The Promise Between us. Barbara Claypole White

Published: Lake Union Publishing
Date: 16th January 2018
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
           

Metal artist Katie Mack is living a lie. Nine years ago she ran away from her family in Raleigh, North Carolina, consumed by the irrational fear that she would harm Maisie, her newborn daughter. Over time she’s come to grips with the mental illness that nearly destroyed her, and now funnels her pain into her art. Despite longing for Maisie, Katie honors an agreement with the husband she left behind—to change her name and never return.

But when she and Maisie accidentally reunite, Katie can’t ignore the familiarity of her child’s compulsive behavior. Worse, Maisie worries obsessively about bad things happening to her pregnant stepmom. Katie has the power to help, but can she reconnect with the family she abandoned?

To protect Maisie, Katie must face the fears that drove her from home, accept the possibility of love, and risk exposing her heart-wrenching secret.

The Promise Between Us was my first read for 2018 and really it was a perfect choice. What a mind blowing, emotional, informative story.  It is one that will stay with me and one that I will want to reread again.

The story is told mainly from Katie's point of view, the mother who walked out and left her child because she was terrified she would harm her. However we also have Cal - her ex husband, Jake his close mate, Lilah now Cal's wife and Maisie the daughter of Cal and Katie.  As well there is Delaney - Katie's sister and Ben the guy who just might be someone important in Katie's life. While the last two do not get a 'viewpoint' they have important roles and I love how Barbara Claypole White portrayed them

The other 'main character' in the story is OCD, Katie lives with it and now after accidentally meeting Maisie, she fears  Maisie has it too.  As a reader I learned so much about OCD through the book and how important treatment is for it and how courageous one has to be to live fully and not let the OCD take over your life. And so terrible things happen in this story, but always there is courage and hope and that stood out right the way through.  

As it turns out Katie and Maisie are not the only ones suffering from anxiety - and that was a heart breaking aspect as well to this story - I am not going to say who or how as I do not want to spoil the story if you read it.  However it is handled gently and in a positive manner.  I loved the emphasis on truth and honesty, and kudos to Lilah, what a wonderful young woman - so wise.

At the beginning of the book Jake seems to be a frivolous, happy go lucky man, but in actual fact he has hidden depths and I can see as the future evolves he and Katie will work together on some project close to their hearts.

A favorite quote from the book:

" Perfection stops you from enjoying the wonder of what is. It snares you with unrealistic expectations. Tells you constantly things can only be a certain way, and that's how you fall into the trap"

This was a wonderful story to read, just as a story - but as well it helped me see into the mind and heart of others and invited me as a person to expand my heart and mind to believe all over again that darkness does not win; compassion, love and hope are far stronger. 

Echoes of Family. Barbara Claypole White

Published: Lake Union Publishing
Date: 27th September 2016
Format: e-ARC
Pages:397
Genre: Fiction
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
         

Marianne Stokes fled England at seventeen, spiraling into the manic depression that would become her shadow. She left behind secrets, memories, and tragedy: one teen dead, and her first love, Gabriel, badly injured. Three decades later she’s finally found peace in the North Carolina recording studio she runs with her husband, Darius, and her almost-daughter, Jade…until another fatality propels her back across the ocean to confront the long-buried past.

In her picturesque childhood village, the first person she meets is the last person she wants to see again: Gabriel. Now the village vicar, he takes her in without question, and ripples of 'what if' reverberate through both their hearts. As Marianne’s mind unravels, Jade and Darius track her down. Tempers clash when everyone tries to help, but only by finding the courage to face her illness can Marianne heal herself and her offbeat family.

I looked forward to reading this book because I have loved the previous books I have read by Barbara Claypole White. And it did not disappoint! At first I was a little disoriented as I started to read. We meet Marianne - a woman who has to cope with a manic depressive illness. At the beginning of the story she is about to go into a full blown episode of mania. 

Marianne is a successful woman and a courageous one. Yet she has carried along with her a past that haunts her, and now is the time for her to confront it. She seems larger than life, very emotional - a little crazy! But she owns it. 

Darius her husband loves and supports Marianne, he is a passionate lover, a jealous one. And one who intends to not repeat any past mistakes - to be the kind of person Marianne needs. He is a little larger than life too.

Jade is the young woman Marianne 'adopted' when Jade was fifteen and has supported and loved ever since as her daughter. Jade too has her past, she is tough, hard working and totally delightful.

Gabriel is the vicar in a local parish in England. He and Marianne have a shared past and were friends for years. His careful life is totally disrupted when Marianne, Darius and Jade burst upon his quiet rectory life. On the surface Gabriel is controlled, the perfect vicar. But underneath there is turmoil. 

The story is told from the point of view of these main characters and I loved it all. I never disliked going from one to the other. It was perfect. All the characters are imperfect and I loved being with them as they journeyed, and I very reluctantly left them when they parted ways with me.

This is a story of family, of the burdens some carry from their past, of living with a mental illness. And that from the point of view of the person with the mental illness and those who love and support them and angst for them. It gave me insight and enabled me understand and open my heart to those who have the burden of such illness.

   <

Winner of The Perfect Son by Barbara Claypole White.

Congratulations to Shelby N from Indiana USA who won the copy of The Perfect Son.

This giveaway was sponsored by myself because I loved the book!

It was drawn by Random.org.

Shelby was the second name chosen, after waiting 48 hours and then extending it by days due to Summer holidays (my terms and conditions) - but after a second email to the first chosen and one week later with no response - a new winner was chosen. 

