A missing bridegroom. A broken heart. Life will never be the same for Hannah Johns. With God's help, she can make it on her own, but can she ever trust love again?
Brock is drawn to the beautiful lounge singer, but his shadowy past won't set him free.
Can these two troubled hearts possibly find a future together?
"Ms. Delia Latham has, once again, fascinated me with her writing ability. I read this book previously—this updated version is fabulous. I love the way Latham takes her characters and develops them into multi-faceted people that capture the readers' attention. The manner in which she presents her main couple is amazing. Her imagination and her storytelling skills are truly touched by God."
"The plot of this book was so unbelievable that it actually could have happened. I found it impossible to put the book down. Her secondary cast of characters were no less expanded. This book, once again, has proven that Latham has the ability to write a top-seller and create interest without compromising her principles. She was able to tell this story without explicit sexual content but still maintain reality."
"I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you've never read Delia Latham's work, this would be an excellent place to start. You will definitely not be disappointed." - 5 Hearts, Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio
"The story moves along quickly as you wait to see how God will work things out for these two characters. Hannah's steadfast faith, even laced with some natural doubt and human struggles, is wonderful to read. The romance that is revealed is warm and beautiful. This is just a superb story and I have added Ms. Latham to my “must read” author list!" - MarthaE, You Gotta Read Reviews
"I found this to be a truly delightful read. Hannah was a person I could easily relate to, wanting to walk with the Lord, but unsure of where He was leading. The young woman questions whether it is the Lord, or simply her own heart doing the leading. I think that is something a lot of us young woman go through. I know I have. Hannah's son, David, was endearing. At three years old, he seems to be able to charm anyone. Brock seems much more elusive to me. Ms. Latham's story totally drew me in. I think I read the whole book in three or four days. And I loved every minute of that book." - Sarah Coiner, Associated Content
"Yesterday's Promise captured my heart from page one and took me through so many emotions...I laughed one minute, cried the next, rejoiced, worried...I found myself staying up much later than I should have to find out how this whirlwind romance would end. Would Hanna's shattered heart stay shattered for good? And what about her adorable little boy toting the much too big ball cap and chubby-cheeked giggles?"
"This book challenges pre-conceived ideas and misconceptions of single-parenthood and reminds us all that first impressions can be deceiving. And hurtful. Hannah Johns, a Christian woman who finds herself raising a toddler alone, has an impenetrable faith that draws others to her and to her God. I admired her purity, gentleness and open-hearted love, but when Brock Ellis, the man who left her crying in a hotel room the day after their wedding, waltzes back in her life and stabs that knife further into her already wounded heart, I found myself seeking vindication. Suddenly, I didn't want Hannah to be the nice, gentle, forgiving Hannah anymore. I wanted her to walk away and harden her heart. But at a time when I would have been wallowing in self-pity, Hannah drew closer to God and trusted in His plan. And ultimately, it was her faith and total surrender to the will of God that brought about her ultimate healing." - Jennifer Slattery, Christian Writer
"I was won by the struggles Brock confronts both in his memory loss, and an embattled relationship with God. I also found Hannah to be a most admirable heroine – fully devoted to her son and her and the manner in which Hannah asserts herself as a heroine of the first order – using smart logic, her head and her heart, to help Brock , and herself, move past pain, and into a life-long love as well as a renewal of faith. Five stars, Delia – very well done!" - Marianne Evans, Inspirational Romance Author
"...This book aches with grief, loss, hope and love. The writer in me tried to figure out the premise in whole right off the bat, and it wasn't possible. That's a great thing. Chapter by chapter more of Brock and Hannah's story is revealed and it's full of drama, redemption and reclaiming dreams." - Julie Arduini, Christian author & speaker
"I loved this inspirational romance from page one! The characters were likeable, the premise enjoyable, it was an all together well-rounded book." - JoAnn Carter, Inspirational Romance Author
DELIA LATHAM is a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. While she considers each of these roles important ones, she treasures most of all her role as a child of the King and an heir to the throne.
A former newspaper staff writer, Delia promised herself a novel for years, while raising her four children, working at various jobs and writing the occasional article, poem, or song. That finally happened when Vintage Romance Publishing released Goldeneyes in 2008. A Christian historical romance with a touch of the divine, Goldeneyes is set in the farm country of the author's childhood, and therefore close to her heart. In 2010, White Rose Publishing released Yesterday's Promise -- originally Almost Like a Song -- in electronic format. A children's book, Adam's Wings, will be available in December 2010.
Delia grew up in Weedpatch, a tiny agricultural community near Bakersfield, in California's San Joaquin Valley. She and her husband Johnny recently transplanted from that area to Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
An Interview with Delia Latham
By Holly Hewson for The Romance Studio
HH: Delia, thank you for talking with us at TRS! Please tell us about your featured book, Yesterday's Promise.
DL:Yesterday's Promise is my third release, but actually my first one, as well. Confused? Let me try to clarify. It was released in 2006 -- my first published novel-under the title Almost Like a Song. For various reasons (which I won't go into here), I reclaimed the rights a couple of years later, only to discover how difficult it is to get a publisher to look at a reprint. Thank God for White Rose Publishing! Not only were they willing to look at it, they accepted it for publication, making it available under the new title in electronic format.
