A Hundred Sweet Promises

A Hundred Sweet Promises – An Award-Winning Tale of Forbidden Love and Fate

From the acclaimed author of The Harmless Necessary Cat: A World War II Family Saga in Allied-Occupied Iran comes a sweeping historical novel inspired by a long-buried family secret.

Winner of the 2023 American Fiction Awards (Historical Fiction & Historical Romance)
Gold Category Winner – 2022 HFC Historical Audiobook

A love story lost to history, A Hundred Sweet Promises brings to life the true tale of the author’s grandfather, Nasrosoltan, a Persian composer who, on the eve of World War I, travels to Russia to study classical music at the prestigious St. Petersburg Conservatory under the tutelage of masters like Rimsky-Korsakov. Amid the glittering grandeur of the Romanov court, he falls in love with a Russian princess—only to find their romance forbidden by the aristocracy surrounding them. When the Tsar himself intervenes, Nasrosoltan is thrust into a battle between love and destiny, set against the backdrop of a crumbling empire and the coming revolution.

Praise for A Hundred Sweet Promises

★ "An exceedingly intelligent tale that thoughtfully juxtaposes the maddening effects of romantic love with the violent paroxysms of political insurrection... A dramatically affecting novel that is also politically astute." – Kirkus Reviews

★ "Hints of Chekhov, Tolstoy’s ‘Kreutzer Sonata,’ and Pushkin’s ‘The Queen of Spades’ infuse this well-researched novel... Convincingly recreates the pomp and glitter of St. Petersburg in the twilight of the Romanov empire." – Publishers Weekly

★ "A sweeping historical romance in the tradition of Doctor Zhivago... This novel belongs among the great Russian literary classics." – HFC Editorial Review

Blending the grandeur of Imperial Russia, the turbulence of revolution, and the passion of star-crossed lovers, A Hundred Sweet Promises is an unforgettable story of music, honor, and the enduring power of love.