DNF--not my kind of book--I thought it was more of a book about cults, less of a PI story.

When I reviewed When All the Girls Have Gone, the first Cutler, Sutter & Salinas book last year, it read like a stand alone, so I assumed it was. In fact, I was downright thrilled that it was a standalone, because that meant I wasn’t waiting with bated breath for the next book in the series.

I should have remembered that Jayne Ann Krentz, under all of her various pennames (Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle) writes very, very few standalones these days. Because now we have the second book in the series, and I believe there will be at least a third. After all, Max Cutler got his HEA in Girls, and now it’s Cabot Sutter’s turn in Promise. Not only is Anson Salinas entitled to his chance, but Max and Cabot have a brother who deserves his own HEA at some point as well.

So I’m hoping for four books.

The story in Promise is only loosely tied to Girls. The series is following the guys, and it relates to a long-ago trauma that they shared with the heroine of Promise, Virginia Troy. Because that shared-trauma is far back in the past, it is possible to read both books as standalones, and you could read Promise without having read Girls. But it’s certainly creepier if you read both.

Once upon a time, there was a cult lead by sociopath/psychopath Quinton Zane. Both Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter were children of the cult, and local cop Anson Salinas was the one who saved them when Zane set his compound on fire as part of his disappearing act.

While Cutler, Sutter & Salinas do not believe the reports of Zane’s death, it’s only when Virginia Troy shows up in their office that they have hard evidence that Zane is still alive. And as evidence goes, it really isn’t very hard, unless one is a member of the Zane conspiracy theory club, which they all definitely are.

One of the two grown-up women who survived Zane’s fire either just committed suicide, or just left Virginia evidence that Zane is still alive and was stalking her. As scarred and traumatized as Hannah Brewer was, Virginia doesn’t believe the suicide theory, no matter how much the local cops do.

And neither do Cutler, Sutter & Salinas. Which throws Cabot Sutter and Virginia Troy together as they investigate not just what happened to Hannah Brewer in the recent past, but what happened to Quinton Zane and his cult long ago, in order to figure out why that past has suddenly become a dangerous piece of the present.

Before it’s too late.

Escape Rating A: This is a very hot, slightly creepy, stay up late to finish story of romantic suspense. I pretty much loved every page of it, and can’t wait to see what happens next. While Cabot and Virginia seem to have found their HEA, the hunt for Quinton Zane is far, far from over.

The story, as so many of Krentz/Quick/Castle’s stories do, rests (or rather stays up late) on the portrayals of the two principals, Cabot and Virginia. They are both scarred, and by the same trauma. It gives them an instant bond, because there are things that they understand that can only be understood by people who shared that same experience. They are both driven to make themselves secure however they can, and they have both given up on most relationships. It’s impossible to get close to someone when you either have to keep part of yourself back, or when the other person constantly minimizes an experience that is foundational to your experience, even if its something as terrible as what happened to them. Or even worse, is someone you are attempting to form a relationship with believes that you’re crazy.

So their trust in each other is instant, but convincingly so. Everything else takes a bit longer, but they begin very much on the same page. They are, as it is said in the story, intimate strangers from the outset.

They also work together as partners. Cabot may be the one with the investigative expertise, but Virginia knew Hannah Brewer and the art she produced as her way of dealing with her own demons. When it becomes obvious that whoever was after Hannah is after Virginia, even though they don’t initially know why they do know that Virginia’s insights are crucial to solving the case. As they indeed turn out to be.

The case they end up solving is not actually the one that they thought they were pursuing. And it keeps the pages turning as they uncover more and different secrets under more and more rocks. By the end, they are closer to resolving the mystery of what happened back when they were children, and they have removed the current threat.

But as the story ends, it is obvious that there are more threats coming for them. And I can’t wait.

This author never disappoints!! She is a must read author every time!!

Wow. Just Wow. I absolutely could not put Promise Not to Tell down.

From word one I was drawn into the lives of Virginia and Cabot. Her anxiety issues and his dry humor made me laugh out loud as they were fleeing for their lives. That’s not to say the suspense wasn’t high because it, there is just a lightness to Promise Not to Tell and their personalities that makes you want to stay in the book with them.

It’s interesting to read about how cult leaders dupe the unsuspecting but we rarely hear about the aftermath. In Promise Not to Tell we learn about the lives of the children twenty-two years after the nightmare that bonded them and pulled them apart. Fixing the mistakes of the parents is now in there hands, but do they have the keys to accomplish the task?

If you want a great mystery full of tense but fun action Promise Not to Tell will not let you down!

When I read the first book in the series over a year ago, I was only just beginning to read romance mysteries. A lot has happened since then and I have discovered I do like mysteries. When I saw the next book in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas Series was coming out it was a no-brainer that I was going to read it. I grabbed my copy of Promise Not to Tell and settled in for a read. I would like to point out one thing. It’s been very foggy here while I’ve been reading this book and I found it to be the perfect setting. Quite a bit of the story takes place in a secluded area, so my weather has added a certain ambiance.

Honestly, I think I may have overlooked in the previous book, or maybe it wasn’t mentioned but the series seems to center around a cult, or more likely, the children survivors. In the case, it is Virginia and Cabot. Now while there is a mystery that needs to be solved, a bulk of the story centers around the cult. Not exactly what happened in the past but is the former cult leader still alive.

The mystery itself was a good one. Did Hannah commit suicide or was she killed? Virginia has hired Cabot to investigate which is an interesting turn of events since both of them were children in the same said cult. A lot of the book spends its time going over the issues both have and share as the investigate Hannah’s death. Curiouser and curiouser the story gets while the bodies keep piling up.

For me, Promise Not to Tell was a slow build. There’s quite a bit of repetitiveness in Virginia and Cabot’s PTSD issues that, while I understand played an important part, I still felt I got the hint the first several times it was brought up. Within that slow build, quite a few characters come into play. I should have paid attention a bit more to them because once the slow build of the story ended, it ended with a bang. A very busy bang. The ending to be more precise.

Whoosh! Now a lot is going on with a lot of secrets coming out. A few I saw coming but the rest were very unpredictable, and it was a lot to take in. Think of it as a microwaving popcorn. At first, there is a little sizzle while everything warms up, then a few pops of anticipation, then BANG! Everything happens at once and the excitement just explodes. Can’t believe I just made that comparison but if you like your mysteries like a bag of nuked popcorn, then Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz is the book for you.

reviewed by Jac

I am a fan of Krentz and have read virtually everything she has written. This book, however, seems a retread of earlier plots. I was disappointed.

This is the first book I have read in a long time that was sexy, smart, and just plain fun. The story reaching back 22 years to a tragic fire set by a cult leader leads to mystery, murder and mayhem in the present with two very attractive survivors of that long ago tragedy. There were many many twists to the story but they all unfolded logically and kept this reader totally invested up to the last page. The love story added a dimension to the story without turning it into a Hallmark movie. What is even better is the satisfaction in knowing the story continues. I look forward to reading the next adventure.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
3.5 Hearts Let me say that Krentz is high on my list of favorite authors but this book just didn’t do it for me. It seemed very long and yet each chapter was very short.
Virginia and Cabot knew each other as kids living in a cult and dealing with horrendous conditions and almost being killed. Now they are adults and believe the cult leader is back.
The story just wasn’t suspensive enough and I never really connected to the characters. I suggest reading any of Krentz’s books but don’t start with this one as you will not really get the feel of Krentz’s work.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say up front that Ms. Krentz is one of my favorite authors of all time. This book did not disappoint, I finished it in one day. I think I identify with this book because it is written about the Seattle WA local which is my backyard but whatever I loved this book, it was very well written and easy to keep up with.

Jayne Ann Krentz starts a new series in Promise Not to Tell in which Seattle Art Gallery owner Virginia Troy is pulled back into her painful past when she and her mother were held in a mad cult settlement. After the cult master burned down the settlement with the cult members inside, only a few members survived. Virginia was a small child mourning her murdered mother. Suddenly connections to the past revive old memories as one cult survivor dies by murder or suicide and Virginia teams up with other survivors to hunt down what is going on. Murder, kidnapping, money laundering and romance. What a romp!!!! Read this excellent romantic thriller.

Virginia Troy owns an art gallery in Seattle and is one of the kid survivor of the cult led by Quinton Zane. The past comes back to haunt Virginia when one of her artist leaves her a clue in a painting about the cult before committing suicide. Virginia decides to ask PI Cabot Stutter who also survived the cult when he was a child for help. As they start getting closer to solving the mystery of the painting the bodies start piling up close to home.

This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. It is a pretty good romantic suspense and is stronger than the first one. A fast paced suspenseful story with twist and turns that makes it an entertaining read and I cannot wait for the next one in the series.

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

DNF- no rating but netgalley makes you add one, so I put 1 star. Sorry.

Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz is a 2018 Berkley publication.

Rebound! I’m beginning to sense a little excitement with this series!!

The first book in this new series by veteran author, Jayne Ann Krentz, got off to a rocky start, or at least it did for me.

I was hoping fervently that this second installment would show some improvement, and so I am happy to say it is a much stronger effort and I really enjoyed it.

Seattle comes to life in this story, adding the right touch to set the stage for a darker, more in depth look at cults, the psychological damages of trauma, amid a fast- paced race to find a killer, before he strikes again.

Virginia is convinced her friend was murdered or at the very least driven to commit suicide, and the killer could be the cult leader Virginia escaped from as a child. Knowing Cabot Sutter will understand the gravity of the situation, she hires him to flush out their arch enemy.

But, when Virginia and Cabot come face to face there is an immediate and undeniable current between them. Their relationship development is quirky, but awesome, and I quickly grew to like them both.

The subject of cults is timely, in my opinion, mainly because of the psychology behind them and how ‘leaders’ are able to convince people to join them and remain committed to them, no matter how outlandish things become.

Of course, like in most crimes, this one boils down to the basic greed and the love of money, but, there are some unexpected twists along the way, with some crazy, jarring revelations, as well.

The book also touches on the complexities of family and the importance of forgiveness, which gives the story more depth.

There was some repetitive dialogue, here and there, but the banter and chemistry between Virginia and Cabot sizzles, and the author deftly adds a very realistic look at PTSD and anxiety attacks. The plotting is tight, fast-paced, and creepy, which is a big improvement over the first installment.

One word of caution, though- while the immediate story line is wrapped up, there is a ‘to be continued’ element at the very end- so you will definitely want to be on board for the third installment, which promises to be to a real humdinger.



If you missed the first installment, it’s no biggie. It might provide a little background, but you can start with this one and be just fine.

Overall, this a solid outing for JAK, who was beginning to really worry me. It’s good to see her get back into the groove with this one.
4 stars

If you enjoy romantic suspense – JAYNE ANN KRENTZ is your author.

I have read Jayne Ann Krentz for more than 10 years now and can say that with certainty. First I started by borrowing all her JAK books from the library—not nearly enough. Then I read her alter egos Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle. All in all JAK must have written 50 plus novels thus far and I have read them all.

JAK is a master storyteller!

Her romantic suspense novels are as addicting as they are entertaining. With a formula in mind she spins the most captivating stories that ALWAYS deliver a happy ending to her main characters.

In Promise Not to Tell, the second book in the Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas series, she gives us a solid and suspenseful tale that was chilling, but also touching. As always, the book was dependably entertaining and features fascinating and strong characters, male as well as female.

Virginia Troy and Cabot Sutter share a common past— a horrific event that tore their lives apart as children and changed their future in unforeseen ways. Now years later they meet again, and because of this common past it allows them to connect in a way that was genuine and bone deep. Together they hunt their mutual nightmare, a nightmare that wants to make them the hunted. What neither expects is that their mutual attraction, intuition, and trust in each other is just the beginning of a partnership that will endure any hardship.

On their search for answers Virginia and Cabot face danger on every corner. Only their inner strength and faith in each other keeps them alive and going.

Both are rather no-nonsense characters, that handle high tensions as well as nail biting terror with self-confidence and a calm demeanor. With dry humor and grace Virginia keeps a cool head in the most dire situations. Cabot, in his straightforward and pragmatic way, leads the way with confidence and controlled strength. Together they are a couple that’s hard to beat.

Sharing habits that others might not accept only cemented a relationship that was built on more than just attraction.

She went into the kitchen. “Do you think we’ll be getting up at this hour of the night for the rest of our lives?”

“I have no idea. But I have to tell you that it’s nice to know I’m not alone. One thirty in the morning is a very weird time of night. Things feel different at this hour.”

She reached up into the cupboard for the box of tea. “Tell me about it.”

Virginia and Cabot were perfectly matched and their relationship a true pleasure to see unfold. In midst of threats and danger, their relationship gets stronger with each passing day. The way they complimented and completed each others was the true highlight and result of masterful plotting and an expertly written arc that kept me turning pages until the very end.

For me, Promise Not to Tell, reminded me of classic JAK novels. Strong characters, a thrilling and a suspenseful plot, and a romance that burned slowly but intensely. Besides the two wonderful main characters, the supporting cast was as genuinely likable as interesting. Cabot’s brothers are intriguing and fascinating. His adoptive father is a stand up guy, dependable, and someone he can be proud to call father. His young cousin was adorably impressionable – in my opinion a perfect supporting cast.

The authors skill of crafting plots that captivate and fascinate in equal parts is on point and something I rely on each time I pick up one of her books.

Truly, you can’t go wrong by picking up a JAK novel.

the review was posted on HEAusatoday on January 4th, on my blog on January 10th

Book two in the Cutter, Sutter, & Salinas series. Cabot Sutter is our P.I. for this installment in the series. He is asked to investigate the unexpected death of a woman that grew up in the same crazy cult that he did. their whole group of kids almost died after their founder set fires and only a miracle saved them all which gives them a close relationship to say the least. Sutter gets to work with another woman who was also there and the two of them go around asking lots of questions together in order to find the truth of what really happened since they both think that the founder of the cult faked his death and will return at some point. This may be the break they need which leads to a very suspenseful yet convoluted investigation since Sutter has an eclectic style to his work. Overall this is an excellent addition to this series and I enjoyed learning more about the characters while trying to keep up with the crazy stuff going on and yet again Krentz blew my mind in the end as I never would have guessed all of that was going on. I especially enjoyed how this was not a traditional romance novel as each of the main characters has lots of issues to deal with both apart and together which was a refreshing change that was handled in a very respectful manner. If you enjoy a good suspense romance novel then you really have to give this book a shot. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.

I love romantic suspense and no one writes it better than Jayne Ann Krentz. She writes fast paced books with likable main characters and the perfect balance of romance and suspense. This one just might have been my favorite yet. I had pretty high hopes for this one - especially when I saw it was connected to the previous book - When All the Girls Have Gone - which I read last year and really enjoyed. I was a little concerned because while Kretnz's books are thoroughly enjoyable they are rarely particularly memorable. It turned out to not be a problem because while the cult that this book is centered around does come up in the previous book you can just jump in here with no trouble.

I loved Cabot and Virginia and the focus on finding answers to the past. The fact that they had this shared trauma strengthened their connection and enabled them to understand each other in a way that no one else did. I really appreciated the fact that Cabot experienced many of the same issues that Virginia did and while he was very much on the strong and silent type he also was honest regarding his struggles and had no problem shedding the occasional tear. Virginia isn't quite as okay with her feelings as her upbringing post-cult was full of mixed messages and strained loyalties. Watching them help each other on an emotional level was really nice and made it easy to believe that the relationship was fueled by more than just adrenaline. As well they respected each other academically and professionally. They both took each other seriously and really listened to the various ideas as the investigation progressed.

This was a thoroughly entertaining read and perfect for a day spent inside under a blanket avoiding the cold. The suspense kept me turning pages and the characters kept me invested. I didn't want to put it down!

It's not often you can sum up a book in one word, but that's the case with Promise Not to Tell-convoluted.

It starts with the death of an artist, Hannah, who is convinced she has been seeing a nightmare vision from her past. She does what she can to warn her vulnerable friend, then leaps to her death off a cliff on her isolated island. The friend, Virginia Troy, understands the warning and goes to the one person she know has ties to that same past-Anson????? Anson rescued Virginia and several other children from a burning barn the night Quinton Zane decided to opt out of the cult he had founded and destroy all the evidence left behind. At the meeting with Anson, Virginia meets Cabot Sutter, another one of the children saved from the barn. In fact, Anson adopted three of the boys from that night, including Cabot.

As they begin to investigate Hannah's death, they find that they share more than a physical attraction, they share the same nightmares and methods of coping-which leads them both into becoming averse to relationships. But as things progress with the case, the two find their shared coping skills mesh nicely. Can these two damaged people find happiness together before a killer stops them?

This was an exciting and interesting romantic suspense book. All of the main characters are good guys and we are promised more of them as the book's ending set up the scenario for the next chapter. The sex scenes don't dominate the book, but are hot, and the method the lover's find to overcome some of their obstacles ingenious.

Overall, a thrilling effort by a talented author.

Robeks has my favorite smoothies! They are actually my second favorite smoothie place.
I was determined to get this book done so I got some reading in while working. Didn’t get too far though before I was swamped with work.
Thank you #NetGalley for generously providing the #ARC for Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz.
The story took off with a bang, pulling me in from the first paragraph. The story follows gallery owner Virginia Troy and P.I. Cabot Sutter. Virginia hires Cabot to look into the death of her friend who seemingly committed suicide. Virginia and Cabot have a shared history. They were both children in a cult run by a mad man. It seems like their current case may involve him. The only problem with that theory is he is dead. Or so they were told.
I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry between the two MC but I was totally down for the case they were working. Since it was revealed to the reader early on who at least one of the bad guys was I felt like I was sitting on the edge of my seating waiting for the MC’s to figure it out. I also wasn’t expecting the little twist at the end. I thought everything had already been figured out. I am curious to see how things with the cult leader play out so I guess I will be continuing the series once the following books are released.
🔘
Rating 📚📚 1/2 of 📚📚📚📚
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance and Thriller
Triggers: Cult living, Murder, Suicide, Mental Health Issues, Attempted Murder, Stalking, PTSD

Whew! This book was fast paced, riveting, and didn't disappoint at all. I didn't read the first book in this series, but never felt that I was lost or didn't know what was happening.

There are a lot of people involved in this story. Cabot and Virginia grew up for their first few years together in a cult that was led by Quinton Zane. He was a man who was charismatic and insane. When the worst happens, Virginia and Cabot are separated until they are adults and Virginia seeks out Cabot for help.

The twists and turns in this book were exciting and unexpected. I enjoyed the fact that the story kept the reader moving through the story, but threw in historic pieces too. The pieces fit together well and when they didn't, Krentz didn't leave the answers until the end. The answers came in bits in pieces, but it never felt that they were trickling in.

While I really enjoyed the mystery immensely, the romance was nothing to sneeze at. While it was much more subtle, the connection between Cabot and Virginia was very strong. Because of their shared history, they simply got each other. It's rare to find someone who can accept the quirks of PTSD right off the bat.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story – more for the mystery than the romance, but still, it was enjoyable all around.

As I was reading When All the Girls Have Gone, I was very intrigued by Max Cutler and his foster brothers who were rescued from a cult fire. I thought the backstory was captivating and was interested to learn more about their time in the cult and their life afterwards. So I was very interested in this second installment where both of our main characters were cult survivors.

Despite suffering from PTSD, Virginia Troy has made a somewhat successful living as the owner of an art gallery in Seattle. Through the gallery, Virginia maintained contact with some of the older cult survivors who lived on a smalltown island off the coast. When one of the women dies under suspicious circumstances after leaving a series of cryptic painted messages, Virginia is determined to learn the truth. Luckily, she discovers that her savior, Anson Salinas, has opened a private investigation firm with his three foster sons, who were rescued from the same fire. The PTSD plus a crime connected to her past certainly was not easy for our heroine, but I thought she handled herself quite well. She was somewhat awkward, but much of that was due to the coping mechanisms she had developed over the years, and they made her character more interesting.

Cabot Sutter is one of the broody heroes that I typically love. He is gruff and straightforward and is totally wrapped up in his conspiracy theory about the former cult leader. Between Virginia's beauty and the opportunity to further investigate his cult theory, Cabot was immediately invested in Virginia's case. The investigation turns hairy very quickly and Cabot and Virginia find themselves dodging danger at every turn. I thought they made a great team. Also suffering from PTSD, but perhaps a milder case, Cabot was understanding of Virginia and her quirks. They had great communication and their awkwardness was sometimes cute.

The relationship between Cabot and Virginia built as they investigated the case, but it was not a hot and heavy affair. Both of our characters are awkward and quirky and have had problems with intimacy and dating in the past. So while they didn't have a lot of chemistry, they did fit together very well. The romance in this series takes a backseat to the suspense plot, which was fine with me. I have really enjoyed the backstory of the cult and the mystery about the survival of the former leader. This installment continues that storyline and I was just as intrigued. After the epilogue to this one, I can't wait to see where we are going next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.