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Bound By A Promise
Garet Cambridge was the most compelling man Kathryn Summers had ever met. Tall, dark, commanding...and now blinded by a twist of fate. Kathryn was torn by regret and guilt for she had caused the unavoidable accident that had cost him his sight. She vowed to repay her debt to him and spent endless hours of work as his assistant. Kathryn knew if Garet discovered the truth, she'd lose him forever. But she was bound by a promise...and bound by love.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1979
73 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,025 books3,083 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 31, 2016
Sweet love story, not enough anguish as in other DP books, and a bit too much of lame-ness and OTT writing and OTT dialogues by the supposedly alpha male. Also, mood swings of said alpha weren't rational or triggered, it seemed like they were written in just to show that he is supposed to be moody, if you get what I mean.
Heroine was okay, the ending was anti-climactic.
But, it is still a Diana Palmer, which means it was enjoyable. I will love DP always <3
Heroine was okay, the ending was anti-climactic.
But, it is still a Diana Palmer, which means it was enjoyable. I will love DP always <3
June 29, 2020
I was attracted to reading this one because I mistook it at first as a DP book I had already read;
Undaunted
So I feel compelled to read this one and compare. Stands to reason that such a proliferate author would 'redo' the odd book now and then...
Welp, here we go...
Yes it is totally the same story but 100 pages shorter and therefore a heck of a lot less angsty.
There's still these similarities;
1. jerky older (15 years or so) H (CEO of airplane company) with anger management issues
2. h accidentally hits H with boat
3. H suffers blindness and amnesia
4. h ends up working and living in H's house where they fall in love
5. there is a grasping OW the H uses to make the h jealous (cause that's sure to work in his favor...)
6. A big reveal when blindness and amnesia are cured and h suffers from H's poor anger management
7. HEA
BUT;
There are a lot less repercussions to the part where he learns who Katie really is, and no sex, so no secret baby.
Things that might piss you off;
OW Safety is good;
Undaunted
So I feel compelled to read this one and compare. Stands to reason that such a proliferate author would 'redo' the odd book now and then...
Welp, here we go...
Yes it is totally the same story but 100 pages shorter and therefore a heck of a lot less angsty.
There's still these similarities;
1. jerky older (15 years or so) H (CEO of airplane company) with anger management issues
2. h accidentally hits H with boat
3. H suffers blindness and amnesia
4. h ends up working and living in H's house where they fall in love
5. there is a grasping OW the H uses to make the h jealous (cause that's sure to work in his favor...)
6. A big reveal when blindness and amnesia are cured and h suffers from H's poor anger management
7. HEA
BUT;
There are a lot less repercussions to the part where he learns who Katie really is, and no sex, so no secret baby.
Things that might piss you off;
OW Safety is good;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2012
When Kate's fiance brutally drops her because she's not wealthy like he thought, she takes a job as secretary for a romance author. Garet made it to the top in aeronautics because of his talent as a pilot and an engineer and his ruthless approach to business. Kate sees her boss' neighbour as arrogant with his nose in the air, and Garet see the wisp of a girl as a spoiled brat determined to have her way. A tragic accident leaves Garet blind and bitter, and throws Kate into his world. Only Kate knows the truth of the accident and she's living on the edge until the day Garet remembers her and what she did. Awesome! Another treat from Ms. Palmer!
December 4, 2015
Great love story i enjoyed the angst!
dnf
September 23, 2012I might have been able to get past the heroine's immoral behavior -- though maybe not, since I loved Kirsty MacColl and crazed motorboaters are a sore spot -- but the book was just plain boring. And I'd bet a million bucks he gets his eyesight back at the end, too.
January 24, 2021
3 “Garet not Garrett” Stars
Bound by a Promise was released in 1979, and tells the story of Kathryn Summers and Garet Cambridge. I can’t remember when I read this, but when I pulled out Undaunted… I thought, “I’ve read this before.” After some research I found Bound by a Promise which is shorter with different characters, but the bones are the same. She basically rebooted a previous standalone with 150 more pages, a Long, Tall, Texans connection, and the standard L,LT ingredients. Simply put, Undaunted’s Connor Sinclair is a bigger ass, and Emma Copeland is less attractive with a more depressing backstory.
The book opens with Kate reflecting on how Garet chewed her ass for speeding her (boss’s) speedboat in the lake recklessly. She's sad because of her ex, so she decides to hit the water, open the throttle, and close her eyes. 🤦♀ She runs over Garet then takes off when he makes it to shore.
I’m not going to lie; Kate might be tough to take. Most of us expect our h’s to be better than this… and smarter. She does feel bad, but decides she doesn’t want to go to jail, so she pretends they don’t know each other when she realizes he has amnesia.
Bottom Line- It’s very repetitive to read both books, because they are so similar. This is the lighter/clean version. Garet isn’t that big of a jerk, Kate’s not as annoying, and the OW is tamer. * There's one part where he's holding her and pushes her away and she falls down the stairs. I don't think he meant for her to fall down the stairs, but you can't really call it an accident either. Kind of like her running him over, she didn't mean to run him over, but you can't really call it an accident while speeding with eyes closed. **Undaunted is much longer, way more OTT with more angst/drama.
Bound by a Promise was released in 1979, and tells the story of Kathryn Summers and Garet Cambridge. I can’t remember when I read this, but when I pulled out Undaunted… I thought, “I’ve read this before.” After some research I found Bound by a Promise which is shorter with different characters, but the bones are the same. She basically rebooted a previous standalone with 150 more pages, a Long, Tall, Texans connection, and the standard L,LT ingredients. Simply put, Undaunted’s Connor Sinclair is a bigger ass, and Emma Copeland is less attractive with a more depressing backstory.
The book opens with Kate reflecting on how Garet chewed her ass for speeding her (boss’s) speedboat in the lake recklessly. She's sad because of her ex, so she decides to hit the water, open the throttle, and close her eyes. 🤦♀ She runs over Garet then takes off when he makes it to shore.
I’m not going to lie; Kate might be tough to take. Most of us expect our h’s to be better than this… and smarter. She does feel bad, but decides she doesn’t want to go to jail, so she pretends they don’t know each other when she realizes he has amnesia.
Bottom Line- It’s very repetitive to read both books, because they are so similar. This is the lighter/clean version. Garet isn’t that big of a jerk, Kate’s not as annoying, and the OW is tamer. * There's one part where he's holding her and pushes her away and she falls down the stairs. I don't think he meant for her to fall down the stairs, but you can't really call it an accident either. Kind of like her running him over, she didn't mean to run him over, but you can't really call it an accident while speeding with eyes closed. **Undaunted is much longer, way more OTT with more angst/drama.
June 18, 2013
Wow. I need more.
After being dumped by his stupid fiancé, Kate went work with Maude. That's where she got an accident that left Garett, handsome billionaire, blind. Feeling terribly guilty, she worked as his assistant without him knowing that she's the one who made him blind. Now it's a matter of time for Garett to find out who she is..
I kinda like it. I expecting more, actually. When Garett find out eventually about her, I expect him furious and hurt her. And yes he did. But the apology, definitely need more. Could've been better.
And I imagine Kate hurt, or at least broke her elbow but no. Argh, I need more.
After being dumped by his stupid fiancé, Kate went work with Maude. That's where she got an accident that left Garett, handsome billionaire, blind. Feeling terribly guilty, she worked as his assistant without him knowing that she's the one who made him blind. Now it's a matter of time for Garett to find out who she is..
I kinda like it. I expecting more, actually. When Garett find out eventually about her, I expect him furious and hurt her. And yes he did. But the apology, definitely need more. Could've been better.
And I imagine Kate hurt, or at least broke her elbow but no. Argh, I need more.
November 8, 2012
He hits her. Need I say more.
January 22, 2019
I stopped reading after he lost his sight. First, Kate is too whiny and second, I felt that the plot was thin with OTT dialogues..
January 8, 2020
This almost a duplicate of Undaunted. She changed the names and the story a little. I was very disappointed and upset. This was a waste of money.
January 3, 2025
Przyjemnie się czytało tą część po mimo tego, iż wcześniej nie przeczytałam pierwszej części i uważam, że nie muszę tego zrobić ze względu, iż ta historia opisuje już trochę bliższą relacje bohaterów. Jedynie co bo dziwne, że dziewczyna lat ok.23. a mężczyzna, który już ma siwiznę więc podejrzewam że ok. 45/50
June 3, 2018
Meh. But I can’t stop reading these.
Maybe it’s nostalgia. These books are a way to pass the time while travelling; a sense of security. This was one of her decent ones, when she was trying to emulate the greats like Margaret Way.
Maybe it’s nostalgia. These books are a way to pass the time while travelling; a sense of security. This was one of her decent ones, when she was trying to emulate the greats like Margaret Way.
January 6, 2018
Very dated and not the standard I expect.
January 15, 2019
Sweet
I loved this short story of a tyrant and a young innocent
falling in love! I love this sits books!
I loved this short story of a tyrant and a young innocent
falling in love! I love this sits books!
October 2, 2011
Why or why do I do this to myself? Oh, that's right...Diana Palmer is my new guilty pleasure. Ok. Well...WHY do these women put up with these men? Ok. There is THAT, but-well, she did cause his temporary blindness.
I have to remember to not THINK so much. Just enjoy the sheer predicatble, nerve-racking, jaw-clenching, alpha-male jerk, nonsense that is Diana Palmer.
So...on to Dream's End. I know. I need help.
I have to remember to not THINK so much. Just enjoy the sheer predicatble, nerve-racking, jaw-clenching, alpha-male jerk, nonsense that is Diana Palmer.
So...on to Dream's End. I know. I need help.
August 16, 2012
Argh!
Other than that, I appreciated this typical Palmer's older, tough guy meets innocent, young woman story.
Other than that, I appreciated this typical Palmer's older, tough guy meets innocent, young woman story.
January 30, 2014
What a slog. I find the heroine a whiny, self pittying little girl. The hero has the potential to be interesting but shows know depth or development and is carved in stone as word chiselled is used to describe his mouth at least 3 times. The whole thing feels contrived and skeletal.
April 21, 2011
The more and more I read ... the more and more these books become quite repetitive.
Asshole male.
Too young female.
Someone gets injured.
Repeat ad nauseum.
Asshole male.
Too young female.
Someone gets injured.
Repeat ad nauseum.
November 26, 2011
I simply LOVED this book. I even shed a couple of tears close to the end when all the secrets are out in the open. A WONDERFUL read to all romance lovers..!!
February 23, 2012
Sooo formulaic. Older guy with lots of money, young innocent smart mouthed girl who loves him and will do anything for him.
May 17, 2013
It would have been 4 stars if I had liked Kate more :/ Garret was one of Diana Palmer's best leading man ever, if only his love interest were stronger I think :(
February 14, 2015
Another older book of Palmer's. Good.
September 17, 2016
garet becomes blinded by an accident caused by kathryn but she could lose him when he regains his sight because she falls in love with him but will he feel the same when he see her.
Read
July 31, 2011Wonderful!
September 13, 2012
Always enjoy a sweet romance and this was very nice.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews