The Promise

Lost in New York, Book 2

By: Felice Stevens

Narrated by: Kale Williams

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

A promise made:

When Ezra Green sits next to Monroe Friedman in their high school English class, friendship blooms into first love, and even Ezra moving to California won’t keep them apart. Ezra promises Roe that once he finishes college, he’ll come home and the two will be together. In the meantime they’ll write and keep in touch. Nothing has to change.

A promise broken:

After months of unanswered letters, Roe makes one final attempt to contact Ezra with disastrous results. Ezra will never be his and he needs to move on.

Now, more than 20 years later, Ezra has come home. He doesn’t know why Roe stopped writing, but he’s determined to find out. But Roe won’t talk to him and Ezra doesn’t understand why. After all, Roe is the one who cut off contact. Isn’t he?

The promise of what is meant to be:

When Roe’s beloved grandmother suffers a stroke, the past becomes the present, and Ezra comes up with a plan. Pretending to be together to make an old lady happy should be no big deal, but after an unexpected explosive night together, decades-old secrets and lies are exposed, shattering Roe’s control and Ezra’s heart. Is first love only a dream and a promise merely words, or are Ezra and Roe meant to last a lifetime?

This can be listened to as a stand alone but you'll revisit several characters from book one, as well as other series.

©2020 Felice Stevens (P)2020 Felice Stevens

Fantastic Story and Narration

The Promise is a second chance, enemies to lovers romance that will warm your heart. It’s also considered a fake boyfriend story, but these guys want so badly to be together again that they aren’t faking it at all. Ezra and Monroe were high school sweethearts who were separated when Ezra’s family moved across the country. They promise to stay in touch and come back to each other after college. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen, and when they meet up again after more than twenty years, Roe isn’t ready to risk his heart again. Ezra is determined win him back and will do almost anything to make it happen, even fake being his boyfriend to make Roe’s grandmother happy.

Ezra and Roe were both introduced to readers in previous books. Ezra was introduced in “Running From My Heart” and Roe was introduced in “Fool For Love” (Lost in New York book one). I was so happy when I heard she was bringing them together in “The Promise”. Ezra and Roe are another wonderful couple readers will love. As much as Roe tried to fight it, the two are undeniably attracted to each other and have so much chemistry.

One thing I love about Felice Steven’s writing is her ability to create wonderful, three-dimensional characters. She creates people who think, react, and feel deeply; people you’d like to hang around with in real life. Even the supporting characters are rich and interesting, adding depth and realism to this wonderful story.

Kale Williams did a fantastic job narrating this story. He’s quickly become one of my favorite narrators for the way he brings a story to life with his acting. He alters his voice for each character and adds just the right amount of emotion necessary to portray each scene.

A Promise Worth Keeping

Audio Performance: 5 Gigantic Stars*****
Mr. Kale Williams once again did justice to a another stellar romance by Ms. Stevens. I love this narrator so much I was beyond thrilled to get the audio version of this touching story. Mr. Williams is a master at making the listener be able to discern who is speaking by using a a huge variety of different voices, His character development and the voices are clearly distinct so there is never confusion as to who is you are listening to. I was pulled into the story immediately and I felt his emotional performance gave Ms. Stevens story a perfect rendering. The audio was beautifully done with all the right feelings displayed. He really nailed the voices of the main characters when they were teens and I loved his version of grandma Nettie which shows how versatile a performer he is.
Story: The first thing I need to comment on is how much I loved the cover of of the book, Ezra is as wonderful as the picture represents. He has moved back to New York after two decades and his new mission is to reconnect with his best friend and the only man he has ever truly loved. I just wanted to to hug Ezra because behind the gorgeous man is a very confused and lonely soul who is baffled at the extreme hostility he received when he finally gets the courage to reach out to Monroe. Hurt over the abandonment of their friendship, he is doubly confused why Monroe is so hostile and acting the part of the victim.
Monroe is great at helping others move on with their lives while dealing with their past as he excels in his job as a grief counselor. He however doesn't seem to practice what he preaches and is bitter over what he perceives was a cruel and cold brush off from the only boy he ever cared about.
Monroe's family was amazing and they both gently nudge the two stubborn men to actually talk and explore what really happened after Ezra had to move away. Grandma Nettie was a pure treasure and her relationship with Monroe was precious.
The plot swirls around misperceived events and reality does become tilted. These two were destined to be together but Monroe really needs to listen like the professional counselor he is and Ezra must open his eyes and put his own needs first. A charming tale of second chances and hope that I strongly recommend.

A Touching Love Story

I loved Monroe and Ezra’s story. So much so I knew I needed to have this is audio too. Kale Williams did such a wonderful job bringing them to life for me. Kale really made me feel the deep loss and hurt that Monroe and Ezra each carried with themselves over their failed relationship at 17. I think it was more hurt than either realized as they reconnected over 20 years later. I loved Ezra’a passion and determination to win Roe back. In turn, Roe was so supportive to Ezra when it felt like his life was turned upside down. Roe’s patience with Ezra’s overbearing parents was admirable. I also loved Roe’s meddlesome Grandmother, she was such a trip! I loved the intertwining of their story along with previous books (however this can still stand-alone), and being able to visit with past characters I loved, especially Ross and Arden. I’ve really been loving the Lost in New York series as the storylines have been focusing on more relatable experiences. The characters have had such a staying power with me long after I’ve finished their story. I’ve also enjoyed the older, more mature and life seasoned characters in this series as well. This was a great addition to the series, and I definitely recommend it!

A PROMISE NOT BROKEN

I received this audio book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review.

Ezra and Monroe were lovers as teens. Ezra’s parents moved him from New York to Los Angeles his senior year of high school. Twenty-three years later, Ezra returns to find a hostile Monroe and doesn’t know why when Monroe stopped writing him.

The dynamics in this story are amazing as how the two never stopped loving each other and overcoming the obstacle that kept them apart. Monroe’s grandmother stole the book with her sassiness and wisdom. Ezra’s parents, the villains learned their lesson and I was glad to see a HEA come out of this story.

The narrator made the story with the different inflections for the voices. A superb job!

Feels!

From the first word I fell in love with Ezra and Monroe’s story. I was rooting for their happy ending from the beginning. Once again Felice Stevens has written a well rounded story where the MCs overcame the insecurities and any obstacles to find love.

I have not once been disappointed in Kale Williams narration. I always love his cadence and change in voices for each character. I look forward to more from him.

Overall this book gave me all the feels. Hope and joy for the MCs happy ending as well as relief for the outcome for all.

P.S.
I love grandma Nettie.

Forever

This story is a wonderful second chance story. Both men are angry at the other and both have their reasons from their perspective of events. Of course it is never that simple and a lot of truths come to the surface. But they begin the journey of reconnecting with neither one has all the facts. I also like that even when truths come out both men are also willing to admit their own failings. It is also a story that examines the idea that the course of their lives could have been completely different and how they relate now would not have been the same if they hadn't had the years apart. I love the development of the characters and love their friends and family and what they add to the story.
I listened to audio version and it was very well done.

A heartwarming and touching romance!

This was a heartwarming and touching romance with all the feels!
I adored Monroe and Ezra's story.
Their love was young but it never dimmed throughout the years they were apart. Through broken promises and misunderstandings, their love and kinship towards eachother was resilient.
This was an emotional listen and I loved how well written this was.
Kale William's narration portrayed the feelings and emotions of the characters so perfectly.

A wonderful second chance romance!

“This isn’t a second chance we’re taking. I knew it was you from the first.”

I love second chance romance, and Felice Steven’s books always get straight to my heart, so it’s no wonder I loved Monroe and Ezra as much as I did.
Poor Monroe was so angry and hurt in the beginning that it took a while for him to finally give Ezra a chance, but when he does, his level-head demeanour finally comes back for an appearance and he’s the one grounding Ezra and helping him deal with his deluge of emotions.
These two men, apparently so different from each other, are so complementary, so meant for each other, it’s a pure joy seeing them finally finding their way back together!
No more the boys they were at 17, they find new ways of being together, loving each other, and being there for each other now that they are 40, and the teenage love they shared is enhanced tenfold now that they are 40.
“Some people don’t meet their soul mate until they’re older. I happened to meet mine right out of the gate.”
So, this one may go straight into my Felice Stevens’ top 5!
Kale Williams gave all the emotion that special boost he's so great at, and made this book even better with his narration.

All the feels

I had already read the book, and the listening to Kale was like it's coming to life.
This was wonderful, the narrator also great.
Such a great combination.
Highly recommended!