A Promise Kept
Setting: Idaho, 2011
God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it.
But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.
What had become of His promise?
Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.
The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she'd misunderstood.
Now living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman a lot like herself.
As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord? For a woman accustomed to being someone else’s savior, that will be even harder than it sounds.
A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s most intimate work yet and an emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His time and His own ways.
Reviews
“Narrated alternately by Emma and Allison, Hatcher’s latest is an uplifting and heartwarming story about the power of faith to set people free from the pain of their pasts. Fans of the author’s previous books (A Bride for All Seasons; Hearts of Gold) will enjoy this story of two women separated by a generation who share the same strong beliefs in God. Recommended where Tracie Peterson’s books (All Things Hidden; The Miner’s Lady) are popular.” ~ Library Journal (Starred review)
“Hatcher (Where the Heart Lives series) departs from her more recent historical novels for this contemporary exploration of the conundrum faced by believers when they accept God’s word but can’t see it being manifested in their lives. Seeking refuge from the pain of her recent divorce, Allison Kavanagh moves to the remote mountain cabin in Idaho, bequeathed to her by beloved Aunt Emma, a successful nature photographer. Smarting from the conviction that she precipitated the divorce by acting on spiritual guidance to issue a tough-love ultimatum, Allison takes strength in the 2010s from a surprisingly parallel and secret side of Emma’s life in the 1920s, pieced together through old photos and journal entries. With the help of family and newfound church community, Allison reconsiders the trajectory of her marriage, and gradually works through her spiritual and emotional turmoil. The mountain setting is as appealing an aspect of this upbeat, well-paced novel as Allison, Emma, and their family and friends.” ~ Publishers Weekly
“Award-winning Hatcher’s latest is a story of love, heartbreak, and redemption. If Allison Kavanagh had her way, she would be happily married and living close to her family. Instead, after inheriting her great-aunt’s mountain cabin, she resides there with only her little dog for company. Initially, Allison is consumed by her loneliness and regrets. Soon, though, she begins to make a new life for herself with fulfilling work, close friends, and meaningful hobbies. Eventually one of her favorite activities becomes immersing herself in her Great-Aunt Emma’s old journals, where she discovers a strong woman who faced trials similar to her own. Emma used her faith to carry her through her struggles, and Allison gradually allows herself to do the same. As Hatcher blends the past and present, Allison and Emma’s lives take on new meaning as we watch them each embark on solitary journeys. Hatcher’s inspirational novel dramatizes the perception that even when it seems like you’re alone, you are always a part of a greater plan.” ~ Booklist/American Library Association
“Hatcher’s beautifully crafted tale alternates between the past and the present. Allison and Emma are incredibly relatable characters, and readers are able to examine their own lives through the mirror of the novel’s events. Filled with family and faith, the author’s phrasing is exquisite and a treat to savor.” ~RT Book Reviews TOP PICK
Endorsement
“A beautiful, heart-touching story of God’s amazing grace, and how He can restore and make new that which was lost.” ~ Francine Rivers, New York Times’ best selling author
Awards and Recognitions
- Winner, Inspirational Readers Choice Award (women’s fiction category)
- Winner, Reviewers’ Choice Award (best inspirational novel)
