this genre is my jam. I loved this type of book. this was a great addition to the new adult emotional romance category. add in the marine storyline ... it was very enjoyable and emotional. Great book!

This book sounded so promising after just reading the blurb and seemed to be exactly what I would like to read. Unfortunately, as I started reading this book, I turned out to have quite a few problems with this book.
I personally couldn't connect to the characters at all. They also just didn't feel real to me, which made connecting to them in any way really hard. Along with that I als had a really hard time remembering characters. I was just fine with the main characters but I contstantly kept forgettig who everyone else was and once a name was mentioned I was lost. I can certainly say that the minor characters fell flat to me. It might have been different though if I had known that a lot of characters had their own bok dedicated to them already.

From the very beginning I was also constantly constantly confused about what was going on. Nothing had been clear and while I don't mind leaving questions unanswered until the end of a book I disliked it here because I felt like the most essential things weren't told which made it incredibly hard to get into the story. It took me so long to read this book because I would constantly get annoyed and put the book aside for days on end.
I started to like the book a little more towards the end and the last two chapters really did leave me in shock for a moment. Unfortunately by then it was too late for me to really like this book.

2.5 stars

I can totally see how much heart, sweat, tears and effort the author put into writing this book. Which is why I feel so bad for not giving a higher rating.
But there were just too many things that bugged me.

Take the female lead, for example. I'm aware that River was grieving. She was depressed, struggling with anxiety, loneliness and immense sorrow. Of course she's overly emotional, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that she would lose her shit every once in a while. Except that "every once in a while" turned out to be practically every freaking chapter. I feel like there isn't one single chapter in her POV where she doesn't tear up, sob, scream, snap or make some other kind of scene, hiding, running away or pushing away the people that show concern for her.

Then there was the way people kept dealing with her issues. Her mental lability and self-destructive, sometimes borderline suicidal behavior must have been obvious for anyone interacting with her, yet [the first time someone ever mentioned getting professional help was about the 90% mark and (hide spoiler)] all people, Ian in particular, kept doing was to hug her and let her cry all night.

Another thing I found myself struggling with was the perfection that was Ian Maclean. In the first few chapters, Ian seemed like a guy lacking people skills, more in tune with computers than actual living creatures, while later on he proved he was actually very intuitive and a great judge of character. He was an intriguing hero and there even was a stretch somewhere around the halfway mark when I was sure I'd found myself my new favorite book boyfriend. From then on, though, my infatuation with him dwindled rapidly.
There is such a thing as "too perfect". As in perfectly kind, perfectly sexy, perfectly protective, perfectly generous, and of course, perfect in bed. He always knew the perfect thing to do and say, and I soon ended up repeatedly rolling my eyes at him.

By the way... How old were the characters supposed to be? Either I'm blind or there really wasn't any mention of their age. For all I know they could've been in their twenties or in their thirties.. hell, even in their fourties if it weren't for a few timeline inconsistencies. The labeling as New Adult suggests twenty-something?

Also, I feel like this wasn't planned to be released as a standalone, but rather as part of a series. A look into Kelly Walker's published works confirmed that quite a few of the featured secondary characters already have their own books. The issue I had with that is that some of these characters had their own little side plot going on (like weddings and adoptions and strange half siblings appearing out of nowhere), yet the author failed to properly introduce them to me. I feel like I was supposed to know all about them anyway, which I didn't, so it was rather tedious to read through those bits. I really didn't care for either of them, and I kept mixing up their names.

Okay. All that being said, if you're looking for a very emotional read, one that deals with serious topics such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, you might want to check this one out. It had a nice flow (despite its considerably length I devoured it within a day), the writing was beautiful (kudos for that) and I can totally see myself enjoying another book by this author, one that isn't quite as draining as this one.
I'll be keeping my eyes peeled.

This is a kinda difficult book to get into. The characters and storyline is a little confusing. Couldn't finish it.

I gave this book 4 stars. Holy crap this book had an amazing plot. I didn’t want to stop reading once I really got into it.

I have to admit I felt a bit cheated near the end. There was a confrontation I was so looking forward to, but it ended up being very anticlimactic and we never really got to see it happen. I really wish the author had included it.

I also wish that I had been warned that this contained characters from the authors Chadwell Hearts series. I was a bit confused about some of the characters like I was supposed to know all about them already but didn’t. I would have appreciated at least a warning so I could have read those other books first. In a way, it sort of spoiled a lot of what happened in that series, so if you haven’t read that series yet and you plan to, then read them before this one.

I loved River. I could relate to River. River spends a lot of time crying and reading Harry Potter. The only thing unrelatable about her is that she likes Professor Snape and is good at math.

As a love interest, Ian is a good guy, but I wasn’t particularly wowed by him. I really enjoyed his plotline, but again, his personality wasn’t enough for me to forget about every other book boyfriend. I also can’t get behind his nickname being Ghost. It just doesn’t fit with his appearance or personality. I just don’t see it.

