What do you think?
Rate this book
The Promise of Living
The Promise of Living is a coming of age novel about Ryan Colton and his quest for authenticity. In a small New Hampshire town in 1975, it seems it’s not just Ryan who has something to hide. Through a mysterious series of premonitions and visions, Ryan learns darker secrets about the townspeople and his world. His gift becomes overwhelming when he visions a murky murder at his high school and attempts to solve it while struggling to accept his feelings for his best friend, Dave.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2012
1 person is currently reading
233 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 16, 2021
The story is unusual for a coming of age, coming out novel. So many unexpected turns fill this read with unique plot lines. Heartbreakingly wonderful read. Well written. My husband was right, such a great read.
September 12, 2018
I fell head over heels in love with this story. Yes I found parts of it cheesy but I think that's what this story so relatable, the characters lovable, and the tragic event that much more morose.
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
February 7, 2013
Imagine knowing something terrible is about to happen, and yet being powerless to prevent it. This is the predicament sixteen-year-old Ryan Colton finds himself confronting in J. Lee Graham’s emotional novel. Though this is very much a story about self-acceptance, it’s also a poignant illustration of how we should treasure those we love while we can, because there’s no telling when they might be taken from us.
To Ryan, the small community of Wilson’s Ferry where everyone knows everyone else’s business, seems both stifling and mind-numbingly dull. He applies himself to his studies in the hope of getting into a good college, earns money laboring on a local farm, and dreams of one day exploring the wider world. If, somewhere deep inside, he’s aware that his feelings for his best friend Dave go beyond simple friendship, he chooses to ignore them. Everything continues as normal, until, during the summer before his final year of high school, Ryan experiences the first vision and his life changes forever.
Learning some of the town’s darker secrets is unpleasant enough, but the true horror sets in when he receives a premonition of a murder. Despite all his efforts, Ryan is unable to see clearly enough to identify either victim or killer, and so can do nothing to avert the tragedy. Utterly devastated, and desperate to gain control over his visions, Ryan enlists the help of Skylar, one of his more open-minded classmates, who introduces him to a psychic. As Ryan grows in confidence, mastering his gift in an attempt to unmask the murderer, he comes to terms with his sexuality and, in turn, his love for Dave.
The Promise of Living certainly isn’t a novel for the faint hearted. It has more than its fair share of harrowing moments, and one twist in particular shocked me so much that I had to put the book down for a while before going back to it. For all the grimness, however, there are some tender scenes, and overall I found it incredibly inspirational. In defiance of the tough hand fate deals him, Ryan somehow comes through his ordeal, not only stronger, but the kind of young man any parent would be proud of.
If you enjoy novels that combine the clairvoyant with harsh reality, and which don’t shy away from the more disturbing aspects of life, you may well want to give this one a go.
Written for Rainbow Book Reviews and the Boys on the Brink Blog
To Ryan, the small community of Wilson’s Ferry where everyone knows everyone else’s business, seems both stifling and mind-numbingly dull. He applies himself to his studies in the hope of getting into a good college, earns money laboring on a local farm, and dreams of one day exploring the wider world. If, somewhere deep inside, he’s aware that his feelings for his best friend Dave go beyond simple friendship, he chooses to ignore them. Everything continues as normal, until, during the summer before his final year of high school, Ryan experiences the first vision and his life changes forever.
Learning some of the town’s darker secrets is unpleasant enough, but the true horror sets in when he receives a premonition of a murder. Despite all his efforts, Ryan is unable to see clearly enough to identify either victim or killer, and so can do nothing to avert the tragedy. Utterly devastated, and desperate to gain control over his visions, Ryan enlists the help of Skylar, one of his more open-minded classmates, who introduces him to a psychic. As Ryan grows in confidence, mastering his gift in an attempt to unmask the murderer, he comes to terms with his sexuality and, in turn, his love for Dave.
The Promise of Living certainly isn’t a novel for the faint hearted. It has more than its fair share of harrowing moments, and one twist in particular shocked me so much that I had to put the book down for a while before going back to it. For all the grimness, however, there are some tender scenes, and overall I found it incredibly inspirational. In defiance of the tough hand fate deals him, Ryan somehow comes through his ordeal, not only stronger, but the kind of young man any parent would be proud of.
If you enjoy novels that combine the clairvoyant with harsh reality, and which don’t shy away from the more disturbing aspects of life, you may well want to give this one a go.
Written for Rainbow Book Reviews and the Boys on the Brink Blog
June 23, 2013
I am hosting a book signing featuring Jeff Lee Graham at my library tomorrow and this was the first "gay novel" that I have read. Self published books get a bad rap but this book was quite enjoyable.
Ryan Colton is a rising senior in the summer of 1975 in the tiny town of Wilson's Ferry, New Hampshire. He has an after-school job at the Hemmer farm with his best friend Dave. This novel starts off action-packed as Ryan experiences his first vision. Unfortunately, it's not a happy vision: a classmate's mother has committed suicide. When Ryan learns that his vision was true, he of course, feels sad and awkward around his classmate, but he also feels guilty about not being able to prevent it. A few months later he has another vision of a girl being murdered. This vision along with a personal tragedy that personally affects him deeply (don't want to give out any spoilers!) leads him to Boston and the concept of remote viewing. Learning to use remote viewing to channel his gift of visions allows him to see who killed Donna Brenester. Along with the upheaval of three deaths in his small community, Ryan experiences personal turmoil and must come to grips with his feelings for Dave.
This is touted as a YA novel but adults will enjoy it as well. As a library employee, I would suggest this book to parents and teens who want to have an honest family discussion about the issues surrounding homosexuality but don't want to read anything too graphic. There are some swear words sprinkled throughout the book which might or might not bother some parents. There are no erotic love scenes, just one kissing scene.
Ryan Colton is a rising senior in the summer of 1975 in the tiny town of Wilson's Ferry, New Hampshire. He has an after-school job at the Hemmer farm with his best friend Dave. This novel starts off action-packed as Ryan experiences his first vision. Unfortunately, it's not a happy vision: a classmate's mother has committed suicide. When Ryan learns that his vision was true, he of course, feels sad and awkward around his classmate, but he also feels guilty about not being able to prevent it. A few months later he has another vision of a girl being murdered. This vision along with a personal tragedy that personally affects him deeply (don't want to give out any spoilers!) leads him to Boston and the concept of remote viewing. Learning to use remote viewing to channel his gift of visions allows him to see who killed Donna Brenester. Along with the upheaval of three deaths in his small community, Ryan experiences personal turmoil and must come to grips with his feelings for Dave.
This is touted as a YA novel but adults will enjoy it as well. As a library employee, I would suggest this book to parents and teens who want to have an honest family discussion about the issues surrounding homosexuality but don't want to read anything too graphic. There are some swear words sprinkled throughout the book which might or might not bother some parents. There are no erotic love scenes, just one kissing scene.
June 29, 2013
J. Lee Graham has written a powerful and moving coming-of'age story in The Promise of Living. The blurb lays out the bare bones of the story, but you really need to read this wonderful tale to really appreciate the rich feast laid out by the author. Ryan Colton and his best friend Dave Calderwood are your typical teens growing up in your typical small town until events start to happen that shake them and the rest of the town to their very core. Suicide,murder, feelings that don't fit what small town society decrees to be normal, and other deep secrets are brought out into the light of day, and things will never be the same again.
This is a brilliantly character driven story with a plot that starts out with a smooth flow, then grabs ahold of you and doesn't let go until the very end. The characters are solid, credible, and face the same triumphs and tragedies that shape the lives of people in the real world. The backstory is rich with details that lay a solid foundation for the storyline without too much trivia. The writing style of the author is eloquently precise, crisp, clear, and so wonderfully down-to-earth. There is no real sex in the story, but it doesn't detract ftom the book at all. The author displays a solid and well-researched knowledge of what life was like in that time and place with no jarring errors. There are bittersweet moments when tragedy strikes some of the secondary characters, but the book itself has a HEA ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fascinating coming-of-age tale.
Trish's 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
This is a brilliantly character driven story with a plot that starts out with a smooth flow, then grabs ahold of you and doesn't let go until the very end. The characters are solid, credible, and face the same triumphs and tragedies that shape the lives of people in the real world. The backstory is rich with details that lay a solid foundation for the storyline without too much trivia. The writing style of the author is eloquently precise, crisp, clear, and so wonderfully down-to-earth. There is no real sex in the story, but it doesn't detract ftom the book at all. The author displays a solid and well-researched knowledge of what life was like in that time and place with no jarring errors. There are bittersweet moments when tragedy strikes some of the secondary characters, but the book itself has a HEA ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fascinating coming-of-age tale.
Trish's 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
February 4, 2020
The paranormal aspects reads a little at odds with the gay coming of age in small town setting. That aside, it was an enjoyable read - 3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews