I Promise

by Joan Johnston

A story of an unforgettable first love in the heart of Texas . . . from New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston

Delia Carson was only sixteen when she fled her Texas hometown. She left behind a web of lies that destroyed her family . . . and Marsh North, the irresistible bad boy she'd fallen in love with. Now, eleven years later, a family crisis forces Delia to return home—back to the mystery, back to the shadows . . . back to Marsh.

His bad-boy reputation behind him, Marsh is now a respected, prizewinning journalist. And he's never forgotten Delia or the youthful love they shared. Determined not to lose her again, Marsh sets out to prove to Delia that they belong together. But will the dark secrets from Delia's past keep them apart?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Adult

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Joan Johnston (born Little Rock, Arkansas) is a best-selling American author of over forty contemporary and historical romance novels.

Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.

Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.

Awards

* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride

Reviews

[Veda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had read all of Joan Johnston's books, but somehow I missed this one. Two people that had fallen in love as teenagers, both end up back in their hometown. Has that teenage love, really gone g or these adults. How much will the past effect them now as adults? Totally enjoyed the book.

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Wow!! I could not put this book down. Joan Johnston has written a gripping book that rates right up there with her characters in her Bitter Creek series. Fantastic book!!! Read it!!! You will not be disappointed.

[Helen Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this novel has some disturbing factors has true real life realities that are hard to accept and deal with. Delia Carson ran away from home when she was 16 years old because of what she was going through. Marsh North was the bad boy who loved her. Marsh's bad boy reputation along with issues involving Delia will cause him to also leave town. Now twenty years later they both have returned home where long held secrets will finally be revealed.

[Dustie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this book I wasn't so sure about it, but the further I got into it the more I found myself caring for the characters! This book is one the will make you cringe and cry, but looking forward to see how it ends. I loved the Epilogue and felt that it was a great way to finish such a story! I gave it four stars because there were some slow parts that took longer to get through.

[Gloria A Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and poignant

Such a sad and poignant storyline balanced with some sense of good to come when realization that good overcomes the most devastating challenges with the right frame of determination and love.

[KYReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh...

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid book. Not one of her “great” ones but enjoyable nonetheless

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

( book had a diff. cover than what is displayed here tho)

[Mindy Cossins · Rating 3 out of 5]

terrible things can happen to young girls
lots of great twist

[Linda O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns.

I was up most of the night, turning pages to find out what happened next. One can count on Joan Johnson to spin an interesting tale.

[Grace]

DNF. It got dark fast which wasn't what I was expecting.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, Joan does it again! Well done! This author tells an incredible story of horrible crimes committed against Delia and Rachel by their evil stepfather (and yes evil is the correct term). Delia and Rachel are forced to come home to care for their mother after leaving home twenty years ago. It is interesting to see how two people raised in the same environment take two different paths in life. Delia becomes a Supreme Court judge and never marries where as Rachel marries an abusive congressman maintains the dutiful wife roll. Well, as the two girls are forced to face their past their lives take sudden turns intertwined with the law, and lost loves. This book has it all,humor, politics, crime, suspense, sadness and of course a good love affair to boot.

[Josie]

I quite enjoyed the start of this book. It was interesting to have a heroine who is a judge, not a profession I have seen often in contemporary romances. However, when I realised about a third of this book was a flashback to when the hero and heroine were teens, I decided not to continue. After 20 years apart, I would expect the hero and heroine to be put together ASAP and have their current relationship and its development be the total focus of their story.

[Patricia Solla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting storyline. Not your everyday cowboy story. Addresses abuse by a family member and the effects on the victims in an interesting manner. The story starts in the later years and recalls the early years in the telling. Was easy to follow which I don't always find in present/past/present stories.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read this book and enjoyed it very much. It is a story about a young man who fell in love with a much younger girl who was keeping a secret. It took twenty years for them to cross paths again and find each other and realize that there are no secrets between them

[Kobie]

ch 1 and 2 were great and compelling. I am DNFing not because the book is bad , but because I don't want to read about this much mystery and sadness.

[Valerie Stebelski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good read. hard time putting it down.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book and powerful, performance by Cynthia Darlow. I highly recommend!

[Lindsay]

Place holder for I promise by s.t. Harrison (book not listed)