This is a beautifully written, emotional novel about love and acceptance...love within a marriage, within a family, love shared with a foster child. The characters were well written and felt like people that I know in real life. The story will touch your heart and stay in your thoughts long after the last page.

Macey and Ben live in a restored Victorian house on Tybee Island. They are deeply in love but after six years of marriage and five miscarriages, they are beginning to doubt that they'll ever have the family that they've dreamed of. They don't want to adopt but begin to change their minds when they decide to foster Harper, a nine year old girl with a heart condition and an attitude that has gotten her kicked out of numerous foster homes. Can they change their hopes of having a baby and learn to accept Harper and make her part of their family?

My favorite character was Harper -- she was a feisty young girl who knew how to stand up for herself. She wants to be part of a family but isn't able to control her temper and keeps getting sent back. It was fantastic to see her blossom once she became part of a family.

I'm thrilled to know that there is a book two in this series so we can learn more about these wonderful characters and hopefully see more of Harper as she finally has the life that she's always dreamed of.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Macy and Ben are childhood sweethearts and long for a child. After their hearts are broken multiple times, they cross paths with a young girl who needs them. This is a story requiring a Kleenex box at the ready. I was NOT prepared. I shy away from sad books for the most part but this one was worth it. Thank you to Harper Collins and Library Thing Early Reviewers for the chance to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it. ( )

Macey and Ben Samuelson have a good life. There is only one thing missing: a baby. Macey, a nurse, has had several miscarriages, both upsetting and disappointing. Ben is very supportive of Macey, and it is obvious this pair deeply love each other. After her last miscarriage, Macey falls into a funk. While out with her sister, they come upon as animal shelter “fair” where dogs are on display, hoping someone will adopt them. Macey is taken in by a three-legged dog, Keeper, but hesitates to move into the adoption phase. A couple days later, she and Ben go the shelter, to adopt Keeper. Once a part of the family, Keeper becomes an endearing and integral part of the family. Macey’s spirits improve, but she still misses not having a baby. Macey is a nurse for a pediatric doctor and encounters young patients all the time. One such patient, Harper, a child without parents who is part of the foster care system, stands out. Before they know it, they have agreed to foster Harper, who has a heart condition that requires complete monitoring and, potentially, a heart transplant. Once again, Harper, like Keeper, fits right into the family and moves into a place right in the couple’s hearts, and is soon adopted by the couple. As time passes, Harper’s heart condition worsens, and the couple, along with Harper, her doctor and the social worker who placed Harper, have to make some serious choices about Harper’s heart.

This is a tear-jerker book, so, when you read it, be sure to have plenty of tissues available. The story is definitely an emotion filled, heartwarming, captivating one. The author does a fantastic job of bringing out the characters and all their traits as the story progresses. The importance of family, connections, love, and acceptance also come right out in the story. I loved the way the author was able to accomplish all this and still manage to keep me interested in what was going to happen in this family next. In addition to the story of the Samuelsons, the author has also included and developed a story about a dedicated and loving social worker, who, I hope will also figure in later books in the series. This is a great book for dog lovers, for Keeper truly is one special dog who can manage a myriad of wonderful things, just like Harper. It is also a good story about one young girl, Harper, who magically brings out the very best in everyone she meets and who manages to keep going despite all the bad things that happen to her. If I could give it more than five start, I would. I received this from Library Thing to read and review. ( )

Welcome to beautiful Tybee Island, Georgia, where Macey and Ben Samuelson look to fulfill their dreams for the future. However, although they have found and are restoring a beautiful home where they hope to raise a family, attempts to have a baby have resulted in a number of miscarriages. Adoption has been suggested, but they are adamant about having children of their own.

Macey, a physician’s assistant, meets Harper Wheaton when she comes to the office with a heart condition. Harper has been in foster homes and once again needs to be placed. She loves her case
worker and family but moving in with them is not an option. But who wants a child who always seems to be in trouble and has a serious health condition?

There are moments when you just have to smile…but sometimes those smiles come with tears. I love the description of Tybee Island – Nan Rossiter knows that you just cannot set a story there without mentioning the lighthouse. The central characters become close to your heart. Yes, there is even a three-legged dog with a back story that melts your heart.

The book is well-written, characters are brought to life, and it tells a story into which this reader was
easily drawn. Promises of the Heart is listed as Book One of the Savannah Skies series, so I am hopeful that we will see Book Two soon.

My copy was received from HarperCollins Publishers via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. No promise of a positive review was requested or given. Any opinion expressed here is my own. ( )

The story of a loving youn couple longing for a child merges with the heat-rending story of nine year old Harper Wheaton, who has lived in multiple foster homes, bouncing around, perhaps because of her anger issues. Another strike against her is her very weak heart, likely due to undiagnosed rheumatic fever in her younger years.
Macey Samuelson and her husband Ben have dealt with the incomparable sadness of multiple miscarriages but are not at all interested in adoption.
Harper's only positive relationship is with her caseworker Cora Grant. Harper wishes Cora would allow her to live with her and her three children. In fact Cora's daughter Rudy is Harper's best friend. But Cora knows that is not the best solution for Harper.
Macey's sister Maeve has an annoying habit of suggesting adoption as a solution to Macey and Ben's unfulfilled longing for a child. Macey is clearly NOT interested, but when she and Maeve see a pet adoption fair set up where they are shopping together, Macey is captivated by a sweet older Golden Retriever with only three legs. Maybe adding the dog, Keeper, to their family will reintroduce joy into their home.
Nan Rossiter has definitely woven a perspective of faith and dependence on God into this novel. Macey's faith is inspired by her long departed grandmother's life of service in her community. Cora is a woman of prayer and shares her faith naturally in conversation with her children and Harper too. She has plenty of suggestions for God but knows one must wait on God's timing. She is quick to point out to Harper that her sassiness and angry responses are not helping her make friends, much less make her life go more smoothly.
But when Harper decides everyone's life will be better if she strikes out on her own, not only Cora but the whole community bands together to find the little girl. ( )