Violet Promises

Return to Coal Haven #1

by Marie Johnston

It was supposed to be one night to feel alive after getting out of a dud of a relationship. Now I’m having a baby, and I only have the soon-to-be dad’s first name.

After my breakup, I need to find a job and place to live, but I can’t move into the house my grandma left me unless I’m married. Fortunately, the guy renting the place doesn’t know that, so I stop by and find out if he can move at the end of his lease.

Only when the door opens, it’s him. My one-night stand. I do the only reasonable thing possible. I tell him we’re going to have a baby and promptly puke over the railing of the porch. Next thing I know, I’m on his couch, and he’s demanding a paternity test.

Except he doesn’t just want the test. He wants to make sure I don’t tamper with the results. He doesn’t believe me. Apparently showing up jobless and homeless to persuade him to move doesn’t make me trustworthy. Guess I’m not the only one with a dating history that leaves me jaded.

He insists I stay in the house that should be mine, right where he can monitor me. And the longer I’m around him, the more I can see that below his gruff exterior is a softie who planted acres of pumpkins for his cousin. A guy who wants to reconnect with his family. A man who makes me want to be more to him than violet promises.

Genres: Surprise Pregnancy, Small Town Romance, Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Slow Burn

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Marie Johnston is an award-winning, best-selling paranormal and contemporary romance writer. She grew up in the upper Midwest and planned to go to college for English. Didn't happen. She started college in accounting and was awful! Grabbing her inner science geek by the pocket protector, she changed to microbiology and medical technology where her only writing involved scientific articles and procedures.
Eventually, she left full-time work for full-time baby raising but kept thinking, "one day, I'd like to write a book." Finally, before any more time passed, Marie decided to buckle down and write. She loves it!

Reviews

[Meka 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute read. Violet and Evander both have trust issues from past relationships, and after a one night stand that leaves Violet pregnant the two are put into a situation neither expect.

Watching the two evolve and overcome their own personal issues was cute. We get to watch military man Evander’s sweet side appear time and time again, while Violet’s independent streak tries to keep her from repeating past mistakes.


Overall

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

This was such a good book.
Both these characters had been through a lot in their past relationships and it wasn't easy for them to trust another person again.
Violet hadn't been putting herself first and she thought that was what she needed to do from now on. She was strong and she didn't need any man to complicate things for her. The thing was Evander was so into her, he gave her space and time, he listened to her, he was there for her, everything he did was with her in mind.
They both loved each other but neither wanted to make the first step. It finally happened and it was so beautiful.
I just adored them together

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)

Accidental pregnancy is a trope that can easily go awry, but Marie Johnston absolutely nailed it in Violet Promises! Violet and Evander are such dynamic, heartfelt characters. Both have endured heartbreak and trauma from past relationships, and watching them navigate their pain, heal, and grow together was so satisfying. Their chemistry? Off the charts and completely swoon-worthy.

Johnston masterfully balances the romance, emotional depth, and just the right amount of angst, making this a page-turner from start to finish. I also loved the glimpse into the siblings’ stories—there’s nothing better than a connected series, and I can’t wait to see how their journeys unfold in future books.

If you’re a fan of emotional romance with a dash of spice and a lot of heart, this one’s for you!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨
2.5 🌶️

💕Small Town
🔥Accidental Pregnancy
💕One Night Stand

Violet and Evander meet one night and have a one night stand. Three months later, Violet finds out that she is pregnant. What she never expected was to find her baby daddy living in the house that her grandmother left for her in a trust.

Evander unfortunately had some trust issues that he hadn't dealt with from a previous partner. When Violet came to tell Evander she got the brunt of his frustration and what he hadn't dealt with. They came to an understanding of what they were going to do for a paternity test and moved forward with it. Once they received the results they each needed time to figure out how they were going to navigate their relationship.

Violet also had her own issues she needed to work on because of a previous partner. Violet knew that she wanted to see if she could make a new relationship work with Evander whether it be a friendship or romantic relationship. Violet showed so much strength to be going through so much as a single woman now soon to be mother. God love Violet because she was also one of the most stubborn characters that I have seen within the universe of these characters. I love Violet and I know that she just needs to know that her partner loves her.

I loved how involved their families were especially their parents! I was so glad to see Violets sisters came to visit as much as they did and push her to see a different point for view when it came to Evander. Even though she really struggled to see any other view than hers.

Evander also struggled with coming forward and just communicating how he felt with Violet. That was something they both struggled with and I wish they both would have worked on. I think it would have negated a lot of stress for them both. I definitely have to give Evander big props because he definitely listened and paid attention because he made sure that she had all of the things she wanted and needed for the nursery.

Thank you to Marie Johnston and The Author Agency for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion!

[Shanna Ferris · Rating 4 out of 5]

💥ARC REVIEW💥

• Surprise pregnancy (through the whole book)
• Broody Grumpy MMC
• Forced proximity
• Small town
• Mild miscommunication
• Both were previously burned by relationships
• Independent FMC
• Slow burn

Another win by Marie Johnston!! I have been so excited about this book! And what a wonderful book to open this series up with! The second I picked it up I was HOOKED! This book was a surprise pregnancy trope done right!! It opens right after Violet has found out she's pregnant from a one-night stand! So we get the WHOLE pregnancy throughout the book! It's a huge pet peeve of mine when books are advertised as surprise pregnancy tropes and the FMC doesn't even get pregnant until 60 or 70% 🙄 but that wasn't the only trope Marie handled right. Every single one of the tropes listed for this book she knocked out of the park! And although there was mild miscommunication in this book she handled it so well. Playing into their mutual pining and giving us some delicious angst!

I absolutely loved our MMC Evander. He was a bit of a recluse after years spent in the Military he's now retired and living a cozy life growing pumpkins as a single man! The last thing he was expecting was for the woman he had an incredible one-night stand with to show up and rattle his world with news he has a very hard time believing! Each of these MCs had a tough time trusting one another after years of being burned by the wrong person. Violet had her own reservations about Evander. And she let her independence get in the way at times like most independent headstrong women. Thankfully Evander is a very persistent man!



I enjoyed this slow burn so much! Because the angsty chemistry between these two was incredible. I devoured it. And much like all Marie Johnston's books, I didn't want it to end! 😭 I loved following all of Violet's pregnancy! And the epilogue was so CUTE!

If you're looking for a surprise pregnancy book with lots of angst and an explosive HEA this book is for you!

[Melanie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - 4.5 ⭐️

Violet Promises is book 1 in the Oil Dukes series featuring Evander Barron & Violet Duke.

A couple months before Violet is in town for her sisters wedding anniversary party and she winds up spending the night with Evan a man she met at the local bar.

Flash forward a couple of months Violet is back in town and sets out to speak with the man renting the home her grandmother left for her. When he opens the door, Violet quickly discovers her renter is also the father of the baby she is now carrying.

Evander is quick to plague Violet as a liar due to his past experiences and not trusting women. He treats her like dirt until the paternity tests comes back and confirms he is in fact the dad of Violets baby.

Will there already be to much damage done between the pair or will they realize they could have something more then a co-parenting relationship?

I loved this book, these characters and this story line so much! This is the perfect kick off to a new series and I already can’t wait for more !! Evander goes from this angry asshole to a swoony book boyfriend really quick !!

Thank you Marie for the ARC opportunity I can’t wait for more books in this new series !

[Fatima Barakat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have been waiting for this book for ages, and now that I finished it I think I wanna go there again!!

This was a beautiful start to the series and I’m sure it’s gonna be a wonderful series.

When I read ( an endless memory) I was so intrigued by Violet I wanted her story to come out as soon as possible and it did not disappoint.

This book was another great read by Marie. I loved her writing style and how the characters developed through the book and how the story went.

Violet was the FMC that showed strength and stubbornness but deep inside she couldn’t be more vulnerable, I wanted to hug her, and I loved her so much and I enjoyed how she wanted to show her independence and strength so Evander would trust her.

Evander was the kind of grumpy, moody golden retriever with a pinch of alpha male you just can’t stop yourself from loving him.

I actually enjoyed the push and pull I loved how they developed their relationship and how they grew it was so sweet and endearing I loved every second of it.

This was a promising start and I can’t wait for Alder’s story.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Violet, the female lead, spent years partnered with a man who made her think she was insufficient and, if she just improved, he’d marry her. Having seen the love her sister found (An Endless Memory), she dumped her ex. But she still needs to be married to inherit the property her grandmother left her.

Going to look at the property and see what the current tenant plans to do, she’s shocked to find Evander, the male lead and her one night stand from three months ago. She knew she needed to find him because of the unintended results of their night together but she didn’t expect to find him in her house! Evander is retired military and he’s had other women claim a baby is his. He may be attracted to Violet but he’s sure not playing that game again.

Violet needs a husband to inherit the house but she doesn’t want it this badly. When Evander’s response leaves her underwhelmed, she decides to renounce her inheritance and make her own arrangements for life. Now Evander realises what he’s about to lose. He needs to convince Violet she wants to be with him…

This story is dual POV, well written and edited, and sweet and steamy, contemporary, small town, one night to more romance. I empathised with Violet’s need for independence, given her ex’s treatment of her. I enjoyed her pushback against Evander’s bossiness. I enjoyed Evander’s dawning awareness that he wanted more than a co-parenting relationship with Violet, and his recognition that he’d need to proactively work for it. I enjoyed the intimate scenes and the way that they fed into the relationship development. I enjoyed the ending and the set up for the next story.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet Promies was an amazing book to read. The characters were so loveable, the plot was beautiful, and I did not want this book to end. The story follows Violet after she has a one night stand, following getting out of a horrible relationship and then falling pregnant with the one night stand man who she only has part of his first name. So as every sane woman does she escapes to a house she inherited from her grandma both jobless and homeless to see if the man renting the house will move out when their lease is up and suddenly realises that her baby daddy has been closer than she ever thought.

Evander was such a character. I feel he was a natural grump after everything he has been through. You come to see why and how cruel people in your family can actually be. But Evander and Violet together, both characters who have been wronged, end up as the best couple there is.

There were many ups and downs in this book, especially as both characters are used to being quite independent, so the offering of help was often turned down. I loved the imagery of family that we get across the entirety of the book, Violet definitely played a hand in getting Evander closer to his family, and I loved how accepting they all were. This book was so sweet and caring, I loved every second of it, and what they ended up doing for the baby's name and nursery was the cutest thing ever. All I want is to see more of these three now!

[paige o’neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was my first read by this author and i can say that after reading this book it won’t be my last. i want to read the previous series and learn more about these characters and definitely carry this series on when they get released. i think this was a beautiful starting place for me to get to know the authors world, we had old couple and hints at new couples. i loved marie johnstons writing style and how the characters developed through the book and how the plot evolved. violet was so strong and stubborn on the outside and determined to be her own boss but deep down you could see how vulnerable her past had left her. i really liked her character a lot, she really deserves love and support. evander was grumpy, moody but also a softie, i just can’t help but love him. i could understand why he was so cautious and guarded at the start of this book but seeing him and violet get closer and both open up was rather sweet. the way evander allowed her and supported her to do what made her happy was adorable. i really enjoyed the push and pull of their relationship it felt more real and natural given the situation they were both in. they had this chemistry straight away but it was grew over the book and i loved how sweet they were together, and with the little kittens are the start 🥹

thank you @theauthor.agency and marie johnston for this arc, it was so wholesome and beautiful.

[Marissa | Readswith_marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read from this author and I’m actually excited to go back and read her previous novels! I honestly think this was a great starting place for me to get introduced to the characters and the world Marie has previously built.

I really adored Violet and Evander and their individual growth throughout the book, but also the growth and strides they made together to make life with their new circumstances work. Violet portrayed such a strong, independent woman on the outside but we got to see a touch of her vulnerability with her inner monologue which made her feel more relatable and real. The same goes for Evander. He was grumpy and moody on the outside, but once Violet broke away those layers of hurt and distrust he became super vulnerable and sweet.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot, the character growth, the resolution, everything was just beautifully written! I would definitely recommend it to my book besties who are looking for accidental pregnancy, forced proximity and a small town vibe.

Thank you so much to the author, Marie Johnston for giving me an ARC of this book! 🫶🏻

[Andrea Mehalco · Rating 4 out of 5]

New series with a fresh twist! I love how all the siblings are named after flowers or trees—it’s such a charming detail. Lily’s story was a great setup, and now it’s Violet’s turn to shine.

Violet’s journey begins when she finally walks away from a dead-end relationship, leaving her with no job, no home, and no clear direction. She seeks comfort with her sister, who’s celebrating a new marriage, and decides to let loose for just one night. That’s when she meets a man who gives her a fake name—only for their brief encounter to lead to an unexpected pregnancy.

To add to the chaos, Violet learns about a house she might inherit—if she meets the conditions of her grandmother’s will. When she goes to check it out, guess who answers the door? None other than her baby’s father, Evander. He’s a retired, grumpy Marine with trust issues and a good reason to keep his guard up after being burned by manipulative women in the past. His initial impression of Violet isn’t great, but it doesn’t take long for him to realize she’s more than capable of standing on her own.

Their second meeting is anything but smooth, but as they’re forced to spend time together (and eventually live under the same roof), they start to connect. Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing—their journey is full of bumps, misunderstandings, and plenty of emotional growth. Watching both Violet and Evander evolve was such a treat, and I loved how their supportive family and friends played a big role in their story.

The writing is easy to follow and engaging, though I’ll admit there were moments I wanted to yell, Just talk to each other already!—it could have saved them a lot of drama. But that’s part of the charm, and it’s a testament to how invested I was in their story. As always, Marie delivered a beautiful ending that left me smiling. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
Why you’ll love the book!!
💕Small Town
🔥Accidental Pregnancy
💕One Night Stand

One night to let loose for Violet and be free ended in a positive pregnancy test three months later what she didn’t know was the baby daddy would be the man staying in the house her grandmother left her ..

Evander doesn’t believe it his baby and demands a paternity test to prove it his.They come to and understand to what each will do till paternity test each have to also work through their hurt both have been burnt by others

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

marie is back!! she really is THE small town author! i’m usually not one to pick up a small town book if i have another option in front of me, but there’s something about marie that has me obsessed and wanting to keep reading!!

i loved violet and evander so much! the growth of their relationship and their back and forth worked so well <3

i cannot wait to comes next for alder & the rest of the dukes

thank you marie for the arc!!

[Tammy - · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected pregnancy isn't one of my favorite tropes, but I've been looking forward to Violet Duke's story and it definitely doesn't disappoint.

Violet celebrated getting out of a bad relationship by having a one night stand. When she finds herself pregnant, she needs to find a job and a place to live. She can't move into the house that is supposed to be hers unless she is married (thanks to Grandma's trust stipulations), but the guy renting the house doesn't know that. Violet just plans to stop by and see if he plans to move out at the end of his lease, but she's surprised to find her baby Daddy is the tenant.

Evander Barron isn't the most trusting man, but he has good reason to question Violet's motives. I enjoyed watching his walls crumble. While this isn't necessarily what I'd call a slow burn, it definitely takes a long time for these two to get on the same page. In the meantime, you'll find a story that is funny at times, a little sad at others, and with plenty of steam to keep you turning the pages.

[Lisa Hambridge (lisamareebooks1109) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This accidental pregnancy romance was beautifully written.

I love how the relationship developed between Evander and Violet. It was great to read how their relationship developed from their first meeting to them earning each other's trust after news of Violet's pregnancy.

This book was an excellent start to a new series, and i enjoyed the plot . The characters had awesome personalities, which I couldn't get enough of.

Thank you to Marie for the ARC.

[Kayla Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet Promises started off a little slow after the initial meet up between Violet and Evander. I think it’s because it started off with a fast pace between the two and died down after going into after they met.

That being said this was good book and i liked the back and forth between the two. The family dynamic they both had was different. Evander not close with his, and her aunt wanting her to marry before she inherited the house that was hers.

It’s a great read, and enjoyed the ending!

[❀ Tayla ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie is one of my favourite small town authors hands down.
I loved being back in Crocus Valley with all these characters Marie has created, they’re all so real and comforting.

We are back with Violet Duke and Evander Barron and after a steamy one night stand Violet comes home to crocus valley to try and get her house she inherited from her grandmother, to find that the current tenant is no other than Evander, the man she had said one night stand with oh and also the father of her baby.

I loved how these two navigated the news of becoming parents but also learning to trust again after both being burnt so badly in the past. I love the accidental pregnancy trope and this was done so well and it immediately went to my top 10 faves.

I can’t wait for the rest of this family and their stories because they easily become comfort characters that I adore reading about!

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should have a Evander. He might of started off a little rough 😅 but damn tue way he loved her and waited just melted my heart.

I loved that Violet wasn't afraid to admit she messed up and loved him. She shared her fears and he reassured her.

Anyways this is a great small town romance that I would recommend.

3.5 star's rounded up

I recieved an ARC in exchange for my honest review

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

La primera mitad la relación es tóxica, pero estuvo entretenido.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series! Can’t wait for more.

And we are back in Coal Haven for the Oil Dukes. Six siblings, four women (named for flowers) and two men (named after trees), all single. Well, except the youngest, Lily. Her story, An Endless Memory, kicked off the chain of events. Grandma Annie left a trust, all her grandchildren will inherit a specific property and the surrounding land, after they are married for a minimum of one year. They have 6 years to lay claim to their parcel, then they all will be sold on the open market.

Violet wants her house. Unfortunately she is not married, recently broken up with her boyfriend, and someone is renting it. Evander is retired from the US Army, back home to do… something, not sure what yet. All he knows is there have been many changes to his family, and all for the better.
A fact he is still having a challenging time accepting. The feisty woman he met and had a hot night with just showed up on his front porch. Surprise, he is renting her house. Double surprise, she is pregnant. Whoops!!

I’ve been curious about Evander since we met his parents in Make Me Whole. Johnston said he wasn’t speaking to her yet. I’m really happy Violet pulled him out of his self imposed hibernation.

Loved seeing the character growth of Evander, Violet and his family. They have come a long way in a short time.

[Erin (she_is_2_fond_of_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just the right amount of small town cozy. Loved the older Hero and heroine. Surprise baby is a hit and miss trope for me, but this one was well done and really sweet.

[Whitney Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been down an accidental pregnancy trope rabbit hole lately and have read so many books in this genre, however, this book is at the absolute top of this trope for me. It surpassed every expectation I have when reading this genre. I felt every emotion and absolutely adored the characters. It was a true one night stand turned into an accidental pregnancy romance, and I devoured it.

Evander is ex-military and EVERYTHING you want in an MMC. Both Evander and Violet have been badly burned in past relationships, leaving them about to be co-parents but unable to trust one another. Watching their relationship evolve with time was amazing.

If you want an accidental pregnancy book done right, mixed with witty banter and sprinkling of spice, definitely read this book!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️/5

💜Small Town Romance
💜Accidental Pregnancy
💜Ex-Military MMC
💜Protective MMC
💜One Night Stand
💜Forced Proximity

[Noëmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet and Evander's story was sweet and beautiful. I enjoyed this book and also loved how they evolved throughout the book.

I like this author so much and this book was really good, if you love accidental pregnancy and small town then this book is made for you.

[Lily C · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ one night stand
⭐️ accidental pregnancy
⭐️ forced proximity
⭐️ cute kittens and pumpkin farming
⭐️ small town
⭐️ family-centric
⭐️ mild miscommunication
⭐️ dual POV
⭐️ cameos from other book characters

I have been so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint!!

Violet Promises is the start to a new series and can be read as an introduction to Marie Johnston, but if you’ve read the “Oil Barrons” and “Oil Knights” books you’ll love how many past characters make an appearance.

I adored Violet and Evander and the push and pull of their story as they go from strangers to building a family and future together. They both have trauma and trust issues from past relationships and there is some miscommunication, but they really grow and fight to get things right.

This was one of those books that I didn’t want to end. Looking forward to Alder’s book!

I received an advance reader copy and this is my honest review.

[c. rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet and Evander's story was such a cute, heart warming one. Violet wish for a better future for herself and Evander carries a lot of wounds from his past.
When their world collide it's magic and electric and it's a right timing and fit instantly and then both go their own way. But life wasn't done with their story and they meet again.

This story's full of sweet and small steps, mistakes, forgiveness, building trust and foundation, few messes but it's all in the name of trying to do what's right, following your heart and learning to trust and what you want and deserve.

Through every ups and downs I've grown really attached to Violet and Evander. I rooted for them and was so proud of their grow as indivudials and in their relationships even if sometimes I was a bit mad at them for not seeing what's right in front of them.

A 4⭐️ reads!

[Jessica Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. I am 100% living on vibes right now & this was ALL the right ones. Fun trip back to Coal Haven for the last Barron of this generation 🥰

[Sharon Brimhall · Rating 2 out of 5]

poorly developed IMO

This missed the mark huge. Miscommunication at the core. The “connection “ built between the MC’s is so vapor thin, it’s virtually nonexistent. Then we watch our intelligent, independent MFC do a 180, based on tenuous & subjective data. All without an in-depth discussion or establishing common goals, other than sharing orgasms, of course.

[Dhatri Pandya · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Overall Book Rating: 4.5 / 5

*Tropes:
-Small Town
-Accidental Pregnancy
-One Night Stand
-Age Gap (9 years)
-Grumpy Ex-Military MMC
-Big Families

*Spiciness: 2 / 5

Violet breaks up with her toxic boyfriend of 7 years and moves back to Billings, Montana where she rents an apartment to stay close to her parents. After visiting her sister in Crocus Valley, North Dakota, Violet stops in the small town of Coal Haven. She goes to the local brewery, Reservoir Barrel where she meets Evander for the first time. Evander captures her attention due to his sharp, rugged looks and tantalizing scent. Evander too notices Violet and blatantly checks her out. They flirt with each other and she invites him to her hotel room where they spend a steamy night together. Evander leaves before sun rise and Violet is a little sad that she will never see him again.

To her disbelief, 3 months later Violet is standing in front of Evander on the porch of the house that she inherited from her grandmother. But before they can have a conversation she blurts out that she is pregnant with his kid, pukes all over the plants right below the porch and loses consciousness. When she regains her consciousness, she is embarrassed by the way she handled the situation and starts crying and profusely apologizes to Evander. Evander is extremely skeptical of Violet’s pregnancy claim as he had been conned by a woman in the past who used the same reason to get money and medical care out of him. He ends up being rude to her and tells her that he won’t believe her or take responsibility of the baby until they do paternity test. Violet understands his reasons and agrees to all the conditions Evander lays out. Evander also insists that she should stay at the house until they get test results back so he can make sure that she won’t temper with the sample or test results.

Violet is very patient and understanding of Evander and his past trauma and Evander too slowly warms up to her. They get into an easy routine and when they finally get the paternity test kit, they collect necessary samples for it and submit them for test. Evander overlooks the whole process to make sure nothing is tempered with. He ends up extending an olive branch by taking Violet out for dinner and they absolutely enjoy their time together. Even though they are in messy situation, they can’t deny their attraction towards one another and living together just keeps on reminding them about their wild night. Things starts to get steamy after their dinner but before things can go any further, Evander learns about the marriage clause.

Evander is furious because Violet lied to him and accuses her of using him and taking advantage of his trust in her. His word and accusations hurt Violet so much that she tells him she is not interested in the house anymore and leaves in the middle the night and to go back to Billings. Violet gets hired by a company located in Coal Haven and stars her job in 2 weeks. While they are apart for 2 weeks, Evander gets the results back which proves he is the father. He has also cooled down, gave some thought about the whole situation and realized that he over reacted and treated her poorly. He misses Violet terribly and wants to patch things with her.

This time Violet set boundaries because she doesn’t want to be mistreated by Evander again. When he finally lets go of his hurt and anger for what happened in past, he is able to see how special Violet is. He falls for her hard and is willing to wait to gain her trust, respect and love back. He also patches up his relationships with his family. Violet and Evander both put a lot of work into getting over of their traumatic past and come out as their best versions in the end. Versions that love unconditionally, understands, care, respect and are honest with each other.

Violet Promises is a beautiful but heart breaking story of 2 people who were hurt and traumatized by their ex-partners & family and that experience molded them into a person who is constantly in survival mode. It was emotional to read how they both struggled in their own ways. Their past experiences, hurt and anger didn’t let them see what was in front of them. All they wanted was someone to be there for them in every way but they were looking for it in wrong people. It took them sometime to realize that and work on themselves with help of their families but they did and came out as their best versions. I definitely recommend this book if you like any of the above mentioned tropes.

[sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes at the end. My tagged shelves may be spoilers.

Quick Synopsis:
Recently single and without a job, Violet Duke has decided the way to reignite herself is to travel back to her small hometown of Coal Haven, North Dakota. A few small problems with her plan - 1. her grandmother's trust doesn't allow any of the grandkids to own the properties she left them until they're married, 2. there is currently someone renting the property, and 3. she just found out she's pregnant from a one-night stand three months ago and doesn't know how to find the dad.

Evander Barron is in his early 40s and recently retired from the Army. While he has a strained relationship with most of his (large) family, he's back home in their small refinery town while he figures out what the rest of his future is supposed to look like. His solitary life gets turned on its axis, though, when the fiery woman he had a one-night stand with knocks on his door saying that this is her house and oh ya... she's pregnant with his baby.

My Thoughts:
This was a great lifetime-esque romance! It's filled with small town charm, big & complicated families, realistic emotional scars & anxieties, and a slow burn kind of love. I really liked the opposites attract dynamic between Violet & Evander -- while both had a lot of unhealed issues from past relationships, their way of handling themselves differed. Evander was hesitant to trust and tended to take things as face value and didn't believe people really changed. Violet however, while left insecure from her ex, was strong-willed and tried to take each turn in life with optimistic determination.

There was a lot of push and pull between these two throughout the majority of the story. Some of it stemmed from miscommunication as both were scared to fully open themselves up to someone new and put their heart out there again. While I'm usually not a fan of the "miscommunication" trope, it felt pretty realistic here considering their previous experiences. However, that doesn't mean I didn't want to yell at them a few times lol.

Violet putting Evander in his place when she told him off for projecting his past experiences on to her was definitely a high moment for me. & the way Evander stepped how and showed Violet with tons of little gestures, how much he cares for her and wants her in his life was super heartwarming.

In the end, I really enjoyed how both grew and healed with each other. Violet helped Evander come out of his solitary shell a bit and open himself back up to family and love. While Evander showed Violet that she's more than enough and is worth staying for.

This was my first story by this author but with all the little tidbits we got of both the Duke and Barron families, I'm definitely going to go back and read some of the other Oil Duke series books! The only thing that kept me from giving 5 stars to this romance was probably more just personal preference of spice and slow burn vs fast burn. A few more chapters of Violet and Evander actually together as a couple and I would have bumped up to 5.

Thank you to the author and AuthorAgency PR for the e-ARC. Review is my own, honest opinion.

Tropes / CW:
- one night stand to love
- small town
- 30s fmc / 40s mmc
- fmc in stem
- blue collar & veteran mmc
- complicated families
- accidental pregnancy
- forced proximity
- trust issues
- mentions of recent ex w/ fmc and past (10yrs ago) ex w/ mmc
- trust issues
- he takes care of her
- low spice