Running a tech company that brings down the ugliest criminals makes trust impossible.
I won’t let anyone in. Worse yet, let anyone down, like I did all those years ago.
My focus is on keeping my family safe in our small town and protecting my life’s work.
That was easier before Ava came to live on our land. The spunky winner of our hacking contest isn’t who she says she is. But the more time I spend with her, the more I’m blinded by the sunshine in front of me.
Ava is talented, quirky and joyful. She's a pair of long lean legs stuffed into sexy Doc Martens, shaking her peachy backside around our land like it's the first time she's danced.
She’s a lot younger and my employee. She’s not my friend… or anything else. But her cute quips and natural brilliance have me spiraling out of control— right toward her.
When her secrets catch up with her, I know she’s not just hiding who she is; she’s running from it. The danger chasing her is worse than I imagined, and I’ll sacrifice it all to keep her safe.
Sienna Judd is a small town, contemporary romance author who lives for all the spice and book boyfriends who are book husband material.
Sienna is an American girl married to her Prince Charming. She lives with her husband, three children, pony, dogs, guinea pigs and countless other animals on a small farm in England. She thinks kitchens are for dancing, is everybody's hype girl and might be known for talking too loudly.
Like every respectable woman she also loves drinking champagne and eating half of every chocolate in a truffles box.
If you love romantic suspense, a broody glasses wearing tech genius/cowboy and an fmc that sees the good in everyone even though her life has been a nightmare, this book is for you.
Enzo is a cowboy and a tech wizard who wears glasses… *wipes drool from lip. He and his brothers have built an empire to protect others from the evils of the world. Their software was designed to find and take down those who prey on others. His only focus is his work, until Ava Scott shows up at his gates and changes everything.
Ava is on the run. She finally escaped and her journey takes her straight to the gates of Enzo’s compound. She has a set of skills that can help their cause and she is going to prove her worth. Basically the girl is a coding genius and her life goal is to make the world a better place.
Weeew! Talk about SLOW BURN! Enzo is the sweet, chivalrous gentleman… until his last thread of restraint snaps and then he isn’t. You can count on Sienna to deliver the best spice. Even if she makes you wait for it, it’s worth it.
This story is full of tension and plot twists, and it gave some serious Criminal Minds vibes. The twists and turns had me anxious to see what was going to happen next.
Thank you Sienna Judd and Grey’s Promotions for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.
4.5⭐️| 2🌶️ •romantic suspense •slow burn •age gap •girl on the run •secret identity •found family •forced proximity •billionaire
Unspoken Promises is the first book in Sienna Judd’s new series, Echo Valley. It’s a spin off from Starlight Canyon, but can be read as a stand alone. I loved that this book was more of a romantic suspense, and it did not disappoint!
Enzo owns a tech company that he created to assist law enforcement. They’ve recently discovered their system has been hacked. So, they created a hacker contest to find someone who could help. The winner of the contest was Lucy Murphy, who now goes by Ava Scott. She had been held captive for fourteen years and escaped to California after winning this contest which gave her a job at Ghost Eye.
Both Enzo and Ava have their own secrets they aren’t willing to share with each other right away, but they also both need each other for different reasons. They have to learn to trust each other in order to fully get the help that they need from the other person. In the process, they really fall for each other.
Enzo was so sweet with Ava. He wanted to protect her from the very beginning. He could tell she was on the run before she opened up to him at all. He was wary of her at first, but also so drawn to her. He couldn’t help wanting to protect her and he does a great job caring for her on multiple occasions.
The suspense in the book was so good. I had my suspicions on how things were going to pan out, but there’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming. If you like romantic suspense, I think you will really enjoy this story.
4.5 stars Thank you to the author and Grey’s Promotions for an ARC. All thoughts are my honest opinions.
This is my second book by Sienna Judd, and I was really excited to read it.
Ava has been kept for most of her life under some kind of protection by her "father". During that time, she had the chance to study in college and became perfect at being a hacker. When an opportunity presents herself, she takes it and runs away. It was finally time for her to be free. Her new employer is that handsome cowboy, turned hacker - Enzo Mendez. He is a grumpy one. He feels that Ava is not the one she appeared to be, but he can't help himself taking care of her. The thing is, he also has his own demons, and he can't get over them.
This was definitely a slow burn romance. I loved the dynamics between Enzo and Ava and, for me, they were the perfect fit. She was highly attracted to him, but didn't want to do anything because she still couldn't fully trust him. But then again, if you want trust, you have to give something first. This works both ways, because Enzo's feelings and thoughts were the same. To him, she was insanely beautiful, mysterious and alluring. But he can't help but feel she's hiding something from him. So he bid his time and waited until she was ready to tell him.
