What do you think?
Rate this book
Promise: A Small Town Second Chance Cowboy Romance
Jade Alexander learned early that love was a luxury, not a necessity. Success, security, and survival came first. She made the sacrifices, climbed the corporate ladder, and built a life her Jamaican parents could be proud of. Her career in tech was the crown jewel. The travel, the paychecks, the title. Until one ordinary day, one closed-door meeting, and everything she worked for is stripped away.
What follows is a storm of emotion she can’t suppress and a fall that no one prepared her for. At her most unguarded, she meets a man who sees her, not for what she does, but for who she is beneath the performance.
Akil Mitchell doesn’t need more noise in his life. A decorated veteran and the fire chief of Westonberry, a Southern man who finds peace in routine, riding his horse Junie, and taking care of his lively parents. He’s a man of few words and authority. But Jade’s presence disrupts his calm in all the right ways. There is something about her he can’t walk away from.
As Jade reckons with the silence left in success’s absence and tries to rebuild without the applause she once lived for, Akil becomes both anchor and mirror. But healing is not linear. And love, especially the kind that changes everything, never arrives at the right time.
Set in Westonberry, the soul of Roena County, Promise is a funny, tender, emotionally rich story about what it means to be fully seen when you’ve forgotten who you are.
What follows is a storm of emotion she can’t suppress and a fall that no one prepared her for. At her most unguarded, she meets a man who sees her, not for what she does, but for who she is beneath the performance.
Akil Mitchell doesn’t need more noise in his life. A decorated veteran and the fire chief of Westonberry, a Southern man who finds peace in routine, riding his horse Junie, and taking care of his lively parents. He’s a man of few words and authority. But Jade’s presence disrupts his calm in all the right ways. There is something about her he can’t walk away from.
As Jade reckons with the silence left in success’s absence and tries to rebuild without the applause she once lived for, Akil becomes both anchor and mirror. But healing is not linear. And love, especially the kind that changes everything, never arrives at the right time.
Set in Westonberry, the soul of Roena County, Promise is a funny, tender, emotionally rich story about what it means to be fully seen when you’ve forgotten who you are.
- GenresRomance
159 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2025
61 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 5, 2025
3.5 (it’s really a five star but the MF end pissed me off BAAAD)
Because it’s good it’s gonna give you that giddy girly crush feeling but piss you off cus wth you mean it’s another part??? Plus as a 32 years old when the characters old I expect maturity and certain behaviors at 37 ghosting is unacceptable so Jade better be in a coma or something. CLIFF HANGER incomplete series and that needs to be in the authors notes or something cus had I known I would’ve waited.
Because it’s good it’s gonna give you that giddy girly crush feeling but piss you off cus wth you mean it’s another part??? Plus as a 32 years old when the characters old I expect maturity and certain behaviors at 37 ghosting is unacceptable so Jade better be in a coma or something. CLIFF HANGER incomplete series and that needs to be in the authors notes or something cus had I known I would’ve waited.
August 12, 2025
4.25⭐️ and 1.5🌶️
“Because while I kept searching for her face in the light, I prayed I’d never find it in the fire.”
I am here for every part of this story! I was swooning, laughing, and then the feels started to feel. All of them.
I can relate to Jade on so many levels. The job. The interviews. The pressure. The anxiety. She also has such a great group of friends who love on her and that is so important these days.
If you have it, consider yourself blessed.
Akil moved with intention and who doesn’t love a man that is so…sure? Jade and Akil both feel like they were hitting the jackpot with each other and they were. I need more, more, and more.
Thanks for the rec
✨Insta-Love
✨Cowboy Romance
✨Sworn Off Relationship
“Because while I kept searching for her face in the light, I prayed I’d never find it in the fire.”
I am here for every part of this story! I was swooning, laughing, and then the feels started to feel. All of them.
I can relate to Jade on so many levels. The job. The interviews. The pressure. The anxiety. She also has such a great group of friends who love on her and that is so important these days.
If you have it, consider yourself blessed.
Akil moved with intention and who doesn’t love a man that is so…sure? Jade and Akil both feel like they were hitting the jackpot with each other and they were. I need more, more, and more.
Thanks for the rec
✨Insta-Love
✨Cowboy Romance
✨Sworn Off Relationship
December 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ only because WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?!?!
November 17, 2025
This was so good and has left me starving for part 2! The characters have depth, the pacing is good and the author’s writing style flows nicely. I found myself chuckling at times and longing at others. This story posed a question….can (& should) you open yourself up to love if your life is falling apart? Sometimes we feel like we have to have it all together before we let someone in. Also the BDE and intention that Smoke had towards his Sugar was everything. That man saw the future in her eyes from almost Day 1. This is a new to me author and I’m already addicted to her pen.
August 19, 2025
Jade & Akil🥰
Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned and that’s quite alright. That’s what second chances are for.
I’m patiently waiting on the rest of the story. The cliffhanger is making my eye twitch.
Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned and that’s quite alright. That’s what second chances are for.
I’m patiently waiting on the rest of the story. The cliffhanger is making my eye twitch.
Read
August 22, 2025Im guilty of going into books blind but I truly missed that this would be part one of this story. I have written long enough to k ow the romance audience has expectations and preferences. This story only fulfills part of it. Promise is beautifully written but incomplete. Hope part 2 will be along soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2025
This book is important for the Black community
Promise is hilarious. A true rom-com novella that reminds me of The Black Notebook. Instead of another man holding Jade back, it’s her loss of identity and struggle to accept a new one shaped by anxiety and lack of control.
Akil is what we need more of! Black men who are stable, supportive, servant leaders, and who know how to please a woman.
This book is important for the Black community because we need to see we deserve to enjoy life, be pleased, and be loved softly and faithfully. It offers valuable lessons on how you view yourself, men, relationships, goals, careers, and family pressure.
Disclaimer to Christian readers: It’s spicy, babe. The only beef I think a Christian reader would have with this book is the timing of the spice in the context of the relationship (If they were married, different story). This isn’t Christian fiction, so don’t expect Christian expectations on intimacy.
I recommend it—but Christians who can’t do spice, you’ve been warned.
Promise is hilarious. A true rom-com novella that reminds me of The Black Notebook. Instead of another man holding Jade back, it’s her loss of identity and struggle to accept a new one shaped by anxiety and lack of control.
Akil is what we need more of! Black men who are stable, supportive, servant leaders, and who know how to please a woman.
This book is important for the Black community because we need to see we deserve to enjoy life, be pleased, and be loved softly and faithfully. It offers valuable lessons on how you view yourself, men, relationships, goals, careers, and family pressure.
Disclaimer to Christian readers: It’s spicy, babe. The only beef I think a Christian reader would have with this book is the timing of the spice in the context of the relationship (If they were married, different story). This isn’t Christian fiction, so don’t expect Christian expectations on intimacy.
I recommend it—but Christians who can’t do spice, you’ve been warned.
November 20, 2025
Promise by Jhéanell Westonberry has the bones of a really intriguing story, but it definitely left me wanting more depth and detail. I’d give it about 3 out of 5 stars.
What it’s about:
Our female main character works in tech, and she’s very successful—until she’s suddenly let go for no real fault of her own. On her way out, she has this almost slapstick moment of accidentally pulling a fire alarm and getting herself locked in a closet. The firefighter who rescues her doesn’t say much at first, but then—plot twist—he sees her again a few days later on a trail ride and basically decides on sight that she’s the one. He falls first, and he falls fast.
What worked:
It’s cute seeing the male lead head over heels right away, and there’s a nice little spark in their initial meet-cute. If you like that instant attraction trope, it’s definitely here.
What didn’t work:
The main issue is that the book does a lot of telling rather than showing. We’re told a lot about how the characters feel and what they go through, but we don’t really get to experience those moments with them. They have one date on the page, and the rest is mostly them talking about each other to other people. We hear about deeper things they supposedly share, but we don’t see those moments unfold.
And then there’s the ending: when she doesn’t get a new job she’s after, she just ghosts him and goes no contact, leaving him to chase her down. It felt abrupt and not fully earned because we didn’t get enough time to really see their relationship develop.
Final take:
The bones of a good story are there, but it needs more fleshing out. It’s a novella, so it’s short by design, but I still felt like I didn’t know the couple well enough. There’s potential here, but it needed more show-don’t-tell and more time with the characters together.
What it’s about:
Our female main character works in tech, and she’s very successful—until she’s suddenly let go for no real fault of her own. On her way out, she has this almost slapstick moment of accidentally pulling a fire alarm and getting herself locked in a closet. The firefighter who rescues her doesn’t say much at first, but then—plot twist—he sees her again a few days later on a trail ride and basically decides on sight that she’s the one. He falls first, and he falls fast.
What worked:
It’s cute seeing the male lead head over heels right away, and there’s a nice little spark in their initial meet-cute. If you like that instant attraction trope, it’s definitely here.
What didn’t work:
The main issue is that the book does a lot of telling rather than showing. We’re told a lot about how the characters feel and what they go through, but we don’t really get to experience those moments with them. They have one date on the page, and the rest is mostly them talking about each other to other people. We hear about deeper things they supposedly share, but we don’t see those moments unfold.
And then there’s the ending: when she doesn’t get a new job she’s after, she just ghosts him and goes no contact, leaving him to chase her down. It felt abrupt and not fully earned because we didn’t get enough time to really see their relationship develop.
Final take:
The bones of a good story are there, but it needs more fleshing out. It’s a novella, so it’s short by design, but I still felt like I didn’t know the couple well enough. There’s potential here, but it needed more show-don’t-tell and more time with the characters together.
September 18, 2025
I follow Jheanell on Substack and love her serials, ao I had to read her novel. Same quality writing and excellent world building of Roena County.
👍🏾
- funny as hell—especially when Jade and her friends FaceTimed😂
- swoon-worthy—Big Smoke came with the right intentional energy. Very masculine!
- chemistry was off the charts
- highlighted so much—so many good lines of wisdom and funny sayings!
👎🏾
- overwritten at times, especially the beginning and the ending where Jade’s feelings were explored
- the ending is a huge cliffhanger! Wish Jade let that man support her but I get it, sometimes we need to process alone, but man, the sneak peak shows she really just ghosted Akil.
- wish this was longer!
Need Promise 2 expeditiously!
👍🏾
- funny as hell—especially when Jade and her friends FaceTimed😂
- swoon-worthy—Big Smoke came with the right intentional energy. Very masculine!
- chemistry was off the charts
- highlighted so much—so many good lines of wisdom and funny sayings!
👎🏾
- overwritten at times, especially the beginning and the ending where Jade’s feelings were explored
- the ending is a huge cliffhanger! Wish Jade let that man support her but I get it, sometimes we need to process alone, but man, the sneak peak shows she really just ghosted Akil.
- wish this was longer!
Need Promise 2 expeditiously!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2026
The small-town vibe brings a lot of warmth, the chemistry is there right away, and the romance unfolds at an easy, unhurried pace. The MMC is a fire chief with cowboy roots, and the FMC works in tech, which adds a nice contrast to the small-town setting. Cozy, intentional, and a really enjoyable read. The ending will have you going straight into book two.
September 3, 2025
I couldn’t put this book down! The characters were fun, the dialogue felt real, and I found myself laughing, gasping, and completely hooked from start to finish. I was not ready for that cliffhanger, and now I can’t wait for part two. I hope there is much more to come from this author.
August 9, 2025
Jade and Smoke Forever!
Once I started this story I couldn't stop until I read the entire thing. SO GOOD! Now I can't wait for Promise 2!!!!
Once I started this story I couldn't stop until I read the entire thing. SO GOOD! Now I can't wait for Promise 2!!!!
August 18, 2025
💚💛💚
I was waiting on this book to drop ever since the teasers on Tiktok! This book was everything and I need part 2 expeditiously!😂💛 Big Smoke and Sugar have my heart!
I was waiting on this book to drop ever since the teasers on Tiktok! This book was everything and I need part 2 expeditiously!😂💛 Big Smoke and Sugar have my heart!
September 6, 2025
part 2???????? I need that expeditiously
November 3, 2025
This story held my interest. It is so relatable in this environment. I really liked the Fire Chief's parents. This story teased it up for the cousin.
December 16, 2025
Loved it 🥰
Jade and Akil are very lovable characters (must be a southern thang).
That’s all I have to say; I started reading part 2 immediately after.
Jade and Akil are very lovable characters (must be a southern thang).
That’s all I have to say; I started reading part 2 immediately after.
January 7, 2026
Baby, they're taking me through there
So good, character are clear as day, Chief loved her, and she broke him because she was broken. Ohh but tge 2nd book im ready.
So good, character are clear as day, Chief loved her, and she broke him because she was broken. Ohh but tge 2nd book im ready.
January 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
4.5 because of the ending. Such a cliffhanger it pissed me clean off.
4.5 because of the ending. Such a cliffhanger it pissed me clean off.
October 14, 2025
okay so I give this a 3.5, but I was not expecting a cliffhanger. I'm sad I have to wait for the second book, but I loved me some Akil! Jade reminds me of myself a lil lololol
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews