Broken Promises

by Patricia Oliver

A widow returns to London and gets reacquainted with the man she left at the altar ten years earlier. Could this be a second chance for love-or a scheme for revenge? This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451202961
• ISBN13: 9780451202963
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Oliver getting back to previous standards

It was with some trepidation that I purchased Broken Promises, having been disappointed by Oliver's last three books, and more than disappointed with the dreadful Lady Jane's Nemesis. It was encouraging to see that 'Sweet' Willy Hampton, from Oliver's Seven Corinthians series is a major secondary character in this book (and she actually goes to great lengths to tell us that this is a linked book in the same series, with references not only to the Earl of Mansfield, from the first book in the series, but also to the 'Seven Corinthians' as a group). One of these days, I hope Oliver will give Willy his own story. He certainly deserves it, as does David Laughton from earlier books.Ten years ago, Mathilda was betrothed to Miles Stephen, heir to the Earl of Southwood. But his chilly, unloverlike nature made her unhappy, and the night before the wedding she ran off with his best friend. Now, widowed and with two sons, she returns to London. And one of the first people she runs into is Miles.Miles is older and wiser, but still scarred by the shock of being jilted; his ego certainly suffered a severe blow, but we also realise that he did actually love Mathilda then. He just didn't know how to show it. Mathilda, too, is older and has matured from the silly eighteen-year-old we see in that coach at the beginning of the book. Is it possible that they can somehow unravel the tangle of the past and forgive each other?Mathilda certainly feels a strong sense of guilt at her past behaviour and only wants to avoid any further hurt to Miles. Miles, though, discovers that the more he sees of Mathilda, the more he loves her. Can his love become stronger than his burning desire to avenge himself on her? Can Mathilda's forgiving nature allow her to look past Miles' darker soul?I did enjoy this book. It's still not back to the standard of Oliver's best, such as An Unsuitable Wife or Lord Gresham's Lady, but it's getting there. Now, please, more in this series!

Good relationship drama.

Miss Mathilda Heath had gone to India to elope with Sir James Parmenter with whom she thought she would have a much happier marriage than with Miles Stephens, Viscount Halifax. When James died, Mathilda returned to England with her two young sons. Then, Miles had become the sixth Earl of Southmoor and had inherited the family lands that accompany that title. The relationship between Mathilda and Miles had, of course, changed. It's very interesting to see where relationships go afterthey and the people in them change. In this relationship, it's also clear to see that Mathilda and Miles grow, and it took a lot of conflict to do it. Patricia Oliver delves into this beautifully, and it shows.