Calder Promise

Rating:
Summary: BIG disappointment
Review: Do not buy this book, not new, not used. If you just have to read Janet Dailey check it out from a library. There is nothing in this book that is remotely interesting, and the main character is totally unlikeable. Ms. Dailey has lost her touch, I suspected so when the last Calder book was less than expected, but this one isn't worth wasting time on.

Rating:
Summary: I Agree With Why Do I Bother
Review: Expecting the great Calder saga that came alive in her first three books, it is so disappointing to see the way Janet Dailey is now writing. I bought her first book over 25 years ago when it was released. This Calder edition has another beloved character killed and not even mentioning some of the family. It's hard to get a close feeling to the new characters because we miss the old ones too much!!!

Rating:
Summary: Dailey Scores
Review: I have been disappointed in the last several Dailey books in the Calder series, but I think she's back in the saddle with this one.

While her tendency to "retire" her older characters by killing them off willy nilly might be disconcerting, it is a realistic method of making way for the younger generation.

The Calder characters in earlier novels had to be tougher, because there was generally some physical or financial risk in their lives. I think it is a legitimate endeavor to see what a Calder heir is like when she has been raised with wealth and privilege and is able to take success for granted, not struggle to achieve it.

There are frequently members of any family who, for one reason or another, don't quite fit in with the rest. So we have Laura, who is more than a little spoiled and who values the culture and sophistication in a world larger than the Triple C ranch. She's young, she's beautiful, she's rich; she's also a little wild and unconventional. She's used to having men pursue her, and she enjoys manipulating them to get what she wants.

In many ways, this is a coming of age novel, in which the heroine has to decide who she is and what her values are. Will she embrace her Calder legacy, or will she go her own way? Will she get involved in life, or will she merely be a spectator, using her wealth as a buffer? Will she marry the man she has fallen in love with, or will she marry the wealthy man who will provide her with an opulent but probably shallow lifestyle?

If you are a longtime Dailey fan, as I am, you already know the answers to these questions. One of Dailey's strengths as a writer is to take imperfect people, present them with problems, and give them the opportunity to grow while they overcome them. She does this very well in this novel, as well as providing strong new characterizations, snappy dialog, and steamy romance.

There's more to be seen with the next generation of Calders, and I for one am looking forward to it.

Rating:
Summary: Just OK
Review: I have read all the Calder series books and didn't even know a new one was out till I happened upon it in a store. I was thrilled. I'll say one thing for this book--it was a fast read and held my attention. I wouldn't call it riveting though, by a long stretch. For one thing not only was the heroine (Laura) spoiled(OK, she owned up to that), but she was not very nice.She slept with one guy, while engaged to another. Also, this habit of Ms. Dailey of killing off a main character or two in the most gruesome fashion possible is getting old and annoying. I don't think one single person since the original couple(Lorna&Benteen) has died a natural or usual death. It's getting redundant. Noone formally notified poor Cat(whom I believe was originally named Catherine, but in the last two installments became a Cathleen)of Logan's death either. It was all about how everyone else was taking it and no scene was described with the news being broken to his widow. It was discussed(telling her), but never played out.I don't know. Let's hope Ms. Dailey goes back and reads her own series as a refresher before undertaking her next Calder entry. I have them all and will keep the set, so I buy each new installment. To someone who hasn't followed along...don't start with this one.

Rating:
Summary: I also agree with Why Do I Bother
Review: I'm not one who enjoys writing scathing reviews, but as someone who has read all eight of Janet Dailey's Calder books, I feel qualified to review this one. Each book in this series seems to get worse and worse! I hope Ms. Dailey checks Amazon to see how her loyal readers feel about her latest books. Maybe then she'll get back on track. From what I can tell, most of the reviewers have read the series from the beginning and feel the same way I do. I loved "This Calder Sky" so much in '81 when it came out. And the next couple were good, too. But the last story I liked even a little bit was "Calder Pride". The three since then have been such disappointments. This book tells the story of Laura Calder, Ty's daughter, Chase's granddaughter. It's pretty bad when you can't even work up any liking for the heroine, let alone the men she's supposed to be "torn" between. Laura is spoiled and shallow. Although she's said to be beautiful, I had a hard time believing that two men would fall in love with her on the night they meet her. It appears maybe Boone isn't really in love with her, but he wants her for a trophy wife to satisfy his father. I did like Sebastian a little, and I actually thought he was too good for Laura. Dailey continues her alarming trend of killing off beloved characters. By the next book, Chase will probably have died, since he's suddenly in his 80's. (Wasn't he about 22 in 1981?) Although I find it annoying, I do understand the rapid aging of the characters. They do it on soap operas, too. It's the only way to keep the stories going. But, considering how the stories are going downhill so fast, maybe Janet Dailey should just quit while she's behind.

