Tempestuous Vow

by Vara Firestar

A forbidden love. A dangerous game.
For decades, Sebastian has been the perfect guard: loyal, honorable, and lethal. His sole purpose is to serve and protect the Pasko family, an obligation that defines his very existence. That is, until Jessika. Now, their mutual attraction has turned into something a lot more dangerous. Now, their shared secret is a ticking time bomb.
Behind locked doors, their forbidden passion is intense, desperate, and utterly reckless. Sebastian is cracking under the pressure, the disciplined bodyguard consumed by the possessive man who aches to own her completely. If her three powerful, brutal brothers discover the truth, their revenge will be swift and catastrophic. It will destroy not just his career, but the entire legacy he was born to uphold.
Their love is a deadly game of hide and seek. But when loyalty demands sacrifice, Sebastian will have to decide who he truly serves: the family he swore an oath to, or the woman he can no longer live without.

Tempestuous Vow is a forbidden/secret romance about a controlled bodyguard and his protectee. It is book three in the Pasko family installment. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature readers only.
This book can be read in any order.

242 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2026

About the author

Vara is an author of adult romance novels, known for her ability to weave profoundly emotional stories that linger long after the final page. Her unique approach to "mood writing" allows her to channel the authentic depths of human connection and vulnerability into every story. Beyond the keyboard, Vara's world is filled with the quiet joy of tending to her plants, the immersive escape of reading, and the love of her four children and husband.

Reviews

[Principesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship… but Sebastian and Jessika clearly missed that lesson!

In Vara Firestar’s third installment of the Pasko Family series, Tempestuous Vow, the spotlight shifts to the youngest sibling, Jessika, and the family’s loyal security guard—and her longtime crush—Sebastian. Jessika has had feelings for him since childhood, and unbeknownst to her, those feelings have always been mutual. Seb, a disciplined former Marine and devoted employee, broke her heart at fourteen, choosing duty and their age gap over desire. Jessika has never forgiven him, but first loves have a way of lingering, don’t they?

After events from book two (no spoilers here!), Jessika’s brother Derek reassigns Seb to guard Jessika, and that’s when the sparks, drama and misunderstandings truly ignite. The usually composed, controlled Marine finds himself unraveling as emotions, tempers, and attraction collide. If only these two had sat down and talked to each other, they could have avoided so much heartbreak and angst… but then we wouldn’t have this deliciously tense, emotional story.

Why you’ll love it:
* A strong, dominant MMC paired with a feisty FMC who also has a softer, submissive side.
* Emotional tension, passion, and plenty of drama.
* A romance that balances angst with intensity.

Note: Be sure to check the trigger warnings—some may be heavy for certain readers.

While this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, I highly recommend starting with the first two installments to fully appreciate the family dynamics and character depth. Can’t wait for book four!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tempestuous Vow is forbidden romance done the old-fashioned way—slow-burning tension, dangerous devotion, and a love that costs everything. This story lives in that delicious space between duty and desire, where every stolen moment feels like a sin and every touch could be the one that ruins them both.

Sebastian is the definition of a classic romance hero: disciplined, lethal, loyal to a fault—and absolutely unraveling. Decades of control begin to fracture the moment Jessika steps into his orbit. Watching a man who has lived by rules and oaths crumble under forbidden want is deeply satisfying, especially when his protectiveness turns possessive in a way that feels inevitable rather than forced. He doesn’t just love her—he’s claimed by her, whether he wants to admit it or not.

Jessika is no fragile temptation either. She’s fully aware of the danger, the consequences, and the fire they’re playing with—and she steps into it anyway. Their chemistry behind closed doors is intense, desperate, and brimming with the kind of secrecy that keeps your heart racing. The looming threat of her brutal, powerful brothers adds a constant edge, making every moment feel borrowed and every choice heavier.

This book understands that the best love stories aren’t safe—they’re earned. If you love bodyguard romances, forbidden love, loyal men pushed to their breaking point, and high-stakes passion that asks who do you choose when everything is on the line?—Tempestuous Vow will absolutely steal your heart and refuse to give it back. 🔥🖤

[Jan Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quiet Sebastian throughout the Pasko family series (Craving Crimson and Unholy Sinner) finds his voice in Tempestuous Vow!! His job is to protect the Pasko family, namely Derek - head of the family, but he's temporarily assigned to little sister Jessika. The hints are there throughout the series there's more to Sebastian & Jessika than the random interactions throughout the times he's assigned to protect her.
I could've read this straight through if not for needing to get a little sleep or daily interruptions! It's a rollercoaster of fireworks between Sebi and his Firecracker!!!
Although they are stand alones - I recommend reading Craving Crimson, Unholy Sinner, then Tempestuous Vow.
Dying for Jackson's story in book 4!!!

[Stacey Grubich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up as an interconnected standalone - I have not read the previous books in the series (yet). I was able to pick up immediately on who the characters were, and some of their quirks. Here we have Sebastian and Jessika's story. Sebastian is a protector through and through, and Jessika is the baby sister in the family. Angst at first, and then 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ it becomes dominant spciy. Very good read, had a hard time putting it down. Definitely going to read the other books in the series.

[tiarra paduck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessika falls in love with her childhood best friend, Sebastian. He breaks her heart and leaves for training to be the guard for her family. He comes back and Jessikas brothers put him as her guard. They realize the love they have for each other but is it worth risking Sebastians job and family to have the love of his life? This book was so spicy and good!!!

[Desiree Glauner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. I’m very curious in Jackson’s book. I understand everything behind it, but Sebastian still annoyed me by taking so dang long to say something to the brothers. Like Derek said, they grew up together. He should’ve trusted them more. But it made for an interesting plot by him not.

[Jill S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen... Sebastian PISSED. ME. OFF. multiple times, but in the end that man pulled through. I loved Jessika. She's strong and feisty. Once Seb got his ish together I loved him too!

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Touch her and die - literally
STRONG FMC

[Mandi medlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy wet panties!! Sebastian did not disappoint!! Jessika is a little firecracker but when you throw Sebastian in the mix… body guard/stalker and touch her and die vibes. I absolutely loved the tension between the two. And the spice was off the friggin charts!!

[Elise Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this family

This is the 3rd book and it’s so full of heat and romance. The youngest daughter of this family finally her story is told. Seb and Jess have had a long journey and to read about it was amazing. Of course there’s an HEA with twists and turns that will leave you wanting more 🖤

[AussieBookAddict (Mel) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: ★★★★★
ARC Read

Tempestuous Vow by Vara Firestar is a dark, taboo romance driven by forbidden desire, dangerous loyalty, and the slow unraveling of a man who has built his identity on discipline and control. At its core, this story thrives on tension, the kind that coils tighter with every stolen glance until restraint finally gives way.

Sebastian has lived by one unwavering rule: protect the Pasko family at all costs. Loyal, lethal, and emotionally guarded, his world is defined by duty. Jessika is the one temptation he was never meant to entertain. As the sister of the men he serves, she represents both his greatest risk and his deepest craving. What begins as rigid restraint gradually fractures into something far more consuming, shifting from denial into undeniable need.

Where this novel shines most clearly is in its emotional and psychological tension. Firestar excels at the controlled protector archetype, and Sebastian’s internal battle between loyalty and longing is compelling from beginning to end. The power dynamics between him and Jessika lean unapologetically into possession, dominance, and kink, yet remain emotionally grounded in vulnerability and trust.

The pacing feels cinematic and immersive, with vivid scenes and escalating stakes that maintain a steady sense of anticipation. The taboo elements heighten the tension without feeling gratuitous; every choice carries weight, and the looming threat of discovery reinforces that this romance exists on borrowed time.

The reading experience is intense, immersive, and emotionally charged. The balance between high heat and genuine emotional investment makes the payoff feel earned rather than indulgent.

I would strongly recommend Tempestuous Vow to readers who enjoy dark, taboo romance featuring age gaps, bodyguard/protectee dynamics, forbidden longing, and unapologetic kink. For those drawn to stories where loyalty is tested and control ultimately gives way to devotion, this delivers completely.

Overall, this is a gripping, tension-heavy romance that pairs relentless chemistry with emotional depth; resulting in a five-star read that lingers well beyond the final page.