Promise Me

What a twist!

This book pulled me in from the start and pulled at my heart strings as I started to care about the main character, Beth, and all she was going through. As a young Mom with a daughter I just kept reading and reading and wanted everything to be okay!! This story made my heart go leaping. Ah! You'll just have to read for yourself and see what I mean- don't want to give it away. What a brilliant twist. But can I just say that after reading this I MUST go traveling to my own dream destinations! I love books that make me want to live life to its fullest and this book did just that. Thank you Richard for another amazing story that stuck with me days and days after.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Promise Me really delivers

Richard's books are always a treat for me. They are the kind of books that make you want to find a cosy corner with a comfortable chair and your blankie and just sit and drink the story in. They are always a great read but sometimes they leave me wanting more. Not this time. Promise Me hit all of my buttons, and it hit them hard. This time I had to read until I finished the book and I didn't let anything interrupt me. I can't comment on the story because I might ruin it for others. I will say it is excellent and probably my favorite. But I may need to go back and read some of his previous books just to make sure!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A captivating love story!

I very enthusiastically loved PROMISE ME. I fell in love with the main character, Beth Cardall. Her life has a few twists and turns that at one point I even got goose bumps! I was so intrigued by the story, I couldn't put the book down. I was curious and interested right from the prologue. Promise Me is my all time favorite Richard Paul Evans book. I promise it will be yours.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

nice book

good storyline

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic Read!

Every year I wait for October like it's Christmas...because that's when I buy an RPE book for myself, and decadently spoil myself while I read it! ;) This year Richard has outdone himself with one of the most moving books I've read. I became wrapped up in Beth and her life, immediately. I was shocked with her, angry and hurt for her. And then a miracle comes into her life...and well, the unfolding of that miracle is both surprising and profound. Like all RPE's books, Promise Me is about love, hope and redemption (intermingled with the readers laughter and tears). This book carries within its pages even more, a message and a promise to myself that I hope I will remember for the rest of my life. Amazing!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

You'll never guess the ending...

This book is delightful start to finish. It grabs you right in the beginning, and they suspense and mystery that builds up kept me reading straight though the book. As Evans' books always are, this one is sweet and uplifting, but its twist is what really distinguishes it from the rest of his novels.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A really beautiful love story.

"Promise Me" was a really beautiful love story. I was so happy and had such a great feeling at the end of the book. This is a page turner that you will not want to put down. I read it in about three hours. It is one of my favorite of Evans' last three or four books.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Intriguing from the very start, I could not put this one down. W

Intriguing from the very start, I could not put this one down. WONDERFUL!!!

Gem of a book

Evans delivers as usual. Unbelievable? Yes! Kind of shmaltzy? You bet. But it delivers hope, love and escape, all in his little gems of books. Short, but such an emotional, warm ride.

5 stars

Grat holiday read! Love the author!

Epic Fail

It seems that halfway through writing this book the author got tired, gave up, mentally checked out, and believed that he could write any old dreck and people would love it. The utter lack of creativity in the second half of the book is stunning. I regret buying this book. Stay far, far away from this book. Warn your family and friends to stay away.

A Delightful Fairy Tale

This is an off-the-wall story with a very happy ending that I enjoyed immensely! I'm so glad I read this one because it had believable characters that I cared about in an unrealistic book that kept my interest all through it. I was impressed that the male author told the story primarily from Beth's point of view and could write about hardship without it being a depressing book. Promise Me deals with loss, marriage, love, hope and is a thought-provoking book. It presents the questions of how would your life be different if only this didn't happen and what would you do if you only had 10 months to live and money was no object? This is a fun read, in spite of a cheating husband, financial struggles and a mysterious disease that a 6-yr.-old has. It's a "Christmas Miracle" book about hope and promises, a quick-read that leaves you happy. I promise, you'll like this one if you are into fairy tales and time travel!

Warm Holiday Story

I have read a couple of this author's books and they have all been very heart warming. This one was especially enjoyable and had a twist that was unexpected. Loved this story and will be sure to share it with my family and friends.

