A Promise Given

The proud head of his Highland clan, Ian MacGregor has returned, cloaked in secrets, to the place where he spent many carefree years, in order to marry Margaret Kincaid--the lowlands lass to whom he has been betrothed since his youth. But it is the wild spirited and hauntingly beautiful Sabrina Kincaid who catches Ian's eye. And when Margaret mysteriously vanishes, he willingly accepts Sabrina as his bride in her sister's stead.

A PROMISE KEPT

Dutybound to honor her father's wish, Sabrina reluctantly agrees to wed the rugged chieftain--though she fears the rumors of Ian's dark past. . .and the whispers that now blame him for Margaret's disappearance. But her sensuous soul bids her to pay no heed to her doubts and mistrust, and to submit instead to the searing passions that burn within her. For Ian's stirring yet tender caress speaks of a noble, gentle heart. And if peril is Sabrina's fate, so be it--for she is determined to learn the truths that will set them both free and carry them aloft together on the wings of incomparable love.

The proud head of his Highland clan, Ian MacGregor has returned, cloaked in secrets, to the place where he spent many carefree years, in order to marry Margaret Kincaid--the lowlands lass to whom he has been betrothed since his youth. But it is the wild spirited and hauntingly beautiful Sabrina Kincaid who catches Ians eye. And when Margaret mysteriously vanishes, he willingly accepts Sabrina as his bride in her sisters stead.

A PROMISE KEPT

Dutybound to honor her fathers wish, Sabrina reluctantly agrees to wed the rugged chieftain--though she fears the rumors of Ians dark past. . .and the whispers that now blame him for Margarets disappearance. But her sensuous soul bids her to pay no heed to her doubts and mistrust, and to submit instead to the searing passions that burn within her. For Ians stirring yet tender caress speaks of a noble, gentle heart. And if peril is Sabrinas fate, so be it--for she is determined to learn the truths that will set them both free and carry them aloft together on the wings of incomparable love.

This is the story of Ian MacGregor, the head of his highland clan and Sabrina the second sister and the unloved one by her father. Ian fostered at Sabrina's home when he was a lad and his father had wanted a wedding to seal the alliance between the clans. Ian comes back many years later to marry Margaret, Sabrina's older and beautiful daughter. He meets up again with Sabrina, who in thier youth was a good friend. She is very untrustful of him and he is saddened to see how her own family treats her. She is strong and has a mind and a voice of her own but also deep seeded fears.
Margaret dissppears the day before the wedding and is presummed dead. Ian decides to marry Sabrina to fullfill his father's wish. She is both overjoyed and mad about the whole idea but goes along with it as not to shame her father.

Soon they are back at Ian's castle and the trouble begins. Both thier lives are in danger and together they must face thier mistrust of each other and find the love that they both share.

This book has great mystery and was an easy read and hard to put down until the end.


Good Highland Adventure   November 30, 2001
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Ian MacGregor is the laird of his clan in the Scottish Highlands. He returns to the keep in the Lowlands where he spent many of his young and carefree years. He is shrouded in mysteries surrounding the deaths of some of those closest to him. He has returned to claim his bride, Margaret Kincaid, to whom he has been betrothed since his childhood. But it is Margaret's younger sister, Sabrina, who catches his eye... and his heart. When Margaret suddenly disappears, he eagerly accepts Sabrina as a replacement bride.

Sabrina grudgingly agrees to wed Ian, knowing she is bound to do as her father wishes. But she vows to never love Ian, swearing she has given her heart to another man. She has her doubts about Ian, having heard disturbing rumors about his past, and whisperings he may have had a hand in Margaret's presumed death. Despite her beliefs Ian betrayed her many years ago, she can't help but be drawn to him. Her spirited nature tells her to ignore all she has heard and to put her faith and trust in Ian.

Ms. James weaves a passionate tale of love found, amid some of the most turbulent years of Medieval Scotland. For it is a time of great political upheaval as Robert the Bruce fights to gain his throne. Ian and Sabrina are caught in the middle of it all, on opposite sides of the political game, though their hearts are bound in the greatest battle of all... for A Promise Given and a binding love.

Ms. James has created a lively cast of characters. The antics of Ian and Sabrina alone making for an exciting read. Both Ian and Sabrina are very strong yet imperfect people, with faults and fears aplenty for each, making them all appear all the more realistic. Add in the colorful cast of secondary characters and the story comes alive. All are memorable and only add, never detract, from the story. However, the secondary characters are not so well developed or dimensional as the hero and heroine. Many of the characters' behavior and emotions are never fully explained. Why do they feel the love and/or animosity held for Ian and Sabrina? Many of these explanations are lacking, which at times has a tendency to stall the story.

In spite of the not always fully developed characters, this is a pleasurable read. Plenty of action and suspense, well tempered by the romance of the era, and the characters, can be found throughout. Ms. James has a way with words, using wonderful imagery to paint the landscape. One almost feels a part of the story, planted right in the middle of the beautiful but treacherous Scottish Highlands.

A Promise Given is a promise kept for this reviewer to be on the lookout for more books by this author.