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Promise Me
Instead of soaking up the SoCal sunshine while housesitting for my aunt, I’m dealing with a Pomeranian who thinks she’s a Pitbull, two half-sisters who would happily prune me off the family tree, and him. Vaughn Shaughnessy. Hot model about to go nuclear, dangerously sexy flirt whose perceptive green eyes promise he’s more than just a pretty face. He’s the kind of walking, talking temptation I should avoid, but that’s impossible because he also happens to be my extremely lickable—I mean likeable—neighbor.
He’s turning me into a hot mess.
Thing is, I can’t handle more messes in my life. I’m still trying to come to terms with the monumental ones in my past, and getting involved with Vaughn—even for temporary summer fun—is guaranteed to get messy. I don’t dare risk it, but I’m not sure I can resist…
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2019
47 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Robin Bielman
31 books1,558 followersUSA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes fun, flirty romantic fiction with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! xoxo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
April 5, 2019
I’ve lost count of the number of books I’ve read from both Robin and Samanthe, so when I found out they were teaming up, I was on this faster than a rat up a drainpipe.
Some people meet in life just when the time is right and there’s no doubt that fate is playing its hand in bringing Vaughn Shaughnessy and Kendall Hewitt into one another’s lives. And it quickly becomes evident that together, these authors have created an uplifting, heartfelt, sexy story that is impossible to put down.
This is my summer of self-discovery, and Vaughn is an important and unexpected part of it. Being with him released me from the burden on my heart.”
Told in the dual perspective, I was totally smitten by Vaughn from his gentle tender nature, wit and delicious way with words. But, for me, this book is Kendall’s story and my heart hurt for her, for what she’s experienced and how she blossoms as their story unfolds.
No fan of Samanthe Beck or Robin Bielman will be left disappointed, their writing was knitted together beautifully and I couldn’t tell where one started and the other ended. I can’t wait to see what they bring us next—Kendall’s sisters and Vaughn’s housemates won me over with their humour and personalities and I’m hopeful they have stories to tell—but in the meantime, Promise Me is worthy of a place on any contemporary romance-lovers shelf.
I already got my wish tonight.”
Copy generously provided for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Some people meet in life just when the time is right and there’s no doubt that fate is playing its hand in bringing Vaughn Shaughnessy and Kendall Hewitt into one another’s lives. And it quickly becomes evident that together, these authors have created an uplifting, heartfelt, sexy story that is impossible to put down.
This is my summer of self-discovery, and Vaughn is an important and unexpected part of it. Being with him released me from the burden on my heart.”
Told in the dual perspective, I was totally smitten by Vaughn from his gentle tender nature, wit and delicious way with words. But, for me, this book is Kendall’s story and my heart hurt for her, for what she’s experienced and how she blossoms as their story unfolds.
No fan of Samanthe Beck or Robin Bielman will be left disappointed, their writing was knitted together beautifully and I couldn’t tell where one started and the other ended. I can’t wait to see what they bring us next—Kendall’s sisters and Vaughn’s housemates won me over with their humour and personalities and I’m hopeful they have stories to tell—but in the meantime, Promise Me is worthy of a place on any contemporary romance-lovers shelf.
I already got my wish tonight.”
Copy generously provided for an honest and unbiased opinion.
August 28, 2021
DNF
Nope. About 1 hour mark to the audiobook, I can not connect with the story nor the character. The writing style does not work for me.
So sad to shelve another book into DNF.
2 stars
Nope. About 1 hour mark to the audiobook, I can not connect with the story nor the character. The writing style does not work for me.
So sad to shelve another book into DNF.
2 stars
Read
April 19, 2019Dnf after reading 25%
Many characters paraded, many details, slow pace, didn’t hold my interest...
Many characters paraded, many details, slow pace, didn’t hold my interest...
March 24, 2019
Fair warning: I am still riding the epic, giddy, flaily high this book gave me. There may be gushing. Lots of it. But whoamygoshyouguys - this book was so good!
While Robin Bielman has been charming her way onto my favorites list for a while now, this was my first book by Samanthe Beck and there is some magic in this author duo, I swear it. This is the sort of unicorn story where everything balanced perfectly. I laughed out loud, my belly filled with those coveted butterflies, and my heart ached for Vaughn and Kendall - and all those feelings (and more, GAH - so many feels!) flowed so seamlessly, I felt like I was part of the story. I was so invested. So completely held in thrall. And I am so hopelessly smitten, I can't even...
Vaughn and Kendall are...everything. I mean this is a story about a rising star/male model who falls in love with the mysterious girl-nobody who is house-sitting for his neighbor - and there is literally nothing I should be able to relate to about that, and yet I 100% felt like these were my people. I mean, I freaking adored them. They're funny and kind and...complicated. They're playful and sexy and absolutely adorable. My heart hopped on board from the original and unexpected meet-cute, and it never waivered - not once - while these two sorted themselves out throughout the story. I feel like these authors got everything right in Promise Me, and well, I warned you there'd be gushing. I'm so in love!
On top of this basically perfect love story, there lies a secondary story of the relationship between Kendall and her sisters. Actually there are a few different family dynamics explored here and the layers they add took this book to an emotional level I really wasn't expecting. Overall - I felt like this book was so much more than I had bargained for - in all the very best ways. The secondary characters are compelling in their own rights, and I felt like there was set-up here for follow-up books. Trust me when I tell you that all my crossables are crossed that there will be more where this came from.
The writing was smart and engaging, the story was compelling and interesting, and I can't even tell you all the ways this book touched my heart. I can't shake this giant smile. I'm still over the moon with all the ways this story made me happy. There are some emotional punches for sure, and some more serious storylines threaded through all this happiness - but in the end it is a feel good story and - as if there were any question - I cannot recommend it highly enough! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
While Robin Bielman has been charming her way onto my favorites list for a while now, this was my first book by Samanthe Beck and there is some magic in this author duo, I swear it. This is the sort of unicorn story where everything balanced perfectly. I laughed out loud, my belly filled with those coveted butterflies, and my heart ached for Vaughn and Kendall - and all those feelings (and more, GAH - so many feels!) flowed so seamlessly, I felt like I was part of the story. I was so invested. So completely held in thrall. And I am so hopelessly smitten, I can't even...
Vaughn and Kendall are...everything. I mean this is a story about a rising star/male model who falls in love with the mysterious girl-nobody who is house-sitting for his neighbor - and there is literally nothing I should be able to relate to about that, and yet I 100% felt like these were my people. I mean, I freaking adored them. They're funny and kind and...complicated. They're playful and sexy and absolutely adorable. My heart hopped on board from the original and unexpected meet-cute, and it never waivered - not once - while these two sorted themselves out throughout the story. I feel like these authors got everything right in Promise Me, and well, I warned you there'd be gushing. I'm so in love!
On top of this basically perfect love story, there lies a secondary story of the relationship between Kendall and her sisters. Actually there are a few different family dynamics explored here and the layers they add took this book to an emotional level I really wasn't expecting. Overall - I felt like this book was so much more than I had bargained for - in all the very best ways. The secondary characters are compelling in their own rights, and I felt like there was set-up here for follow-up books. Trust me when I tell you that all my crossables are crossed that there will be more where this came from.
The writing was smart and engaging, the story was compelling and interesting, and I can't even tell you all the ways this book touched my heart. I can't shake this giant smile. I'm still over the moon with all the ways this story made me happy. There are some emotional punches for sure, and some more serious storylines threaded through all this happiness - but in the end it is a feel good story and - as if there were any question - I cannot recommend it highly enough! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
March 23, 2019
Wow. What an absolute page-turner. This is an adorably wonderful love story. We have a heroine who heals some deep emotional scars through actions not words and a hero who isn't afraid to risk his heart or his whole world for that matter for this women he loves. We also see a touching bond form between three estranged sisters, which was a surprising and poignant addition.
Highly recommended! Witty, swoony, sentimental, and just plain lovely.
Highly recommended! Witty, swoony, sentimental, and just plain lovely.
April 13, 2019
This is a really special book as it's the first one I co-wrote with Samanthe Beck. We wrote together in coffee shops, took longs walks to discuss our characters and the story, emailed constantly, laughed often, and while writing wasn't always easy, we had each other's back. That was a great feeling. The result is a book we're super proud of and we hope you love Vaughn and Kendall as much as we do!
