What’s beautiful story! Being snubbed in love is rough, but being being taken advantage of twice is intolerable! Margaret took it like a woman who is worth it. This book was so fun and had me rooting for two awesome characters! Great work Ms Garriott! Thank you!

When a woman’s plans, determined to find the perfect groom-to-be for her marriage of convenience, are derailed by an other ...

It is less often these days to read a story told in the first person.
It is not my favorite narrative way as everything depends of the character’s strength.
I struggled a bit at the beginning, I understood the narrator had been hurt, broken-hearted, yet I did not comprehend her willingness to enter an emotionless marriage, one of only loneliness and coldness for the foreseeable future.

Margaret is nice flawed character, I loved her witty banters and pranks with her brother. She might choose the coward way by thinking she can avoid being entangled emotionally if she enters a marriage of convenience, but she is honest and is rather blunt about her true goal.
Why she fights her instant attraction to Lord Williams and sets her sight on his cousin, the one man she is certain will not move her heart.
But quickly everything is thwarted and soon she will navigate the muddy water of the sentiments, going from Charybdis and Scylla, and back as Lord Williams despite withholding something is at times aloof and other charming.
It unsettles her, because as determined she is to dislike him, she can’t stop to be intrigued and to realize there is more to him than this haughty picture he gives to others.
It took her so long to determine that even if she didn’t want to be hurt once again, it was not to be at the detriment of her happiness.

While at first I was unsure I would be able to like Margaret, then I watched her interact with her family, and later Gregory. She has her faults, and she does not always react fairly but she is like an animal trapped, she would chew a limb instead of being caught. Why she reacts so strongly and negatively to Lord Williams’ proposal. He stole her right to choose.

Mrs Leah Garriott debut novel is like jumping right in Jane Austen’s world, the quips, feuds, party’s games and proper behavior were enlightening and entertaining, the clue to a delightful read.
4.5 stars

I was granted by the publisher Shadow Mountain an advance copy through Netgalley.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Margaret has been hurt by love in the past and has sworn that a marriage of convenience is the only way to protect her heart from being hurt again.

While attending a matchmaking party, she meets Mr. Northam and decides he’s the perfect gentleman for her marriage plan. But she soon discovers that Lord Gregory Williams is against the match. He sets his own plan in motion to protect Margaret.

However, Margaret is done being “protected”. She wants what she wants, and no one will stop her from getting it. But the more time she spends with Gregory, the more she starts second guessing what she truly wants in a marriage.

Can things be different with Gregory? Will she be happy in a loveless and lonely marriage? Or should she follow her heart and marry for love?

*dreamy sigh*

You know that saying, never judge a book by its cover? Confession. I totally judge them! The cover is what draws me to a book in the first place. If you have a beautiful cover, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be clicking on your book to see if it’s something I would enjoy. Well that’s exactly what happened with Promised. Isn’t this cover gorgeous?! After reading the synopsis, I was hooked. I just HAD to read this book!

And I’m happy to say that it did not disappoint! Even though Margaret was beyond stubborn at times, it did not stop me from falling in love with her and Gregory. From their first meeting, the chemistry was off the charts. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was Ms. Garriott’s first book. For me, it did not read like a first book. I was captured from the first chapter and had a really hard time putting the book down. I was not happy when I had to put the book down and adult. I’m definitely looking forward to more books by her.

This book was an enjoyable take on Pride & Prejudice. Margaret Brinton has been burnt by love in the past and she is determined never to feel that hurt and anguish again. She sets out to lure a known rake into marrying her except his cousin, Lord Gregory Williams is determined to derail her efforts. Gregory wants Margaret for himself, but she currently won't have anything to do with him. It's up to Gregory to try and change her mind and marry him instead.

I'm delighted to find a new author and this book was very enjoyable. Margaret and Gregory's characters were well fleshed out and the first person viewpoint let the reader into their mindset. The plot flowed nicely and I was routing for Gregory and Margaret to find their happily ever after.

I cannot believe how fast I flew through this. From the beginning, I could already tell that, if the characters are able to grow on me, that this would easily become a 5-stars read, and I am so glad that everything turned out really enjoyable! The vibe of it is just so different and refreshing compared to the usual historical romances that I've read.

Having her heart betrayed once before, Margaret Brinton has vowed never to let a man have her heart again. But that didn't mean that she never plans to wed, which is why she has allowed herself to be invited to a match-making party. Snaring the right man for a marriage of convenience is the route that she is determined to go on, and it is at this party where she will find him. Mr Northram seems like the right kind of man to help her in her endeavours. He's a rake, and he doesn't mind agreeing to that title. His honesty is exactly what Margaret wants, but his cousin, Lord Williams, couldn't leave her be, and before the party even ends, she is left insulted, her reputation slipping even lower in the eyes of society. Then, upon arriving home, she realises that her parents have agreed to a marriage between her and Lord Williams. What horror! But the more she spends time with him, the more she learns of what his personality truly is like beneath the arrogance that she has so labelled him with since their very first encounter. It is now up to Margaret to choose whether to continue guarding her heart, or to be set free forever.

