Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Oct08

Splendid! When I got the chance to review “Promises Reveal” from Sarah McCarty, I leapt at the opportunity. I think I even offered a bribe to Quentin, but I don’t remember (no, really Quentin, I don’t) what it was! In any event, whatever it was, it was SO worth it. I’m not a big fan of western romances, but I love her ‘Hell’s Eight’ series and couldn’t wait to see how this latest in her ‘Promises’ series translated into mainstream mass market paperback. Wonderfully, that’s how. This book is absolutely SMOKING hot and has interesting characters and plot lines to boot! (Get it, to ‘boot’?)

Evie has always fought to keep from being boxed in by society’s expectations. Or, as everyone else says--she’s a bit strange. Her latest stunt, however, has the opposite result from what she intended…she’s getting married…to a preacher! Even if he is the handsomest, sexiest man she’s ever seen…he’s a preacher. So her life is going to be boring, boring, boring and filled with restrictions and respectability. Well, apparently that depends on the preacher.

Brad is the preacher in question. That’s his name now, but he was formerly the outlaw Shadow, supposedly dead. His upbringing and past have made him a defender of the weak with the skills and determination to back it up. He’s been fighting his attraction to Evie since he met her, but he’s still not happy at being forced to marry her. Especially since his past has also taught him that there’s always a price to pay for happiness.

Evie ticked me off at first. She came across as selfish and spoiled—because she was. But it was very cool to see her grow and discover what’s important in life and what being free really means. I enjoyed reading about the growing relationship between Evie and Brad and the way their interactions changed as the relationship deepened. The growing threat to their happiness was skillfully played out with gradual hints about Brad’s past and his struggle to come to terms with his present.

The historical setting was perfect and necessary for Evie’s struggle with independence and Brad’s outsized need to protect. And if I hadn’t seen it for myself, I would have been hard pressed to believe this was a mass market paperback as the fire between these two and the resultant blazing sex scenes are the hottest I’ve seen outside the erotica aisle. This makes sense as the first three books in this series were published by Ellora’s Cave, but reading them prior to this novel isn’t necessary. It would, however, make it more enjoyable as characters from her earlier novels in the series make substantial appearances in this one.

I can’t recommend this highly enough. It has action and suspense, it has romance and cruelty, it has hope and love, it has bad guys and good guys, it has actions and consequences, and it has interesting women and hot Alpha males falling under their spell. Even if you’re not a fan of westerns or historicals, if you like your romances as spicy as good, hot Texas chili, you owe it to yourself to read this one. If you love it like I did, you’ll be as disappointed as I am to learn that we have to wait til November 2009 for the next release, as yet untitled :( ( )