Customer Reviews

The Promise of Peace (The Scottish Crown Series, Book 4)

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Young Keifer McNab has been sent to foster with Sir Adam Mackintosh and his wife Gwyneth. He is to be trained to become "laird of the clan," a position Keifer doesn't want, but that someone else is determined he shall not have-at any cost.

Nola, the feisty and irrepressible daughter of Adam and Gwyneth, has made up her mind she will be a part of Keifer's future. In fact, she is certain of it, even though Keifer is apparently unaware of her other than as a playmate, companion and general pest. When it is time for Keifer to leave to continue his training to become a knight, Nola forces him to make a promise that may prove difficult, if not impossible, for either of them to fulfill.

Bitter at the twist of fate that deprived him of his father when still a child, Keifer resents even the offered help of those who are in a position to mentor him. Still, he has vowed to serve his king, Robert the Bruce, in Scotland's struggle for freedom from English tyranny. Keifer's bitterness deepens when he is betrayed by those he thought he could trust. Can he even be sure his own clan members are not among those counted as enemies? Finally, grievously wounded, he spurns the help of those who love him, including Nola. And what of their promise to each other-will he throw that away, too?

Peace with England is the cause and the hope of Robert the Bruce and the knights that fight alongside him. But for Keifer McNab, there is another war raging deep within. Is he willing to pay the price for this peace even if it should mean dying? Can he let go of his bitterness to find the faith he'll need to continue? Can he accept the unconditional love offered?

THE PROMISE OF PEACE is the fourth and final book in the Scottish Crown Series. These books have been of special interest to me because this is my own heritage. And I have always loved to read about the early and tragic struggles of the Scots. Carol Umberger has created some wonderful characters in this fiction series, and includes some of Scotland's own real historical heroes. But the reader is not bogged down in a lot of historical background that can tend to pull you out of the story. No, this is a good, fast-paced tale of 12th Century Scotland and the people that lived, struggled, fought and died to be allowed to live in peace and freedom.

This conclusion to the Scottish Crown series was very good. I looked forward to reading this for so long and i finally finished it! The book takes you through the life of Keifer, a boy who must go and foster with Adam and Gwenyth (The characters from the first book).When he is there he meets Adam and Gwenyth's daughter Nola, who he considers to be just an annoying eight year old. Through time the two become great friends,and Nola helps him thorugh the bitterness he has about his Father dying. This is a very touching and sweet story, a bit predictable at times, but still good. A must-read.

Carol Umberger completes her four book Scottish Crown Series in a magnificent display of passion, courage, love, and the cost brave men pay for freedom. Umberger weaves a page-turner in this Scottish tale. I enjoyed the history spun through the well-developed characters and suspensful plot.

As with the other books is this rather sorry Saga, this is a fairly good, albiet cliched and predictable Romance novel, but a terrible historical novel.

It seems the author has an intense personal dislike for King Edward the second of England, (in the first chapters Prince Edward) and demonises him at every given oppurtunity. So Edward is presented to the audience as an evil, racist, bigoted murdering tyrant, who kills Scots women and children for pleasure. His military Campaigns against Scotland are, allegedly, motivated by his personal hatred of the Scottish people.

It would not be so bad if there was some historical basis or evidence for this depiction, but to my knowledge, there is none whatsover.In reality Edward went to war with Scotland because he believed he had a claim to the throne of Scotland.
The terrible massacre of Scottish civilians by Edward and his knights in the Prolougue never took place. This detail appears to have been invented by the author for the sole purpose of vilifying King Edward specifically, and English soldiery generally.

Please forgive the polemical nature of this review, but I believe it is important to draw attention to these issues, as many people I know base thier historical knowledge on novels such as these. I would strongly urge the reader to research this period for themselves (preferably from both sides), so as not to be misinformed or misled by the opinion of one person.

Beautiful written scenes of Scotland and its history during the Jacobite Rebellion.The entire series of books was very interesting and well developed.

I enjoyed all four of this series. I would recommend them if you like well-rounded, realistic characters and interesting history!

The Scottish Crown series concludes here, and I'm sorry to see the end of this wonderful, romantic series.

You have to read them all!

This book is a good example of what happens when a person's view of history is clouded by prejudice, and bigotry. Historical facts seem to have been distorted to suit an individual agenda. The attitude towards certain groups (in this case the English) and events is biased and hypocritical.

The English are condemned as dishonourable for attacking the Scottish army at night, in the first chapter. Later the the book the Scottish army attacks the English at night, but for them it is perfectly acceptable to do so.

In the prologue Edward II and his knights attack a Scottish village and kill women and children. Fot this he is demonised as an evil child-killer. The massacre in question, however, never took place and the village does not exist. The English are condemned for inflicting suffering on innocent people throughout the series.

When, later in the book, a Scottish nobleman drives English peasants out of thier homes (which could have resulted in death from starvation/exposure), and devastates the English countryside, his actions are justified as strategic neccesity, and it is implied that the English deserved to suffer (because they were English.)

Knighthood is depicted as a sacred vocation, that requires it's adherents to live upright, righteous lives. As opposed to the reality of knights as violent men in a brutal age, living by thier own rules.

If you want something that is balanced perspective on historical events, and realistic, multi-faceted characters, avoid this entire series.