not put it down!! And it was perfect, not a single negative thought. The story pacing and character development was consistent throughout. And the plot itself gripping the entire time.

Little by little the details of the night they lost each other are revealed throughout the whole story. But in-between there are subplots that are equally as gripping. If you had a high school romance, then Bailey and Teddy getting together is adorably nostalgic. If you're into hurt/comfort, then learning more and more about Bailey's childhood is for you. At the same time in the present, Bailey and Teddy are learning to trust each other again and rekindle what they had.

I pretty much figured what was going on from the beginning, but even still I was on edge with anticipation for Bailey and Teddy to really talk to each other and put the pieces together.

This wasn't a smut heavy book per se, but man can Jordan write a scene 💦 And I am in love with the sex rep, from two teens figuring things out at a realistic pace to two trauma riddled adults that more than once start and do not finish and it's OKAY.

The exploration of trauma and recovery is full of angst. And the perceived larger and tougher guy has more/stronger trauma reactions, which I really appreciate the subversion of tropes. Healing is non linear and not something you can do alone and is wonderfully portrayed with both Bailey and Teddy.

The only downside is I read it so quickly! I don't want more plot with them, it felt complete in that way, but I also wish I was still reading it 😫 Looking forward to the other pairings that were hinted at and whatever angsty trauma they have going on.

I know I don’t deserve this… don’t deserve him, but I push the thoughts away, chasing his tongue, and nipping at his lips. I thread my fingers through his dark curls, holding on tight, as though he were a lifeline.

[Adeselna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC <3

“The Face of My Killer” really toys with our emotions! Theo is a shell of a man, after the worst night of his life, where his boyfriend left him and a horrible thing happened to him, he is but a shell of himself. After years of therapy, Theo still isn’t the same person he was before, but he has started to heal slowly. That’s when Bailey appears. He does not understand why Theo is so mad at him. Years ago, Bailey left Theo because it was the best thing to do, even if it teared his soul apart. Years later, Bailey still adores Theo. Theo, on the other hand, doesn’t want to see Bailey’s face anymore. But the truth of what happened all those years ago is far darker than they could have expected. And now it’s their chance to finally heal together and be happy.

“The Face of My Killer” is Jordan’s debut novel and damn! Theo and Bailey are absolutely beautiful! There’s so much hurt! Theo’s heartbreak over Bailey’s decision all those years ago, and poor Bailey! He’s the one who really goes through it all. His family is terrible, and his only comfort is Theo. Bailey feels at home and himself best when he’s with his friend Theo, so it’s not really that complicated to see the two friends falling in love with each other. They can never go back to where they were, and that’s for the best. Theo needed to find all the darkness in Bailey’s life to fully accept him. There were too many walls when they first fell in love. Now, Theo wants to know why Bailey erected those walls and why Bailey hid so many things from Theo.

Bailey is adorable! It’s really cute how still so much in love he is with Theo, mainly because Theo cared for him. He was the only person who made Bailey’s life pleasant, like he had a chance of happiness forever. It broke my heart how Bailey didn’t believe he deserved Theo and deserved to be happy and love.

“The Face of My Killer” is a book that will make you feel a lot of things: anger, sadness, but most of all hope that two people who have suffered will find each other and never give up on their love. It’s adorable, cruel, and I loved every second of it!

[Chloe Coffield · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review | Spoiler Alert ⤵️

Initial thoughts: I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Theo? My favorite. I love a morally gray king, and he delivers. The way he talks about Bailey is actually painfully adorable—soft, a little bashful, completely genuine. Their first meeting is so tense in the best way, and the forced proximity is the cherry on top of the cake for me. You can feel the chemistry building instead of it just being told to you.

Going back in time to see how our two MMC’s met held some of my favorite scenes in the whole novel. Getting to go back and see where everything started made the relationship hit so much harder. I was genuinely sitting there like… my chest hurts a little. They’re that cute. The first kiss felt earned, which is rare, and I love that the author lets you get fully attached to them before things start unraveling.

Because they do unravel. Quickly.

The emotional whiplash in this book is insane. One second it’s soft and romantic—very “The Notebook in the rain” energy—and the next it’s like… oh. Oh no. Bailey’s backstory especially adds a lot of weight, but also pushes the story into some really heavy territory, including PTSD and violence that can get pretty graphic at times.

I do wish there had been more time between certain major relationship shifts—especially between them meeting and reconnecting—because it felt slightly rushed compared to how deeply we’re meant to feel their connection. The beginning threw me off a bit. The scene transitions are fast—like, blink and we’re somewhere else—and when the story isn’t focused on Theo and Bailey, the pacing feels especially rushed. It made it harder to settle into the world at first. But even with that, the connection between the mains is strong enough that you eventually lean into it.

Overall, this book is chaotic, emotional, and it keeps getting better the deeper you go. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel everything all at once: warmth, dread, love, and then just… devastation. Pure devastation.

I really great read!! 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[angie_bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin. I feel like I've just been emotionally dragged through glass and somehow I'm grateful for it.

This story is so damn heavy. It's raw, painful, and at times genuinely hard to read.
The kind of story that doesn't just tell you about trauma, it forces you to sit with it, think about it, to understand it, to feel every fractured piece of it.

Theo and Bailey broke me.
The way their relationship was built the first time around - soft, tentative, and so full of quiet love, made everything that followed hurt even more. Watching that innocence get twisted into something unrecognizable…and then realizing they both carried completely different versions of the same past? That was just...devastating.

What stood out to me was how deeply this book explores identity and perception. How one lie - one manipulation - can reshape an entire life. Theo believed Bailey destroyed him. Bailey believed he was the monster. Neither of them had the full truth. And they both lived with this for 12 long years.

Unraveling that truth was intense, absolutely heartbreaking, and honestly hard to put down for even a second.

When they start to see each other clearly again with the truth of everything out there. It doesn't magically fix everything, but it feels real. Messy, complicated, and earned.

This book doesn't hold your hand. It pushes you into the dark and makes you find your way out alongside Theo and Bailey.

And somehow, despite everything…there's still love at the center of it all.

I’m genuinely in awe. And a little emotionally wrecked(both by the book itself, and it being finished, because I wasn't ready to say goodbye yet).

Final verdict:
Traumatized? Yes.
Obsessed? Also yes.
Would I read it again knowing full well it would emotionally ruin me? Without a doubt.

[That One Romance Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review* Thank you for the copy!

Intro:
This is an MM romance between Theo, a scallop diver still reeling from his past and Bailey, Theo's ex who unknowingly caused him trauma


Tropes/Highlights:
-Dual POV
-MM
-Open Door
-Found Family
-Second Chance
-Best Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Hurt/Comfort
-High Angst
-Demisexual Rep
-HEA


Likes:
-Character development
-Dual timeline
-Great pacing
-Scottish elements/kilt
-Emotional support Highland cows
-Side characters/Theo's family
-Bailey's struggle with words/how Theo deals with it
-Bailey's resilience, that poor baby has so much trauma
-Panic attack rep
-Vulnerability


Quotes:
-"However much I hate him now, I know I loved him once"
-"I know you can't get your words out right now, but i'm ready to listen whenever you can"
-"I love him. More than I thought possible, and I'd choose his safety over mine, every damn time"
-"You never needed fixing, Bay"
-"It took a long time, but you found me, and I never needed to be free of you"
-"He walked into my life, grabbed hold of me, and unlike everyone else in my life, never let go"
-"If you can't say it, then I'll say it for you. I'll tell you every day how good you are"


This is the first book I have read from this author and I can't wait to read more from them! Bailey's background made me so sad and I love how sweet and protective Theo is. These two are perfect for each other and it was beautiful watching them fight for their HEA. This book has angst, suspense, world shattering revelations, caretaking, rekindling old love and defying death. I recommend this book if you love darker romances with wonderful, hurt characters who come back together by chance to discover the past didn't stay buried and neither did their love for each other.