Audiobook9 hours
Promises to Keep
Written by Ann Tatlock
Narrated by Barbara Caruso
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper. Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life, and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in. Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them together--both are hiding secrets. So they make a promise--"cross my heart and hope to die"--never to tell anyone else. When danger stalks the Anthonys, Tillie exhibits unimaginable courage and selfless love in her determination to protect the family she has adopted as her own.
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Reviews for Promises to Keep
Rating: 3.6323529411764706 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
34 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rosalind longs for her father after mother left him after years of domestic abuse. They have moved to a new town. Her mother has to work, so an older woman, Tillie takes care of Rosalind and her younger sister. Roz's father comes to town with plans of getting his family back. Roz secretly meets with him and agrees to help him with plans to win back her mother. Her father's idea of a reunion does not go as planned and Roz comes to realize that things are not always as they seem.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The central character in this story is Roz (short for Rosalind), and the book is written from her perspective. It takes place in the last 1960s in a small town. It starts soon after her family has moved to a new home in a new city - away from their abusive father. The son, Wally, goes out the front door to get the paper and finds an old woman sitting on the porch ". . . like she owns the place." This older woman is "Tillie" and she becomes an integral part of the story of Roz and her family. It is a story of relationships and of trustworthiness. I enjoyed the characters of Roz and her best friend Mara, the eccentricities of Tillie, and the angst of Wally. I could actually imagine a real person with the characteristics of Roz's father. Although I was able to somewhat predict the ending, it did not take away from the story. There is an epilogue at the end which tied together all the loose endings and told the character's end stories. I'm not sure I liked that part - sometimes not knowing is okay too.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5My take: 2.5 looks - SPOILER ALERT!!
A wonderful premise for a book, and loved the addition of Tillie as a "squatter" turned grandmother, this book fell flat in many ways for me. First of all, it was extremely predictable. You know that Tillie is not going to leave. You know that Tom is not going to stay. You know that neither Roz nor Mara's situation with their fathers is going to end well.
While the story was an easy one to read, several of the dynamics were bothersome to me. First of all, Tillie's insistence to everyone that this was still her house, even though she knew that she was living with the Anthony's, initially uninvited. The "steamroller" attitude of hers was irritating, especially since she never acknowledged the kindness extended to her, even in private.
Another dynamic that bothered me was the climax with Alan Anthony. I suspected (and expected) the confrontation to escalate to violence, but I didn't think it would start there. It was a bit over the top to me, feeling contrived.
And the climax was a huge letdown. The entire book leads to Alan coming back home, and when he finally does, it is over with very little fanfare and description. Like a huge firework that turns out to be a dud. The best part of this book is the epilogue, where most of the threads are tied and you can move on.
Recommended if you need a short, easy read to cleanse your "reading palate". - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I bought this book for my reader for a weekend away and was not disappointed. It is, as others have reviewed, a simple but enjoyable story. The family, although having problems, are a likeable lot and the author does a good job at make the characters come alive. I would have given it 4 stars but I felt the ending was rushed. The story moves along at a steady but languid pace and then all of a sudden we are tying up all the loose ends and moving pretty quickly. I felt the author didn't know how she actually wanted to end the story. Other then that, it was a pleasant family saga with some lovable characters.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Promises to Keep is the story of 11 year old Roz (Rosalind), who’s mother has just moved their family into the town of Mills River, Illinois after leaving their father behind in Minnesota to protect their family. Roz’s Mother Janis wants to start a new life, a life where her family can be safe; while Roz misses her father she does not understand why they cannot be a family. When Roz sees her father in town only her best friend Mara knows, is this too big a secret for the two girls to keep? Will Roz makes the right decision before something bad happens?Promises to Keep is very well written and keeps you involved in the story until the very end. Ann Tatlock has crafted a story that keeps straight to the point, avoiding topics that would stray away from the story. Many sub-plots appear throughout the book but Tatlock makes a point of focusing on Roz and her story. At times the characters seem a little 2 dimensional and do not have the layers or character development throughout the story. I wish that the author would have chosen to add one or two of the subplots and developed those characters and introduced us to who they are a little more.This book although predictable was very well written, and if the story doesn’t the authors writing style will keep you reading until the very end.I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishing
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5CoverI like the cover ... the little girl with pigtails just reminds me of simpler times and of the sweetness of childhood.PlotThe story takes place in the 1960s when civilization was on the cusp of sexual and recreational reformation. We meet a mother who moves her children away from their abusive alcoholic father. While in their new home in the new town, they meet an elderly lady who has one last wish that she is determined to see through. Will their past catch up with them? Will the elderly lady get her wish?Main CharactersRosalind - A little girl who desperately misses her father and doesn't completely understand why they left him behind. She wants to believe that he'll change for the better because she wants them all to be a family again.Tillie - An elderly lady who wants nothing more than to die in the same house her husband and she built. She is patient, kind and can be the life of the party.Alan - An alcoholic father who hunts down his family and tricks Rosalind into believing his lies. Her belief in him allows him to use her in helping him into their home with possibly dangerous consequences.OverallI love a book that has short chapters as it seems to go faster while reading ... like this one is set up. I would consider this an easy read. Ann Tatlock has a gift of writing that will keep you engaged in the story until the very end.(Book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review)