A Sister's Promise

by Caroline Finnerty

Sisters Laura and Penny were once close, bonded together after the early death of their mother. Laura always had her younger sister’s back until one day everything changed and Penny disappeared.

Twenty years later Laura finds herself alone and at a crossroad in her life; questioning her marriage and her future.

Meanwhile Penny has spent her whole life running away from her problems until one day she is forced to stop and face the shocking truth.

When Penny turns up on Laura’s doorstep late one stormy night, holding the hand of a shivering little girl, Laura is immediately suspicious of her sister’s motives. Just what does Penny want and who is this little girl?

Penny carries a devastating secret that will test their bond as sisters and is forced to make an impossible choice.

Can the sisters find it within their hearts to forgive and unite before it’s too late?

Genres: Contemporary, Family, Fiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2022

About the author

Thank you for visiting my author page. I am an Irish author living on the banks of the Grand Canal in Co. Kildare with my husband and our four young children. My books have been described as emotional tearjerkers and always have a big dilemma at their heart. I love to explore the different sides of human behaviour and why we do what we do. My 5th book THE LAST DAYS OF US will be published by Boldwood in June 2021. You can find out more about me on my website www.carolinefinnerty.ie or contact me on Facebook (carolinefinnertywriter) or Twitter (@cfinnertywriter).

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

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This book broke my heart so if you decide to read it have some tissues handy! Penny gets some devastating news and decides she needs her sister so she travels back home to Ireland from Australia to seek her help. Laura has a lot on her plate already when her sister turns up after twenty years and Penny has her four-year-old daughter in tow. The way Caroline Finnerty wrote the voice of four-year-old Willow was so authentic, she has a real knack for writing children.

I really felt for Laura as she is left reeling from news and or secrets revealed by her sister, husband, and daughter. The strength these women find within themselves and with each other was so heartwarming and satisfying to read and loved the theme of the bonds of family, especially sisterhood.

I devoured this book in a single sitting and loved it so much but the ending left me feeling pretty annoyed. I don't think after everything she'd gone through that Laura should have forgiven her husband. I certainly wouldn't have. But other than that I thought this one was near perfect. All. The. Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

#ASistersPromise #NetGalley

[Lakeesha Broughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story that will pull at your heart strings and make you evaluate your life and appreciate every day, everyone, and everything you have. In this story a family is faced with many obstacles and choices, but in order to move forward they first must examine the past. Penny is a mom to Willow a sweet, loving, little girl, and throughout the story you will cry, laugh, and sympathize with her, but her strength will be the one thing that will take your breath away. You will learn to value and appreciate the little things in life, and understand how things can change in a moment's notice. Read this story and take a walk-through life with Penny as she tackles the crazy things that life throws her way. A great story, easy read, with very relatable characters. Definitely Recommend this book.

[Melanie McGrade Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! It was definitely a tearjerker and very emotional, and one that was easy to fly through the pages. The characters were relatable and little Willow was just the best. The author presents us with estranged sisters who are reunited after several years apart, both who are struggling with some pretty big life issues and with more to come. I don’t want to have any spoilers but please note that there are some topics that could be hard for some to read about. The book is definitely a tear jerker for anyone, but it could be harder and worse for others. The sisters have realistic relationships with ups and downs, pain and forgiveness, but the bonds between them grow stronger as life continues to throw curveballs at them, bringing them all closer. This was so easy to read, so easy to feel attached to the characters and story, so easy to pick up and not put down again. This author is so talented and I can’t wait to read another book by her!

[ANTC]

This is chick-lit, not romance. Good writing; angsty because the heroine's sister is sick and has a young daughter. Great story-telling about the sisters' relationship, forgiveness, death. On the other hand, the heroine's relationship with her cheating husband was under-developed. We know he cheated often over their 21 year marriage, but we don't get any details and the heroine ignored it until finally she didn't. She forgives him by the end but after no details are revealed nor enough information to say he won't cheat again.

