Title: A Promise Kept
Author: Laura Strickland
Genre Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Books To Go Now
Book Blurb:
Just because she’ll be alone this Christmas, is no reason for Beth Manning to feel sorry for herself. A busy nurse with plenty of friends, she knows she can keep occupied and have a good holiday. But when a tiny package containing an antique locket arrives, she tumbles into a century-old mystery. Is it intended for her, or for a relation of the same name, who lived four generations ago? Why does the image of the young soldier, inside, tug so hard at her heartstrings?
When Tommy Rafferty accompanies his injured friend to the hospital, he’s not thinking about romance. Yet as soon as he meets nurse Beth, his heart gets its own ideas. He’s sure he wants to see her again. But what a strange coincidence, that the tiny package he found and mailed just days ago, while cleaning out a relative’s property should have been addressed to this woman he’s just met. And what about the dreams of past battles he’s been having, that hint at promises and sacrifice?
Is it possible for two lovers parted a century ago to be reunited in time for Christmas? In the blossoming of a new love, will an old promise be kept?
Excerpt:
The locket looked antique. Fashioned of gold metal, it had been intricately worked in a pattern of leaves and vines that covered its surface, broken by a highly-polished heart.
“Oh, exquisite,” she whispered.
Carrie must have found it in an antiques shop and, knowing how much Beth loved vintage pieces, decided to send it in time for Christmas. Beth did have a small collection of jewelry from the last century. The locket would fit right in.
Yet…her fingers hesitated in the act of lifting the locket from the box. For its diminutive size, it felt heavy in her hand. The thought flashed through her head that jewelry was no longer made like this. It must indeed be authentic.
But, why should it make her feel so emotional? For an object she’d never seen before, it had a powerful effect. She caressed the face of the locket with one fingertip, and found the tiny clasp on the side. The locket opened with a soft ping.
Such lockets often held small pictures on either side. This held but one, of a young man, smiling.
Beth looked into his face, beheld his smile, and her world rocked. For an instant, the room seemed to spin around her, and the sofa where she sat moved so violently, it felt like a boat heaving on a stormy sea.
What was that? She wondered even as she continued to stare into the young man’s face. Because, she couldn’t seem to stop.
He had a quiet, handsome countenance. His hair and his eyes both appeared light-colored—the photograph, as aged as the locket, was in black and white, or rather sepia and white, so she couldn’t discern their actual hues. His head lay bare, but he wore a uniform, an old-fashion one with bright buttons and epaulets on the shoulders. His smile—
Well, his smile lit up his face. The warmth of it went straight to Beth’s heart.
It looked familiar. But it couldn’t be, could it?
Who was he? Surely just some random stranger, whose photo had been in the locket when Carrie found it. A French soldier, perhaps.
But, no. Random he could not be. For random wouldn’t account for the emotions pouring through Beth, or the tears filling her eyes.
She needed to call Carrie right away. But, in the act of reaching for her cell phone, Beth paused. Carrie would be out to dinner at this time, celebrating with Etienne’s family. She’d better wait till morning.
All at once, despite the stillness of the house, Beth had no longer felt quite alone. A prickle ran up her spine and she stared into the young man’s pale eyes again. Surely he smiled just for her. He wanted to speak to her.
If only he could.
At that moment, she saw it peeking out from beneath the cotton wool that lined the box—one corner of a folded paper.
Beth laid the locket across her knee and lifted out the cotton wool. The paper had been folded many times, until it fit in the box. It had yellowed and, just like the box, bore moisture stains.
What fingers had touched it last? Folded it and tucked it beneath the cotton? Beth went hot and cold by turns.
With careful delicacy, she lifted out the square of paper and unfolded it.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Books To Go Now: http://bookstogonow.com/books/a-promise-kept/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-promise-kept-laura-strickland/1133990934?ean=2940163584055
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-promise-kept-christmas-locket-anthology-by-laura-strickland
Author Biography
Multi award-winning author Laura Strickland delights in time traveling to the past and searching out settings for her books, be they Historical Romance, Steampunk or something in between. Her first Scottish Historical hero, Devil Black, battled his way onto the publishing scene in 2013, and the author never looked back. Nor has she tapped the limits of her imagination. Venturing beyond Historical and Contemporary Romance, she created a new world with her ground-breaking Buffalo Steampunk Adventure series set in her native city, in Western New York. Married and the parent of one grown daughter, Laura has also been privileged to mother a number of very special rescue dogs, and is intensely interested in animal welfare. These days while she's writing, you can always find her latest rescue, Lacy, nearby. Her love of dogs, and her lifelong interest in Celtic history, magic and music, are all reflected in her writing. Laura's mantra is Lore, Legend, Love, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Social Media Links
Author Website: www.laurastricklandbooks.com
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000002632317
Author Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Strickland/e/B001KHSACW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Author Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/760146.Laura_Strickland
Author Twitter:
Laura Strickland Author @LauraSt05038951