DEADLY PROMISE Author: Brenda Joyce ISBN:0312989873 11/2003 HISTORICAL Publisher: ST. MARTIN'S PRESS
This is the first book of Joyce's 'Deadly' series that I have read but, after finishing it, I feel like I have missed out on something by not reading the others, but I am glad I read it. I just wish I had the advantage of seeing the characters grow to the point they are at in this book. Even though I didn't have the background from the previous books in the series, it was easy to pick up where they had left off. It was easy to feel the frustration of the main characters and interesting that there were three instead of the usual two. Francesca Cahill is an heiress, but not your normal, run-of-the-mill deb with money. She is a sleuth and a proponent of women's rights. She is a tad naive about what life is for the average woman of her time, but Francesca is still open-minded and not above putting herself on the same level of the average woman. The man she believes she is in love with is Rick Bragg, the Police Commissioner who is the epitome of honor and righteousness and making a name for himself. He is also married, though his wife has been absent for several years. Francesca is willing to be the other woman except for two things - Bragg's wife has suddenly re-appeared on the scene and she has formed a deep friendship with Bragg's rival and half-brother, Calder Hart. The sexual tension and the confusion about relationships is so easy to relate to in this book. Francesca truly finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place where the half-brothers are concerned. Bragg is everything a girl should want; upstanding, respectable, and going places. Hart is more complex. The upper crust of Society is not surprised by anything he does and expects the worse. He has, however, allowed Francesca to see the vulnerable and good side of him and wants to marry her. While I did occassionally think, "Please, wake up and be realistic" when it came to Francesca, I was able to excuse her naivete. Considering she represented some of the few wealthy women at the turn of the century who were willing to see life beyond the ballroom, it was easy to excuse it and accept that she was just learning what life was for people of that time, who weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouth, as she went along. It was a good read and I recommend it, though I might suggest reading the other books in the series first in order to really see the growth of the characters and the story. Sue Cloud
I am definitely addicted to Brenda Joyce's Deadly series. More precisely I'm addicted to Calder Hart and Francesca Cahill. While sparks flew and desire simmered between these two characters in the previous five Deadly novels, the pair practically scorch the pages in DEADLY PROMISE. The Deadly series - fresh, fast, sexy and often fun - gets better with every story. Ms. Joyce has chalked these stories full of vivid, well-defined characters, but she's outdone herself with Calder Hart. This wealthy, charismatic rake extraordinaire is a complex character who has slowly evolved through each consecutive story from a selfish, heartless cad into a larger-than-life romantic hero. If Ms. Joyce ever gives up writing, she can bottle the essence of Hart and make a mint. Critics of the Deadly series have often complained that Francesca's character is TSTL. I disagree. Francesca Cahill is a product of her time - a sheltered, naive, young woman restricted by her gender. Like Hart, Francesca has changed throughout the series. In each story, Fran has slowly matured and blossomed but has not lost her air of innocence - well, at least not completely - nor her wonderfully refreshing zest for life. DEADLY PROMISE sizzled because Hart and Fran as a couple sizzle. The Deadly series works so well because this pair work so well together. My only complaint with this series is I have to wait a year for the next installment. Debbie jett |
It is March of 1902, and Francesca Cahill-Fifth Avenue heiress, undaunted political activist and intrepid amateur sleuth-has just learned of a grave new danger haunting the streets of New York. A beautiful teenage girl named Emily O'Hare is missing and Francesca fears that the girl has been abducted. Only one person can help her learn the child's fate-but Police Commissioner Rick Bragg may not want to get involved because Francesca has just stunned Rick by accepting a proposal of marriage...from none other than his own rival.
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