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The Promise
Thrilling, heart wrenching and utterly absorbing. You won't be able to put The Promise down! Have you ever found something you should have given back? A watch? A purse? How about a baby? When Saraya Mathews finds a baby boy on the streets of London, she knows she should hand him over to the authorities. But Saraya has spent her whole life searching for something meaningful and as soon as she holds him in her arms, something shifts inside her. This baby is meant to be hers. She knows it. But you can't keep what's not yours. Can you? "An addictive short novel dealing with maternal love and ethical questions in unexpected ways. I read the whole thing in one sitting. Highly recommended." "You can't help but get sucked right in to the storyline. There is every emotion in this book and I felt it right along with the characters. I couldn't put it down. Every parent wants to protect their child, and this story is about the ultimate protection, the ultimate distance a parent can go for that protection. I simply love this book." "A truly compelling read. Had me gripped throughout with its powerful story full of raw emotion!!" "An amazing story full of raw emotions that have you gripped throughout the whole story making it difficult to put it down."
- GenresFiction
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2016
798 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 22, 2019
I read this book in a day I couldn't put it down! At the start when you read about how Emily is surving on the street while looking after baby Flynn it is heartbreaking. I do wish there more of a backstory and more about Emily, memories or more interactions with Saraya which she can pass on. I totally feel where Saraya is coming from and althought what she did is wrong you are hoping she succeeds. It such a moral dilemma as you know there's some truth in kids in care. I'm not sure I liked the whole buying fake document who has contacts like that! The book was a great read and I also enjoyed reading about the writers inspiration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2018
I couldn't put this down! great read .
April 6, 2023
Just not right!
I liked the story for the most part. The inner dialog was annoying at times, because it dragged on. I did not like the ending at all. I feel what she did was wrong regardless of the circumstances! I don't believe she should have been aloud to get away with it, and have help from the very people are supposed to prevent it from happening to begin with! The whole situation was wrong all the way around.
I liked the story for the most part. The inner dialog was annoying at times, because it dragged on. I did not like the ending at all. I feel what she did was wrong regardless of the circumstances! I don't believe she should have been aloud to get away with it, and have help from the very people are supposed to prevent it from happening to begin with! The whole situation was wrong all the way around.
August 20, 2022
An incredibly gripping and heart-wrenching story!
I absolutely loved this book! Drawn in from the first page and hooked until the last, I did not want to put it down! This is easily a book you could read in one sitting!
Saraya is bored of her job, bored of her boyfriend and bored of life! She knows something needs to change, but what? Then one night whilst heading home, she finds and takes something that isn’t hers to take and in an instant her life changes forever!
From the book blurb, you’ll know that what Saraya takes is a baby, we follow her journey as she falls in love with this beautiful boy and the lengths she goes to, to protect him and keep him.
This story was heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure. I really liked Saraya and was rooting for her all the way. I’m not condoning the fact that she took a child, but when you read the story you’ll know why she did it.
The story is well written and easy to read as well as being fast-paced and thrilling. I raced through it needing to know what was going to happen. It is definitely one of those stories that gets you thinking about the what-ifs!
I am so glad I came across this book, I already have another one by this author on my kindle which I can’t wait to read now.
A powerful short novel that is jam-packed with suspense!
I absolutely loved this book! Drawn in from the first page and hooked until the last, I did not want to put it down! This is easily a book you could read in one sitting!
Saraya is bored of her job, bored of her boyfriend and bored of life! She knows something needs to change, but what? Then one night whilst heading home, she finds and takes something that isn’t hers to take and in an instant her life changes forever!
From the book blurb, you’ll know that what Saraya takes is a baby, we follow her journey as she falls in love with this beautiful boy and the lengths she goes to, to protect him and keep him.
This story was heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure. I really liked Saraya and was rooting for her all the way. I’m not condoning the fact that she took a child, but when you read the story you’ll know why she did it.
The story is well written and easy to read as well as being fast-paced and thrilling. I raced through it needing to know what was going to happen. It is definitely one of those stories that gets you thinking about the what-ifs!
I am so glad I came across this book, I already have another one by this author on my kindle which I can’t wait to read now.
A powerful short novel that is jam-packed with suspense!
December 13, 2017
This book had me hooked from page 1. The premise starts off so interesting and unique, and just when you think you have it figured out, it flips all around.
But after that twist it went a little haywire for me. Some of the characters reaction didn't seem realistic.
Saraya's reactions with Flynn make sense when you take into context her past. However I would have loved to delve more into that time of her life instead of only getting a couple paragraph summary. Her development would have been richer if the reader was able to see and feel her experiences from childhood. I missed that. Also her relationship with Natalia flipped so quickly, that I would have liked to see a little more of their previous time together as well.
That being said, it was written so well that I was rooting for Saraya even though I believed what she was doing was wrong. And few books have done that for me.
But after that twist it went a little haywire for me. Some of the characters reaction didn't seem realistic.
Saraya's reactions with Flynn make sense when you take into context her past. However I would have loved to delve more into that time of her life instead of only getting a couple paragraph summary. Her development would have been richer if the reader was able to see and feel her experiences from childhood. I missed that. Also her relationship with Natalia flipped so quickly, that I would have liked to see a little more of their previous time together as well.
That being said, it was written so well that I was rooting for Saraya even though I believed what she was doing was wrong. And few books have done that for me.
January 8, 2021
I absolutely loved this book so much that I read it within a day. I fell in love with the main character Saraya Matthews who was just an everyday woman living her life without a real purpose.
One day on her way home she comes across a baby and in a blink of an eye her whole world changes. Saraya now has a purpose and has filled the gap in her life that she never realised was missing. Saraya soon falls in love with her baby Flynn who she would do absolutely anything for.
The whole way through this book I found strangely I was rooting for Saraya even though I probably shouldn’t have been. I found this book really easy to read and completely heart warming. Great for a quick and emotional read!
One day on her way home she comes across a baby and in a blink of an eye her whole world changes. Saraya now has a purpose and has filled the gap in her life that she never realised was missing. Saraya soon falls in love with her baby Flynn who she would do absolutely anything for.
The whole way through this book I found strangely I was rooting for Saraya even though I probably shouldn’t have been. I found this book really easy to read and completely heart warming. Great for a quick and emotional read!
April 1, 2018
Very well written piece and tugs at your heartstrings. A little too short for my liking and I would have liked to see the story unfold a lot more at the end instead of a summery 4 years into the future. That being said the author could have ended it without the epilogue and it would have still been a fitting ending.
It would have been nice for more character explanations rather than the odd glimpses but again the glimpses have enough that they allowed you to understand the characters point of view.
It would have been nice for more character explanations rather than the odd glimpses but again the glimpses have enough that they allowed you to understand the characters point of view.
January 31, 2018
OMG what a talent for pulling at your heartstrings.
I have just read two of Sam Vickerys' books back to back. The Promise and One More Tomorrow. If you only read one book this year, make it one of these. One More Tomorrow grabs you and will stay with you for a long time and The Promise will have you screaming for Saraya to be able to keep Flynn. I will definitely be looking out for more of Sam's books. Highly recommended.
I have just read two of Sam Vickerys' books back to back. The Promise and One More Tomorrow. If you only read one book this year, make it one of these. One More Tomorrow grabs you and will stay with you for a long time and The Promise will have you screaming for Saraya to be able to keep Flynn. I will definitely be looking out for more of Sam's books. Highly recommended.
April 28, 2019
Loved this heartfelt story. It illustrates when it is right to do wrong. Would I do it? Would you do it? We'll probably never know, but for Saraya and Flynn it was the only right they knew. What about Tim? Well, he did what he knew in his heart was the only right thing to do also. We all have to make some hard decisions in life, and this author touched my hard as she wrote 'a hard knocks story'. Well-done!!
March 10, 2018
Heatwarming
A beautiful heartwarming read, after finding finn, in a tunnel at the train station a love bonds between them. And instinct takes over.
Promising to do all she can, to give Finn the best possible start in life.
A beautiful heartwarming read, after finding finn, in a tunnel at the train station a love bonds between them. And instinct takes over.
Promising to do all she can, to give Finn the best possible start in life.
October 16, 2018
This is a short novel about the desire of a woman to become a mother & the lengths she will go to for her child - even if he’s not hers.
About a 2 hour read, enjoyable book that I found easy to get into & did care about the characters which makes a big difference.
About a 2 hour read, enjoyable book that I found easy to get into & did care about the characters which makes a big difference.
April 16, 2019
Real pull at the heart strings
Good read that will get you straight in and churn up your emotions- as a mother too I was willing the escape to work and relieved with the happy outcome.
Good read that will get you straight in and churn up your emotions- as a mother too I was willing the escape to work and relieved with the happy outcome.
August 28, 2019
Wow
I really enjoyed this book, will there be a follow up book, I would love to read a follow up to the story a few more years later where the child is a teenager. The book feels unfinished with the ending it has
I really enjoyed this book, will there be a follow up book, I would love to read a follow up to the story a few more years later where the child is a teenager. The book feels unfinished with the ending it has
January 4, 2022
Awesome book
This book was spellbinding! It was a page turner for sure. Never a dull moment. I am a voracious reader and usually read only nonfiction, but this story caught my eye so I had to read it. I loved it!
This book was spellbinding! It was a page turner for sure. Never a dull moment. I am a voracious reader and usually read only nonfiction, but this story caught my eye so I had to read it. I loved it!
July 11, 2018
Did not like this book
It was very repetitive about how she felt and the urgency to love the child. A bit far fetched I think how easy it was for her get away after being caught.
It was very repetitive about how she felt and the urgency to love the child. A bit far fetched I think how easy it was for her get away after being caught.
August 13, 2018
Loved this book!
March 21, 2019
Bit of a silly story but still compelling reading. About a woman who finds a dead homeless drug addict with her live baby. Instead of handing the baby into the authorities and decides to keep it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2019
4 stars
The Promise was a very gripping book, a real page turner. It absorbed me from the very first page until the last.
The Promise was a very gripping book, a real page turner. It absorbed me from the very first page until the last.
June 23, 2019
Could not put this down read it in 4 days
September 26, 2019
I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down, it had me hooked from the beginning to the end.
I read it in one day. Highly recommend it
I read it in one day. Highly recommend it
August 9, 2020
Enjoyed this book
September 24, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 this was a very quick read. I had trouble identifying with it - it was very hard for me to believe, but it was still engaging and enjoyable. (Kindle Unlimited Book)
April 29, 2021
Promising storyline but too much profanity
Very disappointing. I might have enjoyed reading otherwise, but there is only do much of the "f" word I can stand.
Very disappointing. I might have enjoyed reading otherwise, but there is only do much of the "f" word I can stand.
June 2, 2021
Great read
I really enjoyed this book and this author. I just discovered her. Can’t wait to read more of her books
I really enjoyed this book and this author. I just discovered her. Can’t wait to read more of her books
November 4, 2021
I did like this book. Was well written and loved the characters.
March 10, 2022
Love this author 2nd book of hers I read
June 21, 2022
A pleasant enough read but somewhat improbable
January 24, 2023
I loved this book!
The author captures beautifully the desperation of keeping your precious child safe in a scary world. She is the mother every child deserves.
The author captures beautifully the desperation of keeping your precious child safe in a scary world. She is the mother every child deserves.
June 17, 2023
This book is a nice read, not complicated - a simple little story
April 20, 2025
Wow! Loved this storyline...really makes you think about what is truly right vs following the law's "right".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews