Promises Prevail [Tapa blanda]

First off, don't make the mistake that I did and read this series out of order. After reading the first book in the series, "Promises Linger", I was so eager to get my hands on the next two that I settled for the only one I could immediately find, which was this one, "Promises Prevail", the third book in the series. I loved this book just as much as the first one, but the main characters from the second book, "Promises Keep", kept popping up and I kept wishing that I'd read their story before the third book. It wasn't too much of a disappointment though to dampen my enthusiasm for Clint's story.

Jenna Hennessy is a shy and unassuming woman looking for a way to get by in the world after her abusive husband takes a trip six feet under. Trained through years of crazed religious spoutings by her father and then years of physical and mental abuse by her husband, she knows no other way to please a man except by total obedience. Thinking herself unworthy of any love or kindness, she does her best to stay out of the limelight and tries not to be a temptation for any man. Clint McKinnely is a hardened man of the law that has seen one hard and hopeless day too many. Thinking himself incapable of happiness, he nevertheless sets his sights on Jenna, having wanted her since the first time he saw her outside the mercantile, standing beside her husband. He sets her up in her own bakery and becomes her shield from any other man that might be entertaining less than ideal thoughts about his woman. One morning, after making his routine visit to Jenna's bakery, he discovers her secret she's been hiding - a newborn baby girl left on her doorstop. Clint knows that Jenna will need a husband to keep the baby, and he sees the opportunity he's always been looking for. He promptly steps in to fill the role and he and Jenna's tenuous relationship begins on unsure footing. Jenna's baby isn't the only secret she's hiding and Clint realizes he'll have to handle Jenna with the utmost care in order to make their marriage work and to discover why she is so terrified of men.

Clint and Jenna were the perfect pair, her sweet innocent nature a calm and soothing balm for Clint's hardened attitude. When it came to Jenna though, Clint could sometimes melt like butter, quickly able to see when she was in distress about something and knowing just how to calm her nerves. Never has a woman had it so lucky. Clint was such a sensitive, sexy and mouth-watering hero (I'm thinking these type of men are author McCarty's signature style of hero - no complaints here!). His understanding but calm influence over Jenna was the sure ticket to drawing out her true fiery and bold nature. And it was no easy task for him, after all the years she suffered, praying, waiting and hoping for a way to endure each day of misery. I cried for Jenna, I even cried for Clint, who needed just as much love to cure the scars in his heart as well.

Who doesn't love an alpha male that is capable of extreme patience, kindness and love for his wife? Clint is a shining star in "Promises Prevail" and Jenna is his reward for all his patience and genuine good heart. Read this book with the promise of this reviewer that you will love it.

I'll skip the synopsis as others have done it before me. I don't care for westerns, I don't care for historical romances, and I don't care for rough sex. This book falls into all 3 catagories but I still gave it 5 stars. Almost against my will I loved this book. Aspects of the sex were graphic and made me squeamish but the story was so excellent I just skipped over the parts that got to be too much for me. I loved the characters: how considerate, loving, and passionate the Alpha male was; how strong and proud the Heroine was, despite her very damaged psyche. It's probably not PC but I gotta tell you, the hero fighting so fiercely for the heroine just turned me to mush and that is definitely not me! If you can handle the graphic sex description, I would highly recommend the book. It's definitely got a place on my "keeper" shelf.

In Promises Prevail we finally get Clint <sigh> McKinnely's story! This is the long anticipated third book of the "Promises" series. Clint is a tough,hard honest man(with a secret) who's wanted Jenna for a long time. Jenna is a woman who's had a very hard life thats left her with an incredible inner strength while still retaining her caring, loving self. After her abusive husband is killed,Jenna starts her life alone until someone leaves an infant on her doorstep. At a time when a unmarried woman alone has no chance of keeping a baby,Clint steps in and offers to marry her so she can keep the baby.

This book touched my heart,made me laugh,made me cry,I could not put it down until I read the very last line. You'll get to visit Asa,Elizabeth,Cougar,Mara, and The Reverend from the the other two "Promises" books. Each of the "Promises" books can be read as stand alones,but you'll definitely want the others and wfter you've read them you'll be anxiously waiting for the next in the series. You can't go wrong with a book written by Sarah McCarty!