4.5 blue ribbon rating

Alaina Ryan has lost much over the past several years and the War Between the States took its toll on everyone. Her father is all the family that Alaina has left now. He's ailing and on his deathbed but he doesn't wish to die in America, he wants to die in his native land, Ireland, and she's promised to accompany him to the land he'd left so long ago. If only she'd known that her father had an ulterior motive for this trip she would have never agreed to go. He wants to ensure that Alaina isn't left alone in the world and intends for her to wed Torin O'Brien, her betrothed.

Torin O'Brien has no intention of marrying Alaina or anyone for that matter. He still has regrets over his rebellious youth and the death of his first love. She'd died under questionable circumstances on the eve that she and Torin had intended to elope. He'd been accused of her murder and even though he wasn't found guilty he still feels as if it was his fault. Marriage would only subject an innocent woman to the same assumptions that the locals have all made about him.

Alaina and Torin first meet on the dock when she and her father arrive in Ireland. Torin saves them from having to fend off the unwanted attention of another man named Nicholas Doogan. While in America Alaina survived a brutal attack which resulted in a deep-seated fear of a man's touch. From the moment Torin introduces himself she's terrified. She knows about the betrothal but never dreamed that there was any real chance of actually meeting Torin or any risk of an actual marriage. Despite her aversion to men, Alaina is drawn to Torin. When she learns of his past and the death of the young woman he'd loved Alaina is convinced that there's no way that he would have ever hurt a woman intentionally. Too many facts about the night of Brigit's death don't make sense and Alaina's determined to find out what really happened to her. Despite their resolve to remain unmarried Alaina and Torin find it impossible to resist each other, but is there any chance for a happily-ever-after when the events of his past overshadow their future?

Meg Allison's ALAINA'S PROMISE contains a riveting storyline from start to finish. Alaina has an inner strength that has gotten her through many tough trials and I admired that about her. Torin has blamed himself for Brigit's death, if she hadn't agreed to elope with him she wouldn't have been out that night. He's suffered a great deal for choices he made in his youth and I loved how Alaina champions him. ALAINA'S PROMISE is packed full of characters who will leave a lasting impression on readers, suspenseful elements which will keep you guessing until the end, and a sweet romance which is a joy to experience.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)