A Promise Kept
Award-winning Hatcher’s (Belonging, 2011) latest is a story of love, heartbreak, and redemption. If Allison Kavanagh had her way, she would be happily married and living close to her family. Instead, after inheriting her great-aunt’s mountain cabin, she resides there with only her little dog for company. Initially, Allison is consumed by her loneliness and regrets. Soon, though, she begins to make a new life for herself with fulfilling work, close friends, and meaningful hobbies. Eventually one of her favorite activities becomes immersing herself in her great-aunt Emma’s old journals, where she discovers a strong woman who faced trials similar to her own. Emma used her faith to carry her through her struggles, and Allison gradually allows herself to do the same. As Hatcher blends the past and present, Allison and Emma’s lives take on new meaning as we watch them each embark on solitary journeys. Hatcher’s inspirational novel dramatizes the perception that even when it seems like you’re alone, you are always part of a greater plan. --Carolyn Richard