Promise Me This: A Review

Many books have been written about the Titanic, and I have devoured them all. This book stands out because the focus is not on the sinking of the ship but on the lives of those affected by the loss of life that day. When Owen Allen sets sail on the unsinkable vessel, he leaves behind his beloved sister Annie and finds himself caring for the young Michael, who sneaked onto the ship. When Owen sacrifices his life for Michael’s, Michael carries out Owen’s dreams of creating a gardening business, and over time, Annie and Michael begin a friendship through letters. When WWI breaks out in Europe, Michael risks everything to save the girl he promised to protect.

I loved that this book didn’t stop at the sinking but continued into WWI. It gave time for Annie and Michael, both young at the beginning of the book, time to mature as characters. Annie is somewhat annoying at first, but she grows into a strong, resilient woman, which I suspect was typical of socially elite girls who were thrust into war in the early 1900s.  Michael is a scrappy young boy, and I instantly liked him. He too grows up quickly and becomes a man worth of being the hero in a novel.

The book is long—400 pages—and spans several years in time, so it’s hard to talk about it all in a short review. There are so many twists and turns as Annie and Michael both endure hardships continents apart, but each one is grounded in historical events and engage the reader enough to forget how long they have been reading.

Fans of Christian historical fiction will enjoy this story of love, loss, and hope.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.