What do you think?
Rate this book
A Lady's Promise
For orphaned New York socialite Isabella De Vries, finding a husband has become imperative. After unsuccessfully navigating four Seasons, it’s time to enlist the help of an old family friend to find her a suitable match. She trusts Preston implicitly, but his solution is both unconventional and he himself will marry Isabella in name alone so that she may be the sole beneficiary of his inheritance when he succumbs to the disease that will soon take his life. His plan solves everyone’s Isabella will be cared for, and his inheritance will be protected from his irresponsible younger brother, Prince. There is no love left between Prince Baxter and his older brother. When he hears that Preston is going to marry Isabella, Prince knows he will have to charm his way into friendship with Isabella if he wants to see any portion of the inheritance money. His plot, however, quickly crumples to pieces as he and Isabella establish a genuine connection―and he makes the mistake of falling in love with her.
200 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2023
15 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Ranee S. Clark
37 books298 followersDuring her early years of reading, Ranee` S. Clark devoured fantasy books, which continued into her adulthood—since she often believes that a well-written romance novel is a delightful fantasy. Though raising three boys can sometimes hamper both romance with her own Mr. Charming and her writing, she tries to get a little of both in every day. And most of the time she succeeds.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
August 31, 2023
I really enjoyed this Gilded Age story about two brothers, Preston and Prince, and sweet Isabella. The background of all of these characters and how they connect was very interesting. They each have some sorrows from their past that in a sense dictates their actions and choices. I loved watching how their choices led them along and especially how it brought Prince and Isabella into each others' paths.
I'm not a big fan of love triangles and know many other readers aren't either and if you've read the synopsis you might think that this has a love triangle. Don't worry, it doesn't. ;-) I loved how it all played out. I loved the goodness of the characters, even the secondary characters. There were several characters that surprised me, in a good way. It was just a great read all around. There were a few moments that brought out some emotions where I felt for these characters and some of the struggles that they were facing, but again, I loved how they handled the situations and kept moving forward.
The sweet romance will have you smiling and you'll be pleasantly surprised by it all.
Content: Clean. Sweet romance with only kisses. No language.
I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I'm not a big fan of love triangles and know many other readers aren't either and if you've read the synopsis you might think that this has a love triangle. Don't worry, it doesn't. ;-) I loved how it all played out. I loved the goodness of the characters, even the secondary characters. There were several characters that surprised me, in a good way. It was just a great read all around. There were a few moments that brought out some emotions where I felt for these characters and some of the struggles that they were facing, but again, I loved how they handled the situations and kept moving forward.
The sweet romance will have you smiling and you'll be pleasantly surprised by it all.
Content: Clean. Sweet romance with only kisses. No language.
I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
September 7, 2023
Isn’t this cover gorgeous? That’s what first drew me to this book. I also loved the Gilded Age setting. The unique romance though is what kept me turning the pages. It’s the story of two brothers and the woman caught in between. Before you cry “please no love triangles,” be assured there’s no love triangle. It’s the heartfelt story of overcoming past grievances, finding love, and recognizing what’s truly important.
Isabella De Vries is a sweet, inventive, kindhearted socialite in need of a husband after being orphaned. Her good friend Preston Baxter is dying and in need of someone to leave his inheritance to other than his wastrel younger brother. He proposes a marriage of convenience to help both Isabella and himself.
Prince Baxter resents his older brother for the way he treated him and his mother. He’s angry with his brother’s heavy-handedness when it comes to money and his inheritance. Now an orphan himself, he’s trying to find his way in the world. When Preston announces his engagement to the much younger Isabella, Prince is suspicious and sets out to charm his way into Isabella’s good graces. But, when he spends time with her, he finds a beautiful, intelligent, delightful woman who gradually wins his heart.
The road to love is never easy and there’re quite a few twists on the way to happily ever after. Isabella is such a an admirable character. Taking care of a dying man isn’t easy and she did everything possible to make Preston happy and comfortable. While she isn’t in love with him, she still loved him as a good friend. Prince completely captures her heart, but her loyalty to Preston makes it impossible to do anything about it. Isabella helps Prince see his potential and gives him a purpose and I loved that about this story. Isabella also learns to stop caring so much about societal expectations.
I loved all the witty, fun interactions between Prince and Bella and only wished there were more of them. Preston at times frustrated me, but many of those frustrations stem from things out of his control. The reconciliation between the brothers was a major source of angst throughout the story and its resolution left me wanting more. I do hope there will be more books in this setting. I loved Miss Darlington and would enjoy getting her story!
Highly recommend the audiobook version! Noah Wall is a fabulous narrator who really brought this story to life.
All in all a sweet, at times heart-wrenching romance that’ll tug on your heartstrings. I received an advanced complimentary ebook from the publisher, but also purchased the audiobook version. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.
Isabella De Vries is a sweet, inventive, kindhearted socialite in need of a husband after being orphaned. Her good friend Preston Baxter is dying and in need of someone to leave his inheritance to other than his wastrel younger brother. He proposes a marriage of convenience to help both Isabella and himself.
Prince Baxter resents his older brother for the way he treated him and his mother. He’s angry with his brother’s heavy-handedness when it comes to money and his inheritance. Now an orphan himself, he’s trying to find his way in the world. When Preston announces his engagement to the much younger Isabella, Prince is suspicious and sets out to charm his way into Isabella’s good graces. But, when he spends time with her, he finds a beautiful, intelligent, delightful woman who gradually wins his heart.
The road to love is never easy and there’re quite a few twists on the way to happily ever after. Isabella is such a an admirable character. Taking care of a dying man isn’t easy and she did everything possible to make Preston happy and comfortable. While she isn’t in love with him, she still loved him as a good friend. Prince completely captures her heart, but her loyalty to Preston makes it impossible to do anything about it. Isabella helps Prince see his potential and gives him a purpose and I loved that about this story. Isabella also learns to stop caring so much about societal expectations.
I loved all the witty, fun interactions between Prince and Bella and only wished there were more of them. Preston at times frustrated me, but many of those frustrations stem from things out of his control. The reconciliation between the brothers was a major source of angst throughout the story and its resolution left me wanting more. I do hope there will be more books in this setting. I loved Miss Darlington and would enjoy getting her story!
Highly recommend the audiobook version! Noah Wall is a fabulous narrator who really brought this story to life.
All in all a sweet, at times heart-wrenching romance that’ll tug on your heartstrings. I received an advanced complimentary ebook from the publisher, but also purchased the audiobook version. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.
December 17, 2023
*A copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
DNF at 50%
A proposed marriage of convenience, a terminal illness, a brother disinherited, and a young lady caught in the middle.
I think it's a case of "it's me, not you", but I decided to give up on this after reading half of the book and I still had no interest in finishing it. It's not poorly written, but it is very slow-moving and I wasn't a huge fan of the love triangle aspect. I wasn't even sure how I was supposed to be feeling about it, given the circumstances. The characters also were very flat, and there was no humor.
Maybe if I can get my hands on a physical copy, I might try finishing it, but for right now, it's a pass from me.
DNF at 50%
A proposed marriage of convenience, a terminal illness, a brother disinherited, and a young lady caught in the middle.
I think it's a case of "it's me, not you", but I decided to give up on this after reading half of the book and I still had no interest in finishing it. It's not poorly written, but it is very slow-moving and I wasn't a huge fan of the love triangle aspect. I wasn't even sure how I was supposed to be feeling about it, given the circumstances. The characters also were very flat, and there was no humor.
Maybe if I can get my hands on a physical copy, I might try finishing it, but for right now, it's a pass from me.
gave-up-on
July 17, 2023I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to publication.
I love my clean romances, I really do. This one sounded really interesting, but honest to goodness, I had to stop at 75%. There is little to no love between the main character and the second brother. I felt like their moments were set up like this:
"Oh, hi, we're in the same room as one another"
"I guess we are -- hey, I'm gonna make some blunt comment about trying to romance you"
"Oh. ... Oh? Wait, no, I think I like you."
"Does she like me?"
"Does he like me?"
They hardly spend time with one another, and when they do their interactions do not scream romance.
I don't think I've read anything else from this author, but the entire flow and tone of the thing made me unable to complete the story. I felt bad for the brother who was slowly dying while all his was going on, but he too I felt was underdeveloped.
Out of respect, I will not be rating this book since I did not finish it.
I love my clean romances, I really do. This one sounded really interesting, but honest to goodness, I had to stop at 75%. There is little to no love between the main character and the second brother. I felt like their moments were set up like this:
"Oh, hi, we're in the same room as one another"
"I guess we are -- hey, I'm gonna make some blunt comment about trying to romance you"
"Oh. ... Oh? Wait, no, I think I like you."
"Does she like me?"
"Does he like me?"
They hardly spend time with one another, and when they do their interactions do not scream romance.
I don't think I've read anything else from this author, but the entire flow and tone of the thing made me unable to complete the story. I felt bad for the brother who was slowly dying while all his was going on, but he too I felt was underdeveloped.
Out of respect, I will not be rating this book since I did not finish it.
September 3, 2023
A historical romance, based in NYC about the upper crust. Fascinating. And i appreciated any mention of the Robber Barons. I watched a documentary about them- so cool. Total jerks, but cool stories.
If you want a historical romance, chockfull of likable characters, emotional development, flirting, friendship, marriage of convenience and maybe a titch of forbidden romance, read this one. Enjoy it. Fall in love with the Baxter brothers.
If you want a historical romance, chockfull of likable characters, emotional development, flirting, friendship, marriage of convenience and maybe a titch of forbidden romance, read this one. Enjoy it. Fall in love with the Baxter brothers.
June 8, 2023
“A Lady’s Promise” expertly weaves an emotional drama of heartache and love that will linger on long after the story ends!
Read full review in the 2023 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2023 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 29, 2023
Let me preface this review by saying that I typically like to read sweet little low-angst romances that tie up neatly for the happily ever after. I can't decide how to rate this book because it didn't have the neat little bow that I wanted. And it made me cry. But I think other people will love that it wasn't all perfect. It is a unique set up to have the engagement between friends and one is dying. I don't see that a lot in the books I read. But I found myself uncomfortable through most of the book with the whole idea of Isabella being engaged to one brother and falling in love with the other even though they know that Preston is dying and only marrying her as friends. It wouldn't have bothered me if it happen after his death though. And I thought it was weird for the time period that the age difference was an issue for Isabella.
So what was it I wanted in this book? I wanted to see Preston come to terms with Prince. I wanted something like a secret clause in the will that showed if he continued carrying on with the philanthropic endeavors after Preston's death that there actually was a provision for him showing that Preston believed in him. Or I wanted Preston to be planning on Prince marrying Isabella all along thus negating my discomfort with the triangle. Or something along these lines to show that Preston was a good guy. Instead his life ends on a very negative note and he is wrong about multiple things.
What did I like? I liked how the author showed us Miss Darlington's true character through the subtle changes in Price's perception of her. Once he has begun to change from the shallow man he was, he is able to see others more clearly. I liked that even if Preston wasn't himself before he died, we did end up seeing that he had believed in Prince, at least a little, prior to that. And most importantly, Prince sees it in writing. I liked the subplot about social activism and wanting to help people where they can. I liked the friendship between Preston and Arabella and his desire to see to her care after his death. I liked the Arabella as an inventor element.
So despite this being not exactly the type of fluff romance I enjoy reading there was still much to like about it and I think many people will like it all the more for it not having that perfect, tied up in a bow ending.
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.
So what was it I wanted in this book? I wanted to see Preston come to terms with Prince. I wanted something like a secret clause in the will that showed if he continued carrying on with the philanthropic endeavors after Preston's death that there actually was a provision for him showing that Preston believed in him. Or I wanted Preston to be planning on Prince marrying Isabella all along thus negating my discomfort with the triangle. Or something along these lines to show that Preston was a good guy. Instead his life ends on a very negative note and he is wrong about multiple things.
What did I like? I liked how the author showed us Miss Darlington's true character through the subtle changes in Price's perception of her. Once he has begun to change from the shallow man he was, he is able to see others more clearly. I liked that even if Preston wasn't himself before he died, we did end up seeing that he had believed in Prince, at least a little, prior to that. And most importantly, Prince sees it in writing. I liked the subplot about social activism and wanting to help people where they can. I liked the friendship between Preston and Arabella and his desire to see to her care after his death. I liked the Arabella as an inventor element.
So despite this being not exactly the type of fluff romance I enjoy reading there was still much to like about it and I think many people will like it all the more for it not having that perfect, tied up in a bow ending.
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2023
Sometimes, nothing can beat a charming historical romance. There's something about the romance genre that makes me able to read a book in only a couple of days rather than over a period of weeks or even months like I often do. Of course, as a lover of all things historical, period romances are my favorite. They offer that exact right dose of escapism, without me ever having to question why I'm single when the girls in contemporary books make it look so easy to land a soulmate.
A Lady's Promise by Raneé S. Clark is certainly one of those novels that I sped through, eager to see how the heroine's dilemma was resolved and whether or not she landed the handsome love interest by the end. (Yes, I knew that ending was inevitable, but I somehow still needed to see it for myself.)
See the rest of the review at: www.culturecabinet.com
I was given an ARC of this book by Net Galley and Covenant Communications in exchange for an honest review.
A Lady's Promise by Raneé S. Clark is certainly one of those novels that I sped through, eager to see how the heroine's dilemma was resolved and whether or not she landed the handsome love interest by the end. (Yes, I knew that ending was inevitable, but I somehow still needed to see it for myself.)
See the rest of the review at: www.culturecabinet.com
I was given an ARC of this book by Net Galley and Covenant Communications in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2023
This book had its moments but overall it was disappointing. First off, I could not get past the ridiculous name of the “hero” of the story. Prince? Really? The second challenge was the money part of the story. Everyone was so focused on the money they lost sight of the really important and meaningful things. I liked Isabella but her obsession with gossip was over the top. I could not relate to the constant worry about what servants or society would say about everything. Finally, the story was sad and I don’t like sad stories. While things in the end generally work out, the underlying story was way too tragic for my taste.
March 2, 2024
A kind-of love triangle with an undertone of sadness and regret. Isabella is marrying Preston, a family friend, not for love, but for friendship and to help take care of him in his final days. She works hard to help him heal the wounds he has with his younger brother, Prince, and ends up having feelings for him. Lots of tender scenes throughout the story as the past comes back to haunt them all.
September 8, 2023
The Gilded Age in a wonderful setting for this novel from Ranee S. Clark. Preston Baxter inherited wealth and then grew it even more. He is only 35 but getting his affairs in order. His younger brother Prince Baxter has no intentions of working for a living but relies on Preston as his mother ran through her family money before she died. Preston lets Prince know that he will be cut off if he can’t show he has some fiscal sense. Prince doesn’t take it seriously until he learns that Preston is engaged to the younger Isabella De Vries. Now he’s concerned a wife and potentially an heir could take away his potential future.
Preston is a solid character with a strong moral compass. The love of his life died when they were engaged. He proposes marriage to Isabella a long time friend. She is orphaned, and Preston credits much of the accumulation of his wealth to the business deals with her father. He wants her as an unquestioned inheritor of at least half his wealth to do with as she sees fit. She gets everything if Prince doesn’t show improvement. Isabella is my favorite character as she has genuine fondness for Preston and knows how good the marriage will be for her extended family. Much is made of the fact that Preston is almost 15 years older than her in the reality of the time period that would be more the norm and not shocking.
Sadly the weak link in the story is Prince. The author gives him some growth in character but it is little and late in coming. Love triangles are tricky and this didn’t work for me on a romance level. The story is okay and is on the short side at 200 pages.
Preston is a solid character with a strong moral compass. The love of his life died when they were engaged. He proposes marriage to Isabella a long time friend. She is orphaned, and Preston credits much of the accumulation of his wealth to the business deals with her father. He wants her as an unquestioned inheritor of at least half his wealth to do with as she sees fit. She gets everything if Prince doesn’t show improvement. Isabella is my favorite character as she has genuine fondness for Preston and knows how good the marriage will be for her extended family. Much is made of the fact that Preston is almost 15 years older than her in the reality of the time period that would be more the norm and not shocking.
Sadly the weak link in the story is Prince. The author gives him some growth in character but it is little and late in coming. Love triangles are tricky and this didn’t work for me on a romance level. The story is okay and is on the short side at 200 pages.
September 13, 2023
Prince Baxter, younger brother to Preston Baxter, spends his brothers money lavishly and doesn’t do anything meaningful. Preston wants his brother to start taking on responsibility and not live so lavishly. Preston is dying, and he tells Prince this and also tells him if Prince doesn’t change his ways Preston will leave him nothing in the will. This makes Prince angry and resentful towards his brother.
Preston wants to see Prince make something of himself. Especially after he is gone. Preston also wants to take care of his neighbor and friend Isabella. He offers her a marriage of convenience in order to leave her a big inheritance. She doesn’t know about this, there will be rumors because of a big age gap, and she is sad because Preston is dying. He said he would leave it to her anyway but by marrying him it will make it easier and his brother can’t make an argument. She agrees to marry him. While they are courting, she meets Prince and he is a little surprised at the engagement and a little suspicious. He decides to get on friendly terms with Isabella and convince Preston he has changed and deserves an inheritance.
Wonderful story! I loved all 3 main characters and also loved Prince’s love interest. I was saddened by Preston’s situation. I loved how much Isabella cared for Preston and then Prince and how she tried to bring the brothers back to friendly terms. I loved seeing how much Prince changed from the irresponsible man to the responsible man. Isabella and Prince are so great together. They help each other with their faults. I love how their relationship developed. Overall a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Preston wants to see Prince make something of himself. Especially after he is gone. Preston also wants to take care of his neighbor and friend Isabella. He offers her a marriage of convenience in order to leave her a big inheritance. She doesn’t know about this, there will be rumors because of a big age gap, and she is sad because Preston is dying. He said he would leave it to her anyway but by marrying him it will make it easier and his brother can’t make an argument. She agrees to marry him. While they are courting, she meets Prince and he is a little surprised at the engagement and a little suspicious. He decides to get on friendly terms with Isabella and convince Preston he has changed and deserves an inheritance.
Wonderful story! I loved all 3 main characters and also loved Prince’s love interest. I was saddened by Preston’s situation. I loved how much Isabella cared for Preston and then Prince and how she tried to bring the brothers back to friendly terms. I loved seeing how much Prince changed from the irresponsible man to the responsible man. Isabella and Prince are so great together. They help each other with their faults. I love how their relationship developed. Overall a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 7, 2023
Reader’s Notes:
– this story starts in November 1895
– this is told from Prince & Isabella’s points of view
– Prince’s brother (Preston) has stomach cancer
– there is a death of an important side character
– Prince thinks frequently of his grief from his mother’s passing (years prior)
– Preston mentions that his ex-fiancé died due to cholera & recalls happy times with her fairly often
– Preston & Isabella have about a 10 year age gap between them
Review:
I enjoyed this sweet historical romance! Isabella was such a kind and caring character. I loved how she was concerned about others and wanted to do little things to help people out. I also loved that she enjoyed tinkering and engineering things and that the people who knew her were further endeared to her by it. I really liked Prince and his attempt to weasel his way back into an easy inheritance/life. It was fun to see his plan come crumbling down as he got to know Isabella and fall for her. Seeing everything change for Prince was amazing! I’m curious to see if we get a book from Ms. Darlington’s point of view, because she sounds like a very interesting character & like she could be a fun one to shock someone besides Prince!
Summary:
Isabella has gone through many Seasons without securing herself a husband. She worries that with how hard it is for her that she may never find a suitable husband, so she turns to her family friend Preston Baxter for help. But while Isabella expected him to set her up with someone, she didn’t expect that someone to be him. And for him to suggest they marry in name only so that she can secure the inheritance he has always wanted to give her after how much her father helped him. Otherwise, Preston fears that his brother, Prince, may wrest her inheritance away from her.
Prince learned to live a life of luxury and comfort from his mother, but his brother Preston believes that he is lazy and would do nothing if he gave him an inheritance. So when his brother proposes that he do something to prove that he can be trusted, Prince does everything in his power to make it look like he’d do something like his brother would with the money. But it might not be as convincing as Prince thought. Now word is spreading that Preston is engaged to a much younger woman and Preston is holding it over Prince’s head. The only way to get his inheritance may be through his brother’s fiancé Isabella. He just needs to convince her to get his brother to add him to the line of inheritance once more…
– this story starts in November 1895
– this is told from Prince & Isabella’s points of view
– Prince’s brother (Preston) has stomach cancer
– there is a death of an important side character
– Prince thinks frequently of his grief from his mother’s passing (years prior)
– Preston mentions that his ex-fiancé died due to cholera & recalls happy times with her fairly often
– Preston & Isabella have about a 10 year age gap between them
Review:
I enjoyed this sweet historical romance! Isabella was such a kind and caring character. I loved how she was concerned about others and wanted to do little things to help people out. I also loved that she enjoyed tinkering and engineering things and that the people who knew her were further endeared to her by it. I really liked Prince and his attempt to weasel his way back into an easy inheritance/life. It was fun to see his plan come crumbling down as he got to know Isabella and fall for her. Seeing everything change for Prince was amazing! I’m curious to see if we get a book from Ms. Darlington’s point of view, because she sounds like a very interesting character & like she could be a fun one to shock someone besides Prince!
Summary:
Isabella has gone through many Seasons without securing herself a husband. She worries that with how hard it is for her that she may never find a suitable husband, so she turns to her family friend Preston Baxter for help. But while Isabella expected him to set her up with someone, she didn’t expect that someone to be him. And for him to suggest they marry in name only so that she can secure the inheritance he has always wanted to give her after how much her father helped him. Otherwise, Preston fears that his brother, Prince, may wrest her inheritance away from her.
Prince learned to live a life of luxury and comfort from his mother, but his brother Preston believes that he is lazy and would do nothing if he gave him an inheritance. So when his brother proposes that he do something to prove that he can be trusted, Prince does everything in his power to make it look like he’d do something like his brother would with the money. But it might not be as convincing as Prince thought. Now word is spreading that Preston is engaged to a much younger woman and Preston is holding it over Prince’s head. The only way to get his inheritance may be through his brother’s fiancé Isabella. He just needs to convince her to get his brother to add him to the line of inheritance once more…
September 7, 2023
This historical romance takes place during the Gilded age in NYC and involves two brothers but it is NOT a love triangle. Isabella has had 4 Seasons and not yet found someone to marry. Unwilling to burden her relatives further she asks a dear childhood friend, Preston, to help her find someone.
Preston, although only 35 years old, has learned he doesn't have much time left and wants to get his affairs in order. When Isabella comes to him for help he proposes they get married and she would then inherit his money, etc. It would be a marriage of convenience but then she'd be a wealthy woman and wouldn't have to worry about being taken care of.
Prince, Preston's much younger brother, has a laissez faire attitude towards money which Preston wants to rid him of. In order for Prince to inherit anything from Preston he'll have to significantly change his irresponsible ways and show an interest in working.
I thought this was an interesting scenario for a book. I liked the dual point of view and I really liked the storyline about Prince being involved in the renovation of a rundown apartment. What started out as ploy ended up really meaning something to him as he got to know the tenants, and he ended up finding his calling in life. I was surprised by Miss Darlington. Because Preston didn't like her, I thought she might be hatching a scheme to take Isabella's money but I was happy to be wrong about her. I'd like to get a story about Miss Darlington--there's more to her than meets the eye.
I wish Preston would've healed his relationship with Prince before he (Preston) died. I feel that if they would've talked they might've been able to clear the air. I also wanted to see more of Prince and Isabella falling in love. I felt it was skipped over--like one moment they discovered they had feelings for each other and then fast forward--they're in love and married.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Preston, although only 35 years old, has learned he doesn't have much time left and wants to get his affairs in order. When Isabella comes to him for help he proposes they get married and she would then inherit his money, etc. It would be a marriage of convenience but then she'd be a wealthy woman and wouldn't have to worry about being taken care of.
Prince, Preston's much younger brother, has a laissez faire attitude towards money which Preston wants to rid him of. In order for Prince to inherit anything from Preston he'll have to significantly change his irresponsible ways and show an interest in working.
I thought this was an interesting scenario for a book. I liked the dual point of view and I really liked the storyline about Prince being involved in the renovation of a rundown apartment. What started out as ploy ended up really meaning something to him as he got to know the tenants, and he ended up finding his calling in life. I was surprised by Miss Darlington. Because Preston didn't like her, I thought she might be hatching a scheme to take Isabella's money but I was happy to be wrong about her. I'd like to get a story about Miss Darlington--there's more to her than meets the eye.
I wish Preston would've healed his relationship with Prince before he (Preston) died. I feel that if they would've talked they might've been able to clear the air. I also wanted to see more of Prince and Isabella falling in love. I felt it was skipped over--like one moment they discovered they had feelings for each other and then fast forward--they're in love and married.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 13, 2023
A Lady's Promise takes place in what was known as The Gilded Age of New York Society in 1895. It's always nice to read a romance set in a chapter of history I haven't read as much about.
I loved Isabella, the orphaned New York Socialite, who was raised by her uncle and aunt. Isabella is such a lovely character that all people are drawn to. She is caring, kind, and intelligent. When Preston, a dying old family friend offers her a marriage of convenience to Isabella, she accepts. Preston doesn't want to leave his inheritance to his immature younger brother Prince, unless he changes his ways.
This story is told from Isabella, Preston, and Prince's POV. This was great to get a richer perspective of what was happening and how everyone was feeling. Though this is a slow-burn romance, it's well worth your effort to jump in and enjoy the ride.
I wish that Preston and Prince could have resolved their differences in this story before Preston's inevitable death from cancer. Though Prince and Bella grew to know one another better with the stories the brothers spoke of. In some ways remembering the past was healing for the brothers. This sweet romance is full of emotional and maturity character development. There is flirting between two people destined to fall in love but truly there is no love triangle between Preston, Bella, and Prince. I believe things in the long run worked out the way that Preston had hoped for.
I loved Isabella, the orphaned New York Socialite, who was raised by her uncle and aunt. Isabella is such a lovely character that all people are drawn to. She is caring, kind, and intelligent. When Preston, a dying old family friend offers her a marriage of convenience to Isabella, she accepts. Preston doesn't want to leave his inheritance to his immature younger brother Prince, unless he changes his ways.
This story is told from Isabella, Preston, and Prince's POV. This was great to get a richer perspective of what was happening and how everyone was feeling. Though this is a slow-burn romance, it's well worth your effort to jump in and enjoy the ride.
I wish that Preston and Prince could have resolved their differences in this story before Preston's inevitable death from cancer. Though Prince and Bella grew to know one another better with the stories the brothers spoke of. In some ways remembering the past was healing for the brothers. This sweet romance is full of emotional and maturity character development. There is flirting between two people destined to fall in love but truly there is no love triangle between Preston, Bella, and Prince. I believe things in the long run worked out the way that Preston had hoped for.
August 29, 2023
Thank you to netgalley for this advanced reading copy!
3.5 (rounded to 4)
A tender, slow burn novel. A Lady’s Promise is more than just a story of love and loss, but also a story of discovery and complex family relationships. It moved me to tears, and was able to evoke a great sense of emotion, grief, and yearning from me. The nonlinear character development felt natural and realistic. Each character had many layers and were quite dynamic throughout. Though, I would have loved to dive more fully into Isabella’s innovative brain, as well as the setting descriptions. This historical fiction novel read through as such, with its choice of accurate diction and prose - and I truly felt immersed in these courting times.
3.5 (rounded to 4)
A tender, slow burn novel. A Lady’s Promise is more than just a story of love and loss, but also a story of discovery and complex family relationships. It moved me to tears, and was able to evoke a great sense of emotion, grief, and yearning from me. The nonlinear character development felt natural and realistic. Each character had many layers and were quite dynamic throughout. Though, I would have loved to dive more fully into Isabella’s innovative brain, as well as the setting descriptions. This historical fiction novel read through as such, with its choice of accurate diction and prose - and I truly felt immersed in these courting times.
October 5, 2023
I enjoyed A Lady's Promise! This is a clean regency romance. The story definitely kept me guessing and I loved how the author tied it all together in the end. With about 4 chapters left I was getting worried about how everything would be resolved but it all worked out ❤️🤗 I loved Preston and Isabella but struggled coming to love Prince or having his and Isabella's feelings believable because I disliked him so much ha ha....hence the reason why I struggled with a turn the book was taking twd the end... anyway....I ended up liking him too so all is well 😜❤️ Fun read!
January 19, 2024
Although I was not sure how I was going to feel about this book at the beginning, I ultimately got to a point where I couldn’t put it down. A bit slow for the first 1/3 of the book, but great after that.
May 17, 2023
What a delightful read when you want to spend the afternoon in regency, England.
October 14, 2023
Oh I truly enjoyed this story! I just wasn’t sure how it would all work out and I love that in a book! Loved the characters and the whole dilemma!
September 5, 2023
This was an interesting marriage of convenience story. Isabella is a sweet ingenious woman. I really liked her character. Her relationship with Preston was so different than the one between the brothers. I enjoyed seeing how good he was to her. Prince was a character that grew on me as he grew and changed. This was a wonderful emotional story.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.
August 30, 2023
#ALadysPromise #Netgalley
Two brothers who have lost their way... One a man of fortune, the other barely making ends meet. One holds a grudge, the other is determined to outsmart his older brother in any way that he can. When the older brother Preston, is willing to give all that he has,to his childhood friend Isabella, even asking for her hand in marriage so that she can inherit his fortune. Making sure that his younger brother Prince is left with very little.
A book that shows how greed can ruin relationships and opening hearts can mend it.
Two brothers who have lost their way... One a man of fortune, the other barely making ends meet. One holds a grudge, the other is determined to outsmart his older brother in any way that he can. When the older brother Preston, is willing to give all that he has,to his childhood friend Isabella, even asking for her hand in marriage so that she can inherit his fortune. Making sure that his younger brother Prince is left with very little.
A book that shows how greed can ruin relationships and opening hearts can mend it.
August 30, 2023
Thank you to Covenant Communications and the author for an ARC.
ENJOYABLE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I liked this one y’all! It’s very short (180 pages) and still manages to give some good story lines and character arcs throughout. This was a unique premise I haven’t come across before and I loved that it was set in New York.
The main characters Isabella and Prince both had journeys I appreciated seeing. Isabella had to learn to ignore gossip that was truly out of her control and make the best decisions for her and her life regardless of what everyone else will say. And I liked seeing Prince going from over the top spoiled to being humbled by the position he actually does hold in society and what he can do with that power.
The romance was a bit more subtle than I was hoping for, but I do see the necessary progression and slow burn. I would have loved even more moments between the two, yet I did like what was on page. That would be the overall thing I needed most, a longer story with more fleshed out backgrounds and plot.
It’s a quick read. It’s moderately heavy as can be seen from the synopsis. I don’t think it overwhelmed the story though. This was my first book by this author and I would love to try another!
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
-Trigger/Content Warnings: cancer (a theme throughout), mentions of loss of a parent
ENJOYABLE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I liked this one y’all! It’s very short (180 pages) and still manages to give some good story lines and character arcs throughout. This was a unique premise I haven’t come across before and I loved that it was set in New York.
The main characters Isabella and Prince both had journeys I appreciated seeing. Isabella had to learn to ignore gossip that was truly out of her control and make the best decisions for her and her life regardless of what everyone else will say. And I liked seeing Prince going from over the top spoiled to being humbled by the position he actually does hold in society and what he can do with that power.
The romance was a bit more subtle than I was hoping for, but I do see the necessary progression and slow burn. I would have loved even more moments between the two, yet I did like what was on page. That would be the overall thing I needed most, a longer story with more fleshed out backgrounds and plot.
It’s a quick read. It’s moderately heavy as can be seen from the synopsis. I don’t think it overwhelmed the story though. This was my first book by this author and I would love to try another!
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
-Trigger/Content Warnings: cancer (a theme throughout), mentions of loss of a parent
September 15, 2023
*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This book had potential that it, unfortunately, didn’t reach, in my opinion. It was a light, easy read, but it lacked the depth that could have improved it.
While the characters are generally likable, none of them was particularly well developed. For example, Isabella (20) was kind, considerate, and proper—and somehow she had enough engineering knowledge to create things like water heaters and self-rocking cradles, among other things. How did she come by this knowledge? No idea. Preston (35) and Prince (25) were mainly characterized by their unfriendly relationship towards each other. Preston was dying of cancer and wanted to make sure Isabella’s future was secure while giving his brother motivation to be better. Prince was just confusing, and I think he was rather confused, as well. Was he genuine or false? His intentions were shady, but was he? He went in circles about so many things. All of the other characters were just kind of there in the background.
My favorite part of the book was the numerous flowers at the end. It was sweet. But I still had a hard time really buying into the romance.
How it ends:
Note: Cancer and death.
This book had potential that it, unfortunately, didn’t reach, in my opinion. It was a light, easy read, but it lacked the depth that could have improved it.
While the characters are generally likable, none of them was particularly well developed. For example, Isabella (20) was kind, considerate, and proper—and somehow she had enough engineering knowledge to create things like water heaters and self-rocking cradles, among other things. How did she come by this knowledge? No idea. Preston (35) and Prince (25) were mainly characterized by their unfriendly relationship towards each other. Preston was dying of cancer and wanted to make sure Isabella’s future was secure while giving his brother motivation to be better. Prince was just confusing, and I think he was rather confused, as well. Was he genuine or false? His intentions were shady, but was he? He went in circles about so many things. All of the other characters were just kind of there in the background.
My favorite part of the book was the numerous flowers at the end. It was sweet. But I still had a hard time really buying into the romance.
How it ends:
Note: Cancer and death.
August 23, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Covenant Communications Publishing. I'm leaving a review of my own volition, and all opinions are my own.
Genre: Historical Romance, Sweet Romance, Proper Romance
Spice Level: A kiss, a look, a sigh
Themes: Family, Trust, Betrayal, Forgiveness
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Forbidden Love
A LADY'S PROMISE has a unique premise with a marriage of convenience with a twist. But I really don't want to spoil things to tell you too much.
The characters are interesting!
- Isabella, an orphan and socialite with a scientific mind, leaning toward inventions.
- Preston, the older brother, who gained his fortune through Isabella's father. He's also worried over his younger brother's spendthrift ways and bound to put a stop to it.
- Prince, the younger brother, who's a bit scheemie, and a reprobate. He wants his share of the fortune to make up for the hurt he endured from Preston.
There are more characters, who are also fleshed out enough to make them intriguing, especially another socialite, Miss Darlington.
The brothers' relationship was one of my favorite because it's fraught with trouble and feels like a blow-out from a real family. I also liked to see how each of the brothers shifted in their opinions. Very intriguing!
I know this is silly, but I'm going to tell you anyhow—the name Prince bugged me every time I read it. My understanding is that it is a name that was legitimately used in the early 1900s. I still didn't like it. Probably because he acted like a little prince at times—spoiled and put out if things didn't go his way.
Here's the tea.
I read this in one day!
So even though the name was a hangup for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it to see how everything would work out.
It's also got some social conscious/activism in it. Which I thought was appropriate for the time period and timely for today. I would say that's a subplot to the romance.
I was on the fence of how many starts I'd give this one. It's not a love triangle (unless you count the fortune), so that's a plus. Are the characters awkward at times? Oh, yeah! So that can be another feather in the author's hat. Based on the speed of my reading it, I'm not docking it for the name I hated. (Especially since that's personal preference.) I think you'll love it if you've read other books produced by Covenant Communications.
I recommend this book!
Happy reading! (and possibly swooning)
Genre: Historical Romance, Sweet Romance, Proper Romance
Spice Level: A kiss, a look, a sigh
Themes: Family, Trust, Betrayal, Forgiveness
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Forbidden Love
A LADY'S PROMISE has a unique premise with a marriage of convenience with a twist. But I really don't want to spoil things to tell you too much.
The characters are interesting!
- Isabella, an orphan and socialite with a scientific mind, leaning toward inventions.
- Preston, the older brother, who gained his fortune through Isabella's father. He's also worried over his younger brother's spendthrift ways and bound to put a stop to it.
- Prince, the younger brother, who's a bit scheemie, and a reprobate. He wants his share of the fortune to make up for the hurt he endured from Preston.
There are more characters, who are also fleshed out enough to make them intriguing, especially another socialite, Miss Darlington.
The brothers' relationship was one of my favorite because it's fraught with trouble and feels like a blow-out from a real family. I also liked to see how each of the brothers shifted in their opinions. Very intriguing!
I know this is silly, but I'm going to tell you anyhow—the name Prince bugged me every time I read it. My understanding is that it is a name that was legitimately used in the early 1900s. I still didn't like it. Probably because he acted like a little prince at times—spoiled and put out if things didn't go his way.
Here's the tea.
I read this in one day!
So even though the name was a hangup for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it to see how everything would work out.
It's also got some social conscious/activism in it. Which I thought was appropriate for the time period and timely for today. I would say that's a subplot to the romance.
I was on the fence of how many starts I'd give this one. It's not a love triangle (unless you count the fortune), so that's a plus. Are the characters awkward at times? Oh, yeah! So that can be another feather in the author's hat. Based on the speed of my reading it, I'm not docking it for the name I hated. (Especially since that's personal preference.) I think you'll love it if you've read other books produced by Covenant Communications.
I recommend this book!
Happy reading! (and possibly swooning)
September 7, 2023
Preston is dying. He has cancer and he's been given months to live. He has amassed wealth that he knows his younger brother will not deal with responsibly based upon previous actions. Prince has been known to be extravagant. His mother was the same, and Preston cannot in good conscience leave his fortune to his brother knowing that it might help him down a path to destruction. So when his best friend Isabella asks him to help her find a husband, he offers up himself. It takes some convincing on his part. Isabella loves him as family, but she has to be careful navigating the rumors that will surely come calling her a fortune hunter when Preston unfortunately passes. Isabella agrees, but only under the condition that they proceed in a way that garners as few rumors as possible.
Prince has struggled with his relationship with his brother. When Prince's mother left for Paris taking him with her, he assumed it was due to Preston cutting her off financially. She too was a bit of a spend-thrift. Prince harbors animosity towards Preston for the state of their relationship, for leaving him alone during the hardest times of his life--dealing with his mother's loss. And he feels like Preston hordes his money. Prince does find a cause to champion that opens his eyes to how spoiled he truly has been and how needy others are around him.
I took a long time to write this review because I was all kinds of conflicted. Isabella and Preston's relationship was sweet. They have so many memories and such a genuine love and connection for each other. It isn't romantic at all, but anyone who witnessed them together would know there is love shared between them. Yet Isabella and Prince have a romantic connection. Due to Isabella being engaged to Preston, Prince and Isabella can't really explore what they feel for each other. And due to Preston and Prince's difficult history, I hated to see what these brothers had to go through and how Prince often got looked down upon even when he was proving himself.
This book was emotional, and I do believe I either cried to teared up while reading it. I can't fully remember since I'm writing my review more than a month after finishing it. A Lady's Promise gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read A Lady's Promise? What did you think? Let me know!
Prince has struggled with his relationship with his brother. When Prince's mother left for Paris taking him with her, he assumed it was due to Preston cutting her off financially. She too was a bit of a spend-thrift. Prince harbors animosity towards Preston for the state of their relationship, for leaving him alone during the hardest times of his life--dealing with his mother's loss. And he feels like Preston hordes his money. Prince does find a cause to champion that opens his eyes to how spoiled he truly has been and how needy others are around him.
I took a long time to write this review because I was all kinds of conflicted. Isabella and Preston's relationship was sweet. They have so many memories and such a genuine love and connection for each other. It isn't romantic at all, but anyone who witnessed them together would know there is love shared between them. Yet Isabella and Prince have a romantic connection. Due to Isabella being engaged to Preston, Prince and Isabella can't really explore what they feel for each other. And due to Preston and Prince's difficult history, I hated to see what these brothers had to go through and how Prince often got looked down upon even when he was proving himself.
This book was emotional, and I do believe I either cried to teared up while reading it. I can't fully remember since I'm writing my review more than a month after finishing it. A Lady's Promise gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read A Lady's Promise? What did you think? Let me know!
August 22, 2023
Confession: While in the past historical fiction is one that I would have considered a favorite genre, I must admit that in recent months, I've really struggled to find historical reads that I absolutely love. I'm definitely a mood reader, so I attribute a lot of it to that fact... but still, it's almost made me hesitant to pick up historical reads at the moment because I worry that I won't be able to enjoy them as I have in the past. But I absolutely adore Ranee S. Clark's books, so I wanted to give this one a chance... and oh my goodness, I am so glad that I did! Because this one? I adored.
Right from the beginning, I was drawn into these characters lives. Isabella was such a kind and thoughtful character with a mind for engineering and inventions-- particular those that can help others. Her friendship with Preston felt very genuine, and I really enjoyed the way the two looked out for and truly loved each other, if only in a very brotherly way. Prince on the other hand... well, at his first introduction, I must admit I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about him! That made it all the more enjoyable to watch his growth as the story went on. And I definitely really enjoyed his flirty ways with Isabella too... even if she WAS engaged to his brother. Like many, I am NOT a fan of a true love triangle... and while on the surface this might sound a little love triangle-like, I assure you it really does not come across that way at all in the story... it is made very clear that there is no romance at all between Preston and Isabella. So, while a complicated situation for sure... no love triangle here!
As a key point in this story is that Preston is dying from cancer, it most definitely had it's difficult, emotional moments. Still, I felt like it was really well balanced with humor and the romance to keep it from feeling like too depressing a story.
A Lady's Promise is a closed-door romance with nothing beyond kisses and no language.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Right from the beginning, I was drawn into these characters lives. Isabella was such a kind and thoughtful character with a mind for engineering and inventions-- particular those that can help others. Her friendship with Preston felt very genuine, and I really enjoyed the way the two looked out for and truly loved each other, if only in a very brotherly way. Prince on the other hand... well, at his first introduction, I must admit I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about him! That made it all the more enjoyable to watch his growth as the story went on. And I definitely really enjoyed his flirty ways with Isabella too... even if she WAS engaged to his brother. Like many, I am NOT a fan of a true love triangle... and while on the surface this might sound a little love triangle-like, I assure you it really does not come across that way at all in the story... it is made very clear that there is no romance at all between Preston and Isabella. So, while a complicated situation for sure... no love triangle here!
As a key point in this story is that Preston is dying from cancer, it most definitely had it's difficult, emotional moments. Still, I felt like it was really well balanced with humor and the romance to keep it from feeling like too depressing a story.
A Lady's Promise is a closed-door romance with nothing beyond kisses and no language.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 15, 2023
“You must trust yourself, Isabella, in making this decision. Only you can decide what is best for you.” 💗
In "A Lady’s Promise" by Ranee S. Clark, you'll be swept away to the Gilded Age of New York Society, where an engagement of convenience sets the stage for a beautiful story of love and redemption. Here are some reasons to read this delightful book:
🌟 Historical Charm: Set against the backdrop of the Gilded Age, this book immerses you in the opulence and glamour of 19th-century New York Society.
🌟 Heartfelt Tale: Despite its brevity, the story packs a powerful emotional punch, offering a heartwarming narrative of navigating through past wounds and resentments, discovering the essence of true love, and discovering the genuine priorities in life.
🌟 Memorable Characters: Isabella is a sweet, warm-hearted socialite with a passion for innovation and helping others. She faces the daunting task of securing her future through marriage. Prince Baxter, with his indulgent upbringing and resentments, make his initial motives, suspect, but as he tries to win Isabella's favor to secure his share of an inheritance, he unwittingly falls head over heels in love with her. Paxton is a dear friend and I felt deeply for his plight.
🌟 Witty and Engaging Dialogue: The banter and chemistry between Prince and Isabella will have you smiling and yearning for more.
🌟 Messy, Beautiful Love: The twists and turns in Isabella and Prince's relationship make their love story one that defies expectations and blossoms in the most unexpected of circumstances.
🌟 Empowerment and Growth: Isabella and Prince’s character arc growth is beautifully portrayed and create a compelling emotional dynamic that is a joy to experience.
If you're a fan of historical fiction with a touch of romance, then add this book to your read list.
Thank you to the author and publishers for the arc copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own
CW: Serious illness and death
In "A Lady’s Promise" by Ranee S. Clark, you'll be swept away to the Gilded Age of New York Society, where an engagement of convenience sets the stage for a beautiful story of love and redemption. Here are some reasons to read this delightful book:
🌟 Historical Charm: Set against the backdrop of the Gilded Age, this book immerses you in the opulence and glamour of 19th-century New York Society.
🌟 Heartfelt Tale: Despite its brevity, the story packs a powerful emotional punch, offering a heartwarming narrative of navigating through past wounds and resentments, discovering the essence of true love, and discovering the genuine priorities in life.
🌟 Memorable Characters: Isabella is a sweet, warm-hearted socialite with a passion for innovation and helping others. She faces the daunting task of securing her future through marriage. Prince Baxter, with his indulgent upbringing and resentments, make his initial motives, suspect, but as he tries to win Isabella's favor to secure his share of an inheritance, he unwittingly falls head over heels in love with her. Paxton is a dear friend and I felt deeply for his plight.
🌟 Witty and Engaging Dialogue: The banter and chemistry between Prince and Isabella will have you smiling and yearning for more.
🌟 Messy, Beautiful Love: The twists and turns in Isabella and Prince's relationship make their love story one that defies expectations and blossoms in the most unexpected of circumstances.
🌟 Empowerment and Growth: Isabella and Prince’s character arc growth is beautifully portrayed and create a compelling emotional dynamic that is a joy to experience.
If you're a fan of historical fiction with a touch of romance, then add this book to your read list.
Thank you to the author and publishers for the arc copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own
CW: Serious illness and death
September 3, 2023
A nice read....but not one I'd read again. The premise is that the lead female character, Isabella DeVries, has had 4 seasons without finding a match. In a fit of anxiousness, she turns to her dear friend Preston, asking him to help her find a suitable husband. Preston does one better and offers to marry her himself = but only on a platonic level. Meanwhile, there is Preston's ne'er-do-well half-brother Prince (the name just doesn't work for me). He just wants to live a lavish lifestyle on Preston's dime while courting one Miss Darlington. But big brother says unless Prince shapes up, he's not getting an inheritance. Oh, and he plans to leave a substantial amount to Isabella upon his death ( which is imminent). Somewhere along the way, an attachment forms between Prince and Isabella, and following Preston's death, they wind up together living happily ever after.
It seems romantic and tragic and touching all at the same time, but it just didn't resonate with me. All three characters were overly concerned about what others would say for most of the book. Miss Darlington intentionally hides the fact that she has a brain she wants to use. And some of the household staff have the temerity to be snippy over a misunderstanding. I know, for the time period, appearance was everything...that reputation was everything....but the way it's handled in this book leaves the reader irritated rather than empathetic. And there really isn't a romance between Prince and Isabella...a few moments of commiseration and a bunch of flowers, and boom, they're a couple. It just didn't work for me. It could have been so much more, but it wasn't.
Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for this ARC, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.
It seems romantic and tragic and touching all at the same time, but it just didn't resonate with me. All three characters were overly concerned about what others would say for most of the book. Miss Darlington intentionally hides the fact that she has a brain she wants to use. And some of the household staff have the temerity to be snippy over a misunderstanding. I know, for the time period, appearance was everything...that reputation was everything....but the way it's handled in this book leaves the reader irritated rather than empathetic. And there really isn't a romance between Prince and Isabella...a few moments of commiseration and a bunch of flowers, and boom, they're a couple. It just didn't work for me. It could have been so much more, but it wasn't.
Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for this ARC, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.
July 19, 2023
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“A Lady’s Promise” by Renee S. Clark is a historical romance book set in New York. I think this is based in the Gilded Age era, but don’t quote me on that. In this book our heroine, Isabella, has gone through four Seasons and still (sigh) has yet to snag a husband. Her family friend, Preston (dying of cancer), suggests an arrangement - he’ll marry her and give her part of his money in order to ensure that his younger half-brother (Prince) doesn’t get to squander Preston’s money. Prince decides to prove to Preston that he won’t squander an inheritance, and starts befriending Isabella. Isabella is mechanically inclined, constantly thinking up improvements on things - such as a water heater for bathing, reading up on mechanical things (and having opinions about them too), and generally “tinkering.” But because she’s female, she poo-poos her mechanical improvements (although they are incredibly interesting and helpful). I understand that that was the time, but reading that constantly became tiresome. Additionally, there’s such a slow burn between Isabella and Prince that at times the book seemed to fall into a repeated script - we’re here, should I flirt, oh, I did - she rejected it, does she/he like me? I did like how Prince changed from an irresponsible wanna be playboy to being a bit more responsible. One huge positive - no love triangle (thank you!). There are also interesting side characters, which was good for rounding out the cast of characters. Overall, a 3.75 read, bumped up to 4 stars.
“A Lady’s Promise” by Renee S. Clark is a historical romance book set in New York. I think this is based in the Gilded Age era, but don’t quote me on that. In this book our heroine, Isabella, has gone through four Seasons and still (sigh) has yet to snag a husband. Her family friend, Preston (dying of cancer), suggests an arrangement - he’ll marry her and give her part of his money in order to ensure that his younger half-brother (Prince) doesn’t get to squander Preston’s money. Prince decides to prove to Preston that he won’t squander an inheritance, and starts befriending Isabella. Isabella is mechanically inclined, constantly thinking up improvements on things - such as a water heater for bathing, reading up on mechanical things (and having opinions about them too), and generally “tinkering.” But because she’s female, she poo-poos her mechanical improvements (although they are incredibly interesting and helpful). I understand that that was the time, but reading that constantly became tiresome. Additionally, there’s such a slow burn between Isabella and Prince that at times the book seemed to fall into a repeated script - we’re here, should I flirt, oh, I did - she rejected it, does she/he like me? I did like how Prince changed from an irresponsible wanna be playboy to being a bit more responsible. One huge positive - no love triangle (thank you!). There are also interesting side characters, which was good for rounding out the cast of characters. Overall, a 3.75 read, bumped up to 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews