ARC Review: Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy
Three Broken Promises (Drew+Fable #3)
by: Monica Murphy
Publication Date: Dec. 31, 2013
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life.
I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.
I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.
After having just read One Week Girlfriend, Second Chance Boyfriend, and Drew+ Fable Forever, I honestly wasn't sure how I would like Jen and Colin's story. I was definitely intrigued by these two in Second Chance Boyfriend. We knew the two were close and had history together, and we learned that Jen likes Colin, but we didn't get much more than that. I had heard some chatter about Three Broken Promises not being as good as the other books, but I still went in with an open mind. And you know what? I loved Three Broken Promises. Jen and Colin, while not as broken as Drew and Fable, both have their burdens to carry and a whole lot of guilt to overcome. In fact Monica wrote this is in her GR review, "-- There are two words that run through my head as I write it. Guilt and freedom. Guess what? You'll never be free until you let go of the guilt. This is the theme so far."
Holy crap, was it ever the theme. My heart broke for these two as they let their guilt suffocate them and keep them from exploring something that could be so perfect between them.
Jen and Colin's characters both drove me crazy at their holding back and trying to do what each thought was right, but overall I loved the insane tension between these two. Both of them feel it, but Colin is pretty stubborn when it comes to letting Jen in. He made a promise to his best friend Danny (Jen's brother) that if anything were to happen to him, that he would take care of Jen. Colin feels he has broken a promise because he hasn't always been there for Jen and found her under less than desirable circumstances. Colin is incredibly protective of her, but Jen feels she is a burden to him, and she doesn't want handouts. She is also stubborn and extremely prideful, much like Fable.
Speaking of Fable, I liked seeing her and Jen's friendship. It was completely realistic to me. Fable drove Jen a bit crazy at times with her not wanting to leave, but the two are extremely good for each other. Neither one has really had many girl friends, so befriending one another was a surprise to both of them.
Jen wants to leave and start over. There are too many bad memories in this town of her former life where she was forced to do what she had to in order to make ends meet. She also can't take much more of being around Colin, always wanting more but never being able to have it. I like Jen's determination and that she did tell Colin what she wanted from him. She didn't always vocalize the things she should have with him which of course led to heartache and confusion, but Colin is a difficult guy to get to open up. It was the same with Colin. We see their internal monologues and I just wanted to shake both of them and tell them to USE THEIR WORDS and COMMUNICATE!
I felt bad for Colin's character. He is a difficult guy to read and he always held himself back from his feelings for Jen. Really, he's just afraid. He doesn't want to end up like his father, who he believes to have abandoned him and his mother. He already feels he failed his best friend concerning Jen and he doesn't want to let her down because of how much he actually cares for her. Honestly? Colin is a hot mess. He knows he can't give Jen what she wants, but is too selfish to let her go. He wages an inner war over doing what's right and actually going after her.
The two end up setting up a friends with benefits type of arrangement, as Jen is still planning on leaving. She wants him, even if it's just for a little while. It may kill her to do the whole no strings thing and may destroy their friendship, but that's a risk they'll have to take. Holy hell- these two are explosive together. Colin definitely has some dirty-talking alpha tendencies and he makes Jen feel comfortable sexually, where she might not have before. He makes her feel beautiful and for someone who supposedly just feels friendly to her sure acts more than a just a friend.
Jen has a past that she is not proud of and she is terrified that if Colin ever found out the truth he would be disgusted with her. I was a little pissy at how Colin reacted to finding out in the beginning because after everything, after all the times he's been there for her, she needed his acceptance and understanding instead of judgment.
Overall, I enjoyed Colin and Jen's story and I am happy with how these two ended up. Neither one could look forward to a future until they let the guilt of their past go. Watching Colin realize his love for Jen was one of my favorite aspects of this book and I loved when he took action, determined to make her his. It took him awhile to get to that point, but once he does there was no going back. And he's ok with that because Jen has always belonged to him and he to her.
8 comments
Great review girl! I hadn't heard much chatter about people not liking it but it did surprise me because I loved it. I really liked both characters and totally agree with you, COMMUNICATION. I also liked that Jen told Colin what she wanted even though she didn't tell him everything. I was glad when he finally manned up.
ReplyDeleteThanks girl! I read a few reviews where people just were pretty meh about it. They preferred Drew and Fable more. :D Which I get.
DeleteLoved your review! I definitely enjoyed the first book in this series, One Week Girlfriend, and I can't wait till I can to the other books. Though this one is about two different characters, I definitely like the sound of the book :D Will have to check it out once I read the rest!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Magen! I love Monica's books! I'm so glad I read these!
DeleteI have so much catching up to do. This lady can write them faster than I can read them! So happy to hear we have another hit!
ReplyDeleteI know! She's a machine! It's crazy how they do it!
DeleteI struggled a bit with this one, but as always, I love MM's writing. So glad you enjoyed TBP!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea! I was really surprised to have liked this one as much as I did, just because I knew it wouldn't be Drew and Fable!
DeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
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