*~*Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy Blog Tour – Character Interview, Review & Giveaway*~*

I was so excited to get to sit down and have a heart to heart with Jen and Colin…check out what they had to say!

 SQUEEEE!!!!!  Not only do I get to sit down with Jen and Colin and ask them all the questions that I have rattling around in my brain…but I get to do it at The District!!!!  I arrive on time and walk in only to be greeted by the two people I’m here to see.  Standing at the hostess stand looking like they were plucked out of a magazine are Jen and Colin.  Damn…they make a good looking couple.  Jen looks stunning in a LBD and Colin just looks lickable – as usual – in black pants and a white button down.  *Sigh*  I have to restrain my desire to want to leap at them, so I give them a warm smile and reach out my hand to shake Colin’s.  He pulls me in and kisses my cheek and I die a little inside (and maybe drool).  Jen is glowing and I give her a quick friendly hug which she returns.  They lead me to the back of the restaurant, to a more secluded area – away from all the noise.  Sitting at a table, we order wine and appetizers and they catch me up on what’s been going on.  They’re so happy…which makes me happy.

Lisa:       “Well…I guess I better stop stalling and get to why I’m here.”

Colin:     “We’re ready whenever you are.”

Lisa:       “Awesome…well tradition states, ladies first – Jen…how are things going with your parents?”

Jen:        “They’re going. Our relationship isn’t perfect yet but we’re working on it. Colin is a big help, trying to bridge the gap between us. I appreciate what he does for me.”

Lisa:       “That’s awesome and very sweet of him.  So…I have to ask – what’s your favorite name that Colin calls you – Jen, Jenny or Jennifer? (I can’t lie – I have a favorite!)”

Jen:        “Well, I’m used to Jen because that’s what everyone calls us but I really like it when he calls me Jenny. It’s sweet.”

Lisa:       “EEEP!  I know!  It totally is…I love it when he calls you Jenny.  Summarize Colin in one sentence.”

Jen:        “Colin Wilder is sweet, sexy, smart and frustrating as hell.”

She says with a sassy little wink.

Lisa:       “Oooh…very nice.  I approve!  What do you think Danny would think about you and Colin?”

Jen:        “He might’ve had a problem with it at first (because he knew Colin better probably than anyone else on this planet) but ultimately I believe we would’ve been given his blessing. He would’ve seen how much Colin means to me and how much I mean to Colin. Plus, it would make him and Colin brothers which he would’ve loved. I wish he was here to see this…”

Colin reaches his arm around her shoulder and gives her a squeeze as she nestles into his side.  Such an understanding boyfriend, but the looks on their faces show their pain.  I need to change the topic quick before we’re all in tears.

Lisa:       “So…how’s the job going?  Are you feeling more confident and enjoying the…perks of your position (specifically the office  🙂  )”

Jen:        “I think I’m a damn good boss. Don’t tell Colin but I think I might be an even better boss than he is! I love running The District and Colin and I have big plans for its future. I’m excited. Life is finally good, you know?”

Lisa:       “That’s awesome!  Exactly what I needed to hear.  And I have no doubt you’re a better boss than Colin.”

I say giving her a wink.  She smiles radiantly and Colin rolls his eyes, but smiles indulgently at Jen.

Lisa:       “Alright Colin, I’m coming after you now.”

Colin:     “I can take it.”

Mmm…promising.  😀

Lisa:       “Okay…seriously, I have to know – what took you so long?!?!  J (I say that with all the love in my heart…I promise)”

Colin:     “Um, because I’m an idiot? I didn’t want to screw up the one thing that means the most to me—Jen’s friendship. Having her with me, I never felt more complete. I was blind to not see she felt the same way I did and wanted more. But I finally got around to it so…go me?”

He laughs and it’s Jens turn to roll her eyes at him.

Lisa:       “Alright…I’ll give it to you.  That was a good answer.  Go you.”

I stick my tongue out at him playfully and he laughs louder.

Lisa:       “What’s the best and worst thing about The District?”

Colin:     “Best thing—it’s mine. I created that and I’m damn proud of it. Worst thing? All the gossip. I can’t believe what goes on there, what’s said there. It’s sort of ridiculous.”

Lisa:       “I think that’s just any work environment!  But I can imagine some of the creativity that comes out of The District.  Summarize Jen in one sentence.”

Colin:     “She’s beautiful, strong, giving, frustrating…and incredibly real.”

Lisa:       “Ooooh…very accurate.  Well, I asked Jen, so I have to ask you – what do you think Danny would think about you and Jen?”

Colin:     “He probably would’ve tried to kick my ass at first. I probably would’ve let him get a punch in too before I defended myself. I do think he would’ve approved though. He knows all my faults but he also knows my strengths too and I hope he’d believe that Jen and I are good for each other.”

Lisa:       “I agree…I also think he would have wanted you both to be happy…and clearly you’re happier together.  Alright…curiosity has gotten the better of me…how is Con?  And your mom?  I know they’re a little…different, but even different people deserve HEA’s!”

Colin:     “My parents are…strange. I think they secretly still want each other. I don’t get it. I never really have. But yeah, they’re good. Weird but good.”

Lisa:       “Weird/Good is better than not good at all.  I’ll take that.  Okay – can you handle some questions together?”

Jen:        “Sure.”

Jen says with a smile as Colin nods.

Lisa:       “What are your favorite five things about each other? (physical, non-physical, whatever!)”

Colin:     “I love Jen’s…”

Colin starts off as he holds up his hand, ticking off each trait on the fingers on his left hand.

Colin:      “Strength, Sense of humor, Body (just went for all parts you know?)”

His flirtatious wink makes me giggle.  Jesus, am I twelve?  Nope…that’s just the power of Colin.  He continues.

Colin:     “Laugh and Smile”

Lisa:       “Hmm…good list.  Jen?”

She turns to face him a little, giving him a once over and looks back at me.

Jen:        “I love Colin’s Intelligence, Drive, Eyes, Voice and Heart.”

Lisa:       “Damn…I think I like Jen’s list better.  Sorry Colin.  Okay, let’s get the tough question out of the way – what’s your deepest regret?”

Jen:        “What I did when I worked at Gold Diggers. Not my proudest moment and something I wish I could forget.”

Colin:     “That I didn’t tell Jen how I felt about her soon enough. I wasted a lot of time when I could’ve been honest from the beginning.”

Lisa:       “Both very honest answers, ya’ll are rockin’ my face off.  Do either of you have a favorite memory?”

Jen:        “When Colin gave me my graduation present. I realized then that I was attracted to him but I couldn’t do anything about it. I should’ve jumped him.”

Lisa:       “I think that would have been a great plan.” 🙂

Colin:     “Ha, I probably wouldn’t have turned her away either. My favorite memory? When I first met Jen and she was a little girl in a fancy dress, telling me to leave her brother alone. She was a fierce little thing.”

Lisa:       “So…she hasn’t changed much, has she?  What do you consider the others worst flaw?”

Jen:        “He has commitment issues.”

Lisa:       “Ya think?”

Colin:     “The way she runs from her problems.”

Lisa:       “I am in love with all this honestly.  Okay…hardest lesson you’ve learned?”

Jen:        “Don’t run away from your problems. They only get worse. Best to face them head on.”

Lisa:       “Mmm…very good lesson.”

Colin:     “Don’t be scared to admit what you feel. It’s not the end of the world to show someone you’re vulnerable.”

Lisa:       “OMG that’s a good one toooooo!  Alright – last one – where do you see yourselves in 5 years?”

Colin:     “Running a hugely successful chain of restaurants with my wife.”

The huge grin that envelopes his face radiates the joy that being with Jen has brought to his life.  I can’t help but smile back.

Jen:        “And with at least one little baby cradled in my arms while we run that restaurant chain.”

Her matching grin and words turn me into a pile of lovey-mushy goo.  I love them!

Lisa:       “Okay…let’s have a little fun shall we…a little game of Either/Or – high school or college?”

Colin:     “High School.”

Jen:        “High school.”

Lisa:       “Chocolate or Vanilla?”

Colin:     “Chocolate.”

Jen:        “Chocolate.”

Lisa:       “Hard or Soft?”

Colin:     “Both?”

Lisa:       “I accept that.”

Jen:        “What Colin said.”

Lisa:       “Nice!  Books or Movies?”

Colin:     “Movies.”

Jen:        “Books.”

Lisa:       “That’s why Jen is my favorite. 🙂  Fast or Slow?”

Colin:     “Again—both? I mean, how can I choose?”

Lisa:       “True…”

Jen:        “Yeah, fast AND slow. Both have their merits.”

Lisa:       “Point taken…can’t blame a girl for asking.  😛  Drew or Fable?”

Colin:     “Fable though she scares the shit out of me.”

Jen laughs and shakes her head.

Jen:        “Fable. She’s my best friend!”

Lisa:       “I know…I love that ya’ll are besties.  Too cute.  Soda or Tea?”

Jen:        “Soda.

Colin:      “Beer! Ha.”

Typical boy…

Lisa:       “Loud or Quiet?”

Colin:     “Loud.”

Jen:        “Loud.”

Lisa:       “Okay, I promise we’re almost done.  Last set…rapid fire – tell me the first thing that comes to mind.  Parents?”

Jen:        “Difficult.”

Colin:     “Crazy.”

Lisa:       “The District?”

Jen:        “Career.”

Colin:     “Mine.”

Lisa:       “Drew?”

Jen:        “Sweet.”

Colin:     “Decent.”

Lisa:       “Careful Colin, that was almost a compliment.  😉  Fable?”

Jen:        “Feisty.”

Colin:     “Scary.”

Lisa:       “Forgiveness?”

Jen:        “Possible.”

Colin:     “Need it.”

Lisa:       “Family?”

Jen:        “Important.”

Colin:     “Necessary.”

Lisa:       “Trust?”

Jen:        “Love.”

Colin:     “Solid relationship.”

Lisa:       “Colin?”

Jen:        “Mine.”

Lisa:       “Jen?”

Colin:     “Love.”

Lisa:       “Awww…well and speaking of…Love?”

Jen:        “Colin.”

Colin:     “Jen.”

Awwww…

Lisa:       “OMG you guys are perfect!  Thank you so much, this has been so much fun.”

Jen:        “So glad we could help.”

As we sit and chat over drinks and appetizers, a flash of blonde catches my eye.  No.  Freaking. Way.  Fable and Drew just walked into The District and I might fall out of my chair.  Drew waves over at us and Colin does the head-guy-nod thing, which he looks too damn sexy for his own good doing, while Fable is quickly headed in our direction.  Jen is beaming and she gets up to give Fable and Drew hugs.  They introduce me and I’m kinda sorta shaking because…it’s Drew and Fable!!!!!!!!  They sit down and the next thing I know…I’m having dinner with two of the most amazing couples ever.  #LifeMade   Oh…and I may have had an impromptu interview with Drew and Fable…keep your eyes peeled on Wednesday! 🙂

Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

4 ‘Freedom’ “sweet cheeks” Kisses

I love a good heartbreaking couple…I don’t know why, I just do and Jen and Colin might be one of the best I’ve ever read. Damn, they broke my heart. Three Broken Promises is such a powerful but painful story…I was not prepared for the level of angst or inner turmoil these two characters threw at me. And I felt every minute of it. While TBP ‘could’ be read as a standalone or out of order…I would not recommend it. You meet and get to know Jen and Colin a little bit in Second Chance Boyfriend, the second book in the Drew+Fable Series…plus there are other characters and references made that would make more sense (at least IMO) if you read the series in order. Alright…disclaimer over, let’s jump into some Jen and Colin goodness…

Jennifer Lynn Cade…Jen Jen Jen. My poor broken Jen. I honestly feel bad for Jen. Like the girl has hit one tough situation after another and I just want to scoop her up and take her to a happy place. And she’s only 22! Seriously! Her brother’s death crushed her family…her parents can’t stop grieving and in turn, they ruin their relationship with her. She runs away in the hopes of rebuilding her life and becoming her own person and that just ends in one heaping disaster. When Colin rescues her, she’s finally able to rebuild her life somewhat, but she is still haunted by the ghost of her brother and her past. I can understand her need for independence and freedom and I agree 100% that her brother would not want his loved ones living in the past, always grieving over his loss…but it seems like that is all Jen is surrounded by. It’s just one heartbreaking scenario after another. I totally felt her want and desire to be free…

‘But no man has ever rocked my socks off, for lack of a better term. The only guy who makes me want is the one who’s lying here with me, sleeping on my shoulder, clinging to me like I might be his lifeline.
He devastates me and he doesn’t even know it.’

Colin Wilder…oh my hunk of handsome do I love this poor man. He’s 24 and acts 10 years older…he’s the epitome of the ‘All American’ dream boat…tall, muscular, blonde hair, blue eyes….just delicious. Plus the fact that’s he’s driven, intelligent, dedicated and confident definitely works in his favor too. I love that he’s a little bit of a dominant cave man…I love how he can take charge of a situation…but it’s not all sunshine and roses with Colin. Colin carries a lot of guilt…he made a lot of promises that he has broken and he beats himself up about that constantly…between the nightmares that haunt him and his own inner thoughts this poor man cannot get a moments peace. He’s doing everything he can to make things right and it seems like all his actions backfire. The one thing that brings him even a little bit of solace is another thing he’s holding himself back from…Jennifer. The girl he’s supposed to protect, the girl he let down….if he only knew how much they needed each other.

‘”Tired.” I offer him a wan smile, wishing he’d leave me one. Also wishing he’d whisk me out of here and rescue me for good. Maybe we could run away together. He doesn’t want to face his problems and I don’t want to face mine. We could avoid everything. Together. Alone. Naked…
Yeah that sounds like my dream come true.’

There is a lot for me to love about Jen and Collin together…they’re very combustible. They have a very heated, electric kind of chemistry. They can get under each other’s skin…push buttons…it’s fun to watch them rile the other up, especially in certain context. 😉 They’ve got that one thing that can never be duplicated…history. It’s really hard to beat the fact that they have spent most of their lives knowing each other…her brother was his best friend – which adds to the complexity of the situation a little bit more. I loved his protective streak over her…and I hated that she always saw it as him sweeping into the rescue. I think it is just in Collin’s nature to be helpful, especially for the girl he cares about – plus the whole ‘promise to the brother’ thing. There is absolutely no denying the physical connection that Jen and Collin have…it’s seriously hot. Colin’s dominant cave man that I mentioned, goes into over drive whenever it comes to him and Jen sexually…freak-ing hotness! It’s even hotter because Jen loves it too! The whole boss/employee thing is also pretty sexy….I mean, the people at the restaurant have been passing rumors for months now…so why not have a little fun behind closed doors. 🙂

‘My head it spinning. Doesn’t she realize I owe her everything? I care about her, more than I want to admit. The closer we get to her leaving, the more I don’t want her to go. I need to tell her. I need to let her know what she means but me, but…
It’s fucking hard. I’m not one to blurt out my feelings. My parents aren’t touchy-feeling and rarely talk about their emotions. I hide behind a mask most of the time. Whatever people want to see, I give it to them. With the exception of Jen.
She’s the only one who sees the real me.’

I guess my only complaint…if you can even call it a complaint…was Collin and Jen do not have it easy. At all. Obviously there is a lot of history between the two of them and then after denying each other for years, they are finally going to give in…and I seriously loved them together. They were magical together when they let the barriers down and just existed the two of them. Plus their chemistry just made my heart swoon! I craved them together…I mean, come on, they’re deliciously smoking hot…and kinda sorta perfect for each other…but good gravy I just wanted to see them happy. I don’t know if it was because everything was so temporary but it never really felt like they got to enjoy each other as much as I wanted them too. They had so much baggage and to me the past just weighed them down…I was aching for some moments of joy – seeing them build on their established friendship and obvious romantic feelings…I guess I just missed that part.

‘Whoever said the truth hurts was dead on. But it’s beyond hurting. It’s like a million knives carving into my chest, tearing my heart completely apart.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to put it back together.’

Other than my desire for more happy everything else was still there…everything I loved about One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend. Monica Murphy’s writing style is just…awesome. There is no other word to describe it. I love her flow, it’s very easy and effortless. She’s got the ability to weave in gut wrenching emotion with steam-your-pants-off sex and just the right amount of humor. I really enjoyed being in both Colin and Jen’s POV’s…it was never confusing and there was never any backtracking/revisiting a scene. And of course…the quintessential thing I love about series books…seeing the original characters I fell in love with. Yes please! You know I loved seeing Fable and Drew and hearing about them – Fable was actually in TBP a lot more than I thought she would be! Owen is even in it a little bit…which was a nice little set up for Four Years Later…eeep!

‘Her eyes fill with tears, and seeing them nearly rips me apart. “How did you know I needed you?”
I melt at her words. Grabbing her, I pull her in for a hug, the tension coiled right in my chest easing when she slips her arms around me and buries her face against my shirt. “Because I needed you, too. I can’t live without you,” I murmur into her silly hair.’

I loved the ending…it was classic HEA goodness for me but…and don’t ask me why…I feel like Colin and Jen aren’t over. I feel like there is/should be more. Maybe that’s wishful thinking. Usually I can tell when I’m totally good with where a couple is at and I can let them go and I really can’t with them. I want more for them…I want more happy and so…I will keep my hope for more. 🙂 In the meantime…I really cannot wait to read Drew + Fable Forever and Four Years Later…the Drew + Fable series has yet to disappoint me and I couldn’t be more excited to see what’s to come.

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.