23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Promises Kept, July 5, 2006
This review is from: Promises to Keep (Paperback)
The Earth of the future is not an idyllic place. Economic, environmental, and social woes are made even worse by Earth's recent loss in the war against the former colony of Gaia. Dr. Sarah Johnson is one of many women who decide to start new lives--as the futuristic equivalent of mail order brides--in the Outer Colonies. On the journey, however, the Earth transport is hijacked by the Gaians.
The war w/ Earth has resulted in a shortage of available Gaian women. This shortage is especially problemmatic because Gaian men cannot become sexually active until they "attach"--or form a unique, lifelong bond--to one woman. The victorious Gaians have secretly won a concession from the Earth government to offer Earth women the choice to mate w/ Gaian men. Any woman not agreeing to the offer has the option to return to Earth or proceed to the Outer Colonies as originally planned.
Sarah Johnson is especially disturbed by this turn of events. Her best friend Karen was a doctor on a hospital ship that was destroyed by the Gaians at the start of the war. All of Earth learned of the tragedy through the oft-played video of Gaian General Garran Doranth gloating to Earth authorities about the incident. Sarah has been unable to overcome her loss, or her dislike of the Gaians who caused it.
Sarah's distress becomes even more acute when she learns that her group is being held by none other than the infamous Gen. Doranth. The situation becomes even more complex when, upon meeting Gen. Doranth for the first time, he attaches to her. Now, she must decide if she will become the lifelong mate of the one man she despises. The decision isn't as cut and dried as she would have initially imagined as information about Gaia, the Earth government, and the war begins to come to light.
Garran Doranth is as horrified as Sarah by this unexpected turn of events. After the death of his wife and child in the war, Garran had been mired in grief and was unable to attach to any of the Gaian women in the marriage meets he participated in. It was widely believed that he was now immune to attachment and would never wed again. It is shocking to find himself attached to an Earth woman, but he decides to give the relationship a chance. Now, he must convince Sarah to stay w/ him.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The premise was original, the plot was well executed and engrossing, and the characters interesting and appealing. It was a good read simply simply from a science fiction standpoint, and the romance element was a bonus. (Really, there's an allure to the idea of unconditional love and devotion, isn't there?) The cover of the book warns that it contains graphic sexual content and violence, but both were minimal in my opinion. There is more romance than overt sex in this book, but it doesn't suffer from the fact. This futuristic romance is a great book and I highly recommend it.
(Ms. Miller has written another Earth/Gaia story called Beloved Enemy, which actually takes place before the events depicted in Promises to Keep. I also highly recommend that book, as well.)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Romance, October 19, 2005
This review is from: Promises to Keep (Paperback)
Sarah is unhappy with her life on earth. Men who want to marry and have children are in short supply. Sarah decides to move to the Outer Colonies where men want wives. On the way she is kidnapped and given a different choice. Marry the most hated man on earth, the "Gaian Beast".
I loved the story of Garran and Sarah. He is kind and he spends the book proving he would make a good husband. This book is the perfect balance of Sci-Fi and Romance. Read it! You won't regret it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
SF romance, December 31, 2005
This review is from: Promises to Keep (Paperback)
In the 25th century, Dr. Sarah Johnson works as an obstetrician in a public service hospital on Earth. Because the hospital is for the poor, she works with little or no access to the very advanced medical technology available to the wealthy. Earth is crowded, polluted, and depressing, while Earth society is stratified by class. The war with Gaia has just ended with the Earth government's surrender. To Sarah it was a senseless war in which one of her closest friends was a casualty. Sarah holds the Gaians responsible for her friend's death--in particular, she hates Garran, the Gaian general responsible for Earth's defeat. In search of a better life, Sarah volunteers to emigrate to the Outer Colonies as a potential wife for a settler. Little does Sarah know that her future soon will be closely linked with her enemy, Garran...
This story updates the classic mail-order bride plot into the future, embellishing it with political overtones. The writing is very good, and the plot is well-paced, keeping one's interest throughout. The female characters are smart and brave and willing to take the initiative, perfect complements for colonial men. I was fascinated by the details of Earth and Gaian society, and the contrast between the two. The love scenes are sensual or spicy, rather than erotic. I quite enjoyed it, and recommend it as a good summer read. -- Jean, Fallen Angel Reviews (courtesy of Fallen Angel Reviews)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
