I Promise [Hardcover]

Joan Johnston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1996

A Promise of Danger

Delia Carson was only sixteen when she fled her hometown--running thousands of miles away from the deadly Texas tempest of lies and shadows that tore apart her family...and her aching love for smalltown bad boy Marsh North.

But she never could escape.

A Promise of Desire

A New York judge with a reputation for toughness, Delia has tried to forget, but cannot. And now a family crisis is calling her home--back to the mystery, back to the shadows...back to North, the "bad boy" turned respected, prize-winnning journalist. But some things never change. Dark secrets long denied must finally be revealed. And a youthful passion interrupted but never destroyed must be rapturously reborn as adult love if Delia is to be truly free.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Johnston exhibits her versatility with a venture into mainstream, contemporary romance genre. The quick-paced love story/ murder mystery evolves when New York City judge, Delia Carson, is notified by her sister that her mother, whom she hasn't seen in 20 years, is near death. Flooded by memories of her hidden past, Delia is forced to return to her Texas hometown, the scene of lost innocence, lost love and murder. The lost love is March North, the former town bad boy who has now returned as an award-winning journalist. Delia has no choice but to finally confront her past and Marsh, whom she had left behind to take the blame for her own dark deeds. The psychological repercussions of child molestation are movingly depicted in the sister's character, but the book lacks the same insight when dealing with its effects on Delia and Marsh. Johnston tackles a very tough subject but unfortunately, she misses the chance for a really hard-hitting story.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Called home from New York to Texas by her mother's heart attack, "hanging judge" Delia Carson is forced to confront a sordid past she has tried to put behind her-and ends up rediscovering the love she thought she had lost for good. A strong heroine who needs to forgive the past (and herself) and a determined, caring hero dominate the action. For all its darker elements and the fact that some of the problems are too conveniently solved, this is still a compelling, emotionally satisfying romance. Excellent characterizations and a realistic portrayal of the small-town environment add appeal. Johnston is a popular writer of historicals (Maverick Heart, Dell, 1995) and contemporary series romances and lives in Florida. This is her first mainstream contemporary romance.-KR
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: San Val (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417710098
• ISBN-13: 978-1417710096
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,053,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joan Johnston, the New York Times bestselling author of the Bitter Creek novels A STRANGER'S GAME, THE NEXT MRS. BLACKTHORNE, THE RIVALS, THE PRICE, THE LONER, THE TEXAN, THE COWBOY, and the historicals NO LONGER A STRANGER and COLTER'S WIFE, has written more than forty award-winning historical and contemporary romance novels. She received a master of arts degree in theater from the University of Illinois and graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. Joan Johnston lives in Colorado and South Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable at times, but worth the read, October 25, 1999

By 

Lynn B. Smith (South Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Promise (Mass Market Paperback)

Someone recommended that I read this book and it was the first of Joan Johnston's for me. The story was very touching at times, but often predictable. I will definetly give another of her books a try.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected....better, January 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I Promise (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoyed reading this book, but it was a little different than I thought it would be from the cover. The road to happiness was a dificult one for Delia. Some of the storyline I was not expecting. I would recommend this book.