Review of "The Promise"

Rating: 4 Stars

Review: "The Promise" is a tale in which love and sacrifice exist alongside deceit and hidden agendas. This was a very different story from many that I have read. It was the unique plot, as described in the summary, that initially piqued my interest and my desire to read more. The fact that it was based on someone's real life experiences made me more intrigued. I knew from the description that Mallory would be lured to an unstable area of Pakistan under false pretenses and find herself in a dangerous situation. Her journey to Pakistan begins just before the half-way point of the novel. The first half of the plot builds up to Mallory's trip, and I expected it to occur earlier. As a reader, knowing the pivotal decision that was forthcoming, made me impatient for it to begin. I kept wondering when Mallory was finally going to travel to Pakistan and felt like the inevitable dragged out a few chapters too long. However, Beth Wiseman does a great job in developing Mallory's motives and conveying the emotions that make her vulnerable to an elaborate scam. It's easy to think "this would never happen to me;" but given the right circumstances, I believe most of us could be conned to some extent. The chapters preceding Mallory's trip made me understand how and why she was motivated to take such drastic action. Wiseman also built suspense for the situation that Mallory was entering in Pakistan. It was clear from the beginning that Mallory would be just a pawn in underhanded schemes, but the specifics remained a mystery.

The second half of "The Promise" brought the action and suspense. I was frustrated at times when Mallory just couldn't see the truth of a situation. As the reader, it was easy to see that Abdul was a less than charming man, despite his handsome appearance and flattery. Some of Mallory's decisions made me want to jump in the pages and make her see the truth. I definitely remained engaged until the very end as the tension ebbed in the very final pages.

I found "The Promise" to be a welcome departure from the books that I usually read. It was just slightly out of the box from my normal reading selections. It was refreshing to read a novel that isn't about two characters falling in love. Mallory is in an established relationship. While love plays a role in the plot, the dynamic between her and her boyfriend is different than that of two characters falling in love. It was refreshing for romance to take a backseat and to witness love reacting to adversity under trying circumstances.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from LitFuse. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

About the book: Mallory's search for happiness leads her to a faraway place. There she finds heartache, betrayal---and danger.

Mallory Hammond is determined that no one will stand in the way of her goal---to save a life. She had that chance years ago, and she failed to take it, leaving her adrift and in search of the real meaning of her life. Finally, she meets a man online from a volatile corner of the world who offers her the chance to find that purpose. But she will have to leave everyone she loves behind in order to take it.

Tate Webber has loved Mallory for many years. He understands that Mallory will never be happy with him until her deepest heart's desire is satisfied. When Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfill her dreams, Tate begs her not to go but tries to give her the space she needs. Mallory embarks on her dangerous journey only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. And Mallory can only pray that she will make it out alive.

Inspired by actual events, The Promise is a riveting love story that asks the question: how far will we go for love?

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Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold over 1.3 million books, her novels have held spots on multiple Bestseller lists. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth lives in Texas with her family.

Find Beth online: website, Facebook, Twitter