The Promise of Love is a contemporary anthology focusing on women with emotional trauma and the men who help them heal.  Lori Foster headlines this emotionally intimate anthology that strikes just the perfect note between romance and real life.  Readers who enjoy romance anthologies will not want to miss this outstanding example of how great a themed anthology can be.  Because the stories are only 30 to 50 pages in length, all but one feature a hero and heroine known to each other but who are now moving their platonic relationship to a romantic and sexual one.

Lori Foster begins the anthology with Shelter from the Storm, a story about childhood friends finally consummating their romantic interests in each other.  Because of the short length of this story, it focuses sole on Roy and Sabrina’s emotional and physical intimacy.  This sets the tone for the anthology as all the other stories do the same.  Foster’s addition was by far the most romantic and sigh-worthy, in my opinion.  If readers don’t enjoy anthologies, they should at least read Foster’s story just for the warmth of the romance.

Erin McCarthy’s story Take Me Home is the weakest addition, in my opinion.  The story opens with the heroine, Sara, deciding if she should take money from a rich one-night stand who may or may not be her baby’s daddy.  Instead she runs home to her foster-brother where they both admit to the love they’ve felt for years.  This was the shortest story in the anthology and consequently barely did more than intro the characters before ending with a declaration of love and promise to wait for marriage for sex.  While not a dreadful story, McCarthy’s story lacked the warmth and intimacy of the other stories in the anthology.

Sylvia Day’s Razor’s Edge was the sexually spicy addition to the anthology.  In typical Day fashion, most of the intimacy in this story is sexual in nature.  Since the hero, Jack, has looked after his best friend’s wife, Rachel, since his best friend died, the couple are well acquainted and ready for their new sexual relationship.  Jack’s work as a U.S. Marshal makes him reluctant to become a permanent role in Rachel’s life but Rachel has learned her own strength since her husband’s death and won’t take no for an answer.  The intimacy is sexual in this story but is a nice breath of fresh air from the other stories that are more emotionally intimate.

Jamie Denton’s Midnight Rendezvous is the only story where the hero and heroine initially meet within the story.  Recovering alcoholic and playwright Burnett is visiting New Orleans in hopes of rediscovering his muse but instead falls in love and lust with his reclusive landlady, Maya.  Maya was once a fashion model who was in a terrible car accident which left her scarred.  Burnett and Maya’s story includes the sights, sounds, and smells of New Orleans to form a perfect, steamy romance.  After Foster’s story, Denton’s is the best because of this.

Dime Store Cowboy is Kate Douglas’ addition featuring two characters from her previous novel, Mark and Betsy Mae from Cowboy in My Pocket.  Betsy Mae just left her abusive ex-husband and Mark is running from his publishing job in New York City and they collide on a dude ranch in Colorado.  The romance is more home-spun in Douglas’ story but it has a wonderful warmth and compassion.  Mark’s acceptance and understanding of Betsy Mae and her past abuse is heart-warming.  Plus, readers get the joy of Mark standing up and protecting his woman—insert sigh here!

Kathy Love ends the anthology with Life in the Past Lane, a too short story about a high school reunion reuniting the town bad boy and quiet girl for a weekend of grown up fun.  The hero Rocco grew up in the local boys home and flew to New York City the moment he could to become a Sex in the City columnist for men.  His publisher demands he return to his Maine hometown for his high school reunion where he stays at Franny’s bed and breakfast.  This was the only story that I felt was rushed but given that Love has 34 pages to work with, she did a fine job.

The Promise of Love anthology is the one of the best themed anthologies I’ve ever read.  Readers who enjoy anthologies will not be disappointed.  In addition to reading a great set of stories, readers are supporting a children’s charity, One Way Farm, as all authors are donating One Way Farm their book proceeds. 

~ Janine