April 18, 2019
Kendall is still reeling from what has happened to her and needs a break so she agrees to housesit for her aunt over the summer. The last thing she expected to do was fall in love with megastar model and next door neighbor Vaughn. Shy, introverted Kendall doesn't know what he sees in her but maybe a casual fling is exactly what she needs. Her two half-sisters seem to think so but the more she's around Vaughn, the harder she's falling for him. Can she be the girlfriend of a celebrity and still be herself? All she asks him is to. . . Promise Me.
Wow, just wow! I've never read anything by Samanthe Beck (yet) and I've only read one book by Robin Bielman but these two women know how to write romance. The characters leap off the page, complete with their own demons, insecurities and hopes for love. The sister dynamic between the three half-sisters added just the right amount of angst while not detracting from the romance. The romance is a swoonfest and the way Vaughn intuitively knows what to say and do to show his feelings to Kendall sealed the deal for me. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop!
It's the must-have book everyone needs to read this summer!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Wow, just wow! I've never read anything by Samanthe Beck (yet) and I've only read one book by Robin Bielman but these two women know how to write romance. The characters leap off the page, complete with their own demons, insecurities and hopes for love. The sister dynamic between the three half-sisters added just the right amount of angst while not detracting from the romance. The romance is a swoonfest and the way Vaughn intuitively knows what to say and do to show his feelings to Kendall sealed the deal for me. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop!
It's the must-have book everyone needs to read this summer!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5+ stars
April 23, 2019
Kendall Hewitt has arrived in SoCal to take care of her Aunt's Pomeranian and it does not take long before she meets her neighbor and model Vaughn Shaughnessy. Vaughn knows his initial introduction to Kendall did not go over well and plans to make it up to the beauty next door. He wants to get to know her but every chance he gets Kendall is putting up walls, can he break down the walls Kendall has erected around herself?
This was fantastic, the half sisters are an interesting aspect to the story that really adds a lot of humor to the story. I can't wait for their stories hopefully. Vaughn was out of his element with Kendall, I really enjoyed seeing how this story unfolded. I was intrigued by Kendall's back story and seeing how it would unfold. Entertaining read.
This was fantastic, the half sisters are an interesting aspect to the story that really adds a lot of humor to the story. I can't wait for their stories hopefully. Vaughn was out of his element with Kendall, I really enjoyed seeing how this story unfolded. I was intrigued by Kendall's back story and seeing how it would unfold. Entertaining read.
May 7, 2019
When I saw that Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck, two of my favorite authors, had teamed up to co write a sexy new romance I wanted to do backflips. Since I'm sure I can't pull that off any longer I just gave a loud "Oh heck yeah!!" Trust me when I say they did not disappoint! This story has all the fun and flirty parts that I expect from Ms Bielman and well as all the heat I know Ms Beck will always deliver. Their combo made for one fantastic story that will be a favorite beach read this year. Kendall and Vaughn's story will have you laughing out loud as Kendall tries to deal with a crazy dog, her equally crazy stepsisters, and worst of all her drop dead gorgeous neighbor. House sitting for her aunt was suppose to be relaxing.....yeah right!
Don't miss this one. I highly recommend it.
Don't miss this one. I highly recommend it.
April 12, 2019
4.5 stars
April 11, 2019
Rating: ✮✮✮ Stars
**Spoilers alert**
Let's start with the heroine and hero of the story. Kendall and Vaughn.
Kendall has such a big heart and is the person who takes care of everyone. She is the woman she is now because something tragic happened in the past where she lost the person she loved most. That event changed who she is forever. Kendall tries to move on with her life, but it's really hard for her because she still harbors so much guilt. To avoid her home town, she decides to spend the summer at her aunt's house to do some house-sitting. To her surprise, she's not the only one house-sitting, her two half-sisters are there as well to escape their own life. In the beginning, I didn't really like her sisters, cause they don't get along and were quite mean to Kendall, but throughout the book, their relationships improved a lot. So Kendall tries to move on from her past and figure out what she wants to do with her life if she doesn't go to law school.
And there is Vaughn. Her handsome neighbor who she has to help cause he is so drunk that he almost gets run over. They have a connection from the moment they meet (even though he is drunk as hell) and so their romance slowly begins. Now, who is Vaughn? Vaughn is a model in Hollywood going on to 'host-one-of-the-most-popular-reality-show' who is just too nice for this world. Yes, I really said too nice. I like my characters flawed, at least a little bit and that's where the problem was. I couldn't find one in Vaughn. He was too patient, too understanding, too perfect, too selfless. Too much of everything good, that it was just too much for me. The only flaw I could see was his name. Vaughn Shaughnessy. You read it correctly. His name is really Shaughnessy. When I read it for the first time I thought 'WHAT THE HELL? WHAT KIND OF NAME IS THAT?'. I'm sorry it's such a superficial thing, but I can't understand how you can name your character SHAUGHNESSY. From all the names in the whole wide world, it has to be this one? His name kept on coming up in almost every chapter when all I wanted was to forget it. Do I sound like a drama queen? Maybe because I'm one :D
Whatever Vaughn was so nice that I found his character pretty boring. He was always saying and doing the right thing and it was so annoying! I could have moved past that if his character had more depth. With Kendall, we got a fracture of her past but Vaughn didn't give much away, except that his sister died years ago. I needed more than that.
Another aspect that didn't sit well with me was the easy romance between Kendall & Vaughn. In the beginning, they had some minor problems with Kendall refusing to start something with Vaughn cause she's only there for the summer, but after they accepted that it's going to be a summer fling, things got too easy for me. Their relationship was far from smooth. Kendall broke up with Vaughn because she didn't want to jeopardize Vaughn career with her past and because she was not ready for the public to dig into her personal life. It just the way the problem was resolved, was just too easy and predictable. I wanted more angst!
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."I finally finished this book!!! If I have to describe 'Promise Me' with one word it would be EASY . It's a quick and easy read. The plot was predictable. The romance between Kendall and Vaughn easy. The writing flows quite nicely and most of the characters are likable to an extent, but the story didn't give me much. That's why I can't rate this book more than three stars.
"Why is it so much easier to let harmful opinions bother us, rather than allow good ones to lift us up?"
**Spoilers alert**
Let's start with the heroine and hero of the story. Kendall and Vaughn.
Kendall has such a big heart and is the person who takes care of everyone. She is the woman she is now because something tragic happened in the past where she lost the person she loved most. That event changed who she is forever. Kendall tries to move on with her life, but it's really hard for her because she still harbors so much guilt. To avoid her home town, she decides to spend the summer at her aunt's house to do some house-sitting. To her surprise, she's not the only one house-sitting, her two half-sisters are there as well to escape their own life. In the beginning, I didn't really like her sisters, cause they don't get along and were quite mean to Kendall, but throughout the book, their relationships improved a lot. So Kendall tries to move on from her past and figure out what she wants to do with her life if she doesn't go to law school.
"One painful event explains why such an intrinsically outgoing person hesitates to get too close, why such a smart beautiful girl would hole up in her aunt and uncle's house all summer if left to her own devices."
And there is Vaughn. Her handsome neighbor who she has to help cause he is so drunk that he almost gets run over. They have a connection from the moment they meet (even though he is drunk as hell) and so their romance slowly begins. Now, who is Vaughn? Vaughn is a model in Hollywood going on to 'host-one-of-the-most-popular-reality-show' who is just too nice for this world. Yes, I really said too nice. I like my characters flawed, at least a little bit and that's where the problem was. I couldn't find one in Vaughn. He was too patient, too understanding, too perfect, too selfless. Too much of everything good, that it was just too much for me. The only flaw I could see was his name. Vaughn Shaughnessy. You read it correctly. His name is really Shaughnessy. When I read it for the first time I thought 'WHAT THE HELL? WHAT KIND OF NAME IS THAT?'. I'm sorry it's such a superficial thing, but I can't understand how you can name your character SHAUGHNESSY. From all the names in the whole wide world, it has to be this one? His name kept on coming up in almost every chapter when all I wanted was to forget it. Do I sound like a drama queen? Maybe because I'm one :D
Whatever Vaughn was so nice that I found his character pretty boring. He was always saying and doing the right thing and it was so annoying! I could have moved past that if his character had more depth. With Kendall, we got a fracture of her past but Vaughn didn't give much away, except that his sister died years ago. I needed more than that.
Another aspect that didn't sit well with me was the easy romance between Kendall & Vaughn. In the beginning, they had some minor problems with Kendall refusing to start something with Vaughn cause she's only there for the summer, but after they accepted that it's going to be a summer fling, things got too easy for me. Their relationship was far from smooth. Kendall broke up with Vaughn because she didn't want to jeopardize Vaughn career with her past and because she was not ready for the public to dig into her personal life. It just the way the problem was resolved, was just too easy and predictable. I wanted more angst!
"Thanks for being patient with me."
"Always."
"Thanks for being mine."
"Easiest thing I've ever done. And"-he kisses me-"something I will never take for granted."
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
March 29, 2019
A big fat YES to this book, it was just simply delicious! The kind of story you just sink right into and want to be part of. Incredible characters, steady plot, the best cast of characters I've read in a while and two of my favorite authors co-conspiring!! Absolutely yes! I'm in!
When Kendall has the chance to stay at her Aunt's house alone for the summer, while thinking about whether or not she really wants to start law school and avoiding going home and the memories that are there, she hops right on that plane. There she meets Vaughn, the next door neighbor her first night there while out walking the dog. This little snowball is a character in her own right. Back to Vaughn, who I will say makes my book boyfriend list right out the the gate. I loved him. There's a party at his house, he's outside in the driveway and pretty wasted when his car starts up and into reverse and Kendall shoves him out of the way, saving him from getting run over. Kendall knows what drunks do behind the wheel of a car. Taking his keys, while the party rages on she takes him home and he crashes on the couch downstairs. Kendall is the girl who wears Winnie the Pooh pj's and doesn't realize how she effects those around her. The next morning Vaughn is gone, but in his place she sees her half sister Dixie, all smart mouth, tats and barely there clothes drinking her breakfast. Dixie has a barbed wit and doesn't spare Kendall a break. When Kendall challenges Dixie, Dixie calls their Aunt Sally to confirm that yes, she is supposed to be there housesitting. When half sister number 3 Amber shows up, looking unhappy these sisters know they've been played by their Aunt but to what end. Dixie does meet Vaughn that morning and Dixie knows who he is, he's plastered on billboards and magazines across the globe, male model and holy hotness. He lives next door to Aunt Sally with his two roommates and best friends, Dylan who just opened a hot new club in LA and Matt who is training to be a police officer. These guys couldn't be more different, as are the three sisters.
Halfway through the book I wanted the next book pronto. This story unfolds in an incredible way and I loved Vaughn who was loyal and steadfast. That it so refreshing to meet a younger male MC who didn't waffle like a fool during a story. 10 points for that alone. The whole flow of the plot, Kendall's backstory along with Vaughn's, everything about this book was right and nothing was wrong. It flowed. Sure there are moments where you're holding your breath wondering what's going to happen, there's plenty of that. Plenty of laughs, the dialogue courtesy of Dylan and Dixie, the unknowns, all of it. The book checks every single box and more. It's a guaranteed you're going to love it read. I love both these authors and the two writing together is genius! I can't wait for the next book! Absolutely recommend.
arc from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review!
When Kendall has the chance to stay at her Aunt's house alone for the summer, while thinking about whether or not she really wants to start law school and avoiding going home and the memories that are there, she hops right on that plane. There she meets Vaughn, the next door neighbor her first night there while out walking the dog. This little snowball is a character in her own right. Back to Vaughn, who I will say makes my book boyfriend list right out the the gate. I loved him. There's a party at his house, he's outside in the driveway and pretty wasted when his car starts up and into reverse and Kendall shoves him out of the way, saving him from getting run over. Kendall knows what drunks do behind the wheel of a car. Taking his keys, while the party rages on she takes him home and he crashes on the couch downstairs. Kendall is the girl who wears Winnie the Pooh pj's and doesn't realize how she effects those around her. The next morning Vaughn is gone, but in his place she sees her half sister Dixie, all smart mouth, tats and barely there clothes drinking her breakfast. Dixie has a barbed wit and doesn't spare Kendall a break. When Kendall challenges Dixie, Dixie calls their Aunt Sally to confirm that yes, she is supposed to be there housesitting. When half sister number 3 Amber shows up, looking unhappy these sisters know they've been played by their Aunt but to what end. Dixie does meet Vaughn that morning and Dixie knows who he is, he's plastered on billboards and magazines across the globe, male model and holy hotness. He lives next door to Aunt Sally with his two roommates and best friends, Dylan who just opened a hot new club in LA and Matt who is training to be a police officer. These guys couldn't be more different, as are the three sisters.
Halfway through the book I wanted the next book pronto. This story unfolds in an incredible way and I loved Vaughn who was loyal and steadfast. That it so refreshing to meet a younger male MC who didn't waffle like a fool during a story. 10 points for that alone. The whole flow of the plot, Kendall's backstory along with Vaughn's, everything about this book was right and nothing was wrong. It flowed. Sure there are moments where you're holding your breath wondering what's going to happen, there's plenty of that. Plenty of laughs, the dialogue courtesy of Dylan and Dixie, the unknowns, all of it. The book checks every single box and more. It's a guaranteed you're going to love it read. I love both these authors and the two writing together is genius! I can't wait for the next book! Absolutely recommend.
arc from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review!
April 23, 2019
One summer dog sitting for your aunt while you figure out the rest of your life should be easy right? With half sisters coming out of the woodwork, bitchy girls partying next door, and a hot neighbor who may or may not be super into you things in this nice quiet place might be even harder than finals week of the last quarter of college or even that horrible LSAT. Can someone get an advanced degree in life drama and make a nice living cuz if so Kendall has a bright future.
I have to admit, while I have heard a lot about Robin Bielman I actually have never run across Samanthe Beck before but I have been feeling a bit of a need to add to my contemporary romance list, so I thought I’d give this book a try. Sadly, it did not rank high on my list of fun reads, I actually came really close to putting the book down.
Our story starts out as a boy next door trope that has a rather unique twist to it. Usually I am used to seeing the hero do something daring to save the heroine in some way, even if it’s non life threatening, however in Promise Me, Kendall winds up saving the hero, Vaughn. I really did like this aspect, even though the situation she needs to save him from doesn’t exactly paint him in the best light. However, I will that even though he is not at his best in the moment of their first meeting, he still manages to be smooth and sweet to her while at the same time acknowledges the wrongness in what’s going on. Given his current state of mind, I found this to only call attention to how much of a good guy he really is.
I think my favorite character in this whole book was Vaughn. He has some past issues that can really interfere in his decision making process as well as how he trusts people, however that doesn’t stop him from being a genuinely good guy. Vaughn wants nothing more than to thank the angel who saved his life and gave him a safe haven away from his stressful life for a night, but when he finds his angle has some sharp horns that might not be so easy. I have to say that I loved how much effort he puts into trying to make amends to such a small infraction and how sweet his attempts of flirtation turns out. This guy knows how to pull out all the stops in order to make a good impression and maybe gain the affection of the beauty next door and I couldn’t help but smile throughout every attempt he makes.
The heroine in this story is a horse of a totally different color for me. Kendall’s first meeting with Vaughn is so different to how she winds up treating him afterwards it makes me wonder if she was abducted by body snatchers. At first, she is very sweet, sympathetic, and wanted nothing more than to help him, but when he turns up on her door with some cavity educing apologies she is completely standoffish and just downright rude. I got so frustrated with how resistant she is to his advances that there were times I wanted to strangle her. Kendall has been through some rough patches to say the least, and while their first meeting wasn’t super great, there is no reason for the treatment she throws at the Vaughn or his advances.
Being honest, none of the women in this book really impressed me very much. While Vaughn and his two male roommates are very relatable and deep characters, the women all felt very stereotypical and in many ways one dimensional. I felt all the women, even the hero’s best friend, were very rude, a bit air headed, and stuck on high school like drama I think this stereotyping of women is what really put me off the book.
I will say that the dog in the story has more personality than any of the other characters in the book. I also really did love Vaughn’s roommates. Both men he lives with are very interesting. Their personalities, what little was given on their background, and their chosen professions does have me wanting to learn more and see where their lives take them.
All in all, this book was ok but not my cup of tea. I hope that the next books in the series are a bit better, but I don’t know as though I will pick them up.
I have to admit, while I have heard a lot about Robin Bielman I actually have never run across Samanthe Beck before but I have been feeling a bit of a need to add to my contemporary romance list, so I thought I’d give this book a try. Sadly, it did not rank high on my list of fun reads, I actually came really close to putting the book down.
Our story starts out as a boy next door trope that has a rather unique twist to it. Usually I am used to seeing the hero do something daring to save the heroine in some way, even if it’s non life threatening, however in Promise Me, Kendall winds up saving the hero, Vaughn. I really did like this aspect, even though the situation she needs to save him from doesn’t exactly paint him in the best light. However, I will that even though he is not at his best in the moment of their first meeting, he still manages to be smooth and sweet to her while at the same time acknowledges the wrongness in what’s going on. Given his current state of mind, I found this to only call attention to how much of a good guy he really is.
I think my favorite character in this whole book was Vaughn. He has some past issues that can really interfere in his decision making process as well as how he trusts people, however that doesn’t stop him from being a genuinely good guy. Vaughn wants nothing more than to thank the angel who saved his life and gave him a safe haven away from his stressful life for a night, but when he finds his angle has some sharp horns that might not be so easy. I have to say that I loved how much effort he puts into trying to make amends to such a small infraction and how sweet his attempts of flirtation turns out. This guy knows how to pull out all the stops in order to make a good impression and maybe gain the affection of the beauty next door and I couldn’t help but smile throughout every attempt he makes.
The heroine in this story is a horse of a totally different color for me. Kendall’s first meeting with Vaughn is so different to how she winds up treating him afterwards it makes me wonder if she was abducted by body snatchers. At first, she is very sweet, sympathetic, and wanted nothing more than to help him, but when he turns up on her door with some cavity educing apologies she is completely standoffish and just downright rude. I got so frustrated with how resistant she is to his advances that there were times I wanted to strangle her. Kendall has been through some rough patches to say the least, and while their first meeting wasn’t super great, there is no reason for the treatment she throws at the Vaughn or his advances.
Being honest, none of the women in this book really impressed me very much. While Vaughn and his two male roommates are very relatable and deep characters, the women all felt very stereotypical and in many ways one dimensional. I felt all the women, even the hero’s best friend, were very rude, a bit air headed, and stuck on high school like drama I think this stereotyping of women is what really put me off the book.
I will say that the dog in the story has more personality than any of the other characters in the book. I also really did love Vaughn’s roommates. Both men he lives with are very interesting. Their personalities, what little was given on their background, and their chosen professions does have me wanting to learn more and see where their lives take them.
All in all, this book was ok but not my cup of tea. I hope that the next books in the series are a bit better, but I don’t know as though I will pick them up.
April 30, 2019
There are at least three underlying drama type themes running through this storyline, folks. The first obvious one is the dysfunctional relationship Kendall, the heroine, has with her two half sister siblings, all who wind up living under the same roof over the summer. I think it is safe to say this was added for those who enjoy a sisterhood mending/bonding type scenario. Also, I’m pretty sure you’ll see these ladies paired off with other sub-characters in future books.
The second is Kendall’s own personal turmoil of a past, horrific teenage mistake that wrecked the life of someone she loved and hers all at the same time. It’s made her an emotional, hand wringing damsel in distress, emotional mess.
Thirdly is “too gorgeous for his own good” Vaughn, the hero, who upon meeting Kendall seems to switch from a partier, playboy bunny model, wanna be reality TV host, to wanting to know and be only with her. His baggage is juggling his career with an over controlling daddy manager. Both of whom also are grieving the loss of someone they loved.
I feel a tad bit guilty to admit it all became rather exhausting. I promise you I tried really hard to fall in love with this book. The sweet book cover definitely lured me in. Maybe it was simply just too much personal drama resulting in too many over analyzed feelings floating around. Kendall’s closure session was quite the tear jerker though, which made me feel even guiltier for my mixed luke warm feelings for this book.
More than likely it was the slow pace of the book and the mechanic at times writing. At halfway through, this main couple still really wasn’t in a relationship yet. When several lusty, smexy scenes set in, I found myself skimming over them waiting for the inevitable wrap up.
Here’s to hoping others really enjoy this book. Despite it’s pulling at the heart strings theme, it just came off as a stereotypical rather predictable read for me.
Title: Promise Me, Author: Samanthe Beck/Robin Bielman, Pages: 278, stand-alone, VERY graphic smexy scenes starting a little past mid-way, gorgeous top model hero, hand wringing emotional mess heroine. Rating: 2.5 stars
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)
The second is Kendall’s own personal turmoil of a past, horrific teenage mistake that wrecked the life of someone she loved and hers all at the same time. It’s made her an emotional, hand wringing damsel in distress, emotional mess.
Thirdly is “too gorgeous for his own good” Vaughn, the hero, who upon meeting Kendall seems to switch from a partier, playboy bunny model, wanna be reality TV host, to wanting to know and be only with her. His baggage is juggling his career with an over controlling daddy manager. Both of whom also are grieving the loss of someone they loved.
I feel a tad bit guilty to admit it all became rather exhausting. I promise you I tried really hard to fall in love with this book. The sweet book cover definitely lured me in. Maybe it was simply just too much personal drama resulting in too many over analyzed feelings floating around. Kendall’s closure session was quite the tear jerker though, which made me feel even guiltier for my mixed luke warm feelings for this book.
More than likely it was the slow pace of the book and the mechanic at times writing. At halfway through, this main couple still really wasn’t in a relationship yet. When several lusty, smexy scenes set in, I found myself skimming over them waiting for the inevitable wrap up.
Here’s to hoping others really enjoy this book. Despite it’s pulling at the heart strings theme, it just came off as a stereotypical rather predictable read for me.
Title: Promise Me, Author: Samanthe Beck/Robin Bielman, Pages: 278, stand-alone, VERY graphic smexy scenes starting a little past mid-way, gorgeous top model hero, hand wringing emotional mess heroine. Rating: 2.5 stars
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)
April 23, 2019
It's no secret I'm a fan of co-written books, especially by authors I really like, there's just something special about them. So when I saw this new release by Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck, I had to pick it up.
If I had to describe this story in three words, it'd be easy, heartwarming and maybe predictable.
Kendall is still dealing with something that happened in her past when her aunt who lives in LA asks her to house sit for the summer. Add two half-sisters who she doesn't get along well with and a trio of hot neighbors. (and a cute, sassy dog, we shall not forget about the dog!) It started out perfectly for me, the connection between Kendall and Vaughn was immediate and got me hooked on the story.
It's hard to talk about Kendall's character without spoilers, so I'll just say I couldn't like her as much as I wished. Vaughn, on the other hand, was the perfect hero. Loyal, caring, sweet, selfless and sexy as hell. He did everything right and imo, more than he should have. I wish Kendall would have been the first to make amends and take the first step at the end. She was too insecure in my eyes, it got me wondering, would they still end up together if that was up to her? I'm not sure.
Actually, it was Vaughn's character that earned this book +1 star.
Pick it up and get yourself a new book boyfriend!
If I had to describe this story in three words, it'd be easy, heartwarming and maybe predictable.
Kendall is still dealing with something that happened in her past when her aunt who lives in LA asks her to house sit for the summer. Add two half-sisters who she doesn't get along well with and a trio of hot neighbors. (and a cute, sassy dog, we shall not forget about the dog!) It started out perfectly for me, the connection between Kendall and Vaughn was immediate and got me hooked on the story.
It's hard to talk about Kendall's character without spoilers, so I'll just say I couldn't like her as much as I wished. Vaughn, on the other hand, was the perfect hero. Loyal, caring, sweet, selfless and sexy as hell. He did everything right and imo, more than he should have. I wish Kendall would have been the first to make amends and take the first step at the end. She was too insecure in my eyes, it got me wondering, would they still end up together if that was up to her? I'm not sure.
Actually, it was Vaughn's character that earned this book +1 star.
Pick it up and get yourself a new book boyfriend!
March 23, 2019
I’d like to say that this was a light easy read, and it was to a certain extent, but it covered a real issue, and had me really feeling for the main character and how she handled a huge mistake, a mistake made years earlier when she was a teenager. It’s a sad fact that the things we do as youngsters greatly impact our future, yet it always seems to be too late before we realise this. We’ve all heard the saying “If I knew then what I know now......”
Now that the serious stuff’s out of the way I’ll tell you how much I loved the book, the story, the words, the characters (including one fiesty little Pomeranian), and last but definitely not least the overall feel of it. I was addicted. I loved how there wasn’t any bad blood in either Vaughn or Kendall, I loved that it made me feel like anything was possible. Romance, family drama, and a teenage tragedy made this a definite favourite addition to my book library. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Now that the serious stuff’s out of the way I’ll tell you how much I loved the book, the story, the words, the characters (including one fiesty little Pomeranian), and last but definitely not least the overall feel of it. I was addicted. I loved how there wasn’t any bad blood in either Vaughn or Kendall, I loved that it made me feel like anything was possible. Romance, family drama, and a teenage tragedy made this a definite favourite addition to my book library. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.
April 15, 2019
Fantastic, Heartwarming, real life situation, and connectivity to the characters and their struggles! This story has all of these and more. Samanthe Beck and Robin Bielman are amazing authors in their own right so when I hear they were working together, WOW, was my first thought. I knew I needed to read Promise Me. Vaughn and Kendell both have their sorrows from the past and those have created the people they are. Kendell ha a lot of thigs to figure out and her aunt is kind enough to let her house sit for the summer. Kendell is thrilled as would anyone, but her Aunt left out a few details about what came with the house. A sexy neighbor, crazy dog, and two sisters she has never been able to build a relationship with. Every aspect of this book was perfectly crafted to attach you to the characters and what they are all going through. I enjoyed this book and know you will too!!! It is on sale now so go grab it and start reading in your favorite spot! I was given an ARC by the authors to give an honest review.
July 8, 2019
Bad boy actor meets sensitive but troubled girl next door and sparks fly.
Sounds cliche, but #PromiseMe turned out to be a sweet and steamy love story that also dealt with a serious issue and it's devastating consequences.
I didn't expect to have much sympathy for the actor, Vaughn, since he seemed to have it all -- looks, money, women, and a career. But, as he shares his POV, it's clear that he doesn't really have control and his career needs the boost if he could get a specific gig as host of a top show.
Similarly, Kendall has her life mapped out for her and she feels out of control after a poor decision on her part left her boyfriend in a coma.
So, in spite of their mutual baggage, there is so much chemistry between Vaughn and Kendall that it seems inevitable their worlds collide, and the very private Kendall is left exposed. This is where the story choked me up, sigh.
I kept rooting for the two of them to figure it all out, and the story does not disappoint!
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC!
Sounds cliche, but #PromiseMe turned out to be a sweet and steamy love story that also dealt with a serious issue and it's devastating consequences.
I didn't expect to have much sympathy for the actor, Vaughn, since he seemed to have it all -- looks, money, women, and a career. But, as he shares his POV, it's clear that he doesn't really have control and his career needs the boost if he could get a specific gig as host of a top show.
Similarly, Kendall has her life mapped out for her and she feels out of control after a poor decision on her part left her boyfriend in a coma.
So, in spite of their mutual baggage, there is so much chemistry between Vaughn and Kendall that it seems inevitable their worlds collide, and the very private Kendall is left exposed. This is where the story choked me up, sigh.
I kept rooting for the two of them to figure it all out, and the story does not disappoint!
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC!
April 16, 2019
This was a first for me for both authors. And I have to say when I was done I was looking them both up and wanting to read all their words! This was a fun, sexy, and surprisingly emotional read which is my favorite ingredients for a great story. Vaughn and Kendall will hook you from the beginning and not let go. This is definitely a must read and I look forward to more from both of these authors!
March 18, 2019
I liked this book, I really liked Vaughn, I wished Kendall had a little more self assurance. I found Vaughn to be charming.
November 25, 2019
When Kendall prevents Vaughn, her aunt's next door neighbor, from getting behind the wheel of his vehicle while he's more than a little intoxicated, it sparks something between the two that neither ever saw coming. She tries to keep it casual, as she's only bunking at her aunt's for the summer, AND she has walls around her heart thanks a past she doesn't want exposed, but Vaughn soon wants more. More of everything with the woman who so fascinates and attracts him with her loving heart.
I cannot wax poetic hard enough about Promise Me to do it justice. It's just such a beautiful story and Kendall and Vaughn are so much more than I expected. To be honest, I expected something sweet and fluffy; what I got may be sweet but it's definitely not fluffy. It's heartbreaking in parts, especially when Kendall's past comes to light, but the way it plays out got me right in the heart. It's been a few days since I finished reading but I still remember this story with my heart in my eyes, not to mention more than a few tears, and I still love Vaughn and Kendall, especially Kendall. I love how much she developed over the course of the story, from her past til the present, and I love, love, love how much Vaughn feels for her, sees her beautiful soul. Speaking of Vaughn...that man is swoony af! Can I have my own Vaughn?!? I will reiterate once more just how much I love Promise Me and how you really, really need to get your own copy today!
ARC via Social Butterfly PR for an honest review.
Full review posted here ---> Live Through Books Blog.
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April 15, 2019
PROMISE ME by Samanthe Beck & Robin Bielman is the story of Kendall Hewitt and Vaughn Shaughnessy.
Kendall is having a rough time with somethings that have happen to her and chooses to help her Aunt by house sitting for her instead of going home. What she finds is that her half sisters are there too. Then there is the hot neighbor Vaughn that is causing her mind to wonder to him. Vaughn is a fun easy going more open person than Kendall but they slowly started to burn up my pages. Enjoyed this sweet romance that did touch on some harsh incidents. I hope these authors choose to write more together in the future.
Merged review:
PROMISE ME by Samanthe Beck & Robin Bielman is the story of Kendall Hewitt and Vaughn Shaughnessy.
Kendall is having a rough time with somethings that have happen to her and chooses to help her Aunt by house sitting for her instead of going home. What she finds is that her half sisters are there too. Then there is the hot neighbor Vaughn that is causing her mind to wonder to him. Vaughn is a fun easy going more open person than Kendall but they slowly started to burn up my pages. Enjoyed this sweet romance that did touch on some harsh incidents. I hope these authors choose to write more together in the future.
Kendall is having a rough time with somethings that have happen to her and chooses to help her Aunt by house sitting for her instead of going home. What she finds is that her half sisters are there too. Then there is the hot neighbor Vaughn that is causing her mind to wonder to him. Vaughn is a fun easy going more open person than Kendall but they slowly started to burn up my pages. Enjoyed this sweet romance that did touch on some harsh incidents. I hope these authors choose to write more together in the future.
Merged review:
PROMISE ME by Samanthe Beck & Robin Bielman is the story of Kendall Hewitt and Vaughn Shaughnessy.
Kendall is having a rough time with somethings that have happen to her and chooses to help her Aunt by house sitting for her instead of going home. What she finds is that her half sisters are there too. Then there is the hot neighbor Vaughn that is causing her mind to wonder to him. Vaughn is a fun easy going more open person than Kendall but they slowly started to burn up my pages. Enjoyed this sweet romance that did touch on some harsh incidents. I hope these authors choose to write more together in the future.
April 19, 2019
4 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 15, 2019
Instead of soaking up the SoCal sunshine while housesitting for my aunt, I’m dealing with a Pomeranian who thinks she’s a Pitbull, two half-sisters who would happily prune me off the family tree, and him. Vaughn Shaughnessy. Hot model about to go nuclear, dangerously sexy flirt whose perceptive green eyes promise he’s more than just a pretty face. He’s the kind of walking, talking temptation I should avoid, but that’s impossible because he also happens to be my extremely lickable—I mean likeable—neighbor.
He’s turning me into a hot mess.
Thing is, I can’t handle more messes in my life. I’m still trying to come to terms with the monumental ones in my past, and getting involved with Vaughn—even for temporary summer fun—is guaranteed to get messy. I don’t dare risk it, but I’m not sure I can resist
••••••••••
REVIEW: PROMISE ME is a contemporary, romance stand-alone co-authored by Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck. This is twenty-four year old, model Vaughn Shaughnessy, and twenty-two year old, grad student Kendall Hewitt’s story line.
Told from dual first person points of view (Vaughn and Kendall) PROMISE ME follows the building relationship between twenty-four year old, model Vaughn Shaughnessy, and twenty-two year old, grad student Kendall Hewitt. Kendall, along with her two step-sisters are spending the summer in Hollywood, California house sitting for their Aunt Sally. When a near accident finds Kendall rescuing an intoxicated Vaughn, our heroine discovers that life as she knows it is about to change when Vaughn Shaughnessy pursues his ‘guardian angel’. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Vaughn and Kendall, and the potential fall-out as Kendall is unable to let go of the past, and Vaughn’s career hopes spiral out of control.
Kendall Hewitt has been estranged from her older step-siblings, step-siblings who grew up without their dad. When Aunt Sally secretly requested each sister look after her house and babysit the dog, Kendall had no idea how close the sisters were about to become but sins of the past continue to haunt our story line heroine, sins for which she is unable to forgive or let go. Vaughn Shaughnessy’s star is on the rise but not everything goes according to plans when a video goes viral destroying his chances at something new.
The relationship between Vaughn and Kendall is one of immediate attraction but Kendall struggles with sins of the past, and Vaughn battles demons of his own. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Kendall’s half-sisters: Dixie and Amber, as well as Kendall’s parents, her best friend Brit; Vaughn’s friends and room mates Dylan and Matt, model Rebecca Bismark, as well as Vaughn’s father and manager , and producer Nigel Cowie. Here’s hoping the authors are developing future story lines for Kendall’s sisters, and Vaughn’s room mates.
PROMISE ME is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and love. The premise is engaging, energetic and emotional; the characters are colorful, dynamic and flirty; the romance is spirited and moving. PROMISE ME is a story about secrets and forgiveness in a world that covets gossip and lies.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 15, 2019
Instead of soaking up the SoCal sunshine while housesitting for my aunt, I’m dealing with a Pomeranian who thinks she’s a Pitbull, two half-sisters who would happily prune me off the family tree, and him. Vaughn Shaughnessy. Hot model about to go nuclear, dangerously sexy flirt whose perceptive green eyes promise he’s more than just a pretty face. He’s the kind of walking, talking temptation I should avoid, but that’s impossible because he also happens to be my extremely lickable—I mean likeable—neighbor.
He’s turning me into a hot mess.
Thing is, I can’t handle more messes in my life. I’m still trying to come to terms with the monumental ones in my past, and getting involved with Vaughn—even for temporary summer fun—is guaranteed to get messy. I don’t dare risk it, but I’m not sure I can resist
••••••••••
REVIEW: PROMISE ME is a contemporary, romance stand-alone co-authored by Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck. This is twenty-four year old, model Vaughn Shaughnessy, and twenty-two year old, grad student Kendall Hewitt’s story line.
Told from dual first person points of view (Vaughn and Kendall) PROMISE ME follows the building relationship between twenty-four year old, model Vaughn Shaughnessy, and twenty-two year old, grad student Kendall Hewitt. Kendall, along with her two step-sisters are spending the summer in Hollywood, California house sitting for their Aunt Sally. When a near accident finds Kendall rescuing an intoxicated Vaughn, our heroine discovers that life as she knows it is about to change when Vaughn Shaughnessy pursues his ‘guardian angel’. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Vaughn and Kendall, and the potential fall-out as Kendall is unable to let go of the past, and Vaughn’s career hopes spiral out of control.
Kendall Hewitt has been estranged from her older step-siblings, step-siblings who grew up without their dad. When Aunt Sally secretly requested each sister look after her house and babysit the dog, Kendall had no idea how close the sisters were about to become but sins of the past continue to haunt our story line heroine, sins for which she is unable to forgive or let go. Vaughn Shaughnessy’s star is on the rise but not everything goes according to plans when a video goes viral destroying his chances at something new.
The relationship between Vaughn and Kendall is one of immediate attraction but Kendall struggles with sins of the past, and Vaughn battles demons of his own. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Kendall’s half-sisters: Dixie and Amber, as well as Kendall’s parents, her best friend Brit; Vaughn’s friends and room mates Dylan and Matt, model Rebecca Bismark, as well as Vaughn’s father and manager , and producer Nigel Cowie. Here’s hoping the authors are developing future story lines for Kendall’s sisters, and Vaughn’s room mates.
PROMISE ME is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and love. The premise is engaging, energetic and emotional; the characters are colorful, dynamic and flirty; the romance is spirited and moving. PROMISE ME is a story about secrets and forgiveness in a world that covets gossip and lies.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
July 16, 2019
***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and authors Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck.***
Promise Me is by authors Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck. Kendall is spending the summer in SoCal, hoping to figure out whether law school is the next step in her life. It’s clear upon her arrival that her aunt tricked both her and her 2 step sisters, all of whom were told they were house sitting. She also meets her aunt’s sexy neighbor when she saves him from being run over. She’s not interested in a fling, summer or otherwise, at least at first. She’s dealing with enough demons. The problem is Vaughn won’t let up. He’s sweet and considerate and patient and understanding, and Kendall’s finding him incredibly hard to resist. Of course, Vaughn comes with his own set of baggage, and Kendall’s not sure she wants to deal with the limelight.
Kendall and Vaughn were likeable, though I found it hard to relate to either. Normally I enjoy the back-and-forth between love interests, but in this case, it was a little too much. It made Kendall seem wishy-washy. Many reviewers thought the world of Vaughn, but I found myself occasionally irritated by frequently sexualized thoughts. It made his feelings and intentions harder to trust. Both characters were good people who were traumatized to varying degrees by tragedies in their pasts and dysfunctional relationships with their families. Truth be told, I enjoyed the growing bond between Kendall and her sisters at least as much as the romance in this book.
I did enjoy the story arc where Kendall struggled with Vaughn’s notoriety. It made sense and was very believable. I had trouble with her guilty feelings regarding her past. For me, they seemed a bit overdone, ever present and unusually controlling. That’s not to say her past wasn’t traumatizing. It certainly was. More that I had trouble reconciling the strength and predominance of that guilt with Kendall choosing to get involved with Vaughn in the first place. I also wish the story wasn’t quite so perfectly wrapped up. I found myself wondering if our couple would have been able to make it otherwise.
Promise Me is by authors Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck. Kendall is spending the summer in SoCal, hoping to figure out whether law school is the next step in her life. It’s clear upon her arrival that her aunt tricked both her and her 2 step sisters, all of whom were told they were house sitting. She also meets her aunt’s sexy neighbor when she saves him from being run over. She’s not interested in a fling, summer or otherwise, at least at first. She’s dealing with enough demons. The problem is Vaughn won’t let up. He’s sweet and considerate and patient and understanding, and Kendall’s finding him incredibly hard to resist. Of course, Vaughn comes with his own set of baggage, and Kendall’s not sure she wants to deal with the limelight.
Kendall and Vaughn were likeable, though I found it hard to relate to either. Normally I enjoy the back-and-forth between love interests, but in this case, it was a little too much. It made Kendall seem wishy-washy. Many reviewers thought the world of Vaughn, but I found myself occasionally irritated by frequently sexualized thoughts. It made his feelings and intentions harder to trust. Both characters were good people who were traumatized to varying degrees by tragedies in their pasts and dysfunctional relationships with their families. Truth be told, I enjoyed the growing bond between Kendall and her sisters at least as much as the romance in this book.
I did enjoy the story arc where Kendall struggled with Vaughn’s notoriety. It made sense and was very believable. I had trouble with her guilty feelings regarding her past. For me, they seemed a bit overdone, ever present and unusually controlling. That’s not to say her past wasn’t traumatizing. It certainly was. More that I had trouble reconciling the strength and predominance of that guilt with Kendall choosing to get involved with Vaughn in the first place. I also wish the story wasn’t quite so perfectly wrapped up. I found myself wondering if our couple would have been able to make it otherwise.
March 16, 2019
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was completely besotted with this story I devoured it in one sitting and cancelled my plans for the day because there was no way I was going to be able to step away mid chapter.
Firstly - the writing is incredible. Completely immersive and detailed - I truly felt like I was experiencing the story first hand. It is genuinely some of the best writing I have seen/read in a while!
My kindle copy is full of highlights from all of the quotes I felt were important (basically the whole book I swear). One of my favourites being - ‘I’m in charge of my heart. It’s mine to give, and it finally dawned on me that I can give it many times, in many ways. Love’s not a finite thing. I don’t have to retrieve what I’ve given, or give back what I’ve taken, in order to move on. I just have to be ready to give again’
Secondly - Vaughn?! What. A. Character. I adore that he isn’t an alpha type who acts like an ass and then comes to his senses for the girl. He is consistent from the first time you meet him. Yes he is handsome, yes he is famous, but he’s more than that and he doesn’t let it define him and when he cares for somebody he will move mountains for them. I love that he is sensitive and not afraid to show it
and I adore that every decision he makes his first concern is how it will affect Kendall.
Kendall’s story had me in tears, the beautiful moment she finally got the closure she needed was moving and heartfelt and I grew to love her character tenfold because of how she chose to better herself following the bad choice she’d made.
I adored Dixie and Amber and would have loved to have seen more from them! It was touching to see their relationship grow and each time Dixie was present I was not short on laughs.
There wasn’t a single plot line that I didn’t love, every part of the story was important and integral to the characters growth, everything about this book came together to create a moving, funny and romantic story that I literally could not get enough of.
I could not recommend highly enough!!
I was completely besotted with this story I devoured it in one sitting and cancelled my plans for the day because there was no way I was going to be able to step away mid chapter.
Firstly - the writing is incredible. Completely immersive and detailed - I truly felt like I was experiencing the story first hand. It is genuinely some of the best writing I have seen/read in a while!
My kindle copy is full of highlights from all of the quotes I felt were important (basically the whole book I swear). One of my favourites being - ‘I’m in charge of my heart. It’s mine to give, and it finally dawned on me that I can give it many times, in many ways. Love’s not a finite thing. I don’t have to retrieve what I’ve given, or give back what I’ve taken, in order to move on. I just have to be ready to give again’
Secondly - Vaughn?! What. A. Character. I adore that he isn’t an alpha type who acts like an ass and then comes to his senses for the girl. He is consistent from the first time you meet him. Yes he is handsome, yes he is famous, but he’s more than that and he doesn’t let it define him and when he cares for somebody he will move mountains for them. I love that he is sensitive and not afraid to show it
and I adore that every decision he makes his first concern is how it will affect Kendall.
Kendall’s story had me in tears, the beautiful moment she finally got the closure she needed was moving and heartfelt and I grew to love her character tenfold because of how she chose to better herself following the bad choice she’d made.
I adored Dixie and Amber and would have loved to have seen more from them! It was touching to see their relationship grow and each time Dixie was present I was not short on laughs.
There wasn’t a single plot line that I didn’t love, every part of the story was important and integral to the characters growth, everything about this book came together to create a moving, funny and romantic story that I literally could not get enough of.
I could not recommend highly enough!!
April 16, 2019
I’m not a huge fan of YA romance, but I’ve enjoyed several of Robin Bielman’s books, so I figured I’d give “Promise Me” a shot. The book starts off interestingly enough, with a unique meet between the two main characters, Kendall and Vaughn. Kendall, on a summer break before starting law school in the fall, is staying at her aunt’s place in California. Vaughn, a hot up-and-coming model, lives next door with his two roommates.
Kendall and Vaughn flirt with their attraction to one another, but both have lots of other things taking up time and space in their lives. Vaughn is jetting from place to place for modeling jobs, and is in the running to be host of an “American Idol” type show. Kendall, meanwhile, is trying to talk herself into a career as a lawyer that her father wants far more than she does. She also is a dealing with the consequences of a horrible mistake she made as a teen that has impacted many lives. In addition, her two half-sisters show up, invited by their aunt to try and reunite the siblings who have never been close.
The authors also introduce Kendall’s two sisters and Vaughn’s two roommates, who seem to be couples in the making themselves. It makes for a lot of exposition, maybe a little too much. Also, a problem I tend to have with a lot of YA books is trying to imagine people as young as the characters being as mature and sure of themselves as the characters in this book seem to be. I certainly don’t remember being half as confident of myself and my decisions as they are. And I had a problem with the way the characters spoke at times. I just couldn’t “hear” someone talking like that, and it drew me out of the story. There was angst, and drama and romance, but nothing that really grabbed me and made me want to keep reading. It was all just a little too pat for me, I suppose.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad book. But it also isn’t one I’ll read again, nor will I seek out what are sure to be the next in the series featuring the other two sisters.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Kendall and Vaughn flirt with their attraction to one another, but both have lots of other things taking up time and space in their lives. Vaughn is jetting from place to place for modeling jobs, and is in the running to be host of an “American Idol” type show. Kendall, meanwhile, is trying to talk herself into a career as a lawyer that her father wants far more than she does. She also is a dealing with the consequences of a horrible mistake she made as a teen that has impacted many lives. In addition, her two half-sisters show up, invited by their aunt to try and reunite the siblings who have never been close.
The authors also introduce Kendall’s two sisters and Vaughn’s two roommates, who seem to be couples in the making themselves. It makes for a lot of exposition, maybe a little too much. Also, a problem I tend to have with a lot of YA books is trying to imagine people as young as the characters being as mature and sure of themselves as the characters in this book seem to be. I certainly don’t remember being half as confident of myself and my decisions as they are. And I had a problem with the way the characters spoke at times. I just couldn’t “hear” someone talking like that, and it drew me out of the story. There was angst, and drama and romance, but nothing that really grabbed me and made me want to keep reading. It was all just a little too pat for me, I suppose.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad book. But it also isn’t one I’ll read again, nor will I seek out what are sure to be the next in the series featuring the other two sisters.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
April 15, 2019
I’ve read a few books by Robin Bielman, and loved each one. Samanthe Beck is new to me, but that will be changing soon. These two write so seamlessly you would never guess it was a duo’s collaboration.
The book has a few laugh out loud moments, mixed in with the blazing chemistry that we are given an insight before we even see Vaughn Shaughnessy and Kendall Hewitt together for the first time. Vaughn’s slightly hungover recollections of their first meeting(not shown in the story, but visualized in his head next morning, was the precursor to their attraction.
I smiled, laughed… and golly-gosh, did I swoon for this man. He is romance incorporated without even trying.
Vaughn is a model and aspiring reality show host. He’s gorgeous and sweet and kind. He falls for Kendall from the second he sees her. It was just… gah!!! So good.
They are the perfect match for each other, on paper at least, but real life has some hidden truths that will put some bumps in the road. How will they deal with this?
Kendall isn’t looking for love or a relationship when she meets Vaughn, she’s only meant to be house-sitting for her aunt for the summer. But, fate works in mysterious ways. Not only does she meet Vaughn, but her aunt asked her two half-sisters to house-sit as well. Not much wrong with that you might think, but these three girls are all but estranged. Now they have the summer to make a proper sisterly connection.
I loved all these different objectives and the feeling of family was strong, despite their initial hesistance.
But it’s Vaughn and Kendall’s relationship that steals the show, as it should. It smolders with pent-up feelings and attraction. They’re fun and sexy, but serious too when the need calls for it. And there is just a little bit of angstiness at the end. But, it was resolved in a cute way that felt right.
Can’t ask for more than that.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone thinking of buying it. Do so, and do it today!!
The book has a few laugh out loud moments, mixed in with the blazing chemistry that we are given an insight before we even see Vaughn Shaughnessy and Kendall Hewitt together for the first time. Vaughn’s slightly hungover recollections of their first meeting(not shown in the story, but visualized in his head next morning, was the precursor to their attraction.
I smiled, laughed… and golly-gosh, did I swoon for this man. He is romance incorporated without even trying.
Vaughn is a model and aspiring reality show host. He’s gorgeous and sweet and kind. He falls for Kendall from the second he sees her. It was just… gah!!! So good.
They are the perfect match for each other, on paper at least, but real life has some hidden truths that will put some bumps in the road. How will they deal with this?
Kendall isn’t looking for love or a relationship when she meets Vaughn, she’s only meant to be house-sitting for her aunt for the summer. But, fate works in mysterious ways. Not only does she meet Vaughn, but her aunt asked her two half-sisters to house-sit as well. Not much wrong with that you might think, but these three girls are all but estranged. Now they have the summer to make a proper sisterly connection.
I loved all these different objectives and the feeling of family was strong, despite their initial hesistance.
