This short cowboy romance was a fun read. There were a few story lines that didn't seem to go anywhere, some characters I would have liked to get to know better, and the ending was (of course) predictable, but if you like romances, you'll probably like this. I received this copy from the LIbraryThing Early Reviewers program.

A short and sweet read
3 stars

I always enjoy a cowboy romance - especially an opposites attract. Here we have city-girl Ava coming down to Texas and sparring with rough and tumble cowboy, Beau. What gave it a little extra in this department was that Ava, while liking her city comforts, was very much an independent, well-rounded kinda girl who didn’t let country life phase her. It’s nice to see a familiar trope without the usual cliches.

Speaking of the characters - I very much enjoyed Ava. As I said, she was smart, sharp and sassy. Making it in the male-dominated world of architectural construction (or something like that!) but still coming across as vulnerable and very real - I could see myself being friends with her. When she was annoyed at Beau and giving him the silent treatment - but couldn’t stop being polite to him even if she growled it through clenched teeth; these little things made me root for her while also laugh at how likely it all was.

Beau was your typical cowboy - but that’s hardly a complaint from me. He wanted what he wanted - liked what he liked - and those traits made me like him. However, I felt that I only really got glimpses of his personality and his soul. I would have liked more of him.

Another reviewer put it perfectly when she said that the love declaration was a little abrupt. It surprised me so much that I actually scrolled back to see if I’d missed a few chapters. Up until that moment Ava and Beau seemed to only have spent minimal time together and had barely a few kisses. While I enjoy sex in my romance novels, it’s by no means something that I require in order to enjoy a story. Unfortunately, for this book, I felt that it was an element that was definitely missing. It needed something else - be it romance or sex - just to lift this to the next level for me. To make me truly believe.

Ava’s trip to Texas all comes about due to her friend’s death bed request. A death bed request that we hear about right at the start of the novel. That was a rough way to start a book and I debated giving up right there and then. It just hit too close to the bone to immediately read the death of a 20-something from cancer.

And I also didn’t see the need for the Donnie storyline in the book. It takes up only a little time in the book but I would have preferred to read about Ava and Beau rather than a random kid. Presumably his own journey will continue in other books but I would have been happy enough if those elements weren’t included.

The ending was cute as a button and overall I easily sped through this fairly short book (I would guess at about 225 pages as I can’t seem to find an official page count while writing this review). It didn’t hit all the marks for me but was a pleasant way to pass a few hours. 3 stars for a cute cowboy and city girl gone country. ( )

Really enjoyable story with real characters. The book captured my attention right away and kept it until the end. Short and easy to read I would read more of this series. ( )

A Cowboy and a Promise is an engrossing story about two people who meet due to unusual circumstances. Their backgrounds couldn't be more different and in spite of many obstacles, a romance develops. Can they share a future?
The story is well told and the characters are believable. I would like to read other books in this series. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through LibraryThing. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )

I really enjoyed this book and I was sad to come to the end. It was an easy and entertaining read that I had a hard time putting down. I look forward to reading more books from this author and this series. ( )