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Lake Howling #1
A Promise of Home
Reclusive. Grumpy. Irresistible.
Dr Jake McBride loves two things in life. His people, and chicken cheesy-crust pies. Returning from Iraq, he’s done with medicine and strangers… in fact life. He knows all about trauma, and plans on dealing with his, his own way. His needs are simple, solitude and working on his new career as the town recluse. The only problem with that… well two actually, are the interfering towns folk of Lake Howling, and Branna O’Donnell. He’s damn sure that her return means nothing to him… until it does!
His first mistake was kissing her. His second was doing it again.
Branna O’Donnell is burnt out and needs a place to stop running. Strange how that place is back where she’d once been happy. Settling in to small town life again comes with complications and the biggest has a serious attitude. Once the town golden boy, Jake McBride now wears a permanent snarl, not that anyone but her seems to notice the sexy doctor has changed.
Sharing a bed complicates things but no way is Jake leaving Branna alone until they find who is threatening her, and even then he’s not sure he’ll be able to walk away. He can feel himself changing, and it’s all on her, but when her past comes calling with it comes the realization that more than lust is involved. He’s not sure he can be her hero but he knows he wants to try.
If you enjoy your small town romance sizzling with a side of crazy, then Lake Howling is for you. Meet the real authority in town - the local book club - and Jake’s interfering hot friends. Swim (or skinny dip!) in the ice cold lake, then warm up with coffee and a mystery muffin at The Hoot Café. Plenty of feels and LOLS, all wrapped up in a town that will have you packing your bags to head there, from the very first page.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2015
2318 people are currently reading
2512 people want to read
About the author
Lani Blake
28 books117 followersLani Blake is a small town romance author, coffee addict and chocolate connoisseur (in that order). She's also known as Wendy Vella, a USA Today bestselling author of historical romances, a fact which still makes her head spin!
Lani's a sucker for an alpha hero with a heart of gold, who works HARD to deserve the women he falls in love with.
When she's not writing, reading or spending time with her family you'll find her walking the beach with her pup Tilly.
Connect with Lani in her Facebook reader group facebook.com/groups/lanisreaders or sign up for her reader newsletter at LaniBlake.com to get goodies, exclusive excerpts and behind-the-scenes peeks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
November 11, 2016
The characters are really likable, the story is sweet, and the writing decent. So why the low rating? There are too many repetitions of the characters' emotions and hesitations, for example, we are told over and over that Branna has come back to Howling to "make a home" for herself and that Jake is "dark around the edges". I believe that the author sometimes came across a word or expression she liked and used it wayyyy too much ("belligerent" is another example). In one scene, Jake thinks he does not want any "emotional entanglement" and a page or two later, that is exactly the expression Branna says. All the characters use the same vocabulary. They don't have their own voice and it makes the story drag because, well, we get the same message almost verbatim from different people. Hence the aforementioned repetitions.
The dialogues were funny and this could have been a really good book with more editing.
The dialogues were funny and this could have been a really good book with more editing.
October 1, 2015
A Promise of Home by Wendy Vella is a 2015 publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A combination of suspense, family drama, and romance.
After inheriting a home and a car from a very special friend, Branna returns to Howling, Oregon, the town where she graduated from high school.
Branna, a teacher and successful novelist, never was close to many people in town before, but after a nasty spill that leaves her with a concussion, she finds herself reacquainted with Jake McBride, a man who is obviously struggling with some heavy issues in his life.
Jake bulldozes his way into Branna's carefully constructed and sterile world, leaving her feeling disoriented. Branna and Jake are alike in some ways, both carrying around a lot of baggage, both trying to be in control, and both finding peace and comfort with each other.. Most of the time.
There was a lot going on in this story with all the small town characters. Jake is dealing with a form of PTSD, puzzling everyone by walking away from his promising career as a doctor, Branna has isolated herself from the world after her mother's death left her riddled with guilt, and caused a huge rift to form between her and her father.
There are several side stories, such as Branna befriending a young boy who happens to also have a high IQ like Branna, plus a mystery concerning the woman in town who was once the most popular girl in school, who appears to have it all, but is obviously very unhappy.
Not only that, Branna apparently has an enemy and becomes a victim to severe vandalism, adding a level of suspense to the story.
Having so many threads open like this caused some areas of the book to remain undeveloped, and the story was not as cohesive as a result. Deep down, Jake was a good guy, and I liked him for the most part, except that he was always picking Branna up and throwing her over his shoulder, which might have been okay in the beginning when Branna was refusing to seek medical attention and someone needed to step up and get her a doctor. But, after that, not so much. He also came on too strong, and Branna was always giving in and doing things Jake's way, making him a little too caveman for my taste.
The suspense element was sadly predictable and as the story progressed it became even more obvious what was going on.
The most compelling part of the story was Branna's relationship issues with her father. This storyline was very intense from an emotional standpoint. It was so sad how the death of Branna's mother impacted them equally hard, but they couldn't connect and grieve together, each of them folding inwardly and drifting apart, allowing bitterness to fester to epic proportions.
Branna will, on occasion, become a little too overwrought, can behave childishly at times, but her character really does improve as the story progresses.
While the author touched on some very important issues with the secondary characters, Jake and Branna's story were strong enough to carry the book by it's own merits. Jake's backstory needs to be fleshed out more, instead of adding more complex storylines.
I did enjoy seeing Branna and Jake come out of their shells, lighten up a little and start enjoying life again, with a little help from the power of love.
Overall, the story is enjoyable enough, but needed a little tightening up in some areas. This one gets 3 stars
July 1, 2018
This is my first book by Wendy Vella and I like it - a lot! The dialogue/bantering was great and the main and supporting characters were quite likable. It was a lovely introduction to her series, set in Lake Howling, small town in Oregon. This is where the reclusive Branna O'Donnell finds herself, returning back to the town she spent 3 years in during her midteens, following the death of her mother in a car accident. After leaving the town and her distant grieving father behind when she left for university, she never expected to be back, but back she is, upon the death of one of her few dear friends and surrogate parent who resided in the little town. She has been bequeathed her friend's house and worldly possessions, and so Branna intends to make a quick trip to Lake Howling to sort out the legal requirements and pack up some sentimental items while selling the rest. Unfortunately, Lake Howling has other plans. An accident leaves her with a head injury and enforced medical intervention, which Branna neither requested nor appreciates. In fact, due to a combination of her hospital phobia and social avoidance tendency, she declines treatment but is not left with a choice, when the hunky, cantankerous Jake Mcbride comes knocking reluctantly on her door.
Jake has been left a changed man following a stint in Iraq as army doctor. He has left medicine behind him to work as a mechanic, fixing cars instead of people, because it is less painful and traumatic that way. He prefers his own company and so is mightily annoyed when he was importuned into checking on Branna. Jake becomes even more annoyed when the stubborn woman, who clearly is concussed, refuses any assistance. He promptly carries her protesting and ungrateful body off to the medical clinic for treatment and observation. She tells him bluntly, where she wants him to go instead. And so Branna and Jake renew their high school acquaintance under less than stellar circumstances. Their antagonistic interactions continue even after Branna's recovery. The injury has forced Branna to stay in Lake Howling for longer than she intended, but the charm of the town and it's citizens lure her to extend her stay for an indefinite while. She, who has been used to her own company for so many years, finds herself surprisingly and pleasantly enjoying the company of others. She slowly strengthens bonds of friendship started a decade earlier and acquaints herself with new people and old ones she chose to hold herself apart from in the past. Most astonishingly, she finds herself warming to Jake, even though this more surly, pensive and private man is very different to the good-looking, popular young boy she crushed on at school. Jake in turn is finding a new leash on life in Branna, who seems to be pulling him out of the black hole he has found himself in after Iraq. They both have a tonne of emotional garbage to deal with before their HEA not to mention a sinister person on the loose, who seems bent on running Branna out of town.
So as mentioned above, I love the humorous dialogue and the appealing characters. I like the slow-burn romance and Branna's backstory and how it has affected her personality. I like how she slowly got reeled in by the citizens of Lake Howling and how she learnt to open her heart up to them while realising that loneliness did not have to prevail. The mystery side -plot was not bad, although I did guess the baddie, but it only really forms a small part of the novel.
A few things bothered me. The heroine and hero were both twenty-six. Much was mentioned of the fact that Branna skipped 2 years of school (due to her intellligence) when she got to Lake Howling, which made her different and more of an outcast. That should make Jake twenty-eight since they were in the same class. Now, let's assume he's twenty-six and since he didn't skip years, how did he manage to work as a doctor in Iraq, because he barely graduated then and would still need to do his internship before being of any use n Iraq? The Sheriff, Cubby, was also twenty-six, which would make him the youngest Sheriff in the country. Oh, and Branna was an English professor! Amazing, how industrious these twenty-six year old young ones are which makes the rest of us seem like underachievers! The other problem I had was Jake's propensity, every time he encountered anything medically related, to flash the most perfect medical dictionary definition for that condition. It was just strange and a bit absurd. I understand that the author wants to convey that he remains a doctor at heart even after walking away from his career, but doctors do not spit out medical definitions automatically at every turn. They might ponder the management of the case before them or they flashback to similar cases they have seen previously or they think of dinner and the game score. They don't walk around compulsively defining medical words.
Still all good fun and I will be checking out the other books by her. Nice narration and I must say, I love the fact that this is third-person POV, which is such a rarity these days in CRs.
Jake has been left a changed man following a stint in Iraq as army doctor. He has left medicine behind him to work as a mechanic, fixing cars instead of people, because it is less painful and traumatic that way. He prefers his own company and so is mightily annoyed when he was importuned into checking on Branna. Jake becomes even more annoyed when the stubborn woman, who clearly is concussed, refuses any assistance. He promptly carries her protesting and ungrateful body off to the medical clinic for treatment and observation. She tells him bluntly, where she wants him to go instead. And so Branna and Jake renew their high school acquaintance under less than stellar circumstances. Their antagonistic interactions continue even after Branna's recovery. The injury has forced Branna to stay in Lake Howling for longer than she intended, but the charm of the town and it's citizens lure her to extend her stay for an indefinite while. She, who has been used to her own company for so many years, finds herself surprisingly and pleasantly enjoying the company of others. She slowly strengthens bonds of friendship started a decade earlier and acquaints herself with new people and old ones she chose to hold herself apart from in the past. Most astonishingly, she finds herself warming to Jake, even though this more surly, pensive and private man is very different to the good-looking, popular young boy she crushed on at school. Jake in turn is finding a new leash on life in Branna, who seems to be pulling him out of the black hole he has found himself in after Iraq. They both have a tonne of emotional garbage to deal with before their HEA not to mention a sinister person on the loose, who seems bent on running Branna out of town.
So as mentioned above, I love the humorous dialogue and the appealing characters. I like the slow-burn romance and Branna's backstory and how it has affected her personality. I like how she slowly got reeled in by the citizens of Lake Howling and how she learnt to open her heart up to them while realising that loneliness did not have to prevail. The mystery side -plot was not bad, although I did guess the baddie, but it only really forms a small part of the novel.
A few things bothered me. The heroine and hero were both twenty-six. Much was mentioned of the fact that Branna skipped 2 years of school (due to her intellligence) when she got to Lake Howling, which made her different and more of an outcast. That should make Jake twenty-eight since they were in the same class. Now, let's assume he's twenty-six and since he didn't skip years, how did he manage to work as a doctor in Iraq, because he barely graduated then and would still need to do his internship before being of any use n Iraq? The Sheriff, Cubby, was also twenty-six, which would make him the youngest Sheriff in the country. Oh, and Branna was an English professor! Amazing, how industrious these twenty-six year old young ones are which makes the rest of us seem like underachievers! The other problem I had was Jake's propensity, every time he encountered anything medically related, to flash the most perfect medical dictionary definition for that condition. It was just strange and a bit absurd. I understand that the author wants to convey that he remains a doctor at heart even after walking away from his career, but doctors do not spit out medical definitions automatically at every turn. They might ponder the management of the case before them or they flashback to similar cases they have seen previously or they think of dinner and the game score. They don't walk around compulsively defining medical words.
Still all good fun and I will be checking out the other books by her. Nice narration and I must say, I love the fact that this is third-person POV, which is such a rarity these days in CRs.
February 12, 2025
A Promise of Home #1 Lake Howling
4✨
4✨
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May 16, 2024🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/25/2021)! 🎁
November 18, 2019
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An American small-town romance that looked really sweet and promising, but in the end turned out to be full of dislikable characters. Main character Branna returns to her past by inheriting a home from a close friend and being part of a community that she once knew as kids from her high school, all now adults and some married. After an accident occurs on her first day resulting in a concussion, her paths reconnect with Jake who wants to support her around on her return, yet Branna has hidden issues of her own. I think Branna at times didn't come across as the nicest person and had a rocky relationship with her father, which at points felt a little too firey. Overall- Quick to read, unknown whether I will read on further with the series!
An American small-town romance that looked really sweet and promising, but in the end turned out to be full of dislikable characters. Main character Branna returns to her past by inheriting a home from a close friend and being part of a community that she once knew as kids from her high school, all now adults and some married. After an accident occurs on her first day resulting in a concussion, her paths reconnect with Jake who wants to support her around on her return, yet Branna has hidden issues of her own. I think Branna at times didn't come across as the nicest person and had a rocky relationship with her father, which at points felt a little too firey. Overall- Quick to read, unknown whether I will read on further with the series!
December 31, 2015
First reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
Branna’s return to Lake Howling, a town that she called home for three brief, pain filled years brought back memories that she wasn’t quite sure what to do with, so as usual she ignored them. She had left for college and never looked back, refusing to feel regret at shaking the dust of this small Oregon town off of her shoes.
The only person she had kept in contact with was Georgie. Her mentor, her friend and in many ways her savior. It was Georgie who had taught Branna the value of herself, to cook, to write, to be whatever she wanted to be. It was the loving friendship of Georgie and her husband Dan that kept Branna sane during those last years of high school. Now Georgie was gone, and she had left her home and Geraldine, her classic Mustang in Branna’s care. She could live here, write here and lose herself here – if the townspeople would let her.
Jake had been that kid in high school that everyone liked, wanted to be around and it was believed had an amazing future ahead of him. War would change that. Jake had taken his talent for medicine onto the battlefields, and what he saw, the death that he dealt with on an almost daily basis would haunt him and one experience would forever change him. He left the medical world to his mother now, as the town’s doctor she would have expected to see Jake join her in her practice, taking care of their friends and neighbors. Instead, Jake now took care of the town’s mechanical needs, fixing cars and trucks instead of people’s lives. Jake was not the man everyone knew anymore, what he brought back home were nightmares and pain.
A Promise of Home is a novel steeped in the life and values of small town, USA. A place where people knew you, your history (good and best forgotten) and where neighbors spoke to each other on the streets and were there for you in the hard times, while celebrating the good times. This town has accepted and taken in Branna as one of their own,, and while she is at first uncomfortable with that closeness it will soon grow on her as second nature. This story is populated with lively, interesting people and some who are not quite what they seem on the surface. Since I’ve already picked up the second novel in this series, The Texan Meets His Match, I know that many of the people in this small town will have their own stories to tell and I’m looking forward to that.
Branna and Jake were a powerful couple. Their backstory, and the developing relationship between them is the backbone of A Promise of Home. Both are wounded spirits from different causes, both refuse to deal with their own issues but do not hesitate to take on the troubles of the other. Jake does a wonderful job of caring for Branna, bringing her out of her shell and protecting her when she needs him the most. Their love story is deep, satisfying, sensuous and believable.
I enjoyed A Promise of Home very much and would not hesitate to recommend this one to any romance reader. If you enjoy richly populated series with a hometown feel and lots of handsome men in the wings then you’ll enjoy this novel.
*I received an e-ARC of A Promise of Home from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
Branna’s return to Lake Howling, a town that she called home for three brief, pain filled years brought back memories that she wasn’t quite sure what to do with, so as usual she ignored them. She had left for college and never looked back, refusing to feel regret at shaking the dust of this small Oregon town off of her shoes.
The only person she had kept in contact with was Georgie. Her mentor, her friend and in many ways her savior. It was Georgie who had taught Branna the value of herself, to cook, to write, to be whatever she wanted to be. It was the loving friendship of Georgie and her husband Dan that kept Branna sane during those last years of high school. Now Georgie was gone, and she had left her home and Geraldine, her classic Mustang in Branna’s care. She could live here, write here and lose herself here – if the townspeople would let her.
Jake had been that kid in high school that everyone liked, wanted to be around and it was believed had an amazing future ahead of him. War would change that. Jake had taken his talent for medicine onto the battlefields, and what he saw, the death that he dealt with on an almost daily basis would haunt him and one experience would forever change him. He left the medical world to his mother now, as the town’s doctor she would have expected to see Jake join her in her practice, taking care of their friends and neighbors. Instead, Jake now took care of the town’s mechanical needs, fixing cars and trucks instead of people’s lives. Jake was not the man everyone knew anymore, what he brought back home were nightmares and pain.
A Promise of Home is a novel steeped in the life and values of small town, USA. A place where people knew you, your history (good and best forgotten) and where neighbors spoke to each other on the streets and were there for you in the hard times, while celebrating the good times. This town has accepted and taken in Branna as one of their own,, and while she is at first uncomfortable with that closeness it will soon grow on her as second nature. This story is populated with lively, interesting people and some who are not quite what they seem on the surface. Since I’ve already picked up the second novel in this series, The Texan Meets His Match, I know that many of the people in this small town will have their own stories to tell and I’m looking forward to that.
Branna and Jake were a powerful couple. Their backstory, and the developing relationship between them is the backbone of A Promise of Home. Both are wounded spirits from different causes, both refuse to deal with their own issues but do not hesitate to take on the troubles of the other. Jake does a wonderful job of caring for Branna, bringing her out of her shell and protecting her when she needs him the most. Their love story is deep, satisfying, sensuous and believable.
I enjoyed A Promise of Home very much and would not hesitate to recommend this one to any romance reader. If you enjoy richly populated series with a hometown feel and lots of handsome men in the wings then you’ll enjoy this novel.
*I received an e-ARC of A Promise of Home from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
November 29, 2018
Contemporary American small town romance with two damaged adults finding love.
We get a bunch of people that still live in the town they went to high school in this story.
That is the most unbelievable part of the story.
