Women’s Fiction | Book Chatter

Promises to Keep
By Nan Rossiter
Harper Paperbacks, 9780062917751, April 27, 2021, 320pp.

The Short of It:

We all need good stories right now and Promises to Keep will touch your heart and leave you smiling.

The Rest of It:

I am no stranger to Rossiter’s work. I think I have read, reviewed and enjoyed everything she’s written. Her new book, Promises to Keep, which comes out 04/27/2021, is actually a follow-up to Promises of the Heart. Although it’s a follow-up, I think each book can be read on its own but why not begin with Promises of the Heart? You’ll enjoy the characters enough to want to spend as much time with them as possible.

In this story, Maeve Lindstrom is working at Willow Pond Senior Care. A senior home, but not the type you and I think of when we think of assisted living. These folks are independent and feisty and keep Maeve on her toes! Maeve has a soft spot in her heart for her senior friends and can’t help thinking of them even when not at work. She also has a sweet spot for her niece, Harper and is lucky to be living so close to her sister Macey and her husband Ben. Family is the most important thing to her.

Gage Tennyson comes from a large family of boys. His work with Maeve’s brother-in-law Ben, is what brought Gage and Maeve together but as Maeve and Gage begin to think about a future together, they both realize that things from their past may affect where their relationship is headed. As much as Maeve wants to be a part of Gage’s life, she must come clean about something from her past and one day she can no longer ignore what needs to be said.

There are a few things you can count on when picking up a book by Nan Rossiter. There is always a dog or two, especially rambunctious Labradors. Dog lovers everywhere will find themselves completely taken by these lovable pups and yes, sometimes there’s even a cat or chickens! The other thing you can count on is the importance of family. As wonderful as these characters are, they struggle and often have to work through difficulty as the family comes together to help them through. Did I mention food? Nearly all of Rossiter’s books include food or drink in some way. There is comfort to be found in a home cooked meal and all the mentions of pies, cookies and platters of food bringing people together will give you a warm feeling. I love when an author finds a way to wrap you in comfort and who doesn’t need comfort right now?

Promises to Keep is comfort reading for sure but it’s a story with an important message too. This particular story deals with regret, missed opportunities, forgiveness, acceptance and inclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for her next book.

Promises to Keep comes out 4/27 so pre-order now or…

Nan Rossiter has offered a copy for me to giveaway! If you’d like a chance to win a copy, check out the details below.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

This giveaway is for one copy of Promises to Keep and is open to the US and Canada. A winner will be chosen randomly by me. The book will come directly from the author. Only one entry per person. Giveaway closes on April 27, 2021 (pacific). I will contact the winner for his/her mailing address.

THE GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED! THE WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED!

Source: Review and giveaway copy provided by the author.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Are We There Yet?
By Kathleen West
Berkley, 9780593098431, March 16, 2021, 352pp.

The Short of It:

Suburban moms and junior high drama. I shudder just remembering those days.

The Rest of It:

The transition from grade school to middle school is a big one. Some kids handle it better than others. Some parents, too. Alice feels pretty accomplished. She’s about to be a partner in the design firm she runs with her boss and her kids are both well-adjusted and happy. Her husband Patrick is very successful, although hardly ever home due to work and the mom group she hangs with all have similar interests. It’s a good life.

One day, one of those suburban moms hints that there might be something going on with Alice’s son, Teddy. Having absolutely no clue what she’s talking about, Alice finds herself defensive and guarded. So when the truth comes out about Teddy and what’s going on at school, Alice’s perfect little world quickly unravels.

West does an admirable job of depicting junior high life and what goes on with teens. All of the insecurity, the hormones raging, the anger that suddenly cannot be contained no matter what, and then the parents who poorly navigate those waters. This story also focuses on the danger of social media and how quickly a bad choice can turn into real harm if allowed to run its course.

Although I didn’t love any of these characters, I feel that the author did a stellar job of presenting the conflict and that these characters behaved very realistically to the challenges being presented to them. I remember my own challenges with my two and those teen years were/are rough. Plus, West touches on the busy-ness of working parents and how oblivious they can be to issues that are literally staring them right in the face.

Overall, I found this story to be pretty realistic in the telling and yes, I can see how even the best of parents can’t control the teen mind or body. They are like wild animals sometimes and definitely have opinions of their own. What would you do if you thought you did everything right and your kid still acted out in a horrible way? That is the question Alice faces over and over again.

I think any parent will be able to relate to this story and even if you don’t have kids of your own, you probably remember what it was like to hit the age of thirteen. I know I do.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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