A Promise of Safekeeping

Dale's newest (after Slow Dancing on Price's Pier) is an emotional and surprising tale of one woman's desperate search for forgiveness. Smart, sexy Lauren Matthews is a prosecuting prodigy, but when Arlen Fieldstone, the man she sent to prison nine years ago, is released and declared innocent, her life begins to unravel. Once blinded by ambition, Lauren must now confront her decisions and the people they've impacted. Her first stop along the way to absolution is Arlen's house, wherein she discovers a similarly wounded soul, and someone else: Arlen's best friend Will Farris, who is understandably suspicious of the woman who put his buddy behind bars. As these authentically flawed and kind characters begin to reveal themselves to one another, their lives become linked in ways none of them could have foreseen. Dale portrays Lauren warts-and-all so that the reader is ultimately the one to decide how they feel about her. The author's ability to present various points of view gives the story depth and allows readers to relate to these well-rounded, honest characters. Though many will wish the story would continue, Dale does a spectacular job of bringing it all together in the end. (Jan.)