The Promise Between Us

By: Barbara Claypole White

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of The Perfect Son comes a hopeful tale of redemption, renewal, and the promise of love.

Metal artist Katie Mack is living a lie. Nine years ago she ran away from her family in Raleigh, North Carolina, consumed by the irrational fear that she would harm Maisie, her newborn daughter. Over time she's come to grips with the mental illness that nearly destroyed her, and now funnels her pain into her art. Despite longing for Maisie, Katie honors an agreement with the husband she left behind - to change her name and never return.

But when she and Maisie accidentally reunite, Katie can't ignore the familiarity of her child's compulsive behavior. Worse, Maisie worries obsessively about bad things happening to her pregnant stepmom. Katie has the power to help, but can she reconnect with the family she abandoned?

To protect Maisie, Katie must face the fears that drove her from home, accept the possibility of love, and risk exposing her heart-wrenching secret.

©2018 Barbara Claypole White (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Veins opened, story bled

There’s that famous quote attributed to Red Smith that says, “Writing is easy. You just open a vein and bleed.”

When I read Barbara Claypole White’s novels, I get the sense that’s exactly what she does, but especially in The Promise Between Us.

The veil between fiction and reality seems gossamer thin, with the smallest touch one could reach through the writing and catch amazing Maise’s tear on your finger.

And because the line between here and there is so transparent, it allows Claypole White to give her readers access to what life inside OCD is like. It grows compassion for a woman like Katie Mack who often lives in a one-sided, demonized half of a headline.

It is a hard read at times. All those anxieties that many of us have as tiny whispers in the back of our minds are amplified to a deafening volume and you long to turn it down for yourself and for these characters. But that’s what builds compassion and understanding for those living with mental illness in real life.

Claypole White has a way of writing that gives her characters such depth that you’d swear you knew them.

As heavy as mental illness can be to read about, there is joy and humor and hope in these pages, too. Enough to keep you going, enough to soften the hits to your emotional guts.

Sometimes I am wary of reading an author more than once. I worry that the new book won’t quite grab me as much as the other book I read and loved, but when I read two that I love... it’s magic. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Thanks barbara

I really enjoyed them as my first e books i finished them both walking to library and back

Such a beautiful story!

This was one of the best books I've read in years! It was beautiful, heart wrenching and insightful. it brought tears to my eyes with sadness and happiness along with making me laugh out loud. Ms. White did an amazing job with helping us understand just how harmful ANY mental illness can be, even if it doesn't look like it on the outside.

3 stars

For me, this story had entirely too much dialog. The speed of audible was too fast and fake sounding for other characters besides Kate b

OCD Understood

Fabulous story about OCD and how tough it is to live with this mental health disorder.

Didn't want to stop listening

This story really sucked me in. I've been wanting to try a Barbara Claypole White book since my review Susan is always raving about them. I wasn't disappointed. I did think so many of the characters having mental health issues was a bit over the top. Even though the narrator added accents I sometimes had trouble telling the characters apart when they spoke.

Great description of mental heath issues

Wow. Mental heath is a subject matter that just isn’t talked about nearly enough. This book was sometimes hard to stomach but the way it portrayed mental heath issues was so spot on. I really felt for all the characters and their struggles. It really makes you remember everyone has their own demons that you may never know anything about. I think this is a really good book that really needs read by everyone. This is a book that is going to stick with me for a very long time.

Very Original

This was an excellent listen. I have never listened to a story about people with OCD. It was difficult to listen to Katie and Mazie's OCD thoughts because they are very intense and repetitive. However, it helped me understand how bad OCD can get. Justine Eyre did a fabulous job with the OCD thoughts. She nailed the intensity
and urgency of the thoughts amazingly well. Very different for a change!!

Vicky J

MUST LISTEN!!! ITS AMAZING!!!! HA I love it!!!

hahahaa can you tell I love it? It truly was amazing!! Must get it and you won't be disappointed. Taught me alot. And made me feel apart of the story. Love love love..would listen 10× again and again!

Wonderful

I dont think I realized just how serious OCD could be. This book taught me a lot. it also is a great example of how strong a mother's love can be. Barbara does an amazing job of providing awareness regarding mental illness. Highly recommend.