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When Sarah Morgan comes to Dr. Molly Boudreau’s clinic for treatment, they form a bond of sorts. Sarah’s friendship is a delight for Molly since her whole life has been dedicated to her education and medical career. Like Molly, Sarah is also alone, but for different reasons. When Sarah shows up at Molly’s apartment one morning and asks her to keep her son, Nicholas, for a few days, Molly reluctantly agrees. Then Molly receives the shock of her life when she sees Sarah’s picture on the television the next morning and hears she’s been murdered. The only thing Molly knows for sure is that the father had red hair and Sarah was deeply afraid him and didn’t want him to know anything about Nicholas. Molly is frightened and confused fearing Nicholas’ father actually killed Sarah. Molly does the only logical thing she can think of; she packs up her things, takes a leave of absence and heads to her hometown in Indiana with Nicholas hoping his father won’t be able to find them.
Growing up in a small Indiana town without a mother, Molly’s family sacrificed a lot to make her dreams come true. She shocks Glens Crossing and her family when she arrives home with a baby and no father. Everyone thinks Nicholas is hers and she doesn’t tell them any different. Her father’s disappointment is hard for Molly to accept. Her sister Lily is angry because Molly didn’t confide in them about the baby. It breaks Molly’s heart for her family to feel this way, but for their safety she can’t tell them the truth about Nicholas. Feeling more isolated than ever, Molly tries to get on with her life.
Then Molly meets Dean Coletta, a journalist visiting Glens Crossing to do a story on small town America…or so he says. Molly is immediately suspicious of Dean, knowing someone with his background didn’t come to Glens Crossing for the reasons he says. Dean does have ulterior motives for coming to Glens Crossing and Molly may have some of the answers he’s looking for. But first, he just must convince her to trust him. Bit by bit, Dean begins to breakdown Molly’s wall and he soon finds that he cares about Molly and he wants more from her than just answers and friendship. Molly’s growing feelings for Dean are a surprise to her too and she wonders if it’s out of loneliness. Dean and Molly have so many secrets between them. Will they ever have the relationship they want or will the secrets destroy them?
PROMISES TO KEEP is as powerful as the growing feelings between Molly and Dean. It is a book about relationships; family relationships, romantic relationships and friendship. It is a book about trust and forgiveness. The secondary characters are probably some of the best I’ve read. Lily and Clay from THE ROAD HOME have a big part in this book as does their son Riley and his friend Mickey. As the mother of a teen, I connected with Riley and his relationship with Mickey touched my heart. Their story gives us just a sample of the pressures and hang-ups teens are dealing with today.
Susan Crandall is at the top of her game. It’s no wonder that she won a RITA Award for “Best First Book” with BACK ROADS. PROMISES TO KEEP is one of those books that stay with you long after you’ve finished. Although it’s the fourth book in the Glens Crossing Series, it can be read independent of the other three. I am eager to read BACK ROADS and THE ROAD HOME. I’ve already read MAGNOLIA SKY and loved it almost as much as PROMISES TO KEEP. Props to Ms. Crandall…I like your style and I will cherish PROMISES TO KEEP.
Reviewed by Jennifer Ray
for The Road to Romance
March 24, 2005
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