Secret Vows

by Mary Reed McCall

Book Overview

A DESPERATE CHOICE... After suffering under the iron fists of powerful men her whole life, Catherine of Somerset considers herself fortunate when fate makes her a widow and frees her two children from a cruel father's tyranny. But her relief is short-lived. Her even more brutal brother-in-law Eduard, a High Champion of the king, arrives to claim his estate, and Catherine is swept into a nightmare. Eduard offers Catherine a terrible choice: Either...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1507600623
• ISBN13: 9781507600627
• Release Date: February 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

No problem giving this keeper a 5*.......

When the book started with a first person narrative, it stopped me cold. I reluctantly trudge through it but was already thinking about tossing it. Well, I am glad that I did. It may start out a bit slow but by chapter 3, you can NOT put this down. The characters are so real, issues, warts and all. Our heroine starts out as emotionally and physically beaten and terrified.She's been forced into an evil plot to save her children by a sadistic, psychotic man. Our groom has demons that torment him and is also forced to wed against his will. This sounds same old-same old.......and to that point it probably is. BUT the rest of the story takes it in different directions. You will never regret reading this story. Accolades to Ms. McCall.The epilogue is also first person by our heroine but by then she is a strong, confident woman and it is perfectly done. The notes by the author explain several cultural aspects of the time and are informative and helpful. Wow..how far we've come as woman and as a society. Hoping for a sequel about sir alban.....enjoy.........

Full of emotional power

An excellent read...sensual, romantic, compelling, agonizing, and intense. McCall's story weaves a superb romance with harrowing personal demons and manipulative, exceedingly dangerous villains. McCall allows to to see Catherine and Gray fall in love, to feel them struggle with their pasts and their fears, to alternately worry and cheer as they face Eduard's manipulations.Superb. Don't pass it up.

Great read

This story is about Catherine and Grayston and is set in the 13th century. Grayson, a powerful lord, is ordered by the King to marry Elise to try and stop a conflict between her brother Eduard and Grayson. Grayson has no choice but to agree. However the bride that comes to him is not Elise but is Elise's widowed sister-in-law Catherine.Eduard, a very nasty person and makes my top ten bad guy list, decides that since the King has ordered the marriage of his sister Elise to Grayson he would have her set him up to be murdered several months after their vows. That way no one would suspect Eduards or Elises involvement and Graysons property would then become his.Elise, having been severely abused by Eduard and not wanting to be an accessory to Graysons murder, commits suicide, leaving Eduard in a quandry. That's when Catherine comes into the picture. Since Grayson, or anyone for that matter, has never really seen Catherine before, he beats Catherine for days to submit to his murderous plot. She refuses until he kidnaps and threatens to kill her children. She is then forced to comply and assumes the role of Elise. The story continues with relationship developement and some good action scenes. Both characters have their own problems to work out, which is done pretty smoothly.This story also has an interesting twist which really hooked me. The prologue starts in first person, as if Catherine was writing the reader a letter. You could really feel Catherine's pain and hopelessness in the writings. The first chapter then goes into 3rd person. This book will definately be a keeper of mine for a long time.

A Stunning Debut!!!!!!!!!

It is absolutely unbelievable Mary Reed McCall is a first time author. Set in medieval England, its the story of Catherine of Somerset who has recently become a widow. Her brother-in-law, Eduard Montford, after his first choice, his sister dies, blackmails Catherine into marrying Grayson de Camville, a much-esteemed knight with great holdings. Eduard is as cruel asher husband had been and Catherine is subject to beatings and blackmail -- he tells her he will have her twin son and daughter killed if she does not do as he has told her -- which is to gain her new husband's trust and set him up to be killed.Gray is fighting demons of his own. Neither Catherine nor Gray plan on falling in love, just doing as they feel they must. Catherine, masquerading as her deceased sister-in-law, has to pretend to Gray that she's a virgin. There's a great jousting scene and the author gives a wonderful sense of time and place. Catherine and Gray are both wonderful characters (Gray is a beta male -- or maybe gamma - but I love 'em) and Eduard is a villain to top all villains - you know, one of those whose very presence on the page is an indicator of a riveting scene to come.The prologue (and the epilogue) of SECRET VOWS is written in first person and this is very effective tool in garnering reader sympathy for the heroine. SECRET VOWS is not only of the best first books I've read in a very long time, but one of the best medieval romances I've ever read. The book is historically accurate and the history acts as more than just wallpaper, but NEVER overtakes the story. Mary Reed McCall has a great future ahead of her if SECRET VOWS is any indication of her talent. This book is highly recommended and definitely makes my list for top 10 books read in 2001.

can't wait for her next one

Before this was released I was told of it from a friend of the author. I went to the website to read the available first chapter. Since it was her first book I didn't set my hopes too high, my standards being near impossible to attain. I'm a big fan of Virginia Henley, Mallory Burgess, Jo Beverley and Julie Garwood. I like detail. Imagine my surprise! This book has all of the "necessary" ingredients for me. I could not put it down. Literally. I actually tried to get my hands on a copy from my "friend" before it hit the stores because the sample on the web page had me so intrigued. And to think I almost didn't go past the prologue because of the format. What a mistake that would have been. ... This is not your average girl meets knight,pretends she hates him while she gives her virginal body to him anyway story. Refreshing. And you can bet I'm trying to get my hands on a copy of the next one already, too. Five Stars.