MarianaMy life changed eight years ago when my captor slaughtered my family in front of my eyes and took me as his own personal trophy.I thought they would find me – that the clans would come looking for the last remaining Vasile. They didn’t. Instead, they abandoned me like I was nothing.After being here for years, I’d learned to accept my fate – to accept the hell I was living. Until one day it … living. Until one day it all went to shit, my daughter was ripped from my arms, I was shot, and the man who saved me was the one I was promised to all those years ago – Ion Petran.
But saving me wasn’t enough now that my parents are gone. He will have to win me over if he still wishes to be king of the clans.
Ion
She’s the key to all of my success, promised to me when I was a child.
She’s been missing for years, and when I find her, I’ll have everything I’ve ever wanted.
I found her. Eight years of searching and I found the woman who would change my life.
I expected a lot of things from her, stupidly of me, I didn’t expect to get more than I bargained for.
The day she turned twenty-one she was supposed to be in my home – her captor stole that from us. He stole her from me, and he’ll pay.
No one crosses me, ever.
more
Dark, edgy, undertones and a heroine who is in the middle of a power play and she is the pawn, so to speak.
If you enjoy mafia romance this one is for you.
Amber Bray did a good job telling us about all of Mariana’s suitors.
Review for Audiobook Obsession
Promised does stand alone, though it ends with more of a HFN, like an episode in a series where the immediate threat is wrapped up but you know the story isn’t entirely over. I would recommend this book to those who are fans of mafia/mob romance.
The story does include details of abuse, and I did struggle a little bit with how someone could have one set of values for their family yet still be okay with buying/selling women who weren’t related to them. I actually wasn’t sure if Ion would end up being one of the protagonists as he didn’t make a great first impression (and it would be cool to have another perspective thrown in to keep the reader guessing).
I listened to the Audible version. Amber Bray did a great job with the narration. She does really well performing the dual points of view by herself, probably the best narrator I’ve listened to with handling both perspectives on her own. My only complaint is that there were occasional times where the intensity seemed a little over done.
#AudiobookObsession
Promised (The Clans, Book 1) had caught my eye with its synopsis and the sample audio nailed it. I was hooked right from the first word of chapter one and listened to it without being able to stop. Mafia is one of my favourite subgenres of romance along with romantic suspense that spools through the narrative. This audio molds into a beautiful, intense, romantic suspense with dark moments, unexpected twists and mafia dealings. I absolutely loved everything about this audio inclusive of compelling characters with complex personalities, writing style of this author, blood-tingling twists, sultry love moments and a narator who brings more to the narrative.
I hope the other books in this series get turned into audio’s as only one and three are currently available on audio. I just wanted more and didn’t want it to end.
Narator Amber Bray was the perfect choice to narate this audio. Her intonation fit the mood and character’s. Brings more sentiments at the right places. I loved the different tones used to differentiate between the characters. A flawless performance bringing the characters and narrative to being.
Audiobook Obsession
Another amazing book by Elizabeth. Mariana was promised to Ion until she was kidnapped. Ion will stop at nothing to find her. Drama, suspense, twisted, intense. Amber Bray did a wonderful job narrating.
I’ve seen this book/author pop up a few times in a few of my facebook groups. The cover and blurb intrigued me. I wanted to give it a shot to this new to me author. Sadly, I felt this book needed more plot development in the beginning. We get thrown into this “Clan world,” basically told instead of shown. Or it seemed it could be a skim forward plot. Things were moving way to fast for me and it took the enjoyment out of the characters and story. Also was kind of predicable. A lot of things were very repetitive and Ion kept on mentioning the same thing over and over. I just think this book need more time worked on it.
Ohhh, I really liked Amber Bray’s narration, her male voice is also good. She did well with the accents.
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer
Promised
The Clans, Book 1
By: Elizabeth Knox
Narrated by: Amber Bray
This short is full of suspense with a love that runs deep. Mariana was ripped from her house 8 years ago. Kidnapped, alone except for her daughter, she is helpless. Ion was promised Mariana to be his at birth. Now his mission is to find her, keep her safe and become the head of the clans. But with circumstances as they are, will he find her, and will she be his? This is the beginning of a promising series. It introduces some very dark characters, gives us a love story that is slow burn and passionate, has so many twists and turns and leaves us wanting more. I can’t wait to see what the clans have in store in book 2.
Narrated by Amber Bray, the story comes to life. She has a great voice for romantic suspense. With wonderful voices, both male and female, she can use her voice to give the mood of the story, add the thrill to the suspense and bring it all home. It’s a great listen.
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OMG…. This book had me hooked from the first page. I really didn’t know how well I would like it because I started reading the Skulls Renegade MC books by Elizabeth Knox and all of them were out of this WORLD, OMG I loved them and when I found out that Promised (The Clans Books) was a cross over I was TOTALLY all for it…. Love the STEAMY HOT story about Ion and Mariana. What Mariana had to endure for all of those years had me rooting for her to be saved!!!! You HOOKED me again Elizabeth Knox you did an awesome job…… I can’t wait to read more….
I loved this book!!! There was so much angst and tension, it made it all so refreshing! I love when books aren’t your typical romance, they make you work to figure out what is going to happen.
Ion and Mariana were both such strong characters and I love that they went head to head so often. He really treated her as an equal more than I would have expected. Mariana had such a strong past and had gone through so much, she just had so much to live for. Ion, he had a much different life and he really didn’t know how to react to Mariana. He recognized immediately that he’d gone about it in all the wrong ways.
Everything about this book had me enticed, from the very first paragraph and it was completely unpredictable! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next in this series!
Great start to the Clans!
Amazing introduction to the Clans! Can Ion be any more of a hot alpha? That man… whoa! And then check out Ms Mariana all kickass. I couldn’t get enough of her strength. And both of these two together just had an explosive chemistry. Now that the king and queen are at their seats, they’re ready to reign. Both working together, will do anything for eachother. Especially when it means keeping them all safe. Loved this book and can’t wait to read more of them all.
“We had already connected so long ago, and I hated believing it, but it seemed to have more to do with the two of us rather than an arrangement made by our parents.”
This book was darker, and I’ll admit, I didn’t think the couple would work at first. I was highly entertained by these two the entire time…they are equals in every way. It was a slow burn, they attempted to fight it, and with so much against them, I was wondering how it would all work out. As the story progressed, layers of the characters reveal themselves…You see softer sides of the male lead, and a harder edge to the female…it was sooooo good!! Even with the suspenseful, dark storyline, I even found myself giggling a few times, which was refreshing. Did I mention how hot these two were? Super HOT, like, seriously. A great Mafia Read!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
Eight years ago Mariana watched her Mother and Father murdered and was taken captive. As the last of the Vasile bloodline and promised in two years to marry and have Ion take over the ruling of the clans as King. Living in a hell unspeakable and the only bright spot was my daughter until she is ripped from my arms and I am left bleeding and alone. Ion lost his betrothed eight years ago and he will do anything to get her back so when he finds her bleeding and tortured, he knows he has bring back the woman he lost. Wow! This book was full of so many different subjects. Some were hard to read but they were done very well. I love the characters especially Ana and Ion. This is definitely a book to read and an author to follow.