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Cliffehaven #21

With Promises to Keep

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The year of 1947 is almost upon them, and the community of Cliffehaven is still reeling from the tragic loss of Gracie, who left behind two young orphans.

Polish refugee and nurse Danuta made Gracie a to love and cherish her children as her own. But with her husband’s health failing, can Danuta’s promise be fulfilled?

Then a bitter winter storm cuts the town off. Peggy Reilly and the rest of Cliffehaven must pull together to survive.

Keeping a promise in the face of adversity is never easy. With the support of those around her, can Danuta find a way?
READERS LOVE THE CLIFFEHAVEN
‘Fantastic… So heartfelt and… told in an easy manner, with real life and emotions throughout. Absolutely love.’
‘Like tucking into your favorite comfort food, curling up by warm fire on a snowy evening. I… feel like these people are a part of my family… my “home away from home”.’
‘Perfection!! I really feel like all the characters are my best friends… I just cannot wait for the next book!!’
‘I've read all of the series. I just can't get enough of the tales of the people of Cliffehaven.’

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2025

163 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

About the author

Ellie Dean

32 books136 followers
Ellie Dean lives in Eastbourne, which has been her home for many years and where she raised her three children.

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5 stars
242 (80%)
4 stars
45 (14%)
3 stars
12 (3%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Teresa.
752 reviews210 followers
March 26, 2025
It was good to be back in Cliffehaven again with the Reilly family. This book is mainly about Danuta and her husband Stan. They're struggling to survive and when Stan's injuries start to come against him life is even harder.
The town also struggles through the worst Winter ever seen. They're cut off and have to band together and help each other any way they can.
After the trials and tribulations these stories usually end up happy. Sometimes it can seem like problems are solved too easily but in the end they're feel good reads and I look forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Julie Foster.
749 reviews1 follower
April 5, 2025
I loved returning to Cliffehaven, this book did not disappoint. I couldn’t put this book down, my advice is have the tissues handy for there are happy tears. I hope there will be another book in this series
Profile Image for Sheila Knight.
76 reviews
March 30, 2025
Brilliant

Another wonderful read in the Cliffehaven series, could not put this book down. Really didn't want it to finish. having read all the books in the series the characters are now like old friends and I can't wait to visit them again.
Superb storylines believable characters and a look back into the history of yesteryear. I highly recommend all of the books in this series.
Profile Image for Lainy.
1,975 reviews72 followers
March 30, 2025
Time taken to read - in and out over 3 days

Publisher - Penguin books

Pages - 383

Blurb from Goodreads

The year of 1947 is almost upon them, and the community of Cliffehaven is still reeling from the tragic loss of Gracie, who left behind two young orphans.

Polish refugee and nurse Danuta made Gracie a to love and cherish her children as her own. But with her husband’s health failing, can Danuta’s promise be fulfilled?

Then a bitter winter storm cuts the town off. Peggy Reilly and the rest of Cliffehaven must pull together to survive.


My Review


So first off this is book twenty one in a series, I did not know this lol but it is all good and after reading this I will be going back, buying book one and starting there. It is 1947, folk are still feeling the effects post war, we meet (or if you know the series, reacquaint) with Polish refugee nurse Danuta and her husband Stan. Danuta made a promise to Grace she would look after her two children, one being a baby. It is all a bit precarious, adoption has a lot of expectation an standards, Stan has health issues with his stumps (amputee), they both work and struggle to make ends meet. However a promise is a promise and they will do what they can to keep their word, plus Danuta has always wanted a family, after the tortures during the war she cannot have her own. It is an emotive multifaceted road Danuta is on, many struggles and hurdles facing her, can she get the family she always wanted despite the odds stacked against her.

So I am absolutely getting the other books, it is a small community, it has what you know in these wee towns, classism, snobbery, even when you are all a bit skint there are folks who will gossip and judge so we do see a bit of that. Danuta and Stan are so in love and clearly already been through so much, I reckon if you know the previous books things will pack a bit more of an emotive punch but I still liked it and got it despite this being my first foray into the series, 4/5 for me.

48 reviews
April 8, 2025
Another fantastic Read

This series is fabulous - for those who have not read the books from the beginning this is a must!


The central Charcter is Peggy who is married to Jim. Plenty of family, and friends. You go through heartbreak and happy times with this series making you feel part of the family.

Thanks Ellie Dean, I hope the series continues!
4 reviews
April 11, 2025
Ellie Dean at her best!

Another book in the Cliffehaven series that is unputtable down reading! Ellie makes the characters and story so alive and believable and I can’t wait for the next book!
197 reviews
May 2, 2025
Again such a good series have read all in the series and each one you struggle to put down and feel so part of the story and part of the family all through the series
Hoping this will continue even though it’s book 21
Profile Image for Paula.
108 reviews4 followers
March 16, 2025
Another amazing read from the Cliffehaven series following the lives of Peggy & Jim and all was lovely to be mainly about Danuta and stanislav and a very happy ending look forward to the next book x
6 reviews
March 22, 2025
keep them coming

Great read couldn’t put it down. Loved all the books. Hope they go on and on. Hopefully more to come
Profile Image for Liz Wilkinson.
2 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2025
Brilliant read as always

Loved the book couldn't put it down everying you read in Ellie Dean books makes you think that you are part of it cannot wait for the next one
31 reviews
April 22, 2025
Great

Well done that was a great read love all the coming and going on and the characters were great as usual
1 review
April 27, 2025
Brilliant

Brilliant book like all the others in the Cliffehaven series. Downside is there probably won't be anymore. I highly recommend
Profile Image for Pat Langhelt.
1,099 reviews15 followers
April 27, 2025
lovely to be back in Cliffehaven, this book is more about Danuta and Stanislav. Great story look forward to another book.
62 reviews
May 29, 2025
Oh the snow the snow

As per usual Ellie Dean has made me laugh cry and be happy I just love the families and people of Cliffehaven now for book number 22 I hope
Profile Image for Zenah Reed.
2 reviews
Read
December 14, 2025
Another lovely story in the Cliffehaven series. This one is set in the winter of 1946/7 when there was the big freeze
1 review
March 28, 2025
I just absolutely love this series. I hate when I finish a book. Can’t wait for the next one
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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