What do you think?
Rate this book
Vows #6
A Vow to Love
The first time Penny Hayden and Sam Roberts met as teenagers, she stormed off in an outraged huff. The second time, nine years later, she hauled off and kicked him in the shin! It was then that penny's grandfather knew they were a match made in heaven.…Oh, sure, Penny said that Sam was an insensitive jerk. And Sam insisted that he didn't need anyone in his perfectly solitary life. But her grandfather could read between the denials. And even if it was the last thing he accomplished, he vowed they would fall in love!
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 1994
About the author
Sherryl Woods
559 books4,571 followersWith two other careers to her credit before becoming a novelist and four states in which she's lived for extended periods of time, Sherryl Woods has collected friends and memories, along with way too much unnecessary junk.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 2, 2013
Wow. Should've been called 'Why not to Marry a Cop'. A book about two absolutely obnoxious people who can't stand each other for the whole book, and there is nary a brain between the two of them.
It starts out with a 16-year old Penny crushing on 19-year old Sam. Grandma asks him to take her out. Ouch. So he does, doesn't say a word to her the whole date, and admits he was coerced into it. Then when she gets mad about it, he kisses her (roughly), and she runs away, hating him.
Fast forward to when she's a 25-year old idiot, who sees a strange man lurking in the hallway. In spite of self-defense classes, this moron doesn't have pepper spray, a noise horn, or ANYTHING - not even a dim recollection of what her class taught her to do, so when he (Sam) grabs her and throws her in her apartment, she barely fights back, she spends half the time dazed, and when she manages to call the cops, she forgets what she's mad about at the mention of his name (even though she's hated him for years?) She doesn't even press charges for breaking and entering - I would've!
Instead, she follows him around like a dolt, and of course he's this bad-boy cop with enemies, and now they're HER enemies, so he has to guard her, although he hates her and she hates him (only they don't...)... which, if she'd pressed charges against him and got a restraining order from moment one, it wouldn't have EVER been an issue. Besides, everyone knows being a cop's wife is being a target. And this woman is already too dumb to live... she won't make it to 40. For that matter, neither will he, with his mooning over her instead of watching his six, for pity's sake.
NOT an enjoyable read. In fact, I had to FORCE myself to keep with it. And I paid a quarter for it, too. I picked a loser in THAT one...
It starts out with a 16-year old Penny crushing on 19-year old Sam. Grandma asks him to take her out. Ouch. So he does, doesn't say a word to her the whole date, and admits he was coerced into it. Then when she gets mad about it, he kisses her (roughly), and she runs away, hating him.
Fast forward to when she's a 25-year old idiot, who sees a strange man lurking in the hallway. In spite of self-defense classes, this moron doesn't have pepper spray, a noise horn, or ANYTHING - not even a dim recollection of what her class taught her to do, so when he (Sam) grabs her and throws her in her apartment, she barely fights back, she spends half the time dazed, and when she manages to call the cops, she forgets what she's mad about at the mention of his name (even though she's hated him for years?) She doesn't even press charges for breaking and entering - I would've!
Instead, she follows him around like a dolt, and of course he's this bad-boy cop with enemies, and now they're HER enemies, so he has to guard her, although he hates her and she hates him (only they don't...)... which, if she'd pressed charges against him and got a restraining order from moment one, it wouldn't have EVER been an issue. Besides, everyone knows being a cop's wife is being a target. And this woman is already too dumb to live... she won't make it to 40. For that matter, neither will he, with his mooning over her instead of watching his six, for pity's sake.
NOT an enjoyable read. In fact, I had to FORCE myself to keep with it. And I paid a quarter for it, too. I picked a loser in THAT one...
July 8, 2022
Currently reading this so I can donate it to get it out of my library, but I just have to say. Why is this a romance between two people who are literally related? They KNOW they are related. They met at a FAMILY REUNION. Her GRANDMOTHER and SAM are GODPARENTS TOGETHER for some other family member's CHILD. I know that they say it's only "distantly" and "by marriage" but it's still weird. If you wanted to center the local traditional family/the church you could've just had them meet at a church Christmas party or something. Make both of their grandparents be in the same congregation and gossip with one another about their grandchildren. Don't make them distant COUSINS.
I already know this can only get worse from here if this is already in the prologue.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Didn't particularly like the main character or the male love interest. I can't really complain about the writing or the flow of the story because it seemed to be written well. The plot flowed consistently from one event to the next and the different pieces all fell together by the end of the story. There also wasn't any pointless "drama" made up at the end of the novel to try to give the characters conflict. The main relationship drama was caused consistently by the characters not wanting to be open about their feelings, which was a part of their personalities from beginning to end. If the female lead had been more likable and the male lead a little less emotionally constipated, I may have enjoyed the story more. Oh, and if they hadn't been related.
I already know this can only get worse from here if this is already in the prologue.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Didn't particularly like the main character or the male love interest. I can't really complain about the writing or the flow of the story because it seemed to be written well. The plot flowed consistently from one event to the next and the different pieces all fell together by the end of the story. There also wasn't any pointless "drama" made up at the end of the novel to try to give the characters conflict. The main relationship drama was caused consistently by the characters not wanting to be open about their feelings, which was a part of their personalities from beginning to end. If the female lead had been more likable and the male lead a little less emotionally constipated, I may have enjoyed the story more. Oh, and if they hadn't been related.
Read
September 5, 2016Brandon Halloran dated Elizabeth and they were separated by the war. Years later he tracked her down and found out that she had been pregnant. Elizabeth's oldest child, Ellen, was his daughter. Brandon had raised his family in Boston and Elizabeth had raised her family in California. Brandon and Elizabeth were now married to each other after all this time. Ellen was Penny's mother. Jason was one of Brandon's sons. He was married to Dana, Sam Robert's sister.
Penny, Ellen's 16-yr old daughter, was in Boston attending the christening of Beth Halloran, the daughter of Dana and Jason Halloran. This is when she first saw 19-yr. old Sam Roberts, Dana's brother. Penny was meeting her Boston relatives for the first time. Her grandmother, Elizabeth, noticed her watching Sam. She asked Penny if she would be interested in going out with him and Penny was. Elizabeth introduced her to Sam and he asked Penny if she wanted to go see a movie while she was in town. Sam showed up the day before she left and asked her about going to see a movie. She didn't have time to change and she found out that Sam was taking her at the prompting of her grandfather, Brandon. They didn't talk much and Penny thought that Sam didn't like her. She asked Sam to stop the car a couple of blocks from home and told him that she was sorry that he was forced to take her out but she didn't like the way he was acting. He kissed her and she told him that her grandfather would be pleased and maybe he would get a bonus for kissing her. She got out of the car and walked the rest of the way home. Penny knew that she would remember that kiss for a long time.
Penny was now 25 and had returned to Boston to further her education and an Ivy League college. She was walking to her apartment and noticed someone following her. She let it go until she entered her apartment complex and then decided to make her move. She kicked him and he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She screamed and the guy told those neighbors that peeked out that they were having a lovers spat. She had called the police and they quickly showed up. Penny noticed that the policemen were teasing him. It was then that she found out that it was Sam and that he was now on the Boston police force.
Sam apologized and asked Penny out to dinner. She agreed to go with him. Sam explained to Penny that her grandfather had asked him to check on her. She then asked Penny if she would meet him again for dinner in a couple of days. She agreed to meet him at a gym where he worked out occasionally. When she arrived, she noticed that he was working out with one of the locals who hung around with a rough group of guys. Sam told Penny that he was attempting to pull him out of their gang. One of the gang members, Tank, had made a comment about now knowing Sam's weak spot after meeting Penny. Sam explained this conversation to Penny and told her that he would be watching out for her.
A day or so later, Penny's grandparents came to see her. They wanted to pick her up on Friday and take her to their house on Cape Cod. Dana had called Sam and told him that he had to the house on Cape Cod in order to celebrate Beth's 10th birthday. She refused to take no for an answer.
Penny thought that her and Sam could manage to avoid each other in the large house and the open yard. It ended up raining and they were all inside. For dinner, Sam and Penny were seated next to each other. Penny was uncomfortable because she still had a crush on Sam and she was sure that Sam disliked her. She couldn't eat and got up and went outside in the rain. Sam came to check on her and she told him that she was sorry that he disliked her and that she was uncomfortable. Sam then told her that he didn't dislike her, in fact he liked her so much that it scared him. He then kissed her. Penny was very happy about that.
