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Promise Me Tonight

by Sara Lindsey

reviewed by Cybil Solyn

March 2010, 320 pages, Publisher: Signet, ISBN: 0451229371

This book may be set in Georgian England, but it felt Regency all the way. It's always a mixed bag when I have to try a new author. Will this book be good? Will it be bad? Will I throw it against the wall, or will I buy copies to give to one and all? Well I'm not buying copies for everyone, but I am strongly recommending that everyone buy a copy of their own because this is a good book from an author to watch.

Isabella Weston has been in love with her brother's best friend, James Sheffield, since she was a child. James knows she has a terrible crush, but he doesn't understand how dedicated Izzy is to him until she decides to compromise herself by sneaking into his bed one night. James, being very drunk and very much in lust with Izzy, takes her virginity and they marry. But the problem is that James never wanted to marry, and he doesn't want children. He hates his grandfather and wants the family line to end with him. No matter how much he cares for Isabella and her family he knows the only way to mete out the vengeance he desires against his now dead grandfather is to go far away from Isabella - so he joins the Navy.

*sigh* I know. I know! This all sounds pretty ridiculous. I have to admit this plot was the hardest thing to like about the book. Not only did it feel trumped up, but it called for a lot of eye rolling on my part. When I got exasperated at what was going on or the characters' actions felt false and forced, it had to do with the plot not fitting the romance. BUT that being said, it's a testament to Lindsey's talent as an author that I still really liked this book, and can't wait for her next one.

Isabella and James are flawed characters that remind me of the relationship I have with my family: Sometimes I love them, sometimes I hate them. But they are my family so I have to put up with them. James makes some really TSTL decisions. I mean the Navy instead of marrying the woman he lusts after and the sister of his best friend? Really? Is he really that vengeful? I mean he doesn't seem that vengeful....Well I didn't buy the vengeful, but I did buy that he was afraid of his feelings for Isabella. So falling back on something as old and comfortable as hatred for his grandfather made sense as a better excuse than listening to the fear and love in his heart.

Izzy is young and makes silly, rash decisions. She's only 18 years old and by nature is a bit on the dramatic side. So when she makes crazy choices like using a Gothic novel plot and sneaking into James' bed one night - well it makes sense. When she cries for 10 days after James leaves her, even though he's said from the beginning that he won't be with her - well it makes sense. Usually I'd hate a crying ninny. But I really enjoyed watching her grow into a better, stronger, woman. With every silly decision she made, she learned and grew.

Which brings me once again to my problem with the plot. At the end of the book we have Izzy and James at odds. James left Isabella all alone and lied to her. James has a near-death experience that made him see how important Izzy is to him. But now Isabella doesn't want him. She's too hurt. And let the sighing begin. When I hit this section of the book I thought "Dear God, as if I haven't suffered through a book where our hero and heroine aren't together much, I now have to suffer through The Big Misunderstanding?" But that's the thing. As I continued reading I didn't feel like it was TBM. I saw both sides and was impressed by how Isabella and James worked out their problems.

Bottom Line: A good read. I look forward to future Weston Novel books in the series, and recommend strongly that you pick up a copy of your own.