Title: Promise Me Always
Author: A.L. Jackson
Series: Redemption Hills #4
Release Date: January 30, 2023
Length: 491 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
***My Review****
Promise Me Always – a title that inevitably reminds of pain and suffering, but also love and endless hope…
And this story has all those elements that are needed for an exciting and emotional romance that will leave you with a smile on your face…
A chance meeting offers Tessa an opportunity to discover the hidden side of this big man. The love of a single father is enough incentive for Tessa to unconditionally offer him all the help and support he needs… Plans are made, and a fake engagement is the only solution for everything…
The story of Tessa McDaniels and Milo Hendrix begins completely unexpectedly. Two wounded souls seeking healing for their wounds. Two friends who know which lines must not be crossed, but the attraction is simply stronger than anything…
Plans and realization collide somewhere in the beginning, passion is just a harbinger of some new feelings that threaten to swallow them with their strength.
But just when they think there is hope, the past comes back to threaten everything they have. There is nothing like your found family to pull you through the darkness to the other side.
To be completely honest, at first, it was really hard for me to get into this story. Perhaps this is because Promise Me Always by A.L. Jackson is the fourth book in a series, which I have not read. Maybe in the previous parts are hidden all the background information that somehow I missed too much.
But after I managed to put the pieces together, the story simply took on a flow and depth that honestly amazed me. Light elements are finely balanced with serious themes that somehow give great complexity to the whole story, making it much more than a simple romance.
The writing style is light, and luminous, without any special decorations and too much descriptiveness. Told through a dual narration, readers are slowly introduced to the two main characters at the same time, but some thread of mystery is dragged through to the very end, just enough as not to bore the reader.
At certain moments, the use of explicit language was a bit too forced and too aggressive. And I think that a slightly increased detail axis would be even more effective for capturing the whole atmosphere, which at times was not felt.
The main characters were quite complex, with many layers and actions that did not always match their characteristics.
Tessa is a red-haired fun aunt that everyone adores. A kind and empathetic person who is always ready to help. Unfortunately, some wrong decisions as well as unpleasant games of fate have left enough scars on her soul.
On the other hand, Milo is a truly brave man, who is not afraid to stand on the line and fight for himself and those he loves. Unpredictable at times, and rough around the edges but with enough emotion and warmth to heal all the wounds of her heart, he is a lovable character.
All the side characters were a great addition to the whole story. Tessa and Milo were a great couple, but I also enjoyed the glimpses of Milo’s past with his late wife Autumn.
The chemistry was bubbling between them and you could feel the tension and heat as it builds. In some moments it just seemed to drip from the pages. Frankly, as a romantic, I was more interested in building that whole emotional connection. To be honest, some parts felt perfectly intense to me, some were just meh…. and I missed a few more elaborate descriptions and captures of that unique love…
All in all, Promise Me Always by A.L. Jackson is an intensely emotional and incredibly beautiful story that is a great choice for all romance readers. If you are interested in a single dad, fake fiancé romance, choose this enchanting tale of love and redemption, and second chances.