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A Gangster's Promise

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Twenty-five year old Truth Kingston is an ambitious, fierce, and beast of a hustler who has an instinct for making money and is a force to be reckon with. He has his share of women but when a chance encounter leads him to cross paths with Promise, he knew his world was about to change. But as things heat up with his opps, he sees just how gutter Promise is, meeting his perfect match. Truth is used to handling enemies with cold precision, but when intel uncovers pertinent intel about Promise, will he do what he’s known for or throw caution to the wind? Is he willing to step away from his potential future?

After ending her relationship with her ex and needing a new start, twenty-five year old Promise Valentine is a sharp-tongue, elite make-up artist with savage tendencies, who relocates from Atlanta to Chicago, where her father and sibling reside. Not long after her move, Promise finds herself in like and lust with a handsome, hardcore gangster that is her equal. However, when chaos start ensuing and an unknown beef begins brewing, Promise finds herself caught up in the middle of street war that has nothing to do with her but everything to do with her siblings and the gangster she’s falling for. What will Promise do, remain loyal to her family or side with her potential husband?

In a city where loyalty and family ties are everything, in the past, the Valentine and Kingston families were locked in a bitter feud, creating chaos, bloody streets, and unsafe neighborhoods in Chicago, until a truce by the families were agreed upon. Now, the two rival families’ years long truce is threatened to come unraveled by the new generation of leadership. As tension between the families escalates and tragedy arises, secrets roll out of the closet, betrayal is felt, relationships are on the brink, and lives are nearing the flat-line. National best-selling author Patrice Balark brings you her new series, A Gangster’s Promise, where loyalty is the ultimate test, chemistry is undeniable, and love is at risk. Check out Truth and Promise and see whether love will be their greatest salvation or their worst downfall.

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2024

526 people are currently reading
68 people want to read

About the author

Patrice Balark

72 books81 followers

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5 stars
575 (81%)
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77 (10%)
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39 (5%)
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6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for KweenBee.
314 reviews3 followers
March 23, 2025
A Definite DNF. I didn't even get past chapter one before I threw in the towel. Out of the gate, it was Cosplay stereotypical ghetto banter and immature drama- Again, still in chapter one, folks. I value my time entirely too much. This was a first attempt at this authors work for me, and I am pretty sure that it will be a last.
Profile Image for Kwastina Jackson.
654 reviews6 followers
August 6, 2025
Whewschitt!

This book kept the drama coming in spades. Every card played landed flawlessly. The only part that irked me was that two business owning adults could take it a far as they did and not know each others last name. It didn't make sense. However, the rest of the storyline and book were engaging and entertaining.
Profile Image for Mariana Claire .
33 reviews
April 11, 2025
DNF. I found Promise to be a spoiled, lazy girl who was supposedly a make-up artist, but by a quarter way through she hadn't worked one damn day but had gone shopping multiple times. When she f**ked Truth in the car on their second date, I was done. Cheap and unclassy. I just couldn't continue.
Profile Image for Verlana Munn.
2,042 reviews40 followers
December 21, 2024
When The World As You Know It Changes

Patrice Balark. You did it this time. Lawd so much misunderstanding that should've never happened. Promise and Truth have so much going on with their families. It's gonna take a miracle to fix all these unfortunate situations.
Amanda has caused this mess and it's all come back full circle. Promise has more going on than she even knows. Truth will be tested like never before.
I can't wait to see how this plays out. Great read🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Profile Image for V. Rena.
1,662 reviews17 followers
December 22, 2024
Romeo and Juliet don't have nothing on Truth and Promise

This story is so good. The drama of it all. Revelations unveiled at the right place but wrong time. Opps fall for each other but things are about to get crazy especially after that ending. Chicago streets are about to be lit up and no one is safe. Romeo and Juliet don't have nothing on Truth and Promise. Will their newfound love survive the renewed street war between their families? Can't wait to find out in book two. Gone head and get this story.
1,044 reviews5 followers
February 23, 2025
Never Make A Promise You Can't Keep

"A Gangster's Promise" was an excellent story! Promise Valentine was happy with her life in Atlanta with her mom and baby brother until a series of circumstances had her fleeing to Chicago to live with her father and three older brothers. A chance encounter at a party had her meeting Truth Kingston, and from there, they were inseparable. What the young lovers did not know was their families were involved in a decade long truce, and because of an unrelated death, the streets were about to get bloody again.
195 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2025
what a plot twist

They finna all really fall out when they figure out that they have another little brother and that they really cannot beef with each other anymore. Promise should have said something sooner as well i dont know she talking to Truth but not her family about stuff that’s weird so I understand why Chanel feels the way she does but I honestly think maybe HOV is who was following them and he’s the one who shot up the party.
Profile Image for La’Cara Johnson.
139 reviews4 followers
January 31, 2025
I literally could not put this book down 😩 The Valentines and the Kingstons were lit. Promise had no clue of what she was getting herself into and when the signs were there she ignored it. This book was written so well and details were so clear I just kept turning the damn pages lol. It gives you love, drama, mess and more but the ending mad me throw my tablet and scream because why the cliffhanger…. Where’s book 2 ma’am??? 😒😭
1,308 reviews
February 21, 2025
Secret fire pit 🧨🔥🧨🔥 flames

Fire pit 🧨🧨🔥🔥💣💣💣

I'm looking forward to part 2 to see who's behind the shooting I think it's Hov he in his feelings about Promise cutting him off ...

Both of them are lil crazy ok Both ain't playing no games about each other though gotta bring there families together for good now...

