"Glued to the edge of your chair"

As I was nearing the end of Kathryn Shay's PROMISES TO KEEP, that's how I felt... glued to the edge of my seat. I didn't want to stop and do anything else!

PROMISES TO KEEP deals with a hot contemporary issue that some people might have trouble reading about. Secret Service Agent Joe Stonehouse has gone undercover with his partner, Luke Ludzecky, at Fairholm High School. They are members of a group called STAT, which targets high schools that might be at risk for some sort of school violence.

Dr. Stonehouse comes in as a crisis counselor following the suicide of one of the students. Luke comes in as a troubled youth trying to get in with a certain group of kids that has come to the STAT team's attention. Suzanna Quinn, principal of Fairholm is against the undercover operation at first, but soon sees that it could be a necessary thing, and becomes a believer in the program. She does however continue to have problems with the secrecy needed, and wishes she could tell people whom she believes to be key players in her life.

Both Joe, and Luke try to remain distant from the people of Fairholm and most especially the staff. For neither of them is this an easy job, and they soon find that maybe the life of a secret service agent isn't the life they really want.

Without giving away too much more of the plot I want to say that I thought it was a well written book. The suspense was maintained throughout the book. Too often lately I find the conclusion of a book to be rushed, and not well thought out. The conclusion of PROMISES TO KEEP was well written, and while it wasn't drawn out it didn't leave me wishing for more. I personally don't have a keeper shelf, but if I did, PROMISES TO KEEP would be on my shelf. I look forward to the next book by Ms. Shay.

Reviewed by Sandi Shilhanek
Posted October 1, 2002

Summary

As Fairholm High principal, Suzanna Quinn was proud of her school and her students. She'd worked hard to keep things as open and as safe as possible, and although a recent tragedy had shocked and saddened everyone, she was determined to develop better communication between the students and teachers as well. But there was no reason for the district to hire a Crisis Counselor-especially without her knowledge or approval.

Secret Service Agent Joe Stonehouse knew he could never tell Suzanna his real reason for being at the school. But he also couldn't deny his feelings for her. Still, he had to stay focused on the critical nature of his assignment- one which grew increasingly dangerous with every passing day. He made a vow, and although it meant threatening all that he loved, he intended to keep it...