"Timely romantic suspense"
For the past five years, widow Suzanna Quinn has diligently
worked as the principal of Fairholm High School in New
York. Her philosophy is openness and honesty with the
faculty, students, and parents. Until recently that has
proven quite successful, but popular student Zach Riley
changes the climate when he shockingly commits suicide
leaving a note behind that warns Suzanna of a threat to her. Secret Service Agent Joe Stonehouse pushed the formation of
the School Threat Assessment Team after a gunman killed his
beloved niece and four other teenagers. Now he believes
Fairholm High School could be in jeopardy based on Zach's
suicide note and an alleged hit list. He goes underground
as a crisis counselor at the school. However, he finds
himself very attracted to Suzanna and knows he violates
everything she believes in with his covert activity. With all the incidents in schools over the past decade and
the post 9/11 homeland security question, PROMISES TO KEEP
is a timely romantic suspense. The story line is well
written as Suzanna epitomizes the struggle when community
safety tramples on individual rights and the need to know.
The romance between the lead protagonists augments the
dispute between Joe and Suzanna on what needs to remain
cloaked in secrecy. Kathryn Shay provides no easy answers
to the safety and security vs. freedom debate, but the
audience will feel they have read a completely thrilling
tale. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted July 15, 2002
|