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An Uncertain Choice #0.5
The Vow
In this ebook historical romance novella by Jody Hedlund, young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents' lands?
Then Rosemarie is summoned back to her castle in haste. The disease has spread, and her family is threatened. And the secret she discovers when she returns could change her future forever.
This novella also serves as a prequel to Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice.
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2015
124 people are currently reading
1751 people want to read
About the author
Jody Hedlund
100 books4,695 followersJody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.
Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
May 27, 2020
Fourteen-year-old Lady Rosemarie is an only child, the sole heir to Ashby Manor. She's a bit lonely, with no friends her own age, but on the balance, she's rich and has the nicest parents she could ask for. Sometimes, her mother and father are so affectionate with each other that Rosemarie is mortified.
Our heroine is riding across her family's holdings with a new friend and possible suitor, Thomas Caldwell, who's four years older than her and very handsome. As his parents and hers ride along ahead, these two saunter slowly along, flirting awkwardly. Then a frantic, buboe-ridden peasant bursts from the forest, warning the nobles of a plague outbreak before being shot dead by an overzealous sheriff.
Rosemarie's parents send her to the nearest convent to wait out the disease. She survives. but they are not so lucky. (I'm not spoiler-tagging that; it might even be in the book description). When going through her late mother's things, Rosemarie stumbles upon a peculiar inheritance that, if allowed to proceed, would force her away from her heart's desire.
This is a prequel to a full-length novel, An Uncertain Choice, and it successfully made me wonder how the plot will resolve.
Rosemarie seems to be an unusually composed, level-headed fourteen-year-old. She has bratty moments, but overall she handles enormous pressure with a stiff upper lip. Her obsessive crush on Thomas is her only really juvenile quality.
As for Thomas, he seems a kind and earnest sort of chap. He's not like the average eighteen-year-old boy these days, but he does fit with the culture of the High Middle Ages.
The supporting characters are either benign buffoons like Trudy the nursemaid, or subtly conniving like the Abbot. I find it hard to believe that he would have treated Rosemarie's parents' vow like it was written in stone. He should have offered her some way out of it.
That brings me to the titular Vow itself, an interesting idea with shaky execution. The parents and the Abbot have no good excuse for not telling Rosemarie, and in this case, it seems self-defeating. They desperately wanted a child because they had no kin to pass their lands onto. If their daughter is cloistered, she can't hold the title or provide an heir. And banking on having more kids seems a bit presumptuous, considering how hard it was for them to have one.
IT WAS BEYOND CRUEL FOR THEM TO LET HER FLIRT WITH THOMAS IF SHE COULDN'T MARRY.
The book's grasp of medieval culture seems weak. Even the Vow, the central plot device, doesn't seem natural to the time period. A couple struggling to conceive a child, like Rosemarie's parents, would probably have done a lot of praying to saints - especially Sts. Joachim and Anne. Catholic tradition holds that this pious elderly couple prayed for years to be blessed with a child, and eventually they had one: Mary, the Mother of Christ. Interestingly, this same tradition says that Joachim and Anne devoted Mary to the Temple, not unlike Rosemarie in The Vow - but Mary's consecration was such that she could leave the Temple and marry Joseph the Carpenter.
Medieval people were much likelier to draw their inspiration from the New Testament and the lives of the saints. Fascination with Old Testament figures like Hannah is a trait of American, post-Great Revival Protestantism.
On a possibly related note, Hedlund doesn't seem remotely interested in the daily life of a convent. From this story, one would get the impression that nuns sit about all day doing nothing, while forcing unwilling and unsuited girls to don the habit. There is no mention made of their highly regimented work-and-prayer schedules, or that their ostensible aim is to be close with God. Three minutes of research could have cleared this up. Heck, watching The Sound of Music could have cleared this up.
Don't get me started on the scheming Abbot, who's practically cackling as he plans to ruin an orphan girl's life and confiscate her property.
The medieval Church was crawling with priests, nuns, and monks who were forced into it, people who should never have come within fifty feet of a church. But even in the days of the Reformation, they did not make up the entire clergy. So why is every priest or monk in Christian fiction either an idiot or a monster?
There are a few anachronistic phrases. At one point, Rosemarie says "I wanted to be a strong woman, but I also wanted to show Thomas my vulnerability." I'm not sure either of these concepts even existed back then.
Also, it was kind of weird how everyone referred to Thomas as Lord Caldwell when his father was still alive. And it sure was convenient how no one was worried they'd catch plague after Rosemarie's parents succumbed to it.
