It's 1963 and Angelica is only forty four but she is dying painfully from cancer, she couldn't let go but kept on reminiscing over her past life, where in 1942 she was Sister Angelica and was helping lots of Jewish children escape from the nazis, children that had been hiding in the woods. It was not an easy task but one that definitely saved many children. But one person was very special to Angelica, a wounded airman named Philip, she knew she wasn't allowed such feelings, but they were there, and both of them knew that they had a deep love for each other.

Jumping forward to 1963 and she is reminiscing in her mind all she has done earlier in her life, Mia her daughter had never known her father, only knowing that her mother had come to England in 1943 with him. But during her mothers last moments she finds it in her to contact her friends overseas and her daughter finds love and friendship with her doctor friend. But Mia still has lots of questions about her mothers life that she would love to know the answers to before it's too late. So begins a search of discovery where everyone knows what happened but it is still causing hurt and pain, finding out about all the children that escaped from the nazis and those who didn't.

This is a time slip novel, but it's easy to follow and the storyline certainly keeps you gripped.
The storyline is somewhat harrowing at times, as it describes what happens to the Jewish people in the war years.
In A Lasting Promise, Mary Wood really gets involved with the characters, making you think about the terrible situation they're in and how they will get out of it. It's certainly a gripping book where the characters will stay with you long after you have finished reading.
A well deserved five-star read from me.

#netgalley
#panmacmillanbooks
#marywood
#alastingpromise

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this emotional story, which was hard to put down.

It’s the story of Sister Angelica, lives in a convent in France during 1943. When Jewish children are caught by the Nazi, she starts to help them.

Now, in .1963 she has not got long to live as she has cancer, and her daughter Mia is doing everything she can to help. But a promise that Angelica made years ago that she’s never kept and is worrying about it.

She wants to know what happened to the children she tried to help. Will Mia be able to help her fulfil that promise?

I highly recommend this book.

We begin in France, 1942, with Sister Angelica, who helps children hiding from Nazi forces in a nearby forest.

Twenty years later, in Stepney, London, Angelica has a new life and a daughter named Mia. On her deathbed, she urges Mia to find Marcia Karmi and seek her forgiveness.

This heartfelt story captures Angelica’s emotional journey, showcasing her bravery and strength. Prepare to be moved—don't forget the tissues!

This was a very emotional story but I couldn’t put it down.It tells the story of Sister Angelica a nun in a convent in France 1943 .Sister Angelica starts to help the Jewish children who are being captured by the Nazi .1963 and Angelica is is suffering from cancer and has not got long to live.Mia her daughter is doing all she can to help her but Angelica made a promise all those years ago and is finding it hard as she never kept it.What happened too the children and can Mia help Angelica keep that promise.This was a brilliant but moving story.Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillian

this will be a lasting book on the emotions thats for sure. this was such a emotionally beautiful and tender read. such a harrowing time and yet we continue to hear about what people did out of pure bravery in those times. and all though this and other books are fictional tales we all know that what happened in them rings true or barely scratches the surfaces of the courage it must have taken to get through those times. so when you read of those who even then went above and beyond you truly are in awe of them.
i loved the premise of looking back into a womans life during that time. to feel and hear her story felt all the more personal when it is told from herself. this book gives us Sister Angelica who makes it her mission to save all the Jewish children the Nazis are out to destroy.
there are decisions that Sister has to make. ones that will change futures and the ripple will last a lifetime. so when we are hearing of the story being told years later to her daughter there is tension and rawness there and you know things are going to come out. what we are about to be told is even more compelling because of this.
there is so much we find out from this book. so much heart. so much fear. so much bravery. and yet these woman carry it all and then some. just wow. what a book.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another emotional book by this brilliant author

Didn’t want it to end

France 1942 sister Angelica
London 1963 Angelica's end of life.
As the past collides with the present, this book takes us through a gripping and emotional story of a courageous lady with a lasting promise that she will always keep.
Angelica on her dying bed, her daughter Mia is told to find Marcia Karmi for forgiveness.
That starts off a moving tale of Angelica's life and how it was.
A startling moving stand-alone that allowed my tears to fall.
I found no fault at all reading this story that readers will enjoy every single chapter.
Was sorry to see the end.
I loved it.

What a beautiful story, told with feeling, bringing tears.
Covering the period when the Nazi’s were hunting down Jewish children in the convents. Sister Angelica makes it her work to save as many of the children as she can, going into the forest to find them. This arouses the suspicions of the Germans, as every time she passes them on the road she has different children. The story that touches your heat will be the one of sisters Marcia & Madeline. One day Sister Angelica has a momentous decision to make that will change her life for ever!

In 1963 Mia has made her mother a promise to get in touch with Marcia. This causes indecision for Mia as while she wants to she is afraid of what she will learn. Never having known any of her mother’s life story she is familiar with names like Irene who was her friend/sister Angie’s mother, so when other names start to emerge as her mother who is dying relives her past while trying to find peace. Thoroughly recommend, couldn’t put it down.



As the past is unravelled it’s lovely depicting the comradeship of the East End women.
Favourite character was sister Angelica, least favourite was George. My heart broke for Madeleine.
So worthy of more than ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️