Book Review Enduring Promise Book Two

 

The wait is over, with Susanna Lane's second book, "Enduring Promise," available now. The award-winning “Imperfect Promise,” the first book in the series, highlighted Lark and Cort Enders's story as they found themselves, having made foolish and imperfect promises to one another despite their good intentions.

In book two, readers find two new characters who take center stage: Cort's brother Bryce Enders, and Hannah May, a neighbor struggling to keep her ranch afloat with a husband who has left her in search of gold.

After a failed romance in Texas, Bryce Enders has carved out a new life in the harsh wastes of Montana’s gold fields. But when a newspaper headline reveals the wild escapades of his younger brother, Bryce’s path takes an unexpected turn. He heads for Ogallala, Nebraska, where he’s surprised to find Cort married and thriving as a sprawling cattle ranch owner. While their reunion is far from smooth, the brothers quickly rediscover their old affection for one another, and Cort offers Bryce a job on the ranch. As he settles into his new life, Bryce becomes entangled in a new set of troubles—this time of the heart. His growing affection for Hannah May soon becomes impossible to ignore. Bryce is torn between his sense of honor and his undeniable feelings for Hannah, who upholds a high sense of Christian morality despite the harsh reality of her situation and her husband's cruelty. Bryce's determination to free her only deepens the conflict as a dark secret from his past emerges to haunt him. Enduring promises are made between Bryce and Hannah, but will they be able to keep them? 

Lane's writing style is easy to follow, with crisp, clear sentences and realistic dialogue. The highs and lows of emotions keep the reader invested in the storyline. She does an excellent job developing likable, relatable characters that readers can identify with. Her characters exhibit compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to family with a sense of hopefulness as each faces a variety of adversities. A willingness to uphold Christian values was evident in the storyline.

Lane effectively captures the sweeping Nebraska landscape of the time period and the spirit of the settlers. I'm hoping the wait for book three will not be too long. Lane has definitely perfected the Western genre of romance. 

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR SUSANNA  LANE

Contact at https://susannalane.com/books/

Her first book "Imperfect Promise" was a winner in the Western Writers of America Spur Award 2022 and was a Silver Medal Winner in the Will Rogers Medallion Awards 2022

An avid reader, Susanna enjoys perusing historical stories about westward expansion, particularly related to how the railroads were pivotal in settlement. Hopefully, through her stories, she conveys both the harshness and beauty of the land and those who forged lives during tumultuous times.

After a fulfilling career teaching science, a visit to the Rocky Mountains led an awestruck Susanna Lane to uncover stories from history and write about their determination to survive. While getting a feel for the settings of her books and absorbing details, she learned to ride horses, fit into a cattle drive, and hike to remote regions of the West.

Married for over forty years to an avid gardener and traveler who shares her interest in historical locations, Susanna loves to visit new places, read, and spend time with family. In addition to her spouse, she has two grown sons and their wives. Best of all, she has four darling grandchildren who delightfully fill her life.