About the Book

Book: A Promise Child

Author: Kathryn Spurgeon

Genre: Inspirational historic fiction

Release Date: September 10, 2017

She can’t survive the ‘30s alone…

Sibyl Trimble does everything she can to keep her family together. Before falling in love with a handsome, penniless hobo, she lived a life of new cars, speakeasies dances, and fancy cloche hats.

Then the Great Depression hits Oklahoma. The wind blows topsoil away, hundreds of jobless men hang around town, and the economy falls apart. Even Fremont, her strong, stable husband, grows discouraged and considers leaving as they struggle to put food on the table.

When disaster strikes again, will Sibyl and Fremont move on to California or try to survive in Oklahoma? Neither option sounds promising.

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About the Author

Kathryn Spurgeon, an award-winning author and recipient of a 2018 Illumination Book Award, has published over a hundred stories, articles, and poems. She grew up on an Oklahoma farm before moving to South Korea, where she adopted two children. She and her husband, Bill, hold weekly studies in their home for international college students. They have six children and twelve grandchildren.

More from Kathryn

Researching and writing about the 1930s has been a blast, and although it was the economically worst decade of the last century, faith, love, and life went on. It has been fun to glimpse into that historical time and find amazing and uplifting stories.

Sibyl Trimble, my grandmother and the ever up-and-down, emotional but brilliant lady, did her best to create a great family environment. Seeking God, she also studied, taught, and shared about Christ in the midst of heartaches. Based on a true story, I hope this tale will inspire, uplift, and bring a touch of nostalgia to your day.

The strength and courage Sibyl revealed can encourage us all and I am honored to share her tale with you.

The entire time I read this book I kept thinking of my granddad. He lived in Oklahoma and shared many stories of hard times he endured. I remember being on his farm one year when a dust storm came. We ran to the cellar and listened as the wind howled and dust scattered everywhere. I admire the author and her story that gave me fond memories of a man who instilled faith and endurance in me.

This book is based on the author’s grandmother and I fell in love with the story right away. Oh how I wanted to wrap my arms around Sibyl and tell her she was doing a great job. The struggles she and her husband faced broke my heart. Fremont is a man who loves God, is a hard worker and strives to provide for his family everyday. It was hard to read how they struggled to find food and pay rent. There were times when I weeped as Sibyl and Fremont desperately tried to keep food on the table for their children.

Sibyl’s mom was a very bitter person who has endured the disgrace of her husband abandoning her and his kids. I can understand how her heart was hurt and how she wanted to make the father of her children support them. I don’t have any good things to say about Sibyl’s father. He was selfish, arrogant, and turned his back on his family. He acted like he knew the Word, but really he twisted scriptures to justify what he did. In the story you will find out what kind of man he really is.

The town turns almost into a ghost town as jobs become scarce and food is almost non existent. After reading the book, I understand more of why my mother hoarded things. As a child she did without as she and my grandmother lived with her granddad who was my great granddad. They went through hard times but my grandmother always had faith. There are times in the story where Sibyl and Fremont want to give up. They question why God allows bad things to happen to them. A tragedy strikes that broke my heart. Through that tragedy God used it to bring a lost soul back to him.

I loved the story even though at times it was hard to read. The author does an excellent job of giving readers a look at what it was during The Depression. Families struggled, hearts were broken and anger and bitterness showed up in some like one of Sibyl’s sisters. The faith element in the story is excellent and gives hope to those who need it. I am glad that the author shared this story and reminded us that God is always there. I found strength and perseverance a very important part of this story. There is always hope if we remember to trust God.

“Faith should be as easy as walking across the room.”

I received an arc copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.