This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

How in God’s name could I know something was so damned wrong, so at odds with every promise I had made, and crave it like it might be the only thing that could sustain my next breath?

First Impressions
Promise Me Always is a story that will break into your emotions in the best of ways. You will NOT be ready for this one and what the author will deliver. I just felt this one so deep on so many levels. We see so much emotion and pining from both of these characters but we also see the background for Milo and how that drives the story. What I truly admired though was the partnership that we see from this couple and how strong they stand together no matter what they face. I was worried about the heroine in the third act, but she got through what it was and wanted to stand for the hero and make him believe the goodness that is in him. But I kinda knew that twist would probably happen after reading her writing lol Its a common theme within this series a bit.

First Line
It was just before ten PM as I edged through the crowd.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Milo Hendricks
The Heroine: Tessa McDaniels

Summary
Tessa McDaniels has been half in love with Milo for quite a while now. She has wanted him to see her for the woman that she is. But through a course of events, when he becomes her rescuer when her ex abuses her, he shows the true strength and protectiveness that is within his heart for her. He offers her a place to settle for safety and in exchange she becomes his fake fiancee so that he can get custody of his children as his in laws had taken them from him and the courts had sided with them. But this time he will fight for his children and find a place for them like he and his past wife had always planned. But what he didn't plan on was what he would find with Tessa.....to find love again when he feels so dirty and unworthy....but Tessa shows him he is worthy of love if he will fight for it...

“It’s always you. How could I live without the sun?”
“I love you,” I whispered at his lips.
“Mad, mad love.”

What I Loved
This book melted my heart from beginning to end. I loved every single moment of this one. I had no doubt though since I just adore this author and what she has delivered here. I didn't want to put this one down at all. I did this in audio (if you can do her books in audio....THEY HIT DIFFERENT) And I just loved how the narration made these characters just come alive so beautifully. I fell so hard for both Milo and Tessa but in different ways. Tessa is the perfect softer heroine. She is a teacher, and more fun and maternal in nature. I loved how she had this inner strength that resonates on such a deep level. Then we have Milo who is so damaged and tortured and in need of healing and redemption and finding love like he deserves. My heart broke for his past and what he had to learn to overcome. But seeing the growth in his character and learning to see fight so strongly with Tessa, had me swooning all over the pages. I just couldn't get over these two, their deep connection and the true unity in their intimacy.....A.L. Jackson has delivered once again and this is definitely my favorite series from her I have read so far. And I can't wait to delve further into her backlist.

All except for the undercurrent of darkness that curled around him like a building storm. The ghosts that haunted him in the night. But the truth was, I’d gladly take those on, too

What I Struggled With
I think the only thing that kept me from this being a 6 star read was how the conflict happened in the third act. I wasn't a fan with the brother being killed off, I would have really liked to have seen him survive. I think the heroine finding his things could have still happened without him being murdered.

Narration
BRILLIANT and so swoony!!! These two just narrate her books so perfectly and I didn't want to put the audio down at all!!!!

Overall View
Promise Me Always was a captivating read that swept through my heart and soul like a battering ram of sensuality, tortured hearts and a beautiful love that melts you from the inside out.

But sometimes, we have to make it through the ugliness to find the beauty on the other side.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Tortured Hero, MMA Fighter, Alphamellow, Soft FMC, Single Dad/Widower
Themes: Heart/Emotionally, Tear Jerker, Kids/Children
Tropes: Fake Engagement, Forced Proximity

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Catherine Cowles
Jennifer Ryan
Kristen Ashley

Song This Book Inspires
All The Same by Sick Puppies

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standlone but works better reading in order if possible

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Connor Crais
Samantha Brentmoor