Honestly, the book was very good. I really liked both characters and their stories twinned kind of, but not too much and not in an annoying confusing way. If i were to nitpick, i would want to have an indication on the start of the chapter who`s chapter it was though.

I really loved The Forgotten Village and had high hopes for this. I wasn't disappointed! Loved it and can;t wait to read more from the author.

Having read and loved Lorna Cook’s first book, The Forgotten Village, I was pleased to pick up The Forbidden Promise, where her formula of interweaving the present day with an early 20th Century time period moves from Dorset to rural Scotland.

I think the ‘timeslip’ format is really clever, as it equally fulfils a liking for both historical and contemporary fiction plus, as we read the historical fiction parts, we can see almost in ‘real time’ the effects that has on the later time period.

Part of what makes this formula work is how well these two time periods are put together – too much of one and it can drain the tension away, but Lorna Cook hits exactly the right note in bringing the old and new Invermoray House alive.

Although foremost a romance novel – in which the romantic storyline completely ticks all the boxes – there is also an excellent mystery plot, which modern-day Kate learns about alongside the reader. You definitely don’t get out of the book without some excellent twists!

The period detail in the historical sections is excellent, and the historical and contemporary descriptions of Invermoray House make it sound very much like somewhere I would like to see.

Very much one to recommend – I’ve also got Lorna Cook’s third book, The Girl from the Island, on my TBR, so watch out for a review of that soon…

Constance McLay lives at Invermoray House in Scotland, with her parents Alistair and Augusta. The estate's beautiful, with it's own loch, a forest full of venison and it's a tranquil place. England’s at war with Germany and her brother Douglas is a fighter pilot and so far he’s been based in Scotland. On the night of Constance’s twenty first birthday, her brother’s friend Henry makes a nuisance of himself and Constance escapes his wandering hands. She’s outside looking at the loch and notices a spitfire crash into the water and she dives in to save the pilot. Matthew the pilot is burnt-out by the war, Constance lets him stay in the empty Ghillies cottage and she has no idea he’s keeping a big secret. When the house is turned into a convalescent hospital for officers, she’s worried about Matthew’s being discovered and she has no idea she's putting herself and more than her reputation at risk.

Publicist Kate arrives in the highlands, she’s gets lost in her hire car and almost has an accident. When she finally finds her new place of employment, Invermoray House, the owner Liz Langley-McLay is there to welcome her and her moody son James. They want to turn the old house into a luxurious bed and breakfast, the estate, house and Ghillie cottage are all in need of major repairs. Kate has no idea how bad the financially situation is, and she and James desperately try to save Invermoray House from being sold. While coming up with idea's, Kate discovers the children of the owners didn’t inherit the estate and she wants to discover why?

The Forbidden Promise has a dual timeline, it goes between 1940 and 2020 and I had no trouble following the two stories and they come together perfectly at the end. Lorna Cook has written a story full of compelling characters, she describes the Scottish countryside beautifully, I also enjoyed the mystery, secrets and romance in the narrative. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it had me hooked from the first page and five stars from me. I have posted my review on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Australian Amazon.

A great timeslip book set in an amazing setting. I loved the characters and the two different eras that worked really well together and the setting was perfect. Will definitely be looking for more books by this author

This book is more of a romance novel than historical fiction.
The story is told over dual timeline.
I did enjoy the book but it was predictable in parts

This was really good. I’m not into history at all, I find it incredibly dull, but I love these stories that tell about the past and the present overlapping. I loved the separate chapters and how they all eventually linked together. I’ve read another book by Lorna that was the same idea and that was great also. Can’t wait to read her next book!!

I couldn't put this book down. It was captivating, enthralling, exciting and mesmerising. A truly incredible book from start to finish.

The book flits brilliantly between 1940 and 2020. The crux of the story is a magnificent house in the locks of Scotland.
I enjoyed how this story unfolded; a story of full of mystery, secrets, and determination.

A great read. I enjoyed reading it and it has a great plot and characters. I also look forward to more books from the author.

Another fantastic timeslip from Lorna. Beautifully written and carefully researched. I loved watching the mystery snd romance unfold!

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher via netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book and read it so fast. I am looking forward to reading more from Lorna Cook.
I fell in love immediately with the story line and how it flipped back and forth from war time to present day. The interactions with all the characters , especially the plot to restore Invermorary was something I enjoyed. I loved the slow unfolding and discovering of the events and how it all connected so heartbreakingly. I'd definitely recommend this book.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Lorna Cook's debut "The Forgotten Village" I knew that I would love THE FORBIDDEN PROMISE. Two love stories, one house, 80 years apart. This was set to be a cracker of a tale...and I wasn't wrong. I was hooked from the first moment until the very end.

Invermoray House, Scotland, September 1940: As the war rages in England and in Europe, Constance McLay has escaped the confines of the party hosted for her 21st birthday after being manhandled by her brother's friend Henry, who drunkenly assured her that it's what they both want when nothing could be further from the truth.

Seeking the solitude of the peaceful loch, Constance is then the sole witness to a Spitfire fall from the sky and crash into the murky depths. Sparing no thought for herself, she bravely dives into the water - evening dress and all - swims out to where the plane had disappeared and brings the pilot to safety. She takes him to the shelter of the disused guillie cottage on the estate where she is then requested to keep his presence a secret. Fearing for his mental stability, and out of the kindness of her heart, she agrees to the promise.

But little does she know that that promise will have far reaching consequences that will change her life forever.

August 2020: Kate is a successful PR consultant but after finding herself in an embarrassing situation, she applies for a job as far away as you can get...in the highlands of Scotland. Liz and James Langley-McLay are the owners of the rather neglected Invermoray House and wish to convert it to a Bed and Breakfast but are in dire need of some assistance to get their plan up and running.

When Kate arrives at Invermoray House, she is welcomed excitedly by Liz but not so much by her son James, who had no idea his mother had hired her. He has been single-handedly been trying to keep a roof over their heads whilst trying to repair that same roof from collapsing. It appears all the money from the estate has been over spent and now James is trying to keep things running from his own personal savings...including Kate's wages. They soon formulate a plan to get the business up and running, and to attract guests to what is essentially an out of the way part of Scotland. Loch Ness has the monster to bring in visitors - but what can Invermoray offer?

When Kate comes across an old family Bible that seems to have run for generations, she notices the last two names entered - Douglas McLay born 1914 and Constance McLay born 1919 - with a line struck through Constance's name so fiercely that the nib went through several pages below. What had caused such a visceral reaction to strike someone's name from the family Bible? Liz shows her the portraits of Constance and Douglas hanging above the staircase, telling her that when she discovered Constance's it had a great big gash ripped through the centre of it. She had since had it restored but upon looking closely, Kate could see the line that she had thought was just part of the silver gown Constance was wearing.

As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Constance and why it seems her and Douglas had been disinherited, Kate has no idea what she is about to uncover that will change the course of history at Invermoray.

I love dual timeline stories and this one is no different. Both female protagonists are likable and admirable. Constance wants to escape the social restrictions that keep her bound to Invermoray and her parents, and do something for the war effort. In sheltering Matthew, she then feels she is helping in her own way. The two fall in love but there is something lingering in the background that's just a little out of reach. A secret, something that has been left unsaid that could change everything. Kate also wishes to escape her life in London and her troubled past. And in her search for answers to the past she then makes some other startling discoveries, after many over analysing conversations with herself. I could have happily throttled Kate with her many cliched thoughts at times.

But it was Constance I had the softest spot for. I took her immediately and felt for her through every step of the way. I wanted to delve deeper into Constance's story for I knew there was a tale to be told there.

I loved the setting. Scotland is always a picturesque and magical setting - even with the hint of monsters and selkies - with its highlands and ever changeable weather. Invermoray House was a formidable presence (and a character in itself) with the secrets it held and the author brought its essence alive that I felt I was there by the loch, breathing in that highland air.

THE FORBIDDEN PROMISE is enchanting and captivating from the very first page, as the reader is drawn into Constance's story from the beginning. There is an air mystery throughout as secrets are revealed little by little until a final twist that I never saw coming.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, THE FORBIDDEN PROMISE promises romance, intrigue and secrets in this beautifully woven dual timeline tale that flows seamlessly. And that twist...OMG! How did I not see that coming? It was so brilliant it was perfect.

I loved THE FORBIDDEN PROMISE so much that I didn't want it to end. Except maybe Kate's cliched over-analysing...but Constance's story I wanted to go on forever. I wanted to step back into 1940 and stay there.

Another cleverly woven tale by Lorna Cook. Perfect for fans of Kathleen McGurl and Kate Morton.

I would like to thank #LornaCook, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #TheForbiddenPromise in exchange for an honest review.

‘One decision, one promise, could impinge on generations for decades, forcing people apart and bringing others together so many years later...’

August, 1940. It's a quiet, moonless night in the Scottish Highlands. Constance McLay has just turned 21, and her life is changed forveer when she sees a Spitfire crash into the loch and saves the pilot... 80 years later, and Kate arrives at the house next to that very same loch, ready to begin a new job, and completely unaware of the decades old mystery she is about to find herself desperate to solve - who is Constance, and why has her name been struck from the records?

I'm a sucker for historical fiction and this one didn't disappoint in the slightest. It's definitely on the lighter side of the genre, which I personally appreciated as it allowed me to really engage with the characters, rather than being sidetracked by a lot of historical detail. The focus on characters was also needed, as at its heart this book is first and foremost a romance! Yes, there is a romantic element to both timelines (and yes, both of these romances are a little bit predictable). But to me, this was in no way a weakness, as even though I knew it was coming I was still so enthralled with watching the romances develop! Plus, there were still a few surprises along the way, including one real OMG moment right near the end which I genuinely never saw coming. And trust me, I read a lot of historical fiction, so that is rare for me to be able to say.

All in all, this was a really enjoyable book, that I quickly devoured in a single sitting. If you're a fan of historical fiction, or even just enjoy a good romance, do yourself a favour and read this. A beautiful tale of how two people meeting can send ripples through time to impact upon the lives of those who come 80 years after...

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reading copy from NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

This was an easy and enjoyable read linking the lives of two women 80 years apart. Well written and heart warming

I loved this book. Two stories set eighty years apart but happening in the same house, by the same loch, and in the same cottage in the woods. Secrets slowly unravel as Kate arrives in Scotland and helps prepare for the opening of the house as a hotel. Whose portrait hangs on the wall and why was it so clearly deliberately damaged? Why is one name scratched out of the family Bible? Who was the mysterious pilot that rumour has it was drowned long ago in the loch, and what still lurks in the depths? Romantic, sad, tense, heartbreaking, shocking. The past and present finally come together in a fantastic ending. And how lovely to find out, almost as a cheeky little aside, what happened to Melissa and Guy, two lovely characters from the author's debut book!

An interesting story that looks at how historical troubles can affect the present day. Definitely recommended to readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

This book is absolutely wonderful ♥️ It's everything I thought it would be, then some. I really feel like there will be another book following this one. The story is 1940's and 2019.
It is written so we'll I never lost track of where I was! This is the first book I have read of Lorna Cook's. I immediately went and purchased her other book written before this one. In my opinion, you don't want to miss out on this one. It's just so good! Enjoy!

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Lorna Cook, and her publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this wonderful book!

The Forbidden Promise is a duel time novel based in the Scottish Highlands in 1940 and the present day. Kate has moved from London to Invemoray to help Liz and James set up the grand house as a boutique hotel. While there, she investigates the history of the house after seeing the name Constance crossed out of the family bible, and finding a slashed portrait of her in the attic.
In 1940, Constance helps an pilot who’s plane crashes into the loch. She slowly falls in love with him and nurses him back to health without knowing a secret he keeps from her that will change everything.
I found the story to be captivating, and absolutely loved the Highland setting. The pace moves quickly and there are enough twists to keep you guessing without it becoming farcical. A great read for fans of kate Morton and Rachel Hore.

Y'all know that feeling you get when you're perusing NetGalley, just looking to see if something catches your eye, and then something JUST GRABS YOU? And then you request it, and AMAZINGLY you're approved? And then you let it sit in your "Start Reading" tab until like 3 days before pub day because you're too scared to be disappointed by this book that, a month ago, looked fantastic? And then you finally download it because UGH ARCHIVED BOOKS ARE THE WORST? And then you read said book and whoa, hey, spoiler alert, YOU LOVED IT?? I mean, like, you loved it so much you immediately looked up other books by that author and downloaded another by her (The Forgotten Village, FYI) within moments of finishing the the book you got from NetGalley??⁣
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Okay, so now you're caught up with my experience reading The Forbidden Promise. Y'all, I love, love, LOVED this one. The premise ticked all my favorite historical fiction tropes: Dual Timeline, Mysterious Secret, WWII, & Star-Crossed Love. ⁣
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The way it all comes together is so completely perfect, and even though I had a sneaky suspicion that I knew the sneaky secret, it was and wasn't what I was expecting. Not to mention, YAYYYY, both timelines were equally captivating and kept me totally hooked (hard feat for these books sometimes).⁣
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If you're into WWII Historical Fiction, I definitely think you'd like to add this one to your TBR. (I honestly loved The Forbidden Promise so much, I might even do a buddy read for The Forgotten Village someday!)⁣
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Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.