Customer Reviews

Secret Vows

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This story is about Catherine and Grayston and is set in the 13th century. Grayson, a powerful lord, is ordered by the King to marry Elise to try and stop a conflict between her brother Eduard and Grayson. Grayson has no choice but to agree. However the bride that comes to him is not Elise but is Elise's widowed sister-in-law Catherine.

Eduard, a very nasty person and makes my top ten bad guy list, decides that since the King has ordered the marriage of his sister Elise to Grayson he would have her set him up to be murdered several months after their vows. That way no one would suspect Eduards or Elises involvement and Graysons property would then become his.

Elise, having been severely abused by Eduard and not wanting to be an accessory to Graysons murder, commits suicide, leaving Eduard in a quandry. That's when Catherine comes into the picture. Since Grayson, or anyone for that matter, has never really seen Catherine before, he beats Catherine for days to submit to his murderous plot. She refuses until he kidnaps and threatens to kill her children. She is then forced to comply and assumes the role of Elise. The story continues with relationship developement and some good action scenes. Both characters have their own problems to work out, which is done pretty smoothly.

This story also has an interesting twist which really hooked me. The prologue starts in first person, as if Catherine was writing the reader a letter. You could really feel Catherine's pain and hopelessness in the writings. The first chapter then goes into 3rd person.

This book will definately be a keeper of mine for a long time.

It is absolutely unbelievable Mary Reed McCall is a first time author. Set in medieval England, its the story of Catherine of Somerset who has recently become a widow. Her brother-in-law, Eduard Montford, after his first choice, his sister dies, blackmails Catherine into marrying Grayson de Camville, a much-esteemed knight with great holdings. Eduard is as cruel as
her husband had been and Catherine is subject to beatings and blackmail -- he tells her he will have her twin son and daughter killed if she does not do as he has told her -- which is to gain her new husband's trust and set him up to be killed.

Gray is fighting demons of his own. Neither Catherine nor Gray plan on falling in love, just doing as they feel they must. Catherine, masquerading as her deceased sister-in-law, has to pretend to Gray that she's a virgin. There's a great jousting scene and the author gives a wonderful sense of time and place. Catherine and Gray are both wonderful characters (Gray is a beta male -- or maybe gamma - but I love 'em) and Eduard is a villain to top all villains - you know, one of those whose very presence on the page is an indicator of a riveting scene to come.

The prologue (and the epilogue) of SECRET VOWS is written in first person and this is very effective tool in garnering reader sympathy for the heroine. SECRET VOWS is not only of the best first books I've read in a very long time, but one of the best medieval romances I've ever read. The book is historically accurate and the history acts as more than just wallpaper, but NEVER overtakes the story. Mary Reed McCall has a great future ahead of her if SECRET VOWS is any indication of her talent. This book is highly recommended and definitely makes my list for top 10 books read in 2001.

When the book started with a first person narrative, it stopped me cold. I reluctantly trudge through it but was already thinking about tossing it. Well, I am glad that I did. It may start out a bit slow but by chapter 3, you can NOT put this down. The characters are so real, issues, warts and all. Our heroine starts out as emotionally and physically beaten and terrified.She's been forced into an evil plot to save her children by a sadistic, psychotic man. Our groom has demons that torment him and is also forced to wed against his will. This sounds same old-same old.......and to that point it probably is. BUT the rest of the story takes it in different directions. You will never regret reading this story. Accolades to Ms. McCall.The epilogue is also first person by our heroine but by then she is a strong, confident woman and it is perfectly done. The notes by the author explain several cultural aspects of the time and are informative and helpful. Wow..how far we've come as woman and as a society. Hoping for a sequel about sir alban.....enjoy.........

An excellent read...sensual, romantic, compelling, agonizing, and intense. McCall's story weaves a superb romance with harrowing personal demons and manipulative, exceedingly dangerous villains. McCall allows to to see Catherine and Gray fall in love, to feel them struggle with their pasts and their fears, to alternately worry and cheer as they face Eduard's manipulations.

Superb. Don't pass it up.

Before this was released I was told of it from a friend of the author. I went to the website to read the available first chapter. Since it was her first book I didn't set my hopes too high, my standards being near impossible to attain. I'm a big fan of Virginia Henley, Mallory Burgess, Jo Beverley and Julie Garwood. I like detail.

Imagine my surprise! This book has all of the "necessary" ingredients for me. I could not put it down. Literally. I actually tried to get my hands on a copy from my "friend" before it hit the stores because the sample on the web page had me so intrigued. And to think I almost didn't go past the prologue because of the format. What a mistake that would have been.

... This is not your average girl meets knight,pretends she hates him while she gives her virginal body to him anyway story. Refreshing. And you can bet I'm trying to get my hands on a copy of the next one already, too. Five Stars.

This is one of the best romance novels that I have read in a long time. I got the book because it was rated highly and I was pleasantly surpised that everyone who rated it before me was absoutely correct in saying it was a 5 star read.

What a wonderful story, all the necessary elements for a great read!! Gray is a sensitive, feeling man that fills the void in Catherine's abusive, hellish life. Like most mothers, Catherine endures and does whatever she must to procure the safety and well being of her children. This is a very sensitive and stirring novel of two people that overcome their nightmarish pasts with an overwhelming love for each other. A fast paced, enjoyable read that I couldn't put down! Loved it!!!

I did not want to put this book down.The story of Catherine of Somerset,s brutal life until she is forced to wed a man that she
must betray.Her fight to over come her fears and confess all but
events catch up before she can.
I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading her next one.

Baron Grayson de Camville, one of King Henry's High Champions, is forced by the King to marry the sister of his biggest opponent who is Eduard Montford, another of the king's High Champions. The King hopes in this way to put an end to the everlasting bloody rivalry between the two High Champions but doesn't know that he abets in this way Eduard's sinister target, which is Grayson's death and consequently the inheritance of all his titles and wealth. To achieve his" mission" he has coerced his widowed sister-in-law to participate in his scheme. What he hasn't taken into consideration though is that Grayson and Catherine develop serious feelings for each other.

Grayson and Catherine were absolutely admirable main characters. Catherine had to fight with low self esteem related to her appearance, which was indoctrinated by her father and led to a horrible marriage, where she was physically and mentally abused. With a lot of patience Grayson succeeded in helping her to gain some self-confidence, which nearly made me fall in love with him! Catherine was a worthy heroine but definitely overshadowed by Grayson, who had to fight with his own baggage from the past, but remained absolutely noble without "functioning" at the expense of anybody.

This book is about real love, which teaches to forgive and offers the opportunity at second chances. One could argue that the ending of the book was close to kitschy, however, taken into consideration how much Catherine had suffered before she married Grayson, what Eduard made her go through with her children and the fact that Grayson forgave her and what he was willing to sacrifice in order to be with her, allows for a lot of leniency.

Absolutely loved this book. Found it hard to put down at times. It had just the right amount of history with the romance. You could feel the emotions of the characters at times. Fell in love with the hero. Difficult to see how some or even most women were treated.