Violet Promises by Marie Johnston

POV: Dual 1st Person
3rd ACT BREAK-UP: Yes
TROPES: Accidental Pregnancy; One Night Stand; Small Town; Age Gap
SERIES: Oil Dukes
TYPE OF SERIES: Series of Standalones
RELEASE DATE: December 3, 2024
PoP: 65% (one night stand happens prior to book off page)

We go back to Coal Haven in Violet Promises and it’s quite the ride.

Marie Johnston brings us back to the Barrons while introducing more Dukes with book one of this new spin-off series. This is the story of Violet Duke and Evander Barron. These two meet at Reservoir Barrel, which you get the story of its start in Make Me Exhale (book 5 in the Oil Barron’s series). And it’s a series of unfortunate events.

Evander has been an enigma since he was introduced back in book one of the Oil Barron’s series. And in Violet Promises we understand why. He has been in the Army, but has never been “part of the family” as a whole. Evander has been through some things, and holds onto his baggage like a cloak. And when he finds out that he got Violet pregnant… let’s just say the man does not react well and there are so many wrong moves made by him.

Even after he realizes that Violet is good down to her soul.

Violet has finally dumped the dead weight of a terrible boyfriend, but that relationship has left her in shambles. Ending up pregnant is not where she thought her life was going. She makes some large missteps as well, but hers come from a place of insecurity and are fresh. There is a lot of revelations, and growth from Violet.

While I LOVE Marie Johnston and her series… there was something about the one that missed the mark for me. The book itself is solid. The storyline works, but it wasn’t enough for me. Full disclosure… I have been in an epic book slump right now and few books are hitting in all the right places for me. So it might be that for me. This is not a family that you want to miss… you do not want to sleep on Marie Johnston. You NEED to read her.

We are big fans here on the blog:

Check out these QSRs.

A Fearless Memory
Make Me Exhale

Check out my reviews of past Marie Johnston books:

A Reckless Memory
Make Me Whole
The Entire Oil Kings Series

Listen to this Sip and Discuss Episode of King’s Crown.