Promise Me by Deborah Schneider

Story: 8

Presentation: 9

Total: 17

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Historical

To Purchase

Blurb: After spending years in an arranged marriage as the repressed wife of an older man, Amanda Wainwright has learned the hard way that money can’t buy happiness. She arrives in Willow Creek determined to keep a deathbed promise to her husband and do something to help other people. When Amanda meets a handsome, mysterious stranger who tempts her with sweet promises and long nights of passion, she discovers a fiery, passionate nature that could lead her to disaster.

For Samuel Calhoun, falling in love wouldn’t just be foolish, it could be deadly. He’s in Willow Creek, Montana as an undercover agent for the Secret Service. In order to maintain his secret identity, he accepts an offer from a consortium of mine owners to seduce, humiliate, and ruin the Widow Wainwright. Before long, Sam knows he’s met the woman who can banish the aching emptiness in his soul, and he’s willing to risk everything – even his life – to be with her.

Review: I liked this story! The plot was laid out in the first twenty pages, but more conflicts continually added to the story's appeal. The humorous tidbits here and there were great, but happened when they were least expected even in the last paragraph in the last chapter. If there was a message to the story, it was love and second relationships are wonderful .
There were many colorful details which added to the overall appeal of the story. Descriptions like the hated black velvet hat sitting on a colorful quilt were so vivid it seemed like the reader was right there in the room with the heroine.

Within the first thirty pages I could identify with each of the main characters. Their strengths, their weaknesses, there motives and their goals were apparent. Even minor characters had well developed personalities.

I liked this story from the front cover to the last page.