I’m glad that the author didn’t stick with the trope of the dead husband/boyfriend secretly being horrible and the protagonist finds out about it after they die. I hate that trope and I’m glad this wasn’t the case in this book.

If you love NA romances then I would 100% recommend this one to you. It has every mark of a good NA novel.

Actual stars....3.75
What I wish I knew: I didn't realize this was a book that is part of a series. I did just fine reading it as a standalone, but I got confused in some relationships...I think if I had read the others, that would have made more sense to me. Easy enough to read without the other books, but maybe a bit easier to follow the sub-lines.
What I loved: This book wasn't run of the mill. There were some twists to the story line.
What I liked: in the end it was romance novel.
What I hated: I don't think I really hated anything about this one. It was just nice read.

This is more of a 3.5 star read for me but, it leans a bit more towards 4 stars than 3 so, there we go! Now that, that's cleared up, let's get on to the actual review!

Promise me follows River and Ian, whose paths intertwine under extremely tragic circumstances that bring them together but, have the ability to easily tear them apart. Grief has torn River's life apart and after losing the one person who promised her forever, she can't find the strength to move on. She's barely surviving a life riddled with pain and despair, slowly sinking and ready to drown as the darkness creeps closer. Ian also carries his own demons and has been through things most people wouldn't even have survived. When he meets River, he's inexplicably drawn to the sadness he can clearly see surrounding her entire being. And when Ian is scared of the darkness swallowing River and taking her away from him, he has to make a choice that will either break them apart or make them stronger than they could've ever been otherwise!

First of all, I want to express my appreciation towards Ian. He was amazing, caring and most important of all, loyal! Towards his country, those he loved and of course, River. I don't know if he sets expectations way up high for me, as a reader, in the sense that his personality is basically impossible to come across. He's so understanding and respectful towards River. He gives her space when she needs it and leaves her set her own pace in their relationship. The choice he had to make towards the end of this book was very tough but, he sacrificed River in exchange for her getting better and finding her way back to the light! I really loved that about him and would've definitely fallen for someone like him in real life.

River was also a very strong but, emotionally unstable main character! I was heartbroken over everything she had to go through and got extremely angry at how her parents handled her choices. Her grief can be felt through the pages of this book from the very beginning and I feel like the author did a great job at giving life to her characters through her writing and vivid descriptions! I couldn't relate to her in the way one would expect since, I have never been through something similar but, I could feel my heart break throughout the book and as more of her past came to light. I really enjoyed the fact that, nothing was revealed from the very beginning and the author revealed information about her past slowly and steadily. It wasn't unpredictable in the sense that, I could actually figure out what had happened in River's life and what she had to go through from the beginning of the book but, it didn't affect how the story progressed or how I felt about its development. I wasn't surprised by the facts but, at the same time, I wasn't unaffected by them.

The story is told through both River and Ian's perspectives, which I actually prefer when it comes to these types of books. That way, it's easier to see things through the eyes of the characters involved and identify with them on a deeper level. The only thing that frustrated me was how repetitive thins got at times. It briefly felt like the story dragged a bit during some parts of the book which, wasn't a huge deal but, it definitely affected my reading in general.

I feel like I would've also enjoyed this so much more if there were more flashbacks involved. This particular technique is one of my favorites when it comes to reading or writing because, it can offer vital information to a character's past and what they really went through. Not enough of the characters' pasts were revealed throughout the story and even though we got an image of what really happened to them both, I personally didn't get my closure by the end of the book. Considering that, they played a huge part in how the story progressed and they greatly affected both of them, it was like not enough attention was given to them, as a whole. I sincerely think that, they would've made a huge difference for me because I would've gotten to know River and Ian better through their pasts and would've eventually left everything behind with them!

Overall, Promise Me was a heartbreaking and quick read that broke my heart many times before finally putting it back together! It definitely does get emotional and could be a trigger for some readers so, keep that in mind if you're debating on whether to pick it up or not. It's on the darker side of Contemporary/Romance novels but, I really enjoyed how the characters found the light in each other by the end of it. Lastly, their development was something I was very grateful for because, that can be tricky sometimes when you're dealing with story lines similar to this one!

If the synopsis of this book sounds good to you then you are in for a treat! The book is exactly as described with a twists thrown into the mix. There are stories out that are similar to this one but I can promise that not all of them will make you feel the way that this one will.

Ian and River are each struggling to get through each day of their new normal although River seems like she is struggling more so. She is drowning under a sea of depression and is not coping well with the things that she has recently been through. When she and Ian meet she is in no shape for any kind of relationship, friendship or otherwise. River is hard to love when the book kicks off because she is prickly in order to keep all of the other characters in the book at a distance. In short, she is a mess. Ian meets her when he begins working for her boss to improve the security measures at the bar. Ian has his own demons but is it clear that he has dealt with them to some degree because he is not bring crushed under the weight of them.

I loved each of the characters and how the author chose to portray them and their emotions. The author was able to convey the emotions that they were feeling in a realistic way. I felt the turmoil, anger, and grief over the course of the book because the author made me invested in their lives. I believed the small steps toward recovery that they were each able to achieve because the pacing was well done. The events that take place in the book were believable because things were established over the course of the book. There is nothing that is just sprung on the reader because the author appears to respect her audience by letting things unfold in a natural manner.

#PromiseMe #NetGalley

publisher synopsis: Self-professed Harry Potter addict and math genius River Jacobsen can count on one hand the people who matter in her life. Really, it's just Dean, the boy who loves her despite her odd habit of counting everything around her when she needs to quiet her mind. When Dean promises her forever she never imagines it will be a lie.

After Marine hacker Ian Maclean is mistakenly declared dead by the US government, he's happy to correct them the moment he escapes captivity. He wants nothing more than to get home to the wife he left behind. Discovering she's been cheating on him since the moment he deployed wasn't in the plan. Devastated, he walks away from everything, even his name.

With the futures they were counting on destroyed, Ian and River find themselves starting over. Ian reminds River of things she'd much rather forget, but pushing him away is harder than she expected. Ian wants a second chance at happily ever after, but the more he gets to know River, the more he worries she isn't trying to figure out how to live again, she's figuring out how to die.

This book takes you on an emotional roller coaster, but in the end you love the book and its characters. Ian and River are both damaged, but maybe just maybe they understand the pain they are each going through better than the others around them. Like calls to like.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story had a good plot . It started as slow and got a better and again become very slow and fell flat and couldn't capture my attention. Unfortunately this was not for me.

Self-professed Harry Potter addict and math genius River Jacobsen can count on one hand the people who matter in her life. Really, it’s just Dean, the boy who loves her despite her odd habit of counting everything around her when she needs to quiet her mind. When Dean promises her forever she never imagines it will be a lie.

After Marine hacker Ian Maclean is mistakenly declared dead by the US government, he’s happy to correct them the moment he escapes captivity. He wants nothing more than to get home to the wife he left behind. Discovering she’s been cheating on him since the moment he deployed wasn’t in the plan. Devastated, he walks away from everything, even his name.

With the futures they were counting on destroyed, Ian and River find themselves starting over. Ian reminds River of things she’d much rather forget, but pushing him away is harder than she expected. Ian wants a second chance at happily ever after, but the more he gets to know River, the more he worries she isn’t trying to figure out how to live again, she’s figuring out how to die.

Sweet and sad all at the same time. Promise Me is a great read and did make me a bit emotional. River is lost, grieving and trying to survive. She is one strong cookie even though it may not seem like it. River runs from her grief steamed from the lost of her husband and child. Bam when she doesn't realize it Ian (Cole, Ghost) enters the picture. Ian is healing from his own battles both as a captive and of betrayal. You can't deny the attraction between Ian and River. There is plenty of love and heartbreak through out this read to keep you turning the pages. Ian and River heal each other and its beautiful. I can't wait to dig into more of Kelly Walker's books.

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @34%

I did try to stick with this one, I swear. Over 30% into a book though, I expect to feel a connection forming with the characters or feel the confusion over events and names slowly fading.

The thing is, it took a while before I even realized some of the names where the same people. Last name is mentioned or first, but for awhile not together. So, when I finally figured out which first and last names went together, I almost felt like restarting the book! Even when I gave up I had a difficult time connected the right people to the right names--most likely because I had assumed they were different people to begin with. So, if full names were used early on, that would have been helpful.

My biggest problem was the romance and how the main characters acted with one another. It seemed to me, in their minds or inner dialogue, the characters were different than when they talked or interacted with one another. This was weird. To be so depressed and then flirt with a guy, then immediately go back to sadness.... I feel this is possible, yes, but it was written in an unbelievable way for me. Also, sleeping in a car with someone you don't trust--barely know?! Yeah, no way. The way the romance was building too, was strange, since they barely talked to one another , especially rare if there is no bad feelings in the talking.

Some of the writing felt awkward to me too. I skipped ahead to an emotional scene which just made me blink and think, "I suppose people might act that way...?"

So, I didn't want to continue on. I think some people might enjoy this and the writing isn't terrible, which is why 2 stars instead of one, but I don't think I'll recommend this often.

I received a ARC of this book fo a honest review. This book started out way to slow. It finally got interesting about 30% in. When it finally grabbed my attention, it didn’t let go. This book is about love and lost and how others deal with it. Both main characters have connections to the military, either by joining or having a spouse join. The biggest problem I had with this book was that you learned what she is trying to get over and why she is the way she is, but with him, he kind of seems like a coward. This book had good heart, but it could have been a lot better with just a few more details about Ian. The epilogue kind of summed some of the questions up, but it then it made you question more!! All in all, I would give this book a 4 star!