Graveyard Promises (31 Days of Trick or Treat) by Kathleen Kelly-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2025

This Halloween, masks aren’t the only thing coming off…

The Costa and Chavez families have spilled generations of blood in a war that neither side can win.

Raphael “The Reaper” Costa has lived up to his name, becoming a ruthless enforcer of his family’s will.

Sophia Chavez, the Cartel Princess, has always been shielded from the violence and her family’s business.

When a truce is brokered, sealed by an arranged marriage, Raphael and Sophia are thrust together—two reluctant pawns in a deadly game.
He sees her as a spoiled, untouchable princess.
She sees him as nothing more than a cold-blooded killer.

But as sparks fly between them, desire ignites in the ashes of their hatred.

On Halloween night, masks come off—both the costumes and the façades—and what’s revealed is a temptation so dangerous, neither can resist.

When a ruthless enemy emerges from the shadows, determined to annihilate both families, they face an impossible choice: remain enemies and perish, or stand united and defy the odds.

•••••

REVIEW:GRAVEYARD PROMISES by Kathleen Kelly is a contemporary, adult, dark, crime world, romance story, a part of the multi-authored 31 Days of Trick or Treat series. This is Raphael ‘The Reaper’ Costa, and Cartel Princess Sophia Chavez’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Raphael and Sophia) GRAVEYARD PROMISES follows the arranged marriage between our story line couple. Approximately one year earlier, Raphael ‘The Reaper’ Costa met our story line heroine but had no idea as to her identity. Fast forward one year, at the Chavez’ annual Halloween party, Raphael will come face to face with the woman he has never forgot, and will quickly discover that our heroine is part of the Cartel merger, joining his family with the Chavez. Sophia struggles with the arranged marriage to Raphael The Reaper but when the Bratva take aim, our couple must work together to save the people they love.

The world building is fast and furious as our couple go from zero to sixty within a matter of hours. Raphael is determined to protect the woman to whom he is married but never expected to fall in love with our story line heroine. Someone is taking aim at the Chavez and Costa cartels, and our couple are caught in the direct line of fire, pawns in their fathers’s fight for control

The relationship between Raphael and Sophia begins as an accidental meeting one year before but neither is aware of one another’s identity. The annual Chavez Halloween celebration will bring our couple together, and within minutes, discover they are to be married for the sake of power. There are no $ex scenes.

The secondary and supporting characters are energetic and sometimes questionable. We are introduced to Sophia’s father Hector Chavez, her brother Antonio, and her best friend Maria; Raphael’s brother Gabriel, and their father.

GRAVEYARD PROMISES is a quick read; a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and honor, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is edgy and dramatic; the romance is limited; the characters are desperate and determined. GRAVEYARD PROMISES ends on a HEA for now, there story line conflict has yet to be resolved.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Social Media: Goodreads / Amazon Author Page/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ TikTok/

Kathleen Kelly is a USA Today Best Selling Author and was born in Penrith, NSW, Australia. When she was four her family moved to Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Although born in NSW she considers herself a QUEENSLANDER!!

She married her childhood sweetheart and they live in Toowoomba. Kathleen enjoys writing contemporary, romance novels with a little bit of steam. She draws her inspiration from family, friends and the people around her. She can often be found in cafes writing and observing the locals.