Brandon had seen them kiss and knew that Sam was attracted to her. Sam told Brandon that he wasn't good enough for her and with his background, he didn't understand why he was pushing them together. Brandon didn't care about where he came from. He knew that Sam's parents had died young and that Dana had raised him. He got into some trouble as a teenager but Brandon knew who he was now and that was all that was important. Sam had led his life not letting anyone get close to him and never put himself in to a position where someone depended on him. Penny scared him.
Dana noticed Penny watching Sam and told her that she needed to be patient with Sam. Sam had built a wall around himself and it would take time to get through to him. Penny was determined to be the one to break that wall.
Randy, the guy that Sam was trying to help, came to see Sam as soon as he got back from Cape Cod. He told Sam that Tank Landry was heard making threats to get to Penny. Randy was then asked to watch Penny for him. Randy called that night and told him that Tank had showed up at the coffee shop where Penny was having a drink with one of her lab partners from college. Sam got there before Tank tried anything. He approached them and started talking obscenely and Sam stopped him. Tank left and said that he would see him later. Sam took Penny home and spent the night on her couch. A few days later, Sam came by and took Penny to dinner. They talked about her choices of getting a degree in microbiology and her now working on a masters in English. They eventually got around to talking about their relationship and she told him that they could would have more to gain than lose by continuing to pursue a relationship. Sam dropped Penny off at home and was thinking more about what she said than his surroundings when he was attacked by Tank and four of his friends.
Randy was sent home but had continued to watch out for Penny and saw Tank jump Sam. He ran a block to Penny's place and they called the police. Tank and his friends heard the sirens and took off. Penny arrived the same time as the ambulance and went to the hospital with Sam. He had lost a lot of blood from the knife wounds but the doctor told her that he would survive. Penny called Dana and she come to the hospital along with her husband and other policemen were there too. Sam had to have surgery but he was going to be OK. Penny told Sam that he was going home with her to her grandfather's house. Sam started to protest but Penny told him that he had to have someone watch over him for the next week or he would have to stay in the hospital.
Penny took Sam home and spent the week taking care of him. He wasn't an easy patient. Penny decided to convince Sam to make love with her in order to change his mind about making a commitment to her. They had sex and Sam left Brandon's house the next morning. He went back to his place and Penny found him there. She realized that she hadn't changed his mind and that he was determined not to have a relationship with her so she left. Mrs. Farnsworth, Brandon's housekeeper, was the next to come see Sam. She told Sam that he needed to not throw away his chance at happiness with Penny. She also told him that Randy was still watching over him and that he needed him too. She fed him some soup and then she left.
Dana came by a week later with her two youngest children. She told Sam that he deserved to be loved too. Penny was good enough for him and he needed her in his life. Sam wasn't ready to accept her love yet.
Brandon called and told Penny that Sam had gone back to work and to find out why she wasn't married to him yet. Penny told him that Sam was being stubborn and that he wasn't ready to accept her love yet. Brandon told her that he would think of something.
A few days later, Brandon called Sam and told him that Penny was giving up Harvard and her dream job at the lab and was returning to California in a couple of days. Brandon got up and went to see Penny at her place. It was 3 in the morning. Penny let Sam talk and realized what Brandon had done and took advantage. She kept asking Sam why he was so adamant as to why she couldn't leave Boston. Sam finally admitted that he loved her and didn't think he could live without her. Penny started crying and Sam stayed the night.
It was about a year later that Brandon and Elizabeth flew to Boston for the birth of Brandon's son. They named him Brandon Halloran Roberts. Brandon was proud of his favorite granddaughter and Sam, whom he had considered his grandson from the time Dana had married into the family.
