Promise of Spring

Seasons of Love #4

by Laura D. Bastian

She’s the girl he left at the altar. He’s the guy she never stopped loving. When he seeks her out a few years later, is there any hope for him to win her back?

Lainey had almost had it all until her fiancé decided to leave her at the altar. Though it had been an impromptu engagement and a rushed wedding in Vegas, she had loved the jerk. Then he’d up and left claiming they really weren’t ready, breaking her heart. When he contacts her almost two years later looking for help for his niece, Lainey just can’t say no. After all, it is her job.

Noah had loved Lainey, but his fear of commitment and less-than-stellar male role models in his life made him run. When he sees how amazing and forgiving she is he realizes he made the biggest mistake in his life.

Can he convince her to give him another chance, or will her broken heart and shattered confidence be too much to overcome?

Seasons of Love series:
Book 1- Echoes of Summer
Book 2- Winter's Kiss
Book 3- Autumn's Embrace
Book 4- Promise of Spring

127 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2019

About the author

Laura grew up in a small town in central Utah and now lives in another small town in northern Utah. She always loved stargazing and imagining life outside her own little world. Though they grew up only thirty miles apart, she didn't meet her husband until they went to college. A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, Laura has been using that training as she raises her children and writes make believe worlds. You can usually find her on her laptop either typing away, or on social media interacting with friends.

Reviews

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you start over in a relationship when you're left at the altar? Even if it was in Las Vegas. Should you take a chance on that person again? I don't know what I would do, but Lainey Morison has to decide if she should take the chance and open her heart to Noah again.

Lainey and Noah planned to get married in Las Vegas during a break at college, but Noah decided they were too young and weren't ready for such a commitment and called it off. There's nothing wrong with that IF you continue to keep in contact with your fiancée and have some discussions about it, but Noah didn't do that. Granted, his sister suddenly found herself in a terrible situation and needed him, but he let almost 2 years go by without contacting Lainey!!

I liked Lainey--she buried her hurt and broken heart with school work and her internship, and tried her best to move forward. She cared about her clients so she didn't turn Noah down when he asked her to meet with his sister about her daughter who was having food allergies/issues. I also liked Noah's sister, who didn't mince words with him when history seemed to be repeating itself--Noah was so absorbed in work he was ignoring Lainey again, just like before. This must be why his code word was "idiot". I laughed aloud at that part of the double date.

To me, Noah had some growing up to do in the communication department. He'd make decisions and plans, which involved others, but didn't talk to them about it. He had it all worked out in his head and was truly surprised when others took issue with the plan. Such as him working hard to be made a partner in order to make enough money so Lainey wouldn't have to work after they got married. Relationships need communication. People need to know (and feel) their opinions are heard and matter.

There were a lot of fun parts to this second-chance-at-love story. The double date with his sister, ice skating, the left-handed day date which had the funniest scene ever. I don't think I'll be able to bowl without picturing Lainey's bowling ball bouncing into another lane's gutter. Lol.

This is a clean romance. If you want to read about Lainey's brother Luke, his story is in Autumn's Embrace (Seasons of Love #3). I received a copy from the author. I chose to review it and all thoughts and opinions are mine.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

Calling all you lovers of second chance stories, here's your chance to grab a sweet one. I love this cover and title combination. It really just has this feeling of joy and something good coming. Especially the title, "Promise of Spring." I love Spring! A new beginning after a time of rest, sleeping, healing, etc. I think this title fits the characters in this book as well as their story very well.

Lainey and Noah are about to get their second chance. After the heartache they both endured from their failed elopement attempt, the question is, can there be a second chance? Would you be able to forgive the person you love for causing such hurt and sorrow to your heart?

I loved the family aspects in this story and how it helped to bring Lainey and Noah together again. Noah's sister and her schemes, ha! She was funny. Lainey's mom, she had me giggling on several different occasions. Poor Lainey and Noah, they won't have much luck with those two females working towards reconciliation. Not a chance!

This author did a great job of showing how relationships need constant work by both parties to make it work. That no matter what comes, as they talk and work together they can solve and figure out any situation. Better together than apart.

A sweet love story and a sweet second chance that I really enjoyed reading. If you've read the other books in this series, you get to see some of the previous characters. Lainey is the sister of Luke in book #3, Autumn's Embrace.

Content: Clean. Kissing and nothing further. A character's spouse died and they are working on healing and learning to keep living.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

4-1/2 stars

Sweet clean romance. Lainey was such a nice person. Noah didn’t realize his mistake in letting such a gem go until he ran into her a year and a half after leaving her at the altar. It was a good thing that she was patient because Noah still had to work thru his issues and ideas of what a family needs for happiness.
It enjoyed the story and the left handed contests! I felt the ending kind of jumped a bit. Or maybe Lainey is just nicer than me cause I would have made sure some groveling took place. But it was a happy ending with a grand gesture.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance romance for a couple that seemed to fall in love when they were too young. Lainey Morrison is such a strong, caring character and so brave to start over again with a new job in another state. I was surprised by the ending which is fun. I also enjoyed Noah and his sister, Sarah trying to keep nudging Noah and Lainey together. I now need to read the rest of the series since this is book number four. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story. Lainey is just doing her job and is making a way for herself when she is called by her ex-fiance, Noah. Noah didn't want to call Lainey, knowing that he hurt her, but his sister needed help and he was going to get her the help she needed. This book was slower in action for me, but it also allowed for deeper characters. I liked watching the couple grow individually as was as a couple. They both had things to learn before they could be together. I recommend this book to those that like a little more drama-like feel to their romances and depth of characters.
I received a copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet second chance romance. Noah and Lainey are both wonderful people who really care about others. I liked their characters. As is often a problem in novellas, I felt their relationship was a little rushed and based more on the physical attraction. We didn't get a lot of time with them really talking and connecting on deeper levels, which obviously led to some of their troubles, but they were cute together and you could feel the chemistry between them.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to read. I was captivated from the beginning and could not put it down. I recommend this book as a light read which you easily get attached to the characters.

[Anna B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the second chance aspect of this story. Everyone deserves a chance at reconciliation.

Noah leaves Lainey at the altar and then seeks her out a couple of years later to help his niece who’s suffering from allergies. She’s tried to move on with her life and is finally seeking a new place to begin. How will she deal with Noah? When he wants another chance will she be able to lay aside the memory of his rejection and learn to trust again?

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more. The only thing that I think would make this book even better would have been to leave more space for their relationship to grow more slowly and more interaction with his sister Sarah.

Great quick read. I read ARC and this is my honest review.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good story about forgiveness after making the same mistake several times which we all do before we possibly learn not to make that mistake. I like how very human Lainey & Noah are protrayed throughout the story. They get back together but still have to overcome the obstacle of staying together. It's a fast read, just the right length for me. I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC & choose to give me honest, voluntary opinion.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promise of Spring is a delightful second chance, clean romance with personable characters and an interesting story. Noah really had to prove himself to Lainey and she had to get over her fears and hurt. The characters grew as they learned about miscommunication, acceptance forgiveness and love. I had to read it all at one time because I did not want to put it down. I highly recommend this book.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, the stupid things we do as we learn to be adults!
Both made a few mistakes, but leaned from them. Most importantly, learned they still wanted to grow old together.

I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, clean, and quick read. It felt a little too formulaic to me, and the character development was somewhat lacking - characters were too dependent on their backstory, which was not fleshed out enough for me. The story has a good premise, it just was not developed to its full potential.

[Loreli Jessee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an up and down story. I loved all the different aspects so totally real life. Lainey is such a great character so open and forgiving. Noah tried so hard he finally got it down.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Donna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this sweet story. It's a great story about second chances. This is a really sweet, clean romance.

[Lenda Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me think of spring.
I liked this sweet second chance romance.
I enjoyed the relationship issues.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 star rating.