I won't judge An Uncertain Choice by this, because I have yet to read a tie-in novella for any series that was actually good. This series definitely has potential, but this particular story was frustrating.
Update: my library has the ebooks for the rest of this series, so I had to reread this to refresh my memory of all the silly things that transpired in the previous installments. It was very silly indeed. But the snark bait was too good to pass up 😂
Our heroine is riding across her family's holdings with a new friend and possible suitor, Thomas Caldwell, who's four years older than her and very handsome. As his parents and hers ride along ahead, these two saunter slowly along, flirting awkwardly. Then a frantic, buboe-ridden peasant bursts from the forest, warning the nobles of a plague outbreak before being shot dead by an overzealous sheriff.
Rosemarie's parents send her to the nearest convent to wait out the disease. She survives. but they are not so lucky. (I'm not spoiler-tagging that; it might even be in the book description). When going through her late mother's things, Rosemarie stumbles upon a peculiar inheritance that, if allowed to proceed, would force her away from her heart's desire.
This is a prequel to a full-length novel, An Uncertain Choice, and it successfully made me wonder how the plot will resolve.
Rosemarie seems to be an unusually composed, level-headed fourteen-year-old. She has bratty moments, but overall she handles enormous pressure with a stiff upper lip. Her obsessive crush on Thomas is her only really juvenile quality.
As for Thomas, he seems a kind and earnest sort of chap. He's not like the average eighteen-year-old boy these days, but he does fit with the culture of the High Middle Ages.
The supporting characters are either benign buffoons like Trudy the nursemaid, or subtly conniving like the Abbot. I find it hard to believe that he would have treated Rosemarie's parents' vow like it was written in stone. He should have offered her some way out of it.
That brings me to the titular Vow itself, an interesting idea with shaky execution. The parents and the Abbot have no good excuse for not telling Rosemarie, and in this case, it seems self-defeating. They desperately wanted a child because they had no kin to pass their lands onto. If their daughter is cloistered, she can't hold the title or provide an heir. And banking on having more kids seems a bit presumptuous, considering how hard it was for them to have one.
IT WAS BEYOND CRUEL FOR THEM TO LET HER FLIRT WITH THOMAS IF SHE COULDN'T MARRY.
The book's grasp of medieval culture seems weak. Even the Vow, the central plot device, doesn't seem natural to the time period. A couple struggling to conceive a child, like Rosemarie's parents, would probably have done a lot of praying to saints - especially Sts. Joachim and Anne. Catholic tradition holds that this pious elderly couple prayed for years to be blessed with a child, and eventually they had one: Mary, the Mother of Christ. Interestingly, this same tradition says that Joachim and Anne devoted Mary to the Temple, not unlike Rosemarie in The Vow - but Mary's consecration was such that she could leave the Temple and marry Joseph the Carpenter.
Medieval people were much likelier to draw their inspiration from the New Testament and the lives of the saints. Fascination with Old Testament figures like Hannah is a trait of American, post-Great Revival Protestantism.
On a possibly related note, Hedlund doesn't seem remotely interested in the daily life of a convent. From this story, one would get the impression that nuns sit about all day doing nothing, while forcing unwilling and unsuited girls to don the habit. There is no mention made of their highly regimented work-and-prayer schedules, or that their ostensible aim is to be close with God. Three minutes of research could have cleared this up. Heck, watching The Sound of Music could have cleared this up.
Don't get me started on the scheming Abbot, who's practically cackling as he plans to ruin an orphan girl's life and confiscate her property.
The medieval Church was crawling with priests, nuns, and monks who were forced into it, people who should never have come within fifty feet of a church. But even in the days of the Reformation, they did not make up the entire clergy. So why is every priest or monk in Christian fiction either an idiot or a monster?
There are a few anachronistic phrases. At one point, Rosemarie says "I wanted to be a strong woman, but I also wanted to show Thomas my vulnerability." I'm not sure either of these concepts even existed back then.
Also, it was kind of weird how everyone referred to Thomas as Lord Caldwell when his father was still alive. And it sure was convenient how no one was worried they'd catch plague after Rosemarie's parents succumbed to it.
I won't judge An Uncertain Choice by this, because I have yet to read a tie-in novella for any series that was actually good. This series definitely has potential, but this particular story was frustrating.
Update: my library has the ebooks for the rest of this series, so I had to reread this to refresh my memory of all the silly things that transpired in the previous installments. It was very silly indeed. But the snark bait was too good to pass up 😂
November 5, 2017
Oh Annie, Annie, quite contrary! Why do you purposefully choose to read books you KNOW you will not like?!
You knew this was going to be a syrupy silly little love story that would only make you roll your eyes! Why do you still pick it up???
I have a problem with "suspension of disbelief" and YA stuff. This novella was CLEARLY not for me, but I gave it a chance, because it looked cute, the cover was pretty, it was a Kindle freebie, and yeah, okay, I was lured and I fell into the trap.
It's not a "bad" little book, it's just perfectly silly and overly-romantically-clichéd, entirely devoid of substance, and the hero and heroine are so young they're not even swoon-worthy. If YA medieval romantic fluff is your thing, then by all means you might enjoy it, although even objectively looking at it I can't really say it was that good, because let's be honest "the vow" was no major twist, and it could have been much more exciting than that. This is only the prequel to the actual series, but I feel absolutely no interest to read any more.
SO NOTE TO SELF: ANNE, YOU DO NOT LIKE THESE KINDS OF BOOKS. STOP WASTING YOUR TIME, for heaven's sake.
You knew this was going to be a syrupy silly little love story that would only make you roll your eyes! Why do you still pick it up???
I have a problem with "suspension of disbelief" and YA stuff. This novella was CLEARLY not for me, but I gave it a chance, because it looked cute, the cover was pretty, it was a Kindle freebie, and yeah, okay, I was lured and I fell into the trap.
It's not a "bad" little book, it's just perfectly silly and overly-romantically-clichéd, entirely devoid of substance, and the hero and heroine are so young they're not even swoon-worthy. If YA medieval romantic fluff is your thing, then by all means you might enjoy it, although even objectively looking at it I can't really say it was that good, because let's be honest "the vow" was no major twist, and it could have been much more exciting than that. This is only the prequel to the actual series, but I feel absolutely no interest to read any more.
SO NOTE TO SELF: ANNE, YOU DO NOT LIKE THESE KINDS OF BOOKS. STOP WASTING YOUR TIME, for heaven's sake.
July 21, 2024
I finally had the chance to read this novella. It is a prequel to the series and it's about young Rosemarie, one of my favorite historical heroines. Rosamarie has the purest heart, is a small gem, and reading this small story about her made me love her even more. Of course I already know her story because I've read the next book, but it was a sweet read nonetheless.
September 10, 2015
Going for the middle rating here. It wasn't particularly brilliant, but enjoyable for the most part; there were a few editing goofs that niggled at me. I'd tried to start "Uncertain Choice" in the past and this definitely helped me understand some of what was going on in the book, so it does need to be read first. I didn't like the portrayal of torture, simply because I don't like to think of it...so that's a personal thing, where I prefer to forget such atrocities happened to humans.
But...I hadn't been sure I was going to read the entire story about Rosemarie, and now I have to! I read a few chapters and am looking forward to getting a library copy to read.
But...I hadn't been sure I was going to read the entire story about Rosemarie, and now I have to! I read a few chapters and am looking forward to getting a library copy to read.
May 24, 2020
Lady Rosemarie is faced with a vow made for her before she was even born. However, now that this vow has forever altered the future she believed was on the horizon, how would she live? How would she rule her kingdom? What was God's will for her?
A novella written for teens or Y/A, The Vow is a prequel to Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice set in medieval times. It seems to be Catholic in its faith base (monks/convents), but the need to seek God's will is a relevant issue no matter one's doctrine .
I don’t think I will delve into the the books to follow, but it is a good start for a younger set.
A novella written for teens or Y/A, The Vow is a prequel to Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice set in medieval times. It seems to be Catholic in its faith base (monks/convents), but the need to seek God's will is a relevant issue no matter one's doctrine .
I don’t think I will delve into the the books to follow, but it is a good start for a younger set.
March 9, 2015
This was a good little novella. Even though it didn't end with a cliffhanger, it still left me curious to see what the future holds for Lady Rosemarie. Will be reading An Uncertain Choice next!
August 15, 2017
This book does a good job of introducing Rosemarie, who becomes an orphan and heir to a fortune at the age of 14.
However, I personnally feel that these 50 or so pages could have been included in the first book of the series quite adequately, without requiring two separate purchases.
I was distracted by some grammatical errors that caused a pause to decipher. Some, I never did ascertain exactly what they were suppose to mean.
However, I personnally feel that these 50 or so pages could have been included in the first book of the series quite adequately, without requiring two separate purchases.
I was distracted by some grammatical errors that caused a pause to decipher. Some, I never did ascertain exactly what they were suppose to mean.
