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Painted Promises
Rule number one: what happens in Cabo, stays in Cabo.
Rory Wilson’s sophomore year was supposed to be perfect. Time with friends, an excellent class schedule, and a second chance at a relationship she mourned all summer. When she learns her new neighbor is the boy who helped her conspire against her ex, her plans start to take a turn.
Ace Broden is cocky, flirty, and emotionally unavailable. When he finds himself with a proposition from one of the prettiest girls he’s ever seen, he feels like he’s living a dream. A no-strings-attached fling in return for a picture of his biceps or abs here and there? No-brainer. But Ace finds himself more attached than he should. Discovering his neighbor is the girl he hasn’t stopped thinking about since summer sparks something within him.
Will Rory choose the past or the future being painted before her?
Rory Wilson’s sophomore year was supposed to be perfect. Time with friends, an excellent class schedule, and a second chance at a relationship she mourned all summer. When she learns her new neighbor is the boy who helped her conspire against her ex, her plans start to take a turn.
Ace Broden is cocky, flirty, and emotionally unavailable. When he finds himself with a proposition from one of the prettiest girls he’s ever seen, he feels like he’s living a dream. A no-strings-attached fling in return for a picture of his biceps or abs here and there? No-brainer. But Ace finds himself more attached than he should. Discovering his neighbor is the girl he hasn’t stopped thinking about since summer sparks something within him.
Will Rory choose the past or the future being painted before her?
401 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2026
14 people want to read
About the author
Lanie Tech
3 books24 followersLanie Tech is a graphic designer by day and author by night. Her writing stems from many years spent as a fanfiction author and she’s sorry if it shows. She is currently in her contemporary romance era but hopes to dip into the romantasy world someday. Midnight Muse is her first novel.
She currently lives in SoCal with her younger sister and enjoys strawberries, traveling, creating delusions during walks or work, and loves anything and everything creative.
She currently lives in SoCal with her younger sister and enjoys strawberries, traveling, creating delusions during walks or work, and loves anything and everything creative.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 20, 2025
I will forever scream from the rooftops how much I love Lanie Tech’s alliterations and the way she draws and paints with her writing. The way she describes the scenes and imagery are captivating.
Ace and Rory are not exactly a second-chance romance, but they sure do feel like it. What starts, and is supposed to end, as a summer fling in Cabo to ignite jealousy in Rory’s ex, continues into something MORE when they find out that not only do they attend the same school, they are actually literal next-door neighbors. Tech does an amazing job of writing right person, wrong time as a trope and molding it until it becomes the right person at the right time. Additionally, this book was simultaneously an insta-lust and slow burn that were so perfectly paced, it didn’t feel unnatural at all.
Don’t worry, guys - there’s no OW/OM drama here.
I also appreciate the way that Tech will work through an internalized misunderstandings, but never allow for full miscommunication. As much as we can all get in our own heads, there will always be times when we talk ourselves into or out of certain things and that’s no different for our main characters here.
I love the friend group in this series. Reading this book felt like coming back home to VU, which is just what I needed.
Thank you Lanie Tech for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Ace and Rory are not exactly a second-chance romance, but they sure do feel like it. What starts, and is supposed to end, as a summer fling in Cabo to ignite jealousy in Rory’s ex, continues into something MORE when they find out that not only do they attend the same school, they are actually literal next-door neighbors. Tech does an amazing job of writing right person, wrong time as a trope and molding it until it becomes the right person at the right time. Additionally, this book was simultaneously an insta-lust and slow burn that were so perfectly paced, it didn’t feel unnatural at all.
Don’t worry, guys - there’s no OW/OM drama here.
I also appreciate the way that Tech will work through an internalized misunderstandings, but never allow for full miscommunication. As much as we can all get in our own heads, there will always be times when we talk ourselves into or out of certain things and that’s no different for our main characters here.
I love the friend group in this series. Reading this book felt like coming back home to VU, which is just what I needed.
Thank you Lanie Tech for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 3, 2026
ARC Review:
It was so exciting to return to the Vulcan University Universe, and even moreso when I discovered that not only do I get to read a new love story, but also get some of the events of Midnight Muse from an outside perspective! I adored Quinn and Knox’s story, but Rory and Ace absolutely have me in a chokehold! Lanie Tech truly captured lightning in a bottle with such relatable characters and realistic scenarios with the touch of magic a good love story brings. Even with the angst and miscommunication tropes, Painted Promises has definitely become one of my go-to cozy reads, and I can’t wait to see what Tech writes next!!
It was so exciting to return to the Vulcan University Universe, and even moreso when I discovered that not only do I get to read a new love story, but also get some of the events of Midnight Muse from an outside perspective! I adored Quinn and Knox’s story, but Rory and Ace absolutely have me in a chokehold! Lanie Tech truly captured lightning in a bottle with such relatable characters and realistic scenarios with the touch of magic a good love story brings. Even with the angst and miscommunication tropes, Painted Promises has definitely become one of my go-to cozy reads, and I can’t wait to see what Tech writes next!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
ARC Review
Tropes:
Summer Fling Meeting Again
Art College Romance
Neighbors
Found Family
He Falls First
Rule Breakers
Dual Timeline
I’ve been waiting for this book for what feels like forever, and the wait was absolutely worth it!!
Rory and Ace have a summer fling in Cabo meant to make Rory’s ex jealous, with the promise that they’ll never see each other again. What they don’t expect? They end up attending the same university—and becoming next-door neighbors!
Rory and Ace were hinted at in Book 1, so it was amazing to finally get their story. I loved watching their love grow—twice. The push and pull, the tension, the chemistry 🥰🤭 It was frustratingly adorable watching them deny their feelings, because let’s be real… they basically fell in love in Cabo. Still, their relationship deepened even more during the school year as they spent time together. Both had their hearts broken and needed time to heal, and that emotional journey felt so real 🩷
I really loved how the Cabo flashbacks were woven throughout the book instead of being dumped all at once in the beginning. Getting those moments in snippets made the story even more engaging.
Rory waiting so long to get rid of Max was honestly infuriating. She knew he wasn’t right for her, but kept putting it off. Once she finally opened her eyes though? It was DONE—and I loved that for her. Watching Rory find her worth and stand her ground was so satisfying.
Being back at Vulcan University felt like coming home. The family dynamics were heartwarming, and I loved seeing familiar faces again. I’m so excited for Slate’s story next—and I definitely need to know what’s going on with Isla 👀👀
ARC Review
Tropes:
Summer Fling Meeting Again
Art College Romance
Neighbors
Found Family
He Falls First
Rule Breakers
Dual Timeline
I’ve been waiting for this book for what feels like forever, and the wait was absolutely worth it!!
Rory and Ace have a summer fling in Cabo meant to make Rory’s ex jealous, with the promise that they’ll never see each other again. What they don’t expect? They end up attending the same university—and becoming next-door neighbors!
Rory and Ace were hinted at in Book 1, so it was amazing to finally get their story. I loved watching their love grow—twice. The push and pull, the tension, the chemistry 🥰🤭 It was frustratingly adorable watching them deny their feelings, because let’s be real… they basically fell in love in Cabo. Still, their relationship deepened even more during the school year as they spent time together. Both had their hearts broken and needed time to heal, and that emotional journey felt so real 🩷
I really loved how the Cabo flashbacks were woven throughout the book instead of being dumped all at once in the beginning. Getting those moments in snippets made the story even more engaging.
Rory waiting so long to get rid of Max was honestly infuriating. She knew he wasn’t right for her, but kept putting it off. Once she finally opened her eyes though? It was DONE—and I loved that for her. Watching Rory find her worth and stand her ground was so satisfying.
Being back at Vulcan University felt like coming home. The family dynamics were heartwarming, and I loved seeing familiar faces again. I’m so excited for Slate’s story next—and I definitely need to know what’s going on with Isla 👀👀
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc review! Painted Promises was an even better read than the first book in the VU series! The pacing was great and engaging through the whole story - it was really hard to put this book down!! Each chapter flowed into the next and there was not a single dull moment! Between the romance, angst, each characters’ struggles, laughs between friends, and little Easter eggs from the first book, I highly recommend it and cannot wait for this to be released!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an advanced reader copy from the author, Lanie Tech. This is the second book in her Vulcan University series! I was so excited to read Rory’s story because she appeared in the first book as Quinn’s bestie.
If you love books where he falls first, second chance romance, dual POV, and art… this book is for you. I loved the flashbacks to Cabo between Rory and Ace.
Spice- 🌶️🌶️
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you love books where he falls first, second chance romance, dual POV, and art… this book is for you. I loved the flashbacks to Cabo between Rory and Ace.
Spice- 🌶️🌶️
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 12, 2026
I was incredibly lucky again to receive an ARC for this book! It’s book 2 in the series and I am completely obsessed with it! Rory and Ace are such incredible characters who I love so much and deserve so much, they were so cute (and also hot). I loved seeing the chapters in Cabo and also different perspectives on things that happened in book one (IYKYK).
I recommend this so much!
I recommend this so much!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews