REVIEW: An Impossible Promise by Jude Deveraux & Tara Sheets

In An Impossible Promise (Providence Falls #2) by Jude Deveraux & Tara Sheets, Liam O’Connor is a man who’s at odds with his head and his heart. As a thief in Ireland in the mid 1800s, he fell in love with the town squire’s daughter, Cora McLeod. Things didn’t end well for either of them. Now sent to the twenty-first century by two angels–Agon and Samael–to save his soul, Liam is tasked with ensuring Cora falls in love with lawyer Finley Walsh. He knows it’s the right thing to do. And he would obviously do anything to make her happy and see her safe. But how can Liam give up the woman who still makes his heart sing?

‘Were they all just pawns on a chessboard, destined to make the same mistakes over and over again? …Was his failure here inevitable, or could he actually change?’

Providence Falls police woman Cora feels like she’s finally finding her footing with her new-ish partner–and roommate–Liam. He’s laid back, charming, smart as a whip, and a little too handsome for his own good. But with two local murders to solve and a boss who is getting more anxious as the days pass, Cora has too much on her mind to think about dating. Something seems so…familiar and comfortable with Liam, though. Then there are lawyers Finley Walsh and Magnus Blackwell who have their eye on her. The former is a good guy, more on the quiet side. The latter, well, Cora’s not sure if he’s as nice as he seems or if he’s a sexy player. It’s a lot for her to mull over while trying to stay safe with a killer, or killers, on the loose.

‘It was happening again. That odd sense of deja vu that ebbed and swelled around her like it often did when Liam got this close.’

An Impossible Promise combined destiny, reincarnation, romance, and even some suspense in Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets’ second exciting installment in their Providence Falls series.

‘If the angels were right, and Finn was the best man for Cora, could Liam love her enough to do the right thing? Could he truly let her go?’

I’ll quickly mention that it might be best to read book one, Chance of a Lifetime, first before diving into this story so you can follow Liam and Cora’s predicament from the start. But I think Deveraux and Sheets did include just enough info in this book for patient readers to get the gist of it. And what a premise it was. Told through Cora and Liam’s POVs and with a dual timeline (1844 & present day), their journey was filled with incredible highs and lows, happiness and tragedies. Oh…and angels.

I really enjoyed getting to see Liam and Cora’s lives in the two different timelines and comparing the bond they shared as well as the issues they faced. Sometimes it was quite similar. But at times Liam’s choices pushed them in a totally different direction than before. I do have to admit that I was torn with who I eventually want Cora to end up with because she basically had three guys interested in her: Liam, Finley Walsh, and Magnus Blackwell. So instead of a love triangle, it was a love…square? lol

Liam and Cora just had such chemistry (and history…even if she didn’t remember it) that it made me cheer them on. But knowing that tragedy could befall her life again and that Liam’s soul was in jeopardy unless he pushed her into Finley’s arms? Ugh. That changed things. Although I did like Finn quite a lot. To add another layer of complexity, it was difficult to tell if Magnus was a nice guy who truly liked Cora or if it was all an act. In other words, Deveraux and Sheets threw a ton of twists and details at us readers–but it worked.

A novel that entwined the best elements of historical and contemporary romance together, An Impossible Promise ended with a teaser that will have readers wanting more of this unique story.

QOTD: Have you read any of Jude Deveraux or Tara Sheets’ books?

Book Info:

Publication: Published September 21st, 2021 | MIRA | Providence Falls #2

They can’t be together, but they can’t stay apart…

Liam O’Connor has one purpose in this life—to push the woman he loves into the arms of another man. The Irish rogue unknowingly changed the course of destiny when he fell in love with Cora McLeod over a century ago. Their passion was intense, brief and tragic. And the angels have been trying to restore the balance of fate ever since.

Now police officers in Providence Falls, North Carolina, Liam and Cora are partners on a murder investigation. The intensity of the case has drawn them closer together—exactly what Liam is supposed to avoid. The angels have made it clear Cora must be with Finley Walsh. But headstrong Cora makes her own decisions and she’s starting to have feelings for Liam—the only thing he’s ever really wanted.

Liam knows this is the last chance to save his soul. But does he love Cora enough to let her go?