About the Book
An unfinished story, souls shaped by war, and a legacy that binds them all.
Hugh and Madelyn Lenning have been married just two days when Hugh is drafted into World War II. While her husband fights overseas, Madelyn dares to pursue her long-buried dream of attending art school and creating something meaningful with her life.
But when Hugh returns home, the war has followed him. Haunted by invisible scars and a bloodstained journal he refuses to open, he struggles to keep the past at bay. As Madelyn tries to understand the man her husband has become, the future they once imagined begins to slip through her fingers.
Decades later, a beloved children’s story finds its way into the hands of a woman consumed by grief, regret, and years of careful self-protection. Drawn by its quiet power, she begins to question the life she’s spent years hiding from—and the promise she failed to keep.
As past and present begin to intertwine, they must decide whether some stories are meant to stay hidden or be carried forward with courage.
My Thoughts
This Promise Remains is Darcy Schock's debut novel but is written with the touch of a well-experienced writer.
Darcy's story is built around events that happened during WWII and the impact they made on several people during that time period -- and even moreso for decades following the war. She seamlessly moves back and forth through those years as she tells of hurt, trauma, disillusionment, and misunderstandings but also of hope, faith, light, growth, and restoration. The skill she uses in telling their stories draws you into the characters' lives, not simply as an outside observer but to the point of finding yourself sharing their feelings as well. The problems are raw, tough, not easily dealt with, and the solutions echo real life rather than made-up fairy-tale endings.
I highly recommend This Promise Remains to anyone looking for a well-written inspirational story sure to warm your heart.
About the Author
Darcy Schock writes heartfelt fiction shaped by faith, grace, and the honest complexities of life. A small-town girl at heart, she loves coffee, the smell of new books, and quiet moments where stories take root. She lives with her husband and daughters in rural Illinois, nestled among the trees.
