What an interesting story! It explores quite a few really intriguing threads that one doesn’t often see.

First - there is Claire’s psychologically debilitating fear of going anywhere outside her structured community after a random shooting left her partially diabled. At first glance this many seem kind of silly but as the story progresses and one sees the smothering worry her parents push on her plus the sympathetic enabling everyone else in the community gives her, her condition is completley understandable. (I have actually known people like this with a lot less reasons to be so, so I know it is something very real, as well.)

Then, there is the storyline of her best friend who betrayed Claire by stealing and then running off with the man Claire is in love with - then, shows up later wanting to be friends again. How does one climb that trust mountain after something so deeply damaging? Making it even harder to judge right from wrong is the fact that the friend is back because she is dealing with a health crises that same boyfriend left her for. Hmmm....

The tie that binds the entire story together is Logan, the brother of Claire’s ex-friend and longtime crush of Claires. He loves his sister and desperately wants to help her gain forgiveness so she can be at peace and enjoy her life again.

The problem with the story for me, is Logan. I had a REALLY hard time liking him. Throughout the entire book it seemed every.single.thing he did for Claire was done for purely selfish purposes. Even those things that helped her grow was always wrapped up in an end-game for him. Because of this, I never could buy into his feelings being real.

That, plus the horribly abrupt resolution and end (man, after everything, we NEED to see more of his feelings and change!!) keeps this beautiful journey of a read from attaining the 5 star it should have deserved.

A one-sided teenage crush, a theme I usually enjoy, turns slowly into adult passion in this well-written “The Promise of Us”, by Jamie Beck.
The author pairs an insecure heroine, something I like too, struggling with physical and psychological limitations, with an easygoing, charming and self-confident, yet kind, hero. She’s the one who stayed (for various, serious reasons), he’s the one who left, the adventurer.
For some reason I cannot pinpoint, I never warmed up to or cared that much about what happened to Claire, although her character is well drawn, and the depiction of her insecurities, fears and shyness quite convincing (sometimes I felt embarrassed for her); and it’s refreshing to have a female with baggage, who isn’t a cookie-cutter character. But perhaps the story delved too much into her character growth and inner world. (And I really found weird the naming of the cane.)
There’s a lot going on with both characters’ families and friends and an interesting involvement of their professions in the plotline.

Another great installment in the Sanctuary Sound series. Enjoyed the story -- connected to the characters -- enjoyed the writing style. Can't wait for Book 3!

Thank you #netgalley and #montlakeromance for the eARC.

4 1/2 stars.
This is such a heartwarming series and I really enjoyed this second book. It is beautifully written and the characters are well though out and deeply developed. Each time I read a Jamie Beck book I lover her style even more. There is no fluff here, it is all real emotion and situations. It is Claire’s turn to hopefully find everything she wasn’t sure she could ever hope for. After living through a traumatic mass shooting at age 15, she was left with the constant reminder of what she lost that day. She gets around just fine physically with the aid if her trusty cane Rosie, but emotionally and mentally she is clearly not fine. In fact she and her family are all suffering from PTSD even all these years later and that is keeping her from truly living her life to it's fullest potential. Something like that never goes away, people just learn ways to cope and live with it. Claire’s character is amazing and strong and very real. And once Logan re-enters her life we see a beautiful albeit slow transformation take place with her like a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly finally ready to fly again. Logan is bringing out the Claire that has been tucked neatly away since her trauma but along with that comes so much doubt as well. But with Logan also comes some harsh reality of what is both happening to her once best friend Peyton, Logan's sister, and dealing with Peyton's betrayal at the same time.
I was in their corner from the get-go and was so completely satisfied with the ending. Wonderful story.

Thank you to Netgalley/Publisher for this ARC.

This is book 2 in the series - I haven't read the first but I don't think that mattered too much.

This is the story of Claire and Logan. They grew up in town and she always had a crush on him - but his sister Peyton ran off with Claire's boyfriend so now she has no time for anyone from that family.

An emotional read, a story of forgiveness and moving on.

Received a cooy of the book through netgalley.
Excellent read,characters seem so real,good build up of relationships throughtout the book.A book that keeps you interested in the characters.Loved the author can not wait to read the third book in the series,to find out what happens next,you do not have to read all the seties each book is self explaniterly.

A good story has the ability to engage your emotions; to make you think about it and grapple with it long after the last word is read. I had to wait a couple days before posting this review because I didn't want the emotion stirred up by the characters and their choices to affect my opinions of the book.

Claire is a survivor. She suffered huge loss due to a random shooting that ended her professional tennis career. Ever since the shooting she's lived a safe, quiet, comfortable life. That safety didn't keep her from losing the man she thought she would marry, however, when he ran off with one of her best friends.

Logan is horrified at his sister's behavior. She ran off with Claire's boyfriend, but now that she's ill and in need of him, he can't help but hope to mend fences between the childhood friends. What he discovers along the way is that his life of wanderlust and, well...lust...might not lead to the fulfillment he's really looking for.

Jamie Beck spins a wonderful tale of growth and forgiveness. I struggled with the way Claire chose to live and the influence of her parents. I was so frustrated that she didn't pursue therapy even after recognizing her limitations. But her fighting spirit and relentless pursuit of improvement made me adore her despite her shortcomings--Claire was real. Logan was as flawed as was Claire. He was manipulative and selfish and selfless and kind altogether. The flawed main characters made this story so very engaging and frustrating and good. Well written and realistic, I enjoyed Jamie Beck's latest offering.

If you are looking for a suspenseful , action packed story, this one might not be for you. But if you are looking for a story that is thought provoking , and at times heartbreaking but also heartwarming, this one is definitely for you.
The story centers around Claire McKenna and her physical , mental , and emotional struggles after a mall shooting in her teen years, that left her with devastating injuries and put an end to her potential tennis career .
She is also dealing with the betrayal of one of her best friends. A betrayal that once again puts her in the spotlight of her hometown and one she wishes would disappear.
Enter the world traveling photographer, Logan Prescott, the brother of her betraying friend and also the one she’s crushed on since her youth, and you have a very complex storyline.
But aside from all the interpersonal drama, the story is really about life, losses, crushed hopes, and moving on. Some families, in order to protect us from further pain, will hinder our growth, and instead instill fear of what’s beyond our comfort zone. Other families, might try to fit us in a mold that is far from whom we are, as is the case for Logan. Even Peyton, the secondary character who is Logan’s sister and the one that betrayed Claire, has had to face death and a future she never envisioned.
A complex , engaging storyline filled with complex and imperfect characters. Slower paced than what I am used too, but not less thoughtful.
Kudos to the author for this thought provoking book.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is book 2 in the series but I did not read book 1, it does stand alone and I easily followed the story even though I did not read book 1. I really LOVED Claire. She is a sad character but aso one who is very strong and she is a fighter I absolutely loved her character and she is why I kept reading this story.

Logan is the male lead and he is also the brother of Claire's former best friend Peyton, who stole Claire;s boyfriend and has only returned home because she has breast Cancer. Logan is only back in town to try and help Peyton and to help get Claire to forgive him.

I HATED Logan. HATED!!! I have not hated a male character as much in a LONG time. I found him manipulative and yes he made Claire face her fears but he did it in a way that was manipulative and mean and he lusted for her but not in a long term way. He is a bt of a playboy and he has no intention of chnaging and so I felt he played lots of games with Caire's heart.

This story was well written and I really liked Claire, I even liked Peyton. I just hated how Logan manipulated poor Claire and how she let him play head games with him.

I really Love Jamie Beck books. They are deep and thoughtful and have a range of situations that make you think. This one was sweet as Claire was stuck being safe after being shot at a mall years ago. Peyton comes to town to recover from breast cancer and her brother Logan comes with her. He tries to intervene to have them be friends again and also pushes Claire out of her comfort zone. It was wonderful to see the progress each of these people made separately and together. Another very good book

Second in the Sanctuary Sound Series. The author does a wonderful job transitioning from Book 1 to Book 2 with informing the read of what happened previously. You do not need to read the first book to enjoy this one, but why wouldn’t you?!

This Series follows three bffs from childhood (Steffi, Claire, Peyton) later in their lives. This book is Claire’s time to find love. Living with an crippling injury from a traumatic shooting, has left Claire and her family with PTSD. She shuts herself off from others and the outside world, until her old crush, Logan, comes back to her town to help his sister, Peyton who is dealing with a health crisis. Claire and Peyton have their own issues that need to be resolved.

Ms. Beck did a great job showing how one persons horrific event alters those around her. When our loved one suffers, we all suffer and try to overcompensate for them. PTSD is crippling and debilitating and the author does a wonderful job shedding light on this situation.

Ms. Beck gives us a teaser of the third book, which will focus Peyton. I look forward to reading this one (although I must admit I was hoping for a different love interest), but I can’t wait to see where it will go.

Thanks to Ms. Beck, Montlake Romance and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is my own.

This is the second book in the Sanctuary Sound series that centers around three women, Steffi, Claire and Peyton, aka the Lavender Lane League. All three women have suffered through loss and trauma. This books centers around Claire and Peyton’s brother Logan. Claire was an up and coming tennis player, when she was caught up in a mass shooting at the age of fifteen. Now fifteen years later, she has mostly recovered from the physical wounds, but has not really gotten past the emotional damage. To make matters worse, Claire’s fiancée Todd left her and ran off with Peyton about a year ago. Claire is still angry with Peyton, even after Todd dumped Peyton when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Logan loves his sister Peyton, and has put his life on hold to help her through her cancer treatment. He sees how Peyton is suffering with both her treatments and her guilt about ruining her friendship with one of her best friends. He decides he needs to get Claire forgive Peyton. He dangles a big decorating in front of Claire, that will go a long way to help her struggling company. Claire takes the job, despite her reservations about interacting with Peyton and her lingering childhood crush on Logan. I loved how both characters grew, and the relationship developed organically. I cannot wait to see how the author tells Peyton’s story, as everyone, but Logan was team Claire. Should be interesting. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Claire has a heartwarming story of dealing with a physical tragedy and then being dealt an emotional blow that becomes tragic. She's been left behind by not only a boyfriend, but the childhood/lifelong friend he left her for. The story unfolds with Claire mentally stuck in a limbo she is too fearful to ever recognize she's allowed herself to stay in- she is afraid of crowds, venturing out, and off feeling anything like she did for Todd.

Claire's childhood crush is Logan- who happens to be brother to the backstabbing friend. This journey is not an easy one for either Claire or Logan as they soon discover they have a connection and passion that cannot be ignored. While it's easy to see what other's shortcomings or faults might be, it's not so easy to understand or admit your own problems. Claire and Logan each on a journey of discovery about each other, but more so of themselves.

I love a good Jamie Beck novel and this one is a wonderful continuation of the first in the series!

Claire is one of three friends who have been close since middle school, well she was until one of her friends essentially stole her boyfriend! It’s just unfortunate that Logan (who she’s always had a crush on) is the boyfriend stealers brother! As he steps in and tries to mend the girls friendship, he starts to realize that maybe the woman that is right for him has been under his nose the whole time...

I love a good unrequited love story, and characters that make sense because they encourage and challenge each other. Logan and Claire are that for each other, as he continues to help her see what life could be like beyond the tragedy that changed the course of her life, she in turn helps him face his issues with his dad. I loved the progression of growth in both characters as they faced their fears and learn to trust again!

Jamie Beck not only writes believable characters, ones that you come to care for, but she weaves a wonderful story of friendship and love that will pull you in and hold you interest until the very last page!

Welcome back to Sanctuary Sound!
Claire is a survivor. She has survived a gunshot wound that ended her aspiring tennis career , endured multiple surgeries, learned to walk again, all
As a teenager . Claire lives a safe, tidy life .

Logan Prescott , rich, world traveled , playboy and brother of Peyton, the girl who stole Claire’s boyfriend.

How can they possibly have a relationship?

I loved this book ! These two made me laugh and cry and cry some more. A book about embracing life and love and pushing past your comfort zones.
Now excuse me while I move to Sanctuary Sound and call up Claire to redecorate my home !!! LOL

This book did not disappoint!! Jamie snatches you in right from the start! This book is a great addition to this series. Logan and Claire's love story touches on betrayal, overcoming fears and trauma, taking chances, learning to forgive and also deals with sickness and heartache. There were times I wanted to tell at Claire because I thought she was being too hard on Logan and Peyton. Times I was ready to cry in happiness! Amazing book! Jamie is definitely one of my favorite authors! If you love a great romance, she is the author for you!

The Promise of Greatness. In this second Sanctuary Sound book, Beck continues her theme of intriguing character studies while telling solid romance stories. Here, we get a version of the same safety/ security vs freedom issues that plague our political debate, but inside the context of two people struggling to find themselves and overcome their own personal obstacles. I've read a couple of Beck's other series, and I can genuinely say that in my experience with her, this latest series is some of her finest work to date. Very much looking forward to Peyton's story.

Claire and Logan have their personal demons to battle and their friendship takes an unseemly turn. Claire thinks she can handle casual but her heart goes deeper than she wills for it to. Logan wants to bring back the fearless spirit of his childhood friend, but it does more to him than he would have liked. Secrets and loyalties come out, making their bond seem impossible. Beck takes these characters for a ride and her readers will not be disappointed with the story that unfolds!

Another great romance by Jamie Beck! A return to Sanctuary Sound, this time with Claire as the focus. Such a treat to witness the budding relationship between Claire and Logan. She’s had a tough run and isn’t sure she’s capable of this type of love and breaking out of a life of fear. Will Logan be able to break down her barriers and open her eyes to a fulfilling life for both of them?
Harboring lots of resentment toward Peyton for stealing Todd, the love of Claire’s life, also doesn’t help matters. Can they finally make peace and reunite the gang?

Jamie Beck has managed to write a touching story regarding the 4 L’s - life, love, laughter & loss. The Promise of Us follows Claire as she attempts to come to terms with her former best friend, Peyton, moving back into town while recovering from her battle with cancer. Claire has been afraid of being hurt, both physically & mentally. Her promising career in tennis was cut short after she was injured in a shooting that ended up leaving her with a bad leg. Now she plays it safe.

Logan, Peyton’s brother & Claire’s teenage crush, is determined that Claire has to forgive Peyton for breaking her heart & stealing her boyfriend. He doesn’t understand why she is still holding it against her. After all, once Peyton was diagnosed, the jerk left her too. As Claire & Logan get closer, Logan can’t figure out why he’s feeling things differently & why the same things don’t make him happy. Is he beginning to grow up & feel deeper?

Claire roused my sympathies from the very beginning. Yes, she was playing it safe but it seemed like she had it together & if she didn’t want to expand her horizons, who was Logan to force the issue? I understood that Peyton was his sister & had just faced a life threatening disease but he acted like Claire’s emotions were negligible & could just be ignored. He really came off as arrogant & selfish, especially when he couldn’t believe his buddy,Ben was in “Claire’s” side, instead of his. He acted very spoiled & entitled about several things. I truly enjoyed the way they both came to learn more about themselves & each other as they grew closer. This was a very emotional book that was a joy to read & absorb.