The Forbidden Promise

Kate plans to turn an old estate called Invermoray into a boutique hotel, but there are plenty of problems with the house. It needs a lot of rehab and it also seems to have a dark past. A young woman who lived in the house during the second world war, Constance, is not spoken of in the village. She has in effect, been eradicated from the house’s history. But why? Kate sets out to solve an 80 year old mystery and to restore Constance’s good name

Constance is celebrating her 21st birthday at her home, Invermoray House in Scotland in 1940. She thinks the excess is not appropriate during the war, but her parents can afford things on the black market. When Henry, her brother Douglas's friend in the RAF, makes inappropriate advances, Constance leaves the house to sit in the sark by the loch. As she sits, an airplane crashes into the lock.. Realizing the pilot, Matthew, must be in the submerged plane, she goes into the loch to help him out. Constance then takes him to an estate cottage near the loch. So begins the lies, the plans to keep Matthew hidden, and eventually Constance and Matthew falling in love. Things take a decisive turn for the worse when Matthew is discovered.

Kate is a modern woman who works in public relations. She has been fired from her job because of accusations by a client of inappropriate advances. In fact, it was the client who made the advances. She applies for several jobs and is hired by Liz, the current owner of Invermoray House, to turn the manor house into a money-making bed-&-breakfast for tourists. Kate arrives to find that Liz's son, James, has left his job to help his mother and he is not happy that Kate is there. In addition, Invermoray House is deep in debt.. She is looking for something like Loch Ness to draw tourists to the manor house. Instead of an imaginary monster, a story about a plane crash and drowning is uncovered. Kate finds herself feeling at home in Ivermoray House and attracted to James.

While this is not Christian fiction (there is a lot of drinking, a little profanity, and some sex [not explicit]), the story of both Kate and Constance is compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to netgalley and Avon books for an early copy in return for an honest review.
Having read lorna's first book which is BRILLIANT I knew that this was going to be something special, and being set in the beautiful Scottish highlands even more so.
In a forbidden promise lorna has set centre stage with such amazing strong characters and slowly and emotionally works her magic to unfold a truly majestic heart wrenching tale of three generations of one family between the 1940's and today full of love and loss and sheer determination this really is a superb work of art.
I really can't praise this book enough.
This is one SPECTACULARIFIC book.

A beautiful drama. Really enjoyed the well developed characters and a fascinating storyline that make this a must read. Highly recommended.

A lifetime of Happiness

Two romance stories, one in WWII and one in current life. Both stories connected to a house called Invermoray on the Scottish Loch.

The year was 1940, the war between Britain and Germany had just begun. This is the story of a house called Invermoray where Douglas a young British pilot and his younger sister Constance lived with their parents. This is where it all begins. Douglas's friend Henry, his sister Constance, and a downed Pilot in the loch named Matthew. The story is about a love affair, secrets reviewed and a tragic death. The story ends with a banishment from Invermoray, a disinheritance, and a happy ever after.

The year is 1999, and James and his mother have inherited Invermoray and decided to turn it into a bed and breakfast. they have hired a young lady from London named Kate to help with this project. Not only do James and Kate discover the mystery behind the airplane they find in the loch, but they actually meet the daughter of Constance. In all this they discover their own forever happiness.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and the characters were realistic and believable. I was very vested in both storylines and had a hard time putting the book down. The house and the surroundings sound so beautiful.

I recommend this book, it will give you hours of enjoyment.

Thanks to Lorna Cook, Avon Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book

After a brilliant first novel one is always a bit worried that the next one may disappoint, but this second novel from Lorna Cook simply confirms her growing reputation as an exciting new talent. The timeline is once again 1940 and present day, but the setting this time is an ancestral pile in the Scottish Highlands. The property is in need of restoration and reinvention, and in the process a fascinating tale from the wartime era emerges with some very unexpected plot twists. The characters are strongly drawn and I found I just had to keep reading!

I read one of Lorna Cook’s books a few months ago, so I was very excited to see this one on Net Galley. The book takes place in Scotland at a beautiful estate called Invermoray. This book is told in present day by Kate, who has been hired for her PR experience to revitalize the estate and turn it into a travel destination, and in the fall of 1940, the thick of WWII by Constance the daughter of the estate owner. On the evening of her 21st birthday, Constance witnesses a Spitfire crash into the loch. She jumps in to help the struggling pilot. What happens that evening has a tragic affect on the next two generations of the family. I felt that the story started a bit slowly due to introducing and familiarizing the reader with the characters. The story begins to move along quite quickly and is a page turner. There is a completely unexpected twist that caught this reader completely by surprise. I highly recommend this book to fans of the author, historical fiction or mysteries. I have but one complaint, the use of the phrase ‘these ones’, which is not only grammatically incorrect, but not a slang that would be used in such a higher classed setting. Hopefully the editors will correct this. Thank you to Net Galley for the pleasure of reviewing this book.

Well written. Great character development and plot with many twists and turns. I really like how the author braided the two stories together. There was great suspense, just enough romance and interesting subject matter (WW2). The only way I saw this book could have been improved upon was when Kate finds there isn’t enough money to pay her so she decides she will leave, and there was no development on why she changed her mind. The next chapter just informs you she is staying. It was abrupt and lost some of the tension. Otherwise this is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

2 stories in the same house years apart. From the minute I started the book I was drawn in and could not put it down. I love the way the author writes, it flowed well. I could just imagine the characters set In Scotland in the beautiful scenery.

Although it’s not difficult to see where this story is heading, it’s absolutely fine, as it’s a throughly enjoyable time getting there. Cook’s writing makes it easy for the reader to submerge themselves into the world of novel. In this book, we have two narratives and time periods, the modern day and during World War Two. I enjoyed the modern day story and the two leads a little more than the 1940s story, but that’s just a personal preference. Both storylines meld together seamlessly though and I really enjoyed moving back and forth as the stories progressed. The setting is a large country house in Scotland where both narratives merge; I loved seeing the house and estate in both these times and the changes it faced. I really enjoyed the two love stories and how both couples faced great challenges and odds.

Overall, both joined to create a tragic and satisfying story of love, passion, betrayal, misunderstandings and grief.

I would recommend this book and will definitely read more by this author.

This was a dual timeline story. It was a gentle read and I found that I preferred the parts of the book that were set in the 1940s. There was more drama and mystery and tension. Overall I really enjoyed reading it and found myself getting through it pretty rapidly!

I was given an advance copy of Lorna Cook’s 1st book The Forgotten Village and really enjoyed it, so I was happy to see her second book available for advance review. I think I loved this book even better than the first one.

The story takes place at a Scottish country house called Invermoray, (what a great name). The book is a dual time line taking place in 1940 and present time. In 1940 Constance is celebrating her 21st birthday with a grand party. She feels it is a bit in bad taste with the war going on but her parents insist. While taking a much needed breather from the party and her brother’s odious friend, she witnesses a plane crash into the Loch. She rescues the pilot, Matthew and offers him sanctuary in the Ghillie’s cottage. What happens next is the mystery on the story.

In modern times Kate is hired by Liz to help turn Invermoray house into a bed and breakfast. Kate does not realize that the house is in a lot of debt and that Liz’s son James has come home to assist, he is less than pleased to have Kate come into what he feels is his territory. Kate is determined to make a success of the venture she was hired to do, despite James’ attitude. While working to save the house, Kate stumbles on the mystery of Constance and Matthew. What happened all those years ago and why is no one willing to tell the story?

This was a great dual time story that addresses some of the parts of war that is not often discussed, namely that not every soldier was eager to give his life for country, no matter what the expectations of the time are. I really enjoyed this book it has my favorites, dual time periods, a period house, and a mystery. I would like to think Avon books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I read The Forgotten Village and loved it so was very keen to read this. ?It didn't disappoint!

It was two romance stories rolled into one with a stunning Scottish house called , Invermoray on the banks of a loch at its core.
One story is set in the present day when there is a PR exec trying to get the house back to its former glory in looks and style and turn it into a hot destination the war years we see a fighter plane crash land not far from the house and the young girl who lives there goes to save the pilot.

The stories are both very well evoked but it's the setting that links the two stories and glistens like that loch. The waters are deep and mysterious that's for sure. Both compelling stories I was intrigued to see how things would all pan out and I was immersed into a world of mystery across the ages. The house and location are glorious!

There's a lot to discover in this novel and it's one to read over a long weekend wrapped iup in a tartan blanket with a hot chocolate and a scottie dog shortbread to hand.

I recommend this book, it will give you hours of enjoyment.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this story of two timelines. One set in the 40s and the other, present day in the same home: Invermoray House. Matthew and Constance‘s storyline was very interesting and at times suspenseful, wondering how their relationship would fare. I found the descriptions of the ghillie cottage as well as of Invermoray House were written so beautifully, it made me want to book a night at both! In the present day storyline, Kate and James are working so diligently to open Invermoray House as essentially a B&B, all while fighting feelings for one another.

Overall, I’m rating this book 4 stars. I enjoyed the setting descriptions and character development.

The Forbidden Promise by Lorna Cook came as a pleasant surprise to me. Set in my own backyard of the Moray Firth in north east Scotland, it tells two stories linked by one house. One takes place in 1940 and the other today and both feature young women struggling to find their places in the world. I thought both of them were well developed and came off the page. It is true that some of the story turns on well-worn plot devices but these are handled lightly. In fact my only real quibble with the book is the dreadful rendering of how the author hears the local accent - interestingly only used by two of the characters. That was off-putting and perhaps needs to be edited out of the final version at the same time as one or two facts are checked.

Fun, easy to read, good story if a little predictable in places. Also, rather too long, hence it gets draggy in places. Not quite as good as the author’s first outing, ‘The Forgotten Village’, but still good. Nice touch to have one of the major characters from the first story re-appear here in a cameo role.

Thank you so much for the ARC of The Forbidden Promise by Lorna Cook. I read this in two days and stayed up way past my bedtime both nights to read. Historical fiction set in Scotland in 1940 and travels back to the present day throughout. There's mystery and romance. I could not put this down.

I loved the storyline about the B&B. It's so sweet and moving.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is set in Scotland during 1940. and 2019 and flits back and forth between these times. Based around Invermoray House beginning on the night of the main character Constance McLay's 21st birthday, On witnessing a Spitfire crash into the loch she Rescues a pilot.

2019- Kate arrives in the Highlands to turn Invermoray into a luxury B&B, What she discovers is the house holds a dark history.

This book held me captive to the end. As each chapter flitted between 1940 and 2019, I couldn’t wait to get back to continue where the previous chapter ended in that era. The writer gave just enough away in each year to hold you over to the next chapter covering that year. I never anticipated the ending. A great read for fans of Lorna Cook.

Great read!! The author was very good at describing the scenes and setting a sense of place for the reader.
It was the first time I had read Lorna Cook, but it won't be the last. The plot is great and so well written. I enjoyed every page.