This author uses traumatic events as a tool for healing relationships, but to me the infidelity still needs to be addressed. Just because the husband is supportive and caring in moments of crisis, doesn't mean he's going to be loving and faithful after the crisis is over. I think The Last Days of Us by the author also relies on this false premise.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Caroline Finnerty, Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

Ohh Caroline Finnerty what an emotional rollercoaster A Sister’s Promise just took me on that left me bawling like a baby!! This book pulled a big time on my heartstrings and touched me deeply more than any of your other books. It’s a good thing I had a box of tissues on hand cus I sure needed it!! It was just a beautifully written story that is very relatable.

The cover designers at Boldwood Books did a beautiful job with A Sister’s Promise cover graphics. It captures your attention and also pulls on your heart strings.

Within the main storyline Caroline intertwined some very important topics that are not commonly discussed in books. At least not that I have seen. That being said for that reason and many others that this would be a great book club book. There would be so much to discuss on a wide range of topics.

I loved how Caroline focused her book on family and the importance they play in our lives.

When I read I sometimes put myself in that character's shoes. It was hard not to put myself into Penny’s shoes. I felt everything and I mean everything she felt and her questions would have been my questions too!! I could not help but feel empathy for her and everything she had to go through.

Oh and Willow, that sweet girl was just too cute! She was one of my favorite characters.

A Sister’s Promise is a beautifully written book that deserves way more than 5 stars. It should be on everyone’s TBR list and pushed up to the top.

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @rararesources and @CarolineFinnerty for letting me be part of this tour and for letting me review this book. A sisters promise is beauful story but very emotional. This story pulled at my heartstrings quite alot due to my bestfriend dying of breast cancer and leaving two four tears. By the end of the story I was mess. The story had some hard topics cancer, miscarrage but it was written really well. I liked both sisters and could relate to them both. I adored Williow. You could really feel the emotions that the Penny and Laura where going though and you went on emotionsl rollcoster with them. A sisters promise is beautifully written and Caroline Finnerty hooks you in . I will definatly read more by her in the future. I strongly recommend you read this and you will cry. This story is set in Ireland and i love how the sisters support each other after 20 years of not seeing each other and sort there promblems out and than they go back for being there for each other due to illness and relestionships breaking down. 5 stars

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should firstly come with a warning for anyone going to read it, that you will need lots and lots of tissues as you will cry big ugly tears . This is one of those books that you will just fall in love with the story and most of the characters immediately . I absolutely adored reading this book but as said previously it’s a tear jerker . As soon as I started this book I honestly couldn’t put it down and just wanted to keep on reading even through the tears. This is a story of relationships, family and being there in times of need . I really can’t recommend this book highly enough and I will most certainly be reading more books from this author. A brilliant but at times heartbreaking read . All the stars for this one

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional read that will keep you turning the pages. Estranged sisters reunite after a rift twenty years ago. Sister, Penny with her four year daughter shows up on her older sister, Laura's doorstep after receiving devastating news. Laura is also going through a crisis in her life, but once a sister is always a sister. A wonderful journey of forgiveness between the sisters. Fair warning, have your box of tissues handy!

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written but emotional story.

[Diane Leblanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story of the bond and love between two sisters. I couldn’t put the book down and needed a box of tissue very close by. Highly recommended.

[Dorell Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad but good!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!

This really hit home. Tissues please!

[Linda Surritte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family drama and tragedy. OK read.

[Jeanniehay64 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just finished reading this emotional book with tears rolling down my face. I have one sister and a story resigned so much with me as we both lost our mum recently and having been her carer I found a lot of the story line was so true to life.

Laura and her sister Penny have been estranged for many years. When serious health issues turn Penny’s world upside down she turns to her sister Laura for help. Laura is going through tough life challenges herself but after being sceptical of her sisters motives she welcomes Penny and her small daughter Willow into her home and family.

I loved the strength of the two main woman characters in this book . They both had different challenges infidelity, problems with children, estranged partners and illness but with with having no parents it was lovely to see how they reunited and pulled together, I know personally how family unity and support is precious. The love of a mum and sister is unique which was portrayed brilliantly.

I recommend this beautiful emotional book. It will make you treasure your loved ones more and make you think about the most important things in life … love and family. A box of tissues is a recommended accessory when reading I definitely needed one.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found A Sister's Promise to be a really gripping novel. It's not the first I've reviewed by Caroline Finnerty, as I enjoyed The Last Days of Us.

I absolutely couldn't wait to review A Sister's Promise, and chose it as my book number 2 for the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon October 2022

I was gripped by Penny and Willow's life from the start. I'm half Irish, and was fascinated by their life change of moving from Ireland to Australia. I was eager to learn more about Australian life. I liked Laura too. Caroline Finnerty writes about family relationships, lifes ups and downs as well as children so well.

I really liked Willow's character too, she's cute, and Penny is a great mum to her. Penny is so strong and a fighter and I noticed that in Willow too, and how united and resilient they are. I just wanted to hug them and Laura, I wanted to be there for them.

Fortunately, Caroline Finnerty's writing style made me feel as if I was "in" the story with them.

I felt truly emotionally invested throughout the whole novel, and was eager to find out what happened next.

A Sister's Promise was just as heartbreaking and true-to-life as The Last Days of Us. I am hoping to review more books by Caroline Finnerty in the future.

Thanks to Caroline Finnerty, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 sparkling stars

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sister’s Promise by Caroline Finnerty is the most beautiful contemporary novel.
It is a love story – but it is not an ordinary love story. This is a beautiful love story. It is a love story about a love that will not die – not even death can separate this love. This is a love story about a love that unites a family – there are multiple members in this love story.
The years and the miles have divided a love but when that loves comes face to face, the years and the miles melt away.
We witness the love of a mother – we actually see two mothers loving their children. No matter how old our children get, we still want to wrap them up in our love and care.
All the characters were beautifully drawn. I felt like they were my dear friends. I adored them all. Four year old Willow was a pure delight. Her mannerisms brought her to life under Caroline Finnerty’s masterful pen.
A Sister’s Promise was a very emotional read. My heart swelled with love whilst simultaneously breaking in two. I smiled and I cried. My emotions were all over the place – but ultimately what remained was the love.
This is a love that will never die. This is the love of a mother for her children. This is the love within a family. This is a beautiful love.
A Sister’s Promise is not a book you want to miss – but read with tissues handy!
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Lauren Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What exactly makes you a woman? Is it your heart? Your body? Your spirit? This book still has me pondering this question. Would I still feel like a woman if something physical changed?

Penny and her little girl Willow live in Australia and when something happens she returns to Ireland to see if her sister Laura remembers a promise they made to each other as kids.
Laura has problems of her own to deal with and seeing her estranged sister is a bit of a shock. At first Laura comes across as cold and almost heartless, but quickly steps up and becomes one of favourite characters.

The characters were so well developed and even the unlikeable ones at the beginning grew and developed into loveable, unforgettable characters by the end.

Lots of pieces hit hard and so close to home and it was an absolute heartbreaking book that had me sobbing into my tea and aching for all the characters in it. So keep your tissues close by!

Thank you @netgalley and @bookandtonic books for the arc copy in exchange for my honest opinions. And thank you @bookandtonic for having me on the tour.

[Linda Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that will make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. Twenty years earlier, two sisters have a big fight that causes them to be estranged for all that time. The younger sister said something about her older sister's new husband, which caused the estrangement between them. The younger sister escaping from an abusive husband, lives in Australia where she lives with her four-year-old daughter. The live a very quiet, sheltered life because of her fear of her ex-husband finding them. Then she gets breast cancer and it is Stage {{{. Worried about what will happen to her little girl with whom she sleeps with every night, she takes many planes to reach Ireland at midnight in the pouring rain and knocks on her sister's door not sure how she will be received.
The older sister answers the door shocked beyond words, she finally says for them to come in because of the little child out in the rain. Her two children are in college and living on campus and she has recently asked her husband to leave for a while because of the affairs he keeps having. She takes them into her large kitchen and makes them hot drinks to warm them up. She thinks her sister wants money, she doesn't, she just wants a safe place for her daughter when she is no longer with her. She is invited to stay for the night. They end up staying longer, they get to know each other, the hurt goes away, but she still doesn't know how to tell her children about their dad not being there and a surprise sister that her family didn't even know about. But just before her children return home, she is told about the cancer. The adult children come home and before she is able to tell them about their father, the girl goes upstairs and finds a little girl laying on her bed watching TV. Explnations and introductions are made and the somewhat different holiday celebrations are very different for all concerned. However the younger sister just lays on the couch because she is so tired from the cancer. The holidays over they go to the doctor and told that she must schedule her double mastectomy next week than six sessions of chemo two weeks apart, followed by radiation. She begins the chemo and gets sick and stays in bed most of the day. The little one has no idea what is going on and happily goes to preschool, while her mother applies to all the local schools for acceptance for Kgdn. The treatment goes on and she gets better for a while, the girl gets accepted to the best school and they go shopping all together for her school uniforms. Feeling that she must get some air, she goes outside and falls on the ground and is taken to the hospital and finds the cancer has returned, and she has just a few weeks to live. She finally has to tell her daughter that she is dying and the little one wants to know who will care for her if she has no mommy. The older sister agrees to keep the child and since she is happy with her Auntie and the college age kids are happy that the child will be a part of their lives. Mom is determined to live until the first day of school. She makes it to the day, takes her school but then goes to bed and when the little girl comes home, she runs to her mother to tell her about her wonderful day at school, but as hard as she tries to stay awake and be enthusiastic, but she simply cannot. She dies within a few days, the little girl attends the funeral, places a single flower on the coffin, goes back to the house and cries herself to sleep. Mom is never forgotten and talked about frequently and all ends well when the older sister invites her husband to come back and everyone seems happy, Read this for yourself and you will understand what I have been trying to say.

[Tiziana Langone · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter what happens, a sisters’ bond is unbreakable 
Laura’s life is at a crossroad. She always took care of her children, but as they have left the house now for their studies, she is questioning her future. And her marriage is also at risk after discovering the unfaithfulness of her husband.
But the greatest shock is when one night she finds standing at her door her sister Penny, with a little girl.
When growing up, Laura and Penny were thick as thieves, Laura always had Penny’s back especially after losing their mother at a young age. But one day things went so wrong and Penny just disappeared for twenty years.
So obviously Laura is wary of Penny’s sudden return, but she didn’t expect the bombshell behind Penny’s return. And Penny, more than ever needs the support and help of her sister, but was their once strong but now broken bond mendable?  
I was kind of reluctant to read another book of this author. Not because she is a terrible writer, but because I just know beforehand that my heart will get broken and I will need plenty of tissues while reading.
But my desire to read was bigger than my reluctance, so I started to read but was fully prepared! 
This story broke my heart on so many different levels, as Laura and her family for sure aren’t facing an easy period.
I felt sorry for Laura from the start, as she clearly felt the empty – nest – syndrome and is wondering what to do with her life now that her children don’t need her anymore.
Being a daughter of a mother with that same syndrome, I could understand Laura’s anxiety, but I could also understand how suffocating it felt for especially her own daughter. 
To make things even worse, her own husband did the unthinkable and I totally agreed with her decision to kick him out! But it only added more sadness as now she was truly on her own… 
When Penny appears on her doorstep, as a reader we already know the reason of Penny’s sudden return home. And while we know why Penny is there, I could also understand why Laura isn’t really welcoming her and the little girl with open arms in her home.
And knowing both sisters and their stories, but me as a reader in a kind of difficult position too… Because I WANTED Laura to be welcoming Penny and Willow like nothing happened, but it also made perfect sense why Laura just didn’t. I think if I were in Laura’s same position, I would act and think the same thing. 
The focus in this book is on clearly on Laura and Penny and their relationship. But while they are having their own struggles, we also see how they are trying to protect their loved ones. Penny is protecting Willow as she is still too young to understand everything, and Laura is having a greater shock with revelation of her own daughter. 
But I found it sweet to read how all the side characters became also important pillars of this story, on their own unique way. Because of what is happening to Laura and Penny, everyone realizes that some things are just too important in life. And it was wonderful to see how this broken family stuck together when it matters. 
This story hit home on some levels, and that made me reach for tissues as it all seemed too familiar from my personal experience (different yet the same…).
But beside this major subject, I was also on a continuous emotional rollercoaster, as things wouldn’t just stop coming for Laura, Penny and their loved ones.  
And while it would easily crush people, it also shows how resilient and strong people can be. Because no matter what is happening, after an initial setback, strength to keep fighting can be found.
Even with the most hopeless situations, heart – breaking moments, the fact that the members of a broken family find each other again and can rely on each other, mended my broken heart. 
With each book I read from this author, I am crying all over the place, as the subjects are so heart – breaking and terrible for someone to endure. Yet the strength, hope and love that is written all over the pages, made me feel not only sad after finishing the last chapter, but also hopeful.
Because no matter what happened in the past, in the moments that matter the most, we can always find comfort and solace in the arms of a long lost sister, an estranged partner, our children, our parents, our whole family. 
This was a heart – breaking, crying – all – over – the – place, feeling – a – complete – sense – of – injustice story, yet a wonderful, heart – warming, courageous, hopeful, injecting – strength story that will touch your heart and it made me think how lucky I can count myself having all my loved ones around me… Something we sometimes need to be reminded of…

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A “heartbreaking read” said the publishers – and my goodness, they really meant it, didn’t they? My personal preference, I must admit, is for books that make me smile – this one had me opening a second box of tissues, and by the end I felt I’d done several rounds with Mike Tyson. So, I’m going to be honest and admit it perhaps wasn’t quite the right book for me – but I could certainly appreciate the superb way the highly emotional content was handled, and the author writes quite beautifully.

This is the story of two sisters, long estranged. Laura has a comfortable life, and a lovely rural home – paid for by her husband’s successful construction business – where she’s happily brought up her two now-adult children. With the thinking time afforded by her newly empty nest, she’s become increasingly aware of the fragility of her marriage, and the fact that they don’t communicate any more: discovering he’s having an affair, she demands that he leaves and faces the future alone. Neither of them tell the children – that will be better face-to-face, when they come home from university for Christmas.

Sister Penny has been living in Australia, having cut herself from the family after a rather wild youth and an incident – not uncovered until later in the story – that made her feel there was no way back. With her young child Willow, she’s fled from an abusive partner and lives in fear of him discovering their whereabouts – but being mother to her daughter brings her real happiness, their relationship considerably closer than most. A personal health crisis – concerning enough in itself – makes her realise she has no support network when things go wrong, and Social Services are clearly trying to find the child’s father. So she runs – and appears on Laura’s doorstep in Ireland, in a wild storm and in the dead of night, needing the support of family.

The sisters need to rebuild their relationship – one step forward, two backwards at times – but things are easier because of the presence of Willow, and the clear depth of the love between mother and daughter. Laura’s own children are less welcoming – they didn’t even know their mother had a sister, and when they find she’s also failed to tell them about the disintegration of her marriage things become increasingly fraught. But this all largely becomes insignificant when compared with the situation Penny is facing… totally heartbreaking, and I’ll say no more lest I spoil the story.

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this book. Laura and Penny are both very real people, flawed in their own different ways, and their slow return to the closeness of childhood was fascinating to watch and impeccably handled. Four-year-old Willow is beautifully drawn – I’m not always a fan of reproducing child-speak, but felt it really worked here – and she’s very much central to the unfolding story and its sometimes rather harrowing emotional content. And I really enjoyed the focus on family, and the strength both women were able to find within themselves and from each other – yes, it’s an exceptionally sad story, but rather uplifting too. At first, I wasn’t too sure about the ending – but the more I thought about it (this is a book that left its mark, and I thought about it for days…) it was most definitely the right one. And the book certainly isn’t all gloom and despondency – it’s filled with warmth and love, and there are plenty of moments of joy.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I most certainly would – but do stock up on the tissues. While it wasn’t entirely the book for me, I’d certainly like to read more from its very talented author – I might just be more prepared next time for the emotional journey.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

A Sister’s Promise was such an emotional experience for me. There were several scenes that left me teary-eyed, particularly the ones between Laura and Penny. Both women haven’t seen one another in twenty years, due to a fight that led to their falling out. It’s obvious that perceptions are based on that period of time, which is why it’s so hard for Laura to believe that Penny has grown up and on top of that, she has her own child to provide for.
The same can be said for how Penny views Laura. Laura had always been the one who always had it together, yet Penny discovers that her sister is dealing with a lot of contention within her own relationships. Both characters need to own up to the secrets of the last two decades before they even have a chance of reconciliation. On top of that are other issues that Penny is dealing with, which could potentially mean a massive change in not only their relationship, but in the way they both view the world and how they manage within it.

I really loved the two opposing characteristics between the sisters. Laura grounds Penny, and Penny gives Laura strength. They’re both a huge support system to the other, even when there are moments when Laura leans too much on platitudes and won’t let Penny be, and Penny doesn’t take life as seriously as Laura thinks Penny should. While this book focuses a lot on the relationships between family and loved ones, the main focus is the sisterly bonds that both women need to rely and depend on to get through their time of need.

While I had a pretty good idea of how the story would end, it still hit me pretty hard. Something I’d learned a while back in one of my college courses was how many of us have been taught not to embrace or at a much lesser level, come to better understand the circle of life and what it can mean. It can be incredibly painful and frightening, which was described well within A Sister’s Promise, but there were plenty of moments that showcased the importance of celebrating a life lived, and how to deal with loss in a respectful way. It was a touching experience, and one I won’t forget. A definite five-star read.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny is given a devastating cancer diagnosis and has to figure out how to take care of herself and her 4 year old daughter Willow with no friends or family living near her in Australia. She hasn't been home to Ireland in over 20 years and she left on not great terms with her sister and father. When she shows up on her sister's doorstep in the middle of a rain storm, she has no idea just how much she needed to come home.

The narration alternates between Laura and Penny's POVs and leaves very little for the reader to be unclear about. Both sisters have complex histories and storylines, but they are unraveled slowly and in a way that was neither predictable nor abrupt. I love how Finnerty was able to to tie in so many ideas and problems including: teen (actually 20 year old) pregnancy, domestic violence, loss of a parent at a young age, grief, infidelity, addiction vs sobriety, miscarriage, cancer, and much more. That being said, the story was actually quite light and easy to read until the last few chapters. Without spoiling anything too important to the story, grief and loss are a major part of the book, especially near the end, but the love of family and the importance of second chances are also messages shared throughout the story and especially near the end.

Thanks to Rachel and Boldwood Books for giving me the chance to read and voluntarily review this touching story!

[Alva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ This was an emotional and endearing story about two sisters, Laura and Penny, who were once close and all each other had but after an incident on Laura’s wedding day, they have since been estranged for twenty years. Laura is now an empty nester with her two children grown and off to university and is dealing with being separated from her husband when Penny arrives at her door in Ireland with her 4 year old daughter, Willow, in tow. Penny had been living in Australia when she was given some scary news that she doesn’t want to face alone. With no one else to turn to, Penny returns to her older sister hoping that the past can be forgiven and that they can move forward and deal with the things that are to come together.

I found this to be a sweet, straight forward story. The writing was simple with no major plot twists- the things that happened were things that are common to deal with nowadays. It became very sentimental at the end which definitely pulled on my heartstrings. Quick and easy read too- I was able to read it in a day. I also want to note that the falling out that happened between the sisters that left them estranged for 20 years seemed a bit anticlimactic to me. For me to not speak to my siblings for that long something major would need to happen although I couldn’t imagine exactly what. For what it ended up being seemed to be a waste of time to be angry at someone for that long for.

[Esther Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sisters Promise Caroline Finnerty
Sisters Laura and Penny were once close, bonded together after the early death of their mother. Laura always had her younger sister's back until one day, everything changed, and Penny disappeared.
Twenty years later, Laura finds herself alone and at a crossroads in her life, questioning her marriage and future.
When Penny turns up on Laura's doorstep late one stormy night, holding the hand of a shivering little girl, Laura is immediately suspicious of her sister's motives. Just what does Penny want, and who is this little girl?
Can the sisters find it within their hearts to forgive and unite before it's too late?
A Sister's Promise is an extraordinarily passionate, emotional and moving story. The characters are clear and vividly drawn I felt an immediate connection to them.
The story is about the bond, the support and unconditional love of family members in times of necessity.
A well-written heartbreaking, compelling read
I am happy to recommend this book.
I want to thank publishers Boldwood Books, author Caroline Finnerty and Rachel's Random Resources for a place on the tour and a copy to read and review.

[Amna H · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a very emotional book about bond between sisters. It explores the complexity of familial relations and how, at the end of the day, family is everything.

The books start off very well. There is intrigue, and one can easily relate with Penny's struggles as a single mom working minimum wage. The Sydney chapters are very well written.

I am hating myself for giving this book a very low rating. I felt it was a very generic cancer book. Everything about it was shallow, and the author failed to dive deeper. It felt as if there was a cancer checklist, and the writer was going through all that.

The characters each had a mold, and they fit into their respective moulds. Everything about them was cookie cutter. The characters lacked dimension, and it brought down the book. For a story that doesn't have a complex plot, the characters have to have nuance and shading. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

The dialogue is boring and somewhat monotonous. Most of the action happens in the past tense. Even with events that should be narrated in the present, it has already happened off-screen. We just get a retelling of major events.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwrenching beautifully written story. It has left my heart shattered and I'm sobbing uncontrollably. Warning before you start this make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Sister's Penny and Laura once had an unshakeable bond until one day everything changes and Penny disappears. Twenty years later Penny is knocking on Laura's door and she has a little girl with her. Penny has a devestating secret that tests their bond. From the very first sentence of this I knew I was going to love it I just didn't realise how much. I read it extra slowly because I didn't want to miss a single word. I felt really sorry for Laura as I think she is truly an inspiring human. I loved four year old Willow and how Caroline wrote the way she spoke it was very cute and made me adore her. The sisters bond was fabulous to watch and is unbreakable. There are not enough stars in the world to rate this book. There was not a single thing I didn't like. It is just perfect.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for Laura and Penny's friendship.

-1 Star for Hugh. The wimpy, manipulating cheating b@stard, and for Laura taking him back without even addressing his cheating, which she thinks has happened before.

-1 For Ella, the judgemental b*tch of a daughter and the way she treated her mom.

For those interested, this is woman's lit. It focuses on Laura and Penny mending their relationship, and Laura learning about who she is away from her husband.

I would have easily given this 4 stars if Ella apologized for how she spoke to her mom or if Hugh actually manned up and confessed to their kids about while they were separated. Instead, he made it out like he had no idea what went wrong, and Laura just threw him out. The cheating is never addressed in the sense that Laura asked no questions. I give her props for kicking him out, though.

[Dianne McMahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt Love Story Between Sisters

Wonderful heartfelt story about two sisters,who were lost to each other for over twenty yrs.because of the younger being so childish & foolish on the elder sisters wedding day.
The younger sister returned to Ireland, after learning she had cancer,bringing her wee daughter with her.
They had a lot of wrongs to make right & not a lot of time to do it.
I chose this book,because I too lost my younger sister to cancer.I went to her home & took care of her & her two boys,so she could stay at home,in her final days.
This book brought back so much of those memories & it took more than one hanky to dry my tears.I miss her every day.She was only 36.

[Kate Veno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking but real

This book brought out all the feels. Keep tissue close.
Penny and Laura lost their mum at a very tender age and they didn’t understand what was going on. It felt like the less you see and know, it’s not so real. That loss changed the sisters lives dramatically. When Penny shows up late to Lara’s wedding with horrible things said Laura’s betrothed Lara put s stop to the argument told her sister to leave, she never wanted to see her again. They didn’t speak for 20 years.
When Penny shows up at Laura’s door, desperate and afraid, they did manage to make amends….I’m going to leave it here, I want you to read it yourself. I do have to say, I’ve read 65 books so far this year and none have touched me quite as deeply as a Sisters Promise. Enjoy 🥰

[Conna N Condon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I realized this was not a romance I almost stop reading it. This is an slightly epic family tale of 2 sisters. Devestated by the death of their mom and its horrific impact on their dad, they finish growing up with different reactions to their father’s drunkenness and girlfriends. It is 20 years later during which time the older sister has raised a family while the younger had disappeared. Alas, she comes home to Ireland with her 4 year old to receive cancer treatment. This is a sad and courageous tale of a woman whose family is in crisis before her sister arrives and during the year that follows. It brought tears several times. My only issue is several timeline problems.