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Title: A Promise of Home
Subtitle: A Lake Howling Novel, Book 1
Author: Wendy Vella
Narrator: Heather Prince
Format: Unabridged
Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
Language: English
Release date: 01-10-18
Publisher: Vella Ink
Genres: Romance, Suspense
Publisher's Summary:
When Branna O'Donnell heads back to Lake Howling, Oregon, she's not sure what to expect. It's a place that holds plenty of memories, both good and bad, but Branna is determined to find some peace there from the demons of her past. However, she soon realizes that living in a small town again comes with complications, and one of them is named Jake McBride.
Once the town golden boy, Dr. McBride has returned from Iraq angry and, like her, shouldering a few emotional scars. They strike sparks off each other from the outset, and Branna knows that if she gives in to the attraction between them, it's going to result in a world of pain. The problem is she's not sure how to walk away.
Members Reviews:
A Combination of Suspense, Family Drama and Romance
A Promise of Home by Wendy Vella is a 2015 publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A combination of suspense, family drama, and romance.
After inheriting a home and a car from a very special friend, Branna returns to Howling, Oregon, the town where she graduated from high school.
Branna, a teacher and successful novelist, never was close to many people in town before, but after a nasty spill that leaves her with a concussion, she finds herself reacquainted with Jake McBride, a man who is obviously struggling with some heavy issues in his life.
Jake bulldozes his way into Branna's carefully constructed and sterile world, leaving her feeling disoriented. Branna and Jake are alike in some ways, both carrying around a lot of baggage, both trying to be in control, and both finding peace and comfort with each other.. Most of the time.
There was a lot going on in this story with all the small town characters. Jake is dealing with a form of PTSD, puzzling everyone by walking away from his promising career as a doctor, Branna has isolated herself from the world after her mother's death left her riddled with guilt, and caused a huge rift to form between her and her father.
There are several side stories, such as Branna befriending a young boy who happens to also have a high IQ like Branna, plus a mystery concerning the woman in town who was once the most popular girl in school, who appears to have it all, but is obviously very unhappy.
Not only that, Branna apparently has an enemy and becomes a victim to severe vandalism, adding a level of suspense to the story.
Having so many threads open like this caused some areas of the book to remain undeveloped, and the story was not as cohesive as a result. Deep down, Jake was a good guy, and I liked him for the most part, except that he was always picking Branna up and throwing her over his shoulder, which might have been okay in the beginning when Branna was refusing to seek medical attention and someone needed to step up and get her a doctor. But, after that, not so much. He also came on too strong, and Branna was always giving in and doing things Jake's way, making him a little too caveman for my taste.
The suspense element was sadly predictable and as the story progressed it became even more obvious what was going on.
The most compelling part of the story was Branna's relationship issues with her father. This storyline was very intense from an emotional standpoint.
