Customer Reviews

Yesterday's Promise (East of the Sun #2)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I must confess, I believe this series is one of the best by Linda Chaikin! I loved the characters. I loved the plot. And I loved the exotic background to the whole story! The future Sir Rogan Chantry of Rookswood estate of Grimston Way, England is searching for the gold his uncle, Henry Chantry had left to him after Henry's supposed suicide. Despite facing his family's opposition and their own plans for him, Rogan sets out on his own to try to find the gold deposit in rich South Africa. His incredible journey to Bulawayo and Salisbury were well-detailed and well-thought out. The description of the colonists' journey admidst the escalating tensions of the natives and the Boers were also well-descripted. In England, Evy Varley has finally accomplished her dream of having her own piano school. But a confrontation with Henry's murderer has left her scarred for life. Will she and Rogan be reunited? Or will they lose the love they had discovered before Rogan left for South Africa? I couldn't put this book down, I finished it in one day. The suspense of finding out who is Henry's killer and Evy's attacker and the impending reunion of Rogan and Evy kept me reading to the satisfying end. But as you know, there is "Today's Embrace" which will continue the story of Rogan and Evy and their destiny in South Africa so I will definitely buy the third book when it comes out. Linda Chaikin is definitely one of my favourite authors and I can't wait to find out what she has in store for Rogan and Evy and other characters she will create in the near future!

I was slightly disappointed in this book, but don't get me wrong...I loved it. My complaint is this: Rogan is in South Africa, while Evy is in England. The relationship between Rogan and Evy is what drove the first book for me...if it hadn't been for their constant interactions, I would have gotten slightly bored. So, since Rogan and Evy are apart for most of this book, it was harder to read and not as compelling. However, it was still great! It was nice to see things from Rogan's point of view, and the storyline in South Africa was very exciting. This book is my least favorite in the series, but it's still excellent.

I read this and the first book "Tomorrow's Treasure" back to back. Both were wonderful. The storyline becomes so much clearer in this one. I can't wait to read the third book.

This book is great!!!! I love all of Chaikin's work but the East of teh Sun trilogy is my favorite!!! I can't wait untill the third book comes out!

Before reading this book, I was disappointed to find out that this was Book 2 in a series. I hate starting a series (not just books, but anything - TV shows, movies, etc.) anywhere but the beginning. Normally, I would table the book until I'd read the previous one in the series. But, I had agreed to read this one and post a review this week. As this was one of two books I was to review this week, I didn't have the time to read Book 1 in this series. I wish I had. I found that there was much in this book that had me questioning if I'd know what was being referred to if I had read Book 1. There were many events and circumstances referenced that I was completely clueless about. So, I don't know that this would be a stand-alone title. I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read Tomorrow's Treasure first.

That said, overall I did like the book. While it took me awhile - meaning at least a few chapters - to get into it, I soon found myself unwilling to put it down. In fact, I read the last hundred-plus pages today. I think part of why I couldn't get into it at first was because this book starts (and continues) with the assumption that I'm familiar with the back story. But, once I got into it, I found the story and the characters quite interesting.

If this book sounds interesting to you, I suggest you start with Tomorrow's Treasure first, then read this one. I would guess that this one is quite good if read after the first in the series!

For me the novel "Yesterday's Promise", by Linda Lee Chaikin, was a little bit hard to get into. I figure this is due to the fact that it is the second book of Chaikin's "East of the Sun Series," and the first book of the series I've read. However, being that I hadn't read the first book of the series I don't feel that took anything away from the story. If I would have read the first book this one would have been richer for me of course, but I still really enjoyed it. The only historical novels I would call myself a fan of are those of world war two era, which this one is not. It takes place in the late 1800s, with both historical and fictional characters, in England and South Africa. This novel was full of adventure, murder, mystery, aristocratic politics and faith. Chaikin focused separately on characters Evy and Rogan. When I was reading about one, I was wondering what was happening with the other. I enjoyed the end of the book the most and am anxious to find out what happens to Evy and Rogan in the third installment of the series.

From what I hear, this is the second book in it's series. I would have never been able to tell. Linda Lee Chaikin has woven her characters together in such a way that this fascinating story can stand on it's own. Intrigue abounds as Rogan Chantry tries to find his fortune in the gold and diamond trade of South Africa in the late 1800's. But what awaits Evy, his true love who must face a murder alone.

So many historical fictions I have read have been based in the wild west or during the civil war. It was a refreshing change of pace for me to read something from a totally different world!

At the heart of Yesterday's Promise is an interesting plot including a murder mystery and the cutthroat diamond business during British colonialism in Africa. Unfortunately the plot gets a bit bogged down by an excessive cast of wealthy characters with various familial ties (not all of which are known to all involved) and background information on diamonds. There were times I thought I should make a list to keep the characters straight! It probably would've helped if some of them had been more developed, but only the two the story centers around are really fleshed out. Although it adds to the tension, it is to the detriment of the reader's overall enjoyment of the book that Evy and Rogan (the main characters) do not interact until the final chapters. It was at the end when all the pieces come together and one sees Rogan work with Evy that Yesterday's Promise shines.

Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin is book 2 of the East of the Sun Series. Part mystery, part adventure and part romance this book set in the late 1800's in England and Africa follows Rogan Chantry and Evy Varley as they discover who killed Rogan's Uncle Henry and Rogan tracks the Kimberly Black Diamond.

I wanted to like this book. It is the style of book that I enjoy. But to be completely honest I had a very difficult time getting through it. It never grabbed my attention. The book was fine but not memorable.

Yesterday's Promise is actually book 2 in the East of the Sun series by Linda Lee Chaikin, but it overall does a very nice job standing on it's own. You'll find some romance, some mystery, and some adventure all wrapped up nicely in this one book.

Yesterday's Promise continues the story of Rogan Chantry and Evy Varley as they search for answers of their past in order to move forward with their futures.

Sir Rogan Chantry of Rookswood estate of Grimston Way, England, is off to South Africa in search of the gold using a map his uncle Henry left him. A map that others in the family diamond business would also love to get their hands on. Rogan also has to contend with much family opposition and their plans for his life on his trip.

Back in England, Evy Varley ends up tragically injured when she came face-to-face with Henry's killer! Though she finds out who her mother really was, you have to wonder if she'll ever find out who her real father is.

I look forward to, one day, getting the first and third books in this series to find out how the story started and how it ends. A very good read, I thought!