Review – These Dead Promises by L.A. Cotton

These Dead Promises; A Darling Hill Duet #2
(#2 within a duet)

Publication Date: April 19, 2022

Genre/Tropes: Duet/New Adult/Dark/Enemies-to-Lovers/Sports Romance

Author: L.A. Cotton

Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:

It’s a beautiful story of strength and love and what love can do with the right person by your side.

I loved how the second half of this duet delved deeper into the emotional ties between Nix and Birdie. Just because Phoenix and Harleigh reconnected at the end of book one didn’t mean everything was fixed and all the emotional mess, future problems, or family issues in their lives were magically fixed.

Don’t get me wrong, I love HEA’s just as much as the next person, but sometimes when I read a book like this, it’s a reminder that love doesn’t instantly solve all your problems. Instead when love is right, with the right person, they will stand by your side through thick and thin while life may still be rocky.

While Phoenix and Harleigh knew they wanted one another, making it happen wasn’t exactly easy. They lived on opposite sides of town where stigmas ran deep, which was just the tip of the iceberg.

Harleigh was still working on her mental health and just because Nix was back in her life didn’t mean she was instantly fixed. Where they lived and who their family was was just another added another layer of complications for both of them.

This book was emotional and touching for so many reasons. I loved that Cotton didn’t shy away from the hard issues while still keeping their love front and center.

Teenagers feel things deeply and super intense and every time Nix and Birdie came together their intensity leapt off the page.

Nix especially couldn’t contain what he felt Birdie, it flowed out of him, but he also was restrained and sweet. His intensity was mesmerizing to read. I loved what these two overcame to be together and in the end only made them stronger.

I’m looking forward to continuing watching their growth in future books as I see their love only growing and getting stronger as the years go by.

Synopsis:

Phoenix Wilder is fighting.

For the girl he loves and the future he isn’t sure he deserves.

But he’ll do it for her.

His Birdie.

His anchor.

The only girl ever to see him for who he really is.

Harleigh Wren Maguire is trying.

For the boy she loves and the future she thought was stolen from her.

But she’ll do it for him.

Her protector.

Her heart.

The only guy to ever make her feel worth something.

But Harleigh and Nix will have to figure out what they want and what they’re willing to sacrifice before they can chase their dreams of a better life.

Because sometimes love isn’t enough.

And the promises they made could end up nothing more than bittersweet memories.

* 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘪𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩’𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘦𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 17+

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