It took a while for these two to get together. In my perspective, they really needed that time, not only to get to know each other, but also to properly fall in love. As soon as they did, it was like an emotional roller coaster...one that I never wanted to get off. There was a decent amount of spice within the story and one thing was for certain...these two were explosive together 🌶️🌶️🌶️.
Overall, I enjoyed reading "Unspoken Promises".
***I received an ARC from Grey's Promotion and my review is given voluntarily***.
I've found a new favorite romantic suspense author!
This one was SO GOOD and I loved how it involved hacking! The heroine grew up sheltered and knows the man raising her isn't good, so she wins a hacking competition and runs away to start her job working for the company who held the competition. The hero owns this company and doesn't know what to do with the woman who shows up at his front door. He knows she's hiding something, but he's determined to keep her close to figure out what that is. We have a brooding hero, suspense that keeps you on our toes, and a really great romance! I can't wait to read more from Sienna Judd!
Enzo Mendez ladies. Cowboy x hacker with glasses 🫠 I’m so excited to be in Echo Valley, Starlight Canyon gave us sister Shay but I feel the brothers are about to be 🔥 Lock me in the compound. (Also totally don’t need to read Starlight Canyon to read this)
The suspense was suspensing. Ava’s story ugh 😭 god why Ms Judd did you have to do that to me. Sunshine hacker girl extraordinaire tho.
Small town Forced proximity Grumpy x sunshine Romantic suspense
Unspoken Promises by Sienna Judd is Book 1 in her new series, Echo Valley.
Read if you love: 🌆 Small-town Romantic Suspense 🌧️☀️ Grumpy-Sunshine 👔 Boss x Employee 🤝 Forced Proximity 🛡️ Protective Hero 👨👩👧 Found Family 🔄 Age Gap 💖 Virgin FMC
4.5 ⭐️| 2 🌶️
“I never thought of myself as needing saving, but if anyone would do it, it’s her.”
OMG! Sienna, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. After reading *The Perfect Playbook*, I knew Shay’s brother’s story was next, and it didn’t disappoint. Enzo Mendez and his brothers own Ghost Eye, a company created to assist law enforcement with criminal associations. However, they’ve recently experienced some hacking issues, leading them to open a contest to find someone who could help. The winner of the contest was Ava Scott, also known as Lucy Murphy. She had been held captive for fourteen years and escaped to California sooner than anticipated to work for her dream company and flee her father's control.
Ava was the perfect match for Enzo. She is smart, tech-savvy, and a talented hacker, and on top of that, she’s a gorgeous redhead. Ava has always admired Enzo; she had read everything about him, and beyond his work, she was instantly attracted to him—who could resist a handsome man in glasses and a cowboy hat? Their connection went deeper than physical attraction; both had difficult pasts and understood each other even without words. This scared Enzo, whose sole mission was to protect his family—and now Ava. He knows she is hiding something, but he needs to earn her trust before she reveals who she’s running from. As they began working side by side, their attraction and chemistry grew. Having never had contact with others or experienced the outside world, Ava was eager to make friends but also wanted a relationship with Enzo. Enzo’s go to is that he doesn’t make promises he stopped making them because nobody can guarantee anything.
When Enzo finally lowered his walls and let her in, it was a pivotal moment. Ava brought him out of his comfort zone; he had never allowed anyone to get close to him or his family. He felt happier around her, she was magnetic, his equal. His trust issues were significant, but with Ava, he felt more at ease, and they fell for each other. Despite being her boss and the age gap between them, Enzo's brother Santi and their father, Luis, encouraged him to take the leap.
He was so kind and understanding with her. He cared for her during her allergic reactions and was there for her panic attacks. No one had ever taken care of her before, except for Anton, the person who monitored her 24/7. While she could be a bit naive and sometimes frustrating, Ava’s lack of normalcy in her previous life contributed to her struggles with the reality of the world.
Despite her occasional stubbornness, Ava was smart, empathetic, caring, and supportive. Even after everything she had been through, she still saw the good in people. Enzo was intelligent, caring, and protective of his loved ones. He was grumpy, rarely expressing his feelings beyond scowls, but he was a softie for those he cared about, which is why he was drawn to Ava’s sunshine. He made romantic gestures for her, like bringing her snacks, and their first date was sweet. Now, let’s talk about spice—this grumpy, introverted man had a filthy mouth! He was undeniably hot, but he also treated her in a way that would melt your heart.
The small-town people were delightful. Luis now lives with his sons in Echo Valley after moving from Starlight Canyon (New Mexico). He has started a book club and is quite the cool guy for reading spicy novels. I can’t wait to read about the rest of the Mendez brothers: Rio, Enzo’s twin; Santi; and Gabriel, whose mystery intrigued me.
The suspense in the book was spot on. I had my suspicions, but there’s a plot twist I never expected. If you’re looking for a small-town book with suspense, please add this one to your TBR. Enzo is nerdy yet has a cowboy side, and you know my feelings about cowboys!
Thank you Grey’s Promotions & Sienna for the ARC. This review was left voluntarily.
I just love finding new to me authors I love with the first book of theirs I read. I’ve now added Sienna Judd to my list and she has a nice looking back list.
Ava Scott has been held prisoner most of her life. She’s always had a body guard and no opportunity for escape. She’s finally allowed to go to college but is still carefully guarded. She’s a computer genius and hacking is her special talent. She enters some kind of hacking contest sponsored by an elite security company and wins the contest which includes a job in the field with a three month on site contract. She meticulously plans her escape which includes a name change to Ava Scott and makes it to the company, actually a compound and a working horse ranch.
It’s run by four brothers and their purpose is to find and expose the bad guys in the world. The tech geniuses are two of the brothers, Enzo and Rio are twins who work together. Ferreting out evil hackers. The reason for their contest was to find someone as good as they are to help them and Ava is brilliant. But when they try to look into her history to check out her credentials to see if she can be trusted, they can find nothing. Her past is a blank slate.
When Ava arrives at the compound, she is immediately drawn to Enzo and he to her despite their age difference. Ava really did her research into the Ghost Eye, the name of their cyber security company and she knows they are the guys in the white hats, the ones who make the world safe. She has a second reason for wanting to work for them. She wants them to her completely 'disappear'. Although she was kept isolated, she has a very strong hunch her father, the one holding her captive, is a very, very evil individual and she doesn't want to be found.
But there is a big conflict between Enzo and Ava. Though Enzo is falling for Ava, the secret surrounding her is raising red flags and though Ava is falling for Enzo, she's afraid to reveal her past in case they don't believe her or think shew like her father.
So this is the setup for the story. It ha a lot of my favourite tropes. Despite her harsh upbringing, Ava is such a sunshine character. Its almost like she's entered the magical world of Oz. She quickly makes a friend, the first she's ever had. She has freedom, something else she's never experienced. She's falling for her boss, and experiencing thins she's never felt before. She's wonderful and I adore her.
While I wouldn't say Enzo is a grump exactly, he has a darkness in him, something that makes him feel unworthy of love. He's Ava's boss, he's too old for her, her past is too much a mystery. He believes she's on the up and up but Rio is very distrustful. He worries about their company. He makes for a most excellent hero.
This is a romantic suspense and its the perfect bled of the two genres. Its available on KU and is the first in the series. I've already downloaded book 2 and 3. So this first book gets a thumbs up and my recommendation.
Tropes: 🏡Small Town 🫦Age Gap (25, 38) 🤠S3xy Nerdy Cowboy Billionaire 😔"Who did this to you?" 🫂Close Proximity 👿Grumpy x Sunshine 🙀Suspense
✨️Blurb: My focus is on keeping my family safe in our small town and protecting my life’s work.
That was easier before Ava came to live on our land. The spunky winner of our hacking contest isn’t who she says she is. But the more time I spend with her, the more I’m blinded by the sunshine in front of me.
Ava is talented, quirky and joyful. She's a pair of long lean legs stuffed into sexy Doc Martens, shaking her peachy backside around our land like it's the first time she's danced.
She’s a lot younger and my employee. She’s not my friend… or anything else. But her cute quips and natural brilliance have me spiraling out of control— right toward her.
When her secrets catch up with her, I know she’s not just hiding who she is; she’s running from it. The danger chasing her is worse than I imagined, and I’ll sacrifice it all to keep her safe.
✨️Review: I dug the techy, hacking infiltration aspect to this small town romantic suspense! And even cooler that our sunshine hacker was the FMC, Ava.
There was a bit of suspension of disbelief I think that I called in for this regarding how well adjusted she is given her many years of capt1vity, but the events on the ranch and her interplay with Enzo and his family was such a pleasure to read that it was easier to put aside.
Enzo is a grump but a s3xy nerdy cowboy grump and I was SO smitten with him. He's extremely thoughtful, smart, internalized but his affections are well worth the wait!
There's some suspense (but it was a bit confusing and a lot at once in the last act...so i never felt the threat of the villain as much). For me it was their growing relationship that took centerstage for the drama. A sweet small town romance with a couple that really connects.
I'm in tears! Enzo is so much more than expected and Ava, what a journey!
A a felt so young and naive, but so so smart. (like duh, she's a good hacker) but she'd been rombed of her youth. The overwhelming sense of protection I felt for her. Took me by surprise.
No one was more surprised than Enzo, when this timid hacker waltz right into his life. Ignoring the red flags - as you do - for the sense of needing to protect.
The slow burn, it was sooo torturous but so rewarding! Enzo melted my heart after 'the hives' and the length he went to protect Ava. It's the small things.
I just love how Ava been came such good friends with Luis! I missed him from Perfect Playbook! The book club had me cackling with laughter.
I loved this book from start to finish. Pure perfection for me.
Thank you for allowing me to read it before release. I'm honoured and I always speak my honest opinions and thoughts.
Unspoken Promises is a romantic suspense novel and the first in a new series by Sienna Judd that takes place in the town of Echo Valley. Having only read one other book by Sienna before this, I was interested to see how this new series would start. Y’all, I was not disappointed!
Enzo (our MMC) is a Clark Kent/cowboy dream who happens to be the head of a cybersecurity firm focused on bringing criminals to justice. Ava (our FMC) wins a contest to work for Enzo, a contest that gives her the lifeline she needs to escape her past. Both MCs are keeping secrets from each other as they work together and start to fall for each other. But as we all know, secrets will eventually come knocking at your door. Can their relationship handle the unknown?
I loved this book. I was drawn in by the main characters and how their pasts made them into who they are. Once all is revealed, these same secrets help them each grow stronger and stronger together. The slow burn tension was so good and it was the perfect amount of burn. When the spice hit, I’d give it a 3.5/5 🌶️. It was perfectly balanced with the plot and didn’t overwhelm it. The side characters were all wonderful and I’m hopeful for books about them as well. I also love that the FMC was strong, smart, and full of wonder and the MMC never tried to tame that in her.
This was the perfect read as we enter the fall season and I know y’all will love Unspoken Promises as much as I did. Thank you to Sienna Judd and Grey’s Promotions for the ARC in return for my honest review.
Wow, what a story. I know I say it a lot, but I was hooked in fast. Echo Valley is a new series, and one I will be waiting for more of.
Ava has a backstory that will melt your heart. Her past is ugly, but she is a truly talented hacker—very smart and very skilled. She is being groomed for evil, but she finds a way out. She wins a hacker contest and a chance to work with Ghosteye, the company she hacked. Here she meets the Mendez brothers.
Add in small town, ranching vibes, the non-stop threat of suspense, and chemistry of Enzo and Ava, you will not want to pass on this book.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Unspoken promises is a cute small town romance with a twist of suspens and drama when ava is on the run.
The writing in this book was nice and easy to read and the story easy to follow. The romance and tension between the characters was just amazing. And the way the relationship between ava and Enzo grew was just everything!
I liked the suspens in the story and the plot behind it. I did feel like the suspens was slightly missing throughout the book and was mostly focused on in the "final act" in the end on the book. So i would have perhaps enjoyed a bit more suspens throughout the story but i absolutely loved it as it is aswell! I finished this book in one sitting, so so good!
Thank you to the author for an eARC of this amazing book in exchange of an honest review!
Happy release day!! First thank you Grey’s and Sienna for the ARC! Enzo and Ava are everything!! This book had me hooked from the first chapter! The suspense was suspensing - I needed to know what was going on! If you enjoy a romantic suspense with a good plot and a hot hacker this is the book for you!
I was on the edge of my seat reading this wondering what was going to happen next. If you’ve read the Starlight Canyon series you may recognise Enzo as Shays brother, he is moody and broody but oh so beautiful. Ava is a hacker on the run from a life in captivity when she wins a contest to work at GhostEye (Enzo’s) company. They slowly form a connection and the tension becomes so palpable they can’t help but act on it. The spice is so good, I literally felt it in my bones. I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series is going to go but if this one is anything to go by it’s gonna be incredible!
HOLY SUSPENSEEEE. This one was such a page turner I couldn’t put it down! I am obsessed with Ava and Enzo! They shared such a special connection and it pulled me in so fast. Despite all the reasons they wouldn’t have been together they fell for each other and it was truly beautiful. Easy 5 star read! Go get this one!
I typically love Sienna’s books but this one had me struggling to keep going. If you’re into slow burns; this is THE BOOK for you. I wanted there to be a lot more buildup and anticipation or suspense in the story, but there wasn’t a whole lot until the very end. At the end I was FLYIN through the pages- couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happened. However, the rest of the book was a little bland for me unfortunately :(
As an alpha reader for Unspoken Promises, I got to dive into this story early on, and it’s been such a fun ride from start to finish. The mix of small town vibes and high stakes suspense really pulled me in, but what truly stood out was how the romance developed between the two main characters, Enzo and Ava. The tension, the chemistry…. was so hot I was melting.
Now, let’s talk about Enzo Mendez. He’s the protective hero we all want and look for in a book boyfriend - he’s got that quiet intensity, kinda grumpy with a tough exterior but has a heart of gold. The way he looks out for Ava and makes you feel like he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe is so swoonworthy. The way he shielded her, even when she didn’t realize she needed it 🫠 I LOVED watching his softer side come out as he fell for her, but never lost that strong, alpha edge.
The suspense was top tier, I was on the edge of my seat!!!! especially with Ava’s backstory—this girl has been through so much, escaping captivity. She’s fierce, though, and when she wins a hacking contest to work for Enzo Mendez, you can’t help but root for her.
Ava and Enzo’s connection is what really sold me!!!! The chemistry between them is undeniable, and you can feel the tension every time they’re together. Watching these two fall for each other amidst all the danger and suspense was a highlight.
I am excited about the next books and what the Mendez brothers have in store 🔥
🩵 Small Town Romantic Suspense 🩵 Forced Proximity 🩵 Grumpy Sunshine 🩵 Protective Hero 🩵 Boss X Employee
Let's talk first about this cover. it's beautiful ♡ it's what caught my eyes at first. The story was so good I couldn't put it down. From the characters to the actually story line, we'll everything was good. Recommended for sure.
Oh boy! What do you get when you put together hot cowboy, techy, nerd with saucy, techy virgin nerd with a crazy past?? You get a hot, crazy, suspenseful romance! I was so excited to get this ARC and follow the story of these Men that we met in the Starlight Canyon series. It didn’t disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat and Enzo is fire. There was something about this nerd that had me….if you like grumpy sunshine, work place romance, forced ordinary and found family you will love this story, plus it’s a suspense! I can’t wait for the next book.
i haven’t read a lot of romantic suspense in my day, but lemme tell ya— Sienna DELIVERED and i loved that she made it her own! after finishing the Starlight Canyon series, i was chomping at the bit to see more of Shay’s brothers and this first book was a thirst trap that’s for sure😏 a rich rancher who also just so happens to be a glasses-wearing hack daddy??? sign me the heck up!!!
tropes: - small town - forced proximity - age gap - secret identity - slow burn - found family
the overall vibes of this book were IMMACULATE and like nothing i’ve ever read before! even though i’ve never fully watched criminal minds or gilmore girls (sue me) i can picture this book in my head as the perfect mixture of the two. you have a cutesy, hallmark-feeling small town called Echo Valley with the most wholesome, welcoming people with hints of darkness and mystery behind the gates of the ranch just outside of town. Sienna’s original spin on suspense involving hacking had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. i was super intrigued to see how Ava and Enzo’s “hacker brains” worked and how their stories came together through both of their very traumatic pasts. this book was a rollercoaster in the best way but i love how Sienna made me laugh (at these quirky townies and their spicy book club) and feel equally as terrified (the suspense was suspense-ing) all at the same time. what. a. ride!!!
even though it was a slower of a burn than i’m used to, i felt that Ava and Enzo’s love story progressed in the most natural way and i appreciated that it didn’t seem rushed. it took some time for each of them to build trust and open up to each other and once they did— it truly felt like it was meant to happen. i have the BIGGEST crush on Enzo for not only looking like Clark Kent and being a cowboy but for how big of a heart he has. he cares for and protects who he loves and when he allows himself to, he loves HARD. and don’t even get me started on his witty yet filthy mouth when the spice finally hits…🥵 IT’S WORTH THE WAIT I PROMISE.
i am SO excited to see how this new series unfolds and to be back in Echo Valley and on the ranch again. i have a good feeling that this is going to be one of my new fave fictional worlds to get lost in! a huge thank you to Sienna and Grey’s Promotions for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
theme song: meet me in the woods by lord huron
fave quotes:
“i wonder what it would take to earn his heart. he seems to be stealing mine with ease.”
“never in a million years did i think with all my crooked edges i’d meet another piece that fit.
“i used to think love must be the best feeling in the world but now i think it’s having someone accept you for who you are. then again, maybe they’re the same thing.”
“the best place in the world is standing by her side.”
FYI this review is solely for myself when I look back on recs. Contains spoilers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️
FMC Ava was given by her mother to a criminal called Father when she was 11. He keeps her locked up on a commune and taught her coding and hacking because she was a genius. Her guard assigned to watch over her was Anton. She always had a family vibe from Anton because he was the only person she ever knew who was nice to her... but he was still keeping her captive.
Ava secretly wins a hacking competition under a false identity and runs away from Anton in the night fleeing to the company that offered her a contract that's ran on a secure ranch. MMC Enzo is the main boss of said company and is less than trusting about this woman randomly showing up with no ID or background/footprint. He agrees to let her stay in the empty house on the property and assigns her meaningless tasks because he didn't trust her at all with the private matter of his company. She is determined to prove her worth so she can ask for help with her past self so she hacks the system again, learns he's been getting hacked, and presents the information to him to show she's qualified and wants to take on a better role within the company. He already knew though.
They have a mutual attraction for one another and slowly but surely start letting one another in to their secrets and pasts.
Eventually Anton catches up with her and takes her back to Father only to sacrifice himself to save her. Turns out he was also being held captive on the commune and could have used his Navy Seal training to escape at any time, but he stayed to watch over Ava and keep her safe.
Cute book. Read it all in one sitting. Minimal spice, but it was still there. Maybe 3-4 spicy scenes. I liked the banter and the plot. So thankful she didn't end up pregnant lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Utterly & absolutely obsessed. This book was all of favorite things in one place!
✨ Small Town ✨ Grumpy/Sunshine ✨ Age Gap ✨ Forced Proximity ✨ Suspense
This has to be, by far, the best romantic suspense that I have read thus far all year! I loved Sienna Judd’s Starlight Canyon, so this was a real treat!
Oh my man Enzo. Cowboy, check! Nerdy, check! Nerdy, hacker cowboy — yes please! I am seriously in love with him… Enzo is fiercely loyal and protective. Even when he had his suspicions about Ava, he was still constantly looking out and caring for her. The things he did for her… swoon worthy!
Sweet, sweet Ava! She is incredibly smarty and resilient. With the skills she has, she could use them for bad but chooses to put them use taking down the bad guys. I love that we get to see her sassy, spunky side with Enzo. Although she has been through a lot, she is so kind and compassionate. Reading as she experienced many “firsts” was so amazing!
The bond that Ava & Enzo form is incredibly heartwarming and endearing. Both have troubled pasts, and through their own advanced skills are trying to make the world safer and ensure justice is served. Enzo slowly lowered his walls, allowing Ava to see past the cold, calculated man. Couple that with Ava getting to finally experience simple freedoms she wasn’t able to before was so inspiring. The joy, wonder, and care she showed toward life and everyone around her was incredible. The growth we see from these two is unmatched; being together truly does bring out the best in one another.
Unspoken Promises has plenty of spice, plot (with twists) and swoon worthy moments. Highly recommend!! Thank you so so much for the early copy! Hoping to see more from the Mendez family in Echo Valley!!
When I went into reading this book I expected something like the Starlight Canyon series - sweet and spicy romances with a little twist. Let me tell you Sienna has moved into romantic suspense and I really think it is her sweet spot for writing.
Ava Scott has finally found freedom after winning a contest that leads her to Echo Valley and the home of the Mendez brothers.
Why did it take me so long to connect the Mendez brothers to Shay Mendez from Perfect Playbook? All of a sudden Luis popped into the story as a transplant from Starlight Canyon and I was like oooooh, the MENDEZ brothers. Thank God there are three of them, by the way, but also Sienna if you want to throw Callum and Bran into this series simply by association I won’t hate it.
Anyway, Ava is hacker extraordinaire and catches the eye of head honcho Enzo Mendez, Mr. Sexy with the glasses. Enzo knows there’s more to her than meets the eye, but can’t resist the fiery redhead with a secret past.
Turns out, both their pasts come back to haunt them and they get through it the only way they can - together.
Now let’s talk about how Sienna is Queen of the Slow Burn because that kiss didn’t hit until 70% and man was I ready. The moment from when that black dress hit to when the match was finally lit had me pausing multiple times just to absorb and visualize the situation in my head. This moment “You can teach me to swim. I’d like that.” My gaze darkens. “But…” I slide one of my straps down over my shoulder. “I brought my own suit.” SIENNA.
I truly cannot wait for the rest of this series. It has spice, but it’s not too focused on the intensity of the scene or even having tons of spicy scenes. The plot is really driving the pages and it is definitely one of my top reads this month.
“I never thought of myself as needing saving, but if anyone would do it, it’s her.”
OH MAN, talk about a SLOW BURN thrilling romance!!!! This story had me aching like crazy, needing the main characters to just finally succumb to the insane desire and lust wafting between them. I mean – come on already!!
I dare you to try not to fall in love with the incredibly sweet and innocent Ava. I loved this girl right from the get-go. She’s fierce, smart, savvy, sassy, brilliant and sweet. There is so much mystery surrounding who she is and who her family is that I was constantly guessing at everything – even though I was wrong. The fact that she finds a small crack in the foundation of the walls that cage her and taking that small crack and finding a way to escape through it shows how brilliant she is. I just hope that those that are searching for her, never cage her again.
Who doesn’t love nerdy cowboys?? Enzo wears two hats, he’s a tech wizard and a cowboy all wrapped up in one hell of a sexy package. Not only is he brilliant, but he’s sweet, protective, possessive, and a total gentleman. I swooned so hard over this man. WHY couldn’t he be real?
The banter between Ava and Enzo was filled with laughs, jokes, truths and so much incredible sexual tension that I was sure to explode! And let me just tell you right now, Enzo has one HELL of a dirty filthy mouth on him! He could talk the panties off a nun!
This story was so damn good. It was filled with edge of your seat suspense, adrenaline inducing moments, plot twist after plot twist, heartbreaking truths, incredible passion and a slow building undeniable love between two amazing characters.
🗝️ Grumpy/Sunshine 🗝️ Touch Her and D!e Vibes 🗝️ Hacker Girl 🗝️ Hidden Identity 🗝️ Hero in glasses 🗝️ Woman on the Run 🗝️ Forced Proximity 🗝️ Found Family 🗝️ Cute AF Grandpa 🗝️ Tight Knit Town Order Now ➝ https://geni.usunspokenpromisesAMZN
Ok, so I am such a huge Sienna Judd fan and when she said she was doing a suspense romance as her next series, I got really excited. I absolutely loved the blend of small town / cowboy romance, meets nerdy suspense romance.
Enzo … just imagine Henry Cavill … enough said 🤤
Ava … what a fierce Fiery MFC - I freakin loved her. Her growth. Her strength. She is what you want in a MFC.
It’s a steady pace story and then really speeds up at about 70% into the story. The good mix of serious, humour, banter, suspense that the plot is easy to follow. One thing Sienna does so well is she creates such compelling secondary characters that you want to find out more about them. I loved Penelope and I hope we see more or her. If you are still on the fence about reading this series, there is a Side kick grandpa who reads smut … what else could you want? I was so happy that Luis came over from her first series, the Starlight Canyon Series. He was a favourite in that book so it was nice to see him resume his fatherly role.
I loved the Spicy age gap / boss trope. The spice was perfect for this book and i the banter and slow burn leading up kept you wanting to read and wanting more. Sienna is the queen of grumpy x sunshine and she nailed it with Enzo and Ava.
This will definitely be a repeated reader. Such a great book! Please continue to write spicy small town romances
📕BOOK REVIEW📕 I was given the opportunity to read this book by @greyspromo (thank you!) and this was my first time reading a book by Sienna Judd (@siennajuddauthor).
This was a suspenseful story given Ava (FMC) having fled her captor and Enzo a successful computer tech guy and kinda cowboy (!) (MMC) keeping secrets of his own. This book centered on computer-related stuff and it was cool to see an FMC in a role like this. There were some references to trauma and its impact on building trust in a new friendship and relationship-and lots of good spice. And a Spanish-speaking, horse riding MMC so….
👋 Therapist take: this book touched on tough topics including grief, betrayal, human trafficking and trauma. A virgin FMC trope, when handled well, can be a really healing time and this did not disappoint. Consent is so important and this MMC did good things. I so appreciated the mention of grief and looking through the eyes of a person who missed out on so much and has to learn about everything as an adult. It was an interesting story because the FMC was so complex and vulnerable despite her hard shell. Her expression of how she figured out who she was in stages (and by letting people in her life and anger at parts of herself go) and working through the pain of loss and self discovery simultaneously were well written.
