Broken Promises [Paperback]

Patricia Oliver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2001

A widow returns to London and gets reacquainted with the man she left at the altar ten years earlier. Could this be a second chance for love-or a scheme for revenge?

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Signet (May 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451202961
• ISBN-13: 978-0451202963
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,471,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Broken Promises, May 15, 2001

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Promises (Paperback)

I share the previous reviewer's opinion about "Broken Promises." I also couldn't figure out why Matilda couldn't see through Miles's act, or why she forgave him so easily. Her whole behaviour in this novel just didn't ring true for me: here's a woman who ran way with another man rather than marry a man she thought didn't love her enough, and yet 10 tears later, she calmly accepts his bad behaviour because he finally admits he loves her? What about all the emotional anguish he had put her through? I can understand forgiving someone for a wrong done, but to actually contemplate spending one's life with the person who went through such lengths to get back at you, is a bit much. (And what does it say about a man who would go through so much just to revenge himself on a woman who jilted him?) What happens the next time Miles decides that Matilda has wronged him? What then? And why Matilda would carry the torch for an absolute jerk like Miles -- especially as her dead husband seems to have been all a very loving and supportive mate -- also totally mystified me! As well as why romance novelists wait until the last two or three chapters to try and 'save' the otherwise cad-like hero. Don't they realise that by then, for some of us, the hero is just unsalvageable? Especially when there are likable men in the novel? Case in point, in "Broken Promises" there is a completely likable gentleman, who is not only nice and rather dashing, but also seems to be a little bit in love with Matilda, Willoughby Hampton, who also happens to be a good friend of Miles Stephens. But nothing comes of this promising relationship because Hampton realises that there is still the vestiges of an old fire between Matilda and Miles, and he steps away. I kept wishing that Matilda would come to her senses and chose Hampton instead of Miles, but of course my wishes didn't come true.

So here's my review: if you like heroes who behave badly and the patient Griselda type of heroine, then "Broke Promises" is the book for you, but if you like heroines with a bit of spunk, and heroes that actually behave like adults, then this is DEFINITELY NOT the romance novel for you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good relationship drama., July 8, 2001

By 

Affaire de Coeur - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Promises (Paperback)

Miss Mathilda Heath had gone to India to elope with Sir James Parmenter with whom she thought she would have a much happier marriage than with Miles Stephens, Viscount Halifax. When James died, Mathilda returned to England with her two young sons. Then, Miles had become the sixth Earl of Southmoor and had inherited the family lands that accompany that title. The relationship between Mathilda and Miles had, of course, changed. It's very interesting to see where relationships go after

they and the people in them change. In this relationship, it's also clear to see that Mathilda and Miles grow, and it took a lot of conflict to do it. Patricia Oliver delves into this beautifully, and it shows.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, could have been better, May 13, 2001

By 

mys_reader "mys_reader" (Fort Worth, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Promises (Paperback)

Well, after the utter DISASTER of "Lady Jane's Nemesis", this is a HUGE improvement. But not quite as good as it could have been. The "hero" is, of course, a jerk. (aren't they all?)

The premise is that the heroine Matilda was betrothed to the hero. During their engagement, he never treats her with anything but cold courtesy. He does not even call her by name. So, when she falls in love with another man who treats her well, she elopes. Ten years later, she is a widow with two children. (Her marriage was a happy one, kudos to Ms. Oliver for not going the usual way.)

She returns to England. And Mr Hero decides that he has to get revenge. Revenge. For something that happened TEN YEARS ago!

So he starts to court her, intending to humiliate her.

I personally am SOOOOO tired of "heroes" who use their poor, pitiful past as an excuse to behave badly towards others. And even when his past mistakes are shown to him, he can't accept his responsibilty for what happened. He is rich, handsome and titled, and he spends all his time whining about how badly ONE woman treated him. (A little perspective here, Miles? She didn't kill your dog or steal your bible, she broke off an engagement!)

It doesn't occur to him (until the last few pages) that HE was responsible for her leaving him. That if he had shown her a little kindness, she might not have fallen in love with another man.

And Matilda is so gullible! It doesn't occur to her that the guy is out for revenge! She knew that he was incapable of caring for anyone. That is why she didn't marry him. But she is not in the least suspicious about why the man she rejected for another is courting her. I would have enjoyed it so much more if she had turned the tables on him. If he had learned his lesson and faced his responsibility BEFORE the last chapter. Instead, she is another "I know he's a total jerk, but I love him anyway. My love with change him," heroine.