The Promise

Mar 22, 2013 Lelyana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, dream-hero, drowned-me, faithful-couples, favorite-couples, historical-romance, i-own-a-copy, from-author

Can you believe this is the first book Kate's write?
This is awesome ... and I found my self so hard to put it down even in a rush time ...

It begins with Maura,a 16th years old, so naive, so in love with a man (can we say "bastard"?) whom just , one night, tupped her, and said "you're very good", leave her, and married to another woman?

Jane Gray found her and take care of her when she knew Maure was increasing,until Pip, her daughter was born, and Jane, a baker at a pastry shop, had to raise Pi...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Kate Worth rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Can an author write an unbiased review of her own work? Probably not, but I'll give it a try.

It took me a little over a year to write my first book, The Promise. From the beginning I adored my heroine Jane and her rascally love interest Finn. I set out to write the kind of book I like to read, a sexy romance with an engaging plot, intelligent, believable characters, and interesting historical details. I enjoy a spicy read with blistering chemistry... a romance wrapped in an imaginative, well-con...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wish GR introduced a new (more honest) category, the 'caricature historical' romance, so that readers know what to expect. Obviously, the standards of historical research are as low as they can be in the 'historical romance' genre, but,still,there are books within its confines that succeed in conveying a sense of past experience,of sensibilities that retain something of the distance between the present and the past,without treating the latter as a mere background peg on which costumes are hung...more I wish GR introduced a new (more honest) category, the 'caricature historical' romance, so that readers know what to expect. Obviously, the standards of historical research are as low as they can be in the 'historical romance' genre, but,still,there are books within its confines that succeed in conveying a sense of past experience,of sensibilities that retain something of the distance between the present and the past,without treating the latter as a mere background peg on which costumes are hung.

Kate Worth's characters are flat and thoroughly unconvincing (this is what happens when what guides your pen is a small readership's excruciatingly comfortable comfort zone and not the desire to be true to your subject matter). They are simply caricature 21st c. characters and have no place in the 19th c. No ducal family would have taken in the heroine and 'her' child, dukes didn't (and don't, I suppose) live in a vacuum, there was a whole rigid social hierarchy (one they greatly contributed in solidifying and ossifying)whose dictates a duke and his family would scrupulously follow(and all the dirty deeds would remain hidden). Those who did not abide by the codes, they themselves helped reproduce, were cast aside and expelled from the company of their peers. None of that anxiety troubles Worth's characters and everything is ever so hunky dory.

The writer (and she is not the only one) also commits the usual error of introducing 'adoption' into the 19th c.,there were no adoption procedures in England and Wales before the beginning of the 20th c., and therefore nobody could be adopted. There were wardships/guardianships but no adoptions. On the very rare occasions when a male member of the aristocracy acknowledged an illegitimate offspring, the child in question was not able to inherit anything pertaining to titles and estates. These are very basic historical facts, and a writer of historical romances should not only know them but also work WITH them.

Anyway, even if one could forget that the social world described in Worth's book was riddled with terrible inaccuracies, the book's mapping of its characters' emotions and passions was (and felt) very contemporary,the feelings, the ways of understanding them and expressing them, the ways of analysing and interpreting them, were all very contemporary. So much so, that one cannot help wonder why the writer bothered to set her narrative in the 19th c. . The latter plays no genuine or significant role in her story, it guides not her pen and makes no demands on her imagination,it remains, as it is the case with so many so-called historical romances, a simple excuse for describing(often in the regurgitated language of the genre)19th c. fashion with no respect for the very historical experience to which that fashion belongs. Given all that, it is most bewildering to see so many five star ratings lavished on this book. Are they so many historical romance readers so easy to please? Me, I wish I could find me a site with more accurate critical reviews by readers who demand a little bit of effort from their writers of historical romances, a site I could go to before I spend my hard earned cash. (less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Chanpreet rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fantastic!

Full review to come. :)

I promise it'll be up soon!

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Oct 28, 2012 Diah Didi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, romance, series, signed, giveaway

Beware... I might write things that some people considered it as spoiler.

I must say I was pretty excited when I started this since lots of my friends talked about this for days. I was lucky to win it from a giveaway.
And yes, first chapters were interesting, I couldn't put it down. I had this feeling that I'd give 5 stars. It really broke my heart reading about Maura. Especially when I tried to imagine what Cameron felt as a brother who couldn't protect his little sister.
But then...
My mood sta...more Beware... I might write things that some people considered it as spoiler.

I must say I was pretty excited when I started this since lots of my friends talked about this for days. I was lucky to win it from a giveaway.
And yes, first chapters were interesting, I couldn't put it down. I had this feeling that I'd give 5 stars. It really broke my heart reading about Maura. Especially when I tried to imagine what Cameron felt as a brother who couldn't protect his little sister.
But then...
My mood started went down when everything went so smooth for Jane (too smooth I must say). It's a bit hard for me to accept those scenes where Cameron the duke, Finn and the duchess fell so easily for Jane and Pip. Pip I could understand since it is said that she looks like her mother. But welcoming Jane so easily? And she could come and go to their house everyday. I thought they were one of the most repected family. Surely they won't easily let that kind of things happen to their manor. Wouldn't be people talked about it? They did, but I didn't see the gossip played an important role, when I thought it should. Yes, they'd been the talk of the town, but it felt like it's just a fact that didn't really bother them, or Jane. Flat. Periode.
I also imagined that Cameron as a duke would be a very cold hard man. But here I thought that he lacked of the dukeness I usually felt toward most heroes I've read from historical romance novels.
And I must say I was a bit disappointed to the fact that Jane said yes to Finn's proposal pretty quick. I didn't really feel the emotion and the chemistry between them. I must admit I stop reading it after Jane said yes. And after, I still couldn't feel why he/she should be head over heels to each other.
Then, the truth about Jane background didn't send me an excitement. She still kept a secret about her cousin, but once it was revealed (which was in the end), well, it didn't feel like it matters at all. So I couldn't feel any sympathy toward her.
And yeah, I might repeating it again, but I really thought and felt like everything came too easy for Jane. Things that were told in the storyline felt like it means nothing.

Aside from those disappointing things (did I mention some typos?), I was quite entertained by the relationship between Cameron and Finn, the mentions of those yummy food, and the theme (this marriage of convenience thing, is certainly my thing).

Anyway, this is Kate Worth first book if I'm not mistaken. ;) I think it's a great job, although I expected more. And is there any sequel for this book? If there is, I could not wait to read it. ^^(less)

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Nov 28, 2012 Sandy Loyd rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed The Promise by Kate Worth. Her characters were fun and likable (lovable actually) and her details about the time were excellent. I felt like I had stepped back into time and was sorry to come to the end. I'm now wondering if Ms. Worth will write a sequel. There are several characters I'd love to know more about.

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Jan 12, 2013 Trisha M. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Author Kate Worth gifted me a copy of The Promise. I don't usually read historical romance, it's just not my genre but I gave it a try. I'm really glad I did because this book pulled me in right from the start. I couldn't put the book down. It's truly a beautiful sexy romance. I adored the characters, they were all so lovable. The engaging plot and historical details were quite believable as well. Everything flowed smoothly.I love that in a book. Kudos on your first novel Kate. This book is defi...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, historical-romance, kindle

This was a great historical fiction debut novel by Worth. It is the story of Jane Gray, a pastry baker, in 19th century England. She has taken in an unwed mother, who dies in childbirth. She raises the girl, Pip, as her own. Finally at the age of five, Jane realizes she must put money aside in a trust for little Pip in case of her demise. (This is a time of Cholera epidemics in England.) While trying to pawn a locket left to Pip by her mother, she is accused of being a thief and runs. News hits...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Beyond the Squee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Official Summary:

When pastry chef Jane Gray tries to sell her daughter's locket, she becomes the unlikely subject of a massive police hunt and fodder for London's tabloid press. Secrets unravel, lies are exposed, and the Duke of Rutledge demands custody of his niece.

Charming and handsome, the duke's brother Finn spends his leisure time between the sheets of London's most beautiful, wanton women. The seasoned rake is perplexed by his attraction to demure, virtuous Jane... definitely not his usua...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Romance Enthusiast rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!!! It is skillfully written with lovable characters and an engaging, dynamic plot. The historical details are richly detailed and accurate, yet do not overpower this beautiful love story. I didn’t realize it was the author’s first novel until I finished the book and immediately went to order something else by her. The Promise is an excellent debut and I am eagerly awaiting her next work!

The story is about Jane Grey, a baker who is raising a child as her own aft...more I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!!! It is skillfully written with lovable characters and an engaging, dynamic plot. The historical details are richly detailed and accurate, yet do not overpower this beautiful love story. I didn’t realize it was the author’s first novel until I finished the book and immediately went to order something else by her. The Promise is an excellent debut and I am eagerly awaiting her next work!

The story is about Jane Grey, a baker who is raising a child as her own after the mother dies. After an outbreak of cholera, Jane decides to set up a trust so that five-year-old Pip would be cared for if anything were to happen to her. To raise funds, she decides to sell a necklace, the only thing of value that had been left to Pip by her mother. In the jewelry store Jane narrowly escapes arrest. Terrified and confused, she opens the paper the next day to discover the necklace belongs to a powerful duke and that she is the subject of a citywide manhunt.

The Promise launches from there with a fast-paced plot filled with mystery and intrigue. We soon learn Jane is far more than the simple baker she appears to be. The hints about her past are dropped at a pace that made me want to keep reading to discover her secret. The relationship between her and Finn evolves from suspicion, to friendship, to budding attraction, and finally love. Finn has always been involved with beautiful, scandalous women, so he is confused by his interest in Jane. I enjoyed watching him evolve into a better, more substantial man through his love for Jane. I also liked that the relationship progressed believably and they didn’t jump into the sack right away, but when they did… whoa Nelly! It was hot! This book had a fairy tale ambience that appealed to me at the same time that it seemed realistic, like it could have really happened without straining the bounds of believability too badly.

The characters were so well drawn and fleshed out that I felt as if I knew each and every one personally. From hard-working, kindhearted Jane who is hiding a secret past, to the rakish, handsome, Lord Finn and his grumpy, rough-edged friend Augustus, adorable, precocious little Pip, the acerbic Duke who is nursing a broken heart, to the meddling Dowager Duchess Justine, and even the butler Peckham—I loved every single one. The villain was a heartless bastard and I cheered when he finally got his just deserts. In fact, I became so emotionally invested in the outcome of the story that I had a hard time putting it down! The only bad part is that I didn’t want it to end! I can’t wait for Ms. Worth’s next book. Hopefully it will be about the Duke or Augustus. They deserve their own happily-ever-afters.

Another thing I liked were the interesting historical details Ms. Worth included in The Promise. The information about the Sunday beer riots, the social unrest of the time instigated and agitated by activists like Karl Marx, the cholera outbreaks, and countless other bits of minutiae, transported me back to Victorian London. The way she described the neighborhoods, the docks, the jewelry store, all of it was so well done. I like it when history blends seamlessly into a story rather than making it feel like a textbook.

Historical romances are my favorite genre. I read a lot and have a short list of favorite authors. Ms. Worth has been added to that list. She has a way with language that is rich and engaging and I will be on the lookout for her next title.

Bravo!
(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 D. Ashell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense

This was a sexy/sweet story with a wonderful fast-paced plot. I couldn't put it down. The heroine Jane is a baker in London. She is raising another woman's child and having trouble making ends meet. She decides to sell a locket that was left to her daughter Pip by her birth mother, and gets into hot water because the locket has been reported stolen years ago by a powerful Duke. To avoid prosecution, she goes to the Duke and explains how she came to have the locket and discovers that Pip is reall...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Kathie (katmom) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yep, five stars.

I kept looking to see if this was Kate Worth's third or fourth book. Because this was that good...as if a seasoned writer had put out her next book.

I liked how Jane realized that she had to go to the DUKE himself to get the facts set out...otherwise she could hang. And if she was hung, what would happen to Pip, her daughter?

When she spies the Duke's brother, Finn, he takes her breath away. Dang, he took my breath away, too!

Yes, we have the tropes that make up a romance...but Ms....more

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Feb 04, 2013 Darlene Breeden rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Though I typically do not read historical romance books, Kate Worth's debut novel, The Promise, turned out to be a refreshing change from what is usually found in the genre.

Along with the building passion and love between the heroine and hero, this novel provides so much more ~ it is an intriguing storyline involving a strong heroine who is committed to doing the right thing for someone she loves, even at her own personal detriment. While she is beautiful, in her own way, it is her inner streng...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Danielle (Bookwhoreblog) Perez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review Posted HERE

Jane is a baker raising another woman’s child alone, after the child's mother met an untimely death. Trying to set up a future for the young girl named Pip, Jane decides to pawn a locket left to Pip by her mother. When Jane arrives at the pawn shop however things get a little odd. Jane narrowly escapes capture at the pawn shop but opens the paper the next day to find a picture of herself labeled as a thief. The story takes off from there and a plot filled with mystery and susp...more Review Posted HERE

Jane is a baker raising another woman’s child alone, after the child's mother met an untimely death. Trying to set up a future for the young girl named Pip, Jane decides to pawn a locket left to Pip by her mother. When Jane arrives at the pawn shop however things get a little odd. Jane narrowly escapes capture at the pawn shop but opens the paper the next day to find a picture of herself labeled as a thief. The story takes off from there and a plot filled with mystery and suspense unfolds that captivated me and left me barreling through the pages of The Promise.

When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure what to expect. I am kind of particular about my romance novels. I like them loaded heavily with romance and a plot that revolves around my two characters falling in love. The Promise is a bit different. The romance is ever so present between the characters but the story is what really captured me. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out something new would present itself and throw me for a loop.

Jane is a baker but she is elegant, graceful, and lovely but yet she is still modest. I pictured Jane to be Marry Poppins lovingly caring for this child that was not hers, and stunningly beautiful. Do not let Jane's character fool you into thinking she only plays the doting woman, Jane is in fact hiding secrets that play into the mystery inside this novel.

The characters all had chemistry with each other, and the romance while at first wasn't very present toward the end catapulted. Finn, The Duke, and The Duchess have all lost someone dear to them and have suffered so much sadness over the years. Until the day they meet the little show stealer Pip. Talk about a cute child! Pip really captured my heart and had me chuckling out loud at her adorable take on things.

I loved this story; I definitely think lovers of Historical Romance should give this book a shot. The story is well written, well thought out, and loaded with an amazing plot. The love story is simply icing on the cake. (less)

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Sep 16, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kate-worth, historical-romance, requested-review

When Jane Gray spots a young woman alone in a rough spot of town, she takes her under her wing and ends up sharing her home with her. When the baby girl arrives a few months later, it becomes clear why the young woman was hiding but her death leaves Jane alone with the baby girl, Pip. Jane raises Pip as her own as there is no clue as to the real identity of her birth mother. Five years pass and Jane knows she much provide for Pip's future as life can change in the blink of an eye. Needing to set...more When Jane Gray spots a young woman alone in a rough spot of town, she takes her under her wing and ends up sharing her home with her. When the baby girl arrives a few months later, it becomes clear why the young woman was hiding but her death leaves Jane alone with the baby girl, Pip. Jane raises Pip as her own as there is no clue as to the real identity of her birth mother. Five years pass and Jane knows she much provide for Pip's future as life can change in the blink of an eye. Needing to set aside a large sum of money, she decides to sell the only valuable thing she has--a locket from Pip's birth mother. Little does she know that when she attempts to sell the locket, she will be branded a thief as the owner of the locket is a duke! Jane decides her best course of action is to try to explain how she came to own the locket straight to the duke and hopefully avoid the noose. When the truth comes out about Pip's mother, Jane is afraid she is going to lose her forever. After all, how can Jane, a baker, raise a duke's niece in the life necessary? And why can't she stop thinking about the duke's brother, Finn?

Lord Fionnlagh Wallace, Finn, has never stopped looking for his missing sister, Maura, all these years that she has been gone. Fearing the worst, he immediately takes a dislike to this plain woman who has Maura's locket. How dare she come into his home and try to pass off a child as his niece? It quickly becomes clear how wrong he is and together with his family, they try to come up with a plan to envelope Pip into her new family without excluding the woman who raised her. Nevertheless, society always sticks their nose in where it doesn't belong and soon a scandal is threatening to erupt and Finn comes up with a solution that should please everyone. As Jane can not bear to lose Pip, she agrees and hopes for happy marriage with the man that has captured her attention. Finn also has hopes for uncovering the passion he knows is hiding underneath the quiet face of Jane but it seems they will never find the time to be together alone. With the revelations about Janes past also coming to light, it soon becomes clear that all their lives are in danger. Will Jane and Finn be able to survive and confess the true nature of their hearts?

For a debut novel I was impressed. I loved how the story unfolded...it starts off well with Maura's encounter and never lets go. I enjoyed Jane's take charge attitude and her deep love and devotion to Pip. The hints about Jane's past are dropped at a pace that you just keep reading because you can't wait to see what will happen next. The details are tragic and life changing and sure to have your heart racing at the end. The villain is just nasty and a person that has no heart. Finn is a charming rake, used to having woman fall all over him so he finds it a bit of a puzzle as to why he can't stop thinking about Jane and her gentle, loving ways...so different from the woman he usually enjoys. I would have liked to have seen a bit more romance bloom earlier on for this couple, I think it was about half way through the book before they shared their first kiss and longer for them to share their hot love scene. But even though the romance is a bit quieter than I usually prefer, the story just captivated me. Right from the beginning where you will be going 'no!' to each new twist and turn and delicious revelation, you will be held within the lovely world Kate Worth has created. The accepting, loving family, the charming Pip, the vile villain, the charming Finn and the strength of Jane, along with an eye for detail, all blend together beautifully. Like she states on the cover, this is a love story and for me it was emphasis on the story with the love woven in and I know I am eager for her next novel to see what new delights she comes up with! Recommended for fans of reunion stories with a strong family base, fleshed out secondary characters, great details and a romance that takes its time to bloom but it is perfect when it does. 4 stars

Review copy provided by the author, thank you because I may have overlooked this one and it deserves to be looked at!(less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Gem rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is not my usual type, I'm not really into romantics, although this proved to be a refreshing change. I found it hard to put down so I wouldn't recommend that you read this in bed! This is romantic, and even though the guy does save the girl it turns out that she is pretty gutsy too. She's quite a strong person and is doing what she can to survive. I liked the pace of the story, I never felt like it dragged or that it moved to fast. The characters are all well thought out, and throughou...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Have you ever read a book that after you read that last sentence, you had this overwhelming urge to start reading it all over again, just to make sure that it was as good as you thought it was?

Well, that’s how I felt as I finished reading THE PROMISE. I just couldn’t believe that this was a début [DEBUT!] novel. Last time I felt like that was after reading Grace Burrowes’ THE HEIR and time before that was Judith James’ BROKEN WING.

I honestly can’t remember what attracted me to this book or if an...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Nicole Laverdure rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finished reading "THE PROMISE" by Kate Worth. This is my first book of hers. It's a story in a world of love, secrets, lies and scandals in the time period 1855 London. Lots of mystery and suspense. I found this historical romance very captivating!
I love her two main characters Finn and Jane. I love the way, Ms. Worth included a child, named Pip, in her story.
Lord Finn Wallace is a charming man who spends his nights with the most beautiful women but when he meets Jane, he becomes very a...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 rating The author gifted me a copy of The Promise and I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis. While the cover whore in me said, “Meh.” Well let me assure you that the tale within was positively delightful. I laughed, I cried and I giggled. Worth spun a tale that I consumed in a single afternoon and I have the dirty laundry to prove it!

Pastry chef Jane Gray works in the bakery and lives in the apartments about. She is twenty-four years old and mother to five-year-old Pip. When an outbrea...more 4.5 rating The author gifted me a copy of The Promise and I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis. While the cover whore in me said, “Meh.” Well let me assure you that the tale within was positively delightful. I laughed, I cried and I giggled. Worth spun a tale that I consumed in a single afternoon and I have the dirty laundry to prove it!

Pastry chef Jane Gray works in the bakery and lives in the apartments about. She is twenty-four years old and mother to five-year-old Pip. When an outbreak occurs from poor drinking water, Jane becomes concerned for Pip’s future and decides to set up a trust fund. She tries to sell Pip’s locket at a fine Victorian jewelers,and finds herself the center of a police hunt, accused of stealing a Duke’s jewelry and featured on the cover of a tabloid press. She realizes that the only way to handle her predicament is to go and speak with the Duke of Rutledge. She and Pip make the walk to his mansion and the tale that unfolds was positively delicious. Filled with suspense, mystery, secrets and a swoon-worthy romance I found myself completely captivated.

Worth introduces us to some delightful characters. Jane, despite her attire, and status as a pastry chef reminded me of a young Audrey Hepburn. (At least that is how she appeared in my head) She is level headed, tough as nails, feminine and a wonderful mother to Pip. I loved how confident she appeared on the outside. Pip was positively adorable and had such a bubbly wonderful personality; I just wanted to squeeze her. Finn is the younger brother of Cameron the Duke of Rutledge, and convinced he will never marry; as he likes an ever changing menu in his bedchambers. The Duke, ah the Duke he comes off as a snob but cares for his family. This is not Cameron’s story, but the author assures me that we will get his tale soon. *sighs* I loved the banter between Jane and Finn. I found his awakening to his own feelings for her endearing. I loved the Duchess and laughed at this meddling mom. A cast of secondary characters add to the tale, and I especially liked Peckman.

I really enjoyed the tale Worth spun and found the flow of the tale to be engaging. How Jane came to possess the locket and have the status of unwed mother was fascinating; as was Jane’s back story. From the moment she stepped into the Rutledge home I become completely swept up in the tale. While I would have liked to get a better sense of Finn I adored watching the romance with Jane unfold. There was no insta-love, and the romance developed slowly with tension and excitement. Twists, suspense, villains and secrets added to the tale making a tried and true formula feel original.

I recommend The Promise to fans of historical romance with a side of mystery and suspense. I have added Kate Worth to my authors list and cannot wait for the Duke’s story. Her next book The Art of Desire: A love story is due to release soon.

I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

"The Promise" is a typical historical romance, but is written better than many, and the plot is not one that feels as if it has been done before. There was nothing cheesy in it that made me roll my eyes as I often find in this genre. The plot is well-developed, original, and believable, and I love how the author ties everything together. The characters are well-fleshed out and distinguishable, from the main characters Jane and Finn, his moody older brother Cam, to the butler Peckham, and the vil...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Leann rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My main issue with this book is how 1/3 through the book, something very important about the main character is introduced, something so fundamental that it made no sense that she hadn't ever had a thought about it when she was facing a problem earlier in the book. It's hard to say more without spoilers, but suffice it to say it makes it feel like the whole thing was an idea the author had just had, and no foreshadowing was ever added in the beginning to make it flow. It doesn't completely ruin t...more

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May 16, 2013 Nena Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This wonderful love story that Kate Worth has written will grab the reader right from the start. Enjoyed the easy to follow adventures, the twist and turns of the main characters lives. It's has been a while since I read and enjoyed an old fashioned style romance. As for the amorous moments between Lord Finn and Lady Jane Gray, I must say it was written very well. Kate also did a good job on the secondary characters, you can feel their emotions too. One can't help but get attached to them. I sur...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! it's my first romance and it was well worth stepping out of my usual reading style. This book for me was a mixture of hot, warm and cold. The sex was hot the characters were warm and life like, and the evil cousin Tom was cold as ice. The real affection this family had for each other was one of the things that made me believe these were real people not just characters in a book, they came to life for me. The attention to detail is really what makes this such a good read, the b...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Mandi Schreiner rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

I had problems with this one.

The beginning felt very choppy and it was hard to figure out exactly what was going on.

The heroine Jane I liked - but - I felt a family that has a son that is a Duke takes in a total stranger (who is a lowly baker) too easily. What about gossip from the ton? They now have two strangers (a child and a woman) living with them...this would bring in great drama. But it was not to be found.

Finn, the hero is very flat. I feel like he never evolved into a character that en...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Kathy Andrews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Even in fiction rarely do I find a man for whom I am willing to give up my independent lifestyle. Finn is the type of hero whom I would love to swoon in his arms and share a lifetime with. It is an added bonus that he is independently wealthy with a full staff to take care of the cooking and cleaning for him and our time would be our own to do with as we please. The lead female character is also someone whom I would enjoy as a best friend forever - sweet without being weak, smart without being a...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Lady Wesley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lendable, amz-rev

3.5 Stars

This is quite good for a debut novel, and I'll probably read Kate Worth's next effort. I liked the hero and heroine, and there was a collection of very entertaining secondary characters.

I'm calling it 3.5 stars. There was nothing particularly wrong,* but nothing really stood out for me, even though it was an enjoyable. Many of my GR friends have rated it 5 stars, so if you're looking for a new author to try out, this book is certainly worth taking a chance on.

*Well, there was one thing...more

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Mar 06, 2013 N. Kuhn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not sure how I feel about this. It was an enjoyable plot, but the writing was bad. The author is so long winded and repetitive about things throughout the whole story, but then the ending is rushed. I really think there should be some content editing done. Take some out, put some in. It should take me a week to read your book because I have to "force" myself. I love historical romances, but can't love this one. Seriously, get some editing done, and I'll re-read it, because I did enjoy the co...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book because of the amazing reviews that it has received, and I was not disappointed. I am surprised that a recent review seemed almost strangely angry about it. A lot of time to spend on something you didn't like. I would hate that the rant would prevent anyone for taking a chance on this wonderful love story. The character development was fabulous and I can't wait to read future books about these people and their lives, and how they intertwine. I highly recommend reading The Promis...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

Not since Outlander have I so enjoyed a historical romance. This is Kate Worth’s first novel and she is a great storyteller. A lot of thought went into weaving historical detail into this novel by Kate, a former journalist. The plot is engaging, a love story not soon forgotten and was hard for me to put down. It is full of adventure and passion. I loved the way that the handsome Lord Finn and the feisty Lady Jane’s love evolved or as in Finn’s own words, become “as essential as oxygen”. Sigh......more

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Oct 21, 2012 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dukes-lords-lady-regency, kate-worth

I was totally captivated by this story. The author weaves a story that enthralls the reader from page one and never lets up until the end. The author transported me from the 21st century to an era where Lords, Ladies, and Dukes rule the day.

I must confess that this book had 2 elements that I tend to shy away from in my readings: a virgin and children (where the story centers on them). In other words, if the story has virgins + children= me not reading. Well as I stated earlier this book had both...more

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