March 3, 2016
Sooo good. Had me from page one. I finished it and immediately went out and got the next oneAn Uncertain Choice. It is only 1.99, which is great!
Moral Note: Some talk of medieval torture, clean language, clean romance.
Moral Note: Some talk of medieval torture, clean language, clean romance.
February 13, 2015
Prequel to An Uncertain Choice. Not necessary to read prior to reading An Uncertain Choice. Short story that takes place when Rosemarie is 14 and gives more details about her parents death and her learning about the Vow.
Content: Clean
Content: Clean
February 12, 2015
The Vow is the prequel to An Uncertain Choice. The time period is very well written. The characters are real and fresh. I'm not usually a novella fan but this one gets five stars from me! I love Jody Hedlund's books! I know this one is written for younger readers but I'm 39 and I loved it!
February 2, 2016
This was a nice quick read, it only took me a couple hours. I knew what was going to happen because I read the first chapter of An Uncertain Choice before I started this. ;) But it was a really nice novella and great for background to An Uncertain Choice.
July 12, 2018
I love a good backstory that ties everything together!
September 27, 2022
The Vow- a short prequel to Jody Hedlund’s YA Debut An Uncertain Choice serves to whet the appetite for the main course- introducing the major characters, and the background of the plot- and promising a hint of romance.
I would call it a sweet story- but the sad ending rather renders that meaningless- its tightly plotted and for the most part well written considering the use of the first person narrative.
The Medieval setting was generally well done- high praise indeed from a Medievalist such as myself. Although the country is fictitious, there were, shall we say, distinct shades of Englishness, with some of the names and titles.
I also what seemed to be a couple of Hollywood like tropes- knights wearing armour almost all the time, including at a funeral service, for instance (why?), or a mere messenger mounted on a warhorse- animals which were incredibly expensive and would only have been the preserve of the rich and certainly not used by servants or mere messengers.
My biggest gripe, however, was the mention of torture. I’m not saying such things never happened, and I’m not about to whinge about it being unsuitable for YA readers- but I felt it the inclusion of the scene in which Rosemarie sees two torture victims was unnecessary and unrealistic.
Unnecessary because it seems to be included only for her to be repulsed by it, so show what a good, sweet, compassionate little girl she is, and how horrid the Middle Ages were.
Unrealistic because, contrary to the image presented in many movies (and some ‘torture museums’ that are largely modern invention….) torture was nothing like as prevalent or common in medieval society as we are led to think. Especially not in England, where it was actually contrary to common law, and only just considered acceptable for the very worst crimes such as treason or heresy- and even then, in all my years of reading about the period I have never come across the method mentioned in this story.
So the idea of an evil sheriff summarily subjecting people to the most horrible or tortures for trivial offenses just seems wholly implausible- more like something a cartoon villain would do, than a reflection of historical fact.
Also, I have to admit, Rosemarie’s attitudes were sometimes annoyingly modern and self-righteous- condemning the sheriff for killing infected people infected with the plague. Seriously- He was trying to contain one of the deadliest diseases known to man.
Seriously, these people were infected with a disease that could wipe out families within *days*. Its wasn't just the flu. People in that scenario weren't going to be thinking about feeding thier kids.
He couldn’t just let people escape from quarantined areas to spread it abroad- and Rosemarie whining about how they were just trying to find food just came across as unbelievably naïve in the circumstances. Compassion and humanity is one thing, stupidity another.
In spite of the paragraphs chronicling the negatives, I did enjoy this Novella, and I look forward to getting into the full length follow up as soon as possible. A worthwhile read, with a few reservations, that could perhaps benefit from a little more research.
I would call it a sweet story- but the sad ending rather renders that meaningless- its tightly plotted and for the most part well written considering the use of the first person narrative.
The Medieval setting was generally well done- high praise indeed from a Medievalist such as myself. Although the country is fictitious, there were, shall we say, distinct shades of Englishness, with some of the names and titles.
I also what seemed to be a couple of Hollywood like tropes- knights wearing armour almost all the time, including at a funeral service, for instance (why?), or a mere messenger mounted on a warhorse- animals which were incredibly expensive and would only have been the preserve of the rich and certainly not used by servants or mere messengers.
My biggest gripe, however, was the mention of torture. I’m not saying such things never happened, and I’m not about to whinge about it being unsuitable for YA readers- but I felt it the inclusion of the scene in which Rosemarie sees two torture victims was unnecessary and unrealistic.
