The Promise Of Deer Run [Paperback]

Elaine Marie Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2011

The Year is 1790. The American Revolution has long been over, but the wounds of battle still linger in the hearts and minds of many. A veteran Continental soldier still awaits the return of his missing father, years after the last battle. Haunted by the painful memories of war and scarred from betrayal in love, the young man turns away from faith. The only hope he clings to is that perhaps his father still lives. Then he discovers his hope is shared by a young woman, who understands loss and the longing for a father. As they encounter this unexpected connection, their hearts become drawn together. But jealousy, slander, and misunderstanding ignite a fire of doubt and mistrust-destroying their relationship. Can two souls longing for healing and trust, love again? Can faith-and a family-be restored?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elaine Marie Cooper's work has appeared in such publications as Better Homes & Gardens and Life: Beautiful. She is the author of the award-winning novel The Road to Deer Run, the first book in the Deer Run saga. A registered nurse, she lives in the Midwest with her husband, her two grown sons and their wives, her triplet grandchildren, and her dogs. Elaine's only daughter died of a brain tumor in 2003.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse Publishing (August 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1462037968
• ISBN-13: 978-1462037964
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,813,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elaine Marie Cooper began writing at the age of eleven and it quickly became a passion for the future novelist. "The Road to Deer Run" is her debut novel. It was a Finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received Honorable Mention in the Romance category at the 2011 Los Angeles Book Festival.

Her sequel, "The Promise of Deer Run," placed First in Romance at the 2012 Los Angeles Book Festival and is a Finalist in Religious Fiction for Foreward Reviews' Book of the Year contest.

"The Legacy of Deer Run," the third book in the Deer Run Saga, will release Summer of 2012.

Long enamored of the historical period of the American Revolution, Cooper wrote "The Road to Deer Run" based on actual persons and events. A Registered Nurse, she researched and included many gut-wrenching medical practices used during the colonial era in her novel.

Cooper grew up in Massachusetts--the setting for her novels--but currently lives in the Midwest.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the read November 4, 2011

By Kevin Sorensen

Format:Paperback

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Typically, if I receive a romance to read & review, it's passed on to my wife to read. She'll either write up her own review, or tell me what she thought of it. This time, however, I determined to tackle The Promise of Deer Run myself. I'm glad I did.

I found the characters to be quite real, even though set in a vastly different time in history. What I truly appreciated most, however, was the centrality of faith in Christ throughout this book. Even those characters that might not be true followers of Christ were depicted realistically. I'll go even further to point out the active part church played in the lives of these people. So many Christian novels that I read leave the church completely out of their story lines (I wonder if this reflects the place of the church in the author's life). Cooper, however has faith, church, prayer, God and Christ enter prominently and believably during the whole story. For this, I highly commend her and her works.

My only regret was I found myself entering a world already begun in a previous book--The Road to Deer Run. Normally, when I get a sequel, without having had the benefit of the first in the series, I feel a bit lost. That was not the case here. In The Promise of Deer Run, Cooper does an excellent job of making sure the reader can thoroughly enjoy this story without having to lean heavily upon the first. Again, for this I commend her.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Welcome Return to Deer Run September 11, 2011

By Christian Romance Reader

Format:Paperback

This is one sequel that certainly lives up to the promise of the first in the series. It truly is like coming home to old friends. Elaine Cooper has studied and walked the steps of her ancestors in Colonial Massachusetts to make her stories come alive with the rich tapestry of history and colorful characters. This story belongs to Sarah Thomsen, younger sister of Mary from the first book. At first, I had to adjust to "little" Sarah being old enough to fall in love with the haunted, but intriguing and loyal Nathaniel Stearns. Like the first book, I kept turning the pages, pulled into the events by the skill of the author, the vivid characters and spell-binding plot (which I won't rehash since the book synopsis here does it quite well). I encourage you to take this journey and be drawn into the Colonial world of the residents of Deer Run. You will be enriched by a promise fulfilled in more ways than one. Well done, Ms. Cooper!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect sequel September 8, 2011

