Promises: Part 1: Bounty Hunters, Book 1

This was an amazing romance ! Duke and vaugh are good together. I loved the relationship of Vaugh and his Dad as well. Such power ful story telling.There is so much depth to all the characters in this book.I loved the friendship s as well.I enjoy this author so much!

Promises: Part 1 is the first book in a new series by wonderful author A.E. Via. It's a spinoff from the Nothing Special series and certainly keeps pace with the great writing and story telling in those books.This story is about Duke, who we originally meet in Nothing Special 4 and leads a ragtag group of bounty hunters, and Vaughn who has been in love with Duke for what seems forever. Vaughn has returned to prove to Duke that they are perfect for each other no matter what anyone might think, including Duke. Although this can be read as a stand alone I highly suggest reading the Nothing Special Series, especially number four, to see Duke's backstory more and how he got to be where he is. This in and of itself is a delightful read. The author once again writes a action packed but sweet story of love.

I was SO excited to learn about this book the day before it came out... so YAY I didn't have to wait for it forever, knowing it was coming out LOL, bonus...My heart broke in the beginning... I really felt for Duke in Judge's book, even though Judge knew how Duke felt and didn't encourage it, you could tell how lonely Duke was, I really hated that he was left alone after Judge fell for Austin. Now we have Duke, still lonely and just looking for someone to spend time with, he long ago stopped wishing for someone to love him, just wanted a companion... isn't that sad? Little did he know, his college and good friend Quick's son Vaughn has had a massive crush on him for the past decade... All grown up now and convinced to be the man that Duke needed him to be, he was goin after his man!Vaughn is confident and sure, he's went on the last few years determained... He was going to grow up, get his degree, travel the world and be ready to settle down when it came time to go after Duke. And he was, he knew what he wanted and wasted no time in getting it... Loved that...Then... Duke gets hurt and OMG my heart broke... I actually cried... over a badass bounty hunter book, I cried like a baby... more than once, but the first time over Duke, man the whole thing just wasn't fair... Finally thinking he might get his little piece of happy then the unthinkable happens... I was...gutted!Vaughn being Vaughn though and not givin up his man, went into survival mode and did what he needed to do to save his man... How awesome was that?! I love these two together, they're amazing... Vaughn is just what Duke needs and Duke is everything Vaughn ever wanted... gotta love the love in that! And the sex between em? HOT! I was so glad the way it worked out for them...It was perfect.The second thing that broke my heart was Dr. Chauncy... seriously... my heart hurt so bad for him. He knew he wanted Quick the second he laid eyes on him, always in the hospital with Duke, he saw how nice a guy he was, how loyal to his friend he was... He'd never been apart of something like that. He felt unlovable or even unlikeable when it came to Quick...I wish someone would have explained it to him how Quick was confused about himself and it had nothing to do with him because it left him hurt and feeling badly about himself. I hated that for him because he seemed like such an awesome guy and he'd done everything he could for Duke and Vaughn when he really didn't have to.... Instead, Quick humiliated him and rejected him and... sigh.. it made me cry again... what the heck!?! I was so sad that it ended when they got to see each other again, I reeeeeeeally can not wait to read their story! I have a feeling it might be my new favorite and that'll be so hard to top every other story I read and declare it my favorite! Cannot wait for it!!Also, VERY interested to learn about these King brothers... Here's hopin they get a book too!?++

*Warning review may contain spoilers*Duke Morgan is a forty year old bounty hunter who’s last relationship was little more than a friends with benefits arrangement. His best friend’s son Vaughan Webb returns home from graduate school, as a man on a mission to win Duke’s heart.I’d like to say I liked this book but I just couldn’t get into it. I’m a big fan of this author’s writing. Her characters are real and she’s done detailed research that gives the book a solid foundation. She’s not afraid to write characters with messy lives and personalities.What I didn’t like is mostly that the entire book was just a slow burn of the two main guy’s romance. They set their first date in chapter nine and don’t get to sexy times until around chapter thirty-two, and most of that chapter is them having a discussion that had me sighing for them to get on with it already.A story doesn’t have to be all about sex but the chapters in between are them just going on about how attracted they are to each other and how much they can’t wait to be together. This mainly happens because both main characters have an injury that keeps them from having sex, but a simple time skip would have easily remedied this and saved us all from chapter after chapter of ‘you’re so hot, but oh no we have to be careful because of your injury’ I paraphrase of course but it got old fast. There’s some real cringe worthy moments as well, and oh boy does this book need an edit.Duke is probably my least favorite character from the Nothing Special/Promises series and I can’t really say why. The author paints him as an attractive 40 year old with a great body, but otherwise average Joe. He’s still pining a bit for his ex and even though neither of them were in love it’s obvious that Duke still deeply mourns the loss of that arrangement. I liked Judge who appeared in the story Don’t Judge as a main character, but despite Duke and Judge still being good friends, this book just made him seem like a real a**hole for how he treated Duke. I mean yes Judge is kinda an a**hole but Duke is a grown man an well aware of the limitations of his and Judge’s arrangement.Duke’s best friend’s son Vaughan has wanted him for years, and apparently loved no other, and I just didn’t get why Vaughan spent so long pining over this guy. It’s not that a person can’t fall for an average Joe I just wasn’t clear on what drew Vaughan to Duke, and caused him to seemingly make his sole focus in life to become a man worthy of Duke. Their relationship didn’t really hold my interest even though the entire book is something of a build up to them being deeply in love.I read this book and felt like the author wrote a whole story and then split it into two novels. I’m looking forward to reading Quick’s story in part two but hopefully it won’t be another thirty chapters of sexual tension.

This is an older book so we're back with the grammatical errors and odd bits but it's still a good start to this series.I think I probably should have read this interspersed with the Nothing Special series based on publication date but never mind.I've also got zero clue whether the American medical system would allow the procedure which happens in this book but it felt like it was possible within the bounds of this story so I'm running with it.Duke is a sweetheart and I'm really happy that Vaughan is there to show and tell him daily just how special he is.I liked the introduction of the rest of the crew and I there was enough action in this book for of not to feel too much different to the police work of Nothing Special.

I'm elated that Duke got his own story. We first met him in the fourth book of the Nothing Special series (Don't Judge), and I've gotta say, I really did feel sad for him, as he and Judge had a sexual relationship, which Duke definitely wanted to develop into something deeper, but alas, it wasn't meant to be, as Judge fell in love with someone else. And I'm actually sooo happy things turned out the way they did – as now Duke has a sweet and lovely man who adores him.With there being an almost 15 year age gap between Duke and Vaughn, I suppose this is a May-December type romance. While Duke is 45 and beginning to feel his age somewhat, Vaughn is 31, but is older than his years really, therefore things actually feel very balanced between them. Vaughn is also the son of Quick who is Duke’s best friend and colleague. And I've gotta say just how much I love Quick. What a cool guy. In cahoots with, and willingly helping his son pursue the man of his dreams. Not a lot of beautifully open-minded parents like that around!What gave these guys romance that little bit extra for me, was Vaughn had been in love with his dad’s best friend from he was just a teen really, but kept this information to himself as he knew he'd be rejected at such a young age. But now he's all grown up and finally goes after the one man he's always wanted. And boy does he go all out to get him! I do love me a ballsy character, and Vaughn's utter determination to win Duke, is just so sexy and appealing to me.This tale has it all. It’s damn hot and humorous to, with life or death situations and that family vibe that AEV is so very good at conveying. And as far as romance goes – it doesn't get more old school than this. CAUTION: A box of tissues is an absolute must for this tale! But most of all, it's a definite that these two are getting their well earned HEA. And I cannot wait for Book 2, Quick and the Doc’s story.

I've been waiting for this book to come out, and AE certainly stayed true and didn't disappoint. We get to know Duke who was in "Don't Judge". I always felt bad for Duke when he hooked up with Judge, as I always did feel that Judge was just using him, though Judge was open about their dealings. Here Duke gets to feel better about himself, as he finds out the most amazing, hot guy seems to want him more than the his next breath, and has loved Duke since he was just a kid. The only problem is he happens to be the son of his best friend Quick. As you know Duke has he own business of bounty hunters and capturing criminals that have broken their bonds. Duke goes out on a job to capture a criminal and is seriously wounded with only weeks to live, gutted to think that this has happened now when he has a chance at being loved like he's always wanted. Not going to say anymore as it will spoil yhe story. Please do read this and enjoy.

I am afraid I didn't enjoy this story.I suppose I was a bit disappointed that one of my assumptions didn't pan out: I expected to read about the non-MC guy's reaction to his 30 yo son's interest in his 40+ yo business partner. I was rather looking forward to that but this potential plot point of interest was thrown away by dad already knowing that son wanted to go after business partner. Okay then.SPOILERI was really intrigued by the description and build-up of the younger guy character as this gorgeous and kind of alpha type man who is determined to go after his father's partner and finally win him after having been in love with him for years and years. I was very prepared to follow the conquest with interest. The story didn't pan out like that at all.The main problem of this story is that the 30 yo main character very quickly comes across like he's about 15 years old. The older guy isn't much better, he also doesn't come across as very mature.Then throw in the disruptive story element of sudden life-threatening event, actually an event that guarantees that the older guy's life is about to end unless drastic action is provided... as happens to arise out of younger guy's devotion to him...Sorry, but yawn.In order to introduce such a sudden and disruptive event to a story, it has to be set up in some way. To just suddenly throw a spanner in the works that just jolts the story out of its established tracks just feels like a cheap trick. I wasn't very keen on that at all.I must admit that I didn't bother to finish reading the story. I got to the bit where the older MC finds out that his young paramour-to-be saved his life... without him knowing first. And he throws a temper tantrum of being upset at that (maybe the not knowing part, I can't remember). Seriously?I was going to read the last chapter to see if there was something that I would be worth reading up to, but I didn't feel that I wanted to spend the time on that.The good point was that the bounty hunter and medical procedural elements were written well, I just wish the story had been better plotted and the main characters maturity levels been written better.

A.E Via is on of my favourite authors I just love their book. It has so many sexy,lovey characters to fall in love with this book is apart of a fantastic series which I cant wait to read. Also meeting the team I'm secretly anticipating their own stories.It was an easy 5 stars from me.