Promises to Keep (Warner Forever) [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Crandall (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warner Forever | Publication Date: March 1, 2005

Molly Boudreau--the younger sister of Lilly from "The Road Home"--has finally become a doctor, but feels there's a hole in her life. When she promises to help a young, frightened pregnant woman, Molly's life completely changes. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Molly Boudreau is the pride of her father and sister, until she chucks her shining future as a pediatrician in Boston to provide a safe home for the infant son of a murdered patient. Spooked by the gangland-style killing, Molly bundles up baby Nicholas and heads for her tiny hometown of Glens Crossing, Indiana, intending to pass him off as her own. Enter Dean Coletta, recuperating wartime correspondent based for the last five years in Middle Eastern hot spots, who is trying to track down his sister's murderer and thinks Molly knows more than she is telling. Crandall deftly takes up where she left off in The Road Home (2004), with Lily and Clay now married and their son Riley experiencing his own romantic troubles. This heartwarming tale depicts typical midwestern small-town life, where everybody knows everyone else's business and is equally willing to meddle or extend a helping hand--and to close ranks against outsiders threatening one of their own. Lynne Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

'Crandall brings a strong new voice to the genre' -Romantic Times

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Forever (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446614114
• ISBN-13: 978-0446614115
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Indiana native Susan Crandall's women's fiction and romantic suspense novels have garnered national awards, including the coveted RITA(c). With the exception of seven years in Chicago, she's spent her life in her Indiana hometown. When not reading, writing or watching movies, Susan spends time with her husband, children and plethora of pets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smoothly Executed! ** 4 Big Stars., March 2, 2005

By 

MaryGrace Meloche (Ontario, Canada.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Promises to Keep (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

Oh, this story was very good. Susan Crandall skillfully uses her writing gift to create Smalltown, USA. The author's approach, her characters, her settings are on such familiar ground they absorb the reader immediately.

Dr. Molly Boudreau befriends a very lonely pregnant woman. It is obvious the woman does not want her identity exposed. Without warning, the mysterious woman is found ruthlessly murdered. Now, Molly has the responsibility of protecting the baby!

His unhappy editor orders hotshot journalist Dean Coletta to return to the USA. The editor is worried, Coletta is too involved in the Middle East! Coletta's boss is executing his authority with valued concern. Reluctantly, Dean Coletta comes home to New York. He returns to discover his only sister, Julie, is missing and presumed dead. Coletta's journalistic skills kick in and the baffling trail leads straight to Dr. Molly Boudreau of Glens Crossing, Indiana.

PROMISES TO KEEP is a splendid, evenly paced story and absorbs the reader in its ever twisting plot. In addition, Ms. Crandall does an attractive job: her chapters are united, yet carry various storylines. Nevertheless, it is the secondary characters that really sell this story! Crandall has created wonderful characters bursting with believability. The reader knows these people; these are characters that frequent every small town!

Though this was an enjoyable story, a page turner if you will, it lacked the love and the sensuality that were found in its predecessor: Crandall's MAGNOLIA SKY. Still this was a solid story, and yes I would recommend it; however, I don't think I would read it twice, yet I would look for this talented author in the future!
Grade: B+

MaryGrace Meloche
Reviewer for: Romance Designs.

This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars suspenseful family drama, February 27, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Promises to Keep (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

In Boston Sarah Morgan arrives at the free clinic just prior to having a baby. Dr. Molly Boudreau helps her give birth to Nicholas. The educated Sarah refuses to talk about the father except that he is a red haired evil person who will never see her son.

Not long afterward Sarah asks Molly to take care of Nicholas until she can insure her baby is safe. The next morning, Molly learns someone executed Sarah. Molly realizes no record of the birth exists yet and though the autopsy will show the recent birthing, she can hide the infant in her hometown of Glens Crossing, Indiana. She drives home where she tells family that Nicholas is hers.

In New York, reporter Dean Coletta feels lucky to be alive as he recovers from a bullet he received in the Middle East, but learns that his sister Julie known as Sarah is dead but gave birth to a missing child. Dean makes inquires with all roads leading to Molly and Indiana. When they meet, though he believes Molly abducted his nephew, he is attracted to her; she knows he is not Sarah's evil incarnate, but could be working for him.

The strong lead couple and powerful secondary characters especially her extended family make the tale seem very real. The brisk story line moves forward rapidly as Molly and Dean fall in love but have lingering doubts about each other. Though some readers will dislike the lack of a direct final confrontation between good and evil (this reviewer thought that added appropriate realism) and a major subplot involving Molly's nephew takes away from the prime theme, readers will appreciate this suspenseful family drama.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful moving story, March 10, 2005

By 

Judy "book reader" (Cincinnati, ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Promises to Keep (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

Promises To Keep by Susan Crandall is a deeply moving story.

Dr. Molly Boudreau's life is going just as she had planned. She is working at the ER and helping out at the local clinic. But something is missing. When one of her patients leaves her newborn son in her care and is then murdered. Molly flees back home to Glen Crossing to protect this child.

Dean Coletta comes back to the states after being injured reporting overseas. He learns his only sister has been killed. When it seems Molly Boudreau might have some answers Dean follows under the guise of doing a story on Glen Crossing. As Molly and Dean grow closer both of their secrets are lurking to tear them apart.

Promises To Keep is a treasure. I found myself unable to stop reading once I started. The story line is so poignant and deeply touching. It was great to revisit characters from earlier books and catch up with their lives.

Looking forward to the next book by this author.