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Michigan Northwoods #2
A Promise to Love
Ingrid Larsen arrives in Michigan in 1871 with little more than the clothes on her back and a determination to find her brother, who has disappeared into the dangerous lumber camps. Destitute and barely hanging on to hope, the young Swedish immigrant crosses paths with Joshua Hunter, a newly widowed farmer with eyes the color of the ocean she had crossed and five rambunctious children to raise on his own.
Marriage would solve both of their problems, and Ingrid finds herself proposing in broken English to a man she barely knows. Many difficulties lie ahead--but the hardest battle of all will be winning the heart of her new husband.
Marriage would solve both of their problems, and Ingrid finds herself proposing in broken English to a man she barely knows. Many difficulties lie ahead--but the hardest battle of all will be winning the heart of her new husband.
332 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
91 people are currently reading
1147 people want to read
About the author
Serena B. Miller
41 books329 followersI live only a few miles from a flourishing Amish community and am blessed to count many Old Order Amish as friends. Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio is a natural outgrowth of my on-going fascination with these valiant, flawed people who struggle to live their lives according to their interpretation of the Bible. Once, when I apologized for asking so many questions while researching this book, an Amish father told me that I could ask anything I wanted. “Nothing is forbidden,” he said. He told me that he wanted my book to be accurate. I was thrilled when his family read it and gave me their enthusiastic nod of approval.
Our family, however, also lived for many years in Michigan. My father, a sawyer, told me stories he had heard from old timber men who had cut the fabled giant pine in the Saginaw Valley. Visiting museums and reading about the years directly after the Civil War, when Michigan became the lumber capitol of the world, became a hobby. I was delighted when Revell Publishing allowed me to revisit that era by writing The Measure Of Katie Calloway.
There are many other books on their way—both Amish and historical. Please know that each one is a labor of love from me to you.
To God be all the glory, forever.
Serena
Our family, however, also lived for many years in Michigan. My father, a sawyer, told me stories he had heard from old timber men who had cut the fabled giant pine in the Saginaw Valley. Visiting museums and reading about the years directly after the Civil War, when Michigan became the lumber capitol of the world, became a hobby. I was delighted when Revell Publishing allowed me to revisit that era by writing The Measure Of Katie Calloway.
There are many other books on their way—both Amish and historical. Please know that each one is a labor of love from me to you.
To God be all the glory, forever.
Serena
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
May 19, 2016
I was challenged to read this book by a friend and am so glad I did. It's a delightful story based on true events that happened to different people in history. There are moments of humor, suspense, pain, triumph—before you reach the end you'll definitely feel that you have lived life with these people. Ingrid and Joshua and their family are strong, multilayered characters, and even the animals (Buttons the horse and She-Wolf the dog) get their chance to save the day. Highly recommended.
March 20, 2013
This was not a romance story it was a true love story! 1 Corinthians 13. WOW! I am very impressed with this writer. This is the second book I have read by Miller, the first being the first book in this series, "The Measure of Katie Calloway". What I liked even more was the fact that this book was inspired by real-life events. I really enjoy historicals and this one sure hit the spot!
November 1, 2012
GENRE: HISTORICAL ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: REVELL
PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 01, 2012
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5 – EXCELLENT
PROS: Subtle, slow-burning romance; mystery element involving rudimentary medicine; unexplored section of history; great concluding suspense
CONS: Wished there had been a more sympathetic treatment of Diantha’s mental illness
Ingrid Larsen has travelled to American from Sweden with the hope of finding employment, after her brother informs her of how well he is doing working for a lumber camp. But her brother fails to meet her at their arranged point, and as Ingrid’s money begins to dwindle, she has to find work without him. Taking a job as a servant for a spoiled Southern woman, she travels to White Rock, Michigan. But this plan soon falls through as well, when Ingrid’s employer begins to abuse her. One of the few people who is actually kind to her during her time of employment is a local widower, Joshua Hunter, who is struggling to raise his five children after the sudden death of his wife. When an inquest into his wife’s death is carried out, the judge considers giving Joshua’s mother-in-law custody of the children, believing that he can’t raise them on his own. Seeing how much Joshua cares for his children, Ingrid can’t allow this to happen, and spontaneously offers to marry him, right there in the makeshift courtroom. Ingrid and Joshua find themselves thrown into a marriage that suits both of their needs, even if they barely know each other. While Joshua still hasn’t recovered from the death of his wife, Ingrid longs for their marriage to be more than one of convenience. Will her dream ever come true?
It’s been several days since I finished reading A Promise to Love, but I’m still as overwhelmed as I was when I came to the final page of the book. This book had me gripped from the start, and the ending was so intense that I’m fairly certain I would have thrown something at anyone who tried to interrupt my reading. Don’t let this book fool you – it is not the standard marriage of convenience story, although it does have many of the typical tropes that you’d expect to find. Ingrid struggles to live up to the memory of Joshua’s first wife, and you can’t help but sympathise with her desire to be loved and her continual rejection. But I could also understand Joshua; could anyone truly fall in love again so shortly after their spouse passed away? Neither character came off as the “bad guy” in this situation, and I imagine readers will be sympathetic to both of their struggles.
Initially I found Ingrid a little too perfect, since she managed to accomplish so much housework every day and won the hearts of Joshua’s children almost immediately. She made me feel a little guilty for how little housework I manage to complete every day, and I had to continually remind myself that Ingrid isn’t also editing a novel and writing a dissertation while balancing laundry and cooking. But I came to realise that Ingrid’s shortcoming is her stubbornness, as shown in the treatment she gives Joshua whenever he manages to offend her. So don’t be put off by Ingrid’s initial perfect housewife image; she’s far from it. And even I could admire her desire to prove her worth to Joshua by making his home a happy place.
Joshua’s first wife, Diantha, is almost an invisible character in the story. Although she dies in the prologue, she remains in the minds of Joshua’s family and friends, with even his neighbours speculating over her death. This brought an element of mystery to the novel, and I was fascinated by its outcome. I don’t want to spoil the mystery for any potential readers, but I will say that I was both surprised and pleased that the author chose to explore the topic of mental illness in a time when so little was known about it. There was also some discussion about what can be best described as a rudimentary version of the Morning After Pill, which I had no idea had existed in this time period.
My only complaint about the way Diantha’s mental illness was treated was that when Joshua acknowledged the difficulties his wife had had, he was finally able to move on and make more of an effort in his marriage to Ingrid because he finally realised that Diantha hadn’t been a good mother. This might well have been true, but I wished there had been more of a focus on the fact that Diantha couldn’t help being a bad mother, given her mental state. As someone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, I know that sometimes I get into a state of mind that I hate, and it’s very hard to get out of it. I have strategies to get out of this state, and family members to support me, along with an artificial light device – but Diantha had none of these. I know that the characters only had a very basic understanding of Diantha’s condition, but I wish there had been a bit more sympathy for her.
A lot of the historical aspects explored in this novel were completely new to me. First there was the medical history, with Diantha’s mental health and the abortifacient pills, then there was the Great Michigan Fire of 1871. I’m sure everyone has heard of the Chicago Fire of the same year, but Michigan was a new location for me. I know very little about forest fires, so the descriptions of the lead up to the fire were utterly fascinating. It was clear that Serena had done a lot of research into the topic and she succeeded in producing incredibly realistic descriptions of a forest fire. From the first descriptions of the smoky haze around Ingrid’s home to the last page of the book, I don’t think I put this novel down at all. This is a book that has it all – romance, mystery, history, and now suspense. I was impressed that Serena was able to roll all of these into one novel without making any of the elements feel forced or out of place, but the forest fire seemed to be the perfect way to conclude the book. If there was any doubt that Ingrid and Joshua truly cared for each other, or that Ingrid loved Joshua’s children, it was eradicated from my mind with the conclusion to the novel.
As I said earlier, this isn’t your standard marriage of convenience story. The romance is subtle, akin to Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly. Ingrid and Joshua’s love for each takes a while to grow, and it matures amidst a novel full of mystery, history and suspense. This is a novel that I can’t recommend enough. It has all the elements that make a great historical romance, along with some others that are completely unexpected. This may be the first novel I’ve read from Serena B. Miller, but I’m certain that it won’t be the last.
Review title provided by Revell.
PUBLISHER: REVELL
PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 01, 2012
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5 – EXCELLENT
PROS: Subtle, slow-burning romance; mystery element involving rudimentary medicine; unexplored section of history; great concluding suspense
CONS: Wished there had been a more sympathetic treatment of Diantha’s mental illness
Ingrid Larsen has travelled to American from Sweden with the hope of finding employment, after her brother informs her of how well he is doing working for a lumber camp. But her brother fails to meet her at their arranged point, and as Ingrid’s money begins to dwindle, she has to find work without him. Taking a job as a servant for a spoiled Southern woman, she travels to White Rock, Michigan. But this plan soon falls through as well, when Ingrid’s employer begins to abuse her. One of the few people who is actually kind to her during her time of employment is a local widower, Joshua Hunter, who is struggling to raise his five children after the sudden death of his wife. When an inquest into his wife’s death is carried out, the judge considers giving Joshua’s mother-in-law custody of the children, believing that he can’t raise them on his own. Seeing how much Joshua cares for his children, Ingrid can’t allow this to happen, and spontaneously offers to marry him, right there in the makeshift courtroom. Ingrid and Joshua find themselves thrown into a marriage that suits both of their needs, even if they barely know each other. While Joshua still hasn’t recovered from the death of his wife, Ingrid longs for their marriage to be more than one of convenience. Will her dream ever come true?
It’s been several days since I finished reading A Promise to Love, but I’m still as overwhelmed as I was when I came to the final page of the book. This book had me gripped from the start, and the ending was so intense that I’m fairly certain I would have thrown something at anyone who tried to interrupt my reading. Don’t let this book fool you – it is not the standard marriage of convenience story, although it does have many of the typical tropes that you’d expect to find. Ingrid struggles to live up to the memory of Joshua’s first wife, and you can’t help but sympathise with her desire to be loved and her continual rejection. But I could also understand Joshua; could anyone truly fall in love again so shortly after their spouse passed away? Neither character came off as the “bad guy” in this situation, and I imagine readers will be sympathetic to both of their struggles.
Initially I found Ingrid a little too perfect, since she managed to accomplish so much housework every day and won the hearts of Joshua’s children almost immediately. She made me feel a little guilty for how little housework I manage to complete every day, and I had to continually remind myself that Ingrid isn’t also editing a novel and writing a dissertation while balancing laundry and cooking. But I came to realise that Ingrid’s shortcoming is her stubbornness, as shown in the treatment she gives Joshua whenever he manages to offend her. So don’t be put off by Ingrid’s initial perfect housewife image; she’s far from it. And even I could admire her desire to prove her worth to Joshua by making his home a happy place.
Joshua’s first wife, Diantha, is almost an invisible character in the story. Although she dies in the prologue, she remains in the minds of Joshua’s family and friends, with even his neighbours speculating over her death. This brought an element of mystery to the novel, and I was fascinated by its outcome. I don’t want to spoil the mystery for any potential readers, but I will say that I was both surprised and pleased that the author chose to explore the topic of mental illness in a time when so little was known about it. There was also some discussion about what can be best described as a rudimentary version of the Morning After Pill, which I had no idea had existed in this time period.
My only complaint about the way Diantha’s mental illness was treated was that when Joshua acknowledged the difficulties his wife had had, he was finally able to move on and make more of an effort in his marriage to Ingrid because he finally realised that Diantha hadn’t been a good mother. This might well have been true, but I wished there had been more of a focus on the fact that Diantha couldn’t help being a bad mother, given her mental state. As someone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, I know that sometimes I get into a state of mind that I hate, and it’s very hard to get out of it. I have strategies to get out of this state, and family members to support me, along with an artificial light device – but Diantha had none of these. I know that the characters only had a very basic understanding of Diantha’s condition, but I wish there had been a bit more sympathy for her.
A lot of the historical aspects explored in this novel were completely new to me. First there was the medical history, with Diantha’s mental health and the abortifacient pills, then there was the Great Michigan Fire of 1871. I’m sure everyone has heard of the Chicago Fire of the same year, but Michigan was a new location for me. I know very little about forest fires, so the descriptions of the lead up to the fire were utterly fascinating. It was clear that Serena had done a lot of research into the topic and she succeeded in producing incredibly realistic descriptions of a forest fire. From the first descriptions of the smoky haze around Ingrid’s home to the last page of the book, I don’t think I put this novel down at all. This is a book that has it all – romance, mystery, history, and now suspense. I was impressed that Serena was able to roll all of these into one novel without making any of the elements feel forced or out of place, but the forest fire seemed to be the perfect way to conclude the book. If there was any doubt that Ingrid and Joshua truly cared for each other, or that Ingrid loved Joshua’s children, it was eradicated from my mind with the conclusion to the novel.
As I said earlier, this isn’t your standard marriage of convenience story. The romance is subtle, akin to Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly. Ingrid and Joshua’s love for each takes a while to grow, and it matures amidst a novel full of mystery, history and suspense. This is a novel that I can’t recommend enough. It has all the elements that make a great historical romance, along with some others that are completely unexpected. This may be the first novel I’ve read from Serena B. Miller, but I’m certain that it won’t be the last.
Review title provided by Revell.
May 28, 2013
What a delightful story! Serena Miller blends her family's history and actual events to create one of the most memorable heroines I've met in a long time. Ingrid takes 'strong heroine' to the next level in this sweet story of the true meaning of love.
November 10, 2012
I'm not sure what it was about this book, but I loved it!!!! Ingrid came to Michigan from Sweden in 1871 and worked for a very spoiled (mean) lady as a servant. Joshua's wife suddenly died, leaving him a widower with 5 young children. His in-laws feel that he is responsible for his wife's death and there is an inquest. It is determined that he is innocent, but the kids will be given to his in-laws, since he can't care for them. Ingrid stands up and offers to marry him and a marriage of convenience begins. Life in the wilds of Michigan isn't easy, but Ingrid is determined to whip her family into good shape.
I love how loving and accepting Ingrid is. She loves unconditionally and works so tirelessly without complaint. Joshua is a stubborn man and I love how all the females in his household get after him for it. Agnus, the oldest daughter, is so old for her age and it's sweet to see her be a kid again. Mary, Joshua's mother...that whole relationship between Mary and Ingrid is just priceless.
Content: clean with some Christian undertones, but is not overly preachy at all.
I love how loving and accepting Ingrid is. She loves unconditionally and works so tirelessly without complaint. Joshua is a stubborn man and I love how all the females in his household get after him for it. Agnus, the oldest daughter, is so old for her age and it's sweet to see her be a kid again. Mary, Joshua's mother...that whole relationship between Mary and Ingrid is just priceless.
Content: clean with some Christian undertones, but is not overly preachy at all.
December 2, 2016
This is actually the third book of the series, but can be read as a stand alone.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the strong character of Ingrid, especially when she didn't kept quiet when she felt wronged. My favourite scene was where she went to Virgie and Richard's home and refused to leave until they gave her what she wanted. I loved that the author wrote her words in broken sentences - it made me as reader hear her voice as she would have sounded with her Swedish accent.
The plot with regards to the marriage of convenience didn't feel unrealistic. The bulk of the story is around Ingrid and Joshua's marriage and how the learn to function together. The author did write a great suspenseful scene for the last 20% of the book, she even redeemed Millicent who I didn't like at all.
Ingrid is probably one of my favourite main characters I have read this year. I loved how her focus was on God every day. Made me think about why I do certain stuff.
If you like a book based on historical facts and marriage of convenience plots, this book is for you.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the strong character of Ingrid, especially when she didn't kept quiet when she felt wronged. My favourite scene was where she went to Virgie and Richard's home and refused to leave until they gave her what she wanted. I loved that the author wrote her words in broken sentences - it made me as reader hear her voice as she would have sounded with her Swedish accent.
The plot with regards to the marriage of convenience didn't feel unrealistic. The bulk of the story is around Ingrid and Joshua's marriage and how the learn to function together. The author did write a great suspenseful scene for the last 20% of the book, she even redeemed Millicent who I didn't like at all.
Ingrid is probably one of my favourite main characters I have read this year. I loved how her focus was on God every day. Made me think about why I do certain stuff.
If you like a book based on historical facts and marriage of convenience plots, this book is for you.
February 26, 2022
I don't know how to express myself other than WOW!! What an incredible novel!
This was my first novel by Serena B. Miller, but it certainly won't be my last.
I mostly picked this up for the marriage of convenience trope, but what I got in return was a beautifully crafted tale of love and family.
Everything from the settings to the plot was so well written, and I fell straight in love with Ingrid and all the characters. Although I don't usually like slow-burn romances, Ingrid and Joshua's romance was just so beautiful. Someone compared this to Janette Oke's 'Love Comes Softly' type of romance, and I totally agree!
The sad and suspenseful moments were perfectly balanced with the heartwarming and triumphant ones. I was honoured to go on this journey; with all the ups and downs and in-betweens.
I LITERALLY COULD NOT put it down and read it all in one sitting. Super engrossing and enjoyable.
Overall, a phenomenal novel. A must for fans of historical Christian romance.
This was my first novel by Serena B. Miller, but it certainly won't be my last.
I mostly picked this up for the marriage of convenience trope, but what I got in return was a beautifully crafted tale of love and family.
Everything from the settings to the plot was so well written, and I fell straight in love with Ingrid and all the characters. Although I don't usually like slow-burn romances, Ingrid and Joshua's romance was just so beautiful. Someone compared this to Janette Oke's 'Love Comes Softly' type of romance, and I totally agree!
The sad and suspenseful moments were perfectly balanced with the heartwarming and triumphant ones. I was honoured to go on this journey; with all the ups and downs and in-betweens.
I LITERALLY COULD NOT put it down and read it all in one sitting. Super engrossing and enjoyable.
Overall, a phenomenal novel. A must for fans of historical Christian romance.
October 10, 2014
This was book three in the Michigan series. I very much enjoyed the second and third books. The first book was pretty good too.
The heroine was very strong in this story. My favorite aspect though was how much of A Promise to Love was based on fact.
Very enjoyable read!
The heroine was very strong in this story. My favorite aspect though was how much of A Promise to Love was based on fact.
Very enjoyable read!
April 14, 2021
I am so glad I stuck with this book. At first the insta-love and the seemingly predictable storyline put me off. Well, it was not predictable, and soooo many things happened in the book that had me nearly biting my nails.
Very good book!
Very good book!
May 30, 2015
4.5. I really, really enjoyed this one! Although it's part of a series it stands very well on its own. Full review to come.
March 3, 2025
A Promise to Love is a book that made me giddy. I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. Within a chapter or so, I knew it would be a gush-worthy book. I have loved plenty of books through the years, been happy to recommend even more books. But it's rare for me to get this excited about a book, this book just makes me super-happy. I just LOVE it so completely. (I already want to reread it!)
If you enjoy historical fiction, or, historical romance, then this is a MUST read. It is set in Michigan in the early 1870s. (1870 and 1871 to be exact.)
Ingrid Larsen, our heroine, is in a difficult position when the novel opens. She's been working as a maid, but, her employer is proving impossible. Not just from her perspective, but from other people's perspectives too. There are even a few in town who pity Ingrid because they know she's working for such a woman. Soon after the novel opens, she leaves her job and is taken in by a compassionate woman who sympathizes with her, Hazel. (I just LOVE Hazel and her dog). While staying with Hazel, she learns about Joshua Hunter, a widower with five children. His former in-laws are accusing him of murder, blaming him completely for their daughter's death. He's a complete mess and Ingrid sees this first hand at the court, which is perhaps one of the reasons why she impulsively volunteers to be his wife when the custody of his children becomes threatened. The children need a mother, well, she'll be that mother. Joshua doesn't know what to think about Ingrid, he's truly puzzled by her. But. He trusts Hazel who urges him to take a chance. And so the two are married that very day...
I loved just about everything in this one. I loved the characters, the story, the writing and dialogue; I loved the sweet intensity of it. And I LOVED the author's note.
If you enjoy historical fiction, or, historical romance, then this is a MUST read. It is set in Michigan in the early 1870s. (1870 and 1871 to be exact.)
Ingrid Larsen, our heroine, is in a difficult position when the novel opens. She's been working as a maid, but, her employer is proving impossible. Not just from her perspective, but from other people's perspectives too. There are even a few in town who pity Ingrid because they know she's working for such a woman. Soon after the novel opens, she leaves her job and is taken in by a compassionate woman who sympathizes with her, Hazel. (I just LOVE Hazel and her dog). While staying with Hazel, she learns about Joshua Hunter, a widower with five children. His former in-laws are accusing him of murder, blaming him completely for their daughter's death. He's a complete mess and Ingrid sees this first hand at the court, which is perhaps one of the reasons why she impulsively volunteers to be his wife when the custody of his children becomes threatened. The children need a mother, well, she'll be that mother. Joshua doesn't know what to think about Ingrid, he's truly puzzled by her. But. He trusts Hazel who urges him to take a chance. And so the two are married that very day...
I loved just about everything in this one. I loved the characters, the story, the writing and dialogue; I loved the sweet intensity of it. And I LOVED the author's note.
January 1, 2015
Ingrid Larsen is a young Swedish immigrant who arrives in Michigan in the spring of 1871 to search for her brother, who has not been heard from since he went in search of work among the dangerous lumber camps. While she is searching, she finds work as a hired girl for a shopkeeper and his wife, but she is forced to leave that job when the woman becomes abusive towards her. Destitute, and barely hanging on to hope, she encounters a recently widowed farmer who is struggling to raise his 5 children (4 of which are under the age of 7). Knowing that marriage would solve both of their problems, she proposes to him.
Even though she barely knows him, she has fallen in love with him, and she hopes that someday, he will love her in return. But he is still mourning his first wife, and trying to come to terms with the mysterious cause of her death.
I really enjoyed this story; it's not your typical "marriage of convenience" story. It's actually based on the life of the author's own grandmother. There are also other things happening in the story based on true events, which the author discusses in her notes at the end of the story.
I just wish this story had been a little longer; that does not mean it was too short, it's just that I loved the characters so much, especially Ingrid and her elderly friend Hazel, that I hated to "leave" them when the story was over. A few of the reviews I have read about this book criticized the fact that Ingrid spoke in broken English, but to me, that just made her character more authentic and more endearing.
I also liked that the story was set in Michigan, where I have lived my whole life. And though it has nothing to do with the story, I thought it was kind of cool that the main character had the same last name as mine. I have Scandinavian roots from my dad's side of the family.
Even though she barely knows him, she has fallen in love with him, and she hopes that someday, he will love her in return. But he is still mourning his first wife, and trying to come to terms with the mysterious cause of her death.
I really enjoyed this story; it's not your typical "marriage of convenience" story. It's actually based on the life of the author's own grandmother. There are also other things happening in the story based on true events, which the author discusses in her notes at the end of the story.
I just wish this story had been a little longer; that does not mean it was too short, it's just that I loved the characters so much, especially Ingrid and her elderly friend Hazel, that I hated to "leave" them when the story was over. A few of the reviews I have read about this book criticized the fact that Ingrid spoke in broken English, but to me, that just made her character more authentic and more endearing.
I also liked that the story was set in Michigan, where I have lived my whole life. And though it has nothing to do with the story, I thought it was kind of cool that the main character had the same last name as mine. I have Scandinavian roots from my dad's side of the family.
October 21, 2012
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R4DTNIEZ...
Review on my blog (to be posted 10/23): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
A Promise to Love is another hit from Serena B. Miller! I absolutely loved it! I was surprised by the main character, Ingrid, - how strong she was and all the things she endured. There were many times I felt sad for her while reading this book because of things that were said/done to her.
The story was very good and I couldn't help but get caught up in what was happening! There was a little mystery concerning the cause of Joshua's first wife's death - and let me just say, I was shocked when the truth was finally revealed.
I also enjoyed all of the history in A Promise to Love - when I read the "Author's Note" in the back of the book, I was surprised how much stuff from the story actually happened!
I was pleased that some of the characters from The Measure of Katie Calloway made an appearance in A Promise to Love - it was great to get an update on their lives.
The only thing that took some getting used to was Ingrid's broken English, but that did make her character more realistic and after I read a few chapters, it was no longer an issue to me.
If you like historical romances, than I completely recommend A Promise to Love! I loved it and hope these characters will appear in some of Serena's future novels.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
“Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Review on my blog (to be posted 10/23): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
A Promise to Love is another hit from Serena B. Miller! I absolutely loved it! I was surprised by the main character, Ingrid, - how strong she was and all the things she endured. There were many times I felt sad for her while reading this book because of things that were said/done to her.
The story was very good and I couldn't help but get caught up in what was happening! There was a little mystery concerning the cause of Joshua's first wife's death - and let me just say, I was shocked when the truth was finally revealed.
I also enjoyed all of the history in A Promise to Love - when I read the "Author's Note" in the back of the book, I was surprised how much stuff from the story actually happened!
I was pleased that some of the characters from The Measure of Katie Calloway made an appearance in A Promise to Love - it was great to get an update on their lives.
The only thing that took some getting used to was Ingrid's broken English, but that did make her character more realistic and after I read a few chapters, it was no longer an issue to me.
If you like historical romances, than I completely recommend A Promise to Love! I loved it and hope these characters will appear in some of Serena's future novels.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
“Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
October 27, 2012
First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.
The first book I read my Serena Miller, The Measure of Katie Calloway, easily made its way into my favorite’s bookshelf (and, no, it wasn’t just because of the heroine’s name, haha! ;-). Ever since, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of A Promise to Love since we had a few brief encounters with Ingrid in The Measure of Katie Calloway. I was instantly intrigued with her, and therefor delighted when I found out A Promise to Love was going to be centered around her.
Ingrid seemed like a very complex character, and I got to see just how complex she was in A Promise to Love! It was easy to get caught up in Ingrid and Joshua’s lives as they learned to live and love one another while facing other problems in their lives. I think one reviewer compared this book to Love Comes Softly, and I agree with that—it did have that feel to it. But Miller uses her own spin and creates a wonderful, strong plot with realistic and unique characters that set it apart well from the other well-known series.
If y’all didn’t know, I love marriages of convenience and getting to watch a couple fall in love after the wedding vows have been spoken. So…yeah, almost right off the bat I knew I would enjoy A Promise to Love as Ingrid marries newly-widowed Joshua. The romance scenes woven into the plot were priceless—I love watching them fall in love, just a little bit at a time! :-)
The mystery woven within A Promise to Love really added something special to the book and made me enjoy the read that much more (I love a good mystery!). All in all, Serena Miller has written another fantastic book. I can’t wait for more by this talented author!
The first book I read my Serena Miller, The Measure of Katie Calloway, easily made its way into my favorite’s bookshelf (and, no, it wasn’t just because of the heroine’s name, haha! ;-). Ever since, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of A Promise to Love since we had a few brief encounters with Ingrid in The Measure of Katie Calloway. I was instantly intrigued with her, and therefor delighted when I found out A Promise to Love was going to be centered around her.
Ingrid seemed like a very complex character, and I got to see just how complex she was in A Promise to Love! It was easy to get caught up in Ingrid and Joshua’s lives as they learned to live and love one another while facing other problems in their lives. I think one reviewer compared this book to Love Comes Softly, and I agree with that—it did have that feel to it. But Miller uses her own spin and creates a wonderful, strong plot with realistic and unique characters that set it apart well from the other well-known series.
If y’all didn’t know, I love marriages of convenience and getting to watch a couple fall in love after the wedding vows have been spoken. So…yeah, almost right off the bat I knew I would enjoy A Promise to Love as Ingrid marries newly-widowed Joshua. The romance scenes woven into the plot were priceless—I love watching them fall in love, just a little bit at a time! :-)
The mystery woven within A Promise to Love really added something special to the book and made me enjoy the read that much more (I love a good mystery!). All in all, Serena Miller has written another fantastic book. I can’t wait for more by this talented author!
April 6, 2016
This a was a complete gem of a book! My heart is glowing after just now finishing it. I loved everything about it, and I can't believe it took me so long to come across!
Pros:
Ingrid (our heroine) was completely admirable in every way, and not in a sickly sweet, unrealistic way which you come across so often. You just had to close your eyes and shake your head every time Joshua said something stupid or acted unfeeling and have faith that Ingrid's enduring spirit wouldn't let it get her down.
Ingrid was not described as being supernaturally beautiful, instead she was wonderfully human with a dedicated heart and a stalwart constitution.
Our heroine was humble but would not let herself be steamrolled.
In the author's note, she wrote that the main character was actually loosely based on her great grandmother which is astounding!
The book takes place in 1871 and the last quarter of the book was incredible. The fact that the author took an actual event in history, and included eyewitness reports from newspaper clippings at the time was terribly awesome. I never knew Michigan suffered something so great at that time.
etc. etc. etc.
Cons:
Pros:
Ingrid (our heroine) was completely admirable in every way, and not in a sickly sweet, unrealistic way which you come across so often. You just had to close your eyes and shake your head every time Joshua said something stupid or acted unfeeling and have faith that Ingrid's enduring spirit wouldn't let it get her down.
Ingrid was not described as being supernaturally beautiful, instead she was wonderfully human with a dedicated heart and a stalwart constitution.
Our heroine was humble but would not let herself be steamrolled.
In the author's note, she wrote that the main character was actually loosely based on her great grandmother which is astounding!
The book takes place in 1871 and the last quarter of the book was incredible. The fact that the author took an actual event in history, and included eyewitness reports from newspaper clippings at the time was terribly awesome. I never knew Michigan suffered something so great at that time.
etc. etc. etc.
Cons:
October 23, 2012
Swedish immigrant, Ingrid Larsen, is in Michigan searching for her missing twin brother. With nothing left to lose, she proposes to widowed farmer, Joshua Hunter, in order to ensure that his children aren't taken from him. Josh is still grieving the death of his wife. He doesn't really want a new woman around but she's managed to reunite all five of his children and for that he's very grateful. When circumstances force a temporary separation, Josh ends up finding Ingrid's brother while Ingrid must deal with the struggles of the farm. Will Josh ever be able to let go of his late wife and love the Swedish girl who loves his family and will fight to protect them?
This is the first book I've ever read by Serena Miller. I was quickly drawn into the story of Josh and Ingrid. Ingrid's strength had me astounded at times. I saw that she loved Josh's children as if they were her own and she would do anything for them. I did feel that Josh could have treated her a little bit better, but he comes around. I mean he wasn't abusive or anything, just really reluctant to share his heart with her. When the book ended, I sighed happily and had to wonder if these characters will appear in a future book by Miller.
I received this book for free from the publisher, Revell Books, for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Available in October, 2012 at your local bookstore from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Recommended to fans of sweet romances, Maggie Brendan, Susan Page Davis, Robin Lee Hatcher
Rating - 4 stars
This is the first book I've ever read by Serena Miller. I was quickly drawn into the story of Josh and Ingrid. Ingrid's strength had me astounded at times. I saw that she loved Josh's children as if they were her own and she would do anything for them. I did feel that Josh could have treated her a little bit better, but he comes around. I mean he wasn't abusive or anything, just really reluctant to share his heart with her. When the book ended, I sighed happily and had to wonder if these characters will appear in a future book by Miller.
I received this book for free from the publisher, Revell Books, for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Available in October, 2012 at your local bookstore from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Recommended to fans of sweet romances, Maggie Brendan, Susan Page Davis, Robin Lee Hatcher
Rating - 4 stars
October 25, 2012
This novel was un-put-downable and I read it straight through. I know that's not a real word, but it best describes this compelling story as I simply couldn't set it aside. I read it straight through to the end. I always enjoy reading the afterward part of a novel that tells what portion of history a story is from and what really happened that the author based their story on. It's even cooler when there is some familial history involved.
As far as romance goes, this story was better than most. It put a different twist on a marriage of convenience that is typically seen in historical novels. I loved every minute of it. In fact, my eyes welled with tears a few times. The emotion of the story is touching. Ingrid personified steadfast love and I was very touched by her attitude and the discussions she had with his eldest child. I also loved how the hero recounted in his mind on numerous occasions how many wonderful qualities the heroine had that drew his heart to hers. The reunification scene at the end was emotional and I loved it.
If you enjoy a good historical novel set in the 1800s and you read the first book by this author, you'll be delighted to see a few characters from the first book showing up in this one. Great writing, a unique plot, and intricate story-telling all make this book worthy of my top fiction list. The pulse-pounding action (especially toward the end) and the deep biblical application about real love make this novel a winner. I highly recommend it.
As far as romance goes, this story was better than most. It put a different twist on a marriage of convenience that is typically seen in historical novels. I loved every minute of it. In fact, my eyes welled with tears a few times. The emotion of the story is touching. Ingrid personified steadfast love and I was very touched by her attitude and the discussions she had with his eldest child. I also loved how the hero recounted in his mind on numerous occasions how many wonderful qualities the heroine had that drew his heart to hers. The reunification scene at the end was emotional and I loved it.
If you enjoy a good historical novel set in the 1800s and you read the first book by this author, you'll be delighted to see a few characters from the first book showing up in this one. Great writing, a unique plot, and intricate story-telling all make this book worthy of my top fiction list. The pulse-pounding action (especially toward the end) and the deep biblical application about real love make this novel a winner. I highly recommend it.
May 27, 2015
I really, really enjoyed this book. It was a marriage of convenience story. Ingrid is a Swedish immigrant who was working as a servant for a super mean, abusive woman. Joshua is a widowed farmer with 5 children. His grieving in-laws are trying to have the court take his kids away from him. Ingrid impulsively volunteers to marry him to save his kids and he accepts for the same reason.
I loved Ingrid. She was a strong, hardworking woman who loved unconditionally even when her feelings were hurt over and over again. Joshua...well, Joshua was a male. And he was so caught up on his late wife that he couldn't see the good woman right in front of him. (I know I sound insensitive, but if you read about his late wife you'll understand.)
Serena B. Miller's attention to historical details is great throughout this book. I remember I appreciated that as well in The Measure of Katie Calloway. In her author's notes you learn that her story was inspired by her own grandmother's life!
I loved Ingrid. She was a strong, hardworking woman who loved unconditionally even when her feelings were hurt over and over again. Joshua...well, Joshua was a male. And he was so caught up on his late wife that he couldn't see the good woman right in front of him. (I know I sound insensitive, but if you read about his late wife you'll understand.)
Serena B. Miller's attention to historical details is great throughout this book. I remember I appreciated that as well in The Measure of Katie Calloway. In her author's notes you learn that her story was inspired by her own grandmother's life!
October 29, 2012
A sweet and engaging romance, that was hard to put down!
Ingrid is a brave, hardworking young woman, who is searching for her brother in the wilds of Michigan.
Joshua Hunter is a widower, in a battle to keep the custody of his children.
When Ingrid loses her job, marriage to the handsome Mr. Hunter seems like the perfect solution for both of them.
I loved this book! Let me just say that I had high expectations after reading last year's The Measure of Katie Calloway, and A Promise to Love more than lived up to them!
I absolutely adored Ingrid, who was so hardworking and dedicated. Joshua was such a good man who did the best that he could for his family.
A Promise to Love was an engaging read with endearing characters, and a great plot full of heart. The pages turned steadily and I was loathe to put it down. A wonderful read, and I savored every moment of it!
I recieved this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Ingrid is a brave, hardworking young woman, who is searching for her brother in the wilds of Michigan.
Joshua Hunter is a widower, in a battle to keep the custody of his children.
When Ingrid loses her job, marriage to the handsome Mr. Hunter seems like the perfect solution for both of them.
I loved this book! Let me just say that I had high expectations after reading last year's The Measure of Katie Calloway, and A Promise to Love more than lived up to them!
I absolutely adored Ingrid, who was so hardworking and dedicated. Joshua was such a good man who did the best that he could for his family.
A Promise to Love was an engaging read with endearing characters, and a great plot full of heart. The pages turned steadily and I was loathe to put it down. A wonderful read, and I savored every moment of it!
I recieved this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
June 2, 2014
This was a deep book that touched on some gritty subjects. SPOILER: Serena explores the little discussed use of products intended to end a pregnancy. She has a hero still in love with his very flawed deceased wife as Ingrid, a Swedish girl searching for her brother in the lumber camps, arrives in town. In this marriage of convenience she puts up with a lot of nonsense including verbal abuse from the deceased woman's mother. There is a charming secondary character who imparts godly wisdom. You'll be rooting for Ingrid all the way through. She's a gutsy heroine.
October 25, 2014
And she strikes gold again!! I loved this book, too! Although the characters are completely new, I truly loved the story. It was completely different from the others. By the end I really loved this plucky Swedish girl and the family she adopted. Once again, the history was fascinating. One to her next book!
December 13, 2013
Third in the series. I loved the characters. Loved reading about the characters in the first novel. I loved the story, the love of the colder and the tragedy that happened. I look forward to more from this author. 4 1/2 stars.
May 22, 2014
I really enjoyed this book I liked it a lot better then the first book in the series the main character Ingrid she just drew me in she's what made this book special
June 2, 2014
I really enjoyed this well written historical novel. The characters were well drawn and were interesting. The plot was both sweet and intense. It's definitely a new favorite.
November 28, 2014
One of the best books I've read....I've come to love Serena Miller's style and her characters. enjoyable and meaningful reading
June 3, 2015
Sweet story with lots of historical detail. Cool to know this was based on her grandmothers life story. I wanted to smack Joshua over the head a few times though.
October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller, ©2012
October 1, 2012
A Promise to Love: A Novel
Can a marriage of convenience ever become one of true love?
Ingrid Larsen, a young Swedish immigrant, arrives in Michigan in 1871 to search for her brother who has disappeared into the woods to work the dangerous lumber camps. Destitute and barely hanging on to hope, she encounters a newly-widowed farmer who is struggling to raise five children on his own. Marriage would solve both of their problems, and so Ingrid proposes to a man she barely knows. She will fight to protect her new family--but the hardest battle of all will be winning the heart of her new husband.
Serena B. Miller takes her readers on a rich, historical journey that combines both romance and a touch of mystery. In this fascinating story of love and family commitment, Miller introduces us to characters that capture our hearts and imagination as they discover that love is more than just words.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.
Love bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
-- 1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV --
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Ingrid Larsen comes to Michigan in answer to an ad for a housemaid. She is very cruelly treated by the woman of the house and thinking her husband is interested in Ingrid, she is dismissed. She finds shelter at the home of Hazel Smith, a woman who came to the home to "see the young immigrant girl." She tells Ingrid to come to her if she needs a place. Indeed, Ingrid does! She is befriended and treated with respect.
"A life worth living is built on good friends and good choices. I've made a whole lot of both. As long as it wasn't against the Holy Scriptures, I've done what I thought best, instead of doing what people told me I oughta do." --Hazel, page 47
That's the kind of friend to have. One who listens to her heart.
Guard your heart
for out of it flows
the issues of life
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.*
*for from it flow the springs of life.
-- Proverbs 4:23
No matter which translation you use, the Word of God is clear.
** THE WILL OF GOD **
Author: Unknown
The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you.
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Joshua Hunter is a newly widowed man with five young children. He is accused of mishandling his wife causing her death. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Gossip is an evil thing attempting to destroy without merit. Your life will reveal the intent of your heart. He met Ingrid as he came to the house to pay his bill and witnessed her mistreatment. She comes to his "trial" with Hazel and he stops to speak with her about her well-being. With all of his own thoughts, she sees his heart as he stopped to notice her.
"I never see a man I want to marry ... until I see him," Ingrid whispered. --page 53
Psalm 18
16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. 18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. 19 He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because he delights in me.
Come and join them as their story begins.
Serena B. Miller is the author of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio, The Measure of Katie Calloway ~ winner of the 2012 RITA award for Inspirational Romance, and An Uncommon Grace. Serena has written numerous articles for periodicals such as Woman's World, Guideposts, Reader's Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and more. She lives on a farm in southern Ohio.
"The heart of this novel was inspired by the life of my grandmother, Elizabeth Allen Bonzo, who took upon herself the task of salvaging a still-grieving dirt farmer's family in the late 1800s." --A Promise to Keep, Selena B. Miller, page 330
Thank you to Baker Publishing Group for inviting me to participate in the Revell Blog Tour Network Historical Fiction for A Promise to Love in exchange for this review in my own words.
A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller, ©2012
October 1, 2012
A Promise to Love: A Novel
Can a marriage of convenience ever become one of true love?
Ingrid Larsen, a young Swedish immigrant, arrives in Michigan in 1871 to search for her brother who has disappeared into the woods to work the dangerous lumber camps. Destitute and barely hanging on to hope, she encounters a newly-widowed farmer who is struggling to raise five children on his own. Marriage would solve both of their problems, and so Ingrid proposes to a man she barely knows. She will fight to protect her new family--but the hardest battle of all will be winning the heart of her new husband.
Serena B. Miller takes her readers on a rich, historical journey that combines both romance and a touch of mystery. In this fascinating story of love and family commitment, Miller introduces us to characters that capture our hearts and imagination as they discover that love is more than just words.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.
Love bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
-- 1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV --
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Ingrid Larsen comes to Michigan in answer to an ad for a housemaid. She is very cruelly treated by the woman of the house and thinking her husband is interested in Ingrid, she is dismissed. She finds shelter at the home of Hazel Smith, a woman who came to the home to "see the young immigrant girl." She tells Ingrid to come to her if she needs a place. Indeed, Ingrid does! She is befriended and treated with respect.
"A life worth living is built on good friends and good choices. I've made a whole lot of both. As long as it wasn't against the Holy Scriptures, I've done what I thought best, instead of doing what people told me I oughta do." --Hazel, page 47
That's the kind of friend to have. One who listens to her heart.
Guard your heart
for out of it flows
the issues of life
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.*
*for from it flow the springs of life.
-- Proverbs 4:23
No matter which translation you use, the Word of God is clear.
** THE WILL OF GOD **
Author: Unknown
The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you.
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Joshua Hunter is a newly widowed man with five young children. He is accused of mishandling his wife causing her death. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Gossip is an evil thing attempting to destroy without merit. Your life will reveal the intent of your heart. He met Ingrid as he came to the house to pay his bill and witnessed her mistreatment. She comes to his "trial" with Hazel and he stops to speak with her about her well-being. With all of his own thoughts, she sees his heart as he stopped to notice her.
"I never see a man I want to marry ... until I see him," Ingrid whispered. --page 53
Psalm 18
16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. 18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. 19 He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because he delights in me.
Come and join them as their story begins.
Serena B. Miller is the author of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio, The Measure of Katie Calloway ~ winner of the 2012 RITA award for Inspirational Romance, and An Uncommon Grace. Serena has written numerous articles for periodicals such as Woman's World, Guideposts, Reader's Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and more. She lives on a farm in southern Ohio.
"The heart of this novel was inspired by the life of my grandmother, Elizabeth Allen Bonzo, who took upon herself the task of salvaging a still-grieving dirt farmer's family in the late 1800s." --A Promise to Keep, Selena B. Miller, page 330
Thank you to Baker Publishing Group for inviting me to participate in the Revell Blog Tour Network Historical Fiction for A Promise to Love in exchange for this review in my own words.
December 10, 2017
3.5
Sweet, easy read. This story has a lot of heart, which I found very endearing. Set up for the marriage was unexpected and interesting. Struggled with imagining the Swedish accent though. Somehow it always came out sounding Russian in my head.
Sweet, easy read. This story has a lot of heart, which I found very endearing. Set up for the marriage was unexpected and interesting. Struggled with imagining the Swedish accent though. Somehow it always came out sounding Russian in my head.
June 3, 2020
I am now a huge fan of Serena Miller because of this book - and historical fiction (romance). I was completely sucked in the entire read.
January 28, 2016
Serena B. Miller proves that you can take an old formula and make it fresh with rich characters and writing skills that keep you turning page after page.
A PROMISE TO LOVE is another marriage of convenience story that has been told time and time again. But I promise you, it does not read like an old, tired, plot outline. Miller’s writing is so fresh and so tight, I finished the book is less than twelve hours.
Ingrid Larsen has come to America from Sweden to experience the American dream of freedom of religion and the hope of a brighter tomorrow. When her brother fails to meet her at their predetermined time and place, she has no choice but to make her way on her own. She soon finds herself little more than a slave to an unbearable woman. Through a series of events, she finds herself sitting in on the inquest of a young father accused of killing his wife. Though found innocent of the crime, he is told his five children will be removed from him since he is not capable of caring for them on his own. Though Ingrid has had only one interaction with Joshua Hunter, she instinctively knows that he loves his children and only needs the domestic help to see to his home and children. Without thought, she volunteers to marry him in order to provide for his children. Even though Ingrid knows this is a marriage of convenience, in her heart of hearts, she prays that someday Joshua will come to love her.
Joshua Hunter is devastated by the loss of his wife. She was the love of his life even though her wavering emotions were difficult for him to understand. He has agreed to married Ingrid because it is the only solution he can see to keep his kids out of the vindictive hands of his in-laws. But, a helpmate for his children and home is all that he desires from Ingrid. He has no illusions of love for the odd, Scandinavian woman.
Serena B. Miller does an amazing job of fleshing out rich and distinctive characters in not only the lead characters, but secondary characters like Agnes, Hazel, and so many more. How many times can you tell the story of a marriage of convenience, throwing the hero and heroine together in a loveless relationship only to see the embers of love grow between them? It is a tired plot, but in no way is A PROMISE TO LOVE a tired story. I loved the fact that Miller portrayed Ingrid as strong and stubborn instead of weak and subservient. And Joshua’s rebuffing of Ingrid’s show of affection seemed so right for a man who has just lost his wife. Agnes, the older daughter is quite a character in her own right, and Hazel and she-dog are the quintessential odd ducks that add humor and flair to the story. A truly enjoyable story. I will continue to keep my eye open for more stories from this author.
Book provided for review purposes.
Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
A PROMISE TO LOVE is another marriage of convenience story that has been told time and time again. But I promise you, it does not read like an old, tired, plot outline. Miller’s writing is so fresh and so tight, I finished the book is less than twelve hours.
Ingrid Larsen has come to America from Sweden to experience the American dream of freedom of religion and the hope of a brighter tomorrow. When her brother fails to meet her at their predetermined time and place, she has no choice but to make her way on her own. She soon finds herself little more than a slave to an unbearable woman. Through a series of events, she finds herself sitting in on the inquest of a young father accused of killing his wife. Though found innocent of the crime, he is told his five children will be removed from him since he is not capable of caring for them on his own. Though Ingrid has had only one interaction with Joshua Hunter, she instinctively knows that he loves his children and only needs the domestic help to see to his home and children. Without thought, she volunteers to marry him in order to provide for his children. Even though Ingrid knows this is a marriage of convenience, in her heart of hearts, she prays that someday Joshua will come to love her.
Joshua Hunter is devastated by the loss of his wife. She was the love of his life even though her wavering emotions were difficult for him to understand. He has agreed to married Ingrid because it is the only solution he can see to keep his kids out of the vindictive hands of his in-laws. But, a helpmate for his children and home is all that he desires from Ingrid. He has no illusions of love for the odd, Scandinavian woman.
Serena B. Miller does an amazing job of fleshing out rich and distinctive characters in not only the lead characters, but secondary characters like Agnes, Hazel, and so many more. How many times can you tell the story of a marriage of convenience, throwing the hero and heroine together in a loveless relationship only to see the embers of love grow between them? It is a tired plot, but in no way is A PROMISE TO LOVE a tired story. I loved the fact that Miller portrayed Ingrid as strong and stubborn instead of weak and subservient. And Joshua’s rebuffing of Ingrid’s show of affection seemed so right for a man who has just lost his wife. Agnes, the older daughter is quite a character in her own right, and Hazel and she-dog are the quintessential odd ducks that add humor and flair to the story. A truly enjoyable story. I will continue to keep my eye open for more stories from this author.
Book provided for review purposes.
Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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