Broken Promises (Signet Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: Another Oliver disappointment
Review: I share the previous reviewer's opinion about "Broken Promises." I also couldn't figure out why Matilda couldn't see through Miles's act, or why she forgave him so easily. Her whole behaviour in this novel just didn't ring true for me: here's a woman who ran way with another man rather than marry a man she thought didn't love her enough, and yet 10 tears later, she calmly accepts his bad behaviour because he finally admits he loves her? What about all the emotional anguish he had put her through? I can understand forgiving someone for a wrong done, but to actually contemplate spending one's life with the person who went through such lengths to get back at you, is a bit much. (And what does it say about a man who would go through so much just to revenge himself on a woman who jilted him?) What happens the next time Miles decides that Matilda has wronged him? What then? And why Matilda would carry the torch for an absolute jerk like Miles -- especially as her dead husband seems to have been all a very loving and supportive mate -- also totally mystified me! As well as why romance novelists wait until the last two or three chapters to try and 'save' the otherwise cad-like hero. Don't they realise that by then, for some of us, the hero is just unsalvageable? Especially when there are likable men in the novel? Case in point, in "Broken Promises" there is a completely likable gentleman, who is not only nice and rather dashing, but also seems to be a little bit in love with Matilda, Willoughby Hampton, who also happens to be a good friend of Miles Stephens. But nothing comes of this promising relationship because Hampton realises that there is still the vestiges of an old fire between Matilda and Miles, and he steps away. I kept wishing that Matilda would come to her senses and chose Hampton instead of Miles, but of course my wishes didn't come true.

So here's my review: if you like heroes who behave badly and the patient Griselda type of heroine, then "Broke Promises" is the book for you, but if you like heroines with a bit of spunk, and heroes that actually behave like adults, then this is DEFINITELY NOT the romance novel for you.

Rating:
Summary: Oliver getting back to previous standards
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Good relationship drama.
Review: 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 after

they 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.

Rating:
Summary: Good relationship drama.
Review: 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 after

they 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.

Rating:
Summary: Good book, could have been better
Review: Well, after the utter DISASTER of "Lady Jane's Nemesis", this is a HUGE improvement. But not quite as good as it could have been. The "hero" is, of course, a jerk. (aren't they all?)

The premise is that the heroine Matilda was betrothed to the hero. During their engagement, he never treats her with anything but cold courtesy. He does not even call her by name. So, when she falls in love with another man who treats her well, she elopes. Ten years later, she is a widow with two children. (Her marriage was a happy one, kudos to Ms. Oliver for not going the usual way.)

She returns to England. And Mr Hero decides that he has to get revenge. Revenge. For something that happened TEN YEARS ago!

So he starts to court her, intending to humiliate her.

I personally am SOOOOO tired of "heroes" who use their poor, pitiful past as an excuse to behave badly towards others. And even when his past mistakes are shown to him, he can't accept his responsibilty for what happened. He is rich, handsome and titled, and he spends all his time whining about how badly ONE woman treated him. (A little perspective here, Miles? She didn't kill your dog or steal your bible, she broke off an engagement!)

It doesn't occur to him (until the last few pages) that HE was responsible for her leaving him. That if he had shown her a little kindness, she might not have fallen in love with another man.

And Matilda is so gullible! It doesn't occur to her that the guy is out for revenge! She knew that he was incapable of caring for anyone. That is why she didn't marry him. But she is not in the least suspicious about why the man she rejected for another is courting her. I would have enjoyed it so much more if she had turned the tables on him. If he had learned his lesson and faced his responsibility BEFORE the last chapter. Instead, she is another "I know he's a total jerk, but I love him anyway. My love with change him," heroine.

Rating:
Summary: Another Oliver disappointment
Review: What has happened to Ms. Oliver? Having read all of her earlier books, I eagerly looked forward to her Regencies, however she seems to be losing her touch. More than anything the characters in this most recent work are shallow, bland and uninteresting......both bloodless protagonists. We can only hope that Ms. Oliver returns to the intriguing plots and complex people of her older novels.