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Pink Skies and Promises
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26Sometimes the promises you can’t keep are the most important …
Camilla Wilder belongs in Blackwood Valley. But she made her brother Kade a promise: finish her degree and make a life away from the Valley. With only one subject left until graduation, Camilla is miserable about walking away from the place and the people she loves.
Jameson Cole has loved Camilla since he was 12 years old. Knowing Kade wants her out of Blackwood Valley – and away from their violent grandfather – means he’ll never act on it. And he’s not the kind of man who’d ever break a promise, certainly not one made to his best friend.
When Camilla unexpectedly returns home, and the two work side by side to plan his bar’s next big gig, Jameson’s resolve to only be her friend begins to crumble. And with his gaze hot on her skin, Camilla is desperate to claim a life – and a love – that’s hers.
But they’ve both made promises they intended to keep, and with Camilla’s deadline to leave approaching, and her grandfather hellbent on retribution, their future isn’t the only thing on the line.
Pink Skies and Promises is book 2 in the Blackwood Valley series. A brother’s best friend, small town, slow burn romance.
Camilla Wilder belongs in Blackwood Valley. But she made her brother Kade a promise: finish her degree and make a life away from the Valley. With only one subject left until graduation, Camilla is miserable about walking away from the place and the people she loves.
Jameson Cole has loved Camilla since he was 12 years old. Knowing Kade wants her out of Blackwood Valley – and away from their violent grandfather – means he’ll never act on it. And he’s not the kind of man who’d ever break a promise, certainly not one made to his best friend.
When Camilla unexpectedly returns home, and the two work side by side to plan his bar’s next big gig, Jameson’s resolve to only be her friend begins to crumble. And with his gaze hot on her skin, Camilla is desperate to claim a life – and a love – that’s hers.
But they’ve both made promises they intended to keep, and with Camilla’s deadline to leave approaching, and her grandfather hellbent on retribution, their future isn’t the only thing on the line.
Pink Skies and Promises is book 2 in the Blackwood Valley series. A brother’s best friend, small town, slow burn romance.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication May 26, 2026
About the author
Lauren Parker Rhodes
11 books20 followersAuthor also writes as Lauren Searson-Patrick
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May 6, 2026Camilla Wilder ha pasado años intentando construir un futuro lejos de todo lo que conoce, siguiendo el plan de su hermano. Pero cuando las circunstancias la empujan de vuelta a Blackwood Valley, se reencuentra con una vida que avanza sin ella y queriéndose quedar.
Jameson ha aprendido a mantener sus emociones en control. Entre el crecimiento de su negocio y los lazos que lo mantienen atado al valle, ha aceptado ciertos límites que no está dispuesto a cruzar, aunque cada día le empieza a costar más trabajo.
___
Entendí porque el hermano de Cam no la quería en el Valle, pero todo tiene un limite y la pobre no estaba disfrutando de nada de lo que hacía.
Aconsejo leer el primer libro para saber más sobre la situación con el abuelo y la herencia.
Gracias The Berry Agency por el ARC.
Jameson ha aprendido a mantener sus emociones en control. Entre el crecimiento de su negocio y los lazos que lo mantienen atado al valle, ha aceptado ciertos límites que no está dispuesto a cruzar, aunque cada día le empieza a costar más trabajo.
___
Entendí porque el hermano de Cam no la quería en el Valle, pero todo tiene un limite y la pobre no estaba disfrutando de nada de lo que hacía.
Aconsejo leer el primer libro para saber más sobre la situación con el abuelo y la herencia.
Gracias The Berry Agency por el ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pink Skies and Promises ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. From the beginning, the build-up around Baby Blue performing at Meadow set the perfect backdrop—there’s this constant sense that something big is coming, not just for the town, but for Camilla and Jamie themselves. The stakes feel personal, emotional, and deeply rooted in everything this place represents.
The forced proximity between Jamie and Camilla is *so* well done. It never feels artificial—it’s lived-in, natural, and loaded with tension that slowly builds into something completely consuming. The brothers best friend trope is executed flawlessly here, especially with Jamie constantly balancing what he wants versus what he thinks is right for her future. That push and pull between “stay with me” and “you deserve to leave” genuinely hurts in the best way.
And honestly, the horse element added such a unique layer of intimacy that I didn’t expect to hit as hard as it did. Jamie letting Camilla ride his mare isn’t just a sweet moment—it’s trust, vulnerability, and connection in a way that words can’t really capture unless you’ve been around horses and understand what that bond means. It made their relationship feel even more grounded and real.
The romance itself is soft in places and absolutely devastating in others. Moments like skinny dipping in the river, the bossy possessiveness, and the “claiming kiss” all build this overwhelming sense of inevitability between them. Even when they’re not together physically, they’re constantly orbiting each other emotionally. The jealousy creeping in around Aiden only intensifies that tension, and you can feel everything slowly tightening toward a breaking point.
Walter Wilder was genuinely infuriating in this book. His attempts to control Camilla’s future and shut down the bar in the name of “legacy” add a really heavy external conflict that directly impacts her sense of freedom and identity. It reinforces just how trapped this town can be when power and family history are weaponised.
The ranch setting moments—especially Ted casually forcing them into that one-bed situation—added levity and chaos in all the right ways. Ted is an agent of chaos in the best possible sense and honestly deserves credit for half the emotional escalation in this book.
But what really makes this a five-star read is the ending. It completely broke me. I was crying, genuinely heartbroken, and then somehow it put everything back together again in a way that felt earned and emotionally satisfying rather than neat or easy. That balance is so hard to get right, and this book absolutely nails it.
This is one of those romances that stays with you after you finish it—the kind that makes you sit in silence for a bit just processing everything you’ve felt. Heartbreaking, tender, intense, and ultimately healing in its own way. Easily a five-star read.
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. From the beginning, the build-up around Baby Blue performing at Meadow set the perfect backdrop—there’s this constant sense that something big is coming, not just for the town, but for Camilla and Jamie themselves. The stakes feel personal, emotional, and deeply rooted in everything this place represents.
The forced proximity between Jamie and Camilla is *so* well done. It never feels artificial—it’s lived-in, natural, and loaded with tension that slowly builds into something completely consuming. The brothers best friend trope is executed flawlessly here, especially with Jamie constantly balancing what he wants versus what he thinks is right for her future. That push and pull between “stay with me” and “you deserve to leave” genuinely hurts in the best way.
And honestly, the horse element added such a unique layer of intimacy that I didn’t expect to hit as hard as it did. Jamie letting Camilla ride his mare isn’t just a sweet moment—it’s trust, vulnerability, and connection in a way that words can’t really capture unless you’ve been around horses and understand what that bond means. It made their relationship feel even more grounded and real.
The romance itself is soft in places and absolutely devastating in others. Moments like skinny dipping in the river, the bossy possessiveness, and the “claiming kiss” all build this overwhelming sense of inevitability between them. Even when they’re not together physically, they’re constantly orbiting each other emotionally. The jealousy creeping in around Aiden only intensifies that tension, and you can feel everything slowly tightening toward a breaking point.
Walter Wilder was genuinely infuriating in this book. His attempts to control Camilla’s future and shut down the bar in the name of “legacy” add a really heavy external conflict that directly impacts her sense of freedom and identity. It reinforces just how trapped this town can be when power and family history are weaponised.
The ranch setting moments—especially Ted casually forcing them into that one-bed situation—added levity and chaos in all the right ways. Ted is an agent of chaos in the best possible sense and honestly deserves credit for half the emotional escalation in this book.
But what really makes this a five-star read is the ending. It completely broke me. I was crying, genuinely heartbroken, and then somehow it put everything back together again in a way that felt earned and emotionally satisfying rather than neat or easy. That balance is so hard to get right, and this book absolutely nails it.
This is one of those romances that stays with you after you finish it—the kind that makes you sit in silence for a bit just processing everything you’ve felt. Heartbreaking, tender, intense, and ultimately healing in its own way. Easily a five-star read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
Angst. Aching. Vulnerable. Profound.
Be still my beating heart… Jameson… you’re a cool drink of gin with that moustache ❤️🔥
I read this in one sitting… it had me so intrigued from the beginning.
You get a sense for the strong connection between Camilla and Jameson in Gin & Grudges (Book 1) and I loved the build-up. It left me seeking out this story in record time.
From the very beginning, you get the sense there is something brewing. It all seems too calm.
Camilla is a dynamo. She is steadfast in her unwavering loyalty and support for her brother. She holds so much respect for him that she’s willing to put aside her own happiness and wants to make sure she keeps her promise to him. She knows the protective shield that he was and still is against their grandfather and feels as though she owes Kade to keep this one promise.
Jameson is a stalwart. He is a safe place for Cami and Kade. The trio have been through a lot and their friendship has stood the test of time. However, what Cami doesn’t know is that he has secretly been yearning for her for years! He made a promise to Kade and he is TORN. It is tearing him up inside trying to keep Cami at arms length, fighting his feelings for her so he can keep his promise. The longer they spend time together in close proximity, the harder it is for Jameson to deny his feelings. There is this push and pull that feels extremely genuine in the sense that he wants Cami to achieve great things and doesn’t feel as though he deserves her or has any right to ask her to stay.
This book has tipped Gin & Grudges at the post with the ending. I was screaming, crying and nearly threw my Kindle across the room and had me reaching for the tissues. It is one hard-earned, intense ending.
If you love small town romance, brother’s best friend and a dynamic between two people that just feels right, this book is for you. This is an interconnected standalone, however there is an over-arching storyline that would be best understood by reading the first book in the series. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to Lauren Parker Rhodes and The Berry Agency for the advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.
Angst. Aching. Vulnerable. Profound.
Be still my beating heart… Jameson… you’re a cool drink of gin with that moustache ❤️🔥
I read this in one sitting… it had me so intrigued from the beginning.
You get a sense for the strong connection between Camilla and Jameson in Gin & Grudges (Book 1) and I loved the build-up. It left me seeking out this story in record time.
From the very beginning, you get the sense there is something brewing. It all seems too calm.
Camilla is a dynamo. She is steadfast in her unwavering loyalty and support for her brother. She holds so much respect for him that she’s willing to put aside her own happiness and wants to make sure she keeps her promise to him. She knows the protective shield that he was and still is against their grandfather and feels as though she owes Kade to keep this one promise.
Jameson is a stalwart. He is a safe place for Cami and Kade. The trio have been through a lot and their friendship has stood the test of time. However, what Cami doesn’t know is that he has secretly been yearning for her for years! He made a promise to Kade and he is TORN. It is tearing him up inside trying to keep Cami at arms length, fighting his feelings for her so he can keep his promise. The longer they spend time together in close proximity, the harder it is for Jameson to deny his feelings. There is this push and pull that feels extremely genuine in the sense that he wants Cami to achieve great things and doesn’t feel as though he deserves her or has any right to ask her to stay.
This book has tipped Gin & Grudges at the post with the ending. I was screaming, crying and nearly threw my Kindle across the room and had me reaching for the tissues. It is one hard-earned, intense ending.
If you love small town romance, brother’s best friend and a dynamic between two people that just feels right, this book is for you. This is an interconnected standalone, however there is an over-arching storyline that would be best understood by reading the first book in the series. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to Lauren Parker Rhodes and The Berry Agency for the advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I adore the way Lauren writes, it's so engaging and sweet; and the way she pulls the characters together until they burst with want, tempered with harder storylines running beneath is so beautifully done - you honestly don't want to put the book down until you've finished. Which essentially is what I did...
We pick up the story with Camilla and Jameson (Kade from book one's younger sister and his best friend), with Jameson having been helplessly in love with Camilla since they were kids, and trying desperately not to fall harder as an adult. Camilla, in her last months of her teaching degree, had always promised Kade she'd leave Blackwood Valley afterwards to explore the world and remove herself from her toxic and abusive Grandfathers reach, but she never wanted to leave her home... or Jameson.
What follows is a beautiful unravelling of years of pent up emotions, the softest of friends to lovers but with an undercurrent of fear, worry and tough decisions - not of their making. Add in the imminent threat to her family and friends, Camilla has to try and work out if she can have all of her hearts desires, or if leaving without looking back will keep those she loves safe.
I can't recommend this series enough, it's just a gorgeous read.
If you love -
- friends to lovers
- brothers best friend
- small town
- mutual pining
- family issues
- horses and ranches
- he falls first
- a moustache that steals the show
Then don't hesitate to pick this up! I read this prior to official release.
We pick up the story with Camilla and Jameson (Kade from book one's younger sister and his best friend), with Jameson having been helplessly in love with Camilla since they were kids, and trying desperately not to fall harder as an adult. Camilla, in her last months of her teaching degree, had always promised Kade she'd leave Blackwood Valley afterwards to explore the world and remove herself from her toxic and abusive Grandfathers reach, but she never wanted to leave her home... or Jameson.
What follows is a beautiful unravelling of years of pent up emotions, the softest of friends to lovers but with an undercurrent of fear, worry and tough decisions - not of their making. Add in the imminent threat to her family and friends, Camilla has to try and work out if she can have all of her hearts desires, or if leaving without looking back will keep those she loves safe.
I can't recommend this series enough, it's just a gorgeous read.
If you love -
- friends to lovers
- brothers best friend
- small town
- mutual pining
- family issues
- horses and ranches
- he falls first
- a moustache that steals the show
Then don't hesitate to pick this up! I read this prior to official release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lauren's Gin and Grudges, Book 1 of her Blackwood Valley series of interconnected standalones, was my first venture into the world of small-town romance, and it certainly wasn't my last. I needed to know what would happen next in Blackwood Valley, and my wish was graciously granted this time in the form of Pink Skies and Promises, which gifted me the story of Jameson and Camilla.
Oh, I yearned for their story to unfold, trust me. I yearned to see the love slowly building over the years finally blossom and bloom to life. The love between a girl and her brother's best friend. And not just any girl. Cami's story is far from perfect, shadowed by her upbringing and the darkness that is their grandfather. A past, a present, and a future steeped in hurtful memories and promises aimed to provide her a better life, far away from Blackwood Valley and far away from her grandfather's clutches.
But the one thing that eluded her brother was what Cami truly wanted for her life. Did she want to leave and never look back? Or was her heart and soul imprinted in Blackwood soil, and in the heart and soul of her brother's best friend? Only Cami knew the answer. It took some time for her to fully voice it, but once she did, all the walls came crumbling down.
Her heart was full, Jamie's was, Kade's was. And mine was, too, seeing this beautiful love story unfold before my eyes.
Thank you, Lauren, for the opportunity to be your ARC reader once again. It's always an immense pleasure.
Oh, I yearned for their story to unfold, trust me. I yearned to see the love slowly building over the years finally blossom and bloom to life. The love between a girl and her brother's best friend. And not just any girl. Cami's story is far from perfect, shadowed by her upbringing and the darkness that is their grandfather. A past, a present, and a future steeped in hurtful memories and promises aimed to provide her a better life, far away from Blackwood Valley and far away from her grandfather's clutches.
But the one thing that eluded her brother was what Cami truly wanted for her life. Did she want to leave and never look back? Or was her heart and soul imprinted in Blackwood soil, and in the heart and soul of her brother's best friend? Only Cami knew the answer. It took some time for her to fully voice it, but once she did, all the walls came crumbling down.
Her heart was full, Jamie's was, Kade's was. And mine was, too, seeing this beautiful love story unfold before my eyes.
Thank you, Lauren, for the opportunity to be your ARC reader once again. It's always an immense pleasure.
May 11, 2026
4.5⭐️
This is the first cowboy romance I have read in a long time and I fell in love with it. Cami and Jamie are literally perfect for each other and the yearning in this book is literally to die for “ I’ll never Want to sleep again - or try to - without her presence” I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole way through.
I especially loved the small town vibe it made me want to go back to my home town and have a gin & tonic at sunset.
I LOVED ted he was my favourite character after cami & Jamie and I will forever thank him for the “there’s only one bed” 😏. The spice level was also perfect for me every spicy scene felt necessary and it made sense within the plot which I am so grateful for because I feel some books now’s day just have them for the sake of having them. My emotions were all over the place while reading this one minute was sobbing then laughing then I was getting angry with a certain old man who really grind my gears
but I loved every second of it. it was overall just a beautiful story and I will telling anyone who will listen about this book
This is the first cowboy romance I have read in a long time and I fell in love with it. Cami and Jamie are literally perfect for each other and the yearning in this book is literally to die for “ I’ll never Want to sleep again - or try to - without her presence” I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole way through.
I especially loved the small town vibe it made me want to go back to my home town and have a gin & tonic at sunset.
I LOVED ted he was my favourite character after cami & Jamie and I will forever thank him for the “there’s only one bed” 😏. The spice level was also perfect for me every spicy scene felt necessary and it made sense within the plot which I am so grateful for because I feel some books now’s day just have them for the sake of having them. My emotions were all over the place while reading this one minute was sobbing then laughing then I was getting angry with a certain old man who really grind my gears
but I loved every second of it. it was overall just a beautiful story and I will telling anyone who will listen about this book
Review of advance copy
Review of Advance Copy Received from The Berry Agency
I think I just discovered that I love Small Town romance books and slow burn 🤭💕
The build-up, the push and pull...Babyyy! I kept holding onto my seat because I couldn't wait for everything to fall in place!
The yearning and protection.
I felt all the emotions, all of them
It feels like everything is too calm at the beginning but somehow like something else is gonna happen..but everything flows so natural...overall this book is so well put together!
Definitely enjoyed reading this book💕
I think I just discovered that I love Small Town romance books and slow burn 🤭💕
The build-up, the push and pull...Babyyy! I kept holding onto my seat because I couldn't wait for everything to fall in place!
The yearning and protection.
I felt all the emotions, all of them
It feels like everything is too calm at the beginning but somehow like something else is gonna happen..but everything flows so natural...overall this book is so well put together!
Definitely enjoyed reading this book💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pink Skies & Promises is a fabulous second installment in the Blackwood Valley series!
I absolutely adore Cami and Jamie—their yearning for each other hurts so good.
The story is layered with compelling conflict: Cami searching for a passion that will truly fulfill her; Kade pushing her to leave the Valley to keep her safe from their grandfather; Jamie struggling to honor his promise to his best friend despite his feelings; and the escalating danger from Walter.
This book takes you on a full emotional rollercoaster—you’ll laugh, cry, yell, and smile so hard your cheeks hurt.
I’m so pleased with how everything unfolded, and I can’t wait for book three!
I absolutely adore Cami and Jamie—their yearning for each other hurts so good.
The story is layered with compelling conflict: Cami searching for a passion that will truly fulfill her; Kade pushing her to leave the Valley to keep her safe from their grandfather; Jamie struggling to honor his promise to his best friend despite his feelings; and the escalating danger from Walter.
This book takes you on a full emotional rollercoaster—you’ll laugh, cry, yell, and smile so hard your cheeks hurt.
I’m so pleased with how everything unfolded, and I can’t wait for book three!
Review of advance copy received from Author
**ARC READER REVIEW**
A man who has been yearning for many years? Check. Best friend’s little sister? Double check. Single bed trope? Abso-fucking-lutely!
I couldn’t put the book down from the first chapter. Cami and Jamie’s story is a small emotional rollercoaster, but a good one!
⭐️ 4 stars!
🌶️ 1 1/2 chilli for slow burn spicy… I can no longer look at bodies of water the same…
Thank you to Chloe from The Berry Agency and Lauren the amazing author!
A man who has been yearning for many years? Check. Best friend’s little sister? Double check. Single bed trope? Abso-fucking-lutely!
I couldn’t put the book down from the first chapter. Cami and Jamie’s story is a small emotional rollercoaster, but a good one!
⭐️ 4 stars!
🌶️ 1 1/2 chilli for slow burn spicy… I can no longer look at bodies of water the same…
Thank you to Chloe from The Berry Agency and Lauren the amazing author!
May 16, 2026
If you loved Gin and Grudges and, like me, thought that there was no way a sequel love story could be just as good as the first one then you’re going to adore Pink Skies and Promises. I kid you not, I finished this book in not even two full days. It is full of romance, drama, and gasp inducing scenes. I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
May 18, 2026
One word… swoon.
Brothers best friend/best friends little sister
Friends that feel like family
A good level of spice but still a storyline
Small town vibes
I absolutely loved having a front row seat to Camilla and Jamesons story. The way Lauren keeps all the past, present and future main characters in play is so so good! I can’t wait for book 3
Brothers best friend/best friends little sister
Friends that feel like family
A good level of spice but still a storyline
Small town vibes
I absolutely loved having a front row seat to Camilla and Jamesons story. The way Lauren keeps all the past, present and future main characters in play is so so good! I can’t wait for book 3
May 14, 2026
Thank you to The Berry Agency for the arc!!
Honestly Pink Skies and Promises is as perfect as its predecessor. The forbidden love tropes ACTUALLY worked and didn’t feel like a cop out.
Plus I adore the comfort of Australian country
Honestly Pink Skies and Promises is as perfect as its predecessor. The forbidden love tropes ACTUALLY worked and didn’t feel like a cop out.
Plus I adore the comfort of Australian country
May 19, 2026
A very easy 5 stars for this one! I loved it so much and can’t wait to continue reading the series. Cami and Jamie are easy to fall in love with and it was refreshing to see a supportive brother in the “brother’s best friend” trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews