Fatal Promises continues Diana Munoz Bad Legacy series. I’m this installment Munoz delivers an emotional and entertaining friend to lovers’ romance. With its themes of mental health and emotional trauma It will appeal to readers seeking a suspenseful and action-packed tale that features relatable characters.
Title: Fatal Promises:
Author(s): Diana Muñoz Stewart
Series: The Bad Legacy Book #2
Also in this series: Broken Promises
Published by Kiss and Tell Books on January 28, 2025
Pages: 334
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Author
Format: eArc
Purchase: Amazon
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Flor’s secret attraction to her on-duty partner comes second to hunting down criminals. Until, criminals decide to hunt her back, and he decides to stand in their way.
Flor's In Case of Emergency has always been Officer Manny Ruiz, but she's not ready for more than friends. Besides, they're cops. They can't afford the complications of a relationship. Still, it's hard to keep her desires secret when a life-or-death problem emerges from the shadows of her past.
After a million-dollar bounty is put on the head of Flor's bail jumping, con-artist mother, she becomes the focus of rabid bounty hunters certain she’s hiding something. Determined to find her mom and prove her innocent, she makes a deal with one of those bounty hunters, never suspecting he’s the wealthy, handsome, and dangerous man behind the global hunt.
Manny Ruiz knows Flor has gotten under his skin. On his skin too, so says the flower tattoo he had placed on his chest for her. When danger begins to hunt Flor from every corner, he offers to be her ride-or-die, but she stubbornly resists. To help save her life, he'll have to prove to her he's the only man for the job.
Content Warning: This book contains sexual situations between consenting adults, graphic violence, and on page exploration of character backstory that deals with PTSD, sexual trauma, mental illness, and physical abuse.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Fatal Promises gives us Flor and Manny’s story with The Great One at the center of the evil and danger dogging their steps. Readers who read Broken Promises would have met Flor already. In book 1, one learns she’s a police officer while book 2 explore her past and the reason she’s on the infamous kill list. Flor is determined to find her mother to learn the truth behind The Great One’s fixation. She intends to do so on her own, however her partner and friend Manny has no intention of letting her go it alone.
Manny and Flor shared a long history of friendship with both harboring romantic feelings for the other. While their friendship remained strong, they never pursued the romantic feelings. Although, Manny desires more, Flor fears taking their relationship beyond friendship. She suffered physical and emotional trauma in the past which contributed to her keeping persons at distance. With this looming threat, Flor seeks to overcome her fears while trying to prove her mother’s innocence and prevent The Great One from carrying out their evil plan.
Unlike the previous book, Fatal Promises focused more on the relationship between the protagonists. Also, attention was given to struggles Flor dealt with from her past trauma. I enjoyed seeing her work through her pain and opening up herself to a solid romantic relationship with Manny.
The identity of The Great One still remains a mystery. Their manipulative skills shined through once again as they found the perfect patsy.
Once again while the romantic thread has closure, the suspense thread leaves readers with questions. Fatal Promises was a great addition to the series. Well plotted, Fatal Promises was difficult to put down and it definitely left me wanting more.
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About Diana Muñoz Stewart
Armed with a razor-sharp wit and a rolled-up MFA in Creative Writing, Diana Muñoz Stewart cartwheel-kicked her way into publishing with her fiery Black Ops Confidential series. Washington Independent Review of Books called the series’ award-winning debut, “original, impressive” a “rollicking good ride” and “high-octane.” Of her writing Publishers Weekly said, “Stewart plays adeptly with the reader’s emotions” and noted that in her series, “Stewart’s talent shines.” Of her unflinching openness in taking on today’s relevant topics, Booklist noted, “Munoz-Stewart discusses such sensitive topics as human trafficking, sexual violence, and sexism…while the diverse …Parish family and their mission to protect women everywhere give these topics…hope…” Kirkus Book Reviews noted her romantic suspense series, along with having, “Sizzling physical encounters” also “enables an emphasis on recovery and power.” Munoz Stewart’s work has been a BookPage Top 15 Romance of 2018, a Night Owl Top Pick, A BookPage Top Pick, and an Amazon Book of the Month. A 2014 Pages From The Heart Winner, 2015 Golden Heart® Finalist, 2016 Daphne du Maurier Finalist, and a 2016 Gateway to the Best Winner, Diana Munoz Stewart is a member of a Novelist Inc (NINC), International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Diana lives in an often chaotic and always welcoming home that—depending on the day—can hold husband, kids, extended family, friends, and a canine or two. A believer in the power of words to heal, connect, and distract from chores, Diana blogs regularly on topics near and dear to her heart, including spotlight pieces on strong women from around the world. When not writing, Diana can be found kayaking, doing sprints up her long driveway—harder than it sounds–attempting yoga on her deck, or hiking with the man who’s had her heart since they were teens. Diana is represented by the wonderful Michelle Grajkowski of Three Seas Literary Agency.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
That sounds like a good mystery.
Always exciting to read a series where an author can give closure in each book, but still leave anticipation for the series arc carrying into the next story. I like the sound of this series. Great review, Nadene!
Great review. The overall series arc sounds interesting.