The subtitle up there on the book cover, Proper Romance, was one of the reasons why I decided to give this a shot while browsing through Netgalley. The blurb was obviously the main reason why I requested it, but that subtitle there made me remember the book that pushed me to try historical fiction: A Heart Revealed by Josi S. Kilpack. I still believe it to be one of the best that I've ever read of that genre, and now I can add this to the list. I am so glad I took the chance, because I have tried reading other Proper Romance books, and they didn't come out as good, but this one did. It is not only 100% clean, it is also fun and heartfelt.

Written in the first person, we are allowed into Margaret's every thought. She is so witty. I especially enjoyed all the jokes that she and her brother come up with! Her voice reads easily, and is very personal, which means connecting with Margaret is certainly a smooth and quick process for me. Lord Williams is also very likeable once we get to learn a little more about him.

Other than the wonderful characters this book holds, there are also the thrills and twists that come with it. My heart flutters whenever Lord Williams and Margaret interacts as well, and that's a major plus, something that I always look for in romances.

I definitely look forward to other books this author has in store!

It's not easy to overcome a broken heart. It's probably more difficult in a society where women don't have many options outside marriage. Promised is a story about Margaret's foray into this dilemma. Our poor heroine feels jaded in love after the one she was supposed to marry turned out to be a rake of the worst sort. Her solution find a rake that she can marry without giving him her heart. This becomes increasingly difficult after meeting Lord Williams and his cousin Mr. Northam at a house party intended to make matches. What ensues following the house party was more than she bargained for.

I loved the story and the growth in Margaret as she let her walls come down that she had built around her heart when she was hurt. I liked our hero's ability to let her grow and come to her decision herself, at least he did eventually.

Margaret's difficulty was of her own creation as a response to being hurt. Leah Garriott beautifully explores Margaret's feelings and change of heart while staying true to the character and her personality.

I was really disappointed in Promised. I read all the historical romances from Shadow Mountain and really looked forward to this one. But the story never worked for me. The heroine was immature and contrary; the hero was bland and secretive. The Big Reveal of why he was pursuing her fell flat, and I never bought her sudden love for him, not for one minute. I finished the book feeling that they would never be happy together.

This novel seemed to be patterned after Pride and Prejudice - two people with strong feelings toward each other who eventually turn those feelings into love. But both Elizabeth and Darcy are flawed but likable. I did not like Margaret or Gregory, and the author just did not make me believe in their relationship. I also never trusted Gregory's motives and never understood what Margaret's brother Daniel was about. I kept going hoping I would like the book more, but if anything I liked it less the more I read. :(

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

This was a delightful read that really hit the spot on this snowy, nothing is open, can’t go anywhere day. It is a clean, engaging read that is a great addition to the Proper Romance line.

I was surprised by Lord Williams’ secret. Trying to figure out his motivation and determine if he was really a good guy kept me intrigued.

Margaret was very stubborn, but her attitude and reactions made a lot of sense given the betrayal she’d faced.

I’d read more from this author.

*I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

"As he tied the bow, he leaned toward me and whispered, "It appears I need to teach you the waltz in private, to ensure we are not interrupted again." He moved back to my side and again placed my hand on his arm smiling suggestively. Excitement shivered through me. "I believe that his a very good idea."

This book is a must read for any Jane Austen fan. It hits all of the right notes from Pride & Prejudice with enough new spin to make it it's own special book. I think Leah Garriott did an amazing job writing Promised. I thought the plot was excellent and there were many twist in the story that truly left we wondering what was going to happen. I would definitely put this on your must read when it comes out in February of 2020.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

4 stars

An unexpexted book. One the face of it, there seems to be a repeat of tropes in Pride and Prejudice but you really need to stick with it as there's a big twist which I didn't see though. This book is a debut novel and that's delightful as it means I have a new author to follow.

It's a clean book so only kisses. The descriptions are evocative and you really get a sense of Margaret's prized lake.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this debut novel and I can’t wait to read another story from her. It was a clean romance and I loved the characters.
Margaret was a strong willed, stubborn thing and Gregory was well mannered and determined. Parts of this story made me crazy because Margaret just didn’t know what she wanted.
It had heartache, romance and HEA.
I recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

The best way I can think of to describe Promised is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Despite having major reservations throughout the book (lack of historical accuracy and occasionally frustrating protagonists being foremost), somewhere along the way I became hooked and couldn’t put it down. Leah Garriott manages to capture the emotional drama and longing between the characters in a way that’s incredibly compelling and will make you gladly suspend disbelief over the other shortcomings in the story.

Plot-wise, this felt like a patchwork of concepts and scenes straight from Jane Austen’s novels (a lot of P&P, and a bit of S&S, and some Persuasion sprinkled in). Margaret is very much an Elizabeth Bennett-type character, though infused with more modern sensibilities and not always logical motivations. Lord Williams serves as the Mr. Darcy of the story, right down to the BBC miniseries wet shirt moment. I’m not sure if Garriott intends to revisit this world of characters in a future book, but the supporting characters certainly seemed to be teed up for their own stories by the time the epilogue rolled around.

Overall, and notwithstanding my critiques above, I really did enjoy Promised and look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Press and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist Romance Reviews (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2019/12/17/promised-by-leah-garriott/)


My Rating: 4 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.

___________________


Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Slow burn

Relationship dynamics: The Upstanding Baron (H) / The Emotionally Reserved Miss (h)

Sexual content: None. Kissing only.

Triggers: Men who talk over women while pretending to solicit her opinion; non-consensual kissing (of h, not by H)

Grammar/Editing: My ARC had significant formatting issues – no indents for new paragraphs and dialogue running together.

Review: This single point-of-view novel is a fairly evenly paced, quick read. The historical context was fairly well-researched and the story is clearly placed within the Regency time period (which is also explicitly stated at the outset of the book).

Margaret has been disappointed in love and therefore intends to protect her heart at all costs. Gregory is a man determined to rein in his rake of a cousin. This is a clean, slow-building romance with similar plot devices as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Their relationship starts with a lot of sniping banter, but eventually it becomes sweet. I didn’t always like the hero and heroine as I read, but they evolved as characters and so my opinion of them eventually improved. Many of the supporting characters are quirky and well-developed enough to have a successful subplot involving Margaret’s brother and her best friend. That being said, I found the villains in the novel to be far less complex, and therefore less effective.

Music Twin version: Beethoven Sonata No. 8, Op. 13, Pathetique



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Margaret has got a broken heart and vows to marry someone safe, someone she will never be able to love. She goes to a matchmaking party to find a husband. But is this what she really wants? I thought it was an enjoyable read. Though I was a bit annoying it took Margaret so long before she realized what she really wanted.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review.

#Promised #NetGalley
Margaret, is determined to guard her heart, and thinks that finding someone to marry for convenience might just be the answer. When two cousins attract her attention, she isn't sure that she wants to trust either man. Unbeknownst to Margaret, her father has arranged a marriage agreement for her, I loved the authors writing style, The sassy tone of Margaret and the relationship she has with her brother, Daniel. I had a hard time putting this book down.

This is a new to me author, but I will definitely read more of her books.

I do love a good and funny historical romance novel with imperfect characters who don’t always make the best choices, but that is what makes it a good and interesting book. I don’t care for perfect characters, I want flawed ones because you can relate to them and turn them more real.

Margaret and Lord Williams made me laugh and at times I wanted to knock their heads together.

If you enjoyed that scene in the Pride & Prejudice series, where mr Darcy dives into the lake, then you will love this book. I certainly did.

I had a hard time liking the characters. I disliked all of them but Alice until halfway through the book. They improved by the end, but still, I did not love them. I thought the character's motivations were messed up.

This is the first book that I've read by this author, but definitely will not be the last!
I loved the characters and felt an immediate connection to the story.
Margaret, having gone through a heartbreaking break up, is not looking for a love match while attending a house party given by a friend of the family. She meets two cousins, Lord Williams and Mr. Northam. She decides the latter is the better bet as he is a rake and she will not fall for him. Lord Williams, on the other hand, stirs feelings that she is uncomfortable with.
Margaret pursues Mr. Northam as he is the "safe" suitor that she is looking for, to the aggravation of Lord Williams.
Through misunderstandings and family illness Margaret fights her attraction to Lord Williams, Gregory. These two will go through much before finding their "Happily Ever After".
I highly recommend the purchase of this story to find out how it all turns out. You will not be disappointed!
Thanks to Leah Garriott, Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me this advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is a fun spin on a romance. The characters are likable, the story is different enough to be interesting but still with the familiarity desired in a good clean romance. I'll definitely be looking for more stories by Leah Garriott!

What a delightful novel! I thoroughly enjoyed Leah Garriott's story of a young woman who wants to secure a husband who will let her live a peaceful life as she will let him live as he likes. She doesn't want to risk her heart after having it stomped on by a fiancé. No, an arrangement that doesn't involve romantic love but instead offers security seems the pathway to a content life. She has that in mind when she and her brother attend a house party that is really a matchmaking party. She meets Lord Williams and Mr. Northam - cousins who vie for her attentions which tests her resolve about what she wants in a marriage. Promised is filled with humor, drama, sparkling characters and settings that drew me in. I enjoyed it all and can't wait to see what Leah Garriott writes next. I think Promised will appeal to fans of Jane Austen and romantic regency novels.