Release Review: The Forbidden Promise: Lorna Cook
The Forbidden Promise
by Lorna Cook
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The stunning new story of love and secrets from the Number One bestselling author of The Forgotten Village
How can one promise change the fate of two women living decades apart?
Scotland, 1940
War rages across Europe, but Invermoray House is at peace – until the night of Constance McLay’s twenty-first birthday, when she’s the only person to see a Spitfire crash into the loch. Rescuing the pilot and vowing to keep him hidden, Constance finds herself torn between duty to her family and keeping a promise that could cost her everything.
2020
Kate arrives in the Highlands to turn Invermoray into a luxury B&B, only to find that the estate is more troubled than she’d imagined. But when Kate discovers the house has a dark history, with Constance’s name struck from its records, she knows she can’t leave until the mystery is solved…
A sweeping tale of love and secrets, perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.
How can one promise change the fate of two women living decades apart?
Scotland, 1940
War rages across Europe, but Invermoray House is at peace – until the night of Constance McLay’s twenty-first birthday, when she’s the only person to see a Spitfire crash into the loch. Rescuing the pilot and vowing to keep him hidden, Constance finds herself torn between duty to her family and keeping a promise that could cost her everything.
2020
Kate arrives in the Highlands to turn Invermoray into a luxury B&B, only to find that the estate is more troubled than she’d imagined. But when Kate discovers the house has a dark history, with Constance’s name struck from its records, she knows she can’t leave until the mystery is solved…
A sweeping tale of love and secrets, perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.
Split between 2 timelines at Invermoray House in Scotland, The
Forbidden Promise looks at the ripples of events across time. In 1940
the house was at peace while the world was at war, but as war ramps up,
the members of the household start to feel the pressure of the war. On
Constance’s 21st birthday, she is the only witness to a plane crash that
leads her to make a promise to keep the downed pilot hidden. Her
promise will bring about consequences she could not have imagined.
Sixty years later, Kate is hired to help the current owners reimagine the house into a bed and breakfast, but quickly learns that the task is larger than she was led to believe. Plagued by finances and a reluctant owner, she has her work cut out for her to turn the house into the beauty it once was. But as she works to market the house, she is intrigued by the secrets that seem to be hiding within the history of the house’s past residents.
The two stories wrap seamlessly around each other, building in similar paces. As Kate learns more about Constance and the house, readers get to see more and more about Constance and the events that would change the fate of the house so drastically.
I loved the role the house played in moving both storylines forward. Constance’s secret is hidden due to the circumstance of war, and as the house moves forward with war efforts, her attempts at keeping the pilot a secret become that much more difficult. Kate’s entire purpose for being in Scotland is the house, and her intrigue at the house’s history makes it easier for her to look past her initial challenges dealing with James.
I loved the way the romances unfolded as well. Both time periods have elements of romance and each builds as is appropriate for the time periods.
This is the first book I have read from the author, but I will be looking to pick up her first (previous) book soon. I loved the writing itself and look forward to more from Ms. Cook.
Sixty years later, Kate is hired to help the current owners reimagine the house into a bed and breakfast, but quickly learns that the task is larger than she was led to believe. Plagued by finances and a reluctant owner, she has her work cut out for her to turn the house into the beauty it once was. But as she works to market the house, she is intrigued by the secrets that seem to be hiding within the history of the house’s past residents.
The two stories wrap seamlessly around each other, building in similar paces. As Kate learns more about Constance and the house, readers get to see more and more about Constance and the events that would change the fate of the house so drastically.
I loved the role the house played in moving both storylines forward. Constance’s secret is hidden due to the circumstance of war, and as the house moves forward with war efforts, her attempts at keeping the pilot a secret become that much more difficult. Kate’s entire purpose for being in Scotland is the house, and her intrigue at the house’s history makes it easier for her to look past her initial challenges dealing with James.
I loved the way the romances unfolded as well. Both time periods have elements of romance and each builds as is appropriate for the time periods.
This is the first book I have read from the author, but I will be looking to pick up her first (previous) book soon. I loved the writing itself and look forward to more from Ms. Cook.
About Lorna Cook
I'm a former journalist and PR who has left the dark side behind to write dual-time novels.
I live in coastal Essex with my husband, two small daughters and a staffy called Socks.
When I'm not making up stories and characters, I can usually be found with a glass of wine in one hand and a good book in the other. It makes it tricky to turn the pages.
My absolute favourite authors are Kate Morton, Lucinda Riley, Rachel Hore and Liz Fenwick. I will even put the wine down to read anything by these fantastic writers.
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