The Promise

I may be one of the few readers who was never enchanted by Danielle Steel, but what the heck, I've always been a nonconformist. That being said, this book was the first of hers I read, and for some reason decided to try a few others before I came to my senses and stopped wasting my time.

The story overloads on SOS (soap opera silly). Michael, heir to his family's fortune and business and Nancy, a humble photographer, are in love, despite the disapproval of his cold, possessive mother. Their plans to marry are derailed when they get into a car accident that leaves Nancy faceless and almost costs her life, until Marion (Michael's mother) comes to the rescue, with medical and financial help, providing Nancy start a new life elsewhere and show more never contact Michael. Considering her condition, it's not surprising she agrees and who wouldn't?

What is surprising is that Nancy, knowing how much Marion disliked her and wanted her out of Michael's life, never suspected there'd be more to it. She foolishly assumed that Michael would just try to find her, because he'd never believe she'd dump him. Whereas, the evil Marion told Michael (and you can just hear the old time soap opera background music) that Nancy had died! Good Heavens!! What a wicked woman!!

I forgot how they arranged the "funeral": did they bury a wax corpse without a face or was she supposedly cremated? Then again, who cares?

Michael falls apart, takes solace in an affair with Wendy, a designer who works for him in the family business (today he'd be arrested!) but though his body's with Wendy, his heart and soul are still with "dead" Nancy.

Nancy, meanwhile, after recuperating and getting a new face, in a new city, with the help of Dr. Peter Gregson, and a new life as a photographer. changes her name to Marie and buries her love for Michael in her anger at the way he's treated her, not even bothering to find her. Maybe she should have called herself "Dumb Dora" instead, as it never seemed to cross her mind that there was more to the story. Considering how much Michael loved her, (and not knowing he thought she was dead) she should have known that if she never saw or heard from him that something was rotten in Denmark, and she'd forget her stupid promise and try and get in touch with him.

Now that would have made for a much better story, instead of stretching this whole thing out way too long. (It may not have that many pages, but it felt like reading "War and Peace".) Nancy/Marie rebounds to Peter, who's older, as well as her doctor (talk about unethical!) and can't make up his mind whether he loves her, considers her Galatea to his Pygmalion, or is still pining for his long lost love (can't remember what happened, but if she's lost on purpose I don't blame her a bit).

Next thing you know: the company needs a photographer, and guess who that'll be? What, you didn't guess Nancy/Marie, how could you be such a nincompoop! Why does Michael feel a certain vibe around her and why does she seem not to like him?

That plays out for a while, along with some other stuff, like Wendy, who found out soon enough that Michael would never commit to her, moving on with his best friend, Ben. (It must have been awkward when the three of them were together, considering they both saw her naked, but maybe I'm being a prude), and - will wonders never cease - Marion has a change of heart! She becomes a nice person, pretty unbelievable, after so many years being a stone cold bitch, but remember, this is La La Land.

That also explains George, Marion's right hand man who was her late husband's business partner, suddenly declaring his love for Marion, after keeping quiet about it for so long. Why he found her attractive I'll never know, but to each his own. That's another tired soap thing, someone being secretly in love with someone else, and never saying a word, just waiting patiently...yeah, right! He probably got a lot of action while he waited.

The biggest soap moment of them all was when Michael discovers Nancy's unfinished painting that he thought was lost for good, now finished and with Marie's signature! Yes, Marie is Nancy!!! (Can't you hear the organ music in the background?)

Next thing you know, they're back in each other's arms, and decide to pick up where they left of and get married right away!...........excuse me, I got a bit sick from sugar overdose.

No way would that happen in real life, no matter how much they loved each other, they'd need time to process it all, not run off and get married. And personally, I wish it had ended the way George said, when he told Marion (before the reunion) that they might find out the truth and decide to go their separate ways. I wish they had, as I found them to be an insipid couple, no spark or chemistry whatsoever. I would have liked to see them let go of the past, shake hands and move on.

No such luck. This being a romance, there must be the obligatory HEA, no matter how improbable or, in this case, unappealing.

If "The Promise" also meant expect to read a really good book, it sure didn't live up to it. show less

The Promise by Danielle Steel
Michael Hillard and Nancy MacAllister are to be wed but the car accident prior to the wedding
leaves others to wonder if they will keep their vow. He is an architect and she is an artist.
His wealthy mother disapproves though...They will be separated but will it keep them apart?
He is appalled that his mother have a private eye find out about Nancy's past=like it was her fault who her parents turned out to be.
On their way to get married the car crashes and he's unconscious and she has lost her face. When his mother visits in the hospital she pays for
Peter to not only care for her in CA but to rebuild her face and life-away from Michael.
Going through face restorations she is not sure why Michael doesn't come to show more visit her. She doesn't know that his mother told him that she had died.
The book follows each of them as their new lifes begin...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less

I'm not one for romance novels, but this grabbed my attention from page 1 and kept it at a frenzied page turning pace until the end. A beautifully written tear jerker.

I read this book years ago; it was a popular title with the girls at school - we all found it quite heartbreaking and romantic. I still remember the story after all this time, so the author must have done something right, though. It made an impression unlike many other books I read during this time period. Young sweethearts vow to be together forever, but when one of them is involved in a life-changing car crash, their lives take a far different turn than they'd expected. Will they ever be able to be together?

I read this book forever ago when I was a teenager and still remember it well. The tragic romance was well-written and heartbreaking. The characters were very memorable. More cotton candy!

In the last year I have just started reading Danielle Steels books and I am still having trouble with the fact that every book ends the same way. Happily Ever After! I agree this was a page turner but by the middle of the book we all knew what the outcome was gonna be. I expected more on this one.

I am not a big romance reader but long, long ago i read this book and it touched me--i think it was one of Danielle Steel's first. Whatever sentimentalist there is in me hangs on to it and reads it every once in a while.