And there married so that's most definitely coming out ..

And her mom secret just hit 🎯 She slapped with Nick And Doodie I hopefully he's alright....


139 reviews
March 4, 2025
New Worries

A story of two dark families the Kingston and the Valentine.Both selling drugs and own their communities. Promise the only.girl in the Valentine family and the youngest boy in the Kingston fami!y met and fell in love. Now the trouble begins. The youngest boy in the Valentine has been shot while celebrating.his birthday. Mr.Valentine has found out that the son he thought was his is not.
174 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2025
o.m.g

Wait wait hold on.. so Parker is not von son? Oh lord that’s why there is a war going on I wounder how Kane truth the other brother will they have a younger brother.. how could Amanda do this to von even though she claimed he cheated she should have told von that Parker a.k.a doodie is not his and promise and truth make the perfect couple ever can’t wait for book 2 because I really enjoyed this book
702 reviews
January 15, 2026
a good read

Amanda mess up the Valentine bloodline like how she thought Von wasn’t going to find out that Parker isn’t his some women just don’t be thinking now Promise all in her feelings and she done went and married a Kingston just nasty the whole family needs to be thrown away cause they all are not wrap tight can’t wait to read part 2 cause I know Patrice going to make sure it’s more juicy drama in the finale
550 reviews
December 22, 2024
A Gangster’s Promise: An Enemies To Lovers Romance

Entirely A Great Read. I most definitely would recommend this book if you like excitement and drama and passion and romance and thugs and Alpha Males. Talking about a great storyline and characters this book has both. I can’t wait to read the second book.
Profile Image for Tenika Glover.
809 reviews3 followers
August 30, 2025
Chile, That Is Wild!!

See, that's why it's good to know your people. Truth and Promise is young and in love. Rushing not knowing each other. Now they are at war Truth and Promise, the Valentine's and the Kingston's. Promise daddy wants to kill her mama. Promise wants to kill Chanel for opening her mouth about her husband. Promise is standing beside her man.
Profile Image for Natea.
65 reviews
December 26, 2024
insane cliffhanger!

My heart dropped at the cliffhanger! This is my first book from the author and I’m definitely jumping into her catalog! Great fast paced storyline! I love Truth & Promise together honestly.
741 reviews3 followers
December 26, 2024
Good Read

I enjoyed the book from beginning to end and can't wait to read book 2. So if Truth and Promise get it together Doodie will be her brother and brother in law. I need book 2 asap Ms. Balark
168 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2025
Oh my

The Valentine's and the Kingston's oh my b this is good. I am praying for the next book and also praying no book 3. I can't handle the pressure lol. This is great. Come on book 2
431 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2025
My My My

This was my first read of 2025 and I was not disappointed. This was a definite page turner and Promise & Truth are everything. I can’t wait for part 2 because that cliffhanger !!!!
Profile Image for Bo'Tina Jackson.
1,087 reviews8 followers
January 5, 2025
🔥🔥🔥🔥😱😱😱😱

Boy it’s crazy how your family can start a lot of drama and put you in the middle of it all making you have to choose what is right or wrong I can’t wait to see what happens next
Profile Image for Cris Criss.
466 reviews5 followers
January 10, 2025
PATRICE BALARK?!!!!!!!!!!!

Come to the floor right now Patrice!!!

My lawd, I was not prepared for this story to end the way it did. Whew!!!! I just knew it was gonna be drama filled and bloody. I can’t wait to start the next book. You did that! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
50 reviews
February 22, 2025
Gooder and Gooder!!!

The more I read the gooder it got!! I’m so excited to start the next book…sheesh I wasn’t expecting that cliff hanger, well done ma’am!!! Heading over for book 2 rhat na. 👏🏽👏🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
Profile Image for Breeana.
628 reviews7 followers
March 1, 2025
I hate cliffhangers......

This was really good but I don't think the Kingstons did this. But I could be wrong. I hope Missy and Truth move in together like how y'all married and live separately.
Profile Image for Angela.
336 reviews
March 8, 2025
THAT CLIFFHANGER…WHAT?!!??!!

I ain’t even gonna hold you. This book is guaranteed to make you wanna flip the pages to find out what’s gonna happen next and it does not disappoint AT ALL!
Profile Image for Terry Young.
580 reviews
June 20, 2025
😶😶😳

I love me some Truth and Missy. They are meant for each other. Lol that damn HOV needs a bullet to his dome because he definitely doing too much. These two families need to squash the beef Geesh. That ending OMG. On to part 2.
514 reviews
June 24, 2025
Good

First book by this author and so far so good. The drama is at a all time high! The beginning of the war between the two families seem a lil silly but it is a book. Ready for part two.
Profile Image for Angelia Rhodes.
1,660 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2026
The Mess

Oh, this is getting good. Amanda, you got that licker back sis. Not one but 2 BD's with them coins. Missy girl, I think you got a big mess on your hands but I know you got it.
Profile Image for Bianca.
62 reviews2 followers
December 21, 2024
10/10

This book right here!!! Whewwww the drama and the twist !!! This some Romeo and Juliet, family feud, and beef type of book!!
Profile Image for Neka.
1,450 reviews5 followers
December 22, 2024
Loved it

Anytime I read a Patrice Balark book she doesn’t disappoint me. That ending man I can’t wait to read part 2 I need to know what happens next because chileeeeee smh.
Profile Image for K. Larry.
Author 25 books63 followers
December 26, 2024
wowwwww

Oooooooooo I need part two!!! My mouth is literally on the floor! Definitely didn’t see the things spinning in this direction.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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