Customer Reviews

His Wicked Promise

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Early in the thirteenth century, Egan MacBain vows to himself that he will gain the heart and hand of the woman he loves, the widow Glenda MacKay. Though still mourning her loss, Glenda learns she must marry again if she is to keep her lands.

To gain protection, she agrees to marry Egan. Everyone feels the Scotsman is just being noble especially when he hides his feelings of tenderness towards her. Egan needs Glenda to come to him out of love not need, thus he refuses to even complete their wedding vows. To her surprise and guilt, Glenda quickly finds herself falling in love with her champion. However, as their relationship blossoms, an unknown assailant plans to destroy the loving twosome.

Best-selling author Samantha James escorts her readers to medieval Scotland with this cleverly written tale. At first brush, the story line sounds like many similar tales, but Ms. James provides an invigorating plot due to the interactions and dialogue of the two main charcaters. The growing passion and compassion between Glenda and Egan heats up the pages of this beautiful historical romance that will elate sub-genre fans as the author emphasizes the romance before the pageantry and intrigue.

Harriet Klausner

Not my favorite Samantha James but in saying that I still enjoyed it for the most part. I loved His Wicked Ways. I so looking forward to reading about Glenda's love story.

What I liked about His Wicked Promise is

The plot was interesting and it kept you interested in what was going to happen next. It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with both the palatable passion and the keen sense of danger infused in the story. There are interesting plot twists and we get to know several secondary characters well. The secondary characters are not boring. The chemistry between Glenda and Egan was very sensual. The action/suspense was fast-paced and thrilling. The setting was beautiful and exotic. The sex was HOT and perfect for the story.

The parts that bother me about His Wicked Promise are

1 Egan was a jerk and forced himself on Glenda in times of anger. He did this more than once. I hate in books when the 'hero' does that.

2 Egan didn't try to be understanding to Glenda about her feelings of her dead husband and lose of her child. Glenda felt dirty and ashamed of having feelings for Egan. Egan could have romanced her and made her feel comfortable but instead he got angry.

3 There were scenes in this book that simply did not flow or make much scents.

4 Glenda wasn't as strong as she should have been to make this book work.

His Wicked Promise is a well-written romance with very well-developed characters. It's a tale about Glenda, who has lost both the husband she loved and their son three years prior (on the same day). We meet her as she is deciding to leave her husband's home and return to her family's estate because no one is left to care for it. Unbeknownst to her, the trusted warrior, Egan has harbored an unrequited and secret love for Glenda for years. So, when Glenda returns home, Egan is chosen to see her safely to her destination. During their journey the tension and attraction between Glenda and Egan grows until both are aware there is more between them than friendship.

Upon arriving at Glenda' home, Blackstone Tower, the reader painfully witnesses Glenda's transformation. Glenda refuses to let go of her past and harbors guilt about feeling any hope or happiness for her future. Therefore, when she is forced to marry to keep her lands, the reader has to endure her endless rejection and illtreatment of the one man that has loved her selflessly for years. At this point, Glenda becomes unlikeable as she rudely, and heartlessly handles Egan, repeatedly comparing him to her dead husband. Glenda's confusion and self-imposed guilt causes her to waver back and forth between wanting to love Egan and resenting him. This continues throughout at least two-thirds of the book and becomes extremely frustrating to the reader. However, throughout it all, we see Glenda transform. In the end, I'm not sure if it was worth what she put her husband through.

It is truly Egan that makes this read enjoyable. He is the bright light of this book and is the reason I rated it four stars. Regardless of Glenda's treatment of him, he continues to lead and protect the people (trying to capture the enemy that is ravaging their lands) of Blackstone Tower, while hoping his wife will one day love him. It's this balance of Egan's strength and compassion that will endure him to readers. Although, he is patient with Glenda, he has no qualms rebuking her for her treatment of him.

I liked this story a lot and would have given it five stars if not for the really obvious villain and incredibly hairy hero. This is one of those instances where the writer should have left more to the imagination. Egan was a great and romantic lead, but I was completely turned off by descriptions of Glenda(ugly name) entwining her fingers in the hero's abundant chest hair and how his legs were well covered with thick black hair. Yuck!

Still, I like the chemistry and history between Glenda and Egan. I do find it hard to believe, however, that a woman could live in close proximity to a man for eight years and not be aware of the fact that he was in love with her. I imagine her husband would have noticed it as well. Still, I enjoyed the story and plan to read more books by Ms. James.

Yet again, another totally irritating heroine that I wished the hero would have dropped in a well. She loves to "flash fury" and say anything because she just can't help it and of course cannot own up to it later. She shreds him emotionally then poof takes off her clothes and wonders why he isn't going to give in easily. I just couldn't bear it anymore. At first just skimmed over sections, then finally said enough, I don't have to waste my time on this tripe. Very sorry I bought this book & it's going in the for sale bag.

A historic love story that takes place in the feudal times in Scotland. Castles and kingdoms create the setting for a romance that encompasses all the trials and trepidations of what could also be a modern day love affair.
James did a effective job of describing the settings that as the reader, I felt the chill of the dark dank halls of Highlander castle. In the dining hall I smelled the centuries of food aromas as they permeated the air. Beautiful historic descriptions.

Egan MacBain had married Glenda MacKay because he thought he loved her. Though Glenda had been recently widowed, her heart belonged to her deceased husband Niall. She had looked to Egan for protection though he was prepared to offer her much more. This novel has some very sensual moments and strong conflict, but there are times where Egan comes off as boorish. Glenda isn't doing much to stand up to him or fight back when his behavior is demanding. She could have been a much stronger heroine, and Egan could have learned some tenderness here.

Egan MacBain, Cameron's best friend from His Wicked Ways and Glenda, Cameron's brother Niall's widow get their own story in His Wicked Promise. When Glenda finds out her father and uncle have died leaving her home in the Lowlands unguided she vows to return as its Mistress. Glenda loves her inlaws but the pain of losing her husband and babe within days of each other still haunt her even though its been three years. Seeing her niece and nephew every day makes her ache even more. Cameron asks his best friend Egan to see Glenda safely home. Egan has always loved Glenda from afar, even when she was brought home as Niall's bride. His shame for his feelings keep him from seeking her out but on their trip to the Lowlands he comes to find out that Glenda also desires him even though she still loves and mourns for her late husband. When learning her ancesteral keep is in debt and disrepair, her overlord suggests she marry or he will find a husband for her. Englishman Simon, Glenda's next door neighbor tries to get her to marry him but Egan steps in and marries her to give her a way out. The village people believe Simon is the one who leads the masked men marauding her people and destroying crops because he is plotting to get her land through marriage. Glenda cannot let go of her feelings that she is being disloyal to Niall to be a proper wife to Egan and they bicker constantly. Soon their passion overtakes them and they consummate their marriage but Glenda's fear of losing another husband and baby keeps her from allowing love in.

I may have let too much of the plot out in my review but it seems like such a repeated theme I feel like I could tell it word for word. So many medievil romances have a helpless woman marry against their wishes to protect her assets and there always seem to be another wicked man who tries to destroy them to get everything. I found the prequel original and fresh but this story just seems so ordinary. Not bad, just not unique.

Samantha James is a wonderful romance writer. This is just another of her timeless historical romances.

I loved "His Wicked Ways" and I was really looking forward to Glenda's story, but this was a huge disappointment. Glenda was annoying...she was always rebuffing Egan who has loved her for years. She wants him but then feels this unreasonable guilt b/c her dead husband. I couldn't even finish the book b/c I hated Glenda so much and felt sorry for Egan. Glenda was, by far, the worst heroine ever!