Forever Promised

I almost dreaded reading this final story in one of my favorite series. Not because I thought it wouldn't be any good. Oh No! I knew, deep down in my soul, that this ending story would be full of all Amy Lane's heartbreak in writing it. I knew it would be beautiful, and we would get to hear from everyone and that somehow, one way or another, the author would finalize it with class and dignity. I didn't want to read it because I hate saying goodbye. I knew that once I read that very last sentence, that would be it. No more new stories of Deacon, Crick, Shane, Mikhail, Jeff, Collin, Benny, Parry Angel, Jon, Amy, Lila Lisa, Andrew, Kimmie, Lucas and all the others in Levee Oaks who live on in some way via the Pulpit. I didn't know if I was ready for that. For nothing new, except in my dreams.
One day I fell head over heels in love with Deacon. Gradually I came to love all of them in one way or another, but except for Mikhail, Deacon was the one I loved the most. He's a gentle soul with a fierce love and loyalty for his family, a shy man with paralyzing panic attacks from being in a crowd, a genius with his horses, Crick's golden god-man and a true alpha male in all the very best ways. Mikhail holds my heart next, although don't tell him because he would simply look down his nose, curl his lip, sniff and say something rude. Wonder of wonders Mikhail is the step-up-to-the-plate guy in this story, more so than some of the rest, although Deacon will always be the family patriarch. Funniest of all? Mikhail is just being himself and his brand of tough love is as hard an act to follow as Deacon's father love.
Benny? I loved that girl from the moment she stopped Deacon outside the liquor store. It's fitting, I think, that this story begins and ends with her. With the parents she was \"blessed\" with, it's amazing that Benny turned out to be such a kind, loving, generous soul. But, definitely not a pushover!! She's got sarcasm and snark in spades and a wicked quick mind to back it all up.
Oh Amy, I wasn't expecting this. It was more. Saying goodbye hurt. But knowing all the laughter, sarcasm, snark, sex, love, family and hope will continue on at Promise Rock will sustain my dreams. Thank you for giving them to us.

Reading this book was like visiting with old friends. I felt like I was attending a family reunion and finding out what everyone had been up to and what directions their lives were heading in. And as with any family gathering, there were family members I wanted to spend lots of time with and others less so. Every now and then I would read a passage and remember an event from an earlier book in the series, a bit like a real memory, reminding me of the characters histories - and the characters do feel very real.
What I did find with reading this book was, although there was happiness, there was also a real sense of melancholy - not sure if that is actually the right word I want to use but it wasn't one of those all warm-and-fuzzy books. There were moments of worry and sadness as much like life, things don't always go smoothly and we don't always get what we want. There is loss, pain, sadness and death together with moments of tenderness and joy.
The specialness of this series lies in the reminder it provides about the value of friendship and love.
\"And again, and again. Breath after heartbeat, summer, fall, winter, spring - and it all came back to this, this place, this moment. It came to beginnnings and endings, of promises you made and promises you kept and promises that got broken in spite of your best intentions. It came to fixing what shattered, making do with what wouldn't fix, and building again and hoping, hoping for this moment, when everything was as shiny and perfect as a baby's first cry.
It's why they all gathered here, weddings, funerals, the introduction of their son - it was the promise and the heartbreak of the place Deacon's family called home. It was the legacy of a community, a simple swimming hole, a place made sacred by love.
Promise Rock.\"

Can I just say I love Amy Lane? Thank you so much for another Promise Rock book - I loved every bit of it except one part (and I won't spoil it but anyone who reads it will know what I'm talking about) - oh the angst, woman! How do you do it to me every time? What a satisfying wrap up (or is it? I can dream for more Promise Rock books, can't I?)