Title: A Promise Kept
Author: Anissa Garcia
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 6, 2016
Blurb
Closing her heart a long time ago, Grace Clark made a promise she’s vowed to keep. Having Hollywood heartthrob Evan Matthews move in next door with his alluring good looks, charisma, wit, and sexy smile is a temptation that runs the risk of compromising the importance of that promise.
Evan is drawn to his new neighbor. Grace is the exact opposite of the women he normally encounters. Enticing, down-to-earth, and confident, she captivates him. She has no problems facing off with Evan, and he soon realizes Grace is much more than just a challenge. He wants to prove himself to her.
Grace can see the man beyond the actor, and with more than just her pride at stake, she needs to hold tight to her promise before Evan breaks through all her walls, exposing her heart.
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Excerpt
Within the hour, Grace was working up a sweat as she huffed and puffed on the treadmill. The gym was full of morning people who used all the elliptical machines, which was an unexpected and annoying revelation. She grumbled to herself as she picked up speed and let Bruno Mars blast in her ears.
She slowed after half an hour and grabbed her towel to wipe her forehead. Her peripheral vision caught a man walking toward her and she did a double take. Oh, Jesus, help me. Grace tugged her earbuds off and slowed her pace as Evan approached the machine and rested his sweaty forearm against it.
“Good morning, Gracie Lynn.” He stood before her with his damp hair hanging over his forehead and his white shirt clinging onto his chest. She could see every cord of his neck muscles as he steadied his breathing. “You stalking me?”
The length of his physique stood out—trim, well-defined, and unflawed. He was so confident and masculine. Even with sweat trickling down the side of his temples he looked absolutely delicious. It just wasn’t fair.
“You wish, Matthews.” She tried to force her mouth to remain straight as she reached for her bottled water and took a sip. “What are you doing at my gym?”
“Getting tortured for the sake of art.”
Her laugh couldn’t be held back as she stopped the treadmill and jumped off. She glanced over and saw Josh with a few other guys all pumping iron. “Well, you play your role very well.”
“So you’re saying I got a rocking bod?” His smile grew as he followed her. “Wait til you see me without my clothes.”
“God, that ego,” she teased. Grace noted several women looking in their direction. Some of them gaped, trying to get themselves under control. Others tried to give Evan seductive looks in hopes he would return them. He was hard to ignore. She wondered if any of these women would be brave enough to approach him.
He was probably used to being stared at and hit on all the time. It seemed like second nature to him. A pang of jealousy suddenly hit Grace and she tried to let the emotion pass as quickly as it had appeared. These feelings were beginning to creep on her, more so when she was around him.
“Don’t say you wouldn’t appreciate it,” Evan joked.
“Looks like blondie over there appreciates it.” Grace smirked, pushing her chin toward big boobs on the elliptical. The woman was basically eye-humping Evan the moment she had spotted him.
“You jealous, Gracie? I only got eyes for you, doll.”
“Sure you do, Matthews,” she chuckled as she reminded herself to take it to the friend zone. Stopping, she forced herself to look at Evan and caught him observing her carefully. Her skin prickled and she suddenly felt vulnerable. Heat surged between their bodies and she was aware of how close he was getting to her.
He leaned in toward her, hovering, the largeness of his body towering over her small frame. “I’m taking you to breakfast, Gracie.”
His smooth demand caressed her ears making her forget that friend zone thing. “O-okay,” she stammered, fighting for breath. “I-I-need to just…” She tried to move away from him as she pointed toward the ladies’ room. “Um…I need to shower.”
“Me too,” he chuckled. “Look, I’ll meet you at your place in twenty minutes.”
She slowed after half an hour and grabbed her towel to wipe her forehead. Her peripheral vision caught a man walking toward her and she did a double take. Oh, Jesus, help me. Grace tugged her earbuds off and slowed her pace as Evan approached the machine and rested his sweaty forearm against it.
“Good morning, Gracie Lynn.” He stood before her with his damp hair hanging over his forehead and his white shirt clinging onto his chest. She could see every cord of his neck muscles as he steadied his breathing. “You stalking me?”
The length of his physique stood out—trim, well-defined, and unflawed. He was so confident and masculine. Even with sweat trickling down the side of his temples he looked absolutely delicious. It just wasn’t fair.
“You wish, Matthews.” She tried to force her mouth to remain straight as she reached for her bottled water and took a sip. “What are you doing at my gym?”
“Getting tortured for the sake of art.”
Her laugh couldn’t be held back as she stopped the treadmill and jumped off. She glanced over and saw Josh with a few other guys all pumping iron. “Well, you play your role very well.”
“So you’re saying I got a rocking bod?” His smile grew as he followed her. “Wait til you see me without my clothes.”
“God, that ego,” she teased. Grace noted several women looking in their direction. Some of them gaped, trying to get themselves under control. Others tried to give Evan seductive looks in hopes he would return them. He was hard to ignore. She wondered if any of these women would be brave enough to approach him.
He was probably used to being stared at and hit on all the time. It seemed like second nature to him. A pang of jealousy suddenly hit Grace and she tried to let the emotion pass as quickly as it had appeared. These feelings were beginning to creep on her, more so when she was around him.
“Don’t say you wouldn’t appreciate it,” Evan joked.
“Looks like blondie over there appreciates it.” Grace smirked, pushing her chin toward big boobs on the elliptical. The woman was basically eye-humping Evan the moment she had spotted him.
“You jealous, Gracie? I only got eyes for you, doll.”
“Sure you do, Matthews,” she chuckled as she reminded herself to take it to the friend zone. Stopping, she forced herself to look at Evan and caught him observing her carefully. Her skin prickled and she suddenly felt vulnerable. Heat surged between their bodies and she was aware of how close he was getting to her.
He leaned in toward her, hovering, the largeness of his body towering over her small frame. “I’m taking you to breakfast, Gracie.”
His smooth demand caressed her ears making her forget that friend zone thing. “O-okay,” she stammered, fighting for breath. “I-I-need to just…” She tried to move away from him as she pointed toward the ladies’ room. “Um…I need to shower.”
“Me too,” he chuckled. “Look, I’ll meet you at your place in twenty minutes.”
Grace nodded in compliance as she walked away completely at a loss of how she was going to stop herself from giving in to this gorgeous man.
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Review
4 stars.
This is a sweet romance. I wasn’t expecting much because it is a debut novel but I was pleasantly surprised. Evan Matthews is the dream man that every girl thinks of. He’s not like a lot of book boyfriends that have a dark past that cause him to act all intense. He’s romantic, down to earth and fun.
Grace is a strong heroine. Even though she has things that hold her back she still fights forward. Grace fights her attraction towards Evan and this is how we are introduced to Evan being swoon worthy and hilarious moments.
The secondary characters are just as great as the main characters. They make this story whole and even more enjoyable.
Anissa makes you feel the emotions along with the characters and take you on the rollercoaster with them. The characters are relatable even if their careers aren’t common ones. Their love for each other is beautiful and fun. I really liked this book and I will be checking out the next book by this author.
*ARC was received in exchange for an honest review*
Author Bio
Anissa Garcia resides in Austin, Texas and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications and English. She held an array of jobs including Public Relations Manager for Barnes and Noble. Wanting a change of pace, she moved to Los Angeles where she attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and trained full-time in theatre. After working in Hollywood, she returned to Texas where she has written articles for Cosmopolitan and Lady Couture. When not writing stories, watching movies, or drinking a latte, she loves to daydream about romantic fictional men.
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