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Promised
Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.
Warwickshire, England, 1812
Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.
There’s only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won’t leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret’s chances for making a good match—to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.
Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she’d hoped to marry before she’d learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.
Warwickshire, England, 1812
Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.
There’s only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won’t leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret’s chances for making a good match—to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.
Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she’d hoped to marry before she’d learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2020
121 people are currently reading
3996 people want to read
About the author
Leah Garriott
1 book268 followersThough she earned degrees in math and statistics, Leah Garriott lives for a good love story. She's resided in Hawaii and Italy, walked the countryside of England, and owns every mainstream movie version of Pride and Prejudice. She's currently living her own happily ever after in Utah with her husband and three kids. Leah is represented by Sharon Pelletier at Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret. You can visit Leah at www.leahgarriott.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 772 reviews
August 13, 2019
Honest review of ARC. Like Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Eloisa James, but clean.
I read a lot of romance, both clean and otherwise, in any genre I can consume it in. Historical, contemporary, fantasy, adult, young adult—yes—I eat it all.
But. I’m very picky. If I’m not genuinely engaged within the first three chapters, I just don’t have the time. So, it must have either an interesting story idea, character interaction that pulls at my heartstrings, or witty anything. If an author can get me to laugh in that short amount of page space? I’m a curled-up reading monster until I reach THE END, no matter what else is going on.
Promised does all three.
Interesting story idea: Marriage of convenience with a twist, because it’s the h that wants the convenience rather than the H.
Character interaction: h’s interactions with her brother, h’s interaction with the guys, h’s interaction with the host and hostess…and that piano scene? Subtle but immediate depth to the h and the potential H’s characters, both as individuals as well as the interaction itself. Mmm, I love the subtle stuff.
Witty: Yes. Which kept me reading, and I loved that the wit continued throughout the entire story. The way the author used humor to lighten the mood after a tense scene, or conversely to tighten the tension after those scenes where we’re leaning in and *the characters are so close!*…but then something funny happens. So well done.
I really enjoyed curling up with this book—totally worth the 2 a.m. reading hangover.
This story is clean yet reads with the same emotional tension and tight pacing I look for in romances that are not so clean. It’s a hard combination to find, but definitely satisfying, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I read a lot of romance, both clean and otherwise, in any genre I can consume it in. Historical, contemporary, fantasy, adult, young adult—yes—I eat it all.
But. I’m very picky. If I’m not genuinely engaged within the first three chapters, I just don’t have the time. So, it must have either an interesting story idea, character interaction that pulls at my heartstrings, or witty anything. If an author can get me to laugh in that short amount of page space? I’m a curled-up reading monster until I reach THE END, no matter what else is going on.
Promised does all three.
Interesting story idea: Marriage of convenience with a twist, because it’s the h that wants the convenience rather than the H.
Character interaction: h’s interactions with her brother, h’s interaction with the guys, h’s interaction with the host and hostess…and that piano scene? Subtle but immediate depth to the h and the potential H’s characters, both as individuals as well as the interaction itself. Mmm, I love the subtle stuff.
Witty: Yes. Which kept me reading, and I loved that the wit continued throughout the entire story. The way the author used humor to lighten the mood after a tense scene, or conversely to tighten the tension after those scenes where we’re leaning in and *the characters are so close!*…but then something funny happens. So well done.
I really enjoyed curling up with this book—totally worth the 2 a.m. reading hangover.
This story is clean yet reads with the same emotional tension and tight pacing I look for in romances that are not so clean. It’s a hard combination to find, but definitely satisfying, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 5, 2022
I adored this proper Regency romance. It had a bit of hate to love, a bit of secrets, a bit of drama and quite a few swoon worthy conversations and moments. I loved the chemistry and tension between the main characters. I loved how Margaret was so determined to protect her heart and the subtle ways that the love interest was able to get through her defenses. The family bonds were strong. I particularly loved the sibling love and light hearted competitive rivalries. The dialogue was witty and heartwarming. I would absolutely love to read more from this author.
November 26, 2019
One of my verrrrry favorite things as a reader is discovering a new author with a pitch-perfect writing voice...and I found that in this novel. I loooooved the writing! The first-person perspective is fresh and witty, the banter and romance is swoony and the characters are so likable. I look forward to reading more from Leah Garriott!
*Book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
*Book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
March 7, 2020
I have to confess I struggled to warm to these characters, and for this character-driven reader, that presented a bit of a problem. In a broad sense this story was modelled after Pride and Prejudice, with the hero of the novel creating an unfavourable impression to begin with and the heroine’s opinion of the hero gradually transforming over the course of the story. So far so good—that’s a plot I love to see unfold. But for me, much of its success relies on being able to see the characters realise their flaws and grow as a result, and that didn’t happen for me in this book.
In the early parts of the story, both the hero and the heroine were ill-mannered, which made it even more important for me to see some personal growth. The heroine often came across as petulant, which definitely made me less sympathetic towards her. As this story was written entirely from the heroine’s point of view, it wasn’t until the end of the story that we fully understood the hero’s position, but even so, it didn’t explain the inconsistency in his behaviour towards Margaret at different points in the story. I felt that a well-mannered Regency gentleman would have handled things differently in many of the circumstances. And that goes for a well-mannered Regency lady, too.
The other difficulty I had was that several elements of the plot felt contrived for the sake of creating a specific emotion in the reader. Some of these elements echoed other Jane Austen novels, and while none of them were unrealistic in their own right, they didn’t always feel organic to the story. I thought perhaps the story could have been strengthened if one or two of the lesser plot threads had been removed to give the author room to develop the main plot more fully.
Overall, I’m sorry I didn’t enjoy this story more, but as this is a debut novel, I’m not necessarily deterred from checking out future titles released by this author as she hones her craft.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
In the early parts of the story, both the hero and the heroine were ill-mannered, which made it even more important for me to see some personal growth. The heroine often came across as petulant, which definitely made me less sympathetic towards her. As this story was written entirely from the heroine’s point of view, it wasn’t until the end of the story that we fully understood the hero’s position, but even so, it didn’t explain the inconsistency in his behaviour towards Margaret at different points in the story. I felt that a well-mannered Regency gentleman would have handled things differently in many of the circumstances. And that goes for a well-mannered Regency lady, too.
The other difficulty I had was that several elements of the plot felt contrived for the sake of creating a specific emotion in the reader. Some of these elements echoed other Jane Austen novels, and while none of them were unrealistic in their own right, they didn’t always feel organic to the story. I thought perhaps the story could have been strengthened if one or two of the lesser plot threads had been removed to give the author room to develop the main plot more fully.
Overall, I’m sorry I didn’t enjoy this story more, but as this is a debut novel, I’m not necessarily deterred from checking out future titles released by this author as she hones her craft.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 8, 2020
Margaret has been hurt by love in the past and has sworn that a marriage of convenience is the only way to protect her heart from being hurt again.
While attending a matchmaking party, she meets Mr. Northam and decides he’s the perfect gentleman for her marriage plan. But she soon discovers that Lord Gregory Williams is against the match. He sets his own plan in motion to protect Margaret.
However, Margaret is done being “protected”. She wants what she wants, and no one will stop her from getting it. But the more time she spends with Gregory, the more she starts second guessing what she truly wants in a marriage.
Can things be different with Gregory? Will she be happy in a loveless and lonely marriage? Or should she follow her heart and marry for love?
*dreamy sigh*
You know that saying, never judge a book by its cover? Confession. I totally judge them! The cover is what draws me to a book in the first place. If you have a beautiful cover, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be clicking on your book to see if it’s something I would enjoy. Well that’s exactly what happened with Promised. Isn’t this cover gorgeous?! After reading the synopsis, I was hooked. I just HAD to read this book!
And I’m happy to say that it did not disappoint! Even though Margaret was beyond stubborn at times, it did not stop me from falling in love with her and Gregory. From their first meeting, the chemistry was off the charts. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was Ms. Garriott’s first book. For me, it did not read like a first book. I was captured from the first chapter and had a really hard time putting the book down. I was not happy when I had to put the book down and adult. I’m definitely looking forward to more books by her.
And of course, I can’t forget my casting. I absolutely LOVE these two! What do you think?
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
While attending a matchmaking party, she meets Mr. Northam and decides he’s the perfect gentleman for her marriage plan. But she soon discovers that Lord Gregory Williams is against the match. He sets his own plan in motion to protect Margaret.
However, Margaret is done being “protected”. She wants what she wants, and no one will stop her from getting it. But the more time she spends with Gregory, the more she starts second guessing what she truly wants in a marriage.
Can things be different with Gregory? Will she be happy in a loveless and lonely marriage? Or should she follow her heart and marry for love?
*dreamy sigh*
You know that saying, never judge a book by its cover? Confession. I totally judge them! The cover is what draws me to a book in the first place. If you have a beautiful cover, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be clicking on your book to see if it’s something I would enjoy. Well that’s exactly what happened with Promised. Isn’t this cover gorgeous?! After reading the synopsis, I was hooked. I just HAD to read this book!
And I’m happy to say that it did not disappoint! Even though Margaret was beyond stubborn at times, it did not stop me from falling in love with her and Gregory. From their first meeting, the chemistry was off the charts. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was Ms. Garriott’s first book. For me, it did not read like a first book. I was captured from the first chapter and had a really hard time putting the book down. I was not happy when I had to put the book down and adult. I’m definitely looking forward to more books by her.
And of course, I can’t forget my casting. I absolutely LOVE these two! What do you think?
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
February 22, 2021
I'm a sucker for a pretty cover and Promised has a gorgeous cover. Lucky, the inside is just as pretty. This is Ms. Garriott's debut novel and I'm impressed! I definitely look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Similar Books You May Enjoy...
Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Similar Books You May Enjoy...
September 30, 2022
She was the most annoying heroine until 50% then she was right and I was eating my words and my frustration towards her.
It was a cute story 🥰
It was a cute story 🥰
January 11, 2020
Promised
Proper Romance
Leah Garriott
Release date 02/18/2020
Publisher Shadow Mountain
Blurb
Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.
Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.
There's only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won't leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret's chances for making a good match. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.
Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she'd hoped to marry before she'd learned how much love hurt. Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.
My review :
When a woman’s plans, determined to find the perfect groom-to-be for her marriage of convenience, are derailed by an other ...
It is less often these days to read a story told in the first person.
It is not my favorite narrative way as everything depends of the character’s strength.
I struggled a bit at the beginning, I understood the narrator had been hurt, broken-hearted, yet I did not comprehend her willingness to enter an emotionless marriage, one of only loneliness and coldness for the foreseeable future.
Margaret is nice flawed character, I loved her witty banters and pranks with her brother. She might choose the coward way by thinking she can avoid being entangled emotionally if she enters a marriage of convenience, but she is honest and is rather blunt about her true goal.
Why she fights her instant attraction to Lord Williams and sets her sight on his cousin, the one man she is certain will not move her heart.
But quickly everything is thwarted and soon she will navigate the muddy water of the sentiments, going from Charybdis and Scylla, and back as Lord Williams despite withholding something is at times aloof and other charming.
It unsettles her, because as determined she is to dislike him, she can’t stop to be intrigued and to realize there is more to him than this haughty picture he gives to others.
It took her so long to determine that even if she didn’t want to be hurt once again, it was not to be at the detriment of her happiness.
While at first I was unsure I would be able to like Margaret, then I watched her interact with her family, and later Gregory. She has her faults, and she does not always react fairly but she is like an animal trapped, she would chew a limb instead of being caught. Why she reacts so strongly and negatively to Lord Williams’ proposal. He stole her right to choose.
Mrs Leah Garriott debut novel is like jumping right in Jane Austen’s world, the quips, feuds, party’s games and proper behavior were enlightening and entertaining, the clue to a delightful read.
4.5 stars
I was granted by the publisher Shadow Mountain an advance copy through Netgalley.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Proper Romance
Leah Garriott
Release date 02/18/2020
Publisher Shadow Mountain
Blurb
Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.
Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.
There's only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won't leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret's chances for making a good match. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.
Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she'd hoped to marry before she'd learned how much love hurt. Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.
My review :
When a woman’s plans, determined to find the perfect groom-to-be for her marriage of convenience, are derailed by an other ...
It is less often these days to read a story told in the first person.
It is not my favorite narrative way as everything depends of the character’s strength.
I struggled a bit at the beginning, I understood the narrator had been hurt, broken-hearted, yet I did not comprehend her willingness to enter an emotionless marriage, one of only loneliness and coldness for the foreseeable future.
Margaret is nice flawed character, I loved her witty banters and pranks with her brother. She might choose the coward way by thinking she can avoid being entangled emotionally if she enters a marriage of convenience, but she is honest and is rather blunt about her true goal.
Why she fights her instant attraction to Lord Williams and sets her sight on his cousin, the one man she is certain will not move her heart.
But quickly everything is thwarted and soon she will navigate the muddy water of the sentiments, going from Charybdis and Scylla, and back as Lord Williams despite withholding something is at times aloof and other charming.
It unsettles her, because as determined she is to dislike him, she can’t stop to be intrigued and to realize there is more to him than this haughty picture he gives to others.
It took her so long to determine that even if she didn’t want to be hurt once again, it was not to be at the detriment of her happiness.
While at first I was unsure I would be able to like Margaret, then I watched her interact with her family, and later Gregory. She has her faults, and she does not always react fairly but she is like an animal trapped, she would chew a limb instead of being caught. Why she reacts so strongly and negatively to Lord Williams’ proposal. He stole her right to choose.
Mrs Leah Garriott debut novel is like jumping right in Jane Austen’s world, the quips, feuds, party’s games and proper behavior were enlightening and entertaining, the clue to a delightful read.
4.5 stars
I was granted by the publisher Shadow Mountain an advance copy through Netgalley.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
March 11, 2020
What more can I say than, I absolutely loved it, to convey what I thought about this book! Margaret has suffered heartache and she's going to take matters into her own hands to ensure that never happens again. Ha! She's in for some rude awakenings throughout this book if she thinks she can plan what her heart is going to do and feel. The heart knows what it wants and hers is no different...nor a certain gentleman's heart for that matter. *smirks*
I knew this was Leah Garriott's first published novel but I did not feel like it was while reading it. I felt that the characters were very well developed. The chemistry between them was very palpable and as a reader drew me in completely to their story.
There are so many scenes that I want to tell you about because of how much I laughed, cried (from laughing) and was moved emotionally. Margaret thinks she knows what is in store for her but there are several twists and turns and things she once thought are being rearranged and discarded.
I loved her walks by the lake...solitary and otherwise. And the moments of falling into the water, funny! Or any scene when one of the characters falls, had me giggling. There is plenty of humor written throughout this book as well as worry, heartache, uncertainty, vulnerability, sorrow, friendship, family and love. This is a book that I will be sharing with family friends...I've already recommended it to many fellow readers and they've loved it too!
Content: Clean. A few kisses but nothing more.
I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. I've also purchased my own physical copy. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I knew this was Leah Garriott's first published novel but I did not feel like it was while reading it. I felt that the characters were very well developed. The chemistry between them was very palpable and as a reader drew me in completely to their story.
There are so many scenes that I want to tell you about because of how much I laughed, cried (from laughing) and was moved emotionally. Margaret thinks she knows what is in store for her but there are several twists and turns and things she once thought are being rearranged and discarded.
I loved her walks by the lake...solitary and otherwise. And the moments of falling into the water, funny! Or any scene when one of the characters falls, had me giggling. There is plenty of humor written throughout this book as well as worry, heartache, uncertainty, vulnerability, sorrow, friendship, family and love. This is a book that I will be sharing with family friends...I've already recommended it to many fellow readers and they've loved it too!
Content: Clean. A few kisses but nothing more.
I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. I've also purchased my own physical copy. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
December 1, 2019
This book definitely caught my interest and held it. As Regency romances go, it was one of the best I’ve read in some time. I adored the characters, the plot kept me wondering as it kept going in unforeseen directions, and the ending left me sighing in contentment.
Margaret , the protagonist, had such a strong voice and it was easy to love her and understand her perspective. From the very beginning there is an intricate plot that unfolds and not until the climax do you (and Margaret) understand how everything connects. There was such a great flow to her story, and she really grew as a character as she learned to open her heart up and let go of what she thinks is best. I liked her relationship with her brother and sister- teasing and fun and so very real.
Enter Gregory, and goodness things sure do get interesting. I loved his character and how good he was, faults and all. The chemistry between him and Margaret created wonderful tension throughout the book, while still staying true to being a clean romance read.
Definitely a great book, I hope to read more from this author in the future.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Margaret , the protagonist, had such a strong voice and it was easy to love her and understand her perspective. From the very beginning there is an intricate plot that unfolds and not until the climax do you (and Margaret) understand how everything connects. There was such a great flow to her story, and she really grew as a character as she learned to open her heart up and let go of what she thinks is best. I liked her relationship with her brother and sister- teasing and fun and so very real.
Enter Gregory, and goodness things sure do get interesting. I loved his character and how good he was, faults and all. The chemistry between him and Margaret created wonderful tension throughout the book, while still staying true to being a clean romance read.
Definitely a great book, I hope to read more from this author in the future.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2019
#Promised #NetGalley
Pride and Prejudice with a twist. I cannot tell you what an honor it was to read this phenomenal book! It was so good! This is definitely one of my favorites this year. While I do like Austen, this book has easier ebb and flow. I think this a book is one you can read again and again!
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a fair review. The ideas and thoughts are my own.
Pride and Prejudice with a twist. I cannot tell you what an honor it was to read this phenomenal book! It was so good! This is definitely one of my favorites this year. While I do like Austen, this book has easier ebb and flow. I think this a book is one you can read again and again!
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a fair review. The ideas and thoughts are my own.