Rating:
Summary: VERY disappointed
Review: I've always been one of the first to buy Janet Dailey books and have read all of the Calder writings. This in NO way compares to her previous Calder stories, in fact I had to actually make myself finish it. No real point of the story unless we zero in on Laura and her inability to choose which one of the available men to sleep with ... and how soon. It will be a LONG time before I buy another Janet Dailey book -- believe she's lost her touch -- it's time to look at other authors.

Rating:
Summary: Great addition to great series
Review: Reading a Janet Dailey book is always entertaining. Her dialogue is always sharp and fun. In her new book, Calder Promise, she provides a wonderful sequel in a great series of books. This is a real page turner that makes you want to read the whole thing in one sitting. Having read the first four books a few times, getting a new Calder is a real treat. Janet Dailey provides hours of enjoyment, whether reading any of her books for the first time, or re-reading her older titles.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe, I am weird
Review: This was the first Calder book that I have read. I did not even know that there were others. It is a novel that can stand on its own. It was in the 7 day books at the library so, I just grabbed it.

First, I do agree with the other reviewers that Laura Calder comes across as shallow and self centered. To be honest if I was beautiful, rich, and manipulative, I am none of these things. SOB!

I loved the romance and her description of the passion of Sebastian and Laura. It made me jealous that I could not find a man like Sebastian. However, I am annoyed with Sebastian (being annoyed with ficticious characters not healthy!). He let Laura walk all over him and treat him like dirt. I cannot believe any man in his right mind would tolerate that! I do not care how much a guy is in love that is beyond.

Laura's "Aunt" Tara was very bossy and manipulative. She called Max Rutledge to get Boone to travel to the Triple C. If she loved Laura so much, why didn't she want to see her happy? Or better yet, talk to her first! If everyone dislikes her so much, howcome she is still in the picture at the end? Hmmm... Is this because I missed the other books in the series? Perhaps, but I do not think so.

I think the Calders were especially polite to Sebastian considering Laura told them that she did not want him around. Could they be that easy going?

What son, referring to Boone, would listen to his father like he does? He is an adult and make his own choices good or bad. If my father ever told me that I had to propose when I knew the person for a short time, I would definitely have something to say about it. After all, it is committment and she is just a prize to his father. Couldn't Laura just say no and be her own women.

I do not understand why all of these romance novels have to make women so weak and dependent upon a man. I guess this is why they are romance novels. I gave it 3 stars because the romance part swept me away.

Rating:
Summary: IT'S OKAY....
Review: TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO...I FELL IN LOVE WITH ROMANCE NOVELS BECAUSE OF THIS SERIES...I HAVE READ THE FIRST THREE BOOKS IN THE CALDER SERIES AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES!! I CAN'T LIE AND SAY THIS BOOK IS AS GOOD AS THE FIRST ONES...BUT IT'S A DELIGHTFUL READ...AND AFTER ALL WHEN YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THE CALDER'S ARE YOUR OWN FAMILY...IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO CATCH UP ON THE "GOSSIP" OF WHAT IS GOING ON...AND TO "WATCH" THEM ALL GROW AND AGE!

Rating:
Summary: IT'S OKAY....
Review: TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO...I FELL IN LOVE WITH ROMANCE NOVELS BECAUSE OF THIS SERIES...I HAVE READ THE FIRST THREE BOOKS IN THE CALDER SERIES AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES!! I CAN'T LIE AND SAY THIS BOOK IS AS GOOD AS THE FIRST ONES...BUT IT'S A DELIGHTFUL READ...AND AFTER ALL WHEN YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THE CALDER'S ARE YOUR OWN FAMILY...IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO CATCH UP ON THE "GOSSIP" OF WHAT IS GOING ON...AND TO "WATCH" THEM ALL GROW AND AGE!