"an entertaining science fiction romance with interesting characters"

General Garran Doranth is convinced by his men to seek mates for them on Earth. After the war with Earth, the Gaians have a shortage of women, because Earth destroyed a settlement where many of the women lived. On Gaia the females and males are kept separated through puberty until the age of twenty. Gaians attach to their mates and mate for life or until their mate dies. Garran, who is thought a beast by Earthlings, lost his wife and child in the war. He doesn't like Earthlings but decides to help his men. The Gaians have a front company, which gets Earth women to sign up to go to the Outer Colonies to find husbands. Because she really wants a child, Dr. Sarah Johnson signs to go to the Outer Colonies. After the Gaians hijack the Earth women, Sarah is chosen as their leader by the Earth women. Sarah hates Garran because her best friend was on one of the ships taken by the Gaians and her friend was never heard from again. After he scares one of the women, Sarah slaps the General. The General turns red and rushes out -- it seems he has attached to Sarah.

PROMISES TO KEEP is an entertaining science fiction romance with interesting characters. Although I found the author's view of Earth's future rather bleak, her world- building skills are quite good. Women on Earth are second class citizens, men rarely commit to marriage, few children are born and many plants and animals are extinct. The Gaians are everything the Earthlings should have become and offer the women a better life. I found the fact that Gaian men could only attach to one woman and are physically incapable of infidelity refreshing. When all's said and done, PROMISES TO KEEP is an enjoyable science fiction romance which I can highly recommend.

Reviewed by Marlene Breakfield
Courtesy eBookIsle
Posted July 16, 2004

Summary

Their war of independence from Earth is won, but the men of the former colony Gaia still have a big problem: too few women. Since they have to attach to a woman to even become sexually active, this means a long boring and lonely life for a lot of guys--unless they can find other women to marry. General Garran Doranth sees the wisdom in finding women for his men, even if he has to get them from hated Earth.

On Earth, women aren't finding men that want to commit to marriage so they sign up to go to the Outer Colonies to find husbands. But on the way their ship is hijacked by the Gaians who make them an offer they can't refuse--themselves! Doctor Sarah Johnson isn't thrilled with the situation, but she can't help being intrigued by the masked man who courts her--even when it turns out to be the one man she can't stand, the general.