By April M. Gardner

Format:Paperback

The Promise of Deer Run is cozy, endearing, and overflowing with color--exactly what I'd hoped to find from the sequel to The Road to Deer Run. I'm so glad I wasn't disappointed! The door to Daniel and Mary's house is still open, giving us a further glimpse into their life, which was a most pleasing discovery. But another door is opened, that belonging to Sarah and her new love, Nathaniel Stearns. Nathaniel is a veteran of the War for Independence and the only one in Deer Run who holds out hope that his father is still alive. A last minute trip to Boston should give the long-awaited answer, but in 1790 nothing is easy. Death hovers around every bend in the snow-covered road. Author Elaine Marie Cooper is a gifted writer specializing in vivid settings and culturally flavorful dialog. Her work is always a delight to read. Ms. Cooper, please tell us there's another book coming in the series!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A History all its own July 1, 2012

By Ken LaLonde

Format:Paperback

Elaine Cooper did an absolutely fantastic job writing this book! It was amazing! It had so many historical facts mixed in with the fictional novel! WOW! I totally loved it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt and Historically-Satisfying Family Drama April 19, 2012

By Lisa Norato

Format:Paperback

It was a pleasure to return once again to Deer Run after reading the first book in this series. It has been seven years since the Revolutionary War ended, and now it is Sarah Thomsen's turn (little sister of heroine Mary from Book One) to experience the joys and heartaches of love. Nathaniel Stern is a lonely war veteran who suffers deep, emotional battle scars as he long awaits his father's return from war and mourns the loss of his younger brother.

Sarah and Nathaniel only have eyes for each other. Their sweet and tender courtship will stir feelings of young love in even the oldest reader. When a spurned suitor slanders Nathaniel with an unconfirmed story, Sarah falls victim to distrust and the couple are torn apart. Nathaniel is deeply wounded by Sarah's lack of faith in him, and it will be a long road to forgiveness. Meanwhile, Mary's and Daniel's story continues. Their family has grown immensely and continues to grow, as does the family of their brother, James Thomsen. Mary's and Sarah's midwife mother is now re-married and continuing her practice, but she has her own troubles at home with a sickly husband. And still, the mysterious disappearance of Nathaniel's father haunts him with no explanation to what could have happen to the man. Along the way, there are little treasures of subplots--like the miracle of the woven flax and the birth compared to that of the Christ child. All in all, a treasure of a book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Promise of Deer Run April 18, 2012

By Carol A. Brown

Format:Paperback

Promise of Deer Run continues the colorful stories of the families of Road to Deer Run! The first book primarily followed the lives of Mary and Daniel. Promise follows the lives of Mary's much younger sister Sarah and her husband Nathaniel Stern. With the same gentle way Elaine opened the book on her ancestors and allowed us to come to love them as she has. I was already comfortable with the older siblings, so it was easy to come alongside these two as well!

Cooper does a wonderful job of presenting her character as "real" people with many of the same struggles that you and I have. I appreciated the fact that she did not shy away from the awful effects of trauma. Sarah experienced flashbacks when a male doctor, unknown to her, tried to be of "help" as surely as the men did from the results of war. Sarah's flashbacks were secondary PSTD, in other words, she witnessed life threatening trauma to a loved one. Secondary PSTD is no less powerful. That is what was behind her needing her husband make a promise that would one day be hard to keep...and endanger lives...but once again the Lord brings the right person at the right time to do the right thing. The lives of these characters have the fingerprints of God all over them. I loved the precious ending of this book with the sweet reunions. Thank you Elaine for warming our hearts a second time. I very much look forward to meeting more of your relatives in the next episode of the ongoing "Saga of Deer Run!"

I very much appreciated a good story without gratuitous violence or coarse language and the fact that Christianity was woven into the very fabric of people's lives and the life of the community. Yet, a person doesn't feel "preached at." This is Christian literature. Bravo Elaine Cooper. Job well done.