Jun
25
A Promise to Remember
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A Promise to Remember
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Product Description
When There's Nothing Left But Memories... Andie Phelps is the envy of Santa Barbara. A devoted mother with a loving son and a successful husband, her greatest joy comes from reaching out to others... Melanie Johnston is the envy of no one. A single mom who works long hours to pay the bills, and her greatest joys relate to her teen daughter and son. Then the accident that changes everything. When opposite worlds collide, the impact reaches far beyond these mothers' personal losses. Two wounded women...Two families seeking hope...A community torn apart... How far will they go to fulfill...A Promise to Remember.
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Rating
Haunting. That’s what I call a book or movie that stays with me for days after I close the back cover or leave the theatre.
A Promise to Remember haunted me for days. Kathryn Cushman did a wonderful job making both grieving mothers real and sympathetic. When I was in Andie’s scenes, I’d get angry at single mom Melanie and her twisted view of a “legacy.” But when reading Melanie, I’d be angry at the wealthy Phelps’ and the memorials they could buy for their son.
A Promise to Remember is a wonderful read.
If you like Karen Kingsbury, you will LOVE A Promise to Remember.
Rating
Kathryn Cushman has done an incredible job. She somehow finds a way to tell both sides of this tragic story and make you both angry AND sympathetic to each mother. Choosing to show both Andie and Melanie as flawed human beings reacting to death in their own way, Cushman allows the reader to decide who is right and wrong here.
I was amazed at how detailed Cushman’s story was. She introduced both mothers in the midst of the most horrible moment in their lives, and had each reacting in a logical way. The women never became stereotypical or cookie-cutter characters in any way. To be honest, I still don’t know who I felt more sympathetic toward, and that’s the sign of a powerful writer. Ultimately, she delivers a strong ending (it’s hard to say “upbeat” when dealing with a story like this) that really ties everything up nicely.
Kathryn Cushman is a writer to watch. I’m usually pulled more toward the suspense/thriller genre, but I’m glad I took a chance on this talented writer and entered her literary world for a little while. Looking forward to the next one!
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This was an amazing book! I read it in less than a day! Kathryn Cushman painted the characters in such depth that I could feel every emotion. I loved, cried, and extended grace along with both mothers. And, the ending was perfect! I cannot wait to read further books by this author. Kathryn, God has blessed you with a wonderful gift…thank you for sharing!
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Kathryn Cushman tackled a huge challenge for her first book, and delivered skillfully. In this novel, she presents even-handedly two opposing sides of a tragic circumstance, and explores with humanity and understanding the effects of grief on marriages and families. For many authors this would be enough, but the culmination of Ms. Cushman’s story and the growth of her characters left this reader with a sense of realism and warmth when the last page was finished.
This is a book well worth reading, and an author to watch.
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I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. The characters were so real that you felt their every emotion. I agree with the other reviewer who said if you like Karen Kingsbury you will love A Promise To Remember!
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This book will grip your heart. A car wreck takes the lives of two teenage boys and leaves their mothers desperately trying to cope. Andie Phelps is a devoted mother, loving wife, prominent in her community and church. She has it all, money, friends, and prestige. Everything but her son. She’s struggling to survive the loss.
Melanie Johnson is a single mother, barely getting by. She doesn’t have Andie’s resources and clout. Her son’s death has left her wounded. Normally the two of them would have never met, but due to the loss of their sons they can’t ignore each other. Then the community gets involved, taking sides, which only makes matters worse.
A Promise To Remember is a heart-touching story of hope and heartbreak, of stumbling in the dark and searching for the light. The characters are breathtakingly real. This is Kathryn Cushman’s debut novel and it’s a extremely good one. I’m looking for more from this very talented writer. Strongly recommended.
Rating
This was a riveting story about pain, loss, and forgiveness. It was very easy reading and the author had my attention from the very beginning. I could not put it down. While it certainly was a tearjerker – it was full of hope. I was really touched.
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Two families grieving lost sons make diverse attempts to deal with their pain. Although the main protagonists are the boys’ mothers, a husband, a sister and friends take different, sometimes extreme, measures to compensate for the emptiness in their lives. Cushman weaves a captivating story that makes it impossible to put this book down. Her unique gift for deep characterization puts the reader inside the heads and hearts of each member of the saga, even the slimy attorney who hopes for financial gain through one mother’s sadness. This wonderful debut novel will keep readers watching for another chance to read more exciting, quality fiction from this author. This reviewer hopes she will follow some of the characters into her next book.
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Reviewed by Lisa Kisner for Reader Views (3/08)
Andie Phelps is married to a successful businessman, has a wonderful son and is active in her community. Melanie Johnston is a hard-working single mother of a son and daughter. A tragic accident claims the lives of each of their sons. What follows is a heart-wrenching journey as each woman tries to come to grips with the tragedy. Although from different worlds, each is gripped by grief, which consumes their personal lives and reaches into the community. Both women must undergo a journey of discovery about themselves and their faith, facing adversity every step of the way.
Kathryn Cushman’s debut novel is well written and engrossing from the first page. This book depicts a realistic account of lives torn apart by tragedy and dealing with the repercussions. I felt each woman’s raw pain and anger as if I knew them personally. I found myself nodding as each woman made choices, realizing I would have made the same decision should I be in her shoes. There was no clear “right” or “wrong” in this book, only choices made in the wake of devastating heartache. “A Promise to Remember” is a book about loss, forgiveness and renewal of faith should be on everyone’s must-read list. I am looking forward for more from this gifted author.
Rating
Kathryn Cushman’s debut is wonderful, but it’s not a light read. My heart ached for Melanie, who was compelled to visit the cemetery every day because she was afraid Jeff was lonely and because she’d made a promise never to abandon her children. I longed to comfort Andie, who was drowning in guilt that she wasn’t a good enough wife and mother. The ending isn’t “happy”, though I was at peace with it. Still, I was left wondering how both families would move on after surviving such loss. I thought of friends who’ve lost children, and grieved anew for them.
This soul-stirring novel will stay with me for a long time.