Relationships are often complicated and betrayal is rarely black and white. This was a really suspenseful story that navigated how we can feel so many things at the same time and that healing is possible, no matter the circumstances.
Tropes: 💻woman on the run 🤠boss x employee 💻hidden identity 🤠age gap 💻small town 🤠romantic suspense
I was sad to be leaving Starlight Canyon after the completion of Sienna's first series, but I'm super excited to see all the happenings in Echo Valley (but hopefully more appearances from Shay??)
Enzo and Ava made such a cute couple!! I really loved the evolution of their relationship throughout the book. Ava was obviously going through some serious grief and mistrust with everything that she went through growing up and feeling the need to constantly be looking over her shoulder in case she was caught. But I loved how Enzo moved through that with her and, once he got over himself, made her feel safe and was committed to ensuring her safety while she was a part of GhostEye. And just seeing the mutual pining between those two had me giggling, before they finally gave in!
The only thing that I was hoping for more of, which led to the slight drop in rating, was the romantic suspense piece of the story. I was hoping for more of a twist, even though I did enjoy the action and the resolution to the conflict. It was definitely a bit surprising for what happened and I didn't see it coming, but I had been rooting for a different avenue (though i knew this was coming). Though, I will say, that I really enjoyed the ending and the final act of the book when the dust was settling. No spoilers, but I really liked that ending lol.
Thank you to Sienna and Grey's Promo for the eARC.
The angst = perfection The slow burn = wonderful Main Characters = I’m head over heels for them The found family = please adopt me THE suspense = W🤩W
I’ve had the time of my life reading Unspoken Promises 🫶🏽✨📖. Enzo and Ava were the CUTEST- like if the Oscar's had an award category for it, they will definitely WIN 🥇. I was GIGGLING! I felt like a teenager having a talk with their crush.
Ava had been held captive for fourteen years and when she had an opportunity to find freedom she took it and traveled to California - where she met Enzo.
Ava participated in a hacking competition held by Enzo's company, fortunately she won it and it’s because of this she goes to California to work for Enzo.
Even if I was like Sebastian from The Little Mermaid asking Enzo to KISS THE GIRL, I really enjoyed the slow burn. And let’s be honest, it was necessary. This was Ava's first time seeing the real world so a fast burn wouldn’t work for the reality of their story.
Enzo was such a great man. He’s protective, caring, a thoughtful person who loves his family so deeply. Ava was such a gem💎. She had this cheerful personality and I loved the fact that she didn’t let her abnormal circumstances affect her view of life. The chapter where she was on Enzo's car with her forehead leaned at the window was sweet:
✨ “Are you okay?” Enzo stares straight ahead.” 💎“Yeah. Why?” ✨ “You were pressed against the window for air.” 💎“Funny how in movies when people roll down the window they appear whimsical and dreamy. In real life, the only reason someone might need air is because they’re sick.”
I can keep talking and talking about it- I truly am smitten for their story.
Unspoken Promises is available now and you won’t regret sharing your time with Ava and Enzo 🩷.
Id like to thank you Grey’s Promotions and Sienna for the ARC ✨🫶🏽🧚🏽♀️.
Great start to the new series. I love a good suspense with romance mixed in. Enzo was grumpy owner of a hacker company called Ghosteye, they protect the digital world from bad guys. He may be grumpy but he is super protective, loyal and loving for his family and the whole community. I love how he gives back to them all in his own way. Ava was a runaway looking for a new life. Ava was very smart, beautiful and kind. She has had such a horrible 14 years where she was in captive and had no life outside that place. Only person she saw was her guardian (bodyguard) Anton. So to runaway it took a lot of strength and intelligence. She finally finds a loophole in her strict security and wins a contest. When she turns up at Enzo's place, she was hoping on his kindness to be hiding successfully. He was broody and didn't say much. She wasn't sure her plan will work now. Can she win his trust and tell him the truth? What secrets is he hiding? Will he forgive her for lying and hiding the truth? How does both of their past come and find them? Who is her father that she has never seen? I loved his dad and his smut reading book club. Loved her new friendship with Pen and Callum. Also how well she gets on with his Dad and his brothers. Enzo may seem not interested but his jealous growls and actions were worth waiting for. Book was full of secrets, suspense, drama, found family, warm small town feelings, love and spice.