Papa’s Vow: Sequel to The Marriage of White Rabbit

Dolores White Kiser
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9780595409372
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (11/06)


Tobias Grant was on the execution blanket when someone stepped forward to take his place.  He was so thankful that he vowed to give the Lord his first-born son.  He was relieved when a daughter Hallie was born, but a few years later his wife gives birth to twin boys.  The midwife ties a red string around the wrist of the first one delivered.  Hallie removes the string from her toddler brother and doesn’t know which one she put it back on. 

Papa tells Samuel that he is to preach the sermon when he comes home for a visit from school.  When a copperhead bites Tobias the family draws together to fight for his survival.  While Samuel is concerned for Papa’s health he is relieved that he now has an excuse not to preach the sermon.  Hallie is compelled to confess that she had removed the red string.  Samuel and Toby Grant have many hair-raising experiences as they struggle to find out which is the older brother.

While this book is an excellent work of fiction, I found myself pondering other questions.  Is a child responsible to uphold a father’s vow?  Shouldn’t a person make a vow and keep it himself instead of fostering that responsibility off on someone else?  While this book speaks of the ministry, I ponder other occupations where parents have insisted on making plans for their children, not taking into consideration what the children want from life.  When families own their own business many times they expect their children to joyfully take over.  Is that fair to their children?

“Papa’s Vow,” is an excellent read.  This book has a little of everything--romance, strong family values, a good strong plot, and loveable characters.  Eagerly, I turned the pages to see what would happen to this family next.  The plot was fascinating and unique.  Dolores White Kiser is an extremely talented author.  The cover hints at the story inside, enticing the reader to open the book and begin reading.  I highly recommend this to everyone that enjoys good fiction.

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