Promises We Keep: Book Four in the Arizona series

by Romeo Preminger

At twenty-eight years old, Arizona is working for his politician father and raising his five-year-old son Chase with his partner Preston. Settling down in Louisiana hadn’t been his first choice. Now that Chase is going to school, he’s hoping to get back to his career as a writer and move his family to New York City where life will be easier for a gay couple raising a son.

There’s two problems with that plan, though. The first is Preston who’s content with living in a small town, even if it means pretending he and Arizona are just friends for the sake of his Christian family. The second is Gaston Bondurant, Arizona’s daddy. He won’t stand for his grandson being thousands of miles away, and the way he spoils Chase exacerbates the tensions that have always been a problem for Arizona and Preston. Arizona feels caught in the middle, and he’s starving for somebody to appreciate his hopes and dreams. When a handsome marketing associate from a big publisher takes an interest in his writing and him personally, Arizona faces a big temptation.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2024

About the author

Romeo Preminger has been called the master of the romantic thriller. He's the author of over a dozen books including the Southern Gothic ARIZONA series, the branded romantic thriller series GUILTY PLEASURES EDITIONS (each book is a standalone), some naughty shorts called STORYBOOK EDITIONS, and two erotic romance standalones.

Romeo lives on the East Coast with his husband. Beyond writing, some of his favorite jobs on his resume are a brief stint as a zookeeper, an even briefer stint as a hot dog vendor, and a more substantial career as a counselor and advocate for LGBTQ+ youth. For more about Romeo, visit: https://romeopreminger.com or connect with him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/PremingerRomeo

Reviews

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb starts saying it’s the long-awaited fourth installment, lol, I didn’t know there would be a continuation of two books. I had to dig into my reviews to pick up on this series. It was a while back.

Then I remembered what a strong written series it was, even with a bit unsatisfying third book, but hey, here we are book four!

Arizona is now twenty-eight, and he and his partner Preston are raising Arizona’s son Chase. Arizona works with his politician father, but deep down he is a writer.
Let’s not forget Arizona’s whole life wasn’t easy, it seems we got the continuation here.

They live in a small-minded christian town, Preston accepts this, but Arizona wants to spread his wings. Easier said than done, because it’s way more complicated, and now he’s just stuck.

When he felt he and his relationship with Preston was going down emotionally, Arizona got a phone call from his agent, she got an editor who was interested in his book.

A lot happened before and after he went to New York for the book deal. His relationship with Preston is at the lowest point ever. It seems no one is happy for Arizona or his plans for the future.
And that’s just a fraction of the whole story.

It would be so simple to spoil, but I won’t tell more. Let’s just say it’s getting messy.

It’s a fascinating narrative, the flow and direction of the story felt natural. All the highs and lows were super sensible. At some point I had enough of the family matters, I wanted to scream.
There’s a lot of manipulation and guilt and blame.
Arizona is far from a perfect protagonist, but he’s real, he’s trying so hard to do the best for everyone, my emotions got all over the place watching him struggle.

The courses of the relationships are complicated and harsh. Not everything was to my liking, which is perfectly fine.
Overall a compelling story, consistently written, a journey you must try!

Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews

[Justine Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promises We Keep is Book 4 in the Arizona series and should be enjoyed in order as this is an ongoing series. This is a wonderfully written story told from Arizona's POV. Arizona is twenty-eight now and living with Preston and they're raising Arizona's five-year-old son Chase. Life is as it always seems to be for Arizona, complicated. Some of it he brings on himself though. Arizona finds himself wanting to get out of Louisiana and Preston is so rooted there he can't even leave for a small vacation. Tensions are high and something has to give. Arizona wants to please everyone but that is an impossibly. He has to do what's right for his son and niece Dinah, whom he's taken to looking after more regularly. I always find it interesting when an author writes about a character who's a writer. And in this case a character writing a book about their life. This story is so true to life, full of drama and emotion, and had me cheering Arizona's accomplishments and at wondering at times what he was doing and getting himself into. I definitely recommend this book and series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me say I have loved this series, but with each book Arizona makes decisions that make it more and more difficult to like him. I understand his dream of getting out from under his father and living an open life as writer in new york with his partner Preston, as it their struggles and relationship is written so realistically. However, I can also appreciate and understand Preston love for small time life and pretending there are friends due to religious families. Great tension that makes the book worth reading alone. Because after four books now I am invested in this couple, I am hoping the next book brings some clarify on why some decisions were made and the impact of those decisions. It hard to say more without spoiling the end of this one - will say the end was not satisfying, but again I am hopefully for book five to bring closure and clarify. I will await book five with anticipation to see what happens next in this couples relationship. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.

[DJ McCready · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from a third party and agreed to do an unbiased review. I have previousy reviewed the three prior books in this series and rated all of them favourably.

I found this book made me cry, made me want to throw my tablet at the wall and left me unsatisfied at the ending. That says something about the author if he can affect my feelings that deeply but I remain angry and unsatified. Arizona makes nothing but mistakes and while I can understand some of them I canot forgive him either.

To say more would be to reveal the substance (spoiler alert) and I am assuming reading the fifth book in the series will sort things out but I need to leave revelations until I read that fifth book.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very happy for a chance to return to this series. As usual, life is incredibly complicated for Arizona and also as usual, not in a good way. The small town he and Preston have settled in is not at all gay friendly, so Preston is perfectly happy to pretend they are just friends while for Arizona that is becoming a huge strain on their relationship, Arizona wants to take a chance on his dream of becoming a writer and moving to NYC which Preston opposes and there are other family issues that are oppressing him. This series does a wonderful job of showing us characters with different views of what makes the "good life" and making me try to see all the differing sides and points of view and ask myself which one(s) I'd choose.

[Malia Winger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of this series since the start. It reminds me of the huge sweeping sagas that I read when I was younger like Jackie Collins' Lucky series. You get a chance to really connect with all the characters and care about the plot. Arizona seems to have everything he has ever wanted. He and his longtime love Preston are raising his son together, they have a nice home, and there is a bidding war to publish his first book. But the cracks are starting to show. His father is pushing him to return to his senate campaign and he and Preston are arguing more and more. I was so entertained reading about Arizona navigating the minefield his life has become. This installment was worth waiting for.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arizona is a 28-year-old man who lives in Louisiana with his partner Preston and their son Chase. He works for his politician father but dreams of returning to his writing career in New York City. Arizona hopes to have an easier life there as an openly gay couple with a child. However, Preston prefers their small-town life and wants to keep their relationship hidden from his Christian family. Arizona's father, Gaston, is opposed to their plans to move, which causes tensions between them. When a charming marketing associate takes an interest in Arizona's writing and personal life, he must make a tempting choice.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book one of this series was amazing and I jumped straight into the next book looking for more of the same. Unfortunately each book since has been getting more depressing and unrealistic , having scenes missing that should’ve been there and just not enjoyable to read. Arizonas character is becoming more self entitled and just plain irritating. I’m going to read the next book simply as is it’s the last in series and I’m hoping it all ends in a high note

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is 28 and his life seems great but he wants more out of it. He works for his father and living with his partner but just pretending they are just friends. He wants to move to New York where he can get his writing career up and running but he knows his father would not want to be that far from his son. What will he do? What if he meets another man? How will that go? See just what is going to happen for them all

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series since the beginning and with each passing book I keep getting sucked in deeper and deeper. This of course pleases me greatly! I raced through this book because I just had to know what was happening. This author always keeps me guessing and that is one of the reasons I love this series. Seriously, start from the beginning right now. You'll be so glad you did. Now I have to get on to book five. Yeah!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the long awaited book four in the Arizona series, I’m not sure about this one it is quite realistic but I didn’t like Arizona as much in this one and I know he’s had a hard life but still some of his decisions are not good, I would give this a 3.5 which I’ve rounded up to four and hopefully book five will redeem Arizona and give this series the ending it deserves.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ⭐️

Ugh, why Arizona, just why? As much as I've loved this continuing story, Arizona has made me so upset in this one. I will continue on and still adore this series (without spoiling) I'm just not sure how this author is going to make it a satisfying HEA....Sigh!!! I would recommend for series lovers, it's a must.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book four about a very realistic and gritty Arizona but where I could feel reasonable about him in the first three books I really really disliked him here. Hopefully that will improve in the fifth book, fingers crossed.

[Geboyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is MESSY and I am wondering how this series will turn out. The first book was really interesting, the next two, not so much and I had such high hopes this book would be "more" but it was just ok for me.

[Brandyn {Nyn} · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am absolutely NOT a fan of Arizona!! But, overall book 4 is a consistently written and quite compelling story.

[Rani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't as invested in this book as the first ones. Arizona and Preston have to deal with a lot of issues in their relationship. Still a good story and will get the next book.