The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer

My Thoughts:

The Promise Box is the second book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series by Tricia Goyer.  I was truly excited to review this book as I absolutely loved the first book in the series, The Memory Jar!  The main characters, Lydia and Gideon, live in different worlds and yet they come from the same place.  You see, Lydia was raised Amish but because of a tragic secret from her past she felt compelled to leave her home, as well as her upbringing.  Returning home after her mother's death she meets Gideon, who is also struggling with a tragic secret.  Their attraction is quite evident but the future is unsure due to their differences.  

The Promise Box is a keepsake filled with letters and prayers from Lydia's mother.  It's all that Lydia has left of her and the letters are a treasure indeed. Ada Mae wanted nothing more than for her daughter to return to the Lord and the Amish way of living.  Her words are an example of faith and patience and I loved reading them.  I really wanted to care for Lydia and Gideon, but they fell a bit short for me.  I found Lydia to be wishy washy on many occasions.  For example, she wants to be Amish and then she doesn't, she wanted to be a writer and then she wanted to be a teacher, she wants to focus on the Lord and then she wants to fall in love.  Hmmm....  Gideon has good intentions, but I didn't care for the way that he spent time with Eve (and he knew she cared for him) and then dropped her like a rock when he saw that Lydia cared for him.  Not nice, Gideon.  

The Promise Box is an intriguing peek into the life of the Amish.  It's filled with love, life choices and not allowing your past to control your future.  It was refreshing how the characters turned to the Lord when they were troubled.  I just wish it also contained the depth and beauty of The Memory Jar- one of my favorite books.  

About The Promise Box: With her heart - and her loyalty - on the line, can she let true love in her life? Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai, Montana to give comfort to her father after her mother's death. She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother's most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational 'tell-all' book about the Amish. Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride.  Will the pain of her childhood-and her potential betrayal of her community-keep her from committing her whole heart? Purchase your copy: http://ow.ly/l6QH1 Meet Tricia:  Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of one, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com,TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites. In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired.  Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com. Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party! One "promising" winner will receive: Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...) Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!




*I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse Publications in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*