Find full review at The Indigo Quill: http://theindigoquill.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-tour-review-giveaway-promise-kep...

I received a free paperback copy from Litfuse Publicity.

A Promise Kept is by far one of the most touching books that tugged at my heartstrings the most this season. As many know, The Indigo Quill has been on a short hiatus because I myself just experienced a heartbreaking divorce. While everything became finalized just last week, I had begun reading this book. Tears came with the pages as I feel the confusion and pain right along with the main character Allison. The realization that God is what you hold onto, especially when God is the only constant while your world is crashing and changing. However, I can also see how He is working through my life even through the midst of the uncertainty. Although I do not see my situation having quite the same outcome as Allison's, I could feel what she was feeling, and experience many of the same things she was experiencing.

We walk through Allison's journey of realizing that sometimes your faith in God is what's important, and even when you can't see it, His plan is perfect. In the beginning we experience with her the feelings of despair, loneliness, and abandonment. She wasn't necessarily losing faith in God, but she felt confused and more than anything, defeated. We go through the stages of grief with her, even catching herself experiencing the human thoughts of momentarily finding attraction in another man. Then she finally breaks a barrier and begins to count her blessings. As we continue through the story, we see how God sometimes breaks things down to create something new, bigger, and better. Sometimes He starts over to recreate perfection out of the messiness that we cause in our lives. Afterwords, you see the product and perspective of Heaven in a way you may not have ever experienced before.

I do not have many complaints about this book. One of things I caught were that it was more than implied that guys overlooked Emma just because she wasn't pretty. Were ALL the guys in her life honestly that shallow? With as godly and talented and brilliant as she was, it's a bit discouraging that her attributes were overlooked her entire life just because of what was on the outside. This seems slightly unrealistic and honestly, a bit depressing!!

The one other thing I noticed is that often times Miss Hatcher was very vague and lacked a certain amount of descriptives. For instance, on page 85 it talks about how "The company Meredith worked for had sent her back to Boise to oversee an important project," what company? What project? Why is it important? How convenient that it's over all the Holidays? I know it's difficult for an author to decipher between what's just "fluff" and what is important, but the vagueness of passages like these removed me from the story and felt unnatural. Those are my only two complaints.

This is such a beautiful book. Everyone should read it. My heart is very much attached to this book on such a deep level, and I know so many of you have experienced or are experiencing the loss and heartbreak of a failed marriage. I urge you to read this. Be encouraged. Be reassured about God's love for you and His perfect plans for you. Be blessed. Please do yourself a favor and pick this book up for yourself and a friend. ( )

A Promise Kept by Robin Hatcher
Allison is now divorced and returns home where she's given a house from a relative. She finds the journals and other treasures
and contemplates why God did not save her marriage. Book follows the grandmothers life, Allison's life before and after marriage and divorce and current present life with her daughter, mother and father and her life in Idaho at her grandmother's house.
Love how the community has embraced her into their life. Love treasures she finds in the grandmother's trunks.
Confusing at times to go from different years so far apart and with different people. Different years of relationships with one another are interesting to listen to and how they come together to help one another.
Lots of quotes from the Bible, like the connection between God and those in the stories.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). ( )

This book was a pleasant surprise. Allison met the man of her dreams married and thought life would end happily ever after. Through this book you realize things are not what they seem. Her husband Tony struggles with addiction and she gives him tough love. For her daughter's sake and he leaves them. Through divorce she moves to the mountains in her Aunt's old cottage. She finds this to be exactly what she needs to get over her loss and hurt. As her daughter is in college she begins to make friends and rebuilds herself. Then she comes across her Aunts journals and begins reading their parallel lives. She gains strength and even the will to see her ex-husband for her daughters sake. As he begins to settle and put his life back together sober she keeps a idle watch. This story is very meaningful. I will say normally I do not read the Authors notes after a story but suggest you do. It will make this book even better in my eyes. I won't tell you why because it will ruin the effect. This is an easy read and would be good for beginners. ( )

Allison Kavanagh who is recently divorced moves into her great aunt Emma's home in Kings Meadow, Idaho to put the pieces of her life back together after a painful divorce. The journals she finds in the attic that were written by her great aunt Emma completely change her life. Through the journals she learns to forgive her ex-husband, Tony. They help her draw closer to God and to hear his voice more clearly. She also comes to the realization that just because a prayer isn't answered immediately it doesn't mean it won't be answered. She learns she must simply wait on God.

In this book you follow the lives of both Allison and her great aunt Emma. Allison's life happening at present and Emma's through her journals written over a span of forty years. Shared one entry at a time, each letter is a glimpse into Emma's past. A past that has been hidden for decades from future generations. You will come to know the true aunt Emma right along with Allison who uncovers secrets as she reads through the pages one by one. You will experience Emma's highs and lows, her moments of rejoicing and her moments of heartbreak along with little bits of wisdom on every page.

Quote:
"A faith that can't be tested can't be trusted"

I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the lives of these characters for the duration of this story. They were so lovable and endearing and both Allison's and Emma's stories, although they happened in different eras, are prevalent today. You will see God's power of restoration unfold within the pages as each character draws closer to the One that makes all things new.

Quote:
"Freedom. I thought much about the word over the winter. I contemplated what it means to be free in Christ, and I resolved that freedom in Christ is the only kind of freedom worth anything. Every other kind of freedom pales beside it. And if I am free in Christ, then I will know freedom wherever he leads me, even if He should lead me into a prison cell, as He did the apostle Paul, or into a solitary life in a log house in the mountains of Idaho, as it seems to be now for me.

I continue to pray for Alexander. I wish he might know this freedom too. I understand now, as I could not understand before, that he was bound up on the inside. I wanted him to fill my every need, needs that can only be filled by the King of Kings. It is not fair to put that burden on another human being..."

Such thought provoking revelations are common in this story. It will satisfy you as a reader and strengthen your faith. The romance aspect takes a backseat but you will never miss it as the story makes a profound statement all on its own. Many tears were shed while reading this book and I encourage you to read the Author's Note at the end of the story as well because the tears don't end with the story. This is a miraculous story of healing and restoration that will touch the reader's heart. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone. If I recommend a book you can believe it's simply because I liked it. I received no monetary compensation for the review. ( )

A Promise Kept is a beautifully written and inspirational story of faith, love,forgiveness, redemption, and second chances.

After dealing with unexpected trials and tribulations in their marriage, Allison Kavanagh gives her husband Tony an ultimatum: choose what's more important, alcohol or their family. She never expected Tony's choice to walk away from their family. While recovering from the divorce, Allison restarts her life by staying at a beautiful Idaho mountain cabin left to her by her Great Aunt Emma. Allison's journey of self-discovery will lead her to discover Emma's collection of journals in the attic. Emma's journals parallel a common struggle that both she and Allison have endured, a struggle between life's expectations and God's promise, will, and timing. As Allison reads the journals, the grace of God's promise comes shining through and renews her life with hope and faith.

This wonderful story is told in the alternating first person narratives of Allison and Emma, it is an intriguing intertwining of the historical past and the present that easily draws the reader into Allison and Emma's stories. The story flows seamlessly between the two storylines, you can't help but become emotionally attached to the characters.

I loved the story's message and lesson that Allison learned during her journey: God's timing is not our timing, and His ways are not our ways. But He always keeps His promises, sometimes in surprising and even painful ways. Allison learns to love as God wants her to love, and she learns the redemptive grace of forgiveness. If you are experiencing a variety of struggles in your life, this inspirational story is a thoughtful guide that could change your outlook and provide an understanding of how God's grace is working in your life, even if it is not as you would have expected.

A Promise Kept is based on the personal experiences of the author, it is an emotional and touching story of redemption that will pull at the heartstrings.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Litfuse Publicity.

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