DNF @ 13%

In the first chapter we learn:
- Claire was involved in a mass shooting as a teen, ending a promising tennis career and leaving her with a limp and cane but don't worry about her living off junk food in her 30s because "her body still melted calories like butter in a frying pan."
- one of Claire's besties stole her boyfriend, but then the boyfriend left the Peyton after learning she had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.
- the third bestie in their group was the victim of a brutal assault.

The drama continued in chapter two when we learn Claire's parents "had suffered two miscarriages before they had Claire, and one after, which explained why they'd always treated her like she was made of spun glass. Things got worse after the shooting."

I had my heart set on a fun second-chance contemporary, but I couldn't stop the eye-rolling. Everyone so far had to one-up the other with their sob stories.

What a great story! I loved Logan from the very beginning. Claire was a little annoying in the beginning but after finding out more of her backstory and her parents upbringing, it helps explain why she is the way she is. Such a great story about overcoming fears, about learning to live a little and face fears in order to not live a limited life.
I also loved the underlying message that what people need or want can change.

This was a pretty light read. However, the characters were a little dull to me. A lot of time was spent inside of the main character's mind and I somehow still didn't feel connected to her story. The insecurity of Claire drove me crazy at times.

Claire's a magnet for tough times and the story line felt a big morbid and deprecating to me, even with the pseudo happy ending. However, I do appreciate the fact that the book is not about the perfect girl next door looking for love. Rather. 5here are real issues, both mentally and physically, that people will be able to resonate with.

This eARC was provided by NetGalley and Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I lost count of the number of times my heart ached for Claire. I could understand the things that were holding her back, but I could also see those things weren’t healthy. And the awareness Claire starts to have about her situation and her anxiety is the most gut-wrenching thing of all.

There are a few times I’m not so happy with Logan, but it’s very obvious that he’s never trying to be a bully or even truly manipulate anyone out of ill intent. He wants to see everyone he cares for living their lives to the fullest and finding happiness. Of course, he thinks he knows best. Those are the times he gets himself into hot water…with me and some of the other characters.

It beautiful to see the connection between Logan and Claire before Logan even realizes what is happening on a deeper level. In fact, before Claire even truly sees this isn’t just her lifelong crush rearing its head and it’s not her imagination that there are feelings developing with them both.

Claire helps Logan to see that he’s putting up walls with his parents so much that he can’t see any good anymore. Not only that, but those walls are actually holding him back from finding true contentment in his life. So, although Logan does a lot to help Claire, she does just as much for him.

Another Jamie Beck book I didn’t want to put down. And still so much between these friends I want to see happen. We get a bit more of Logan’s sister/Claire’s former bestie Peyton this go around. I’m starting to see that she may be redeemable. I’m interested to get her side of the story on a more intimate level. What was she thinking, feeling, hoping for the outcome to be?

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

This review can also be found at All In Good Time.

This is the second book in the series Sanctuary Sound. This one is from Claire’s point of view. I am loving how each story is from a different characters point of view. It perfectly puts the story all together.

Claire is a designer who is recovering still from an accident awhile back. Claire is trying to get her life back together after get a bullet to her hip and loosing her bf to her best friend. Claire never leaves the comfort of her town and the life she has. That is until Logan comes along.

Claire has had a crush on Logan all her life. Logan returns good to help take care of his sister. While in town Logan offers Claire a job of remodeling is condo in New York. Claire has a fear of traveling. Can Logan help Claire get over all her fears and take on this job?

I can’t get over how much I love these characters and this series. It keeps getting better and better with each book. I just loved this one so much. I loved getting to know more about Claire’s character. I highly suggest this series!

https://superfluousreading.wordpress.com/2019/11/07/the-promise-of-us-sanctuary-sound-2-by-jamie-beck/

Decorate, heal and move on are the keys to this story.
The characters are like old friends if you read the first book, so it was good to catch up and see what happens next. The issues dealt with are serious and well handled, making this a believable story. A little too heavy on the sex stuff, but I'm a notorious prude.
I had the kindle unlimited read and listen version and the Narrator is fantastic, adding whole new dimensions to the story for me!

Claire McKenna is familiar with loss. Between getting shot in the hip with a bullet, and having her boyfriend Todd being taken away from her by her close friend, Peyton, Claire doesn’t have any interest in living an experimental, adventurous life. Claire now works as an interior designer in her quiet hometown of Sanctuary Sound. Her long-time crush from childhood, Logan (also Peyton’s brother) comes back to town, and Claire must grapple with the decision of whether to put herself back out there, in fear of getting her heart broken again. THE PROMISE OF US is a cute romance novel that highlights diverse characters with disabilities, which is something I loved about the book. Claire learns to embrace adventure and realizes that there’s more to life than her little town of Sanctuary Sound.

Check out what else I have read at www.instagram.com/sfbookgirl

3.5 Stars! With this novel, I did something I never do, start a series mid-way. I’m a stickler for starting series from Book 1 and this is Book 2 in the Sanctuary Sound series and I loved it. Whilst I can see how the experience might have been enriched by understanding all the heroine’s best friend had been through in Book 1, I don’t think it’s necessary to have read it to understand Claire and Logan’s story.

This somewhat weighty romance novel covers such themes as fear, PTSD, random acts of violence, cancer, guilt, dealing with betrayal and forgiveness, but all done in the least melodramatic way that is a pleasure to read. Sanctuary Sound is a placid sort of setting that frames these somewhat heavy themes very nicely. This reminds me a lot of the work of Robin Carr or even of a soothing, emotional, but not heartbreaking romance.

I think sometimes the themes of forgiveness was dealt with a little ham-fistedly in the hands of the characters (especially Logan and the old book club ladies) and that’s why this doesn’t get the full four stars from me, but overall, I enjoyed reading this- my first (but hopefully not my last) from this author.

I received an advance reading copy from the publisher, Montlake Romance, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would never praise a book I didn’t like just because I got it for free.