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Cruel

Cruel Promise

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A swoony billionaire contemporary romance prequel to USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde's Cruel Truth.

I’m not prepared to meet someone as sexy as Sam Rutherford on the first day of my new job.

Then I find out we’re sharing an office…for the next year.

I can’t deny that I’m intrigued by his charming Southern drawl and rugged good looks. Normally I would have jumped at the chance.

But there’s only one problem.

He has no idea who I am. I’m not just Lark, the cute girl at work.

I’m a multibillion-dollar heiress. And I made a deal with my parents: one year away from the city and then I take over the family business.

Despite everything, I want to risk it for him.

I don’t care if I break my cruel promise.

Note: Originally titled His for a Season.

105 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2020

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About the author

K.A. Linde

90 books9,631 followers
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, son, and super-adorable puppy.

Visit her online at www.kalinde.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @authorkalinde.

Join her newsletter at www.kalinde.com/subscribe for exclusive content, free books, and giveaways every month.

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5 stars
259 (29%)
4 stars
278 (32%)
3 stars
229 (26%)
2 stars
66 (7%)
1 star
32 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Profile Image for Christy.
4,081 reviews34.6k followers
April 14, 2020
4 stars

I loved Sam and Lark in The Lying Season and was so excited to get more of their story.

Their book is a second chance romance and I always wondered exactly what went down between them when they first started dating. This prequel answered all my questions and gave me more of this couple I love so much!

Sam and Lark's chemistry is off the charts and I loved watching them fall for each other. This makes me want to read The Lying Season all over again!
Profile Image for K.A. Linde.
Author 90 books9,631 followers
Read
April 9, 2020
Freebie alert! I wrote this book as a thank you to all the readers who read and loved The Lying Season and wanted more of Sam & Lark. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Simran ..
Author 12 books592 followers
April 13, 2020
5 ”SAM and LARK” stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

He groaned against my lips and pulled back. “You make it really hard to not just pick you up and steal you.”
I chuckled, drawing him in again. “Who said I wouldn’t want that?”
He kissed me one more time. “You’re too special for that,” he said against my lips. “You don’t rush perfection, Lark. And I don’t want to rush us.”


Loved this cute couple till the end. This was such a sweet romance and perfect prelude to the next book. The moment I read the synopsis, I knew I was gonna enjoy it and I did just that. I loved how the author divided it into the seasons with four chapter each.

We met Lark and Sam in this one. They work as volunteers in a campaign. They are both from two different worlds but completely made for each other. We get to see them fall in love but due to some issues it doesn’t work out. It’s make for a very angsty second chance romance and I’m going to read it soon.

”Us,” I breathed the word like a lifeline.
“You are mine, right?” he asked
I swallowed and nodded, meeting those deep dark eyes. “I am.”


For such a short book, it packed a punch. Their was chemistry, romance, ex-drama and fast paced. The plot is set really perfectly.

Highly recommend it. ♥️
Profile Image for meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi-hiatus).
81 reviews92 followers
December 17, 2023
okay not gonna lie, for a short novella, i was hooked from the beginning to end with Sam and Lark's love story.

i just what to know what the HECK was that ending?!
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews4 followers
Want to read
June 18, 2022
🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (4/11/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Melissa.
802 reviews
March 17, 2024
I read so many wonderful reviews for "Cruel Promise." I was really disappointed and struggled to finish it. I was intrigued with the idea that the bulk of the story would be set around a political campaign. I was not a fan of Lark (spoiled rich mean girl) or Sam (southern gentleman). Their backstories didn't really come together until just about the end of this novella. The story itself was a bit choppy and slow moving.
Profile Image for Cara Nicole.
728 reviews15 followers
April 12, 2020
The perfect prequel- it's sweet, a bit sinful, and makes you want more!
Sam and Lark meet in Madison on a campaign, and these two have sparks from the get-go. If you've read The Lying Season, you know Sam and Lark cross paths again, but this is a great way to be introduced to them and what their backstory is. I loved seeing how they first met and exactly what happened before their present story. Pick up this cute and sexy prequel, you won't regret it!
Profile Image for Yvette (Booksandbandanas).
485 reviews112 followers
May 4, 2020
This was an amazing short prologue, it helps you understand this complex relationship that transforms into The Lying Season. Sam and Lark bring all the feels in this stories, intro. I read this book in one sitting and now I’m dying to jump into the rest of what’s to come.

KA Linde never lets me down.
Profile Image for Kelly Morphew.
76 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2020
This prequel was exactly what I had been waiting for since finishing The Lying Season! Lark and Sam were such captivating characters that I just knew their initial meeting would be everything. Even knowing how this one was gonna end, I was still hooked! This prequel definitely packs a punch!
Profile Image for M..
507 reviews702 followers
Read
May 1, 2020
i'm not gonna rate this book because it's technically a prequel and therefore too short to do so but i'm curious about lark and sam's second chance
540 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2020
A prequel to ”The lying season”.

She was bad but the ex was even worse and he was just a bad boyfriend without a clue. And who invites the ex to live with you when there are other options and you have a new girlfriend. I want the ”Hero”to actively choose the ”Heroine” and be on her side and be considerate of her feelings. And it can be done without making the ”Hero” seem to be lacking a backbone. He should have known better, regarding that and other things. Made me NOT want to read ”The lying season”. Not my kind of man and a couple of reviews on the next book seem to indicate he continues in the same manner... (even if that book seems to end with a HEA. But again, not my kind of man.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cynema.
602 reviews95 followers
April 12, 2020
A CONTINUATION OF THE CRUEL MONEY WORLD, BUT REALLY BLAND AND BORING

[This prequel is free on Amazon and not worth it]

Typically, this is an author that really entertains me, except for the Cruel Money series (which was ridiculous), but I put my feelings aside to dive into this prequel. I really shouldn’t have bothered. There was no reason for this prequel. The little that happens here could have been achieved much better and more concisely in a chapter or two in The Lying Season, which this prequel sets up.and I have yet to read. Remember rich heiress Larkin St. Vincent from the Cruel Money series? She was one of Penn’s cruel “Crew” who harassed and tormented Natalie, the girl he loved but screwed over as part of their games. The prequel in that series – One Cruel Night – was fantastic. Short, deep, emotional, to the point, excellent setup of two MCs and their conflict, plus a good cliffy leading into the series. It was so romantic, tragic, and very focused. This prequel was just a breath of dry dust. The opening was a dull bore. The characters were bland. Their conversations were alot of chatting about nothing. None of it stirred any interest in them or the story, with more talk than action and lots of time jumps, which made it very superficial. It covers a year of Larkin -- using the alias Lark Vincent so no one will recognize her name for a change – while she works as an ordinary girl on a political campaign in another state, and falls for co-worker/country boy Sam from the South. So, now we get their story. Trouble is, there wasn’t any flow to setting up this couple. I felt no connection between them, and everything was rushed and glossed over.

In a nutshell, they work hard, flirt a bit, share a little face sucking, and eventually get around to sex before his devious ex shows up on the campaign with designs to get him back. What she does, how Lark responds, and the fallout was so cliché I wanted to throw my Kindle. It felt like high school shenanigans, not young adults out of college and law school. It wasn’t even believable. This just seems like a continuation of the Cruel Money dynamic of one character sabotaging another and the man between them so easily believing the manipulation, instead of the truth. I’m so over authors relying on recycled ideas, characters and storylines that I could scream. And the superficial storytelling was the last straw. K.A. Linde can write interesting characters and stories, but this just felt like lazy writing. It isn’t hard to figure out exactly where all this is headed and how it will play out, plus we know characters from before, so some of the mystery is gone anyway. Think I’ll pass on reading further.
Profile Image for Luisa Rivas.
1,971 reviews32 followers
April 15, 2020
Short and sweet, but it felt complete! In the first book in this series, which is a shoot off from the Cruel Money series, we get the story of Larkin and her old flame Sam. They had a one-year romance, then broke up. Larkin came to New York to work with the major and Sam went on to study law. In The Hating Season, which happens years later, Sam comes to work for the major’s re-election campaign and surprise! There was Larkin working too. Their story was so special that it warranted to include their previous romance, so the author gave us this wonderful gift.

I loved that in this short story, we get more intel on the Crew, the infamous group of high school friends who did mischief against the outsiders and backed their friends against anyone, be it legal or illegal means. Their loyalty is complete, period.

Lark is, as always, trying to escape the noose that her parents have around her neck; namely, to become the head of the St Vincent empire. She has been prepared all her life for this legacy but we already know that she doesn’t want it and has been procrastinating like a pro. Now she negotiated working one year on the presidential campaign of Wisconsin’s governor. Determined to live a normal life, she changed her name to Lark Vincent, bought a Subaru, and lives in a one-bedroom apartment. Gone are the trappings of a rich girl from the Upper East Side.

At work, she’s mentored by Sam and the rest is history. We learn how they fall in love and what happens in the end. The story is short but felt very complete and very well developed. It felt great to fill in the holes on the story of The Hating Season. Not that they felt like holes, but us readers wanted to know how they met and fell in love. This story was everything I expected and desired. And it’s a great addendum to their HEA story. Loved it!
Profile Image for Lisa.
2,290 reviews71 followers
April 27, 2020
His for a Season is a prequel novella in the Seasons series by K.A. Linde. The origin story of Sam and Lark who are the main characters in the first full-length book in the interconnected standalone series, The Lying Season. A detailed look into the campaign trail and the history of this Upper East Side princess and her North Carolina construction man/lawyer - Loved it! Definitely worth reading this before jumping into The Lying Season. Enjoy!

His for a Season by K.A. Linde The Lying Season by K.A. Linde The Hating Season by K.A. Linde The Breaking Season by K.A. Linde The Faking Season by K.A. Linde
August 16, 2020
Sam and Lark's love story was amazing at the beginning but frustrating at the end. Sam invited his ex girlfriend to join their campaign team. When she arrived he offered his place where she can stay. Lark has every reason to get jealous since Sam didn't even mention that he invited his ex. His ex found out that they are together so she told Lark that she's going to get Sam back. She then played dirty by selling Lark's picture working dirty. Lark then retaliated by hacking her computer and found out she has a boyfriend. She then emailed him and invited him to visit. When he came Melissa denied knowing him and told Sam it was Lark who hired the guy. Sam believed his ex and the next day left with Melissa to go home to North Carolina.
The Lying Season:
After 5 years in New York, Sam was hired at the mayor's campaign headquarter as financial lawyer. Lara who is working for the Mayor they accidentally met at the coffee room. Again, Sam was not honest to Lara until the event he knows his current girlfriend will be playing with the orchestra and the two will meet. Things got complicated but in the end Lara gave him a second chance but he lied again and was forgiven.
Profile Image for Laetitia.
1,257 reviews31 followers
April 30, 2020
Larkin St. Vincent wanted to make a difference, so she decided work on a governor's campaign for a year in Wisconsin. When she gets to the campaign headquarters, she meets Sam Rutherford. The minute they see each other, there's clearly chemistry and attraction between them. For the next couple of weeks they get to know each other and work closely together. Slowly, Lark and Sam got together and started their relationship. Lark was good and even told Sam who she really was. Things changed when Sam's ex came to work for the campaign. Sam was a nice guy and didn't notice what the ex was trying to do. Lark being who she is knew what the ex was trying and her "bad Lark/ Upper East Side" came out to play. Lark went about things the wrong way and Sam was too gullible when it came to his ex to see past what Lark had done. I was glad to read how Lark and Sam fell in love and they never got over each other. Which is why when he moved to New York things kind of fell back to how things used to be between them.
Profile Image for Proud_book_nerd  (Josie).
821 reviews3 followers
April 13, 2020
I absolutely loved The Cruel Series. And Lark was always interesting because she didn't seem to care for all the bullshit. I guess I was so caught up in the ending to Cruel Legacy that I didn't realize KA Linde was continuing the Crew.

Sometimes it's so hard to break stereotypes and just be you. Lark found she could be that person with Sam. I wasn't too fond of all the jumping around time-wise, but I know this was just to give a little bit of backstory. Oh Melissa, Melissa, Melissa, I hope Lark does something else to you in the other book. Guys don't realize how conniving women are and he truly set the dominoes up to fall himself. I was mad he didn't take Lark's side but I'm definitely interested to see how it plays out in the Lying season.
1,431 reviews12 followers
April 14, 2020
I am so glad I waited to read Lying Season. Now when I read it I will understand the dynamics between Sam and Larkin St. Vincent. I knew when she talked about the crew from the upper east side that this book would be good and bad. I don't understand how Lark let Melissa get the best of her. I always liked Lark better than Katherine and now I know why. Anyways I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the Lying Season, like as soon as I finish this review. K.A. Linde you don't ever disappoint. I loved the Cruel series so I am excited to see another one of these characters come to life and see what made them who they are.
Profile Image for Megan.
413 reviews10 followers
April 27, 2020
I’m kind of on the fence about this one. The story line was boring for me. It lacked action and the suspense we normally get. I get this was more real life for the author, but politics isn’t my thing and I found myself constantly skimming the entire book and still knew exactly on what was going on.

Sam was an annoying weak character. In what universe would a guy invite his ex to live with him when he already has a gf? That was stupid. Melissa was a vindicated girl. Her crying wolf so many times and playing the victim and Sam always believing her over his own gf was ridiculous. I would’ve dumped him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cathy.
780 reviews
August 4, 2020
KA Linde is a GODDESS!!!

I have read a good many of KA Linde’s stories and I have to say that I am NEVER disappointed!! Never! Not once! I always feel better for having read a series or standalone - doesn’t matter. I am reminded that love is a 2 way street and that it is not always hearts and roses. There might be a little angst or drama; maybe some miscommunication or reading the signals wrong. But, when all is said and done, if you have found the one that love will prevail. That is the story of Lark and Sam. This is just a “bump in the road”! They are soo good together!
Profile Image for The Book Palace.
1,611 reviews6 followers
December 22, 2023
this was too good for a novella (although, i hated the ow drama. it was really your typical ex-gf trying to win back the hero but heroine 'didn't trust him enough to resist it if it happened' drama). honestly, this would have been a 5 star if we didn't have that stupid melissa ow drama. also, i got this for free and i should've known that there is a full length novel of this couple (Cruel Truth) and damnit... now i need to read it instead of my tbr!

-contemporary romance novella
-trope: secret identity, forced proximity, slow burn
-heiress/southern country hero
-both working on a campaign for politics

cw: ow drama
Profile Image for Erika Maki.
1,112 reviews24 followers
September 30, 2021
I liked this prequel. It’s the story of how Lark and Sam meet. They work as volunteers on a political campaign. They are people from different backgrounds, but for some reason they fall in love and are meant for each other. We get to see the relationship develop, but due to some problems, the relationship crumbles. This is a novella, but it packed a punch. There was romance, angst and drama. I’m curious about how the relationship will develop in the full-length novel. It will definitely be a second chance romance. I really like Lark, and I want to see her get a happy ending.
5 reviews
December 13, 2023
Honestly I read this because it was short and I was way behind on my reading goal in December. I didn’t realize that it was as basically the “what went wrong” part that usually gets woven into a second chance romance book. Apparently there’s a full book that comes next where lark and Sam reconnect years later and this books was just letting us know ahead of time about their previous relationship.
My lack of realizing that beforehand and being frustrated at the end is the only reason I gave it 3 stars. It is well written and I’m sure it helps with the following book
Profile Image for Ruth Benziger.
Author 2 books46 followers
June 21, 2020
Lark is working for a campaign of a senator she feels passionate about. Getting away from her wealthy lifestyle and her smothering parents, she feels free to be someone other than an heiress. Sharing an office with Sam, she falls for him quickly.

The beginning of the story is quick and easy to read. However, Lark makes some major mistakes that drives Sam away and leaves her with a broken heart.

A set up to the next novel in the series.
Profile Image for Jill Miclean.
738 reviews
February 9, 2022
A novella with promise but I really didn't like Sam so I'm glad this was a freebie. He was so wishy-washy. Nice guy yes but allowing your ex-girlfriend to move in with you, getting a job where your current girlfriend is her boss and then siding with her over your current girlfriend was not only a big big turn off, but just plain dumb and an obvious plot device. Reviews indicate Sam doesn't get any better/smarter in the full story (The Lying Season) of him and Lark so I'll be skipping it.
Profile Image for Books on Stereo.
1,354 reviews172 followers
August 1, 2020
Title ⤵️
His for a Season

Author ⤵️
K.A. Linde

Rating ⤵️
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thoughts ⤵️
A quick novella that is supposed to add additional backstory to the Lying Season, but, ultimately, it doesn't really add anything new that readers won't already be able to deduce from the Lying Season. Still a decent read.
Profile Image for Tiffany Adams.
598 reviews6 followers
September 18, 2022
A fantastic short prequel to Cruel Truth!! That book is a second chance lovers story, so this book gives us all the background on Lark and Sam’s past relationship. It will help to understand how they came to be in the past. This book does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared to pick up Cruel Truth right away!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews

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