In 1969, recently discharged veteran Winston Ellis Cooper III landed on Nantucket with only a duffel bag and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. He found a sparsely furnished beach cottage, about as far from Vietnam as he could get. But even here, Cooper couldn’t withdraw from the world entirely—especially once his eyes met Sally’s in the flickering lights of a summer dance. The effects of that fiery affair can still be felt decades later. As the story unfolds, there are new lessons for all to learn about life’s triumphs and heartaches, and about loving enough to let go.
PROMISES OF THE HEART
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 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. It 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.
“A multileveled, beautifully written story that will glow in readers’ hearts long after the last page is turned.”
—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
Reading Group Guide
MAEVE AND GAGE HAVE BOTH KEPT long-held secrets about events that have shaped their lives, and even though they happened long ago, Maeve feels their unwillingness to be forthcoming with each other has put a wall between them. Why does she feel this way?
GAGE STOICALLY INTERNALIZE HIS heartaches. How does this affect his outlook on life and his ability to move forward?
MASON SEEMS UNWILLING TO commit to a promise his mom wants him to keep. Why is this? When did you figure out what the promise is?
MAEVE HAS A WONDERFULLY UPBEAT personality that all the old folks at Willow Pond seem to love. How do they respond to her? Who is your favorite character there and why?
HOW DOES THE DEATH OF THE FOX foreshadow the future?
GAGE IS VERY ANGRY WHEN HE learns about Mason. Is his reaction justified or over the top?
GAGE AND MASON BOTH DEAL WITH the pending loss of a parent. How do their responses differ?
WHEN MASON LOSES HIS MOM, HIS grief is overwhelming. When Gage loses his dad, he feels numb and empty. Why do you think this is? How do they each come to terms with their loss and move on? In what way(s) does Mason honor his mom?
MAEVE IS CRUSHED WHEN GAGE breaks off their relationship. She prays for guidance. How does she receive it? Have you ever received God’s guidance through a friend or mentor?
GAGE FINISHES HIS PENCIL DRAWING of his grandfather (Dutch) and enters it in a contest. How does this symbolize his willingness to take a chance as well as the resiliency of human nature? How does the resulting opportunity show that life often comes full circle?
WHEN GAGE AND MAEVE HEAD home after the funeral, they stop in amazement and wonder to watch the cows standing solemnly under the ancient oak tree. Do you think the animals understand what has happened?
THROUGHOUT THE BOOK, MANY promises are made and kept. What are some of them?
Praise for Nan Rossiter
“Sinking into a Nan Rossiter book is like coming home.”
—Robyn Carr, New York Times bestselling author, on Promises of the Heart
“A gripping story of three sisters, of love lost and found, and a family’s journey from grief to triumph. A sure winner.”
—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on More than You Know
“Eloquent and surprising. . . . I love this story of faith, love, and the lasting bonds of family.”
—Ann Leary on The Gin & Chowder Club
“A multileveled, beautifully written story that will glow in readers’ hearts long after the last page is turned.”
—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author, on Promises of the Heart
“Full of family, friends, and faith, Rossiter’s novel depicts a couple and a community who may sometimes struggle but ultimately find the positives in life. Readers who enjoy Lisa Wingate and Melody Carlson will enjoy the depiction of a southern beach hamlet where love and family thrive.”
—Booklist on Promises of the Heart
“With a winning cast of characters and compelling plot, Nan Rossiter’s Promises of the Heart is a story that will warm your heart, lift your spirits, and renew your faith in humanity and the hope of happy endings.”
—Marie Bostwick, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“Another trademark Nan Rossiter story, crafted with the tools that sustain us: heart, hope, and family! A touching novel that explores
