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Title:
Promise Me -
Going to the
Chapel Anthology

Author:
Yvonne Jocks

Published By:
Zebra Books

ISBN:
0-8217-7760-2

Release Date:
June 2004

Format:
Print

Yvonne Jocks, reprises many beloved characters in Promise Me. In this forth part to the 'Three Graces' series, little Gio/Joe is all grown up, and he's in love. Of course it can't be as simple as that. Joe has fallen in love with a woman that is already married, although her husband deserted her from the start; and she runs 'Promise House for Reformed Women'.

Alice had at one point in her life been a part of the high side of society. When her family ran into financial troubles, her fiancé deserted her. She then made the mistake of eloping with a man that seduced her when she was most vulnerable, and now she is on the low side of society running a home for reformed women. The highlight of her week is when Dr. Joe comes to visit. It's wrong of her to feel for him what she does; on one hand because she is a married woman, but also her snotty upbringing reminds her that he's just a common immigrant. Alice wasn't a very nice person before she'd fallen on hard times. She'd like to think she's changed over the years with what life has taught her. When Joe confesses not only to loving her, but that his family is beyond high society rich, Alice panics. Joe asks Alice for a chance to prove how wonderful a life together would be for them; he asks for her trust because Joe doesn't believe that Alice will revert to the person she thinks she was. Alice never again wants to be that snobby, rude person she was in her youth. Although she loves Joe with all her heart, Alice just doesn't know if she can take the risk that being with Joe would entail, besides there is still the fact that she is already married to contend with.

Promise Me is a light-hearted, uplifting story. As stated previously, Yvonne Jocks brings back many of the characters from the pervious books. It is a wonderful surprise to see how all the families have grown since we last saw them. Even more wonderful is that Birdey Sullivan is still as loud and over-the-top as she was in all the previous stories, yet to see her in a loving grandmotherly capacity was great! I love the fact that Yvonne has written this story in a way that it feels like catching up with old friends. For Joe and Alice, compromise is the key. Alice is a strong heroine; she knows what she was and what she doesn't want to be again. Joe is an equally strong hero. Being adopted by a loving family gave him chances he'd never of had otherwise. Yvonne's words bring these two potent characters together which makes for a spelling-binding short story. 5 Angels!

Reviewed by: Jaymi