Customer Reviews

A Promise Given

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sabrina and Ian have known each other since they were children, but Ian goes away for several years, and Sabrina is left feeling bitter because she believes he broke a promise to her. Ian is betrothed to her older sister Margaret, but when she disappears, he takes Sabrina as his bride. Needless to say, she is unhappy about this, but finds herself attracted to him anyway. I liked both of the characters. Ian is a hard man because of the battles he's been in and because of the mystery surrounding his father's death. Sabrina is a strong-willed woman who speaks her mind, something a woman of her time was not supposed to be. Their clashing personalities made for good reading. This is a story I'd read over and over again.

I have always enjoyed Samantha James's books and this time was no exception. This book was a warm tale of two childhood friends who as adults must marry and face the trials of life in the harsh land of Scotland together. The characters are very human. They had humor and sorrow in thier lives.

This is the story of Ian MacGregor, the head of his highland clan and Sabrina the second sister and the unloved one by her father. Ian fostered at Sabrina's home when he was a lad and his father had wanted a wedding to seal the alliance between the clans. Ian comes back many years later to marry Margaret, Sabrina's older and beautiful daughter. He meets up again with Sabrina, who in thier youth was a good friend. She is very untrustful of him and he is saddened to see how her own family treats her. She is strong and has a mind and a voice of her own but also deep seeded fears.
Margaret dissppears the day before the wedding and is presummed dead. Ian decides to marry Sabrina to fullfill his father's wish. She is both overjoyed and mad about the whole idea but goes along with it as not to shame her father.

Soon they are back at Ian's castle and the trouble begins. Both thier lives are in danger and together they must face thier mistrust of each other and find the love that they both share.

This book has great mystery and was an easy read and hard to put down until the end.

I got his book from a book sale by mistake. Just goes to show that mistakes are NOT always bad. This was my first of Ms. James and I will definately be looking for more of hers. I thought the characters were strong, possessing believable fears, and love. The conflicts involving honor, duty and loyalty are something in which the reader can identify. Sabrina is strong despite the treatment of her family, and shows a trust in people that makes her attractive to all. Ian is a hero who has some insecurities of his own, but they don't detract from him as a sexy man, full of patience (to a certain point) Nice twist in the plot. I recommend this book if you have time to read without interruptions, otherwise you will struggle to put the story down.

I loved A Promise Given! Samatha James makes it so intriging and keeps you guessing about the events that take place. The tables seem to flip so many times that you have to continue reading just to know who is going to uncover their deep, dark secret. When Margaret isn't found on the day before her wedding to Ian, Sabrina almost seems terrified. She seems more so, however when Ian tharts her plans to marry Jamie. I thought for sure she was going to die.

However, her fathers cruelty makes her leave quickly. I just couldn't believe her father! After Margaret dies, he doesn't even care about Sabrina. He has this attitude like good ridance when Sabrina leaves.

Ian, at some times, is more like the villian rather than the hero, but when someone starts threating Sabrina's life, he becomes the hero, ready to vanquish any demons who try to destroy all that he holds dear.

The tables do turn at the end when someone from Sabrina's past shows up and wants to destroy Sabrina's life in Scotland. As well as someone from Ian's life ready to help destroy everything that Ian tried to keep a secret, only to find out that he had dealings with Ian's secret.

Wow! So much happens that you can't possibly tell one person about everything, espcicially when Samatha James keeps you guessing about everything and how corupt some people are.

This was the first Samantha James book I have ever read, and it will not be the last. I enjoyed the book from the vary first page. It is a light read, good for a warm summer afternoon on the beach. As is typical of many romance novels, I did get annoyed with Sabrina's lack of faith in her feelings for Ian. All and all, the book was delightful, and I cannot wait to read another Samantha James story.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Ian MacGregor is the laird of his clan in the Scottish Highlands. He returns to the keep in the Lowlands where he spent many of his young and carefree years. He is shrouded in mysteries surrounding the deaths of some of those closest to him. He has returned to claim his bride, Margaret Kincaid, to whom he has been betrothed since his childhood. But it is Margaret's younger sister, Sabrina, who catches his eye... and his heart. When Margaret suddenly disappears, he eagerly accepts Sabrina as a replacement bride.

Sabrina grudgingly agrees to wed Ian, knowing she is bound to do as her father wishes. But she vows to never love Ian, swearing she has given her heart to another man. She has her doubts about Ian, having heard disturbing rumors about his past, and whisperings he may have had a hand in Margaret's presumed death. Despite her beliefs Ian betrayed her many years ago, she can't help but be drawn to him. Her spirited nature tells her to ignore all she has heard and to put her faith and trust in Ian.

Ms. James weaves a passionate tale of love found, amid some of the most turbulent years of Medieval Scotland. For it is a time of great political upheaval as Robert the Bruce fights to gain his throne. Ian and Sabrina are caught in the middle of it all, on opposite sides of the political game, though their hearts are bound in the greatest battle of all... for A Promise Given and a binding love.

Ms. James has created a lively cast of characters. The antics of Ian and Sabrina alone making for an exciting read. Both Ian and Sabrina are very strong yet imperfect people, with faults and fears aplenty for each, making them all appear all the more realistic. Add in the colorful cast of secondary characters and the story comes alive. All are memorable and only add, never detract, from the story. However, the secondary characters are not so well developed or dimensional as the hero and heroine. Many of the characters' behavior and emotions are never fully explained. Why do they feel the love and/or animosity held for Ian and Sabrina? Many of these explanations are lacking, which at times has a tendency to stall the story.

In spite of the not always fully developed characters, this is a pleasurable read. Plenty of action and suspense, well tempered by the romance of the era, and the characters, can be found throughout. Ms. James has a way with words, using wonderful imagery to paint the landscape. One almost feels a part of the story, planted right in the middle of the beautiful but treacherous Scottish Highlands.

A Promise Given is a promise kept for this reviewer to be on the lookout for more books by this author.

Samantha does it again!!! She has become one of my favorites.

Ian and Sabrina were practically raised together while Ian was being tutored and trained under her father. Ian, a Highlander, was bethrothed to Margaret, a Lowlander and Sabrina's sister. Ian was a constant thorn in her side, as most big brothers and cousins are most times, except, neither Ian nor Sabrina realized that their constant bickering was really a sign of puppy love that soon blossomed into an enchanted love. But this only came about due to Margaret's mysterious disappearance the day before the wedding. Nevertheless, a "Promise Given is a Promise Kept" and Ian married the very reluctant Sabrina in Margaret's place. But ah, the plot thickens. Is Margeret truly dead and if so, who murdered her? Does Ian have enemies and spies abiding in his castle? Read the book to discover the answers to these questions and many more!!

I enjoyed this book right from the start. I only wish that the characters were not SO slow to realize that each loved the other. I guess that that is just the way it goes. How could Sabrina not know how sweet Ian was right from the start. I enjoy Ms James' books. GABRIEL'S WAY is one of my favorite romance novels.

This is the first book I've read that is by Miss James. It is splendid! The hero is a hard man on the outside but a serious sweetie inside. I like the way he was protective of the heroine. The heroine even though was warned to stay away from the hero, she refused to and stood by her man realizing she would always love him.

In 1306, Scottish clan chieftain, Ian MacGregor, heads to the lowlands to claim his bride, Margaret Kincaid, who he has been betrothed to since childhood. However, upon arriving at Dunleavy Keep, Ian finds himself attracted to Margaret's younger sister Sabrina. In spite of her efforts to be loyal to her sibling, Sabrina shares the attraction.

Margaret suddenly vanishes, leaving the way open for Ian to claim Sabrina as his bride price. Though she begins to fall in love with Ian, Sabrina wonders if he is behind the mysterious disappearance of her sister. When the couple arrives at his castle, she hears rumors about the strange deaths of his father and stepmother. If she does not look inside the soul of the man offering his love to her, she will destroy their future happiness due to a few nasty murmerings by person or persons unknown.

A PROMSIE GIVEN is a beautifully written Medieval romance that will thrill fans of the sub-genre as well as historical romance readers in general. The mystery adds immensely to the fast-paced story line and the growing love between the lead protagonists serves as a brilliantly counterpoint to a terrific tale. Samantha James knows romance and with this novel she gives plenty of it to her audience.

Harriet Klausner