A New Promise

Julie Eller
Tate Publishing & Enterprises (2007)
ISBN 9781602474826
Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (10/07)


Promises, promises. Everybody knows what a promise is and has probably made hundreds of them throughout their lifetime. When you get married, in a Christian ceremony, you are promising your spouse a lifetime commitment. The notorious words "till death do us part" are a part of this oath taken at the wedding. Scott Parnell has made his wife, Rachel, a lifelong commitment. They had fallen in love when in high school. They have been blessed with 2 children, teenage Tyler and 12 year old daughter Tawnya. How were they to know that Rachel would be stricken with Huntington's disease? Would Scott be able to remember his promise of "no tubes or wires to sustain life" they had talked about years ago? Would he be able to let go when the time came?

Letting go is never easy. It’s not an easy thing for Rachel's mother to let go of her daughter. She is a well meaning grandmother who tries to help Scott with the kids but is out of touch in raising children in these troubled times in the 21st century. Tyler is in a rebellious state. He doesn't want to lose his mother but doesn't want to show that her health condition bothers him. His best friend, Dwight, is dealing with some family problems of his own.  But, will Tyler go as far as Dwight’s actions to escape from reality? Tawnya is at a difficult time in her life. She is dealing with her adolescent problems and a grandmother who insists that she is too fat. She turns to a destructive lifestyle. Celeste is Rachel's younger sister who always wanted to trail along with Rachel and Scott during their courtship. Celeste has a successful career in Seattle and agrees to give Tawnya a female role model, yet, she has never been a parent much less in a serious relationship. As Tawnya and Celeste become closer, will Scott be able to keep from growing closer to Celeste too? They have both made promises to Rachel, but will those promises be broken even as Rachel's life is deteriorating? Just how far will these promises keep the Parnell family from telling all the issues of their life?

"A New Promise" is an excellent book by a very talented new author, Julie Eller. "A New Promise" encompasses many issues of the 21st century.  The book is a must read for anyone who enjoys a great storyline and seeing how God works in people's lives for His purpose. Sometimes when faced with adversity, it’s easiest to blame God rather than see His blessings throughout your trials.  Julie Eller has certainly used her God-given talents in order to show Christ's providence. I hope she writes more books in the near future. Pick up "A New Promise" soon, you certainly will enjoy it.

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