Customer Reviews

Promise & Honor

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of all the books I've read, this is the first one that I had to read from
cover to cover in many years. The portrayal of the characters was so well
done I could easily imagine conversing with them; they were that real to
me. The story itself is truly gripping; I was able to identify with the
main players (Sam and Wil) vying for Amanda's attention. There were parts
of them I could easily find in myself: the always honorable Sam on the
Union side, and the likable but roguish Wil with the Confederates.

The setting comes across with a sense of realism and authenticity that is
quite remarkable. Having visited Virginia several times, I knew many of
the scenes and locales described in the book, and the details were right
on the mark. It is obvious the Author has done her research on both this
and the historical elements of the Civil War.

There are many novels about this time in history, but few can successfully
provide all the elements that come together in this book: history,
setting, characters, and a really good plot. A book that gives a glimpse
into what the average people experienced at this time is a rare commodity,
and Promise & Honor delivers.

I'm normally not a huge fan of Civil War novels, but Kim Murphy's Promise & Honor pulls us into the lives of her characters so adeptly that it's hard not to be addicted to her story of love, war, and honor. She has created a heroine, Amanda Graham, who conveys the fears, hopes, and joys of women in any time period, but, at the same time, who offers a taste of the heroic struggles females faced in the middle of America's brutal battles between North and South.

Widowed at the outbreak of the war, Amanda is left with very little money as she endeavors to maintain her Virginia farm. Family friend Wil Jackson offers financial assistance in exchange for running medical supplies for the South. Amanda braves her duties with courage and dignity, while at the same time balancing her affections between Jackson, dangerous because of his libertine ways, and another friend, Sam Prescott--a Northerner.

Amanda's love for the two gentlemen on opposing sides echoes the novel's balanced treatment of the North and the South. Murphy clearly shows that the war was not simply a matter of abolitionists fighting slave owners, and that women and children were often forced to struggle for survival just as much as the men in battle were. All individuals were deeply affected by the conflict, no matter where they lived and who they fought for.

Promise & Honor will satisfy a wide variety of readers, from those craving breathtaking romances to diehard historical buffs, and everything in between. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to its forthcoming sequel.

Set in Virginia during the American Civil War, Promise & Honor by Kim Murphy is the story of Amanda Graham, a woman loved by two men who are on opposite sides of the bitter and deadly national conflict. A sweeping saga, written evenhandedly with both emotion and strength, Promise & Honor is an outstanding work of compelling romantic drama from the first page to the last. Promise & Honor is one of those novels that are so easy to pick up and so difficult to put down.

Amanda Graham has been widowed after her Colonel husband John is killed during the First Battle of Manassas in July of 1861. While she, along with most of the nation, hopes that this War Between the States will end quickly, such is not the case. Approached by Lt. Colonel Will Jackson, a Confederate officer and long time friend of her husband's, Amanda agrees to smuggle medical supplies to the Southern troops from her home in Fredericksburg, just across the river from the Northern boundary.
At home, she also cares for the infant daughter of her long time friend, Lt. Sam Prescott, who recently returned from duty in New Mexico, is now serving in the Union forces. Torn between loyalty and compassion for soldiers of both sides of this new war, Amanda does what she can for them, risking danger, capture and even prison and hanging if captured. As the war draws on, and everyone begins to understand that it will not end any time soon, Amanda is caught in a tug-of-war that involves her heart. Both Will and Sam vie for her heart, sending Amanda into a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, desires and uncertainty. Desperate to love and be loved, Amanda is faced with making a decision, and must do so before the dangers of war does it for her and she loses everything and everyone she holds dear to her heart.

Ms. Murphy's Promise & Honor brilliantly captures the mixed feelings of a woman caught in the middle; of not only a war she wants no part of, but of the two men from opposite sides who hope for her affections. The author's ability to write gritty yet realistic battle scenes effectively portrays the sacrifices made by the men of both sides. Well fleshed out characters bring that intensity to life, and her exciting narrative propels the reader on a grim and realistic journey into the heart of one woman's struggle to find an enduring love in the midst of hell. This reader/reviewer certainly hopes to see more from this wonderful new author.

Let me start off by saying, "I do not read love stories." After having said that, I will say, "But I read this one." If this is considered a love story, so be it.
It is a great Civil War novel and will be enjoyed also by general readers of all interests.
This book holds your interest from the very first page, till the last. It is a beautiful picture of a horrible time. It blends history with human emotion on a level that will keep you coming back for more.
In the next few moments, I will be starting "Honor and Glory", which is the 2nd. book in Kim Murphy's trilogy.
What a gifted author!

The other reviewers have outlined this story thoroughly. However I see it as much more of a civil war story than a love story. While it is true that our heroine is caught between the playboy type reb and the true blue yank, the love dialogue and scenes are minimal. It is much more about the horror of war and the conflicting emotions everyone suffered during this terrible time.
This is very graphic and not for the feint of heart. As for our heroine, I thought she was committed, compassionate but romantically very cold. I never could warm up to her. And there was very little interplay between her and the toddler rebecca that was sam's child that she took care of.Amanda was to be admired for her refusal to take sides. She smuggled drugs and medical supplies for the wounded.......whether they were rebs or yanks didn't matter to her. She hated the pain and death and losses of this war and tried to help the wounded of both sides. A most interesting characters was "soldier Tucker"......that could have been a story in itself. If you've read a lot of civil war era material you can't help but be touched by the fact that much of this is war scenario and pathos is true.Soldiers shooting each other and then helping each other up.Friends facing each other on a battlefield and killing each other or being killed. It was a very interesting book historically. As a romance, it fell way short of the mark.

I'm normally not a huge fan of Civil War novels, but Kim Murphy's Promise & Honor pulls us into the lives of her characters so adeptly that it's hard not to be addicted to her story of love, war, and honor. She has created a heroine, Amanda Graham, who conveys the fears, hopes, and joys of women in any time period, but, at the same time, who offers a taste of the heroic struggles females faced in the middle of America's brutal battles between North and South.

Widowed at the outbreak of the war, Amanda is left with very little money as she endeavors to maintain her Virginia farm. Family friend Wil Jackson offers financial assistance in exchange for running medical supplies for the South. Amanda braves her duties with courage and dignity, while at the same time balancing her affections between Jackson, dangerous because of his libertine ways, and another friend, Sam Prescott--a Northerner.

Amanda's love for the two gentlemen on opposing sides echoes the novel's balanced treatment of the North and the South. Murphy clearly shows that the war was not simply a matter of abolitionists fighting slave owners, and that women and children were often forced to struggle for survival just as much as the men in battle were. All individuals were deeply affected by the conflict, no matter where they lived and who they fought for.

Promise & Honor will satisfy a wide variety of readers, from those craving breathtaking romances to diehard historical buffs, and everything in between. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to its forthcoming sequel.

By TT reviewer Susan Tam

Promise and Honor is set in our country's most turbulent time, the Civil War. It was a time when friends became enemies and fought on opposite sides. Sam Prescott and John Graham are fighting on opposite sides. Sam is with the North and John with the South. They still maintain their friendship and when Sam's wife passes away, John's wife, Amanda, takes care of his daughter. During a battle Sam meets up with his friend and John is killed. Sam doesn't remember if he fired the fatal shot that killed John. Now that she is a widow, Amanda is forced to run medical supplies through enemy lines for money. She has an extended family to support and she hopes she will not be caught. In this mix, you have Lt. Colonel William Jackson, a family friend who takes an interest in Amanda now that she is available. Sam and Amanda's relationship moves from friends to lovers. But they have problems to overcome: he is a Yankee and her family doesn't like it (her mother takes great umbrage that he is a YANKEE!) and did Sam fire the fatal shot that killed her husband?

Amanda is a strong woman and a survivor. She will do whatever needs to be done. Sam is an honorable man and tries very hard to keep his promises during this tough time. It is quite difficult to maintain a relationship during this time period, especially if the couple is on opposite sides. It was interesting to see how this was accomplished. The secondary characters were interesting, especially Jo and Holly. These characters were well developed and you are given great insight into their motivations.

The author has done extensive research into this time period and it shows. There are in-depth descriptions of the battles. You can visualize the deplorable conditions in the field hospitals. They are so vivid that you can well imagine what it was like and feel the suffering of the soldiers and civilians alike. With this book you have an enjoyable story to read and you receive a mini-history lesson as an added bonus!