A Promise of Love

By Karen Ranney

Book Overview

Twice-widowed Judith Cuthbertson becomes the reluctant bride of visiting Scotsman Alisdair MacLeod, the new laird of a once-great clan, and, despite her determined defiance, finds herself drawn to the passionate stranger to whom she is wed. Original.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0821757504
• ISBN13: 9780821757505
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Not Frothy Fare, but Satisfying Nonetheless

"A Promise to Love" is a dark tale of a woman running from her brutal past and a lonely man learning to live, love and trust again. Judith Culbertson is a plain, twice married widow who has never has a loving home or happy marriage. She lives her life in fear because she knows the brutality of life and of men in particular. She doesn't expect respect, affection or even love because she has never experienced those things. Forced to go to Scotland by her father, Judith doesn't know what she will face once she reaches her destination. She certainly never expected marriage to a handsome stranger. Alistair Macleod is the laird of a clan of beaten Scots. Only a few years after Culloden, his focus is trying to scratch out a living for his clan. Living with a conditional pardon and the loss of all of his male relatives, he does not have the time or inclination to focus on women. Work, duty and honor are his focus. Not the strange Englishwoman he suddenly finds himself married to. "A Promise to Love" is a love story of two unlikely lovers who learn about themselves and each other as they fall in love. Judith and Alistair are three dimenisonal characters that will stay with you long after the story ends. Judith was an intelligent woman who survived a horrible life the best way she knew how. Her resilience in the face of the brutality that she faced in her marriage made me admire and respect her. Her growing affection for Alistair made her blossom into the woman she was meant to be. Alistair was a perfect foil for Judith. He was patient, loving, kind and understanding. He knew when to push and when to retreat. He saw the woman Judith was hiding under her prickly shell. It was a woman that he was intrigued by and wanted to bring to the forefront. Chemistry is always one of the most important elements in a romance. I have to understand why the characters would want one another. Here, there is never any question why these lovers were attracted to each other. Respect, admiration, trust and affection paved the way before their relationship turned physical. The book also offered a glimpse into harsh realities of life after Culloden. It did not gloss over the hardships faced by the clan. Yet, the book did not wallow in them and it actually contained some light, laugh out loud moments. "A Promise to Love" is not a frothy tale of love in the Highlands. There are some violent scenes drawn in vivid detail in this book. A villain comes to the Highlands who tries to tear the lovers apart. His malevolent presence and disgusting actions are drawn in such detail that it could turn most readers off. If you want some light fare, this is not the book for you. But if you are more interested in a tale of two wounded people finding each other and ultimately finding themselves, I highly recommend it.

PROMISES KEPT

In this story, the reader is taken into the mind of a young woman who endures the hardships, abuse, and inequities of women of that era. We suffer with her as she experiences flashbacks, self-loathing, social stigmas, family rejection, being used as barter, being married against her will, being hunted and terrorized by a sadistic brother-in-law until even the tenderness of a loving man is difficult for her to endure.Karen Ranney gives us a rich portrayal of the times as she also gives us a real woman, a tender man, and a promise of hope even in the face of despair. If you can find this book, get it, read it, and love it.

Outstanding!

This is my 3rd book by Karen Ranney and I am in awe of this woman's talent! Her characters are so real, not fantasy, happily ever after perfect human beings especially in this story. She doesn't pull any punches and if you are a bit squeamish, the graphic details of the horrific abuses of the heroine and others may be a bit too realistic for you. War is brutal enough, and the atrocities that follow are brutal. The time after the battle of Culloden was one of deprivation and hardship for the inhabitants of the Highlands.The central character, Judith, is a twice widowed woman who has never seen much kindness or love in her life - not even from her own family. She harbors her emotions like a shield that if let down would probably render a weaker person insane - but great strength and fortitude are traits which have kept her alive up to this point. The beginning story finds her returning home for sancturary, only to have her father barter her away the very next day along with 100 head of sheep to be taken to Scotland. Upon arriving at the burned out castle of the widower, Scottish laird Alisdair MacLeod, the wily Scotsman Malcom, Judith's escort, with a very quick pronouncement in front of a witness had her wed her almost immediately to his Laird. Interesting bit of Scottish lore how this was done!Now you have two furious people, having never laid eyes on one another, all of a sudden married! Alisdair was none to happy and neither was Judith but as the characters are drawn out you will experience the magic of love as Alisdair and Judith find that their love and trust can help them to lay to rest their pasts and build on a new future. This is a wonderful period piece, and if you are not offended by the historical atrocities of the period, you won't be sorry if you pick this up! Outstanding!

worth more than 3 stars

It is true there are some very graphic depictions of violence. If you can make it through these events you will find a book with a very strong heroine in a time when women were not valued for their strength. The story of Judith and Alisdair takes place in Scottland during a very violent and cruel time. Ms. Ranney knows her history and that man can be very cruel. Above all Ms. Ranney knows that if we fight hard enough and don't give up we can all have a second chance. That if we have the strength, courage and compassion anything is possible. Judith and Alisdair are thrown together. Both are battling demonds within themselves and demonds let loose among the rugged highlands. Both with courage and finally love build a new life and future together. Although disturbing at times the book is well worth reading. I, infact could not put it down. Not often do you come across a book that stands out from the hundreds of books written that all so predictable with the predictable heroes, heroines and plots. The characters are will developed, the plot holds your attention and although we know there will be a happy ending, the story is plausible and it is not like all of a sudden the heroine loves the hero just because there are only 100 pages left and the story needs to be wrapped up. I hope I conveyed that I really liked this book. It disturbed me at times, it made me laugh then cry a chapter later. At the end I gave out a sigh happy to know life a Tynan went on with a bright future full of love and happiness.

worth more than 3 stars

It is true there are some very graphic depictions of violence. If you can make it through these events you will find a book with a very strong heroine in a time when women were not valued for their strength. The story of Judith and Alisdair takes place in Scottland during a very violent and cruel time. Ms. Ranney knows her history and that man can be very cruel. Above all Ms. Ranney knows that if we fight hard enough and don't give up we can all have a second chance. That if we have the strength, courage and compassion anything is possible. Judith and Alisdair are thrown together. Both are battling demonds within themselves and demonds let loose among the rugged highlands. Both with courage and finally love build a new life and future together. Although disturbing at times the book is well worth reading. I, infact could not put it down. Not often do you come across a book that stands out from the hundreds of books written that all so predictable with the predictable heroes, heroines and plots. The characters are will developed, the plot holds your attention and although we know there will be a happy ending, the story is plausible and it is not like all of a sudden the heroine loves the hero just because there are only 100 pages left and the story needs to be wrapped up. I hope I conveyed that I really liked this book. It disturbed me at times, it made me laugh then cry a chapter later. At the end I gave out a sigh happy to know life a Tyan went on with a bright future full of love and happiness.