The Promise of Jenny Jones [Mass Market Paperback]

Maggie Osborne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997

A desperate mother takes Jenny Jones' place in front of a firing squad in exchange for Jenny's promise to see her daughter safely to California. Though she and the six-year-old Graciela get off to a rocky start, Jenny will do everything in her power to keep her promise, even with the child's cousins in hot pursuit. Then she is mysteriously drawn to the handsome cowboy Ty Sanders, and though neither know it yet, their purpose is the same.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Don't let the title of this book prevent you from reading one of the most moving historical romances of 1997! A tearjerker from the very start, you have no idea where this story is going to end up. Imprisoned in a Mexican jail and condemned to die, Jenny Jones hasn't lived a traditional life. When a dying woman offers Jenny her life in exchange for a promise, Jenny believes she has bested the barter. But one thing about Jenny--she may steal, fight, curse, and spit, but she doesn't lie, and a promise means more to her than life. Jenny Jones is one of the strongest, most compelling romance heroines ever written.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446604410
• ISBN-13: 978-0446604413
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny & touching road romance, December 30, 2002

By 

BarkLessWagMore (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Promise of Jenny Jones (Mass Market Paperback)

I originally submitted this review in 1997 (before Amazon created the About You Page) and am resubmitting it under my public account as directed by Amazon's Customer Service. The original review will be deleted via Amazon.

Don't think you'd like a heroine who smokes cigars, cusses like there's no tomorrow, and can whip the hero's butt in a fight? Then you obviously haven't read THE PROMISE OF JENNY JONES yet! Breaking all kinds of stereotypes Ms. Osborne creates an untraditional heroine you can't help but admire, laugh with and cry for.

Jenny Jones, accused of killing a man in self defense, is awaiting death by a firing squad when she is approached by a rich dying woman who offers to take her place. Naturally, there is a catch. Jenny must promise to deliver the woman's daughter safely into the arms of her Father in California. Jenny is a loner who thinks kids are barely half human but decides her life, as pitiful as it may be, is worth the aggravation.

Jenny not only finds herself saddled down with a snot nosed, prissy kid who prays for her death each night but hot on her trail are the kids' money grubbing cousin's who are bent on killing little Graciela so they can grab her inheritance. To make matters worse Jenny is also being followed by Ty Sanders, a real sexy dude, who appears to want Graciela for his own perverted reasons.

Ty, unbeknownst to Jenny, is also on the same mission. He is Graciela's uncle and has been sent by his brother to retrieve her. He'll do everything he can to save his niece from the hands of the obviously insane Miss Jenny Jones. Still, as nutty as he finds her he can't help being attracted to her. She fascinates him and this scares him more than Graciela's murderous cousins.

Eventually these two hard headed, tough as nail people realize they need to stop beating the crap out of each other and join forces if they intend to bring Graciela home safely.

The three spend time together and struggle to keep themselves alive but will they be strong enough to protect their hearts from breaking when they're forced to say goodbye at the end of the trip?

THE PROMISE OF JENNY JONES is often times hilarious and extremely touching. Ms. Osborne handled Jenny's gradual transformation from loner to big hearted woman so beautifully I had tears in my eyes throughout a major part of the book. I also liked the little girl Graciela's transformation from a stuck-up little brat to a sensitive and loving little girl. And, of course, Ty was also a terrific hero whose first mistake is assuming he is going to tame Jenny! The character growth in this story is just amazing. Because the character's are so well drawn and actually get to know each other before they jump into bed the love story between this unlikely couple is completely believable and the sexual tension intense.

The grittiness, humor, realism and emotion of this story are just a few of the things that make it so special. Maggie Osborne knows which buttons to push to melt this reader's heart. Very highly recommended

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A promise for a life:, March 31, 2000

By 

Holly Fuhrmann (PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Promise of Jenny Jones (Mass Market Paperback)

that's what Jenny Jones gives. Instead of dying in front of the firing squad, she's simply got to take a six-year-old to California. Unfortunately, some promises are easier made than kept. Graciela isn't going to make the trip easy, and neither are her greedy cousins who want her dead. Add to that, Graciela's Uncle, Ty Sanders, is hot on their trail. And eventually Ty is hot for Jenny, though she can't figure out why. Battling bad-guys across Mexico and California Jenny and Ty find that despite their differences, they have two things in common -- a love for Graciela, and a growing connection with each other. Could it be love?

This is my second Maggie Osborne book, and my only complaint is that it took me so long to discover this very talented author!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book with a very memorable heroine, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Promise of Jenny Jones (Mass Market Paperback)

This book has become one of my all time favorites. I find myself reading it time and time again. Jenny Jones is a tough capable girl in a man's world, and she is always clever enough to survive.Each character was so well written that they actually came to life for me. Ms. Osborne has the young antagonist save herself by asking herself "what would Jenny do". I have found myself saying the exact same thing in tough situations. Jenny Jones is so real, I find myself forgetting this is a fictional book. I recommend this book frequently to my friends and I recommend it highly to anyone reading this. I will obtain all the Maggie Osborne books I can, as I can't wait to see where next she will take me.