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The Potter's House #5

Promises Renewed

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A heartbreaking secret stands between Brianna and Jackson, and she plans to keep it that way…

When Brianna Caufield hosts an online auction to raise money for her fledgling youth center, the last thing she expects is to be matched for a date with Jackson Reed. Lured by the fame of an NFL career, the hometown hero and all-star quarterback broke off their engagement without so much as a backward glance. Now, washed-up and wiser, Jack’s come home with renewed faith and a changed heart—and he wants Brianna back.

No matter how much she still cares for Jackson, Brianna knows the secret she harbors will destroy any chance of a future together. Can Jack find a way to coax the secret to the surface? And if he does, will forgiveness draw them closer together…or will their love be shattered forever?

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2018

250 people are currently reading
51 people want to read

About the author

Mary Manners

125 books148 followers
Mary Manners is a country girl at heart who ives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and their rescue dog Axel, cats Colby and Rascal, chickens and an aquarium teeming with fish.

Mary writes stories full of faith and hope. Her books have earned multiple accolades including two Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold, the Heart of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Mary loves long sunrise runs, Smoky Mountain sunsets, and flavored coffee. She enjoys connecting with reader friends through her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,304 reviews639 followers
Read
February 25, 2024
DNF
===
26%

Always the same thing... the hero kicks the heroine to the curb and leaves her broken and heartbroken to pursue his dreams. But when his career goes down the drain and he become lost, he ends up coming back and wanting her back as a consolation prize or afterthought. If he hadn't gotten hurt, he would never come back to her.
Profile Image for Susan Snodgrass.
2,002 reviews273 followers
April 25, 2018
"How can I trust where this may lead, Lord? I can't bear to be hurt again."

This was the first book I've ever read by this author. It won't be the last, either. Great writing, a wonderful plot and full of inspiration from God. I thoroughly enjoyed it, felt invested from the very beginning. I will definitely read more of her.

*My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Linda Rainey.
2,348 reviews21 followers
May 25, 2018
A Beautiful Romance

This was a beautiful romance about second chances.
I loved this well crafted story and engaging characters.
This book is recommended for those that love Christian romance.q
Profile Image for Lori.
1,892 reviews135 followers
May 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this 📓! !
I very strongly recommend this 📓
884 reviews9 followers
September 17, 2022
Finally, a true romance storyline. The emotion is real. The insecurities are real. The fear is real. The betrayal is real. Brianna and Jackson have a long history together. They planned a future together. They made promises to each other. Promises that were broken. Jackson was Bri's hero, on and off the football field. He promised her 'forever'... until he walked away, telling her she was 'too much on his plate'. He abandoned Bri to fame and fortune that the NFL had to offer and never looked back. UNTIL ...
Jackson is blindsided on a play that could be career ending. He has to rebuild his knee and goes back to Knoxville, his hometown, to recuperate and train. He tries to reconnect with Bri. But for her it's like that old saying: Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Once trust is broken, it's not easily given back.
I loved 'watching' the growth and healing both Bri and Jackson walked through. Jackson hurt Bri deeply and he finally realizes how much. It's hard not to love Bri. She has a love for children and puts her counseling degree to work by opening Thursday's Child, a place for lonely and 'lost' children to gather, socialize and play. Her breakup with Jackson six years earlier was devastating in more ways than one. When he returns on the scene wanting to pick up where they left off six years ago, she couldn't. Not only could she not trust him but she was afraid to tell him what she had to go through all alone when he left. (BTW, I don't blame her for not telling Jackson. He made clear to her when he walked away that she was 'too much on his plate'. What she would have told him only would have added to that crowded plate. He was callous when he rejecter her. Why would she even begin to think he would want to know what happened?)
As much as I loved Bri, Jackson was a different story. I didn't 'dislike' him but felt he never really 'felt' the true pain he caused her. He basically left and totally forgot Bri. Did he ever feel any guilt when he was with those 'groupies'? Yes, he grew to tire of the women throwing themselves at him, but, again, it was all about him and his feelings. His loneliness. It takes a career threatening injury to get his attention. I was glad his simple 'I'm sorry' confession to Bri didn't work. The hurt and pain he caused required real remorse, not a simple 'I'm sorry' after six loooong years.
I did like watching Jackson change from his self serving to sharing. The role he played for 'Thursday's Child' was his redemption, IMO. He shares himself, his talent, his money for the children ... for Bri's dream.
I didn't want this book to end.... it was that good. I really wanted more, especially of their happiness together.
Profile Image for Sharon Dean.
312 reviews14 followers
May 11, 2018
Promises Renewed
A Potters House Book
By: Mary Manners

Potter House has set out to bring us heartfelt emotional reads that give us hope, encouragement and remind us that God is always with us.

Mary’s Promises Renewed has given us all that and so much more. I was reminded of a powerful lesson that each of us forgets from time to time. Me...more often that I should. A valuable lesson of life.

Don’t take a single moment for granted and always, always share your thoughts and feelings. Don’t bottle them up inside your heart. Tomorrow or even the very next hour could be too late.

Brianna and Jackson’s story captures the heart of this in so many ways. Those feelings buried deep into your soul, those words you should have said, the moments you wondered what if, should I have, shouldn’t I have....they get tangled in our minds and our hearts. They cloud our judgement.

Trust in Him and trust that it’s always safer, easier and so much better to live each moment to its fullest. Share, communicate and be open and honest. That is what happened to Brianna and Jackson. They both kept it all bottled up. Did this forever destroy them or give them a second chance? Don’t count on second chances, God is forever with us and will always bring glory to our lives but sometimes He doesn’t give second chances. Journey with me through this heartfelt read the story of Brianna and Jackson and let their mistakes, both past and present, help you in your walk.

Thank you Mary for their story that helped remind me that life is short and I need to live it like there is no tomorrow.
Profile Image for Robbie .
439 reviews55 followers
May 22, 2018
Mary Manners scores again with her latest book, featuring Brianna Caufield and Jackson Reed.

Brianna loved Jackson with all her heart when they were teenagers. However, life, circumstances and the enticement of a pro football career shatters her dreams of marriage and a family. She doesn’t let the loss keep her down. She finishes school and starts a youth center for the kids in her hometown.

Mary Manners has written a book with a lot of depth and meaning. She deals with young love, loss and healing. Through Brianna and Jackson’s lives, she shows how others are affected by decisions that were taken out of their hands, how faith is so necessary to life and how forgiveness is crucial to being able to move on and forward in life.

I enjoyed Promises Renewed because, unlike novellas which only give a small snapshot of the characters, a novel tells the complete story. We’re able to understand decisions made, even if we don’t agree with them and we come to care genuinely for the individuals concerned.

Promises Renewed is book 5 of The Potter’s House Books. There are currently five of 21 available, this one being released on the 22nd of May; the others will be released through 2019. Each book is a standalone and is designed so they can be read in any order you wish.

I received this book from the author, Mary Manners. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
1,177 reviews12 followers
June 19, 2018
Jackson walked away from Brianna towards fortune and fame in the NFL. Six years later, he has come home to heal his knee. Brianna is stunned when she realizes that Jackson has the winning bid at a charity auction for a date with her. As they start to work together to help her nephew, Andy, and her charity, Brianna continues to resist a relationship with him. Brianna is a hardworking and compassionate woman, who is devoting her life to Andy and the charity. Jackson quickly realizes all that he has given up when he walked away. I received a free copy of this book from eBook Discovery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I loved this book. It is well written and I feel like I know Jackson, Brianna, and Andy. This is the first book that I have read in the Potter's House series. I also like that faith is very important to Brianna. I recommend this book. I started it one evening and finished the next morning.
Profile Image for Amanda.
127 reviews
April 27, 2018
Brianna remained in her hometown and opened a center for at-risk youth. Jackson chased his NFL dreams and headed off to Jacksonville, leaving Brianna, and an unknown secret, behind. When a knee injury forces Jack to return home temporarily, he finds her center in financial distress. A charitable bid during an auction wins Jack a date with Brianna and begins the fundraising efforts for her center.

Promises Renewed is a sweet story of second chances, and secrets from the past, with Biblical truths skillfully woven in. The story moved at a good pace.

Mary Manners is a new-to-me author, and I was excited when I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of Promises Renewed. I'm so incredibly thankful for the opportunity, because I truly enjoyed the book. I will definitely look for more books by Manners in the future.

I received an ARC of the book from the author, in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided here. A positive review was not required.

Profile Image for Margaret Watkins.
3,564 reviews89 followers
May 27, 2018
In this sweet inspirational romance of love and forgiveness, Jackson Reed takes a chance when he sees his highschool sweetheart on TV promoting an auction to raise funds for the organisation she works for. There and then, Jackson decides to do what he has to win Brianna back, despite turning his back on her so many years before. Meeting Briana again does not go smoothly and Jackson finds that she is guarded and unwilling to pick up where they left off. He little realises that she is carrying a secret that could hurt him just as much as it hurt her, and it takes more than human effort to take the step towards forgiveness. This inspirational romance is well written and can be read by most age groups. It inspires faith and gives hope to the brokenhearted. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for Trimaze.
216 reviews2 followers
June 22, 2018
What a great story of love, redemption and second chances. Mary Manners’ books never disappoint.... her stories are always well written, engaging, and have great storylines and characters that touch our hearts.

Promises renewed has a strong message of faith and how the power of forgiveness has the ability to heal all. The story proves that forgiveness can not only mend a broken heart but it can also open the door to infinite possibilities.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys inspirational second chance love stories. This is not the first book written by Mary Manners that I’ve read, and it will definitely not be my last.

“I received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.”
Profile Image for Shona.
261 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2018
Jackson returns home with a possible NFL career ending injury. Brianna has never left home but is hiding a deep hurt inside from after Jackson left to play football, seeming to choose his sport over her.
She also has the added complication of her nephew living with her who is struggling at school and needing adult guidance in his life.
She is working at a youth centre and finds satisfaction and fulfilment there. All that is threatened when Jackson returns. She’s hiding a huge secret from him. And those old feelings she once had don’t seem to have disappeared completely.
A winning read with relatable characters and a storyline which keeps moving at a good pace.
Profile Image for Nati.
2,955 reviews16 followers
June 20, 2018
Jackson left his hometown six years ago to pursue his dream as quarterback in the NLF. But he left behind his Herat, his soul and his soulmate Brianna. He is back now recovering from a knee surgery's. When he sees Brianna in TV trying to raise money for her children foundation he can’t help but find her again and show her how wrong he was when he left her. Can Jackson win her back despite the hurting and secrets from their past? Can they forgive each other’s and have faith again in God and in themselves? A sweet story. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
201 reviews5 followers
February 14, 2019
Brianna has an an agonizing secret from 5ix years ago.. She don't intend for Jackson Reed to ever fine out.

When she is paired with him for a date from a fund raiser, she refuses sto go out with him. The contract says no date no money. So she agrees to date him during the day time. On the date he ends up hauling 100 bags of mulch and spreading it on the flower and vegetable beds at Thursday's Child. While she is on the other side of the building supervising children. He does wear her down so she finally has a date with him.

Read the book to find out what happens from here on, Does he learn her secret? Do they get back together? t will hold you captive right to the end.
1,070 reviews23 followers
May 10, 2018
This is a sweet second-chance romance. Jackson and Brianna have made some mistakes in their relationship. He hopes to win her over again, but there’s a lot of hurt. The characters are well -developed and likeable. I liked seeing how forgiveness changed their story. Promises Renewed is well written and a great addition to the Potter’s House series. I would definitely recommend this book and will read more of Mary Manner’s works.
I received an ARC through Book Funnel. I chose to write a review and share my opinion.
Profile Image for Becky.
176 reviews4 followers
May 26, 2018
Can someone who broke your heart, also mend it?
Jackson left Brianna, when he was recruited for his favorite NFL squad, breaking their engagement. Brianna has a secret she’s never told him; but when he comes back to town, to mend his injury and take more therapy, she’s afraid to tell him. This was another “page-turner” for me, with the story drawing me in and keeping me there! There is a lot that happens, and each thing is another reason to keep reading toward the final ending! I haven’t been disappointed by any of the Potter’s House Books, nor do I expect to be!
387 reviews
May 7, 2020
A great story! Jackson and Brianna had been childhood friends and high school sweethearts

Jackson and Brianna had been childhood friends and high school sweethearts. Jackson had been signed to play football after high school . After a misunderstanding he left and Brianna finds she is pregnant after they lost control one night. Did years later finds her running a center for young people and caring for her twelve year old nephew. When Jackson returns to town, can forgiveness occuf, on both parts? I love this book!
Profile Image for Janice Sisemore.
1,650 reviews15 followers
May 6, 2018
Promises Renewed

Love the work that Brianna does for the kids called Thursday Child. Jackson is recovering from a football injury and dated Brianna when they were younger. They have a history. She is doing fundraisers and also caring for her nephew. Her nephew is so excited when Jackson reconnects with her with being a famous football player. I so enjoyed this story. I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of the book from the author.
182 reviews
May 11, 2018
I shed lots of tears reading this heartwarming book! Mistakes from the past are hard to heal but when GOD is involved He brings good out of the heartwhenching past. How would this have come out if Jackson & Brianna had married when his life was so full of football? Would it have lasted? GOD's timing for our lives is always the best timing! He knows the end from the beginning. Our mistakes are His fertil soil to good things. I received this book for free & this is my unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Susan.
630 reviews31 followers
May 16, 2018
This was a really good book. I liked Jackson and Brianna. I liked watching as Jackson and Brianna worked for a common cause, even when Brianna tried to keep him at a distance. Jackson realized what was important to him and Brianna learned that keeping a secret only causes resentment. I would recommend this book.
I received a PDF copy of this book from the author and was not required to give a positive review.
217 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2018
This was a lovely story about Brianna Cawfield and her exboyfriend, Jackson Reed. They hadn't heard from each other for six years.Both of there hearts were broken. Breanna is raising her nephew who is twelve years old. She and a friend,Renee, open up Thursday's Child, a place for children to feel secure.Jackson was a professional football player with an injured knee.This is a good clean read.I highly recommend reading this story.I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.
1,400 reviews7 followers
May 21, 2018
Brianna and Jackson’s story will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens to them. When Brianna enters into the private auction she can’t believe the amount of money bid on her. Jackson is a changed man and he has to prove it to Brianna. The characters in this book are all very special people. I had the honor to review this book for a honest review for the author. I would give this book a higher rating than a five star review if I could.
500 reviews11 followers
April 25, 2018
An engaging and thought provoking story from Mary Manners, Promises Renewed provides characters to love and cheer for. A story that shows the impact of decisions past and present, with a secret that could potentially spell the end of the reunion of high school sweethearts. I was given a copy of this book by the author. It in no way affected this review. The thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Profile Image for Evonne Hutton.
1,342 reviews10 followers
May 25, 2018
A heartwarming second chance romance!
Sometimes we simply need God's grace and mercy to come to understanding.
An after school program director and a football player with a blown knee.
Can they get over the past?
Lovely story line and well written.

I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review
Profile Image for Joan Arning.
1,773 reviews28 followers
July 10, 2018
A sweet love story! Brianna is an amazing young woman who runs Thursday's Child to keep children out of trouble and is raising her twelve year old nephew! Jackson, a football player, has hurt Brianna in the past and comes back into her life. You will wonder if Jackson has his priorities right now. I recommend Promises Renewed to others. I received a complimentary e-book from the author. this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Tabitha Bouldin.
Author 45 books705 followers
August 17, 2018
An inspiring read

Promises Renewed delivers a heartfelt romance. Brianna and Jackson must overcome their past history and learn to forgive one another, even when a dark secret threatens to tear them apart. This book is well written with true heartfelt emotion. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Profile Image for Michaela | Reading in the Heartland.
3,697 reviews71 followers
May 5, 2020
I loved this book. It was an amazing second chance romance. The themes of football and forgiveness and teens was perfect. I was super engaged in the story and didn’t want to put it down. Definitely at the top of the list of Manners’ best books.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
731 reviews3 followers
April 27, 2023
What A Difference a Year Makes

This was a really good romance story about a professional football player who struggled to find what was really important to him in life and regain the love he lost when he left to play professional football. It was well written and hard to put down. I would definitely recommend it. This is truly one of Mary Manners' best books!
2,023 reviews3 followers
April 29, 2018
I love this author’s books and the same goes for her latest. Promises Renewed is a very well written inspirational romance. This book has a great plot and cast of characters. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good romance.
Profile Image for Robin.
1,289 reviews17 followers
May 4, 2018
This is a very intense and well written book. I loved both Jackson and Brianna. Whew, but this is a good book. Highly recommend. I received an advance reader copy from the author. Opinions are my own.

Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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