The Promise by R.L. Mathewson Pages: 276
Series: Neighbor From Hell #10
Genres: Romantic Comedy
Source: Smashwords
Goodreads
Reed Bradford and Joey Lawson's story
How far would you go to keep a promise?
Reed Bradford never should have made that promise.
He’d barely survived the first time around, but now she was back, his best friend’s little sister, his one-time neighbor, and the woman that he never should have promised to protect. He never should have done a lot of things, like cross that line, but once he did…
There was no turning back.
Joey Lawson always had a plan, but unfortunately, mostly for her, sometimes those plans backfired. On her. This time would be no different. After the unfortunate incident that she felt was better not to think about, she found herself doing the one thing that she’d never survive.
Falling in love with a Bradford.
The Promise is exactly what I love about NFH books-its light, easy, and fun. In this edition, we get Reed Bradford and his former next door neighbor Joey. Joey is trouble with a capital T. She is a walking tornado of accidents and bad decisions. Reed has spent his life watching over her because he promised her grandmother he would. Oh, and Joey happens to be Reed’s best friend’s little sister.
Joey is on a forced sabbatical so she returns to her childhood home with dreams of fixing it up. She quickly learns that isn’t going to happen and has no idea what to do. Reed is the over worked principal of the local high school and is in need of a substitute teacher for history. These two are oil and water. But, the thing about oil and water is they might not always mix, but they compliment each other nicely. Joey can be a pain, but its not intentional and Reed, grudgingly recognizes that (but won’t admit it).
I like the banter between these two because its very playful. Joey is this brilliant woman with two Ph.D’s and yet she has this fun playful side with Reed. My one struggle with the story was the 3rd person POV. At times, I was kind of lost as to who was talking. A lot of pronouns were used and I found myself having to look back or ahead to get some context as to which characters were in the scene.
The Promise delivers on what readers have come to love about the NFH series: its full of crazy, zany characters, food obsessed men, and interesting women. If you like romcom, I really suggest the NFH series. The Promise can be read as a stand alone, but all the books are great, so if you enjoy one, most likely you will love them all!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Hissy Fit by Lani Lynn Vale, Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley, Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston…then you will probably like The Promise!
The Promise
“Reed?” she said, licking her lips nervously as the man that was making it difficult to think glared at her.
“Do you know what I did for the past twelve years, Joey?” he asked, which she normally would have taken as a good sign, but since he’d asked that question through clenched teeth and followed that up by placing his hands on the counter on either side of her hips so that he could lean down until they were eye-to-eye and she was left regretting so many things.
She opened her mouth to venture a guess only to quickly rethink that decision and settle for a simple shake of her head, which seemed to appease the large angry man. Nodding in approval, he reached up and gently pushed a strand of her hair back as he leaned in closer so that his mouth was next to her ear.
“For the past twelve years, Joey, I haven’t thought about you,” he whispered seductively, making her swallow nervously.
“I haven’t wondered about you, asked about you, or thought about you, and do you know why?” he asked as she felt his hand close over her hip.
She shook her head only to close her eyes on a shaky breath when she felt his lips brush against her ear.
“Because for the first twelve years you made my life a living hell. I worried about you every single day and it only got worse when you left. But when you decided to let me know just how much you hated me, I stopped worrying. I stopped caring. But now…” he said softly, letting his words trail off so that he could brush his lips down the side of her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake and making her breath catch.
“Do you know what I think about now?” he asked in a seductive whisper that made it difficult to think as he kissed her chin.
“N-no,” she managed to get out only to groan when she felt his hand slide over her hip.
“You,” he said, brushing his lips softly against hers. “I think about you, Joey.”
Great review! This sounds so good. I like banter and when the characters get some personal growth.
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