Lawson
We were eighteen when I met Remington Monroe. I’d never seen anyone like him. He got onstage at the coffeehouse, armed with a guitar and corny jokes…but unable to hide his lonely eyes. When he sang, I was entranced. When we spent the night talking together, I knew my world would never be the same.
Remington
Music was my only passion until I met Lawson Grant. Our secret nights together, … Lawson Grant. Our secret nights together, laughing and loving, were my anchor. My dreams of becoming a musician came true because of him, but in the process of achieving them, I lost Law.
Still, I never stopped missing him. When I can’t stay away any longer, I find myself in Havenwood, Law’s hometown. He isn’t exactly thrilled to see me, and I can’t say I blame him. But our connection is too powerful to be tamed, and soon we’re in over our heads again.
Our feelings for each other have never been in doubt, but we have a lot riding against us. I’m not out, my manager is giving me trouble, my family needs me, and my anxiety is worse than ever. Law’s there for me with his love, support, and a group of friends who accept me into the fold. But he can’t be a secret forever, and I can’t lose him again–even if it means risking it all and jeopardizing what’s always defined me–my music. 73,000 words.
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A sweet and steamy second chance romance with compelling characters and an engaging premise.
Such a good book! Law and Remy were so good together. A great sequel. We first met Law(son) in ‘Giving Chase’.. as one of the guys that hung out at Griff’s bar that became friends with Chase and Kellan. It was written as though Law was straight… but he was a quiet guy who was a mystery. In this book, told from the past and present, we find that at one point that was what he thought too … till he met Remy (Remington). in a flashback, we find how they met. Law was in college, trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life, just a carefree, privileged kid, enjoying his life, friends and women…till a fated night when Remy appeared on stage, singing at a coffeehouse where Law was hanging out. Though many were not paying attention, Remy caught Law’s eye and ears. There was just something about him that attracted Law, bringing out Law’s bisexuality. Like a moth to a flame, Law saw something in him and as he got to know him, his passion for his music. was As we go back to the present. Remy (now known worldwide as just ‘Remington’) has come to Havenwood to find himself and his music again. Initially he had found a muse in Law, now he was coming to Law’s hometown hoping to regain what has been lost. His flame needed to be reignited not only with his music, but maybe establish some kind of friendship with Law. Even though Law has helped him become a success, it was that success that drove them apart. Remy and Law came from totally different backgrounds…Law the rich kid from a family of a successful grocery store chain and Remy from a poor, single Mom struggling to make it with 3 kids… when we come to the present, we find things have flip flopped, now Law is running his small hometown diner, having resisted going into the family business and living off the family money, while Remy is now a multi-millionaire having achieved his dream of fame and fortune in order to provide for his Mom and siblings… but at such a cost. In order to achieve his goals, Remy felt he had to stay in the closet, which eventually broke them up. As we go back and forth, we see how they were and how they got to be. Law has provided a semi happy life for himself, keeping his bisexuality on the back burner, just going about a quiet life, but not really finding contentment since he walked away from Remington. Remy is far from content, suffering worse from anxiety then he ever did in his earlier life for although he has achieved his goal to provide well for his family, it has not brought him happiness. When Law finds that Remy has moved not only to his hometown, but to a house on the same street, he is shocked and taken aback. When Remy bought the house, he has no idea that Law was his neighbor… fight it as they may, trying only to be friends, they find their way back to each other… only to still have the very thing between them that drove them apart. Remy wants to be with Law, but his fear and anxiety about coming out and losing his fame and family keeps him locked in a world mixed with love, happiness, and self loathing. Remy is determined to come out and have an HEA with Law, but he keeps having set backs, thankfully Law is patient and loving, giving Remy his full support. Finally finding an inner strength, driven by his love for Law and a future with him, Remy finds the courage to come out to his family and fans, against the wishes of his label and manager… Remington is surprised and taken aback that his family love and support him as well as the majority of his fans… he finally gets to be Remy again and we get our HEA. The love song that Remy sang for Law after he came out on a live TV interview had me reading through tears of joy. Through all these we get to know the side characters as Riley always has us do. And as we fade into the sunset, we get a glimpse of the next story about Knox … starting that now!
A second chance, M/M, small town, rockstar romance. Murphy’s Law is a lot of things but, ultimately, it’s a sweet love story and the story of growth and self-awareness.
