Promise me This is the fourth book in the Between Breaths series. Each book can be read as a standalone, and I have found with this series that this is really the case. Sometimes you get a mention or a cameo of a character from another one of the books but not very much. They basically all just live in the same city/world, but other than that each book is completely focused on the main characters. Which works out great for people that want to pick and choose which books they want to read or to read them out of order. You won’t be lost at all.

Promise Me This is the story of Nate and Jessie. They both work at the tattoo shop, but on the surface they seem like complete opposites. There were so many things I enjoyed of their dynamic. I liked that at first glance they each didn’t appear to be the kind of person the other would go for. Jessie likes her guys rough around the edges, slim and cut with tats galore. And Nate is anything but that, Jessie thinks that he lives up to her nickname for him after all, which is Square. Nate has always had a crush on Jessie but he keeps people at a distance because he doesn’t trust himself to not turn out like his father. Just the fact that he was so worried about treating women badly made me know that he was nothing like his father. Another thing I liked about the two of them, was that while Nate always kind of had a thing with Jessie, she never thought twice about him that way until she walked in on him with one of his hookups. It was like the veil had been lifted and she saw another side of him.

So much of their boding took place on a short trip they took together. I loved everything about this trip. I loved Jessie’s passion for photography and I really loved how Jessie started to peel back the layers and get to know Nate. It brought me to realize what was my favorite thing about this couple. So much of their connection and communication was nonverbal. She really just got him. It was so clear to see. She could tell when he was getting lost in his head, and she was able to pull him out. I fell in love with their nonverbal dance completely. It made me think- now these two people are perfect for each other.

Just like in Before You Break, Promise Me This deals with a tough issue that may be difficult for some people to read about. It deals with domestic abuse. Nate had a tough childhood, and I really liked that this was address so classily in this book. Therapy was used and Jessie helped Nate along the way too. I loved Jessie and Nate so much. They are each such strong characters on their own and to see them weave themselves into the others life was beautiful. There are no other words for it. Whether you have read all three books or none of them, read Promise Me This. It is a great New Adult Contemporary Romance.