Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Jonathan made Dan a promise - a promise that will affect the remainder of his life. But what does he have left to live for?

When their grandson Parker and his fiancé Cody move in with him, the three of them embark on a journey to shed light on Dan's roots.

A heart-warming sequel to Jonathan's Hope, Jonathan's Promise deals with aging and the ultimate consequences of wedding vows. Are we entitled to a second shot at happiness? When is 'for worse' too much to handle?

Book Review

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~ A. A. Milne

Before Dan of 'Jonathan's Hope' by Hans Hirshi died, he asked Jonathan, his husband, to make him a promise. Dan knew that Jonathan didn't want to live without him, but he also knew it wasn't Jonathan's time and asked him not to follow him to the other side. The family they started years ago had blossomed and grown; they still needed a patriarch to nurture and guide them. Reluctantly, Jonathan made the promise and did his best to honor Dan's request.

One of his first “assignments” in leading the family is to help guide his grandson, Parker, and his boyfriend, Cody. Even with his grandfather and grandpa being gay, Parker is still afraid of coming out. Parker is also concerned about what his family will think of his boyfriend who is of mixed race and blind on top of that. After determining how serious they are, Jonathan helps the young men out by standing up for them and maneuvering them through the sometimes testy waters of  coming out and establishing Cody as part of the family.

Jonathan has always wanted to travel but he never got to go because Dan wasn't interested. There's no reason why he can't now, but he's hesitant to go alone. When Jonathan decides to take a world cruise, he invites Cody and Parker to come along and they are thrilled at having the opportunity to go with him. The ship is magnificent and the staff very amenable, particularly since Jonathan and the guys are in the largest cabin on the ship. At his age, Jonathan never though he would find love again, but when he meets Marc, the massage therapist on the ship, he begins to have responses he's not had in years. Amazingly, even though he's forty years younger, Marc has the same feelings. It's an adjustment for the family, but when they get to know Marc, they realize the feelings he has for Jonathan are real and that Marc and Jonathan are very happy together, proving that it's never too late for a second chance at happiness. Cody and Parker become engaged during the trip and everything seems wonderful - until tragedy strikes, throwing everyone's future into chaos. Now, Jonathan's family is going to need each other's support more than ever.

The story is poignant with many life situations to contend with. The main thing about Jonathan's family is that they are very close, love each other, and are there for each other no matter what the situation. It was good to see Jonathan in his later life and be able to appreciate the life that he and Dan had and the awesome family they formed even with the cliff-hanger ending. I'm looking forward to the third book in order to learn more about Jonathan's close, dedicated family. Thanks, Hans, for evoking so many strong emotions and making them feel so real.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Creative Minds Promotions for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 217 pages/62650 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	31-March-2016
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-jonathan039spromise-2001155-149.html