Here's the back cover text:
A whirlwind romance amidst the natural splendor of Yosemite National Park. A spur-of-the-moment wedding at the foot of Bridalveil Fall. A young bride who awakens the morning after to find her new husband gone with the mountain wind.
Songbird Hannah Johns supports the child born of that ill-fated union by singing in a dinner lounge. Her dream of someday owning the elite establishment and turning it into a venue more suited to her Christian values is shattered when an unexpected transaction places it in the hands of Brock Ellis, the handsome biker who abandoned her in their honeymoon suite.
Ensuing sparks fly high, revealing buried secrets and forgotten pasts. Seeking to find peace with her painful past, Hannah returns to Yosemite, only to have Brock show up hard on her heels. Back where it all began, she finds herself in danger of losing her heart yet again to the man who shattered it the first time around.
HH: A woman who's been devastated by love and a man fighting to be free of a less than desirable past. Where did you get the idea for their emotional story?
DL: This story must have been divinely inspired. =) Yeah, I'm kidding…kind of. I was working on another book (Goldeneyes, which became my second release), and had hit a major writer's block. I tried everything I knew to work through it, including a tremendous amount of prayer. One day, while surfing the web looking for inspiration, I came across an advertisement for National Novel Writing Month. For those who may not know about Nanowrimo, it's an annual writing marathon in which writers are encouraged to churn out a minimum of 50,000 words from Nov. 1-Nov. 30. "Oh, maybe this will be incentive for my brain to kick into gear," I thought-only to discover that the Nanowrimo honchos don't recommend coming in with an existing WIP. This was about three days to a week before that year's event kicked into gear. So I laid Goldeneyes aside, opened a blank document in my word processor on Nov. 1, and started writing. I literally had no idea what I would write. No outline. No plot. No plan. But I did have the lyrics to a country song stuck in my head, so I typed a line from them (It was almost like a song…but it's much too sad to write) and started writing. Thirty days later, I had the barebones skeleton of what would become Yesterday's Promise. What do you think…divinely inspired? =) (And by the way, when I returned to Goldeneyes, God provided both the release and the inspiration. The rest of the book flowed beautifully, and will always be close to my heart.)
HH: What do you like best about Hannah and what was it like in her shoes?
DL: I love Hannah's absolute trust in God. Despite a horrible, hurtful experience that led to a hard life for herself and her son, she never stopped believing that He had her life in His hands and wanted the best for her. Did she ever wonder "why" about things? Yes, of course - she was ultimately only human. But at the end of the day, she always went back to that firm faith and trust. She's the spiritual image of who I'd like to be "when I grow up."
HH: What do you like best about Brock and why might he be redeemable?
DL: Brock is actually a sweetheart of a guy. He has reasons for his seemingly less-than-admirable behavior. I love the fact that, despite his macho-man persona around Hannah, he's wonderful with kids. Hannah's son, Davey, wraps Brock around his little finger in a heartbeat. A man who loves kids-and whom children love-can't be all bad, can he?
HH: What else do you have in store for lucky readers?
DL: I'm working on a series based around a Christian dating agency. The first book is finished, and I have it off to a publisher now. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I'd love it if they fell in love with the concept and contracted all three books in advance. =)
HH: What do you think today's readers are looking for and how do you fill that demand in your writing?
DL: The readers in my particular market-the Christian genre-are looking for the same thing female readers in any other genre like to see. Entertainment, excitement, romance…a mental vacation from their own lives. The difference is that, while my readers want all of that, they want it clean. No graphic sex. No violence. No bad language. I can give them that, because it's what I like myself. If, in providing my readers with a good story, I can also give them a message of encouragement and cheer, all the better.
HH: What are you most proud of in your writing career?
DL: A couple of published books doesn't necessarily spell success in publishing, so I have a long ways to go before pride becomes an issue. I'm determined not to become too proud of anything, because I know that whatever good I do is only through Christ. But I guess I'm pleased that I've never written anything I'd be embarrassed for my mother to read.
HH: What makes it all worth it to you as an author?
DL: Having someone tell me that my book made a difference in their life. Seeing the pleasure in their eyes when they say they loved something I wrote, and knowing that those words come from their heart. If I can't make a difference, I'm spinning my wheels.
HH: Do you read print books, ebooks, or both?
DL: Both. My husband bought me a Kindle last month, and I'm really, really enjoying it. But I still read a lot of print because I write reviews. Most publishers tend to send print copies for review-and that's all right. I'll always enjoy the smell of new pages, and the feel of a book in my hand.
HH: Any big plans for the summer?
DL: Well, I work full time, so … no, not really. I usually have a lot of out-of-state company in the summer, because that's when they take their vacations. All of my siblings live in California, and I live in Oklahoma, so it's always nice to have an opportunity to see them. And of course, whatever the season, I try to work in as much writing time as possible. =)