After meeting each other at 18 and spending a few years together in secret before calling it quits with two broken hearts, Lawson and Remington find themselves in Havenwood at the same time six years later…still broken, but trying to be better.
Lawson comes from one of Havenwood’s most prestigious families, but he’s determined to make his own way and do what makes him happy. He’s a huge flirt, but hasn’t had anything serious since being with Remington, closing himself off to that possibility because his heart is still broken. Remington (Remy) is a famous musician thanks to Lawson posting videos of him playing guitar and singing years ago. He loves his music more than almost everything else, but is plagued with anxiety and depression and feels responsible for taking care of his family. His religious upbringing/family and his music career forced him to keep a huge part of himself hidden over the years and it’s becoming a problem.
When Remy buys a house and moves to Havenwood, he reconnects with Lawson, just as friends. But, the spark between them is so strong, they end up spending more time together and rekindle their relationship. Remy’s fame and inability to go public with Lawson weighs on their relationship and is a major cause for concern. But, they really do love each other – they’re the best versions of themselves when they’re together.
I loved seeing their relationship grow and mature into something that’s sustainable for the long haul. Remy wanted to be worthy of Lawson and it helped him to see that he needed to make some changes in his life all on his own, which I appreciated – it wasn’t a black moment in their story, but a moment of growth for him. Seeing Lawson finally get the courage to stand up to his family for himself and his happiness made me so happy. Their connection runs so deep that they knew what they needed without saying anything. You could feel the love between the two of them coming off the page.
This isn’t your standard rockstar romance and I really loved that. Lawson’s genuine surprise when he finally listened to Remy’s lyrics was so pure and so sweet. This unique take on the genre kept this story fresh and definitely left me wanting more from the guys of Havenwood!
Second Chance at Love (an audio review)
I’m a huge Riley Hart fan and I love second chance romances, so picking up this book was a no-brainer. And I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed this story of two men who had everything, lost it, then have the chance to get it back.
Remington was playing at a college bar when Lawson heard him sing. They met together backstage and something clicked. Over the next few years they would hook up whenever Remington was around. Law called him Remy and they shared a lot of great times. Yes, they were holed up in hotels, but they shared a deep intimacy and an abiding love. Law even recorded Remy playing some of his original songs and the video went viral. But as Remy’s career took off, Law realized he didn’t want to stay in the closet. So he laid down an ultimatum of sorts – or that was how Remy took it. Knowing he could never be an ‘out’ musician, Remy let the relationship die.
But he never stopped loving Law.
The intervening years brought great success, but little happiness. His music, which meant everything to him, stalled out. His family was relying on him more and more, and the pressure was getting to him. So he bought a property in the little town of Havenwood. He had no connection to the town except it was Law’s hometown and somehow that connection – tenuous as it was – was enough to draw him.
What he doesn’t expect is to discover the identity of his closest neighbor.
Law’s really annoyed. He wanted that cabin and someone’s bought it right from under his nose. Then he discovers his ex is his new neighbor. And as angry as he is at Remy for having chosen music, part of him has always understood that decision. But now, face to face with Remy, he discovers those feelings aren’t dead.
So where to go from here? Remy is still a huge music star and bi-sexual Law still doesn’t want to live in the closet.
Okay, so great conflict.
I knew it would end well because, duh, it’s a Riley Hart romance, but I did wonder for a while there if Remy would be able to get his uh, stuff together. He had tons of problems and although Law was there to support him, he couldn’t do the work. Oh, and the grand gesture? Riley nailed it.
So yeah, I loved it. Also, the structure of melding flashback and the current timeline worked well which is good because that’s a tricky technique. Finally, I want to mention Kale Williams who narrates this series. The book was wonderful and I look forward to more of them. Finally, I’m reading these out of order but that’s no biggie. Whenever you slip into Havenwood, you’ll be happy you came.
Normally I don’t enjoy when a book jumps from present to past and keeps that alternating storyline however in this book you definitely needed the past in order to fully understand where both Remy and Law were coming from. It was a beautiful second chance romance story about two men finding their way back to each other. I did think the ending was a bit rushed but there was a happily ever after for everyone.
Loved the story and the characters.
A rating. Loved this book. Second chance at romance…my heart. I also loved the music aspect of the story. Definitely recommend this and the first in the series, too, although either one can be read without reading the other.
Loved this story!
Riley Hart comes through yet again!