Impossible Promise by Sybil Bartel
(Impossible Promise #1)
(Impossible Promise #1)
Published by: Carina Press (HQN)
Publication date: March 23rd 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Stars: 4 ****
The Blurb
Three years ago, Layna Blair listened in horror over a telephone line as her
parents were murdered. When the killer said she was next, Layna panicked and
made a deadly deal—his secret in exchange for her life. She’s paid the price
every day since, becoming a prisoner in plain sight.
Marine Sergeant Blaze Johnson offers Layna a way out—her freedom, his rules, no questions asked—and she takes it, despite knowing what her keepers do to people who get too close. She doesn’t know Blaze is fighting his own demons or that beneath his warrior façade is a man on the verge of breaking.
Embarking on a wild revenge mission with Blaze and his smooth-talking best friend, Talon, is not what Layna signed on for. But attempting to run when Blaze has made no secret he intends to make her his is a reckless mistake. With the killer closing in, it’s up to Blaze to save them all—and to Layna to realize that she’s risked the one thing she can’t afford to lose.
Heat level: Steamy; not for under 17, it has open door sex scenes.
Marine Sergeant Blaze Johnson offers Layna a way out—her freedom, his rules, no questions asked—and she takes it, despite knowing what her keepers do to people who get too close. She doesn’t know Blaze is fighting his own demons or that beneath his warrior façade is a man on the verge of breaking.
Embarking on a wild revenge mission with Blaze and his smooth-talking best friend, Talon, is not what Layna signed on for. But attempting to run when Blaze has made no secret he intends to make her his is a reckless mistake. With the killer closing in, it’s up to Blaze to save them all—and to Layna to realize that she’s risked the one thing she can’t afford to lose.
Heat level: Steamy; not for under 17, it has open door sex scenes.
My Thoughts
Layna Blair is just sixteen when she hears her parents being murdered whilst on the phone with them. This tragic event leaves Layna all alone in the world and caught in the web of a mad man who she refers to as Miami. Miami has his men keep a watchful eye on Layna not allowing her to have a life and stopping her getting close to anyone.
When the books starts Layna is now nineteen and the one place she can escape from prying eyes is the local church where she goes for peace and time on her own. One night whilst in the church she meets Sgt Marine Blaze Johnson who is the church praying for his dying mother. Blaze picks up on Layna's fear and steps in when Miami's men up the ante.
Blaze is determined to keep Layna safe and help her seek revenge for her parents death. He takes to his friend Talon's house and leaves Talon in charge of keeping her safe whilst he is spending time with his mother. What follows is an action packed story that moved along at an exhilarating pace.
I loved the plot of Impossible Promise, it was such a great storyline and for the most part it was well executed. I must admit I was a little miffed to start with by how quick there was such a deep connection between Blaze & Layna but hey it's fiction. The books is full of some really great characters as well as some very steamy action.
Layna spends much of the story surrounded by hunky men, all trying to protect her. As a character Layna is very manic, she's all over the place, blowing hot and cold all the time. One minute she's happy & laughing and the next she is either ranting & raving or sobbing & in floods of tears but then this probably isn't surprising after all that she has been through. All of a sudden after 3 years of trying to rebuild her life she suddenly feels somewhat safe and no longer alone in the world & I guess that would play havoc with your emotions.
Both of the leading men had something different to offer. Blaze and Talon are best friends but totally different in every way. Talon is the ladies man with what seems like a girl for every night of the week.He is drop dead gorgeous in a totally different way to Blaze. Blaze is dark and brooding whilst Talon is the golden haired surfer boy. I will admit that I found Talon the more engaging of the two and felt that there was an obvious attraction between him and Layna, their connection seemed far greater and she seems to be the only one that can break down his facade of being a player.
I really loved the relationship that Layna had with Talon, their banter added so much humour to the book and it was clear that Talon's feelings ran deep for Layna. She was more than just another girl he could string along.
You really have to suspend reality with this book and not get caught up in the 'that would never happen'. Once I did this I was totally swept along with the story & fully engaged with what was happening. It was a really quick read and I found it impossible to put down. I really loved the sense of mystery that surrounds Layna's character and I'm really looking forward to seeing where Bartel takes the characters in book two, Impossible Choice. I read a sneak peek of book two and oh my it left me wanting more. I can't wait until August.
Check out the rest of the review's on Sybil's Tour
When the books starts Layna is now nineteen and the one place she can escape from prying eyes is the local church where she goes for peace and time on her own. One night whilst in the church she meets Sgt Marine Blaze Johnson who is the church praying for his dying mother. Blaze picks up on Layna's fear and steps in when Miami's men up the ante.
Blaze is determined to keep Layna safe and help her seek revenge for her parents death. He takes to his friend Talon's house and leaves Talon in charge of keeping her safe whilst he is spending time with his mother. What follows is an action packed story that moved along at an exhilarating pace.
I loved the plot of Impossible Promise, it was such a great storyline and for the most part it was well executed. I must admit I was a little miffed to start with by how quick there was such a deep connection between Blaze & Layna but hey it's fiction. The books is full of some really great characters as well as some very steamy action.
Layna spends much of the story surrounded by hunky men, all trying to protect her. As a character Layna is very manic, she's all over the place, blowing hot and cold all the time. One minute she's happy & laughing and the next she is either ranting & raving or sobbing & in floods of tears but then this probably isn't surprising after all that she has been through. All of a sudden after 3 years of trying to rebuild her life she suddenly feels somewhat safe and no longer alone in the world & I guess that would play havoc with your emotions.
Both of the leading men had something different to offer. Blaze and Talon are best friends but totally different in every way. Talon is the ladies man with what seems like a girl for every night of the week.He is drop dead gorgeous in a totally different way to Blaze. Blaze is dark and brooding whilst Talon is the golden haired surfer boy. I will admit that I found Talon the more engaging of the two and felt that there was an obvious attraction between him and Layna, their connection seemed far greater and she seems to be the only one that can break down his facade of being a player.
I really loved the relationship that Layna had with Talon, their banter added so much humour to the book and it was clear that Talon's feelings ran deep for Layna. She was more than just another girl he could string along.
You really have to suspend reality with this book and not get caught up in the 'that would never happen'. Once I did this I was totally swept along with the story & fully engaged with what was happening. It was a really quick read and I found it impossible to put down. I really loved the sense of mystery that surrounds Layna's character and I'm really looking forward to seeing where Bartel takes the characters in book two, Impossible Choice. I read a sneak peek of book two and oh my it left me wanting more. I can't wait until August.
Check out the rest of the review's on Sybil's Tour
About The Author
I grew up in Northern California with my head in a book and my feet in the
sand. I dreamt of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their
shelves full of books drew me into the world of storytelling. I love the New
Adult genre, but any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly
beautiful makes me swoon.I now live in Southern Florida and while I don’t get to read as much as I like, I still bury my toes in the sand. If I’m not writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in my backyard, you can find me spending time with my handsomely tattooed husband, my brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer…
But Seriously?
Here are ten things you probably really want to know about
me.
I grew up a faculty brat. I can swear like a sailor. I love men in uniform.
I hate being told what to do. I can do your taxes (but don’t ask). The Bird
Market in Hong Kong freaks me out. My favorite word is desperate…or dirty, or
both—I can’t decide. I have a thing for muscle cars. But never reply on me for
driving directions, ever. And I have a new book boyfriend every week—don’t tell
my husband.
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I enjoyed both the blurb and the review! Thank you for both! Both certainly peaked my interest. I have put it on my TBR List!
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