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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This books was one I was SO excited to read! I found the author on TikTok and fell in love with the videos teasing this. And the book did not disappoint.
Hockey, ice skating, and mafia just seem to flow so well together. Aiden is a KING and I’m actually obsessed with him. Rory developing throughout the story is so fun to watch. I love who she has become by the end of the book. I’m excited to see more in this series to know what happens with Raegan and Niko and maybe even Elle 🫢
So good! Thank you for this!
Hockey, ice skating, and mafia just seem to flow so well together. Aiden is a KING and I’m actually obsessed with him. Rory developing throughout the story is so fun to watch. I love who she has become by the end of the book. I’m excited to see more in this series to know what happens with Raegan and Niko and maybe even Elle 🫢
So good! Thank you for this!
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Omg Omg Omg! This is a must read!!!!!!!
You may be thinking "what? A sports romance and dark romance can't mix." But yes! Yes they can and omg does AJ write this novel to perfection.
I loved everything about it. The characters, the dialogue, the twists and turns. It was just amazing from start to finish.
I really hope Keon gets a book because i think i love him.
Aiden and Rory's relationship is just perfection, i loved their whole storyline.
Seriously! READ THIS BOOK.
You may be thinking "what? A sports romance and dark romance can't mix." But yes! Yes they can and omg does AJ write this novel to perfection.
I loved everything about it. The characters, the dialogue, the twists and turns. It was just amazing from start to finish.
I really hope Keon gets a book because i think i love him.
Aiden and Rory's relationship is just perfection, i loved their whole storyline.
Seriously! READ THIS BOOK.
I was lucky enough to beta read this and oh my goodness! I ate this book up! The banter between Aiden and Rory was amazing! Rory is a bad b!tch who needs no man and Aiden is very alpha male! The character building was chefs kiss, the relationship building was perfect! I cannot stop thinking about this book!
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Loved it. Rory and Adien just had me kicking my feet giggling as they went throught building trust. The reality of how neither chose to be born into the mafia life but thats just an obstacle to overcome for them. Also I love the little sister Reagan just viewed as innocent as this is a series I think we going to see her very different. She had so much personality for a side character.
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Arc provided by booksirens
Oh.my.god.
This was my first mafia hockey romance and it ATE. Left no crumbs. The plot twists had my mouth agape and glued to my kindle. Aidan and Rory were spectacular and I am so excited to see what AJ has in store for this series.
Oh.my.god.
This was my first mafia hockey romance and it ATE. Left no crumbs. The plot twists had my mouth agape and glued to my kindle. Aidan and Rory were spectacular and I am so excited to see what AJ has in store for this series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
AJ Wilding’s No Promises, No Lies delivers a compelling blend of tension, danger, love, and drama, making it an intriguing entry in the grey/dark romance genre. While it doesn’t dive into the depths of truly dark romance, it offers just enough edge to captivate readers exploring the darker side of the romance genre for the first time.
The unique combination of the mafia and hockey worlds is a standout feature. While the pairing may feel unconventional at first, it surprisingly works—though it might come across as slightly odd to some readers. Adrian, the male main character (MMC), has a genuine passion for hockey, which is not just a façade for his mafia ties but a core part of who he is. Rory, the female main character (FMC), brings her love for figure skating into the mix, creating a dynamic that sets the story apart from more traditional dark romances.
The storyline, while engaging, occasionally feels rushed, leaving some plot points unresolved or underexplored. These gaps in the narrative might make it harder for readers to fully immerse themselves in the world Wilding has created. However, the chemistry between Rory and Adrian is a highlight. Their snarky banter and growing connection are enjoyable to witness, though the enemies-to-lovers trope doesn’t fully apply here—their distrust stems more from their family affiliations than personal animosity.
In terms of spice, the intimate scenes are a middle ground—spicier than standard romance but tamer than most dark romances. It’s a great balance for readers transitioning into this subgenre. Additionally, while the book includes harsh language and graphic violence, it doesn’t overwhelm, making it a safe stepping stone into darker themes.
Overall, No Promises, No Lies is an entertaining read for those looking to branch out from traditional romances into something with a bit more edge. While the pacing and plot could use more depth, the strong character dynamics and unique world-building make it a worthwhile pick for new readers of the genre.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An amazing debut novel filled with emotion, action and of course some spice!
Rory was such a well developed character. From the first page, she intrigued me and hearing about her father mistreating her and not getting along with her psycho older brother, I felt connected to her instantly and was hoping she would get a happy ending.
As for our main MMC Aidan, the first introduction was already hot af, you could feel the tension between the two characters and I could not wait to see these two come together.
Definitely a slow burn romance so tons of tension but honestly there was so much going on in the book that it wasn’t overbearing.
When everything happened with Alexei I was crryyyinnnggg, he’s probably my favourite side character. I hope we get to see more of him!
My only critique is that I wish we knew more about Niko. With him doing what he did to help Rory, it felt a bit out of the blue and would’ve loved seeing more of that character arc. But I still liked the shock factor.
Overall, this book was so well written, I read it in a day and enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend checking it out once the book releases!
Rory was such a well developed character. From the first page, she intrigued me and hearing about her father mistreating her and not getting along with her psycho older brother, I felt connected to her instantly and was hoping she would get a happy ending.
As for our main MMC Aidan, the first introduction was already hot af, you could feel the tension between the two characters and I could not wait to see these two come together.
Definitely a slow burn romance so tons of tension but honestly there was so much going on in the book that it wasn’t overbearing.
When everything happened with Alexei I was crryyyinnnggg, he’s probably my favourite side character. I hope we get to see more of him!
My only critique is that I wish we knew more about Niko. With him doing what he did to help Rory, it felt a bit out of the blue and would’ve loved seeing more of that character arc. But I still liked the shock factor.
Overall, this book was so well written, I read it in a day and enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend checking it out once the book releases!