Promises of the Heart

Savannah Skies #1

by Nan Rossiter

The first novel in a new series from  bestselling author Nan Rossiter tells the moving story of a couple struggling to start a family and the young foster girl with a heart condition who changes their lives forever.

“A multi-leveled, beautifully written story that will glow in readers’ hearts long after the last page is turned.”—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

Can the course that they’ve set for the future handle a slight detour...?

Macey and Ben Samuelson have much to be thankful for: great friends, a beautiful—if high-maintenance—Victorian house on idyllic Tybee Island, and a rock-solid marriage. The only thing missing is what they want the most. After her fifth miscarriage in six years, Macey worries that the family they’ve always dreamed of might be out of reach. Her sister suggests adoption, but Macey and Ben aren’t interested in pursuing that path...until a three-legged Golden Retriever named Keeper wags his way into their home and their hearts.

Harper Wheaton just got kicked out of another foster home and it won’t be the last if she keeps losing her temper. She’s not sure why she gets mad; maybe because no family seems to want a nine-year-old girl with a heart condition. She loves her social worker, Cora, but knows that staying with her forever isn’t an option. Will she ever find a family to call her own?

As a physician’s assistant, Macey meets lots of kids. Harper Wheaton’s a tough one, but Macey knows the little girl has already struggled more than most. It gets Macey and Ben to thinking about all the children who need homes. Then Harper goes missing, and one thing is suddenly crystal clear: life is complicated—but love doesn’t have to be.

Genres: Fiction, Family, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Womens Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2020

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nan Rossiter loves to weave together stories about the complicated relationships to which all readers can relate -- motherhood, sisterhood, friendship, marriage and romance. She draws from her own life experiences to create authentic situations that mirror the trials and triumphs we all face. Compassionate, real, and funny, her books take readers on emotional journeys that often include heartbreak and joy, but also include threads of faith, a furry friend or two, and uplifting endings. Nan's books have been highly acclaimed by reviewers from Publisher's Weekly to Booklist. Her novel, SUMMER DANCE, was the 2018 winner of the Nancy Pearl Award.

Nan is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and began her writing career in the world of children's books. Along with her many contemporary fiction novels, Nan is also the author/illustrator of several books for children, including RUGBY & ROSIE, winner of Nebraska's Golden Sower Award, and THE FO'C'SLE: Henry Beston's Outermost House. 



Nan lives on a quiet country road in Connecticut with her husband and a solemn black Lab named Finn, who diligently watches their every move and can be roused from a nap in a distant room by the sound of a banana being peeled or a cookie crumb hitting the floor. Nan and her husband are the parents of two handsome sons who have struck out on life journeys of their own and are pursuing careers in aviation.

For more information, visit
nanrossiter.com/
facebook.com/NanRossiter/
instagram.com/nanrossiter/
twitter.com/NanRossiter
bookbub.com/profile/nan-rossiter

Reviews

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that pulls at your heart an unloved foster child no one wants. But don't let that keep you from reading this book. I wont tell you how it turns out you must read it for your self, but I bet you wont be turning the pages fast enough to see what happens.
This is a four star read and I can't wait to hear your thoughts after you read it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful and loving story. A couple has a Victorian home they are fixing up for their future family that never occurs due to several miscarriages. Their hearts are broken. They soon find love when they adopt a three legged dog that has survived cancer, but has been in several foster homes for over two years waiting to find a permanent home. They come in contact with a social worker who is trying to find a family wanting to adopt a young girl with health issues. She is a scared and hurt young girl who has been in several foster homes and group homes. They are not really interested in fostering or adopting a child, but soon take the young girl in as a foster child. They learn to love and care for each other with the help of the beautiful loving dog and a cat they later adopted. They become a loving family and realize how much love they have for this young girl after almost losing her. I was in several group and foster homes as i was growing up and wish I could have met and became a part of a family like this. What a beautiful story. It hits close to home with me although I never was adopted by a loving family, but grew up and found a great husband and had my own loving family with lots of pets. A must read.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from HarperCollins Publishers - Harper Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Promises of the Heart reflects the importance of family and love. Those factors were key in shaping the lives of Macey, Ben, Keeper and Harper. Ben and Macey want a child, Keeper wants an owner, and Harper wants a family but all should be easy but all is complicated. Ben and Macey don't want to adopt and Harper has a heart condition that results in high anger. At first while reading all of this, my heart strings got pulled so hard that I almost stopped but this story was too good that I had to continue on. The struggle is real with Harper and this is a book that teaches you an important life lesson about the power of love and the strength it will always have no matter the situation.

