This isn't the life Allison had planned but things don't always turn out as you plan. Her daughter is a grown woman and lives far away and her alcoholic husband left her even though she was certain God would heal their marriage, so Allison moves into the old log cabin home in the mountains of Idaho left to her by her Great Aunt Emma several years back. Allison has never been much of a collector nor has she kept memorabilia from her life. Emma left Allison box after box of items in the attic that reveal Emma had much more in common with Allison than she ever realized. Can Allison still be comforted and learn from the content of those boxes and the heartache her aunt had experienced? Healing comes from a number of unexpected places.In some ways, there are two stories going on at the same time. Emma's story, which primarily takes place in the 1920s and 30s, and Allison's current day journey of healing, from her pain and disappointment, and her return to trusting God. The transitions between the time periods and the connection between the two are expertly done and easy to follow.
I have always enjoyed reading Robin Lee Hatcher's writings but she has addressed something in this novel that I don't know has been hit head on so well before. Allison felt certain God had promised to heal her marriage and then she felt God telling her to let go of her marriage. Why had God not kept his promise? Had she misunderstood either his promise or his direction? Everyone has certainly felt that way at one time or another and the author does an excellent addressing that question. Knowing that Ms. Hatcher used experiences from her own life in this novel , walking a path similar to Allison's, makes it even a more compelling story.
One of her best yet, A Promise Kept addresses alcoholism, divorce, and searching for God through a beautiful story. I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive review.