Indulge if you crave holiday fluff

"Promise Me" by Christmas mega-author, Richard Paul Evans ("The Chirstmas Box," "The Christmas List") is one of those sentimental stories that a reader either devours or detests. It is touching, yet schmaltzy; miraculous, yet impossible; feel-good, yet cliche-ridden. The plot revolves around Beth Cardall, who is faced with an array of truly overwhelming problems. Infidelity. Unemployment. Foreclosure. Cancer. Who comes to save the day? A mysterious man, of course. For believers of love having the power to solve all of life's difficulties, this book is a validation. For skeptics who would roll their eyes at such a premise, this is not a work to venture into. "Promise Me" does not apologize for being a complete escape from reality because that's what it's meant to accomplish.

For those who love to curl up on a snow-filled Saturday and get lost in a "Lifetime" television movie, this is the book for you. It is melodramatic, full of impossible twists and turns that culminate in a saccharine-sweet, happy ending. A jaw-droppingly handsome man saves a helpless woman from all of her problems - financial, medical, etc. He saves the day leaving her breathless with gratitude and contentment. Without his aid, she would have succumbed to disastrous, life-altering consequences. But he is the one to take charge of the situation leaving her completely and irrevocably in love with him.

The true gem of the book is the unsung support team of Beth's female friends. They are constantly babysitting her daughter, covering her shifts at work or bringing over homemade casseroles for her oven. They are the ones in the trenches with her helping her battle through the problems that life keeps throwing at her door. While not as glamorous or romantic as being championed by a beyond-perfect suitor - the power of women helping women is undoubtedly the true source of strength for many who find themselves in tough situations without a man by their side.

Overall, indulge if you crave holiday fluff.

Reviewed by Jaglvr for Teens Read Too

Gold Star Award Winner! 1989 was not a good year for Beth Cardall. The novel starts out in the present day when Beth gazes at two necklaces she received way back when, but has never worn. She always thought she had the good life. Though her husband traveled often for work, she thought he was loving and faithful. But when she was cleaning out his clothing pockets for a trip to the dry-cleaners (where she works), she found a note that hints that he has secrets. When she accuses Marc of infidelity, she's shocked to find out that it's true. She kicks Marc out and then has to face an unexplained illness with her daughter. Young Charlotte is getting thinner and thinner and can hardly keep food down. Through countless doctor and hospital trips, she is still undiagnosed. Marc returns to the picture, but this time terminally ill. He is diagnosed with cancer, and Beth is determined to make his final days comfortable. Soon, she's newly widowed, dealing with the mystery illness of Charlotte, and the looming possibility of losing her job and thus her house. It's on Christmas at the end of the year that she meets the mysterious Matthew. The story moves forward from meeting Matthew and how he slowly works his way into her and Charlotte's lives. Matthew seems to come from somewhere else. He miraculously diagnoses Charlotte's illness. He slowly builds up Beth's trust in people again, and in the end, he reveals his true identity, much to Beth's total shock and disbelief. It's at this point that I went "WOW" and didn't see it coming. It's not the holiday season without a Christmas story from Mr. Evans. I don't know how he does it, but each book I swear is better than the last. And this one really surprised me. I've never read one of his books where I didn't anticipate how it was going to end. But this one kept me guessing up until the final chapters. I loved it! It may have been a sad ending (in a way), but it was the right ending, and brought the story full circle, like it should. Whether PROMISE ME is your first foray into Mr. Evans' work, or a continued tradition, it will leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling like his works always do.

Bridget's Review

Richard Paul Evans delivers another wonderful romance that will suck you in immediately. Promise Me can easily be read in one sitting because once you start, you won't want to put it down. One of the main reasons I enjoyed this book so much is because I could really relate to Beth. This would be the perfect present for your romance loving friend.

Promise Me

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans is a story of one man's unfailing love. Although Beth Cardall's world rapidly disintegrates, an unexpected visitor brings hope to the darkness surrounding her. Beth meets Matthew at a 7-11 in a chance encounter. She's sure she's never met him before, but he seems to know so much about her. He keeps showing up and insisting on spending time with her; yet, Beth is reluctant to open her heart to him. Her daughter is plagued by an unknown sickness, she's grieving her late husband and his infidelity, and her financial problems seem to be mounting. Does she really need any more complications in her life? What she finds is that she does need Matthew - more than she could have imagined.

From the beginning of Promise Me, there is a delightful suspense due to a few carefully placed tidbits of information. As the story continues, the pieces of the puzzle begin to fit into place. However, until the final, powerful twist, the reader is kept guessing about what some of those opening statements mean. Personally, I found the suspense delightful. It cultivated interest in the story and kept me turning the pages. I also liked the character of Matthew. I wouldn't consider him a stereotype, but he definitely falls into the "ideal man" category - handsome, understanding, faithful, loving, etc.
Another great read for Richard Paul Evans.

Ho Hum - a little strange!

It was a little strange - especially when she was jealous and angry at him for spending time with her daughter in Italy . . . just felt a little creepy when reading it. I think if they hadn't been interested romantically, it would have been better. That part was weird. I also don't think his characters have much depth. The beginning part about her husband all happened so quickly that there was no real development. I didn't really like that either. It just had a really odd storyline.

Until Now, The Sunflower Had been My Favorite Book

That situation changed as I go to the last page of Promise Me. Evans once again proved why the New York Times loves him. Wait until you find out who Matthew is. I'd recommend that you also buy "When God Stopped Keeping Score." It is an intimate look at the power of God and forgiveness and one that everyone deserves to read. Buy it and find out why for yourself.

The ultimate Christmas present

have to tell you, dear readers, the tagline the New York Times gave to this absolutely breathtaking storyteller - the king of Christmas fiction - is becoming an understatement. Personally, I have been a fan of Mr. Evans for as far back as I can remember and, yet again, he doesn't disappoint with his newest "gift" for this year's holiday season. Beth Cardall has what most women would consider an absolutely perfect life. She adores her wonderful six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, and her husband, Mac, is almost as charming and loving as a man can get. The only thing that disturbs Beth is the fact that Mac is on the road a lot because he's a salesman, so she has to spend many nights alone. She also works at the local dry cleaner with her best friend Roxanne to bring some extra money into the household. Soon, as a house of cards usually does, her perfect life begins to fall apart. One day, as she's working in the dry cleaning store, she and Roxanne come across a note from a very affectionate woman in the pocket of Mac's blazer. Not only that, but Charlotte begins to get extremely ill and no one - not Beth, the school nurse - no one, can figure out what is wrong with her little girl. Because of circumstances that I will not reveal, because I believe that absolutely everyone should have the opportunity to explore this novel for themselves, another man enters the story. On Christmas Eve, 1989, Beth enters a 7-Eleven and finds a breathtakingly handsome man named Matthew staring at her like he's seen her somewhere before. Although the meeting feels more than a little odd to Beth, she begins to see Matthew all over town; and, he not only seems to know what's ailing her daughter, but he also seems to know some of Beth's most intimate secrets. They begin to see each other quite a bit, as Matthew pretty much saves Beth from a life of pain and agony. When she finally finds out who Matthew really is, and how he knows so much about her, Beth can hardly believe his story. And, perhaps, she won't believe until years later when a knock on the door shows Beth that she did make the right choice after all - giving up something she loved more than life itself to bring happiness to the little girl who was the center of Beth's world. Every chapter of this story grabs the reader and holds on to their heart, mind, and soul until the very last page. As a mother who would give up her life for her own daughter, I was completely head-over-heels with the complete love, affection, elegance, and extreme class that Beth had in spades. Not only that, but this book begs so many questions, with the biggest one being: If you knew the future, would you change the past? If you absolutely saw beforehand how the good and bad moments were going to play out in life, would you give up all you could have in order to give someone else the life they've always dreamed about? Quill says: This is the ultimate Christmas present for all the ones you love. Make this novel a beautifully wrapped present under your tree this year. You won't regret it.