The Perfect Son. Barbara Claypole White. Review & Giveaway

The Perfect Son
Barbara Claypole White
Published: Lake Union Publishing
Date: July 1st 2015
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 398
Genre: Fiction
Source: Author and Publisher via NetGalley

From a distance, Felix Fitzwilliam, the son of an old English family, is a good husband and father. But, obsessed with order and routine, he’s a prisoner to perfection. Disengaged from the emotional life of his North Carolina family, Felix has let his wife, Ella, deal with their special-needs son by herself.
A talented jewelry designer turned full-time mother, Ella is the family rock…until her heart attack shatters their carefully structured existence. Now Harry, a gifted teen grappling with the chaos of Tourette’s, confronts a world outside his parents’ control, one that tests his desire for independence.
As Harry searches for his future, and Ella adapts to the limits of her failing health, Felix struggles with his past and present roles. To prevent the family from being ripped apart, they must each bend with the inevitability of change and reinforce the ties that bind.

The Perfect Son by Barbara Claypole White was a book I simply loved.  I thought starting out it was women's fiction, and I see some have classified it as that, but I think it falls more into general fiction. The book opens on a flight where Ella has a heart attack. This throws her husband Felix and son Harry into a deep dark hole.  Ella who has given up her jewelry designing to care for their son and home while Felix is the earner.  Now everything is turned about.

Harry has a number of conditions - ADHD, anxiety and Tourettes syndrome.  Wouldn't one be enough for anyone to cope with? Three is a lot. Just turning seventeen Harry is one of the characters I fell in love with.  What a warm heart, what a discerning mind he has. I loved what he finally chose to do in life.  Yet his mother has always been there for him, now Ella is distancing from him and Felix must be the parent he turns to.  His Dad doesn't have much idea and can't even cope with a hug.  I really liked seeing the person behind the syndromes, I have met many a person with ADHD and anxiety but not Tourettes. I think I felt a little nervous about even meeting anyone with this, yet now having read this book I feel I would look beyond to the person.  I love it when a book helps me to take a new viewpoint.

Felix the dad and husband is a flawed and dare I say beautiful character.  He loves Harry and his wife Ella, but in his very English controlled way.  I liked how his character developed the most in this book, the challenges he is thrust into would take anyone's breath away.  The way he renegotiated his work commitment, expressed his love for Ella and slowly built a relationship with his son was very satisfying. His back story is difficult and his love for his brother Tom redeeming. Had it not been for Tom where might Felix have ended up?

The minor characters of Katherine ( Ella's friend), Eudora - the little old lady next door who is no push over, and lastly but not least Max - the very good friend of Harry and Sammie - Harry's first girlfriend.  They all added flavour to this book, I  loved Max, what a guy.

I don't really want to give any of the plot away, although this is a very character driven story.  I smiled at times and felt deep emotion at other times. This read was so good I know it is a book that I will want to go back to. Perhaps it all tied up a little too cosily at the end, I'd have been satisfied without the epilogue but it was there so... - I vote for it!

This book is available on Audible (narrated by Justine Eyre) Amazon or the Book Depository. I am sure there are other places, they just happen to be my haunts.

Because it is mid year and mid summer in some parts and mid winter in others, I am going to do a giveaway for a paperback copy of this book.  Open internationally so long as the Book Depository ships to you free. Closes on 12th July. To enter just fill out form below.

The In-Between Hour B. Claypole White

The In-Between Hour
Barbara Claypole White
Published: Harlequin Mira
Date: December 2013
Format: eARC for Kindle
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Bestselling author Will Shepard is caught in the twilight of grief, after his young son dies in a car accident. But when his father's aging mind erases the memory, Will rewrites the truth. The story he spins brings unexpected relief…until he's forced to return to rural North Carolina, trapping himself in a lie.

Holistic veterinarian Hannah Linden is a healer who opens her heart to strays but can only watch, powerless, as her grown son struggles with inner demons. When she rents her guest cottage to Will and his dad, she finds solace in trying to mend their broken world, even while her own shatters.

As their lives connect and collide, Will and Hannah become each other's only hope—if they can find their way into a new story, one that begins with love.

My thoughts:
All in all I really liked this book.  It does  explore complex but very real issues that families might face.  I liked all the characters, and appreciated that from time to time point of view changed and the reader was given a look-see into the world of  some of the minor characters.  This is a novel where the setting is important, setting has an impact on lives and that is definitely the case in this novel.  Whether the setting is being used as a cocoon from real life, or seen as something to fear because of childhood, or something about it that is really and truly home.

Will is an author who is facing writer block, life in the last few months has been tough and he is coping or not coping with the grief of losing a child.  He is also dealing with a parent - Jacob, who is one minute fully aware and the next his memory has gone and he is living in the past.  Jacob is in a 'home' that he hates, it definitely is the wrong setting for him.  I liked Jacob and there were three times in the book when I had laugh out loud moments from what he said or did.    Not that this is a comedy, it emotionally left me drained at times, but always touched my heart.  Will's Mom is dead, however her life has had a huge impact on Will.

Hannah is a mom who has two boys and an ex husband.  She cares for everyone and always puts other's needs first.  Poppy her friend plays a minor but important role in her life. Hannah's son Galen has some serious mental health issues that lead to much of the drama in the book.  I love the way Galen looks down his nose at Will - who writes mere genre literature!  Galen himself writes poetry.  However the two strike up an important friendship.

While all the characters - human and animal, carry some deep flaw, sometimes covered up, sometimes not, the overall impression I am left with as I finish the book is one of beautiful, unconditional love.  Love and heartbreak.