The Promise (Paperback)

by May McGoldrick (Author) "The nervous hand, fluttering across the worktable, knocked over the inkwell, spreading the liquid on the surface and staining the young woman's skirt as she..." (more)
Key Phrases: house steward, Lord Stanmore, Lady Wentworth, Melbury Hall (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
After mistakenly believing she has murdered her lecherous employer, Rebecca Neville flees into the night and finds refuge with a mysterious lady traveling with a newborn baby. The woman helps Rebecca secure passage on a ship leaving England, and in return Rebecca assumes responsibility for the woman's child when his mother dies on the voyage to America. Ten years later Samuel Wakefield, the Earl of Stanmore, discovers the whereabouts of his son and demands he be returned to his real family. Now Rebecca must return to England with a boy whom she has come to think of as her own child and give him up to a total stranger. McGoldrick's gift for characterization extends from the book's courageous heroine and wounded hero down to a fascinating cast of secondary characters, including a viperous villain and a wonderfully scheming mistress. This vibrant Georgian historical is perfect for readers who like a nice mix of history and passion. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
"The Promise is a wonderful book for any lover of historical fiction." (New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham)

In America for the last ten years, Rebecca Neville has raised her young charge as if he were her own son. But now, his father-the Earl of Stanmore-has learned of his fate and sends for him from England. Rebecca must do everything in her power to keep her promise to the boy's dead mother-and keep her heart safe from his mysterious father...

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Signet (September 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451204492
• ISBN-13: 978-0451204493
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #578,169 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Historical with Memorable Characters, September 5, 2001

By	Sheri Melnick (Enola, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A definite winner!, September 28, 2001

By	Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

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

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A moving, joy-filled and wonderful story !, March 26, 2002

By A Customer

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 !