I really enjoyed this book. I could not put it down!! I was surprised at some of the twists. I would definitely recommend this book.

Scott will do anything to protect his wife Erin. That's why he has secretly installed a tracking device on her phone and watches her through hidden cameras in their home.

When he learns that one of Erin's kidneys could fail, he wants to find a donor for her at any cost.

Along comes Kathleen she could be the answer to his prayers as she is a perfect match for Erin. The only problem is Kathleen has no intention of becoming a donor but Scott is confident he can manipulate her into giving him what he wants.

Kathleen has her own agenda and is not as innocent as she seems.

Ellen and Kathleen are bound together by a terrible promise. But when that promise is broken, who will pay the ultimate price?

I simply adored this book. It made me think how far would I go to save the one I love?

I loved the idea of this plot and I was hooked from the first paragraph.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks netgalley for this book, I enjoyed it though it was overlong and dragged a little in the middle.
Erin did not know she had a kidney problem, but her husband Scott did not and he was determined she should get one any way that he could manage it.
He knew that Erin was a very kind person and he found a way of her thinking she was donating a kidney when it was actually her getting the kidney from a Donar.
The story was interesting and quite upsetting to read about how illegal donars are found through the black market. I’m

Erin's husband is very protective of her. Her health is fragile after an accident a few years ago, and she might soon need a new kidney. So starts his master plan of getting her a kidney, but he gets played by his possible kidney donor. The plot takes twists and turns from here on end, until the final twist.

Just like the title itself, this book promised a great psychological domestic thriller but somehow it felt short on me. Way too repetitive, the characters are really unlikeable and the twist itself seems too far stretched. I just hope that in the published book, there aren’t so many repetitions and inconsistencies.
It has a lot of potential for a great story but unfortunately it wasn’t for me

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

I loved this book. The plot is revealed from three different perspectives: Erin, Kathleen, and Scott. This makes it even better because you get to see the story play out in different ways based on whose perspective you're reading from. Each character is unique and different from one another and that affects the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy I definitely loved it.

This storyline was so unique and refreshing! I loved it. Loved the suspense, loved the writing style. The ending was a little dark but definitely thrilling!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Promise by Emily Shiner is a psychological thriller with plenty of morally-grey characters. The story revolves around Scott, a rich man who is looking for a kidney donor for his wife Erin. That's how he meets Kathleen. Kathleen is a perfect match for Erin, and Scott plans on manipulating her into donating. But is Scott the villain and Kathleen an innocent victim? Or is Kathleen hiding a darker agenda?

Here is a gripping excerpt from Chapter 1:

"I feel myself relax. "Seriously, Erin, the wait list for a kidney is ridiculous. People die every year while they wait to be selected to get one, and a lot of people turn to asking their friends and family members of a kidney."
"I can see that, but putting up a billboard outside of town?" She shakes her head and reaches out, turning down the radio so that we can talk a little better. "Can you imagine how scary that must be?""

Overall, The Promise might have been a promising psychological thriller if it weren't for the messy and confusing story. I kept getting confused about what each character wanted from the operation. Some of these things may have been revealed later as one of the twists, but I was just confused about the logistics. It sort of threw me out of the story, because it didn't really make sense to me. Then, the ending was completely unsatisfying. No one gets what they deserve. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, you can check out this book, which is available now.

Wealthy lawyer Scott Anders is so devoted to his wife, Erin, that he keeps tabs on her. He has rigged the house with hidden cameras and taps her phone, all in an attempt to keep her safe. He persuades Erin to donate a kidney to a single mother, Kathleen, who needs it.

While Erin agrees to do so, what she doesn’t know is that she is the one who needs a kidney and that Scott has paid a huge amount of money to unscrupulous Dr Thomas, who has lined up Kathleen’s twin as a possible kidney donor for her.

What Scott doesn’t know is that Kathleen has some devious plans up her sleeve and they aren’t in favour of Erin.



The book is written in the first person present tense PoV of Scott, Erin and Kathleen. The prose is tepid. It seems as if the narrative voice almost addresses us as readers, and that takes us out of the story.

I particularly hate it when characters get a thought that makes me shiver but push it away, unwilling to give it any more of my time and energy just to push the plot forward.

Much of the writing, in all three PoVs, is repetitive, belabouring a point long after it has been made. Over and over, we are told that Erin is good and kind. The over-explanation is extremely tedious.

The same thoughts are expressed in different ways in chapter after chapter, with very little changing in the real world. Words, phrases, plot, everything is repeated. The overall effect is that of an under-developed plot stretched thin.

None of the characters are likeable. Erin is stupid and doesn’t question anything. She comes across as holier-than-thou, babbling on and on about her desire to save Kathleen’s life, and I just couldn’t figure out what she did all day. Also, she’s just a decade older than Kathleen, yet she thinks of the latter as a daughter.

Scott spies on his wife and brags that even if his wife were to pick her nose, he’d know. He is just too controlling, and constantly repeats that he just loves her so much. Sorry, but that’s obsession, not love.

Kathleen is horrible but she doesn’t make a mark. She has the potential to be a very menacing character, but the endless repetition ends up undoing whatever effect the author strives for. Her motivations are the most ridiculous.



There are some inconsistencies and omissions. In Chapter 7, Scott tells us that Erin can’t cook, that if she made scrambled eggs, they would taste like rubber. In the same chapter, he lets on that during their courtship, she used to make hot meals for him.

Erin calls Kathleen, saying that her husband told her that she needed a kidney and that she, Erin, was willing to donate hers. In her own PoV, Kathleen keeps thanking Dr Thomas for finding Erin, when it is Erin who has sought her out.



Each of the three main characters think they are outsmarting the others, but they are only fooling themselves. In truth, there were no secrets at all. Each character insists on repeating their motivations and intentions over and over again. The chapters end on what is intended to be a mysterious note, but the effort falls short of the mark.

Some things remain unclear. How could Erin not know that she suffers from kidney failure? And why on earth does Scott want to hide it from her?

In Kathleen’s mother’s obit, which we learn that Erin put together, it is mentioned that Francine, mother of Kathleen, had heart disease and Alport Syndrome, the disease that Kathleen suffers from. Why was this fact not mentioned before? The character only harped on about her weak heart.

Also, Alport Syndrome is a genetic disease. Yet Kathleen keeps insisting that it is only a matter of time before her daughter gets it, never once mentioning the fact that her mother has it too and that it is an inherited condition.

The big reveal about the non-existent twin is pathetic.

The Prologue does a poor job of foreshadowing. The resolution is weak and the twist in the Epilogue unimpactful.

Not for me this one I felt it was quite repetitive and struggled to finish..couldn't concentrate on the plot because the main characters were very unlikeable

I literally couldn’t put this book down from the moment I picked it up. An opportunity to save someone’s life. And you happen to be the perfect match. But are things as they seem? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fast paced, light, quick read that didn't really delivered for me. There were missing actions, plot twists, thrilling vibes and I would'nt even called this book a thriller. It was okay, but not great.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this copy.

The concept behind the plot is great. This book pulls you in with the synopsis, however for me, the book fell short slightly. As I read this book the characters became less believable it did become a hard read. I ploughed through and completed it and I am glad I did. I will read other books from Emily in the future.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wild ride of a book and really asks how far you'd go for someone that you love.!
We get follow the story of Erin who has volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to a woman (Kathleen) in need of one out of the kindness of her heart. What she doesn't know is that there is a lot more to it than meets the eye and this has all been arranged by her husband Scott. But what exactly does Kathleen want out of this donation and is there more to Scott being so supportive and persuasive of her donating her kidney?
This was an addictive book and I was so gripped - I had to find out what would happen and couldn't put it down. I don't want to mention too much in case it ruins the intrigue but it was definitely a fast paced addictive thriller. The only reason it's a 4 star and not a 5 star is because I did think the general concept was a little bit *too* crazy but I suppose I may have the NHS to thank for that!
A gripping read that I'd definitely recommend picking up!

I didn't make it that far into the book. You want to know why? The MC seems like a piece of garbage, that's why. I'm all for flawed characters that undergo character development, but to have a blatantly sexist character? Yeah I'm good.

I've tried to struggle through bad books and it's just not worth it. The first chapter of this book is where the MC helps a scummy doctor get away with murder. Wow great, I love this character already. But what made me more mad was when it started to get into his home life.

He promises his wife that they'd have kids one day and now she's wanting to have them. His reasonings for holding off for so long were EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE. He says that he wants his wife to be at home to essentially take care of the kids and be a housewife. He implies that if the kids dont have a present mother, they'll be neglected. Okay but what about you? Youre a parent too, so you can be there. Just because she gives birth to them doesnt mean everything relies on her. It really irked me the way he talked about that whole family situation. And he literally said that "he knew how to manipulate her to get his way". That's the most scumbag thing I've ever heard. NOPE. I'm outta here.

Sadly I only made it to 5% because of the nature of the MC. I actually enjoyed the writing style and was able to get involved in the world, but the MC's personality was just terrible. And I would not survive 95% more sexism and douche bag moves.

The Promise By Emily Shiner
Suspenseful, shocking and surprising but Oh so GOOD!


When I read the blurb I knew I wanted to read this book.

the book starts out with Erin and Scott, who are married and very happy, except Erin wants a baby desperately.

Scott is hiding something from her, she needs a kidney since hers is failing.
She goes to the gym, eats very healthy and takes vitamins daily. She thinks she is improving her health so she can have a child.

Without her knowledge Scott and Kathleen make a deal, a promise.

Out of all the characters I identified with Erin the most, sweet and caring and giving.

Kathleen had a lot more going on than Scott knew.

Dr Thomas owed Scott but he was well true to form lol.

The twists just kept coming and coming and coming.

What a great way to spend a long rare rainy afternoon in sultry Florida, reading this twisted thrilled.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy books that keep throwing surprises into the story.

Highly recommended

4*****









My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the complimentary e arc in exchange for an honest review.

review posted @ Netgalley, Goodreads, amazon and Wordpress.com.

I liked the description of this book and it started well, but then I'm afraid I just lost interest. Too much repetition. A lot of other readers loved it, so it's me not the book. Sorry but this one isnt for me

This is a story about two ordinary women,one knows what she wants the other doesn't know she is I'll.
Husband thinks he knows best ,she is a complete doormat.
The other lady lives in a run down house and paid everything she has to the Dr to get the new organ .
Only one organ up for grabs.excellent reading

I found it so difficult to put this book down! Everyone has their own hidden agenda here & you find yourself just wanting to uncover all the secrets. There was quite a bit of repetition in the writing & a few unbelievable aspects of the plot but overall it was a really enjoyable read. Will definitely be checking out more of Emily Shiner’s work!

If you break the promise, you pay the price.

Scott will do anything to protect his wife, Erin. That’s why he secretly installs a tracking app on her phone and watches her through hidden cameras…… Wow! A real heart pounder! I loved this book! It was thrilling, it had intrigue, suspense, and lots of heart pounding moments! Lots of twists and turns!! Definitely some jaw dropping moments! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth the thrill!