A Promise for Tomorrow

James and Carolina have a few marital issues over her inability to forgive his father for nearly ruining her own father. Then, the tumultuous little family moves to a sleepy little mining town where the Irish workers riot....a lot. To heighten the intrigue young Victoria Baldwin is falling in love with the brother of a hot-headed Irish miner. Kiernan O'Conner, of course, also loves Victoria, but what does this young man have to offer such a genteel young lady??? Hampton Cabot gets his comeuppance....wahoo.

This story takes place after James and Carolina's marriage at the end of "A Hope Beyond." As their family continues to grow, James and Carolina leave their beautiful Baltimore home and move to a small house further west so that James can be close to the expanding B & O Railroad, but still be able to come home at night most of the time. Adopted daughter Victoria falls in love with Kiernan O'Connor, a young Irishman who works closely with James, but at the same time, Kiernan's older brother Red constantly works to turn other workers against James and each other, with tragic results. If the story doesn't quite seem finished to you, it's important to read the 3 books in the "Ribbons West" series too!

I found this book to be quite exciting and even a bit adventurous. Carolina continues to keep her faith and rely on God through the hard times that come up against her. She stumbles like everyone else, but truly cares about the well being of the people around her. You'll go with her as she comes to cope with the problems that encompass her, while she and her husband James try to maintain a home. Her mind is intrigued in the railroad building around her, and she finds all the information she can on it. Not many people encourage her to continue an education, however. Only her husband and father understand her need to learn. She finds out that marriage is the fairy tale she dreamed it would be, James is rarely home and her children take up a big part of her time. She learns the real meaning of marriage, but it is a joy to her as she grows in her role as wife and mother. She learns the true meaning of real love. I found it a wonderful Christian, romance novel that keeps you on the edge of your seats. I am hoping for the 4th one in the series.

The whole Ribbons of Steel series is fantastic and although I haven't read Ribbons West yet, I am looking forward to them immensely. This book intertwines the lives of Carolina and her husband, with her daughter's, Victoria. By the way, does anyone know if this is the last in the Ribbons of Steel series? I like to read books in ordaer and am trying to figure out if the Ribbons West series starts after this book. Email me if you know! Thanks!

I truly liked this book if only for the continuance of the charactors. The story line has lots of variety and could be said to be many stories into one. It starts almost exaclty where the last book ended with the lives of Carolina, James, & Victoria learning to become a family. What I really enjoyed about this book and the series is the historical aspect that just so happens to center around my hometown as well as the fact that the author makes references to obvious historical persons.