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A Handful of Promises
Forbidden to court the woman of his dreams due to his financial status, Secundus Alcester sets out to make his fortune and returns years later to finally ask for Lady Helen Rotherford's hand in marriage after tending to his family responsibilities. Original.
220 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1992
30 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Savery
53 books18 followersJeanne Savery has lived and travelled in Great Britain with her spouse, an American Professor of British Politics. An American herself, she is descended from the English (via her father) and the Scots (via her mother).
She first read the Regency Romances of Georgette Heyer while living in Sidcup, Kent. She reread them while living in Whitstable, Kent. The dialogue was charming, but the detail was forbidding: No mistakes! That's the watchword.
For library research, she amassed (and read) a library of diaries, letters, memoirs, yearbooks, etc., from the era. For field research, she (and her spouse) repeatedly crisscrossed the island of Great Britain. Their two daughters fondly recall a family jaunt (with bed and breakfast) in August, 1973: London to Pembroke to Chester to Carlisle to Stirling to Edinburgh to Hawick ... to London.
She published her first Regency Romance in 1991. Since then, she has published more numerous novels and novellas.
She has received the Reader's Choice Award and been awarded the Holt Medallion. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Romance Writers of America.
She first read the Regency Romances of Georgette Heyer while living in Sidcup, Kent. She reread them while living in Whitstable, Kent. The dialogue was charming, but the detail was forbidding: No mistakes! That's the watchword.
For library research, she amassed (and read) a library of diaries, letters, memoirs, yearbooks, etc., from the era. For field research, she (and her spouse) repeatedly crisscrossed the island of Great Britain. Their two daughters fondly recall a family jaunt (with bed and breakfast) in August, 1973: London to Pembroke to Chester to Carlisle to Stirling to Edinburgh to Hawick ... to London.
She published her first Regency Romance in 1991. Since then, she has published more numerous novels and novellas.
She has received the Reader's Choice Award and been awarded the Holt Medallion. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Romance Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 24, 2021
2021 bk 358.One of the few of Jeanne Savery's titles I had not run across. Needing a lighthearted read before the fun that is prep for Thanksgiving dinner, I pulled this from my tbr pile and thoroughly enjoyed the read. It was not about the young people on the marriage mart, but rather a couple that had been separated at that early age. In the 15 years intervening, Secundus has gone to India and made a fortune, Helen has turned to charitable causes and founded orphanages across England. When Secundus brother dies and leaves his nieces and nephews only a bit of property, Secundus returns to England, and the village where Helen and he had first met. Being the time of the fete, Helen is home and romance ensues. With just that, the book would have been a success - but no - we have multiple loves, a wounded warrier mistaken for a genie's apprentice, two adorable children, and (I almost said a partridge in a pear tree - wrong season) a Goan assistant to Secundus. Fun read.
August 22, 2022
In a world of violence, hatred, partisanship, racism, distrust, plandemic, and division, this book is a getaway - a breath of fresh air. There are no glaring problems to be solved, no difficulties that seem insurmountable, no conflicts to resolve.
This book? It's just pure happiness and love. It's refreshing and so comical as to make the reader laugh out loud.
The story centers around four 'couples' - the first is eight year old Tibby Alcester and Gerry Rotheford. Gerry is a gentleman and ex-soldier home from Waterloo with PTSD, living in a haze of misery and flashbacks to seeing all of his friends/comrades slaughtered in the brutality of war. Then little Tibby comes upon him by the pond, declares he's a 'genie' and since she's caught him, deserves three wishes. Her first is for coal - it's cheaper to buy it in the summer, out of season, and her family cannot afford to heat their home another winter. Her second wish is that he find her uncle Secundus, who has been away in India since before her birth - but Tibby is certain he could make everything right, if he were only found and brought home... and her third wish? Well, who wouldn't want to grow up and marry a genie?
The second couple is Secundus Alcester and Helen Rotheford. Fifteen years ago, they loved each other, but because he was an impoverished second son with nothing but title to his name, her family refused him. Helen's brother John went so far as to tell Sec that there was an approved match, and Helen would be wed to another, so... get thee hence. And Secundus did - he went to India for the 15 years, amassing a fortune in the East India Trade.
Now he's received word that his brother has died and left his children penniless and about to be turned out into the streets. He's hurried back, to set things to right by his family and claim his brother's title. When he gets there, he finds that Helen never married... and *NOTHING* will stop him from claiming her hand, now. And how fun is it to have a hero with a receding hairline and a heroine who's nearsighted, stutters when flustered, and a bluestocking, t'boot?
The third couple is Robert Alcester and Lucy. Whilst Secundus was away, his older brother gambled away almost everything left of the family monies, leaving FIVE children - Robert is the eldest, and holding the last piece of property and the family together. They're virtually penniless and in dire straits... which means he's deemed unsuitable for Lucy, the girl he loves and the local baron's daughter. But when Uncle Sec returns and restores the family to fortune and all of the previously lost lands, Robert and his feisty bride-to-be can finally be together.
The third couple is Ruth Alcester and John Rotheford. He's a wealthy lord, she's a penniless lady... but he's stuffy and could never marry someone so young or without means. Could he? Because he CANNOT get her out of his mind, and it's driving him absolutely crazy. She's innocent and logical and doesn't flirt or tease or play the games the idiot girls in London do... and he LIKES her...
The whole thing is so astoundingly sweet and well written, I loved every minute of it. Secundus is one of the most romantic, most incredibly kind and fascinating men I've ever read written. All men should be like he. And if not like he, then like John Rotheford, who is stiff and raised to be of the gentility's nature, but just wants to soften and be loved, and love as he chooses.
Definitely worth picking up, if you can!
This book? It's just pure happiness and love. It's refreshing and so comical as to make the reader laugh out loud.
The story centers around four 'couples' - the first is eight year old Tibby Alcester and Gerry Rotheford. Gerry is a gentleman and ex-soldier home from Waterloo with PTSD, living in a haze of misery and flashbacks to seeing all of his friends/comrades slaughtered in the brutality of war. Then little Tibby comes upon him by the pond, declares he's a 'genie' and since she's caught him, deserves three wishes. Her first is for coal - it's cheaper to buy it in the summer, out of season, and her family cannot afford to heat their home another winter. Her second wish is that he find her uncle Secundus, who has been away in India since before her birth - but Tibby is certain he could make everything right, if he were only found and brought home... and her third wish? Well, who wouldn't want to grow up and marry a genie?
The second couple is Secundus Alcester and Helen Rotheford. Fifteen years ago, they loved each other, but because he was an impoverished second son with nothing but title to his name, her family refused him. Helen's brother John went so far as to tell Sec that there was an approved match, and Helen would be wed to another, so... get thee hence. And Secundus did - he went to India for the 15 years, amassing a fortune in the East India Trade.
Now he's received word that his brother has died and left his children penniless and about to be turned out into the streets. He's hurried back, to set things to right by his family and claim his brother's title. When he gets there, he finds that Helen never married... and *NOTHING* will stop him from claiming her hand, now. And how fun is it to have a hero with a receding hairline and a heroine who's nearsighted, stutters when flustered, and a bluestocking, t'boot?
The third couple is Robert Alcester and Lucy. Whilst Secundus was away, his older brother gambled away almost everything left of the family monies, leaving FIVE children - Robert is the eldest, and holding the last piece of property and the family together. They're virtually penniless and in dire straits... which means he's deemed unsuitable for Lucy, the girl he loves and the local baron's daughter. But when Uncle Sec returns and restores the family to fortune and all of the previously lost lands, Robert and his feisty bride-to-be can finally be together.
The third couple is Ruth Alcester and John Rotheford. He's a wealthy lord, she's a penniless lady... but he's stuffy and could never marry someone so young or without means. Could he? Because he CANNOT get her out of his mind, and it's driving him absolutely crazy. She's innocent and logical and doesn't flirt or tease or play the games the idiot girls in London do... and he LIKES her...
The whole thing is so astoundingly sweet and well written, I loved every minute of it. Secundus is one of the most romantic, most incredibly kind and fascinating men I've ever read written. All men should be like he. And if not like he, then like John Rotheford, who is stiff and raised to be of the gentility's nature, but just wants to soften and be loved, and love as he chooses.
Definitely worth picking up, if you can!
November 15, 2022
There were many things that surprised me (in a good way) about this book and, overall, I liked it but was not overly impressed. From the blurb, I thought that Lady Helen was going to be a meek, sad lady who spent all her years pining for Secundus, but she was actually a lady with a strong personality who did not let others bully her. She made a life for herself and was content with it. Even the glimpses of her youth show her to be an original and very much knowing her own mind. I wish there was a bit more conflict when Secundus returned but, at the same time, I appreciated how they were able to be mature about their situation and talk through any difficulties they might have. It is probably one of the most mature and sensible relationships I've seen in Regency romance and I've read a lot.
Unfortunately, Secundus' niece's romance was the one that did not work for me. I cared neither for her (who was a bit of a lovesick fool) and Lord Rotherford. He, basically, ignores the family all the years their father was gone and they were barely making ends meet for some reason I could not completely figure out, and then comes back into their lives without anyone questioning him on it. He is their neighbor and supposedly friend, but only decides to help the family when Gerry, his nephew, intervenes.
The highlight for me was Gerry and Tibby (and Paulo with a minor role). Gerry was such a great guy, and Tibby was sweetly precocious. I wish there was a sequel exploring what happened to those two. Gerry deserved a love story of his own and was a much better man than Rotherford. I loved this bit of wisdom he gave Rotherford regarding Rotherford's complaints of women being manipulative.
"When you do it, it is for someone's good. If a woman does it, any woman, for any reason, then it must, by the fact of it, be bad."
This is a a clean romance.
Unfortunately, Secundus' niece's romance was the one that did not work for me. I cared neither for her (who was a bit of a lovesick fool) and Lord Rotherford. He, basically, ignores the family all the years their father was gone and they were barely making ends meet for some reason I could not completely figure out, and then comes back into their lives without anyone questioning him on it. He is their neighbor and supposedly friend, but only decides to help the family when Gerry, his nephew, intervenes.
The highlight for me was Gerry and Tibby (and Paulo with a minor role). Gerry was such a great guy, and Tibby was sweetly precocious. I wish there was a sequel exploring what happened to those two. Gerry deserved a love story of his own and was a much better man than Rotherford. I loved this bit of wisdom he gave Rotherford regarding Rotherford's complaints of women being manipulative.
"When you do it, it is for someone's good. If a woman does it, any woman, for any reason, then it must, by the fact of it, be bad."
This is a a clean romance.
April 26, 2024
Няшний любовний романчик із серії almost second chance, коли головних героїв розлучила підступна доля в особі татка героїні і нульових фінансів героя, вони розбіглися в різні боки років на п'ятнадцять (герой добіг аж до Індії, розбудовуючи власний бюджет), а тепер знову зустрілися, і треба з'ясувати стосунки. Тільки тут з'ясовувати майже нема чого, герой трохи переживає, що лисина в нього накльовується, а героїні у приношених платтячках бігати норм, вона не переймається, тому в основному вони вирішують проблеми купки племінників і племінниць, а коли всім втерли замурзані мармизи і переженили, таки знаходять час і собі поцілуватися та до церкви.
Конфліктів тут практично нема, хоча одна дивна обставина залишилась у повітрі на кінець роману, і є трохи провтиканих другорядних героїв (друг-гоанець тупо ходить і вражає всіх пишномовністю, може, він би щось ще робив?). Але в цілому легенько і швидко читається.
PS: спільник-дворецький - запорука вашого шлюбного і дошлюбного щастя, цілком підтримую.
Конфліктів тут практично нема, хоча одна дивна обставина залишилась у повітрі на кінець роману, і є трохи провтиканих другорядних героїв (друг-гоанець тупо ходить і вражає всіх пишномовністю, може, він би щось ще робив?). Але в цілому легенько і швидко читається.
PS: спільник-дворецький - запорука вашого шлюбного і дошлюбного щастя, цілком підтримую.
November 15, 2013
A Regency Romance revolving around three couples. The primary couple, Secundus Alcester and Lady Helen Rotherford, were separated 15 years ago when the lady's father refused Sec's marriage proposal because the gentleman had little money and no prospects. 15 years later, Sec returns to England a wealthy man, determined to help his orphaned nieces and nephews sort out their lives and marry his lady. I wanted to like Helen for being an older, intelligent female interested in reform, but she doesn't have much personality. I'm not entirely sure why she even loves the hero except that he has always loved her for who she is and not for her fortune. Their love story advances too quickly and is resolved too neatly. I liked the nieces, especially 8 year old Tibby who desires to help her family all she can. I also liked the love interest of the eldest nephew for being an independent, headstrong young woman. Generally I prefer witty, comedy of manners novels that attempt to emulate Jane Austen's style, so this one isn't high on my list of favorites.
February 5, 2010
Cute. Probably the happiest romance Ive read in a while, more of a comedy of manners than anything else.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews