Someone wants Police Chief Emilio Mendoza dead. And if his unknown assailant doesn’t kill him, pining for Sheriff Abraham Beecham just might.
Abe and Lio’s thirty-year journey has taken them from heated rivals to best friends with countless labels and pit stops along the way. Romance is the only avenue left unexplored but not from lack of love or desire.
Abe pushes people away before they can get too close, and Lio doesn’t engage in situations he can’t control. They’ve reached an impasse, and neither are willing to risk their friendship until fate intervenes, forcing them to reassess their priorities.
But when an unhinged enemy targets Lio, will their gamble be too little too late, or will their love truly conquer all?
Just Say When is a standalone romantic suspense novel within the author’s Savannah universe. This book contains mature content and is attended for adults.
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Police Chief Mendoza has made many appearances in different stories. In several of them, the nature of his relationship with Sherriff Abe Beecham has been speculated about. Finally, we get their story.
We get a lot of their background story when they tell it to Lio (Chief Mendoza’s) ez wife’s new husband over pizza. Because even though they are divorced, they are still friends and they coparent a teenage boy. Which is nice to see.
And while the story gave us, well, the background story, it would have been nice to have a non-condensed flashback version. I might have been more invested in their relationship. Not that I wasn’t, but, yanno. More development of the characters and their relationship would have been nice.
Lio’s ex wife is also dealing with an investigation that started in another book. You don’t have to read the other books though as it is easily explained again. But it’s just funny to go from this bad a$$ Chief to a guy with a kid and an exwife who is on the periphery of the police force and a best friend since childhood who is a Sheriff. Who knew he had such a tangled web.
While Abe and Lio dance around each other, we hear a little more about the investigation and meet 2 Army buddies of Abe and Lio. Another thing we didn’t know. It was nice seeing the 4 guys kick back and hang out.
What I didn’t expect from this book were the tears. Which had nothing to do with Abe and Lio’s relationship. But if you don’t cry, I will be really surprised.
A couple of things I really did like. We only get a very brief scene with Locke, and then one comment from him at another point. I like when there is character cross over, especially because they are in the same world, but I feel like, given the chance, he could take over. So I’m glad we saw him briefly and that was it.
I also liked how both guys have no problem with their sexuality and don’t need, want, or have to hide. Especially because there is a teenager in the family. A pretty cool teenager too.
There is a bit of a whodunit going on, which added some interest to the story. No spoilers, natch.
Overall, I really enjoyed these nearly lifelong best friends accept their love for each other and find happiness. Especially since they weren’t 23 years old. I love seeing older characters represented.
4 pieces of eye candy