December Book of the Month - Promise Me This

[Beth]

Our "regular" read for December will be Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke.

Goodreads Summary:
Michael Dunnagan was never supposed to sail on the "Titanic," nor would he have survived if not for the courage of Owen Allen. Determined to carry out his promise to care for Owen's relatives in America and his younger sister, Annie, in England, Michael works hard to strengthen the family's New Jersey garden and landscaping business.Annie Allen doesn't care what Michael promised Owen. She only knows that her brother is gone--like their mother and father--and the grief is enough to swallow her whole. As Annie struggles to navigate life without Owen, Michael reaches out to her through letters. In time, as Annie begins to lay aside her anger that Michael lived when Owen did not, a tentative friendship takes root and blossoms into something neither expected. Just as Michael saves enough money to bring Annie to America, WWI erupts in Europe. When Annie's letters mysteriously stop, Michael risks everything to fulfill his promise--and find the woman he's grown to love--before she's lost forever.

[Beth]

Has anyone read this one or anything by Cathy Gohlke? She seems like one of those authors that doesn't get talked about much, but whose books sound so good! Does anyone recommend? :)

I have this one on Kindle but haven't gotten to it yet!

[Amanda]

I've never read anything by her before, but love what I've read of this one so far!

[Sara]

I have read four books by this author: Saving Amelie, William Henry is a Fine Name and the other in a Civil War series, and Promise Me This. I liked all of them and found them unusual - that is different from what I usually read.

[Beth]

Amanda, that's great! I hope to start it soon.

Sara, I'm always looking for different, glad to hear that.

[Tanx]

Just started Promise Me This today, liking it so far but knowing Owen is going to die is making me dreading it a little!

[Tanx]

Just completed.

My thoughts: this is my first book by Cathy Gohlke and I like her style of writing. I didn't however enjoyed the story as much as I expected to. Some parts can be depressing and would leave you emotionally spent if you get sucked in (which I avoided by skimming over some parts, I guess I'm in Christmas mood right now, preferring uplifting stories at this time of the year)

(view spoiler)[
Aunt Eleanor's twisted mind is not one I understand, and I find the blackmail part unrealistic, but I do like the message Annie learned at the end that we can't be everyone's saviour, salvation is of Christ.

One last thing, the brief perspectives of some of the (very) minor characters.... Anyone thought it weird and out of place? they seem totally unnecessary imo (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

I really enjoyed this and it kept my interest the whole time. I liked how it spanned between the Titanic and WWI, not just a small time in history.

[Sarita]

Just finished the book. The story was interesting to get into and I enjoyed the book, except for the last 10% which I scanned through to get to the ending.

I loved Owen, was really sad that he died and loved the man Michael became, also at the end where he learned to trust God. Also liked Annie very much.

I didn't like Eleanor at all. Don't know how people can be so mean and deceiving and how other people can join them.

[Tawallah]

I finished this book over the weekend. I have never heard of this author before but got it when it was free kindle download.

Her writing style is engaging, loved the research she did for this book. I read this blind so I had no idea what was going to happen. Good thing about buying books and putting them down.

The characters were well-written. You are drawn to Owen, he is kind, rebukes where necessary and lives up to the Christian mandate. That he dies and how is not as surprising but I was like Michael and Annie, hoping for the best. To me he sets the example, just like Christian does in the Pilgrim's Progress. I think Cathy took quite a bit of influence from this book and I enjoyed it. I actually read it this year and enjoyed it.

(view spoiler)[Anne and Michael grew throughout the novel and that was wonderful. None of them were perfect and it was easy to relate to these two moreso than Owen. Owen would be a hard model to follow. But his witness is what kept these two on track.

The side stories with Aunt Maggie, Daniel, the Spragues were the family Anne and Michael never had. I am still curious as to what Mr. Sprague did during the war.

The sad person in this story was Aunt Eleanor- even though I knew her background,this doesn't condone her in any way she chose to remain chained to it. (hide spoiler)].

Overall not a bad read and i would read from another book from this author. I enjoyed the HF part, even though I felt it could have been better incorporated into the story.

[Carole]

Beth wrote: "Has anyone read this one or anything by Cathy Gohlke?"

I have not read this book yet, but Cathy Gohlke is one of my very favorite writers. Sara mentioned "William Henry Is a Fine Name" - I read this one years ago when I saw it listed on CBD's New & Recommended page and it was wonderful! Cathy's latest one, Saving Amelie, is just outstanding, one of my favorite reads in 2014 and for all time. She writes the style of literary fiction that I love, and I hope to read Promise Me This soon.

[Beth]

Sigh...I really wanted to get to this one but couldn't make it happen - maybe in the new year!

[Carole]

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Saving Amelie when you do read it, Beth.