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Sweet Promise
SWEET SURRENDER
When Cindy Stewart met World Heavyweight champion Turk Johnson on an exotic Caribbean island, she fell—heart-first—beneath his sensual spell. The pain and yearning came later, when Cindy realized that she'd just been a romantic fling…
SWEET PASSION
Now, four years later in New York City, they would meet again. And Turk would discover Cindy's precious secret: the child born of their ill-fated passion. But Turk wanted more than just his son…and he was reaching out to Cindy with a man's raw and naked desire. If Cindy gave Turk another chance, would she be risking everything for a love that could be only an illusion?
When Cindy Stewart met World Heavyweight champion Turk Johnson on an exotic Caribbean island, she fell—heart-first—beneath his sensual spell. The pain and yearning came later, when Cindy realized that she'd just been a romantic fling…
SWEET PASSION
Now, four years later in New York City, they would meet again. And Turk would discover Cindy's precious secret: the child born of their ill-fated passion. But Turk wanted more than just his son…and he was reaching out to Cindy with a man's raw and naked desire. If Cindy gave Turk another chance, would she be risking everything for a love that could be only an illusion?
237 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 1, 2024
3.5 Stars
Tropes: Secret Baby, Second Chance, Celebrity, Sports, Forced Proximity
Okay so this is a secret baby book that aggressively leans into the drama.
Cindy and Turk had a whirlwind beach romance four years ago. Cindy is a painfully shy woman who struggles with a stutter. Turk is a brawny champion boxer. They are torn apart by Cindy’s puritanical and controlling older brother, Jeb, Turk’s manager, Andy, and a host of other misunderstandings. Four years later, they happen to run into each other again, and Turk discovers that Cindy had had their son, which enrages him and causes him to force them into proximity.
I have pretty mixed feelings about this book. I wasn’t in love with the narration style. It was a bit too emotionally distant for my taste and I found some of the flashbacks clunky. Also, I think one of my least favorite narrative beats to come across is when a character makes custody threats. It’s not a trigger, per se, but boy does it vacuum all of the fun out of the proceedings for me. That’s not enjoyable angst for me; it’s just stressful. And the first half of this is Cindy panicking from Turk’s custody threats, Andy’s disdain, and Jeb’s disapproval. It’s…rough.
The second half takes place at Turk’s mansion, and that’s where the book picks up. The flashbacks dwindle, and we meet Knocks, Turk’s estranged father, and his arc bonding with Cindy, Turk, and the child was endearing. Cindy and Turk’s toddler, Markie, was very cute and managed to sound like an actual toddler, saying and doing inconvenient things. The pressure that the press and paparazzi put on the relationship felt very real.
Cindy’s passivity and self-esteem issues carries throughout the novel to somewhat frustrating effect, though it is nice when she sheds that shell. Turk is…a lot. He’s testosterone-fueled, very masculine, angry, protective, and, frankly, quite insecure. I understood why, but I never really came to love him.
The best aspect of this book is a real commitment to drama and miscommunication. Even in scenarios where I thought there would be a breakthrough in their relationship, they pulled away from each other. The third act breakup basically took up the back twenty percent of the book. Giusto really commits to the mess of every choice her characters make and every misplaced sentence they say. It definitely made the characters feel more human, which I respect.
Overall, this definitely a mixed bag, but I’m glad I read this. It might be worth a read if you are down for sustained angst, miscommunication, and messy family dynamics.
Tropes: Secret Baby, Second Chance, Celebrity, Sports, Forced Proximity
Okay so this is a secret baby book that aggressively leans into the drama.
Cindy and Turk had a whirlwind beach romance four years ago. Cindy is a painfully shy woman who struggles with a stutter. Turk is a brawny champion boxer. They are torn apart by Cindy’s puritanical and controlling older brother, Jeb, Turk’s manager, Andy, and a host of other misunderstandings. Four years later, they happen to run into each other again, and Turk discovers that Cindy had had their son, which enrages him and causes him to force them into proximity.
I have pretty mixed feelings about this book. I wasn’t in love with the narration style. It was a bit too emotionally distant for my taste and I found some of the flashbacks clunky. Also, I think one of my least favorite narrative beats to come across is when a character makes custody threats. It’s not a trigger, per se, but boy does it vacuum all of the fun out of the proceedings for me. That’s not enjoyable angst for me; it’s just stressful. And the first half of this is Cindy panicking from Turk’s custody threats, Andy’s disdain, and Jeb’s disapproval. It’s…rough.
The second half takes place at Turk’s mansion, and that’s where the book picks up. The flashbacks dwindle, and we meet Knocks, Turk’s estranged father, and his arc bonding with Cindy, Turk, and the child was endearing. Cindy and Turk’s toddler, Markie, was very cute and managed to sound like an actual toddler, saying and doing inconvenient things. The pressure that the press and paparazzi put on the relationship felt very real.
Cindy’s passivity and self-esteem issues carries throughout the novel to somewhat frustrating effect, though it is nice when she sheds that shell. Turk is…a lot. He’s testosterone-fueled, very masculine, angry, protective, and, frankly, quite insecure. I understood why, but I never really came to love him.
The best aspect of this book is a real commitment to drama and miscommunication. Even in scenarios where I thought there would be a breakthrough in their relationship, they pulled away from each other. The third act breakup basically took up the back twenty percent of the book. Giusto really commits to the mess of every choice her characters make and every misplaced sentence they say. It definitely made the characters feel more human, which I respect.
Overall, this definitely a mixed bag, but I’m glad I read this. It might be worth a read if you are down for sustained angst, miscommunication, and messy family dynamics.
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May 10, 2013I read this book a long time ago and after my very hotness Ramsey series I think I will refresh my memory a bit.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews