The 2nd in the Michigan Northwoods "trilogy." Can say the same as the first book: lovable characters, great setting, easy read, quick paced (for the most part).This story follows, again a man and a woman, whose paths connect.Ingrid - immigrant from Sweden looking for a brother reportedly working in the Michigan lumber camps. Has no where to go.Joshua - recent widow with 5 kids. Both need each other, but can they can make it work?---How are the stories related? In the last 1/3 of the book, Joshua goes and works at Robert's lumber camp. You get a small glimpse of Robert and Katie from book one. Ingrid Larsen is a young Swedish immigrant who arrives in Michigan in the spring of 1871 to search for her brother, who has not been heard from since he went in search of work among the dangerous lumber camps. While she is searching, she finds work as a hired girl for a shopkeeper and his wife, but she is forced to leave that job when the woman becomes abusive towards her. Destitute, and barely hanging on to hope, she encounters a recently widowed farmer who is struggling to raise his 5 children (4 of which are under the age of 7). Knowing that marriage would solve both of their problems, she proposes to him.Even though she barely knows him, she has fallen in love with him, and she hopes that someday, he will love her in return. But he is still mourning his first wife, and trying to come to terms with the mysterious cause of her death.I really enjoyed this story; it's not your typical "marriage of convenience" story. It's actually based on the life of the author's own grandmother. There are also other things happening in the story based on true events, which the author discusses in her notes at the end of the story.I just wish this story had been a little longer; that does not mean it was too short, it's just that I loved the characters so much, especially Ingrid and her elderly friend Hazel, that I hated to "leave" them when the story was over. A few of the reviews I have read about this book criticized the fact that Ingrid spoke in broken English, but to me, that just made her character more authentic and more endearing.I also liked that the story was set in Michigan, where I have lived my whole life. And though it has nothing to do with the story, I thought it was kind of cool that the main character had the same last name as mine. I have Scandinavian roots from my dad's side of the family.
What do You think about A Promise To Love (2012)?
4 1/2 stars. Serena Miller's books are very touching. I really enjoyed them.
—Ellie