Dual timelines...1940 and 2019...set in Scotland. A downed pilot is rescued in 1940 that sets the stage for romance, secrets and death that weaves both time periods together in order to solve the mystery. For me it was a fast read, one that I felt was well written and kept me drawn into. As this was the first book I've read by Ms. Cook, I will not buy her first book "The Forgotten Village." My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book!

I'm new to the Timeslip genre and this is the second Lorna Cook novel I've read. This novel intertwines around the down-on-its-luck Scottish estate of Invermoray, a beautifully described place that it's the real-world's bad luck that it doesn't actually exist, as it sounds wonderfully romantic.

The 1940's part centres around Constance, the young lady of the house, whom the 'forbidden promise' of the title is centred around. Unhappy at not being allowed to do anything for the war effort, her world is turned upside down by being in the right place at the right time when a plane crashes in the estate's lake.

In the present day, Kate takes the job to turn the crumbling estate's fortunes around, though things are complicated by her relationship with the master of the house. Gradually, her curiosity about the previous house's occupants becomes a quest to find out what had happened to Constance.

I'm not going to go into anymore details about the story, as I've already given too much away. Suffice to say, the story is beautifully told and has the most wonderful twist at the end that I really didn't see coming. Don't fret, it is so believably written that it all makes sense.

If you're looking for a novel to keep you guessing and that will give you that warm feeling of satisfaction, then this is the novel for you.

My thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the pleasure of reading.

I really enjoyed this book anything set in Scotland is always a hit.
I liked the way it went seamlessly between the 1940s and the 1990s.
I would recommend this to fans of judith lennox and Rachel hore.
A great book to snuggle up with on a winter's day

The Forbidden Promise is a well written historical novel set in 1940 Scotland and present day. I loved the Scottish setting, and the dual storylines worked very well. Recommended for fans of 1940's historical fiction.

The book is set in Scotland and Invermory house. One part in 1949 and another in 1999. Constance in 1940 is having a lavish 21st birthday party mainly consisting of her parent's friend. After she fends off a would be suitor she witnesses a plane crashing into the sea. She rescues the surviving occupant by herself and that is the beginning of a love story and a tragedy.

In 1999 Kate leaves her job under a cloud and is hired to help Liz and her son James to build up a bed and breakfast business at Invermory house. Kate finds an old family bible with one of the family names struck from it,wiped out of history. That name is Constance. Kate is determined to find out what happened with this young woman that her family could never forgive.

I loved this story it's even better than the author's first book. Constance was such a lovely person who wasn't treated well by her family and my heart went out to her.
Both timelines were good stories in their own right and both came together at the end.
I was sad to finish it.

Dual narrative historical romantic fiction with both strands set in the idyllic fictional Scottish estate of Invermoray. In the present day, PR whizz, Kate, hastily takes up a new role to revive the flagging fortunes of the crumbling pile as she struggles to rebuild her life following her sudden sacking from a high-flying role in London. Kate meets fierce opposition from the owner’s son, James, and begins to question the wisdom of her decision to leave the bright lights of the city to take on a seemingly impossible task.

Running parallel to the modern day narrative strand is the story of Constance, who lived in the house during the Second World War and was mysteriously disinherited. On the the eve of her 18th birthday she sees a Spitfire crash into a lake within the grounds of the estate and rescues a pilot.

As the story switches between the two timeframes, the stories begin to converge and it was this aspect of the story that I found to be the most compelling. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Lucinda Riley’s ‘The Butterfly Room’. A comforting winter read.

I was a little disappointed in this book as when I read the description beforehand I thought it would be a great read as I’ve holidayed in Dorset many times, in fact I visited it only this year. It is a beautiful part of the country with fantastic scenery and wonderful coastal walks.
I obviously knew about the forgotten village and have visited it a very long time ago. So, I was interested to see what this story revealed.
Unfortunately it turned out to be just another romantic story and not what I was hoping for.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The forgotten promise by Lorna cook a book about a country estate with a troubled past - two stories one in the past one current .
Kate a successful PR writer leaves her successful job under a cloud as she is harassed at the Xmas party by a client and the clients wife interpreted as them having an affair, which is not true. She leaves and accepts a job promoting a rural Scottish estate. On her way there she almost runs over a runner in her hire car. When she arrives there she is very shaken then discovers James the man in the incident is her boss although she was employed by James’s mother. The estate has crippling debt and her job is to turn it round. Whilst doing so they discover the estate has a tragic past set in war time. As the house has its own loch they try to drum up publicity about a monster and a film crew comes to film the loch and then more of the story comes to light.

It was a lovely story. The part relating to past had one or two twists which made it a more interesting read and both stories tied together beautifully.

A wonderful read a book that drew me right in kept me reading late into the night.Characters that came alive highly recommend.#netgalley#avonbooksuk

Dual timeline book that transitions seamlessly between both stories. Strong characters, and set among the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, this is a wonderful tale of love and loss.

Loved the dual time line. Stunning book. I was delighted to receive this advanced reader's copy from Netgalley as I loved Lorna's first book, The Forgotten Village. Both stories were beautifully tied together.

I absolutely loved this book ,the first I have read by this Author and from the first chapter it was very hard to put down ,always a sign of a good read !The story is set in Scotland mainly around a country house called Invermoray,it is set in two timelines which I personally enjoy in a book very much, 1940 and present day .Lorna is celebrating her 21st Birthday with a very grand party at the house when she witnesses a Spitfire crashing into the Loch she rescues the drowning pilot and takes him to an empty cottage in the grounds secretly .This action changes the lives of her Family and future generations .There was a brilliant twist near the end of the book and the ending was very satisfying .I am now going the read the first book of this Author and look forward to reading more from her in the future .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

This was my first book by this author, but I will read her previous book. I love historical romance and also a duel timeframe.

This book contains beautiful description of the Scottish Highlands and Invermoray House with the grounds, the loch and villages. I loved reading Kate’s story and everything that had to do with turning the house into a B&B.

And then there is Constance story. I was so curious to find out what had happened to her and what events led to her name to be crossed out from the family records. It is a story about a young woman stuck into a life she doesn’t want, with a longing for more.

The ending was satisfying.

I recommend this book.

An enjoyable double romance as there are two related timelines in the book. Believable characters and a nice plot twist near the end. Recommended.

Well written stories, essentially two romances; one from 1940 and one present-day, set in an old house in Scotland. 1940 - house occupied by a well-to-do family with two adult children, Douglas and Constance. He's a pilot in the RAF, she's a woman therefore expected to stay at home and do what gentrified ladies do to her annoyance. On her 21st birthday she escapes the party and, sitting by the loch, watches a plane crash into it. She dives in, party frock and all, and rescues the young pilot, takes him to the gillie's cottage to recover and their story continues until tragedy strikes and she is thrown out of the family - plenty of interesting details to keep the reader going. Present-day and the old house is now occupied by a branch of the family and is failing state shall we say - although what is then done to make it the boutique hotel/visitor experience seems rather little if it was that bad. Widowed Liz runs it and her son James brought back from his job to try to get it back on it's economic feet. She also brings in a London=based PA star, Kate, to help, unbeknownst to James. Naturally sparks fly between James and Kate...... Kate delves a bit into the family history and then gets more involved in trying to find out what happened to Constance as well. This is the more interesting as James/Kate romance is much too predictable and, frankly dull (and, no, wouldn't have been improved by throbbing manhoods or anything!). The stories are well-written though and the coming together, even if predictable, makes a neat ending. A gentle, light enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Many Thanks to Net Galley, Avon Books UK and Lorna Cook for a chance to review this book.

Invermoray House in Scotland, oh how beautifully did the author bring alive the beauty of this place in Scotland. The loch, the mountains, the highland air, never have I wished so much to be physically present and walk in the shoes of the characters.

In 1940, the war is raging on and Constance has escaped the party hosted for her 21st birthday when she sees an aircraft crashing into the loch and she jumps in to save the pilot. She takes the pilot Mathew to the empty ghillie’s cottage in her property where she is requested to keep his presence a secret. Out of the goodness of her heart and fearing his mental stability, Constance agrees to keep the promise which has far reaching repercussions and never imagined consequences.
In the present day 2019, Kate a successful PR has had trouble at her work and to escape the belittling and embarrassment, searches for a new job and gets appointed by Liz the owner of Invermoray House to convert it into a B&B. James, Liz’s son who is also in the house trying to save the roof from collapsing is not keen about Kate’s presence and is hostile initially.
The story is enchanting and captivating as along with Kate who wonders about the heirs to Invermoray house Constance and her brother Douglas, we can’t help but turn the pages to know about the fateful night in September 1940 and to know what destiny had in store for Mathew. I loved how the author has developed the romance in a slow and sweet manner that one can’t help but fall in love with both the couples. The Invermoray village and its friendly inhabitants induces warmth and there’s a mellow feeling at the end of final chapter in the book.
For all fans of Kate Morton who love dilapidated houses, dual time story lines, with family mysteries and romance should definitely check this book out.Recommended!
#NetGalley #LornaCook #TheForgottenPromise

Brief synopsis from the book cover:

Scotland, 1940:
War rages across Europe, but Invermoray House is at peace. Until the night of Constance’s twenty-first birthday, when she’s the only person to see a Spitfire crash into the loch. Constance has been longing for adventure – but when she promises to keep the pilot hidden, what will it cost her?

2020:
Kate arrives in the Highlands to turn Invermoray into a luxury bed-and-breakfast, only to find that the estate is more troubled than she’d imagined. But when Kate discovers the house has a murky history, with Constance McLay’s name struck from its records, she knows she can’t leave until the mystery is solved…

How will one promise change the fate of two women, decades apart?

My rating:

Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Women’s fiction
Historical fiction

Review:

This is captivating and nicely written story with right amount of mystery. The story is told over two timelines through alternating chapters one set in 2020 and the next in 1940. The timelines are nicely interwoven and concluded at the end of the story. The book is well written and the characters have real human traits, they fall in love, they make mistakes and they hurt. This made them realistic. The story is also set in a beautiful location which is depicted vividly and in great detail this added an additional atmospheric feel to the book.

Overall this is beautifully written book. It has all the ingredients for a great historical fiction novel. It’s captivating with a bit of mystery, it’s set in a stunning location and it has realistic characters. When you finish you can’t help but smile and feel a little sad at the same time because you reached the end of the book.

Review copy provided by NetGalley at no cost to me

LOVED this book by Lorna Cook. I could not put this down and the story will stay with me for a long time, I'm sure. This is my kind of Historical Fiction.

It's WWII and Constance is living in Invermoray House in Scotland. She feels completely disconnected from the war, even as her brother is sent to fly for the RAF. Until the evening of her 21st birthday when an airplane crashes into the loch on her family's property. She promises to help this pilot, but could never understand what that promise will mean for her future.

It's present day Scotland and Kate arrives to help bring this house back to its former glory and help bring it from ruin. What she discovers, as she escapes a small scandal in England, is beyond anything she could have imagined, to include a grumpy boss, a hidden scandal, and possibly the chance for love.

"How will one promise change the fate of two women, decades apart?"

I can't wait to go back and read her first book now!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for an ARC for my honest opinion.

I do enjoy a book with a dual timeline and this one was no exception. Set in the highlands of Scotland, I particularly enjoyed the descriptive writing around the loch.

We have two central female characters. In WW2, Constance is trapped in a life she finds dull. When she rescues a pilot on the night of her 21st birthday, she sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever. Constance and Matthew are likeable characters and while I guessed the twist, it was nicely revealed and well written.

In the present, Kate is keen to abandon her old life in London to help set up a B&B. I found Kate and James rather infuriating and stereotypical- there were no surprises at all in their character development or arcs.

This book is concisely written with a decent pace and an interesting story. It’s a shame the two halves of the story aren’t more evenly matched. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

I enjoyed The Forbidden Promise, the way it was written keeps you interested in both the story from the past involving Constance, and the present situation where Kate finds herself with a job she never expected to be as difficult as it turned out to be. The beautiful setting is perfect for this type of mystery, giving the atmosphere a haunting quality from what is hidden in it's history. I love the overall plot, the writing style is smooth and flows easily. The main characters, Kate and Constance are strong, well developed characters, I felt like Matthew could have been a little more sculpted, at times it felt like his character wasn't as defined as the others, but all in all it's a great book with an entertaining and a beautiful love story.

I am such a sucker for a dual timeline story - especially one that features WWII.

We meet Kate in 2020, fleeing up to Scotland to take on a new job converting an old country house into a B&B, and Constance in 1940, daughter of the house with a secret.

Yes this book features pretty predictable plot points, but honestly I got past that and loved the story. It's true escapism.

It’s very rare that you pick up a book and within the first few pages you are completely hooked. I fell in love with this straightaway!!

The story is set at Invwemoray House in Scotland over 2 timelines 1940 and 2020.

In 2020 Kate is employed by Liz and her reluctant son James to help promote their home as a guest house. Kate comes up with a plan to get more tourists, she says there could be a monster in the loch (think that idea has been done before). There is something in the loch but it is definitely not a monster!! Kate soon starts to dig into Liz’s family history and the story of a pilot drowning in the loch.

In 1940 Constance has escaped her 21st birthday party and goes for a walk, when she sees a Spitfire plane crash into the loch, she jumps in and saves the pilot Mathew who she hides away in a disused Ghillie cottage. They fall in love but he has a secret that will tear them apart.

I fell in love with this book. I loved how the 2 timelines run parallel to each other but come together at the end. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was there watching everything happen first hand!!

Beautifully written. A magical blend of history and romance and strong likeable characters, that make this an addictive book that you can fall in love with and will think about long after reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Second novels can sometimes suffer from sort of 'syndrome' not quite as good as the first, he most difficult to write, sweated over for months and months on end, massive edits and rewrites and never quite reaching the pinnacle of the first novel. 

In the case of The Forbidden Promise this suffers with none of these, though I am unsure if the author suffered any of the aforementioned symptoms. For me this second novel is better than the first (and that was good) and shows a great example of dual time narrative, compelling storylines and wonderfully drawn characters. 

Present day. Invermoray House in Scotland. The current residents of the home, Liz and her son James are struggling to make ends meet and the only way is for the house to be made to pay  its way. A Bed and Breakfast seems a good idea with some typical HIghland pursuits for any guest that might fancy it. 

Kate is famed for her PR skills and that was her previous role in London but when an incident leads her to want to hid from all she knows she takes refuge in a job at Invermoray House. Intrigued by the mystery of the house she does some research to discover a family bible with one of the names crossed out - Constance McLay. 

1920. Invermoray House. Constance McLay's 21st birthday party. War has yet to really touch them so far north, it appears nothing has changed. But war is coming in many forms as young men, including Constance's brother and his friend join up and the estate workers go to fight for their country. 

With the excuse of an headache, Constance escapees her own celebrations and wanders down to the loch. 

There she sees a spitfire, dive and crash into the loch. Instinct kicks in and she saves the pilot and with one sweeping gestures promises to keep him safe in the abandoned ghillies cottage. However Constance finds that this promise is hard to keep. 

As war starts to touch Invermoray House more directly, Constance finds that she is torn between her heart and her head. 

Some eighty years later as Kate tries to find out more about Constance she also finds that her heart and her head are working independently of each other. 

As the plot goes back and forth you start to form a picture of what life was like for Constance and also how it is perceived by Kate, trying to find out more about her, as if you were being told the same story from different perspectives.

What also holds the book up as excellent is the fact the author uses the landscape to be as much of a character as the characters themselves. This adds weight and depth to the plot and kept me hooked as I turned the pages wanting to find out the truth, the secrets, the lies and the promises that were made. 

Lorna Cook is fast becoming an author you need to look out for.

I'd already read The Forgotten Village and really enjoyed it so was looking forward to this, Lorna Cook's second book. The first thing I'll say is that it passed all my expectations. I absolutely loved it! The story takes place at Invermoray House in Scotland; the imposing home of the McLays which overlooks a loch. There are two time slip love stories which wrap around each other beautifully. For Constance McLay, daughter of the house, the night of her birthday party in 1940 will bring unimaginable changes to her life. For Kate, arriving at Invermoray House eighty years later to help turn a tired old house into a successful business, one of her biggest challenges turns out to be the owner's son James.

Highly recommended. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this excellent book.

Constance is celebrating her 21st birthday in August 1940, at home in Invermoray House, in Scotland. All her parents friends are there, as well as her brother Douglas, and his friend Henry. Constance has grown fond of Henry over the last few months, but is dismayed by his behaviour during the evening. Using a migraine as her excuse, she slips away from the party, going down to the loch to be alone. As she watches, a plane comes down in the water, its engines having died. She can’t see the pilot, who doesn’t appear to have bailed out before the plane sank. She does the only thing she can, rushes to try to rescue him.

80 years later, Kate is on her way up to Invermoray House, to take help turn it into a luxury B&B. Unfortunately on arrival she finds things are in a far worse state than she was led to believe. Her job is normally doing PR when everything else has been done. This time she is going to have to start at the beginning. She also finds that the son of the house, James, was totally unaware of her appointment and makes it very clear that he doesn’t want her there. However, she finds herself pulled into the history and the possibilities of the House. Especially when she finds the family bible, that has all the births of the family handwritten in it. Constances name jumps out at her, as it’s been scored through. After seeing Constances’ portrait hanging the the wall on the staircase, she is more intrigued when she is told that at some point in the past it had been slashed with a knife.

I enjoyed this book from the first chapter. It is so well written, you can picture exactly how the house looks, the beauty of the scenery and how the characters fit in to it all, it’s a place we would all love to visit, and find it’s just as we imagined. I enjoyed the intermingling of the two worlds, and a lovely unexpected twist at the end. I didn’t read Lornas first book, but I’m going to, and I look forward to her next one,

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a ARC in return for an honest review.

There are many kinds of promises we can make to one another. This is an amazing story that shows how promises and decisions made by one person can impact many other lives. The story is told in two time-lines, both in Scotland but one in 1940 and one in 2020.
Constance is a young woman celebrating her 21st birthday at her home, Invermoray House. After an unwelcome advance by Henry, a friend of her older brother, she goes outside to get some much needed air and space from all the people in the house. She is the only person who sees the plane fall from the sky in to the loch. She jumps in to help save the pilot. After his rescue she vows to keep him hidden. She finds herself in an uncertain situation as she keeps her promise to the pilot at the same time trying to keep her responsibilities to her family.
Kate is hired to help turn Invermoray House into a luxury B&B. She is surprised to find the amount of work needed to get the Estate ready for visitors. But when Kate starts to learn of the history of the House she is particularly interested in why Constance has been scratched out of the family bible. Intrigued by the mystery Kate is determined to open the B&B and discover the truth about what happened to Constance.
This is a very attention-grabbing story that has woven the past and present together to slowly uncover the promise and the cost of the keeping the promise. Kate is a strong-minded woman and will not let James the son of the owner get under her skin. The book highlights how the choices made can have unintended consequences. How will understanding Constance story effect Kate? Will Kate be able to work with James to get Invermoray House to be the luxury B&B she was hired to do?

This novel was fabulous. I enjoyed it so much. My review cannot do justice to let you all know how much I enjoyed it. the most wondrous tale of a house and two stories, one present day and on in wartime.. marvellous storyline, and characters and plot. The writing was so evocative you feel like you are in the same place as the narrative. Couldn’t put it down. I have not read the authors previous book, but I certainly shall.

I am so looking forward to her next novel.

I have recently read some romances which are not my usual genre. Some, I have to admit, have been so predictable and not well written I did wonder if I'd like another.
However this novel gets a thumbs up from me in most respects. Although it does start slowly and once again a bit predictably, the author has taken a very interesting slant in the dual time line with the plot set in 1940. Constance is a the daughter of a well heeled family living in the grand Invermoray House. It is the night of her 21st birthday and escaping the lecherous friend of her brother she heads to the nearby Loch. Suddenly a plane crashes into the water and (this is somewhat unrealistic) Constance is the only one to hear or see it and then dives in to rescue the pilot. He is Matthew, who seems traumatised by war so she hides him in the estate cottage.
Move forward to 2020 and Kate, who had worked in glitzy PR in London escapes another upsetting sexual encounter to take up a job at the now dilapidated Invermoray House with its eccentric widow owner Liz and her obnoxious son James.
Kate is out of her depth as is Constance in her innocence. In both situations the women seek out their real purposes in life. As I find is usual with these romances I do find the more historic plot of more interest and this is definitely the case with Constance and the huge twist in the story that takes place when Matthew is discovered by both Constance's horrible friend and her brother.
It will explain the mystery that of course Kate is uncovering as she (somewhat miraculously) along with just two others turn the run down Scottish house into a B & B place of destination.
I am sure there are a lot of fans of this style of novel and I did find it more interesting as the plot unravelled. I wasn't sure about the product placement by the author of a cookbook ( Ottolenghi!) but for a cold evening in and needing some cheering up this is one of those books you'd pick. Happy ending? well of course!

A great story in a magical setting. I was totally immersed in this book. I loved the characters and the descriptions of the scenery. The two love stories were very well written and the whole story was believable.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This was set over two time periods 1940’s and 2019 at Invermoray House in Scotland. Constance McLay is a young woman living at Invermoray House she is not happy with her lot in life and wants to help with the War effort by working but her family won’t let her, they expect her to marry Henry but Constance is not ready for marriage.
Constance secretly helps a pilot who crashes in the lake near Invermoray house which upsets her family.
In 2019 Kate leaves London and goes to Scotland to work at Invermoray House to help Mrs Langley-McLay promote Invermoray House as a holiday destination.
Kate discovers old photographs of Constance McLay and other family members and tries to discover what happened many years earlier.
This is a romance about families and family relationships, the Second World War, secrets and Invermoray House. I loved the way it switched back and forward between Constance in the 1940’s and Kate in 2019.

Lorna Cook has done it again. Fans of her last book, The Forgotten Village (the Kindle no. 1 bestseller) will be pleased to know that her second offering, The Forbidden Promise, is every bit as fabulous - if not more so. The writing is beautifully descriptive and evocative - I felt as if I really was in the Scottish Highlands. I found the historical narrative particularly compelling, but the present day thread was excellent too. Dual timeline novels are the best sort (in my opinion), and Lorna Cook has absolutely got this format nailed! I can't wait to see what she writes next, and where she'll choose to set it - she has chosen some truly amazing locations so far. I love books with powerful settings that almost become characters in themselves, which is exactly what Lorna Cook writes.

After winning the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers with her debut novel last year, it's no surprise that Lorna's debut is now up for the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award too. I look forward to The Forbidden Promise enjoying similar success as her debut - it really does deserve to.

Every now and then you read a book and it’s really special. This is one such book. I loved the dual timeline and the link of the old Scottish house binding them all together. I confess I preferred the historical storyline but the characters in both eras captured me and I loved following their journey. The setting is exquisite, characters well-drawn, the romance beautiful and the writing perfect. I loved his book and would highly recommend it.

This story had me hooked by the first chapter and I even found myself reading into the early hours of the morning. Set in Scotland at Invwemoray House, the story covers two relationships that occur in two different time periods, 1940 and 2020.

In 2020 Kate takes on a job to establish Invwemoray House as a holiday destination. Employed by Liz, Kate finds that Liz’s son, James, is less than enthusiastic about her arrival. He makes it clear that he is more than able to do the job, and that they cannot afford to employ Kate. Over time, their relationship develops, and Kate finds herself immersed in the history of the house.
In 1940 with the war raging in Europe and the impact being felt in England, Constance finds herself wanting to assist the war effort. Her parents live quite removed from the hardship of war, celebrating her 21st birthday with alcohol and delicacies. Constance finds herself escaping the party, and the amorous attention of her brother’s friend, only to witness a plane crashing into the loch. Without a second thought, she dives into the loch and saves the pilot, Matthew. Matthew begs Constance not to warn the authorities as he wants to leave the fighting, so she agrees that he should stay in a disused Ghillie cottage on the family’s estate. Over time, the fall in love but Matthew is hiding secrets that have far-reaching consequences.
The two stories were beautifully told, with each story, guiding the events into the other. Lorna writes with such detail that I felt myself immersed in the story and the events surrounding the characters. This book will stay with you long after the final page is read. Definitely one to treasure.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Very enjoyable historical romance, intertwining two stories and keeping the outcome unknown right until the end. I got caught up in the story telling, the setting and the likeable characters and was sorry when it ended. Will look forward to more from this author. Thank you.

This is a interesting love story that is actually two stories, past of 1940 and present day. I found the past story to be much more interesting then the present story. The present story seemed to drag on a bit.
There is romance, suspense and insight into what life was like in the 1940’s.
I would definitely recommend this book if you like reading historical romance. The characters are relatable though not always likable. All in all, it is a cute story that keeps you engaged enough to keep reading to find out what happens in the end. A story that makes you think about how the choices we make in life can cause many unexpected chain of events.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion and review.

Well written story with a slight twist at the end which I did not see coming! Believable, well constructed characters. I liked the way that the plot moved between the 2 timelines. Recommended.

This is a beautiful book to read. It’s set in wartime and the present. A house In Scotland by a Loch, with characters from the war time to the present, what’s not to like! Would thoroughly recommend.

I love books set in Scotland and hope to one day visit there, myself. When I heard about this book from a fellow reviewer, I knew I had to read it! I am so glad I did. Lorna Cook did a beautiful job on the story that unfolds around Invermoray house on a Scottish Loch. This book tells the story of two different but connected generations, one during WWII and one in current time. Each story has romance, secrets to unravel and tragedy.

I found The Forbidden Promise to be well written and the characters to be realistic and relatable. I was very interested and pulled into both story lines. Invermoray house and the surroundings sound beautiful making this another book that has encouraged me to plan a trip to Scotland!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Lorna Cook for the ARC of The Forbidden Promise in exchange for my honest review.

It is 1940 and in the highlands its Constance's 21st birthday and she escapes her party fed up with everything.
Suddenly a spitfire crashes into the Loch in front of the house. Constance dives in and rescues the pilot and then she hides him.in an old cottage. He is disillusioned with the war and doesn't want to return so she hides him.

Fast forward to 2020. Kate arrives at the house employed to turn it into a luxury B&B. She stumbles on a picture of Constance and her brother but why is her name scribbled out of the family bible. What had happened here and to the family?

Can Kate solve the mystery and find her own happiness?

I liked this one much better than the previous book I read by this author. Sweet and interesting dual love stories. Fun!

This is my first book by Lorna Cook and wow I wasn’t disappointed. At first the going between 1940 and 2020 I did find frustrating as I was more hooked into 1940 but that did change and I couldn’t put the book down. A love story yes but two different couples in two different ages with two different outcomes. The author keeps you hanging on until the very end in order to read the outcome of both decades. If you love romance with a bit of history and a bit of mystery you’ll love this book. Thanks Lorna and NetGalley.

A World II mystery lies waiting for the right Pandora to unlock its secret. A forbidden affair, allied by circumstances yet axised by heritage, Kate and Constance's stories intertwine despite eight decades spanning their existence. The women are poised at the cusp of their future if they dare to ensure their happiness.

Thank you to Netgalley for the early read. The story kept me guessing to discover the truth behind the ripped portrait, disinherited daughter and sequestered guest. As a door creaks opens, a locked door is revealed. Lorna Cook masterly crafts engaging plot twists to keep her readers from reaching forgone conclusions.

Stunning story line set over two time lines that interact and resolve brilliantly at the end. Very satisfying read that I just could not put down
Can’t recommend it enough

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

I love the way this author tells a story; the way she pieces together memorable characters, stunning vistas and dual timeline stories with such ease. She always makes me want to travel to these distant locations. In this book, the past is 1940's Scotland; the eve of Constance's 21st birthday, where events take place that alter her and her family's lives forever. An event that leaves one dead, one jailed and one disinherited. In the present, Kate takes a job assisting in getting Invermoray House turned around from money pit to bead and breakfast.

Great story, I really liked both the past and the present stories, the characters were well written, the scenery lovely. Lorna Cook is quite quickly turning into one of my favourite authors.

An engaging and entertaining dual time line novel set in Scotland! Kate, in 2020, finds herself at the impressive Invermoray House where she's been hired to create a B&B. She finds a secret- that of Constance McLay. In 1940, Constance watches a plane crash into the loch and then rescues Matthew- who she hides because he has, well, an issue. Their love story twines along with the love that Kate finds with James. Nicely atmospheric with a great setting, this has a different take on the WWII novel. The characters are well drawn and the storytelling is strong. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved the story and loved the settings. Such a fantastic read that kept me wanting more. The crosses between the past and the present and how they tie in together have caught my interest for a while and this book did not disappoint.

Thank you to Avon Books UK, Lorna Cook and NetGalley for a review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction book set in two very different periods of time in Invermoray. The lives 0f Constance in 1940 and Kate in 2020 are very different but become interlinked.

This was actually the first book I had read by Lorna Cook, I had purchased her debut novel The Forgotten Village last summer but hadn't read it yet (an oversight I quickly rectified after reading this). Lorna won the Romantic Novelists' Association's (RNA) prestigious Joan Hessayon Award for The Forgotten Village. I enjoyed The Forgotten Village but must admit that I prefer The Forbidden Promise.

Constance is a young woman wanting to break free of the restrictions of her parents and pre war society. Kate is escaping life in London and hopes to help a family save their home. Both face major life changes.

A great book to get lost in. This is one of my favourite books of 2020

I really enjoyed this dual time line story, romance with a little touch of mystery.
1940 in the Scottish highlands, Constance observes a plane crashing into the loch. Her following actions has consequences, which she could never have foreseen.
2019 Kate accepts a position at Invermoray to turn an old family house into a B and B after a uncomfortable experience in her previous PR job.
As soon as I started this book, I knew it would be one I’d enjoy. It had a gentleness about it and a hint of hidden stories. One of my favourite romance types are where two people clash but don’t recognise that they are attracted to each other, so I was a happy reader with this book. Although I personally felt that the small misunderstanding in the current time frame wasn’t really needed. Still, that was a minor quibble for a number of hours enjoyment.
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for a copy to read.

4.5 stars

Split between 2 timelines at Invermoray House in Scotland, The Forbidden Promise looks at the ripples of events across time. In 1940 the house was at peace while the world was at war, but as war ramps up, the members of the household start to feel the pressure of the war. On Constance’s 21st birthday, she is the only witness to a plane crash that leads her to make a promise to keep the downed pilot hidden. Her promise will bring about consequences she could not have imagined.

Sixty years later, Kate is hired to help the current owners reimagine the house into a bed and breakfast, but quickly learns that the task is larger than she was led to believe. Plagued by finances and a reluctant owner, she has her work cut out for her to turn the house into the beauty it once was. But as she works to market the house, she is intrigued by the secrets that seem to be hiding within the history of the house’s past residents.

The two stories wrap seamlessly around each other, building in similar paces. As Kate learns more about Constance and the house, readers get to see more and more about Constance and the events that would change the fate of the house so drastically.

I loved the role the house played in moving both storylines forward. Constance’s secret is hidden due to the circumstance of war, and as the house moves forward with war efforts, her attempts at keeping the pilot a secret become that much more difficult. Kate’s entire purpose for being in Scotland is the house, and her intrigue at the house’s history makes it easier for her to look past her initial challenges dealing with James.

I loved the way the romances unfolded as well. Both time periods have elements of romance and each builds as is appropriate for the time periods.

This is the first book I have read from the author, but I will be looking to pick up her first (previous) book soon. I loved the writing itself and look forward to more from Ms. Cook.

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Firstly, I would like to thank Avon Books UK for asking me to review this book and for asking me to be apart of the blog tour.
I was experimentally excited to read this after reading Lorna Cook's fantastic debut novel, The Forgotten Village. Again she had me hooked from the first page and I couldn't help but fall in love with this story.
The Forbidden Promise follows Constance in 1940 and Kate in 2020 little do they know that both their lives are intertwined. I love the way this story is told each couple of chapters moves from one time to the other but rest assured it is so easy to follow and keep up with, Lorna writes amazingly and has really captured the very essence of each era bringing them both to life. Constance has a secret and one that changes lives. The beginning of WW2 has started and Constance feels she is not doing enough, with a strict upbringing life is far from exciting despite the beautiful setting, that is until a spitfire crashes in the loch. Kate meanwhile is facing a new challenge and changes in her life, little by little a mystery emerges and it might just be one that could save the house. Their two stories begin to mirror one another and I could not help but be drawn to these two characters. Constance may be the favourite of the two although that is a tough choice, perhaps because I love the 1940s and WW2 but also her characetr really spoke to me.
An amazing story that captures the very essence of love, hopes and dreams in times of hardship.