Unnecessary because it seems to be included only for her to be repulsed by it, so show what a good, sweet, compassionate little girl she is, and how horrid the Middle Ages were.
Unrealistic because, contrary to the image presented in many movies (and some ‘torture museums’ that are largely modern invention….) torture was nothing like as prevalent or common in medieval society as we are led to think. Especially not in England, where it was actually contrary to common law, and only just considered acceptable for the very worst crimes such as treason or heresy- and even then, in all my years of reading about the period I have never come across the method mentioned in this story.
So the idea of an evil sheriff summarily subjecting people to the most horrible or tortures for trivial offenses just seems wholly implausible- more like something a cartoon villain would do, than a reflection of historical fact.
Also, I have to admit, Rosemarie’s attitudes were sometimes annoyingly modern and self-righteous- condemning the sheriff for killing infected people infected with the plague. Seriously- He was trying to contain one of the deadliest diseases known to man.
Seriously, these people were infected with a disease that could wipe out families within *days*. Its wasn't just the flu. People in that scenario weren't going to be thinking about feeding thier kids.
He couldn’t just let people escape from quarantined areas to spread it abroad- and Rosemarie whining about how they were just trying to find food just came across as unbelievably naïve in the circumstances. Compassion and humanity is one thing, stupidity another.
In spite of the paragraphs chronicling the negatives, I did enjoy this Novella, and I look forward to getting into the full length follow up as soon as possible. A worthwhile read, with a few reservations, that could perhaps benefit from a little more research.
January 22, 2015
Jody Hedlund's books have long been on my radar, but until recently time (and my overwhelming TBR stack) did not see me diving into her writing. But with the upcoming release of her first young adult medieval, An Uncertain Choice, rapidly approaching (seriously, March 3rd cannot come soon enough to suit me!), I knew 2015 would have to be the year I finally discovered why Hedlund has such an enthusiastic following. If you don't believe me, check out the #HedlundChallenge2015 on Twitter!
The Vow introduces fourteen-year old Rosemarie on the cusp of womanhood, the beloved only child and heir of her parents, beginning to consider her future as heir and the type of marriage she hopes to one day make. Her dreams of love are fueled by a visit from Lord Thomas, the handsome son of a neighboring baron. But just as she starts to dream of a future with the young nobleman, her lands are hit with an outbreak of plague. Forced into seclusion, Rosemarie chafes against the protective restrictions her parents have placed around her, never dreaming that the plague may cost her the lives of her family. Facing a future as a leader far too soon, Rosemarie's world is rocked once again when she discovers her future is not a matter of choice, but predetermined by her parents' secret, sacred vow -- leaving Rosemarie struggling to reconcile her dreams with her parents' inheritance.
This slim novella served as the perfect introduction to Hedlund's writing, and the world and characters to be found within the pages of her upcoming medieval. The Vow's crisp prose and pitch-perfect characterization (LOVE the sweetness to Rosemarie and Thomas's budding romance!) quickly immersed me in the romance, pageantry, and courtliness of Hedlund's medieval world. Refreshingly, she pulls no punches in the realism department, sensitively addressing the expectations facing a young teenage noblewoman during this time period, a reality that is foreign to modern sensibilities. Another potential shock to contemporary readers' sensibilities is Hedlund's fleeting, but graphic, acknowledgement of medieval torture methods (one word: RATS).
If this forty-odd page introduction to Rosemarie is any indication, Hedlund's YA debut is sure to be a flawlessly researched, tightly-plotted, heart-stopping romance, with a potential appeal sure to extend Hedlund's fanbase beyond the inspy market. I for one cannot wait for the release of An Uncertain Choice in March, and am more determined than ever to make good on my long-overdue resolution to finally dive into Hedlund's backlist!
The Vow introduces fourteen-year old Rosemarie on the cusp of womanhood, the beloved only child and heir of her parents, beginning to consider her future as heir and the type of marriage she hopes to one day make. Her dreams of love are fueled by a visit from Lord Thomas, the handsome son of a neighboring baron. But just as she starts to dream of a future with the young nobleman, her lands are hit with an outbreak of plague. Forced into seclusion, Rosemarie chafes against the protective restrictions her parents have placed around her, never dreaming that the plague may cost her the lives of her family. Facing a future as a leader far too soon, Rosemarie's world is rocked once again when she discovers her future is not a matter of choice, but predetermined by her parents' secret, sacred vow -- leaving Rosemarie struggling to reconcile her dreams with her parents' inheritance.
This slim novella served as the perfect introduction to Hedlund's writing, and the world and characters to be found within the pages of her upcoming medieval. The Vow's crisp prose and pitch-perfect characterization (LOVE the sweetness to Rosemarie and Thomas's budding romance!) quickly immersed me in the romance, pageantry, and courtliness of Hedlund's medieval world. Refreshingly, she pulls no punches in the realism department, sensitively addressing the expectations facing a young teenage noblewoman during this time period, a reality that is foreign to modern sensibilities. Another potential shock to contemporary readers' sensibilities is Hedlund's fleeting, but graphic, acknowledgement of medieval torture methods (one word: RATS).
If this forty-odd page introduction to Rosemarie is any indication, Hedlund's YA debut is sure to be a flawlessly researched, tightly-plotted, heart-stopping romance, with a potential appeal sure to extend Hedlund's fanbase beyond the inspy market. I for one cannot wait for the release of An Uncertain Choice in March, and am more determined than ever to make good on my long-overdue resolution to finally dive into Hedlund's backlist!
February 24, 2015
This sweet novella follows 14-year-old Rosemarie as she navigates budding feelings and hopes for a happy future with a great young man. Written in the first person point of view, hearing Rosemarie’s thoughts gave this novella a fresh perspective. I think changing the POV for her new YA series is a great move for Jody.
I have to say my favorite aspect of this novella was Rosemarie’s parents. I loved the picture of her parents’ love and relationship and how it was something Rosemarie longed for in her own life. Their relationship is an example to her of what a loving relationship between husband and wife should look like and she wants what they have.
This short novella introduces us to Lady Rosemarie’s world, and will draw readers into Jody’s medieval novels.
*With thanks to the author for a free e-copy of this novella in exchange for my honest review.*
I have to say my favorite aspect of this novella was Rosemarie’s parents. I loved the picture of her parents’ love and relationship and how it was something Rosemarie longed for in her own life. Their relationship is an example to her of what a loving relationship between husband and wife should look like and she wants what they have.
This short novella introduces us to Lady Rosemarie’s world, and will draw readers into Jody’s medieval novels.
*With thanks to the author for a free e-copy of this novella in exchange for my honest review.*
June 28, 2021
The Vow was an excellent book! I certainly enjoyed it. Lady Rosemarie's story is heartbreaking. She is 14 when she first experiences true love but sadly sees it all float away in the wind when she discovers after her parents die of the plague. That her parents vowed that at 18 she would forfeit the throne and become a nun. Because Lady Rosemarie's mother had had a hard time conceiving so she took a sip of the Virgin Mary's Tears in order for a miracle. But there is always a price to pay... and that price is Lady Rosemarie must never fall in love or get married because she is to become a nun and serve the Lord for all her days until her death. Rosemarie struggles with the very thought of letting Thomas (the love of her life) go. She is saddened to see her father and mother die and know that they kept this from her, her whole life. Bur Rosemaire vows to serve her subjects kindly and wisely for the time being as her parents did, and as a nun, she would continue to serve and love her people in the best way possible.
I know I know this book is very sad!! But this is only the Novella 😏... there is another book to this series called "An Uncertain Choice" that redeems the sadness this book contains! I HIGHLY encourage you to read "The Vow" but don't stop there! I also encourage you to read "An Uncertain Choice" and see how it all ends! Does Rosemaire get true love and the crown or does she become a nun and serve her subjects?
I know I know this book is very sad!! But this is only the Novella 😏... there is another book to this series called "An Uncertain Choice" that redeems the sadness this book contains! I HIGHLY encourage you to read "The Vow" but don't stop there! I also encourage you to read "An Uncertain Choice" and see how it all ends! Does Rosemaire get true love and the crown or does she become a nun and serve her subjects?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 5, 2019RTC on 22nd of Jan, 2019
April 29, 2024
I'm going to have to get kindle to finish this series😭
August 29, 2015
This novella wasn't really amazing or thrilling to me. It wasn't terrible but it didn't grab my attention and keep me interested. I found the plotline a tad boring and I thought that the adventure of the book was depleted once you learned the vow that Rosemarie's parents made in trade of her birth. It kind of felt dreary once you found out every dream she'd ever had was no longer an option for her and she had no more choice about her future plans and life. I imagine this book would be more interesting to read if you started out with the first book rather than the novella. This felt more like filling in the gaps rather than it's own connecting adventure. I don't plan on reading the first book/the rest of the series. This novella pretty much set up everything in the first book and now, it's easy to see how that first book's plotline is going to go. When the heroine doesn't get the guy and she doesn't get to live out her own dreams and spends an entire book devoting her time only to other people, it's pretty boring. Not that it's wrong to do. It's extremely hard and praiseworthy to be so selfless. But in a book, it just plays out as dull.
The other problem I had was just with the cover. I pretty much hate it. First off, what's a fourteen-year-old girl doing wearing an off the shoulders dress? Not to mention that the model looks a bit old to be portraying a fourteen-year-old.
This was my first peek at Jody Hedlund's writing and I must say I was disappointed. I'm pretty sure a friend had read a book by her in the past and had a similar outcome. It was a way to pass the time for a few hours but I'm glad I got the novella free online and didn't waste my money buying it. It's definitely not a favorite. It was just okay.
The other problem I had was just with the cover. I pretty much hate it. First off, what's a fourteen-year-old girl doing wearing an off the shoulders dress? Not to mention that the model looks a bit old to be portraying a fourteen-year-old.
This was my first peek at Jody Hedlund's writing and I must say I was disappointed. I'm pretty sure a friend had read a book by her in the past and had a similar outcome. It was a way to pass the time for a few hours but I'm glad I got the novella free online and didn't waste my money buying it. It's definitely not a favorite. It was just okay.
March 24, 2020
I have this special liking to small books. I love them when they are physical copies since they look cute! This book ‘The Vow’ was a totally unexpected read. This is a prequel to the Uncertain Series and i am not planning to read them unless i find the physical book. .
This is a historical romance. Rosemarie is only fourteen years old but she is no more a small girl. She is a woman ready to experience all that the world holds. She wishes to serve her people after her father and to give birth to an heir to rule after her. She is attracted towards Thomas, lord Caldwell. He does like her and surely wants to marry her one day. Right then a plague breaks out and so much happens and they both part ways only to meet again in a more tragic time. .
For such a small book it made me feel every emotion. I loved the Choice of words and the way Rosemarie’s emotions are portrayed. Some might feel 14 is too young to feel what she feels but this happens so long back and it kind of suits to that period. And she only wishes to fall in love and not a marriage at fourteen. No spoilers so i wont say what the vow is about. But i was not expecting it at all. And i felt what Rosemarie felt. If possible read it!!
This is a historical romance. Rosemarie is only fourteen years old but she is no more a small girl. She is a woman ready to experience all that the world holds. She wishes to serve her people after her father and to give birth to an heir to rule after her. She is attracted towards Thomas, lord Caldwell. He does like her and surely wants to marry her one day. Right then a plague breaks out and so much happens and they both part ways only to meet again in a more tragic time. .
For such a small book it made me feel every emotion. I loved the Choice of words and the way Rosemarie’s emotions are portrayed. Some might feel 14 is too young to feel what she feels but this happens so long back and it kind of suits to that period. And she only wishes to fall in love and not a marriage at fourteen. No spoilers so i wont say what the vow is about. But i was not expecting it at all. And i felt what Rosemarie felt. If possible read it!!
February 4, 2015
It’s been a little while since I have read a novel by Jody Hedlund, but after reading “The Vow” I was reminded of how awesome her writing is! She is so descriptive with her words and paints such a vivid picture of the setting and characters. I love how she engages all the senses in her writing and this one was not lacking.
I really enjoyed how this story was in first person. Rosemarie was a character I could easily relate too even though she’s only fourteen (which I have to admit me surprised me because the cover model looks a little older then that). I definitely had to giggle at the new blossom of love, but was quickly sadden at the change of events for Rosemarie. However I really admire her courage and determination (not going to explain why as you will have to read the book to understand).
“The Vow” was a great prequel to “An Uncertain Choice.” I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how Rosemarie will handle her upcoming future as well as what will happen.
*(I bought this book via Amazon and was not required to review it. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
I really enjoyed how this story was in first person. Rosemarie was a character I could easily relate too even though she’s only fourteen (which I have to admit me surprised me because the cover model looks a little older then that). I definitely had to giggle at the new blossom of love, but was quickly sadden at the change of events for Rosemarie. However I really admire her courage and determination (not going to explain why as you will have to read the book to understand).
“The Vow” was a great prequel to “An Uncertain Choice.” I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how Rosemarie will handle her upcoming future as well as what will happen.
*(I bought this book via Amazon and was not required to review it. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
March 4, 2015
This is a novella, but is meant to be a prequel to an upcoming release and not a stand-alone tale. I'm not a fan of prequels, and this one didn't improve my opinion.
While I enjoyed the authors description of setting and wanted to love the heroine, I was a bit confused about the possible love interest. I usually fall for him right along with the heroine, but this time I kept wondering if he was meant to be a bad guy, or even an important one at all.
This publication marks the beginning of Hedlund's foray into YA. While I didn't care for this short story, it wasn't enough to turn me away from reading her future works. I'm still anticipating her newest release - An Uncertain Choice. It will be a continuation about four years after "The Vow" takes place.
I'm curious to see how the character will have matured, and am hopeful that I'll lose myself in that book as I have in all of this author's previous publications.
While I enjoyed the authors description of setting and wanted to love the heroine, I was a bit confused about the possible love interest. I usually fall for him right along with the heroine, but this time I kept wondering if he was meant to be a bad guy, or even an important one at all.
This publication marks the beginning of Hedlund's foray into YA. While I didn't care for this short story, it wasn't enough to turn me away from reading her future works. I'm still anticipating her newest release - An Uncertain Choice. It will be a continuation about four years after "The Vow" takes place.
I'm curious to see how the character will have matured, and am hopeful that I'll lose myself in that book as I have in all of this author's previous publications.
January 10, 2016
This YA novella is a prequel to Jody Hedlund's medieval series " An Uncertain Choice" and introduces the main character, Rosemarie of Ashby that readers will meet in An Uncertain Choice. As the story opens, we meet the 14 year old Rosemarie, the only surviving child of the Lord and Lady of Ashby. Rosemarie understands that her parents love her, but like any girl her age she does find them to smother her at times. However, when the fierce plague arrives and takes both her parents, Rosemarie discovers that her fate may be sealed with a vow that has the potential to set her on a different path.
The novella is divided into seven chapters and I found the writing to be quite descriptive. Hedlund sets the scene up for her readers and I believe the story and the characters will delight other readers too.
The novella is divided into seven chapters and I found the writing to be quite descriptive. Hedlund sets the scene up for her readers and I believe the story and the characters will delight other readers too.
March 30, 2016
SUMMARY: Young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents’ lands?
Then Rosemarie is summoned back to her castle in haste. The disease has spread, and her family is threatened. And the secret she discovers when she returns could change her future forever.
REVIEW: This is a very short (only 51 pages) prequel to the book An Uncertain Choice. It set ups the understanding of The Vow that Rosemarie's parents made to receive the blessing of conception of their miracle child. Other than setting the understanding for book 1, it is a very quick read without much depth of plot or characters. I am hoping An Uncertain Choice is more involved.
Then Rosemarie is summoned back to her castle in haste. The disease has spread, and her family is threatened. And the secret she discovers when she returns could change her future forever.
REVIEW: This is a very short (only 51 pages) prequel to the book An Uncertain Choice. It set ups the understanding of The Vow that Rosemarie's parents made to receive the blessing of conception of their miracle child. Other than setting the understanding for book 1, it is a very quick read without much depth of plot or characters. I am hoping An Uncertain Choice is more involved.
July 24, 2015
A good novella that introduces the plot of An Uncertain Choice. When I first read the novella, I was a little disappointed by the ending. It didn't end the way I was hoping it would. Once I read An Uncertain Choice, I loved the novella! The main character, Rosemarie, grapples with a lot in a few pages in this novella, but it shapes her character in An Uncertain Choice.
A great opening novella to an awesome new series!
A great opening novella to an awesome new series!
October 9, 2016
I had to take a break from my other book and I decided to read this novella that I've had for some time. Who doesn't love a great romance? J Hedlund is one of my favorite romance writers and I loved the chemistry between these two characters. They never even touch each other but "Wow", the sparks were flying. I thought is was written very well for only being 50 something pages. I can't wait to see how this ends. I'm hooked and I'm pulling for "team Thomas".
January 17, 2015
What a great little teaser for Jody's brand-new YA medieval series! I was annoyed to find a handful of typos in a finished manuscript, but that's not the story's fault. Now I REALLY can't wait to read "An Uncertain Choice"!
May 30, 2015
The historical accuracy is pretty spot on. The author certainly doesn't shy away from the more gruesome aspects of the Dark Ages. Doubtless the reason i didn't particularly care for it. Not my favorite period in history.
March 1, 2018
This prequel novella is a good introduction to the series. It is well written and very moving. I'm glad I have read An Uncertain Choice, which is the book that follows after The Vow. I'm happy to know what ends up happening in Rosemarie's life and that happier days are ahead for her.
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January 9, 2016A heartbreaking prequel. Review to come.
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