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The Promise of Home: A Mill River Novel Kindle Edition
These days, Mill River, Vermont, is a hive of activity. Karen Cooper bids farewell to her husband, Nick, as he leaves for Saudi Arabia to work as a contractor. But when he goes missing, Karen turns to beloved nonagenarian Father O’Brien for counsel. Kyle Hansen and Claudia Simon blissfully prepare for their wedding—until a new acquaintance threatens their romance. Emily DiSanti, haunted by a tragedy that tore her world apart a decade ago, is renovating the old McAllister mansion, eager to restore its former beauty and to find peace in the intense workload. All these lives—and the lives of others in this small town—move forward, bump up against one another, and intertwine. And when a cache of letters is discovered, a powerful and unexpected secret comes to light—one rooted deeply in the childhood of the longtime priest who has touched the lives of everyone in Mill River.
Praise for The Promise of Home
“Chan has once again told a mesmerizing tale about how difficult yet beautiful navigating the river of life can be. This author is, quite simply, an amazing storyteller.”—Fredericksburg Free Lance–Star
“Difficult to put down . . . [a] celebration of the healing power of community.”—Booklist
“Who better to satisfy [summer] reader cravings than Darcie Chan. . . . Read on—and keep turning those pages [until you] find yourself looking forward to Darcie Chan’s next novel. Whew.”—Hudson Valley News
“This serene backdrop is the perfect juxtaposition to the internal turmoil of Karen Cooper. Together the townsfolk make a well-rounded novel full of desperation, hope and redemption. This is a beautiful addition to the Mill River series, yet also reads well as a stand-alone novel.”—RT Book Reviews
“[A] layered and heartwarming novel that intertwines a number of engaging contemporary storylines and intersperses them with . . . fascinating insights and historical details along the way. A light-handed affirmation of the power of love, faith, and community.”—Kirkus Reviews
Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBallantine Books
- Publication dateAugust 4, 2015
- File size1.7 MB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“[Darcie] Chan has once again told a mesmerizing tale about how difficult yet beautiful navigating the river of life can be. This author is, quite simply, an amazing storyteller.”—Fredericksburg Free Lance–Star
“Difficult to put down . . . [a] celebration of the healing power of community.”—Booklist
“Who better to satisfy [summer] reader cravings than Darcie Chan. . . . Read on—and keep turning those pages [until you] find yourself looking forward to Darcie Chan’s next novel. Whew.”—Hudson Valley News
“This serene backdrop is the perfect juxtaposition to the internal turmoil of Karen Cooper. Together the townsfolk make a well-rounded novel full of desperation, hope and redemption. This is a beautiful addition to the Mill River series, yet also reads well as a stand-alone novel.”—RT Book Reviews
“[A] layered and heartwarming novel that intertwines a number of engaging contemporary storylines and intersperses them with . . . fascinating insights and historical details along the way. A light-handed affirmation of the power of love, faith, and community.”—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Darcie Chan’s The Mill River Redemption
“An enchanting storyteller, Chan is one of those rare authors who makes you feel more fully alive.”—Elizabeth Letts, author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion
“An engrossing page-turner [with] sympathetic and relatable characters.”—Library Journal
Praise for The Mill River Recluse
“A heartwarming story.”—Examiner.com
“Chan’s sweet novel displays her talent. . . . A comforting book about the random acts of kindness that hold communities together.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A real page-turner.”—IndieReader
“Chan does an amazing job with pacing while maintaining continuity and weaving universal themes such as friendship, love, new beginnings and overcoming adversities into small town life.”—RT Book Reviews
“This debut novel is a genre-breaking thriller with romantic overtones that should appeal to both men and women.”—Huntington News
“Chan’s compassionate novel . . . blends elements of mystery, suspense and romance . . . [and] culminates in a beautifully rendered denouement that rekindles hope for a troubled world.”—Shelf Awareness
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
**(Saturday afternoon)**
On a bright Saturday in October, Claudia Simon looked eagerly out the open window of a pickup truck. Kyle Hansen, her fiancé, was driving, and his daughter, Rowen, was in the back seat. They were headed up the long, curved driveway to the McAllister mansion, the huge home plated in white marble that overlooked the town of Mill River, Vermont. The trees alongside the driveway were in peak autumn color, and the leaves that floated down as they passed carpeted the pavement in a brilliant mosaic of red, orange, and gold.
“It’s so beautiful,” Claudia said. “It seems almost magical, like the colors are just dripping everywhere.”
“Yep,” Kyle said. “Definitely one of the best things about living in Vermont.”
Rowen leaned forward between the two front seats of the truck and grinned. “Imagine how it’ll be in the winter, when it’s time for the wedding! I’ll bet there will be lots of snow! And maybe ice will get stuck on all these trees, like crystal.”
“That would be gorgeous,” Claudia said. She glanced down at her left hand, where the diamond in her engagement ring gleamed in the late afternoon sunshine.
“And romantic,” Rowen said. “Especially with all the Christmas decorations.”
“I’ve always wanted a holiday wedding,” Claudia said. She looked across at Kyle and smiled. “And this place is so close to the church, and so beautiful, at least on the outside. It could be the perfect place for the reception.”
“It’s nice on the inside, too,” Kyle said, “but we’ll have to see what Ruth’s plans are. It may not even be ready by December.”
Kyle pulled up to the large paved area in back of the marble house. Ruth Fitzgerald’s Buick sedan was already there, parked next to an older Subaru Impreza. As he cut the engine, the back door opened. Ruth appeared and waved them inside.
“Hi there,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for you. Would you believe the kitchen is almost finished? Come in and take a look!”
Rowen skipped ahead, quickly darting past Ruth into the house. Claudia smiled at Ruth and took Kyle’s hand as they walked toward the door.
The back door of the house opened into a small mudroom. From there, Ruth led them into a wide, sunny kitchen. Claudia smelled paint and wood and window cleaner. In fact, a bottle of Windex and several rags rested on the counter. She and Kyle were silent for a moment as they looked around the room.
Directly in front of them, a large, professional stainless steel range gleamed. It was nestled between dark cherry cabinets that ran the length of the wall and continued around the kitchen. Other new appliances interrupted the cherry – there were a full-sized refrigerator and freezer, two dishwashers, and a small wine storage unit. The tile backsplash behind the range complimented the rich pattern of the floor tiles. Veins of brown and gold in the new quartz countertops sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the window.
“Oh, Ruth, it’s beautiful,” Claudia breathed.
“It is,” Ruth agreed. “It’s almost too pretty to cook in. Emily DiSanti’s managing the renovation. She’s done an amazing job so far.”
As if on cue, a striking woman with red hair entered the kitchen. She held a plastic shopping bag.
“Ruth, I’ve got the hardware for the cabinets, and I—oh, hello.”
“You all know each other, don’t you?” Ruth asked.
“Oh, sure, of course,” Emily said.
“It’s nice to see you again, Emily,” Claudia added.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Kyle and Claudia are getting married,” Ruth said. The smiling, grandmotherly lady seemed to puff up with scarcely contained happiness. Claudia couldn’t help but smile along with her.
“Yes, I heard,” Emily said. “You know how fast news travels in Mill River. But, congratulations! You must be so excited.”
“I’m going to be the flower girl,” Rowen chimed in, hugging Claudia around the waist.
“And you will be perfect, my dear,” Ruth told her. “But, Emily, I’m glad you’re here. Kyle and Claudia are planning a holiday wedding, and they were wondering whether the bed and breakfast will be open by then.”
“We were hoping our immediate families and maybe the wedding party could stay here,” Kyle said. “Since we’ll be married at St. John’s, it would be so convenient.”
“I told them that the center hall in there would be a lovely place for a reception, too,” Ruth said as she looked over Emily’s shoulder toward the rest of the house. “But I said we’d have to ask you about it.”
Emily set the bag she was holding on the floor and took a deep breath. “Well, if everything goes according to plan, we’ll probably be finished in time. We’ve already taken care of most of the big things that needed to be done – the electricity upgrade, the new boiler for the radiators, the replacement windows. The drywall crew should be done replacing walls this week, too.”
“Why did you need to replace walls?” Claudia asked.
“Mainly because lots of them were plaster and cracking beyond repair. Painted drywall is much easier to maintain. Plus, since it’s an older property, covering plaster walls and replacing windows take care of lead paint hazards.”
“And my beautiful new kitchen is done,” Ruth added with a gleeful look around the room.
“Yes. The owner’s suite is coming along nicely, too. Other than that and a few plumbing upgrades, there will be only cosmetic work to do.”
“How many rooms will you have?” Claudia asked.
“Bedrooms, you mean?” Ruth asked. “Six, not including the owner’s suite. And each one has its own bathroom.”
“That’s exactly how many we’ll need,” Claudia said as she looked up at Kyle. “Two for your parents and brother, two for my family, and one apiece for the other groomsmen and bridesmaids.”
“And where would you two stay?” Ruth asked with a mischievous puckered smile. “Surely you wouldn’t spend your wedding night at home.”
“Well, I think--” Claudia began, but Kyle interrupted her.
“Oh, no,” he said quickly, and Claudia turned to look at him again. “We’ll be out of here that evening. We’re not leaving for the honeymoon until after Christmas, of course, but I’ve got something in mind for our first night as a married couple.”
“You didn’t say anything to me about that,” Claudia said in a mock protest. She poked him gently in the ribs.
“Of course I didn’t.” He grabbed her hand to protect against further jabs.
“Where are we going?”
Kyle smiled but didn’t answer her. Instead, he spoke to Ruth.
“So, what do you think about us maybe being your first customers?"
“It would be an honor to host your families and your reception,” Ruth said. “Oh, I can’t wait to show you the whole house! You’ll be able to see how perfect everything will be. That is, if we can be ready. Emily, are you sure we can commit to it?
As Claudia watched, a fleeting look of concern passed over Emily’s face. It was gone in an instant, though, replaced with a wide smile.
“Absolutely. It’ll be close, but I’ll make it happen.”
~~~~
In the master bedroom on the second floor of the marble mansion, Emily turned off the edge sander she had been using and shifted into a sitting position on the floor. Without the noise of the machine, she could hear Ruth chatting with Kyle, Claudia, and Rowen on their way out. She tried to ignore the stress that had been building after she’d agreed to have the house ready in time for Kyle and Claudia’s wedding. True, she had plenty of experience working to meet deadlines, and she had brought enough old houses back to their original grandeur to know what remained to be done in the McAllister mansion, but it wouldn’t be easy. Between her part-time job at Turner’s Hardware and the odd jobs she did on the side for her mother’s real estate listings, she wouldn’t have a spare minute for the next two months.
Emily sighed and got back on her hands and knees. Using the small handheld sander to remove the final bits of old finish on a wood floor was her least favorite part of the refinishing process. She took some comfort in knowing that this was the last room she had to do, though. She had finished resurfacing the wood floors on the lower level during the summer, and the floors in many of the other bedrooms upstairs needed nothing but a good mopping and waxing, since the rooms had never been used. Emily continued working her way around the room, crawling along the windows and into the closet.
It was then that she felt the crack in the floor beneath her hand.
She switched off the sander. The crack seemed to run perpendicular to the planks of the wood floor, and her first thought was that she might have to completely replace several of the pieces of wood instead of refinishing them. When she looked closely, though, she saw that the crack wasn’t a crack at all, but one side of a well-camouflaged rectangle that had been cut into the floor.
In fact, it looked like some sort of trap door.
“Emily?” Ruth’s voice called, and the sound of footsteps on the stairs followed soon after.
“In here,” she replied.
Ruth entered the room slightly out of breath. “Goodness, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to such a big staircase.”
“A big staircase for a big house.”
“Yes. I guess I’m ready to head home. I just wanted to check to see if you needed anything.”
“No, I’m good,” Emily said. “I’m going to leave, too, as soon as I’m done edging in here. I’ll vacuum first thing in the morning and then get going on the stain. I’ll lock up everything, as usual.” Her hand was still resting on the floor, and she felt the crack she had discovered leaving an indentation on her palm.
“Thanks, honey. You have a good night.”
Once Ruth had left the house, Emily jumped up. Her toolbox was on the floor near the base of the stairs, and she descended quickly to grab one of her putty knives and a flashlight. Then, back in the master bedroom, she entered the closet and knelt down. The thin blade of the putty knife just fit into the crack. It was difficult, but she was able to pry up a chunk of the floor, a rectangular lid, which she set aside. She switched on her flashlight and peered down into a hidden compartment.
The space was perhaps two feet deep. The only thing inside, other than dust and cobwebs, was an old hard side briefcase.
Emily took hold of the dusty handle and pulled it out. The case was made of smooth, tan leather. Unlike most modern cases, which used combination locks, the brass locks on each side of the handle had keyholes. To her chagrin, the locks were engaged. She shook the briefcase gently. It wasn’t heavy, but a soft rustling noise from inside told her that it wasn’t empty, either.
Maybe the key to the briefcase was still in the compartment.
Again, she took the flashlight and shined it down into the hole. She was more careful this time, moving the light slowly and running her fingers through the dust at the bottom of the compartment in the hope of finding a wayward key. She found nothing, though, and the disturbed dust rose up in a cloud that sent her into a sneezing fit.
When she had recovered, she took another good look at her find. A small bronze plaque attached to one corner of the case was engraved with “P. McAllister.”
The briefcase was obviously something that had belonged to a member of the McAllister family, and eventually Mary McAllister herself. Which meant that now, like everything in the McAllister mansion, it was the property of Ruth and her husband.
I can drop it off at the Fitzgeralds’ apartment on the way home, Emily thought, but telling herself this did nothing to lessen her intense curiosity about what was inside the old briefcase. Surely, she could find a way to open it without breaking the locks. The case was in remarkable condition and probably valuable as an antique. Plus, she reasoned, it would be a favor to Ruth, since she and her husband would be able to inspect its contents easily.
Of course, if I open it, I’ll be able to see what's in it, too.
A part of her was ashamed at her willingness to justify and commit such an inappropriate invasion of privacy. Still, that part wasn’t strong enough to prevent her from going back to her toolbox in search of a small screwdriver or a long nail – or anything else that might help her coax the locks on the briefcase into revealing what was inside.
~~~~
As the afternoon gave way to a chilly evening, Father O’Brien drove carefully down the main road leaving Mill River. However, instead of following the curve of the road around and through the old covered bridge spanning the river for which the town was named, he turned left into a driveway and parked.
As he had recently started to do before he met with someone in person, he snapped his fingers several times, first on one side of his head and then the other, to make sure he could hear them properly. For a nonagenarian, he was in excellent health. His vision was still remarkably good, so much so that he’d easily passed the vision test the last time he had renewed his license. But his hearing was another matter. He’d finally had to get hearing aids for both ears, and they were both a godsend and a major annoyance. When they were inserted and functioning normally, he could hear quite well. But getting them adjusted to the proper volume in each ear, and making sure the batteries had enough juice, was a constant struggle. Today, he had been called to the home of Karen Cooper, one of his parishioners, and he knew it was especially important that he be able to hear everything clearly once he was inside.
A car in desperate need of a new muffler drove by just as he stepped down out of his pickup truck. He suddenly felt a bit dizzy, and he kept his hand on the door frame for a moment until the sensation passed. Maybe his hearing aids weren’t quite as calibrated as he thought, or maybe the unusually loud noise of the car was too much for them to handle. He snapped his fingers again to reassure himself and then approached the front door of the Cooper residence. Jean Wykowski, Karen’s next-door neighbor, opened the door before he’d even raised his hand to knock.
“Hello, Father. Thank you for coming so quickly.” Jean’s expression was grim.
“Hello, Jean,” he said quietly. He could see over Jean’s shoulder into the kitchen, where Karen and her son, Ben, sat at the table. “You said on the phone that Nick’s gone missing?”
“Yes, they just got word,” Jean said, her voice barely above a whisper. “No one’s seen him in four days, since he went out for supplies.”
“Oh, my,” Father O’Brien said.
“They’ve got people out looking for him, troops mostly, but some private security teams, too. Karen’s taking it pretty hard.”
Father O’Brien nodded and went to the kitchen.
Karen looked up at him with bloodshot eyes. “Thank you for coming, Father.”
“Of course,” he replied. Carefully, he pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. He waited for Karen to speak.
“I know Jean told you they can’t find Nick,” she said. “Two days ago, he left work in the morning and never came back. He was supposed to pick up some things for the shop, and he made it to the warehouse and signed for the supplies, but after that….” Her voice trailed off. She took a deep breath. “Someone from his company called, a man. I wrote down his name and number. He said they have people searching for Nick, retracing his steps and all that, but no other information at this time.”
Her voice broke as she struggled to finish her sentence. Jean came up behind Karen to put an arm around her shoulders. Ben sat silently across from his mother and stared down at the table. Father O’Brien tried to think what he could say to them that would bring some comfort.
“Karen, I know Nick is a good man. He’s smart and strong. Whatever happened, wherever he is, we have to believe he’ll find a way out of the situation. We have to trust that God is looking out for him. Now, listen to me, Karen. You’ve got to stay strong for Nick, and for your son here. Both of them need you.”
Karen nodded through her tears, and Ben glanced up at him for the first time.
Father O’Brien took one of Karen and Ben’s hands in each of his own. “Will you join me in asking our heavenly Father to protect him?”
Karen nodded, and both she and Ben bowed their heads. For a moment before he closed his own eyes, he watched Karen’s son. Ben was growing up so quickly, and yet he was still so young, perhaps twelve or thirteen. It was a difficult age, at the beginning of the transition from childhood to adulthood, an impressionable time during which the boy would need his father more than ever. He knew exactly how Ben must have felt. Even now, in the sunset of his life, it was all too easy to remember himself at Ben’s age, sitting at his family’s table and facing the great uncertainty of his own father’s absence.
Product details
- ASIN : B00R04GD6Y
- Publisher : Ballantine Books (August 4, 2015)
- Publication date : August 4, 2015
- Language : English
- File size : 1.7 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 394 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #317,543 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,050 in Women's Literary Fiction
- #3,826 in Women's Friendship Fiction
- #4,561 in Family Saga Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

(c) Carrie Schechter
Darcie Chan is the New York Times bestselling author of the eBook sensation The Mill River Recluse and the novels The Mill River Redemption and The Promise of Home. She has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.
For fourteen years, Chan worked as an attorney drafting environmental and natural resource legislation for the U.S. Senate. She now writes fiction full time and lives north of New York City with her husband and son.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoyed the book and found it an enjoyable read. They appreciated the engaging storyline, well-developed characters, and well-written writing style. The emotional content was heartfelt and expressed hopefulness about life. Readers enjoyed the simplicity of the story while retaining their interest.
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Customers enjoyed the book. They found it an engaging read that kept them hooked until the end. The series is enjoyable, with a bit of mystery and history of the characters.
"The Promise of Home is one of the very best books that I have read in a long time. Every character was interesting and the story line was wonderful...." Read more
"...The writing style makes them all very easy reads. The characters are well defined and you remember them and root for them (well, most of them)...." Read more
"I loved this book. I feel that it was the best of the trilogy. It really pulled a lot of information together from all 3 books...." Read more
"...Not much substance but a good story. This series was so enjoyable to read. I spent my entire weekend reading all 3...." Read more
Customers enjoy the storyline. They find the characters intriguing and the author's storytelling engaging. The book is described as a sweet tale of devotion set in a small town. Readers appreciate the happy endings and find the series enjoyable.
"...I loved this book. I loved the happy endings. I also loved reading the story about Michael's early life before he became a priest...." Read more
"I loved this book. I feel that it was the best of the trilogy. It really pulled a lot of information together from all 3 books...." Read more
"...Not much substance but a good story. This series was so enjoyable to read. I spent my entire weekend reading all 3...." Read more
"...The story centers around a few families and how their lives interact with each other...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character development. They love the characters and how Darcie brings them together. The books in succession make the people feel real.
"...Every character was interesting and the story line was wonderful. I loved this book. I loved the happy endings...." Read more
"...The writing style makes them all very easy reads. The characters are well defined and you remember them and root for them (well, most of them)...." Read more
"...is not necessary to read the books in succession, it does make the people feel so real. Congratulations on a wonderfully written story!" Read more
"...old friends, meeting new acquaintances and of course remembering past characters...." Read more
Customers praise the writing style. They say the author is wonderful and that the story is beautifully written.
"...Darcie Chan is a wonderful writer and this is just a terrific series. There is something in this book for everyone...." Read more
"This is the 3rd book I've read by Chan. I really like her writing style and I can relate to the characters in her books...." Read more
"This was an exceptionally well written novel. It kept my interest at all times. Sorry the trilogy had to end...." Read more
"I sure hate to see this beautiful series end. Thank you for a beautifully written story. I hope you will write more." Read more
Customers find the emotional content heartfelt and soulful. They appreciate the characters' support for each other and their hopefulness about life. The book offers a great way of looking at life and makes readers feel there is hope in bad times.
"...She has a great way of looking at life and making you feel there is hope in bad situations and that things will work out...." Read more
"...This third in a series provides soulful material that I can use to relate to my own life and relationships. [..." Read more
"...I found them less than satisfying. I’ve seen many reviews touting the descriptions and “feelings” of small town life...." Read more
"...of Mill River, their trails and tribulations and their warmth and compassion." Read more
Customers find the book engaging. They appreciate its simplicity while still keeping their interest. The book brings together information from multiple sources, and they wish there were more of it.
"...I feel that it was the best of the trilogy. It really pulled a lot of information together from all 3 books. I wish there were more!" Read more
"...As was the case with other two, this one was just as intriguing! I don't often read into the night but toward the end I had to read until I finished!" Read more
"Very good read. Kept my interest. Excellent character development." Read more
"Enjoyed the simplicity, while keeping my interest" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2015The Promise of Home is one of the very best books that I have read in a long time. Every character was interesting and the story line was wonderful. I loved this book. I loved the happy endings. I also loved reading the story about Michael's early life before he became a priest. That part was probably the best. He had the greatest friend in his grandmother and what a funny scene when he had to put on her clothes to milk the cow. Of course, the doctor had to witness that which made it even more humorous. Every character in the book played such an important part for the entire book. Darcie Chan is a wonderful writer and this is just a terrific series. There is something in this book for everyone. Religion and faith, plumbing problems during restoration of a house, wedding dresses, hardware stores, loan companies, bakeries, weddings to plan, Thanksgiving dinners to cook, men missing in the mideastern countries, bullies at school. This book has it all and I had a wonderful time reading it. I hope there will be more in this series from the author.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2016This is the third book in the Mill River series. I fell in love with the first book and thoroughly enjoyed the second and third as well. The writing style makes them all very easy reads. The characters are well defined and you remember them and root for them (well, most of them). It is also nice to see some of the characters go from one book to the next - it reminds me of the way everyone knows everyone else in a small town.
I am anxiously awaiting Ms. Chan's next book.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023I loved this book. I feel that it was the best of the trilogy. It really pulled a lot of information together from all 3 books. I wish there were more!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2018I am so sad that I am at the end of this series. I just loved it. Is a 4th book in the works? I read a lot and sadly many are good books that I refer to as fluff. Not much substance but a good story. This series was so enjoyable to read. I spent my entire weekend reading all 3. I have to admit, I usually stick with the Kindle Unlimited free books because I do read so much. I hesitated a mere second before I paid for the 2nd one and then the third. So sad it is over. Awesome read.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2015This is a second book by this author that I've read and fallen in love with set in the small town of Mill River. The story centers around a few families and how their lives interact with each other. They all support each other emotionally and help each other out when crises happen and when happy events occur. This town seems to have a strong pull on individuals who have grown up there, left for awhile to live their lives, then returned to the small town because it truly was "home" for them. One of the main characters that I loved the most is Father O'Brien. It is nice to hear about his upbringing as he is one of the main characters in all 3 of the Mill River books that seem to keep the town running smoothly and held together. Everyone in the town seems to care about everyone else and it is genuine love and support from neighbors and long time friends. You don't have to read any of the other Mill River novels to understand this one but it helps clarify some history of past characters in the town. Each one is a "stand alone" novel on its own. I have a 3rd one to read and will being doing that shortly. I also will investigate other books this author has written. She has a great way of looking at life and making you feel there is hope in bad situations and that things will work out. She also makes you want to get in your car or walk to this little town, pull up a chair in the bakery where most people gather for coffee, and chit chat with folks and get to know what's the latest going on. I give this story 5 stars as I did her previous book I read (The Mill River Recluse),
- Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019There are times when less is more. This trilogy fits that adage. I had read “Mill River Recluse” sometime ago and enjoyed it. Basing my future orders on this book, I ordered the next two installments in the trilogy. I found them less than satisfying.
I’ve seen many reviews touting the descriptions and “feelings” of small town life. While a small town in Vermont is true, I found the characters in the next two installments hackneyed, shallow, catty, and a plot which was plainly worn out. I felt I was reading the same plots in two and three with only the dialogue and names changing.
It’s a shame the author didn’t stop at “Recluse” and move onto something entirely different. “Recluse” makes for a very good stand alone novel. There was no need for a trilogy.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2015I have read all three of the Mill River books and The Mill River Recluse is still my favorite of the three. I enjoy following this small town cast of characters with their trials and tribulations through out the series. In The Promise of home, I liked reading the history of Michael's character (Father O'Brien). The other characters in The Promise of Home were so storybook and a bit too predictable. Overall though, a good enjoyable read.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2015After reading the first 2 Darcie Chan books, I was so looking forward to the third!! it did not disappoint.
I enjoyed reading about the backgrond about the priest when he was a young boy and the back story about his spoon obsession was so sad yest heart warming,
Learning how Emily and her family were doing made me happy. So wish I could actually see her finished work on the mansion. The descriptions of the work she did as well as the problems that happened during the renovations made it seem so real.
Do not know if Darcie Chan's next book will continue in Mill River, regardless I can not wait to read her next book.
Although it is not necessary to read the books in succession, it does make the people feel so real.
Congratulations on a wonderfully written story!
Top reviews from other countries
- K ScanlonReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars A Lovely Read
I really enjoyed this book. It was really good to catch up with the residents of Mill River again
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- michelleReviewed in Canada on September 4, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars ... 3 times and will read them again-she writes the best books ever
I have read all her books at least 3 times and will read them again-she writes the best books ever.-story line is fantastic in all her books-I get nothing done as I never want to put the book down.....
- brendaReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2017
4.0 out of 5 stars Okay
An okay story, not as good as Darcie's previous books though. Very readable, and I'd still recommend it, but it just didn't seem to go anywhere. The story simply fizzled out.....
- Joan WoodReviewed in Canada on July 15, 2016
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Enjoyed the book, hope there is more of the series in the works
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this book
Really enjoyed this book, following the lives of residents in a small American town. Hard to put down.