Introduction

Writing in the tradition of Jan Karon and Maeve Binchy, New York Times bestselling author Darcie Chan returns readers to Mill River, the charming town whose residents experience surprises and sorrows, witness acts of goodwill and kindness, embrace family love and friendship—and uncover age-old secrets and heartaches.

These days, Mill River, Vermont, is a hive of activity. Karen Cooper bids farewell to her husband, Nick, as he leaves for Saudi Arabia to work as a contractor. But when he goes missing, Karen turns to beloved nonagenarian Father O’Brien for counsel. Kyle Hansen and Claudia Simon blissfully prepare for their wedding—until a new acquaintance threatens their romance. Emily DiSanti, haunted by a tragedy that tore her world apart a decade ago, is renovating the old McAllister mansion, eager to restore its former beauty and to find peace in the intense workload. All these lives—and the lives of others in this small town—move forward, bump up against one another, and intertwine. And when a cache of letters is discovered, a powerful and unexpected secret comes to light—one rooted deeply in the childhood of the longtime priest who has touched the lives of everyone in Mill River.

Praise for The Promise of Home

“Chan has once again told a mesmerizing tale about how difficult yet beautiful navigating the river of life can be. This author is, quite simply, an amazing storyteller.”—Fredericksburg Free Lance–Star

“Difficult to put down . . . [a] celebration of the healing power of community.”—Booklist

“Who better to satisfy [summer] reader cravings than Darcie Chan. . . . Read on—and keep turning those pages [until you] find yourself looking forward to Darcie Chan’s next novel. Whew.”—Hudson Valley News

“This serene backdrop is the perfect juxtaposition to the internal turmoil of Karen Cooper. Together the townsfolk make a well-rounded novel full of desperation, hope and redemption. This is a beautiful addition to the Mill River series, yet also reads well as a stand-alone novel.”—RT Book Reviews

“[A] layered and heartwarming novel that intertwines a number of engaging contemporary storylines and intersperses them with . . . fascinating insights and historical details along the way. A light-handed affirmation of the power of love, faith, and community.”—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Darcie Chan’s The Mill River Redemption

“An enchanting storyteller, Chan is one of those rare authors who makes you feel more fully alive.”—Elizabeth Letts, author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion

“An engrossing page-turner [with] sympathetic and relatable characters.”—Library Journal

Praise for The Mill River Recluse

“A heartwarming story.”—Examiner.com

“Chan’s sweet novel displays her talent. . . . A comforting book about the random acts of kindness that hold communities together.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A real page-turner.”—IndieReader

“Chan does an amazing job with pacing while maintaining continuity and weaving universal themes such as friendship, love, new beginnings and overcoming adversities into small town life.”—RT Book Reviews

“This debut novel is a genre-breaking thriller with romantic overtones that should appeal to both men and women.”—Huntington News

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Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

She kept looking at her watch, counting the minutes that passed before Matt returned with his lock-pick set. When she heard the bell on the front door ring to signal the entrance of a customer, she left what remained of her sandwich on the desk and hurried to see who had come in.

"Sorry it took me a little while," Matt said as he placed a small leather case on the counter. "I would've been back sooner, but the pup was more interested in playing than doing her business."

"Oh, that's okay. I totally understand," Emily said with a smile. "It's so nice of you to offer to help me." She grabbed the briefcase and slid it down in front of him. "Do you really think you can open this?"

"Oh, sure. Just gotta find the right tool. These keyholes are tiny." Matt unzipped the lock-pick case. Inside, several thin, oddly shaped metal instruments were held in place by tiny elastic straps.

"They look kind of like things a dentist might use," Emily said. "Especially that one—it looks exactly like that nasty little hook they use to scrape your teeth."

Matt laughed. "Yeah, I thought the same thing when I first saw them." He selected one of the tools and carefully removed it from the case.

"So, how did you learn how to pick locks? You're the first per¬son I've met who owns an actual lock-pick kit."

"It was part of some specialized training I went through," he said. " 'Covert entry training' is what the Marines call it. It's not as easy as some people think, but it's a good skill to have. You never know when you might be locked in or out of some place."

"Or some thing."

"Exactly." Matt grinned. "May I?" he asked, gesturing toward the briefcase. When she nodded, he held it up and squinted into the tiny keyholes. Then he carefully set it back on the table. "The locking mechanisms inside are probably pretty old, but if they're not rusted shut, I'll definitely be able to open this."

