Sandy S.
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.
2 people found this review helpful
C.M Pepper
5 'Promised' stars! 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!!
Lori Zenobia
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!