December 30, 2019
This book was so much fun to read! I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were engaging and had more depth than other romantic novels I've read. The story kept moving throughout the entire book and had unexpected twisted and turns. I'm excited to read it again when it comes out in a couple months! I've already pre-ordered it!
February 8, 2020
***4.5 stars*** rounding up!
Sigh. I love and hate when a good book comes to an end.
This book starts out with a matchmaking party. Margaret is drawn to a known rake because she knows that she won't love him and he will not break her heart. To make things interesting his cousin, Gregory (Lord Williams), is continually warning her away from him. A quote from a well-known poem comes to mind. "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." (Robert Burns)
The book gets really interesting at this point. Margaret is called home early from the party to find that she is engaged! To Lord Williams. (I am chuckling as I write this.) It's pure and total goodness for a reader. The banter is well done. They have a volatile relationship, to say the least.
I really couldn't help falling in love with the story and most of the characters. This book is well written and very entertaining.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Sigh. I love and hate when a good book comes to an end.
This book starts out with a matchmaking party. Margaret is drawn to a known rake because she knows that she won't love him and he will not break her heart. To make things interesting his cousin, Gregory (Lord Williams), is continually warning her away from him. A quote from a well-known poem comes to mind. "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." (Robert Burns)
The book gets really interesting at this point. Margaret is called home early from the party to find that she is engaged! To Lord Williams. (I am chuckling as I write this.) It's pure and total goodness for a reader. The banter is well done. They have a volatile relationship, to say the least.
I really couldn't help falling in love with the story and most of the characters. This book is well written and very entertaining.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
March 3, 2020
I read about 30% of the book and decided to DNF. I found the heroine completely unlikeable and irritating. I’m not usually bothered by determined women who do not want to give in to pressure but she seemed ridiculous in her stubbornness as well as childish, immature, and frankly idiotic.
It’s annoying because I really wanted to like the book given all the four and five-star reviews and because I had enjoyed a few other Proper Romances before this one but sadly this fell very short of the mark.
Additionally, the anachronistic language and behavior of the characters, especially Margaret and Daniel (him being shirtless in front of his sister while walking in their estate, please!) is really off-putting. Anyone who has read and knows enough about Regency language and behavior knows how incredibly out of place the language and behavior were.
It’s annoying because I really wanted to like the book given all the four and five-star reviews and because I had enjoyed a few other Proper Romances before this one but sadly this fell very short of the mark.
Additionally, the anachronistic language and behavior of the characters, especially Margaret and Daniel (him being shirtless in front of his sister while walking in their estate, please!) is really off-putting. Anyone who has read and knows enough about Regency language and behavior knows how incredibly out of place the language and behavior were.
February 18, 2020
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this debut novel and I can’t wait to read another story from her. It was a clean romance and I loved the characters.
Margaret was a strong willed, stubborn thing and Gregory was well mannered and determined. Parts of this story made me crazy because Margaret just didn’t know what she wanted.
It had heartache, romance and HEA.
I recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.
I loved this debut novel and I can’t wait to read another story from her. It was a clean romance and I loved the characters.
Margaret was a strong willed, stubborn thing and Gregory was well mannered and determined. Parts of this story made me crazy because Margaret just didn’t know what she wanted.
It had heartache, romance and HEA.
I recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.
October 28, 2019
I loved this story. The strongest thing about it was something I have been searching for for ages: one point of view. I loved that this story was only told through the eyes of Margaret. Add Lord Williams arrogance and occasional coldness and you have understandable suspicion, frustration and a need to protect oneself. This made the story, the characters' emotions and actions, make sense in a way that many similar novels fall short.
Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud and some had me cringing - as was intended, I'm sure. I love characters that are willing to change, that grow over time. And I love an author that allows her characters to make mistakes and be better for them.
I definitely picked up some Jane Austen vibes, and they were well done. Yet the story was still its own.
It's always so exciting to discover a new author, but a little disappointing when they are not just new to you, and you don't have a collection of previously published works waiting to be enjoyed. I can't wait for more from this author!
Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud and some had me cringing - as was intended, I'm sure. I love characters that are willing to change, that grow over time. And I love an author that allows her characters to make mistakes and be better for them.
I definitely picked up some Jane Austen vibes, and they were well done. Yet the story was still its own.
It's always so exciting to discover a new author, but a little disappointing when they are not just new to you, and you don't have a collection of previously published works waiting to be enjoyed. I can't wait for more from this author!
August 2, 2023
This is a wonderfully written enemies to lovers regency romance. It had some Pride & Prejudice vibes at times but is definitely unique in its own way. I will definitely be reading more from the author. ❣️
February 2, 2020
Well, that was different. I’m really torn on how to rate this. On the one hand, there’s an intriguing plot, a set of strong, complex characters and a nicely developed romance. On the other hand, the heroine is almost wilfully obtuse at times, refusing to see what’s under her nose or to ask the obvious questions. I can’t remember the last time I read a Regency romance written in the first person, so we see everything through her imperfect and somewhat immature gaze. As she struggles to understand the emotions and motives of the hero, so the reader is left to wonder, too, which is no bad thing. It does make the actions of some of the characters inexplicable, however.
The premise is an interesting one. Margaret Brinton made an unfortunate engagement two years earlier after falling in love with a man who only wanted her dowry to finance the mistress he was keeping. After she broke it off, he promptly married someone else, and Margaret’s been living down the scandal ever since. Now she’s determined to put the past behind her and find a husband she will never fall in love with, a man who won’t startle her with unpleasant revelations or break her heart. And she has another reason: her brother Daniel wants to marry the sister of the man who betrayed Margaret’s trust, but he won’t do it while she’s still unmarried.
So Margaret decides to attend a matchmaking house party, accompanied by her brother, and I stumbled a bit over this. Well-to-do Regency folks were very well-mannered, and rarely so vulgar as to openly discuss matchmaking or marriage requirements or dowries. There were house parties with matchmaking intentions, of course, because it was everyone’s business to ensure suitable matches were made, but it would be done a lot more subtly than this. I’d have liked a bit more explanation for the party, and why Margaret’s parents sent her there with only her brother for escort, instead of a proper chaperon.
At the first dinner, Margaret is introduced to two men, Mr Northam, who is a charming rogue and a rake, and Lord Williams, a baron, who is less charming but has a nice smile. They are cousins but with some hostility between them, and Margaret becomes the focus of their battle. She sets her sights on capturing Northam as her husband, but Lord Williams seems determined to interfere, before rudely walking out on Margaret’s musical performance, humiliating her. There’s an element of Pride and Prejudice about this, with grumpy Lord Williams in the Darcy role and seductive Northam as Wickham, while Margaret is every bit as prejudiced as Elizabeth Bennet. But when she’s summoned home early, thwarted in her efforts to win Northam, she discovers that her father has promised her hand in marriage to Lord Williams.
This raises a thousand questions in my mind, but principally — why? Why on earth would any sensible father agree to a betrothal to a man who turns up on the doorstep and says, hello, you don’t know me but I’d like to marry your daughter, whom I barely know? I have a lot of problems with Margaret’s parents, but this is the big one. What possible excuse could he give for wanting to marry her? And that’s without even going into the whole business of arranged marriages, which was illegal by Regency times. And another quibble — why did her parents not tell her who they had betrothed her to (and why!), so that she didn’t fall into embarrassing error when he turned up? Why didn’t she ask them why they chose this man?
But betrothed she is, and she feels powerless to refuse, so the grumpy baron comes to stay and proves to be not at all grumpy away from the malign influence of his cousin. The story definitely shifts up a gear at this point as he tries his best to break through her self-imposed barriers. And when he fails, and realises that she really doesn’t want to marry him, he does the honourable thing and releases her from the engagement. So at this point, I’m liking him quite a lot, as he seems to be morphing from grumpy interfering villain to gentlemanly romantic hero.
Unfortunately there’s another outbreak of why why why, when Margaret is basically forced to go and stay at Lord W’s house with her father. Why would her parents do anything so cruel and frankly improper? Why do they not have any other friends and relations they might go to (apparently)? Why does Lord W immediately revert back to his grumpy persona? This is a recurring issue throughout the book, which (quite literally) kept me awake at nights wondering just what was going on in these people’s heads, and most of these questions are left unresolved. Perhaps that’s the author’s intent, to leave such questions as an exercise for the reader, but I found it frustrating.
As you can tell, I was at this point very swept up in the story, reading on long past my bedtime to find out how it ends. I’m happy to report that the final section of the book rises to the occasion beautifully. There’s some very powerful writing, some interesting symbolism concerning the lake, a glorious moment where Margaret lays into her immature brother, and a fine romantic denouement, which is both tender and very funny. The reason for the antagonism between Northam and Lord W is an easily-guessed one which makes them both look very bad in their treatment of Margaret. I was disappointed that the reveal came from Northam. A bit of honesty from Lord W would have helped his cause no end, but there it is.
This is the author’s debut published work, and it shows enormous promise. The talent is there, and although there’s a little unevenness in the characters, there’s some overwriting (’The creamy broth and crushed almonds tasted like resolve and opportunity swirled together in a perfect blend of promise’) and some scenes seemed rather contrived (a carriage accident and who should happen along but Lord W…), it was still an absorbing and page-turning read, and I would have given it four stars but for one thing - the book is riddled with Americanisms. I’m not talking here about spelling differences (honor, parlor, etc) or words like gotten or passes instead of dies, which are commonplace and even I, pedant that I am, don’t much mind. I also don’t quibble over drapes or needlepoint or shimmying (first recorded in 1919; I told you I was a pedant) or vest or entry. I do very much mind American grammar like ‘write me’ instead of ‘write to me’ and ‘must come visit’ instead of ‘must come to visit’ and Parson Andrews instead of Mr (or Dr) Andrews. These cropped up on almost every page and I swear I tripped over every one. And although the English countryside was evoked rather well, I wasn’t convinced of the author’s grasp on Regency customs. I’ve mentioned the matchmaking house party, but Margaret’s issuing of dinner invitations on the fly, and the morning callers at Lord W’s house who came every day also grated.
Now, most readers will either not notice any of this or it won’t bother them, but it bothered me, a lot. I even flipped back to the first chapter at one point to check that the book really was set in England. So although this is an interesting debut with unusual depth, these problems and those pesky unanswered questions keep it to three stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
The premise is an interesting one. Margaret Brinton made an unfortunate engagement two years earlier after falling in love with a man who only wanted her dowry to finance the mistress he was keeping. After she broke it off, he promptly married someone else, and Margaret’s been living down the scandal ever since. Now she’s determined to put the past behind her and find a husband she will never fall in love with, a man who won’t startle her with unpleasant revelations or break her heart. And she has another reason: her brother Daniel wants to marry the sister of the man who betrayed Margaret’s trust, but he won’t do it while she’s still unmarried.
So Margaret decides to attend a matchmaking house party, accompanied by her brother, and I stumbled a bit over this. Well-to-do Regency folks were very well-mannered, and rarely so vulgar as to openly discuss matchmaking or marriage requirements or dowries. There were house parties with matchmaking intentions, of course, because it was everyone’s business to ensure suitable matches were made, but it would be done a lot more subtly than this. I’d have liked a bit more explanation for the party, and why Margaret’s parents sent her there with only her brother for escort, instead of a proper chaperon.
At the first dinner, Margaret is introduced to two men, Mr Northam, who is a charming rogue and a rake, and Lord Williams, a baron, who is less charming but has a nice smile. They are cousins but with some hostility between them, and Margaret becomes the focus of their battle. She sets her sights on capturing Northam as her husband, but Lord Williams seems determined to interfere, before rudely walking out on Margaret’s musical performance, humiliating her. There’s an element of Pride and Prejudice about this, with grumpy Lord Williams in the Darcy role and seductive Northam as Wickham, while Margaret is every bit as prejudiced as Elizabeth Bennet. But when she’s summoned home early, thwarted in her efforts to win Northam, she discovers that her father has promised her hand in marriage to Lord Williams.
This raises a thousand questions in my mind, but principally — why? Why on earth would any sensible father agree to a betrothal to a man who turns up on the doorstep and says, hello, you don’t know me but I’d like to marry your daughter, whom I barely know? I have a lot of problems with Margaret’s parents, but this is the big one. What possible excuse could he give for wanting to marry her? And that’s without even going into the whole business of arranged marriages, which was illegal by Regency times. And another quibble — why did her parents not tell her who they had betrothed her to (and why!), so that she didn’t fall into embarrassing error when he turned up? Why didn’t she ask them why they chose this man?
But betrothed she is, and she feels powerless to refuse, so the grumpy baron comes to stay and proves to be not at all grumpy away from the malign influence of his cousin. The story definitely shifts up a gear at this point as he tries his best to break through her self-imposed barriers. And when he fails, and realises that she really doesn’t want to marry him, he does the honourable thing and releases her from the engagement. So at this point, I’m liking him quite a lot, as he seems to be morphing from grumpy interfering villain to gentlemanly romantic hero.
Unfortunately there’s another outbreak of why why why, when Margaret is basically forced to go and stay at Lord W’s house with her father. Why would her parents do anything so cruel and frankly improper? Why do they not have any other friends and relations they might go to (apparently)? Why does Lord W immediately revert back to his grumpy persona? This is a recurring issue throughout the book, which (quite literally) kept me awake at nights wondering just what was going on in these people’s heads, and most of these questions are left unresolved. Perhaps that’s the author’s intent, to leave such questions as an exercise for the reader, but I found it frustrating.
As you can tell, I was at this point very swept up in the story, reading on long past my bedtime to find out how it ends. I’m happy to report that the final section of the book rises to the occasion beautifully. There’s some very powerful writing, some interesting symbolism concerning the lake, a glorious moment where Margaret lays into her immature brother, and a fine romantic denouement, which is both tender and very funny. The reason for the antagonism between Northam and Lord W is an easily-guessed one which makes them both look very bad in their treatment of Margaret. I was disappointed that the reveal came from Northam. A bit of honesty from Lord W would have helped his cause no end, but there it is.
This is the author’s debut published work, and it shows enormous promise. The talent is there, and although there’s a little unevenness in the characters, there’s some overwriting (’The creamy broth and crushed almonds tasted like resolve and opportunity swirled together in a perfect blend of promise’) and some scenes seemed rather contrived (a carriage accident and who should happen along but Lord W…), it was still an absorbing and page-turning read, and I would have given it four stars but for one thing - the book is riddled with Americanisms. I’m not talking here about spelling differences (honor, parlor, etc) or words like gotten or passes instead of dies, which are commonplace and even I, pedant that I am, don’t much mind. I also don’t quibble over drapes or needlepoint or shimmying (first recorded in 1919; I told you I was a pedant) or vest or entry. I do very much mind American grammar like ‘write me’ instead of ‘write to me’ and ‘must come visit’ instead of ‘must come to visit’ and Parson Andrews instead of Mr (or Dr) Andrews. These cropped up on almost every page and I swear I tripped over every one. And although the English countryside was evoked rather well, I wasn’t convinced of the author’s grasp on Regency customs. I’ve mentioned the matchmaking house party, but Margaret’s issuing of dinner invitations on the fly, and the morning callers at Lord W’s house who came every day also grated.
Now, most readers will either not notice any of this or it won’t bother them, but it bothered me, a lot. I even flipped back to the first chapter at one point to check that the book really was set in England. So although this is an interesting debut with unusual depth, these problems and those pesky unanswered questions keep it to three stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2020
Trying to get over her ex fiancé’s infidelity, Margaret Brinton attends a matchmaking party.
Broken hearted and confused she thinks she needs to attract a relationship of convenience. She meets two gentlemen who only add to her confusion.
Seriously broken hearted and confused following her fiancé’s infidelity Margaret Brinton promises herself to not fall in love again and be made a fool of, just find a man to marry for convenience. Attending a match making party, she meets two very different men equally competing for her hand. One matches exactly what Margaret thinks she needs, while the other one she finds really condescending and annoying. Without knowing, she gets mixed up in secret dealings between the two, ending up resenting them both. The romance of this story develops slowly, interrupted by different kinds of other things, just like in real life. I appreciate that Margaret needs time to recover from her heartbreak to get clear on what she really wants and needs going forward.
Maragaret Brinton is the main character in this story having been in love with a man who let her down. I find her to be a warm hearted, but confused woman with little experience how to deal with men. It’s easy to relate to her fear of falling in love again and her promise to herself not to let her guard down ever again. She seems very caring about her little sister and her family around her, which is very nice to see, and is a very important element in the plot.
Mr Lundall is a character who adds confusion and interrupts other scenes in the plot. While I found him funny at times, I was worried that Margaret would give in to his irritating and intrusive ways. He repeatedly proposes and gets rejected, but that doesn’t seem to put him off. Stalking her and wearing her down he seems to think will be the way to her heart. While I realize he has an important position in the plot, I still found him terribly annoying and by far my least favorite character.
The dialogue flowed easily and I enjoyed the vivid nature descriptions in and around the family estate. It was like I could see the nice and affluent living conditions of the stately home where Margaret was brought up. It seemed like environments similar to Jane Austen stories.
Once Margaret gets clear on what she needs and with whom, I enjoyed the deepening of the relationship with her love interest. I appreciated the descriptions of her process going from utterly hurt and confused, through every doubtful twist and turn of though, until she reaches more clarity.
Promise (Proper Romance) is a sweet, romantic story reminiscent of Jane Austen, which fans of historical romance fiction will enjoy.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGally for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Broken hearted and confused she thinks she needs to attract a relationship of convenience. She meets two gentlemen who only add to her confusion.
Seriously broken hearted and confused following her fiancé’s infidelity Margaret Brinton promises herself to not fall in love again and be made a fool of, just find a man to marry for convenience. Attending a match making party, she meets two very different men equally competing for her hand. One matches exactly what Margaret thinks she needs, while the other one she finds really condescending and annoying. Without knowing, she gets mixed up in secret dealings between the two, ending up resenting them both. The romance of this story develops slowly, interrupted by different kinds of other things, just like in real life. I appreciate that Margaret needs time to recover from her heartbreak to get clear on what she really wants and needs going forward.
Maragaret Brinton is the main character in this story having been in love with a man who let her down. I find her to be a warm hearted, but confused woman with little experience how to deal with men. It’s easy to relate to her fear of falling in love again and her promise to herself not to let her guard down ever again. She seems very caring about her little sister and her family around her, which is very nice to see, and is a very important element in the plot.
Mr Lundall is a character who adds confusion and interrupts other scenes in the plot. While I found him funny at times, I was worried that Margaret would give in to his irritating and intrusive ways. He repeatedly proposes and gets rejected, but that doesn’t seem to put him off. Stalking her and wearing her down he seems to think will be the way to her heart. While I realize he has an important position in the plot, I still found him terribly annoying and by far my least favorite character.
The dialogue flowed easily and I enjoyed the vivid nature descriptions in and around the family estate. It was like I could see the nice and affluent living conditions of the stately home where Margaret was brought up. It seemed like environments similar to Jane Austen stories.
Once Margaret gets clear on what she needs and with whom, I enjoyed the deepening of the relationship with her love interest. I appreciated the descriptions of her process going from utterly hurt and confused, through every doubtful twist and turn of though, until she reaches more clarity.
Promise (Proper Romance) is a sweet, romantic story reminiscent of Jane Austen, which fans of historical romance fiction will enjoy.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGally for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
January 24, 2020
Margaret’s heart has been broken in the past so she attends a matchmaking party and is drawn to Mr. Northam, a known rake. His cousin, Lord Williams, starts to interfere, which annoys her. Things only get more frustrating for her after that weekend and she needs to figure out what kind of man she really wants.
I loved everything about this book--the setting, the characters, the interactions between Margaret and Lord Williams (really, interactions between all of the characters), and the pace of the story since I couldn’t put it down. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. This is a fantastic debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Garriott’s books in the future. I highly recommend “Promised” to anyone that enjoys clean Regency romance!
I received an eARC from Shadow Mountain. All opinions are my own.
I loved everything about this book--the setting, the characters, the interactions between Margaret and Lord Williams (really, interactions between all of the characters), and the pace of the story since I couldn’t put it down. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. This is a fantastic debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Garriott’s books in the future. I highly recommend “Promised” to anyone that enjoys clean Regency romance!
I received an eARC from Shadow Mountain. All opinions are my own.
February 17, 2020
I was so reluctant to end this book. I really enjoyed every single moment in it and I wanted more of Margaret and Lord Williams. I love when that happens.
This story is gentle and doesn't hold many climactic moments but wow, it sure did hold my attention. I was interested from the very first dinner scene because Margaret has such a determination to marry someone that cannot hurt her and that she has no real affection for even at her brother's obvious disapproval. Getting to know Margaret was a treat even though at times I wanted to shake some sense into her.
The beginning third of the book had a distinctly Pride & Prejudice feel to it as Margaret and Lord Williams have a bit of a battle of the wills and some heavy judging. (mostly Margaret). But then, Lord Williams is there and at every turn he is proving himself to be the most gallant of men. I really adored him- his tenacity, his hope and his patience.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was just lovely. Oh! And I love the cover too.
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This story is gentle and doesn't hold many climactic moments but wow, it sure did hold my attention. I was interested from the very first dinner scene because Margaret has such a determination to marry someone that cannot hurt her and that she has no real affection for even at her brother's obvious disapproval. Getting to know Margaret was a treat even though at times I wanted to shake some sense into her.
The beginning third of the book had a distinctly Pride & Prejudice feel to it as Margaret and Lord Williams have a bit of a battle of the wills and some heavy judging. (mostly Margaret). But then, Lord Williams is there and at every turn he is proving himself to be the most gallant of men. I really adored him- his tenacity, his hope and his patience.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was just lovely. Oh! And I love the cover too.
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 4, 2020
This book delivered the one thing that makes a story come alive for me- emotion! There are hidden games being played here that ramp up the drama, and Margaret's denial of what will bring her happiness provides her character the opportunity for growth. Lord Williams is a Darcy-esque enigma at first, he has two sides of his personality that Margaret has seen and she doesn't know which is the truth and which is a facade. Knowing who to trust is difficult, especially when Margaret makes her life harder by not trusting those she really can and should. In the midst of the inner turmoil, Margaret finds herself falling in love against her will, only to have the tables turned and twisted around again. This book was highly entertaining and kept me invested in the characters all the way to the end.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
February 10, 2020
Couldn’t put it down! Loved it from the first page until the last page and have already read it for a second time. I love a good enemies to lovers storyline and Promised is just that!
Margaret is afraid to put her heart out there again and thinks the safest solution is a marriage of convenience. Lord Williams comes along and interrupts these plans much to her dismay.
It was a delight to watch this story play out. Margaret does her best to try to frighten off her intended while battling the growing feelings in her heart.
Well written characters with great chemistry, a beautiful setting, and just the right amount of clean romance. A must read for regency romance fans.
Margaret is afraid to put her heart out there again and thinks the safest solution is a marriage of convenience. Lord Williams comes along and interrupts these plans much to her dismay.
It was a delight to watch this story play out. Margaret does her best to try to frighten off her intended while battling the growing feelings in her heart.
Well written characters with great chemistry, a beautiful setting, and just the right amount of clean romance. A must read for regency romance fans.
August 29, 2019
Such a perfect addition to the Proper Romance series! The story and setting were wonderful, and I just adored all of the characters, even the quirky and not-so-nice ones. The writing itself was beautiful, and I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times. Highly recommended!
February 29, 2020
Inspired by Pride and Prejudice, but with a backbone of its own
This is the debut novel of Mrs. Garriott and I was impressed by the quality of the writing and the flow of the narrative. The descriptions are beautifully done and the dialogues are intelligent and interesting.
Margaret was in love and engaged to be married when she found out her intended had a mistress and was only pretending to love her to set his hands on her dowry and please his father.
Feeling betrayed and fool, Margaret decided she would never give her heart away again. She would make a marriage of convenience to someone she could never really love and be forever safe from heartbreak.
With this intent in mind, Margaret went to a house party where she met two cousins: the handsome and rakish Mr. Fredrick Northam, and the arrogant and proper Lord Williams.
The story revolves around Margaret having to choose between the safety of a marriage to a known rake she could never respect or the risk of giving a second chance to love.
The story is told exclusively from Margaret’s point of view, using the first person, and I must confess I disliked it a little in the beginning. But, as the story progressed, seeing things exclusively in her perspective helped me to connect and understand her motives.
If at first, I thought her too stubborn, by the end, I had realized it was more determination than stubbornness, a reaction to the trauma she suffered and an attempt to regain control of her life.
Gregory, the hero, was handsome and intelligent but could be highhanded at times. Like Margaret, he had an ingrained sense of duty and gave great value to family and honor. Both main characters are complex and very relatable.
As a fan of Pride and Prejudice, I could not fail to identify several references and inspired-by characters, but it pleased me to see the story has its own backbone.
Mr. Northam, or should I say, Mr. Wickham, is a wonderful anti-hero and I hope he gets his own HEA one day (preferably in more redeeming circumstances than his Austenesque counterpart).
Promised is an engaging traditional historical romance and a strong debut novel. I’m looking forward to reading Mrs. Garriott’s next titles.
Disclosure: I have received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://lureviewsbooks.weebly.com/rev...
This is the debut novel of Mrs. Garriott and I was impressed by the quality of the writing and the flow of the narrative. The descriptions are beautifully done and the dialogues are intelligent and interesting.
Margaret was in love and engaged to be married when she found out her intended had a mistress and was only pretending to love her to set his hands on her dowry and please his father.
Feeling betrayed and fool, Margaret decided she would never give her heart away again. She would make a marriage of convenience to someone she could never really love and be forever safe from heartbreak.
With this intent in mind, Margaret went to a house party where she met two cousins: the handsome and rakish Mr. Fredrick Northam, and the arrogant and proper Lord Williams.
The story revolves around Margaret having to choose between the safety of a marriage to a known rake she could never respect or the risk of giving a second chance to love.
The story is told exclusively from Margaret’s point of view, using the first person, and I must confess I disliked it a little in the beginning. But, as the story progressed, seeing things exclusively in her perspective helped me to connect and understand her motives.
If at first, I thought her too stubborn, by the end, I had realized it was more determination than stubbornness, a reaction to the trauma she suffered and an attempt to regain control of her life.
Gregory, the hero, was handsome and intelligent but could be highhanded at times. Like Margaret, he had an ingrained sense of duty and gave great value to family and honor. Both main characters are complex and very relatable.
As a fan of Pride and Prejudice, I could not fail to identify several references and inspired-by characters, but it pleased me to see the story has its own backbone.
Mr. Northam, or should I say, Mr. Wickham, is a wonderful anti-hero and I hope he gets his own HEA one day (preferably in more redeeming circumstances than his Austenesque counterpart).
Promised is an engaging traditional historical romance and a strong debut novel. I’m looking forward to reading Mrs. Garriott’s next titles.
Disclosure: I have received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://lureviewsbooks.weebly.com/rev...
February 24, 2020
I found a new favorite author reading this book. This was such a fun, well written Jane Austen style Historical fiction story! Great characters that keep you laughing and guessing what will happen next. I also love that they are imperfect and learning through their mistakes. It is very hard to put down especially when you're waiting to see how some things will play out so don't try and read it right before bed thinking you can put it down.... might be up till 2 a.m.
Margaret had her heart broken and so she has decided a marriage of convenience is what would be best for her. She meets 2 gentlemen and decides one will be perfect for her. In picking him her heart will never be broken again. Yet the other gentleman won't let her go that easy.
Margaret had her heart broken and so she has decided a marriage of convenience is what would be best for her. She meets 2 gentlemen and decides one will be perfect for her. In picking him her heart will never be broken again. Yet the other gentleman won't let her go that easy.
September 5, 2019
I stayed up all night because I couldn't put it down. A matchmaking weekend. 2 possible suitors: a rake and a gentleman. An arranged engagement. A cherished lake about to be drained. Secrets revealed. This book has it all. I was utterly enamored with Promised. It is a divinely satisfying romance with a fun new twist. One of my favorite Proper Romances books.
I won this as part of a social media giveaway.
I won this as part of a social media giveaway.
January 15, 2020
I have found a new author to love. Promised is a Jane Austin style historical fiction. Great depth to the characters kept me guessing and laughing. Plenty of twists to keep me reading till way to late at night. Imperfect characters learning from their mistakes as they become more self-aware. Can't wait for more!
January 11, 2020
What’s beautiful story! Being snubbed in love is rough, but being being taken advantage of twice is intolerable! Margaret took it like a woman who is worth it. This book was so fun and had me rooting for two awesome characters! Great work Ms Garriott! Thank you!
December 30, 2019
Margaret Brinton has decided she will not marry someone who could break her heart. She's been through that before when her betrothed admitted he was only marrying her because his father told him he would be cut off if he refused to marry her and that he planned to have mistresses after they were married. She believes she has found the perfect candidate (Mr. Northam), but his cousin, Lord Williams, keeps getting in the way! Yes, she knows Mr. Northam will not be faithful, but she doesn't care if he has affairs. And if she goes into the marriage with that attitude, she can't possibly be hurt, right? However, Lord Williams pursues her and makes her fall in love with him. Then, she learns she was the subject of a bet between the 2 cousins and she runs home to lick her wounds. This is a very promising first book from Ms. Garriott! If you are a fan of Jane Austen, you will enjoy this book immensely; and if you are a fan of historical romance, I believe you will also enjoy this book!
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