After a fatal car crash, two families lives have been changed forever. For Melanie Johnston, a single mother, her life is completely turned upside down as she realizes her son isn't being remembered in the proper light and for Andie Phelps, the overwhelming recognition of her son pushes her further and further away from her family and the community. The civil and personal battle this story contains is one of trimpuh and tribulation, but in the end, it challenges each woman to see how far they'd go when they made A Promise to Remember.
A Promise to Remember by Kathryn Cushman is the heart-wrenching story of two women brought together by tragedy. The Phelps family is the envy of the community of Santa Barbara, rich, beautiful, and charitable. The Johnston family is the opposite, as Melanie Johnston struggles to get by as a single mother of two. When Chad Phelps and Jeff Johnston die in a car accident, the two families are conjoined with eternal ramifications.
Andie Phelps begins to cope with her grief by attempting to complete a painting she had promised Chad before he died. However, her husband does not understand or value her art, and recommends that the family fund a scholarship instead to honor Chad’s life. When Melanie Johnston sees that Chad is being lauded after death and realizes she lacks the funds to honor Jeff in a similar way, she decides to take legal action against the Phelps family to insure Jeff’s “legacy.”
Things become more complicated after the lawsuit is made public. Andie’s powerful friends decided to stand up for her in ways that have a huge impact on Melanie’s life, and Melanie’s lawyer is not afraid to throw dirt right back at the Phelps family. Soon both families are caught in webs of their own actions, and both women stand to lose everything.
Those who enjoy women’s and inspirational fiction will enjoy this novel. Readers of authors such as Karen Kingsbury, in particular, should give Kathryn Cushman’s work a try. She does a great job of capturing the pain-inspired, and sometimes irrational, actions of those coping with intense grief. One of the best things about A Promise to Remember is that it is written in such a way that neither of the protagonists receives preferential treatment. There are times when both women are frustrating, and there are times when it is impossible to ignore their pain, which is the way real life tends to be. Kathryn Cushman obviously understands the complex nature of real conflict. Some of the minor characters and descriptive passages come off a bit flat, but the complex subplots and major characters make up for them. A Promise to Remember will be a fulfilling novel for any fan of the legal thriller genre. -- Althea Margaret Kalman, Christian Book Previews.com
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
4 of 4 Reviews Showing:
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christina Bronsveld (ON Canada), October 17, 2009
this book was awesome! i couldn't put it dow for days. it was not only interesting put very suspenseful. as soon as i finished reading it i tried looking for more books by Kathryn Cushman.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Bonnie Engstrom (Scottsdale, AZ), January 04, 2008
Two families caught in a web of grief make diverse attempts to deal with their pain. Although the main protagonists are the deceased boys’ mothers, a husband, a sister and friends take different, sometimes extreme, measures to compensate for the emptiness in their lives. Cushman weaves a captivating story that makes it impossible to put this book down. Her unique gift for deep characterization puts the reader inside the heads and hearts of each member of the saga, even the slimy attorney who hopes for financial gain through one mother’s sadness. This wonderful debut novel will keep readers watching for another chance to read more exciting, quality fiction from this author. This reviewer hopes she will follow some of the characters into her next book.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Dawn Desjardin (Pomeroy, WA), December 29, 2007
In thinking what to write, I thought of two things: 1)This story was not about how two women worked things out for the best, it was about how God worked things out for the best using the women and the people around them. 2)The first thing I did when I finished the book was go to CBD and see if there were any other books available by Kathryn Cushman.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ane Mulligan (Atlanta, GA), October 18, 2007
Wow was my first reaction. This gripping tale of loss, love and forgiveness is one of the best I've read. The spiritual thread arose naturally out of the characters' lives and was never forced. Melanie's discovery and decision was one of the most natural I've read, brought about by a series of circumstances—just like real life.
Artfully blended honest emotions, realistic dialogue, and characters all add up to a memorable read, allowing me to suspend disbelief. Cushman is a new author to watch.
Write a review of A Promise to Remember
Catalog Shopping
Membership
