SynopsisI wasn't planning on falling for Ethan Jamison, hell I wasn't planning on our paths ever crossing. He’s the most popular guy at school and a complete player. Me; I’m the perpetual good girl, trying to carry out one last request. But when you make a promise, how far do you go to see it through? ~ Blair It’s a running joke that I’m a terrible liar, if only people knew the truth. My whole life has been spent making excuses and deflecting questions. I was pretty good at it until Blair Thomas entered my world. She saw through the mask that everyone is so willing to accept. She makes me want to tell her all my secrets, but can she promise to keep them? ~ Ethan |
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Review
It’s been a while since I’ve lost myself completely in a book, but that’s exactly what Promises Hurt did for me. By that, I mean time just slipped away. I was in their lives. I was living, breathing, falling in love, and hurting right along with them. I looked up and realized I had been reading for 3 hours, and I had no idea. I figure if a book can make the world disappear and suck me in from the first chapter, it’s a keeper. This one did all of that and more. It’s emotional, intense, and completely captivating.
This is the story of the nerdy girl, Blaire, who gets swept off of her feet by the school’s “it” guy, Ethan. There’s so much more under the surface than just simply that though. Blaire has a bucket list of adventures to check off; Ethan has a father that despises him. It’s definitely not all light and sweet, but yet...is, at the exact same time, if that makes sense. It’s such a great mixture of romance with a serious subject matter. For me, it was a perfect balance.
At first glance, you’d think this was a very stereotypical story. You’d think it would be predictable. You would be wrong. I know I was. It’s so much more than you’ll expect, and I LOVE when stories hit me like that. There are so many more elements to their story than just simply a nerdy girl and hot guy, and it’s those extras that made this book for me. It also felt like the perfect high school dream. The hot guy you always swooned over wants you. Raise your hand if you dreamt of that in high school? I’m going to pretend that everyone is holding up their hands. It’s all of our teenage fantasies come to life, and there’s something very magical about that. I may be 29, have 3 kids, and a hubby but it doesn’t take away from the fun of going back and reliving that time in my life.
These characters fit each other so well, even though they’re sort of opposite. Blaire says many times that Ethan is so different from what she thought. He comes off as this egotistical player, when in reality, he’s charming, funny, and romantic to boot. Seeing the true Ethan come out and how he doesn’t care that his friends and classmates know how crazy he is about Blaire was so heartwarming and made me all giddy. I love love how witty Blaire is. Although she knows of Ethan and her best friend adored him, she’s still not intimidated by him. They have the cutest relationship and you’ll find yourself cheering them on from the get go. The flip side is that it’s not all sugary sweet. Ethan’s home life is horrible. His father is abusive, his mother doesn’t help, and he specifically asks Blaire not to say anything. It’s all very heartbreaking and Brooks does a fantastic job of making you really, truly feel for him.
BUT! That cliffhanger! Usually, I run away from books that I know end on a cliffhanger. Yea, I’m that girl. I will not touch them normally and HATE being surprised by them. This one doesn’t have a small cliffhanger where you can mosey on to your next book and come back when Book 2 releases. This one is more like the ”toss you off the side of the Grand Canyon and watch you fall” style cliffhanger. Ouch. Please don’t let that deter you from picking this one up. I loved this story, even with the ending. I don’t regret the last few hours while reading it. Cliffhanger or not, it was worth it. This book was fantastic.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Promises Hurt. Brooks has written a phenomenal story and the characters really seemed to come to life. I can’t wait for Book 2, as well as any future books by Elle Brooks.
<3 Erin
This is the story of the nerdy girl, Blaire, who gets swept off of her feet by the school’s “it” guy, Ethan. There’s so much more under the surface than just simply that though. Blaire has a bucket list of adventures to check off; Ethan has a father that despises him. It’s definitely not all light and sweet, but yet...is, at the exact same time, if that makes sense. It’s such a great mixture of romance with a serious subject matter. For me, it was a perfect balance.
At first glance, you’d think this was a very stereotypical story. You’d think it would be predictable. You would be wrong. I know I was. It’s so much more than you’ll expect, and I LOVE when stories hit me like that. There are so many more elements to their story than just simply a nerdy girl and hot guy, and it’s those extras that made this book for me. It also felt like the perfect high school dream. The hot guy you always swooned over wants you. Raise your hand if you dreamt of that in high school? I’m going to pretend that everyone is holding up their hands. It’s all of our teenage fantasies come to life, and there’s something very magical about that. I may be 29, have 3 kids, and a hubby but it doesn’t take away from the fun of going back and reliving that time in my life.
These characters fit each other so well, even though they’re sort of opposite. Blaire says many times that Ethan is so different from what she thought. He comes off as this egotistical player, when in reality, he’s charming, funny, and romantic to boot. Seeing the true Ethan come out and how he doesn’t care that his friends and classmates know how crazy he is about Blaire was so heartwarming and made me all giddy. I love love how witty Blaire is. Although she knows of Ethan and her best friend adored him, she’s still not intimidated by him. They have the cutest relationship and you’ll find yourself cheering them on from the get go. The flip side is that it’s not all sugary sweet. Ethan’s home life is horrible. His father is abusive, his mother doesn’t help, and he specifically asks Blaire not to say anything. It’s all very heartbreaking and Brooks does a fantastic job of making you really, truly feel for him.
BUT! That cliffhanger! Usually, I run away from books that I know end on a cliffhanger. Yea, I’m that girl. I will not touch them normally and HATE being surprised by them. This one doesn’t have a small cliffhanger where you can mosey on to your next book and come back when Book 2 releases. This one is more like the ”toss you off the side of the Grand Canyon and watch you fall” style cliffhanger. Ouch. Please don’t let that deter you from picking this one up. I loved this story, even with the ending. I don’t regret the last few hours while reading it. Cliffhanger or not, it was worth it. This book was fantastic.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Promises Hurt. Brooks has written a phenomenal story and the characters really seemed to come to life. I can’t wait for Book 2, as well as any future books by Elle Brooks.
<3 Erin
Excerpt
I look down at my cell and it’s 4:54pm. No sign of Ethan. No text to explain. What a douche. I mean, okay so I needed to be here anyway to collect books, but that’s not the point. He didn't know that. I can’t stand people that make plans and then break them without warning. It takes two seconds to send a text.
I’m packing up my things when Ethan Jamison barges through the library doors. He’s panting like he’s out of breath and his eyes are frantically scanning the almost empty room. Then they land on me. I stand completely frozen, mouth gaping like a total moron. Of freakingcourse it has to be that Ethan. He makes his way over, and the sound of his boots echoing through the otherwise silent room awakens me from my dumbstruck state. Emily’s letter flashes in my mind and I feel instantly embarrassed. Like, somehow he knows about it, which of course, he can’t, but I’m still panicking.
He stops a few feet short of my table and looks a little unsure. This isn't the cocky Ethan Jamison that struts around school thinking he’s god’s gift. It’s thrown me a little.
“Hey, um…I’m Ethan,” he says, looking down at me. He lays his guitar case down at his feet and then adjusts his backpack on his shoulders. “Are you the tutor, I mean, sorry…are you Blair?”
I never realized how tall he actually is up close and personal. I’ve seen him play at a gig for about two seconds once, but he was on a stage, so of course he’s gonna look taller than everyone else. Emily and I have only stalked him at a distance. His blue eyes are boring into mine and I'm just standing there. Staring. Like an idiot. He shifts his weight and I realize he’s asked me a question. I still haven't replied. Shit.
“Er…yeah, I’m Blair, nice to meet you. I was just about to go, I thought you weren't coming. You’re late.” The last part comes out all pissy like I'm mad at him.
An amused grin starts to form; his mouth pulling up slightly at one side and the boy has dimples—real life honest-to-god dimples.
I shake my head and practically bark out, “I’ve been waiting for you for almost a half hour. If you’re gonna be late when we meet, you could at least give me a heads up?” Oh my god, why the hell am I telling him off?
His smile widens and he’s not even trying to look sorry. He drops his backpack on the table and takes a seat.
“Yeah, I had practice and it ran over. Steve has a no phone rule, so it’s kinda hard to let you know when I don't have my cell.”
Steve is the music professor; he’s got the new age hippy vibe going on and makes all his students call him by his first name. I pull my chair back out and take a seat. “Okay. Well, um, let’s just get started then.”
I look up and his eyes are zeroed in on my chest. What a complete douche, he’s already ogling my boobs. I cough twice and raise my eyebrows in a ‘what the hell, my eyes are up here’ stare, and his cheeks immediately redden.
“Shit, no, I wasn't checking you out! I mean…um, I wasn't staring at your…fuck, well I kinda was but I mean, shit; I was just trying to read what your shirt says.”
Holy crap, this guy’s more awkward than I am.
I’m packing up my things when Ethan Jamison barges through the library doors. He’s panting like he’s out of breath and his eyes are frantically scanning the almost empty room. Then they land on me. I stand completely frozen, mouth gaping like a total moron. Of freakingcourse it has to be that Ethan. He makes his way over, and the sound of his boots echoing through the otherwise silent room awakens me from my dumbstruck state. Emily’s letter flashes in my mind and I feel instantly embarrassed. Like, somehow he knows about it, which of course, he can’t, but I’m still panicking.
He stops a few feet short of my table and looks a little unsure. This isn't the cocky Ethan Jamison that struts around school thinking he’s god’s gift. It’s thrown me a little.
“Hey, um…I’m Ethan,” he says, looking down at me. He lays his guitar case down at his feet and then adjusts his backpack on his shoulders. “Are you the tutor, I mean, sorry…are you Blair?”
I never realized how tall he actually is up close and personal. I’ve seen him play at a gig for about two seconds once, but he was on a stage, so of course he’s gonna look taller than everyone else. Emily and I have only stalked him at a distance. His blue eyes are boring into mine and I'm just standing there. Staring. Like an idiot. He shifts his weight and I realize he’s asked me a question. I still haven't replied. Shit.
“Er…yeah, I’m Blair, nice to meet you. I was just about to go, I thought you weren't coming. You’re late.” The last part comes out all pissy like I'm mad at him.
An amused grin starts to form; his mouth pulling up slightly at one side and the boy has dimples—real life honest-to-god dimples.
I shake my head and practically bark out, “I’ve been waiting for you for almost a half hour. If you’re gonna be late when we meet, you could at least give me a heads up?” Oh my god, why the hell am I telling him off?
His smile widens and he’s not even trying to look sorry. He drops his backpack on the table and takes a seat.
“Yeah, I had practice and it ran over. Steve has a no phone rule, so it’s kinda hard to let you know when I don't have my cell.”
Steve is the music professor; he’s got the new age hippy vibe going on and makes all his students call him by his first name. I pull my chair back out and take a seat. “Okay. Well, um, let’s just get started then.”
I look up and his eyes are zeroed in on my chest. What a complete douche, he’s already ogling my boobs. I cough twice and raise my eyebrows in a ‘what the hell, my eyes are up here’ stare, and his cheeks immediately redden.
“Shit, no, I wasn't checking you out! I mean…um, I wasn't staring at your…fuck, well I kinda was but I mean, shit; I was just trying to read what your shirt says.”
Holy crap, this guy’s more awkward than I am.
Author Info
Hello...
I'm a little neurotic; I function on a tiny amount of sleep and a huge amount of caffeine. I love green skittles and have an irrational fear of stormy weather. When I'm not writing about super hot college guys, you can generally find me googling them...all in the name of research of course. I can be persuaded to do just about anything the promise of a good book or a bottle of bubbles. Oh, and I also love to write.
I'm a little neurotic; I function on a tiny amount of sleep and a huge amount of caffeine. I love green skittles and have an irrational fear of stormy weather. When I'm not writing about super hot college guys, you can generally find me googling them...all in the name of research of course. I can be persuaded to do just about anything the promise of a good book or a bottle of bubbles. Oh, and I also love to write.