Everything
old is new again in love and murder.
Work together, live together, and play together is the name of the game for
Royce Locke and Sawyer Key. But one of those things changes when Chief Mendoza
taps Sawyer to lead the newly formed cold case unit. His first task: solve the
Magnolia Murders that spanned three decades and suddenly stopped in 2000.
Chaos ensues when a fourth Magnolia Queen contender is murdered during a preliminary
round. With the pageant’s one hundredth anniversary looming, the pressure is on
to produce results. Royce and Sawyer, along with their new partners, have to
team up to solve the Magnolia Murders—old and new.
As the investigation continues, a surprise visitor and an unexpected phone call
force the men to face painful things from their pasts. The future Royce and
Sawyer dream of is within their grasp, but first, they’ll need to uproot the
seeds of discontent they’ve buried deep.
The Magnolia Murders is the first book in the Matrimony and Mayhem
trilogy, the second story arc for Royce Locke and Sawyer Key.
Author's Note: New readers should start with the Zero Hour trilogy before reading the
Matrimony and Mayhem trilogy.
The Magnolia Murders is a continuation of Royce and Sawyer’s happily
ever after as they move into the next phase of their lives—professionally and
personally. Though some storylines span the trilogy, this book does not end in
a cliffhanger. Heat, humor, heart, and homicide abound. You have been warned.
18+
Book
1
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
Hardcover (US) ~ Paperback (US)
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
Royce straightened and stepped fully into his office, shutting the door behind him. Something devilish and dirty glinted in his eyes, and he crossed the room and planted his fine ass on the corner of Sawyer’s desk. “Hi. Did you miss me?”
“Terribly.” And it was true. He was excited about the prospect of leading the CCU, but he would miss having Royce as his partner.
Royce raked his eyes over Sawyer’s attire before scanning the room. “You’ve been home to change, and you set up your new office? And here I thought you might want my help.”
Sawyer scoffed. “You want to help christen my office, which is hardly the same as unpacking the boxes and organizing my desk.”
“Busted.”
“You’re in luck, though,” Sawyer said. “I haven’t had time to write up the case report for Dingbat.”
Royce wagged his finger and tsked. “Look who’s using childish nicknames now.”
“Oh shit,” Sawyer replied. “You’re rubbing off on me.”
Royce’s grin was dark and delicious. “Every chance I get, baby.” He raked his hot gaze over Sawyer. “You’re wearing the pretentious cashmere thingy for your press conference. Nice.”
Sawyer looked down at the storm-gray sweater vest he wore over a pale gray shirt and his lucky lavender tie. He lifted his head and met Royce’s smiling eyes. “Thanks. My boyfriend bought it for me for Valentine’s Day last year.”
“Nope,” Royce said, shaking his head to emphasize how adamant he was. “I bought it just because.”
Sawyer bit his bottom lip to keep him from laughing, but his restraint lasted only a few seconds. Royce rolled his eyes when Sawyer’s mirth bubbled out of him. Sawyer cleared his throat and wiped his eyes, but Royce’s deep scowl nearly sent him into a second fit.
“Asshole.”
“Dickhead.” Sawyer replied. “Can I just point out that your ‘just because’ gift was given to me after a candlelit dinner on February thirteenth?”
“Why do I suddenly feel like I’m on the witness stand?” Royce asked.
“Answer the question, Sergeant Locke. Do you honestly expect the jury to believe the timing of your gift was a coincidence?”
Royce crossed his arms over his chest. “Objection.”
Sawyer desperately wanted to kiss his pouty lips. “The witness can’t object.”
“I’m also representing myself at the trial.”
“So that makes you the defendant. Interesting. What crimes were you charged with? Eating cheese from a squirty can?”
Royce dropped his arms and leaned forward. “I am accused of killing off any chance another man has with you. No one will ever worship your body and heart the way I do. Now and forever.” His voice was thick and husky, lighting the fuse of lust in Sawyer’s core. “And, yes, counselor, I am guilty. I bought my boyfriend the super soft sweater thingy ‘just because’ it’s the same color as my eyes, and I like to mark him in every way possible. Until today, our relationship had to be a secret at work.”
Veronica
– ☆☆☆☆☆
The Magnolia Murders is the first book in the Sawyer and Royce:
Matrimony and Mayhem series, which is a spin off the Zero Hour trilogy. I was
thrilled Sawyer and Royce were getting another series and I couldn’t wait to
read The Magnolia Murders.
For the first time in three years, Royce and Sawyer will no longer be partners.
Royce is given the opportunity to run a program that helps teens, and Sawyer is
promoted and made head of a cold case team. His first job is to reinvestigate
the Magnolia Murders and find out who killed three young women. When a fourth
woman is murdered, Royce is called in to join the hunt for the killer.
This story perfectly blends the romance and personal dramas with the couple’s professional
life where they are hunting a killer. On the personal front, Sawyer and Royce
are blissfully happy but Royce is trying to propose, and life and his own fears
keep getting in his way. This couple is so fun and sexy, and you can really
feel how crazy in love with each other they are. It just makes their stories so
good to read.
On the crime front, the hunt for the killer is fast paced. A few new cop faces
are added to the team that works tirelessly to work out who killed these women
and why. There are lots of clues and different threads to the mystery and it
was so satisfying to watch them all come together.
The Magnolia Murders is exactly the kind of story that I love to read –
crime solving by a couple whose lives and loves I can completely immerse myself
in. I don’t know how many books the author plans to write in this series but as
long as they keep writing them, I’ll keep reading them.
Ruthie
– ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, but follows on from the Zero Hours
series – which you really should read before starting this one. There you will
meet Royce and Sawyer, and find out how they ended up together – I highly
recommend this wonderful and unexpected love story.
We rejoin the guys happily living together... and thankfully they are truly
solid. Inevitably there are ongoing discoveries and decisions to be made, but
the joy of this book is that we do not need to worry about that side of things,
so can relax on that score... and just get really involved in the crime
solving.
I loved that the chief knows how best to give the guys a new challenge, and an
opportunity to be more open at work about their relationship. Sawyer is going
to lead a cold case team – and start with the Magnolia Murders. Royce is
offered a youth project, and whilst doing the training, he gets called to lead
on a new Magnolia Murder. So they manage to have to work together, even when no
longer partners. I love this clever twist, which keeps them both in our line of
sight.
Such a great cast of characters, inventive plots, and lots of soul searching
make this an incredibly enjoyable read – and I am very excited to think that we
will get to spend time with these guys again soon!
Ever since she was a little girl, AIMEE
NICOLE WALKER entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now
she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many
titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute
favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything
she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her
day. She’d love to hear from you.
Connect with
Aimee Nicole Walker
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Hosted by
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided
a free copy of The Magnolia Murders (Matrimony and Mayhem #1) by Aimee Nicole
Walker to read and review for this tour.
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