Positive Grace by Deb Haggerty

Deb’s Dozen: A long ago romance, two kids in love, faith comes between them.

Rarely do I review movies, but this film powerfully touched me. Promises to Keep is a story of unrequited love, two happy marriages, a new generation romance, and the dividing factor of faith.

Many years ago, Jonathan was in love with Evelyn, but Jon was a devout Catholic, and Evelyn had left the faith. Torn apart by that difference, they each went their separate ways. Both married, happily, and had a child. Now, many years later, their paths cross again.

Jon’s daughter and Evelyn’s son have fallen in love. However, Lisa is strong in her faith, and Aaron basically has none. When Lisa breaks up with him for that reason, Aaron confronts his mom about why they don’t go to church. Evelyn tells him he was baptized Catholic which sets him on a path of discovery of who and whose he is.

In the beginning scenes of the movie, Tom, Evelyn’s husband dies. She is totally distraught and angry when Jon comes on a condolences visit. Things progress from there, but faith is the “elephant in the room.” As the two of them realize they still love each other, faith brings conflict challenges, and angst. Confiding a long held from Jon secret, Evelyn is astonished when Jon says, “There is nothing you could ever do that I would not forgive you for.”

You will want to view this movie. I guarantee you will be touched and encouraged no matter your faith. I give this movie five stars!

Adams PR Group sent me a screener of Promises to Keep, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.

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Deb’s Dozen: HOPE’s not a typical small town–dangerous secrets, fire, and murder transpire.

Jim Baton creates interesting characters, a fascinating environment, and lots of suspense in the first book, HOPE is a Dangerous Place, of his new trilogy, HOPE. So much interest and suspense I read the book in one sitting–could not put it down. Although categorized as an adult novel, the characters most in on the action are three teens along with their journalism teacher, so the book should interest young adults as well.

Close friends Kelsey and Harmonie along with a reluctant Miguel receive the assignment of researching the origin of the town’s name, HOPE, from their journalism teacher, Ms. Montez. Challenging them to go deep, she suggests they interview the oldest people in town whose memories may include the time the name was changed from Purgatory. They discover that seventy-five years ago, fifteen-year-old Hope McCormick disappeared, and to remember her, the town fathers named the newly incorporated town HOPE.

However, as they conduct their research, someone(s) determine to stop them. The secrets behind Hope lie deep. The adventures of the kids on this assignment make for interesting reading, thrilling reading. I loved Kelsey, the daughter of one of the town’s preachers, who suffers enough angst himself for another whole book, and her best friend, Harmonie, whose grandmother’s journals lead them to significant discoveries. Add in the somewhat abrasive Ms. Montez, the drunken newspaper editor, and some of the town’s founding, but also nastiest, citizens, and the potpourri of events comes to the boiling–and exploding–point. Along the way, the girls’ faith sustains them as they face adversity at every turn. Five stars. I am anxious to read the next two installments of the HOPE Trilogy.

Jim Baton works with both Christians and Muslims in Indonesia and the US to transform their communities. Investing more than twenty-five years in those endeavors, he awaits a visa to return to Indonesia to continue his work there. Check JimBaton.com for more information.

The author supplied a copy of his book to me, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.