Promises, Promises [Paperback]

This book tells the story of three people, Maggie a cleaner whose unhappy marriage to Dave finally takes its toll, Ella, a painter who has had enough of relationships and from now on is off men, and Ethan who has made a resolution, no more women. They develop a relationship with each other that is supportive and loving. The story has realistic characters who at the end I was sad to say bye too. The story is endearing and ends just the way you want it to. Pure escapism. Loved it 5 stars!

I've been rather disheartened with one or two of her books recently, but this one is brilliant and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading it. She also seems to have become more down to earth in this one too. More amusing and more "with it".

There are many characters in this book, but the main three are Ethan, Ella and Maggie. All have their crosses to bear and they are surrounded by quite a few unpleasant people, some of whom I'm sure we all recognise or have met at some time in our lives. Maggie, with her lazy husband, Dave, and the son who are totally unappreciative of everything she does and who treat her like a doormat and skivvy just to do their bidding, then there is Brenda the dreadful mother in law from hell and the rest of Dave's family. Next we have Ella who has her life made a misery, initially, by her partner's daughter - both of whom are control freaks and last, but not least, Ethan who has this nightmare wife and daughter and who is plagued by the mad woman from next door. All very plausible people. I absolutely cracked up over the description of the barbecue and the dogs etc - hilarious. You could picture it all happening in slow motion. It did have the usual predictable ending but, for me, it was great and the kind of ending we all need with the world like it is today.

I'm just sorry that I've finished it and I hope she writes another one like it soon.

~Story~

Maggie Storm is determined that she will begin to act on her promises to herself. She will stand up for herself, she will try to stop daydreaming about the heroes in the romance novels she reads, and start really trying with her slob of a husband.

Ella Moore is determined to not let her heart rule her head. She has spent seven years with her ex Lawrence and his two children before finally being driven away by a selfish and spoilt child in the form of Lawrence's daughter.

Ethan Moore promises himself no more women. Stuck in a soulless marriage to a woman that he doesn't love and a daughter that is just like her mother, he is determined he will no longer play away from home. However, when Ella Moore comes into his life he doesn't quite know what to do.

~Opinion~

Erica James books have always been a source of enjoyment for me. Yes she produces Chick Lit romance books but she always manages to integrate a dose of realism without it becoming too depressing.

In this book Erica's writing style is as ever so easy to get along with. You are swept away with the characters as they are introduced to you and you find yourself feeling like you want to be a part of what is going on.

In this case it is meeting the three main characters and their husbands' wives or children. Maggie is the first we meet and I instantly loved here character. She is a woman that cleans houses for a living and is constantly being put down by her mother in law, or being bossed around by her slob of a husband. Next comes Ella and initially I wasn't sure about Ella, but as time goes on you really warm to her and can see that she is suffering to get through the feeling that she has wasted many years on a man who cannot commit to her for all the wrong reasons. Lastly we meet Ethan who although selfish, I couldn't help but really like.

The story is told from all of their perspectives which makes it easy to follow each thread. Ethan's wife was despicable and a great bit of character writing from Erica James. This latest book was a pretty hefty offering at 448 pages but no sooner had I started it I was turning pages incredibly quickly.

The story itself was told really well because although it's essentially a romance book, it's what I like to call reality romance. We see the realities that maybe we know happen in real life. We see women that stay with the wrong man, women that marry for the wrong reasons and men that have affairs because they are unhappy. It is told with sympathy but a good old dose of reality.

By the halfway mark I decided to give up on the idea of finishing my much overdue ironing and devoured the second half in one foul swoop. I finished the book feeling happy that the ending was as I thought, yes a tad predictable but still it was the ending that I had hoped for. Once again Erica James has created a very good Chick Lit books that her fans should love, I know I did!