Three Promises. Lily Everett

Three Promises 
Lily Everett
Published: St Martin's Paperbacks
Date: 2nd February 2016
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
                    

Leo, Zane, and Cooper made a pact to stay bachelors and enjoy the single life forever, and when they receive an invitation to their friend Miles' wedding, they head down to Sanctuary Island determined to talk some sense into the errant groom before he makes a life-changing mistake. But Miles knows his own mind, and he makes a vow of his own: before he walks down the aisle, he'll have Leo, Zane, and Cooper changing their tune about matrimony. Because Miles knows, better than anyone, that all it takes is a little Sanctuary Island magic to turn romantic cynics into true believers.

Three Promises by Lily Everett is part of her Sanctuary Island books, and is really three previously published novellas now gathered together in one book telling the story of the billionaire bachelors. Miles Harrington makes a bet with his three billionaire friends that by the time he is married their hearts will have become entangled for ever with someone. If anyone is able to hold out, they'll gain his private helicopter and all its privileges. He asks each of them to come to the Island at least four weeks before his wedding and gives each of them a task to accomplish for his wedding.

He asks Leo, a British lord, to find and present a secular reading at the wedding. Upon arriving at The Fireside Inn, Leo proceeds to the local library to ask the help of Serena - head librarian. She agrees with the proviso that he helps her to have access to the Harrington family, so she can canvas needed finance to keep the local library going. And so they get together, although the going is not easy and there are obstacles that almost send them apart as they touch into hurts from their pasts.

Bonfire Beach is the next story and is about Zane and Felicity. Felicity is the wedding planner and Zane has been set the task of helping her. Right from the start they clash in ideas. Felicity wants romantic, Zane wants anything but. As they begin however to be attracted to each other their pasts again intrude. They have a history of guilt and loss. As well Zane is unable to depth a relationship. In the end they retire to their own corners, and split the tasks.

The last story is Lantern Lake and is a second chance love story. Vivian Banks left Cooper on their wedding day back when they were in college. Now at Miles and Greta's wedding, Cooper takes the opportunity to spend some time with Vivian and punish her for what she did. There positions have now see-sawed, while he is no longer a hard-working poor student but a billionaire thanks to a smart app, she has lost all her wealth. Spending time together in an old fixer upper, it soon becomes clear there just might be a second chance for them.

I enjoyed all three stories, they were well written and fun. I loved the epilogue at the end that tied all the ends together, and proved that Miles knew his friends and Sanctuary Island very well.