This was just okay.
I expected more, the historical ascept was interesting but the characters were boring and too..peppy and over teh top for my taste.

Set in the harsh realities of London's East End during the late 1880's, A DAUGHTER'S PROMISE is the first book I have read by historical fiction author Lynette Rees and I quite enjoyed it. Despite it being predictable in part, which is pretty much what readers come to expect with this type of story, it still makes for an easy and enjoyable read. While some of the content may be a little sordid, it was done cleanly and sensitively and in a way that made you want to keep turning the pages.

Whitechapel 1888: After the death of her father, 18 year old Kathryn Flynn helps care for her poorly mother and her younger siblings whilst working sporadically as a seamstress to help keep a roof over her family's heads and food on the table. But when work dries up she soon finds they are dodging the rent man when he comes knocking at the end of the week. With no money coming in, she soon fears they will be out on their ear if she cannot find a way to make ends meet soon.

All too aware of her struggles, friend and neighbour Jimmy Dawton takes Kathryn out to the local The Horse and Harness for pie and mash one evening and offers to care for her and her family by proposing marriage. Incredibly fond of Jimmy as she is, she refuses his offer fearing he only made it out of pity. This is her problem and not Jimmy's to solve though she is touched that he cared enough to offer. But that still doesn't solve her problem of how to keep the money coming in to care for her ailing mother and her younger siblings. Noticing the girls on the darkened streets and out of desperation, Kathryn decides the only to keep a roof over their heads and food in their tummies is to join those girls and sell her wares.

And then she meets "the Squire", a gentleman who offers her a job as a companion in the more affluent West End. The money he promises her is more than she could ever hope to earn and it sounds like the answer to her prayers. He treats her like a lady and lavishes her with new gowns and dresses she could never afford in a million years, setting up an apartment for her to entertain and where they can enjoy each other's company. A gentleman in the truest sense of the word he lays not a finger on her...just the promise of his kiss as Kathryn begins to fall in love with him.

Heartbroken that she has thrown him over for an older man who can obviously offer her more than he possibly could, Jimmy leaves his siblings Dorrie and Nick and embarks on a journey on the high seas to make his fortune. Kathryn is shocked that Jimmy would leave his siblings without a backward glance, given that they are far too young to be left on their own. She'd take them in but she has barely enough room for the six of them in their little rooms, not to mention the dilemma of how to feed them. And when her mother takes a turn for the worse, the doctor advises her she may only have weeks to live. Surely something could be done for her...and there is...if you are wealthy. And then Kathryn remembers the Squire.

Under the guise of Miss Bella Cartwright, Kathryn endeavours to make enough money to pay for her mother's care in a facility by the sea as well as keep her siblings clothed and fed and to keep the lecherous O'Shay, the rent man, at bay. With the promise of her entertaining gentlemen, the Squire organises an event at a country manor where she finds herself being ogled and pawed at before being auctioned off with her virginity being the main prize. Kathryn is appalled. The men were old and disgusting bar for one who was much younger but had a cruel glint in his eyes. Surely the Squire had not meant for this to happen? He cared for her. He loved her as she loved him. Therefore she trusted him to protect her. But would he really?

Kathryn finds herself in a situation for which she only has herself to blame. And yet, it was all for her family. To pay for her mother's expensive care so she will get better and for her younger siblings who rely on the money she brings home. She questions herself, is it worth it? But for her her family, she would do anything.

In her new line of work, life is perilous at the best of times but now more than ever as Jack the Ripper is stalking the streets of Whitechapel and brutally slaying women of the night. Can she keep herself safe from the killer and her family from the Workhouse?

A tale of a different kind of sorts, A DAUGHTER'S PROMISE tells the story of Kathryn and her family as well as the Dawtons and her new-found friend Georgina. It highlights the perils of life for the poor and poverty-stricken lower class and the people who corrupt them to do their bidding. But it is also heartwarming and will pull at your heartstrings.

A delightfully heartwarming story of a young girl faced with a perilous situation, A DAUGHTER'S PROMISE brings together the love of good friends and family in this tale of survival in London's harsh East End.

I would like to thank #LynetteRees, #Netgalley and #Quercus for an ARC of #ADaughtersPromise in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

A historical clean romance setduring the time of Jack the Ripper. White chapel was a dangerous, filthyplace in London. The families in the area were very poor and tough decisions were made. Many ended up on the streets and some died.
This story focused on two families and the people who corrupted them.
Some parts dragged for me but I did enjoy the story. I wanted more romance. I always want MORE romance. I’m giving this a 3 star because it could have been more developed.

Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review

Family at any cost

Kathleen Flynn is eighteen, working as a seamstress in London. After her father's death she is helping her mother care for her younger siblings. When her mother is ill with lung problems she is hard pressed to pay the rent and upon threats of eviction to the streets she becomes desperate.

She meets Mr. Squires a gentlemen that offers her a job uptown. Sounds like the answer to her dreams. He helps her sick mother get into a home to recover in the country, and buys her fancy clothes. Then she finds out the dark secret and what he has in store for her.

She now longs for her friend Jimmy who once proposed marriage to her, but he was hurt when she took up with Mr. Squires and left on a ship to find his fortune. Now she has to figure out what to do?

This is a heartwarming story of a young girl in a perilous situation, the love of good friends and family, and how she manages to survive and keep her family together. I absolutely loved this story, and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Lynette Rees, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in return for an honest review.

The book is set in London in the 1890s. Kathryn Flynn has taken over the care of her siblings after her father dies and her mother is too poorly to get out of bed.

Kathryn struggles to hold life and limb together keeping a roof over their heads, food in their tummy's. Being desperate she decides the only way to make any money is to go up west and sell her body. Once here she meets up with "The Squire" who instantly falls in love with her and promises her money if he sells her virginity to the highest bidder.

Her oldest friend Jimmy offers to marry her and look after her family, but she cannot see him in that light so he takes off to sea leaving his younger brother and sister in the care of an aunt & uncle who have no worry over the children, so leave them to their own devices.

This is an excellent read with some colourful characters. It made me shed a few tears of frustration for Kathryn as she struggles with a vicious landlord and a gaggle of characters that she tries desperately to care for.
Well worth 5* and well worth a read.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity t read and review this book.

Another wonderful novel by Lynette Rees .I was drawn right into the story the characters a tale that was so involving.Highly recommend this novel this author.#netgalley#Adaughterspromise

Such another great story from Lynette Rees. She is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
Such strength of characters and excellent period detail.
Highly recommend.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Set in Whitechapel in the 1890's.

Kathryn Flynnstruggles tomkeep her family together after the death of her father. Her mother has taken to her bed and they are behind with the rent. Kathryn does everything she can to keep her family from the workhouse. Jack the Ripper is also prowling the streets and naturally Kathryn is petrified.

I enjoyed this book even though it was a it predictable in parts. It's well written, full of twists and it will pull at your heartstrings .

I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Lynette Rees for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I do love to read Lynette Rees lovely books as they pull you into the story and you go on a journey with the charactors.5*