A Brother's Promise was a read that my soul didn't know it needed to hear! So incredibly heartwarming and perfection in every sense of the word!

The story begins in a place of desperation as Mick Ashford, a rancher that is also known to be a loner, is not only dealing with the death of his only sister and brother-in-law in a tragic accident, but he is now the primary caregiver of his precocious five year old niece, Sadie.

Christa Slocum is Mick's neighbor in small town Bliss, Texas and is the owner of the local hardware store that Mick frequents. Their general friendship quickly becomes a great asset to both Mick and Sadie as they struggle to find a new normal.

The chemistry between the trio is instant and adorable, the reader getting the sense that they've somehow always been family, and I love that sweet little Sadie isn't treated with kid gloves, but an age-appropriate maturity that seems to mirror her personality. I cannot even begin to imagine the matureness that would happy for anyone that has lost a parent, let alone two, despite their age, and this is written into Sadie's story remarkably.

I would be crazy not to mention the eerie foreshadowing that occurs at the beginning of the novel, telling of a freak ice storm that hits Texas and wreaks havoc on the small town, the similarities almost identical to what us Texans experienced a few weeks ago. Craziness!!

I was absolutely smitten with A Brother's Promise. It is the perfect balance of hard work, faith, friendship, and family all nestled in a small Texas town (one of my favorite settings), and I found myself voraciously soaking up every word. There was tension and drama which was much needed, giving the overall story balance, and though the ending was predictable, it was also faultless, and exactly where these characters needed to end.

I am looking forward to more stories coming from the sweet small town, and if you're in the mood for a tale that will steal your heart, you've come to the right place.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own. ( )