Book Review: Promises To Keep

Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper. Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in.

Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them together--both are hiding secrets. So they make a promise--"cross my heart and hope to die"--never to tell anyone else.

When danger stalks the Anthonys, Tillie exhibits unimaginable courage and selfless love in her determination to protect the family she has adopted as her own.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I found this book to be delightful from the get go with it's charming and realistic characters. Anne Tatlock is a new author for me, and I found her to be a wonderful storyteller.

Janis is a single mother, trying to start a new life with her children after escaping from an abusive marriage. Roz is an 11 year old girl unable to let go of missing her father. Tillie is an elderly woman who refuses to let go of the home she helped build with her husband.

I loved Tillie's spunk, Janis' strength, and Roz brought me back to my childhood.

A sweet, moving and powerful read told by the perspective of 11 year old Roz, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good book to curl up with and lose yourself in.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.