Erin Healy's The Promises She Keeps ~ Reviewed

The Promises She Keeps
By Erin Healy
Published by Thomas Nelson
ISBN# 978-1595547514
352 Pages

Summary:

Promise, a talented young singer with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging sorceress and art collector in search of immortality.

When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that she may hold the key to eternal life.

Enter Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and fascinates her with his mysterious visions and drawings.

Soon, all are plunged into a confrontation over the mystery and the cost of something even greater than eternal life...eternal love

Review:

I was thrilled to receive a review copy of The Promises She Keeps because I’ve enjoyed Erin’s other books that were filled with action, adventure and heart.

The Promises She Keeps has a different pace and feel than Healy’s other books. The main character Promise desires to be famous. She’s close to cutting a recording deal and is racing against her enemy Cystic Fibrosis. Promise strives to make her mark in the world before this disease claims her life. She’s made becoming famous the focus of her life. It drives her every move and gives meaning to her existence.

Then enters Porta, the supporting character in the book and new in town. She’s a seventy something year old sorcerer in search of eternal life. She seeks it through spells and obtaining blood from the “one” that has the power she needs to stay alive forever. Porta’s convinced that Zack has found the “one” she’s been seeking all her life after he shows her an amazing photo he took. It’s a picture of a person in mid-air with no means of staying air borne or gently landing either. Zack assures her that the person in the photo survived. Zack doesn’t know why they did-he can’t explain it. The rocks at the bottom of the cliff would have seriously hurt or killed anyone, he’d thought maybe it was a dream but the picture proved it was real.

Then enter Chase and Chelsea, who are twins with a daily routine they never deviated from. Chase is Autistic and Chelsea is her brothers’ caretaker. Chelsea is shocked one day when Chase deviates from the normal routine and wonders what’s up. Chase skips the ice cream shop visit and goes inside a new art gallery in town. Chase is struck by the photo of a body in mid-flight and can’t stop staring at it. Chase has a strong desire to meet the person in the photo after Porta tells him the person lived. Chase has to find a way to meet this person. This would be a huge challenge for him but he knew his sister would never understand his desire. He just knew what had to be done.


Erin Healy wove a unique intricate web to create an intersection for these characters lives. I appreciate the imagination it took to come up with such a creative plot with all its twists and turns. I did like how Erin Healy brought awareness of those who are challenged with Cystic Fibrosis and those who are Autistic! They are beautiful people struggling inside their bodies and I like how she portrayed them. If you enjoy the Twilight Zone series you will love and appreciate this dramatic book!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Bonus Review:

Erin Healy has created a set of unique characters and a fascinating premise in The Promises She Keeps.

A self-made woman prophetically nearing the end of her life attempts to find immortality through a terminally ill young singer who has cheated death.

Add to this palette an autistic artist who sees people as trees in stark black and white, and somehow holds the key of truth for both women.

Healy spins this tale ably. I'm going to keep my eyes open for future novels.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer