Promise Me

by Richard Paul Evans

"As you read my story, there is something I want you to understand. That in spite of all the pain—past, present and that still to come—I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Nor would I trade the time I had with him for anything—except for what, in the end, I traded it for." Beth Cardall has a secret. For eighteen years, she has had no choice but to keep it to herself, but on Christmas Eve 2008, all that is about to change. For Beth, 1989 was a year marked by tragedy. Her life was falling apart: her six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, was suffering from an unidentifiable illness; her marriage transformed from a seemingly happy and loving relationship to one full of betrayal and pain; her job at the dry cleaners was increasingly at risk; and she had lost any ability to trust, to hope, or to believe in herself. Then, on Christmas Day, as she rushed through a blizzard to the nearest 7-Eleven, Beth encountered Matthew, a strikingly handsome, mysterious stranger, who would single-handedly change the course of her life. Who is this man, and how does he seem to know so much about her? He pursues her relentlessly, and only after she’s fallen deeply in love with him does she learn his incredible secret, changing the world as she knows it, as well as her own destiny.

From the New York Times bestselling author of the beloved classics The Christmas Box and The Christmas List comes a breathtaking story of the transcendent power of love.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Romance, Holiday, Adult, Time Travel, Inspirational

334 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2010

About the author

When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers. He is one the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won several awards for his books including the 1998 American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards, and the 2005 Romantic Times Best Women Novel of the Year Award. His books have been translated into more than 22 languages and several have been international best sellers.

Reviews

[Tanya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though Richard Paul Evans' books are generally sweet and simplistic, I have enjoyed several of them. "Promise Me," however, was just silly. It bothered me on many levels - first, the idea of a romance between a mother-in-law and son-in-law, even in another time dimension, is just revolting. Evans uses the construct that the only way Matthew, finding himself transported 18 years back in time, could find to "keep his promise" and insert himself into Beth and Charlotte's life is to "court" Beth. How about just tell her the truth from the start, and lay his evidence on the table from the beginning? No, then we would have avoided the complication of Beth and Matthew falling in love, and having to resist their feelings because Matthew is actually married to Beth's daughter! And then there's the fact that Evans selectively called into play the ramifications of time travel. By diagnosing Charlotte's autoimmune disease earlier, they avoided her future cancer. By using his knowledge of future sports trivia, Matthew made huge gambling wins and completely transformed Beth's financial situation. By teaching her to "trust again," he paved the way for Beth to remarry and be happy. BUT, all these changes had no bearing on his meeting up with Charlotte at the U in his original future, falling in love with her despite the fact that an alternate past made her a totally different person, or their living in a crappy impoverished apartment, etc etc etc. And then there was the ridiculous cheesy ending - Matthew finally remembers his year in 1990 on Christmas Eve 2008, and he and his mother-in-law share a private embrace in her bedroom as they discuss their current happiness, the fact that they'll always love each other, and Milli Vanilli. Wow, Evans, you really outdid yourself on this one.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wouldn't be Christmas, without a Richard Paul Evans holiday book. I was given his first book, "The Christmas Box," many years ago. Ever since, I've purchased all his novels for me and as gifts for my friends. They're dependable, sweet stories, with happy endings--great to snuggle up with on cold days.

Most of his books take place in Utah, where I live, and it's always fun to read about towns and streets that are familiar to me. In "Promise Me," he even named the small town I live in.

This particular book had a different twist to it that took me by surprise--not his usual love story--which turned the storyline upside down, taking it in a totally unexpected direction. I thought it was a beautiful way to show the true meaning of love. Actually, I think "Promise Me" is one of my favorite RPE books.

A special thank you to Mr. Evans for making each Christmas a little more special for me.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Promise Me” is set in Utah and is told in two timelines. The story begins in 2008 as Beth Cardall is pondering a secret that takes her back to 1989.

Although her husband traveled often for work and her six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, had been quite sick with no clear diagnosis, Beth believed she had a good life. She thought Marc was a loving and faithful husband until she found a note revealing that Marc had secrets, too.

That Christmas, Beth meets Matthew, a mysterious man in a 7-Eleven and the book takes a twist that turns the storyline in a totally unexpected direction.
On another level it is a “time travel” story, as Matthew slowly works his way into Beth and Charlotte's lives. He mysteriously diagnoses Charlotte’s illness and slowly helps Beth regain her trust in people. In the end, Beth is completely shocked when Matthew reveals his true identity.

“Promise Me” is an enjoyable holiday tale that you can snuggle up with on a cold winter day. The conclusion will leave you thinking what a beautiful and unselfish way to show the true meaning of love.

[Britni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Richard Paul Evans is the best-selling author of The Christmas Box and The Walk. I remember reading The Christmas Box and loving it; I'm a sucker for a good Christmas story. So when I was given the opportunity to review Promise Me, I was pretty excited. Sadly, Promise Me is not The Christmas Box, not even on the same level for me.

Promise Me is centered around a woman named Beth whose life falls apart in 1989. Her marriage breaks up, her daughter gets diagnosed with an undiagnosable disease, and she's struggling financially. Everything is in shambles until she meets a mysterious man at a 7-11 on Christmas Eve. A mysterious man who changes her life, and the life of her daughter forever. A heart-felt Christmas story with a Time Traveler's Wife type twist, the idea was an intriguing one.

But Evans took it too far, even for me. I was really enjoying the book until I found out who the mysterious man actually was and how he'd come to meet with Beth on that fateful night. And after that moment, the book became more of a disturbing one for me. The relationship between Beth and her mystery man ruined the book for me, and I ended up losing whatever the purpose of the book was in the midst of all that was going on between the two of them.

So while yes I typically like Evans' books, I really didn't care for this one at all. And I definitely wouldn't recommend it. There are so many other good Christmas stories out there that I wouldn't waste the time on this one. 2 stars.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

’When I was a little girl, my mother told me that everyone has a secret. I suppose she was right. My name is Beth and this is the story of my secret. This is not where my story begins. Nor is this where it ends. This is, hopefully, where it is fulfilled.’
3.5 Stars

Set in two time frames - 2008 and 1989, this begins in 2008, as Beth has a secret to reveal, taking her back to 1989, when she was a young mom with a daughter, and discovers that her husband was cheating. Eventually allows him to return home after he discovers he’s dying of pancreatic cancer. At the same time, her daughter is suddenly sick at school one day, and continues to suffer over a period of time, with doctors seemingly unable to find a cause or a way to help her daughter.

On another level it is a “time travel” story, which is slowly revealed after Beth’s husband succumbs to his disease and a stranger enters her life, she encounters a man seemingly new to the area in a 7-Eleven, but appears periodically in the time that follows.

An enjoyable, different holiday tale.

[Chantel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really give this story 2.5 stars.

Ok....I let me start by saying that I enjoy Richard Paul Evans books. After reading A Mistletoe Promise (which is an awesome book by the way). I just fell in love with his writing style.

I was really conflicted on how I would rate this book. This story starts off so well. I really liked Beth's character, she was relatable and I really felt for her through all the heartache she goes through. And I was happy when things started looking up for her.

But the plot just didn't pan out for me. Especially when the mystery man's identity was revealed, things just took a wierd turn (and I mean wierd). And I just could not get with it.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Richard Paul Evans books and I look forward to this time every year to break them out and read them during the holidays.
Promise Me was a little different from his usual storylines. And I have to say it wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t bad either. There were sections of the book I absolutely loved and felt like I was reading the equivalent to a Hallmark movie. There were other instances though that I was questioning things and not really liking the flow of the events. I won’t type out in this review exactly what those are to avoid spoilers.
Overall I enjoyed the read.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

1989 was not a good year for Beth Cardall. The novel starts out in the present day when Beth gazes at two necklaces she received way back when, but has never worn.

She always thought she had the good life. Though her husband traveled often for work, she thought he was loving and faithful. But when she was cleaning out his clothing pockets for a trip to the dry-cleaners (where she works), she found a note that hints that he has secrets. When she accuses Marc of infidelity, she's shocked to find out that it's true.

She kicks Marc out and then has to face an unexplained illness with her daughter. Young Charlotte is getting thinner and thinner and can hardly keep food down. Through countless doctor and hospital trips, she is still undiagnosed.

Marc returns to the picture, but this time terminally ill. He is diagnosed with cancer, and Beth is determined to make his final days comfortable. Soon, she's newly widowed, dealing with the mystery illness of Charlotte, and the looming possibility of losing her job and thus her house. It's on Christmas at the end of the year that she meets the mysterious Matthew.

The story moves forward from meeting Matthew and how he slowly works his way into her and Charlotte's lives. Matthew seems to come from somewhere else. He miraculously diagnoses Charlotte's illness. He slowly builds up Beth's trust in people again, and in the end, he reveals his true identity, much to Beth's total shock and disbelief. It's at this point that I went "WOW" and didn't see it coming.

It's not the holiday season without a Christmas story from Mr. Evans. I don't know how he does it, but each book I swear is better than the last. And this one really surprised me. I've never read one of his books where I didn't anticipate how it was going to end. But this one kept me guessing up until the final chapters. I loved it! It may have been a sad ending (in a way), but it was the right ending, and brought the story full circle, like it should.

Whether PROMISE ME is your first foray into Mr. Evans' work, or a continued tradition, it will leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling like his works always do.

[Mindee · Rating 2 out of 5]

"As you read my story, there is something I want you to understand. That in spite of all the pain—past, present and that still to come—I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Nor would I trade the time I had with him for anything—except for what, in the end, I traded it for."

Beth Cardall has a secret. For eighteen years, she has had no choice but to keep it to herself, but on Christmas Eve 2008, all that is about to change. For Beth, 1989 was a year marked by tragedy. Her life was falling apart: her six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, was suffering from an unidentifiable illness; her marriage transformed from a seemingly happy and loving relationship to one full of betrayal and pain; her job at the dry cleaners was increasingly at risk; and she had lost any ability to trust, to hope, or to believe in herself. Then, on Christmas Day, as she rushed through a blizzard to the nearest 7-Eleven, Beth encountered Matthew, a strikingly handsome, mysterious stranger, who would single-handedly change the course of her life. Who is this man, and how does he seem to know so much about her? He pursues her relentlessly, and only after she’s fallen deeply in love with him does she learn his incredible secret, changing the world as she knows it, as well as her own destiny.

Without giving away who the mysterious Matthew is it is hard to tell you why I did not like this book. The whole premise was a bit over the top for me. I have enjoyed Richard Paul Evans books but this one was not one of them.

[Christy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the entire premise of this book DISTURBING to say the least! The idea of a son-in-law traveling back in time and falling in love with his mother-in-law is an extremely weird concept to me and I honestly don't understand how it is at all romantic. The entire story went from depressing to just plain odd, yet I kept reading thinking it would somehow redeem itself but it never did. The farther I went, the more disturbing it seemed. I usually really like Richard Paul Evans, but this was just too much.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was like driving 60mph down the road, realizing you missed your turn, hiking it in reverse, gunning it into the parking lot, hitting a few streetlight poles along the way and finally pulling into your spot... it had more twists and turns than I could imagine. If you want to be intrigued, read this book then call me asap🤣

[Nina Draganova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Странна, меко казано.
Написана е по-мъжки, леко дърводелски.
От абсолютно елементарно начало, преминава във фантастична, в истинския смисъл на думата.
Може би все пак идеята не е толкова лоша, но някак не е добре пресъздадена.

[Joanna Aislinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who think paranormal means only vampires, werewolves and selkies—as did I until recently—think again.)

A couple of days ago my son asked me to pick up a DVD at the library and the cover of Richard Paul Evan’s most recent release, PROMISE ME, caught my eye. The blurb garnered enough of my attention to read more. Within a twenty-four hour time period this fast-paced, beautifully-written romance with at twist on the happily-ever-after had my full attention. As I raged, cried and laughed along with the heroine, I was most impressed by this male author’s ability to so excellently write from a woman’s point of view (in the first person no less!).

I’ll admit, when the story’s big secret was revealed, I was a bit disappointed—not because it lacked in any way. I found the direction I was headed a little hard to swallow but was invested enough in these characters to continue with them on their journey.

I’m glad I did. This author made me want to believe. He moved me to I’d-better-find-a-tissue-right-now status (several times) or I wouldn’t have been able to see enough to continue reading. Wish I could give more to go on (can't or I'll give away the story secret) but I’ll leave it at this: it is a rare person who does not live a year marked by tragedy of the highest caliber.(That, of course, is relative but no less painful to the person/people in question.) Every Beth could use a Matthew to come along and change the course of a woman’s life the way he did. (Men, you can hope the roles reversed and a Beth affects the way your lives play out, lol.) This Christmas story is one of hope and of miracles. To best enjoy, let go reality and live in Beth and Matthew’s world while you’re there. Chances are, you’ll be glad you did too.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars. I liked it because I read it in a day and it was thoroughly entertaining while I was reading it. That being said, WHAT the heck is up with the mother-in-law and the son-in-law being in love. That was just creepy. Then at the end she makes him promise to remember her. Really Beth? You really want your son-in-law to remember you in that way? I wouldnt want to be married to a man who was in love with my mom, that's for sure. I don't know. I know that she was better and learned to trust, yada yada, but could you not think of a better way to help her do that? Also, I was a little disturbed how he told her all these things that were going to be happening in the future so she could gamble and be richer than she could imagine. I just thought that was cheating big time. I didn't like that part. Tell her one thing, but not tons of stuff. What does money buy happiness and trust? Ok, I'm going to stop my rant.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey of what lengths of love, trust, and hope a mother would go to for her daughter and what a wonderful man would do to keep his promise to his beloved wife! By keeping his promise, he will, unknowingly, change all of their destinies. What a story! A little hard to wrap my head around at times, but in the end--perfect! I loved it, but I like to believe in miracles and that we meet people for a reason.

Fave Quotes:
"Life is a house of cards, balanced on a teeter-totter, precariously perched on a roller coaster. The only thing that should surprise us about our surprises is that we are surprised by them."
"...no one is truly faithless; they just have faith in the wrong things: fear and defeat."
"They say you can never go back home again. But it's not the home that changes, it's the traveler."

[Irina Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this novel! I could not put it down and literally read it in one sitting in two hours!! The characters draw you close and you feel like you are a part of the story; love story that is. I smiled so much that I cried! Definitely a must read for Evans fans!

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was more of a light hearted read, it did not fit the bill of what I was wanting to read.

Firstly, from the cover, I was expecting more of a Christmas book. While many big events take place on Christmas Eve, the majority of the book didn't feel ... Very holiday-y. The first half of the book was disheartening, but I was okay with it because I really felt for her situation. The second half got a lot happier, but then it just turned so weird I had a hard time reading it. There main romance of the book was just ... Too weird, weird, weird. I literally have never read a weirder love triangle and no amount of happy endings will fix it for me.

I would probably say pass on this one. If you want to try Richard Paul Evans, there are a lot of others to try out there.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would consider myself a fan of Richard Paul Evans' books. I'm fairly certain that I am going to like any of his books so feel sure that I'm going to enjoy it. This book was a little different than any of his other books I have read. The style flows and the story line is easy to follow. There were a couple things that I felt should have been developed more but you can only write so much without it becoming a novel! I liked the character development of each person. Especially Roxanne. It was obvious that she is a caring person and basically took Beth under her wing and is not only a good friend but almost a mother-figure.
Without giving a spoiler, I will simply say that a particular twist in the book was a little bizarre. To the point that I disliked the book for a few chapters. Then it went back to normal and became enjoyable again. I'm not opposed to books with unexpected twists...even of the bizarre or something I don't believe can be real. However, this didn't seem to follow Evans' typical writing style.
Overall it was a good book. A short read...I finished it in about a day.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge Richard Paul Evans fan particularly his Christmas stories. BUT I found this book somewhat strange. Looking at the reviews after reading it, I found the ratings were either extremely low or extremely high. I gave this book a 3 because I felt like the writing, as always, was wonderful; but the premise of the book felt really strange.

Beth has hit a rough spot in her marriage and then her husband develops cancer and dies very quickly. At the same time, her young daughter Charlotte develops serious health issues which the doctors can't figure out. While all of this is taking place, she meets a stranger who is immediately attracted to her and openly pursues her. So far so good, But then it turns out that Matthew is a time traveler and has come back to the past. I won't go into any further detail or it will be a spoiler, but who he is in the future just was too strange for my liking when a relationship develops between he and Beth.

I'll leave it up to others to decide if they like this book or not, but this has become my least favorite of RPE's books that I have read to date.

[Sarah Eldridge · Rating 1 out of 5]

This Christmas book (which by the way only had like two scenes that happened to take place on Christmas) was so bad it was good. Once the icky plot twist was revealed I had to keep reading like looking at a train crash. I couldn’t stop! So was it entertaining? Yes. Was it good? No. Can I not stop thinking about it? Yes. Is that a good thing? Not really 🤢

[Kavyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book started off at a slow pace. Dependent trusting wife, cheating husband, sick child, a death .. and everything else that you would normally expect. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed the read but the story had nothing new to offer. Just when I was giving up, Matthew entered and everything changed. The story was no longer just about romance and two people’s emotions.. It was about a mysterious man who was playing a vital role in a lone woman’s life. He was helping her live better; he diagnosis her daughter’s health condition, makes enough money for her to last a lifetime, loves her, cares for her daughter and seems to know a lot about her and the future – yet he does not get romantically linked with her.

Beth was someone I liked from the very first page. A brave woman who goes through a very tough phase in life but still manages to keep her spirits up and give life another chance. Her attraction towards Matthew and how she struggles initially is honest. The emotion and anger that she expresses when she doubts him of stealing her money is sincere. Matthew is a charm. He could sweep me off my feet any day and what makes him even more desirable is his ability to be honest to his relationships. The struggle by both of them to keep the relationship at the right level is so beautifully expressed.

“Promise Me” gave everything it promised and so much more. I enjoyed the book, the love, the characters and the writing. Now and then you come across a book that makes you feel good when you put it down and “Promise Me” did just that.

[Andrea Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The holidays wouldn't be the same if there wasn't a heartwarming book by Richard Paul Evans to read.

I love his earlier holiday novels. This one is more than that though. Its a bit strange and yet sweet.

Now don't get me wrong, I loved the story and stayed up until wee hours of the morning to finish it, but when we learned who Mr. Matthew was...erm Matthew...I have to admit I started to wonder what kind of crack the author had been smoking to come up with this plot twist.

However, I'll give Mr. Evans props. In this story Beth Cardell goes through a really crappy year. Her husband's cheated on her, then gets sick and dies of cancer and all the while her daughter, Charlotte is getting sick from an unusual illness that is leaving the doctors baffled.

Yeah, that's a crappy year.

Then she meets Matthew, who is just a little bit different. He knows things he shouldn't know. That's when all the weird stuff happens. Then it gets all wibbly wobbly timey whimey in a way that left shaking my head.

There's a strange connection between Matthew and Charlotte that just blew my mind in a not so good way. When the story moved along in a normal manner it was fabulous, but when the Time and Space Continuum got messed with...well it went all Doctor Who, in a less than entertaining way.

Still, I couldn't stop reading, because Richard Paul Evans is my holiday crack. I enjoyed the book, even though it was a bit far fetched and not as good as some of his previous novels.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I loved that someone thought enough of me to give me this book as a gift. A great feeling! Secondly, I think Evans is a beautiful writer; however, I have a hard time believing HE writes this stuff. It's so...womanly, if you know what I mean. And then there are times that you can completely believe a man tried to write a woman's perspective. I think that's the whole problem I have with his writing. Having said that, there is something in this book, and don't look at me for answers because I haven't figured it out yet, that feels like grasping at cotton candy blowing in the wind. There is some finer, more complex meaning to this story but I'm not sure I ever really grabbed on to it. I do know it's going to stay with me for a while and I should probably give it 4 stars just for that, because after all, isn't that what great writing is?

Beware though, the crux of the plot is a bit weird and I can't wait to see what other readers think about this particular storyline arc.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, RPE's books are beautiful jewels of publishing art that make you happy just to turn the pages. However, I can't say I loved the story itself as much as I usually do--the supernatural element was just too weird for me to be comfortable with (and I don't mean in general, because I'm an Outlander freak, just in this particular usage.) For one thing, a time-traveling character just doesn't seem RPE's style (I was guessing angel early on, which I would have had no problem with at all.) Second, the fact that he's her future son-in-law, and they fell into angsty love with each other, intimate or not, is just skeevy. Third, the whole Back to the Future-esque method of making money by betting on known sports outcomes and stock histories is shady. It just all left me with a bad taste in my mouth. As far as the themes of relearning trust and embracing the present go, it's fine. I just don't like the way it was accomplished.

[Sally · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow--and not in a good way. I was thoroughly involved in Evans' story for the first 75-100 pages and then it just became too preposterous and unbelievable. Characterization was so thin I couldn't accept their actions. Too many things were not explained--and the ones that were, were astoundingly impossible. Because this is a book group book, I finished it, hoping that there would be redeeming qualities and answers. Didn't happen. In fact, it ended with such dissatisfying conclusions that I wanted to throw the book in the trash. What makes me doubly mad is that I had to buy two copies since I left one in the hotel I stayed in. If you want a sweet Christmas story with lovely romance, steer clear of this book!

Here are a couple of little things that bothered me:
Neptune is a Roman god not a Greek one.
Why didn't Charlotte go to school for a year?

[Judy Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this book was not as good as Evans others. Starts out with Beth, whose husband travels for work and discovers he has secrets. She kicks her husband to the curb and then faces a disaster when her daughter has an unexplained illness. Her husband returns but he is terminally ill with cancer and Beth steps up to the plate to be his caregiver in his final days. After he dies she still is dealing with her daughter’s illness and possibility of losing her job and her house until she meets Matthew and he diagnoses Charlotte’s illness and Beth slowly builds her trust in people again and reveals his true identity which was a little sad and not what I was expecting but a good story.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different kind of romance book...one that Richard Paul Evans would write. That is why the cover doesn't have a bare chested man kissing an almost bare chested woman; those are the romance novels that I don't read.

Definitely not riveting, but interesting. Just suspend disbelief.

This book will make you ask: if I could re-do things in my past, would I? Probably not if you like where you are now! Also, would I sacrifice the best for my child?

[Darlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kinda thought this book was going to end up like the Time Travelers Wife it had that vibe. But without giving away a spoiler, I didnt care for the ending. It may have a "Christmassy" cover but its not a very Christmassy type of book. Giving it two stars just case I finished it.

[Bonnie Eldridge-labaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kind of shocked by the pretense of the book , I really loved the book. I loved how the mother put her child first

[Nora Olmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting twist .....