Title: Promises
Series: Bounty Hunters #1
Author: A.E. Via
Genre: M/M Romance
Release: October 17, 2015
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27157568-promises-part-i
Duke Morgan owns and operates one of the largest bail bond companies in Atlanta. Not only does he bond criminals out of jail, he and his notorious group of bounty hunters will also track them down and ensure they show up for court.
Roman ‘Quick’ Webb is Duke’s business partner and best friend. Both men are in their forties and have given up on the happily ever after with the ranch-style home, and white picket fence. They’d both tried it and failed miserably. But they have their friendship and they have the business.
When Quick’s son, Vaughan Webb returns – after seven years – from studying abroad with his law degree in hand, he’s back to claim what he’s always wanted…his fathers’ best friend… Duke Morgan. Vaughan has always claimed to be a classic gentleman with an old soul. He didn’t party and screw up in school like his buddies. He was focused and dedicated to becoming the man worthy of Duke’s love.
It’s a complex and messy situation as Duke and Quick figure out how to still be best friends when one of them is sleeping with his friend’s one and only son. But when Duke is hurt on the job, all the unimportant trivialities fall to the wayside and Vaughan and Quick put their heads together to save Duke.
Part I of the Promises story is about Duke and Vaughan. Part II will be about Quick and his realization that it’s not too late for any of them to find love.
Never make a promise you can’t keep.
Duke Morgan has lived by that phrase, not guaranteeing anything without fully understanding what he’s getting into and what the risks are because the type of business that Duke runs always has aspects of the unexpected. But what’s even more interesting is that Duke is actually looking for promises in his personal life; he wants to have a relationship that makes him feel loved and passionate; he knew going in with his relationship with Judge that Judge didn’t want that with him, but Duke’s been going through the motions ever since his arrangement with Judge ended and he doesn’t feel like he’s ever going to find someone who wants to spend his life with him.
Until Vaughan.
I can’t imagine having a crush for 15 years on my father’s best friend, but that’s exactly how long Vaughan has wanted Duke, but because of their age difference and Vaughan’s fears of rejection, Vaughan worked to be the man Duke needs him to be and it seems to have paid off because Duke’s reaction to just Vaughan’s voice is enough to keep Vaughan determined to get the man he’s always wanted.
A.E. Via does a great job of illustrating how deep Vaughan’s feelings are for Duke and the steps he took to ensure that Duke would give him a chance. I love that it’s the younger man chasing the older man and the way that Vaughan carries himself – the smooth and charming way he speaks and the way he takes control of situations – is something that Duke yearns for in the bedroom, even if he is an alpha male to everyone else. Duke gets put through the wringer in Promises, but it’s in the aftermath that he clearly sees what Vaughan has to offer him and realizes that he wants everything Vaughan has to give.
Duke and Vaughan were great characters but I have to admit that I wish the pace of the book would have been slower; everything seemed to move at warp speed without much plot development to build the momentum of their relationship. I completely get that Vaughn had one goal when he came back to town and that is definitely made clear with all of his actions and words, and I also get what a real relationship means for Duke after he was merely a fuck buddy for the last guy he liked, but there were some issues that I thought should have been explored a bit more concretely before they were all in, and I’m hoping that even though Part Two will probably not focus on Duke and Vaughan that A.E. Via will give readers a bit more insight into how they’re doing now.
Overall, I enjoyed Promises, and I will definitely be one-clicking Part Two. I can’t wait to see how the angsty relationship that has developed between Quick and Cayson will be play out because one man’s in denial and the other doesn’t think anyone will ever love him. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of pushing and pulling when it comes to make anything work between them and I’m interested to see what Via will do for both of them to understand that there’s something to what they’re feeling for each other.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
“This is a must read, a must have and an amazing start to a new series! This author will always and forever have me as a fan and a supporter she is my go to and I will sing her book writing poweress to any and all who love the M/M fiction.” ~ ★ ★ ★★ ★ Amazon Reviewer
“When I saw this was part 1 my heart sank but it’s all good! This is Vaughan and Duke’s story and it will leave you more than satisfied whilst you wait for part 2 which will be Quick’s story and hopefully involve Cayson.” ~★ ★ ★★ ★ Prism Book Alliance
“Love Duke and Vaughan. Nice start to a new series. Can’t wait for the next book to come out. Love A.E. Via books.” ~ ★ ★ ★★ ★ Goodreads Reviewer
A.E. Via is still a fairly new author in the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and four children, her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late, great gay romance author E. Lynn Harris.
While this is only her eighth novel, she has plenty more to come. So stalk her – she loves that – because the male on male action is just heating up!
Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, and where she’ll appear next.
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