Blurb:
Klarysa Tutko, a young single mother, moves to Caribou, Minnesota,
where her family is now living, to put her life back in order. All she
wants is to leave the past in the past; though a family friend has
other ideas and persuades her to make a promise that she is unwilling
to keep.
Book Purchase Links:
Author Bio:
Emily Yager writes Inspirational Romance novels set among the lakes,
rivers, and north woods of Minnesota. Is the author of the Pursuing
Voyageurs series.
When Emily is not writing, she is doodling over her notes, listening
to music, searching for a new history book to explore, or dealing with
the dramas of a bi-polar prima donna canine and writing puppy
sidekick, Xian. She lives on the family farm in northwestern Minnesota.
Author Social Media Links:
Facebook @emilyyagerauthor (https://facebook.com/emilyyagerauthor/)
Twitter @TheEmilyYager (https://twitter.com/TheEmilyYager/)
My Review:
Set in Minnesota in 1905, Emily Yager’s “Unwilling Promise” tells the forlorn story of Klarysa, a young mother who flees with her infant son back to her family in order to start over and escape her past. Visiting an old friend, however, causes her to make a reluctant promise that turns her life upside down all over again. She begins to wonder if she will ever find a place to belong and someone to love her, bemoaning the fact that “[n]othing she ever did was good enough for anyone, [sic] she always disappointed those around her.” Her life experiences have taught her to be wary, and through Klarysa’s character Yager provides a glimpse into how PTSD can affect relationships. This is also poignantly demonstrated with little Ivanna.
Although this is a clean read, there is only a subtle faith element, with prayer and church only being mentioned. The story is predictable, with a resolution that is almost too easy, and it has a few details that are never explained. I think that it has potential but needs to be reworked into a more cohesive and coherent narrative. The grammar is very disjointed, with inconsistent verb tenses, run-on sentences, missing words, no question marks in the characters’ dialogue, and unclear or absent transitions between scenes. There is not an articulate flow to the narrative, and the dialogue between the characters is stilted and often marked by modern slang. Altogether, this makes for a very difficult and unfulfilling reading experience. However, I do applaud the author for writing about non-indigenous characters; I enjoyed learning about some Ukrainian customs and phrases. There is a Ukrainian glossary after the epilogue, which I appreciated and wish I had known about while reading the Kindle version, as well as a recipe for Ukrainian wedding bread.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
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