Customer Reviews

The Promise

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Moving from medieval Scotland to eighteenth century England, co-authors Jim and Nikoo McGoldrick have penned a novel, which will certainly elevate their popularity in the genre of historical romance.

Rebecca Neville was forced to flee London in 1760 for fear that she had accidentally killed her lecherous employer, Sir Charles Hartington. Fortuitously, she is almost run down by a passing carriage whose lone occupant decides to help her. Elizabeth Wakefield needs a companion and asks Rebecca to aid her in her journey to the colonies with her newborn son, James. Weak from childbirth, Elizabeth does not survive the voyage, and Rebecca is forced to raise James on her own.

Employing the skills she obtained at Mrs. Stockdale's Academy for Girls, Rebecca is able to make ends meet for herself and Jamey. She also skillfully fends off any amorous advances by inventing a fictitious Mr. Ford, her now deceased husband. Though Rebecca is a woman to be greatly admired for her ingenuity and fortitude, she is at times a little too sweet, with no apparent faults.

Nevertheless, Rebecca does well for herself and Jamey until ten years later when an agent of his father's tracks her to Philadelphia and asks that the boy return to England to live with his father, Samuel Wakefield, Earl of Stanmore. Rebecca travels to England to make sure that James is well settled and meets the coolly aloof Stanmore.

The development of the relationship between Rebecca and Stanmore makes this novel a step above many historicals. While Rebecca doesn't initially agree with the manner in which Stanmore relates to his son, she can't help being attracted to him. And while he is at first attracted to her beauty, he slowly begins to see beneath the surface and wants her for more than her physical attractiveness alone.

Villainous characters such as Louisa Nisdale, the jealous former lover, and Squire Wentworth, Stanmore's evil neighbor who dabbled in the slave trade, add a sinister element capable of tearing the lovers apart. And the historical depiction of the slave trade provides a unique addition to this novel primarily because the subject is not usually addressed as an eighteenth century English problem.

For a sure winner with characters you won't want to leave behind, THE PROMISE can't be beat.

When Rebecca Neville was attacked by her employer, she defended herself and had to flee from the law. During her flight, Rebecca met a dying woman, Elizabeth Stanmore, who was on her way to America with her new born son, James. They left London together with the agreement that once Elizabeth died, Rebecca would raise James as her own.

Ten years had past when the lawyer for the Earl of Stanmore showed up at Rebecca Ford's door. James was hard of hearing and had one misshapen hand, but the kind lawyer relayed that the earl was claiming James as his heir. Rebecca went with them to London to make sure James was happy before she left his life. The father, Lord Stanmore, was a handsome, but cold hearted man who cared nothing for his new found son. Slowly, the earl saw what true love really was as he watched Rebecca and James. Passion ignited between Rebecca and the Earl. All might have been well, however, outside forces were at work.

Lady Louisa Nisdale had been the Earl's mistress for quite a while and refused to acknowledge the fact that their affair was over. In addition, the Earl had been fighting in Parliament to end slavery in England. The Earl's neighbor, who owned and abused slaves, was none too happy about that either.

***** A definite winner! The author is a husband and wife team who seem to have their pulse on what readers want to read! Excellent plot and interesting sub-plots that will capture the attention of its audience and hold onto them like cement glue! Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch

I had so enjoyed May McGoldrick's Scottish trilogy that I was eager to read her latest book. I must say that this one completely blew me away...I cried, I shared moments with the characters and I felt I learned a great deal along the way. I had had no idea that there was a history of slavery in Britain and was shocked to learn that the abolionists there faced the same horrors our own did here in the States.

Regardless of the historical lessons, May McGoldrick has created memorable, remarkable characters. As the mother of a 9 year old son myself, I felt a particular kinship to Rebecca and was cheering along with her when her dreams came true.

This is a page turner of a novel, a beautiful love story and a mystery all rolled into one. It's a book not to be missed !

In escaping a lecherous employer in the dark of night, with pursuers hot on her heels, a spunky but penniless teenager was almost run down by a speeding carriage. Fate lent Rebecca Neville a hand when the fleeing occupant in the carriage, the Countess Of Stanmore who was bound for the colonies took her along - together with the Countess's newborn babe.

When the young mother died during the ocean crossing, Rebecca took the infant into her care and raised him as her own. Swearing never to return to her homeland, Rebecca strived to make a new life for herself and the child in the new country.

Yet ten years later when the Earl Of Stanmore tracked down his missing son and heir, Rebecca had no choice but to accompany her boy back to England to ensure his well-being.

Towards the end, there's a surprise secret about Rebecca that'll take your breath away.

This book also introduces characters who'll go on to have their own stories in "THE REBEL" and "BORROWED DREAMS". Make sure you read "THE PROMISE" before reading "THE REBEL" otherwise the surprise will be spoilt.

"THE PROMISE" offers an appealing version from a nine-year old child's viewpoint which is not found in many romance novels. This delightful aspect should be pursued by authors more often.

This book was the best romance I have read in a long time. You cared about the characters, you wanted to know more about them... all of them from the two butlers Daniel & Philip to the family of Lord North. Fine job by the author. I was engrossed in the story at the end and didn't want it to end. I wanted to know more about the dashing earl's family and past, and more about Rebecca's newfound family.
I look forward to discovering her other books.

I enjoyed the storyline and characters. I'm looking forward to reading her other books.

Summary
Heroine: Rebecca Neville
Hero: Earl of Stanmore
Setting: Mid-18th century England


Rebecca is fleeing to escape being caught of a murder crime where she defended her virtue from a nobleman. On the way, she meets a weak noblewoman who has just recently given birth to her son. The noblewoman offers Rebecca a chance to escape with her on a ship. Rebecca grabs at the chance and finds herself mourning the loss of her lady savior and a new mother to the newborn, James, while in route to America.


Fast forward 10 years later and we find a more settled, hardworking Rebecca in Boston with her adopted son, James. They are inseparable and love and rely on each other dearly. We also find that the Earl of Stanmore has finally discovered that he has a living heir and sends his lawyer to locate and retrieve said heir. Shocked, Rebecca finds she cannot give up her son to an unknown earl, yet cannot deny her son's birthright so she agrees to escort her son to England to meet the earl and ensure that her son's future is safe and stable. Upon arriving in England, Rebecca and the Earl of Stanmore face off in an attempt to secure James' future in the way they believe is right for him. From there, you follow both characters on a fairly realistic journey through romantic struggles and sacrifices for those that they love.

Review
This was one of the first books I had read where the heroine has a child to care for and I thought it might ruin the romance like what sometimes happens in real life with children, but I was wrong! This story is poignant and sweet. The pacing is done well - the hero and heroine are not rushed into any sexual intercourse off the bat. Instead the attraction and romance slowly builds to fire some sizzling, yet romantic love scenes. The story is strong so readers feel like they are actually reading a book with substance, rather than just a weak story that keeps throwing the hero and heroine together for sex. This is actually one element I really love about May McGoldrick. "She" actually writes substantial stories and not facades of a story. The romance is a main part of the book, but there is more to it than just that. There is depth to the story.


The descriptions are wonderful and allow readers to become immersed into the world of the characters. The writing style is very easy to read and detailed. As the condition of my copy of this book can attest to, I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book.

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Decent read. Got a bit slow and dragged on in some parts but I really liked the characters. :-) They seemed believable. Wish that the Sir Hartington would have stayed alive longer to have the heroine confront him again though instead of bringing in another villain that basically antagonized a whole different character.

This was my first book that I read from May McGoldrick and I want to read more!

Rebecca Neville fled London because she thought she killed her lustful married employer Sir Hartington. Escaping, she meets up with Elizabeth Wakefield and her infant son James when she is almost run over by Lady Wakefield's carriage. Rebecca and Elizabeth immediately realize that they need each other. Elizabeth lacks a friend to assist her with her son and Rebecca needs to safely get away. Weak from giving birth, Elizabeth soon passes away and Rebecca takes the baby to America with her to raise. Ten years go by.....

Jamey, as her adopted child is called, is loved by Rebecca "Ford", now known as the widow of the bogus Mr. Ford. She has taken on this concealment so that Jamey and her will be safe. Jamey has a hearing impairment and a disfigured hand but she loves him as her own.

The day finally arrives when a lawyer for Samuel Wakefield, the Earl of Stanmore, finally locates Jamey and explains to Rebecca that his father has been looking for him for a long time. Because of this kind lawyer she finally agrees to let Jamey travel to England to meet his father with her at the child's side.

An ex-mistress, a corrupt neighbor and other secondary characters make the story very interesting. With Rebecca's assistance, Samuel slowly learns to love his son. He also falls in love with her. This is a terrific love story made more interesting with Jamey's tale. I am looking forward to more books by this author.

This book was good. For the other reviewers, this book seems to have jumped right out at them. But i found that 3/4 of the book dragged quite a bit. Towards the end, the storyline really picked up and was great.

Overall it was a good book.