Penny, Ellen's 16-yr old daughter, was in Boston attending the christening of Beth Halloran, the daughter of Dana and Jason Halloran. This is when she first saw 19-yr. old Sam Roberts, Dana's brother. Penny was meeting her Boston relatives for the first time. Her grandmother, Elizabeth, noticed her watching Sam. She asked Penny if she would be interested in going out with him and Penny was. Elizabeth introduced her to Sam and he asked Penny if she wanted to go see a movie while she was in town. Sam showed up the day before she left and asked her about going to see a movie. She didn't have time to change and she found out that Sam was taking her at the prompting of her grandfather, Brandon. They didn't talk much and Penny thought that Sam didn't like her. She asked Sam to stop the car a couple of blocks from home and told him that she was sorry that he was forced to take her out but she didn't like the way he was acting. He kissed her and she told him that her grandfather would be pleased and maybe he would get a bonus for kissing her. She got out of the car and walked the rest of the way home. Penny knew that she would remember that kiss for a long time.
Penny was now 25 and had returned to Boston to further her education and an Ivy League college. She was walking to her apartment and noticed someone following her. She let it go until she entered her apartment complex and then decided to make her move. She kicked him and he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She screamed and the guy told those neighbors that peeked out that they were having a lovers spat. She had called the police and they quickly showed up. Penny noticed that the policemen were teasing him. It was then that she found out that it was Sam and that he was now on the Boston police force.
Sam apologized and asked Penny out to dinner. She agreed to go with him. Sam explained to Penny that her grandfather had asked him to check on her. She then asked Penny if she would meet him again for dinner in a couple of days. She agreed to meet him at a gym where he worked out occasionally. When she arrived, she noticed that he was working out with one of the locals who hung around with a rough group of guys. Sam told Penny that he was attempting to pull him out of their gang. One of the gang members, Tank, had made a comment about now knowing Sam's weak spot after meeting Penny. Sam explained this conversation to Penny and told her that he would be watching out for her.
A day or so later, Penny's grandparents came to see her. They wanted to pick her up on Friday and take her to their house on Cape Cod. Dana had called Sam and told him that he had to the house on Cape Cod in order to celebrate Beth's 10th birthday. She refused to take no for an answer.
Penny thought that her and Sam could manage to avoid each other in the large house and the open yard. It ended up raining and they were all inside. For dinner, Sam and Penny were seated next to each other. Penny was uncomfortable because she still had a crush on Sam and she was sure that Sam disliked her. She couldn't eat and got up and went outside in the rain. Sam came to check on her and she told him that she was sorry that he disliked her and that she was uncomfortable. Sam then told her that he didn't dislike her, in fact he liked her so much that it scared him. He then kissed her. Penny was very happy about that.
Brandon had seen them kiss and knew that Sam was attracted to her. Sam told Brandon that he wasn't good enough for her and with his background, he didn't understand why he was pushing them together. Brandon didn't care about where he came from. He knew that Sam's parents had died young and that Dana had raised him. He got into some trouble as a teenager but Brandon knew who he was now and that was all that was important. Sam had led his life not letting anyone get close to him and never put himself in to a position where someone depended on him. Penny scared him.
Dana noticed Penny watching Sam and told her that she needed to be patient with Sam. Sam had built a wall around himself and it would take time to get through to him. Penny was determined to be the one to break that wall.
Randy, the guy that Sam was trying to help, came to see Sam as soon as he got back from Cape Cod. He told Sam that Tank Landry was heard making threats to get to Penny. Randy was then asked to watch Penny for him. Randy called that night and told him that Tank had showed up at the coffee shop where Penny was having a drink with one of her lab partners from college. Sam got there before Tank tried anything. He approached them and started talking obscenely and Sam stopped him. Tank left and said that he would see him later. Sam took Penny home and spent the night on her couch. A few days later, Sam came by and took Penny to dinner. They talked about her choices of getting a degree in microbiology and her now working on a masters in English. They eventually got around to talking about their relationship and she told him that they could would have more to gain than lose by continuing to pursue a relationship. Sam dropped Penny off at home and was thinking more about what she said than his surroundings when he was attacked by Tank and four of his friends.
Randy was sent home but had continued to watch out for Penny and saw Tank jump Sam. He ran a block to Penny's place and they called the police. Tank and his friends heard the sirens and took off. Penny arrived the same time as the ambulance and went to the hospital with Sam. He had lost a lot of blood from the knife wounds but the doctor told her that he would survive. Penny called Dana and she come to the hospital along with her husband and other policemen were there too. Sam had to have surgery but he was going to be OK. Penny told Sam that he was going home with her to her grandfather's house. Sam started to protest but Penny told him that he had to have someone watch over him for the next week or he would have to stay in the hospital.
Penny took Sam home and spent the week taking care of him. He wasn't an easy patient. Penny decided to convince Sam to make love with her in order to change his mind about making a commitment to her. They had sex and Sam left Brandon's house the next morning. He went back to his place and Penny found him there. She realized that she hadn't changed his mind and that he was determined not to have a relationship with her so she left. Mrs. Farnsworth, Brandon's housekeeper, was the next to come see Sam. She told Sam that he needed to not throw away his chance at happiness with Penny. She also told him that Randy was still watching over him and that he needed him too. She fed him some soup and then she left.
Dana came by a week later with her two youngest children. She told Sam that he deserved to be loved too. Penny was good enough for him and he needed her in his life. Sam wasn't ready to accept her love yet.
Brandon called and told Penny that Sam had gone back to work and to find out why she wasn't married to him yet. Penny told him that Sam was being stubborn and that he wasn't ready to accept her love yet. Brandon told her that he would think of something.
A few days later, Brandon called Sam and told him that Penny was giving up Harvard and her dream job at the lab and was returning to California in a couple of days. Brandon got up and went to see Penny at her place. It was 3 in the morning. Penny let Sam talk and realized what Brandon had done and took advantage. She kept asking Sam why he was so adamant as to why she couldn't leave Boston. Sam finally admitted that he loved her and didn't think he could live without her. Penny started crying and Sam stayed the night.
It was about a year later that Brandon and Elizabeth flew to Boston for the birth of Brandon's son. They named him Brandon Halloran Roberts. Brandon was proud of his favorite granddaughter and Sam, whom he had considered his grandson from the time Dana had married into the family.
January 13, 2022
This book was a fun, lighthearted read.
Penny is a young gal who gets encouraged by her meddling grandfather, Brandon Halloran, to pursue Sam. Sam is also encouraged by Brandon, a mentor, to take Penny out and keep an eye on her.
They are both attracted to one another but Brandon had a rough start in life and doesn’t want to have anybody who relies on him to have to potentially have a similar setback with him.
When Brandon makes the mistake of admitting that he likes Penny in front of Tank, a local gang leader, he puts Penny’s life in danger. He watches out for Penny but ends up getting hurt. What happens next is comical and sweet!
Penny is a young gal who gets encouraged by her meddling grandfather, Brandon Halloran, to pursue Sam. Sam is also encouraged by Brandon, a mentor, to take Penny out and keep an eye on her.
They are both attracted to one another but Brandon had a rough start in life and doesn’t want to have anybody who relies on him to have to potentially have a similar setback with him.
When Brandon makes the mistake of admitting that he likes Penny in front of Tank, a local gang leader, he puts Penny’s life in danger. He watches out for Penny but ends up getting hurt. What happens next is comical and sweet!
February 9, 2018
I was excited for Sam's story but this was a complete let down. Sam needed a strong, sassy woman to challenge him and keep him interested. Instead Ms Woods gave us a bland student with no life experiences - heck even a ridiculous 24 year old virgin. Penny was worthless and had absolutely no chemistry and nothing in common with Sam. The finale in the series was a complete letdown.
September 26, 2020
not much to like about this. Another one of Sherryls older stories where the guy is a total jerk and treats the girl like dirt but since he decides at the end of the book that he loves her she is willing to give up everything for this jerk wont read it again and do not recommend it
August 6, 2017
This book reminded me why I stopped reading "traditional" romance novels - the focus is far too much on the physical rather than the personal aspects of relationships.
May 25, 2019
Really good series!
July 9, 2019
This book was so 1994 it hurt. Featuring plenty of misogny and pagers.
April 24, 2020
A sweet story about two headstrong characters in denial about their feelings. Nothing over the top- just an enjoyable relaxing story to read.
July 29, 2020
I really enjoyed the whole series. I sometimes wish there was a little more in each book. I would love to find out how all the kids are & what is new in the whole family.
June 29, 2025
Vows Books
Good read, beautifully written. Excellent ending of the Vows series. Now to find another good book or series. Thank you Sherryl Woods!
Good read, beautifully written. Excellent ending of the Vows series. Now to find another good book or series. Thank you Sherryl Woods!
October 9, 2012
A Vow to Love by Sherryl Woods
Men in Uniform Series, Silhouette Books
Paperback $4.99
Sex level: mild with a few expletives
Five stars
Penny Hayden first met Sam Roberts as a teenager. Related by marriage but not by blood, their common grandfather pushed the two together on a date. Their first kiss was one that was never equaled by another man, until the two reunite nine years later.
Penny moves to Boston to take a job as a microbiologist while working on the PhD in English. Sam already lives there, working as a cop, taking an interest in young boys who are involved in gangs. Their personalities and backgrounds are opposite of each other. Penny comes from a secure family and a nice neighborhood. Sam’s father deserted his mother, his mother’s death orphaned him and his older sister, and they grew up scraping by, until his sister, Dana, married into the Halloran family.
Grandpa Brandon is still meddling in their love lives, trying to bring them together again. He asks Sam to look in on Penny. She doesn’t recognize him at first, mistakes him for a mugger, and proceeds to practice self-defense moves on his shin. A big, tough guy, Sam is intent on keeping her safe. But he can’t protect his heart from falling in love with a girl he’s always been attracted to.
“A Vow to Love” is a well-written story about a macho tough guy and a spirited intellectual. It uses a nice tempo and pacing to keep the story interesting. Sam’s motives are convincing, but making Penny adept at both microbiology and classic literature was a bit confusing. Also confusing was the way the family was structured with numerous half-brothers and sisters. There wasn’t any real reason to make Penny’s profession or the structure of the family “forest” so entangled.
The book is an enjoyable, easy read with a little more steam than this series usually has, but not so much as to make the reader blush. It makes the point that you can’t run away from your feelings forever.
The only really lame part of the book is the epilogue. One must assume that getting these two mismatched characters together at last must have drove the author as crazy as it did the great-grandfather who went Alpine skiing and broke a hip, only to make a full recovery without so much as a limp.
Men in Uniform Series, Silhouette Books
Paperback $4.99
Sex level: mild with a few expletives
Five stars
Penny Hayden first met Sam Roberts as a teenager. Related by marriage but not by blood, their common grandfather pushed the two together on a date. Their first kiss was one that was never equaled by another man, until the two reunite nine years later.
Penny moves to Boston to take a job as a microbiologist while working on the PhD in English. Sam already lives there, working as a cop, taking an interest in young boys who are involved in gangs. Their personalities and backgrounds are opposite of each other. Penny comes from a secure family and a nice neighborhood. Sam’s father deserted his mother, his mother’s death orphaned him and his older sister, and they grew up scraping by, until his sister, Dana, married into the Halloran family.
Grandpa Brandon is still meddling in their love lives, trying to bring them together again. He asks Sam to look in on Penny. She doesn’t recognize him at first, mistakes him for a mugger, and proceeds to practice self-defense moves on his shin. A big, tough guy, Sam is intent on keeping her safe. But he can’t protect his heart from falling in love with a girl he’s always been attracted to.
“A Vow to Love” is a well-written story about a macho tough guy and a spirited intellectual. It uses a nice tempo and pacing to keep the story interesting. Sam’s motives are convincing, but making Penny adept at both microbiology and classic literature was a bit confusing. Also confusing was the way the family was structured with numerous half-brothers and sisters. There wasn’t any real reason to make Penny’s profession or the structure of the family “forest” so entangled.
The book is an enjoyable, easy read with a little more steam than this series usually has, but not so much as to make the reader blush. It makes the point that you can’t run away from your feelings forever.
The only really lame part of the book is the epilogue. One must assume that getting these two mismatched characters together at last must have drove the author as crazy as it did the great-grandfather who went Alpine skiing and broke a hip, only to make a full recovery without so much as a limp.
February 10, 2024
Sometimes good books come to you on a random choice that you make in an old bookstore. This book is one among them.
August 20, 2013
My first Harlequin book written by Woods. I enjoyed it nearly as much as I have the Chesapeake Bay series.
She has a definite theme of dominant patriarchal figure who manages all the generations (current and upcoming) and their relationships. There are interesting characters, not fully stereotypical.
The twist on the personal danger theme, the personal history between Penny & Sam, past love rediscovered and so on. Not an earth-shattering story, but who really expects that from serial contemporary romances?
She has a definite theme of dominant patriarchal figure who manages all the generations (current and upcoming) and their relationships. There are interesting characters, not fully stereotypical.
The twist on the personal danger theme, the personal history between Penny & Sam, past love rediscovered and so on. Not an earth-shattering story, but who really expects that from serial contemporary romances?
February 8, 2016
The first time Penny Hayden and Sam Roberts met as teenagers, she stormed off in an outraged huff. The second time, nine years later, she hauled off and kicked him in the shin! It was then that Penny's grandfather knew they were a match made in heaven….
Oh, sure, Penny said that Sam was an insensitive jerk. And Sam insisted that he didn't need anyone in his perfectly solitary life. But her grandfather could read between the denials. And even if it was the last thing he accomplished, he vowed they would fall in love.
A great read. Really enjoyed it. 5 stars.
Oh, sure, Penny said that Sam was an insensitive jerk. And Sam insisted that he didn't need anyone in his perfectly solitary life. But her grandfather could read between the denials. And even if it was the last thing he accomplished, he vowed they would fall in love.
A great read. Really enjoyed it. 5 stars.
July 11, 2015
It was a somewhat enjoyable,yet predictable book. A short Harlequin novel, I found it rather lacking in some ways, but still readable for a quick, easy read. The main characters,Penny Hayden and Sam Roberts are both stubborn, willful people who refuse to admit to their true feelings about each other very easily. The background characters, such as the young teen Randy, add some depth to their story. The grandfather also adds to the humerous part at times. All in all, a fairly good book if you want a quick read to pass the time.
July 24, 2011
If you like to read romance books, you will like this book. I read it in 6 hours. This book is part of the Men in Uniform series. There are 61 books in this series. Let me know if you have read it. It was a quick read and I loved every minute of it. I donated this book to the Main Virginia Beach Library. I do this with most of my books. I made a copy of the Harlequin Reader Service form to apply for the 8 month service to get all 61 books.
October 28, 2012
Give me a love story and I am a happy reader! Penny Hayden and Sam Roberts are thrown together by a meddling grandfather. They first met when she was 16 and he was 19. She was in love with him at first sight. Their first date did not go well and she gave him a tongue lashing. However their kiss was something she could not forget. Move forward 10 years and the sparks are still there. Finally grandfather gets his wish!
Read
July 27, 2011I'm not sure if this is the same book I read but the A Vow to Love that I read was with the Men in Uniform series and it was pretty good. The two main charachters were Sam and Penny and I could really identify with both which is my favorite part about romance novels. Anyway if it is indeed the same book I would highly recomend it to anyone who likes both intruiging, romance, and cops.
July 9, 2010
It's been a while since I read a "traditional" romance novel, and this book reminded me why. Even though I liked Sam a lot (I was iffy with Penny), I wished the book itself would have focused more on the personal rather than physical aspects of their relationship.
November 10, 2016
Penny Hayden never got over her teenage crush. Now, her grandfather has decided Sam Roberts is the one for her. Never mind that sparks fly whenever they are together. And the fact that Sam is living life a little too close to the edge does not help.
A nice story.
A nice story.
December 31, 2010
sexy but honorable bad boy does the right thing and finds love. No new twists, but worth the read.
March 14, 2011
I found this book confusing because the main characters were somehow related but I couldn't follow it.
April 26, 2011
This was a good read. The ending came together nicely. I enjoyed the leads I wish it would have came togeather a little sooner so I could have had more time with the leads in happiness.
February 26, 2012
Just a few pages yet to read and I like it. Some interesting elements to this book, like her books usually.
April 5, 2012
Another early book by this author. Again not my favorite, but likable characters with hope.
July 12, 2012
I liked the love hate in this one. And well... I have a thing for men in uniform so it had an automatic advantage.
February 17, 2013
Penny and Sam are related distantly by marriage, but when their grandfather Brandon gets involved, sparks fly.
August 6, 2013
i loved it.. tense and stubborn Sam surely needed a kick in the head lol.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews