- OUTSTANDING STORYTELLING BY ALJ -

No-one can write damaged broken characters, angsty intensely emotional turmoil and a twisted road to redemption quite like ALJ and, in this single Dad, friends-to-lovers, fake engagement relationship, she puts everything she’s got into the heartbreaking and heartwarming story. Feelings flourished and floundered between Milo who is a damaged hero haunted by the ghosts of his past and supportive, selfless heroine Tessa who is desperately holding on for mad love. The emotions were raw and bled from the pages.. the fire from their chemistry smoked and sizzled.. the want for each other cried out to be sated.. and their rocky road led to a beautiful happy ever after ending.

Worth a credit? Absolutely yes. Tessa and Milo’s journey has attraction, lust, secrets, revelations, villains, danger and everything you’d expect from this outstanding author. And Samantha and Connor are two talented narrators who perfectly brought the drama, the wreckage, the hope, the fear, the main and preloved secondary characters and the mad mad love to life.

2 people found this helpful

I expected better from such a well-known author.

Wow - I expected better from such a well-known author. And - this book was *just* released! I cannot believe someone wrote this recently.

This book was an absolute slog. It drug on and on. I finished it, but barely.

Ridiculously dramatic. Repetition of words and phrases - little dove, mad love, blood, pain, descriptions of the main male character. He’s big, got it.

Sooooo much internal dialogue and description of thoughts and emotions. Repeating of details we already know. Filler.

Silly descriptors - “pain like tumbled stones”??? What does that even mean?

Weirdly the main male character often eliminates “I” from the beginning of sentences. Eg. “Told you I would hurt you.” “Don’t care what it takes.” I guess the author thinks eliminating pronouns is masculine or sexy? I don’t know.

I didn’t connect with any of the characters. The main male character wanted his children back after his selfish, stupid actions lead to his wife’s death and violence towards his girlfriend, which I could absolutely not get on board with. That idiot has no place around children. The main female character is weak-minded, aligns herself with terrible people, then cries about the consequences. Blech.

Oh, and men creating problems, women receiving violence because of it, men ganging up to fight other crappy men and patting themselves on the back for “protecting their women” when there wouldn’t even be a problem in the first place if they had acted right from the beginning.

No character development - everyone is just as bad/stupid/ unhealthy as when they started out.

The one character who sees things as they are and says so is vilified and called “negative” even when all of her predictions come true 100% of the time. Her daughter was friggin’ killed because of this guy and she’s trying to keep her grandchildren safe from him and his sordid world and we’re supposed to dislike her and feel sorry for him? Holy gaslighting Batman!

The whole thing is depressing. This bad thing happened. Then this one. So much pain. Someone gets beaten bloody. Another bad thing. Oh, then a worse thing.

There is so much:
Him: “I’m a terrible person and I don’t deserve love”
Her: “Nothing is your fault. You do deserve love”
Him: “I did crappy things to you like I told you I would because, like I said, I’m bad”
Her: “But I think you’re good. My love will fix you”
Him: I did horrible things again but you should forgive me because I’m sorry and…I…love you. Also, here are some expensive shoes”
Her: *Gasp* “It was so hard to say sorry - you’re incredible. And also shoes? Okay!”

And the women in this book - what the hell?! Why are you encouraging your “bestie” (also repeated 1,000 times) to stay with, pursue, and forgive someone whose actions caused her to get kidnapped, beaten, and shot? Is this the friggin’ twilight zone? Is this seriously the kind of twisted situation people think women want to read about? Nope. How about - “girl, move away, go back to school, get therapy, and live a better life!”?

It is not difficult to say your sorry - words are cheap. Behavior is what counts, and “grace” does not mean repeatedly accepting crappy behavior. And receiving designer shoes - shoes?!?! - does not an apology make.

Just a poorly-written book about horrible people who make bad choices, perpetuate intergenerational trauma - calling it love,
trauma bond, and have children when they shouldn’t.

The male narrator was great, the female narrator was not. Her pronunciation and inflection was weird and detracted.

1 person found this helpful

Wow!

When Tessa shows up at her friend's business needing to be consoled by her friend, she finds Milo who comes to her rescue. He takes her to his house, since there is no way she is going back to hers, where the two of them make a plan to help each other. Milo will help Tessa get her things from her abusive ex who she has been with for way too long, and Tessa will help Milo get his kids back from their maternal grandparents. Simple as that, right?

Milo and Tessa are a match made in the stars. Their love for each other is abundant from the beginning. Milo learns to come out of his dark past, guided by the light of Tessa. The two of them make their way through their battles to their happily ever after. This is my first A.L. Jackson book and I'm glad it was this one!

There couldn't be a better voice for Milo than Connor Crais. He was perfect. So was Samantha Brentmoor! She's been in so many of my books lately… not that I'm complaining! Both of them sound great together!

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You love your MMC's with a dark past, and your FMC's sweet with a little sass.

1 person found this helpful

Swoon Worthy with loads of🔥 Milo and Tessa

One of the best stories I’ve read this year! Take a trip back to Redemption hills book 4 which features Milo Hendricks a single dad with a rough and dark past. Forced into world of underground “fight club” type shhh, only to realize there is no way out ! Milo is a body guard at Trent’s club Absolution where he is surrounded by the Lawson brothers and their wives . He’s not a new character as we meet him as well as Tessa , Eden’s best friend !

Tessa McDaniel is a lovely woman who knows no strangers at all. Kind, caring compassionate and one who takes care of her loved ones and friends . Tessa is caught up in a loveless, emotionless and now abusive relationship. She has always thought of Milo as this big , muscled, brute of a man who she cares for as one of her close friends, but maybe a little more ! She is attracted to him without a doubt . Forced in close proximity Milo and Tessa discover they can actually help each other out. Tessa and Milo embark on a fake fiancé sceme to get what they each need , but real sparks fly!

This story has lots of twist and turns , things you don’t see coming and loads of sexy times 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🔥🔥and not to mention the narration Samanatha Brentmoor as Tessa and Connor Crais as Milo . They bring these characters to life ! Such an amazing story of discovery and second chances of love and family ! AL Jackson hit this one out of the park!! Loved it !!!!

Great story

Love the story of Mili and Tessa!! They had a great love for each other.

always

another great book. this author is amazing. she has a way of switching thing around and making a big surprise. simply amazing writing.

Little dove!!!!

Promise Me always (Redemption Hills #4) By: A.L.Jackson
Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor and Connor Crais
Audiobook Rating: 5/5
Story Rating: 5/5

Tessa McDaniels couldn’t take it anymore with her last boyfriend and for sure, she does deserve better. Trent’s best friend, Milo Hendricks, always treated Tessa as nothing more than just a lovely friend but nevertheless in time, the attraction of her beauty, charisma, & heart started to grow on him. Even if Milo has a difficult past, Tessa couldn’t hold back what could be for them if they are truly together. There are other books in this series but many have told me this is the best one of them all. I couldn’t agree more. A.L.Jackson wrote a story that will tug on your heartstrings and definitely think twice about the beautiful risk of falling in “mad mad” love again.

Milo: You can’t help Connor Crais making this character look “oh, soooo good.” There’s no perfect person to perform the character, Milo. Milo is a single Dad and willing to take any risk to keep custody of his kids….like you know, to have a fake marriage to his friend, Tessa!!!! Connor’s performance was truly spot on: so much depth of swoony-worth moments, heartache & pain about the past, & sweet charming desire for Tessa. Yes, it was a very powerful, out of this world kind of performance and it gave me goosebumps! You go, Connor!!!

Tessa: Samantha Brentmoor nailed quite masterfully for this character, Tessa. Tessa became Milo’s fake fiancee but didn’t stop her being herself, a fierce, witty, smart, and an adorable tease for him. The fake marriage is helping her out to keep her violent & threatening ex away from her and furthermore, to help Milo become what people in public will portray him to be, even if it’s already there, a stable, loving, & amazing father with his two kids. Both healing from the past, they end up seeing a different perspective and more respect for one another. Samantha’s performance was just unforgettable by leaving a lasting impression of what Tessa is capable of being-sensational woman in love & a remarkable mother, and a bond between them that perhaps can’t be broken. Yes, Samantha, you truly rock my world!!!

In conclusion, this is a must! I mean, you need to read and listen to this book because A.L. Jackson got it going on when writing love stories! The best part is not only unfolding their love story “emotionally and passionately” but the gut-wrenching twist towards the end of the book. I was jaw-dropped & off-guard about it all. The past truly will haunt them but the future for them, you, as a reader/listener, you want to fight for them to stay together. So if you want a heart wrenching, page-turner, and broken mess book, this is it!

The Narrators are great the Story sucks

I love both narrators but the book is so typical and boring! If your new to suspenseful romance then you may like it but if you are a veteran save your credit!

Hawt!

𝗔𝗟 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆’𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱!

She gives us ALL the heart and steam in her upcoming release, PROMISE ME ALWAYS.

Here’s why you should read it:
Damaged MMC - Milo carries the weight of his past on his shoulders. I wanted to hug him and make it better. His gruff exterior and gritty past made him so likeable.
Single parent romance is the bees knees and nobody does it better than AL Jackson.
Strong and selfless FMC. Tessa is best friend goals. She's fun, selfless, and beyond caring. I've adored her since the very book in this series.
All the grumpy / sunshine vibes.
Themes of finding and blending family.
Did I mention my favorite thing ever - fake engagement? Eeep!!!

I loved Promise Me Always immensely. It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of the author’s writing style. The combination of her gorgeous writing, these wonderful characters, and captivating plot is a thing of beauty.

Two thumbs up! ❤️

Promise me Always.....epic

Milo and Tessa's story is absolutely amazingly epic!! AL Jackson writes the most soul grabbing stories ever!!