The Promise Girls

The Promise Girls is the newest book by Marie Bostwick. The story begins in 1996 with Minerva Promise and her three girls on a national news talk show promoting her book. Joanie, Meg, and Avery were told the tour would only last three weeks but now it stretching out into months. Joanie knows she has to do something to stop it and take back their lives. But Joanie did not calculate how upset her mother would be with her and the repercussions. Twenty years later, the three girls are grown up and living in Seattle, Washington. None of the girls are living the careers their mother had planned for them. Meg has not been happy lately, and one day she receives out some very upsetting information. On the way to pick up her daughter, Trina, she receives a call from Minerva. Meg gets very upset and ends up running her car into a cement wall. Meg wakes up six days later without a memory of her family. The doctor believes her memory will return in time. In the meantime, medical bills have mounted up, and they need to find a way to pay them. Joanie decides she will agree to Hal Seeger's request to make a documentary of their lives in exchange for the money the family needs for Meg's medical expenses. All of them are reluctant to open up in front of the camera, but Hal is determined. Each sister discovers something about themselves and, ultimately, Minerva reveals the biggest secret of them all. While Meg's accident was unfortunate, it just may be the best thing that has happened to the family. Join The Promise Girls on their journey of self-discovery.

The Promise Girls is well-written and easy to read. I liked the characters. I found them all likeable and relatable. I love the setting of Seattle, Washington. How can you not love a city that has ferry boats? I was entertained by Asher's occupation as a tiny home builder. It is turning into such a big movement in our country, and I have not seen it included in a novel previously. I give The Promise Girls 4 out of 5 stars. The secrets that are revealed at the end of the book are not revelations. I believe most readers will figure out Joanie and Minerva's confidences long before they are disclosed. It was interesting to read about each woman's journey. I really like Joanie's occupation as a creator of costumes for reenactors. I imagined Ichabod Crane (of the show Sleepy Hollow) would appreciate her services (his last seamstress was murdered). While I enjoyed The Promise Girls, I did not feel it is not up to the standard of Marie Bostwick's Cobbled Court Quilt series which I really loved (such wonderful, endearing characters). The Promise Girls, though, is a pleasurable story and a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.