Shattered Promise (Avalon Falls #4)

In Shattered Promise, Penelope Black delivers a heartfelt story about love, healing, and second chances. The novel centers around Abby, a woman trying to rebuild her life after betrayal, and Mason, a devoted single father with his own emotional scars. When their paths cross unexpectedly, a connection sparks—one that neither of them saw coming. But with past wounds, present secrets, and a future uncertain, their journey is anything but easy.

Let me preface this by saying: I really enjoyed this book. Abby and Mason were both incredibly easy to connect with, and I especially adored the single dad trope. Mason’s relationship with his son was written beautifully—it added depth, heart, and an instant emotional pull to the story. Watching him navigate fatherhood while opening up to love again was one of my favorite parts.

That said, this almost earned a solid 4 stars from me. The writing was strong, and the emotional moments hit where they needed to. But there were parts of the plot that felt rushed, especially in the second half. The pacing shifted quickly, and the ending threw me for a curve in a way that left me feeling unsettled— it felt like something was missing. Loose ends, unanswered questions, and emotional beats that could’ve been more fleshed out left me wanting just a little more.

Overall, Shattered Promise had all the bones of a great story—engaging characters, emotional depth, and strong writing—but the execution left a few holes in the plot that pulled me out of the experience. Still, I’ll definitely be picking up more from Penelope Black and rooting for these characters in any future follow-ups.