The Promise of Love [Kindle Edition]

Six great little tastes of just how sweet love can be - and a bit of spice too. Foster's story ended up being my favorite of the six but I actually really liked most all of the stories, they were a nice palate cleansing change of fare from what I normally read.

Shelter From the Storm - Lori Foster - The romance here was incredibly sweet and gentle, with two people who have been important parts of each others' lives finally taking the next step to become so much more.

Take Me Home - Erin McCarthy - After making a total mess of her life, she runs back home to the one man she can alway count on, giving him the opportunity for him to pursue what he has always wanted - her. I do like the friends finally discovering their true feelings theme of the story, but I had a hard time getting past the situation of her pregnancy, if she really had feelings for him. She was kind of a mess self-esteem-wise, so the happily ever after didn't feel so ever after to me.

Razor's Edge - Sylvia Day - This story takes things to a whole other level of steaminess, which is not surprising since a companion novella to this one is coming out under the 'Heat' banner in the fall (I normally avoid that imprint due to cruder language, there's a tad here). But the sensual intensity works just as well in this one as the sweetness did in Foster's, when the hero with a dangerous life gets a chance with his friend's widow - a woman he has always secretly loved.

Midnight Rendezvous - Jamie Denton - Denton's doesn't follow the friends to lovers theme, but a man whose addiction has nearly ruined his career, finds his muse in a scarred woman who now lives in solitude. For these two heading towards such different lives, it was hard to imagine a happy ending, but I liked theirs.

Dime Store Cowboy - Kate Douglas - This one was a big surprise to me coming from Douglas, whose writing is generally way more erotic than my normal fare - in fact I had to check her website to make sure that is was that Kate Douglas. I just loved the hero in this one, who apparently was a side character from an earlier cowboy romance. He's left the big city and his career, to try and find the man he's left behind at some point in his life, and I loved the delight that he finds in starting his new life in Colorado, along with love.

Life in the Past Lane - Kathy Love - Another really sweet ending for a man who dreads returning to the town he fled as a child and discovers that, looking through adult eyes, everything that he'd always wanted might just be there for him now.

"Shelter From the Storm" by Lori Foster. Roy and his parents rescue abused child Sabrina; years later she no longer wants Roy as a big brother.

"Take Me Home" by Erin McCarthy. Pregnant Sara returns to her BFF Travis for comfort.

"Razor's Edge" by Sylvia Day. Deputy marshal Jack takes care of his late best friend's widow Rachel and her eight year old son though she wants intimacy with him and he cannot stop the blood flow to his lower head.

"Midnight Rendezvous" by Jamie Denton. Leaving New York for New Orleans playwright Burnett suffers from writer's block until his landlady Maya takes a naked midnight swim.

The "Dime Store Cowboy" by Kate Douglas. New York editor Mark quits his position to accept a job on a Colorado dude ranch where he meets Betsy Mae.

"Life in the Past Lane" by Kathy Love. His editor sends Rocco to cover his high school reunion in Beals Point, a town he vowed to never go back to, but soon re-meets Franny.

Although there is little room for deep character development, the authors do a marvelous job of contributing six fun short novellas.

Harriet Klausner

The Promise Of Love has six heart warming and delightful stories by today's top romance authors.

Shelter From The Storm by Lori Foster has Roy Pilar always looking out for his friend and neighbor. Sabrina Downey has been around Roy and his family all his life. Sabrina has overcome challenges but her biggest challenge could be giving her heart to Roy's keeping.

Erin McCarthy's Take Me Home has Sara Parker at a major crossroad in her life. She has made some major mistakes that would have broken anyone else. She returns to her hometown and to the boy she left behind Travis. Travis always hoped Sara would see what was right in front of her and he will be there to help her.

Razor's Edge by Sylvia Day introduces us to tough and sexy Jack Killigrew. Jack is a special ops soldier and nothing scares him. Except his feelings for his friends widow, Rachel Tse.

Jamie Denton's Midnight Rendezvous couple Burnett Dupree and Maya Pomeroy exploring their feelings in sultry New Orleans. Both are hiding from pain and trying to start over. Burnett and Maya start out as friends but it grows into something deep and meaningful.

Dime Store Cowboy by Kate Douglas had Mark Connor leaving the big city to the wide open spaces of Colorado. He meets Betsy Mae Twigg who is seeking strength to be the woman she can be.

Kathy Love's Life In The Past Love, Rocco Vincente returns to his hometown to discover his memories of life there are changing. Franny Arsenault B&B has many of her classmates staying there for the reunion. But Rocco has changed from the angry young man she used to know.

Promise Of Love is an awesome anthology. Each story is powerful in its message of hope and love. It's a collection of stories that will stay with you a long time.