Promise Of The Rose By Brenda Joyce -

While many fans consider it a "jewel of the genre" and a "page-turner," some modern readers find the hero's later treatment of Mary problematic or "brutal". Critics also mention that the plot can occasionally drag due to numerous side-stories and questionable travel times for the period. Books - Promise of the Rose: Joyce, Brenda - Amazon.com

" Promise of the Rose " by Brenda Joyce is a high-stakes medieval romance and the second installment in the series . Set in 1093, the novel follows the tumultuous relationship between Mary , the daughter of the Scottish King Malcolm Canmore, and Stephen de Warenne , the bastard son and heir to the Earl of Northumberland. Plot Summary Promise of the Rose by Brenda Joyce

The narrative is built on the intense friction between two powerful families and the personal struggle between duty and desire. While many fans consider it a "jewel of

After a passionate encounter, Stephen discovers Mary's true identity and decides to marry her for political leverage, intending to use the union to secure peace while secretly planning an invasion of Scotland. Set in 1093, the novel follows the tumultuous

Stephen is portrayed as a "damaged alpha" who is hard, ruthless, and often unforgiving, a characterization typical of "old-school" historical romances.