Robin Lee Hatcher's A Promise Kept ~ Reviewed

A Promise Kept
Robin Lee Hatcher
Pages 304
Binding Softcover
Release Date Dec 1, 2013
Publisher Thomas Nelson
ISBN 1401687652




Description

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 surprisingly 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?

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, "A Promise Kept" is Robin Lee Hatcher's emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers--in His own time and His own ways.

Review:

A Promise Kept tells us about Allison Kavanagh.  After marrying Tony, the love of her life, she thought life would be perfect.  But shortly after her marriage, she realizes a secret he’s been hiding, his love for alcohol.  While not a violent drunk, his addiction drives a wedge between himself and Allison.  Allison finally delivers an ultimatum, trusting that Tony would turn things around and God would save her marriage, but Tony did not agree and left.  Allison moves herself to a quiet mountain cabin that she inherited from her Great Aunt Emma.  As she settles into the house, she finds several journals that belonged to her aunt, as well as an old wedding dress, which was a mystery, because, as far as the family knew, Aunt Emma had never married.  As Allison begins to read the journals, she realizes how much alike she and her aunt were, and she learns the true importance of laying everything at the Lord’s feet and trusting Him for the outcome.

                

This was a great story.  I loved the idea of Allison retreating to live in a cabin in the mountains.  I could picture it in my mind, and imagine it being somewhere I’d love to live.  I also related to the fact that Allison had plans all laid out and figured that God planned on keeping them just the way Allison wanted, and when something went wrong, it caused Allison to question herself and how in tune she was with the Lord’s will.  I’ve found myself in that position several times, so it was nice to see her and how she came out in the end.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers