If there was a rollercoaster inspired by raw,
heart-breaking, life-altering emotions, then this would be it.
Honestly, I want to give you some elaborate story
about how I wandered into my local book store and just stumbled across
this read. If by stumble you mean reading 5 lines out of the whole book on
TikTok, and reading the book that same day means stumbled, then fine. I spontaneously
just found the book. TikTok had been disappointing me so much lately but I’m
glad to report back that the platform has redeemed itself. In my life, I’ve probably
read 2 books in my life first on my kindle and then as a paperback. Those
rare times were simply because I couldn’t wait for Waterstones to open. I’m
glad to announce that this is the 3rd time. The first was The
King of Wrath by Ana Huang and the second was Wild Eyes by Elsie
Silver. We are talking about the big leagues here.
I haven’t read the first instalment in this series
called Say You Swear, and upon reading about it I didn’t think I would. You
can explain to me why I ordered the paperback. The paperback of Promise Me
Not released on October 10th 2024, however I got it on my kindle
before that. Rare times remember? Nothing could have prepared me for what gymnastics
my heart was going to go through.
A disclaimer. This is a slow-burn and I’m talking like
spice isn’t spicing until the last 20 pages kind of slow-burn. I thought The
Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas was doing its rounds but
clearly that was before Meagan Brandy showed up. She showed me up.
We have 4 main characters. Payton who’s pregnant, ran
away from her abusive mother, shows up to a different town to be taken in by
her older brother (Parker) and then loses her boyfriend Deaton to a car accident.
We have Deaon Jr who is the son of Payton and Deaton. We have Mason who is NFL
player in the making and starts to fall for Payton, even whilst Deaton was
alive but then becomes such a pivotal part of Payton’s life when he died all
the way from the death, to missing the funeral due to the evil mother, all the
way to the birth and beyond. And finally, we have Deaton who was Payton’s love,
the father of her child and the man who she loved. Or so she thought. There are
a heap of other characters who are Parker’s friends, who have welcomed Payton
into their circle wholeheartedly. I’m sure I would have had a better understanding,
had I read the series in order but if you know me, you know that all the best
books for me are discovered only when I read the instalments in the wrong
order. Hook, Line & Sinker by Tessa Bailey, Reckless by Elsie Silver. Need
I say more. Thank you.
A brief something something on Chase. He was also a primary kind of character. From what I read, Chase was in love with Ari and him and Mason had a frosty moment in their friendship due to it. Haven't read the first book so don't quote me. However, I felt bad for Chase. I've been seeing mixed opinions on him but I feel bad. Payton turned to Chase all the time and for Mason that was betrayal. Not on Chase's part but Paytons. I loved how he was was friendly with Noah but Chase I want you to find love to.
This story includes two POV’s and a ton of flashbacks, so if you aren’t a fan of flashback stories then just know its heavy on it. At times it can get frustrating for some however for me it was just suspense after suspense. Like when I was in the past I wanted to go back to the present and vice versa.
This story is all based on lost love and struggling to
accept true love. Trying to be optimistic about life, whilst feeling guilty for
the small happy moments you deserve to have. Mason waited whilst Payton broke
her promise. It was so hard to read. The most fitting title I have ever seen for
a book.
Payton was struggling to accept that the man she ‘loved’
was never comparable to the man she ‘fell in love with’. It was never a
competition. In one she found companionship whereas in the other she found true,
utter love. Deaton was all she knew and had, Mason was who she understood and
wanted. Sounds pretty much the same right? It almost is but its not. Meagan
Brandy did such an amazing job using emotions that coincide with each other.
When Payton realized those snuggling dreams were with Mason
and not Deaton, it freaked her out hence why she broke the promise. Hence why
the damn title is Promise Me Not. Genius. I think my most cherished dream
was when Deaton told Payton to live her life with Mason.
As I mentioned before, the father of Payton’s child
had been buried without her knowledge. She was kept in the dark due to the evil
kind of mother-in-law. Payton was in shreds so imagine my surprise when she
didn’t go despite it being located months after. Take this is a little
back story, if you will.
Mason always saw Deaton Junior as son no matter what.
Mason was there during the hard times, during the birth and then getting
Deaton Jr taken away from him was cruel. We see so many soft moments between
both Mc’s but I think for me the most startling point were the following; 1
when Deaton had a visitor at the grave and that visitor wasn’t Payton but a
certain NFL player and 2. When Mason finally broke. After giving all the space
Payton needed, I just thought he’d never break but he did and man was that such
a great feeling.
The moments that had my heart squeezing had to be when
Mason caught Deaton Jr walking for the first time and when the three all
gathered around Deaton’s grave as a family with him including. When he said da-da?
I died. Daydream and Icebreaker both written by Hannah Grace showed
me the concept of a found family first. This was just like that. It was like
not all hope is dead moment.
The only thing that got annoying was the variations of
Payton running away from Mason. I read it once, fine. Twice, okay. By the third
time I was like for god’s sake.
Editor notes; story progressed with finesse. Character
development was done so strategically both in the past and the present. There
were certain bits that I found a little but unnecessary however in the large scope
of things, those minute differences didn’t take away from the overall flow. Is
this a re-read? Yes.
General comments about sports-based romances. The
first one I believe I read that was heavily around sports, and I rated 5 has to
be Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. That whole series is around hockey
players. I don’t have any other distinct memories reading a ton of love stories
based around sports. I believe the reason is simply because it ends up being
more sports and less love. Now, though Promise Me Not did have the
element of football in it, it wasn’t in your face. It didn’t make me feel like
I was reading about becoming a part of the NFL. It just felt like insight into one’s
journey. I’m all for that.
5 stars no and, if or buts. I actually received both I
Say You Swear and Promise Me Not by Meagan Brandy today. As
soon as I got a text notification from Waterstones alerting me that it was
ready to collect, I grabbed my loyalty card, money and ran out the door. Yes,
we are running because Vivian has a license but no car. We have some great releases
before the end of 2024 and despite me saying I wasn’t excited (hate that word
but still uses it) for The Striker by Ana Huang, I pre-ordered it
and now I cannot wait for the release of it. Seeing everyone with the ARC’s
makes me want to be a part of that to. She just never misses. Music to my ears especially
when I see re-occurring characters.
2025 is almost here and before the book wrap up, I’m
already dying for King of Envy by Ana Huang. March couldn’t come
faster.
I wouldn’t say this year started on the most fantastic
reads but it’s definitely ending with them. I pre-ordered The Pair Au Affair
by Tessa Bailey and it’s just looking at me from my book shelf. This
isn’t like me especially for a Tessa Bailey book. I need to start
reading it and when I do, I’ll report back.
Until then, these are paper pages that you need to consider.
Mwah
Vivian.
Don’t forget to
keep reading, because as long as you do, it’s making a struggling authors day
that much better. Reach for the starts of success.
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