This is not a fluff story because almost everyone in this story is dealing with PTSD or violence or various issues of being an adult in modern times, so no one here is having a good time although it is sweet watching author Branna O'Donnell fall in love with her high school crush, Jake McBride. Jake was Dr. McBride, but is so messed up by his military service that he is the town mechanic when Branna meets him after a freak accident. There is a quick fix for most people so I would say that this is a stand alone, but clearly the HEA is going to be rocky because folks have complicated issues in this story.
There is so many stories going on that this has to be part of a series of books because I would love to know more about that 'book club'!
378 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
We get a bunch of people that still live in the town they went to high school in this story.
That is the most unbelievable part of the story.
This is not a fluff story because almost everyone in this story is dealing with PTSD or violence or various issues of being an adult in modern times, so no one here is having a good time although it is sweet watching author Branna O'Donnell fall in love with her high school crush, Jake McBride. Jake was Dr. McBride, but is so messed up by his military service that he is the town mechanic when Branna meets him after a freak accident. There is a quick fix for most people so I would say that this is a stand alone, but clearly the HEA is going to be rocky because folks have complicated issues in this story.
There is so many stories going on that this has to be part of a series of books because I would love to know more about that 'book club'!
378 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
April 18, 2018
2.5 stars.
The beginning was really slow, the middle was okay, and the end was just meh. It took me a long time to get a sense of these characters, and there were a lot of subplots going on that it was hard to keep track of. I found Branna to be annoying for most of the book, and when she and Jake confessed their love to each other, I just didn't really believe it.
I think the best part of this book was Branna's relationship with Mikey. She really took him under her wing, and it was great to see that relationship grow into something similar to what she had with Georgie.
This wasn't a bad book, but by the time I got towards the last 75% or so, I just really found myself struggling to care what happened to any of the characters. Had the subplots been fleshed out a little more as opposed to just being something that seem randomly thrown in, I think this could have connected with me a lot better.
The beginning was really slow, the middle was okay, and the end was just meh. It took me a long time to get a sense of these characters, and there were a lot of subplots going on that it was hard to keep track of. I found Branna to be annoying for most of the book, and when she and Jake confessed their love to each other, I just didn't really believe it.
I think the best part of this book was Branna's relationship with Mikey. She really took him under her wing, and it was great to see that relationship grow into something similar to what she had with Georgie.
This wasn't a bad book, but by the time I got towards the last 75% or so, I just really found myself struggling to care what happened to any of the characters. Had the subplots been fleshed out a little more as opposed to just being something that seem randomly thrown in, I think this could have connected with me a lot better.
February 17, 2017
This is another book I've read recently that I find myself in disagreement with most other reviewers. I really didn't care for much in this book. I didn't like the characters, especially Branna. I found most of them whiny and annoying. Also, I felt like I was reading a book that took place in the South, not Oregon. I've never been there, so maybe they do talk like that, but it seemed odd. Anyway, I won't be making any return trips to Lake Howling.
March 1, 2019
This was an okay read. I thought the story was okay, but it was a bit boring for my taste. I did like the characters. I did not love them or dislike them. I thought it had potential, but it was not as interesting as I thought it was. The ending was sweet and I liked how it ended. I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series. Overall, an alright read.
September 22, 2018
Great start, but the rest of it was boring
October 18, 2018
Cute story. Can’t wait to read about Tex
Want to read
March 5, 2023Purch Amazon Sept. 10, 2018
July 6, 2025
ok so, it's cute! insta-love i think. but id Definitely read the rest of series.
September 23, 2018
I liked this book, even though it was kind of predictable. I don’t think I’d ever read anything from this author before but I’ll check her other books out for sure!
August 5, 2025
This book is amazing in my top 10 books of the year! It had me in crying, giggling, and in aw for hours. I couldn't put it down! the banter between them is a work of art and i'm excited to read the next ones!
October 14, 2023
Excellent
The book was very interesting had a lot of history that made it easier for the reader to connect history love and lost in resolved anger. Will follow this author
The book was very interesting had a lot of history that made it easier for the reader to connect history love and lost in resolved anger. Will follow this author
May 4, 2015
A Promise of Home by Wendy Vella is a fantastic - though not without some flaws - romance novel.
Branna O'Donnell returns to Lake Howling, the town she lived in during high school, upon the death of her mentor, Georgie. Georgie has left Branna her house and beloved classic Mustang. Branna hopes to make a new start in Lake Howling, or at least come to peace with her life. A writer by trade, she has but one friend and is not on speaking terms with her father.
Jake McBride, a former Army doctor, is suffering from PTSD and is now a mechanic. Intrigued by Branna, even when they were in high school, he can't keep away from her, even though the last thing he wants is a relationship. Despite this, the two are drawn together and help to heal one another.
Ms Vella does a wonderful job in creating a memorable small town, full of interesting and well-rounded secondary characters. Because she doesn't just focus on Branna and Jake, the reader feels as if the two are part of a real community. What is more, Ms Vella doesn't just create one or two secondary characters, but rather, an entire cast, which helps bring Lake Howling to life.
This is a story about overcoming one's past and letting someone else in. Despite resistance on both sides, Branna and Jake fall in love with each other, and in doing so, help each other heal, because in falling in love with each other, they seek they help they need to fully heal.
That is not say that this book isn't without flaws. After spending many pages describing Branna's fear of doctors and hospitals, Ms Vella never explicitly details why this is so. The one event from her past that I presume is the cause of this fear is glossed over, which, considering the subject, does a disservice to the character and indeed makes me wonder if the event is merely used as a convenient illustration of the extent to which her father didn't know Branna while she was in high school.
While the sex between Branna and Jake was hot, I was uncomfortable with the first instance of it, because it was not non-consensual, it definitely edged dubious consent. This was, perhaps, not helped by the fact it seemed to come out of nowhere. And while it was made clear that Branna and Jake entered into their sexual relationship with enthusiasm and consent shortly thereafter, the initial part did make me uncomfortable.
While the majority of this book deals with the romance between Branna and Jake, Ms Vella also felt the need to include a bit of a suspense plot as well, with someone trying to force Branna to leave her new house. This plot feels tacked on but at the same time, I suspect it was used to flesh out some of the secondary characters.
Overall, what makes this book well worth a read is that Ms Vella does her best to create characters that have believable flaws. Even when Branna acts irrationally, Jake supports her, not because he necessarily agrees with her stance, but because he loves her. He also loves her enough to call her on her irrationality. She does a similar thing for him.
A Promise of Home is well worth the read. 4.5 stars.
Branna O'Donnell returns to Lake Howling, the town she lived in during high school, upon the death of her mentor, Georgie. Georgie has left Branna her house and beloved classic Mustang. Branna hopes to make a new start in Lake Howling, or at least come to peace with her life. A writer by trade, she has but one friend and is not on speaking terms with her father.
Jake McBride, a former Army doctor, is suffering from PTSD and is now a mechanic. Intrigued by Branna, even when they were in high school, he can't keep away from her, even though the last thing he wants is a relationship. Despite this, the two are drawn together and help to heal one another.
Ms Vella does a wonderful job in creating a memorable small town, full of interesting and well-rounded secondary characters. Because she doesn't just focus on Branna and Jake, the reader feels as if the two are part of a real community. What is more, Ms Vella doesn't just create one or two secondary characters, but rather, an entire cast, which helps bring Lake Howling to life.
This is a story about overcoming one's past and letting someone else in. Despite resistance on both sides, Branna and Jake fall in love with each other, and in doing so, help each other heal, because in falling in love with each other, they seek they help they need to fully heal.
That is not say that this book isn't without flaws. After spending many pages describing Branna's fear of doctors and hospitals, Ms Vella never explicitly details why this is so. The one event from her past that I presume is the cause of this fear is glossed over, which, considering the subject, does a disservice to the character and indeed makes me wonder if the event is merely used as a convenient illustration of the extent to which her father didn't know Branna while she was in high school.
While the sex between Branna and Jake was hot, I was uncomfortable with the first instance of it, because it was not non-consensual, it definitely edged dubious consent. This was, perhaps, not helped by the fact it seemed to come out of nowhere. And while it was made clear that Branna and Jake entered into their sexual relationship with enthusiasm and consent shortly thereafter, the initial part did make me uncomfortable.
While the majority of this book deals with the romance between Branna and Jake, Ms Vella also felt the need to include a bit of a suspense plot as well, with someone trying to force Branna to leave her new house. This plot feels tacked on but at the same time, I suspect it was used to flesh out some of the secondary characters.
Overall, what makes this book well worth a read is that Ms Vella does her best to create characters that have believable flaws. Even when Branna acts irrationally, Jake supports her, not because he necessarily agrees with her stance, but because he loves her. He also loves her enough to call her on her irrationality. She does a similar thing for him.
A Promise of Home is well worth the read. 4.5 stars.
October 17, 2020
I Fell In Love
I fell in love with all the characters I really loved how Jake always called Branna Rosebud so cute. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end it made me smile, laugh, and cry.
I fell in love with all the characters I really loved how Jake always called Branna Rosebud so cute. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end it made me smile, laugh, and cry.
July 20, 2025
Read in one day! Very interesting read that adds some twists and turns
I sat and read this in one day! Great character development. I loved the suspense and twists and turns! I would highly recommend this book!
I sat and read this in one day! Great character development. I loved the suspense and twists and turns! I would highly recommend this book!
July 15, 2025
Who doesn't love little towns
Her friend had passed away so she packed up and went back to little town she handicapped home for awhile she went to the solicitors and found out she had been left everything she bumped into people she new and then as she was coming out of a shop a boy on a bike collided with her and she was shoved to the ground her wrist hurt and her head hurt
Her friend had passed away so she packed up and went back to little town she handicapped home for awhile she went to the solicitors and found out she had been left everything she bumped into people she new and then as she was coming out of a shop a boy on a bike collided with her and she was shoved to the ground her wrist hurt and her head hurt
February 5, 2017
Branna returns to Lake Howling where she went to High School for three years. She is not originally from this small community where everyone knows each other but returns as she has inherited her best friend’s home. She is hoping to lead a quiet and peaceful life whilst continuing to fulfil her career as a writer. She is not very good at interacting with others due to some unfortunate and unpleasant circumstances surrounding her from a young age. She avoids emotional involvements for fear of getting hurt. Is she in for a surprise?
Jake was the most popular boy in High School and even though Branna had a crush on him, she put on a good act of having no interest whatsoever. However, after returning from the war in Iraq, where he was a Doctor, he is a changed man. He is no longer the happy go lucky individual. When Branna has an accident and decides to go back home on her own despite the obvious injuries, Penny who witnessed the accident appeals to Jake for help. He stops by her place reluctantly and when he sees the state she is in, she doesn't stand a chance from not seeking medical assistance. Branna is still attracted to him but goes in avoidance mode and he more or less does the same. They are both determined not to let their barriers down to let anyone in but the more they get to know each other, the closer they become and are both intrigued by each other's behaviour. Will they allow themselves to trust each other enough and give in to their feelings? After all, the passion between them is intense when they are together.
I really like the way, the author portrays this community where everyone is there for each other in times of needs. The family and social aspects of their lives are very well portrayed, making everything look more real. Even though the crime rate is more or less non existent, someone is trying to scare Branna away from her home and the support she receives is quite admirable. Jake won't rest until the culprit is caught and his caring and protective side resurface. I absolutely love Jake's parents and his two friends who had me laughing out loud with their banters.
I would fully recommend this book to those who like a sweet romance with the elements of emotional drama, danger and the twists to keep and hold their interests. I will definitely read the other book in this series.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jake was the most popular boy in High School and even though Branna had a crush on him, she put on a good act of having no interest whatsoever. However, after returning from the war in Iraq, where he was a Doctor, he is a changed man. He is no longer the happy go lucky individual. When Branna has an accident and decides to go back home on her own despite the obvious injuries, Penny who witnessed the accident appeals to Jake for help. He stops by her place reluctantly and when he sees the state she is in, she doesn't stand a chance from not seeking medical assistance. Branna is still attracted to him but goes in avoidance mode and he more or less does the same. They are both determined not to let their barriers down to let anyone in but the more they get to know each other, the closer they become and are both intrigued by each other's behaviour. Will they allow themselves to trust each other enough and give in to their feelings? After all, the passion between them is intense when they are together.
I really like the way, the author portrays this community where everyone is there for each other in times of needs. The family and social aspects of their lives are very well portrayed, making everything look more real. Even though the crime rate is more or less non existent, someone is trying to scare Branna away from her home and the support she receives is quite admirable. Jake won't rest until the culprit is caught and his caring and protective side resurface. I absolutely love Jake's parents and his two friends who had me laughing out loud with their banters.
I would fully recommend this book to those who like a sweet romance with the elements of emotional drama, danger and the twists to keep and hold their interests. I will definitely read the other book in this series.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2023
A Promise of Home
An intriguing couple who find one another after being high school students in the close knit town of Howling. Neither one was given to be accepting and trusting after tragedy had changed them into lonely individuals. Each character is described in detailed and plays an integral role in this evolving story. I am eager to read further books by this fantastic author.
An intriguing couple who find one another after being high school students in the close knit town of Howling. Neither one was given to be accepting and trusting after tragedy had changed them into lonely individuals. Each character is described in detailed and plays an integral role in this evolving story. I am eager to read further books by this fantastic author.
August 15, 2025
𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍-𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆!! 😘😘😘
𝑶𝒎𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔!! 𝑰 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒖𝒚𝒔!! 😏😏😏🥹🥹🥹
𝑶𝒎𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔!! 𝑰 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒖𝒚𝒔!! 😏😏😏🥹🥹🥹
July 31, 2020
Steamy and Emotional
If you like small-town romances with a touch of mystery, you'll love this book. This is Branna and Jake's story and it's an emotional one. They both have a lot of baggage and some trauma in their past. He was a medical doctor who gave up medicine after a bad experience in Iraq. All he wants is solitude and a simple life. She lost her Mom at a young age and was emotionally abandoned by her grief-stricken father. She decides to move back home when her friend Georgie leaves her home to her and it just happens to be next door to Jake. Just like Jake, all she wants is solitude. Sometimes fate brings two people back together. their back and forth banter was hilarious at times. There are some strong secondary characters as well and they add some mystery to the mix. The storyline is well written and entertaining. The characters are strong, well-developed, and likable. Be warned there's a lot of four-letter language. Steamy and guaranteed to set your Kindle on fire.
If you like small-town romances with a touch of mystery, you'll love this book. This is Branna and Jake's story and it's an emotional one. They both have a lot of baggage and some trauma in their past. He was a medical doctor who gave up medicine after a bad experience in Iraq. All he wants is solitude and a simple life. She lost her Mom at a young age and was emotionally abandoned by her grief-stricken father. She decides to move back home when her friend Georgie leaves her home to her and it just happens to be next door to Jake. Just like Jake, all she wants is solitude. Sometimes fate brings two people back together. their back and forth banter was hilarious at times. There are some strong secondary characters as well and they add some mystery to the mix. The storyline is well written and entertaining. The characters are strong, well-developed, and likable. Be warned there's a lot of four-letter language. Steamy and guaranteed to set your Kindle on fire.
October 19, 2019
Intense family drama with some romance and suspense
Branna O'Donnell returns to Howling, Oregan after inheriting a house. Jake McBride struggles with PTSD but still manages to insert himself into Branna's life.
There was a lot going on in this story, maybe too much. Branna and her dad had issues that went beyond not knowing how to talk to each other. Someone was messing with Branna and trying to scare her enough to leave town.
I thought that Branna often acted childish and Jake sometimes came across as a caveman. I knew from the moment Brian Delray was introduced that he was not the nice man that everyone thought he was.
I did enjoy the story even though I felt like Branna and Jake moved a little too fast for my taste. I also think it would have been a better story if it focused on Branna and her relationship with her father, and Jake's PTSD. Macy and Brian's story should be a stand alone suspense drama.
Branna O'Donnell returns to Howling, Oregan after inheriting a house. Jake McBride struggles with PTSD but still manages to insert himself into Branna's life.
There was a lot going on in this story, maybe too much. Branna and her dad had issues that went beyond not knowing how to talk to each other. Someone was messing with Branna and trying to scare her enough to leave town.
I thought that Branna often acted childish and Jake sometimes came across as a caveman. I knew from the moment Brian Delray was introduced that he was not the nice man that everyone thought he was.
I did enjoy the story even though I felt like Branna and Jake moved a little too fast for my taste. I also think it would have been a better story if it focused on Branna and her relationship with her father, and Jake's PTSD. Macy and Brian's story should be a stand alone suspense drama.
April 18, 2023
Nice story enjoyed reading his book.
August 8, 2015
Way to be anti-social. It's just a handshake.
Matchmaking, Penny?
Accident?
Eww, his mom talked about his chest! Yes, I'm mentally twelve.
Oh, he was an army doc, talk about pressure.
What just happened?
Someone loves his helicopter.
Please tell me her father never said it was her fault.
Bahaha, good one, Jake.
Something like that can really fast-track feelings.
Is this a book club or the mafia?
I know nothing about clinical depression or suicide.
Omigod, I love her dad. He made me cry.
Brian dies. That is all.
I'm so happy she says it back to him right away.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Matchmaking, Penny?
Accident?
Eww, his mom talked about his chest! Yes, I'm mentally twelve.
Oh, he was an army doc, talk about pressure.
What just happened?
Someone loves his helicopter.
Please tell me her father never said it was her fault.
Bahaha, good one, Jake.
Something like that can really fast-track feelings.
Is this a book club or the mafia?
I know nothing about clinical depression or suicide.
Omigod, I love her dad. He made me cry.
Brian dies. That is all.
I'm so happy she says it back to him right away.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2018
I wanted to like this but it fell flat for me. The back stories were never fleshed out enough and the two MCs spent WAY too much time bemoaning their awful lives. If you cut out the sex scenes this might have been 50% shorter. Some sub-plots seemed to disappear as well which was irritating, and others were glossed over as unimportant.
The plot was utterly predictable - even to the cabal of women who secretly run the town and the usual battered wife.
There was, sadly, nothing new or fresh or even romantic here. It all hinged on lust really, and although lust is fine, its not what makes a 'romance' novel for me.
The plot was utterly predictable - even to the cabal of women who secretly run the town and the usual battered wife.
There was, sadly, nothing new or fresh or even romantic here. It all hinged on lust really, and although lust is fine, its not what makes a 'romance' novel for me.
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