Deborah Raney: A Vow To Cherish

As she waited in the darkness of the auditorium to watch their youngest son take his diploma in hand, Ellen Brighton had taken her husband's hand and squeezed it. She realized again how right she had been to marry the man seated beside her. She could think of no one she would rather be marooned on a desert island with than this man who was her husband, her friend, her lover. Suddenly, the empty nest before her had felt wonderfully full. But that bright anticipation of the future is cut short when Ellen's health begins to fail. A devastating medical diagnosis is followed by a heart-rending search to understand why God would allow this to happen to them. Yet Jake's love remains strong, even when he is overwhelmed by the changes and adjustments he must endure. Then, quite innocently, Jake meets Julia Sinclair, a young widow who understands his struggle as no else can. And as their friendship grows, Jake finds himself faced with the most difficult decision he can ever make regarding his love Ellen.

A VOW TO CHERISH was a 1997 winner of Excellence in Media's Angel Award. The book is also available in a large print/hard cover edition from Thorndike Press. In addition, it has been translated into the Swedish, Danish and Norwegian languages. The novel was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures' made-for-television movie of the same name. A Vow To Cherish aired on national television in September 1999 and again in December 2004.

"First novelist Raney has fashioned a startlingly honest portrayal of love, commitment, and redemption in the midst of tragedy...recommended for public libraries."

Library Journal, February 1, 1996

"Raney deals with the effects of Alzheimer's disease on a family through the eyes of husband Jake. Raney accurately portrays the disease's many faces and utter devastation. Because of Raney's writing style, readers can easily identify with the issues each character faces... Raney satisfactorily resolves all the issues she explores, offering hope and encouragement abut a disease that increasingly more people will confront as America's population ages. Recommend this book not just to people dealing with Alzheimer's, but to anyone who enjoys a good romance with a believable plot and characters."

Bookstore Journal, March 1996

"If you're in the mood for a poignant love story, this novel is for you... The author paints a realistic, victorious picture of the difficulties facing families involved with Alzaheimer's.. Every married couple would benefit from reading this book. Every Christian who will ever know a couple struggling with the "for worse" part of their marriage vows should read it."

Christian Woman, September/October 1996

"I read this book with great interest because I also have a spouse who has early onset Alzheimer. I found that the situations in this book accurately reflected much of my experience of being married to someone who has AD. I appreciated the author's Christian perspective and the fact that the story affirmed many of the experiences I have had in the past few years. A Vow to Cherish is a unique book. It is an intersesting story that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. It will be of special interest to those who have a loved one with Alzheimer Disease."

Gayle Johannesson in Esprit, Fall 1996, Canada

"Raney's first novel touches both the heart and mind. A "must" for any congregational library, the book explores the heart-wrenching challenge facing family and friends when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease... The reader learns a lot within the context of a good family story and the author has balanced the fiction with the reality of Alzheimer's well... Despite the sadness, Raney has written with inspiration and empathy."

Church and Synagogue Library Association, December 1998

"Raney addresses a contemporary issue with tenderness and understanding. The novel is well written and a good choice for your library."

Church Libraries, Fall 1996

"Raney writes lovingly and with great understanding... This book has much to recommend it... It is refreshing to read of characters facing ethical questions in the context of everyday tests of faith, rather than starting with the sin and filling the rest of the pages with remorse and repentance... Many passages are very moving, demonstrating the author's gift for capturing in a tiny moment much about a life relationship."

Laura Addison in The Wichita Eagle, May 11, 1996

"Though a work of fiction, this powerful story reminds readers that 'in sickness and in health' is a vow to cherish."

Church Media Library, September 1996

"A Vow To Cherish tugs at your heart strings... This fast-reading novel (you don't wnat to put it down)...will bring tears to your eyes."

The Good News Messenger, April 25, 1996