He paused and looked squarely at her. Emily wasn't sure why he was hesitating.

"That's great! Go right ahead."

Matt continued to regard her, but the look on his face was strange. His smile—his whole demeanor, really—exuded kindness and confidence, but his eyes gleamed with mischief. Though she didn't know what scheme Matt was attempting to perpetrate, it was apparent to her that he was up to something.

"Before I do, maybe we should talk about what I'll get in re¬turn," he said.

"What do you mean, what you'll 'get in return'?" Emily asked slowly. She put her hands on her hips and took a step back. "I thought you were doing me a favor."

"Oh, I am," Matt said. "I was just thinking that maybe, in return, you'd be willing to let me buy you dinner sometime. Or lunch or coffee. Whatever you'd prefer. It doesn't have to be any¬thing big ... I'd like to get to know you better."

Emily studied Matt's face. His expression was relaxed but seri¬ous. There was no hint of a smile. Although his eyes still shone with a cheeky glimmer, she decided that this wasn't a joke. "That's sort of underhanded, don't you think? Offering to help and then putting a condition on it? Especially a condition like that?" Emily struggled to keep her voice steady as she seesawed between feeling delighted by Matt's interest and annoyed by his proposition. "Look, I'm not like most women. I'm very straightforward. I don't like being manipulated or pressured into something. I don't play games with people. And, I'm good with tools. The only reason I haven't opened this briefcase myself is because I didn't have what I needed. But now that I know what tools to get"—she glanced down at his kit—"I can easily order a set like that and open the damn thing myself."

"I didn't mean to upset you," Matt said quietly, still with the sparkle in his eyes. "The only reason I asked you out is because I suspected you are different than most women. And I'm sure you'll be able to open this by yourself ... eventually. It'll take a little time for you to get a set of tools like these, though, and while you're waiting for them to get here, you'll be wondering what's inside the case. I can tell you're really curious about it. And even when you have the tools, like I said, the locks on this briefcase are old. You could break them easily if you don't have experience opening locks. I'd hate for that to happen, since it belongs to your friend."

Matt's tone was playful but sincere and not patronizing. Emily was torn. He was cute, definitely, but acknowledging that fact brought with it a huge wave of guilt and uncertainty. Plus, she hated having her prowess with tools called into question, and she had been completely caught off guard by his approach. Finally, her instinct to throw up a defensive wall won out.

"I might've been interested in hanging out if you'd asked me straight up, without trying to coerce me. So, thanks, but no thanks. You can keep your sharp little tools. I can think of a few places they'd fit quite nicely." She gently closed the case on his kit and pushed it toward him with a smile. "Have a nice day."

Before he could react, she picked up the briefcase and escaped to the back room. After a few moments, once she'd heard the bell on the door jingle, she peeked out to be sure that Matt had left. One of the store's business cards was face down on the counter with something written on the back. Grudgingly, Emily went to the register and picked up the card. There was a phone number scrawled on it, along with a short note: In case you change your mind. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

1. The Promise of Home rotates between several different characters’ perspectives, Karen, Claudia, Emily, and Father O’Brien. Were you drawn to any one of their storylines more than the others? Why do you think that is?

2. A significant portion of the narrative also includes flashbacks to Father O’Brien’s youth. Why do you think the author chose to include those flashbacks when the rest of the novel takes place in the present day? What would the novel be like without them? How might the other sections change?

3. “The very hands that now rested on his knees, the hands that were suddenly unable to do what he wanted them to, had held a rifle and ended a man’s life. Up until now, he hadn’t allowed that realization to sink in . . . . The weight of the realization, regardless of the man’s actions toward his mother, was immense.” This quote is from the moment Father O’Brien begins to process what he’s done. Do you think he is too hard on himself considering the circumstances? How do you think you would react in a similar position?

4. When Claudia goes in for a wedding dress fitting Pauline offers her this piece of advice: “Falsehoods and little white lies never lead to anything good. And, be careful when you decide what’s false and what isn’t. Sometimes, things and even people aren’t what they seem.” How is this relevant at different points throughout the novel? Are there any moments in The Promise of Home when you would disagree with this advice?

5. Mill River is clearly a unique place to live. Why do you think so many people are drawn to it from other places, and why do you think so many people return after years away?

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