When his precious wife of 30 years received a devastating diagnosis, John Brighton's world fell apart. As his wife slipped from day to day, his love was tested as never before, and he found himself confronted by a weakness he had. A confidante desperately needed in this dark time, a young widow named Julia Sinclair, seemed to understand his pain as no one else could. Torn between doing what he knew was right and what his heart told him could not be wrong, John soon discovered that the heart can't be trusted where true love is concerned.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Casey (Oregon), October 31, 2009
A woman with everything going for her suddenly finding out she has the dreaded Alzheimer disease. Her husband and children having to deal with her sudden deterioration, facing the challenges and temptations that soon crop up.
I had never read a book by Deborah Raney before. I feel like slapping myself, why didn't I read one sooner??? Looking for a book you can't put down? Pick up this novel. Everything about it appealed to me. I can't say enough good things about it. I felt like I was the character, living within "in their skin" experiencing their trials, understanding the decisions they made. At one point as the husband, John is entering a sticky relationship with another woman while his wife still lives (though she is totally unresponsive) I literally couldn't breath. No, don't do it! And when he finally saw his errors, I expelled enough air to cause a hurricane wind. I don't often come across many gripping, stick to you books and characters. I will sing the praises of this book for eternity. Highly recommended!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michelle (Arizona), November 10, 2006
A Vow to Cherish touched me deeply--for many reasons. To me, this story is about having no regrets and allowing God to work things out in our lives with His perfect timing. I remember seeing the movie when it first came out and holding my breath as I watched John fall in love with Julia. I recall the same conflicting feelings when I read this book. Part of me wanted John to be happy with Julia. I truly felt for the guy. Part of me also cared deeply about his commitment to his wife.
The author did a fabulous job taking a difficult situation and covering it with flesh. The emotion and the loneliness were real as was the temptation both John and Julia experienced. Many people would justify John and Julia's relationship outside of marriage--especially for John. I hurt for the man. My mother was bedridden with MS for twenty years and my father cared for her until the very end. He cherished her and remained faithful when so many men in the same situations dumped their spouses when they could no longer perform their wifely duties.
John Brighton honored his vow to cherish his wife until they parted at her death. I'm convinced it made all the difference for his enduring happiness. John could then marry Julia free from guilt and knowing he gave his wife his undivided love and attention to the very end--once he overcame the temptation to vault his flesh into a forbidden zone that he would end up regretting later.
I've never read a book that more vividly portrays the deep pain of loneliness and all of the issues that go with it. My heart swelled and my throat tightened more than once through this beautiful story. I loved it!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ane Mulligan (Suwanee, GA), April 17, 2006
Not often does an author have the chance to go back and rewrite her first book, but Deborah Raney had that opportunity. I read the original edition, saw the movie inspired by her book, and now I've read the new one. She has updated numerous things and added more depth, making an already good novel hauntingly beautiful.
John Brighton's wife has Alzheimer's, a cruel disease that afflicts entire families. I know. My mother died of Alzheimer's. I found Raney's book to be healing for me. With deep understanding and compassion, she exposes layer after layer of emotion a husband feels when his wife leaves him a bit at a time.
More cruel than sudden death or divorce, Alzheimer's robs the patient of their dignity as it robs the family of their loved one. After my mother died, daddy said he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. That hurt and I couldn't understand how he could say it. Until I read A Vow to Cherish. As Raney reveals John's deep love for his wife, she also discloses how the disease wore him down. No one suffers Alzheimer's alone.
Beautifully written and filled with credible characters, Raney once again demonstrates why she's an award winning author. A Vow to Cherish stands on my all-time-favorites book shelf.
Write a review of A Vow to Cherish
Author: Deborah Raney
Located in: Kansas
Submitted: November 29, 2005
What was your motivation behind this project? So much has changed in the medical and emotional arenas of Alzheimer's disease, so I was grateful for a chance to update this
aspect of my novel. In addition, I was able to bring my characters into the 21st century by giving them the cell phones and
computers they didn't own when I first wrote the story 12 years ago!
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? I'm excited for my first novel to be coming out again in an updated version. This is a story about the beauty of married love and about how precious the vows we make before God are. I'm happy for a whole new generation of marriages to read this story of love and commitment.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: A Vow to Cherish was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures' award-winning film of the same title. The movie, produced and
distributed through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and now available on video and on DVD in 7 languages, has had an amazing impact on lives throughout the world. I'm honored to be associated with this project.
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