Category: book review

Marriage can be difficult at times. It takes constant patience, love and kindness. Sometimes no matter what we do it does not work. When you mix in addictions the difficulty becomes even more apparent. We have to realize that we are hurting the other person or even being an enabler to your partner’s addiction.  

A Promise Kept by Robin Hatcher follows the story of Allison Kavanagh and her husband Tony. Their marriage began like so many others, full of love and hope. Through a series of trials they slowly began to fall apart. Allison fights hard to keep her marriage afloat but even she could not handle the suffering of Tony’s addiction anymore. When she hands him an ultimatum she never thought he would walk out the door but out the door he walked. 

Allison retreats to her Aunt Emma’s mountain side home that was left to her when her Aunt passed away. She finds in the attic a wedding dress and journals which slowly presents a different image of the person her Aunt Emma was. Allison is surprised to find her Aunt so much like herself. 

A Promise Kept is a powerful story of self discovery and forgiveness. Throughout the novel no matter what was tossed in Allison’s way when she let herself open up to God she was able to find her direction. It reminds us that forgiveness is truly the only way we can move forward in life. Our loved ones may hurt us unintentionally and sometimes we may have to make the ultimate sacrifice and walk away in order to heal each other. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do but one of the most important steps in the healing process.

The journals Allison finds is a reminder to us all that no matter how much we feel we know a person that they to may have gone through their own silent suffering. We should never be so quick to judge nor pass comment.

Robin Hatcher is the author of over sixty five novels and novellas. She lives with her family in Idaho. You can find more about her here.

You can find more reviews on a Promise Kept on the Litfuse Blog Tour. You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Romance, historical fiction and the nobility. The workings of a fabulous historical fiction! 

The Headmistress of Rosemere written by Sarah Ladd follows the tale of Patience Creighton. Patience has dedicated her life to the Rosemere School for Young Ladies. At twenty five, she has accepted her time to have her own family has passed, so instead she has chosen to invest her energy into the family run Rosemere School for Young Ladies. When her father dies unexpectedly and her brother unable to deal with this heads to London, she is forced to push herself harder to ensure the success of the school.

The owner of the property and the school, William Sterling, is well known for his bachelor status and gambling. He has racked up a high amount of debt and the creditors soon come calling. When a fire threatens the school, William must decide how far he will go to protect his birthright. After surprising truths about William’s past emerges both William and Patience must turn to God to find a plan for their lives.

The Headmistress of Rosemere is the second book in the Whispers on the Moors series. You can easily read this book without having read the first one. The story is complete from beginning to end (which I love as it can be frustrating to end a story right in the middle). The main character, Patience, is an incredibly strong young woman and I found so hard to see her as a spinster! She is a giving person who would do anything for the people around her. She is completely selfless – someone who I would have loved to have had as my own headmistress. 

She is so pure at heart and that is what draws William in. Her kindness is also her downfall (something we can see in everyday life). She gives so much to others that she forgets that she too is also a person and deserves her own happiness. I feel at times as a parent I can give too much of myself to others, be it through Parent Council, volunteer work, school and work that sometimes it can become overwhelming. This book had you wishing and praying that Patience would find her happiness.

The author, Sarah Ladd, has more then ten years in marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing. Her novel, the Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award. You can find more about her here.

If you would like to find more reviews on this novel please visit the Litfuse site here. If you would like to purchase a copy you can do so here.

Rating: 4.5/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to review. All opinions expressed are my own.