Genre: Contemporary Romance Heat Level: 2 Word Count: 16, 250 ISBN: 978-0-3695-0580-4 Editor: Melissa Hosack Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

The Promise of Annie by T. Lee Garland

Heat Level 2
$2.99
SKU 978-0-3695-0580-4
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Romance on the Go ®

Annie is a nurse who promised a dying patient that she would deliver an envelope to the woman's estranged nephew after her death.  Annie intends to keep that promise, even if the nephew is a sexy bar owner who makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with the envelope or her.

Van hasn’t seen his aunt in years. Now that she’s gone, he doesn’t care about her or her damn envelope. Except he does care about the curvy nurse in the cotton-candy pink scrubs that barges into his busy bar on a cold Friday night in Tennessee, and insists that he open the envelope.

A freak ice storm leaves them unexpectedly stranded together.  Annie has a secret that she hopes will change Van’s mind and heart about his aunt. Van just knows he wants Annie and the promise of her in his life forever.

 

Excerpt:

I make my way quickly to the bar, where a man stands watching me with a frown. He’s attractive, if you like that bad-boy look … tall, built, tattoos, short cut dark hair, neat beard. Yeah, okay he’s not my usual type, but even I have to admit that he’s hot. As a nurse, I can appreciate a well-defined body, and it’s on full display in the stretched to the limit black tee he’s wearing.

Gray-green eyes watch me approach with all the enthusiasm of a homeowner seeing his house burn to the ground. When I get close enough to be able to hear over the guitar-heavy, country music, he leans over the bar toward me. “You lost, sweet pea?”

I inwardly bristle at being called “sweet pea” even though coming from someone as gorgeous as him, it does sound sexy as hell. His voice is home-grown honey and whiskey mixed with a Tennessee twang. I imagine him whispering things in my ear that makes me blush, and I don’t blush easily anymore. I shake my head no and feel more hair disengage from the band holding it back. “I’m looking for Van Hawkes. Do you know him?”

His eyebrows rise up a little before he asks, “What you want Van for, darling?”

I’m too tired for this question and answer session, even from the hot guy. I need a shower, a pint of ice cream, and twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep. Some steamy, mindless sex wouldn’t hurt either. I could get lost in some of that right now. It’s been a long time, and my body is trying to remind me that I’m not the one dead. If only I had the time.

I always get a little snippy when I’m sleep-deprived, so I shoot back. “That’s my business, Sweetheart. Is he here?” The walking orgasm’s lips twitch, and for a brief moment, I think he may actually smile.

I suddenly feel a heavy arm drop around my shoulders and the stink of sour beer hits my face. “Hey, nurse, how about me and you get out of here and play a little doctor?” The man leans inward toward me, and I struggle not to gag and to get out of his grip. It’s surprisingly strong for someone who has had way too much to drink.

 “Get your damn hands off me!” I demand, shoving at him.

In a flash, the hot bar guy has jumped the bar and is beside me. “Earl, what have I told you about touching the ladies? Get gone. Now!”

Earl lets go of me and staggers backward, holding both hands up in surrender. “Sorry, man. Didn’t know you had a claim on this sexy piece. No harm meant, man.”

Piece? Did he just call me a piece? I step closer to the drunk, intending to give him a quick kick to his flappy balls. “What did you call me?”

The stinky drunk guy laughs. “Van, you always were a lucky son-of-a-bitch when it came to women.” He staggers away before I can drop-kick him to his ass on the nasty wood floor.

I turn on hot guy. “Wait, did he call you Van?”

Product Reviews

Score: 4 out of 5 (based on 12 ratings)
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5/5
Beautiful Romantic Story
Written by Judy H on 18th Aug 2022

Annie was a private nurse to Sarah and when she was at the end, she made her promise to deliver an envelope to her nephew who lived a few hours away from Nashville. Van runs the bar that his father had before him. He and his father were on the outs with his aunt after a visit a long time ago and they had not talked since. The characters are terrific, with great backstories that bring every emotion right into your heart. Plenty of pain slowly being relieved, deeper understandings and real forgiveness. Great chemistry and entertaining situations that heal them both. The ending was so perfect.

5/5
Satisfied
Written by Kmhall on 18th Aug 2022

I have to be truthful, it took me a chapter to her into this only because I didn't get that first zing of chemistry or attraction when they first met, since it was all about his Aunt and sorting that situation out. However, I am happy to say that from the later chapters I was happy to see their romance was going to be a slow burn. I did like the storyline and how they come to meet but I think for me the real story started once they reached his home for shelter. From then on the chemistry and heat took over the pages. You could really feel their connection. There was a slight "will they won't they" element that I'm not sure I need *personally* BUT I can happy say that I did enjoy their reconciliation, because it happens very quickly and then it takes you to their happy ending and you get to see where their relationship goes in the future. All in all tid was a very satisfying romance and I will happily read more from this author in the future!

4/5
Van & Annie
Written by Nate on 18th Aug 2022

I enjoyed Van & Annie’s book. It was an interesting read. And a new author for me. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

5/5
Van and Annie
Written by casvec on 18th Aug 2022

The Promise of Annie is a fast read that will grab at your heart as the truth of Van's family is revealed as years of pain, hate and loneliness as torn at him. Annie is a nurse with a big heart. She travels two hours outside of Nashville to deliver her patients last request to her last relative. What should have been easy turn in to a journey that is requires patience, understanding and hope. This is great story that you will lose yourself in.

4/5
Truly enjoyed
Written by bookreader72 on 18th Aug 2022

Annie is such sweetheart who meets Van and from there a blazing hot romance is born. I truly like tye book. Good solid writing and development.

4/5
The Promise of Annie!
Written by Mary on 18th Aug 2022

This is such a sweet and touching story. It is a fairly short and quick read with great characters. This story is about Annie, Van and a promise made to a dying women. I enjoyed every bit of this one from beginning to end. Annie has promised Sarah to deliver a letter to Van, her nephew. So as soon as Sarah passes Annie travels in scrubs to make good on her promise. When Annie and Van meet the attraction is pretty instant but the letter is another story. Van wants nothing from his aunt. Their stories are heartbreaking. I love the ending to the read! Never truer words!

5/5
A Graceful End for A Beautiful Beginning
Written by JennT on 18th Aug 2022

This novella isn’t long, but it brings all the feels. Oh, I was so happy for Van and Annie; from their rocky introduction to surviving an ice storm together to their wonderful, warm-and-fuzzy ending, every bit of their relationship is perfectly perfect. A splendid little read.

4/5
sweet happily ever after
Written by memes on 18th Aug 2022

Annie works as a nurse, her patient passed away and asked her to give her nephew a letter. Annie heads a couple hours away to find the nephew, Van. Van runs a bar thats a little rough and blows Annie off. Annie and Van eventually hit it off and its steamy. The book may seem like it won't be a happy ending but just wait keep reading. The author did a good job drawing the reader in to the story. There's no action or suspense its just a quick, sweet romance.

4/5
Long and Short Reviews
Written by Fern on 2nd May 2022

Annie had no idea when she promised to fulfil the dying wishes of a patient that it would lead her to a seedy bar and a dangerously good looking man. Van wants nothing to do with his aunt – dead or not – nor is he thrilled with the sexy nurse she sent to deliver a message. Annie, however, is determined to complete her friends dying wish and isn’t willing to take no for an answer. I found this a refreshing and different style of short story. While the dark, brooding and sexy bar owner meeting the sexy do-good girl is a well loved trope for a reason, I found the tension and small twists to the plotline really intriguing and well handled. This gave the whole story – short as it was – a slightly different outlook and while it still had many of the features of a tried-and-true comfort read, it was new and different enough that I found it really interesting. Van and Annie’s characters were realistic and fun, but I have to admit there was nothing too unique about them. Readers looking for a comforting kind of read with well-established parameters should find this a lovely and easy sort of read. I was really pleased the chemistry between Van and Annie was a slower sort of burn – not just because that helped them take a bit of time to get to know each other and merge from strangers into sexual partners, but also because Annie was clearly grieving the loss of her friend a few hours ago and it would have felt very odd to me had she jumped right into bed with a complete stranger. That said, the sex was spicy and explicit so readers looking for a steamy read should find this aspect to the story satisfies them. Fun and a slightly different style of story I really enjoyed this quick read and will happily try more titles by this author.

5/5
Dania
Written by Awww...the ending! on 30th Mar 2022

First, you had me pink scrubs. Pink is my favorite color. Annie and Van's chemistry heats up the pages of this steamy short story. They are wonderful together. And the ending, all I can say is awww... Well done. Highly recommend.

4/5
A one-sitting satisfying read
Written by Laura on 30th Mar 2022

Enjoyed this romance in one sitting. Spunky Annie and sexy, gruff Van made for steamy and sweet rolled into one.

4/5
One-sitting read
Written by Laura on 27th Mar 2022

Enjoyed this story with spunky Annie and sexy-gruff Van. Steamy and sweet rolled together nicely.

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