Series Book Review: Promises Promises Series by Victoria Klahr

Promises, Promise Series by Victoria Klahr

 

Book 1

That's A Promise

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Pain isn’t new to me.

I’ve been to hell only to find it never really leaves when you get back. It haunts me through nightmares, unrequited love, lies, broken hearts, and now death.

A monster almost took my life.
My best friend carries half my soul a world away.
My boyfriend broke my heart but refuses to let me go.
And my father is dead.

I don’t believe in fate and I don’t believe in happily-ever-afters, but for some reason, I still hope.

Live, even with a tainted spirit.
Long for my other half to come back to me.
Risk another broken heart, just to feel loved again.
And refuse to let another horror break me.

In the face of my most recent tragedy, I have to decide whether forgiveness is something I can give. But even if that’s an option, can I be forgiven?

Book 2

That's A Lie

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Seth is back.

When he walked back into my life, it almost felt like the pieces of my broken heart could be fixed. I thought we could go back to being best friends, but then I started to feel what I had been blocking out for years. I tried. Boy, did I try! But once I started to let him in, I wanted nothing more than to cross that line from friendship into something more…

Just when I think I can move on and let myself be happy, an ugly reminder from my past comes storming in and threatens to destroy the sliver of hope that's been growing since Seth came back.

Do I even deserve to be loved?

“I’m not asking to fix your heart. I’m not asking to mend you. I love each and every shattered piece of you. I’m asking that you let me love you. Let me love each piece of your broken heart, and I swear to you I will make up for every heartache you have ever experienced.”

I came back for Josie.

I knew I'd have to fight for her, but with the loss of her dad and the truth about what happened with her and Blake, I quickly realized that making her mine was going to be a lot harder than I first thought. The problem is, I can’t pretend like she’s just my best friend. I can’t pretend I don’t want more.

I'm willing to do anything to get her to admit she has the same passionate feelings for me, because I know once she opens up and stops lying to herself, I can show her what it really means to be loved. It's a battle of wills, but my love for her is stronger than her will to stop me.

So I fight for her. I fight because I know she deserves it.

**This is book two in the Promises, Promises series, and book one should be read before you read this one. Also, this book is for mature readers (17+), so if you do not like getting turned on or reading hot steamy scenes, this book is NOT for you!**

Book 3

That's A Relief

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It was supposed to be our happily-ever-after. We were supposed to look into the future and not worry about our past dragging us down anymore. I was supposed to marry the man of my dreams in a month, and now… Now, everything has changed.

So when my nightmares become reality—when the world starts crashing down around me—what do I do? How do I save the one person who never gave up on me?

Because, Seth? He is everything.

Everything was perfect. She said yes, she had the ring. Best of all, I had her heart. We were so close… so close to that future I had been dreaming about for years. Until suddenly it was ripped away from me.

I will stop at nothing to protect her. But how do I do that when I feel my sanity slipping with every blow sent our way? How do I save a girl who doesn’t want to be saved anymore?

Because Josie? She is everything.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Book 1

Seth and I still took self-defense classes so I wouldn't have to be a victim again. My personal favorite moves were the ones that doled out damage to a man's private parts. Seth always got nervous when we paired up to practice, because I loved that part a little too much.

He's the type of man that makes a girl want to cling on for dear life. The type of person that makes a girl want to lie, cheat, steal, crawl, kneel, or degrade herself in hopes for a shot of being with him for one moment...

Book 2

We'll go slowly. Keep coming back to me. Let me show you that you're my other half... Let me prove to you that I can love you the way you deserve.

And please for the love of baby Santa, fix your damn hair and makeup. You look like you've been attacked by bears all night.

I've been yours since I was six years old... I've just been too scared to admit it.

I'll love you forever, Pussycat. I'll love you when I'm dead and gone. I'll love you when through every life I live after this one. I'll love you every second I have left to live, and I won't regret one single moment of loving you. I'll choose you over and over again, because I can't and won't get over this feeling.

Book 3

She gave me a nice lecture when I asked for the engagement ring to give Josie. Most of it consisted of me being called a dumbass and being told that Josie will always be right.

The words I love you don’t do it justice. You own me. You’re my lifeline. Still not good enough. Is it possible to love someone too much?

Loving you…is something I never felt I deserved… Loving you… is something I will never regret… Loving you… is the only thing worth living for.

We are two damaged souls. Both of us missing pieces that the other had… We’ll never be whole while apart, but together… Together we are strong.

My Review:

Ms. Klahr's writing was emotive, evocative, alluring, and seductive. The story was insightfully penned throughout in my favorite form with a dual POV. Even when I became frustrated with her characters, I was reluctant to put my kindle down. I adore Seth Montgomery!  The storyline was highly sensual and often had me gasping and clutching my wine goblet, and caused my beloved kindle to steam over. Oh my, if the characters were actual people, they would be in a constant state of exhaustion and dehydration.

Of all the three books in the series, I loved and hated the last one the most. I cannot recall the last time I reacted with such scorn, derision, and irritation toward a main character as I did poor Josie while reading this series. Her selfish behaviors, destructive lies, and mind games were deplorable. However, it does not help that among my least favorite tropes is the “I will leave them for their own good” – ack! Despite a disturbing prologue of That's A Relief, Ms. Klahr had me in the palm of her hand during the first part of the book with her sweet and sexy love story with clever hits of humor and banter with friends. I adored Josie and Seth as a coupe. However, she did not allow them to enjoy their idyllic cloud for long and it soon began to thin when threats started arriving, tension mounted, and then the gates of hell fell open for our sweet couple and they were simply horrid toward each other throughout most of the book. It hurt my heart.

Each installment was highly emotive and full of drama, angst, intrigue, suspense, and some rather gruesome events. Ms. Klahr did an excellent job of capturing the destructive elements of major depression with its social withdrawal, denial, self-pity, delusional thoughts, feelings of desperation, and self-loathing. She also came through for me in the end with a stellar conclusion to the series while tying up most loose ends. Despite my bruised and battered coronary muscle, I count myself a new fan of Ms. Klahr, the gal has mad skills and is definitely one to watch.

Empress DJ

About the Author

Victoria Klahr lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her dreamy husband of four years and their two beautiful daughters. She is a self-proclaimed book-nerd who likes to sniff books before she reads them and fantasizes about book boyfriends. She is the author of the Promises, Promises series, including That’s a Promise, That’s a Lie, and That’s a Relief. She writes happily-ever-afters one heartache and tragedy at a time, and won’t apologize for making you cry.

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