Promises to Keep series by Shayne Parkinson - books 62-64

I love a good historical novel, and the Promises to Keep series by Shayne Parkinson has a lot going for it. It's set in New Zealand in the 1880s, which is a novelty in itself, among a small farming community in Ruatane. The trilogy follows the life of Amy, from the age of about 12 onwards. And what a turbulent life it is too - from near ruin, to a disastrous marriage, to surprise relatives and more. The supporting characters, including her stepmother Susannah, her cousin Lizzie, her husband and sons and others, are all well drawn and come to life off the page. I was sorry when the trilogy came to an end and will be looking out for more from this writer. Five stars!

The books are:

• Sentence of Marriage
• Mud and Gold
• Settling the Account
• A Second Chance

Find out more on the Shayne Parkinson author page