We will consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars rounded up. Set on Tybee Island, Georgia, this is a gentle, heart-warming story, filled with wonderful characters, who have a deep, abiding faith that everything works out for the best. Just listen to your heart.

Ben and Macey Samuelson are a young couple who desperately want a baby, but after five miscarriages, that seems hopeless. Cora Grant is a social worker who keeps trying to place a troubled 9-year-old girl named Harper Wheaton in foster care but her feisty spirit leads to too many fights so she's not welcome anywhere for long. To make her even harder to place in a good home, it's discovered she has a weak heart and may need a heart transplant. It seems unlikely but could the Samuelsons and Harper be the answer to each other's prayers?

I've enjoyed several of Nan Rossiter's books in the past and often got them for my mother, another voracious reader. I have even corresponded with the author about the recipes she shares in her stories--always delightful. And I have to mention that the author's deep love for dogs and other pets shows in the warmth, love and fulfillment they bring to the characters in her stories.

This series called Savannah Skies is new to me so when I requested and received an arc of the second book in the series, Promises to Keep, I knew I'd better take the time to read this book first. Now on to book two!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Nan Rossiter and Harper Paperbacks for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Promises of the Heart is one of those novels that surprised me by how quickly it worked itself into my heart. I grew to love the characters and worried how life would go for them all.

Nine-year-old Harper’s mother died years ago. She’s never met her father and she’s had heart-breaking foster situations. Ben and Macey have just suffered another miscarriage. All they’ve wanted is a family to fill their big Victorian fixer-upper on Tybee Island. Is it possible that dream will ever come true? Reading Nan Rossiter’s story about people longing to be part of a family felt like being wrapped in a warm hug. The more time I spent with Macey, Ben and Harper the longer I wanted that hug to continue.

This is a story of keeping faith, putting oneself out there when it would be easier to shut the world out to lessen the chance for more emotional pain. I loved Promises of the Heart and recommend it to anyone who loves an emotional, heartwarming and uplifting story about family.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to review the Savannah Skies first book in this series, PROMISES OF THE HEART by Nan Rossiter.

This installment of the series is about married couple Macey and Ben Samuelson who were childhood sweethearts longing to start a family and fill their Dream Victorian Home in Tybee Island with the sounds of children’s voices. But over the past six years and five miscarriages later their hearts keep getting broken yet their hopes remain.

At a pet adoption event they meet a three legged Golden Retriever named Keeper that stole their heart. And as faith would have it, God works in mysterious ways. Their lives intersect and the Samuelsons’ end up opening their hearts and home to Harper, a 9 year old child who had been bounced from foster homes, and in need of a loving home and family.

Rossiter writes with heart that made me fall in love with the beauty of the South - Savannah and the beautiful Tybee Island. She certainly knew how to tug at my heart strings with amazing characters I fell in love with, beautiful pacing and an incredible story that kept me turning those pages. This was an amazing read I enjoyed.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I was immersed in very quickly, one that I had to page turn to the end, and then wanted more.
Loved this couple, they show the love they feel for each other in all their actions, and everyone would want a relationship like theirs.
The one heart desire for both of them is a child, and so far, it has been denied, but God works in mysterious ways, and we get to see how, and it will bring tears to your eyes!
What she wants is what she gets? Well, you need to read this one to see how a three-legged dog, a cat and a broken little girl fit into this picture, and add in a huge older home in need of repair.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher HarperCollins, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Ti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Short of It:

This story is full of heart. It’s a story about acceptance, new beginnings and continuing to have faith in what you cannot see.

The Rest of It:

Macey and Ben appear to have it all but the one thing they miss the most is a family to call their own. After several miscarriages, Macey is beginning to wonder if they will ever have a child of their own. Ben, although supportive, has his doubts too. Especially when Macey sets her sights on a three-legged dog at an adoption event, and then meets Harper, a little girl in foster care who is in need of a new home.

I’ve read everything Nan Rossiter has written and enjoyed all if it. She has a way of pulling you in with likable characters, beachy settings, her extreme love of animals and food and drink! Promises of the Heart is a little different in that it tackles a topic she hasn’t written about before, the foster care system, but she does so through a hopeful approach while bringing the topic into focus.

I enjoy books like this because it forces you to go a little outside of your comfort zone. There are so many children in foster care and many couples who are not able to have children of their own but deciding to foster is not an easy decision and Rossiter presents this doubt in an honest, realistic way.

If you are familiar with her other books, The Gin and Chowder Club or Nantucket, you will notice a difference in tone with Promises of the Heart but the things that remain are still solid and true; wholesome relationships, steadfast faith, and relatable characters.

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My eyes are leaking! This was such a sweet, feel good story. Rescue dogs and foster care are two of my biggest passions so I was ecstatic to find them combined in a book! This story is heartfelt and emotional. While it was totally predictable- sometimes you just want a comfort book, ya know? My thanks to the publisher for supplying me a free review copy in exchange for my honest review.

[♤ n a t a l i e ♤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. It was so heartwarming. ... you must read it

[Joi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. It tells the story of a young girl named Heather. She's a foster kid who can't seem to find a family that wants to keep her. She gets attached to her social worker and gets ingrained in her family, but the social worker makes it clear that she can't keep her. Another perspective is a married couple that is having trouble maintaining a viable pregnancy. They are dead set against adoption. Paths cross, lives change, etc.

[Kelly Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promises of the Heart is a feel good story about a childless couple and their journey to find their family through foster adoption after several miscarriages. Harper is a tough child with a sweet soul that needs to find the right family after losing hers. The story also includes heartwarming moments with an adorable dog, Keeper, that is looking for his forever family.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tale and read in just a few days. All of the characters seemed real. I became easily engrossed in them and anxiously anticipated seeing how the story would unfold.

As a foster adoptive parent of 6 children and a mom to therapy dog, the story spoke to me. I think the author did a great job of representing foster care and adoption. However, I wish more time would have been spent on the adjustment of Harper and the family dynamic and less on the backgrounds of the characters. All in all, it was a very good read and would make a great Hallmark movie! A special thank you to author for her realistic portrayal and promotion of foster adoption. I was grateful to receive the ARC in a giveaway. I look forward to reading the upcoming books in the series.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'But if you never take a chance', she added wearily,'how do you know?'"

Tybee Island Georgia is where the young couple Macey and Ben Samuelson live; She's a PA and he's a home restoration carpenter. The one thing they thought when they bought their big Victorian was that they'd be able to fill it with a big family. However, after her fifth miscarriage it was looking like that might never happen.

Harper Wheaten had been bounced around the foster system so much she's sure they'll never find another one for her. No one wants a 9 year old with health issues. Seems the most stable relationship she's found is her worker, Cora, and living with Cora's family is not an option.

And then their worlds converge and love gets another chance to heal...if they'll let it.

As a self-proclaimed "Cape Rat" I fell in love with Nan Rossiter years ago, and now I get to learn about a whole new world through southern eyes. This book had a slow start, but I was soon immersed in the lives of these people and their pets and cheered and cried and hoped with each one while Macey's late Grandy's lessons in serendipity unfold. Highly recommended 5/5

[I won this book via a Goodreads giveaway. I chose to read and review it]

[MaryKaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I just finished Promises of the Heart and absolutely loved it. Why: I have a golden lab and he acts just like Keeper in the story. My neighbors lab just had his leg amputated due to cancer. My daughters lab that just passed away, was named Tucker. What a coincidence. No wonder I liked this book. It is a heartfelt story of love in every aspect. I loved the humor between Cora and Harper and it made me smile. All around excellent book and also a GREAT beach read.

I received this book free from "Goodreads" for a honest opinion.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Macey and Ben Samuelson have a good life. There is only one thing missing: a baby. Macey, a nurse, has had several miscarriages, both upsetting and disappointing. Ben is very supportive of Macey, and it is obvious this pair deeply love each other. After her last miscarriage, Macey falls into a funk. While out with her sister, they come upon as animal shelter “fair” where dogs are on display, hoping someone will adopt them. Macey is taken in by a three-legged dog, Keeper, but hesitates to move into the adoption phase. A couple days later, she and Ben go the shelter, to adopt Keeper. Once a part of the family, Keeper becomes an endearing and integral part of the family. Macey’s spirits improve, but she still misses not having a baby. Macey is a nurse for a pediatric doctor and encounters young patients all the time. One such patient, Harper, a child without parents who is part of the foster care system, stands out. Before they know it, they have agreed to foster Harper, who has a heart condition that requires complete monitoring and, potentially, a heart transplant. Once again, Harper, like Keeper, fits right into the family and moves into a place right in the couple’s hearts, and is soon adopted by the couple. As time passes, Harper’s heart condition worsens, and the couple, along with Harper, her doctor and the social worker who placed Harper, have to make some serious choices about Harper’s heart.

This is a tear-jerker book, so, when you read it, be sure to have plenty of tissues available. The story is definitely an emotion filled, heartwarming, captivating one. The author does a fantastic job of bringing out the characters and all their traits as the story progresses. The importance of family, connections, love, and acceptance also come right out in the story. I loved the way the author was able to accomplish all this and still manage to keep me interested in what was going to happen in this family next. In addition to the story of the Samuelsons, the author has also included and developed a story about a dedicated and loving social worker, who, I hope will also figure in later books in the series. This is a great book for dog lovers, for Keeper truly is one special dog who can manage a myriad of wonderful things, just like Harper. It is also a good story about one young girl, Harper, who magically brings out the very best in everyone she meets and who manages to keep going despite all the bad things that happen to her. If I could give it more than five start, I would. I received this from Library Thing to read and review.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Perennial for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Macey and Ben Samuelson have been trying to have kids for years, but after her fifth miscarriage in six years, Macey is starting to lose faith in ever having children to fill the large Victorian house they've been remodeling to prepare for a large family. Her sister suggests adoption but Macey and Ben aren't interested in going down that path ... until Macey meets a three-legged Golden Retriever named Keeper at a local adoption event and feels an instant connection. Soon they also decide to open their home and hearts to Harper Wheaton, a 9 year old girl with a heart condition as well as a chip on her shoulder.

This book really tugged at my heart strings and I cried several times. It's a fantastic book about second chances, love and family. I was committed from the very beginning and couldn't put it down. I loved how it highlights case workers and foster families. I've always admired those who open up their homes to foster kids and pets. If you love Kristan Higgins and JoJo Moyes, I think you will love this one. I'm excited to read the next one in the series!

TW - miscarriage

[Bob Caruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Nan Rossiter. It was a bittersweet search for happiness for a young girl and the rocky path she traveled. I thought the characters were well explained and drew me into their lives. An admitted sucker for a happy ending, I felt satisfied with the story development. Our book club will discuss Promises to Keep with the author in February. Looking forward to that book and visiting with the author.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bittersweet story of being a foster child and on another plane pets also needing a home. Who will put their hand up? Plus a tricky situation with a heart. I enjoyed this via audiobook - really well narrated. Moving. Will certainly want to read the next one.

[Kathleen Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. It is such a heartwarming story about a husband and wife who want to have children and fill a huge home located on Tybee Island, Georgia. Unfortunately, Marci has several heartbreaking miscarriages. As the story progresses, we see Marci slowly come to terms with her losses and how she begins to build her life by helping others, particularly a little girl who is in desperate need of love. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely story which brought tears to my eyes at times and I highly recommend it to other readers!

[Marie Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous...I loved every minute of it! This was my third N.R. book & I’ll be getting more!

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through Goodreads as a giveaway winner!I loved this book so much! I have read many of this authors books, but this one is my absolute favorite!

The story was very real,emotional and filled with inspiration.
I loved how the author kept the story moving at a quick pace that I never wants the story to end!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about a little girl in need of a loving home and a grieving couple desperate for a child. This book covers serious issues such as child abuse, the failures of the foster care system, infertility, illness, and death, but it does so with a light touch. Those looking for a deep dive into these issues will find that Rossiter's exploration only skims the surface. The simple language, while lacking in sophistication, evokes heartfelt emotions as the story progresses and Harper finds the loving home she deserves. Some of the dialogue between the adults feels stilted and awkward at times, but the story shines most brightly in the scenes that involve Harper. Rossiter manages to create a realistic portrayal of a feisty 9-year-old who is taught from a young age that the world is a cruel place. While her experiences as an unwanted child in and out of foster homes have hardened her, she still manages to retain all the hope and innocence of a child who yearns for a permanent home and loving caretakers. Harper's connections with animals, particularly the three-legged golden retriever named Keeper, is sweet and enchanting. I loved the cover, which highlights the close bond between them.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily Chason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. The story is great and very touching.

[Diana Imparato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Harper Perennial in exchange for an honest review . Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read such an heartwarming story.

Macey and Ben seem like the perfect couple.Friends for a long time then married, after Ben finally finds the courage to propose. They have a big loving family and friends that loves them, a beautiful house and job they love. The only thing missing from their life is a child.

Harper is only nine years old but she has already had many obstacles in her path. Since her mother died she has been in and out of foster homes. Red hair and a strong personality are just the shell she wants you to see. In reality she is much more. Like a piece of chocolate: hard on the outside but sweet a gooey on the inside.

When we first meet Macey she has just had another miscarriage.
Harper has been kicked out from another foster home and she is going to stay with Cora and her family.Little did they know that something magical was about to happen.
When we read about them we know right away that their paths are going to cross at some point and that they might just be what each other's needs. The only problem is Macey doesn't want to adopt and Harper has trusts issues and thinks nobody is ever going to love her.
Macey's sister suggest adoption even though she knows her sister is not interested until she meets Keeper a beautiful golden retriever...and then something changes.

This book was beautifully written. For me it was a rollercoaster of emotions. I liked the way everything connected at the end, how the characters were linked to each other from the beginning and everything they did got them to were they were supposed to be. Love,hope and faith this is what this story is about. No matter how hard life can be there is always hope at the end of the day. The happy ending was kind of inevitable. From the beginning you kind of know where they are headed but you don't know how they are going to get there. And we know that the journey is as important as the destination. Every adventure they had gave us another piece of the puzzle that was going to be their family at the end. The fact that they were all big dog lovers was a big plus for me!!!
In my opinion the only thing missing was the story behind Ben's lucky 100 dollar in his wallet.Because there must be a story a story behind that and I really tought they were going to tell us at one point.

[BrittsBookClub · Rating 4 out of 5]

So if you know my Instagram account (@brittsbookclub), then you know I have a golden retriever that I love and he poses in all of my photos! So obviously, when I saw this book, I had to have it. I was lucky enough to receive a copy and couldn’t have been happier with the results. In the midst of all of the thrillers and intense books I read, this was the perfect feel-good book.

First and foremost, I loved the characters. They all had different trials happening in their lives, yet they were so strong and willing to fight to overcome them. I totally connected with each character, found them likeable, and enjoyed watching them develop throughout the story. Nan Rossiter does an incredible job of weaving together each of these unique characters’ lives to create an incredible story.

I also enjoyed the faith aspect of this novel. It wasn’t overwhelmingly in your face, just thrown into the novel here and there. I found the struggles of the characters, especially Macey and Cora, to be realistic. It showed that a person’s faith is never perfect. It was a piece of the novel that I don’t normally get to read about in other novels, so it was a bit refreshing to see that.

Overall, I loved the way this book made me feel good. It showed that while there are bad people in the world, there are also really good people, and maybe there is some hope for humanity! It was an easy read and I was able to read it in just a few days. I highly recommend this one if you’re ready for a break from all of the intense books out there right now!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewing for Booklist--more to come

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[wellreadtraveler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not crying your crying! If you’re like me you see a book with a child or animal on the cover and you automatically grab a box of tissue. Well I can tell you I shed a few tears, but the doggie and child on this cover were not harmed in the making of this story. I was really feeling the book blues lately, nothing really capturing my wandering mind, but boy did this one break my bored streak! The story flows so nicely, I loved the characters, and the best part is I expected a few things to have a predictable outcome and thankfully the author tricked me. When I finished the last page I immediately went to look for more of author Nan Rossiter’s books. I loved the flow of the story and even days later I’m still thinking about these characters. (and recommended it to my book club)
Macey wants so badly to have a baby, but after each loss she’s starting to think it won’t happen for her and her husband. Ben is very supportive and tries to be there for her, but he’s not sure how to fill the void she feels every month. They have a big beautiful Victorian home that they have remodeled, good jobs, close friends and a very happy marriage. The family has suggested they consider adoption and maybe it’s something they’ll think about in the future. When Macey goes to lunch with her sister she falls head over heels in love with a special golden retriever who is in need of a home. Keeper was dropped at the shelter when his owner passed away, and hasn’t been able to find his forever home because of his disability. Macey knows it will take a whole lot of begging and convincing to get Ben to consider adopting poor Keeper.
Harper is nine years old and can’t seem to stay long term at any of the homes Cora has placed her in. For someone so small she has a rather large attitude. She has spent her life in and out of foster care and all she wants is to be adopted by her case worker Cora. Cora seems to be the only one who gets her, and she loves spending time with Rudy who is her same age. Unfortunately Cora has too much on her plate already and can’t afford to give Harper the home she needs, and truly deserves. It’s hard enough to place a nine year old since most couples want a cute baby, but they really don’t want a nine year old with a heart condition. Harper doesn’t really know what’s wrong with her but the constant pain in her chest is hard to ignore at times. She had a family who loved her once and she would do anything to go back to them, to hear “I love you” and feel wanted and cared for, but that’s not an option anymore. Is a real family in the cards for Harper? Will she be able to convince Cora to adopt her, or is she destine to move from house to house until she turns 18 and can start life on her own terms?
An emotional story that will bring you to tears and put a smile on your face all at the same time.

[Jill (chill_jilland_read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I just begin by saying my heart burst into a million pieces??

This story is a heart-grabber from the start. Thank you Nan Rossiter, Harper Books, and Suzy Approved Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

(from the cover) Macey and Ben Samuelson have much to be thankful for: great friends, a beautiful-if high maintenance-Victorian house of idyllic Tybee Island, and a rock-solid marriage. The only thing missing is what they want the most. After her fifth miscarriage in six years, Macey worries that the family they’ve always dreamed of might be out of reach. Her sister suggests adoption, but Macey and Ben aren’t interested in pursuing that path...until a three-legged golden retriever named Keeper wags his way into their home and hearts. Harper Wheaton just got kicked out of another foster home and it won’t be the last if she keeps losing her temper. She’s not sure why she gets mad; maybe because no family seems to want a nine-year-old girl with a heart condition. She loves her caseworker, Cora, but knows that staying with her forever isn’t an option. Will she ever find a family to call her own? As a physician's assistant, Macey meets lots of kids. Harper Wheaton’s a tough one, but Macey knows the little girl has already struggled more than most. This gets Macey and Ben thinking about all the children who need homes. Then Harper goes missing, and one thing is suddenly crystal clear: life is complicated---but love doesn’t have to be.

Que the ugly cries. This story ripped my heart out and put it back together with a newfound perspective on love. Rossiter keeps a steady and accurate pulse on the tensions of life with ease and beauty. The story is sweet, wholesome, and relatable with just a pinch of drama to create a story of resilience, love, and faith. I enjoyed the faith-based undertones and how it is not always easy to gather yourself around the notion that everything will work out just fine. Of course, the addition of the dog, Keeper, highlighted the story for me. He was a sweet companion and symbol of how the furry friends we have are often our most endearing. Harper was such a well-developed character. It is not easy to bring to life a child's character, but she was a well-done part of the plot. Rossiter has a talent for created subtle moments and tensions, which made the story feel light with meaning. I am thankful I was able to read this story when I did.

Promises of the Heart earns a 4 out of 5 stars.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to beautiful Tybee Island, Georgia, where Macey and Ben Samuelson look to fulfill their dreams for the future. However, although they have found and are restoring a beautiful home where they hope to raise a family, attempts to have a baby have resulted in a number of miscarriages. Adoption has been suggested, but they are adamant about having children of their own.

Macey, a physician’s assistant, meets Harper Wheaton when she comes to the office with a heart condition. Harper has been in foster homes and once again needs to be placed. She loves her case worker and family but moving in with them is not an option. But who wants a child who always seems to be in trouble and has a serious health condition?

There are moments when you just have to smile…but sometimes those smiles come with tears. I love the description of Tybee Island – Nan Rossiter knows that you just cannot set a story there without mentioning the lighthouse. The central characters become close to your heart. Yes, there is even a three-legged dog with a back story that melts your heart.

The book is well-written, characters are brought to life, and it tells a story into which this reader was easily drawn. Promises of the Heart is listed as Book One of the Savannah Skies series, so I am hopeful that we will see Book Two soon.

My copy was received from HarperCollins Publishers via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. No promise of a positive review was requested or given. Any opinion expressed here is my own.