But it’s Vaughn and Kendall’s relationship that steals the show, as it should. It smolders with pent-up feelings and attraction. They’re fun and sexy, but serious too when the need calls for it. And there is just a little bit of angstiness at the end. But, it was resolved in a cute way that felt right.
Can’t ask for more than that.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone thinking of buying it. Do so, and do it today!!
May 13, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
"It's no dream. She's real - every bitable curve, every lick-able expanse of skin, every exasperated crinkle of her brows."
Kendall Hewitt is house-sitting her aunt's house for the summer, while she makes decisions about her future. She never expects to find her estranged half-sisters sharing the house with her, nor does she expect to be attracted and distracted by her gorgeous neighbour. She's feeling things for the first time in a years - things beyond her tight self-control - but being involved with him brings its own set of issues for her. However, a casual summer fling can't hurt, can it?
"Vaughn's touch, his taste, his smell, flooded my senses, keeping me rooted in the single most intimate moment of my life."
Vaughn Shaughnessy is on the cusp of stardom but he needs to keep his image spotless. There's just something about Kendall that hooks him, even when he has people telling him she may not be right for him. Even she's telling him that she's not right for him. However, there's no escaping the undeniable pull they have to each other and, for the first time, Vaughn wants to explore the possibilities.
"Losing control with him feels incredibly right."
I loved this story so much! Vaughn and Kendall were so gorgeous together. Their 'first time' scene has got to be one of the sexiest ‘first time’ scenes I’ve ever read. It was filled with vibrating tension, barely-restrained passion and a heart-melting tenderness. I just adored Vaughn's gentle persistence and the fact that he was willing to give up his dream for Kendall. Kendall had serious demons in her past that she needed to face but I loved that she was willing to put herself out there for Vaughn when push came to shove. I simply loved these characters, and the side characters were funny and intriguing, and I can't wait for their stories.
"It's no dream. She's real - every bitable curve, every lick-able expanse of skin, every exasperated crinkle of her brows."
Kendall Hewitt is house-sitting her aunt's house for the summer, while she makes decisions about her future. She never expects to find her estranged half-sisters sharing the house with her, nor does she expect to be attracted and distracted by her gorgeous neighbour. She's feeling things for the first time in a years - things beyond her tight self-control - but being involved with him brings its own set of issues for her. However, a casual summer fling can't hurt, can it?
"Vaughn's touch, his taste, his smell, flooded my senses, keeping me rooted in the single most intimate moment of my life."
Vaughn Shaughnessy is on the cusp of stardom but he needs to keep his image spotless. There's just something about Kendall that hooks him, even when he has people telling him she may not be right for him. Even she's telling him that she's not right for him. However, there's no escaping the undeniable pull they have to each other and, for the first time, Vaughn wants to explore the possibilities.
"Losing control with him feels incredibly right."
I loved this story so much! Vaughn and Kendall were so gorgeous together. Their 'first time' scene has got to be one of the sexiest ‘first time’ scenes I’ve ever read. It was filled with vibrating tension, barely-restrained passion and a heart-melting tenderness. I just adored Vaughn's gentle persistence and the fact that he was willing to give up his dream for Kendall. Kendall had serious demons in her past that she needed to face but I loved that she was willing to put herself out there for Vaughn when push came to shove. I simply loved these characters, and the side characters were funny and intriguing, and I can't wait for their stories.
April 19, 2019
Wow, Promise Me is a fantastic story for first time co-writers Robin Bielman and Samantha Beck. It has laugh out loud moments but also some heartache that affects both main characters, Vaughn and Kendall.
Kendall Hewitt is housesitting for her aunt - she is going through a transition in her life and the summer away is a good time for her to think about it is she really wants. She also has to take care of Snowflake a Pomeranian who thinks she is a big dog and when walking her that's when it happens. Kendall meets her summer next door neighbor Vaughn Shaughnessy - a model and even sexier than his picture hanging in Times Square. Vaughn is also persistent and really wants to get to know Kendall but she knows that can never happen. Her past will hurt him and his career and her heart.
Vaughn knows he needs to get to know his beautiful next-door neighbor - especially since she saved him from a certain death. The problem is that every time he turns around Kendall puts up another wall and he is not sure why. All Vaughn knows that he will do whatever it takes to show Kendall she is worth it - even if it is just for the summer.
I first have to say I am a huge Robin Bielman fan and that's what drew me into Promise Me initially and now I am loving Samantha Beck. Promise Me is a great story that has great dialog, characters, and storyline. I didn't find it cliche which can be typical when one of the characters is famous - I loved that Vaughn is just starting his career and has some great opportunities while Kendall is finding her way. The secondary characters are also fantastic - Kendall and her sisters I loved their backstory along with Vaughn and his roommates/best friends. I definitely think this is not the last time we will see a story by these great authors.
Kendall Hewitt is housesitting for her aunt - she is going through a transition in her life and the summer away is a good time for her to think about it is she really wants. She also has to take care of Snowflake a Pomeranian who thinks she is a big dog and when walking her that's when it happens. Kendall meets her summer next door neighbor Vaughn Shaughnessy - a model and even sexier than his picture hanging in Times Square. Vaughn is also persistent and really wants to get to know Kendall but she knows that can never happen. Her past will hurt him and his career and her heart.
Vaughn knows he needs to get to know his beautiful next-door neighbor - especially since she saved him from a certain death. The problem is that every time he turns around Kendall puts up another wall and he is not sure why. All Vaughn knows that he will do whatever it takes to show Kendall she is worth it - even if it is just for the summer.
I first have to say I am a huge Robin Bielman fan and that's what drew me into Promise Me initially and now I am loving Samantha Beck. Promise Me is a great story that has great dialog, characters, and storyline. I didn't find it cliche which can be typical when one of the characters is famous - I loved that Vaughn is just starting his career and has some great opportunities while Kendall is finding her way. The secondary characters are also fantastic - Kendall and her sisters I loved their backstory along with Vaughn and his roommates/best friends. I definitely think this is not the last time we will see a story by these great authors.
March 27, 2019
You can also read my review here → http://elenasbookblog.com/new-review-...
A new writing duo is here! Samanthe Beck is known for her steamy books and Robin for her humorous ones, so these two created a fun and sexy story! Promise Me is a hot book filled with sweet scenes and lovable characters.
Kendall has been house sitting her aunt's home but she has to deal with two estranged sisters, a feisty little dog and an irresistible neighbor. It's only for a summer so what can happen, right?!Vaughn is on the verge of succeeding in the TV industry so he has to concentrate but the angel next door keeps distracting him. She has though some secrets that can destroy his career so he has to decide if love is worth it.
I really liked the characters in this book. Kendall is a young woman who has to forgive herself for her past mistakes. I admired her transformation throughout the book. She finds her goals, she opens up and she gives a chance to her happiness.
Vaughn is a delightful hero. He is flirty, fun and hot. I really liked his honesty and his will to fight for Kendall.
Their relationship is cute and scorching! My only complaint is that I would have liked to see them moving a little slower. As Kendall doesn't have experience and she appears closed off , I would have expected more dates or foreplay before their sexy scenes.
The secondary characters are great and you want to read their stories.
I hope these two authors will continue writing together and give us more books!
A new writing duo is here! Samanthe Beck is known for her steamy books and Robin for her humorous ones, so these two created a fun and sexy story! Promise Me is a hot book filled with sweet scenes and lovable characters.
Kendall has been house sitting her aunt's home but she has to deal with two estranged sisters, a feisty little dog and an irresistible neighbor. It's only for a summer so what can happen, right?!Vaughn is on the verge of succeeding in the TV industry so he has to concentrate but the angel next door keeps distracting him. She has though some secrets that can destroy his career so he has to decide if love is worth it.
I really liked the characters in this book. Kendall is a young woman who has to forgive herself for her past mistakes. I admired her transformation throughout the book. She finds her goals, she opens up and she gives a chance to her happiness.
Vaughn is a delightful hero. He is flirty, fun and hot. I really liked his honesty and his will to fight for Kendall.
Their relationship is cute and scorching! My only complaint is that I would have liked to see them moving a little slower. As Kendall doesn't have experience and she appears closed off , I would have expected more dates or foreplay before their sexy scenes.
The secondary characters are great and you want to read their stories.
I hope these two authors will continue writing together and give us more books!
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