Promises, Promises – H S #784
By: Amber Miller
Publisher: Heartsong Presents (Barbour)
ISBN: 9781597899390
Binding: Mass Market
Pages: 176 pages
From Heartsong Presents.com:
Raelene Strattford knows God has promised never to leave or forsake her. But after the catastrophic deaths of her parents, she doesn’t believe it. What kind of God would take a girl’s family and leave her alone in a wild land where women have no voice? Gustaf Hanssen has admired Raelene from afar for a while, but his poor attempt at courting her in the past has made him unwelcome in her life. When Gustaf promises Raelene’s dying father that he will take care of her, he finds himself bound to her happiness, her success, and her well-being in ways he never imagined. To keep his word must Gustaf really oversee all of Raelene’s affairs, find her a husband, and maintain her farm, while she does nothing but scorn him? Can God reach through Raelene’s pain and self-centeredness and give her the love that awaits, if only she will accept His will?

I thought this was a nice, heartwarming read. I think Amber did a great job with taking us back in time. The scenery was lovely, and I thought the characters were well-developed. You can feel Ralene’s pain after she loses her parents, but I wanted to shake her a few times when she kept rejecting Gustaf’s affections! Gustaf is a good-looking hunk of a man who has a big heart for the Lord! He has the patience of Job as he works as prickly Raelene’s overseer. He falls in love with her, while watching other eligible bachelors try to win her hand in marriage. Although Gustaf loves Raelene, he’s more concerned with her spiritual well-being, than with winning her affections. He finally leaves the whole relationship situation in the Lord’s hands, and the ending has a nice twist that’ll make you smile!

~Cecelia Dowdy~