Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Murphy’s Law
AUTHOR: Riley Hart
SERIES: Havenwood
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 214 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2020
BLURB:
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, 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.
REVIEW:
Beware! Dad jokes abound in this book! It’s okay, though, they’re told by a sweet and awkward young singer-songwriter to assuage his anxiety.
* * *
In Murphy’s Law, Riley Hart has crafted a lovely story about two men who, despite their strong love, can’t surmount the obstacles to a lasting relationship the first time, but are blessed with a second chance at love six years later.
Remington and Lawson meet when they are just eighteen, when Remy is singing and playing guitar in a coffee shop for the first time ever. Remy is very insecure due to his sheltered and isolated upbringing by an over-protective mother. He’s finally spreading his wings when he meets Lawson, who is immediately enraptured by the other young man and his music. They begin a love affair, but as Remy’s career takes off, his success isn’t what either man expected. Law realizes he might not be Remy’s top priority, particularly when Remy refuses to out himself. After five long years of being hidden and feeling second to Remy’s music, Law makes the heartbreaking decision to leave and never look back. But his feelings never go away and his love never dies. Nor does Remy’s. Two broken hearts, no happy ending.
Over the next six years, Remy’s musical dreams are realized but they come with a price, on top of having already lost Law. The pressure of the outside world is growing heavier and he is having a more difficult time hiding his demons. He needs to keep his anxiety, depression, and homosexuality a secret from the world. Remy once again faces a crossroads, needing to decide if he wants to live for himself or to continue to live to the expectations of his family, his fans, and his record label. Remy chooses change and shows up in Law’s hometown, Havenwood, with the intention of staying. Law has mixed feelings when he sees Remy. His heart is all in but his head is worried about the future and a possible broken heart, again. This time the heartache could be irreparable. He’s angry and frustrated, but they decide to give dating a tentative try anyway. Law has his own pressures to deal with apart from Remy, including revealing his bisexuality to his parents.
I feel like I’m getting to know the town of Havenwood rather well with this second installment of the Havenwood series, and I like it. This is a standalone novel, however I recommend reading book one, Giving Chase, first so that you can get a good introduction to the six men who serve as the nucleus of the series and will all have starring roles in one of the series’ books.
The story is told in dual first person POV with regular flashbacks to the time when they met, throughout the first half of the book. I’m not normally a fan of flashbacks but these didn’t bother me. It was a necessary device to tell the story of the early days when Remy and Law were first together. It worked to maintain a comfortable pace and hold my interest. Both Law and Remy are likable, relatable, sympathetic characters whom I was cheering for as they attained their hard-won happily ever after. I recommend this book, and look forward to book three, Hard Knox.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: