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Promise Me

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 2,732 ratings · 612 reviews

"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,...more

Hardcover, 334 pages

Published October 5th 2010 by Simon & Schuster

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Nov 09, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, trt-gold-star-award-winner

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...more 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. (less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

wonderful

from Amazon:Publication Date: October 5, 2010
"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...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Mindee rated it 2 of 5 stars

"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 ap...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Mommywest rated it 3 of 5 stars

“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 Cardell 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 fall...more “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 Cardell 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. --www.goodreads.com

Whoa. I have not read a book that caused such conflicting emotions in me for a long time. I loved it, and yet it disturbed me. I still haven't come to terms with it.

The book is written in the first-person from a female character's point of view. Mr. Evans did an incredible job in that department--if you didn't know who had written it, you would have thought the author was female. The story is not even close to predictable--I never would have guessed in a million years how things would work out. It's also full of amazing characters that you come to love (except one of them--if I told you, it would spoil part of the book), and Beth's emotional turmoil is very real and true.

However, when I discovered who the wonderful mystery man really is, I about climbed the walls. It was almost unbelievable, and yet so clever, and yet so disturbing, and yet so beautiful. ARGH. And the means with which he helped her to get out of the hole she was in bothered me as well. I mean, if you looked at it one way, you would say to yourself, as did the mystery man, that it wasn't really what it seemed, but from another standpoint, you would say, "Hold on--there's something not quite right here." I don't know--maybe I'm too sensitive.

How is it possible for me to love this very well-written book and yet be so disturbed by it as well?! (less)

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Aug 13, 2011 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a reader, every now and again you will read a book that will leave you thinking "WOW" that was such an awesome read. For me as I read sooo many books , when I come across a great one, it means for me that it is top of the market range. Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans was just that. Author Richard Paul Evans is known for his tales of Inspirational novels and the best thing is that they are short as well and don't take too much to digest as they are short, simple but meaningful and deep and th...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Britni rated it 2 of 5 stars

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...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Kavyen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Cydnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I actually would probably give this a 2.5 rating. I had heard good things about this book so I picked it up for Christmas. Those who know me know that I read a bit neurotically. When something doesn't make sense to me it starts me reading hyper-vigilantly. That being said.....

Things I liked:
1] I loved the friendship between Beth and Roxanne. Everyone should have a Rox in their life!
2] Being able to visualize the setting of the book - Salt Lake.
3] The relationship between Beth and Matthew grew sl...more

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Dec 13, 2010 Nicole Langan rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Promise Me" by Christmas mega-author, Richard Paul Evans ("The Chirstmas Box," "The Christmas List") is one of those sentimental stories that a reader either devours or detests. It is touching, yet schmaltzy; miraculous, yet impossible; feel-good, yet cliche-ridden. The plot revolves around Beth Cardall, who is faced with an array of truly overwhelming problems. Infidelity. Unemployment. Foreclosure. Cancer. Who comes to save the day? A mysterious man, of course. For believers of love having th...more "Promise Me" by Christmas mega-author, Richard Paul Evans ("The Chirstmas Box," "The Christmas List") is one of those sentimental stories that a reader either devours or detests. It is touching, yet schmaltzy; miraculous, yet impossible; feel-good, yet cliche-ridden. The plot revolves around Beth Cardall, who is faced with an array of truly overwhelming problems. Infidelity. Unemployment. Foreclosure. Cancer. Who comes to save the day? A mysterious man, of course. For believers of love having the power to solve all of life's difficulties, this book is a validation. For skeptics who would roll their eyes at such a premise, this is not a work to venture into. "Promise Me" does not apologize for being a complete escape from reality because that's what it's meant to accomplish.

For those who love to curl up on a snow-filled Saturday and get lost in a "Lifetime" television movie, this is the book for you. It is melodramatic, full of impossible twists and turns that culminate in a saccharine-sweet, happy ending. A jaw-droppingly handsome man saves a helpless woman from all of her problems - financial, medical, etc. He saves the day leaving her breathless with gratitude and contentment. Without his aid, she would have succumbed to disastrous, life-altering consequences. But he is the one to take charge of the situation leaving her completely and irrevocably in love with him.

The true gem of the book is the unsung support team of Beth's female friends. They are constantly babysitting her daughter, covering her shifts at work or bringing over homemade casseroles for her oven. They are the ones in the trenches with her helping her battle through the problems that life keeps throwing at her door. While not as glamorous or romantic as being championed by a beyond-perfect suitor - the power of women helping women is undoubtedly the true source of strength for many who find themselves in tough situations without a man by their side.

Overall, indulge if you crave holiday fluff. (less)

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Dec 03, 2010 Kar Wai Ng rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The book's cover and title appealed to me when I was wandering around in the shop. I never read any Evans' books before and I find this book a good read.
Using the theme of promise in the novel to oppose lost hope is not a new thing. And although Mr Evans' writing is not as elaborated and sentimental as Jodi Picoult's, I find this book rather fresh and meaningful.
The ending really caught me off guard. I, of course, was expecting Matthew would had have to be from the future, however his identity...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. short, fast read. The mystery of who Mr. Matthew is keeps you reading till the end. When you find out who he is it is a little unsettling. Beth thinks life is perfect until her daughter is sick and the doctors can't figure out why and then she finds out her husband is a cheaper. When she lets him back into the house and is ready to forgive him, he tells her he has terminal cancer. She cares for him and he gives her the final blow that he was a cheater more than once. She is in financial trouble...more

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Nov 24, 2010 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literature-fiction

Richard never ceases to amaze me with his stories. Within each book he’s ever written, and I’ve read every single novel he’s ever penned, there is always something totally unexpected and ‘Promise Me’ is no different.

I am so awed and so touched by this story that for the first time in a long time, I can’t even write my own review. I couldn’t do it justice so I will instead leave you with the synopsis from the dust jacket:

“As you read my story, there is something I want you to understand. That in...more

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Oct 14, 2010 Joanna Aislinn rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

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 a...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Shelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-novel, own

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 b...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Karah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: holiday

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I always try to read a Christmas book during the month of December so picked this up when I was at the library. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled with the book at first-- I thought it was slow and a bit hard to "enjoy". The main character, Beth Cardall narrates the story, beginning in 2008. She explains that she has a secret though and we're taken back to the events of 1989-- which, as it turns out, was a rough year for her.

The short version of the plot is this: Beth works at a dry cleaners, barely m...more I always try to read a Christmas book during the month of December so picked this up when I was at the library. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled with the book at first-- I thought it was slow and a bit hard to "enjoy". The main character, Beth Cardall narrates the story, beginning in 2008. She explains that she has a secret though and we're taken back to the events of 1989-- which, as it turns out, was a rough year for her.

The short version of the plot is this: Beth works at a dry cleaners, barely making enough money to pay her bills. She is even more strapped for cash after her two-timing husband is diagnosed with and dies from pancreatic cancer. She's about to lose everything when she meets a tall dark and handsome "soap opera guy" at a gas station during the middle of a blizzard on Christmas morning. The man relentlessly asks her out and she turns him down repeatedly, until finally giving in to him. He turns out to be a great person, but very mysterious in many ways. He helps her diagnose the stomach issues her daughter is having and agrees to help her fix up her house with the intention of selling it in the spring. When he empties nearly her entire home equity account to gamble on a boxing match, she is livid (I guess I would be too). She tracks him down and he ends up revealing his identity. (He has come from the future and is actually her daughter's husband. It turns out that the daughter, is dying of cancer in 2008 that has stemmed from her childhood intestinal issues).

Of course, Beth has a difficult time accepting this fact, but eventually decides to. Although she has fallen in love with him, she decides to let him return to her daughter's life in the future 2008-- but not without first spending a year with him, traveling the globe. When they reunite 18 years later, the scene is a bit unusual, but sweetly written and gives good closure to the story.

I wasn't crazy about Beth's character, and would have probably given this book a 3.5 stars because of that. She always seemed so moody and unable to attach to people which bothered me throughout the book. However, after she figures out who Matthew is, I started to enjoy the book more. Their relationship was of course unique, but the author wrote with such a way to make it somewhat believable. I especially enjoyed the ending of the book. The lose ends were tied up and although there is a bittersweet feel to the story, the overall ending is sweet. If you're in the mood for a sappy, good-feeling, Christmas book then this might be a good one to check out. (less)

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Dec 19, 2011 Rosie Huff rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book! It had the same thing as "The Gift" where there was a passage from Beth's diary at the beginning of each chapter, but this time I actually really liked how he did it! Instead of it giving things away before they happened it was more of an intriguing little piece to make you want to read more! It was way better in this book! But the reason I gave it 4 stars because I didn't like how the characters talked to each other! I felt it was so unrealistic because they said Hun,...more

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Nov 02, 2010 Greg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-and-humor

This was a pleasant way to spend a few hours reading while exercising, but not as pleasant as most of his other books. Two things I didn't like. One was the introduction of a fantasy "supernatural" element into the story. I won't say more lest I ruin the story for those who like such things. The other was more of a problem for me. Unlike his other books, this one seemed to lean way more toward glorifying a materialistic, temporal perspective on life. It seemed that the protagonist was far more c...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

It was a good read and good writing until it got icky. I can pinpoint the exact spot, page 247 out of 334. It was a contrast of a nice romantic story (a little over the top but that's okay) and then bam, we get a combination of (view spoiler)...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Rebecca rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 30, 2010 Nely rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

In Promise Me we meet Beth Cardall. And although the story starts in the present time - Christmas Eve with Beth getting ready for dinner with her family and friends, you can't help but wonder why she sadly stares at two necklaces one reminding her of a promise broken and the other of a promise kept. Beth has kept a secret for the past 18 years and this year (2008) she will finally come to terms with the past and get some answers.

For Beth, 1989 was a year marked in tragedy. Her young daughter Ch...more

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Feb 25, 2011 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bethany Cartwright was living what she thought was a very happy and productive life with her husband and young daughter, when one day, the illusions of her marriage and the health of her daughter slipped away simultaneously. When Beth discovers that her husband has been having an affair during his business trips and that her daughter is seriously ill, she feels overwhelmed, frightened and inconsolable. After asking her husband to leave, she begins to deal head-on with her daughter’s illness, but...more Bethany Cartwright was living what she thought was a very happy and productive life with her husband and young daughter, when one day, the illusions of her marriage and the health of her daughter slipped away simultaneously. When Beth discovers that her husband has been having an affair during his business trips and that her daughter is seriously ill, she feels overwhelmed, frightened and inconsolable. After asking her husband to leave, she begins to deal head-on with her daughter’s illness, but discovers that she needs her husband’s help in making their daughter well again. Just when she lets him into her life again, tragedy deals her another double blow. It seems her husband is dying of pancreatic cancer, and during his last days of life, he admits to Beth that he has had several other affairs over the course of their marriage.

During this time, her daughter, Charlotte, is beset by illness again and again, and no doctor can discover what exactly is wrong with her. Soon Beth is a shell of the happy and well adjusted woman she one was. Still reeling over the death of her husband and his final betrayal, Beth feels she can’t afford to place her trust in anyone ever again and resolves to live her life as a lonely single mother, raising a daughter beset by difficulties with her health.

During a routine stop at the gas station one day, Beth notices a handsome and enigmatic man named Matthew, who approaches her and seems very interested in her. But Beth isn’t receptive to any of those kinds of attentions and quickly dismisses the man, hoping that she will never run into him again. But she does. Time and time again, Matthew finds and approaches her and asks her out, only to be met with a flat refusal. Not only does Beth have problems trusting men, Matthew is significantly younger than she is and she can see no reason why he would be attracted to her. But Matthew’s persistence finally pays off, and Beth begins to see him in a new light. Both romantic and attractive, Matthew steals Beth’s heart away and she finally believes that she will be able to love again. But there’s something mysterious and strange about Matthew. He knows things that he shouldn’t and seems always to be there for Beth in just the nick of time. When a misunderstanding occurs between the two, Matthew finally reveals his secret to Beth. Though at first she doesn’t believe it, she comes to accept that Matthew is a very important person, not only to herself in the present, but to her family in the years to come. In this realistic yet mystical tale, the story of the love affair between Matthew and Beth comes alive with intensity and clarity when the fates realign themselves in order to save a woman and her daughter from total emotional ruin.

I had a difficult time writing the summary paragraphs of this post, because one slip would have resulted in a spoiler that would have completely ruined the book for any potential reader. When I initially picked this book up, I thought it was going to be a Christmas story, which would have been strange, as it’s now the end of February. I think I was misled by the cover, which shows a bunch of mistletoe surrounded by a red and copper border. Once again, the cover of a book has led me to have quite a different expectation than what the book was ultimately about. How frustrating!

This book was mainly about relationships and the closing of a person’s heart when things have gotten too ugly to handle. Though in the beginning Beth doesn’t know her marriage is in trouble, some pretty huge secrets come to light very early on. It was sad to see that two people could live together and seem to have an idyllic life when one of them was being unfaithful to the other. And I just have to add that I’m really over-reading about infidelity as of late. You know what would be exceptional and unusual? A man who doesn’t cheat! Yes, I know it sounds jaded, but it seems all too common that people are willing to leave the bounds of their marriage to find comfort in a stranger’s arms. Okay, I’ll step off my soapbox now.

As Beth begins to deal with her husband’s betrayal, she shuts down and becomes the kind of person who is unable to focus and function. Although she eventually lets her guard down with her husband and lets him come back, the second she finds out about his other infidelities, she seems to lose whatever love she has for the man, which I can completely understand. It’s interesting that Beth decides to help ease her husband’s passing after all he’s done to her, but I could understand her reasoning for doing this, because despite what he put her through, he was still the father of her child, and the history they shared couldn't be so easily wiped away.

When Beth’s daughter gets critically ill after her husband’s confession, I could sympathize with her all the more. After taking Charlotte to doctor after doctor, the answers still didn’t come. No matter how hard Beth tried to manage what was going on with her daughter, her misery was compounded by the fact that her husband was not the man she thought he was, and this led her to be divided heart and soul between the two devastations in her life. It’s hard to describe the sense of helplessness you feel when your child is ill and there’s nothing you can do to help them. I imagine Beth was in a terrible position being the only one who could handle her ailing daughter and husband, and even though she had a staunch girlfriend to help her, she was basically alone in dealing with her issues. As her finances begin to grow tighter and tighter, Beth begins to struggle all the more with the imperfections of her life, and begins to become a bit maudlin and morose.

When Matthew comes into Beth’s life, she is completely unable to grant him entrance into her heart. I also found it strange that the much younger man would be interested in her, especially because he knew next to nothing about her. But there was something exceptional and special about Matthew that both Beth and the reader couldn’t ignore. As Beth lets him in, she begins to trust again and her life becomes transformed. But a crucial event puts Beth’s trust for Matthew on the line, and even I thought that there was a possibility he could be a villain. When he finally tells Beth the truth about himself, there was a curious sense of disbelief, and at that point I began to realize that for this book to work for me, I would have to suspend a portion of my sense of disbelief and just go with it. The background to Matthew’s conundrum was never explained, but that’s okay because it really didn’t need to be. He was there for a purpose, and though eventually Beth had to let him go, his intervention changed the course of her and Charlotte’s lives. Matthew’s appearance in Beth’s life was not only critical to Beth’s healing, but it also ended up shaping the destiny of all whose lives he touched.

It’s hard to fully explain this book or the impact it had on me without giving too may spoilers, but I think readers who have been intrigued by this review would really be in for a treat if they picked this book up. There’s a lot that’s unexpected and riveting about this story, and if you’re the type of person who loves stories that push the envelope and/or crave a thrill that will warm your heart, then this is the book for you. At its core it’s a bittersweet read, but it’s one that I found completely moving and ultimately uplifting. A very interesting read. Recommended.(less)

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Dec 31, 2010 Karen & Gerard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspirational, relationships, romance

(Gerard's review): "Promise Me" by Richard Paul Evans is a good Christmas read! It is a fiction story of Beth Cardall. Her husband cheats on her, is dying of Cancer and her young daughter has an unexplained illness. One night she meets a man who knows all about her. He seems to too good to be true. It has kind of a weird twist, but the ending is very good! It's a quick read that I liked a lot. I give it 8+ stars.

(Karen's review): Promise Me is a off-the-wall story with a very happy ending that I...more

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Nov 17, 2010 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a fast read and I couldn't put it down but I definitely should have waited to read this book when I wasn't feeling down. It started out seeming like it would be a "feel good" tale of a couple with a young child going through the growing pains of a two-income (well, 1 1/2 income) family with a child entering school. Beth's comments in each chapter provide an idea of what will be coming but there were actually enough surprises throughout that I couldn't imagine how strong she needed to be...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not a book I would normally read. For one reason, I'm a guy. Second reason, I'm a guy.

My wife played an audio version of this book on a long drive, and I got interested. Late in the book the author uses a concept that I think I have to avoid discussing, as it might give away too much. (I should read reviews to see if it is brought out, but I'll assume it isn't.) But he uses it will, for what he wants to accomplish.

I could relate with/understand the main character. Issues with her child and husba...more

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Dec 25, 2010 Shonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2010

It’s 1989 and a year that will be very complicated and mysterious for Beth Cardall. Her six-year old daughter Charlotte is sick and only getting worse. The doctors are stumped about her illness and are not sure about the diagnosis. If that’s not enough, she learns her husband, Mark, has been unfaithful. They separate for awhile and Beth rethinks this as Charlotte’s illness intensifies. They reconcile under the condition that it’s for Charlotte’s best interest. Beth soon realizes she still loves...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Sally rated it 1 of 5 stars

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...more

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Nov 16, 2010 Brie Schafer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Holy cow... I absolutely love Richard Paul Evans, but this book was a hard one to read at times. I won't spoil it, but just be prepared for a lot of jaw-dropping moments. It was really good, but I won't say it's my favorite of his. The one thing I like most about him is he really does seem to know a lot about the way women think; so, for the most part, when a women is the main character, he does a GREAT job of explaining emotions and feelings that I wouldn't even know how to identify, but when I...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Barbara rated it 1 of 5 stars

hmmm, well the cover's pretty....
I usually don't like to write reviews, but I can't keep my mouth shut about how disappointing this book was. Besides the ever-increasing absurd story line, which was often bordering on bad soap-opera material, it disappointed on many levels.
The chapters were often abruptly short and that feature seemed more prominent because it was a small book. Each chapter began with profound thoughts that supposedly came from the diary of Beth, who was the main character. Yet...more

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Nov 30, 2010 Cherice rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay, maybe 3.5 stars. I'll do my best to review this without any spoilers. I've read all of Evans' books. This books "seemed" to fit his previous style, but the plot takes a very interesting turn that is new for Evans. My reaction to the book is mixed. It's a sweet love story, filled with loss and selfless sacrifice, but I still feel a bit uneasy with Matthew's actions. Bethany is an innocent and somewhat vulnerable participant whereas Matthew knew the end from the beginning. That's all I'm goi...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Kristen rated it 2 of 5 stars

SPOILERS! THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!

Ok, I'm really just not a big RPE fan. I know most people are, but I always find his books a bit shallow. But I still usually enjoy them for what they are: a quick, sweet story. This one just wasn't very good. The dialogue often seemed forced and unnatural. His use of italics really got on my nerves. Also, the twist towards the end, where you find out who Matthew really is, pretty much creeped me out. For the rest of the book I just kept thinking "Ew,...more

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About Richard Paul Evans

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 ele...more

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Books by Richard Paul Evans

The Christmas Box (The Christmas Box Trilogy #1)

The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey, #1)

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title link	preview: Promise Me
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7932168-promise-me?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347225876l/7932168.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7932168-promise-me?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans[/url]

Promise Me

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